PBIS at DJJ: Elbert Shaw RYDC Employee of the Month John Edgerton

Photos and information provided by Lt. Kristen Nix. Story and design by Mary Catherine Heard

The Elbert Shaw Regional Youth Detention Center (RYDC) announced that JCO II John Edgerton was recently named the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Employees of the Month for the facility. The PBIS Employee of the Month award is open to all in fields of Safety and Security, Medical, Counselors, Mental Health, Education, Food Service, Maintenance, Business, Personnel, Support Staff and Administration.

To become the PBIS Employee of the Month at the Elbert Shaw RYDC, employees must:

• Possess a positive attitude towards work responsibilities, co-workers, and youth and be willing to serve as a role model for others.

• Show a willingness to exercise servant-leadership, take initiative and accept and carry out additional responsibilities beyond regular job assignments for the good of DJJ.

• Be consistent, dependable and punctual in reporting for duty.

Officer John Edgerton is admired by his co-workers and supervisors for his dependability and work ethic. Officer Edgerton has been with DJJ for over 10 years and is credited for boosting morale at Elbert Shaw RYDC and keeping a positive attitude. Considered a team-player, he maintains “a good-working relationship with all departments within the facility” even during stressful situations. He is polite to both the youth and staff at Elbert Shaw. According to his supervisors, “The students look up to him and he has earned their respect by the way he treats them. He definitely stands out as what type of character an employee should demonstrate. He cares for the youth in our facility and tries to teach them something while they are here.” DJJ thanks Officer Edgerton for his service and commitment.

PBIS is an evidence-based, data-driven framework proven to reduce disciplinary incidents, increase a school’s sense of safety and support improved academic outcomes. More than 23,000 U.S. schools are implementing PBIS and saving countless instructional hours otherwise lost to discipline. The premise of PBIS is that continual teaching, combined with acknowledgement or feedback of positive student behavior, will reduce unnecessary discipline and promote a climate of greater productivity, safety and learning. PBIS schools apply a multi-tiered approach to prevention, using disciplinary data and principles of behavior analysis to develop school-wide, targeted and individualized interventions and supports to improve the school climate for all students.