Trauma-Informed Leadership: From Awareness to Action

Presented by Joan Turkus, M.D., Medical Director, TraumaSci: Complex Trauma Disorders Program, Dominion Hospital; Charu Chandra, Restorative Practices Leadership Coach and Psychotherapist, Chicago Public Schools (IL); and Pamela Pearce, TraumaSci Program Clinical Lead and Licensed Professional Counselor, Dominion Hospital

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When education leaders recognize and respect the impact trauma has on staff and students, they create a culture where individuals feel safe, supported, and valued, ultimately leading to the overall success of the school community. This interactive edLeader Panel, led by respected medical and district leaders, empowers you with the knowledge and practical strategies to make a lasting impact. Join our experts as they discuss:

• Trauma, its impact, and the need to address it
• How to identify and address trauma in staff and students
• Key components of trauma-informed leadership
• The positive impact of trauma-informed leadership
• Free resources available to school districts to build more emotionally resilient students

Equip yourself with the knowledge and skills needed to create trauma-sensitive schools that prioritize the well-being and success of students and staff.

This recorded edLeader Panel is of interest to K-12 teachers, school and district leaders, and education technology leaders.

About the Presenters

Dr. Joan Turkus has years of experience in the trauma field and maintains a national profile with teaching and consultation. She is a graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in pharmacy and graduated from The George Washington University School of Medicine with honors. She is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and a Fellow of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation, of which she is a Past President.
Dr. Turkus has been awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award, the Cornelia B. Wilbur Award for clinical contributions, and a Distinguished Achievement Award by the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation. She is a Diplomate of both the American Board of Psychiatry and the American Board of Forensic Psychiatry. She is trained in psychiatry, traumatology, clinical hypnosis, and EMDR. Dr. Turkus maintains a keen interest in neurobiology and psychopharmacology, particularly in their application to the complexity of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Charu Chandra is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, National Certified Counselor, and Restorative Practices Leadership Coach with extensive experience working with adults, teens, and children in the Chicago area. Charu implements trauma-centered and trauma-informed care to create a safe environment where clients find much-needed support, respect, care, motivation, warmth, and direction at her own private practice.

At the Office of Social and Emotional Learning, Chicago Public Schools, Charu has been providing restorative practices leadership coaching to school leadership teams for seven years. Starting as a clinician with Chicago Public Schools 13 years ago as a part of the Neighborhood Recovery Initiative – School-Based Counseling (NRI-SBC) Program, Charu became a Project Coordinator and then a Restorative Practices Coach. Charu’s focus within Chicago Public Schools has been on supporting staff to develop restorative mindsets, language, and strategies to build relationships and repair harm, providing trauma-informed care to members of the school community.

Pamela Pearce, Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), is the TraumaSci Program Clinical Lead of Dominion Hospital in Falls Church, Virginia. The TraumaSci Program offers both inpatient and partial hospitalization care designed to support the individual to safely reengage in their individual outpatient trauma treatment. Pamela graduated from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, in Belton, Texas with Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts degrees. Pamela has over 20 years of clinical experience working with children, adolescents, and adults prior to specializing in the treatment of post-traumatic and dissociative disorders. Pamela has provided clinical support within the TraumaSci Program in various roles including as a trauma therapist in the TraumaSci Inpatient Unit since opening in June 2019, providing clinical support and education to various staff within the hospital and community, and as the TraumaSci Program Clinical Lead providing clinical oversight to both inpatient and partial hospitalization levels of care.

Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.

Join the Creating a Positive School Climate community to network with educators, participate in online discussions, receive invitations to upcoming edLeader Panels, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates.

From grade school through retirement, EVERFI’s free digital education curriculums empower learners of all ages to make safe, smart, and informed decisions. We bring together the public and private sectors so K-12 teachers can equip today’s learners with the skills they need to become tomorrow’s leaders.