How You Can Help Teachers Tackle Tough Topics

Today’s classrooms are heavily influenced by the communities in which they are located. In addition to teaching, educators often have to address challenging social ills such as bullying, youth violence and mental health issues—which impact students’ learning potential and can have long-term impacts on their well-being.

According to the 2018 “Voices from the Classroom” survey of America’s educators, teachers are concerned about school safety and want more training on how best to address school violence and improve student behavior using non-punitive strategies.

How can you as a PTA leader help educators with these issues?

WE Teachers Resource

To address the need for resources, Walgreens has launched WE Teachers, an initiative to support teachers and empower students. In partnership with the ME to WE Foundation and Mental Health America, the WE Teachers initiative provides all educators with free tools and resources to tackle issues related to youth violence, poverty, diversity and inclusion, bullying, and mental health and wellbeing.

WE Teachers is a resource for teachers to support students who have experienced—or are currently experiencing—traumatic situations, as well as to prevent those traumas in the first place. The goal is to help teachers create trauma-informed classrooms where there is a safe environment to foster student growth and an understanding of the impact of trauma and adverse life experiences—such as a student experiencing homelessness, feeling unsafe in their own neighborhoods or the trauma of being bullied.

Identify, Secure, Introduce and Help

Through WE Teachers, educators will access online digital training modules specially created to help them:

  1. Identify and assess the tough issues affecting their students
  2. Secure the tools needed to address the issues in a supportive manner
  3. Introduce new experiential learning techniques in the classroom
  4. Help students become more socially conscious, compassionate and engaged citizens.

The modules will begin rolling out online this fall and will be available to teachers across the U.S. and Puerto Rico in both English and Spanish. Introduce them to educators at your school at your next PTA meeting!

Shop Back-to-School Smart

Through September 7,  when customers shop back-to-school at Walgreens they join in the company’s commitment to supporting teachers across America. Shoppers can track the impact that ME to WE Proud Supporter brands are making at Walgreens.com/MeToWe. Customers can also make a direct impact through cash donations at the register, which will help fund additional WE Teachers resources for educators.

Nominate a Special Teacher for a $500 WE Teachers Award

Visit a local Walgreens stores to learn how to nominate a special teacher in their community for a WE Teachers Award. A minimum of 500 deserving educators will each receive $500 Walgreens gift cards to purchase classroom supplies—the average amount (and some teachers spend more) of a teacher’s annual out-of-pocket expenses. Teachers can also apply directly. To learn more about the WE Teachers Awards, visit Walgreens.com/MeToWe.

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