I have had a 25 year opportunity to have an amazing career in which I have worked
an amazing career in which I have worked
an amazing career in which I have worked with some really talented educators and
with some really talented educators and
with some really talented educators and social service workers and
social service workers and
social service workers and businesspeople during that time I myself
businesspeople during that time I myself
businesspeople during that time I myself was an educator I left there to go work
was an educator I left there to go work
was an educator I left there to go work in the mental health field and after
in the mental health field and after
in the mental health field and after that spent some time trying to eradicate
that spent some time trying to eradicate
that spent some time trying to eradicate poverty and most recently I’ve gotten to
poverty and most recently I’ve gotten to
poverty and most recently I’ve gotten to spend some time learning about and
spend some time learning about and
spend some time learning about and sharing with others the impact of trauma
sharing with others the impact of trauma
sharing with others the impact of trauma on the brain you see I’ve learned that
on the brain you see I’ve learned that
on the brain you see I’ve learned that in order to teach something I need to
in order to teach something I need to
in order to teach something I need to dig really deep into it and I need to
dig really deep into it and I need to
dig really deep into it and I need to understand it at really great depth so
understand it at really great depth so
understand it at really great depth so that I understand the stats and I
that I understand the stats and I
that I understand the stats and I understand the statistics and figures
understand the statistics and figures
understand the statistics and figures and I understand all of those things
and I understand all of those things
and I understand all of those things that are the factual pieces so that when
that are the factual pieces so that when
that are the factual pieces so that when I take it to other people I can make it
I take it to other people I can make it
I take it to other people I can make it real for them and understand how it
real for them and understand how it
real for them and understand how it impacts their world and then bring it to
impacts their world and then bring it to
impacts their world and then bring it to life and I have had the opportunity for
life and I have had the opportunity for
life and I have had the opportunity for the past four years to dig really deep
the past four years to dig really deep
the past four years to dig really deep into the impact of trauma and adversity
into the impact of trauma and adversity
into the impact of trauma and adversity on the brain and so today what I’d like
on the brain and so today what I’d like
on the brain and so today what I’d like to do is to share with you a piece of
to do is to share with you a piece of
to do is to share with you a piece of what I’ve learned and to give you some
what I’ve learned and to give you some
what I’ve learned and to give you some hope what I’d like to share with you
hope what I’d like to share with you
hope what I’d like to share with you today is a topic called adverse
today is a topic called adverse
today is a topic called adverse childhood experiences those things that
childhood experiences those things that
childhood experiences those things that happen to us before we turn the age of
happen to us before we turn the age of
happen to us before we turn the age of 18 that make a template on how we see
18 that make a template on how we see
18 that make a template on how we see the world and that impact our brains in
the world and that impact our brains in
the world and that impact our brains in such a way that when we interact with
such a way that when we interact with
such a way that when we interact with the world oftentimes it’s out of that
the world oftentimes it’s out of that
the world oftentimes it’s out of that adversity two researchers dr. Vincent
adversity two researchers dr. Vincent
adversity two researchers dr. Vincent Follette II and dr. Robert anda did lots
Follette II and dr. Robert anda did lots
Follette II and dr. Robert anda did lots of work in this area and they actually
of work in this area and they actually
of work in this area and they actually created a 10-question questionnaire that
created a 10-question questionnaire that
created a 10-question questionnaire that they gave out to 18,000 people and what
they gave out to 18,000 people and what
they gave out to 18,000 people and what they were looking for was what is the
they were looking for was what is the
they were looking for was what is the impact of adversity in childhood on
impact of adversity in childhood on
impact of adversity in childhood on later in life physical health outcomes
later in life physical health outcomes
later in life physical health outcomes I’ll tell you that what they found was
I’ll tell you that what they found was
I’ll tell you that what they found was astonishing and remarkable and sometimes
astonishing and remarkable and sometimes
astonishing and remarkable and sometimes it shakes
it shakes
it shakes my core to think about because what they
my core to think about because what they
my core to think about because what they found was a strong dose response
