SEL in EDU

What does it mean to truly prepare students for life? In episode 98 of SELinEDU, I sit down with Dr. De'Shawn Washington, 2024 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year and founder of Cultivating Changemakers, for a conversation that weaves together three things every student deserves: the ability to read, the knowledge to manage money, and the freedom to learn with joy. We dig into why over 60% of Massac...

In this episode of SEL in EDU, high school educator Stephanie Clinise discusses how AI can be a supportive tool in classrooms, fostering student voice, agency, and meaningful learning. She and Krista explore practical strategies, the importance of authenticity, and the future of technology in education. Main Topics: Integrating AI in the classroom without replacing routines Using AI to support stu...

In this episode of SELinEDU , Dr. Krista Leh sits down with Dr. Natalie Odom Pough , a mathematics educator and advocate for joyful, justice-centered learning, to explore what she calls the soft life . Together, they unpack the idea that learning environments do not have to be rooted in pressure, comparison, and compliance—but can instead be spaces where students feel seen, respected, and capable...

What helps young people and adults see beyond what is into what could be? In this episode, I’m joined again by educator, author, and lifelong champion for young people, Thom Stecher, for a conversation about possibility... a powerful mindset that invites hope, stretches imagination, and opens doors where others see walls. Together, we explore possibilities not as wishful thinking, but as a way of...

Discover practical strategies for fostering resilience and emotional wealth in students and educators alike. This episode features insights from Josephine Hunt, a seasoned special education teacher and media voice, who shares how natural consequences, intrinsic motivation, and mindful coaching cultivate resilient learners. Main topics: The resilience loop: understanding how overcoming challenges b...

If your school feels busy but not aligned, the issue might not be effort at all. It might be clarity. I’m joined by speaker, author, and consultant Casey Watts to dig into why well-intentioned initiatives stall when teams don’t share a clear, detailed grasp of the destination, the language, and the role each person plays in getting there. We get concrete about what “clarity” actually means in educ...

A single hand raised can fool us into thinking a class feels safe, while most students are silently calculating the social cost of being wrong. We sit down with award-winning educator and burnout expert Chase Mielke to make psychological safety practical through a Goldilocks Gradient lens: low, mid, and high-risk moments that shape student participation, academic risk-taking, and real engagement....

Small, steady moves can transform a classroom. We sit down with Pennsylvania educator Brittany Christensen to unpack how 5–10 minute SEL warmups grew into a living practice woven through literacy, nonfiction analysis, and daily routines. Teaching English and ESOL in a large urban district, she shows how high expectations can coexist with care by building a shared language around growth mindset, se...

What if the biggest lever for healthier schools is how we view people and problems? I sit down with veteran educator and consultant Thom Stecher to unpack how a shift in perspective can transform classroom climate, leadership choices, and our well-being. From the first moments, we trace a clear arc: perception shapes understanding, understanding unlocks empathy, and empathy fuels compassionate act...

What if students did work they couldn’t fake and didn’t want to?  We sit down with award-winning educator and author Michael Hernandez to rethink assessment, culture, and the role of technology by anchoring learning in agency, responsibility, and authentic audiences. Instead of building classrooms around compliance and bans, we explore how trust and clear boundaries create a sandbox where creativi...

What if staff meetings ended with real decisions and classes felt like energizing workshops? We sit down with communication expert and author Chris Fenning to rebuild school time around clarity and outcomes using one simple framework: Topic, Purpose, Output. From IEPs and MTSS to department huddles and professional learning workshops, we show how to set relevance, choose the right activities, and...

What if US history class felt human, focused, and alive every single day? We sit down with high school social studies teacher Trevor Conde to unpack a design-first approach to SEL where routines create safety, novelty sparks curiosity, and students see themselves in the story. Trevor shares how backward design, clear weekly modules, and transparent due dates reduce friction and build self-manageme...

What if the difference between a struggling reader and a confident one is not a love of books, but the routines around them? Dr. Steve Underwood joins us to unpack how predictable, evidence-based instruction changes the math on literacy and identity. From a childhood marked by poverty and round-robin dread to a career leading systems change, Steve shows why consistency, safety, and the science of...

