An Innovative Plan to Support Student Behavior

Reprinted from the Red Oak Behavioral Health Newsletter

Matt Smith, a Red Oak therapist who has been at Akron Public Schools’ Bridges Learning Center for 16 years, always had remote control (RC) cars in his office since he knew his clients loved them. At the start of this school year, he had an idea: he wanted to capitalize on how much the students loved RC cars, and use them to incentivize positive behavior. He met with Ms. Angelo and Mrs. Hale, the principal and assistant principal at Bridges, and explained his idea, and they were excited. He then met with Red Oak leadership and asked them for their support in this project. With those conversations in place, planning began for the Bridges Racing Team.

Matt, or Mr. Matt as he goes by at school, developed contracts for each client who was interested in participating that includes items such as agreeing to “display appropriate behavior at Bridges” and “listening and following directions of staff.” Each month, they would evaluate all of the students and make sure they were doing their best in school. Matt also had to secure RC cars for each client to use, and he worked with Hilltop Hobby Shop who helped him choose cars and donated banners and other items to make race day extra special.

On each race day, Red Oak case manager Heather Baldie helps the kids who have earned their chance to participate change into their bright orange Bridges Racing Team shirts and put on their BRT hats. The races start with a pizza party, and the atmosphere is joyous and celebratory! Bridges teachers Mr. Baker and Coach Reese help with corralling the kids and making sure everyone is ready with their cars, and then the fun begins! Everyone strives for an atmosphere of good sportsmanship and students cheer each other on as they navigate the course. Currently there are about 30 clients between grades 1 and 5 who participate in the program.

Looking forward, Matt wants to continue coordinating the program next year. His plan is to put the clients into teams so that they can practice positive social skills while they race. He is excited to be able to use behavior data that the school gathers to see efficacy of the program, and to make sure it is helping motivate the students to do their best every day.