Resilient Schools

The Importance of Literacy with Erin Bailey

Jethro Jones — Sun, 13 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0700

In this episode, Jethro Jones hosts Erin Bailey, Vice President of Literacy Programs and Research at Reading is Fundamental, to discuss the importance of reading in children's development. They delve into how reading fosters connections, the impact of screen time on reading habits, and effective strategies for schools and families to encourage reading. The episode also touches on the role of AI in literacy and mental health education through books.

How To Help Families Find Joy In Reading with Dr. Erin Bailey Transformative Principal 586
Focused on language components - material and affective component.
Sitting side-by-side and face-to-face with a child.
When kids want to read the books a hundred times in a row!
Gen Z Parents Not Reading to their Kids
Quick attention. Training your brain to only be able to pay attention
Missing out on opportunities to bond with children when reading.
Reading can take you places, and you can escape.
Family education
Meet families where they are at.
Schools cutting back on read-aloud time.
Accessible guides.
Teaching in Hong Kong
Cognitive Debt Research
How to Train Your Amygdala

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.

IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Early Mental Health Intervention with Barb Solish

Jethro Jones — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0700

In this episode, host Jethro Jones interviews Barb Solish, the National Director of Innovation for the National Alliance on Mental Illness. They discuss the importance of mental health awareness, early intervention, and the impact of literacy in shaping children's futures. Barb shares insights into the Macy's and NAMI partnership, the importance of building strong connections through reading and other activities, and the crucial role of community support in mental health care.

For the interview between Barb and Erin, go here: https://transformativeprincipal.org

Half of all mental health issues start before 14.
Only half of those who need it are getting the help they need.
Distinct warning signs. https://nami.org/signs
Looking for changes.
Call a pediatrician
Conversation starters
Find a support group
When you are not alone, you have hope.
Cathleen Beachboard on Resilient Schools talking about hope.
Trauma Awareness Training
Kids are a lot stronger than we give them credit for.
Outcomes for students - what are the outcomes we want.
Mental health education is health education.
Focus on connection not perfection.

Barb Solish: National Alliance on Mental illness

Barb Solish is NAMI’s National Director of Innovation. She is passionate about mental health awareness, education, and advocacy, especially after the loss of a friend to suicide. Barb’s lived experience developing a mental health condition as a young person also motivates her work improving outcomes for young people with mental health concerns.

In her time at NAMI, Barb has led NAMI’s Youth and Young Adult Initiatives team, developing new resources for kids, teens, young adults, educators, and caregivers. She also led the creation of new initiatives, including the virtual version of the NAMI Ending the Silence presentation program for middle and high school students and NAMI Next Gen, NAMI’s young adult advisory group. In addition to youth and young adult work, Barb oversees NAMI’s Workplace Mental Health Initiatives, including NAMI StigmaFree Workplace. Barb believes strongly that not only is creating a mentally healthy workplace the right thing to do, it’s an economic imperative.

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Literacy in Mental Health and Reading with Barb Solish and Dr. Erin Bailey

Jethro Jones — Sun, 06 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0700

In this episode, Jethro Jones introduces a special conversation between Dr. Erin Bailey, Vice President of Literacy Programs and Research at Reading is Fundamental, and Barb Solish, the NAMI National Director of Innovation. They discuss the partnership between Reading is Fundamental (RIF) and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), supported by Macy's, to provide books and mental health resources to children nationwide. The conversation dives into the youth mental health crisis, the literacy crisis, and how these two organizations are working together to support children's mental and emotional well-being through literacy and other resources.

NAMI and RIF joining together with the support of Macy’s
Being next to someone is powerful
Name it to tame it.
Identifying emotions for kids is powerful
Literacy for skills in both areas.
The power of a mother reading aloud to her children.
NICU mothers reading aloud to kids every day lowered rates of post-partum depression and stress.
Routine and trust are built together.
Early intervention
The Presence and the connection is what really matters.

Barb Solish: Link to headshot - National Alliance on Mental illness

Erin Bailey, Vice President, Literacy Programs & Research, Reading Is Fundamental

Erin Bailey, Ed.D., joined Reading Is Fundamental in 2021 and currently serves as the Vice President of Literacy Programs and Research. Dr. Bailey brings deep curriculum and instructional expertise to her position, which includes serving as the subject matter expert and developing, curating, and managing content and professional learning for educators and families on literacy.

She has played a pivotal role in shaping high-quality, research-based content that supports Pre-K through Middle School students nationwide. With a strong command of literacy best practices, she leads cross-functional efforts to ensure RIF’s resources spark reading joy while aligning with effective instructional strategies. Passionate about empowering educators, Dr. Bailey has spearheaded RIF’s professional development initiatives—designing and delivering hands-on, relevant learning experiences that build lasting capacity and support classroom success.

Dr. Bailey has been an educator in U.S. and international classrooms. Her teaching experience spans from PreK-8 including roles as a classroom teacher, literacy specialist, English language learning specialist, and university instructor. Her interests include professional learning for teachers on family and community engagement, instructional strategies for multilingual learners, and literacy instruction. She is interested in the ways that partnering with families and communities, particularly for children from historically marginalized communities, can transform literacy instruction. Additionally, she designs curriculum and professional development for utilizing play-based learning to teach language and literacy to young children.

Dr. Bailey has a robust and interdisciplinary research repertoire including learning through informal spaces such as public gardens, art museums, and social movements. She takes up art processes such as film, photography, and sound mixing to expand approaches to qualitative inquiry. She has presented her work at several major conferences including the American Education Research Association (AERA) and the World Organization for Early Childhood Education (OMEP) and has published in academic journals including Qualitative Inquiry, Journal of Early Childhood Literacy, and Journal of Literacy Research.

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Creating Resilient Teachers Through Wellness with Amber Dembowski

Jethro Jones — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0800

In this episode, host Jethro Jones welcomes Amber Dembowski, creator of the Teacher Well app, to talk about teacher wellness. They discuss the importance of self-care for educators, the challenges teachers face, and how the Teacher Well app provides tools and resources to help teachers manage their wellbeing. Amber shares insights on mental fitness, recovery time, and how the app fosters support and resilience among school staff.

Link to Amber’s episodes on Transformative Principal

Notes:

Had everything, but things were still falling apart.
Workplace wellbeing - too expensive, geared for corporate.
Resilience from BigImpactMixer.com.
Resilience is being the little light that encourages you to take the next step.
3 main things that the app provides.
Athletes - Their job is to do a physical activity. What being a Division 1 Athlete really looks like
Recovery is important too.
We all have different experiences and knowledge, because not one thing is going to work the same for everyone.
Apps, challenges, and resources to help teachers with mental fitness.
Within the group plan, principals can help prescribe
The power of check in.
Teachers are exhausted, and they need help!
Dragging their bag to the car, and it totally makes sense.
“I can’t do one more thing!”
Most of the content is audio so people can listen when they are doing something else.
Wellbeing has to come before school improvement.
We can do so much more than we think we can.

About Amber Dembowski

Amber Dembowski is a dynamic leader in school improvement and educator wellness, and the driving force behind Dembowski Consulting EDU, EudoLeadership, and the TeacherWell app. With 27 years of experience in public education, Amber is passionate about reshaping schools into thriving communities through human-centered, innovative approaches. Her newsletter and downloadable app offers actionable insights and inspiration for educators looking to prioritize well-being and empowerment.

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Self-Awareness vs. Prescriptive Safety with Dr. Leslie Anway

Jethro Jones — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0800

In this episode, host Jethro Jones interviews Dr. Leslie Anway, the Director of Resilient Schools for the Pima County School Superintendent's Office. They discuss the nuances of creating safe learning environments, the importance of self-awareness and self-management in both students and staff, and the PRISM framework that Leslie developed to integrate proactive restorative practices in schools.

Safety vs. self-awareness.
A prescription for safety.
We never ask the question, “What makes you feel safe?”
Self-awareness: presence, values and identity.
Focusing on polarizing things that make us different.
Siloed efforts on SEL, PBIS, etc.
More info about PRISM
Start with adults first - to generate buy-in and help them learn how to do it also.
We can use it better with kids when we
Growth mindset - and other mindsets.
It’s not a training, it’s a continual process.
When we beef up the self-awareness skills
Stem, Limbic system and cortex
Kids who are living in their brain stem - constant state of toxic stress
Regulation spaces and activities
How to support families with self-awareness
Provide educational opportunities for families.
Social emotional skill building starts at home.
The importance of partnering with families.

About Dr. Leslie Anway

Currently the Director of Resilient Schools for the Pima County School Superintendent’s Office, Dr. Leslie Anway’s biggest focus over the last several years has been on assisting with the creation of educational systems that streamline and integrate proactive initiative work to create foundationally safe learning spaces that foster belonging and connection and prioritize educator wellness. Leslie is a national presenter who trains and consults with practitioners, schools, and districts around the state, but she remains an educator at heart with over 25 years of direct experience in the schools as both a teacher and a school psychologist. She is the co-founder of Flourish Learning Group, LLC and PRISM© and she participates on multiple state and national committees. Leslie adores being a lifelong learner who learns on a daily basis from the hardworking humans and kindred spirits she interacts with, as well as from her three spirited grandchildren.

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Thriving vs. Resilience: Building Unshakeable Resilience In Schools with Allison Smith

Jethro Jones — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 00:59:00 -0700

In this episode, Jethro Jones interviews Alison Smith, an author, speaker, and coach dedicated to empowering leaders to build unshakeable resilience. Alison shares insights on how to foster deep-rooted confidence and create meaningful impact by aligning actions with core vision and values. The discussion dives into human-centered leadership, building trust, and defining success within schools. Alison also introduces her Thrive Design principles as a framework for building resilient schools.

Thriving vs. Resilience
Thrive: to grasp to oneself
Thriving in the valleys.
Resilience is thriving in the valleys.
Centered or grounded.
You’re in a bubble, and things are happening around you, but you’re doing it from the grounded place.
Your well being is dependent on your bubble, not the circumstances around you.
Mission, vision, values help teachers, students, and families connecting to the vision.
Resilient schools are rooted in their purpose and values
Clarity of purpose and courage to go forward when we are aligned.
Burnout is a real barrier to resilience.
How stress and ineffectiveness contribute to burnout.
Feelings of “Things we do don’t matter” exist when our actions don’t align to our values.
It’s the work of all of us to define success’
We need to be concrete and explicit about what success looks like.
High Trust - Brene Brown Daring to Lead - The Anatomy of Trust
Being Reliable.
Accountability
Generosity
THRIVE Design Principles - things that help us move from burnout to resilience.
Trust
Human centered
Responsive (as opposed to reactive, and be curious)
Incremental - next right action.
Values driven
Empowered - what you can control, not what you can’t control; let go of what you can’t control
Go below the surface when there is friction to help you determine what issues are arising.
Being clear takes away the judgment and distracting questions and justification.
How to make staff feel valued.
Look and watch and see what people are really doing, then give them appropriate praise.
Part of resilience is awareness.
Resilience comes back to self-awareness and community-awareness.
Well-being continuum -10 to +10 how are you doing right now?
School Leaders that THRIVE Summit

About Allison:
Alison Smith is an author, speaker, and coach dedicated to empowering leaders to build unshakeable resilience, foster deep-rooted confidence, and create meaningful impact by aligning their actions with their core vision and values. She helps her clients to leverage the power of small acts of resilience to design thriving personal and professional lives. Her work has been featured in various publications, and her book, “Drawing Your Line: Setting Boundaries Step by Step”, guides many to healthier living. Outside of work, she enjoys a good book with a glass of wine and spending time with her husband and two kids.

Check out School Leaders that THRIVE Summit

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Three Factors that Led to the Mississippi Miracle in Child Literacy with Dr. Trish Stoll #RIF

Jethro Jones — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0700

In this episode of the Resilient Schools podcast, we introduce you to Dr. Trish Stoll, a transformative leader who played a pivotal role in the Mississippi Miracle—a remarkable effort to improve child literacy rates in the state. Dr. Stoll will share her insights on how to empower teachers, build their capacity for literacy instruction, and create a culture of learning where all students can thrive. She'll discuss the importance of focusing on teacher capacity, providing ample training and support, and involving teachers in decision-making. Dr. Stoll will also share her thoughts on how principals can be transformative leaders by observing classrooms, learning from students, and creating a culture of continuous improvement. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in improving literacy outcomes for all students.

Mississippi Miracle
Prior initiatives
- Barksdale Reading Academy
- Reading Universe
- Reading First - Literacy block was protected, pockets not the entire state
- Literacy-Based Promotion Act - 3rd grade assessment
- Mississippi Kindergarten Readiness
Focus on Teacher Capacity on Literacy
- State literacy programs
- 3 Consortiums throughout the state to help teachers learn more
- AIM Pathways partnering with the state
- Lots of training and support for all teachers.
- If we focus on learning to read from Pre-K to second
Empowering Teachers
- State literacy coaches were teachers
- Teacher advisory committee - created by state supt.
- Teachers take ownership of their professional learning
- TEDx talk for teachers
How to be a transformative principal? Go in classrooms and observe what students are doing and be a learner. Even district personnel are learners too

About Trish Stoll

Dr. Trish Stoll is a dedicated and experienced educator who currently serves as the ELA Curriculum Specialist for the Gulfport School District in Gulfport, Mississippi. With over two decades of experience in the field of education, Dr. Stoll has held various roles including general education teacher, Visual Arts Instructor, Literacy Coach and Instructional Coach. Her passion for implementing best practices in literacy education has made her a valuable asset in improving literacy for students in Mississippi and beyond. Dr. Stoll's commitment to continuous learning, research, and collaboration with other literacy professionals across the nation ensures that students receive the most effective literacy instruction possible. Holding an Ed. D in Educational Leadership, a Specialist Degree in Instructional Leadership, a Master of Science, and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, Dr. Stoll has a strong educational background that informs her work in the field. Furthermore, Dr. Trish Stoll is a Middle and Early Childhood Art National Board Certified Teacher, showcasing her expertise and dedication to the field of education. With her wealth of experience and qualifications, Dr. Stoll continues to make a significant impact on the literacy education landscape, striving to enhance learning outcomes for students and promote excellence in education.

