Equipping Resilience Coaches for Trauma-Responsive Success 2021 Cohort

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A school becomes truly effective when its culture promotes social and emotional well-being for students and teachers. To create this sustainable culture, schools, organizations, & communities will benefit from a Resilience Coach leading the on-going implementation of trauma-responsive best practices.

Led by the ESSDACK Resilience Team with Tamara Konrade and Jim Sporleder, this professional learning experience is designed to train members of your staff to become effective Resilience Coaches. Each member of this team brings a unique perspective that will create the mind and heart shifts necessary to lead and empower students, families, and staff.

Resilience Coaches will be equipped with the skills needed to lead practices designed to improve academic, organizational, and community outcomes.

Your course registration enrolls a team of two school personnel. Together, they act as the initial implementation team for your organization. We encourage this team to be made of a counselor, social worker, or classroom teacher and an administrator. Throughout the 12 months of training, the Resilience Coach will continue to receive coaching sessions from the ESSDACK Resilience Team, participate in ongoing webinars, and have access to a global learning network with a range of shared resources.

This opportunity should only be considered for schools or organizations that are already on the journey of becoming trauma-informed or are in the planning process. High commitment from the individual and district is critical to the success of the Resilience Coach.

Equipping Resilience Coaches Facilitation Team

  • Rebecca Lewis-Pankratz is the ESSDACK Learning Center Director, former director of McPherson County Circles, and speaks widely on the impact of poverty on learning.
  • Katie Perez is a curriculum consultant with extensive experience in elementary education and presents across the country on trauma-informed instruction and educator self-care.
  • Ginger Lewman is a national presenter whose high-energy work brings the science of the central nervous system to the art of resilience-building in adults, teens, and children.
  • Carmen Zeisler is an educational consultant with over 20 years of experience in the classroom including elementary, middle school, and alternative education, she presents on trauma-informed and restorative justice practices across the state of Kansas.
  • Tamara Konrade works with organizations across the country on effecting leadership and coaching skills that positively impact relationships and cultures.
  • Jim Sporleder was principal of Lincoln High School in Walla Walla, Washington, is author of The Trauma Informed School, and consults with schools throughout the US.

Cohort Start Date:
June 9, 2021
Synchronous Meeting Dates:

  • June 9-10

9am-3pm CDT

  • June 16-17

9am-3pm CDT

  • June 24

9 am-11 am CDT

  • July 8, 15, 22

9 am-11am CDT

  • August 5

9am-11pm CDT

Training highlights and focus:

  • Synchronous and asynchronous learning
  • Creation of 12 month action plan for equipping and sustaining a trauma-informed building.
  • Eight professional learning modules for school facilitation
  • Parent/Caregiver training module
  • Brain Basics curriculum for K-12 classrooms
  • Effective co-regulation tools
  • Responsive coaching techniques
  • Supportive relationship building
  • Strategies for creating and implementing a trauma-responsive culture
  • Developing a wellness process ensuring trauma-informed care cultivates resilience in staff
  • Creating parental involvement and partnering

Year long support:

  • Runs June 9, 2021-May 31, 2022
  • Ongoing virtual coaching and consulting sessions for Resilience Coach Team
  • Access to live & archived webinar
  • Weekly email support
  • Professional Learning modules to facilitate with your school faculty and staff
  • Global learning network
  • Shared resources

Email [email protected] to discuss registration.


Your Instructor


Katie McDonald
Katie McDonald
"To teach is to dedicate your life so that others may learn how to live."

Course Curriculum


  School and Parents as Partners: Building Student Resilience
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  Week One -August 10, 2021
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  Week Two - August 17, 2021
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  Week Three - August 24, 2021
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  Week Four - August 31, 2021
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  Week Five - September 07, 2021
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  Week Six - September 14, 2021
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  Week Seven - September 21, 2021
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  Week Eight - September 28, 2021
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  Week Nine - October 05, 2021
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  Week Ten - October 12, 2021
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  Week Eleven - October 19, 2021
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  Week Twelve - October 26, 2021
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  Week Thirteen - November 02, 2021
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  Week Fourteen - November 17, 2021
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  Week Fifteen - November 16, 2021
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  Week Sixteen - November 23, 2021
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  Week Seventeen - November 30, 2021
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  Week Eighteen - December 07, 2021
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  Week Nineteen - December 14, 2021
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  Week Twenty - January 04, 2022
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  Week Twenty-one - January 11, 2022
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  Week Twenty-two - January 18, 2022
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  Week Twenty-three - January 25, 2022
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  Week Twenty-four - February 01, 2022
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  Week Twenty-five - February 08, 2022
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  Week Twenty-six - February 15, 2022
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  Week Twenty-seven - February 22, 2022
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  Week Twenty-eight - March 01, 2022
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  Week Twenty-nine - March 08, 2022
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  Week Thirty - March 15, 2022
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  Week Thirty-one - March 22, 2022
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  Week Thirty-two - March 29, 2022
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  Week Thirty-three - April 05, 2022
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  Week Thirty-four - April 19, 2022
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  Week Thirty-five - April 26, 2022
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  Week Thirty-six - May 2, 2022
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Frequently Asked Questions


When does the course start and finish?
This course starts on June 9, 2021. While the work is never truly finished, the year of support runs through May 2021. At that time, you will have the option of joining our Equipped Resilience Coach Community to continue learning as you support your school's journey to becoming trauma-informed.
How long do I have access to the course?
This course is designed to run from June 9, 2021-May 31, 2022 After that, you will have the option to move into our Equipped Resilience Coaches Community for free where you will still have access to the professional learning materials and resources.

Get started now!