47: Integrating Social and Emotional Learning and Academics

48: Meeting All Students Where They Are

Our guest

Diane Wagenhals is a Program Director for Lakeside Educational Network. Her current responsibilities include overseeing programming and authoring curriculum for the Lakeside Global Institute. Lakeside manages therapeutic schools and services that identify and address student behaviors but also the real reasons students struggle and fail. Lakeside also trains professionals across the country and around the world in a brain-based, trauma-informed approach. Diane has authored over 35 courses and workshops and was a fellow with the Child Trauma Academy from 2010 - 2021. She serves as Secretary for the board of the Campaign for Trauma-Informed Policy & Practice.

The Takeaway

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 a having willingness to care for them has profound impacts on students.

As you listen

1. What is trans-generational trauma?

2. How can teachers implement effective communication strategies?

3. What occurs in the brain when someone is dysregulated due to trauma?

4. What should administrators focus on to transform their school?

5. Why is it necessary for teachers to learn how to regulate themselves?

6. Connect with Diane

   Website

47: Integrating Social and Emotional Learning and Academics

The Takeaway

“SEL has five major components: self-awareness, self management, social management – the skills we use to manage relationships — and responsible decision making. There used to be this notion that you had your cognition — your rational side, your frontal brain — and you had your emotional side — you're limbic system — and they just fought for each other for dominance over decisions. But we now know that's not the case. Your emotions are deeply entwined with what you're paying attention to, how you're encoding information and memories. And your cognition is deeply entwined with how you're processing your emotions. And so this idea of the integration of social and emotional, and academic development is not just a catchphrase, it's really reflective of how we grow as human beings, incorporating and taking in cognition, emotion, as well as trying to solve problems.” — David Adams

Our guest

David Adams is the CEO of The Urban Assembly. He started with the UA in 2014 as the Director of Social-Emotional Learning. In 2021, David received the Champion of Equity Award from the American Consortium for Equity in Education.

David sits on the board of CASEL and is an author of The Educator’s Practical Guide to Emotional Intelligence, and a co-author of the textbook, Challenges to Integrating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Programs in Organizations. He is a Civil Affairs Officer in the Army Reserve and holds an M.Ed in Educational Psychology from Fordham University.

As you listen

1. Given COVID and the trauma that many students carry, how can we best help to heal them?

2. What is social-emotional learning (SEL) and how is it used to support students?

3. What makes human interactions so critical, and why are students having difficulty establishing relationships after COVID-19?

4. How are academics and emotion intertwined to benefit students?

5. How do SEL skills help the school community?

Referenced

CASEL - Collaborative for Academic and Social Emotional Learning

Zone of Proximal Development

Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory

Connect with David

Twitter

Facebook

LinkedIn

46: Moving from Visioning to Conversation to Action

The Takeaway

The Michigan Elementary Middle School Principals Association (MEMSPA) facilitates conversations among school communities to bring together the vision and voices of many districts. Such communication establishes 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.

Our guests

Paul Liabenow joined the MEMSPA staff as Executive Director in 2012. He has dedicated his 38 years in education to Michigan’s youth. With degrees from Michigan State University and Central Michigan University, Paul joined Cadillac Area Public Schools where he worked his way through the ranks of teacher, building leader, principal and district superintendent. Today, Paul is working to build a community of educators dedicated to advocating, leading, and learning. He is also currently serving as Treasurer of Michigan Association of After School Partnerships, President of The Center for Education Improvement, President of Core Communications, President of The MEMSPA Foundation, and Board Member of the Michigan Assessment Consortium. Paul is co-author of Visioning Onward providing guidance for school leaders on the visioning process.

Michael Domagalski is the current president of the Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals association. He is known for founding #MEMSPAchat, which is MEMSPA's weekly twitter chat, occurring each Thursday at 8pm. Mike has served on the MEMSPA Board of Directors since 2015. He is the current principal of St. Clair Middle School within the East China School District in St Clair, Michigan. He serves as the leader of the 5th-8th grade building of 700 students. Along with his administrative responsibilities, Mike serves as president of the East China Education Foundation.

Referenced

The Positivity Project

TIPPS (Trauma-informed Programs and Practices for Schools from the University of Michigan)

Trails (supporting student wellness in Michigan)

Connect with Paul

LinkedIn

memspa.org

coreleaders.net

Connect with Mike

LinkedIn

email

45: Following a Compassionate, Holistic Approach with Students

Summary

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.

Our guests

Dr. Christine Mason Executive Director, Center for Educational Improvement; Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry Yale University School of Medicine, Program for Recovery and Community Health; Chief Advisor, Childhood-Trauma Learning Collaborative; New England Mental Health Technology Transfer Center.

Dr. Mason is also the co-author of a number of books, notably Visioning Onward and Compassionate School Practices.

Dr. Renee Owenis a researcher, author, consultant and teacher in the fields of adult learning and educational leadership. Dr. Owen is Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Education Leadership at Southern Oregon University. She is also Editor of the Holistic Educational Review, an Open Access Journal. Renee was a school leader for over 20 years at unique public and private schools. As Director at Rainbow Community School in Asheville, NC, Renee was honored as an Ashoka Change Leader for her work in making holistic education more accessible.

Dr. Owen’s life-long work is for education to be a vehicle for helping people to thrive.

As you listen

• What is visioning, and how does a vision help with creating a trauma-informed, safe school?

• What is the main core value needed to focus on a compassionate school model?

• What was the vision for Rainbow Community School and how was it implemented in the community?

• Why is a constant discussion with school leaders and students necessary for following the visioning plan?

• What are some examples of trauma held by students? How do group spaces help address these situations?

• How does taking risks while feeling safe help with resilience?

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

Guest

Dr. Debra Gustafson is the Associate Superintendent for the Geary County Unified School District 475 in Juncture City, Kansas. Deb’s primary responsibilities focus on providing leadership and expertise in developing, achieving, and maintaining the district’s educational programs and related services to increase student achievement.

Summary
Our conversation focused on the challenges and opportunities of education leadership, particularly in the context of a military community and a high-poverty school district. We discussed the importance of supporting teachers' well-being, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and highlighted strategies for addressing teacher stress and burnout. We also explored the role of school culture and teacher support in creating a positive and effective learning environment. Additionally, we delved into the flywheel concept for school improvement and discussed education leadership challenges such as teacher shortages and career guidance.

Key Takeaways

1. Build and maintain a consistent strategic plan that eliminates adding flavor-of-the-month responsibilities to the faculty’s already considerable workload. this focus provides stability and avoids faculty burnout.

2. Understand that student behavior is a way of communicating. To counter ineffective behaviors, the district promotes training around social and emotional learning, making it as important as traditional academics in supporting student wellbeing.

3. Healing happens in the context of healthy relationships over time. Support staff across the district - nurture the nurturers - to help them best serve their students. Promote healthy school cultures by supporting everyone in the district.

4. Adopt a flywheel mentality. Build momentum by focusing on achieving a few things that get the achievement ball moving. We can't do everything at once, but we can build toward better.

5. Referenced

   Interview with Susan Engel

   Books by Susan Engel

   The Intellectual Lives of Children

   The Hungry Mind

   Book by Todd Whitaker

   What Great Principals Do Differently