Behind every foster student is a story teachers rarely hear.

Episode Chapters:
(00:00) What Foster Care Really Means
(05:25) How Trauma Affects Learning
(10:07) Understanding the Foster Care System
(14:12) How Relationships Change Everything
(19:39) Foster Care Terms Explained
(25:10) Building a Support System That Works
(33:48) Small Tweaks, Big Impact

Annie sits down with foster care educational advocate Sharon Dunlevy to explore how trauma and foster care experiences shape students—and what teachers can do to create supportive, safe learning environments without added guilt or pressure.

Foster students face hidden challenges that affect learning and behavior. Sharon shares practical strategies, communication tips, and relationship-building tools to help educators understand students’ experiences, create safety in the classroom, and foster success for every child.

To learn more about Sharon and her work, visit:
https://fostercaretrainingtoday.com/

What you’ll learn:

• How trauma affects learning and behavior

• The realities foster students face in and out of school

• How teachers can build supportive relationships with students and foster parents

• Why empathy and understanding matter more than added interventions

• Small shifts that create a safe, inclusive learning environment

Packed with practical guidance and encouragement, this episode helps teachers rethink behavior, notice the unseen, and create classrooms where every student can thrive.

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