This presentation focuses on teaching students with emotional and behavioral problems without the use of seclusion rooms and routine physical restraints. Based on the work at Centennial School of Lehigh University, a nationally recognized program, and the inspiration for the ESD 113 Olympic Academy, the Georges share a process along with a number of strategies for reducing the frequency and intensity of behavioral escalations within classroom and school settings and for creating positive, productive and safe learning environments for teachers and students alike.

Dr. Michael George is the former Director of Centennial School of Lehigh University where he and Dr. Nancy George worked together to develop a program for educating children and youth with emotional and behavioral difficulties based on creating a positive school culture and the teaching of pro-social skills. Under their leadership, Centennial School has been acknowledged by the American Institutes for Research in Washington, DC, the National Disability Rights Network, Education Week, Teaching Tolerance magazine, and was featured on ABC’s Nightline for its work with children and youth having challenging behaviors without the use of aversive interventions. Prior to coming to Centennial School, Michael and Nancy worked at the Lane School Program with the Lane Education Service District in Eugene, Oregon that was recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for its promising practices. The Georges have presented papers at many national and international conferences, co-authored numerous journal articles and served as adjunct professors at the College of Education at Lehigh University. Their work resulted in an invitation to the First White House Conference on Mental Health and testimony before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on the topic of moving beyond seclusion and physical restraint through the creation of positive learning environments. Michael is co-author of Supporting Students with Emotional and Behavioral Problems published by Brookes Publishing Company.

Lunch included.