What the Best Districts Know About Behavior (That Took Most of Us 10 Years) - Dr. Julie Harris

Описание: *The gap between struggling schools and high-performing ones often isn't about resources—it's about mindset.* While most districts chase quick fixes for behavioral challenges, the best ones are already playing a different game. In this episode, discover the framework that's helping one 4,000-student district achieve extraordinary results: students making 1.5 to 3 years of growth in a single year.

Meet Your Guest

Dr. Julie Harris is the Director of Student Services at Pulaski Community Schools, where she leads a comprehensive, district-wide approach to student support that treats early intervention as prevention, not punishment. Drawing on her personal experience with identical twins diagnosed with autism and her 20+ years in education, Dr. Harris shares the evidence-based practices and cultural shifts that transform how schools respond to behavioral and academic challenges.

What You'll Learn

In this episode, you'll discover the critical differences between districts that react to problems and those that prevent them. Dr. Harris unpacks Pulaski's universal learning model, reveals why special education should never be the default intervention, and explains the "motivation method"—a powerful framework for understanding what actually drives student behavior. You'll walk away with concrete strategies for environmental redesign, consistent implementation across buildings, and how to shift your entire district's approach to student support.

Key Takeaways

**Universal design isn't one-size-fits-all**: Learn how truly inclusive districts balance universal screening with individualized interventions to catch gaps before they become chasms
**Special education is prevention, not destination**: Discover why early intervention programs prevent the majority of special education referrals and how to fund and staff them accordingly
**Motivation beats motivation methods**: Understand the "motivation method" and how finding each student's "hook" transforms behavioral and academic outcomes
**Environment shapes behavior**: Small changes to classroom and school environments often solve behavioral challenges more effectively than behavior plans
**Consistency across buildings changes everything**: See why district-wide alignment in approach, training, and philosophy is non-negotiable for systemic success

What Stands Out

"*Special education is not the destination. We really want to provide those early intervention opportunities to prevent special education because when the gaps get so big, it's really challenging for our kids.*"

And this powerful result: "*Our students are making over a year and a half times, sometimes up to three years growth when we get the right intervention in place—specifically in reading and math.*"