found was a strong dose response
found was a strong dose response correlation between the amount of
correlation between the amount of
correlation between the amount of adversity that we face as children and
adversity that we face as children and
adversity that we face as children and our later in life physical health
our later in life physical health
our later in life physical health outcomes they were able to actually
outcomes they were able to actually
outcomes they were able to actually identify the fact that through that
identify the fact that through that
identify the fact that through that adversity our bodies and our chemistry
adversity our bodies and our chemistry
adversity our bodies and our chemistry and our brains are changed in such a way
and our brains are changed in such a way
and our brains are changed in such a way that if you have experienced four or
that if you have experienced four or
that if you have experienced four or more adverse childhood experiences your
more adverse childhood experiences your
more adverse childhood experiences your lifespan could be shortened by 20 years
lifespan could be shortened by 20 years
lifespan could be shortened by 20 years so when I say the word adverse childhood
so when I say the word adverse childhood
so when I say the word adverse childhood experiences or is all probably shorten
experiences or is all probably shorten
experiences or is all probably shorten it now to aces what do I mean when we
it now to aces what do I mean when we
it now to aces what do I mean when we talk about aces they asked questions
talk about aces they asked questions
talk about aces they asked questions that were in groups of physical abuse
that were in groups of physical abuse
that were in groups of physical abuse sexual abuse emotional abuse neglect
sexual abuse emotional abuse neglect
sexual abuse emotional abuse neglect your parents being divorced growing up
your parents being divorced growing up
your parents being divorced growing up in a home with someone with mental
in a home with someone with mental
in a home with someone with mental illness growing up in a home with
illness growing up in a home with
illness growing up in a home with someone who was substance abusing we’re
someone who was substance abusing we’re
someone who was substance abusing we’re growing up in a home or you witnessed
growing up in a home or you witnessed
growing up in a home or you witnessed domestic violence and felt unsafe when
domestic violence and felt unsafe when
domestic violence and felt unsafe when they looked at the results of those
they looked at the results of those
they looked at the results of those 18,000 questionnaires they found that
18,000 questionnaires they found that
18,000 questionnaires they found that people who had not experienced adversity
people who had not experienced adversity
people who had not experienced adversity in childhood which I’ll note was only
in childhood which I’ll note was only
in childhood which I’ll note was only about a third of people actually
about a third of people actually
about a third of people actually long-term showed almost no sign of any
long-term showed almost no sign of any
long-term showed almost no sign of any disease but as soon as you had
disease but as soon as you had
disease but as soon as you had experienced one adverse childhood
experienced one adverse childhood
experienced one adverse childhood experience you’re at risk for any
experience you’re at risk for any
experience you’re at risk for any physical health impairment started to
physical health impairment started to
physical health impairment started to increase at the point that you’ve had
increase at the point that you’ve had
increase at the point that you’ve had four or more aces you’re actually 232
four or more aces you’re actually 232
four or more aces you’re actually 232 percent more likely to have a heart
percent more likely to have a heart
percent more likely to have a heart attack than someone who has had done
attack than someone who has had done
attack than someone who has had done when you’ve experienced four or more
when you’ve experienced four or more
when you’ve experienced four or more aces you are two hundred and eighty-five
aces you are two hundred and eighty-five
aces you are two hundred and eighty-five percent more likely to have heart
percent more likely to have heart
percent more likely to have heart disease than someone who has experienced
disease than someone who has experienced
disease than someone who has experienced none and the one that always takes my
none and the one that always takes my
none and the one that always takes my breath a little bit is that if you have
breath a little bit is that if you have
breath a little bit is that if you have experienced four or more aces you are
experienced four or more aces you are
experienced four or more aces you are three hundred and fifty four percent
three hundred and fifty four percent
three hundred and fifty four percent more likely to have a vision issue than
more likely to have a vision issue than
more likely to have a vision issue than someone who has had no aces as you look
someone who has had no aces as you look
someone who has had no aces as you look the questionnaire that anda and filete
the questionnaire that anda and filete
the questionnaire that anda and filete II created and their results which you
