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San Marino Unified outlines districtwide PBIS, MTSS, restorative practices and wellness services
Summary
District staff presented multi-tiered behavioral supports, PBIS recognitions, restorative practices training, and the Titan Wellness Center’s role in providing school-based mental health services across San Marino schools.
SAN MARINO, Calif. — At the May 13 San Marino Unified School District Board of Education meeting, staff presented an overview of the district’s research-based, multi-tiered approach to behavior management that combines MTSS, PBIS, restorative practices, UDL and school-based mental-health services.
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Nina Richter told the board the district began structured PBIS implementation during the 2020–21 school year and has continued professional learning with the Los Angeles County Office of Education and outside consultants. "Both Carver and Valentine participated in the PBIS team professional learning each year," Richter said, noting Carver earned silver and Valentine earned gold recognition; both sites are applying for platinum implementation recognition for 2025.
Elementary principals and counselors described site-level practices. Valentine counselor Stacy Beavers outlined a schoolwide "HEART" program (helpful, empathetic, accepting, respectful, trustworthy): staff issue "heart slips" to recognize behavior, a classroom raffle selects winners and a full-school celebration is held when a container of slips fills. Beavers described Second Step lessons across grades, Mind Yeti mindfulness practices, classroom calming corners (funded by a Partnership for Awareness grant) and restorative circles used for community-building and reflection.
Carver and Valentine use a CARE referral process and Student Success Team (SST) meetings to escalate targeted interventions (small-group instruction, check-in/check-out, behavior contracts and short-term counseling) and to determine eligibility for tier 3 supports or special-education assessment.
Huntington Middle School Principal Hazel and Assistant Principal Michelle Coda described a wellness expansion that added a ZenZone lunchtime space, a counseling suite and monthly collaborative planning among counselors, wellness therapists and psychologists. HMS reported approximately 1,400 visits during 2024–25 to its wellness services; 86.7% of students who used the wellness space returned more than once.
The Titan Wellness Center provides districtwide, school-based mental-health services through licensed trainees and therapists and accepts referrals from staff and parents. Titan staff said referrals come chiefly from school staff and that the center emphasizes parental collaboration and confidentiality.
Superintendent Dr. De La Torre and principals said exclusionary discipline (suspension/expulsion) remains available when the law requires it, but the district has shifted toward restorative and evidence-based, inclusive approaches. The board received the presentation; no policy vote occurred May 13.
