B.T. Bullock Elementary School in Sanford will be featured in an episode of ncIMPACT at 7:30 p.m. tonight on PBS-NC and on the PBS Video app (stream the full episode here).

The episode, titled “Childhood Trauma and COVID-19” takes a look at how the pandemic has brought on uncertainty and stress for children and the impacts distance learning and isolation has had on them. The segment featuring B.T. Bullock looks at how school districts across the state (like Lee County) are using social media and “emotional learning” to help children cope with trauma.

Lee County is one of 14 participants in the NC Resilience and Learning Project, an initiative by the Public School Forum of North Carolina. The goal of the program is to create a school-wide culture shift that asks students “what happened to you” instead of “what’s wrong with you.”

Heavily featured in the segment is Kelly Spahr, a third-grade teacher at Bullock who says her own childhood trauma has allowed her to recognize when her students are having a difficult time emotionally.

“[My teacher] recognized that in me, and she took the time to get to know me as a human and took the time to support me and help me grow,” Spahr said. “The more we’ve learned and the more we’ve really got to know the children — how they learn, how they tick and what’s really good for them — the more we realized we need to pay closer attention to that social and emotional piece. It’s not just academics.”

Bullock fourth-grade teacher Cyndi Mabry is also featured in the segment.

Episode details

ncIMPACT “COVID-19 and Childhood Trauma”

The pandemic has been challenging for parents and children in many ways. For a smaller subset of children, it has been traumatic. This week, #ncIMPACT talks to leaders in Columbus and Lee counties about local efforts to help. Tune in on March 18 at 7:30 p.m. on PBS North Carolina. This episode is available for streaming beginning March 18: https://ncimpact.sog.unc.edu/our-media/our-show/

Repeat broadcasts:

  • PBS NC Tuesdays at 1:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.
  • NC Channel Fridays at 8 p.m.
  • NC Channel Saturdays 1 a.m. and 7 p.m.
  • NC Channel Sundays at 1:30 a.m. & 5:30 p.m.
  • NC Channel Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m.
  • NC Channel Wednesdays 9:30 a.m.