This past week, I witnessed a car accident on my way to work. One person ran the red light and t-boned the car in front of me. Tires squealing, metal crunching, plastic flying through the air. And then silence. I called 911 and then got out to assist the people involved. This was a first for me, and what struck me was how the drivers of each car had no idea what had happened. They were in shock. They were traumatized. And as a result, they could not process the event or make basic decisions.

As I stood there with them waiting for the first responders, I thought about how what I was witnessing from these shook people illustrated how trauma affects the brain. "Neuroscience has shown that when we're anxious or stressed or scared, several changes occur in our heads. Our working memory- the cognitive system that lets us juggle data and use it to solve problems- short-circuits." (p. 141)

(Good news- everyone was okay, insured, and kind to each other.)

We talk a lot about trauma and trauma-informed practices at MCRSD. After all, we know most of our kids have experienced and are experiencing many adverse childhood experiences (ACE). ACEs can cause toxic stress, which is where the stress in the body is so intense it can cause changes to metabolism, immune system, cardiovascular system, and brain and nervous system. The negative learning, health, and overall wellness impacts that ACEs and toxic stress have on children and adults are horrific and a societal crisis.

Lori Robinson schooled us on toxic stress during her virtual training in April 2020 called Self-Love in the Time of COVID-19.

However, there is hope. There are purposeful actions that educators can do to support preventing or alleviating the effects of toxic stress. Research says we can do that by ensuring all students have access to safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments. "Study after study has shown that nurturing relationships and environment act as a buffer against toxic shock." (p.145)

Easier said than done, right?

But we have some concrete examples that are worth revisiting:

The Culture Keepers of El Cerrito High School are students whose role is to ensure the school culture is maintained and nurtured. The most notable action the Culture Keepers take is intervening in student behavior and discipline situations. Game changer!
The Power of Relationships in Schools
is an illustrated reminder of the importance of students liking their teachers.
Keeping Disruptive Students in the Classroom An article discussing strategies to support struggling and disruptive students. The goal is for the student to stay in the classroom space or to return to it as soon as it's safe and the student is available for learning, which reinforces the concept that even though you struggle, you still belong.

I know we are wrapping up a school year, and some of you are wrapping up your time here. So these reminders may seem ill-timed or irrelevant. But these concepts are not nuanced to starting a school year or MCRSD in general. Children and adults everywhere are hurting, struggling, and doing their best to survive every day. Let these principles be at the foundation of whatever work you do, wherever you do it. Without safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments, we will never realize our collective vision to meet every student's social, emotional, and academic needs.

Leadership and Learning