As a CPI Global Professional Instructor, there are a number of comments that I can be sure to hear about the
Nonviolent Crisis Intervention® training program in almost every class.
I hear comments about the program’s value to anyone working in human services occupations. People marvel at the “common sense” power of the models, concepts, and strategies we teach. Current Certified Instructors who are renewing their certification testify that the training not only works, but that it has positively affected the culture of their organizations. They share how the program has helped create safer, more caring environments.
Such comments are major reasons why I love what I do. The reward of knowing how much the program helps our trainees—and how that, in turn, enables the trainees to provide people with the best
Care, Welfare, Safety, and SecuritySM—is powerfully motivating. It's very rewarding to know that the training program has such a positive impact on the lives of others.
CPI counts many educators among its trainees. Often, educators in my classes enthusiastically proclaim, “This is really great! Every one of our staff should go through this training!”
There is consensus that all teachers and other school staff would benefit from the training. Everyone I talk to agrees that awareness of effective strategies for managing disruptive and aggressive behaviors—and an understanding of how to avoid throwing fuel on the fire—minimizes discipline issues and enhances teacher satisfaction. Students benefit too. There's little argument against the belief that effective classroom management is a prerequisite to effective learning.
However, the excitement often is dampened by the challenges facing so many schools: budget constraints; time and contractual limitations; and a never-ending agenda of competing professional development needs. Certified Instructors working in education often ask if there's a way to present some of the training's major concepts and strategies to all of their staff, but to present it in parts. They ask, "Can key concepts be adapted to shorter format presentations so all staff can get some benefit from the training? Can we present a general overview of the program at a meeting?"
Well, we listened empathically to what these educators say, and developed
CPI’s Professional Development Series for Educators. Designed to be taught in a 30-minute to two-hour workshop, these sessions can more readily fit into existing school professional development structures, such as faculty meetings, early release days, professional development days, and professional learning communities.
Session topics include:
- Promoting Positive Behavior Using Person-Centered Supports (2 Modules)
- Proactive Strategies for Facing Escalating Situations Alone
- Helping Educators Defuse Difficult Conversations
Each session comes with a Learner’s Guide, an Electronic Presentation, and a Facilitator Guide.
Although the sessions in the series do not lead to a Blue Card
TM, they provide a vehicle for sharing important knowledge and strategies to a wider school audience. They also help foster a broader, schoolwide understanding of the philosophy of
Care, Welfare, Safety, and SecuritySM that is so essential to ensuring a positive climate. The sessions also provide Certified Instructors opportunities to engage staff in deeper discussions about the models, principles, and strategies presented in
Nonviolent Crisis Intervention® training. Who knows, maybe the sessions will stimulate so much interest that you’ll have staff begging to come to your full training classes!
Let’s hear from you.
If you've already used any of the sessions, let us know what you think. You can also share ideas for other modules you would like to see added to the series, or other ideas for training your school staff in ways that meet your specific needs.
Published April 2015 (updated February 2016).