Teachers have the opportunity to impact students in ways that can change the trajectory of their life. To do this, teachers have to be prepared to embrace students emotionally by knowing how to regulate their own emotional stability. Showing respect, and having willingness to care for them has profound impacts on students. Diane Wagenhals, a Program Director for Lakeside Education Network that manages therapeutic schools and services for students who have experienced trauma and been unable to successfully adapt to the traditional school environment, explains.

communities, mental health providers, View all postsJeff IklerApril 26, 2024Season 2

47: Integrating Social and Emotional Learning and Academics

Open any print or online educational news source and you’re likely to find a story on social and emotional learning. What is S.E.L. and why do some leaders champion it and its integration with academics while others see it and really any focus on mental health as a veiled plot to indoctrinate students in “socialist” ideology. David Adams, the CEO of The Urban Assembly and a board member of CASEL, the Collaborative for Academic and Social and Emotional Learning, explains the actual reasons why educators should contribute where they can to the mental health for all students.

communities, View all postsJeff IklerMarch 7, 2024Season 2

46: Moving from Visioning to Conversation to Action

A forum that facilitates conversations among school communities can help to establish a plan for a better future while working in the present. Constant discussion helps leaders learn new methods, update their vision, and address the current implications of trauma-informed learning. Paul Liabenow and Mike Domagalski of the Michigan Elementary Middle School Principals Association explain the imperative to move from a strong vision, to conversation, to action of behalf of today’s traumatized students.

fundamentals, administrators, View all postsJeff IklerFebruary 15, 2024Season 2

45: Following a Compassionate, Holistic Approach with Students

Our discussion explored visioning and building schools through a more holistic, compassionate approach to working with students. The Rainbow Community School in Ashville, NC, was used as a case study. Drs. Renee Owen and Christine Mason led us into trauma-informed visioning, weaving understanding and support into the fabric of schools. We learned to craft visions prioritizing relationships, well-being, and spiritual connections, fostering student growth beyond traditional academic metrics.

fundamentals, View all postsJeff IklerJanuary 17, 2024Season 2

44: Taking Care of Teachers, So They Can Take Care of the Kids

Dr. Debra Gustafson is the Associate Superintendent for the Geary County Unified School District 475 in Juncture City, Kansas. We discussed the importance of supporting teachers' well-being, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and highlighted strategies for addressing teacher stress and burnout.

Jeff IklerDecember 14, 2023Season 2

43: Developing Culturally Sensitive and Responsive Educators

Gary R. Howard, Ph., has been supporting individuals and organizations in the deeper work of personal, professional, and systemic transformation for the purpose of achieving social justice and equity in our schools and our nation. In this conversation, Gary Howard invites listeners to engage in reflective thinking about our racializing experiences – experiences that may impact our practice and how we relate to others in ways we are not consciously aware of.

Jeff IklerNovember 16, 2023Season 2

42: A Servant Leader Approach to Enhancing Well-being in Schools

Dr. Kelvin Butts is the Superintendent of Benton Harbor, MI, area schools. In this episode, we discuss his approach to leadership – transparency, vulnerability, a learning organization, community partnerships – to enhance the well-being of the school community.

Jeff IklerOctober 12, 2023Season 2

41: How a School Leader Creates the Conditions for Healing

Anitra Gallegos, Principal of the Panorama Middle School in Colorado Springs, CO discusses how she is creating a culturally responsive and trauma-informed environment in her school through her three “Is”: integrity, instruction, and inspiration.

Jeff IklerSeptember 27, 2023Season 2

40: Nurturing Student and Educator Well-Being

Michelle Trujillo, a former teacher and principal, and Co-Founder of the Center for Learning and Well-Being, emphasizes the importance of educational leaders understanding and supporting their teachers' well-being to meet students' academic and emotional needs effectively.

Jeff IklerSeptember 14, 2023Season 2

39: Reducing the Trauma of Native Youth Through Tribal-Directed Education

Melanie Johnson is the Director of the Whole Child Initiative for the National Indian Education Association. The conversation centers on Melanie’s efforts to address Native students' educational needs. Topics include educational sovereignty, preserving cultures, enlisting advocates, vocational training, and systemic barriers to progress.

Jeff IklerAugust 17, 2023Season 2

38: The Critical Need to Reframe the Discussion – and Training – About Race

In this episode with education consultant and author, Afrika Afeni Mills, we discuss the importance of addressing inclusivity and racism in education – first through self-reflection – while emphasizing the need to support educators' holistic well-being and anti-racism training via a long-term approach.

Jeff IklerJuly 8, 2023Season 2

37: The Impact of Poverty and Bias on Student Learning

By understanding the profound effects of poverty-related stress on the brain, acknowledging the power of subconscious biases, and implementing practical strategies for emotional regulation, educators can foster resilience, equity, and optimal learning experiences for vulnerable students. Educational consultant, Horacio Sanchez, explains.

administrators, teachers, mental health providersJeff IklerJune 20, 2023Season 2

36: Trauma in Schools - Season 2 Welcome

Equity, inclusion, and justice should be critical goals of education today. To effectively work toward achieving them, though, the mental health and overall well-being of children and school staff must first be addressed. Following the success of Season 1, Season 2 of the podcast series, Cultivating Resilience: A Whole Community Approach to Alleviating Trauma in Schools continues to explore various ways to reduce anxiety and stress that are so prevalent in many of today's schools.

Jeff IklerJune 19, 2023Season 2