KINGSPORT, Tenn. – Kingsport City Schools is proud to announce that Lincoln Elementary School has been named a 2020-2021 Gold Level RTI2-B Model of Demonstration School by the Tennessee Behavior Supports Project (TBSP) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

 

Funded by the Tennessee Department of Education, there are over 1,800 schools considered each year and only a small percentage meet the criteria to become a RTI2-B Model of Demonstration School.

 

“The staff at Lincoln have worked hard to create a positive environment for our students,” said Suzanne Zahner, Principal of Lincoln Elementary. “We know that learning respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, and safety at a young age, will help our students in the community now and down the road as they grow and mature.” 

 

Lincoln Elementary has been a participant in training and technical assistance provided by TBSP and has undergone the process of implementing a positive and proactive behavioral systems framework for all students. The RTI2-B framework consists of identifying common behavioral expectations across campus, teaching, re-teaching, reinforcing, and regularly acknowledging students, faculty, and families for exhibiting these expectations.

 

“We are very proud of our work using Restorative Practices and teaching our students to listen, acknowledge feelings, and find ways to make things right. Our students have also become proficient in recognizing their emotions by using the Zones of Regulation approach at school.  These approaches have helped make Lincoln a calm environment where all children can thrive and learn,” continued Zahner.

 

Lincoln has applied this framework to improve the climate, culture, and proactive disciplinary practices which directly impacts student engagement and school connectedness. In meeting this award criteria, Lincoln demonstrated use of school-wide behavioral data to inform teaching practices and levels of support provided to students based on need. Twice a year, they reflect on overall fidelity to guide their implementation of the RTI2-B framework.

 

As a gold level RTI2-B Model of Demonstration School, Lincoln can now serve as a mentor to other schools across East Tennessee.

 

Kingsport City Schools (KCS) is a public school district located in Kingsport, Tenn., serving students in Sullivan and Hawkins county. The district is comprised of 13 schools, including a Pre-K, eight elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school, a high school program of choice, and an alternative learning program; with total enrollment over 7,700 students. The vision of Kingsport City Schools is to Inspire. Cultivate. Impact.