Classified employees fill unique roles on school campuses across California. Those roles go far beyond job descriptions. With the wide variety of ways classified employees can interact with and get to know students, they also take on the mantle of confidant and protector.  

Making California’s schools safe and supportive environments is at the core of what CSEA siblings do on a daily basis. Core Values such as inclusivity are not limited to how we interact with union siblings. They’re traits we embody in our communities and especially in our schools.  

“The impact of a child feeling accepted, safe, and supported at school is vital to their success and survival,” said Brittney Clark, member of Newman-Crows Landing Chapter 551, and winner of the 2024 William P. Schwartz Humanitarian Award. Brittney has long been an advocate for student mental health and creating safe spaces for students at her school site. 

“Often, we could be the first or only person on a given day who takes an interest in a student to see how they’re doing, to be a friendly face, or to offer one second of light. It’s our job to make sure we’re informed and know how to create these safe environments, so we don't lose these kids.”

To that end, the Office of the California Surgeon General has created a free training for anyone who works with children to learn more about supporting the mental health and well-being of students.  

Safe Spaces: Foundations of Trauma-Informed Practice for Educational and Care Settings is a free, online, two-hour training designed to help understand and respond to trauma in young people.  

It is available in English and Spanish, with modules for those who work with children in the 0-5, 5-11, and 12-18 age ranges.  

Safe Spaces is skill-based and gives tangible ways to help students experiencing and overactivated stress response. To learn more, visit the Office of the California Surgeon General Safe Spaces web page.