Lesley Institute for
Trauma-Sensitivity Courses

Spring Registration: Thursday, March 20th - May 8th  

Course Offerings with Registration Links 

LIfTS offers a sequence of courses that explore how to develop safe, supportive, and trauma-sensitive environments that make it possible for all students to learn. Learn the importance of connections—providing equitable opportunities for success requires individual supports and community-wide understanding. 

Earn a Trauma and Learning Certificate by completing the four-course sequence, The Impact of Trauma on Learning

Participants must take the certificate courses in sequence.

Race, Equity, and Trauma is not a required part of the certificate program and may be taken at any time.
Courses are offered in both an in-person and virtual format with synchronous and asynchronous course meetings. 

  • This course examines the impact of traumatic experience on student learning (both academic and social/emotional) and provides a structured approach to individual and school wide interventions. The biological, environmental, and sociocultural aspects of traumatic experience will be presented, and participants will analyze the effects of their work with students impacted by trauma on their own well being (secondary trauma).

  • Trauma affects self regulation, social skills and a child’s sense of health and well being, along with interfering with more traditional academic skills that require language, memory and executive function. This course will address ways to promote these non-academic and academic competencies for students impacted by trauma, including which competencies can be incorporated into the learning flow (as they benefit all children) and which are best taught with an individual support plan. (Prerequisite: Course 1)

  • This course is designed to expand knowledge of trauma, its impacts, and the process for building trauma sensitive environments through examination of the underlying change theory, processes, and tools needed to establish trauma sensitivity. Participants demonstrate their understanding by either developing a plan for guiding the creation of a trauma-sensitive school or conducting research grounded in trauma-informed inquiry. (Prerequisites: Courses 1 & 2)

  • Students demonstrate their understanding of the attributes of trauma-sensitivity by working together to design and conduct research that assesses the outcomes of efforts to improve trauma-sensitivity in classrooms, schools, or other learning environments. (Prerequsites: Courses 1, 2, & 3)

  • In this LIfTS course, participants will explore the intersection of race, equity and trauma in hope of creating safe, supportive and trauma sensitive environments. Educators working with students who experience systemic racism and inequities have additional Adverse Childhood Experiences raising their risk for related learning impacts. Participants will study impacts of systemic racism, implicit biases, and micro-aggressions, to develop action plans and support whole school inclusive communities for every child to connect and thrive. 

Take your next step, registration is below.

If you find that you weren't able to register, the course could be full. Please see below to join our waitlist so we can inform you of any changes.

Just a Reminder.

We’ll kick off with a Virtual Keynote Presentation on Thursday, March 13, 2025 from 5pm-6pm EST. All courses begin on Thursday, March 20th, via Zoom. Click on the button below or the image to the right to register.

Cost

Generous funding from Lesley University and the Oak Foundation reduces tuition for each 3-credit graduate trauma course to $500. Once registered, please review your course on Blackboard (courses may appear out of order).

Issues with accessing Blackboard? Email IT@lesley.edu or call IT at 617.349.8770. 

Questions? Need to drop? Contact spedcenter@lesley.edu before the course begins—no refunds for withdrawals. 

NOTE: If you are currently enrolled in a Lesley University undergraduate or graduate degree-granting program, please speak to your advisor about registration. 

Take Your Next Step:
Register for a Course Today.

  • Course 1: The Impact of Trauma on Learning: An Overview

    All courses begin with a Keynote Kickoff on Thursday, March 13th from 5pm-6pm

    Full course dates: 3/20/25 – 5/8/25

    Zoom: Thursdays, 3/20, 4/3, 4/17, 5/1, 5/8, 4:30pm – 7pm EST

    This course is full.

    Join the waitlist

  • Course 2: The Impact of Trauma on Learning: Classroom and Student Supports

    All courses begin with a Keynote Kickoff on Thursday, March 13th from 5pm-6pm

    Full course dates: 3/20/25 – 5/8/25

    Zoom: Thursdays, 3/20, 4/3, 4/17, 5/1, 5/8, 4:30pm – 7pm EST

    The course is full.

