2J: Aiming for Zero Fights: How One School Prevents Aggression with Real Time Problem Solving

In the 2024-25 school year, Arlington K-8 school experienced 57 student fights, with 13 occurring in August and September. This school year, there had been 1 fight as of September 30. In this session, participants will learn from Arlington’s principal how she instituted daily safety huddles and systems to support rapid, root cause problem solving that have enabled her and her staff to prevent almost all fights and incidents of physical aggression across the school. We will engage participants in experiencing a safety huddle and share detailed, real-life examples of how the Arlington team identifies safety risks and tests quick changes to eliminate conditions that contribute to unsafe student behaviors. Participants will take away an understanding of the essential elements of an effective rapid problem solving system, as well as tools to support them in implementing this approach in their contexts.