Cultivating Resilience

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

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 f

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 impli

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 prioritizi

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. SummaryOur conversation focused on the c

Guest Gary R. Howard, Ph.D., 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. Howard is the president and founder of the REACH Center for Multicultural Education in Seattle, Washington. He is the author of We Can’t Teach

Guest Dr. Kelvin Butts is the Superintendent of Benton Harbor, MI, area schools and a lifelong educator, having served as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal. Summary Our discussion touched upon trauma and mental health issues in the Benton Harbor Area Schools, emphasizing the need for mental health initiatives for both teachers and students. The importance of leadership

Guest Anitra Gallegos is the Principal of the Panorama Middle School in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Summary As a passionate and dedicated principal, Anitra is committed to addressing trauma and creating a culturally responsive and trauma-informed environment in her school. She believes that all students can learn and succeed, and she is always looking for ways to improve their educ

Our Guest A lifelong educator, Michelle Trujillo M.Ed is a Co-Founder of the Center for Learning and Well-Being and is known to make a tangible, sustainable, and positive difference through her books, speaking engagements, and interactive workshops. Named Nevada’s 2016 Innovative Educator of the Year, Michelle has appeared on television (including Oprah), podcasts, and radio nati

Guest Melanie Johnson, Sac and Fox Nation, M.Ed., CPS, is the Director of the Whole Child Initiative for the National Indian Education Association. Melanie has worked with tribal communities and organizations for over 20 years. Melanie is a Certified Prevention Specialist and has worked in the field of substance use and misuse prevention in native communities, focusing primarily on