The Well-being Classroom

What if staff wellbeing isn’t about reducing workload—but about how valued people feel at work?   In this episode of The Wellbeing Classroom, I sit down with Dr. Helen Kelly, a leading voice in educator wellbeing and school culture, whose experience as an international school principal, researcher, and former workplace health and safety lawyer brings a powerful and unique lens to one of the most p...

Is human thinking becoming the most valuable currency in the age of AI?   Today, I’m joined by Miguel Rodriguez, founder of MR | ThinkLab, where he designs thinking-focused learning systems and AI-powered tools aimed at developing reasoning, reflection, and decision-making that truly last. His work sits at the intersection of cognitive science, instructional design, and AI, challenging a growing t...

What really drives meaningful and lasting teacher growth in international schools?   Today, I’m thrilled to welcome Dr. Addie Christian, a seasoned educator and principal at an IB International School in China. With over two decades of experience, Dr. Christian has dedicated her career to designing strategic frameworks and cultivating leadership capacity that drives meaningful organizational chang...

How can primary school leaders look past the noise and build adaptable, stakeholder-driven digital policies that confidently prepare their classrooms for the future?   Today, I’m joined by Tom Millinchip, a Deputy Head of Primary, curriculum and policy specialist, and a passionate leader in leveraging technology for evidence-based learning environments. With 15 years of primary education experienc...

How is the process of IB accreditation already being transformed into a genuine service that drives active growth and future-ready school communities?   Today, I’m joined by Dr. Ildiko Murray, an experienced Head of School in China with over 25 years of international educational leadership. Following her doctoral studies, she was engaged by the IB as a Subject Matter Expert to help create and deve...

Why is it that even the most brilliant educational initiatives often fail to take root in our schools?   Today, I’m thrilled to welcome back Becca Silver. At the time of releasing this episode, Becca’s new book- The Resistance Solution has been released, please see the link in the description. In our previous episode, we diagnosed the source of resistance; today, we’re focussing on the concept of...

How can the high-pressure world of FIFA officiating help us redefine leadership, empathy, and belonging within our school communities?   Today, I am joined by Kevin Stoltenkamp, the Head of Referees for the Oceania Football Confederation. Since 2016, Kevin has led officiating across 13 member countries under the FIFA umbrella. Beyond his work on the pitch, Kevin is a deeply experienced educator wh...

This episode kicks off a special limited series exploring the role of AI in education—specifically how these emerging technologies can be harnessed to drive positive school cultures and support student well-being across the entire school community.   How can we move beyond traditional industrial models of schooling to equip students with the agency they need to navigate a rapidly changing world?  ...

How do we bridge the gap between deep, personal healing and the fast-paced environment of the modern classroom?   Today, I’m joined by Xavier Woods, a primary school teacher with over two decades of professional experience across the U.S. and the Middle East, including time spent as a leader and educator in Abu Dhabi. A two-time Teacher of the Year in Metro Atlanta, Xavier is also an established a...

How can we move beyond the constant cycle of "fighting fires" and instead lead with a sense of intentional, focused calm? Today, I’m joined by Patrick Cozier, a Headteacher at a secondary school in London. With nearly 20 years of experience in headship and a career spanning roles from classroom teaching to senior leadership, Patrick is a respected mentor, speaker, and the author of the highly accl...

How could we move beyond planning lessons for the "middle" and instead use assessment as a dynamic tool to meet every learner's needs in real-time? Today, I’m joined by Rajaa Laghrissi, an experienced English language teacher originally from Morocco and currently based in the UAE. With over 20 years of experience in secondary education, Rajaa is an innovative educator and a PhD candidate in Applie...

How can we move beyond "sanitizing" the student experience and instead build the genuine resilience required to navigate a complex and often isolating digital world? Today, I’m joined by Alejandro Zepeda, a distinguished educational leader with a global career spanning more than 25 years. Alejandro has served in senior leadership and principal roles across Mexico, Bangladesh, Mozambique, and Kazak...

