Why do so many school improvement efforts fail—even when everyone is well intentioned?

Our guest this episode is Dr. Lisa Riegel, author of the book Aspirations to Operations.  Dr. Riegel explains how stress, perception, and brain biology impact adult learning.

We explore why clarity, celebration, and psychological safety matter more than new programs.

The conversation highlights collective efficacy as the true driver of sustainable change. Using neuroscience, she explains how stress shuts down thinking and fuels resistance.

We discuss what leaders can do to create cultures where adults feel safe to try, fail, and grow.

This episode reframes school improvement as a human process, not a compliance exercise.

What resonated with you? What challenges do you face in your day to day principal practice? Take 5 minutes to share your thoughts at https://www.restorative.ca/cff  

Be sure to check out the website https://restorative.ca

#EducationalLeadership, #RestorativePractices, #DifficultConversations, #StudentWellBeing, #SchoolLeadership, #ListenToUnderstand#Education #Leadership,#collective efficacy in schools,#brain-based leadership,#school change management,#professional development implementation,#psychological safety in schools,#educational leadership strategies

Aspirations to Operations by Dr. Lisa Riegel

https://www.amazon.com/Aspirations-Operations-leaders-making-transformative/dp/B0GHF3P15G/ref=sr_1_1?crid=152TKMXNO90B6&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.xOQPF1B8MGVMlMYIf495ag.GLS1pk10GzGrqujWZM8I1rW7lBG9upGofo4DgRRoLAE&dib_tag=se&keywords=riegel+aspirations+to+operations+book&qid=1768851706&sprefix=riegel+aspirations+to+operations+boo%2Caps%2C229&sr=8-1

Some of the hardest conversations in schools involve substance use, stigma, and family complexity.

In this episode our returning guests this episode are Dr. Emily Jenkins, Associate Professor & Canada Research Chair, University of British Columbia I Scientific Director, Wellstream/Bienamont: The Canadian Centre for Innovation in Child and Youth Mental Health and Substance Use in Vancouver British Columbia  and Dr. Nathan Ngieng Deputy Superintendent of Abby Schools in Abbotsford, British Columbia. Nathan and Emily explore how educators can approach these moments with empathy, clarity, and care.

We discuss why punitive responses often deepen harm rather than reduce risk.

Through powerful real-life stories, the conversation highlights the life-changing impact of connection and trust.

This episode dives into the importance of restorative, relationship-based responses to substance use in schools and we explore why knowing a student’s name, checking in daily, and staying connected can change life trajectories.

What resonated with you? What challenges do you face in your day to day principal practice? Take 5 minutes to share your thoughts at https://www.restorative.ca/cff  

Be sure to check out the website https://restorative.ca

#EducationalLeadership, #RestorativePractices, #DifficultConversations, #StudentWellBeing, #SchoolLeadership, #ListenToUnderstand#Education #Leadership #SchoolLeadership #EdLeaders #MentalHealth#RestorativePractices#restorativejustice#traumainformedpractice#emotionalintelligenceinschools

In today’s polarized world, even routine school conversations can feel emotionally charged.

Our returning guests this episode are Dr. Emily Jenkins, Associate Professor & Canada Research Chair, University of British Columbia I Scientific Director, Wellstream/Bienamont: The Canadian Centre for Innovation in Child and Youth Mental Health and Substance Use in Vancouver British Columbia  and Dr. Nathan Ngieng Deputy Superintendent of Abby Schools in Abbotsford, British Columbia. We explore how educators can navigate difficult conversations with parents, colleagues, and students with a particular focus on substance use conversations.

We unpack why listening to understand—not to respond—matters more than ever.

The conversation highlights the power of strengths-based thinking, shared goals, and trust-centered leadership. Substance use education isn’t really about substances—it’s about connection, belonging, and trust. Teachers and principals can approach substance use conversations in developmentally appropriate and compassionate ways.

The discussion highlights resilience, agency, and the critical role caring adults play in prevention.

What resonated with you? What challenges do you face in your day to day principal practice? Take 5 minutes to share your thoughts at https://www.restorative.ca/cff  

Be sure to check out the website https://restorative.ca

#EducationalLeadership, #RestorativePractices, #DifficultConversations, #StudentWellBeing, #SchoolLeadership, #ListenToUnderstand#Education #Leadership #SchoolLeadership #EdLeaders #MentalHealth#RestorativePractices#restorativejustice#traumainformedpractice#emotionalintelligenceinschools

How do you teach someone to stay calm when a parent walks in angry? Our guest this episode is  Dr. Wayne Davies, Instructor, Director of Student Teaching, Faculty of education at the University of Winnipeg. Wayne believes you don’t tell—you show. He explains why mentorship must be experiential: watching, trying, and debriefing together. He shares moving stories of humility, humour, and hard-won wisdom from decades of principalship.Great principals aren’t born—they’re mentored. Wayne Davies shares how riding alongside seasoned leaders taught him the nuances of trust, timing, and emotional intelligence. His take on mentorship moves beyond checklists to real human connection—relationships that let leaders take risks, reflect, and grow. In a time when many new administrators feel isolated, his message lands deeply: leadership is learned in community.

