This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is Amber Threlkel from Bullitt Lick Middle School in Shepherdsville, KY. Her nominator Maria George wrote:
Mrs.Threlkel has really worked hard to change the culture of our school in a positive way. At the beginning of the year she helped make every staff member feel welcomed by putting together gifts for each staff member (school spirit shirts, paw prints for high five Fridays). Each month she helps make sure we are completing the monthly challenges. Each month she and her PBIS team have made sure to recognize students with perfect attendance, students with A’s and B’s, and students with no behavior referrals. She and the PBIS team implemented for the first time ever our PRIDE card/PRIDE cart system and our Bobcat best reward cards that are given out each quarter for honor roll and zero behavior incidents. She also was able to reward and recognize our staff whose birthdays were in August and September. She helps keep our social media and school displays up to date with all of the positive things happening in our school and classrooms. She also created binders for our new teachers with all the must-know information.
How long have you been involved with Renaissance?
First year!
What’s a favorite Renaissance moment for you?
My favorite moment was when a parent after our 1st A/B honor roll breakfast told our principal “This was a great start to changing the environment/reputation of BLMS. Giving the kids a sense of pride and feeling accomplished is what they all need.”
How has Renaissance impacted your school’s culture?
Renaissance has completely shifted our school’s culture. Never before have we recognized and rewarded our students like we have this year. With this being only our 1st year implementing Renaissance, I am excited to see where we can go as a school and improving our school’s culture.
How has Renaissance affected you personally?
Renaissance has made me realize that if you recognize and reward students for doing the right thing it will become a chain affect and more people will start doing what’s right. We have a student who as a 6th grader had 23 behavior incidents. As a 7th grader, that same student has had zero behavior incidents and has received a Bobcat Best Card for Q1 and Q2. The student student has also received 7 PRIDE cards for showing our school’s values: Perseverance, Progress, and Pride. When I asked this student what the difference was, he said “I like receiving the pride cards and being recognized”
What advice would you give to someone just starting with Renaissance?
The Results Formula works! RESPECT + RECOGNITION + REWARD + REINFORCEMENT + RELATIONSHIPS = RESULTS. Make it a goal to recognize/reward at least once or twice a month.
Amber will receive a tote bag and a lapel pin in recognition of her achievement.