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Inclusive Literacy Strategies with Dr. Karen Dudek-Brannan #RIF

Jethro Jones — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0700

Welcome to our National Literacy Month series of podcasts, presented in partnership between the Be Podcast Network and Reading Is Fundamental (RIF).

In this episode, Jethro welcomes Dr. Karen Dudek-Brannan, host of the De Facto Leaders podcast. They discuss the role of related service providers in literacy, avoiding black-and-white thinking in educational interventions, and the multifaceted nature of vocabulary and comprehension in literacy development. Dr. Dudek-Brannan emphasizes the importance of structured service delivery planning and shares insights from her research on vocabulary, syntax, and their impacts on reading and writing comprehension.

Getting everyone on the same page from different service providers.
We’re not ignoring your discipline!
Service delivery planning vs. lesson planning.
Having a lot of experiences is what kids need to build vocabulary
Need to have about 90-95% of vocabulary
Phonics are essential, but if you don’t give them that explicit instruction, it becomes very difficult.
Biologically primary and biologically secondary - we are wired to speak
Fluency is one way to measure automaticity.
Syntax Queen - metacognition and vocabulary.
Content and structure.
Sentence Structure

About Dr. Karen Dudek-Brannan

Dr. Karen Dudek-Brannan is the founder and owner/operator of Dr. Karen, LLC, a company focused on empowering therapists and educators to design interventions that support language, literacy, and executive functioning. She has a doctorate in Special Education and Director of Special Education and Assistive Technology credentials from Illinois State University, as well as a master’s and bachelor’s from Illinois State University in speech-language pathology. She spent 14 years in the school systems and has held various roles in leadership and higher education teaching and mentoring clinicians. She is the host of the De Facto Leaders podcast, where she shares evidence-based practices, her own experiences, and guest interviews on topics relating to education and healthcare reform. She currently holds a management role with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Nurturing Student Connections with Jessica Taylor

Jethro Jones — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0700

In this episode, Jethro Jones sits down with Jessica Taylor, the Trauma Informed Specialist at an alternative school in Nashville, Tennessee.

They discuss Jessica's role, her daily check-ins with students, the significance of building trust, and the impact of creating personal connections.

Jessica also shares her experiences at conferences and offers advice for those interested in trauma-informed practices.

00:00 Introduction

00:37 Jessica Taylor's Role and Responsibilities

00:59 Building Trust and Personal Connections

04:38 Importance of Trauma-Informed Practices

06:12 Validation and Co-Regulation

07:57 Advice for Practitioners

15:36 Closing Thoughts

The Role of ESSDACK in Resilience with Dr. Chad Higgins

Jethro Jones — Thu, 01 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0700

In this episode, Jethro Jones talks with Dr. Chad Higgins, Executive Director of ESSDACK, during the Bridging to Resilience Conference.

They discuss the various initiatives of ESSDACK, particularly focusing on resilience and trauma-informed practices in education. They explore the importance of these initiatives, the challenges faced, and the potential for growth and impact in schools and communities.

00:00 Welcome to the Resilient Schools Podcast

00:18 ESSDACK Initiatives and Resources

01:31 Importance of Resilience Work

02:25 Growth Areas and Challenges

07:03 Future Insights and Hopes

Is AI making teacher burnout worse? with Priten Shah

Jethro Jones — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0700

In this episode, guest host Ross Romano speaks with education entrepreneur Priten Shah about teacher burnout, why it’s an important topic for resilient schools, and whether AI is currently making it better or worse.

Priten is the founder of Pedagogy.Cloud, an educational consulting firm that supports educators in K-12 schools, higher education, and the nonprofit sector adapt to the increasing capabilities of AI. He is also the author of AI & The Future of Education: Teaching in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (Jossey-Bass, 2023).

Hear about:

● Priten’s Ed Week op-ed: “I Was an AI Optimist. Now I’m Worried It’s Making Teacher Burnout Worse.”

● Priten saw potential for AI tools to reduce teachers’ workload — here’s what he anticipated

● What is the “So that…” of AI in schools? (In other words, AI saves teachers time on X so that they can do Y.)

● What is the current reality of AI in schools?

● What teachers need the most help with and how schools are currently supporting it

● To allow time for AI training, what can be replaced?

About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Supporting Youth Through Job Corps with Ivory Boyce

Jethro Jones — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0700

In this episode of Resilient Schools, recorded at the Bridging to Resilience Conference, Jethro Jones speaks with Ivory Boyce from the Flint Hills Job Corps Center. Ivory shares her journey, education, and passion for helping students.

They discuss the range of services Job Corps offers to young adults, the importance of understanding individual backgrounds and needs, and insights gained from the conference. The conversation highlights the significance of proactive support and empathy in educational settings.

00:00 Introduction to Resilient Schools Podcast

00:14 Meet Ivory Boyce

00:52 Ivory's Educational Background

01:50 Job Corps Services and Support

03:09 Purpose of Attending the Conference

05:21 Conference Insights and Takeaways

07:19 Final Thoughts and Action Steps

10:32 Importance of Understanding Context

13:47 How to Get Involved with Job Corps

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Fostering Hope and Courage with Sydney Perkins

Jethro Jones — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0700

In this episode, Jethro interviews Sydney Perkins, a kindergarten teacher. She shares her insights and experiences from attending the Bridging to Resilience Conference. She discusses the importance of social-emotional learning, personal well-being, and the significance of building strong relationships with students. Sydney emphasizes practical strategies like tapping, breathing exercises, and movement to support her young students' emotional and educational needs.

00:00 Introduction

00:24 Joining the Conference

00:52 Initial Understanding

01:18 Key Takeaways

01:54 Application in Classroom

02:58 Tapping Technique

04:25 Balancing Academics and Social Skills

05:23 Building Relationships

08:34 Insights on Discipline

09:11 Advice for Teachers

10:32 Actionable Steps Post-Conference

13:37 Closing Thoughts

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

How Adaptable Districts Can Reverse Chronic Absenteeism with Jen Perry

Jethro Jones — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0700

In this episode, guest host Ross Romano talks with Jen Perry, Senior Manager of Learning Design and Whole Learner at Edmentum.

Jen helps us identify the types and indicators of trauma present in many school districts, the causes of chronic absenteeism as well as the ongoing trends, the risk factors for disengagement, how to integrate educator and student engagement, and more.

00:00 Introduction

00:53 Defining Resilient Schools

01:32 What 'Resilience' Means

03:44 Trauma and Adaptability

06:15 Indicators of Trauma

09:59 Attendance as an Indicator

23:49 Behavior and Connection

16:36 COVID-19 Impact on Attendance

25:01 Chronic Absenteeism

30:16 Creating Meaningful Engagement

35:16 Example from Rochester City School

39:22 Importance of Career-Connected Learning

41:58 AI and Education

46:16 The Whole Learner Framework

Related Resources:

Read Jen’s District Administration article, Connectedness is key: 3 ways to reverse chronic absenteeism
Learn more about Edmentum: https://www.edmentum.com

About the guest

Jen Perry is Senior Manager of Learning Design and Whole Learner at Edmentum. Jen has worked over 30+ years with youth in educational and community settings. As a teacher, administrator, and trainer, her passion has been to help educators develop an understanding of the importance of social-emotional learning and build trauma-informed responses and systems. This work has included supporting youth, administrators, and schools in understanding behavior and implementing transformational change through strength-based approaches. Connect on LinkedIn

About the host

Ross Romano is co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. He has spent over a decade helping dozens of founders, C-level executives, and authors develop and distribute compelling thought leadership through a variety of media channels. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Cultivating Authenticity and Resilience in Schools with Tammy Fellers

Jethro Jones — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0700

In this episode of Resilient Schools, Jethro Jones speaks with Tammy Fellers at the Bridging to Resilience Conference. Tammy, a long-time team member of ESSDACK and a part of the Inspired Leadership team, discusses the essence of leadership coaching, balancing personal and professional lives, and the significance of conscious leadership.

00:00 Introduction

00:18 Tammy's Roles at ESSDACK

00:55 Coaching at the Conference

01:07 Difference Between Coaching and Therapy

03:47 The IPEC Certification

04:21 Understanding Energy Leadership

07:17 Conscious Leadership

11:07 Characteristics of a Conscious Leader

14:55 Authenticity in Leadership

17:41 Conclusion

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Empathy in Teaching with Sarah Reade

Jethro Jones — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0700

In this episode of the Resilient Schools podcast, host Jethro Jones talks with Sarah Reade, a second-grade teacher attending the SDAC Bridging to Resilience Conference.

They discuss Sarah's journey into teaching, the importance of love and connection in the classroom, and how trauma-informed care is vital for student success.

Sarah shares personal insights about her approach to building relationships with her students and overcoming the emotional challenges faced in a trauma-aware educational environment.

00:00 Introduction

00:22 Meet Sarah Reade

00:54 Teaching Journey

01:59 Trauma-Informed Care and Conference Insights

05:29 Challenges in Building Relationships

07:49 Overcoming Emotional Barriers

13:30 The Power of Empathy

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Navigating Trauma-Informed Teaching with Hillary Barragan

Jethro Jones — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0700

In this episode of the Resilient Schools podcast, recorded live at the ESSDACK Bridging to Resilience Conference, we interview Hillary Barragan, a para educator at a trauma-informed center helping teens and adults obtain their high school diplomas.

Hillary discusses her journey to this role, the challenges of working with students who have experienced trauma, and the importance of maintaining her own mental health.

She shares her aspirations for bringing trauma-informed education to the Philippines and highlights the power of human connection and resilience in education.

00:18 Meet Hillary Barragan: A Para Educator's Journey

00:34 Understanding the Trauma-Informed Center

02:40 Challenges and Rewards of Working in Trauma-Informed Education

04:13 Maintaining Mental Health and Building Resilience

05:31 Future Aspirations and Cultural Connections

07:28 Inspiring Resilience in Students

09:13 Conference Highlights

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Balancing Support and Accountability with Jason Shelangouski

Jethro Jones — Thu, 16 May 2024 00:00:00 -0700

In this episode of the Resilient Schools Podcast, recorded live at the Bridging to Resilience conference in Wichita, Kansas, the Jethro interviews Jason Shelangouski, an experienced middle school teacher from Wamego Middle School, Kansas.

Jason shares insights into his 16-year teaching career, focusing on teaching 8th-grade language arts, creative writing, and leadership. He emphasizes the importance of co-regulation in helping students navigate the unique challenges of middle school, particularly in terms of emotional and behavioral development.

Jason discusses the role of teacher behaviors, such as being a calming presence or providing stern reminders, in effectively supporting student self-regulation.

He also highlights the significance of administrative support in fostering a positive environment for both teachers and students.

The conversation delves into the power of vulnerability and authenticity in building trust and understanding between teachers and students.

Jason and Jethro explore the concept of life as a game and the importance of adapting behaviors for success in different contexts.

Jason's approach to teaching underscores the necessity of personalized, empathic engagement with students to prepare them for future challenges while respecting their individual experiences and needs.

00:23 The Joy and Challenges of Teaching Middle School

01:20 Exploring Co-Regulation in Education

03:21 The Importance of Leadership and Support in Schools

06:12 Personal Approaches to Teaching and Leadership

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Bridging to Resilience Conference Panel

Jethro Jones — Thu, 09 May 2024 00:00:00 -0700

This episode of the Resilient Schools podcast features a panel discussion from the Bridging to Resilience conference, focusing on the importance of trauma-informed leadership in educational settings.

Panelists share their personal definitions of being trauma-informed, emphasizing the significance of seeing individuals as humans first.

This conversation covers the necessity of empathy, vulnerability, and a focus on mitigating harm through safe policies and practices.

Key strategies discussed include advocating for change, understanding the science behind trauma, and creating a supportive school culture.

The panel also explores practical approaches for dealing with disciplinary issues in a trauma-informed manner, distinguishing between discipline and punishment, and the critical role of maintaining safety and fostering learning environments.

00:19 Defining Trauma-Informed Leadership

00:59 Panelist Introductions and Perspectives

02:55 The Importance of Being Trauma-Informed in Education

06:19 Practical Steps Towards Trauma-Informed Practices

08:16 Advocacy and Incremental Change in School Policies

10:52 Personal Reflections and Adjusting Approaches

14:46 Discipline vs. Punishment: A Critical Discussion

20:44 Implementing Restorative Practices and Building Relationships

26:47 Navigating Challenges with Toxic Stress in the Classroom

27:33 Empathy and Fairness: A Classroom Experiment

28:17 Addressing Fear and Regulation in the Classroom

29:01 Involving Parents in the Culture of Regulation

29:20 The Importance of Transparency and Communication

30:45 Strategies for Managing Classroom Disruptions

35:14 Building a Culture of Care: The Role of Emotional Regulation

36:50 Navigating Challenges: Public vs. Private Education

43:48 Understanding and Supporting Aggressive Students

47:10 Creating Safe and Nurturing Environments for All

54:31 Empowering Communities Through Inclusive Planning

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Empowering Connection with Stacy Nation

Jethro Jones — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0700

In this episode of the Resilient Schools podcast, recorded live at the Bridging to Resilience Conference 2023, keynote speaker Stacy Nation discusses the importance of cultivating genuine connections in a digitally dominated world.

Stacy, a licensed clinical social worker with a rich background including serving in the Wyoming Army National Guard, emphasizes the need to teach children and teenagers the value of in-person interactions over digital ones.

She shares effective strategies for managing technology use, such as encouraging kids to put away their phones during social gatherings, and fostering deeper conversations beyond superficial digital communication.

Stacy also touches on how educators can manage their own triggers and regulate their nervous system for better classroom management.

00:18 Meet Stacey Nation: A Glimpse into Her Life

01:04 Promoting Real Connections in a Digital World

02:04 Navigating the Challenges of Technology and Connection

04:56 Five Questions to Ask When You're Triggered

07:40 The Journey to Self-Awareness and Control

12:43 Connecting with Stacey Nation and Wrapping Up

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Resilience and Positivity in Adversity with Jackie Gilby

Jethro Jones — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 20:38:18 -0700

In this episode of the Resilient Schools Podcast, recorded live at the Bridging to Resilience Conference, we hear from Jackie Gilby, who shares her powerful story of overcoming adversity.

