Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1190776
Boewe and her team sprang into action, checking in on the families of their students in special education and setting up systems of support at their school sites. A week before schools were set to reopen in Malibu (Malibu High was closed for five weeks), Boewe's team trained staff at each Malibu school on how to talk about the fire, what to expect from their students, their own trauma, and how to best support their com- munity through the trying time. With the district's mental health staff on hand, educators participated in restorative "harm circles," allowing a chance to share their stories and what they needed. "These are our kids, our families and our colleagues. This has an impact on all of us," says Boewe. As the reopening approached, Boewe sent emails to all staff with self- care tips to make sure they were prepared for the emotions they would encounter. e day the mandatory evacuation was lifted and roads were opened, she visited the four schools in Malibu to survey the damage and identified the best routes for parents and staff to take to each. "I needed to see what the kids would see when they returned to schools," says Boewe, her voice trembling with emotion. "I wanted to make sure people knew ahead of time what to be prepared for because it could be traumatic." Supporting students and each other First grade teacher Debbie Woodmansee will never forget the day the Camp Fire approached Ponderosa Elementary School. As the smell of smoke drifted onto campus, there was an announce- ment that a wildfire had started nearby, but the school was not in danger. Less than an hour later, teachers and students fled for their lives as the raging inferno gave chase. Despite thick smoke filling the skies and blotting out the sun, the school's smoke alarms never sounded. Miraculously, teachers and staff were able to evacuate every single student to safety. Woodmansee and fellow TAP members Nicole Mattly and Shelly Kiefer now teach at the new Paradise Ridge Elementary School, which brings together students and staff from the destroyed Paradise Elementary and the damaged-beyond-repair Ponderosa Elementary. e new school is co-located at Paradise Intermediate School, where it faces challenges like toilets that are too high for primary students and classrooms lacking the necessary sinks for little learners who get messy. Instead of taking time off to process their own trauma, nearly every teacher at the new school worked through the summer getting classrooms ready for students. Kiefer, who lost her home as well as her classroom in the fire, says there wasn't enough time to recreate everything that was lost. ings will never be the same in Paradise, she adds. Juliette Boewe, second from right, with her school psychologist interns and Gordon the therapy dog. Photo courtesy of Boewe. Many Paradise residents have returned and vow to rebuild their community, like teacher Shelly Kiefer: "There's no place like home." 32 cta.org feature