Role of Administrators
Some of the top issues reported for administrators with regard to detached students related to the need for more information and resources. A top concern is increasing staff awareness and knowledge to diffferentiate between detached students and those with histories of abuse or neglect, from other students exhibiting behavior problems. Additionally, there is a corresponding need to obtain resources with a specific school model based in current attachment and abuse/neglect theory and research.
On a more concrete, daily level, administrators seek suggestions for teaching professionals in the classroom that can be utilized, especially with respect to more severe behavioral issues.
Functional rating scales or a system defining the severity of attachment issues are helpful to identify and assist intervention setting, note needs and priorities, and to assess change or progress over time.
Additinally, many administrators feel a keen need for resources to help reduce the parent and staff stress and uncertaintly tied to dealing collaboratively with challenging students with histories of detachment and to build healthy views of home and school life.
Addressing these issues are key for administrators to lead the way to success within the classroom for detached students and to prevent teaching professional burnout. Approaches and further theory are discussed in Why is Johnny so Detached?