I Don’t Know How to Respond to These Behaviors!

Leveling Up for Educator Efficacy with TIRSI

By Annie O’Shaughnessy

“Sarah, you know the expectation. Please stay in your assigned seat.” 

“Sarah, I need you to stop tapping your pen. It is distracting your classmates.”

“Sarah, if I have to remind you one more time to stay in your seat, I will need to send you to the office.”

As a supervisor of student teachers at Saint Michael’s College, I get a front row seat to what educators are facing in schools today. These words came from Graham, a skilled and enthusiastic middle school teacher-to-be, whom I was supervising during his practice teaching. But even with all of his skills, Graham didn’t know how to respond to these disruptive behaviors.  

Sarah had come into class five minutes late and rushed to her desk. After a warm welcome, Graham continued with his instruction andI watched as Sarah looked for her class journal in its usual spot. Not finding it, she roamed around the classroom, clearly agitated. 

Once Sarah found her journal, she began to work but quickly popped up again to sit with a friend. After Graham directed her back to her seat, she started tapping her pen. Sarah was quiet for a bit, working on the assignment, but she suddenly popped up again and sat with another student. This time she refused to move. Graham wisely avoided the looming power struggle, intending to connect with her later, but with three minutes remaining in class Sarah left the classroom. 

After class, I asked Graham, “How do you think it went?”

“I think it went well. But, I will be referring Sarah to an after school make-up time for leaving class early. It’s the school’s policy.” 

I asked, “What do you think was going on with this student?” 

He thought for a moment and said,  “I don’t know.”  

I said, “I noticed her exhibiting anxious behaviors and making attempts to self-regulate. I wonder if something happened before class. I will send you some materials on how the brain is impacted by stress and some strategies you and Sarah can both consider to navigate this experience better. The goal will be to empower Sarah with strategies and language so she can get her needs met and so that you can do your job.”

I then asked Graham to reconnect with Sarah and ask her how she’s doing and whether anything happened before class that had upset her. Graham learned that there had been an altercation in the hallway, and Sarah had been shoved against the wall.  As a first step, Graham asked her to let him know if something like that happens again and invited her to talk to the school counselor about next steps.

This story and many others like it are the reason our training series — Trauma Informed and Restorative Supports and Interventions (TIRSI) — is such essential learning for educators today. 

Every profession has a moment like this — when past training is no longer adequate to the challenges of the job. This is that moment for educators everywhere. Disruptive and dangerous behaviors in classrooms have significantly increased since the pandemic due to a wide range of factors.  We developed TIRSI to level up today’s educators by providing practical, evidence-based strategies they can use to strengthen the capacity, skill, and motivation needed to teach, learn, and lead in the midst of these challenges. 

The impact of this series has been marked. Comments like, “Every educator needs to take this series!” and “I learned strategies I can use right away to make my life as an educator easier” are common and keep coming in! 

Enroll now in VT-HEC’s 2-day immersion with Camille Koosmann on Oct 28 & 29 at Burke Mountain Resort.

If you are not able to attend the October days, please complete this short survey to let us know when and where to offer the series next. We intend to hold another session in Spring 2026. 

VT-HEC provides accessible and powerful learning opportunities that further the expertise, knowledge, and skills of educators, leaving them better equipped to address the barriers that Vermont students face. Starling Collaborative partners with schools and organizations to build communities where everyone can thrive. The two organizations are partnering to offer this in person series. We hope you will join us!