Assumptions are one of the greatest hidden hazards inside any school, workplace, or community. After more than 8 years in education, I’ve seen how quickly these silent stories can damage trust, relationships, and culture—often faster than conflict itself. We don't talk enough about how our brains fill the communication gaps with quick, often negative, assumptions: - A student avoids eye contact, and we assume disrespect. - A coworker responds shortly, and we assume hostility. - A parent doesn't show up, and we assume they don't care. But behind every behavior, there is a reason, a story, and a context. Restorative Practices give us the essential tools to pause these narratives and choose curiosity over judgment: Restorative Questions: Asking "What happened?" instead of "Why did you do that?" Circles: Creating spaces that consistently humanize relationships. Fair Process: Bringing transparency that builds trust. Self-Reflection: Checking our biases and emotional triggers before we react. When we replace assumption with intentional dialogue, we restore what matters most: connection and psychological safety. If we want healthier classrooms, stronger teams, and safer communities, we must learn to ask before assuming, listen before reacting, and understand before responding. Are you familiar with restorative practices?

Read the how-to article here: https://www.edutopia.org/article/sel-students-sense-purpose

If you have an in school/out of school suspension rate that is 20 to 25 percent of your students- YOU HAVE A MAJOR PROBLEM and it is not with the students! This should be a flashing RED LIGHT stating that you and your building need to make some drastict changes in what ADULTS are doing in your building! Time to make a change. Time for some adult Learning! You are treating pain based behavior with more pain! Time to move toward becoming Trauma Responsive and Restorative!

-Children of color and children with disabilities are disproportionately suspended. -Of children of color with disabilities, more than 1 in 4 boys and nearly 1 in 5 girls of color receive an out of school suspension. -The most significant indicator of which children will be suspended is not the type of offense but the color of their skin, their special education status, what school they go to, and whether they have been suspended before. -1.6 million (k – 12th grade) students attended a school that employed a law enforcement officer but no counselor.

Understanding the Trauma Tree – Why Addressing Symptoms Alone Isn’t Enough 🌳 “We can take off the leaves, but the tree keeps growing until we get to the root.” This powerful metaphor reveals why so many people struggle with recurring mental health symptoms. Research shows that 70% of individuals experience trauma, and tackling only surface-level symptoms leads to temporary relief—not true healing. The Leaves – How Trauma Manifests: – Hypervigilance and anxiety – Flashbacks and nightmares – Panic attacks and dissociation – Depression and emotional numbing – Substance abuse and insomnia What Feeds the Tree – Barriers to Healing: – Stigma and labelling – Lack of trauma-informed treatment – Misdiagnosis and limited support The Roots – Original Trauma: – Childhood abuse and neglect – Accidents and medical trauma – War – terrorism – violence – Natural disasters and grief – Systemic oppression and discrimination Evidence shows trauma-informed interventions address both the symptoms and the root causes, leading to real recovery and improved wellbeing for those struggling with PTSD, anxiety, and depression.