The Ruckus Report
Quick take: From surviving childhood trauma to revolutionizing student mental health, Dr. Watson reveals how schools can transform their approach to student wellbeing from crisis response to proactive skill-building.
Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker
Dr. Hayley Watson is the founder and CEO of Open Parachute, a Tier 1 K-12 curriculum program supporting mental health for students, teachers, and parents. A Clinical Psychologist with a PhD in school bullying interventions, she’s spent 20 years developing youth programs that turn challenges into opportunities for growth.
Breaking Down the Old Rules
Key Insight #1: Mental Health Belongs in Tier One
- What’s broken: Relegating mental health support to counseling offices and crisis intervention
- The shift: Teaching core mental health skills to all students as fundamental curriculum
- Impact: Reduced pressure on Tier 2/3 services; students develop essential life skills eary
Key Insight #2: Four Steps to Emotional Intelligence
- What’s broken: Reactive responses to emotional challenges without systematic approach
- The shift: Feel, Pause, Think, Act framework for processing emotions
- Impact: Students learn to recognize triggers and choose constructive responses
Key Insight#3: Student Voice Drives Transformation
- What’s broken: Adults lecturing about mental health without authentic connection
- The shift: Real student stories and experiences guide learning
- Impact: Increased engagement and relatability in mental health education
Quotable Ruckus
Ready to implement these ideas? Start here:
- Tomorrow: Practice the Feel-Pause-Think-Act framework yourself in a challenging situation
- This Month: Create safe spaces for students to share their stories and experiences
- This Semester: Implement a tier one mental health curriculum across grade levels
Connect & Continue
Website: https://openparachuteschools.com/
Get “Finding the Words”: https://openparachuteschools.com/finding-the-words/
Email: [email protected]
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