TODAY! Building Community, De-escalation Strategies, and Setting Limits in Classrooms

Announced on: Thursday, Nov. 06, 2025

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Building Community, De-escalation Strategies, and Setting Limits in Secondary Classrooms

David Loudermilk, Social Science Teacher at Las Plumas High School

Time: Thursday, November 6th at 5:30 p.m. PST

Location: Chico State John C. Ayers Hall Room #201

In this session, we will discuss de-escalation strategies and setting limits in secondary classrooms. Running a classroom where peaceful and effective learning can happen is challenging for two reasons. First, how do we make our classrooms a place where students feel safe, comfortable, and trusting enough in you (the teacher) to put forth their best effort? Second, how do we place expectations and boundaries on students in a way that they understand and know they will be expected to follow class procedures and norms? We will discuss practical strategies for building classroom communities, ensuring a peaceful learning environment, and de-escalation when necessary.

Discussion Leader Bio: David Loudermilk teaches social science at Las Plumas High School in Oroville, CA. Before becoming a high school teacher, he taught middle school, served as a middle school athletic director, 1:1 paraprofessional in a high school / adult transition program for special needs students, and a substitute teacher for K-12 classrooms. From 2020-2024, he was elected to serve as a board member for the Durham Unified School District in Durham, California.

This event is happening in person in John C. Ayers Hall on campus at Chico State. Light refreshments will be provided.

A Zoom option will be available for those who would like to join virtually.

This talk is part of the

2025–26 Education Praxis Discussion Series, hosted by the School of Education and funded by a Student Learning Fee Award.