Research and Scholarship

Contributions to the current issues conversation in the field.

Racism, Equity, and Trauma 

The intersection of race, equity and trauma impacts our ability to create Safe and Supportive Trauma Sensitive Schools (SSTSS) in three interconnected ways, 1. students experiencing systemic racism and inequities have additional Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) others do not, raising their risk for ACE related learning impacts,  2. As educators our Implicit bias and micro-aggressions can preclude us from creating Safe and Supportive Trauma Sensitive  whole school communities for every child,  and 3. systemic racism and inequities can  perpetuate feelings of isolation, less than equal/not good enough and lack of belonging in students.   

As such, race, equity and trauma combine to challenge schools to establish a school wide culture that is safe and supportive/trauma sensitive for all students (whole school based) and provide students of diverse racial and cultural backgrounds with safe and welcoming school climates and accessible and inclusive school supports (whole child based).   This course is about, understanding the impacts of systemic racism and, becoming aware of the issues of implicit bias and micro-aggressions on our students, staff and school culture/climate.   This understanding then invites taking action, on both a school/classroom wide and personal educator practice basis.   Addressing these factors in an open and transparent manner is central to creating SSTSS for all our students.