Menifee’s Bell Mountain Middle School has been awarded the Gold Implementation Award by the California Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Coalition, a prestigious recognition celebrating schools that have successfully built a safe, positive, and predictable campus environment. The award was officially presented by the Riverside County Office of Education (RCOE) on November 7.
The “Gold” distinction indicates that Bell Mountain Middle School has not only adopted the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) framework but is implementing it with accuracy and data-driven consistency. This system shifts the focus from punishment to prevention, teaching students clear behavioral expectations—such as safety, respect, and responsibility—and rewarding them when they meet those standards.
Bell Mountain Middle School’s principal, Dr. Patrice Harris, credited the award to her dedicated staff. “This PBIS award validates the daily efforts of our teachers to build relationships first. When students feel safe and seen, they are ready to learn,” she said.
The award highlights the Menifee Union School District’s broader commitment to social-emotional wellness. By analyzing behavioral data, Bell Mountain staff can proactively identify areas where students need more support, rather than waiting for negative behaviors to escalate.
“Bell Mountain is modeling what it looks like to create a climate where every child can thrive,” Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Root said. This work is essential to our vision of helping students achieve a limitless future, said Dr. Jennifer Root.”
