This foundational training introduces educators, school leaders, and student support professionals to the Heart Core Consulting approach for creating trauma-informed, healing-centered, and racially just school environments. Participants learn how stress and trauma, including systemic and sociocultural trauma, impact learning, behavior, and relationships. Using real-world scenarios, we explore six guiding principles for creating more trauma-informed and healing-centered schools that can be applied at the student, adult (staff and caregiver), and systems levels. Participants gain actionable strategies to foster safety, connection, and agency for the whole school community.

In today’s climate of uncertainty, school leaders are navigating increasingly complex tensions that can at times feel beyond our capacity to hold. Leaders are balancing the needs of the school community and larger system demands, well-being and accountability, and equity commitments amid sociopolitical backlash. This interactive session explores how research-based trauma-informed principles can help leaders stay grounded in their values while leading their organizations through stress and change. Participants will examine real leadership dilemmas through a trauma-informed lens, reflect on how stress shapes their leadership style, and share stories and strategies to strengthen collective resilience in their school communities.

Stress and trauma can disrupt our sense of safety, resulting in a heightened sense of threat and a need to manage risks. Having our physical, relational, and emotional safety needs met and increasing predictability in our daily lives can minimize our stress reactions and allow us to focus our resources on healthy development and learning. This training describes the stress escalation curve and practical strategies that educators can use to create safe, predictable classroom environments that prevent and minimize stress-related behaviors before they peak — and tools to support recovery and repair when they do.

Peace corners and cool-down kits give students safe, structured ways to manage emotions and return to learning. This training offers practical steps for setting up and sustaining these tools in classrooms, along with trauma-informed strategies to teach students how to use them effectively.

Microaggressions are defined as the everyday, subtle, intentional (and oftentimes unintentional) interactions or behaviors that communicate bias toward historically marginalized groups. Students report hearing these remarks frequently, yet they often go unaddressed, undermining safety and belonging in schools. This interactive training introduces a trauma-informed approach to understanding and responding to microaggressions. Participants will gain practical tools to address microaggressions and other harmful comments, foster accountability, and build a culture of respect and belonging.

Relationships are at the heart of education, yet stress and trauma can make it difficult for students (and adults) to trust and receive support. This training explores how stress and trauma can affect relationships in schools, and why consistent, compassionate connections are essential for healing and well-being. Participants will practice strategies to build deeper connections with and among students and adults, including practices for navigating challenging relationships, setting boundaries, and repairing harm.

This training centers on the critical role of empowerment and collaboration in trauma-informed school practices. Participants will explore how trauma—particularly among historically marginalized populations—disrupts one’s sense of power and control, and how systems can unintentionally reinforce voicelessness, leaving students disengaged in learning. Participants will deepen their understanding of how to foster healing environments rooted in voice, choice, and equitable collaboration. Emphasis will be placed on reducing learned helplessness and building shared power with students, families, and colleagues.

Staff well-being is essential for thriving schools, yet educators often face high stress, burnout, and compassion fatigue. While self-care matters, lasting wellness is rooted in collective practices and supportive systems. This training introduces trauma-informed strategies for building communities of care among staff, where connection, mutual support, and shared responsibility create a culture that protects against burnout and sustains the joy of teaching and learning.