We are asking the school board to require or strongly encourage PTSD awareness and recognition training for all teachers and school staff in our school district. This training would help educators better understand how trauma can affect students and how to respond in a supportive, respectful, and informed way.

PTSD can affect students in many parts of school life. It can make it harder to focus, learn, communicate, trust others, and feel safe in the classroom. Many students carry these struggles quietly, and teachers may not always know what they are dealing with. That is why awareness matters.

We are not asking teachers to diagnose PTSD. We are asking them to learn how to recognize possible signs of trauma, understand that students may be struggling for reasons they cannot easily explain, and know how to connect those students with the right support. A short course could make a real difference in how students are treated day to day.

By making this training a requirement, or at least strongly encouraging every staff member to complete it, the school board can help build a safer and more supportive school environment. Students deserve to be heard, understood, and respected, not overlooked when they are in pain.

Please sign this petition in support of PTSD awareness, better teacher education, and stronger mental health advocacy in our schools. Every student deserves a school community that sees their needs and responds with care.