II created and their results which you
II created and their results which you can find at CDC gov and you begin to
can find at CDC gov and you begin to
can find at CDC gov and you begin to consider the impact of all of the
consider the impact of all of the
consider the impact of all of the diseases that they were able to make a
diseases that they were able to make a
diseases that they were able to make a correlation between aces and that
correlation between aces and that
correlation between aces and that outcome it can become a pretty gruesome
outcome it can become a pretty gruesome
outcome it can become a pretty gruesome story and it can be a little
story and it can be a little
story and it can be a little overwhelming I’ll be honest because
overwhelming I’ll be honest because
overwhelming I’ll be honest because while they looked at the physical health
while they looked at the physical health
while they looked at the physical health impact we’ve also had researchers out
impact we’ve also had researchers out
impact we’ve also had researchers out there who have looked at the impact on
there who have looked at the impact on
there who have looked at the impact on the brain because you see when you
the brain because you see when you
the brain because you see when you experience that kind of adversity day
experience that kind of adversity day
experience that kind of adversity day after day after day after day your brain
after day after day after day your brain
after day after day after day your brain does what your brain was wired to do and
does what your brain was wired to do and
does what your brain was wired to do and that’s to survive but the way that your
that’s to survive but the way that your
that’s to survive but the way that your brain does that is that it goes into its
brain does that is that it goes into its
brain does that is that it goes into its mechanism called fight flight freeze
mechanism called fight flight freeze
mechanism called fight flight freeze response and when somebody grows up in
response and when somebody grows up in
response and when somebody grows up in an unsafe neighborhood or has parents
an unsafe neighborhood or has parents
an unsafe neighborhood or has parents who are substance abusing or mentally
who are substance abusing or mentally
who are substance abusing or mentally ill or domestically violent when they’re
ill or domestically violent when they’re
ill or domestically violent when they’re abused and neglected the brain gets
abused and neglected the brain gets
abused and neglected the brain gets hijacked and it gets stuck in this fight
hijacked and it gets stuck in this fight
hijacked and it gets stuck in this fight flight freeze mode it creates a template
flight freeze mode it creates a template
flight freeze mode it creates a template for the entire world where you begin to
for the entire world where you begin to
for the entire world where you begin to misperceive interaction with other human
misperceive interaction with other human
misperceive interaction with other human beings as threat and when our brains are
beings as threat and when our brains are
beings as threat and when our brains are threatened and they go into fight flight
threatened and they go into fight flight
threatened and they go into fight flight freeze mode we do what we need to do to
freeze mode we do what we need to do to
freeze mode we do what we need to do to survive and oftentimes that’s physical
survive and oftentimes that’s physical
survive and oftentimes that’s physical violence that’s fleeing the scene and
violence that’s fleeing the scene and
violence that’s fleeing the scene and running away or that simply shutting
running away or that simply shutting
running away or that simply shutting down to the point you can’t interact
down to the point you can’t interact
down to the point you can’t interact anymore when I learned this information
anymore when I learned this information
anymore when I learned this information I couldn’t help but reflect on my own
I couldn’t help but reflect on my own
I couldn’t help but reflect on my own life experience and that of many many
life experience and that of many many
life experience and that of many many many people that I’ve known across my
many people that I’ve known across my
many people that I’ve known across my career and I thought about all the
career and I thought about all the
career and I thought about all the people that I had known who had faced
people that I had known who had faced
people that I had known who had faced great adversity in their lives and made
great adversity in their lives and made
great adversity in their lives and made choices to head this direction and other
choices to head this direction and other
choices to head this direction and other people who had experienced that same
people who had experienced that same
people who had experienced that same adversity and headed this direction and
adversity and headed this direction and
adversity and headed this direction and I spent many many many years pondering
I spent many many many years pondering
I spent many many many years pondering what is it that’s at that intersection
what is it that’s at that intersection
what is it that’s at that intersection what makes the difference and when I dug
what makes the difference and when I dug