Jackie spent 17 years in foster care, experiencing adversity and being stuck in a cycle of poverty and street living. Despite these challenges, Jackie maintained a positive outlook on life, emphasizing the value of experiencing hardships to appreciate the good in life.

She eventually turned her life around, finding sobriety, securing stable housing, and becoming an active participant in her community's efforts to combat poverty. Working at a nonprofit, STEP MC, Jackie now helps others escape poverty by sharing her experiences and the lessons she learned along the way. The conversation touches on the transformative power of facing one's fears, the importance of community support, and the belief in a higher power guiding one's journey toward a better life.

00:10 Jackie's Journey: From Foster Care to Finding Her Path
00:57 The Power of a Positive Mindset Amidst Life's Challenges
02:15 Overcoming Adversity: Jackie's Transition to Sobriety and Stability
03:28 Empowering Others: Jackie's Work with STEP MC to End Poverty
09:42 Building a Better Future: Jackie's Goals and Aspirations
14:05 Reflections on Parenting, Recovery, and Finding Fulfillment
18:20 Jackie's Message of Hope and Courage to Those Struggling

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Unpacking Trauma and Restorative Practices in Education with Joshua Stamper

Jethro Jones — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 13:14:21 -0800

In this episode, Jethro Jones is joined by Joshua Stamper, the Director of Innovation for the Teach Better Team. This conversation focuses on restorative practices in schools, aiming to correct common misunderstandings.

Stamper, leveraging his experiences as a former administrator and coach, emphasizes that restorative practices are not about leniency or avoiding consequences but rather about teaching behavior and establishing supportive environments for trauma-impacted students.

He shares insights into implementing restorative practices effectively, such as the importance of building relationships, understanding the language of behavior, and addressing incidents with care and consideration for individual circumstances.

Stamper also discusses proactive strategies like relationship plans and check-ins to support students better. The conversation highlights that while restorative practices require time and effort, they can lead to more meaningful changes in behavior compared to traditional punitive methods.

02:00 Understanding Restorative Practices in Education
02:23 Dispelling Misconceptions about Restorative Practices
05:15 Real-life Example of Restorative Practices
10:02 The Importance of Building Relationships
23:01 Addressing the Time Factor in Restorative Practices
25:56 Understanding the Language of Behavior

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Bridging to Resilience Series: Tyler Swalley

Jethro Jones — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0800

Bridging to Resilience Series: Katie Kinder Resilient Schools 44

Jethro Jones — Sat, 20 Jan 2024 06:00:00 -0800

Bridging to Resilience Series: Andi Amann Resilient Schools 43

Jethro Jones — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 00:42:46 -0800

This file is to help us prep for the podcast. If you have something you would like to share in addition to what you filled out on the form:

additional_notes

Please add your bio here:

Please add questions that we would ask here, and you can add anything that you would like to add as well.

This is certainly not an exhaustive list, nor will we ask everything that is on here, but will help guide the conversation.

Our podcast interview is scheduled for: November 8, 2023 in the America/Chicago time zone. And the link for our meeting is: https://sqdc.st/studio/P94W

*** PLEASE FILL OUT THIS FORM SO I CAN SEND YOU A THANK YOU CARD *** https://goo.gl/forms/ntIGRH7zm6B10Nyw1

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

RS 42 Bridging to Resilience Series: Alayna

Jethro Jones — Sat, 23 Dec 2023 07:00:00 -0800

Bridging to Resilience Series: Austin

Jethro Jones — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 07:00:00 -0800

Bridging to Resilience Series: Katelyn Resilient Schools 40

Jethro Jones — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 07:00:00 -0800

Bridging to Resilience Series: Rob Resilient Schools 39

Jethro Jones — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 06:00:00 -0800

Helping Kids Develop Executive Functioning with Alexis Reid Resilient Schools 38

Jethro Jones — Fri, 10 Nov 2023 06:00:00 -0800

Book - Wounded By Schools - great read.
Executive function skills - stories are related to other adults in their lives - a lot of invalidation around their experience of not being able to access what’s going on in schools.
Story of what a student’s experience is.
Kids who feel disconnected or not learning.
Kids who feel like school is not for them.
School wounds go back to different stages and levels of our lives.
Schools should feel safe for kids.
School is not designed for kids.
Purpose of school design: How do we help kids do the things that society wants them to do?
We can’t aim for the middle
Executive Function - behaviors related to the cognitive skills related to help us get things done, especially efficiently.
Executive function: Inhibition (pause and assess before reacting); working memory (take information, and do something with it); cognitive flexibility (shift sets, being flexible and adaptable) - not just about learning, but about living.
Then there are behaviors related to those things
Prioritize time (because we can’t manage time).
Invalidation - Often get mislabeled as behavioral skills or as “dumb” because they can’t do certain things in schools at the right time.
What Schools think Learning Looks like vs. what is actually looks like
Montessori Education
Setting up parameters to allow for flexibility - firm goals, we can allow flexibility for how to get there.
Learners have greater insight than I could ever imagine
Structure with flexibility
More time to give pause
Is school really about task completion or about learning?
Two things: set up a structure with flexibility and allow for student's voice.
A sidenote about AI - highlight this episode with Viktor Karkar
Practicing through games. Here’s a fun game- Pedunkle.
Students have a hard time admitting when they can’t do something and they don’t know how to ask for help.
Relationships
Todd Rose - Square Peg Book
What are the systems we set up in schools devaluing?
When we don’t set up for flexibility, we see kids shrink away.
Never met a student who doesn’t want to do well.
Connect with Alexis on Instagram or X or listen to her podcast here.

About Alexis Reid

Alexis Reid is an educational therapist and learning consultant who specializes in executive function (EF) coaching, social-emotional learning (SEL), teaching and development, as well as designing flexible and accessible learning and environments through Universal Design for Learning (UDL).

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Importance of Relationships in Healing Trauma with Eric Nachtigal Resilient Schools 37

Jethro Jones — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 06:00:00 -0700

Kids will work for people that they like.
Brain research - brain structure is changed when it goes through toxic trauma or traumatic events
Positive experiences and positive relationships rewire the brain.
Favorite R word is relationships
Relationships leads to resilience
We want kids to be successful people in the world.
Building resilience relationship - authentic, genuine, accountability
Building such a strong relationship with him that you can build strong relationships.
Filling your bucket and
Unconditional positive regard -
If you make a mistake and you let them down, you apologize
Relationships do not build resilience by doing the big things
People have these big brick walls.
We have a hard time trusting
We need to take out one brick at a time.
Safety, belonging, and dignity
Relationships are complex
Endure through the difficult part of the complex.
In Public education, we have to approach things differently.
Know your setting
Avoid oversharing by making it about them, not bringing the attention to you.
Appropriately vulnerable - Lean towards vulnerability to build trust and the relationship.
Mad, sad, glad, and afraid.
Leaving space for people having control over their life.
It’s ok to make mistakes.

About Eric Nachtigal

Eric is a Trauma-informed Behavior Intervention Specialist who has extensive experience addressing students’ social emotional and behavioral needs while promoting healthy emotional and academic development. He has been in the field of education for almost three decades and is celebrated as being team-oriented, and an excellent communicator with parents, students, and colleagues. Eric always strives to do what is best for students and educators. Eric has an array of skills & tools that he has honed along his journey from time spent as a classroom teacher, a school counselor, administrator, to Behavioral Social Emotional Student Support Specialist for the past half-decade.

This broad scope of experience has provided him with an abundant toolbox to support staff in building resilience with students while implementing trauma-informed individual behavior plans. He is able to support educators as they begin to do the work that increases student engagement, reduces disruptive behaviors, and addresses student crisis interventions. As a result, both students and staff will begin to experience a positive culture and true team building.

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Bridging to Resilience with Katie Perez Resilient Schools 36

Jethro Jones — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 06:00:00 -0700

Problems of Practice
Structure where people are able to get multiple feedback sessions.
The smartest person in the room is the room.
Thinking about the individual student we serve and how it’s working for that specific student.
The problem we are having within the confines of that practice we are trying to implement.
Put your problem in the pot
Break into small groups, then the “hot seat” gets feedback on the problem.
Questioning - clarifying questions to
The asker sits back and listens
Brainstorm ideas and possible solutions
Asker then makes an action plan.
Anybody who is at bridging able to submit things they want to
Curate a network at Bridging to Resilience
Looking at bridging for opportunities to create this relationship
Returning attendees bring new people into the fold.
Putting up the umbrella during a brainstorm session.
Purpose is not to defend or make decisions.
Used to looking to outside resources for our ideas.
Validate that this room here has knowledge and ability to make things happen.
Yes And game and 10% true.
Remove the word but
If you did know, what would you say?
The need for unlearning for adults in schools.
Role of consultant vs. someone in the school.
Equipping resilience coaches.
Joyce and Showers - professional learning
The power of supporting others through repeated interactions after development.

About Katie Perez

Katie Perez does a lot at ESSDACK, Project-Based Learning, Trauma/Resilience, School Redesign, Four Disciplines of Execution, Elementary Generalist, Keynoter, Facilitator, Coach, and Mentor. A large part of Katie’s work at ESSDACK focuses on supporting educators as they become trauma-informed. Katie has been researching and speaking about the science of hope since 2007. She says, “Hope guides me in all endeavors. In both my professional and personal life, I see opportunities to share and spread hope with others so that they too may develop pathways to see great possibilities in their lives. I believe in the power of engaged educators to build significant relationships with young people to encourage, inspire, and build great lives.” This work has led to a partnership with Jim Sporleder to build a curriculum guide to support school faculties in their journey to becoming trauma-informed.

Katie’s true passion in education is in helping teachers reignite their own passion for teaching and learning. As a facilitator and coach, Katie customizes professional learning to target the specific goals and needs of each educator or audience. She believes that the key to unlocking the full potential in our education system relies on the hope, well-being, and engagement of our educators and students.

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Bridging to Resilience Conference with Ginger Lewman Resilient Schools 35

Jethro Jones — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 06:00:00 -0700

Self-care is a lie!
85% of every group said they didn’t make a doctor’s appointment that they knew they should make.
We are hard-wired to put others first
Regularity and intentionality
How do we systemically make sure everyone is taken care of
We’ve been brought up to serve one another.
If we care about each other, we will take care of each other.
The science of is resilience: it’s the ability to bounce back.
In the presence of another safe-supporting adult.
We become that way because there is a safe supporting adult there saying you can make it.
Resilience is the ability to adapt and overcome challenges with a supportive adult.
Self-soothe vs co-care
Sedation is ignoring our challenges - numbing strategies or not feeling a feeling.
Feelings can hurt, and we often do things to avoid it.
River of cruelty.
How we can help people who are avoiding feeling their feelings?
Quick Check-in: Mad sad, glad, or afraid?
Normalize having emotions.
It’s oK that you have feelings.
Body Doubling - needing to have someone there.
Judgment and blame come from within someone else.
What does it mean to be a safe supporting adult?
We bring together the believers. This is not just a school, healthcare, or education problem.
Nothing about us without us!
We bring parents, educators, healthcare and so many more together.
Kids are invited away from our systems.

About Ginger Lewman

Ginger is a national consultant & keynote speaker with ESSDACK, a non-profit education service center based in Hutchinson Kansas. She inspires and helps all levels of educators figure out the ins and outs of teaching and learning. Some of her specialty topics include redesigning schools & learning environments.

Please add questions that we would ask here, and you can add anything that you would like to add as well.

This is certainly not an exhaustive list, nor will we ask everything that is on here, but will help guide the conversation.

Our podcast interview is scheduled for 01:45 pm - Monday, September 11, 2023, in the America/Chicago time zone. And the link for our meeting is: https://sqdc.st/studio/PHtG

*** PLEASE FILL OUT THIS FORM SO I CAN SEND YOU A THANK YOU CARD *** https://goo.gl/forms/ntIGRH7zm6B10Nyw1

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Community Building Circles! with Carmen Zeisler Resilient Schools 34

Jethro Jones — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 06:00:00 -0700

Three types of circles: Community Circles, Academic Circles, and Restorative Circles
Conflict is a natural part of life, as adults and as kids, we just avoid it.
We’re not going to talk about it or you’re suspended.
Talking about repairing harm
Belonging to Safety and Dignity. The people in the circle are there to support them.
Consistently doing community circle work.
Doing circle work just for discipline makes it really hard.
Example about girl drama and 4th-grade drama.
Circles part of everyday activities made it possible to prevent further issues.
Students have a place to bring up issues.
Why take the time for circles?
As an educator, I’m going to spend my time somewhere
We think kids know how to solve problems, but they don’t always and they need teaching.
Social Media is an example of how to not solve an issue.
Time and space to learn conflict resolution
Structure of a circle meeting.
Get your flow of a circle meeting and stay with your flow.
Opening activity (Mindfulness, poem, quote, song)
Values round (reviewing our values or bringing certain values to the circle)
Round 1: check-in: Are you mad, sad, glad, afraid?
Round 2: What is your focus? Academic, Community, Restorative?
Closing: A way to bring everyone together and clarify where they’re at. Expression of gratitude.
Children’s literature with circles (reading a children’s book)
Mindfulness moment to close out our time.
Are we ready to make a decision?
Never require someone to be a part of a circle.
Students who are long-term suspended or expelled, need to be a transition process in place for them. Reentry circle to make the transition more effective.
People are not one-dimensional.
Bridging to Resilience Conference - Register Here. November 6-8 2023 in Wichita, KS
7 sessions each time there is a breakout.

About Carmen Zeisler

Carmen Zeisler is the Director of the ESSDACK Learning Centers, an Educational Consultant/Coach, and a co-founding member of the ESSDACK Resilience Team. In Learning Centers, she has been instrumental in leading a Redesign process through Project-Based Learning.

