As written by Ainsley Hall and published in The Journal on October 1, 2024.
CHARLES TOWN — Jefferson County Schools’ Parent Educator Resource Center (PERC) hosted a Coffee Chat for parents with special-needs children Monday evening at Corner Connection in Charles Town.
The center invited Lorrie Jamison, a board-certified behavior analyst, to talk about behavior and help parents learn to understand their child’s behavior.
Jamison has been in her field of expertise since 2004 and has been working for Jefferson County Schools for about two and a half years. As a board-certified behavior analyst, she works with many different special education students to help them learn how to act appropriately in school. The Coffee Chat gave her the opportunity to meet with some of the parents and help them think of different strategies to help their children.
“I love problem-solving and being a support and resource for teachers, parents, and even students,” Jamison said. “I enjoy helping students find appropriate behaviors and learn how to redirect their frustrations. It’s also nice to connect with parents and let them know that they have support systems, as well. We are here to help them, too.”
During the presentation, Jamison explained that all behavior is a form of communication, so it’s important for someone to understand the why before they help them change that behavior. There are four main reasons that make people behave in a certain way, including gaining attention, gaining access to something, escaping from an unwanted situation, or an automatic behavior that is all about what feels good.
Once parents understand why their children are acting the way they are, they can start planning a strategy to correct the behavior while also showing positive reinforcement for good behaviors.
“This event is all about being a resource for parents,” Jamison said. “The need is so high. There are so many children who experience challenging behavior sometimes due to trauma, and they don’t know how to process it.”
Parents also had the chance to talk about some of the specific behaviors they are trying to correct. They could ask questions and get direct advice on how to handle certain situations. Parents could also meet others who are going through the same things they are.
Several high school students also came to the event to help with child care. While the parents listened to Jamison, students like Bria Savage spent time with some of their kids and made sure they felt welcome.
As a part of the leadership team at Jefferson High School, Savage and her friends reached out to Parent and Educator Resource Coordinator Haley Kern about helping at different events.
“I love getting to meet these students and hearing their stories,” Savage said. “From my experience, they have some of the brightest personalities at our school. It’s so fun to just hang out and remind them that there are people who care about them.”