Educators Seminar

A professional development seminar for K-12 educators.

Students today face many life difficulties, including deaths of family members or school friends, and other significant stresses when families break down or face serious struggles. This session provides insight into how students are affected by trauma and loss, and how K-12 educators can play a significant role in helping students navigate these challenges in the most troubling of times. Trauma-informed practice is an important competency for today’s educators. Participants will gain understanding from a theoretical and a practical perspective, with real life stories to bring the skills to life.

Colette Squires, M.A., is an organizational consultant, mediator, and trainer. She is a sessional faculty member at the Justice Institute of BC in the Centre for Leadership and Conflict Resolution, and a part-time instructor at Trinity Western University in the department of sociology. She has facilitated grief support groups, and is a specialist in community-based restorative justice with a passion for building safe, caring school communities. The former Executive Director of Abbotsford Restorative Justice, Colette understands the impact of trauma in a variety of settings, including traumatic losses that require specialized interventions to support healing and hope.