School personnel working with students who engage in severe challenging behavior are expected to implement crisis management procedures accurately and efficiently during high-stress situations. Traditional crisis management trainings often rely on competency-based models in which staff demonstrate skills correctly following instruction; however, competency alone may not sufficiently prepare staff for real-world implementation demands. Fluency-based training, rooted in behavioral science and incorporating components of Behavior Skills Training (BST), may improve staff performance through repeated practice, immediate feedback, and performance-based fluency criteria.
This presentation reviews a research study examining the effects of fluency-based staff training on crisis management performance within a center-based educational setting serving students with intensive behavioral needs. Using a single-case multiple baseline design across skills, the study evaluated staff implementation accuracy, confidence, maintenance, generalization, and staff injury rates related to physical crisis management procedures. Implications for staff training, safety, and educational practice will be discussed, along with practical recommendations for incorporating fluency-based approaches into crisis intervention programs.
This program is open to all MPY members. PDPs and CEUs are not being offered. BCBAs are eligible to receive CEs through LSGurdin Consulting.
About LSGurdin Consulting CE Program
LSGurdin Consulting is an ACE Provider with an on-demand library on professional development topics including ABA and mental health, social validity, mindfulness, cultural humility, compassionate school ABA, neurodiversity, assent-based treatment, and ABA superpowers. Each event is presented live and also offered on-demand through Behavior Live.
About LSGurdin Consulting
LSGurdin Consulting also offers behavioral consultation to parents and school teams, school and home assessments, staff training and professional development workshops, educational consultation, and program evaluations.
Event Cancellation Policy
This program is being offered in partnership with LSGurdin Consulting. You will be receiving an email with instructions on how to view the training on Behavior Live. All cancellations or request for information should be directed to Lisa Gurdin at lsgurdin@lsgurdinconsulting.com.
Speakers
- Dr. Jaclyn Leotta
About the Speakers
Dr. Jaclyn Leotta
Dr. Jaclyn Leotta (she/her) is a Pennsylvania-certified School Psychologist and Board Certified Behavior Analyst–Doctoral (BCBA-D) with more than a decade of experience serving in center-based public school programs supporting students with complex emotional, behavioral, and developmental needs. Across her career, she has specialized in crisis prevention and response, staff coaching, and the implementation of evidence-based behavioral and instructional supports within highly structured, multidisciplinary educational environments.
Dr. Leotta holds a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the Pennsylvania College of Osteopathic Medicine, along with advanced training in applied behavior analysis. She continues to work at the intersection of behavior science, crisis-response systems, and school psychology, with professional interests that include crisis systems design, behavior-analytic staff training, multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), program-wide data systems, and high-needs educational program consultation.