Join Allison Nelson for a six-session virtual book study on "Help for Billy: A Beyond Consequences Approach to Helping Challenging Children in the Classroom" by Heather Forbes. This book provides a deep-dive into trauma-informed care in the school setting and covers the following topics:

• Stress, trauma, and the brain
• Regulation and dysregulation
• The impact of trauma on development
• External messages and internal realities
• Responding to students in crisis
• Motivation
• Classroom management
• Relationships
• Social emotional learning

Audience: K-5 Teachers, Specials Teachers, Special Education Teachers and Support Staff

Note: While this series and the supplemental resources are designed with elementary educators in mind, please know that all are invited to join!

Participants will read and review two chapters per session, and each 90-minute session will include a combination of guided reflection and discussion.

Introducing Allison Nelson

Allison Nelson is the Educational Advisor for Trauma Informed Communities with Developmental Enhancement Behavioral Health in Holland, Michigan. 

Allison is certified as a classroom teacher and a school administrator and has been in the field of education for over 15 years. She has taught students from early childhood through college and in settings ranging from daycare centers to residential treatment facilities. She has spent the majority of her career as an elementary teacher-leader in the public school system. 

Allison certainly understands the complexities of education today. She is motivated by a two-fold desire: to support students and empower teachers. Through her professional development, coaching, and consulting services, Allison equips all participants to take their next steps toward becoming more trauma informed. She has provided scaffolding and support and spurred systemic change for hundreds of schools, universities, and community organizations across the state of Michigan and beyond. 

Allison holds a Master's degree in Educational Administration from the University of Michigan. She is a Certified Trauma Practitioner in Education as well as a Community Champion with the Michigan ACE Initiative. She is trained in Nonviolent Crisis Intervention and in Restorative Practices. In her spare time, Allison serves as adjunct faculty in the College of Education and Community Innovation at Grand Valley State University. 

Allison is a foster, adoptive, and biological parent; a dynamic speaker, competitive runner, voracious reader, and lifelong learner. 

At no cost to participants, up to 9.0 SCECHs can be earned for participating in our "Help for Billy" book study (1.5 for each session). Learn more about SCECHs and our process HERE.

Please contact Jayme Lesperance, Manager of Teacher Development, if you have any questions about this series.