The Alternative Suspension Therapy (AST) program is a trauma-informed, in-school discipline model that was designed to serve as an alternative to traditional suspension. The goal of the AST program was to minimize or eliminate the number of referrals a student might receive that could possibly lead to suspension. The participants in the AST…

A school-based behavioral therapy intervention at East High School in Rochester, New York, in partnership with a local university, builds resilience for middle-school students with high trauma.

This dissertation explores the lived experiences of Appalachian elementary and middle school teachers who have been identified as working in Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) schools. This study used Lifeworld Theory to engage in discussion about the teachers' individual experiences in using PBIS in their classrooms in relation to…

The effects of childhood trauma are evident in urban classrooms today and adversely affect student achievement. The evidence of exposure to trauma is disruptive behavior, often resulting in a suspension from school. The school social worker or counselor is often viewed as the person responsible for implementing strategies that change student…

Virtual reality (VR) as a tool to build wellbeing for students with latent trauma is being examined in multiple contexts. The purpose of this study was to compare modalities of treatment, namely, VR-enhanced therapy, face-to-face therapy without VR and wait-list time-delayed control. Participants were 69 students selected from a high-needs urban…

This study examines differential effects of the Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS) program on behavioral and academic outcomes of middle school students. Researchers administered screenings to grade 6 students to assess traumatic stress and then randomized those with elevated levels to the CBITS treatment (n = 150; 47%…

To succeed in classrooms, students must possess emotional-regulation skills, engage in positive social interactions, and trust teachers. Students coming from backgrounds including poverty and trauma may not possess these, as chronic stress has been shown to lead to impulsivity, poor emotional-regulation skills, and lower executive functioning.…

This essay provides a broad overview of adverse childhood experiences and their impact on the middle level learner. The author finds points of intersection between current research on traumatized students and tenets of the middle level philosophy to make the argument for trauma informed practices that holistically serve young adolescents.

The purpose of this study was to identify factors that have contributed to the drastic rise in student behavior referrals for ninth grade students in three high schools in Western New York when returning to in-person instruction after school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. From an equity lens, each of our schools' data showed that there was…

The purpose of this study was to identify factors that have contributed to the drastic rise in student behavior referrals for ninth grade students in three high schools in Western New York when returning to in-person instruction after school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. From an equity lens, each of our schools' data showed that there was…

The purpose of this study was to identify factors that have contributed to the drastic rise in student behavior referrals for ninth grade students in three high schools in Western New York when returning to in-person instruction after school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. From an equity lens, each of our schools' data showed that there was…

This study examines differential effects of the Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS) program on behavioral and academic outcomes of middle school students. Researchers administered screenings to grade 6 students to assess traumatic stress and then randomized those with elevated levels to the CBITS treatment (n = 150; 47%…

This article describes a study of two male clinicians' implementation of a 10-week, school-based integrated cognitive-behavioral group counseling intervention with psychodynamic process elements at a school in the Bronx, NY for inner-city middle school boys who have experienced complex trauma. The authors define complex trauma and describe the…