Shifting the culture in Ken-Ton Schools

By Matthew Biddle

Trauma-informed educational practices are now infused into every aspect of the Kenmore-Tonawanda School District’s culture — thanks to a partnership with our Institute on Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care (ITTIC). Over the past six years, ITTIC worked with district leaders and educators to develop and implement an action plan to make it the first trauma-informed school district in Western New York.

The partnership also is a model for ITTIC’s work in other districts, including Frontier, Lockport, Niagara Falls, North Tonawanda, West Seneca and Williamsville.

To start, ITTIC provided “Trauma 101” training for teachers, staff and administrators to increase their understanding of trauma and how it can affect people.

“When individuals have that awareness, it positions them to use universal precautions, or to consider how someone could be triggered or retraumatized by your environment, procedures or the way you do business,” says Susan A. Green, clinical professor and ITTIC co-director.

Next, each school formed a champion team to lead culture change in their building and develop strategies for concrete actions in classrooms and operations, with ITTIC providing guidance and tools along the way. Last year, Ken-Ton rebranded the teams as social-emotional learning implementation teams, which increased staff participation and has positioned the district for long-term success.

“The engagement level for this initiative has been the highest I’ve seen in my 21 years in the district,” says Michael J. Huff, principal at Hoover Elementary. “ITTIC has helped cause change in our district that has been very powerful and impactful.”