The Howard School has been named a Silver-level RTI2-B (Response to Instruction and Intervention for Behavior) Model of Demonstration School selected by the Tennessee Behavior Supports Project at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The school previously won the Bronze-level award for the 2019-2020 school year. The state awarded a banner to The Howard School in commemoration of the accomplishment. 

Funded by the Tennessee Department of Education, the TBSP program includes 1,800 schools across the state, and each year a small percentage of schools meet criteria to be selected as an RTI2-B Model of Demonstration School. The RTI2-B framework consists of identifying common behavioral expectations across campus, teaching, re-teaching and reinforcing. The staff and students at The Howard School have applied this framework to improve the climate, culture and proactive disciplinary practices, which directly seeks to improve student engagement and school connectedness. 

“Academic success in school and positive behavior are certainly connected and necessary for students to graduate prepared for success in a career or on a college campus,” said Dr. Bryan Johnson, superintendent of Hamilton County Schools. “Howard is not just a model in this important effort for other local schools but also for schools across Tennessee.”

The Howard School’s plan, titled “The Tiger Way Initiative,” balances teacher and student accountability with celebrating big and small victories.  The program includes recognitions like Teacher of the Month, Student of the Month, Five Star Tiger, the Tiger Way from the Heart and the Five Star Experience. The Tiger Way Initiative also unites Howard's bilingual cultures into one Howard where every student has a voice and is valued.

“This recognition reflects the hard work and dedication of our students, teachers, and community in building a positive school climate,” said Dr. Le Andrea Ware, executive principal of The Howard School. “The Howard School is a place where all students are welcome and our daily goal is to position them for future success.”

As a silver level RTI2-B Model of Demonstration School, The Howard School can now serve as a mentor to other schools across East Tennessee. TBSP’s goal is for every school in Tennessee to be within 45 minutes of an exemplary school implementing RTI2-B.