Strategies for a Trauma Informed Leader

Overview

In order for educators to provide student-centered learning environments that lead to optimal growth, the diverse and ever-evolving academic and emotional needs of students must be met. Whether it’s facing food insecurity or being exposed to abuse, unmet emotional needs produce trauma. Due to the growing number of students in schools that have experienced trauma, educational leaders must be informed of the ways in which that trauma impacts student learning and seek to mitigate its effects through awareness and understanding.  Cultivating trauma-informed practices can help instructional leaders provide a lens through which systems of support can be structured to better educate and meet the rapidly increasing needs of students who navigate their schooling with trauma. 

Audience

This session is designed for district,  school, and teacher leaders who interface with school-level educators to provide instructional support, training, and leadership.

Specifications

Virtual Workshop

•  2 hours
• Up to 20 participants per session 
• Participants will need a camera, microphone, and a Zoom-enabled device

Outcome

I can use equity as a lens for my leadership to ensure access and voice for staff and students.

Learning Experience

During the workshop, participants will…

Define

• Develop a research-based definition of “trauma”
• Understand how trauma emotionally and physically impacts students in educational settings
• Explore various sources of trauma
• Reflect on various types of trauma

Explore

• Identify the realities associated with trauma
• Determine the relevance of practices “informed” by trauma using real-world scenarios
• Debunk myths about trauma
• Self-assess current practice to determine levels of awareness

Build

• Integrate new learning into current practice
• Observe real-world scenario to look for evidence of integration of trauma-informed practices
• Establish new supports and structures aligned with new awareness of trauma-informed practices