Rooted in Hope

Teaching was never meant to feel like survival. Yet for so many educators, the weight of trauma-our own and our students'-has made classrooms feel heavy with shame, disconnection, and exhaustion.

Rooted in Hope invites teachers, leaders, and caregivers to step into a different story. Drawing on decades of classroom experience, clinical practice, and the latest neuro-informed research, Katie McDonald weaves together personal narrative, science, and practical strategies to help educators build trauma-responsive, equity-centered learning communities.

Through the Rooted in Hope Framework-twelve guiding principles including Resilience, Trust, Openness, and Purpose-you'll learn how to:

Recognize trauma's impact on the brain, nervous system, and learning.Reframe behavior through curiosity, compassion, and cultural responsiveness.Reclaim hope as both a teaching strategy and a personal lifeline.Reimagine classrooms as spaces of safety, belonging, and possibility.This is more than a book about teaching; it's a journey of reflection and renewal. With stories of real students, guided exercises, and the Student in Need of Connection (SiNoC) process, Rooted in Hope equips you to respond differently-on purpose, with science, and with hope.

Whether you're an exhausted teacher searching for joy again, a leader ready to transform school culture, or anyone who believes education should heal rather than harm, this book will remind you: you are not alone, and the work you do matters more than ever.