There’s a line I find myself coming back to again and again: “What we do, we do on purpose.” That’s the heart of intentionality. It’s not just about doing things right; it’s about doing the right things on purpose, in alignment with who we say we want to be. In trauma-informed practice, this kind of intentionality is non-negotiable.

Because let’s be honest: we’ve all had those days where survival mode takes over. We’re just trying to make it through the day without a referral, a meltdown, or another policy email. That’s where intentionality becomes the anchor. In trauma-informed practice, intentionality means that we don’t just react; we respond. With purpose. With clarity. With alignment to our values. Every choice we make, from how we set up our classroom to how we respond to misbehavior, how we grade, and how we speak, either moves us closer to or farther from becoming a safe, healing-centered school.