Episode #88: Leora Wolf-Prusan- Trauma Informed Educators Network Podcast
Unapologetic Disrupter for Good PodcastShow Notes
School Crisis Recovery & Renewal
Leora Wolf-Prusan serves as the Project Director for the School Crisis Recovery & Renewal project and as the School Mental Health field director for the Pacific Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC); previous roles include the national field director of a SAMHSA initiative (ReCAST-Resilience in Communities After Stress & Trauma) in addition to many other projects. Wolf-Prusan is dedicated to work focused on educator mental health, wellness, and trauma-informed approaches to education and operates through a framework in which public health, social work, and education intersect. Her research examined the impact of student death on teachers, what factors contribute to teachers building resiliency, and what supports teachers need from the school system in the event of a student homicide or other traumas. She received a BA in international relations and a BA in Spanish with a minor in Social & Ethnic Relations from the University of California, Davis; a teaching credential from Mills College; and an EdD in educational leadership from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Her work in school crisis recovery and renewal is motivated by and dedicated to educators and youth who envision schools as a platform for community and connection.
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Ginger Healy, LCSW, brings more than 25 years of experience in trauma and attachment. She began her career as a child abuse investigator and hospital social worker before becoming a school therapist. For 15 years, she served as a social services supervisor at an international adoption agency, deepening her expertise in developmental trauma and attachment.
Julie Kurtz, M.S., LMFT is a renowned author and national speaker specializing in trauma-responsive, social-emotional, and resilience-building skills, particularly within educational settings ranging from early childhood to 12th grade. As the Founder and CEO of the Center for Optimal Brain Integration®, Julie is dedicated to amplifying the voices of those who have experienced toxic or traumatic stress, empowering both children and adults, and nurturing humane beings through intentional social-emotional learning and resilience strategies.
Beth Tyson, MA, is a childhood trauma therapist, children’s book author, and founder of Beth Tyson Trauma Consulting. She creates trauma-informed training, curriculum, and tools to help prevent and heal childhood trauma. She serves as the co-chair of the Pennsylvania Child Abuse Prevention team, volunteers as a CASA, but most importantly, she is a mom who is trying her best to break the cycle of trauma in her family.
Dr. Michael Gaskell is an author, speaker and principal in East Brunswick. He models the pursuit of lifelong learning as he mentors new principals through the New Jersey Leaders to Leaders (L2L) program. An NJPSA Stars recipient, presents on AI in the Classroom, at NJPSA/FEA and at Rutgers, has been published in over 6 dozen education journals and blogs, including ASCD Smartbrief, Tech & Learning, Education Post, eSchoolNews, NASSP, Edtech, currently writes a monthly column for ASCD Smartbrief, and made the most-read section of ASCD Smartbrief. Mike presents at national conferences, including the Learning and the Brain conference, November 2021; FETC January 2022,, January 2023 January 2024, January 2025, & 2026, CEC January 2023, NJCEC 2024 & 2023and ISTE June 2023. He has been on numerous podcasts including Larry Ferlazzo’s Education Week Classroom Q&A. Mike has published three books: Radical Principals, Leading Schools Through Trauma and Microstrategy Magic. Dr. Gaskell supports instructional excellence and student success for all.
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