Dwyer Middle School Earns Gold PBIS Recognition for the Third Year in a Row

For the third year in a row, Dwyer Middle School has earned the Gold Implementation Award from the California PBIS Coalition, the state’s top honor for schools implementing Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) with fidelity, extending a streak that began with a Silver award in 2019.

The numbers behind this year’s award are the strongest yet. Dwyer's PBIS program was scored 91–100% on both its schoolwide approach and its small-group support. Just as important, almost every student, 91–100%, went the whole year with zero or one discipline referral, and no group of students was disciplined more than any other. Staff says that's because they check in on the numbers every month, catching small issues before they grow.

Behind that success is real, targeted work with students. Dwyer ran small groups throughout the year to help students build stronger habits around grades, attendance, and behavior, and the results showed real, measurable growth. The school also gave extra reading support to English Language Learners and saw meaningful gains in their reading skills over the course of the year, something the team credits to steady routines, visual supports, and lots of encouragement in every classroom.

That structure is the throughline of Dwyer’s PBIS work: clear expectations, consistent routines, and recognition- GRITcoin, GRITbands, raffles, and student-store perks- for students who meet them, all under the school’s “Jr. Oilers Live and Learn with GRIT” (Gratitude, Responsibility, Integrity, Tenacity). Looking ahead, Dwyer also plans to bring a schoolwide PBIS newsletter that shares data with families and an updated PBIS Handbook to keep staff aligned as the program grows.

“Earning Gold recognition for the third year in a row reflects the consistency and care our entire team brings to supporting our students,” said Principal Dave Okamoto. “Dwyer continues to build on the strong PBIS culture established, and this achievement is a direct reflection of how the PBIS framework aligns with HBCSD’s strategic plan and learner profile, preparing our middle schoolers to meet challenges and thrive as young adults.”