Inspiring a Rural District: Part 1

The EnvisionEdPlus team is excited to share our reflections on our ongoing professional development work with Edison Local School District this school year… In partnership with Still Light Seminars, we are supporting educators as they enhance communication skills to work more effectively with colleagues, as well as with students. Throughout the five PD days, Edison staff will practice skills to honor each other, build trust, and facilitate strong, collegial work environments.  

Session 1 kicked off with “When the Brain Stops Listening,” where all district staff (from bus drivers to administrators) took a closer look at what happens to our brains under stress, often referred to as the “purple brain,” and understood what happens when the brain is triggered by past trauma. Edison staff learned how an amygdala hijack occurs when a person feels threatened or overwhelmed, and how the amygdala’s emotional/psychological response overtakes rational or logical thinking and problem-solving. 

When emotions are high, our brains react in various ways: physically, mentally, socially, emotionally, and even spiritually. Staff learned simple, practical ways to stay calm, de-escalate situations, and keep lines of communication open. One participant said the most helpful aspect of the session was “learning the types of reactions to stress and fear responses.” 

Before wrapping up, every staff member created their own personal plan to try out these new tools in their daily routines over the next month. 

Stay tuned! When we meet later this month, we will check in to evaluate the effectiveness of the action plans and dive into our next focus area: non-verbal communication. 

Explore the free ODEW Family Engagement Framework to start connecting with families and parents. 

If you are interested in learning how we can support your school with professional development, check out our Brain-Based Strategies for supporting educators, youth, and families or contact [email protected] to learn more about our PD offerings! 

Want to discover more about the impact of trauma on the brain? Check out our on-demand, fully virtual, self-paced professional development courses: Trauma Brain Level 1 and Trauma Brain Level 2.