Schoolwide Positive Behavior Support (SW-PBS) is a proactive approach to put behavioral/social skills strategies in place for all students while also building in support for those at risk for and/or those who receive special education services.
Brief Biography
Karen Westhoff joined our team in June of 2008, as a Positive Behavior Support Consultant for St. Louis Cooperating School District in the Regional Professional Development Center. Karen earned her Bachelors of Science in Special Education from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and recently completed her Masters in Administration at William Woods University.
She has worked in various capacities in the educational field over the last 20 years, beginning at Special School District as a BD teacher. After the birth of their first son she took some time off to enjoy being a mom. She returned to the educational field as a Lead Teacher at a Therapeutic Intervention Center for children with special needs ages 18 months to 3 years. Karen worked in this capacity until her son; Cole blessed them with his presence, and then much to their surprise 13 months later they were blessed with their youngest son, Austin.
In 1996, she along with her husband, Bob and their three sons relocated to Union, MO where they still reside today.
Once the boys were preschool age, along with running Sunday School she was also the Director of St. Gertrude’s Preschool for several years and then returned to Special Education for Union School District.
At Union School District, Karen worked with the behavior population as a teacher and a consultant. She spent the last 3 years at Union working on designing and implementing an AT-Risk program for students with behavioral concerns. The program was developed to meet the needs of individuals who needed interventions at the secondary and tertiary levels and it had a strong emphasis on Sensory Integration. Karen was also a key player in introducing and implementing PBS at Central Elementary School.
She has been happily married to her high school sweetheart for 22 years. They enjoy spending time with their three sons. The oldest, Jake is college bound to Mizzou. Cole is a sophomore in High School, and their youngest Austin is in 8th grade.
In her very limited spare time she enjoys decorating, creating floral arrangements and reading.
