Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1190776
the load. For teachers who've been leaning on each other for a year now, that's not acceptable. "We're all trying to take care of our basic needs and each other," Kiefer says. Fire season will always be difficult As the familiar smell of wildfire smoke drifts onto campus, students and teachers stop like deer in headlights to check whether the threat has returned. e increasing prevalence of wildfires in California means hundreds of thousands of survivors whose trauma could be triggered during fire season in October and November. Woodmansee says a recent nearby fire terrified the Paradise Ridge school commu- nity into tears. In Malibu, the smell of smoke resulted in hundreds of students and teachers taking a mental health day. "We've got staff stressed out," says Boewe of the smoke-filled skies. "Even I got triggered today." Students at Chapman Elementary School in Chico became concerned when they recently saw and smelled smoke. Chapman School counselor and Chico Unified Teach- ers Association member Ashley Trezza says class was in session when the Camp Fire sparked, and her students are still on edge. "It's just reassuring kids and letting them know they're safe," she says, adding that long-term resources are necessary to truly help students experience post-traumatic growth. "e needs aren't temporary. What's really going to help is having people in schools providing counseling services for at least three years." TAP's Smith and other educators say that while the Paradise and Chico districts offer counseling, unfortunately, the current massive demand exceeds even the increased resources that are available. e fire, evacuation and slow recovery effort have impacted nearby communities The ABCs of Self-Care Priorities for educators: • Awareness: Assess your own stress level, thoughts and behaviors. • Balance: Seek balance in work, personal and family life, rest, and leisure. • Connection: Social connection reduces stress (co-workers, friends, family, community). Read our story on educator self-care in the next issue of the Educator. "We're seeing more anger than usual. We teachers are helping all of our kids to learn how to process and get through it." —Nicole Mattly, Teachers Association of Paradise Paradise teachers Nicole Mattly, Shelly Kiefer and Debbie Woodmansee lean on each other as they support their students and their families. 34 cta.org feature