Shanta Davis and Victoria Thornton - Baker Elementary School
Baker Elementary School had widespread behavior problems that were actually taking away from classroom instruction time. Teachers were highly frustrated when Parent Leadership Institute graduates Shanta Davis and Victoria Thornton developed a behavior modification program to help address the problem. Teachers changed their approach to classroom management and parents volunteered to help with incentives for positive student behavior. Over the course of a year, the entire school culture changed. Teachers had more time for quality instruction. Students took more responsibility for their behavior. The principal reported a 20% drop in the number of discipline referrals and credited the project with having a major impact on raising the school achievement from Level 3 Successful to Level 4 Exemplary.

