Ahead of new legislation passed at the state level requiring school districts in the Commonwealth of PA to be Trauma Informed, a team from Palisades School District, led by Ms. Janet Link, has been working with Lakeside (a division of Lakeside Global Institute) to provide “educators with the right knowledge and tools to support their students in dealing with the challenges they face.” According to research, nearly two-thirds of the population has been impacted by adverse childhood experiences (ACES). These experiences directly affect a child’s ability to be focused and successful at school. The professional development that our teachers are receiving helps them guide students to be more successful students.
What does it mean to be a “Trauma Informed” School?
–A safe school (emotionally and physically)
–A school based on establishing strong relationships with students
–A school with a strong social-emotional curriculum, incorporating self-regulation, that is taught to all students
–A staff that is informed in childhood trauma, and the effects of trauma on social development and learning
The professional development that our teachers have participated in is funded through a grant we were awarded from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). Providing teachers with the support and tools they need to better educate students who have experienced trauma is a commitment by our school board and administrators, and is now mandated by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.