Introduction
Collins Lane is a vibrant elementary school serving approximately 500 students from preschool through 5th grade. With 60% of its student population coming from low socioeconomic backgrounds, the school is dedicated to providing a supportive and enriching educational environment. As one of seven elementary schools in its district, Collins Lane is committed to equipping students with academic knowledge and essential life skills.

The Problem
Before adopting RCD, educators at Collins Lane faced significant challenges with their behavior management system. The school’s approach was heavily reliant on external rewards to encourage students to follow expectations. This created a cycle where staff members were constantly managing complex reward systems and processes.

Principal Beth Lodmell described the situation as leaving the staff “very tired and overworked.” The constant effort to maintain these systems was leading to burnout and exhaustion. It was clear that while the adults were working incredibly hard, the system itself was unsustainable and wasn’t achieving the desired long-term impact on student behavior. The school’s leadership knew they needed a different approach—one that would build intrinsic motivation rather than a dependency on external rewards.

The Solution
The turning point for Collins Lane came after the school’s leadership team saw RCD creator Larry Thompson speak at the Innovative Schools Summit in 2024. The principal admitted that the RCD philosophy initially “sounded too good to be true,” but it resonated deeply with the school’s core beliefs and the administration’s aspirations for students. Leaders wanted to cultivate skills and practices that students would carry with them far beyond elementary school.

Feeling “exhausted and burnt out” with their current reality, the decision to implement RCD was made swiftly. The school embraced the new model, with the principal leading the charge to set clear expectations for how staff would support students in developing their social skills and taking ownership of their actions.

RCD provided a structured framework that shifted the focus from adult-managed rewards to student-led responsibility. The staff received the training and tools needed to feel more confident in handling challenging behaviors and supporting students in a variety of situations. The implementation was intentional, with a school-wide commitment to helping students learn how to take genuine responsibility for their choices.

The Result
After one full school year of implementing Responsibility-Centered Discipline, Collins Lane is already seeing significant positive changes. The new approach has empowered staff, who now feel “much more comfortable with dealing with challenging behaviors.” This increased confidence has created a more positive and less stressful environment for educators.

Most importantly, the students are benefiting profoundly. The principal noted, “Our students are learning how to truly take responsibility for their choices.”