R.E. Stevenson Elementary School has earned Silver recognition from the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) through the state’s annual Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) State Recognition of Fidelity program.
The honor recognizes schools that meet KDE’s implementation standards for building a consistent, positive, and data-informed school culture. PBIS is an evidence-based, tiered framework designed to support students’ behavioral, academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs. Schools apply through KDE’s Safe and Supportive Schools Branch and are recognized at the Bronze, Silver, or Gold level based on documented fidelity of implementation.
Stevenson’s recognition is for the 2025–2026 school year.
What Silver recognition means
Silver-level recognition goes beyond schoolwide (Tier 1) systems. It reflects evidence that the school is also implementing targeted (Tier 2) supports with fidelity—using action plans, intervention systems, team structures, and data to help students who need more than universal expectations and recognition.
KDE’s program is designed to identify schools that are not only teaching positive behavior, but managing the framework well enough that practices are consistent, measurable, and sustainable.
How Stevenson earned Silver
Stevenson attributes the recognition to work across the entire Panther community:
- Clear expectations
Schoolwide expectations were taught and reinforced consistently in every setting—classrooms, hallways, cafeteria, playground, and other common areas. - Positive recognition
Staff celebrated students’ positive choices throughout the day, not only after problems occurred. - Data-informed support
Behavior data was used to guide decisions and match students with the right supports. - One Panther team
Staff, students, and families worked together to strengthen school culture.
Those practices align with Stevenson’s existing PBIS work, including the school’s ROAR guidelines: Responsibility, Ownership of actions, Awesome attitude, and Respect for all.
A schoolwide achievement
School leaders emphasize that the recognition belongs to the whole community.
“This recognition belongs to all of us,” the school shared in its announcement. “Thank you to our students, staff, families, and community for growing with us.”
The message of the year is simple and shared: United in trust. Driven by purpose. Proud to be Panthers.
Why it matters for families
When PBIS is implemented with fidelity, students know what is expected, see those expectations modeled and celebrated, and receive extra support when they need it. The goal is a safer, more predictable, and more positive learning environment—one in which students can focus on growing academically and socially.
Silver recognition does not mean the work is finished. It means Stevenson has met a statewide standard for doing the work well and now has a stronger foundation for continued improvement.
Go Panthers.