Date of Graduation

8-7-2020

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Educational Specialist (EdS)

Department

Department of Graduate Psychology

Advisor(s)

Deborah Kipps-Vaughan

Tammy Gilligan

Tiffany Hornsby

Abstract

School systems and personnel are beginning to recognize the immense impact that trauma has on their student populations and take initiative to address these factors within the school building using trauma responsive practices. School personnel are likely to encounter the effects of trauma on a regular basis in the management of behavioral concerns, which have a dose-response relationship to traumatic experiences. School principals are leaders in the school building and have a large influence on school-wide practices, thus are in the unique position to alter policy and practice. The current study examined Virginia elementary school principals’ level of trauma training, use of trauma responsive practices, perceptions of their school’s trauma awareness and effectiveness of trauma responsive practices, and barriers to implementation of trauma responsive practices. The data collected from the study supported the need for more staff training, recognizing teachers as key stakeholders in the transition to become more trauma responsive, and more resources directed towards this endeavor in schools, including mental health professionals.

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