Creating Safe Spaces for Students

Teachers can't fix trauma, but they can create safe spaces. Here's the reality:

there's no one-size-fits-all approach to helping students dealing with trauma. As a future art

teacher, I've learned that setting boundaries is crucial. I don't pry into

students' home lives, but I'm there to listen when they need me. The biggest red

flag? When students say you're the only teacher they feel safe with.

That's not a badge of honor, it's a sign something's broken in the system. My job isn't to

be a therapist or savior. It's to facilitate connections, provide resources,

and remember that twelve years of rigid schooling can be traumatic itself.