    Join the waitlist

  • Course 3: The Impact of Trauma on Learning: Creating Trauma-Sensitive Schools

    All courses begin with a Keynote Kickoff on Thursday, March 13th from 5pm-6pm

    Full course dates: 3/20/25 – 5/8/25

    Zoom: Thursdays, 3/20, 4/3, 4/17, 5/1, 5/8, 4:30pm – 7pm EST

    Register Today!

  • Course 4: The Impact of Trauma on Learning: Action Research and Seminar

    All courses begin with a Keynote Kickoff on Thursday, March 13th from 5pm-6pm

    Full course dates: 3/20/25 – 5/8/25

    Zoom: Thursdays, 3/20, 4/3, 4/17, 5/1, 5/8, 4:30pm – 7pm EST

    The course is full.

    Join the waitlist

  • Race, Equity, and Trauma

    All courses begin with a Keynote Kickoff on Thursday, March 13th from 5pm-6pm

    Full course dates: 3/20/25 – 5/8/25

    Zoom: Thursdays, 3/20, 4/3, 4/17, 5/1, 5/8, 4:30pm – 7pm EST

    This course is canceled.

Early Access to Registration

Early Access to Registration

Not ready to sign up but interested in future course offerings? 

Sign up for priority access, and we’ll email you when the schedule is available!

Registration and Course Access Instructions 

  • ❖ Elevate is an online registration system at Lesley University for continuing education services, such as the Trauma Certificate.

    ❖ You should see your course/start date listed in the upper right hand corner of the “Create Account” sign-in page. If your district/site is sponsoring payment, it is reflected as a discount. If not, after entering your information, the system will prompt you for payment.

    ❖ If you’re new to Elevate, you need to create a new account even if you’ve taken classes at Lesley before. If you have an existing Lesley account, use the same name for registration (including maiden names) to avoid duplicates in the system.

    ❖ Your Elevate email address, username, and password are self-chosen. You may opt to utilize existing Lesley credentials or you may choose a new/unique username and password.

    ❖ Please record your Elevate account credentials. You will need them to sign up for future courses offered through this platform.

  • ❖ Once registered through Elevate, you will receive 1 to 2 emails at the address you provided: 

    • Everyone receives an email from elevate@lesley.edu with your Elevate username and portal link. 

    • If you are new to Lesley, you will also receive an email from IT as early as 8 weeks prior to the start of the course date with your Lesley account credentials to access Blackboard/myLesley and the Self-Service portal (links below). Please check your spam/junk boxes too. 

    • Important: You will NOT receive an email from IT if you have an existing Lesley account from previous coursework, degree programs, etc. Please contact IT@lesley.edu

    • Once you are able to log into Blackboard, you will see your course under the ‘my courses’ tab. Courses show up 6 weeks prior to the start date, and may appear out of order. Click here for a myLesley overview.

    ❖ If you cannot log in to Blackboard within 2 weeks of the course start date – for any reason – you must contact IT@lesley.edu or call 617-349-8770.

  • ❖ IT self-help portal: https://support.lesley.edu/support/home

    ❖ Blackboard/myLesley access: https://my.lesley.edu/

    ❖ Check your grades in the Self-Service Student Account Portal

    ❖ Order a transcript: www.lesley.edu/transcripts

  • ❖ Q: I’ve forgotten my Elevate login? A: elevate@lesley.edu

    ❖ Q: I can’t login to Blackboard?
    A: IT@lesley.edu or 617-349-8770

    ❖ Q: I need to drop a course?
    A: spedcenter@lesley.edu before the course begins for a refund. No refunds for withdrawals.

    ❖ Q: I need to check on another issue or have another question?
    A: Merlyn Mayhew, mmayhew3@lesley.edu, Associate Director, Center for Inclusive and Special Education