Coaching should feel like a partnership where educators bring their expertise, name the barriers they face, and co-create next steps that actually fit their classrooms. We sit down with Kenny McKee and Kathy Perrett, co-authors of Compassionate Coaching, to explore a humane, practical framework for helping teachers move forward without judgment or gimmicks. In this episode, we unpack six recurring...

Leading a school shouldn’t feel like juggling flaming clipboards. Tammy Musiowsky and Christine Arnold join us to share how minimalist leadership turns a noisy school ecosystem into a coherent one by aligning purpose, editing systems, and removing friction that wastes energy and time. They unpack the Triple P (purpose, priorities, pare down) and the Five Rs (reimagine, remove, repurpose, reinvest,...

What if belonging wasn’t a poster or a pep talk, but a practice you could measure, build, and sustain? We sit down with Dr. Sheldon Eakins to unpack how leadership choices shape whether students feel accepted, supported, and included. From turning speaking engagements into chapters to designing a student belonging survey, Dr. Eakins shows how to move from intent to impact with tools any school can...

The first breath of the conversation is gratitude, and from there it builds into a grounded, courageous blueprint for how belonging becomes real. We sit down with Craig Aarons-Martin, CEO of CCM Education Group, to unpack the craft of creating brave spaces in schools and communities, not as a slogan, but as a daily practice shaped by rituals, reciprocal relationships, and stories that center joy w...

Want a curriculum that students can’t wait to engage with? We sit down with authors Michael Fisher and Dr. Steven Weber to unpack a fresh, visual playbook for curriculum leadership that swaps compliance for curiosity and puts student agency, trust, and transfer at the center. Instead of dense theory, they created an illustrated, desk-ready handbook that leaders can use in five minutes to make bett...

What if leadership skills were taught right alongside academic content? In this episode, Maureen Chapman and James Simons, co-founders of Cor Creative Partners, share their powerful approach to helping all students develop leadership skills like motivation, perseverance, communication, and collaboration within everyday classroom learning. Their new book, Leaders of the Class, challenges the idea t...

The teacher shortage has shifted from theory to reality. Schools now struggle to fill positions that once drew hundreds of applicants. This urgent challenge calls for rethinking recruitment and retention. On this episode of the SELinEDU Podcast, iCarrie Bishop and Jessica Holloway share insights from their book Make Your School Irresistible: The Secret to Attracting and Retaining Great Teachers. T...

What if teacher mentoring focused less on checklists and more on students? Dr. Amanda Brueggeman revolutionizes the traditional approach to supporting new educators with her student-centered mentoring framework. Drawing from over 20 years of educational experience, Amanda reveals how transforming mentoring relationships from one-directional knowledge transfers into collaborative partnerships creat...

What if your greatest strength is simultaneously your biggest weakness? Award-winning superintendent and leadership coach Dr. PJ Caposey cuts through conventional wisdom to reveal a compelling truth: the qualities that make us exceptional are often the same ones holding us back from reaching our full potential. Drawing from his experience as both a superintendent and cancer survivor, PJ shares pro...

Feeling overwhelmed by negativity in schools? Niko Tsamatoulidis, Administrator of Student Supports and Wellness for Bethlehem Area School District and Chief Hope Officer of Hope Does LLC, unpacks the science of hope and explains why it's crucial for educator and student well-being. Drawing from 33 years of experience in education, Niko reveals that hope isn't merely a feeling; it's an action that...

Imagine knowing exactly how to create learning experiences that not only engage students but actually improve their brains. This fascinating conversation with Julia Skolnick, CEO of Professional Learning Partnerships, and second-grade teacher Stacy Robeson reveals the powerful intersection of neuroscience and education that every educator should understand. At the heart of effective learning lies...

What if you could face life’s biggest challenges the way screenwriters approach epic movie plots? Kristina Paider, award-winning author and Chief Creative Officer of The Hollywood Approach , shares how 28 years of script development experience reshaped her life—and how it can reshape yours. Her framework reverse-engineers the traits of successful movie protagonists and applies them to real-life tr...