Overview
October 30, 2018
Dear Superintendents:
The tragic violence that occurred in Pittsburgh on Saturday is heartbreaking and deeply disturbing on multiple levels. We mourn with the friends and families who lost loved ones in the attack and pray for a speedy recovery for the injured. Proudly, we stand in solidarity with the Tree of Life Synagogue and Pittsburgh communities, who exemplify courage and resilience in the wake of such a senseless, hateful event.
We must stand ready to combat racism, bigotry and domestic terrorism by sending a very clear message that they will not be tolerated in our schools. As educators, the safety and well-being of our students, colleagues and school community is of paramount importance. Events like these are not only difficult to process, but they are also sometimes difficult to even talk about. Given this fact, I am sending this letter to provide you with resources for teachers, students and parents to help engage in a dialogue about racism, hate and violence as well as information on ways the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) can be of assistance.
Written Materials
- The National Education Association (NEA) has several online resources for teachers, students and parents to help engage in a dialogue about racism, hate and violence which can be accessed and found on NEA’s website here.
- The National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement developed a guide — Talking to Kids about Tragedies (Such as Shootings and Terror Attacks) in the News – which offers insight and suggestions for how to handle talking to children in relation to tragic events, such as shootings and terrorist attacks, that they are likely to hear about at school and/or on the news. This document helps explain for parents and guardians the importance of discussing the event with children and helps inform parents of common questions children ask in the aftermath of tragic events.
- The Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress (CSTS) has made available several resources on disaster response and recovery specific to the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting, including ideal interventions that promote the evidence-based principles of Psychological First Aid (PFA) such as safety, calming, self- and community-efficacy, social connectedness, and a sense of hope/optimism. Information relevant to this event and links to succinct, actionable education fact sheets can be found here.
- Resources for Addressing Trauma, Violence, and Grief is a compendium produced by CSDE staff. Please consult this guide for links to additional resources.
I would also like to share contact information for professionals within CSDE and the Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security’s School Safety Program who may be of assistance:
- For questions regarding bullying and school climate issues, please contact CSDE’s Dr. Jo Ann Freiberg at 860-713-6805.
- For questions regarding school psychology, counseling, social work, and health services, please contact 860-807-2050 and you will be directed to the appropriate consultant.
- For questions or complaints regarding bullying, based on protected classes (such as race, sex, religion and sexual orientation) and other acts of bias and discrimination, please contact CSDE’s Dr. Adrian Wood 860-713-6795.
- The Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, School Safety Program, is available to meet with schools and school districts to review and provide technical assistance on their emergency operations plans. This assistance is available now and throughout the summer. For more information, please contact Bill Turley at 860-256-0849 or William.turley@ct.gov.
We are hopeful that these resources are useful and must continue to assure our students that they are in safe environments where everyone — regardless of race, gender, gender identity, religion, nationality or sexual orientation — has the same right to learn without feeling threatened and be treated with respect and dignity as everyone else does.
Sincerely,
Dianna R. Wentzell, Ed.D.
Commissioner of Education