what makes the difference and when I dug really deep into that research what I
really deep into that research what I
really deep into that research what I found is that the answer at that
found is that the answer at that
found is that the answer at that intersection is resiliency
intersection is resiliency
intersection is resiliency the good news if there is some in all of
the good news if there is some in all of
the good news if there is some in all of this talk so far is the resiliency can
this talk so far is the resiliency can
this talk so far is the resiliency can be built no matter how much adversity
be built no matter how much adversity
be built no matter how much adversity we’ve been through and resiliency is the
we’ve been through and resiliency is the
we’ve been through and resiliency is the most easily and most effectively built
most easily and most effectively built
most easily and most effectively built through a loving caring nurturing
through a loving caring nurturing
through a loving caring nurturing relationship with another human being
relationship with another human being
relationship with another human being something that we all can do when I
something that we all can do when I
something that we all can do when I thought about my own adversity in life I
thought about my own adversity in life I
thought about my own adversity in life I pondered what was it that put me on this
pondered what was it that put me on this
pondered what was it that put me on this path why was it that I was successful
path why was it that I was successful
path why was it that I was successful why did I graduate from college why did
why did I graduate from college why did
why did I graduate from college why did I meet all the benchmarks that I was
I meet all the benchmarks that I was
I meet all the benchmarks that I was supposed to meet and I reflected upon
supposed to meet and I reflected upon
supposed to meet and I reflected upon the numbers and numbers and numbers of
the numbers and numbers and numbers of
the numbers and numbers and numbers of people who have invested in me and built
people who have invested in me and built
people who have invested in me and built resilience because you see to build
resilience because you see to build
resilience because you see to build resilience in someone the first thing
resilience in someone the first thing
resilience in someone the first thing you have to do is just show up be
you have to do is just show up be
you have to do is just show up be present repeatedly and consistently and
present repeatedly and consistently and
present repeatedly and consistently and predictably you have to see something in
predictably you have to see something in
predictably you have to see something in them that is of value and you invest in
them that is of value and you invest in
them that is of value and you invest in it and you teach a skill and I had so
it and you teach a skill and I had so
it and you teach a skill and I had so many people who taught me skill I had
many people who taught me skill I had
many people who taught me skill I had teachers like coaches I had family I had
teachers like coaches I had family I had
teachers like coaches I had family I had friends I had friends parents I had
friends I had friends parents I had
friends I had friends parents I had co-workers and yes even bosses who built
co-workers and yes even bosses who built
co-workers and yes even bosses who built incredible resilience in me and I’m
incredible resilience in me and I’m
incredible resilience in me and I’m eternally grateful some of those people
eternally grateful some of those people
eternally grateful some of those people inspired me so much that I knew that I
inspired me so much that I knew that I
inspired me so much that I knew that I needed to give back to the world became
needed to give back to the world became
needed to give back to the world became a teacher so that I could give back and
a teacher so that I could give back and
a teacher so that I could give back and while I may not teach in the classroom
while I may not teach in the classroom
while I may not teach in the classroom every day I teach all the time and this
every day I teach all the time and this
every day I teach all the time and this year was a little bit different because
year was a little bit different because
year was a little bit different because while I’ve spent those four years
while I’ve spent those four years
while I’ve spent those four years looking deeply at trauma and educating
looking deeply at trauma and educating
looking deeply at trauma and educating people wherever I go and talking to
people wherever I go and talking to
people wherever I go and talking to teachers and talking to social service
teachers and talking to social service
teachers and talking to social service workers and talking to businesspeople
workers and talking to businesspeople
workers and talking to businesspeople about all that information this year I
about all that information this year I
about all that information this year I had the opportunity to be the student
had the opportunity to be the student
had the opportunity to be the student because I had the opportunity that was
because I had the opportunity that was
because I had the opportunity that was career changing and I went into an
career changing and I went into an
career changing and I went into an elementary school
