title: Teachers perceptions of effects of a student's death: a phenomenological study.
abstract: When a student dies in a school setting many school professionals step in and offer grief services to the students affected. In the classrooms, teachers are expected to step in and help the students grieve; however, equivalent support for teachers seems to be lacking. This study explored the lived experiences of teachers who experienced the unanticipated death of a student. From the analysis, the following themes emerged: (a) releasing feelings, (b) resources (c) lost academic time and redirection, and (d) honoring the memory. The results of this study reinforce the need for training for school teachers to help them better cope with the death of a student. Particularly, school professionals are called on to be proactive in creating a model to have in place to actively support teachers dealing with the grief and loss of a student.
authors.affiliation: Center for Research and Doctoral Studies in Counselor Education, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas 77341-2119, USA. lmh046@shsu.edu
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Garza
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000523:psychology*; D005178:Faculty; D005260:Female; D006117:Grief; D006379:Helping Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D012574:Schools