This book is a practical and deeply personal guide for educators seeking to understand and respond to student trauma. Blending scholarly research, classroom strategy, and lived experience, it explores how trauma affects learning, behavior, relationships, and teacher well-being, as well as how schools can become places of safety and healing. Written by an educator, trauma scholar, and Gold Star widow, the book weaves compelling narrative with evidence-based practices, offering both insight and hope. The text is organized into three sections that move the reader from foundational understanding to practical application. Part I, Foundations of Trauma-Informed Understanding, examines what trauma is and how it impacts students’ brains, bodies, and behaviors. Part II, Shifting the Lens—From Behavior to Belonging, reframes misbehavior as a signal of underlying need, encouraging educators to seek root causes rather than punitive responses. Part III, Practices That Restore, presents strategies for creating trauma-informed classrooms that prioritize safety, connection, and empowerment.

Amanda-Lee Pitzer specializes in trauma-informed education, educational psychology, and educational leadership. She holds a doctorate in Educational Psychology from Regent University. Her trauma work takes place at Columbia College of South Carolina, where she equips teachers with strategies, evidence-based practices, and practical applications to successfully develop trauma-informed classrooms.