by Curtis Callands

Growing up in the city of Philadelphia, I faced challenges that could have easily led me down a destructive path. The crime, the violence—it was all too familiar. But one night in my 9th-grade year changed everything. My friends and I were out playing basketball when we were robbed at gunpoint. I watched in horror as gunfire erupted, and two of my friends were hit. Thankfully, they survived, but that night left me filled with anger and a thirst for revenge. I was ready to hit the streets, armed and dangerous, but something stopped me.

My older brother, Michael Callands, my mom, and football saved me. They gave me a different outlet for my pain, and football became my sanctuary. It provided structure, discipline, and ultimately, a scholarship to West Chester University. At West Chester, my life took a new direction. I started in math, but my true calling found me when I realized I wanted to help kids who had experienced adversity like I did. That realization led me to special education, a field I initially misunderstood, but quickly grew to love.

I was the only Black male in my special education cohort of 250 students at West Chester University, but that didn’t deter me. I found that the content resonated with me because it reflected my own life experiences. It wasn’t just theory; it was my reality. I excelled, not because I was naturally gifted, but because I lived the experiences I was studying. I started mentoring kids, building relationships, and finding my purpose in helping them navigate the same challenges I once faced.

After graduating, I began my career as a special education teacher and later transitioned into leadership roles, including middle and elementary school principal. Along the way, I noticed that many of my students were not just struggling academically, but emotionally. They were dealing with the same kinds of trauma I had experienced growing up—violence, instability, and fear. I knew we had to address this trauma if we wanted to see real progress in their lives. That’s when I decided to dig deeper into trauma-informed education.

This led me to pursue my doctoral studies, where I focused on creating trauma-informed care schools. My dissertation became the first-ever manual on designing these types of schools, and it wasn’t just about identifying trauma—it was about healing. How do we heal our children who have been exposed to high levels of adversity? How do we create environments where they can feel safe, supported, and ready to learn?

The result of this work is my book, *A Principal’s Mission in Designing Trauma-Informed Care Schools*, a guide for educators and administrators to help them build schools that are not just trauma-informed, but trauma-responsive. This work has become my life’s mission, and I’m proud to be making a difference in schools across the country.

Today, I’m the director principal at Elwyn Davidson School, where we serve students with a wide range of emotional, cognitive, and physical needs. Elwyn has been around since 1852, and we continue to push forward with innovative, compassionate approaches to education. My role at Elwyn allows me to apply everything I’ve learned about trauma-informed care, and I’m committed to helping our students not just survive, but thrive.

But my work doesn’t stop there. I’m also a proud father to three beautiful daughters, ages 12, 8, and 3. Balancing my professional work with my responsibilities as a father is challenging, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. I’m dedicated to being the best father I can be while continuing to serve my community.

Looking back on my journey, I realize that every challenge I faced prepared me for this work. The trauma I experienced growing up could have destroyed me, but instead, it fueled my passion for helping others. I believe that God left me on this earth for a reason, and that reason is to do His work by healing and uplifting the next generation.

If you’re an educator, administrator, or anyone who works with children, I encourage you to learn more about trauma-informed care. My book and training programs are designed to help you create environments where students can heal, grow, and succeed. The work is hard, but it’s worth it. Our children deserve nothing less.