The Table | The Deans' Roundtable Podcast Series

Systems of Care: How Schools Can Support Educators Beyond Self-Care You cannot out-self-care a toxic environment. In this powerful finale to the Grace, Growth, and Greatness series, host Bridget Johnson welcomes back Dr. Keba Rogers to explore how educational institutions can move beyond wellness buzzwords to create sustainable systems of care that truly support the people doing this challenging w...

Curiosity Over Judgment: Dr. Keba Rogers on Empathetic Leadership What if the most powerful leadership tool you possess is simply asking "tell me more"? In this compelling conversation, psychologist and educator Dr. Keba Rogers reveals why curiosity remains one of the most underutilized yet transformative skills in school leadership—and how our defensiveness prevents us from accessing it. As part...

Grace in Leadership: Why Educators Struggle with Self-Compassion with Dr. Keba Rogers Why do you easily extend grace to struggling students and overwhelmed colleagues, but criticize yourself relentlessly when you make mistakes? In part two of this groundbreaking four-part series, Bridget Johnson and psychologist Dr. Keba Rogers tackle the self-compassion crisis plaguing educational leaders. Dr. Ke...

Restorative Practices in Schools: Building Community with Julia Getty & Beth Smull What if the key to transforming school culture isn't a new discipline policy—but a fundamental shift in how we build and repair relationships? In this essential episode of The Dean's Roundtable, host Bridget Johnson sits down with Julia Getty and Beth Smull from the International Institute for Restorative Practices...

When the Job Is Too Big: Leadership Sustainability with Dr. Keba Rogers - A Dean's Roundtable Four-Part Series Feeling like you're drowning under the weight of your student life leadership role? You're not alone. In this powerful first episode of a four-part series, host Bridget Johnson sits down with psychologist Dr. Keba M. Rogers to explore what happens when roles we love become unsustainable—a...

Building Conflict-Resilient School Cultures: Proactive Strategies for Student Life Leaders What if conflict in your school wasn't something to fear—but an opportunity to strengthen community? Dr. Brooke Carroll, former head of school and founder of AC Strategies, joins Bridget Johnson to challenge how student life professionals think about and respond to conflict at every organizational level. Thi...

Character Education That Works: Dr. Marvin Berkowitz's PRIMED Framework Are your character education efforts actually working—or are they inadvertently undermining the very goals you're trying to achieve? Dr. Marvin Berkowitz, one of America's foremost experts in character development, joins Bridget Johnson to share his research-backed PRIMED framework that's transforming schools worldwide. After...

Leading with Vulnerability: Nicole McDermott on Trust & Courage What if vulnerability isn't a leadership weakness—but the very foundation of trust, growth, and resilient school communities? In this transformative episode, host Bridget Johnson welcomes Nicole McDermott, ICF-certified coach, Certified Dare to Lead™ Facilitator trained by Brené Brown, and former independent school head with over 20 y...

Change Leadership Strategies with Nissi Ozigbu | Leading Transformation in Schools Leading meaningful change in schools requires more than new initiatives—it demands empathy, strategic clarity, and the courage to address hidden barriers keeping your organization stuck. When student life professionals and educational leaders understand change management principles, they can navigate transformation...

From NFL Glory to Leadership: Tim Hightower on Resilience & Trust Former NFL running back Tim Hightower joins Bridget Johnson for a powerful conversation about resilience, leadership transitions, and building trust in high-performance environments. Tim shares his journey from scoring the game-winning touchdown that sent the Arizona Cardinals to their first Super Bowl to leading cultural transforma...

Leadership Burnout & Community Support with Sara Katz Razzaghi & Jabari Peddie As educators step into another challenging school year, many leaders are carrying the weight of recent years - burnout, isolation, and constant pivoting. This episode offers an honest conversation about recognizing when you're struggling, building authentic support systems, and creating sustainable leadership practices...

Managing Up in Schools: Navigating Authority Changes with Julie Faulstich Managing authority transitions requires strategic relationship building and clear communication. Join Bridget Johnson with Julie Faulstich, founder of Stony Creek Strategy and former head of school, for essential insights on navigating leadership changes in educational settings. Julie shares practical strategies for building...