In schools, Carmen loves collaborating with teachers on Trauma-Informed practices and she leads The Restorative Justice in Schools effort on the ESSDACK Resilience Team. Her other passion as a Consultant and Coach is supporting teachers to build a strong reading culture in their classroom. One of her favorite ways to do this is to use picture books with science and social studies to make these content areas come alive for students!

Carmen has traveled the world as a teacher. She spent ten years in Mexico at the American Institute of Monterrey teaching 9th and 10th grade English literature and helped build the gifted and talented program that was used as a model for all of the state of Nuevo Leon. Carmen fell in love with the Mexican culture through language, food, dance, music, and people.

She started getting antsy and wanted a new adventure so she headed off to Brasilia, Brazil where she spent three years at the American School of Brazil teaching kindergarten. During this time, she had students from 16 different countries in one classroom! Her time in Brazil left her with a passion for writing and languages.

She landed back home in McPherson, KS where she taught for 10 years prior to coming on board at ESSDACK. Carmen has been to 33 countries and loves infusing her travels into her teaching.

Carmen’s is a natural at building relationships with students and teachers so that she can then ask powerful questions that help ignite passions!

Carmen’s passion is building relationships with students and teachers so that she can then ask questions to help guide them in finding their passions!

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Bridging to Resilience with Rebecca Lewis-Pankratz Resilient Schools 33

Jethro Jones — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 23:25:42 -0700

Best practice - People who are experiencing the issue are part of the conversation.
We think the root cause of a problem is
People should be invited to the table not just as contributors but also as solution providers.
What barriers are people bumping up against?
FQHC - Federally Qualified Health Clinic.
Teacher retention, how about we asked
Bridging to Resilience is one of the most meaningful activities we can be involved in.
Trauma doesn’t live in a certain neighborhood.
Poverty is something that a group of people experience in a group.
Poverty does mean toxic stress
Inviting parents in poverty to be part of the stage and panels
Parent panels leave a lasting impact.
Learning centers that help kids who are not successful in typical schools.
What it’s like to be in a resilience-based school.
People of resilience - human library.
How do you make it so people don’t judge others.
People’s stories and authenticity cause and judgment just drops.
Shame or guilt because participants didn’t know.
We just want to be seen, hear, and valued.
Real stories from real moms and dads and students.
Isolating being in poverty or dealing with children that are atypical.
Judgment is really fear
Made strides in talking about race in our country, but we don’t like to talk much about class.
We don’t realize how truly segregated we are by class.
People don’t understand that the way they were raised is cultural.
Things that make you uncomfortable
Ruby Payne Framework for Understanding Generational Poverty
In my culture that makes sense, in other cultures that looks asinine.
Poverty conditions you.
It comes from a place of love, but often a place of misunderstanding.
Get to know your parents on a human level.
Bridging to Resilience isn’t just another conference. It’s a revival!
Register here - Come and get some love.

About Rebecca Lewis-Pankratz

Rebecca Lewis-Pankratz works with both communities and schools across the US to truly solve poverty and heal trauma. She does this by helping brilliant and caring leaders create sustainable ecosystems of resilience through building better relationships. Check out her previous interview on Resilient Schools here.

Rebecca fought her way out of poverty and the trailer park in 2011 with three young sons. A local poverty resolution project found Rebecca and activated her journey. She later went to work for that non-profit and then went on to build multiple projects like it to help more families. In 2015 She started working with public education and ignited a trauma-informed schools movement in her state and beyond.

Rebecca experienced a lifetime of trauma and poverty and through access to buffering relationships she healed from both and continues to light the path for others.

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Building Resilient Students with JC Pohl Resilient Schools 32

Jethro Jones — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 16:06:58 -0700

JC Pohl is the co-founder and CEO of TeenTruth.net

Resilience is about taking the hits and moving forward.
Hear about bad things with kids.
Bouncing back.
It was really in the hard times in our life that we grew.
5 keys to mental health.
Why is it harder for teenagers?
This is developmentally appropriate.
To them it really does feel like it is the end of the world.
Charismatic Adults - A developmental structure to support them.
They need a touchpoint when they need it.
All adults around out children have the ability to speak into their lives.
Dr. Robert Brooks - charismatic adult is the single most important influence.
Anybody can do this.
Some people aren’t invited.
Connect with students where they are.
Kids form common bonds.
Get free chapters: teentruth.net/resilientstudents Discount code relationships to get a discount on the book.
How to be a transformative principal? Be vulnerable about a challenge you’re dealing with.

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Stop Making Excuses with JeVon McCormick Resilient Schools 31

Jethro Jones — Sat, 09 Sep 2023 23:45:04 -0700

JT McCormick is the Co-Founder of Book in a Box. Email him

JT’s interview on the 1 Thing podcast
Scaled software company, now a president and CEO of a publishing company, BookinaBox.com
No motivational story of someone who stood by him. Pushed through a bad educational system that did not meet his needs.
What I quickly learned…There is no geometry on a deposit slip.
Mindset, choices, and hard work = success for me.
Get up at 4 am.
If there’s anything I don’t like in life, it’s up to me to change it.
Where did these ideas come from?
What would you tell a 10 year old JT?
It’s not always what you tell a kid, but more what you show them.
3 of the greatest moments - marriage, birth of children, mentor at-risk youth.
First time they got to see an office building.
Connecting with kids - What’s wrong with this picture? And this?
Shake hands with a firm handshake - when do we teach them this?
Manners, a firm handshake, and other small things have served me very well in life.
How is there not a life essentials class?
Every school a subscription the Forbes 400.
3 avenues out of poverty: 1. Athlete 2. Rapper 3. Drug Dealer
Nobody told me the fourth option: entrepreneur.
If you are going to think, dream, or set goals
Money does not bring happiness.
Many children just don’t understand the ways of the world.
If you lost it all, what would you do?
Put in the time, put in the hard work now.
Have your own personal excellence every single day.
Show them examples of people who have accomplished great things.
Show little girls female executives.
Bring the examples in to the schools.
I have built a career off of asking questions.
There are no dumb questions!
No means not right now.
How to be a transformative principal? Show kids.
Routine is what breeds success
I Got There - Book
You can’t change the past, but you can change the future

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

For the Sake of Our Youth with Tessa Stuckey Resilient Schools 30

Jethro Jones — Sun, 03 Sep 2023 00:18:12 -0700

Tessa works with teenagers and has decided to take on parenting from a new perspective. While patiently waiting for her book’s completion "For the Sake of Our Youth: A Therapist's Perspective on Raising Kids in Today's Culture" (due to hit the shelves in Spring 2020) Tessa coaches and presents to parents her research on today’s teen depression, anxiety and suicide rate focusing on parent/child connection. You can connect with her at her website Tessastuckey.com or follow her on Instagram @themomtherapist.

Why she wanted to work with teens and parents.
Kids came to me with suicidal thoughts.
It scared me that they were going to grow up in a world where suicide was so common.

6 cultural influences that are happening in today’s world.

Social Trend - People see it and so they think it. Not being balanced with appropriate preventative care.
Immediate gratification - everything is just a click away. Teaching our kids how to struggle. There is no instant fix for an emotional hardship. You have to think a little unnaturally to slow things down a little bit.
Lack of personal connections is being made. Social media is meant for connection but it doesn’t create the same closeness and bond.
Attention seeking - longing to feel important. It has become an acceptable way to get attention in our society. Reacting to a lack of attention and lack of resilience.
Social media - 5 categories: don’t need to connect face to face, comparison, kids can’t turn their social life, cyberbullying (hurt people hurt people), phone addiction.
Pressure - We live a go-go-go lifestyle. No mercy and no grace. Everyone is striving to be perfect.
Be the supporter and helper for your child and not the fixer for all their problems.
How to be a transformative principal? Understand your own philosophies on the kids you interact with. What are the core values you want kids to have when they leave your school? This is not just mental illness anymore.

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Helping Kids Have A Web Of Support with Amy McDonald Resilient Schools 29

Jethro Jones — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 14:00:00 -0700

Amy McDonald helps kids have a strong web of support

Working with kids vs doing work for kids.
Developmental ecology of a youth
Strengths-based
Lots of training for teachers and youth.
Prince Wales Island in Alaska
Eat sleep and work in gyms.
70 kids and 20 adults. 3 day lock in events
Brightways Learning runs Phlight Club.
Descriptions of the ROYGBIV story from the link above.
Red – The Rule of Five: The foundation for a personal village for each youth by five caring adults (or more,) having high expectations and providing opportunities, teaching skills, and celebrating relative best in appropriate ways.
Orange – Tangible Strings: Measurable supports are provided through the anchors that shape the home, school, and community environment of each youth.
Yellow – Intangible Strings: Important, yet difficult to measure, beliefs, values, and behaviors that are being taught to and caught by the youth.
Green – Resiliency/Growing the Balloon: These DNA based characteristics and talents increase the likelihood that the youth will remain connected to any web that they are given. How are you smart rather than how smart are you? Grit optimism, how am I smart, gender, wonder gene.
Blue – Scissor Cuts/Problem Reduction: Decreasing or eliminating the conditions, actions, and attitudes that erode the supports being created by the adult anchors.
Indigo – Caring for the Carers: Supporting those who anchor the web so they do not drop out of their lives even when circumstances in their own lives change.
Violet – Social Norms: The climate and culture of the social environment (home, school, and/or community) that have been accepted or agreed upon by a critical number of adults.

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Teaching Regulation To Students with Teri Barila Resilient Schools 28

Jethro Jones — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 06:00:00 -0700

During the interview with Teri Barila, the Children’s Resilience Initiative Director, several key points were discussed. Teri emphasized the importance of safety, connection, and learning in supporting trauma-impacted youth. She highlighted that regulation is crucial before any learning can take place, as the body’s response to stress shuts down other functions. Teri stressed the need for adults to understand the impact of toxic stress on brain development and to approach behavior from a different lens, focusing on what the individual has experienced rather than what is wrong with them.

Teaching regulation to students was also discussed, with Teri emphasizing the importance of teaching self-regulation skills from an early age and providing opportunities for students to calm down. She emphasized the need for adults to be present with the child, noticing, naming, validating, and managing their feelings. Teri also highlighted the significance of attachment to a caring adult as the number one strategy for resilience.

The interview touched on the role of schools in creating a caring and supportive environment for students. Teri emphasized that any perception of loss of safety can lead to students becoming disregulated, and that trauma is not just about adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), but also about the perception of loss of safety and connection. She stressed the importance of moral and emotional safety in addition to physical safety.

Teri also addressed concerns about the time and resources required to support trauma-impacted youth. She emphasized that creating a calm room is not punishment and that schools cannot do this alone. She encouraged a shift from a punishment mode to a regulatory mode in teaching and supporting students.

Overall, Teri Barila’s interview highlighted the importance of understanding the hardwired response system in the brain and the need for adults to support trauma-impacted youth through nurturing and regulation. She emphasized the role of attachment to a caring adult, the importance of creating a safe environment, and the reparative and restorative nature of nurturance.

Toxic Stress impacts our brain development and architecture
Brain developed to protect that individual.
When you feel threatened, you go to that brain stem.
How we look at behavior from a different lens.
It’s not what’s wrong with this person
What has this person experienced that I can manage to support him or her?
Regulatory skills are needed for kids.
Body already understands that you are being threatened.
Body shuts down all other functions to be supportive.
Use the same response systems as a child.
Understanding our brain architecture.
Language centers are disconnected when they are under stress.
Provide opportunities to calm down.
You ain’t getting to learning until that student is regulated.
We further escalate that response by sending the student out.
When we recognize that behavior is a call for help, we will move from punishment to regulation.
How to teach regulation to students.
Teach them how their brain works.
Don’t wait until they are in high school to teach self-regulation.
Recognize, validate, and manage their feelings.
Where are you as you’re walking into my classroom?
What’s going on in your world?
Mantras, other ways to regulate.
It’s all about being present with the child.
Noticing, naming, validating, and managing their feelings.
We forget to notice that kids are escalating.
Rather than punishing a child for having a feeling…
Do you have enough skills to manage the feelings
What to do when they are escalated.
When one is having trouble, we don’t alienate, we try to help.
Welcome slip - “We’re glad you’re here. Welcome to school.”
Safety. Connection. Learning.
This makes it too easy for kids. We coddle them.
How did you learn resilience?
Did you have an adult to help shape you into something better?
Resilience - #1 strategy attachment to a caring adult.
Bruce Perry - National Leader on trauma.
Witnessed in their humanity
How do we create that caring, supportive environment that supports that student when we are in the school environment?
We can’t get hung up on the behavior.
The problem is when we alienate because of the behavior.
Understanding that any perception of loss of safety is the potential for students to become disregulated.
Trauma is the perception of loss of safety and connection, not just the ACES.
Safety - not just physical safety. Moral safety and emotional safety - see more from Sandra Bloom
How to deal with the response, “This takes too much time.”
A calm room is not punishment.
Schools can’t do this alone.
“My Piece Matters”
Won’t kids take advantage of that? Teachers notice that.
Every child wants to do well.
Do we teach them through a punishment mode or a regulatory mode?
Building adult skills to support trauma-impacted youth.
Emotional Hygiene
How to be a transformative principal? Dig into the understanding of the hardwired response system in the brain. Kids aren’t out to get you, they just don’t know how to manage themselves.
Self-Reg Stewart Shanker
By Daniel Goleman Emotional Intelligence
Starts with the understanding that each of us can help create a safe environment.
Nurturance is reparative and restorative.

About Teri Barila

Theresa Barila is the founder of the Community Resilience Initiative (CRI) based in Walla Walla, WA. CRI’s mission supports three pillars: training, community engagement, and Resilience product development.

Teri earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology (American University) and a Masters of Science in Fisheries Management (University of Maryland) and spent 20 years as a Research Biologist with the Federal Salmon and Steelhead Recovery program in the Pacific Northwest. Her experience in that field helped her bridge science and practice when she changed careers and moved into community engagement work 22 years ago.

Recognized internationally for her work with CRI, Teri frequently travels, training communities to develop their own blueprint so that “Resilience Trumps ACEs.” Teri is involved extensively in training, consulting, writing, and researching in trauma, Resilience, and community capacity building. Her work has attracted attention in various venues, in part due to the focus Teri places on grassroots organizational development and the focus on hope of Resilience.

