It was an enormous privilege to have Mary Louise Hemmeter in our midst for the Pyramid Model Leadership Module in Wagga Wagga. There are a number of seemingly monumental tasks ahead for all of us who were present, though the grounded way in which Mary Louise presents those to us and provides such evidence-based incentives to participate, makes these challenges feel like something achievable: vastly important, AND achievable. Even more than that, hearing the facts and seeing that the changes we can expect to experience are universal and effective for all children everywhere, sits this all at the coal-face of our National Quality Standards and, I would be so bold as to state, our individual philosophies. Knowing that the changes are going to effect children's success further in life, too, emulates that economic viewpoint that spending money (and time) now, has such strong knock-on effects that we may even say it is a 'no brainer'.
So what is so special to make this model the stand out one? I would not hesitate to say that whilst there is the mental health tried and tested successful focus on Promotion and Prevention first and foremost with Positive Behaviour Support for Intensive Intervention where required, there are two specific reasons this is THE ONE to follow:
- That we have strategies, resources and 'permission' to INTENTIONALLY TEACH social and emotional skills.
- That there is coaching to help the embedded practice for a sustained implementation of this framework.
I would like to set a Riverina-wide challenge. Let's explore, question, dig down, and above all nurture, our relationships with each individual child, family and colleague. I am here to help with this. Let's be friends!
Sara
0450631618
positivelygrowing@gmail.com
