Muncie, IN— The Southside Middle School SWAGGER Recovery Team was recognized at the Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce 122nd Annual Meeting for their Outstanding Contributions to Education. The purpose of this award is to recognize a teacher, administrator, organization, or company that has made significant contribution to education or workforce development in Muncie and Delaware County. “Students Who Achieve Good Grades Earn Respect.”
The Southside Middle School “Students Who Achieve Good Grades Earn Respect” known as SWAGGER Recovery Team, led by Mrs. Kelli Turner, consists of teachers J.D. Craft and Kris Berry, instructional assistant Marwin Strong, Student Assistant Coordinator Kim Conner, counselors Lisa Rose and Marla Campbell, and assistant principals Phil Seale and Don Cowper.
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The program began during the 2015-2016 school year to address the climate at Southside Middle School. This alternative program focuses on helping students with the most severe behavior problems become successful both academically and behaviorally. Within the first weeks of school, SMS faculty could see the climate improving. During the first year of the program, students not only made improvements in their behavior, but also improved academically.
Muncie Central High School, Northside Middle School and South View Elementary have implemented similar programs for the 2016-2017 school year to assist in continuing to reduce discipline issues throughout the school corporation.
Overall, MCS discipline incidents were reduced in 2015-2016 by more than 20% from the previous year, probation referrals were down 42%, and Child Protective Service referrals were reduced by 50%. Southside Middle School’s reductions exceeded the district average.