Teri is a mom to two children, a son, and a daughter, and was pleased to add the title grandmother in 2018. Experiencing a special needs child’s world has significantly shaped Teri’s thinking on systems, education, Resilience, and advocacy for children. Teri enjoys anything to do with the out-of-doors and sunshine and blue sky in her spare time.

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Resilience Factors with Barbara Sorrells Resilient Schools 27

Jethro Jones — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 06:00:00 -0700

In this episode of the Resilient Schools podcast, host Jethro Jones interviews Dr. Barbara Sorrels , the Executive Director of The Institute for Childhood Education. Dr. Sorrels shares her insights on managing behavior and healing children from the inside out.

Dr. Sorrels’ journey began when she started rocking abandoned babies in high school. Her first year of teaching was in the inner city, where she discovered the importance of spirituality and faith in children. She emphasizes that the faith community can be a resilience factor and enable connection.

Dr. Sorrels believes that children have an innate understanding of God and that their behavior is often a reflection of their experiences. Instead of asking what is wrong with a child, she encourages educators to ask what has happened to them. Trauma can impact children at a cellular level, and it is important to approach it with compassion and understanding.

Understanding the impact of trauma is crucial. Dr. Sorrels explains that trauma can affect the organization of the brain, particularly during the prenatal stage and the first two months of life. She discusses the role of neurotransmitters and how ADHD medication manipulates them. Trauma can also interrupt the connection between the two hemispheres of the brain, affecting memory, language, and the use of symbols.

Dr. Sorrels emphasizes the importance of creating moral classrooms and communities for children with trauma. These children often act at half their chronological age and require developmentally appropriate practices. Active learning engagement and the use of strategies like do-overs and giving choices can help heal children from the inside out.

Practical strategies for managing behavior include creating a cozy corner where children can calm down and offering a wet washcloth as a tangible symbol of empathy. Dr. Sorrels reminds educators to see struggling children not as problems, but as individuals who have experienced something difficult. By understanding their stories and offering support, educators can truly make a transformative impact.

Overall, this episode provides valuable insights into managing behavior and healing children from the inside out. Dr. Sorrels’ expertise and compassionate approach offer practical strategies for educators to create a supportive and healing environment for all children.

Barbara started rocking abandoned babies when she was in high school in Washington, D.C.
First year teaching was in the inner city.
The role of spirituality and faith in children.
Faith community is a resilience factor.
Faith enables us to have connections.
Children have an innate understanding of God.
When you have that child standing in front of you that can sometimes get on your last nerve, ask not what is wrong with you, but what has happened to you.
Impacts us at the cellular level.
I look at you with compassion for your story.
The kids’ history has told them that the world is not a safe place.
“Children act out“ in behavior when they do not have the words to say.
How much do we need to know about students’ trauma?
The trauma determines the impact.
The behavior speaks for itself.
Need to look at trauma with a broader lens.
What happens inside a child’s body when they experience trauma?
FAE and Pre-natal drug exposure impacts the organization of the brain.
The most vulnerable time is in-utero and the first two months of life as it relates to brain development.
Dr. Perry and neurotransmitters.
ADHD medication manipulates one of the three neurotransmitters.
Dendrites on neurons related to quality and health of early life.
Trauma can interrupt two hemispheres of the brain.
Memory, language, using symbols can be compromised by trauma.
Moral classrooms, moral children.
Children with trauma will only thrive in a community.
Developmentally appropriate practice with kids exposed to trauma - Narrow window of strategies.
Children with significant trauma act at half their chronological age.
Active learning engagement for kids exposed to trauma.
The primary strategy is a do-over or reboot. “Let’s try that again!” - may need to model that first.
The goal is not to manage behavior but to heal them from the inside out.
Ignore the no and give two choices!
Cozy corner: “You let me know when you’re ready to go back to class.“
Simply changing the location is sometimes enough.
Pattern, repetitive movement is calming to the brain.
A wet washcloth is a tangible symbol of empathy.
How to be a transformative principal? When you see those children who are struggling, remind yourself it’s not about what’s wrong with you, but about what’s happened to you. I know who you are.

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Behavior as a Lagging Skill with Matthew Portell Resilient Schools 26

Jethro Jones — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 07:00:00 -0700

Matthew is a principal in Nashville, He was recently selected by FranklinCovey Education as a Leader in Me Community Champion in recognition of his outstanding work Trauma Informed Educators Network Facebook group

“I’m an activator,” he says. “In education, everyone is waiting for someone else to do something different, but if something is inequitable, I’m not going to wait―I’m going to disrupt.”

Impact of social justice and trauma informed practices
Trauma as a whole, but not as an event.
Intergenerational transmission of trauma.
Impact of racial trauma over time and day to day.
ACES and Trauma.
Understanding implicit bias
If we’re not cognizant of it, it can wreak havoc on our impact as an educator.
How do we navigate our roles as educator’s knowing that we possess bias?
Why do we have clip charts in elementary schools?
Unapologetic disruptor
Our schools are designed to reflect the majority of our culture
Behavior is a lagging skill instead of a personal choice.
Change the school to meet the needs of our kids.
When we put norms on kids.
Look at kids as though they are doing the best they can!
Many people have experienced trauma.
Focused on the strengths of what kids come with.
We’ve learned that clip charts in the classroom
When public shaming becomes a norm in the school it can have major damage.
Every kid is a genius.
You’re being sent home because…
How to have the conversation with adults.
Teachers just like kids are doing the best they could.
De-escalating kids.
An escalated adult cannot deescalate an escalated child.
Tap in and tap out strategy.
Happy teacher revolution.
You’re done.
I can’t handle that weight. It’s too much.
How to be a transformative principal? Activator - don’t wait for someone else to do it or try it. If it doesn’t work, it’s ok.

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

How To Combine SEL And Virtual Learning with Tamara Fyke Resilient Schools 25

Jethro Jones — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 06:00:00 -0700

Tamara Fyke is the founder of Love in a Big World, which provides SEL support for families all over the world.

SEL is related to their emotional, mental, and physical health.
Kids may have experienced more trauma at home during closures than they ever have.
Maslow before Bloom's.
The need that kids have is to connect.
The pace of learning is different at home.
We have to acknowledge what is most important.
The system we’ve been using isn’t actually working.
The learning council it’s time to let go of control
Being a compass instead of a sage
Self-awareness is knowing our strengths and weaknesses.
What’s it like to have a deliverable that’s due at a certain time?
How to be a transformative principal? Take a cue from youth culture - Tiktok, Instagram, YouTube, twitch, etc. What do we need to change to show that kids aren’t really lazy?

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Strategies To Deal With The Coronavirus Trauma with Karen Gross Resilient Schools 24

Jethro Jones — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0700

Karen Gross is an author and educator, as well as an advisor and consultant to nonprofit schools, organizations, and governments; instructor of continuing education at Rutgers Graduate School of Social Work; visiting professor at Bennington College; former president of Southern Vermont College; former senior policy advisor to the United States Department of Education; and author of the sidequel, Breakaway Learners: Strategies for Post-Secondary Success with At-Risk Students and the trauma-sensitive children’s book series, Lady Lucy’s Quest. Visit Karen’s website at www.karengrosseducation.com.

Name it - start by recognizing that it exists. What is traumatic for one may not be traumatic for another.
Tame it - Strategies to deal with those. Invisible and it never goes away.
Fight, flight, freeze, faint, fawn.
activities that activate the senses allow the brain to reset.
Example of strategies - stand on one leg.
All of the senses have activities that are tied to them.
Frame it
Gotta do something to activate the brain.
Triphasic - dysregulated, isolated, over-regulated.
long-term strategies.
Instead of blaming, seek to find what caused the behavior?
Processing in place.
Kimochis - https://www.kimochis.com
Fidget boxes
Play table.
how to be a transformative principal? Assuming schools haven’t reopened - reach out to everyone and provide support.

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Addressing Mental Health and Learning Globally with Evin Schwartz Resilient Schools 23

Jethro Jones — Wed, 19 Jul 2023 20:30:31 -0700

Evin is the CEO and Founder of Belouga, a social learning platform making education impactful, accessible and equitable for the youth of the world through interactive digital content, aimed at providing a global perspective while aligning to everyday school subject areas and student interests. He has 17+ years of overseeing businesses focused on education, social impact and innovation within the Gen-Y and Gen-Z demographic. Evin has created and implemented educational programs and cross-cultural initiatives in all 50 states in the US at the K–12 and university levels, along with consultancy work on six continents. In 2019, he was recognized as one of the Meaningful Business 100, an award honoring global leaders who are introducing new ways of thinking and acting to address the world’s biggest challenges: climate change, pollution, hunger, poverty, education, and health.

In this episode, we discuss #Samehere Schools Month and other things about taking care of ourselves.

Samehere Schools
What comes next?
SEL has been a nice term, but mental health has been around forever.
How we keep mental health from being a flavor of the week
Looking at standards, nobody knows how to assess this.
It’s not the teacher’s or principal’s assignment, it’s society’s.
None of that stuff matters without mental health.
The power of connection
The programming side of this - how do we personalize this in communities
Everybody’s experiencing completely different
Schools are over-resourced right now.
How are they aware of these programs? Making programs more accessible to others.
Belouga is a global organization that believes that people should learn about the world with the world!
Creating learning communities
Mentorship and connections - how to get that out to the masses.
Global networks and able to travel the world.
Our kids are consuming at a rapid pace.
social learning - how do you make it global and how do you make it
It’s ok to disagree!
Innovation within education (i.e. what does the future hold for the industry)
The importance of mental health and wellness within the industry
Creating a thriving learning ecosystem through passion/interest-driven learning
We’re not doing any justice by thinking that learning happens within the four walls of a classroom.
Bring fun and excitement back to learning.
Equality, Impact, Access
belouga.org - Learn about the world with the world, aligned to standards - 100% free to register.

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Addressing Mental Health and Learning Globally with Evin Schwartz Resilient Schools 22

Evin Schwartz — Thu, 06 Jul 2023 02:00:00 -0700

In this episode we discuss the #Samehere Schools Month and other things about taking care of ourselves.

Samehere Schools
What comes next?
SEL has been a nice term, but mental health has been around forever.
How we keep mental health from being a flavor of the week
Looking at standards, nobody knows how to assess this.
It’s not teacher’s or principal’s assignment, it’s society’s.
None of that stuff matters without mental health.
The power of connection
Programming side of this - how do we personalize this in communities
Everybody’s experiencing completely different
Schools are over-resourced right now.
How are they aware of these programs? Making programs more accessible to others.
Belouga is a global organization that believes that people should learn about the world with the world!
Creating learning communities
Mentorship and connections - how to get that out to the masses.
Global networks and able to travel the world.
Our kids are consuming at a rapid pace.
social learning - how do you make it global and how do you make it
It’s ok to disagree!
Innovation within education (i.e. what does the future hold for the industry)
The importance of mental health and wellness within the industry
Creating a thriving learning ecosystem through passion/interest driven learning
We’re not doing any justice by thinking that learning happens within the four walls of a classroom.
Bring fun and excitement back to learning.
Equality, Impact, Access
belouga.org - Learn about the world with the world, aligned to standards - 100% free to register.

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Building NeuroResilience with Katie Perez Resilient Schools 22

Jethro Jones — Thu, 06 Jul 2023 01:00:00 -0700

Today we talk with Katie Perez and how to help people be regulated through connection, stress vs. toxic stress vs. trauma.
- We don’t have the language to talk to kids about what is going in their brains when they are dysregulated.
- It’s normal to act this way when you are stressed, and this is how you build resilience
- Name to tame - name an emotion to tame an emotion.
- Kids don’t always have the words to express what they’re experiencing.
- Mad, sad, glad, or afraid as the keywords.
- Coregulation is the idea that self-regulation is baloney. You calm down through connection.
- Connecting with other regulated people.
- Can’t have two amygdalas talking to each other.
- The nervous system can regulate itself if it has strategies.
- When we’re in connection with another regulated person, we try to regulate with theirs.
- Repeated Rhythmic Activity as helps to regulate someone.
- Start having conversations to get us back into
- Emotions are signs: they’re just signs that something is off.
- What our emotions mean.
- Mad really means my sad and afraid got in control.
- We can only choose our responses when we are afraid
- We all go through challenges. We compare our curses, and we live in the curse rather than the blessing
- What is the difference between stress and trauma.
- Everyone experiences things differently.
- How do we reframe those things that we say to kids about their lives
- Transforming discipline
- Rebecca Lewis-Pankratz's episode on Discipline vs. Punishment
- It’s not about you.
- Social discipline window
- Building NeuroResilience Training
- Students even take this through an independent study course.
- Stopitsolutions app help me
- Reach out to her at essdack.org and on Facebook
-

About Katie Perez
Katie Perez does a lot at ESSDACK, Project-Based Learning, Trauma/Resilience, School Redesign, Four Disciplines of Execution, Elementary Generalist, Keynoter, Facilitator, Coach, and Mentor. A large part of Katie’s work at ESSDACK focuses on supporting educators as they become trauma-informed. Katie has been researching and speaking about the science of hope since 2007. She says, “Hope guides me in all endeavors. In both my professional and personal life, I see opportunities to share and spread hope with others so that they too may develop pathways to see great possibilities in their lives. I believe in the power of engaged educators to build significant relationships with young people to encourage, inspire, and build great lives.” This work has led to a partnership with Jim Sporleder to build a curriculum guide to support school faculties in their journey to becoming trauma-informed.

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Awesome People in Progress with Emily Torres Resilient Schools 21

Jethro Jones — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 02:00:00 -0700

In this podcast episode, Emily Torres, an educator with Spokane Public Schools for 21 years, discusses her experience piloting a program for trauma-impacted teens. The program uses a counselor-in-the-classroom approach with a curriculum designed around self-awareness. Torres worked alongside psychologists to develop and implement the curriculum, which includes daily practices and a weekly therapist visit. The program also incorporates the Circle of Security approach to help students deal with challenging situations. Torres emphasizes the importance of having a willing teacher and a partnership to implement such a program successfully. Torres’ goal is to help students develop skills that they can use with their own families later in life. Torres believes that her students have incredible wisdom. Overall, Torres’s program aims to help students become more resilient and better equipped to deal with the challenges they face.

