“LIFTS courses have validated for me and our faculty how important it is to look at the whole child. The courses have helped us to move the conversation toward
relationship-building in the school.”
– Ruby Maestas, principal, Carver Elementary School, Carver, Massachusetts
About Lesley Institute for Trauma Sensitivity
The Lesley Institute for Trauma Sensitivity [commonly known as LIfTS] is an initiative committed to raising educators’ awareness of the effects of trauma on student learning, behavior, and social-emotional well-being, and helping them implement strategies to ameliorate those effects. As such, a great deal of our work centers on providing graduate level coursework and professional development to educators, as well as consultation services to administrators.
Over the past few years educators have repeatedly asked us to develop a venue where they could continue to remain involved with a “community” of practitioners when they were no longer actively taking our courses or PD. This is intended to be that venue: the LIfTS Community Hub. In the section below, we try to address a few basic questions about this site.
Childhood trauma, with its diverse causes and profound consequences, has risen to the awareness of educators across the country. Lesley University is committed to serving educators who seek a nuanced understanding of the effects of trauma on learning—and to the cultivation of safe, supportive classrooms where children feel seen, heard, and understood. In such classrooms, a child is free to take emotional and cognitive risks, while experiencing the uninhibited joy of learning.
What We Do
Since 2010, the Lesley Institute for Trauma Sensitivity has been helping school staff in Massachusetts and beyond to deepen their knowledge about childhood trauma and to introduce practices that significantly lessen its impact. Lesley Institute for Trauma Sensitivity provides these key services:
Graduate Level Courses
The Lesley Institute for Trauma Sensitivity offers a series of five courses for graduate-level credit:
Trauma & Learning Course 1: An Introduction to the Impact of Trauma on Learning
Trauma & Learning Course 2: Classroom & School Supports
Trauma & Learning Course 3: Trauma Sensitive Schools
Trauma & Learning Course 4: Action Research Seminar
Trauma & Learning Course 5: Race, Trauma & Equity
Each course carries 3 graduate-level credits.
Due to generous funding from the OAK Foundation and Lesley University, Lesley Institute for Trauma Sensitivity courses are offered at a discounted tuition rate of $500.00 each.
You will receive a Certificate in Trauma and Learning when completing Courses 1 through 4 at Lesley University.
Courses are described here.
Professional Development Training
Lesley Institute for Trauma Sensitivity can also provide training and professional development for educators and other child care agencies. This is a good alternative for paraprofessionals, support staff, and educators who are not seeking college credit; however, PDPs or other applicable credit may be awarded. For more information regarding Professional Development Training, please contact Sal Terrasi at sterrasi@lesley.edu
Executive Coaching
Executive Coaching is a service provided to administrators seeking to lead change within their schools or organizations. Such services may range from general planning to targeted support for data collection & analysis, reporting, and project evaluation. Services are tailored to your specific needs. For more information regarding Executive Coaching, please contact Sal Terrasi at sterrasi@lesley.edu
Network of Educators
Our educators are committed to creating safe and supportive school environments. Together, on this hub and in regional convening, we share resources and practices that support trauma-sensitive learning environments.
Principal Funder
LIFTS activities are made possible by generous support from the Oak Foundation.
The foundation commits its resources to address issues of global social and environmental concern, particularly those that have a major impact on the lives of the disadvantaged.