Few challenges in schooling are as pervasive (or misunderstood) as supporting college students with trauma. In keeping with the Nationwide Youngster Traumatic Stress Community, by age 16, practically two-thirds of youngsters in america can have skilled at the least one probably traumatic occasion, from abuse and neglect to shedding a liked one or witnessing violence. These experiences don’t simply fade over time. They’ll have an effect on mind growth, reminiscence, consideration, and emotional regulation. This makes it arduous for college students to focus, behave appropriately, and even keep engaged at school. That always interprets to educational struggles, conduct points, and better dangers of absenteeism and dropping out.
Conventional self-discipline and classroom administration methods don’t at all times work for college students impacted by trauma. That’s as a result of their conduct could also be a response to unmet wants quite than willful defiance. With this in thoughts, extra lecturers are actually turning to trauma-informed coaching to higher perceive and assist their college students. One standout instance is Stefanie Lachenauer, New Jersey’s 2024-2025 Trainer of the Yr. Her story reveals how studying about trauma can change every thing—not only for particular person college students however for total faculty communities.
“I keep in mind that time in my life was so difficult and tumultuous”
Stefanie’s path to trauma-informed instructing started along with her personal experiences as a center faculty pupil. “I keep in mind that time in my life was so difficult and tumultuous,” she instructed the Resilience Issues podcast. These experiences, though difficult, helped her uncover the kind of trainer she wished to be. “I need to be that strong power there for [my students]. I need to be that regular rock. I need to be that one who, you realize, can share all of the issues I want I knew and simply be there to hear and assist them on their journey.”
“They have been actually wired … they usually didn’t have coping abilities.”
Early in her profession, Stefanie started to note that a lot of her college students “have been actually wired, like they have been experiencing stress they usually didn’t have coping abilities. And I used to be like, I’ve bought to do one thing,” she recollects. Her response was to hunt out new instruments—first by yoga and mindfulness certifications and later by trauma-informed coaching.
One specific pupil expertise stands out. “I used to be instructing sixth grade social research, and there was a pupil whom I used to be within the corridor with typically, having crying meltdowns and sometimes simply sitting and being with him, which was useful. However I knew that there was extra to among the behaviors that I used to be seeing within the classroom and likewise among the issues about his background. There’s solely so many respiratory practices, and this isn’t chopping it. I want to know extra about this.”
The second was a turning level. Stefanie realized that whereas mindfulness and yoga have been precious, they weren’t sufficient on their very own. She wanted a deeper understanding of trauma and resilience to actually assist her college students.
“I actually by no means believed that there was such a factor as a foul child.”
Stefanie’s method to trauma-informed schooling is rooted in a basic mindset shift. “Being trauma-informed and trauma-sensitive actually is a mindset,” she says. “I actually by no means believed that there was such a factor as a foul child. However having extra of a framework to work with is what actually supported and helped me.”
She discovered the Circle of Braveness framework—developed by Starr Commonwealth—particularly precious. “I really like that as a result of it retains every thing centered, and it actually helps me to consider all completely different facets of that little one’s life. That circle is without doubt one of the most useful issues.” The Circle of Braveness emphasizes 4 common wants: belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity. When these wants are met, undesirable behaviors lower and college students really feel safer and extra linked.
Stefanie additionally deepened her experience by turning into a Trauma and Resilience Licensed Specialist by Starr Commonwealth’s certification course. This coaching gave her sensible instruments to assist college students affected by trauma, enhance classroom local weather, and foster resilience in each learner. “After we take into consideration conduct as communication, it’s speaking one thing to us. And it’s speaking that there’s an unmet want. So discovering that want actually adjustments every thing.”
“We spend the primary 20 minutes on mindfulness.”
At this time, Stefanie’s classroom is a laboratory for resilience. She integrates play, mindfulness, and reflection into day by day routines. “I really like that play is in [the Starr Commonwealth system] as a result of ‘simply play’ is so necessary,” she notes. “Youngsters want that outlet to let that every one go.” Analysis helps this: Simply quarter-hour of play breaks can result in higher studying outcomes.
Her faculty has embraced mindfulness as a core apply. “All of the seventh graders at my faculty, they undergo the core abilities for achievement. We spend the primary 20 minutes on mindfulness—somewhat mindfulness mini lesson. We do a few completely different practices, after which they’ve journaling reflection time.” This routine not solely helps college students regulate their feelings, but in addition builds self-awareness and a way of belonging.
She additionally helped launch Self-Care Days at her faculty, the place college students study coping abilities, stress administration, and govt functioning methods. Lately are actually a daily a part of the varsity calendar, offering college students with instruments they’ll use all through their lives.
“Lecturers are crucial useful resource of that classroom.”
Stefanie’s work doesn’t cease along with her college students. She presents skilled growth to her colleagues and has helped many turn out to be licensed trauma-informed specialists. She believes that trainer wellness and coaching is the inspiration of pupil success.
“Lecturers are crucial half, proper? They’re crucial useful resource of that classroom. In case you don’t have lecturers who’re effectively and wholesome and taking excellent care of themselves, then it’s not going to matter what cool, fancy instruments you’ve gotten in that classroom.”
Stefanie additionally emphasizes the significance of group and connection. “I at all times begin my trainings that method too. I need to acknowledge the knowledge within the room. I need to acknowledge everybody’s backgrounds as we come collectively. There are going to be many alternatives the place I’m not going to have a solution. However all of us have completely different lived experiences, and I need to faucet into that, as a result of after we faucet into what’s in our studying area, we are able to accomplish that rather more.”
“Earlier than we are able to educate and study, we now have to create the protected place.”
Stefanie Lachenauer’s journey is a testomony to the facility of trauma-informed instructing. By specializing in security, belonging, and resilience, she has remodeled not solely her classroom however her total faculty group. Her message to educators is obvious: “Earlier than we are able to educate and study, we now have to create the protected place, proper? When we now have the protected area, then we are able to add all the opposite stuff. So let’s handle the inspiration first.”
Trauma-informed instructing isn’t nearly methods or methods, it’s about constructing genuine connections, assembly college students the place they’re, and believing of their potential to develop, heal, and succeed.
Deliver trauma-informed instructing to your classroom.
Take the subsequent step by exploring Starr Commonwealth’s Trauma and Resilience Specialist Certification. This self-paced, research-based coaching offers educators the instruments to higher perceive pupil conduct, construct protected and supportive lecture rooms, and create significant, lasting change. In a world the place trauma is way too widespread, your coaching might be the distinction that helps each pupil thrive.
Hearken to all of Stefanie’s interview right here
On this episode of Resilience Issues, Stefanie shares her journey as a veteran educator main district-wide initiatives in mindfulness, SEL, and trauma-informed practices. From constructing empowering packages for center faculty college students to advocating for fairness and wellness statewide, she presents sensible methods and heartfelt insights for creating protected, supportive studying environments. Whether or not you’re a trainer, chief, or advocate, this dialog will depart you impressed to guide with compassion and objective.
To remain in contact with Stefanie, observe her on Instagram, Fb, or LinkedIn.