Noticed a shift in student disposition
AVID was the start, but it grew from there.
Nothing worse as a teacher than feeling ill-equipped for your students.
Starting a Project-based learning program that had a counselor in the classroom.
Soapbox project
Jevon McCormick episode
The counselor comes in one time a week.
Daily practices - therapist comes once a week
Circle of Security gave us ways to talk about things that were challenging.
Helped students feel like they had a place every week to deal with what was going on in their lives.
Savior Complex
Kids get recommended to come into this class.
The interview process for students.
The goal is to see it at every high school.
Use it to talk about characters in literature
The Power of different roles in Resilient Schools
It makes sense for students to make sense of their understanding
Are we thinking beings who feel or feeling beings who think?
We are so much more complex than that.
Awesome People in Progress
Teaching brain states in regular classes.
Nobody is harder on us than we are on ourselves.
The role of the judge saboteur.
The goal is to do no harm
The goal is to have the students start using these things with their own kids and families later in life.
My students have incredible wisdom.
We need a willing teacher and a partnership.
See this community

About Emily Torres
Emily Torres has been an educator with Spokane Public Schools for 21 years. In 2016, she helped pilot a program for trauma-impacted teens. This unique counselor-in-the-classroom approach uses a curriculum designed around self-awareness. She has worked alongside psychologists (Kent Hoffman (Every Person has Infinite Worth | Kent Hoffman | TEDxSpokane - YouTube, Dr. Russel Kolts (Dr. Russell Kolts and Compassion-Based Therapy - Eastern Washington University (ewu.edu), and Sean Barrett) to develop and implement this specially designed curriculum. Emily is a trauma-informed trainer through the Community Resilience Initiative (www.CRIResilient.org) where she has also been a presenter introducing others to Holistic Curriculums at their annual Beyond Paper Tigers Trauma-Informed Care Conference. And, she was the 2022 Lilac City Teacher of the Year. Connect with her on Instagram.

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Taking Care of the Adults with Dr. Gastrid Harrigan Resilient Schools 20

Jethro Jones — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0700

Dr. Gastrid Harrigan has been an educator for over 19 years as a mathematics teacher, Assistant Principal, and currently as Secondary Principal. In addition, Dr. Harrigan is a Professor of Education at Broward College and Colorado State University Global. He specializes in supporting teachers and school leaders to build trusting relationships with students and improving the culture and climate of schools to optimize staff and students experience. He has extensive experience leading and instructing educators at all levels and has been recognized for his expertise, innovative leadership, student engagement, and academic achievement strategies. He frequently speaks at national conferences on leadership, curriculum, school culture and climate, social-emotional learning, and trauma-informed practices.

He is also the host of The School Leader’s Podcast. The podcast provides bite-size tips, ideas, and PD for emerging and current school leaders.

In 2021, he was named Principal of the Year by Learning for Success, Inc. and nominated for the Principal of the Year in 2023 in Broward County Public Schools, FL.

Adult side of trauma
What are the challenges that teachers and staff face now?
If we don’t feed the teachers, they’re going to eat the kids.
Take a moment - OOSA
Morning meetings and staff meetings start with a mindfulness moment.
It’s ok for the principal to lead these mindful moments.
Been in the journey for 6 years.
Started looking at ACES (adverse childhood experiences study) and saw that many of our adults had high ACE scores.
Bringing in community partners
Striving to meet their needs, regardless of what they are struggling with.
The staff felt the kids have issues, it’s not me.
The child triggered the adults’ traumatic experiences.
Trained everyone to be trauma-informed.
Self-aware of our own triggers to know how we are going to respond.
Hurt people hurt people.
Whatever helps the person center is worthwhile.
Teams have their own mindfulness moment
Not prescribing how it’s done, but that it’s done.
Additional benefits to making people be mindful.
Receiving grants - teams are getting together and finding ways to make more of this possible.
Zen spot - one for adults and one for kids.
We need to make it safe for people to center themselves.
How to connect @drgharrigan. www.drgharrigan.com

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Managing the Aftermath of a Traumatic Event at Your School with Rachel Archambault Resilient Schools 19

Jethro Jones — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 06:30:00 -0700

Rachel Archambault, MA CCC-SLP is an SLP Program Specialist for Broward County Public Schools. After a traumatic event happened at her workplace on 2/14/18, she looked for ways to help work with students (and herself) after trauma. She found trauma-informed care and has been presenting nationally to SLPs and other providers on how TIC can be used in their setting. She runs the PTSDSLP.com web site and Instagram account, @PTSD.SLP which discusses TIC from a speech lens.

Pillars of trauma-informed care
3–12 pillars of Trauma, but here are the six.
1. Safety
2. Trustworthiness & Transparency
3. Peer Support
4. Collaboration & Mutuality
5. Empowerment Voice & Choice
6. Cultural, Historical, & Gender Issues
Aftermath of Marjory Stoneman Douglas
Transparency - There’s no rulebook for this. We have a rulebook and it is what other people have experienced.
Camera crews were around 24/7.
3600 students at the school.
Anything was under a microscope.
Kept things quiet, but it made them
Celebrity visiting, but made it scary
Some people were offered transparency
Control in a situation
Three E’s Definition of Trauma [[What Happened to You]]: three E’s” definition of trauma: “that a trauma has three key aspects—the event, the experience, and the effects. The complexities of these three interrelated components are what should be considered in clinical work and studied in research”
Loaded school with school resource officers.
What would make a big group of people able to cope better.
Connection - Forming a connection with someone who has experienced trauma is a way to help them overcome it.
Fishing in the Olds and Russian Rivers
How do we form connections with students?
Therapeutic speaking - active listening
Let them determine the connection and relationship
It’s not personl

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Discipline Vs Punishment with Rebecca Lewis-Pankratz Resilient Schools 18

Jethro Jones — Wed, 31 May 2023 23:30:00 -0700

Rebecca experienced a lifetime of trauma and poverty and through access to buffering relationships she healed from both and continues to light the path for others.

Discipline vs. Punishment
Discipline - safety, belonging, dignity
Punishment - Threat, isolation and shame
Where we come from - paradigm around the way people do life
Behaviorism - if you did something you chose to do it.
Good choices and bad choices
“We have to motivate you through rewards”
They punish because they want to see kids succeed.
It comes from love and fear.
Respect people and where they are at.
Emotional brain causes thinking brain to go off line
Is the kid regulated and ready to have the conversation.
Cognitive dissonance is the space in between the new and the old paradigm.
2–3 years for a school that is bought in to start humming with new approaches.
Punishment is fast and it works on some kids.
Trauma-informed ISS room.
Magic combo of strength and warmth and expectation
Everybody learning at different rates
Resilience as something that is built internally.
Lots of institutions have been closed over the psat many years
Lack of resilience in our neighborhoods.
Finding support for kids
Resilience = relationships
How to get kids more access to positive, healthy adults.
Isolated because of poverty.
Building resilience by building community
Events that go on in human beings’ lives
Character is assigning status to someone.
Unique to you -
What makes the world lucky to have you in it?
Warm and fuzzy vs. Stoic and reserved
essdack.org resilience work that we do.
Conference every November - Bridging to Resilience November 8–10

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Just-In-Time Coaching for Students with Maria Barrera Resilient Schools 17

Maria Barrera — Thu, 25 May 2023 02:00:00 -0700

Maria Barrera is the founder of Clayful, a company on a mission to help address the mental health crisis. Through life chaging and life saving coaching, kids build the skills and resilience to tackle anything that comes their way.

Throughout her career in education, technology, and human resources, she has always been focused on solving big problems in complex systems. Now, she is tackling the biggest problem of all - the mental health crisis.

Maria’s dedication to helping others is rooted in her own experiences. She ran her first coaching session when she was just 15, and has always found joy in coaching others through everyday life stressors and challenges. Her passion for education led her to start a tutoring company while getting her engineering degrees at Stanford University, and to working with thousands of districts as a member of the founding team at Nearpod.

With Clayful, Maria is bringing together education, technology, and healthcare in a way that is helping kids improve their mental wellness, regardless of socio-economic status.

Why do this through schools and not through parents?
Life saving and life changing preventative coaching
Therapy vs. coaching
Always focused on moving the student forward.
Don’t treat or diagnose mental health disorders.
The Orange Years
Helping kids build the skills, resilience, boundaries and strategies they need
Rising suicide rates in 8 year olds
helping kids get support early.
Mental health for kids: working with families
Mental health challenges were showing up in the classrooms in the form of attendance & behavior issues, teacher retention, poor performance and grades.
Who do you work with and how do we fit in with your system?
The biggest need is a kid coming in with an extreme thought and go through that mind work to change their perspectives.
Needs to happen in the moment.
Identify patterns and behaviors for kids and provide content for kids in their school specifically.
Responsive to student needs.
With the right tools, we can
Anything else you want to share with our audience?
clayful.co/resilientschools

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Connection in an Easy Way with Christel Reaves Resilient Schools 16

Christel Reaves — Thu, 18 May 2023 02:00:00 -0700

Christel Reaves is a wife, mother of two children, and the founder and CEO of Connected Class where she has built an online community with numerous resources for educators and students. In addition, Christel developed a platform to help educators communicate with families and provided them with over 150 Learning Link animated videos in literacy and math skills to support differentiated instruction and family engagement through exciting games, strategies, and activities.

Over the past 25 years, Mrs. Reaves has been a classroom teacher, district administrator, and consultant. She has taught Pre-K to 12th grade and developed educators in over 100 schools throughout the State of Florida with customized professional development. Christel has presented to thousands of public and nonpublic school educators from the national to local level.

Christel’s dedication to education has led to her being designated as the 2020 STEM Small Business Innovator of the Year by the Space Coast Chapter of Women in Defense. Christel has been named Teacher of the Year by her peers and nominated for the Dwyer Award for Teaching Excellence in Palm Beach County, Florida. Mrs. Reaves was also featured on Taking the Lead, a WPBF Channel 25 News segment about being an innovative teacher and inspiring students to achieve.

Christel obtained her master’s degree in Educational Leadership K–12 from Florida Atlantic University. Christel Reaves also holds a bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York (S.U.N.Y) College at Cortland in Elementary Education and Early Secondary Biology Education.

Parents don’t always know what is going on in the classroom?
How can we unite the tie between parents and students?
Game, strategy, or activity that teachers to do it in the classroom.
Parents get it and then can access it without an email or password.
Videos are easy to follow because they are animated.
Teacher/parent relationship support.
Even if the parent feels intimated by math, watching the video helps them feel confident.
Connected class - customized PD
instructional leadership institute
Week in math, ELA, then determine goals they want to focus on.
Connections to enable growth and learning.
Henderson and MAP school family connection on student achievement
Can’t get to academics because we are so busy dealing with behaviors.
The ultimate cure for trauma is connection
Many games and activities are about connecting directly with people 1:1.
attention span is really short.
How to overcome our perception of family engagement
Monthly fact fluency challenge
“Stop whining and just read with me.”
Playing games with parents instead of giving homework.
Rock Paper scissors, add subtract or multiply.
Video embedded email - build meaningful 2-way communication.
Reading in a flash
Silly snapchat - changing filters while reading.
Laugh and have fun reading with your kids.
Learn more at ConnectedClass.com

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

The Authority: Baruti Kafele on The Equity & Social Justice Education 50 Resilient Schools 15

Jethro Jones, Baruti Kafele — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 06:30:00 -0700

In this episode, we’re bringing you a conversation from The Authority Podcast, part of the Be Podcast Network.

Today’s guest, Principal Baruti Kafele is author of seven best-selling books, including the topic of today’s episode: The Equity & Social Justice Education 50.

He and Ross discuss:

● Equity vs. Equality — the strategy vs. the goal and why it matters

● Does my presence positively alter the trajectory of my students?

● The personal nature of this work and this book. How Principal Kafele learned to share his story to the benefit of his students.

● Becoming credible to your students

● “I want my readers to be comfortable with being uncomfortable and uncomfortable with being comfortable.”

● The Big 3: Individuality, Identity, and Voice. Why these are non-negotiables in every classroom.

● The leader’s role in making equity work resilient

The Authority is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with leading authors from the education world and beyond. Host Ross Romano, a leadership coach, storytelling strategist and edtech advisor, draws out their invaluable insights on leadership, culture-building, transformation, and student & educator success.

Subscribe:

● Apple: https://apple.co/3ePnTea

● Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3JxkyeX

● RSS: https://feeds.libsyn.com/425789/rss

Connect on social media:

Principal Baruti Kafele is one of the most sought-after school leadership and classroom equity presenters in America. He has delivered over 2500 conference and program keynotes, professional development workshops, parenting seminars and student assemblies over his 35 years of public speaking. Connect with him:

● https://principalkafele.com/

● https://twitter.com/principalkafele

● https://www.facebook.com/principalkafele/

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect with him:

● https://twitter.com/RossBRomano

● https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossromano/

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

The Dangerous Inadequacy of Joy with Matthew Taylor Resilient Schools 14

Jethro Jones, Matthew Taylor — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 18:07:16 -0800

Setting our sights on cultivating joy as the key to solving work culture malaise is inadequate and even dangerous. A singular focus on joy tempts us to view our culture woes as a technical rather than an adaptive challenge because technical challenges are much easier to solve. We take plug-and-play “joy factor” activities off the shelf and avoid anything that doesn’t feel good. This creates dissonance for people when they are experiencing challenges. Even more dangerously, the focus on creating joy—even thoughtful joy—obscures or distracts from what our work culture truly needs to create the conditions for people to thrive. Those conditions are built on connection, care and challenge. Pushing joy in the wrong moments leads to people becoming frustrated and focused on resenting you rather than collectively moving toward a collective awareness and intention that can truly shift your work culture.