elementary school
elementary school where my job there was to educate
where my job there was to educate
where my job there was to educate teachers and the staff about trauma and
teachers and the staff about trauma and
teachers and the staff about trauma and then to coach side-by-side with teachers
then to coach side-by-side with teachers
then to coach side-by-side with teachers on a weekly basis on how to become
on a weekly basis on how to become
on a weekly basis on how to become trauma-informed how to create
trauma-informed how to create
trauma-informed how to create environments that were sensitive to the
environments that were sensitive to the
environments that were sensitive to the adversity that students had been through
adversity that students had been through
adversity that students had been through and I met mrs. Smith an amazing third
and I met mrs. Smith an amazing third
and I met mrs. Smith an amazing third grade teacher who did everything that I
grade teacher who did everything that I
grade teacher who did everything that I asked of her as a coach who created an
asked of her as a coach who created an
asked of her as a coach who created an amazing room that was very
amazing room that was very
amazing room that was very trauma-informed very sensitive to
trauma-informed very sensitive to
trauma-informed very sensitive to students needs doing well academically
students needs doing well academically
students needs doing well academically at a place that I would want to be and I
at a place that I would want to be and I
at a place that I would want to be and I was impressed I’m not gonna lie and I
was impressed I’m not gonna lie and I
was impressed I’m not gonna lie and I was a bit in awe at her ability to
was a bit in awe at her ability to
was a bit in awe at her ability to create that climate and that culture but
create that climate and that culture but
create that climate and that culture but my life was impacted when I saw the
my life was impacted when I saw the
my life was impacted when I saw the effect of what she did on 26 kids you
effect of what she did on 26 kids you
effect of what she did on 26 kids you see every day mrs. Smith would walk into
see every day mrs. Smith would walk into
see every day mrs. Smith would walk into that room and she knew that her first
that room and she knew that her first
that room and she knew that her first and foremost job was to create
and foremost job was to create
and foremost job was to create predictability and safety and she
predictability and safety and she
predictability and safety and she created a climate where it was okay to
created a climate where it was okay to
created a climate where it was okay to make mistakes where it was okay to take
make mistakes where it was okay to take
make mistakes where it was okay to take risks every day she did the same morning
risks every day she did the same morning
risks every day she did the same morning routine every day she did movement to
routine every day she did movement to
routine every day she did movement to get the kids engaged every day she sent
get the kids engaged every day she sent
get the kids engaged every day she sent the same messages over and over and over
the same messages over and over and over
the same messages over and over and over she created a space where they could
she created a space where they could
she created a space where they could share their fears where they could share
share their fears where they could share
share their fears where they could share their excitements where they could share
their excitements where they could share
their excitements where they could share their feelings and we’re from both of us
their feelings and we’re from both of us
their feelings and we’re from both of us they continually heard words like it’s a
they continually heard words like it’s a
they continually heard words like it’s a new day tomorrow we’ll try again let’s
new day tomorrow we’ll try again let’s
new day tomorrow we’ll try again let’s work together to solve that problem
work together to solve that problem
work together to solve that problem you’re welcome here I want you here
you’re welcome here I want you here
you’re welcome here I want you here you’re a part of our community and I
you’re a part of our community and I
you’re a part of our community and I watched those students who had come from
watched those students who had come from
watched those students who had come from incredible adversity who had hair
incredible adversity who had hair
incredible adversity who had hair triggers who were so angry and
triggers who were so angry and
triggers who were so angry and oftentimes shutting down begin to relax
oftentimes shutting down begin to relax
oftentimes shutting down begin to relax into the predictability and the safety
into the predictability and the safety
into the predictability and the safety and the nurturing that she created
while I watched that happen 426 kids I
while I watched that happen 426 kids I want to tell you about one specific
want to tell you about one specific
want to tell you about one specific young man that I watched and I watched
young man that I watched and I watched
young man that I watched and I watched the impact of her approach on a young
the impact of her approach on a young
the impact of her approach on a young man named drew you see when drew is a
