High school student Calvin Loffer survived a suicide attempt. He wants teacher candidates to know how much teachers can help. “My teachers have done an amazing job making sure their students are fully participating in school, so if anything is going wrong the students understand (the teachers) are there for you,” Loffer said.
Loffer, a student at Sage International School of Boise, shared his survival story with teacher candidates during a suicide prevention training led by counselor education assistant professor Laura Gallo to help future teachers understand how to communicate with and support students who may be considering suicide.
“Calvin’s presentation impacted me by letting me see that we are not just there for academics,” said teacher candidate Nick Cutaia. “We’re there for social and emotional support.”
According to the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), social and emotional learning is the process through which children and adults understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.
Teacher candidates in the College of Education receive training in both academic and social and emotional learning to better serve their future students. The suicide prevention training is part of a series of seminars candidates attend in preparation for graduating as well-started teachers.
–Carrie Quinney, College of Education