John F. Eller - Trauma-Sensitive Leadership: Creating a Safe and Predictable School Environment (A researched-based social-emotional guide to support students with traumatic experiences)

creating a safe and predictable school environment

JOHN F. ELLER & TOM HIERCK

Copyright 2022 by Solution Tree Press

Materials appearing here are copyrighted. With one exception, all rights are reserved. Readers may reproduce only those pages marked Reproducible. Otherwise, no part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without prior written permission of the publisher.

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Visit go.SolutionTree.com/leadership to download the free reproducibles in this book.

Printed in the United States of America

Names: Eller, John, 1957- author. | Hierck, Tom, 1960- author.

Title: Trauma-sensitive leadership : creating a safe and predictable school environment / John F. Eller, Tom Hierck.

Description: Bloomington : Solution Tree Press, [2022] | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2022000148 (print) | LCCN 2022000149 (ebook) | ISBN 9781949539974 (Paperback) | ISBN 9781949539981 (eBook)

Subjects: LCSH: Children with mental disabilities--Education. | Psychic trauma in children. | Post-traumatic stress disorder in children. | Educational psychology. | School environment.

Classification: LCC LC4601 E55 2022 (print) | LCC LC4601 (ebook) | DDC 371.92--dc23/eng/20220223

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022000148

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022000149

Solution Tree

Jeffrey C. Jones, CEO

Edmund M. Ackerman, President

Solution Tree Press

President and Publisher: Douglas M. Rife

Associate Publisher: Sarah Payne-Mills

Managing Production Editor: Kendra Slayton

Editorial Director: Todd Brakke

Art Director: Rian Anderson

Copy Chief: Jessi Finn

Senior Production Editor: Christine Hood

Content Development Specialist: Amy Rubenstein

Acquisitions Editor: Sarah Jubar

Proofreader: Sarah Ludwig

Editorial Assistants: Charlotte Jones, Sarah Ludwig, and Elijah Oates

Dedication

To my wife, Sheila, who believed in me and encouraged me to lead others all those years ago. Thank you for your support. You exemplify caring for your staff and students every day. You change lives for the positive.

John F. Eller

This book is dedicated to Travis Rosenstand, whose flame went out way too early but whose spark will continue to light the fire in the lives he touched. There are students who come into the life of an educator as a test of his or her capacity to be an educator. Travis was one of those kids who tested every ounce of patience I had as a beginning school leader, but he always had that spark you knew would carry him beyond the current moment. I sit here with tears in my eyes as I reflect on the awesome young man he became and the positive impact he had on so many, including my family. Its a reminder that life is played going forward, and a kid who struggles just needs an adult who cares. Travis, you repaid that investment and so much more. You wont be forgotten.

Tom Hierck

Although only two names appear on the cover, this book would not be possible without the support and input of many colleagues and friends.

Beginning with our Solution Tree family, we would like to thank the following key supporters: Jeff Jones, who built a company that encourages educators to find their voice and share with colleagues; Douglas Rife, the president and publisher of Solution Tree Press, who provided us with the opportunity and encouragement to develop and write the book; Christine Hood, our senior editor, who helped refine the rough manuscript into a book that flows and makes sense for busy teachers; Sarah Ludwig, our proofreader; and Shik Love and Kelly Rockhill, whose skills in marketing and promotion will ensure this book reaches a wide audience and can have the maximum benefit to colleagues.

Solution Tree Press would like to thank the following reviewers:

Tara Fulton

Principal

Clute Intermediate

Clute, Texas

Brian Greeney

Assistant Superintendent of Innovation, Teaching, and Learning

Willis ISD

Willis, Texas

Larry Hausner

CEO/Founder

Coaching School Leadership

Huntington Beach, California

Ian Landy

Principal

Powell River School District

Powell River, British Columbia

Bryn M. Williams

Principal

Coquitlam School District

Coquitlam, British Columbia

Visit go.SolutionTree.com/leadership to download the free reproducibles in this book.

John F. Eller, PhD, is a former principal, director of a principals training center, and assistant superintendent for curriculum, learning, and staff development.

John is also a much sought-after consultant to schools and school districts both nationally and internationally. He specializes in trauma-sensitive teaching and leadership, school turnaround, dealing with difficult people, building collaborative teams, conducting employee evaluations, building conferencing and coaching skills, developing strategic planning strategies, building supervisory skills, and implementing effective teaching strategies. John also serves as a consultant for U.S. federal government agencies on the topics of team building, conflict coaching, peer coaching, conflict resolution, employee evaluations, performance reviews, leadership, and a variety of other pertinent topics supporting U.S. federal employees and leaders.

John has written and cowritten numerous articles and books, including a two-year series supporting new principals for the NAESP publication, Principal, and Effective Group Facilitation in Education, Working With and Evaluating Difficult School Employees, So Now Youre the Superintendent!, Energizing Staff Meetings, Creative Strategies to Transform School Culture, Thriving as a New Teacher, Score to Soar, Achieving Great Impact, Working With Difficult and Resistant Staff, and Flip This School.

John earned a doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies from Loyola University Chicago and a masters degree in educational leadership from the University of Nebraska Omaha.

To learn more about Johns work, visit his website at ellerandassociates.com, or follow him @jellerthree on Twitter.