The purpose of this study was to understand how middle school teachers cope with trauma. Case studies were employed with four middle school teachers. The findings from this study illuminated the unique experiences of rural middle school teachers. These findings highlight significant gaps in how teachers are supported and respond to stress and trauma. However, it also highlights the resiliency of educators in response to significant stresses and trauma. The findings suggest that if appropriate steps are taken to address teacher trauma there can be significant improvement in the overall function of the classroom and school.