Building Trauma Informed Schools

Training can help educators:

• Understand how trauma and chronic stress affect the developing brain

• Recognize common trauma responses in students

• Respond to challenging behavior without escalating the situation

• Create emotionally and relationally safe classrooms

• Strengthen trust with students and families

• Maintain clear expectations while responding with compassion

• Support regulation, connection, and readiness to learn

• Reduce compassion fatigue and educator overwhelm

• Build healthier staff teams and a stronger school culture

Build a shared foundation for understanding trauma, chronic stress, attachment, regulation, and the developing brain.

Participants learn how trauma can affect:

• Attention and memory

• Emotional regulation

• Executive functioning

• Relationships and trust

• Behavior and communication

• Academic engagement

Equip teachers and support staff with practical strategies they can use immediately.

Topics may include:

• Creating predictable classroom environments

• Strengthening connection before correction

• Supporting regulation throughout the school day

• Responding to shutdown, withdrawal, defiance, or escalation

• Using language that preserves dignity and accountability

• Building routines that increase emotional safety

Trauma Leadership

Support principals, administrators, counselors, and leadership teams as they build healthier school environments.

Training can explore:

• Leading staff through stress and change

• Creating psychologically and emotionally safe teams

• Responding to conflict and difficult conversations

• Supporting educators without lowering expectations

• Recognizing how organizational systems affect wellbeing

• Building a consistent, school-wide approach

Educator Wellbeing

Trauma-informed practice must include the adults doing the work.

This training helps educators understand:

• Compassion fatigue

• Secondary traumatic stress

• Burnout and emotional overload

• Boundaries and sustainable care

• Team practices that strengthen staff wellbeing

• The difference between individual self-care and organizational responsibility

Customize the training for your school or district. Professional development can be offered as:

• Keynote presentations

• Full-day or half-day professional development

• District-wide training

• School improvement days

• Leadership retreats

• Staff workshops

• Multi-session training series

• Leadership coaching

• Team consultation including developing FBA/BIP

• Trauma-informed organizational assessment

Following the training, participants may demonstrate:

• Greater confidence responding to student behavior

• A stronger understanding of trauma and regulation

• More consistent language and practices across teams

• Increased awareness of educator stress and compassion fatigue

• Improved relational and emotional safety

• Stronger collaboration between teachers, counselors, and leaders

• Clearer next steps for becoming a more trauma-informed school

Maria Hansen-Quine, MSW, LASW, is a licensed social worker, former school counselor, educator, leadership consultant, and trauma-informed trainer with more than 25 years of experience.

She has worked in six schools as a school counselor and social worker and has also served children and families through group homes, outpatient programs, a homeless shelter, and in-home support services.

Maria understands the everyday realities educators face because she has worked alongside students, families, teachers, support staff, and school leaders.

Her training bridges evidence-based practice with practical experience, helping educators translate trauma-informed principles into approaches they can use in real classrooms, teams, and school communities.

Maria also works internationally with leaders and organizations in the areas of organizational health, leadership development, culture, unity, and belonging.