I Promise School describes 'house system' to build belonging and cut behavioral incidents

Principal Stephanie Davis told the Akron Public School Board on March 2025 that I Promise School has implemented a five-house system intended to build belonging across grade levels and reduce behavioral incidents.

"We wanted to instill a sense of belonging for every student," Davis said, describing the houses as part of the school’s positive behavioral interventions and supports program (PBIS). The houses are named for the school’s five habits of promise and are led by adult house leaders and student house leaders.

Davis said the rollout was deliberately gradual to make the program sustainable after visits to the Ron Clark Academy and with funding support from the LeBron James Family Foundation to send staff for training. Assistant Principal Kelly Pastello and instructional coach Stephanie Arnett joined Davis in explaining implementation details: student sorting events, quarterly house celebrations and embedded student leadership with eighth- and fifth-grade house leaders.

Davis said early results include a decrease in tier 2 and tier 3 behavioral incidents and stronger adult-student connections that have helped with restorative practices. "We have definitely seen secondary and tertiary effects," she said, adding the school will track ongoing data to validate the impressions.

Vice President Alexander and President Jackson publicly praised the energy and student work showcased in I Promise’s presentation. The district did not take formal action on the presentation; it was delivered as part of recognitions and updates.

The board did not ask for immediate follow-up actions but asked staff to provide additional data to the board in future reports so members can track whether the behavioral declines are sustained across an academic year.