Be Their Hero: An Educator's Guide to Trauma-Informed Care

by Josh Varner

Two out of every three students in the United States are impacted by a traumatic event. When students experience trauma or an extremely stressful situation, it's normal and natural for them to have a hard time coping afterward. I'm passionate about teaching educators how to support individuals impacted by trauma. I specialize in inspiring teachers so that they can support these students and be the hero in their life journey.

In this book, readers will
1. Learn how many students are impacted by childhood trauma and how to identify them.
2. Learn how the brain and body respond to trauma and how that impacts student behavior.
3. Leave with a ‘Call to Action’ and be equipped with many specific tools that are easy to use to support their students.

216 pages, Paperback

Published July 11, 2023

Reviews

[Sierra Hopper · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful and insightful book. Even if you aren't an educator this book has a lot to offer readers. Highly recommend.

[Ruthann Wheeler · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've been in and out of education for the past 20 years and my husband has been education full time for 20 years.
We've been using the techniques in this book for almost the whole time. The more we move to these techniques the worse the students seem to get.
In this book Josh talks about a young child who hits his counselor because he was surprised by the counselor. The school decides to show mercy and allow the student to remain in school. I have to wonder a few things about this situation.
1. What do all the other students think? They don't know the details only that a student punched an adult and was given no consequence. They then assume this is acceptable behavior.
2. What if in the future it is a small child who comes up behind this boy and startles him? We are putting the safety of the other students at risk. Why have the "safe schools act" if it is never used?
3. Finally if this student had punched another student they would have had a severe conscience. Aren't we telling the students it's okay to treat adults like trash, just not other students?
I understand this is a small child and we can't just send him home into the arms of his abusive family, however keeping him in the school system with the other children also is not the answer.
The schools are more tolerate of these kinds of behaviors than ever and it has made the schools unruly places where attentive parents are refusing to send their children. We are sacrificing the education of the many for the sake of the few.

[Liz Boyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have heard Mr. Varner's teacher PD training twice in the past three years. It was motivating and informative. This book echoes his presentation and that is fantastic. However, I felt that it didn't answer my questions of applying trauma informed responses while simultaneously tending to the other 20+ students in a classroom while also giving the struggling student the privacy needed. I would like to see this in practice in the public forum of a classroom. I have had dysregulated students and my own children who have refused the behaviors offered as de-escalation strategies but there is no training for these situations or the situations where the student smirks about the disruptive behavior.
I need further training after this initial introduction. That is what I was seeking by purchasing this book.

[Tabby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book when Josh Varner scale to our school for a professional development. It has been the most impactful pd and book that I’ve experienced and/or read in a long time! It has changed the way I view certain behaviors that I’ve seen happen with my students and how I am planning for their success.

[Jessica Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book for the beginner in social services, mental health or education. For someone with more experience, it was a quick and easy read to redirect our path and remind us of this important work

[Jessica Claxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great companion to his keynote speech, which I was lucky enough to see at our school's opening ceremonies this year. All teachers and school staff should consume this content. Our traumatized students need advocates.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an important read not only for working with kids but for all of us in human services. It's so easy to lose sight of how behavior is communication and this book really helps hone in on how to best support those who need us the most.