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Op-Ed by Tirrell-Corbin, Panlilio ('15) Published in EdSurge

EdSurge published the op-ed, "Our Research Shows Educators Are Experiencing Trauma During the Pandemic. Here’s How We Can Reduce the Burden," by experts in childhood trauma, Drs. Christy Tirrell-Corbin and Carlo Panlilio ('15). The essay was published as part of the Voices of Change series funded by the Chan Zuckerberg Foundation.

Educators play a critical role in our communities, but lately—and increasingly—they are burdened with responsibilities more appropriate for other members of the community, such as counselors, social workers, nurses and community organizers. This juggling act is particularly salient in under-resourced communities, where grappling with these issues can be a daily struggle.

Since the onset of the pandemic nearly a year ago, educators have been tasked with addressing new, multi-layered challenges due to the primary and secondary trauma associated with COVID-19. Evidence suggests those responsibilities are taking an emotional toll on these critical members of our communities.

[...] Until we can implement a long-term solution, we must find short-term remedies to support children in under-resourced communities and, in turn, reduce the burden on our educators. Given that schools are reopening across the country, there really is no time to waste.

Read the full article