School bus drivers are the first and last school adults that many students interact with every day, but they are often overlooked as a source of support for children’s social-emotional well-being.

Lori Desautels wants to change that.

Desautels, an education professor at Butler University in Indianapolis, said bus drivers often develop strong relationships with students, so she is teaching them social-emotional learning strategies to strengthen those connections and help students build resilience.

Bus drivers often transport the same students year after year, so they can notice patterns of behavior that teachers and school administrators might miss, Desautels said. They also have an opportunity every morning to “set the brain state for the day,” which can help children succeed in class. Desautels said just checking in with someone can help students regulate their emotions, which can “change brain architecture in the moment.” Research shows that healthy relationships with adults are crucial for students coping with toxic stress.

Read the full article by Laura Fay about youth emotional support on The 74