Staff Resources

Community Violence Resources for Staff

When traumatic incidents occur in our community, please know there are resources to support you, and for you to support your students as our community processes these events. Each of our schools has a support team that is available to work with students and staff in times of trauma. All staff also have access to our EAP provider, ComPsych GuidanceResources. This service is confidential and is provided at no cost to you and your household family members. 

One of the most important things we can do as adults in the SPPS community is to pay attention to our own emotions and work to pause before responding when facing difficult conversations. Additionally, we can do our best to offer patience and compassion to our colleagues, students and families. 

Below is a list of best practices and resources to assist you during this time. Please take care of yourselves and each other.

Tips for What to Do:

• Remain open to conversations and navigate with empathy and care. Your main job is to listen;
• Honor each student's unique experience;  
• Keep in mind the developmental age of the students as you process; 
• Reach out to support staff (counselors/social workers) if student(s) need additional individual support.   
• Take three slow breaths/stretch tall/listen to soothing music for a few minutes to help calm
• your own nervous system before responding to a student.  
• Remember not to offer false reassurance, such as: “Everything will be OK,” “I know how you feel.”
• Remember that sometimes listening and holding space is the best way to offer support.

Tips for What to Say:

• Emphasize with each child that we see them, hear them, value them, and love them
• “There is never a ‘right’ way for a child or adult to feel.”  Each person responds to events in different ways. Recognize the personal nature of any traumatic event.  
• “This is difficult and I don’t know what to say right now.” Do not be afraid to admit that you cannot answer all the questions.
• “There’s a lot going on. How are you doing?” Pause. Listen. 
• Model what you do when you’re feeling emotions (worry, anger, or anxiety) if a student is communicating a strong emotion. “When I’m worried, I try this_______________. If that doesn’t work, I try this _________________.”  “Is there anything that’s worked for you in the past to help calm?”

Support Resources for Staff

• SPPS Present Teacher Restoration Project
• Pause – Reset – Nourish (PRN)* to Promote Wellbeing
• The National Child Traumatic Stress Network: Taking Care of Yourself
• ComPsych Video: Coping With a Crisis or Traumatic Event

Resources for Supporting Students

• SPPS Mindfulness Activities and Office of School Support
• Helping Youth after Community Trauma: Tips for Educators
• Creating Supportive Environments When Scary Things Happen
• Edutopia: 7 Ways to Calm a Young Brain in Trauma
• ComPsych Video: Talking to Kids About Violent Events With Widespread Media Coverage