Jen Alexander - Supporting Students and Staff after COVID-19: Your Trauma-Sensitive Back-to-School Transition Plan

Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.

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The individuals described in this book are composites or real people whose situations are masked and are based on the authors experiences. In all instances, names and identifying details have been changed to protect confidentiality.

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The illustrations on and in downloadable resources 11.2 and 11.3 were created by Carol Hinrichs. Copyright 2021 by Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.
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Purchasers of Supporting Students and Staff After COVID-19: Your Trauma-Sensitive Back-to-School Transition Plan are granted permission to download, print, and photocopy the lesson plans, handouts, and other resource materials in the text for educational purposes. These materials may not be reproduced to generate revenue for any program or individual. Photocopies may only be made from an original book. Unauthorized use beyond this privilege may be prosecutable under federal law. You will see the copyright protection notice at the bottom of each photocopiable page.

ISBN-13 (EPUB): 978-1-68125-449-4
ISBN-13 (PDF e-book): 978-1-68125-450-0

Version 2.0

Contents

About the Downloads

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About the Author

Jen Alexander, M.A., NCC, SB-RPT, Professional Development Facilitator, Educator, and Consultant, Cedar Falls, Iowa

Jen Alexander believes we can make a positive difference in the lives of students, one relationship at a time. Thats why shes a passionate leader in the movement to build trauma-sensitive schools. Known by children and adults alike as Ms. Jen, she loves helping kidsand giving others the tools and strategies they need to help kids, too.

As a former special education teacher and school counselor in Iowa, Ms. Jen has approximately 20 years of experience providing support to young people and the educators who serve them. As a popular professional development facilitator, trauma expert, and author, Ms. Jen shows fellow educators what works and why when it comes to building trauma-sensitive schools. With a unique ability to connect with students, educators, other helpers, and parents, Ms. Jen is devoted to facilitating schoolwide trauma-sensitive transformation through effective professional development paired with school consultation. Within minutes of working with her, educators know they are learning from someone who understands the real struggles of everyday teaching and learning, and they join in her belief that change benefiting educators, students, and entire school communities is possible.

Ms. Jen holds degrees in psychology and special education teaching as well as a masters degree in professional school counseling from the University of Northern Iowa. She is also a nationally certified counselor and registered school-based play therapist.

Acknowledgments

I want to share a great big thank you to everyone in my personal and professional pack who has supported me during the pandemic and, specifically, with this project. Even though we knew this timeline was extraordinary, you didnt try to talk me out of writing this book and cheered me on through and through. Specifically, heartfelt appreciation goes out to my book club members, who are also educators. In reading the chapters and giving feedback, your expertise, honesty, and support were invaluable. I also want to give a shout out to the many leaders on Twitter who inspire me every day to think deeply, reflect personally, and join with them to make change that creates a better, more beautiful and just world for everyone. We are in this together, and we are better together.

Special thanks to Brookes, including Sharon Larkin, and especially, my editor, Tess Hoffman. Your work on this book was nothing short of incredible. I couldnt have imagined a better team than Brookes to partner with as we help educators help kids. You are a brilliant, creative, and caring team who makes a difference! Also, once again, loud and thunderous applause goes to Carol Hinrichs for creating some of the illustrations for this book, including yet another beautiful mandala. Thank you for being you!

Finally, I wish to acknowledge the educators Ive teamed with during my over 20 years as a teacher, and then school counselor, in Iowa schools. Working with colleagues, families, and volunteers (especially Mrs. Hassman) to create a school environment where children are both nurtured and challenged is something I will cherish forever. You truly put relationships first, and its a privilege to have been a part of our Cedar Valley communitys rhythm of loving to learn together. I will miss you as I begin my new adventure!

Like water, everything changes. Also like water, we have the potential to harm as well as nourishdepending on how we use our power. May we each always use our power to promote freedom for one another and ourselves as we do this work of building trauma-sensitive schools.

Introduction

While staying home during the COVID-19 pandemic, I felt like a fish out of waterdisoriented and struggling. Like many educators, I worried about my students, their families, and my loved ones. Yet, we were isolated, alone in our homes. As an introvert, I initially welcomed time away from the world as a gift but one I felt guilty to receive considering how much loss and disadvantage was on full display. The news reduced our humanity to a daily series of moving color-coded graphs showcasing mortality rates. Current events highlighted injustices and triggered old wounds.

I felt a rush of worry about youth and adults, something all too familiar that I had experienced during other crises. Early on, I had lots of ideas alongside the deep sense of wanting desperately to be of help. In approximately two decades as a school counselor, I have supported many individuals and families going through personal traumas. I also helped in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina, and I have supported local school communities through experiences such as deaths of community members, a tornado that devastated a nearby town, a flood that destroyed part of our community, house fires, terrible car accidents, loss of community members to suicide, and the kidnapping and murder of two children in our county. All of these traumas changed individual lives, but the effects were far reaching into our schools and communities too.