Dallas ISD has adopted a new approach for addressing lousy behavior amongst students. This decision comes after the district decided to eliminate school suspensions as a punishment method.
Principal Pierre Fleurinor found that “A lot of [bad] habits that were causing them to be suspended were things that could be talked through, but those conversations were not being held and because of that people were just dismissing these kids immediately.”
Together with his assistant principal, Fleurinor created a ‘reset center” to help the students address their social and emotional needs. The principal explained that the reset center is a kind of mindfulness tool to help the students be in a better place as they are usually stressed and emotional when they arrive.
“I’ll sit there, and we’ll talk. Some have really big walls up, and they have a lot going on, but I guarantee you if you take time to build that relationship, the results are endless,” he said.
When asked about the new system, LV Stockard 8th grader Savannah Rodriguez said sessions with Fleurinor are helpful. “I would talk to him about things,” he said. “He’ll listen. I’m not going to be worried about the bad stuff.”
“You can then concentrate when you talk to him,” another student, Miguel Beltran, said.
After the reset centers improved student behavior, DISD decided to eliminate suspensions. Now, every middle and high school will use the “reset center” system.
Fleurinor further stated that other districts are inquiring about the reset centers. “A lot of other districts were, you know, a little nervous to implement something like this out of fear of behaviors just getting out of control, but I feel like the results that we’re getting are showing that we took the right steps,” he said.
