Behind the Scenes: How Quincy Educators Are Strengthening the Safety Net for Our Kids
From teachers to paraeducators to parents, suicide prevention training is expanding across the district — with a public session February 25.
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There are a lot of things our teachers and school administrators do that never make headlines.
Lesson planning.
Grading.
Early mornings.
After-school games and concerts.
Phone calls home.
Showing up again the next day no matter how tired they are.
And, additional training to better protect and care for our kids.
Quincy teachers have recently completed suicide prevention training through Forefront Suicide Prevention’s LEARN® Saves Lives program, a research-based model developed at the University of Washington. The district isn’t stopping there. Trainings are being organized for paraeducators, support staff, and administrative staff as well — because caring for kids isn’t just a teacher’s job. It’s everyone’s job.
And on February 25th at 6:00 PM at Quincy Middle School, there will also be a training offered for interested parents.
That matters.
Because Kids Don’t Always Say It Out Loud
The LEARN model is simple, but powerful:
Look for signs
Empathize and listen
Ask about suicide
Reduce the danger
Next steps
It teaches adults how to recognize warning signs — the quiet withdrawal, the sudden mood shift, the increase in risky behavior, the comments about hopelessness that can be easy to dismiss.
It teaches people how to truly listen.
And it reinforces something that often surprises people: asking directly about suicide does not put the idea in someone’s head. In fact, it can reduce risk and open the door for someone to say what they’ve been holding in.
Sometimes the most powerful thing you can say to someone is, “Are you okay?”
Schools Are More Than Classrooms
If you’ve lived in Quincy long enough, you know our schools aren’t just places where math and reading happen.
They’re where kids build confidence.
Where they find belonging.
Where adults notice when something feels off.
Where a student might confide in a coach, a para, a secretary, or a teacher before they ever talk to anyone else because of the quality of our amazing educators.
By training not just teachers but paras, support staff, and administrators, our district is strengthening the safety net around every student.
And by offering training to parents, they’re inviting the entire community into that safety net.
That’s not performative.
That’s proactive.
This Is What Community Looks Like
We don’t always talk about youth mental health openly in small towns. It can feel uncomfortable. But ignoring it doesn’t protect our kids.
Preparation does.
Education does.
Working together does.
What I appreciate most about this effort is that it acknowledges something simple but important: keeping kids safe isn’t one person’s responsibility. It’s shared.
Parents will always be the first line of love, security, knowledge and defense for their children, but with community, you add a lot of power for success.
When schools, staff, community and families are equipped with the same language and tools, we create consistency. We create awareness. We create the kind of environment where warning signs don’t slip through the cracks.
And in 98848, that matters.
If you’re interested in attending the parent training:
📍 Quincy Middle School
📅 February 25th
⏰ 6:00 PM
If you or someone you know is struggling, you or they are NOT alone, help is available:
Call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Veterans: Press 1
Spanish services: Press 2
Native & Strong Lifeline (WA): Press 4
Crisis Text Line: Text “HEAL” to 741741
The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386
This is the kind of quiet work that makes our town stronger.
Not flashy.
Not loud.
Just steady commitment to our kids.
And that’s something worth celebrating.