MINDBEAT by Effective School Solutions

In this episode, Laine Whitaker is joined by co-host Dr. Christopher Sattele, Principal at Lancaster-Lebanon IU13, for a conversation with Dr. Jim Kooler and Dr. Aaron Noor of the California Department of Public Health’s Office of School Health. Together, they explore how systems-level leadership and trauma-informed approaches are advancing school-based mental health and shaping safer, more suppor...

In this episode, Laine Whitaker and co-host Laura Butler of Sacramento City Unified School District welcome Katie Lohmiller and Halley Gruber, program directors with the Neurosequential Model in Education (NME), for a conversation about bringing neuroscience into everyday classroom practice. Together, they explore how understanding brain development can transform the way educators interpret behavi...

In this episode, Laine Whitaker and co-host Colleen Patterson, Director of Development of Effective School Solutions, welcome Dr. Ross Greene, clinical psychologist, author, and creator of the Collaborative and Proactive Solutions (CPS) model. They discuss how “kids do well if they can,” why unmet skills drive challenging behavior, and how CPS reduces suspensions and punitive discipline. The conve...

In this episode, Laine Whitaker is joined by guest co-host Dr. Cherina Betters, Chief of Equity and Access for San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, for a powerful conversation with Dr. Rebecca Branstetter, school psychologist, author, and national voice on student well-being and burnout prevention. Together, they explore the biggest mental health challenges facing PreK–12 schools, comm...

In this episode, Laine Whitaker and guest co-host Megan McCullough, Director of Student Services for the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District, welcome Dr. Ellen Wartella, a leading expert on children, media, and development. Together, they explore the evolving role of media in shaping mental health, common misconceptions about screen use, and practical ways families and schools can support healt...

In this episode, Sarah Rose Cavanagh joins Duncan and Laine to discuss how K-12 educators can harness emotion to enhance student engagement, the connection between emotions and learning, and what “teacher burnout” really looks like and how school systems can better support teacher well-being.  https://www.teenvogue.com/story/ai-therapy-chatbot-eating-disorder-treatment https://effectiveschoolsolut...

In this episode, Jordan Shapiro, PhD, from Temple University and the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop, joins Duncan and Laine to discuss how educators should differentiate between healthy and harmful digital practices, issues of digital equity, and lessons K-12 educators can learn about designing digital experiences that are developmentally appropriate. https://www.weforum.org/stories/20...

In this episode, Dr. Jenny Radesky from the University of Michigan Medical School joins Duncan and Laine to discuss the impact of technology and social media on youth mental health. She shares recommendations about how educators can navigate the digital ecosystem with students and offers advice for families and caregivers to help students have healthy relationships with digital media. https://www....

In this episode, Dr. Daniel Eisenberg, Professor of Health Policy and Management at UCLA, joins Duncan and Laine to discuss his research on adolescent and young adult mental health. He explores findings from the Healthy Minds study and highlights the importance of systemic solutions, including multi-systemic therapy (MST), and discusses the economic benefits of investing in mental health, from imp...

In this episode, Dr. Sharmil Shah joins Duncan and Laine to discuss where she sees the biggest opportunities for improvement in school-based mental health initiatives over the next 5-10 years, the role of Certified Wellness Coaches, and what the state of California is doing to fund sustainability for school-based mental health initiatives.  https://theconversation.com/technology-is-supposed-to-dec...

In this episode, Duncan and Laine are joined by Ross Szabo to explore how we can transform the conversation around mental health and make these discussions a regular part of school culture. Ross shares his personal journey and offers valuable insights on taking control of your mental well-being while breaking down stigma. https://www.nj.com/opinion/2024/12/mental-health-services-in-nj-schools-are-...

In this episode, Duncan and Laine are joined by Dr. Jodi Aman to discuss her journey into the mental health field, the mental health crisis’ ties to screen time, how C.O.M.P.A.S.S. empowers students, tips for boosting student confidence, and managing device use. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-school-social-workers-underutilized-resource.html  https://effectiveschoolsolutions.com/ 

In this episode, Duncan and Laine are joined by five district partner leaders to discuss the current state of school-based mental health in the aftermath of the pandemic. The conversation explores the interconnected challenges of mental health, severe absenteeism, and disciplinary issues, while also highlighting the most effective strategies they’ve found for supporting educators in these areas. h...

