Trauma informed educational practice emerges as a result of contemporary advances in medical science, technology and national forms of mental, behavioral health, and social service advocacy. It is not known how special education teachers working in the non-public special education setting view the implementation of trauma informed educational practice. Using social emotional learning and attachment theory, cognitive behavioral theory, polyvagal theory, and interpersonal neurobiology as a conceptual framework, a literature review in four parts describes the historical and sociocultural origins of trauma informed care in the United States, the neurobiology of developmental trauma, MTSS and school based practices, and implications for individual teaching practice and pedagogy. A qualitative descriptive design assesses special education teachers' perspectives of "how" and "what" responses in eleven semi-structured interviews and a single focus group. The primary use and limitations and challenges of trauma informed educational practice in the NPS context is explored. A short demographic survey profiles teacher background and professional experience. Three cycle coding identifies the complex impact of developmental trauma on student learning; the role of interpersonal relationship in the teacher-student dyad; culture as a significant aspect of social emotional learning; and the dynamics of leadership in establishing a high standard of trauma informed care. Limitations and challenges include student capacity in self-expression and secondary traumatization in serving high need students. Recommendations and implications address neurologically informed trauma informed teaching, instruction, and community wide trauma informed awareness. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]