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A teacher fist bumps a student
Jeremy Tepper

One by one, 7th and 8th grade students blindly reached into a box, grabbing a ball signifying a house before going down a slide and grabbing a shirt and bracelet for their respective house.

The activity marked the Duquesne City School District’s first big step into a new PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) initiative, a house system inspired by the Ron Clark Academy, an acclaimed nonprofit middle school in Atlanta, Georgia, revered for its ability to foster a “loving, dynamic learning environment that promotes academic excellence and fosters leadership.”

Middle school students are randomly split up into four houses: Altruismo (the house of giving), Amistad (the house of friendship), Isibindi (the house of courage), and Rêveur (the house of dreamers). Each house represents students’ home rooms, headed by one of four teachers: Mr Uram, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Ryan, or Ms. Taylor.

District administrators and teachers first got exposed to the Ron Clark Academy during professional development visits to the school. They came away impressed and motivated to implement a similar model into their own district.

“When I went there, I had no idea what I was walking into. It was just a different world down there for that school. You saw all the teachers and the students shine with positivity. Every single thing they did was for a purpose. Every time the kids talked to you, they made good eye contact and shook your hand with professionalism,” said Mr. Uram.

“It was remarkable to see that they were all practicing the conduct that we want out of students in 2024,” Mr. Wilson added.

“It was a lot of interpersonal collaboration and cooperation. The whole system is built on this house system, so you take pride in your house. But regardless of your house, everyone takes pride in everyone’s success.”



The Ron Clark Academy model follows a few major tenets. Students are to follow the “Essential 55”, instead coined “The Duke House Rules” in the Duquesne City School District. Through observing these rules, students earn points through the House App. Houses will compete against each other to earn the most points, with students receiving prizes of their choosing at various checkpoints. Parents can also join the app, allowing them to not only track each house’s success, but communicate with their child’s teacher easily.

“The kids are expected to know those rules, celebrate those rules, and hold each other accountable for following those rules,” said Mr. Wilson.

In all, the system is built on positive reinforcement, with the goal of creating an inclusive environment that celebrates success.

“Our PBIS system was K-8. We needed to divide middle school from elementary and we thought this was the best way to do it,” said Mr. Uram.

“We thought that bringing this house system here, they’ll have a sense of belonging to their houses. It’s going to be a cluster of all sorts of different kids that belong to their specific house.”

Mr. Uram and Mr. Wilson echoed that teachers are excited to delve into this new chapter and initiative, praising district administrators not just for thinking outside of the box, but giving teachers freedom to do the same, as they experiment with best practices to infuse the Ron Clark Academy into their own school.

“We’re trying bold, new things in our middle school,” said Mr. Wilson.

A student goes down a slide
A student reaches into a box
A student and an administrator shake hands
Four students pose for a picture
Teachers and administrators cheer on students
Teachers hand out shirts
A student holds up a ball
A student holds up a ball
A teacher fist bumps a student
A teacher fist bumps a student
Teachers and administrators cheer on students
Teacher and students pose for picture
Teacher and students pose for picture
Teacher and students pose for picture
Teacher and students pose for picture
Teacher and students pose for picture