In 2017, ATN released an audio summit containing interviews of leading educators nationwide. Julie Beem, ATN’s Executive Director interviewed Jen Alexander, an experienced trauma-informed educator, school counselor, expert on developmental trauma, global speaker, and consultant. Jen is also the author of Building Trauma-Sensitive Schools and Supporting Students and Staff After COVID-19. Her passion is helping others help kids. To learn more, visit her website, MsJenAlexander.com.
Jen lays out for us the framework for how we, as educators, can move toward creating a school-wide trauma-sensitive climate. Listen to learn the specific steps a school or district can take to be on the path to becoming a truly trauma sensitive school.
This interview has been broken down into four parts: Why do we need trauma sensitive schools?, What is Complex Trauma?, What should educators do to make their schools trauma sensitive?, and What about the kids who need more?
Part four of this series focuses on what educators need to do when their students need even more support. We must set the children up for success because, as Jen says, “We all learn more from success than we do from failure.” When we see a child that is struggling, our first inclination should be to connect with that child. That might make all the difference in that child’s day, even that child’s life.
