BIGGS, CA (MPG) - Students at Biggs Elementary School are participating in a national program funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), called Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports or PBIS. The PBIS program, which uses a three-tier system to positively reinforce social-emotional learning within students of various ages, was implemented about a year and a half ago in Biggs Elementary School by Principal Laquita Ulrich. In order facilitate the program and address the needs of her students, Principal Ulrich found it pertinent to add the position of School Counselor to staff roster. On January 10^th of this year that position was filled and Clarissa Pfiester had the honor of becoming the first ever Biggs Elementary School Counselor.

Counselor Pfiester started her career as social worker at Childrens Hope Foster Family Agency in Gridley. Working with children in the foster care system, she began to feel that she was “responsible for the educational success” of the children whose cases she managed and made it a point to visit them in a school setting. Her interest in education and experience working with youth who's emotional and social needs were higher than average, led her to add to counseling credentials to her Bachelors in Social Work, and ultimately, to her position at Biggs Elementary.

Utilizing the PBIS system, Pfiester is able to teach children in grades K-8 skills and tools to build empathy and develop an understanding of social-emotional relationships. Every Friday, Pfiester and Melissa Green, District Speech Therapist, visit each of the 26 classrooms at Biggs Elementary, present an age appropriate lesson and discuss emotions with the classes. The PBIS system focuses on addressing the root cause of negative behavior and emotional responses, holding with the American Journal of Pediatrics idea that “ A child whose behavior is creating issues is not trying to cause a problem. They're trying to solve a problem.” Those who are struggling, becoming angry in class or disruptive, are given extra support, attention, and the skills to identify the underlying cause of the issue.

Meanwhile, the program helps their classmates understand the issue on a deeper level, promoting a connected mindset which positively benefits the student’s educational environment. When asked about her new role as Biggs school counselor, Pfiester says “ I love it! It's so cool. With my social work background, working with those in trauma and at heightened levels of emotion for so long....It's a pleasure to work on the front lines, before it spirals out of control. Instead of responding and being reactive, I am being proactive.”