Trauma Informed Education

You’ve probably already heard the term “trauma informed” but maybe you’re wondering what exactly this looks like in education? In season 3 episode 3, Leonne interviews Jeff Crapper, a CTE Teacher on Special Assignment in Beaverton, an award-winning science and health sciences teacher, and a facilitator in OEA’s Becoming a Trauma Informed Educator series.He’s also a parent with years of experience navigating systems with children who have experienced trauma. Jeff asserts that student behavior is often a manifestation of something else. With a trauma-informed approach, we can ask ourselves how we can support students, not blame them for their behavior, and nurture their success. Jeff explains the OEA Trauma-Informed course series (free for members and available for undergraduate and graduate credits) and his own trauma-informed work in the classroom detailing specific examples working with teen refugees from conflict-heavy areas of the world. Leonne and Jeff dig into the concepts of holistic and systemic approaches to being trauma-informed and acknowledge the impact of community-level trauma such as poverty, racism, and the Covid pandemic.The power of positive adult relationships in students’ lives can’t be underestimated: With awareness, creativity, collaboration, and educators' own regulation, we can help build resilience and confidence in students affected by trauma. 

 

Resources:

OEA’s Becoming a Trauma Informed Educator Series

The Body Keeps the Score - Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) - CDC

Individual and Community Trauma: Individual Experiences in Collective Environments - Lauren Weisner

Community trauma 101: Building resilience in 2020 - Texas Children’s Hospital

Co-regulation and other trauma webinar recordings (OEA members only, request access, PDUs available)