In this episode of Conversations About Student Mental Health, Chris Leonard tackles the question of how to prepare teachers to support the growing social and emotional needs of students. Chris talks with Steven Cates, an interventionist at Southside Community School in Tucson, Arizona, and a participant in Thrive Alliance Group’s Coaching, Training, and Certification program. Chris and Steven discuss a new approach to mental wellness support: raising the capacity of the entire staff to improve school climate & culture.
Highlights include:
- How mental wellness training and coaching for school staff improves school climate and culture, which in turn improves student outcomes
- Self-paced training provides flexibility and better retention of learning
- Teachers learn psychological principles around student mental health and trauma, and how these impact behavior and create barriers to learning
- Coaching sessions give staff the chance to share experiences and learn intervention strategies
- Participants gain a set of tools and strategies to support both students & staff members
- How the program builds a sense of community