At Marshall Middle School, the "SPARK The Difference” initiative is our school’s Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program.  It is designed to teach, reinforce, and celebrate positive behaviors that contribute to a successful school community.  Students are explicitly taught schoolwide expectations in classrooms, hallways, cafeteria, auditorium, buses, and other school settings.  When students demonstrate these expectations, they are acknowledged and rewarded with SPARK Tickets, helping to reinforce positive choices and build a strong school community.  We believe this program plays an essential role in fostering a safe, supportive, predictable, and engaging environment where all students can learn, grow, and thrive.

We are proud to have earned Tier 1 PBIS Sustained Fidelity recognition through the statewide PBIS network. This achievement reflects the dedication and collaborative efforts of our staff, students, and families in creating a positive school culture.  In addition to a staff SPARK Committee, students in all grade levels serve on the SIA (SPARK Intelligence Agency) to lead this initiative throughout our school.

The goals of SPARK are to:

• Promote a positive, safe, and welcoming school climate.
• Teach students the behavioral skills they need to be successful in school and beyond.
• Recognize and reward students who consistently demonstrate positive behaviors.
• Reduce office discipline referrals and classroom disruptions.
• Increase student engagement, attendance, and academic achievement.
• Foster positive relationships among students, staff, and families.
• Ensure all students feel respected, supported, and valued.