How PBIS is creating consistency, shared language, and connection across schools
The Bancroft School Network is strengthening school culture, consistency, and connection through the implementation of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) across all four Bancroft schools.
PBIS is a proactive, network-wide framework designed to promote positive behavior by teaching expectations, reinforcing shared values, and intentionally recognizing students for their efforts and accomplishments throughout the day. The framework is both values- and skills-based, helping students build the social, emotional, and behavioral skills they need to succeed in school and beyond.
“The goal of implementing PBIS across all four Bancroft schools is to promote a positive school culture — first by establishing shared values, and then by intentionally teaching the skills that align with those values,” said Jessica Fedezko, Executive Clinical Director of Education. “That consistency helps strengthen relationships, reduce stress, and create a more positive and supportive learning environment.”
This approach aligns closely with Bancroft’s clinical philosophy: proactive, positive, and skills-based. PBIS helps students navigate their school environment, build social connections, and develop essential life skills.
One Framework, Four Unique School Communities
While PBIS is aligned across the Bancroft School Network, it was intentionally designed not to be a one-size-fits-all model. Each Bancroft school serves a unique student population, with its own strengths, needs, and personality. The clinical team partnered closely with each school community to develop a PBIS system that reflected their culture while still reinforcing shared values across the network.
“We were very intentional in building on what each school already had,” Fedezko said. “Each community helped identify what mattered most to them, what values they wanted to emphasize, and how to bring those values to life in a way that felt meaningful for their students.”
As a result, each school now has its own mascot and values-based acronym:
- The Bancroft School (Welsh Campus) promotes Bulldog PRIDE, reinforcing expectations such as respect, kindness, and doing one’s best.
- The Preschool and Early Education Program ‘Busy Bees’ focus on being safe, kind, flexible, and patient.
- Bancroft School, Voorhees Pediatric Facility encourages students to SHINE, celebrating growth, kindness, and connection throughout the day.
- Bancroft School, Mountainside centers its PBIS framework around KINDness: Keep Trying, Include Everyone, Never Give Up, and Do Your Best.
Celebrating Progress, Big and Small
Across the network, PBIS emphasizes recognizing effort, growth, and progress, including the small wins that often carry the greatest meaning.
“Our students come to us with their own unique challenges,” Remy added. “Every day, they’re trying harder, doing more, and showing incredible effort. The KIND acronym really reflects how our students show up every single day.”
At the Bancroft School Welsh Campus, teachers and staff give out Bancroft Bucks to recognize students who demonstrate PBIS values and engage in pro-social, positive behaviors. Students can then redeem their Bucks at the school store for items they choose.
This year, all four schools are also participating in the Great Kindness Challenge for the first time, a global initiative focused on spreading kindness in schools. Each campus has its own planned activities, including themed days and kindness cards. At the Bancroft School, students are creating care packages for local police, fire, and EMS departments. Across the network, students are also building paper link chains, with each link representing an act of kindness and displayed throughout their school.
“Each school includes kindness as part of their PBIS values,” Fedezko said. “Participating in this challenge builds on that shared value and helps foster a more positive school environment.”
Building a Culture That Feels Safe, Supportive, and Fun
As PBIS becomes embedded across the Bancroft School Network, the goal extends beyond behavior support alone. The framework is designed to create school cultures that feel calm, inclusive, joyful, and safe — places where learning is fun.
Families also play an important role, as consistent language between school and home helps reinforce understanding and build confidence.
“What makes me most proud is seeing the alignment across the network,” Fedezko shared. “We’re creating a shared culture, one that supports students not just while they’re here, but as they move into the next phase of their lives.”
From pep rallies and mascots to everyday classroom moments, PBIS is helping bring Bancroft’s values to life, helping to build positive school communities where students, staff, and families feel connected, supported, and inspired.
