97. Creating Trauma-Informed Classrooms & Putting Kids First with Dr. Kristen Miller

We don’t build houses without first laying a solid foundation. So why do we expect children to learn without first making sure they feel safe and secure? 

COVID has been a complex trauma for us all, yet we’re pushing on rather than taking the time to process the information and being mindful of what students (and teachers!) are experiencing. Because if students aren’t regulated, they cannot process academic content.

On this episode, Dr. Kristen Miller of With Heart Project is sharing her research on the brain and why, when we take the time to make sure our students feel safe and that they belong, academic retention and scores increase dramatically.  

In the episode, she shares her perspective on positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS), acute vs. complex trauma, how trauma changes people, how teachers can meet the demands of students, and so much more.

About Dr. Kristen Miller:

Following a three-year engineering career, Kristen Miller spent 13 years in education teaching predominantly high school mathematics, AVID and Career Technical Education, and serving as a middle school Vice Principal in Northern California. 

Seeing a huge need for high quality social and emotional interventions, systems and supports, Miller created a youth empowerment organization, With Heart Project (WHP), to work alongside schools and districts promoting Social-Emotional Wellness (SEL), Restorative Practices (RP), and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). 

In her inaugural year, she partnered with a high-poverty middle school in Northern California to create and implement practices, processes, and procedures to decrease student suspension rates and increase academic achievement. Her results were remarkable. Her efforts yielded a 79% growth in Common Core Mathematics achievement, as well as reduction in discipline and attendance infractions, increase in GPA, and increase in math and reading grade levels among at-risk students

Jump in the Conversation: [3:13] - The impact of restorative practices [6:14] - You have to pair amends with accountability [7:17] - PBIS - positive behaviorial interventions and supports [8:04] - Social emotional learning [8:04] - PBIS is just good teaching, good education [9:22] - Trauma informed teaching and learning [12:28] - COVID causes disregulation [13:22] - Kristen’s pre-pandemic research [16:38] -What educators need to be focused on [18:55] - We’re all experiencing acute trauma right now [19:38] - How to help teachers meet these demands [22:36] - Getting into policy side of things [25:08] - Turbo Time [29:22] - Kristen’s Magic Wand [31:14] - Maureen’s takeaways Link What Happened to You by Dr. Bruce Perry and Oprah Winfrey Email Maureen Maureen’s TEDx: Changing My Mind to Change Our Schools The Education Evolution Facebook: Follow Education Evolution Twitter: Follow Education Evolution LinkedIn: Follow Education Evolution EdActive Collective Maureen’s book: Creating Micro-Schools for Colorful Mismatched Kids Micro-school feature on Good Morning America The Micro-School Coalition Facebook: The Micro-School Coalition LEADPrep