How Sitton Elementary Reinvented PBIS with Spirit Box

PBIS programs work best when they're consistent and easy to manage. Sitton Elementary uses Spirit Box—a PBIS-aligned vending machine—to reward positive behavior, boost motivation, and teach real-world skills through meaningful, student-driven incentives.

Why Spirit Box for PBIS?

Sitton Elementary needed a long-term PBIS solution that would create consistency, reduce teacher workload, and boost student engagement. Spirit Box delivered.

“With all the options available, this best fit our needs. It engages a wide group of students and supports PBIS goals.”

Before Spirit Box, behavior incentives varied by classroom. The vending system standardized how students were rewarded and helped reinforce consistent expectations across the school.

How Spirit Box Supports PBIS

“It’s leveled the bar for our incentives. Instead of different teachers doing different things, we now have a shared practice.”

PBIS Tiered Support

Tier 1: All students in Grades 3–5 earn tokens for demonstrating positive behavior aligned with school values.

Tier 2: Some Grade 2 students receive additional positive reinforcement through Spirit Box.

Core Values That Drive Rewards

Tokens are awarded when students "raise the bar" by exceeding expectations tied to Sitton’s core values:

Integrity

Sí Se Puede

Teamwork

Kindness

Flexibility

Joy

“If a student organizes a new recess game that includes everyone, that's kindness at a higher level.”

Moving Beyond Extrinsic Motivation

Initially, Sitton gave all students monthly tokens. Over time, they shifted to a performance-based model.

“They expected it just for showing up... Now, students earn tokens by going above and beyond.”

This shift reinforced the value of intrinsic motivation and made the tokens more meaningful.

Sitton stocks their PBIS vending machine with student-approved rewards that are engaging, seasonal, and fun to earn.

Popular items include slime, Squishmallows, sports gear, and experiences like “Lunch with Lander” or “Principal for a Day.” Pricing is tiered (2–16 tokens) to encourage goal-setting and patience.

Shop PBIS

Spirit Box Operations and LOGISTICS

How It Works:

Available during lunch only

Students raise a hand after eating to get permission

No going back to classrooms for forgotten tokens

“Students know: if you lose your token, it’s like losing a $100 bill. That teaches responsibility.”

Training & Expectations:

Staff PD and alignment meetings

Visual slide decks with example scenarios

Classroom-by-classroom rollouts led by the principal

“We explicitly teach that fidgets and slime are tools, not toys.”

Best Practices:

Measure item dimensions before stocking

Tape smaller items (like mini slime) to cardstock to prevent misvending

Use labeled wood blocks for intangible rewards (e.g., "Principal for a Day")

Supply coin bags to help students store tokens responsibly

Train multiple staff members in machine troubleshooting

PBIS Outcomes at Sitton

Students build executive functioning skills by practicing patience, setting goals, and delaying gratification to save for premium rewards. This helps them develop real-world habits like budgeting and prioritizing.

Real-time incentives reinforce core values by directly tying tokens to behaviors that go above and beyond, making school expectations more visible and meaningful.

Anticipation motivates younger students as they look forward to participating in Spirit Box when they reach the eligible grades. This builds excitement and reinforces a positive school culture across all ages.

“Even kindergartners say, ‘When I’m in third grade, I’m going to get that!'“

Sitton Elementary proves that a PBIS incentive vending machine can do more than just dispense prizes. With intentional design, Spirit Box supports schoolwide consistency, teaches lifelong skills, and makes positive behavior visible, rewarding, and repeatable.

Whether you're launching PBIS or refining what you already have, Spirit Box gives students real reasons to lead with integrity, kindness, and joy.