The Elephant Alliance, LLC

We want to share this recent article out of NYC with two reminders, both of which we address in detail in our professional development sessions: 1.) For administrators and school boards, simple policies can go a long way in creating Cultures of Safety for students and faculty. A personal cellphone ban could have prevented many of the incidents in this article. 2.) For teachers, the goal is to keep any interaction "readily interruptible." This absolutely extends to technology. An email sent via the district server is much more "readily interruptible" than a text message sent from a personal cellphone. https://lnkd.in/gpvnXf23

Thank you so much to MMEA for having us out to Minneapolis last week!

We are excited to be presenting in Minneapolis this week at the MMEA Midwinter Convention! An article by The Elephant Alliance is featured on page 21 of this edition of Interval: https://lnkd.in/gCMc-3s6

One of the most important ways we can help others understand the issue of ESM is by sharing our own stories. Reading or talking about first-hand accounts from survivors helps bystanders grasp the complexity and devastation involved in every case, and it can certainly help other survivors who are navigating similar situations. In fact, reading about another's experience can sometimes be the very first step on a path of healing. Unfortunately, sharing one's experience with grooming, abuse, or assault can be extremely difficult, fraught with re-traumatization and pain. Today, a new work has been added to the literature on this topic: Megan Farison's book titled "Dissonance, A Memoir." If you are a teacher, parent, person who works with children, or person interested in trauma and healing, please give this book a read. https://lnkd.in/gRUCY753

📋Here’s a cheat sheet for parents considering apps for a child’s device. 🐥Try using this to begin discussions with your child about the online risks and benefits of apps. #duckduckgroom #therapisttips #preparednotparanoid

Thank you to professor Deborah Peot and the ECMEA for sponsoring our visit to Elmhurst University yesterday! Here we are with the executive board after the session.

It was wonderful to meet Dr. Brent Levine and his students at Northern Arizona University. Together we have hope for a better, safer future!

Thank you to Roosevelt University for having The Elephant Alliance out to speak with your music education students last week! #education #prevention

[5/5] The concept of having firm boundaries is simple, but the reality of enforcing them can feel tricky. It’s not always straight-forward. We acknowledge this at The Elephant Alliance, and we want to have nuanced conversations about real-life challenges that arise. We resent over-simplified advice like “don’t ever be alone with a student,” or maybe you’ve just heard “don’t touch the kids.” It’s impractical and unhelpful! Let’s have the real conversations that help teachers navigate boundaries and actually keep students safe.  #SchoolCultureofSafety #education #grooming #teacher #teachers #abuseprevention #accountability #boundaries #stopabuse #childsafety #childsafe #TheElephantAlliance

[4/5] When we talk about maintaining boundaries with students, we are not suggesting that teachers become sterile and distant. Great teachers are caring and friendly. Great teachers DO form supportive relationships with their students. The goal is not to eliminate these relationships. The goal is to take an honest, critical look at our interactions and behaviors, BECAUSE we care so deeply about our students. Kids thrive within the structure of firm boundaries. Teachers are liberated within the security of firm boundaries to focus on what really matters. Firm boundaries provide the consistency and security your classroom/team/ensemble/club needs to be a *truly* safe space.   #SchoolCultureofSafety #education #grooming #teacher #teachers #abuseprevention #accountability #boundaries #stopabuse #childsafety #childsafe #TheElephantAlliance