ABSTRACT
The two authors of this chapter weave research with personal narrative to show the harm that trauma inflicts on our students, as well as examples of how we can best help our children who have experienced trauma to be successful. They begin by examining the effects of trauma on brain development and education before exploring how trauma disproportionately impacts poor communities and students of color. The chapter also takes a critical look at how education can itself be a cause of trauma to some students and offers suggestions for how trauma-responsive teaching strategies can be integrated into schools. It also reveals structural reforms, such as increasing the number of mental health professionals in our schools, that provide actionable ways to help students who have undergone trauma use empathy and compassion as assets and tools for success.
