Twice a month, or as needed, in lieu of before-school staff meetings, the Shepardson staff meets in pod teams (PK-1st, 2nd-3rd, and 4th-5th) to discuss how to best meet individual students’ needs. At these child study meetings, teachers brainstorm ideas with other teachers and specialists and create an intervention plan to help individual students be successful. Interventions may be for academic or behavioral concerns and are designed to capitalize on student strengths. A follow-up meeting is usually set for 6-8 weeks after the child study to see if the student has made adequate growth or if other interventions are needed.