TASN-ATBS Webinar Series: From Resistance to Results: Winning School Staff Over to Evidence-Based Practices

Webinar Description:

Implementing evidence-based practices in schools is essential for improving student outcomes, yet it often faces resistance from staff due to misconceptions, competing priorities, or lack of engagement. This session explores strategies grounded in behavioral science and Organizational Behavior Management (OBM) to foster buy-in among educators and school leaders. Participants will learn how to align initiatives with staff values, leverage effective communication techniques, and create systems of reinforcement that drive meaningful participation. By addressing common barriers to adoption and presenting actionable steps for gaining commitment, this presentation equips school administrators and behavioral consultants with tools to transform resistance into collaboration. Attendees will leave with practical approaches to build consensus, enhance motivation, and ensure sustainable implementation of evidence-based practices across educational settings.

After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Identify common barriers to staff buy-in for implementing evidence-based practices and develop strategies to address them.
• State at least 2 techniques for aligning evidence-based initiatives with staff values and priorities to enhance engagement.
• State measurable outcomes to track progress in staff adoption of evidence-based practices.
• List at least two strategies for incorporating staff input and values into the design and implementation of evidence-based practices

Presenter Information:

Dr. Paul “Paulie” Gavoni, Ed.D., BCBA, is a behavior scientist specializing in human performance, coaching, and organizational leadership who has worked across education, human services, and sports for over two decades. In this capacity, he served the needs of children and adults in various positions including COO, Vice President, Director of School Improvement, Leadership Director, Professor, Assistant Principal, School Turnaround Manager, Clinical Coordinator, Lead Therapist, Trainer, Coach, and Behavior Analyst. Dr. Gavoni is passionate about applying Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Organizational Behavior Management (OBM) strategies to lead and help other leaders establish positive and engaging environments across industries that bring out the best in people. He is a Board Member of the Opioid Awareness Foundation and The World Behavior Analysis Day Alliance.

Known for his authenticity and practical approaches, Dr. Gavoni hosts the Thoughts & Rants of a Behavior Scientist and the Crisis in Education Podcasts. He is also a sought-after speaker at a variety of Educational, Sports, and Behavior Analytic Conferences and co-author of Wall Street Journal and USA Today’s Best-Selling The 5 Scientific Laws of Life & Leadership: Behavioral Karma; Quick Wins! Accelerating School Transformation through Science, Engagement, and Leadership; Deliberate Coaching: A Toolbox for Accelerating Teacher Performance (#1 Amazon Best Seller); MMA Science: A Training, Coaching, & Belt Ranking Guide (#1 Amazon New Release), and QUICK Responses to Misbehavior for Reducing Misbehavior and Suspensions (#1 Amazon Best Seller). In addition, he is currently preparing How to Determine if Your Leadership is $hitty. Dr. Gavoni is proud to introduce ABA & OBM to a massive audience through his numerous publications.

Beyond his work in education and human services, Dr. Gavoni is a former Golden Gloves Champion and highly respected striking coach in combat sports. Coach “Paulie Gloves,” as he is known in the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) community, has trained world champions and UFC vets using technologies rooted in the behavioral sciences. Coach Paulie has been featured in the books Beast: Blood, Struggle, and Dreams at the Heart of Mixed Martial Arts, A Fighter’s Way, the feature article Ring to Cage: How four former boxers help mold MMA’s finest, FX’s The Toughman, and was recently featured in the Lifetime reality series Leave it to Geege. He is also an author who has written extensively for online magazines such as Bloody Elbow, Scifighting, Last Word on Sports, and Bloody Elbow, where his Fight Science series continues to bring behavioral science to MMA.

Analytical and hard-working, Anika Costa, M.S. Ed, BCBA, is known for her practical yet detailed-oriented approaches to organizing and seeing projects successfully through to the end. Passionate about instructional design and teaching, her meticulous approach to developing and delivering training using behavior-analytic technologies increases engagement and learning at an accelerated rate.

As a Behavior Analyst, Professor, and former teacher in New York City Public Schools, Anika has a specialized skill set has allowed her to effectively work with teachers and school leaders in nationwide classroom and school improvement efforts. A seasoned consultant and mentor, she is also passionate about applying principles of Organizational Behavior Management during assessment, training, and coaching initiatives to support measurable performance improvement within the natural environment.

She is laser-focused on process improvement, instructional design in professional development, and behavioral coaching aimed at bringing out the best in behavior technicians, behavior analysts, teachers, and school leaders so they can bring out the best in the learners they support. Anika is pursuing her Instructional Design and Performance Technology doctorate at Florida State University.

Her latest achievements include designing and instructing in the highly engaging and successful online 40-hour Registered Behavior Technician® course. She is also the proud co-author of the best-selling books Quick Wins!: Using Behavior Science to Accelerate and Sustain School Improvement and QUICK Responses for Reducing Misbehavior and Suspensions: A Behavioral Toolbox for Classroom and School Leaders and Quick Wins: Using Behavior Science to Accelerate and Sustain School Improvement.