There have been 23 school-related shootings this year, which makes parents fear their kids are not safe in school. It’s also a major concern for educators.
Two local teachers worked together and developed an app to keep their students protected in school.
Josette Rechul and Matt Ridenhour are music teachers at Crestwood High School in Dearborn Heights. With a combined 40 years of teaching experience, they created an app called TABS, which means Tracking Appropriate Behavior.
The application streamlines the way school staff communicates internally, looping teachers, counselors and security in by using their phone and going paperless.
“The software has four pieces," Ridenhour said. "It has an attendance feature, digital hall pass feature. It has a PBIS (Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports) and also the lockdown, which is the biggest deal here."
Through the app, the administrator notifies every teacher when the school is on lockdown or in crisis mode. If it is a weather threat or an intruder in the school, the teacher responds by marking themselves "safe."
“When I mark myself safe, I move down to the bottom of the list and if I need help I’m on the top,” Rechul said.
Based on a school's master schedule, administration can identify where the teacher is with their class and alert police if a crisis occurs.
“The idea is that we can identify who needs help and where the problem is so first responders can get there quicker,” Rechul said.
The app is a great tool to track reoccurring behavioral issues such as bullying and fighting. With one click, a teacher can send out an alert to the principal, counselors and all teachers.
“The intervention process is so great because the admin sets up the entire feedback loop – who gets notified and when they create the behaviors their trying to track, both positive and negative,” Ridenhour said.
If a parent needs to get involved, they will get an alert from the TABS app. Everyone is on board to prevent any further tragedy.
“If we can even help one kid, or one teacher, or one school experience less of a tragedy, I think that’s really what we’re going for,” Rechul said.
Schools interested in using the TABS system for the 2019 school year can email hello@solutionsforteachers.comor view video demonstrations at facebook.com/trackingappropriatebehaviors
