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Camdenton's Laker Academy: district describes tiered behavior intervention pilot, early successes
Summary
District staff described Laker Academy, a tier-3 behavior intervention housed at Dogwood Elementary, which has served nine students since August and graduated four. Board members were briefed on the program's tiered structure, parental-consent rules and early impact on classroom disruptions.
At the Feb. 10 meeting of the Camdenton R-III School District Board, principals and staff updated trustees on Laker Academy, a district pilot program that provides tiered behavioral interventions for primary-grade students.
"Laker Academy is a tier 3 level of intervention," Angie Rogers, principal (Dogwood Elementary), told the board. She said the program is intended to intervene early and return children to general education classrooms with taught replacement behaviors.
Laura Thompson, identified as the Laker Academy teacher, and Tomago Griffin, assistant principal, described the program's tiered approach. Tier 1 covers classroom-managed behaviors; tier 2 involves chronic or repeated behaviors with added team interventions (teacher-parent collaboration, counselor small groups, regulation stations); tier 3 includes chronic or dangerous behaviors and individualized plans that may lead to Laker Academy placement or special education referral.
Thompson and Rogers told the board that 9 students have accessed Laker Academy since it began in August, four students have "graduated" from the program and five are currently progressing. Rogers emphasized parental consent: "We don't place the student into Laker Academy without parental consent," she said. Board materials and the presentation noted that parents who decline the program will still be counseled on likely alternatives, including more frequent office referrals or focus-room placements.
Staff described early results beyond those nine students: they said fewer emergency administrative responses have been required and that counselors and administrators are spending less time addressing extreme classroom incidents. The program team said increased staff presence in classrooms has allowed more regular coaching and support for teachers.
The update included operational notes: Laker Academy is housed in Dogwood rooms 101 and 1102 and uses a mix of pull-out and push-in supports; the program has coordinated with Osage Beach and Hurricane Deck elementary staff and is focused on K'2 grades to be proactive. The board heard that 20 tier-2 behavior-support meetings had been held and that teachers have used the team structure to plan interventions.
No formal board action was taken; Rogers invited trustees to visit the program. Staff said they will continue to monitor outcomes, including whether graduates sustain gains over summer and subsequent semesters.
