HANCOCK — Hancock Schools has secured two new administrative roles in the high school and middle school, Superintendent Chris Salani said in a Thursday email. They will be direct faculty and support for Principal Hanna Asiala.

Middle School Social Studies and Spanish Language teacher, Ms. Kristen Huffman, has been selected as the Positive Behavioral Intervention & Support (PBIS) Coordinator.

“Ms. Huffman has been a wonderful asset to the District in her capacity as our MS Social Studies and Spanish teacher,” Salani said in the email. “Prior to her current tenure as a Bulldog, Ms. Huffman came to us from a district in the Green Bay area, where she was actively engaged in the PBIS model for several years; and is a current member of our PBIS team for the MS. She will continue with coordinating all of our PBIS aspects within the MS, and will work with our admin and faculty throughout the District moving forward with planning, organizing, implementing and supporting the PBIS launch into the HS for AY ’24 and Elementary into the future.”

PBIS is a framework for supporting school-wide practices to promote a safe school setting by supporting social, learning, behavioral, and emotional needs of all students both with and without individualized education programs (IEPs), according to the Michigan Dept. of Education. PBIS is referred to as an “evidence-based practice” (EBP). An EBP is helpful to the student and can be used by educators, parents, or other professionals. Using PBIS practices focuses on supporting all students based on their level of need.

MTSS, or Multi-tiered systems and support, is designed to help schools identify struggling students early and intervene quickly. It focuses on the “whole child.” That means it supports academic growth, but many other areas, too. These include behavior, social and emotional needs, and absenteeism (not attending school).

At the regular January Board meeting, Salani discussed the two positions, MTSS/PBIS Coordinator and that of Dean of Students, which he recommended for support of the middle and high school operations.

Long-time Hancock High School teacher, Matt Griffith, was selected for the Dean of Students position.

“Mr. Griffith has accepted the role of being our new DoS,” Salani said. “Mr. Griffith’s ability to maintain positive relational capital with our students is, and will be, a significant win with regard to the additional duties / role this position will be engaged with regarding student conduct, behavior, discipline, attendance, policy generation, as well as student government engagement. He will also be a significant bridge between our MS and HS students and staff in supporting our strategic initiatives moving forward under Principal Asiala’s leadership – which will include assisting Ms. Huffman in developing our PBIS model and structure, in coordination with our HS students through student government engagement, for the PBIS introduction and launch at the high school for next academic year.”

At the January Board meeting, Salani said the Dean of Students is predominantly a student behavioral, discipline, conduct specialist, as well as being in direct involvement with student governance, organizations and activities, so that role will take on more of a direct relationship with the students and engagement.

Salani said that because the district is a PBIS school, PBIS is a measure of MTSS.

“We are a PBIS School,” Said Salani. “PBIS is a measure of MTSS.”