Richmond educators say some students arrive at school carrying burdens far beyond the classroom, from food insecurity and unstable housing to trauma connected to violence, neglect and even storm damage. To address those challenges, Dear Elementary implemented the school’s Behavior and Trauma (BAT) Team. Principal Dr. Marlaine Boyd and other staff members outlined the program during a recent Richmond R-XVI Board of Education meeting, explaining the initiative focuses on helping staff better recognize that outside experiences can influence student behavior, emotional regulation and learning inside the classroom. “We call it BAT because we’re going to bat for our kids, but it stands for behavior and trauma,” stated Boyd. As the program developed, trauma-informed practices were incorporated throughout the building, including schoolwide expectations, visual behavior supports and emotional regulation tools designed to help younger students better understand routines and process emotions…