“I was out on maternity leave for the beginning of the year so I didn’t come back until the end of October and I wasn’t sure we were even still using them. I was sure I hadn’t heard anything about them so I did ask students last month and they said that [B4L stickers] were still a thing but that they never get anything from them. I do like the idea of nominating a student each time because if there’s a student that stands out for you they are acknowledged for that. But I also do like the stickers. I think that’s an incentive for students to participate and be part of their school culture as well as you know just being acknowledged for little things,” said Spanish teacher Holly Vivar. “This year, I have probably given now less than 20 last year. Last year was a little bit more but it was not more than 40. I tried to observe students who are displaying great behavior, being kind toward other students. I am 100 percent for the whole idea of the B4L stickers but implementing it-that’s what we’re struggling with. I think [it would help] if the teachers, for me my day is so busy, if I had something I can visually see or of examples in which I can give out the stickers because my mind is constantly moving throughout the day,” said health teacher Bill Birinyi.“I do not [give out B4L stickers]. The first year we had it, I probably gave out more B4L stickers than any other teacher. I looked for every opportunity to give away B4L stickers but then I realized not every other teacher was on board with it. And so the first year I gave away tons. Second, third year probably nine. I think [giving students points (stars) digitally] would be an easier and less exclusive way because when you give a sticker to one person, you’re excluding everybody else. And anonymously giving students stars, I think would be a better approach. I’m all in for rewarding students for good behavior-it’s not because I don’t participate in it. I reward students with good behavior and more immediate rewards. So again I’m for both forms, but it’s harder for me to make [stickers] seem enticing when it’s just a sticker, you know, and it would be something more of a dedicated student who believes in delayed gratification would probably be more likely to earn stickers or stars,” said chemistry teacher Mike Olsberg.“In the beginning of the year when they’re given out and they’re put in our mailbox, [I distribute B4L stickers] but then after that, I never hand them out. I give the B4L card during my third period and so then I start everybody off with the sticker. Now when I remember, I give them out if someone helps me with new lab supplies from one room to the other or opens the door for me or sees that I need help or assistance, I think that that’s when I remember. It’s just, you know, [B4L stickers are] not very intuitive. If I see someone doing it, they’re being analytical or connected here, it’s like they’re always being those things. So I would have been giving stickers all day long and it’s like, should we be giving the stickers from a high basis or a low basis. Based on the quantity of stickers they give us, it doesn’t seem like we should be handing them out often,” said biology teacher Erika Williams.“I think if I’d made a more concerted effort I would, but they’re just not always readily available and they’re just kind of in the back of my mind really. So even if I saw an act of kindness or you know someone expressing the B4L spirit, ‘right, okay, that’s awesome. Thank you.’ You know, I’ll congratulate whatever, you know, but a B4L sticker is not the first thing that comes to my head. And even if it was, I have to search for a sticker somewhere. But again, if I made a more concerted effort. I think it’s just teachers have a lot of tasks every day and not only with every presentation, instructing, but students coming in so I just think it’s kind of a little thrown to the wayside a little bit. This is an extra task that we kind of have to remember to sit down and think,” said art teacher Tony Pash.“I used to give them out all the time. Actually, this year I haven’t found any of them. My focus hasn’t been with them and, I don’t know. I think some of these students are pretty on top of it. I give a lot of people in the hallways that help other kids with their books often and stuff like that. I don’t know why. Maybe I need to just refocus my not giving out stickers. [The system is] kind of cool, I mean I think a lot of teachers are not doing as good right now, maybe because we don’t see the end result like we don’t necessarily see them and maybe teachers right now are so busy. It seems like every week we have like a different bell schedule that I just feel like I’m trying to stay on top of that and just hanging out. I know it sounds really weird, but just handing out stickers is just one more thing for me to do. And I don’t know if the kids are gonna even have any students come after and go ‘hey, can I get a B4L sticker.’ Like nobody is saying anything to me but it’s kind of interesting. We haven’t had a focus this year in terms of why. You know we’re still giving out the B4L stickers. I don’t even know if I’ve seen have they given out yet the new cards. It’s only been a few times so I think just the reminders is kind of nice,” said math teacher Marianne Karp.