man named drew you see when drew is a
man named drew you see when drew is a first grader he was suspended for
first grader he was suspended for
first grader he was suspended for forty-five days mostly for fighting and
forty-five days mostly for fighting and
forty-five days mostly for fighting and as a second grader he was suspended 30
as a second grader he was suspended 30
as a second grader he was suspended 30 days again mostly for fighting and when
days again mostly for fighting and when
days again mostly for fighting and when mrs. Smith met drew that first day she
mrs. Smith met drew that first day she
mrs. Smith met drew that first day she made sure that he knew you’re welcome
made sure that he knew you’re welcome
made sure that he knew you’re welcome here and I love you and we’re gonna get
here and I love you and we’re gonna get
here and I love you and we’re gonna get through this together
through this together
through this together day after day after day she sent him
day after day after day she sent him
day after day after day she sent him that message and when I got to come into
that message and when I got to come into
that message and when I got to come into the room I had to ride mrs. Smith’s
the room I had to ride mrs. Smith’s
the room I had to ride mrs. Smith’s credibility with those kids because Who
credibility with those kids because Who
credibility with those kids because Who am I and two drew who sat in the back of
am I and two drew who sat in the back of
am I and two drew who sat in the back of the room with a surly eye at me and who
the room with a surly eye at me and who
the room with a surly eye at me and who was incredibly suspicious of my
was incredibly suspicious of my
was incredibly suspicious of my intentions he didn’t warm up to me right
intentions he didn’t warm up to me right
intentions he didn’t warm up to me right away and as I rode that credibility and
away and as I rode that credibility and
away and as I rode that credibility and I kept showing up and I kept being
I kept showing up and I kept being
I kept showing up and I kept being present after 11 visits drew finally let
present after 11 visits drew finally let
present after 11 visits drew finally let me look at his paper on his desk and on
me look at his paper on his desk and on
me look at his paper on his desk and on my 15th visit he came up and he stood
my 15th visit he came up and he stood
my 15th visit he came up and he stood beside me and he bumped into me before
beside me and he bumped into me before
beside me and he bumped into me before he scurried away but you see I knew that
he scurried away but you see I knew that
he scurried away but you see I knew that day I had one trust and I had started
day I had one trust and I had started
day I had one trust and I had started the ball rolling on relationship I
continued to show up in mrs. Smith’s
continued to show up in mrs. Smith’s room and we continued to send those
room and we continued to send those
room and we continued to send those messages as consistently as we possibly
messages as consistently as we possibly
messages as consistently as we possibly could and I’m happy to say drew never
could and I’m happy to say drew never
could and I’m happy to say drew never got suspended in third grade and that
got suspended in third grade and that
got suspended in third grade and that didn’t happen by accident that happened
didn’t happen by accident that happened
didn’t happen by accident that happened because somebody showed up every day and
because somebody showed up every day and
because somebody showed up every day and loved him consistently and loved all of
loved him consistently and loved all of
loved him consistently and loved all of those kids the end of the year drew was
those kids the end of the year drew was
those kids the end of the year drew was having a really hard time leaving
having a really hard time leaving
having a really hard time leaving he knew over the summer he wouldn’t get
he knew over the summer he wouldn’t get
he knew over the summer he wouldn’t get to see his adult people like he had
to see his adult people like he had
to see his adult people like he had every day of school
every day of school
every day of school and he was struggling and I was there
and he was struggling and I was there
and he was struggling and I was there one of the last days and I was walking
one of the last days and I was walking
one of the last days and I was walking around the room and I was helping some
around the room and I was helping some
around the room and I was helping some students and I was talking to a young
students and I was talking to a young
students and I was talking to a young man and looking at his paper and the
man and looking at his paper and the
man and looking at his paper and the next thing I know drew climbs on a chair
next thing I know drew climbs on a chair
next thing I know drew climbs on a chair and on to my back and he wrapped his
and on to my back and he wrapped his
and on to my back and he wrapped his legs around me and I like four year olds
legs around me and I like four year olds
legs around me and I like four year olds do except he wasn’t four he was a big
do except he wasn’t four he was a big
do except he wasn’t four he was a big nine year old and he wrapped his legs
nine year old and he wrapped his legs
