PBIS at DJJ: Aaron Cohn RYDC Holiday Celebration Banquet

Recently, the Aaron Cohn Regional Youth Detention Center (Aaron Cohn RYDC) in Muscogee County held a Holiday Celebration Banquet to give recognition to the facility's youth and to celebrate their hard work and dedication. As a commendation for top students being faithful in their studies and setting a good example for their peers, the Holiday Celebration Banquet also featured the Student Recognition Awards for specific high achievers. Top Aaron Cohn RYDC volunteer Sam Khalil gave the keynote speech for the celebration.

Aaron Cohn RYDC Special Volunteers included:

Ms. Pamera Howell -- Advisory/Church Volunteer
Mrs. Frances Spencer -- Advisory/Church Volunteer
Mr. Kevin McCowan -- Advisory/Church Volunteer
Mrs. Sonja Paker -- Advisory/Volunteer
Mr. Dennis Jones -- Church Volunteer
Ms. Tanya Bryant -- Advisory/Volunteer
Mr. Joe Miles -- Advisory/Church Volunteer
Ms. Crystal Waye -- Advisory
Mrs. Eddream Lawrence -- Church Volunteer
Mrs. Cleo Griswold -- Church Volunteer
Mr. Lewis Phillips -- Church Volunteer
Dr. Jihad Hud -- Advisory/Volunteer
Mr. Louis York -- Mentor Volunteer
Ms. Abagail Gibson -- Mentor Volunteer/Advisory
Mr. Selim (Sam) Khalil -- Church/Mentor Volunteer
Mrs. Lisa Khalil -- Church/Mentor Volunteer
Mrs. Emily Jackson -- Church/Mentor Volunteer
Mr. David Adams -- Church/Mentor Volunteer
Mrs. Angie Everson -- Church/Mentor Volunteer
Mr. Michael Barnett Jr. -- Church/Mentor Volunteer
Ms. Karen Spruce -- Church/Mentor Volunteer
Mr. Kenneth Owens -- Church/Mentor Volunteer
Mr. Rudolph Allen III -- Church/Mentor Volunteer
Mr. Rudolph Allen II-- Church/Mentor Volunteer

Events such as the Holiday Celebration Banquet are an important part of the PBIS program at DJJ. 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 19,000 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 acknowledgment 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 behavioral analysis to develop school-wide, targeted and individualized interventions and supports to improve school climate for all students.