Centering Lived Experiences of School Based Trauma: from Surviving to Thriving

Year one is dedicated to "Research on the Road," as we work to turn the challenges of school-based trauma into opportunities to lead and thrive through our Community Action Participatory Research Project.

The Challenge

Every child deserves the opportunity to show up at school, authentically themselves, to SAFELY receive a free and appropriate public education…including Black boys. Yet we continue to see Black boys overrepresented in discipline and in educational attainment gaps and underrepresented in positive educational outcomes. This reflects many systemic issues that remain in K-12 systems. Yet the resources to support students, families, and communities to address the trauma experienced in schools lacks; and from our experience, seemed nearly non-existent.

Why (Our Story)

Isaiah, who provided the name's sake for this organization, is currently an 8-year-old boy, currently living in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. His big brother works as a software engineer in Chicago and his sister is majoring in Chemistry at Iowa State University. Isaiah lives with his mom, Barb and his other parent, Selenthia.

Isaiah's journey from kindergarten through 2nd grade reflects the broader challenges faced by many young, marginalized students in the United States, who encounter the effects of school-based harm. Here is a tiny glimpse of some of those experiences:

• In Kindergarten, in the first week of school, he was removed from the classroom and sent to a dark office to sit facing the wall. The teacher explained it was for him to learn to "sit still."

• In Kindergarten, at parent teacher conferences, his mother learned that for many weeks, Isaiah had been sitting at a desk toward the front of the room, facing the wall. The teacher noted it was because he was a distraction to other children, but she wasn't worried about his learning since he picked up things so quick.

• In both of the above incidents, Isaiah's mom had conversations about differentiating his learning, especially in the online modules used (which could be adjusted with ease), contributing some of the hyperactivity to boredom. This was not done.

  • For support in demonstrating his academic ability, Isaiah's mom requested the district assess him for giftedness. They reported back that he was "average" and "on track" but not "gifted." Building and district admin had their beliefs reinforced.

  • Isaiah's mother didn't feel that was accurate, so she had an external assessment; showing he was not only gifted, but he scored in the 99.9% for his IQ.

• Fast forward to second grade, despite a disclosure of his neurodivergence and school-based PTSD, he endured tremendous trauma this academic year including multiple restraints.

Our Approach

Due to a lack of resources and supports in advocating for and addressing Isaiah's school-based trauma; noting this was a common experience for marginalized students, his family launched Project Isaiah, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

Project Isaiah is embarking on a transformative journey, employing a community participatory action research approach to delve into the impact of school-based trauma on Black boys, while also considering intersecting identities including abilities. This initiative is dedicated to co-creating resources that aid in the healing process and foster safe learning spaces after a year of research on the road.

• The team is currently traveling the country, during the 24-25 academic year. During this time, they are engaging with students, families, schools, and programs to merge quantitative data with personal experiences, ensuring a holistic view that encompasses various intersections while centering lived expertise.

• The team is also engaging with specialists on school-based trauma, such as Occupational Therapists, Researchers, Therapists, Artists, Educators, and Psychologists, to identify and integrate healing-centered practices throughout the research process and deliverables that will be produced in year two.

• They are conducting site visits to schools that have been positively reviewed by Black students and their families, in alignment with the school's performance data on student achievement and disciplinary measures. This will allow them the opportunity to observe and understand the experiences that resonate and support successful educational outcomes.

Project Isaiah is as grass roots as it gets and they want to maintain this autonomy during the research phase to ensure this remains as organic and authentic as possible. As they travel across the country, literally driving around the United States, the team looks forward to co-creating solutions with those most impacted by school trauma.

Isaiah's Journey

During year one, as Isaiah and his family travel the country, they are documenting their journey. In their willingness to be transparent, folks can witness healing and growth in real-time. From a child that was having suicidal ideation that led to a request for home-based services at the end of 2nd grade, to a child that now is empowered as a subject matter expert on school-based trauma, advocating and passionate about fostering safer school spaces based on his lived expertise is phenomenal. He also has demonstrated some leadership and creativity interests, which have been embraced. For example, the colors utilized on this website (part of the style guide) were selected by Isaiah, at 8 years old. Parent reflections, local exploration, and lessons learned along the way are also being shared on their social media and documented. Be sure to follow them on Facebook and / or Instagram if you are not already.

Year 1: Research on the Road

Did you know one way we save on travel expenses is by pet sitting? We use a website called Trusted Housesitters to connect with people who need someone to look after their home and pets while they’re away, in exchange for free lodging. Not only does this make our trips more affordable, but we’ve also had the pleasure of spending time with some wonderful animals along the way! If you are interested in looking into Pet Sitting for yourself, please use our referral link:

We are traveling all over the United States during the 24-25 academic year, meeting with students and families, as well as exploring what organizations, schools, and communities are doing to foster environments for ALL to thrive!

Change the future by creating a better one.

Due to less than projected funds raised via crowd sourcing, "Research on the Road" as of mid-February 2025 is paused until more money is raised and/or grants are secured. We didn’t come this far to stop, together we can do this.

Get in Touch with Us

We welcome your inquiries and collaboration opportunities. Reach out!