By: Jessica Edwards, NC Center for Resilience & Learning Coordinator, Interview with Ervin Jones, NC Center for Resilience & Learning Program Consultant
Pasquotank County High School was founded in 2000 in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. A quick Google search will reveal a beautiful brick building celebrating Panther Pride with navy blue, silver, and white colors! The school’s identity is represented by its mascot, the “Mighty Panther.” On their website’s “About Us” section, you can learn more about the school’s history and mission:
Our mission is to prepare students for their futures both during and after high school so that they will be productive as members of local and global communities. We are Pasquotank County High School, we are the Panthers, and we are Proud!
If you search on Google with the keywords “2024 school discipline increase in high school,” you will find numerous articles, each leading to another statistic or story. This trail of evidence highlights the need for trauma-informed work in our high schools. Creating a safe and trauma-informed school environment is an important goal that requires the collective efforts of school administrators, educators, and support staff. While it may be challenging, by working together and implementing effective strategies, we can provide a safe and positive learning experience for all students. Although students crave a sense of safety and structure, sometimes their nervous systems and core memories can pose challenges that require more than just the best efforts of their teachers. However, with a constructive approach and collaborative efforts, these difficulties can be overcome, and students can thrive in a positive and supportive learning environment. It is important to note that high schools are vastly different from elementary and middle schools. During an interview with Ervin Jones, he pointed out that although Elizabeth City Middle and Pasquotank County High are adjacent to each other, the structure and spirit of the two schools have not aligned as closely as one might expect. Adversities were not uncommon at Pasquotank County High School. Yet, a remarkable woman, Mrs. Delishia Moore, stepped up to restructure the school, establish a Resilience Team, and foster a sense of connection among the students.
Ervin Jones shared that he and Mrs. Moore began working together four years ago at Elizabeth City Middle. Together, they implemented many trauma-informed practices and witnessed a significant decrease in office referrals and suspensions. Last year, an incident highlighted the need for Resilience work at Pasquotank High. Ervin explained that at PCSH, fights were a regular occurrence, there was little to no respect for authority, staff was ready to throw in the towel, and suspension was a norm. High school students regularly shared, “I want to return to middle school!”
Last year, Mrs. Moore undertook the challenge of restructuring PCHS alone but with a trauma-informed lens. Ervin Jones says, “Once the lens is there, you cannot unsee it. You cannot unsee love.” Mrs. Moore was the perfect fit to take on this challenge because she is passionate about student success, holds people accountable, and is known to say, “I’m going to love you until you get it right!” She is an example to her staff and students of what it looks like to respond to life’s events with love and resilience.
Mrs. Moore began the 2023-2024 academic year as a new principal and pioneer for a trauma-informed school. She has formed a small resilience team and promoted the importance of building solid relationships within the school community. The Resilience team has been actively involved in creating a staff wellness lounge, organizing meetings to discuss the next steps, and fostering an environment that prioritizes care and support for everyone. Teachers who joined the resilience team at its inception have reported that other teachers are becoming increasingly interested in trauma-informed practices and have begun seeking more information and tips from the resilience team.
As a result of Mrs. Moore’s and the resilience team’s efforts, more teachers and staff are beginning to understand the significance of this work for the entire school community, starting with themselves. Their plan for the rest of the academic year and the following year is to continue reducing negative disciplinary actions, introducing staff wellness programs, and cultivating trust between students and school leaders.
Wearing a big smile, Ervin stated, “This is only the first year; their future is bright!” Ervin believes that when we are better on the inside, we are better on the outside. In time, we believe the school leaders, staff, students, and families at PCHS will strengthen this trauma-informed lens, and like Ervin says, “Once the lens is there, you cannot unsee it. You cannot unsee love.”