ABSTRACT
Investing in experts allows for focused follow-up of a successful behavior intervention plan (BIP) without requiring personal intervention. Experts continue to advance in their knowledge and apply new skills. A teacher who follows a plan may have success, but an expert can adapt the intent of that plan to new situations and students. All students need praise and acknowledgment for their successes. Research has determined the optimal level to be four praises for each correction. In an average student without learning or behavior difficulties, this four to one ratio is easy to maintain as the student may only need one correction in a week. For students with autism, excess language can be taxing and stressful. Creating experts can take a fair amount of time and effort, but it is an investment well worth making. When school staff become experts, they feel empowered to run their own interventions and address future behaviors before they escalate.