How can school leaders move past the frustration of "pushback" and instead tap into the genuine motivation and mindset of every educator on their team? Today, I’m joined by Becca Silver, a Resistance Specialist and Instructional Coach who brings a high-energy, transformational approach to leadership development. A former educator and executive coach, Becca is the founder of The Whole Educator and...

How can we move away from pre-determining student potential and instead design "challenge-first" learning that is accessible to everyone?   Today, I’m joined by Rachel Ball, a Professional Development Specialist at Steplab and a former Assistant Principal for Teaching, Learning, and CPD. With 22 years of experience as a passionate History teacher and a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teachers,...

How can we move beyond the dread of "hard conversations" and instead use every interaction as an opportunity to build relational trust? Today, I’m joined by Brenda Martin, a distinguished educational leader whose career spans over three decades of transformative impact. Brenda brings a wealth of experience as a principal in both New Zealand and international settings, where she has been recognized...

  How can we shift the focus in our schools from simply following a curriculum to truly championing the inclusion of every neurodivergent and disabled individual? Today I am joined by Lori Boll, the Executive Director of SENIA International. Lori has over twenty-five years of teaching experience across the globe, from Riyadh to Bangkok, and has been a driving force in establishing programs for stu...

Today, I’m joined by Xavier Woods, an educator with nearly 25 years of experience across the U.S. and the Middle East. A two-time Teacher of the Year in Metro Atlanta, Xavier was recently selected for the America’s Favorite Teacher 2026 competition. Beyond the classroom, he is a painter, music artist, and author of The Powerful Book of Positively Powerful Poems, with his new book, Keep God 1st and...

How can school leaders bridge the gap between high-level research and the daily reality of the classroom to drive sustainable improvement? Today, I am joined by Chad Ransom, the co-founder of Compass EDvantage and a specialist in school improvement with a PhD in Educational Leadership. Chad has consulted with over 150 school districts across the US and internationally, helping schools move from "u...

How can we empower every student to move beyond simply following instructions and instead take true ownership of their own learning journey?   Today, I’m joined by Liz Keable, a former high school biology teacher and independent success coach. Liz is an expert in the field of metacognition, having supported hundreds of students—including those facing significant learning barriers—to achieve academ...

How can school leaders move beyond "tick-box" administration to foster classrooms where adaptive teaching truly flourishes? Today, I’m joined by Shayan Siddiqui, founder of Evelora International and a leadership expert with executive credentials from Harvard, Stanford, and MIT. As a former Head of School and IB Examiner, Shayan now serves on the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council, supporting...

How can we stop treating the arts as an elective "extra" and instead bake that creative spirit right into the core of our students' literacy and identity?   Today, I’m joined by Xavier Woods for a milestone 20th episode of the show. Xavier is a highly accomplished primary school teacher with over 21 years of experience in diverse communities across the United States. He is a true polymath—a painte...

How could we move beyond "retrofitting" lessons and instead design learning that is accessible to everyone from the very start?   In this episode of The Well-being Classroom, Samantha McFarlane from NASEN joins us to discuss "Inclusion by Design." We explore how to move away from traditional differentiation and toward adaptive teaching, ensuring every student reaches high-aspiration goals through...

How can leaders move from simply managing the daily "people complexity" of schools to truly thriving under the pressure? Welcome back to The Well-being Classroom. Today, I’m rejoined by Fran Reddan, an accomplished Executive Coach and Board Director with the Victorian Registration & Qualifications Authority. Having spent fifteen years as a school principal, Fran now uses her deep expertise in...

What does it truly take to build a leadership brand in education that's anchored in well-being? Today, I'm joined by Janine Stratford, an acclaimed leadership coach, career strategist, and was awarded by Australian website- The Educator as 2024 Most Influential Educator. With years of experience guiding educational leaders, Janine specialises in turning skilled teachers into confident, strategic l...

Welcome back to the Well-being Classroom! Today, I’m honored to host Dr. Helen Kelly, an author, consultant, and former international school leader. Dr. Kelly brings a unique perspective, dedicating over a decade to researching educator well-being. Drawing on her legal background and experience leading schools, Dr. Kelly focuses on helping organisations make staff well-being strategic, practical,...