Training of Trainers

The Training of Trainers (TOT) process is designed to equip a team of people within a district to continue increasing the "reach" and impact of the SSA program by conducting Expansion and Refresher Trainings at specific school sites within that district where the SSA program has already been launched, in order to sustain it.

The TOT process is the natural culmination of a district’s solid commitment to faithfully implement the SSA program via the multi-phase process described below.  It can lead to sustainability of the SSA program over 2-3 years, depending on how fast the criteria can be met.

Phase 1a: Initial Trainings

The Safe School Ambassadors program is launched at a handful of schools (2-4 in a medium-sized district), with 30-40 students and 6-8 adults trained at each. The first year of implementation gives staff at these sites – and leaders throughout the district – a "laboratory" in which to study the model. Having several schools to "study" affords a more balanced view of the program itself – how it works under different conditions and settings – and determine through experience how well it works.

Success is magnetic, so as Ambassadors begin doing their work at these schools and their effects (e.g. less mistreatment & tension, fewer detentions & suspensions) are felt at those schools, others will want to start the program too.

Phase 1b: Initial Trainings - Broadcasting
This phase builds a broader base of support for the program, which puts more momentum behind the philosophical switch – from doing things "to, for and at" students to doing things "with" students – that is at the core of the SSA program. This adjustment is a necessary part of sustaining the program.

It also helps identify the site and district staff members who might eventually become trainers.

This phase also gives the district an opportunity to gain familiarity with the program and how to support it at multiple schools (e.g. through meetings of Program Advisors from all SSA schools, district-wide Ambassador conferences and/or recognition events).

Phase 2: Expansion Trainings

It is important for schools to have a second training conducted by Community Matters. This gives them a chance to get a broader base of students and staff trained, which allows the program to reach into and influence the social groups and cliques that might not be well represented in the Initial Training of 40 students (30 at the elementary level). A second year also gives the school an opportunity to "refine" their implementation of the program, working through any challenges encountered in the first year.

Expansion also demonstrates (and deepens) the level of commitment at each site, making it much more likely that an investment in the TOT process will yield dividends in subsequent years because the leadership and staff at the school sites are more deeply committed to sustaining the program.

Expansion Trainings also give potential trainers an essential "second experience" of the training itself. Without this second training, even seasoned trainers are typically LOST in the TOT – they spend the TOT time remembering the activity being discussed, rather than actually learning the essentials and subtleties of how to conduct it.

Phase 3: Training of Trainers

As noted above, the TOT is designed to equip a team of people within a district to co-lead Expansion and Refresher Trainings at specific school sites within that district where the SSA program has already been launched, in order to sustain it. It is typically conducted at the end of the second year or early in the third year of a district’s implementation of the SSA program.

Our experience has shown that best practice is for a district to develop a two-tier training team. One tier is comprised of site-based staff (1-3 per site). The second tier consists of staff (typically district-level) who undergo more rigorous training (via the “Practica” described below) and function as senior or “varsity-level” trainers. These senior trainers then co-lead each training with a site-based trainer. We recommend 1 senior trainer per 5 school sites, which means that each senior trainer would conduct roughly 5 trainings (10 days, plus prep) per school year.

This model can be effective ONLY if both the district and schools have staff who:

• are committed to the SSA program
• are dynamic trainers and skilled facilitators
• are credible and approachable in the eyes of youth
• have TIME to devote to learning and delivering the program
• intend to stay at their school or at least in the district for at least three years.

Recruiting guidelines –  including an outline of the Trainer’s role and responsibilities, and an  application – are provided to the person coordinating the TOT. For the reasons noted above, participants in the Training of Trainers must have participated in two SSA trainings (Initial or Expansion) conducted by Community Matters, and have direct experience implementing the program at the site or district level.

The actual Training of Trainers is 3 days in length. The first 2 days give both site- and senior-level trainers an overview of the core 2-day Expansion Training design, as well as extensive practice conducting key activities. The 3rd day is for senior trainers only, and covers the Family Group Facilitator training, the Expansion Combo training, and Refresher Trainings, which are the one-day trainings that help previously trained Ambassadors sharpen their skills and renew their commitment. It also includes short segments on pre-training preparation and post-training implementation. The maximum number of participants in each TOT is 25.

Participants in the TOT process receive the full trainer's Manual, along with handouts used in the training. The sponsoring school or district also receives a Training Kit, which includes the flipcharts, video clips, CD and props used in the training. Additional Kits can be purchased.

Practica

Site Licenses

Site licenses transfer to schools that have had Initial Trainings conducted by CM the rights to use the intellectual property of the SSA training model, as well as all printed materials, at those sites in perpetuity. Each license also includes access to the web-based SSA support resources provided by CM. The one-time fee for each site license depends on the number of sites licensed.

Pricing

The investment required depends on the number of sites and people involved.  A district-wide training that involves participants from several sites is often the most cost effective option. 

Training of Trainers:

• A TOT for one school costs $6700, which covers the 3-day Training of Trainers (TOT) itself, one Training Kit, as well as the site license fee for one site.
• The cost for a District TOT will vary depending on the number of schools.  This is partly because the site license fee decreases as the number of licenses increases. Call to discuss.

Training Manuals: One per participant. $75 each.

Practica: Each Expansion Practicum costs $5100.  A portion of this investment covers the 2-day Expansion Training ($4100 if conducted by CM).  The remainder covers the time required for the Master Trainer to work with the "co-trainers" before the training, prepare feedback for each co-trainer during the training, and conduct the coaching meeting after the training. Refresher Practica are $2600.

Travel: The trainer's travel expenses for the TOT and each Practicum are additional.

Site Licenses: These one-time fees range from $1000 for one site to $500 per site for 50+ sites.

District Support

The most effective and sustainable SSA models are in places where the District builds "SSA Coordination" into someone's job description, and supports the person in doing those tasks. This official designation allows the Coordinator to bring Program Advisors together a couple of times a year to share successes, troubleshoot and problem-solve, and plan common events and activities (e.g. recognition event at year end). It could also include having the Coordinator be a "varsity-level" trainer as described above.

Since each district is in a unique position, we welcome questions and opportunities to discuss how this model could be adapted to support and sustain the Safe School Ambassadors program in your district.