The Thoughtful Teacher Podcast

Equity-focused school leadership is an ongoing, whole-team process for school improvement. In this continuing conversation Mark A Gooden and Scott Lee discuss the ongoing routines and habits of equity focused leadership teams as well as various challenges educators face regarding equity practice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For schools to truly provide an equitable learning environment, educators and school leaders must understand implicit bias and how implicit bias affects all our interactions with students (and other professional educators). In the first of two episodes Mark Anthony Gooden shares his work and insights into these important and timely issues in a conversation with host Scott Lee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Scott Lee offers this commentary on the implications of the lack of prioritizing civics education in the US.

In this conversation, occupational therapist Michele Morgan shares how she and her colleagues implemented several mental health interventions within her school district's career and technical education (CTE) program. Using evidence-based approaches they developed a relationship-focused, student-centered curriculum model that promotes safety and wellness. 

This far-ranging conversations share specifics about the program and the positive outcomes for students. 

Many times students with serious mental health needs are sent to separate schools or residential placements. In this episode we discuss an alternative-The Therapeutic Inclusion Program with Michael A Murray and Laura Balogh. After developing and implementing The Therapeutic Inclusion Program in their public school they co-authored the recently published book The Therapeutic Inclusion Program: Establishment and Maintenance in Public Schools (published by Routledge) which offers a step by step guide for implementing similar programming in almost any school. 

In this episode host Scott Lee discusses this program in depth with both authors.

In this conversation Sarah Giddings and Wendy Salcedo-Fierro share their experiences working with students in Teacher-Powered Schools. Teacher Powered Schools are organized intentionally to have a shared, collaborative leadership structure. 

Both Wendy and Sarah share how their schools are different, how it changes their professional practices and how the student experience is different from more rigidly focused schools.

The conversation continues as Steve Van Bockern and host Scott Lee discuss some examples of what happens, or should be happening in schools.

Steve Van Bockern is author of Schools That Matter: Teaching the Mind and Reaching the Heart and is co-author with Larry Brendtro and Martin Brokenleg of Reclaiming Youth at Risk: Futures of Promise. 

Listen in this conversation that provides a positive challenge to the status quo in many schools!

Schools can create a culture where students are challenged academically while also supporting the well-being of all students. In this conversation host Scott Lee and Steve Van Bockern discuss how the needs of students can be met without sacrificing academics. 

Steve Van Bockern is author of Schools That Matter: Teaching the Mind and Reaching the Heart and is co-author with Larry Brendtro and Martin Brokenleg of Reclaiming Youth at Risk: Futures of Promise. 

Listen in this conversation that provides a positive challenge to the status quo in many schools!

In this conversation Scott Lee and Brantley Turner discuss Brantley's experiences as an administrator in shared Sino-US school and how her work shapes her beliefs in the importance of challenging assumptions and helping students become global citizens.

Host Scott Lee thanks listeners from around the world for supporting The Thoughtful Teacher Podcast and issues a call to action about the lack of quality mental health services for children and adolescents in the United States.