Joy is important. But it is overused when used as a strategy.
The overuse of joy as a strategy to build culture
Positivity by Frederickson
Conditions for joy - surroundings are safe and familiar.
People who are going after joy can create dissonance.
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
Social awareness
What schools and educators need right now? They need to feel like they are not alone.
What types of issues are the wrong focus on joy?
Planned a lunch - we had some bumps, let’s move on.
People were hurting, and needed to be affirmed.
Trying to infuse positivity and camaraderie where people needed affirmation.
Not meeting people where they were.
People need three things to feel like they’re thriving
- Connection - having real conversations.
- Care
- Challenged
A space for emotional experience to be shared.
Vulnerability is important
Show up as their full selves
Care is about compassion and belief in someone.
Are they invested in my well-being?
Do leaders care about their teachers’ well-being as much they care about the students’?
Clear is kind.
Connection and care without challenge is enabling.
Challenge is still a necessary ingredient to improve culture
Finding and owning their locus of control.
Make it clear what is and is not in and out of control.
Challenge - identify places where we do have locus of control.
Hold each other accountable.
How do you know the right thing to challenge on?
What do people need right now?
They need to feel seen, supported and they need hope.
How to take control? Listening.
We need to do a better job of creating those spaces.

About Matt Taylor

Matt Taylor is the CEO and founder of The Noble Story Group- a leadership coaching and training group that ignites thriving for individuals and equity for groups by operationalizing EI. Matt has coached and trained hundreds of education and non-profit leaders over the last 15 years, from CEOs to school principals. Matt’s 5 Square methodology is used as an anchor leadership development tool in non-profit organizations, school leader development programs, and executive coaching programs across the country. Matt began his leadership career at Amistad Academy Middle School after ten years of teaching. During Matt’s tenure as principal, Amistad distinguished itself as the #1 middle school in Connecticut for African American student achievement. His book, The Noble School Leader, is a self-guided coaching journey for school leaders seeking to reduce suffering, spark hope, increase equity and inclusion, and help leaders and the people they lead thrive in their work and their lives.

About Jethro Jones Jethro Jones, 2017 Digital Principal of the Year, is a former principal and host of Transformative Principal, Cybertraps, and My Bonus Money podcasts. He is also the author of the books How to be a Transformative Principal and SchoolX: How principals can design a transformative school experience for students, teachers, parents – and themselves! Jethro currently consults schools and districts on redesign efforts that don’t seem like another program. Jethro has worked as a principal at all K–12 levels, including a prison school, a district coach, distance learning team lead, and English teacher.

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Improving the Student Environment with Lauren Jewett Resilient Schools 13

Jethro Jones, Lauren Jewett — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 06:30:00 -0800

Staff mindset, what can I control vs. what can we not control
Advocate for students and teachers
If we’re not well, how can we promote wellness for our students?
Every day is a fresh start.
How to tell between what is a special need and what is trauma.
Kids start to other themselves at a certain point when they see they aren’t getting what others are getting.
Self-beliefs around learning
Helping students say positive things about themselves.
Asking students what their strengths are and what they’re good at.
All kids need help, regardless of their IEP status.
Ross Greene’s work on lagging skills.
Difference between defining and diagnosing a kid.
Are there tools and strategies in the classroom that make it easy for the student to be successful?
Flexible seating, flexible work environments?

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

How To Help Kids Win In School And Life With Mitch Weathers Resilient Schools 12

Jethro Jones, Mitch Weathers — Sun, 22 Jan 2023 01:27:10 -0800

As students, we all know the importance of being successful in school. But what does it really take to achieve that success? While good grades and test scores are certainly important, there are other key skills that can make a big difference in a student’s ability to succeed. These skills, known as executive functioning skills, can be described as the things students need to be successful in school and in life.

Executive functioning skills include things like goal setting, working memory, time and task management, organizational skills, accountability, and self-regulation. These skills are crucial for helping students feel successful, even if they don’t always experience success in terms of grades or other traditional measures.

Over the past few years, there have been numerous disruptions to traditional schooling, from the COVID–19 pandemic to online learning and hybrid models. These disruptions can make it even harder for students to develop and hone their executive functioning skills. That’s where Mitch, the founder of Organized Binder, comes in. Mitch started Organized Binder to help students who were struggling with school to be more successful by teaching them the executive functioning skills they need to succeed.

As Mitch says, “School is a game, and when you know how to play the game, you can be successful.” He emphasizes the importance of being ready to play the game for the sake of your team, whether that team is a group of classmates or a group of coworkers. And the key to playing the game well is having strong executive functioning skills.

So, how can students learn and develop these skills? According to Mitch, there are three key factors to teaching executive functioning skills: modeling, explicit instruction, and consistent and predictable routines. In other words, students are best able to learn these skills when they are explicitly modeled for them, when they get to practice them, and when they have consistent and predictable routines that allow them to practice these skills on a regular basis.

For example, it’s not enough to just tell students to be on time or to be ready to learn. Instead, students need to see what it looks like to be on time and what it looks like to be ready to learn. As they get exposure to these habits and routines, they are better able to learn and internalize them.

Regardless of what type of profession kids end up having, their executive functioning skills will enable them to be successful throughout their life. And, as Stanford University research has shown, these skills can have a big impact on a student’s overall well-being and happiness. In fact, adults often say, “I wish I had these executive functioning skills when I was a kid!”

But the good news is that it’s never too late to learn and develop these skills. In fact, there are many experts, like David Allen and Michael Hyatt, who have made millions of dollars teaching time and task management skills to adults. And Mitch offers both in-person and virtual trainings to help students learn and develop these skills.

One key to success is having a daily routine that helps students see what is possible and gives them the structure they need to succeed. Mitch also recommends Lisa Delpit’s book “Other People’s Children” as a great resource for learning more about how to teach and develop these skills.

If you’re interested in learning more about executive functioning skills and how they can help your student succeed, be sure to sign up for Mitch’s free Executive Functioning Webinar Series at organizedbinder.com. So, these are the things you need to know about executive functioning skills and how they can help students succeed in school and in life.

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Making a Reset Room with Dr. Wendy Watson Resilient Schools 11

Jethro Jones, Dr. Wendy Watson — Tue, 17 Jan 2023 17:16:37 -0800

Dr. Wendy Watson is the Principal of Garry Middle School in Spokane, WA. Garry is a Title I school, and they took a unique approach

In recent years, Dr. Wendy Watson and her team at the school have made a concerted effort to improve support for students’ academic and behavioral needs. This has involved increasing the number of behavior interventionists from one to four, and adding additional support systems to help students de-escalate and regulate their emotions.

One of the key challenges faced by Dr. Watson and her team was ensuring that these support systems worked well together. To address this, they brought a group of adults together to brainstorm and problem-solve. This team-oriented approach has been crucial in helping them create a highly trusting and supportive environment for their students.

The results of these efforts have been impressive. Since implementing these changes, they have seen a 59% drop in overall suspensions, and a marked improvement in students’ ability to regulate their emotions and behavior.

Of course, making these changes has not been without its challenges. Communication breakdowns are inevitable when implementing significant changes, and it can be difficult to stay focused and on track when dealing with the pressures of data and administration. However, Dr. Watson and her team have found that taking a restorative approach, and being forgiving of miscommunications, has been key to their success.

One key factor in their ability to make these changes has been hope. As the interviews with Melissa Sadin and Cathleen Beachboard on the Resilient Schools website highlight, hope is a powerful motivator and can be a key factor in making schools more resilient.

Overall, Dr. Watson’s experience has taught her that making positive changes in schools can be challenging, but the rewards are worth it. By working together, and focusing on the needs of their students, they have been able to create a supportive and resilient learning environment.

Resources wrapped up in academics
Needed a lot of behavior support as well.
Moved from 1 building interventionist to 4 behavior interventionist.
Adding additional support systems.
You start naturally problem-solving.
Here’s the problem, how do we get together, and how do we make it work?
We got a group of adults together to help kids de-escalate kids.
Need to work through what everyone’s needs are in then put everyone together.
Wonderful people who have the toughest jobs of dealing with emotional
People are naturally learning from one another learn how to work with kids and help them regulate.
Being part of a team, no sense of people being in their own separate offices.
Built-in support for when adults are overwhelmed.
Highly trusting place for students to come when they are dis-regulated.
22 staff members with admin got together to define what MTSS means for our school.
When Wendy arrived suspension numbers were higher than every high school.
59% drop in overall suspensions.
When there is pressure on the admin to get suspensions decreased, it can be very challenging.
You can’t solve problems when you’re dealing with data that isn’t real.
When interventionists want to get out, it’s a red flag.
The challenge of communication when you’re making change.
Change is challenging, but worth it.
General breakdown of communication can and probably will happen.
Be forgiving when miscommunication happens.
Restorative practices take time.
Clarification of roles of people within the community support room.
What the process looks like now: quick collection of data, interventionist comes to get the student, recommendations for support, goes to reset room, may eventually connect with admin.
Base curriculum - in-the-moment lessons on the subjects they specifically need right now.
1 thing to make schools more resilient: hope - it’s so important. Big Beautiful Future.
For more about hope, see these interviews with Melissa Sadin and Cathleen Beachboard about hope.

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Human-Focused Culture with LaVonna Roth Resilient Schools 10

Jethro Jones, LaVonna Roth — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 08:52:16 -0800

As an engaging and interactive keynote speaker, consultant, educator, and mom, LaVonna bridges her passion for how the brain learns with identifying how every individual S.H.I.N.E.s with their mindset and social-emotional well-being. She leads a small business where her and her team boost schools in embodying a Human-Focused Culture. A culture where we put those doing the work at the heart of the impact desired. How? By supporting schools in harnessing the S.H.I.N.E. framework, increasing psychological safety, & building a foundation based on the brain sciences. S.H.I.N.E. is the secret to a work environment where all want to be! LaVonna has 3 degrees, is the author of 8 books, and has worked with organizations in the U.S./Canada, Europe, South America, and the Middle East. She is the creator and founder of the Ignite Your S.H.I.N.E.® framework and also Prime to S.H.I.N.E. where she coaches educators in how to make an impact through educational consulting – part-time or full-time. S.H.I.N.E. will leave you inspired. Help you find your power through ah-ha moments. Ignite the fire within you to have the confidence in who YOU are and what you do, because YOU are the difference maker!

Creating a human-focused culture in schools is crucial for fostering a sense of inclusion and psychological safety among students and staff. This means putting people first and making sure that everyone feels valued and included.

According to LaVonna Roth, it’s important to start with small, low-risk activities, such as check-ins, to build trust and create a safe space for vulnerable conversations. Asking the right questions is also crucial; instead of asking “how do we solve this?”, try asking “how might we solve this?” to make it a group effort and encourage creativity.

In addition to creating a safe space for conversation, it’s important to evaluate and release stress in a proactive way. This means being open and honest about where we are at and whether we are living up to our ideals, and taking time to check in with each other before things get too overwhelming.

To help foster a human-focused culture, Roth created the SHINE Framework, which focuses on strengths and encourages individuals to be self-aware, have a heart for humanity, inspire others, navigate challenges, and be exceptional. By focusing on strengths and empathy, we can create a more resilient and inclusive learning environment for all.

Human Focused Culture - how to create a place where people want to be.
Putting people first makes a big impact.
How does the brain thrive best in achievement
It starts with everyone feeling valued
When people feel included, they can ask vulnerable questions.
Must go through different levels of psychological safety to get to the highest level.
It’s difficult to ask harder questions if you’re afraid to ask even simpler questions.
True empathetic listening ear.
Do you have a Heart for humanity
To help people feel really included, our actions and our verbiage need to be aligned.
We’re used to having a hierarchy in our society - If we’re going to have everyone be included, we have to watch those walls of hierarchy.
Knowing who makes the final call, but also recognizing that everyone can overrule the person in charge.
As a group, deciding how we want to move forward.
In a low-trust environment, start with a small-risk activity, like a check-in.
Are we asking the right questions? Not How do we solve this but how might we solve this?
Make it our idea, instead of my idea.
The way we ask a question matters, too: Tell me when you have a staff thrive at their best.
When things get stressful, prior to that break, ask for the voices about what is working and not working.
Be open about where you are at and whether you are living up to your ideals?
Evaluate and release stress when it is going to be challenging and you know it is.
Tell me about the SHINE Framework and why you created it. Self, Heart, Inspire, Navigate, Exceptional
Focused on strengths. Gallup says a strength will remain a strength and a weakness will never become a strength.
Even really challenging situations can be positive and create strengths in us.
the 1 thing to make our schools more resilient: Have empathy.

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

How to Increase Hope with Cathleen Beachboard Resilient Schools 9

Cathleen Beachboard, Jethro Jones — Sat, 24 Dec 2022 09:00:00 -0800

Cathleen Beachboard is an award-winning educator, best-selling author, and leading innovative expert on raising psychological hope in schools. Her Building H.O.P.E.© framework has improved resilience, well-being, and achievement in thousands of schools across the country. As a sought-after speaker on well-being and retention, she provides practical tools and strategies for parents, educators, and school leaders to increase hope so students and staff can thrive.

Hope is a positive cognitive process
Hope is a mix of your goals, pathways and agency.
Hope is determined in different ways.
Hope is measurable.
How do you increase your hope?
Your hope level is similar to your friends. Introduce someone who is at a different level.
Put a high hope kid next to a low-hope kid.
Hope scale at Thrively
If you’re high hope, spread it.
If you’re low in hope, start improving your hope.
Wherever you are lowest, start there.
Low in pathways - one way to solve a problem.
Backup plans show you that you can improve your plans.
Will power and self-control.
Even if you don’t have control, having back up plans help you feel more in control.
Hope Research
As hope increases, the impact of stress decreases.
Teachers can be overwhelmed, too.
Hope is the greatest way to impact secondary trauma.
Mindset
Looking at your culture and seeing what you already have in place and modify them to be more hopeful.
Strategies for principals: vulnerability.
Don’t let problems fester - give everyone a post it, write down the problem they’re having right now. Get out of silos. Problem speed-dating.
Plan hopeful practices into their day. Write gratitude emails to three people each day.
When we have a problem, we focus on the problem, vent about the problem for 1–2 minutes, then list all of your strengths, figure out how your strength can be used for your problem.
Get the book The School of Hope?
Connect with Cathleen on Twitter

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Managing Obsessive Compulsive Disorder with Stephen Smith Resilient Schools 8

Stephen Smith, Jethro Jones — Fri, 23 Dec 2022 05:40:24 -0800

Stephen Smith’s life was going great. He was an award-winning college quarterback with a vibrant social life and a bright future ahead of me. But then OCD came out of nowhere and derailed everything.

