WCS Staff, SROs Attend Learning Symposium
WARSAW — Warsaw Community Schools’ staff, student resource officers and members of several local and state police organizations recently attended the Learning and the Brain Symposium at Butler University.
The event included a presentation from Dr. Lori Desautel of Butler University about childhood adversity and applied educational neuroscience. It also provided an opportunity for officers to gain insight into building relationships with community youth struggling through adversity. Officers met with Chris Leusner, chief of police from Cape May County, N.J. Leusner explained how his county has begun developing new pathways to reach community youth while building meaningful relationships and bonds. This is done in part through the county’s summer camps.
In addition, officers were able to learn about adverse childhood experiences and learn more on how to approach children in these crises from Leusner. The event also included a presentation from WCS Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert, who presented two afternoon sessions on the district’s work in social emotional learning and wellness as well as the important impact student resource officers play within our schools.
Attendees included School Resource Officers Allen Danko and Roy Navarro; incoming Kosciusko County Sheriff-Elect Kyle Dukes; WCS Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert; WCS Social Emotional Learning Coordinator Gina Courtois; WCS Mental Health Therapists Cara Allebach and Shelby VanBibber; and Leesburg elementary special education teacher Krista Dausman.
“Dr. Lori Desautel shared a video from a Ted Talk about reframing and bringing mental health support to refugees, and the power that we have as educators to reframe situations and give our students hope in the middle of their trials and adversity,” said Courtois. “As educators and adults that can make a positive impact on others we need to be intentional with our resiliency touch points, those connections and conversations with others. Our words have the power to bring life and hope to our students.”
“It was an honor for Warsaw Community Schools to be recognized as a leader in the field of social emotional learning,” stated Dr. Hoffert. “Having our local authorities involved in the discussions and learning workshops is going to help with an even more collective approach and common vocabulary. We look forward to continued growth as a school corporation and community for the betterment of our students.”