SBT in Schools: Teaching from a Place of Joy

Description

SBT in Schools: Teaching from a Place of Joy

1.5 General CEUs

*This is a self-contained module from the “Beyond the Protocol” workshop, a comprehensive workshop on PFA and SBT.

Course Abstract: This module covers bringing PFA/SBT into school settings—the same model, but with far more nuance and far less control than a clinical setting. Drawing on years of implementation in a Washington school district, the presenters walk through the barriers schools present and how to work within them, including when the full model isn’t possible and only the underlying values can be brought in. Participants learn how to build values alignment and buy-in, collaborate with IEP teams and families, and evaluate when SBT is (and isn’t) the right call for a given student. A substantial portion covers the special education law that shapes these decisions, along with the practical logistics of scheduling, data collection, documentation, and contracting with outside agencies. Throughout, the emphasis is on prioritizing safety and trust first, translating between school and behavior-analytic language, and making implementation legally sound and sustainable.

Learning Objectives: By the end of this course, participants will be able to…

• Evaluate whether SBT is an appropriate and feasible intervention for a given student and school context, including when to steer toward less resource-intensive options
• Identify the barriers specific to school settings and adapt the model (or its underlying values) to work within them
• Build values alignment and buy-in with teachers, administrators, IEP teams, and families, in part by translating between educational and behavior-analytic language
• Describe the special education legal framework relevant to SBT, including free and appropriate public education, least restrictive environment, and the obligation to show progress
• Plan the logistics of school-based implementation, including scheduling, data collection, documentation in IEPs and behavior plans, and collaboration between school and contracted staff

Presenter Bios:
Hillary Laney, MA, BCBA, LBA spearheaded a company-wide transformation to assent-based care at one of the largest ABA organizations in the country. She built the mentorship infrastructure, data systems, and implementation frameworks that resulted in hundreds of clinicians and clinical leaders being trained and thousands of clients benefiting from PFA/SBT and assent-based care practices. She currently works as a Senior VP of Clinical Services at Centria Autism.

Beth Nelson, M.Ed leads with joy while bringing Skill-Based Treatment (SBT) to students in Bellingham Public Schools, where she has been coaching and supporting educators with implementation since her introduction to the process in 2019. Through strong relationships and collaborative practices, she initiated and partnered with colleagues to fuel enthusiasm for the safe and ethical outcomes of Skill-Based Treatment, fostering genuine buy-in from families and staff, and strengthening teams to better support students with complex behavioral profiles. Beth also has extensive experience with SBT as a parent, bringing a perspective few providers can offer — one grounded in both professional expertise and the lived reality of family life. Her 14-year-old daughter has been the recipient of SBT services and is now a self-proclaimed “my way expert” who loves to help teach staff how to implement the process.

**Purchase includes 6 months of access to this course.

Published October 2026

The PFA & SBT Community is an Authorized Continuing Education Provider for the BACB® and IBAO®. Our BACB® provider ID is OP-23-10256.