Special Education

Teacher - Critical Incident Checklist

The following items are sample actions for a teacher checklist which can be adapted by the School Teams to fit the protocol developed in a particular school.

Teachers play a vital role in helping students or staff deal with their feelings regarding critical incidents such as the death of a student or staff member. If a teacher is uncomfortable in carrying out the actions of this checklist, assistance should be requested from the School Team.

	Attend staff meeting and obtain all possible information.
	Follow instructions in handout received from the principal and School Team.
	Request a School Team member to lead the class discussion if you feel uncomfortable.
	Allow students to express their feelings openly and facilitate the classroom discussion by modelling listening and sharing feelings and reactions with students. See page 31 for class discussion ideas.
	Direct any students who appear to need further assistance to the appropriate support personnel; allow students to go to the designated counselling centres. Arrange for someone to accompany young children or students who are in distress. Keep at list of these students and give to the School Team.
	Provide the names of any students or staff considered to be at risk or in need of counselling support to the School Team.
	Attend after school staff meeting.
	Participate in Critical Incident Stress Debriefing.

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