nine year old and he wrapped his legs around me and he put his arms around my
around me and he put his arms around my
around me and he put his arms around my neck and he just hung there and pretty
neck and he just hung there and pretty
neck and he just hung there and pretty soon he started to engage with the young
soon he started to engage with the young
soon he started to engage with the young man that I was looking at his paper and
man that I was looking at his paper and
man that I was looking at his paper and they started to talk and he just
they started to talk and he just
they started to talk and he just continued to hang there and it was time
continued to hang there and it was time
continued to hang there and it was time to go to gym and I walked down to the
to go to gym and I walked down to the
to go to gym and I walked down to the gym with him hanging on my back that way
gym with him hanging on my back that way
gym with him hanging on my back that way and of course some administrators who
and of course some administrators who
and of course some administrators who saw me in the hall were a little bit
saw me in the hall were a little bit
saw me in the hall were a little bit taken aback and then they noticed who
taken aback and then they noticed who
taken aback and then they noticed who was carrying him and just waved and oh
was carrying him and just waved and oh
was carrying him and just waved and oh it’s that crazy trauma-informed lady
it’s that crazy trauma-informed lady
it’s that crazy trauma-informed lady it’ll be okay and later one of those
it’ll be okay and later one of those
it’ll be okay and later one of those administrators came to me and she said
administrators came to me and she said
administrators came to me and she said Carol that was drew trying to love you
Carol that was drew trying to love you
Carol that was drew trying to love you wasn’t it
wasn’t it
wasn’t it yes that was Drew’s hug because you see
yes that was Drew’s hug because you see
yes that was Drew’s hug because you see no matter how much relationship I belt
no matter how much relationship I belt
no matter how much relationship I belt built with Drew it was never okay to
built with Drew it was never okay to
built with Drew it was never okay to give a hug and I knew that day that that
give a hug and I knew that day that that
give a hug and I knew that day that that was Drew’s hug as I left that day I knew
was Drew’s hug as I left that day I knew
was Drew’s hug as I left that day I knew that my career and my life had been
that my career and my life had been
that my career and my life had been changed and I have no doubt that Drew’s
changed and I have no doubt that Drew’s
changed and I have no doubt that Drew’s life was impacted by mrs. Smith this
life was impacted by mrs. Smith this
life was impacted by mrs. Smith this year and I know that mrs. Smith’s life
year and I know that mrs. Smith’s life
year and I know that mrs. Smith’s life was impacted by Drew and I know that my
was impacted by Drew and I know that my
was impacted by Drew and I know that my life was changed by both of them as I
life was changed by both of them as I
life was changed by both of them as I continued forward into other schools and
continued forward into other schools and
continued forward into other schools and I do other trainings I do it for that
I do other trainings I do it for that
I do other trainings I do it for that because I watched what could happen for
because I watched what could happen for
because I watched what could happen for kids like Drew when they get a room in a
kids like Drew when they get a room in a
kids like Drew when they get a room in a school that wants them there and doesn’t
school that wants them there and doesn’t
school that wants them there and doesn’t cast them aside for behavior that’s
cast them aside for behavior that’s
cast them aside for behavior that’s challenging I watched them welcome him
challenging I watched them welcome him
challenging I watched them welcome him and other students like him every day
and other students like him every day
and other students like him every day and I watched them say we want you here
and I watched them say we want you here
and I watched them say we want you here and you’re part of our community
and I hope that is Drew and his 26 peers
and I hope that is Drew and his 26 peers step out this summer and the world grabs
step out this summer and the world grabs
step out this summer and the world grabs them and tries to pull them in a
them and tries to pull them in a
them and tries to pull them in a thousand directions for just one moment
thousand directions for just one moment
thousand directions for just one moment they remember that they are lovable and
they remember that they are lovable and
they remember that they are lovable and that they are worthy and they have
that they are worthy and they have
that they are worthy and they have enough resilience to resist that because
enough resilience to resist that because
enough resilience to resist that because that is a world that I want to live in
that is a world that I want to live in
that is a world that I want to live in and those are schools that all of us
and those are schools that all of us
and those are schools that all of us should want thank you
should want thank you
should want thank you [Applause]
”
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