In this episode, Duncan and Laine are joined by five of Effective School Solutions’ clinical and professional development staff members to discuss what they are seeing with respect to mental health, emotional, and behavioral challenges so far this school year. They also unpack the root causes driving some of the challenges and actionable steps educators can take to enhance mental health support in...

In this episode, Joseph Engelhardt, Principal of Alexander Hamilton High School, Elmsford Union Free School District, and mental health keynote speaker,  joins Duncan and Laine to discuss challenges and resistance to restorative discipline in an educational setting, ways to measure the success of alternatives to suspension, as well as the links between mental health and discipline.  https://www.k1...

In this episode, former Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy, mental health advocate, and Founder of the Kennedy Forum, joins Duncan and Laine to discuss his new book, “Profiles in Mental Health Courage,” as well as the progression behind the stigma of mental health, inspiring change in our society surrounding mental health issues, and the areas of opportunities in supporting school-based mental health...

In this episode, Colleen Patterson and Zanetah Sasser from Effective School Solutions join Duncan and Laine to discuss teacher burnout, how leadership at schools can create supportive environments to decrease burnout, their recommendations to support teachers’ mental health, and how they avoid burnout themselves.  https://www.kff.org/mental-health/issue-brief/examining-new-medicaid-resources-to-ex...

In this episode, Fran Rabinowitz, Executive Director of the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents (CAPSS), joins Duncan and Laine to discuss how CAPSS collaborates with district leaders and legislators to address the mental health needs of students in Connecticut schools, the ways CAPSS advocates for mental health awareness in educational settings, and the biggest gaps school di...

In this episode, Jenna DiMauro, an Elementary School Counselor and District Anti-Bullying Coordinator, Carmela Somershoe, a Superintendent and Elementary School Principal, and Jordan Katz, a Licensed Social Worker at ESS, join Duncan and Laine to discuss why Jenna and Carmela sought support from ESS, how transition resets have affected their buildings, and the impact social emotional support has o...

In this episode, Jason Dane, a Health and Physical Education teacher, and Mike Zito, a Licensed Psychologist, join Duncan and Laine to discuss the evolution of youth sports, the significant pressures faced by student athletes and effective strategies to navigate these challenges. https://www.the74million.org/article/report-schools-wont-recover-from-covid-absenteeism-crisis-until-at-least-2030/ htt...

In this episode, Bryan Cote, Managing Director of Berkeley Research Group LLC, joins Duncan and Laine to discuss school-based mental health programs, how to have conversations with insurance companies about these services, and how districts can sustainably fund these initiatives. https://edsource.org/2023/california-looks-to-the-health-system-to-sustain-mental-health-funds-in-schools/702583   http...

In this episode, Dr. Kari McGann, Superintendent of Flemington-Raritan Regional School District, Dr. Joe Maluchnik, Superintendent of Wilkinsburg School District, and Jeanette Mosso, Director of Student Services and Federal Programs at Wilkinsburg School District join Duncan and Laine and share valuable advice for administrators seeking to enhance their mental health support systems, effective str...

In this episode, Jayne Demsky, founder of School Avoidance Alliance, joins Duncan and Laine to discuss signs and symptoms to identify school avoidance in a student, the underlying causes and triggers that lead to school avoidance, and practical strategies for parents and educators to support a student experiencing school avoidance both at home and school.  https://childmind.org/article/what-to-do-...

In this episode, Mark DiRocco, who spent eight years as the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators, joins Duncan and Laine to discuss how to effectively address the challenges superintendents face when it comes to funding mental health services in school, best practices for funding school-based mental health services, and emerging trends and innovations superin...

In this episode, Cortnee Shuey, Megan Reynoso, and Jalen Washington from Effective School Solutions join Duncan and Laine to discuss the current state of mental health in schools, the impact of the pandemic on young people’s mental health, how to tell the difference between typical adolescent challenges and more serious concerns, and what makes them most optimistic about the new school year ahead....