June 2016. ATN’s Trauma-Sensitive Schools (TSS) Initiative hosted our first Professional Development Training June 27 & 28 in Somerville, NJ. The Superintendent of Somerville Schools, Dr. Tim Purnell was the keynote and spoke on the importance of viewing things through a different lens. Then ATN’s TSS trainers Melissa Sadin and Jen Alexander provided a full day of training to enable educators to realize the impact of early childhood trauma; recognize traumatized children in their schools; and respond in a trauma-informed, relationship-based way to help children feel safe and learn. Research indicates that 1 out of every 4 children in American classrooms (regardless of poverty, race or other factors) has adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) significant enough to impact their ability to learn. ATN’s TSS PD Training is offered as either one-day and two-day training sessions that present the prevalence and tools for recognizing trauma and its impact and begin to give educators a framework for shifting to trauma-informed systemic responses. The TSS Initiative is also available for ongoing consultation for schools and systems implementing trauma-sensitive strategies. To learn more about ATN’s TSS Initiative, visit www.creatingtraumasensitiveschools.org or email Melissa Sadin directly ATN’s team will be training in Iowa in early August and at several other districts around the country throughout the 2016-2017 school year.
