The Brockton Public Schools are excited to announce that the Lesley University Institute for Trauma Sensitivity (LIfTS), at the Center for Inclusive and Special Education, has awarded the Manthala George, Jr. Global Studies School in Brockton the Safe and Supportive Trauma Sensitive School Award.
The Safe and Supportive Trauma Sensitive School Award recognizes schools that have created a safe, supportive, equitable and inclusive school climate/culture of belonging for all students. It is a school where addressing trauma’s impact on learning, including trauma from racism and other structural inequities, on a whole school basis is central to its educational mission.
To qualify for the award, a school must:
- Establish a shared understanding among staff of traumatic experience and its impacts.
- Engage in an inquiry-based reflection/action planning process to weave trauma sensitive approaches into their practice; and
- Utilize the transformative beliefs of a trauma sensitive school to guide their action planning and decision making throughout the school.
The accomplishments of the George School over the last several years, both academically and in school climate, are nothing short of remarkable. In addition to special education classrooms, they have implemented a K-5 global studies curriculum in three languages (Spanish, French and Portuguese), the only school in the Commonwealth with multiple dual language immersion strands in one school.
At the same time, they have significantly improved their students’ academic competence as measured by state accountability standards. In support of these accomplishments is the development of a safe and supportive trauma sensitive climate/culture in the school.
“There is no one practice that a school can adopt in order to be trauma-sensitive. Instead, it is a holistic approach and set of values that are built upon constantly to support students,” George School Principal Natalie Pohl said. “We are all extremely proud of this recognition because it is reflective of how our team works with one another and how we work with our students and their families to create and sustain a welcoming, safe and supportive environment.”
The award will be presented and celebrated at the LIfTS virtual convening on March 13 at 5 p.m. (Click Here to register). Congratulations to the students, staff and families of the Manthala George, Jr. Global Studies School and to the Brockton Public Schools for their support of this work.