What Educators Need to Know about Trauma and Toxic Stress
Students benefit from positive relationships with teachers and school staff, which are associated with school connectedness and academic achievement. This is especially true of students who have experienced trauma or toxic stress. However, students living with the effects of trauma often experience behavioral challenges that can be challenging for school staff to handle. Knowing how trauma and toxic stress affect the brain, red flags of trauma-related misbehavior, and how adults can approach traumatized students with compassion will help school staff reframe challenging behavior to support relationship-building and felt-safety. This webinar is aimed at adults working in schools, and those who support them, who are interested in gaining a trauma-informed perspective on student behavior.
About the Presenter
Amie DeHarpporte, MA, MPP
Amie DeHarpporte, MA, MPP, is a fifth-year student in the Counseling Psychology PsyD program at St. Mary’s University. She holds a clinical master’s degree from St. Mary’s University, a master’s degree in Public Policy from Harvard University and a Bachelor’s degree from Carleton College. Prior to entering the mental health field, Amie worked as a classroom teacher for over ten years. Her clinical work focuses on providing psychological services for children and adolescents, including trauma therapy, family therapy, and school-based counseling. Amie’s doctoral dissertation focused on the implementation and evaluation of a training for teachers about the impact of trauma and toxic stress on classroom behavior.