Guiding the Next Generation: Mentoring and Behavioral Strategies that builds a Stronger School Culture

Format

Individual Presentation

First Presenter's Institution

LaVergne Middle School

First Presenter’s Email Address

carruthr@rcschools.net

First Presenter's Brief Biography

Reginald Carruth currently serves as an Assistant Principal at LaVergne Middle School in Rutherford County. He has previously served as a Title I Instructional Coach, Dean of Students, Math Department Head, a MTeach teacher-partner at Middle Tennessee State University, and hosted Parent Engagement Nights at LaVergne Middle School, where he was a site-based presenter. He was chosen as Teacher of the Year, 2015–2016, and has presented at several conferences including the Rutherford County Schools Summer Conference, National Youth-At-Risk Conference, and the AMLE Conference.

Second Presenter's Institution

LaVergne Middle School

Second Presenter’s Email Address

bunyib@rcschools.net

Second Presenter's Brief Biography

Brayan Bunyi has served children and families for 25 years in the state of Tennessee. He has worked close to a decade with children in foster care. Currently he is in his 15th year as a school counselor at La Vergne Middle on the outskirt of Nashville, TN. His passion is to serve young people as they navigate through the challenges of today's society. During his free time, he enjoys traveling spending time with his family.

Third Presenter's Institution

Robert Garner

Third Presenter’s Email Address

garnerr@rcschools.net

Third Presenter's Brief Biography

Robert Garner currently serves as a Physical Education Instructor and is the Head Football and Head Basketball coach at LaVergne Middle School in Rutherford County Tennessee. Coach Garner also serves as the RTIB leader at LaVergne Middle School, where he and his RTIB team collaborate and provide the Lavergne Middle School student body with positive behavior interventions to help students with their academic achievement and social behavior interventions. Coach Garner is a passionate educator who loves to see his students succeed in all areas of their lives

Submitter

I am submitting this proposal as one of the presenter(s)

Location

Sloane

Strand #1

Heart: Social & Emotional Skills

Strand #2

Head: Academic Achievement & Leadership

Relevance

This presentation aligns with the Heart framework by promoting social and emotional skills through peer mentoring, conflict resolution, and student leadership development. It promotes academic resilience, emotional intelligence, and communication skills by empowering students to handle conflicts and make positive decisions. Additionally, it supports a caring school climate where students feel empowered, motivated, and connected, contributing to their overall social and emotional growth. The presentation also aligns with the Head framework by offering and training all of our staff members in positive behavior reinforcement strategies, behavior intervention strategies, and building a positive school-wide culture.

Brief Program Description

This presentation will provide strategies for building a student mentoring program, develop leadership among older students, and implement behavioral interventions. Participants will learn techniques for peer mediation and strategies to reduce disruptive behaviors. Insights into using clubs and extracurriculars to create a sense of belonging will be shared, along with proactive behavior intervention strategies. Expect an interactive experience to empower both students and staff.

Summary

This interactive presentation will provide strategies to develop an all-inclusive student mentoring program, develop leadership among older students and offer behavioral intervention strategies that supports all students. Participants will learn about various behavioral intervention approaches that promote peer mediation and assist in reducing disruptive behaviors while building a positive school culture. Additionally, attendees will gain insights into how clubs, sports, and extracurricular activities can create a sense of belonging for students, particularly those at risk and are need of social interactions and connections. Participants will also walk away with practical techniques for early behavior intervention, ensuring student behaviors are addressed proactively instead of reactively. Overall, this presentation aims to create a collaborative, supportive school environment that empowers both students and staff to contribute to positive outcomes.

The overall presentation will focus on effective strategies our school has used for creating a mentoring process that engages both teachers and students, incorporating behavioral intervention strategies, and our utilization of extracurricular activities to improve social interactions. Our school understands that teachers and staff play a crucial role in influencing students, so we have implemented mentoring programs like the Student Advisory Council Leaders (SACL) and Student Ambassador programs offer additional support. SACL members, recommended by teachers or counselors, are trained to assist younger students in resolving conflicts such as bullying. Peer-led mediation, collaborative conflict resolutions, and behavioral strategies like restorative circles and positive behavior reinforcement help guide students in their academic and social development. These interventions help foster a positive school culture, and SACL members gain valuable leadership experience.

Our school’s behavioral intervention program (RTI-B) provides an additional layer of support as we train our faculty and staff with a variety of effective intervention strategies, as well as offer support to all students and staff. Participants will learn more about how we implement our tiered behavioral intervention program, discuss and practice effective strategies, and share with other participants strategies their school uses that works. Our goal is for participants to ideas and strategies they connect with and are able to go and share them with their staff.

Evidence

Response to Instruction and Intervention for Behavior (RTI2-B) Framework

Student Advisory Council Leaders (SACL)

Presenter will provide any additional evidence used to support presentation and strategies.

Learning Objective 1

Develop effective strategies to implement an all-inclusive student mentoring program that fosters leadership among older students and supports younger students.

Learning Objective 2

Apply behavioral intervention techniques, including peer mediation and restorative practices, to reduce disruptive behaviors and build a positive school culture.

Learning Objective 3

Identify ways to use clubs, sports, and extracurricular activities to create a sense of belonging and improve social interactions for at-risk students.

Keyword Descriptors

Mentorship, Behavioral Intervention, Peer Mediation, Student Leadership, School Culture

Presentation Year

2025

Start Date

3-3-2025 10:15 AM

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Mar 3rd, 10:15 AM

Guiding the Next Generation: Mentoring and Behavioral Strategies that builds a Stronger School Culture

Sloane

This presentation will provide strategies for building a student mentoring program, develop leadership among older students, and implement behavioral interventions. Participants will learn techniques for peer mediation and strategies to reduce disruptive behaviors. Insights into using clubs and extracurriculars to create a sense of belonging will be shared, along with proactive behavior intervention strategies. Expect an interactive experience to empower both students and staff.