Twenty-one Waukegan Community Unit School District # 60 school buildings were recently recognized by the Midwest Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Network for their PBIS implementation efforts during the 2024-25 school year. Buildings recognized included all 15 elementary schools, four middle schools, AOEC, and the WHS-Washington Campus.

Recognized schools include: 

Alternative Optional Education Center Andrew Cooke Magnet Elem School Carman-Buckner Elem School Clearview Elem School Glen Flora Elem School Glenwood Elementary School Greenwood Elem School H R McCall Elem School Hyde Park Elem School Jack Benny Middle School John R Lewis Middle School John S Clark Elem School Little Fort Elem School Lyon Magnet Elementary School Miguel Juarez Middle School North Elem School Oakdale Elem School Robert E Abbott Middle School Washington Elem School Whittier Elem School Waukegan High School - Washington

PBIS is a multi-tiered framework that helps schools promote positive student behavior and social-emotional growth. It works by teaching behavior expectations just like any other subject, and by responding to behavior in a structured, supportive way. PBIS helps create learning environments that are positive, predictable, equitable, and safe—environments where all students can thrive. All Waukegan schools were recently recognized for their progress in implementing an equitable, multi-tiered system of support.

Waukegan schools are among 166 schools in Illinois recognized by Midwest PBIS, which annually recognizes schools for their implementation efforts. According to PBIS, by utilizing these evidence-based practices, the framework helps to increase consistency of instruction, enhances staff skills, proactively provides support for learners, and builds stronger relationships with students.

In addition to the general recognition, Abbott, Cooke, Carman-Buckner, Clark, Clearview, Glen Flora, Glenwood, Greenwood, Hyde Park, Little Fort, Lyon, Washington, and Whittier were awarded the organization's Storytelling and Action Planning Badges. The Storytelling badge acknowledges the school’s efforts to develop a teaching and learning story about their journey to improve school culture and climate and student, family, and staff outcomes. The Action Planning Badge acknowledges the school’s efforts to assess their current PBIS implementation and then use those results and other data points to guide future action planning.

McCall, North and the Washington Campus earned the Action Planning badge, while Lewis earned the Storytelling Badge.