HCS Intervention Specialist Honored with 2024 Dr. Garry McGiboney Outstanding Leadership Award

HENRY COUNTY, GA – The Georgia Association for Positive Behavior Support (GAPBS) recently honored Henry County Schools Intervention and Prevention Specialist Yolanda Reid Wheeler with the 2024 Dr. Garry McGiboney Outstanding Leadership Award.

GAPBS presents the prestigious accolade each year to “an individual who has demonstrated exceptional leadership in advancing Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) at the school, district, or state level.”

Wheeler, the sole awardee from a pool of more than 100 candidates nominated statewide, accepted the crystal award at the GAPBS conference in December.

“I have always been passionate about leading students, educators, buildings, and communities and nurturing a positive climate, culture, and connectivity,” Wheeler said. “No matter my title, a service mindset or leading in service has always been my purpose.”

Wheeler has dedicated a career spanning nearly 30 years to roles that include educator, consultant, counselor, behavior specialist, and student mental health advocate.

Considered a trailblazer in education, mental health, and the PBIS community, she is credited with enhancing student and school performance through impactful programs.

Among her many accomplishments, Wheeler secured a $3.3 million HealthMPowers grant for HCS in 2021, which enhanced the district’s efforts targeting behavior, mental health and wellness, academic success, absenteeism, and student engagement.

The grant supported several initiatives, including acquiring educational materials and personalized technical assistance and establishing student leadership programming and professional learning for school-based leadership teams.

Wheeler proactively pursues opportunities to serve students by implementing programs that enhance learning and wellness, ensuring activities effectively align with the district’s PBIS objectives.

She pioneered HCS’ Youth Leadership Ambassador Program in 2015, enabling students across the district to train to serve as influential voices in support of their schools. The unique program provides participants with opportunities to nurture community connectedness and develop competencies such as relationship building, leadership, and advocacy, inspiring them to become impactful change agents.

Wheeler expanded the program by launching the annual Youth Leadership Ambassador Summit in 2017. The Summit has since served more than 5,000 students, educators, families, and community members and produced numerous local, state, national, and international partnerships.   

As the district’s PBIS coordinator, she manages HCS’ implementation of the PBIS program, including the development of PBIS leadership teams across the district and institution of the PBIS framework in schools.

A total of 14 HCS campuses have been designated PBIS Distinguished Schools for exemplary PBIS implementation.

Wheeler’s body of work has resulted in recognition by several organizations, including the Georgia Department of Education, Georgia State Senate, HealthMPowers, the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General Vice Admiral, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Her vision and passion for student empowerment and supportive school cultures have yielded positive results with demonstrated improvements in student behavior, engagement, academic performance, and overall well-being.

Wheeler champions a holistic approach to student success, dedicating her career to ensuring every child has the necessary support to thrive academically and emotionally. 

Her focus on developing well-rounded students extends to meeting their social, intellectual, and mental health needs using various techniques, which include introducing students to worlds and opportunities beyond the classroom.

Her efforts have impacted the lives of thousands of Georgia students, helping to prepare them to be college, career, and life-ready. Wheeler is a highly sought-after PBIS presenter and instructor due to her innovative approaches to student wellness and impressive accomplishments throughout her career.

“Ms. Wheeler’s innovative programs have yielded numerous benefits, extending beyond student achievement to faculty, staff, and leadership development and support,” said Superintendent Dr. John Pace III. “Her work has been instrumental in reinforcing the district’s vision to ensure a high-quality, world-class education for every student, and I congratulate her on this well-deserved honor.”

GAPBS is a network of the National Association for Positive Behavior Support that seeks to increase the visibility of positive behavior support in Georgia and provide a collaborative statewide effort to disseminate positive behavior support practices. 

About Henry County Schools

Henry County Schools (HCS) is the eighth-largest school district in Georgia, consisting of 53 schools and located about 20 minutes south of Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Over the past two decades, our community has grown in population from 113,000 residents to over 244,000 residents. Since 1999, student enrollment has grown from 21,000 to 43,000 students, and our number of employees has grown from 3,000 to 6,000.

HCS is “In Pursuit of Exceptional,” taking action to advance opportunities, access, and outcomes so that every student in our school district has Exceptional Support, Exceptional Access, and an Exceptional Future. In 2020, our Board of Education adopted our 2021-2026 Community-Inspired Strategic Plan and laid out a clear vision and mission for Henry County Schools. Our vision is to ensure a high-quality, world-class education for every student, and our mission is to empower all students with exceptional opportunities and access that lead to success in a global society.

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