GETCA 2025

Introduction: Teacher burnout and attrition have long been concerns in education, but an often-overlooked factor is the impact of student-reported trauma on educators. Educational leaders play a crucial role in recognizing and addressing the effects of vicarious trauma and secondary traumatic stress on their staff. This session aims to equip educational leaders with the knowledge and tools to support their teachers' well-being effectively. Background: Since the 1990s, vicarious trauma and secondary traumatic stress have been recognized in various helping professions, such as journalism, clergy, counseling, law enforcement, and healthcare. These conditions result from indirect exposure to trauma through assisting or wanting to help traumatized individuals. Despite teachers being a primary point of contact for students outside their homes, the susceptibility of public educators to vicarious trauma and secondary traumatic stress has only recently been acknowledged. Impact on Teachers: With increasing incidents of bullying, community-based violence, and abuse affecting students, teachers frequently encounter traumatic narratives. If trauma significantly impacts students' lives and classroom performance, it logically follows that it would similarly affect teachers exposed to these stories. Proposed Session Content: What is Vicarious Trauma and Secondary Traumatic Stress? Developing an Understanding: Define and distinguish between vicarious trauma vicarious trauma and secondary traumatic stress, providing context and relevance to the educational environment. Manifestation in Educators: Discuss how vicarious trauma and secondary traumatic stress manifest in teachers. How to Prevent Vicarious Trauma and Secondary Traumatic Stress? Preventive Strategies: Explore evidence-based approaches and best practices to prevent vicarious trauma and secondary traumatic stress among educators. Organizational Support: Highlight the role of school leadership in creating a supportive environment that mitigates the risks of vicarious trauma and secondary traumatic stress. How to be Vicarious Trauma and Secondary Traumatic Stress Aware? Awareness and Recognition: Provide guidelines for educational leaders to recognize signs of vicarious trauma and secondary traumatic stress in their staff. Ongoing Support: Discuss strategies for ongoing support and professional development to foster resilience and well-being among educators. Learning Outcomes: Learners will: Build knowledge of vicarious trauma and secondary traumatic stress and how they impact teaching Recognize signs of vicarious trauma and secondary traumatic stress in their staff. Acquire evidence-based strategies to prevent and mitigate vicarious trauma and secondary traumatic stress. Create a organizational culture that reduces the impact of student-reported trauma. Conclusion: By understanding and addressing the impacts of vicarious trauma and secondary traumatic stress, educational leaders can better support their teachers' mental health, fostering a healthier and more productive educational environment. Every profession has inherent risks, but without acknowledgment and proactive measures, effective protections cannot be implemented. Join us to learn how you can lead with resilience and support your educators in providing exceptional support to their students.