The Why:

Classroom behaviors have continued to have a growing impact on student learning/staff retention and the overall climate and culture of a school. Post pandemic, school systems have seen a drastic increase in overall student behaviors that are considered (tier 2). Although these behaviors may not require BCBA interventions, at the same time they can be disruptive and have a negative impact on student learning. 

The climate of teaching has changed, as more and more veteran teachers are leaving the field of education in record numbers which is leaving the influx of new teachers in the field of education with no one to look at on how to manage student behaviors in the classroom effectively. According to the US. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, from the year 2020 to 2022 there have been a loss of 600,000 teachers nationwide.  The staffing shortages are also impacting just how much time mentor teachers are able to spend with their mentees, as everyone is experiencing some sort of “burn out” when dealing with these behaviors.  Many teacher training programs have not adequately adapted to the new realities that exist in the classroom, leaving new teachers unprepared for the challenges they will face.