In this timely episode of the Educator's Playbook, we confront the pervasive issue of gun violence and its reverberating effects across K-12 education. With an alarming 44,367 gun violence deaths reported in the US last year, of which 1,686 were children and teens, the weight of this crisis is palpable in classrooms across the nation. As educators and students grapple with the grief and trauma stemming from these tragedies, the question arises: How does the education community navigate such turbulent waters? Joining the conversation is Jasmine Marshall-Butler, who shares insights from her Ph.D. research on the profound effect that losing students to gun violence has on educators. Also sharing her story is documentary filmmaker Shameka Sawyer, founder of the 5 Shorts Project. She shares her perspective on the broader implications for the school environment and community. This episode serves as a poignant reflection on a pressing societal issue, emphasizing the need for support, understanding and proactive measures in our schools. We realize it's an activating topic, so please be careful when listening. We've included some additional resources below.

FEATURING:

• Jasmine Marshall-Butler, Associate Director of the Urban Teaching Apprenticeship Program (UTAP), University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education    
• Shameka Sawyer, Founder & Executive Director, 5 Shorts Project

NEWSLETTER:

• Subscribe to the Educator's Playbook newsletter for ongoing resources and content

RELATED PLAYBOOKS:

• No. 58: How teachers can talk about violence at the Capitol (01-07-21)
• No. 40: Bringing Restorative Justice into Your Classroom (02-06-20)
• No. 31: How parents can help adolescents struggling with anxiety (11-08-19)
• No. 21: Creating meaningful classroom discussions (03-17-17)

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

• The Victim Connect Resource Center: a referral helpline where crime victims can learn about their rights and options confidentially and compassionately. Check out their interactive VictimConnect Resource Map online for additional resources or contact the VictimConnect Resource Center by phone or text at 1-855-4-VICTIM for more information or assistance in locating services that can help after you lose a loved one or are experiencing grief
• National Organization of Parents of Murdered Children
• The National Alliance For Children's Grief: provides information on supporting children through grief, including a national database of in-person grief support programs, camps and community resources