CVPSD Announces Live Online Workshop for Pre-K Educators on Challenging Behaviors
Freehold, NJ | September 2026 | The Center for Violence Prevention and Self Defense (CVPSD) is pleased to announce an upcoming live online professional development workshop led by Dr. Bridget Truitt, Ph.D., Neuroscience, designed specifically for Pre-K educators working with challenging behaviors.
Recognizing Escalation Early: Safety Strategies for Pre-K Educators
Young children can move quickly from frustration or distress to challenging or aggressive behavior. For educators, recognizing the early indicators of escalation can be critical to maintaining a safe classroom environment while responding in a developmentally appropriate and supportive manner.
This live online workshop will provide practical, evidence-informed strategies to recognize escalating behavior early, maintain personal safety, reduce the likelihood of aggression, and protect both staff and students during challenging interactions.
Dr. Truitt brings an academic background in neuroscience and research involving stress, fear, behavior, and neurological processes. Her expertise provides educators with a greater understanding of what can happen in the brain and body during periods of heightened stress and emotional arousal.
The workshop will focus on practical strategies that Pre-K educators can apply in real classroom situations, including:
Recognizing early behavioral and physiological indicators of escalation
Understanding how stress and emotional arousal can influence behavior
Identifying situations that may increase the likelihood of challenging behavior
Using communication and environmental strategies to reduce escalation
Maintaining appropriate physical and emotional boundaries
Responding safely when a child's behavior becomes aggressive
Protecting both educators and students during challenging interactions
Understanding the importance of educator self-regulation during stressful encounters
Developing safer responses that support both classroom safety and the child's needs
"Pre-K educators are often on the front line when challenging behavior occurs," said CVPSD Director Will DeMuth. "They need practical tools that help them recognize what is happening before behavior reaches a crisis point. This workshop brings neuroscience and behavioral science together with practical safety strategies that educators can use in the classroom."
"Understanding the underlying stress and behavioral processes can help educators recognize escalation earlier and respond more effectively. The goal is to give educators practical strategies that support safety while maintaining a developmentally appropriate and respectful approach to young children."
The workshop is part of CVPSD's continuing effort to provide evidence-informed violence prevention, behavioral awareness, de-escalation, and personal safety education to professionals working in environments where challenging behavior may occur.
About CVPSD
The Center for Violence Prevention and Self Defense (CVPSD) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing violence through education, training, research, and practical safety skills. CVPSD provides resources and programs addressing violence prevention, situational awareness, conflict management, de-escalation, personal safety, and self-defense for individuals, schools, workplaces, healthcare organizations, and communities.
