Worthy & Known and their TBRI overview training is broadening horizons and educating care-givers, teachers, parents, law enforcement officers and regular folks who love deeply but are ill-equipped to navigate the tricky terrain of trauma and unresolved hurts and hang-ups. Personally speaking, I have become a better pastor, a better father, a better husband and a better friend, through becoming trauma informed and learning how basic biology and neurology interact with trauma. I can’t stress enough how knowledge and empathetic leadership have helped me become better in a variety of different arenas. Not to mention, their presenters are kind, compassionate, engaging and practitioners themselves, it feels more like a conversation than an educational format.
Pastor Cameron Sandel, Grace Bible Church
-Rashad, Avon Park Correctional Institute
We thank God for [Making Sense of Your Past Worth]. Over the past few months, I have been blessed to see a group of men receive tools that allow them to love themselves and others in ways they never have before. Their future lives, relationships, and families will benefit greatly.”
As teachers, we have experienced first-hand the decline in student productivity and motivation at a startling rate, especially in the past few years following the Covid shutdown. It has become harder and harder each year to feel effective when dealing with the youth of today….
Even my own burning passion for teaching has fizzled at an alarming rate. I have to admit, when I saw another 'mandatory professional development' schedule at the beginning of this school year, I was skeptical and wary. I tell you this because this is how MANY of us feel in the school system these days. We attend trainings that are about "new" ideas, which are just different ways of doing the same thing. We have become very jaded...however, I walked out of that training in August with a completely different attitude and understanding of what we are facing.
I have know Amberlee Rogers personally and professionally for many years now. I have taught her children and worked beside her at Sebring High School, so when I saw she was presenting, I decided to give it a chance. Amberlee has always been what I would call a pillar in our community. She lives a life of love, compassion, and faith. When she left Sebring High School to pursue serving the community in different ways, we felt the huge loss, but it was clear after this training that God had placed her exactly where she needs to be because she is now able to reach and serve a wider population.
Her training for the Worthy and Known Family Project was very informative, but more importantly, it was inspirational and that's exactly what made it so effective. As teachers, we already know that diverse and challenging circumstances largely affect many of our students, but this training was able to really put into perspective the impact that many childhood traumas can have on a person long-term. It couldn't have been more poignant when we each took a short personal survey and realized just how many of us, as adults, had experienced our own traumas and had been living with them without realizing the impact they have on us still to this day, and even how this can affect our own children and future generations. It was a profound revelation. It altered my whole perception. It humble me. It encouraged me.
This training was a beautiful balance of scientific evidence and heartbreaking examples, but also HOPE. It reminded us of how important we, as teachers, can be in healing these kids by building safe and consistent relationships with them, showing them strength, but also grace. After the training, I was revitalized and excited to meet all my new potential students.
Since the training, I have purposely set new goals to build relationships. For example, I did my usual 'get to know you' assignment the first week, but this year, I picked one personal thing from each students' response and noted it on my seating chart. I began to add more details as I learned about them. I would make sure that every week, I have commented or followed-up on something specific to them. It ranges from if they are still fighting with their best friend to how their Dungeons and Dragons campaign went that weekend. I also started assigning more personal narrative style writing, and instead of editing/grading them, I just write them back about what they've shared. This has had a huge impact. Even the kids that rarely turn anything else in, submit a writing response because they know I'll read it and write them back. Has this taken up a lot of time? Yes. Has it been worth it...ABSOLUTELY. I will do this practice until the day I retire.
Thank you to Amberlee and the others involved in the Worthy and Known Family Project. You revitalized my spirit so that I could be the best version of myself to serve the countless number of students that needs healing in our county
Brittany Leach, Literature Teacher, Sebring High School