He started having repeated intrusive thoughts that made him doubt the most fundamental characteristics about himself. Depression hit, and he felt like he was stuck. He went from playing quarterback in college to being housebound in six months due to misdiagnosed and untreated OCD.

It took a lot of time and money to access effective OCD treatment, but once he had the right diagnosis and found ERP therapy, his mental health improved, he returned to school, and he finished my football career. He felt like he had a future once again.

Getting the treatment he needed to conquer OCD was a battle on its own. It made him wonder: Why isn’t effective care more accessible and affordable to those of us struggling with OCD?

Hi experience fueled the creation of NOCD. Talented, like-minded individuals joined me to make this vision a reality. With their passion and innovation, it took off in a big way. Now, NOCD is working to help 180 million people with OCD around the world regain their lives.

OCD is a misunderstood condition, yet it’s one of the few words in our society that everyone recognizes. It’s a condition where people have recurring thoughts and fears that violate their core values and beliefs.

If you have someone close to you that has OCD, you might want to ask them questions such as “what is causing you to do these things?” or “Do you have unwanted thoughts?” or “Do the thoughts feel real, even though you know they’re not?”

It’s important to note that a licensed therapist should do diagnostic assessments with kids. Generalized therapy can be harmful to kids. It’s estimated that 1 in 40 people have OCD in their lives.

If left untreated, people with OCD are more likely to die by suicide.

OCD is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, but it often takes 14–17 years to get evidence-based treatment. However, with the right treatment, people with OCD can learn to manage the condition in a three month window.

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is a very effective treatment for OCD. ERP is based on the idea that trying to stop the thoughts makes the compulsions

Watch the clip from 20/20 on Howie Mandel and his experience with OCD. Powerful.
OCD is one of the only words in society that everyone recognizes and everyone misunderstands.
Condition where people have recurring thoughts and fears that violate the people’s core values and beliefs.
Questions you can ask: what is causing you to do these things? Do you have unwanted thoughts? Do the thoughts feel real, even though you know they’re not?
Licensed therapist can do diagnostic assessments with kids.
Generalized therapy can be harmful to kids.
1 in 40 people have OCD in their lives.
More likely to die by suicide if left untreated.
OCD is caused by genetic and environmental factors.
It often takes 14–17 years to get evidence-based treatment.
Can manage the condition in a three month window.
Exposure & Response Prevention - Trying to stop the thoughts makes the compulsions worse - instead they need to accept uncertainty.
OCD is the doubting disorder
Talk therapy or thought stopping therapy.
OCD is a chronic condition, treatment needs to be flexible.
Train all therapists internally in addition to their licensure and monitor regularly.
Monitoring and support 24/7
With virtual therapy, therapist can go with them to their location.
Hoping that every single teacher can recognize and see OCD symptoms and help others.
Trauma and OCD and veterans in the military.
PTSD is intrusive thoughts about the past
Cormordities. Environmental.
Living on a daily basis can be an exposure in and of itself.
Learning how to respond to those specific situations
Accept uncertainty when fear pops into his head.
Exposures teach them how to respond to their fears.
When you stop exposures, you forget how to respond.
The VA article that breaks down PTSD and OCD
Lack of dissemination of information
Understand how to probe for it.
Couple thoughts -
- 1 subtype of OCD - real event - questioning the memory
Also build a model that can help us educate students and faculty - easily get connected - disease awareness 1 page summary
10% of families will be affected

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

It's All About The People With Erika Garcia-Niles Resilient Schools 7

Erika Garcia-Niles, Jethro Jones — Wed, 30 Nov 2022 07:53:29 -0800

Dr. Erika Garcia-Niles is a principal in MIssouri.

https://twitter.com/flyingmonkey13/status/1499808853063577600?s=21 we don’t remember our impact but they sure do.
behind the scenes at new district
better than I could have imagined.
Focus on people - It’s all about the people.
People by day, paperwork by night.
It’s about surrounding yourself with the right people.
Leave before you’re ready.
Don’t find the next thing, find the right thing.
Use coaching to help someone reflect on themselves.
Ask questions of them to get them to reflect
We can get hung up on the things we don’t believe, rather than what we do believe.
Every single child should have a person.
I feel like school was made for me!
Eric Makelky
Special Education
What teachers need from principals right now?
How to be a transformative principal? Check in with your teachers!

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Mental Health Awareness with Dr. Elaine Harper Resilient Schools 6

Dr. Elaine Harper, Jethro Jones — Thu, 24 Nov 2022 00:59:17 -0800

Elaine Harper is an experienced teacher, counselor and leader in the arenas of education and mental health. Dr. Harper is the former educational services director for Positive Education Program in Cleveland, OH.

Her practice, Elaine Harper Consulting LLC, serves by teaching, facilitating, coaching and mentoring individuals, teams, schools and organizations who work with children and adolescents presenting emotional and behavioral challenges.

Dr. Harper founded Trauma Sensitive Teaching Network which connects teachers, counselors, leaders and others dedicated to serving children and adolescents through compassionate interactions and decision making.

Dr. Harper earned her doctorate degree in urban education with specialization in learning and development from Cleveland State University. Her doctoral research centered on social emotional learning and bibliotherapy.

Secondary expertise on mental awareness into schools.
Change is loss.
No mental health awareness in graduate courses.
Chief of a department - technician vs. leadership.
How to learn the skills needed
3 areas to pay attention to:
1. students
2. staff
3. systems
Trauma informed teaching practices.
Trauma-informed care: definition SAMSA -
1. Realize
2. Recognition
3. Respond
4. Resist retraumatization
Culture of the system
discipline, school well-being, programs
Find someone where they are at and build up from there.
Easily maintained over time.
Programs matter, but it is the approach we take that really matters.
Program, Process, People
ElaineHarper.com
How to be a transformative principal? Focus in on relationships.

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

How to Choose a Mentor with Dr. Deborah Heiser Resilient Schools 5

Jethro Jones, Dr. Deborah Heiser — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 21:30:00 -0700

Founder of The Mentor Project www.mentorproject.org bringing STEM mentors to schools and the community. Deborah Heiser, PhD holds a degree in Applied Developmental Psychology with a specialty in redefining what being older looks and feels like. She is a Tedx Speaker, 92nd Street Y Speaker, 100 Coaches, Adjunct Professor, recognized by Thinkers50, award winning researcher, consultant and coach.

The Mentor Project - More than 100 top-level experts into classrooms
STEM/art, business, law, finance, etc.
Mentoring students for free - K-University
Goal is to level the playing field.
Mentor is there to guide, inspire, and support, and help you out there along the way.
Teacher is teaching you something specific.
Mentor enhances what a person already has.
You don’t know what you don’t know.
Vertical and lateral mentors
Mentor focused organization - we provide supports for each mentor.
We have as many models as we have mentors.
Javier - Hackathons
Working with students to patent inventiones
[[Aton Gotian]]
Building 8-bit computers
Mentors give talks in schools
Mini-masterminds
Ask a mentor
You can be vulnerable with a mentor. Mentors are there to bring out the best in you
Mentors open the eyes of mentees so they can go on their own.
You don’t have to spend all your time with just one mentor
Mentorship can be one-off or in depth.
You can have many mentors all throughout your life.
Have as many mentors as you need.
Many people don’t seek a mentor because they don’t think the mentor would talk with them.
Someone looking for a mentor should see how they should be as a mentee. Am I just looking to take?
Come in seeing yourself as part of a relationship.
Look for someone you feel comfortable talking with.
Look at mentorship as a relationship
People who are curious, not looking for an answer.
What am I going to do with this knowledge. Feeling

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Making Sure Students Are Seen with Henry Turner Resilient Schools 4

Jethro Jones, Henry Turner — Wed, 24 Aug 2022 21:30:00 -0700

Dr. Henry J. Turner is an award-winning high school principal, author, and nationally renowned speaker. He is most proud of the collaborative community he works within to empower students to fight hate and bigotry in their school. Pointing to his unwavering commitment to equity and a student-centered culture, Henry was named 2020 K12 Principal of the Year by K–12 Dive.

Henry is the author of the newly released book, Change the Narrative: How to Foster an Antiracist Culture in Your School, published by DBC inc. As a national speaker, he shares his experience as an innovative instructional leader, passionate advocate, and committed antiracist educator with educators and organizational leaders. Henry works with educators, leaders, and communities on how to create a culture that commits to diversity, equity, and inclusion empowers students’ voices and addresses economic and racial disparities.

He has a biweekly newsletter, “Lessons on Social Justice Leadership” that can be found at HenryJTurner.com.

Race is a social fabric that has been created in our society.
If we believe in all students succeed, then we need to respond to students’ needs.
School was founded on separating students and what systems were excluded.
25% of students were on IEP, 50% of black students were on IEPs.
Racism - system of advantage based on race
Who are we blaming for these disparities? What is wrong with these students vs. what is wrong with these schools?
80% of educators want to do racial justice work in their schools.
Leaders are nervous about diving into this - how
Teaching students to stand up for someone else.
Start small
How do you make sure students are seen?
How do you pronounce your name?
Intent is good, impact is bad.
The way to make students feel included is to empower them.
How do you get started?
Creating agreements with students
Name activity - sharing the history of your name
This is the way to begin to talk aboutt he work.
Talking about race really begins with talking about us.
Focus on relationships.
Who are we blaming for the problem?

- What did I do over the course of the year to help you feel comfortable sharing that with me?

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Preventing Burnout through Care with Nadine Levitt Resilient Schools 3

Jethro Jones, Nadine Levitt — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 21:30:00 -0700

Nadine Levitt [Twitter] is a Swiss-born German, Kiwi, US transplant, and founder of the music technology company, Wurrly, LLC. She began her career as a lawyer but after 6 years of practice, she began to pursue a career in music as a professional opera singer and songwriter. She has performed extensively all over the United States and the world, sharing the stage with David Foster, Andrea Boccelli, Kiri Te Kanawa, Roger Daltry, Christina Perri, and Steven Tyler to name a few. Passionate about music in schools she sits on the national board of Little Kids Rock, and in 2016 led the development of the music education platform WURRLYedu, which empowers student voices and makes it easy to bring a fun and effective music education to schools. Nadine is also an author of children’s books, including the My Mama Says book series, which teaches kids to identify, acknowledge and direct their emotions.

PDReimagined.com
Mary Ellen Imodino-Yang TEDX Talk
Value
Care package.
Each month has a theme.
Work in groups to come up with strategies to come up in daily life.
Do things in 2–3 minutes or less.
How do you get up when you don’t know where the ground is?
The power of curiosity.
It’s not an end destination, it’s a journey.
Music to move you.
The power of music in SEL situations.
We shouldn’t teach music to be a musician.
Physiological - music is one of the only things that can really get into our brains.
Music can interrupt other emotional cycles.
People are more inclined to buy expensive items when the store is playing classical music.
How to rekindle their passion?
Time scarcity - brought on by an emotional response that you’re feeling overwhelm.
Interrupt overwhelm - do something different
Free to teachers, cost to districts.
The more you apply these skills the easier it is to avoid and manage overwhelm.
Emotions are just messages
We are engineered to see patterns. Thoughts are just patterns.
Often our thoughts are not based in patterns.
When you become aware you’re telling yourself a story, just tell yourself.
Respond rather than react.
Communication cards
Need to speak freely: challenged and rewarded.
When we share, we don’t feel shame.
The need for people to take responsibility for their part.
Leadership - formal and informal leadership opportunities.
Leadership is having control over the outcome.
Controlling your own identity.
SEL - Teach emotions in an isolated way
How you can use for deeper learning

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Model It, Live It, Let Them Experience It. with James Moffett Resilient Schools 2

Jethro Jones, James Moffett — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 21:30:00 -0700

James Moffett is a principal in Kansas and he loves kids.

Pretty empathetic
Relationships
Teri Barilla
Question things I did as an educator
If you were doing these things before the pandemic, you were as ready as you could be for the pandemic
If you wouldn’t accept it from your supervisor, don’t dish it out to your kids.
Accountability, structure, consequences, - all structured in love.
It’s such a mindset shift for educators because it’s not how school was for us.
Model it, live it, let them experience it.
How do we help schools see that kids are respected on day 1.
Teachers are structured beings
Each vs. every.
The Rabbit Effect
How to be a transformative principal? Rest and recover and put more focus on the relationships you have in your building.

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Hope And Laughter with Melissa Sadin Resilient Schools Episode 1

Jethro Jones, Melissa Sadin — Thu, 04 Aug 2022 03:30:00 -0700

Dr. Sadin has served as a special education teacher, a gifted education teacher, and a building administrator. Most recently she served as a director of special education. Dr. Sadin has been vice-president of her local School Board and is recognized as a Master School Board Member. She has conducted research on the perceptions of teachers working to create trauma-informed classrooms. Dr. Sadin is a published author and has produced numerous webinars on children with attachment trauma in schools. Currently, Dr. Sadin works a director of exceptional education and as an education consultant and developmental trauma expert providing professional development to school districts, municipal service providers and parents. Nationally, Dr. Sadin is a highly sought-after keynote speaker and conference presenter. Her Trauma Guide Series of books are available on her website, www.traumasensitive.com.

Building resilient students
Hope - Start and end with the people.
Over half of teachers are seeking to leave!
We are doing it to ourselves.
We have to start with what happened to us?
Resilience is the ability to adapt and overcome challenges.
Google Meet rooms open.
Choose 1 issues
The flight of teachers from the profession.
What are the components that a school leader needs to create a resilient school?
Deeply rooted in social justice and forgive yourself.
Google Scholar - science of hope - When you say the word hope, you begin what they define as hope.
Use the word Hope
Then laugh.

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.