Nervous System Awareness for Student Life Leaders with Alan Brown Ever wonder why some situations leave you completely drained while others energize you? In this transformative episode, resilience educator and former dean Alan Brown shares how understanding your nervous system can revolutionize your effectiveness as a student life professional. Diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome in sixth grade, Alan...

Immunity to Change: Breaking Through Hidden Barriers to Personal and Organizational Transformation Why do 6 out of 7 people fail to make important changes—even when their lives depend on it? Join host Bridget Johnson as she explores this compelling question with Richard Lawrence and Peter Green, experts in the powerful Immunity to Change framework developed by Robert Kegan and Lisa Lahey. This epi...

Student Mental Health Crisis Prevention with SchoolPulse's Iuri Melo Discover how one Licensed Clinical Social Worker transformed student mental health support from reactive crisis intervention to proactive prevention, reaching hundreds of thousands of teens nationwide. Join Bridget Johnson as she speaks with Iuri Melo, co-founder of SchoolPulse, about his revolutionary approach to student wellnes...

Youth Health Crisis: Dr. John Lucas on Fentanyl, Marijuana & School Safety Join host Bridget Johnson with Dr. John Lucas, licensed family physician and veteran educator, for an essential discussion on the critical health challenges facing today's students. Dr. Lucas brings a unique dual perspective to youth health challenges - he's both a licensed family physician and an experienced educator with...

Data-Driven Student Wellbeing: Millbrook's Revolutionary Approach Discover how Millbrook School is revolutionizing student wellbeing through innovative data integration and relationship mapping. This groundbreaking episode features Billy Thom (LCSW), Eve Whitehouse (Academic Dean), and JJ Morrissey (Dean of Student Engagement and Well-Being) sharing their transformative approach to moving from rea...

Data-Driven Student Wellbeing with Authentic Connections Leaders Discover how schools can transform their approach to student mental health through comprehensive data collection and relationship-focused interventions. Nina Kumar and Nicole Hager from Authentic Connections share insights on moving beyond crisis response to proactive wellbeing strategies that support entire school communities. This...

Supporting School Leaders: From Dean of Students to Process Consultant Discover how to build effective support systems for education leaders in this essential conversation between Bridget Johnson and veteran educator Lukie Wells. With 35+ years in independent schools, Lukie shares invaluable insights on the unique challenges facing deans of students, the critical importance of authentic feedback f...

Beyond Zero Tolerance: How Student Voices Are Revolutionizing School Substance Prevention with Soundcheck Prevention Network Discover how centering student voices can transform substance use prevention in schools. Will Straughan and Lee Bergeron from Soundcheck Prevention Network share their innovative approach to creating healthier school environments through authentic engagement and evidence-bas...

Conflict Resolution Mastery: From Hostage Negotiator to Leadership Coach - Ryan Dunlap What if the skills used to defuse hostage situations could transform your most challenging workplace conversations? Join Bridget Johnson as she sits down with Ryan Dunlap, a former SWAT hostage negotiator turned conflict management expert, who reveals how high-stakes communication principles can revolutionize le...

Leadership Beyond Titles: Developing Student Agency with Jeremy LaCasse What if leadership isn't just for those with formal titles? In this illuminating conversation, Jeremy LaCasse shares how intentional leadership education can transform students and educational communities alike. Jeremy brings a unique perspective as both former boarding school student and current Assistant Head of School for S...

AI-Generated Deep Fakes in Schools: Protection Strategies with Evan J Harris School leaders are facing an alarming new crisis: AI-generated non-consensual intimate images affecting students. This urgent conversation provides essential guidance for educational institutions navigating this challenging digital landscape. Join Bridget Johnson and digital safety expert Evan Harris as they decode the co...

Academic Integrity in the Age of AI - A Conversation with Derek Newton How should schools develop AI policies that are both effective and fair? What happens when academic integrity meets cutting-edge technology? Join us for this eye-opening episode where we tackle one of education's most pressing challenges. In this compelling conversation, Derek Newton, publisher of the Cheat Sheet newsletter and...

Building a Culture of Care with Jayde Bennett - Supporting Student Safety in Independent Schools How can independent schools create environments where all students feel safe, supported, and held accountable? In this episode, we explore the powerful CARE model that's transforming student life programs nationwide. Jayde Bennett, School Support Specialist at Learning Courage, shares their journey fro...