Training for Educators: Preventing Improper Relationships with Students

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Recently, KFOX in El Paso wrote a story on improper relationships with students. It reports these offenses have increased in Texas every year over the past decade. In fact, the offense rate increased by over 40% last year alone. It’s time to start doing something to reduce the incidents of the offense.

Generally, schools will complete a simple training once per year on maintaining proper boundaries with students. That’s great, but not enough. I am offering a training designed to impact educators and administrators at a deeper level to prevent future offenses by doing the following:

  • Addressing the legal consequences of improper relationships. By creating a vivid picture of the real life consequences, it reminds all educators of the short and long term costs of violating the law.

  • Discussing appropriate boundaries at a deeper level. We will discuss how stress and personal problems can create risk, and how to effectively cope with these risks so that boundaries are well maintained in times of personal stress.

  • We will teach the signs and possible symptoms for educators to be aware of when preventing improper relationships. Many times, these behaviors develop over time and this training helps teach educators and administrators how to spot certain risk behaviors and intervene BEFORE an offense occurs.

  • Finally, we will discuss safe ways for a person to get help if he/she is beginning to display risk behaviors. There are many options available that are confidential and supportive in assisting educators on strategies to overcome risk behavior prior to engaging in any crime.

As a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (LPC-S), Licensed Sex Offender Treatment Provider Supervisor (LSOTP-S), and a Licensed School Counselor; I have a unique insight into this problem in schools. I have worked as a school counselor at all levels (Elementary, Middle, High School), and have been in private practice working with clients that have sexually acted out for over a decade. During that time, I’ve treated many clients (both male and female) that have been convicted of Improper Relationships with Students. Through the years of direct treatment and research related to this topic, I’m able to offer a training that is highly impactful.

The purpose of the training will be to share some of my expertise with educators in an effort to prevent future criminal behavior. If we can help one educator avoid the poor choice of hurting a student (and his/her family, school, and community), we are doing our job to make schools a safer place for students to grow and learn. The training can be modified to fit the specific needs of your group. We can conduct a brief overview of topics in a condensed version, or complete a full day of training. My goal is to meet the needs of your school and community.

For more information on the training, or if you would like to check my availability to offer the training, contact me by clicking the button below.

Matt Bierds