Helping Students Feel Safe at School: 5 Essential Tips for School Staff

By Molli Evans and Alissa Hebermehl, School Counselors, Jefferson County Schools, KY

Anxiety is a significant issue for our students, varying from severe cases to persistent, milder forms. School staff witnesses the far-reaching impact of anxiety: diminished focus, incomplete school work, declining grades, chronic absenteeism, and social isolation. In extreme situations, anxiety can lead students to opt for homeschooling.

Numerous factors contribute to student anxiety, including the aftermath of the pandemic, and the pervasive nature of cyberbullying. Yet underlying these triggers is one common thread: students feeling unsafe. 

While physical safety measures like safety administrators, security personnel, and weapons detection systems are vital, they alone cannot cultivate a sense of security for students. It's our collective duty as school staff to also foster an emotionally safe environment. Here are five actionable tips to initiate or enhance such an environment.

1. Harness the Power of Greetings and Personal Recognition

We must ensure our students feel physically and emotionally secure as soon as they walk through our doors each day. Greeting them with "Good morning" or "Have a good day” is one way we can affirm that we are a student-centered school — and even more so when we remember their names. We all want to be seen and appreciate being remembered, and students are no different.

It’s important to remember that some students’ initial experience at school in the morning involves passing through a weapons detection system or having their bags checked. Although these measures are designed to improve physical safety, they can unintentionally trigger anxiety and unease. 

We can, however, transform these potentially anxious moments into moments of reassurance. School staff can offer friendly acknowledgments and warmth during these safety procedures to help students adapt to these new measures more comfortably. 

2. Facilitate One-on-One Peer Connections

Part of feeling emotionally safe at school is feeling connected to peers. Unfortunately, a number of students struggle to form these all-important relationships. We can help facilitate one-on-one connections that alleviate anxiety and enhance students’ emotional well-being by:

• Creating unexpected academic pairings by matching students who excel in certain subjects with peers needing academic support.These relationships not only aid learning but also demonstrate that everyone can contribute and learn from each other.

• Empower English language learner (ELL) student connections by pairing ELL students with same language-speaking peers or those who are kind, patient, and willing to help translate and provide support in navigating classroom dynamics. These connections reduce isolation and create a sense of inclusion.

• Break stereotypes through cross-divide relationships. Encouraging connections between students from diverse backgrounds breaks down barriers. By supporting interactions between high-performing students and those facing challenges, for example, stereotypes can dissolve.

When we prioritize these one-on-one connections, we set the conditions for students to grow greater empathy and contribute to a more holistically supportive school environment.

3. Encourage Participation in Collaborative Projects

Anxiety's impact on students extends to their collaborative experiences at school, too. Some students may ask to be excused from group work or public presentations — and perhaps even refuse to come to school if they are required to participate. 

School staff can encourage hesitant or unwilling students to collaborate with peers by using one or a combination of these strategies:

• Provide choice in group dynamics. Recognizing students' anxieties related to group work and offering them agency in selecting group members or roles within a group can mitigate discomfort. By asking students how they'd prefer to participate in groups, whether by choice or guided placement, we can empower them to engage comfortably.

• Communicate and accommodate. When school staff collaborate about strategies for students with specialized needs (identified through 504 plans), we can better ensure that necessary accommodations are understood and implemented. Open communication and sharing successful techniques for specific students help create an environment conducive to their emotional well-being.

• Empower self-advocacy. Viewing these collaborative settings as opportunities for self-advocacy, we can guide students in voicing their preferences and needs. Encouraging students to initiate communication via email, particularly those struggling with face-to-face interaction, fosters a supportive environment for advocating for their comfort.

• Share personal experiences. Demonstrating vulnerability and sharing personal experiences with anxiety can profoundly impact students. When school staff members reveal their own struggles, we provide relatable role models and foster an atmosphere of understanding and support.

Proactively addressing a student's concerns about working with others can increase a sense of safety and belonging at school — and give them an unique opportunity to practice speaking up for themselves.

4.  Reframe Mistakes as Opportunities 

Mistakes can feel like insurmountable tragedies to students. Anxiety often stems from fearing failure and imagining consequences that may follow, so school staff should advocate for reframing mistakes as part of the learning process. Here are some tried and true strategies for helping students respond differently to mistakes:

• Normalize missteps. Encourage a perspective that acknowledges mistakes as ordinary occurrences and integral to the learning journey. By diminishing the drama or tragedy associated with errors, school staff can alleviate the anxiety surrounding them.

• Encourage reflection and learning. After making mistakes, guide students through a reflective process. Rather than focusing on the fault itself, emphasize learning from the experience. Asking "What have you learned?" and "What could you do differently?" empowers students to view errors as opportunities for growth.

• Introduce the concept of self-compassion. Self-compassion is the ability to demonstrate kindness and understanding towards oneself. Encourage student self-talk that mirrors how they would treat someone they love.

• Provide perspective. It's important to contextualize mistakes, reminding students of their recoverability. Employing a "worst-case scenario" perspective helps them understand that most errors aren't catastrophic. This realistic outlook contributes to reducing the overwhelming feeling associated with mistakes.

Encouraging students to view mistakes as stepping stones rather than stumbling blocks contributes to a supportive school environment. By normalizing errors, nurturing  self-compassion, and offering perspective, school staff can help unburden students from the fear of failure.

5. Elevate Student Voices 

Engaging students in ongoing conversations about their school experiences is pivotal to creating a secure and inclusive environment. It's not just about a one-time conversation but about continuously tapping into their insights and perspectives. These actionable steps can help ensure students feel heard and represented in shaping the school environment:

• Continuously engage. Regularly seek student input regarding school experiences (including safety measures) beyond one-time discussions. This ongoing dialogue allows for an evolving understanding of student concerns and feelings.

• Be intentional about diverse representation. Initiate programs like student government or advisory committees to amplify diverse student voices, ensuring representation beyond high-achieving students. Providing platforms for varied perspectives fosters a more comprehensive approach to addressing student needs.

• Communication bridging. Facilitate communication channels between students and teachers to address anxieties hindering student engagement in the classroom. Enabling open dialogue helps bridge gaps, fostering an atmosphere where students feel comfortable expressing their concerns.

Ensuring that students feel their voices matter contributes significantly to a school environment where everyone feels valued and safe. By actively engaging students in shaping their educational experience, we foster a sense of ownership and belonging within the school community.

Offer a Safety Net for Students with Care Solace Support

As school staff members, we are dedicated to students' safety — physically and emotionally. And by leveraging the vital support Care Solace provides, we can create a lifeline for students facing overwhelming anxiety beyond our capabilities at school.

Care Solace acts quickly, connecting students with specialized mental health providers for personalized support during severe emotional distress. This partnership extends our commitment to students' holistic well-being, bridging the gap when their needs exceed in-school resources. 

Through Care Solace and our steadfast commitment, school staff serve as beacons of our students' safety — physically, emotionally, and beyond. Our love and dedication lay the foundation, cultivating an environment where every student feels secure, embraced, and truly at home.

Learn more about how Care Solace can act like a lifeline for your students — and the staff who support them.