Compassion in the Curriculum: How one teacher is using her story to help at-risk students

Growing up in an alcoholic and abusive home made every day difficult for Suzy.  She endured painful emotional and physical abuse and failed to receive the nurturing and parental guidance that is so critical to a child’s healthy development.  But even after being raped at a very young age, and living in a home devoid of love, Suzy’s greatest loss would be the death of her younger brother, Bart, who died tragically by suicide.Join me in this intimate conversation with Suzy Ryan, author, educator, Ironman athlete, and SCAD (Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection) survivor. After twenty-plus years of teaching bright-eyed, enthusiastic pupils and tired-eyed, apathetic ones, and everything in between, Suzy realized each student had a story to tell—some even traumatic as her own.Her debut novel, Saving Summer, was born out of a desire to offer a bridge of hope for students, encouraging them to see themselves as victors rather than victims. Awarded Valley Middle School’s teacher of the year in 2020, Suzy now teaches 6th, 7th, and 8th grades at Carlsbad Seaside Academy. A Kansas native turned California girl, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three adult children.<br/><br/>https://www.Suzyryan.com<br/><br/>#abusesurvivor #sexualabuse #suicide #atriskstudents #teacher #compassion #rape #empathy #narcissisticparents #alcoholism #savingsummer #suzyryan #SCAD #trauma #faith #BartBradford #JackMunday