Supporting the Wounded Educator: A Trauma-sensitive Approach to Self-care

Educators today are facing challenges and demands like never before. The tensions between an educator’s calling and the reality of the profession can create a growing sense of compassion fatigue, burnout, and job dissatisfaction. In light of this context, this book brings firsthand knowledge alongside research to encourage, equip, and empower teachers and other K-12 educators to find relief and hope. Taking a trauma-sensitive approach, this important resource will help you navigate the pressures of being an educator, whether you entered into your profession carrying wounds with you, have felt wounded from your work environment, or you are simply someone trying to support others. Packed with doable strategies and suggestions for personal and professional self-care, this book will help you discover a personal journey towards holistic health, job satisfaction, and most importantly, hope!

Dardi Hendershott is co-founder of Hope 4 The Wounded, an organization committed to encouraging, equipping, and empowering schools and communities to reach children who are beyond "at-risk." Hope 4 the Wounded offers practitioner-based training across the globe about social/emotional literacy, empathy, inclusive communities, self-care and combating compassion fatigue, and other topics relevant to today's educational climate that help educators, leaders, and other child service professionals understand and reach wounded children.

Joe Hendershott has an extensive background working with at-risk and wounded youth as a teacher and administrator in traditional, alternative, and correctional education settings. He has been a high school assistant principal, head principal, alternative school principal, and a principal in a residential treatment facility. In 2006, he co-founded Hope 4 The Wounded with his wife, Dardi, and is a sought-after speaker and professional development trainer for trauma-informed practices and social emotional literacy.