Creating a Safe Space: Your Role as a Trusted Adult

In schools around the world, every staff member has a critical role to play in keeping students safe. In this episode, we're joined by veteran school counselor Cheryl-Ann Weekes who, with over 25 years of experience, shares her passion for normalizing mental health discussions and her expertise in child protection.

Cheryl-Ann discusses the subtle but important red flags of student distress, the critical mistakes to avoid when a student makes a disclosure, and why every single adult—from teachers to operations staff—needs to be trained on safeguarding policies. She also shares her personal journey into counseling and her vision for a future where every school has a clear, written protocol to protect its students.
💬 Quotes from the Episode:

• "The biggest red flag is a sudden change in behavior... you'll start to see students who were usually very social, then they are not as social."

• "I think the biggest no-no is... 'I won't tell anyone.'"

• "I just felt like my impact would be more useful there than in business... and so, what I did is I graduated the next year, and I went straight to grad school."

• "I think what I'm hoping to see is that every school has some type of protocol, something written down... so that teachers understand what is expected."

📌 Key Insights:

• Look for Sudden Behavioral Changes: Pay attention to shifts in a student's behavior, like social withdrawal, irritability, or wearing clothing that covers their body, as these can be signs of distress or abuse.

• Don't Make Promises You Can't Keep: As a mandated reporter, you can never promise a student confidentiality. Instead, be honest and clear: "I am here to listen and support you, but I cannot promise to keep this to myself."

• Establish a School-Wide Protocol: Every school needs a written safeguarding policy that is shared and reviewed annually with all staff—from teachers and counselors to teaching assistants and maintenance teams.

• Start with Existing Resources: If your school does not have a formal safeguarding protocol, you don't have to start from scratch. Use existing policies from other international schools or organizations like CIS as a guide to begin developing your own.

• Continue to Provide Support: After a student has made a disclosure, it's crucial to continue being a trusted adult they can turn to. Establish systems, like a pass for a quiet break, to help them navigate their new reality.

🛑 Conclusion:

The responsibility to protect students is one we all share. By recognizing the signs, responding with care, and empowering yourself and your colleagues with clear protocols, you can help create a truly safe and supportive environment for your students. For a deeper dive, be sure to check out Cheryl-Ann Weekes' course, Consent and Safe Spaces, K-12.

To learn more about professional development, virtual events, and exciting career opportunities in international education, visit isss.edu/events. Until next time, keep exploring, keep learning, and keep making a positive impact in the world of education.