(Pictured: A student getting a book from the book vending machine, part of RSU 22’s PBIS reward system.)

Regional School Unit (RSU) 22 (Hampden, Newburgh, Winterport, and Frankfort) is making significant strides in creating a positive, student-centered culture, thanks to the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) framework.

RSU 22’s PBIS journey began in the 2021-2022 school year following the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent year of hybrid learning. Seeking consistency in student behavior support systems, district leaders joined a statewide PBIS training cohort. What began as a post-pandemic response has since evolved into a coordinated, district-wide effort; now, RSU 22 is consistently recognized statewide for its pre-K-grade 12 PBIS framework. In 2025, the district earned the silver District of Distinction recognition from the Northeast PBIS Network, highlighting its commitment to safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environments.

RSU 22’s PBIS implementation varies across its six schools, with four schools actively implementing Tier 1—or universal—support practices and the other two schools engaged in advanced tiers work. The district continues to support schools at different stages of readiness, while maintaining district-level coordination and data collection.

At the core of this work is a belief that students do best when common expectations are clear, explicitly taught, and positively reinforced. Each school takes the time to explain what these expectations look like and practice them with students. When students show that they understand and follow expectations, adults notice and acknowledge their efforts with specific praise and, in some cases, small rewards, such as a ticket or token that the student can use for a book vending machine or a schoolwide raffle. Being recognized for doing something well helps students to feel proud of their efforts and encourages them to continue making positive choices. Each school designs its recognition approach in ways that are developmentally appropriate and meaningful for students.

Data has driven much of RSU 22’s progress; each school distributes a PBIS School Climate Survey twice a year to students (grades 3 and up), staff, and families. This data highlights trends, celebrates strengths, and informs needed improvements. In the fall of 2025, families across the district continued to praise a strong commitment to safety, with four of six schools identifying student safety traveling to and from school as a top strength. Families also highlighted the clean and organized learning environments that teachers in the district maintain. Across all groups—students, staff, and families—this data revealed a consistent opportunity to strengthen student recognition practices, which the district is actively addressing.

RSU 22 not only shares survey results with families but acts on them, building trust and transparency. In a fall 2025 letter to families, Director of Curriculum Jennifer Nickerson shared: “[The] feedback directly influences our improvement efforts and helps shape the future of our schools.” She also added: “The [PBIS] framework works, but it takes consistency, measurement, and a shared belief that all students can succeed when they feel supported.”

PBIS is a nationally recognized, evidence-based framework designed to create positive school climates by teaching and reinforcing clear behavioral expectations. It helps schools to improve student behavior, promote academic success, and build supportive environments where all students feel safe, respected, and empowered to thrive. To learn more about PBIS in Maine, visit the Maine DOE website.

This article was developed in collaboration with RSU 22 and the Maine PBIS program, a partnership between the Maine DOE Office of Special Services and Inclusive Education and the University of Maine System. This article is part of a series highlighting the successes of Maine schools that are in the process of implementing, or that have implemented, PBIS in their schools. To submit a good news story to the Maine DOE, please fill out the good news submission form.

Congratulations to Camden Rockport Middle School sixth-grade student Hannah Smith, who was selected as the winner of this year’s t-shirt design contest for the 2026 Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI) Maine Winter Classic! Smith’s design will appear on the official t-shirt for the event, which will take place virtually in schools across Maine from March 2-6, 2026.

This annual, game-based learning experience allows students to “travel” virtually around Maine while completing challenges, earning tokens, and exploring topics such as computer science, digital citizenship, digital design, and gamification. Through these engaging and collaborative activities, students develop digital skills, connect with peers across the state, and discover how technology can serve as a tool for creativity, problem-solving, and innovation in everyday life.

Smith’s unique t-shirt design, created with Canva, features a pair of headphones with a version of the MLTI gear-shaped logo at the center and “Maine Winter Classic” displayed beneath it..

“I used headphones in my design because I like music and just got new headphones,” Smith shared. “I picked red and white for my design because I was thinking of candy canes. I also thought the red and white would be different from other people’s work and make my work stand out.”

The MLTI Winter Classic t-shirt design contest is held annually and is open to all pre-K-grade 12 students in MLTI school districts across Maine. Guidelines for future contests can be found here. A similar t-shirt design opportunity is also available for the in-person Maine Department of Education (DOE) annual MLTI Student Conference, scheduled for May 21, 2026, at the University of Maine. Information about that ongoing contest can be found here.

T-shirt design winners in these contests have represented schools from across the state, including Southern Aroostook Community School, Auburn Middle School, Waterville Junior High School, Gray-New Gloucester High School, Samuel L. Wagner Middle School, Maranacook Community High School, Reeds Brook Middle School, and Brunswick High School.

While t-shirts and supplies for the virtual 2026 Maine Winter Classic event may be limited, schools can still register to participate through February. To date, more than 6,000 participants from 70 schools across every county in Maine are registered.

For more information about the MLTI Maine Winter Classic, please visit this link. With questions about MLTI student events, please contact Maine DOE MLTI Project Manager Bethany Billinger at bethany.billinger@maine.gov.

At Noble Intermediate School in MSAD 60, recess is no longer just a break in the day; it’s an opportunity to build skills, strengthen relationships, and support student wellness. This school year, more than 400 fifth- and sixth-grade students and 40 staff members are reimagining what wellness looks like through a new approach to play and engagement.

Thanks to a partnership with MaineHealth’s “Let’s Go!” program and funding from Hannaford’s “Eat Well, Be Well” initiative, Noble Intermediate School worked with Playworks to enhance its wellness block—commonly referred to as recess. Through hands-on training and school-wide support, staff gained new tools to create an inclusive, active, and positive environment that extends well beyond the playground.

This fall, Coach Mo from Playworks spent four days at the school training administrators, classroom teachers, specialists, and educational technicians, while also launching a Junior Coach program with students. The training focused on fostering safe, structured, and engaging games that encourage teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving—skills that support students’ social, emotional, and academic growth.

In December, Coach Mo returned to Noble Intermediate School for a final site visit to observe progress and celebrate the impact of the work. The results were clear: Recess games ran smoothly; students confidently stepped into leadership roles; and staff reported feeling more comfortable and confident facilitating wellness time.

One of the most notable outcomes has been the launch of the Junior Coach program, in which selected sixth-grade students lead games and activities during wellness blocks. These students serve as role models for fifth graders, while strengthening their own leadership and communication skills.

“We are excited to see the changes occurring in our recess time,” said Assistant Principal Melinda Luders. “Engagement has increased and so have the smiles. We are very proud of our sixth-grade Junior Coaches, who are role models for the fifth graders and assist in creating a safe and fun wellness time for a variety of student interests.”

Supporting safe, healthy, and inclusive recess experiences at Noble Intermediate School reinforces the shared goal of providing professional learning opportunities, such as Playworks training, to schools and communities across Maine. By investing in wellness through play, Noble Intermediate School is helping students to build lifelong skills, while fostering a joyful, supportive school culture.

This story was submitted by Noble Intermediate School. To submit a good news story to the Maine Department of Education (DOE), please fill out the good news submission form.