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May 19, 2026

Ep. 60: Mythbusters - Districts Use Your Data as a Gotcha

When you submit your data to the district, do you worry they'll be used against you somehow? Listen in as we talk with our guests about how trusting relationships and honest coaching help prioritize improvement over accountability goals

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We're coming to you LIVE from the NWPBIS Conference in Tacoma, WA to explore another PBIS myth. Joining us today are Becky Gawenit and Charisse Elliott.

  • Becky is from Battle Ground Public School District in Battle Ground, WA. She's been a part of that district for the last 18 years as either a school psychologist or as a district MTSS coach.
  • Charisse is a behavior program associate with Salem-Keizer Public Schools in Salem, OR. In her role, she works as an advocate for what teachers, students, and families need by focusing on systems to create supportive, inclusive learning environments.

In this installment of our Mythbusters series, we discuss whether districts use the data you submit as a gotcha. We talk about how data work best when they inform the decisions you make, but when you submit those same data to the district, they seem work as a punishment. Charisse and Becky help us understand that finding the middle ground involves trusting relationships, honest coaching, and a culture prioritizing improvement over accountability.

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Megan Cave

About

Megan Cave

Megan Cave is a member of the PBISApps Marketing and Communication team. She is the writer behind the user manuals, scripted video tutorials, and news articles for PBISApps. She also writes a monthly article for Teach by Design and contributes to its accompanying Expert Instruction podcast episode. Megan has completed four half marathons – three of which happened unintentionally – and in all likelihood, will run another in the future.

About

Danielle Triplett

Danielle Triplett, M.Ed., is a Senior Research Assistant and member of the PBISApps training team. Danielle is a passionate educator and researcher dedicated to serving her community and advocating for the best interests of children and adolescents. Her areas of research and academic pursuits focus on improving educational equity, alternatives to exclusionary discipline, using data for decision-making, multi-tiered systems of support for behavior and mental health, and educational coaching. Prior to joining the University of Oregon, Danielle served as a district PBIS coach and a middle school language arts teacher. Outside the office, you can find her snowboarding, baking chocolate chip cookies, and daydreaming about interior design.