Don't Hide the Hurt

In this chapter, the author describes her journey through a career in education as a former middle school teacher, public school administrator, and now, as a college professor in teacher preparation. Grounded in real-world experiences, this author illuminates best practices in pedagogy and higher education that weave both trauma-informed educational practices and storytelling. Through multiple personal narratives, the author shares her viewpoint on the importance of time spent “in the trenches” by education professors so that they may share didactic stories with teaching candidates that serve to add relevance and authenticity to their coursework.