Mentor's Guidebook: Unleashing Your Potential to Inspire and Retain New Teachers https://a.co/d/5RSIx12

What resonated with you? What challenges do you face in your day to day principal practice? Take 5 minutes to share your thoughts at https://www.restorative.ca/cff  

Be sure to check out the website https://restorative.ca

#Education #Leadership #SchoolLeadership #EdLeaders #MentalHealth#RestorativePractices#restorativejustice#traumainformedpractice#emotionalintelligenceinschools#PrincipalWellbeing #TeacherWellbeing #RestorativeLeadership #mentalhealth#EducationalLeadership #PsychologicalSafety #StaffSupport#PreventBurnout #LeadWithCare #FlattenTheHierarchy #BuildingTrust #ResilientLeadership#ListenToUnderstand #BuildingTrust #LeadWithCare #HealthySchools #StrongerTogether#conflictresolution

What if curiosity was the single best antidote to stress, shame, and trauma in schools? Our returning guest this episode is Dr. Robyn Koslowitz, Educational Director of the Targeted Parenting Institute and author of  Post-Traumatic Parenting: Break the Cycle and Become The Parent You Always Wanted To Be. Dr. Robyn  argues that curiosity is the opposite of pathology—it shifts our focus outward and makes space for authentic connection. Principals, vice-principals, and teachers will hear how curiosity helps in staff conflicts, parent meetings, and classrooms where the usual playbook doesn’t work. Principals and teachers can practice trauma-informed leadership simply by staying curious and kind. In this conversation, Dr. Robyn  shows how curiosity helps de-escalate conflict, validate human experience, and model problem-solving skills for students.  Robyn also offers guidance on how to notice and manage our own triggers, so we lead with steadiness instead of reactivity.

What resonated with you? What challenges do you face in your day to day principal practice? Take 5 minutes to share your thoughts at https://www.restorative.ca/cff  

Be sure to check out the website https://restorative.ca

#Education #Leadership #SchoolLeadership #EdLeaders #MentalHealth#RestorativePractices#restorativejustice#traumainformedpractice#emotionalintelligenceinschools#PrincipalWellbeing #TeacherWellbeing #RestorativeLeadership #mentalhealth#EducationalLeadership #PsychologicalSafety #StaffSupport#PreventBurnout #LeadWithCare #FlattenTheHierarchy #BuildingTrust #ResilientLeadership#ListenToUnderstand #BuildingTrust #LeadWithCare #HealthySchools #StrongerTogether#conflictresolution

New principals often face the pressure of staying on script, but what happens when the real need is something else entirely? Our returning guest this episode is Dr. Robyn Koslowitz, Educational  Director of the Targeted Parenting Institute and author of  Post-Traumatic Parenting: Break the Cycle and Become The Parent You Always Wanted To Be.  She shares how she balances the tension between curriculum and connection by addressing what’s truly happening in the room. Her CARING model- Connection, Assessment, Resourcing, Integration, Normalization, and Generation - offers leaders a step-by-step way to move from frustration to collaboration with parents, staff, and students. We hear about aha moments that shift blame into understanding and conflict into problem-solving. From cattiness in Grade 6 to territorial debates among teachers, Robyn describes how leaning into tough conversations fosters connection and trust.She shares powerful stories about becoming trauma-informed and creating space for teachers to connect with kids in meaningful ways. Instead of pushing through the curriculum, Dr. Robyn encourages us to pause and teach the social-emotional lessons that matter most.

What resonated with you? What challenges do you face in your day to day principal practice? Take 5 minutes to share your thoughts at https://www.restorative.ca/cff  

Be sure to check out the website https://restorative.ca

#Education #Leadership #SchoolLeadership #EdLeaders #MentalHealth#RestorativePractices#restorativejustice#traumainformedpractice#emotionalintelligenceinschools#PrincipalWellbeing #TeacherWellbeing #RestorativeLeadership #mentalhealth#EducationalLeadership #PsychologicalSafety #StaffSupport#PreventBurnout #LeadWithCare #FlattenTheHierarchy #BuildingTrust #ResilientLeadership#ListenToUnderstand #BuildingTrust #LeadWithCare #HealthySchools #StrongerTogether#conflictresolution

What’s your process for handling tough parent conversations? In this episode, Shauna Streich, Case Manager, Disability Benefits Plan, The Manitoba Teachers’ Society. explains why principals need a clear, collaborative approach. She talks about how principals can turn high-stress interactions into opportunities for trust and partnership. She emphasizes the importance of having a clear process for conversations at both the school and division levels, so teachers, principals, and even superintendents know when to step in, how to respond, and how to keep the dialogue constructive.

We discuss how to bring a restorative perspective to parent communication. Shauna  reminds us that parents call because they care deeply about their children, and principals can build connection by starting with that common ground. She explains why self-reflection is critical — checking your own emotions and stress levels before entering a conversation — and why setting healthy boundaries helps protect both staff and leaders. Most importantly, our conversation  underscores the shift from “listening to respond” to “listening to understand,” a mindset that breaks down defensiveness, reduces shame, and allows parents to share what’s really going on.

What resonated with you? What challenges do you face in your day to day principal practice? Take 5 minutes to share your thoughts at https://www.restorative.ca/cff  

Be sure to check out the website https://restorative.ca

#Education #Leadership #SchoolLeadership #EdLeaders #MentalHealth#RestorativePractices#restorativejustice#traumainformedpractice#emotionalintelligenceinschools#PrincipalWellbeing #TeacherWellbeing #RestorativeLeadership #mentalhealth#EducationalLeadership #PsychologicalSafety #StaffSupport#PreventBurnout #LeadWithCare #FlattenTheHierarchy #BuildingTrust #ResilientLeadership#ListenToUnderstand #BuildingTrust #LeadWithCare #HealthySchools #StrongerTogether

What if more mental health claims from staff was actually good news? In this episode, our return guest is Shauna Streich, Case Manager, Disability Benefits Plan, The Manitoba Teachers’ Society. She explains the interim results of a project she’s been working on which shows how shorter sick leaves reveal that educators are finally seeking help earlier—because they feel safer to speak up. Drawing on Amy Edmondson’s research on psychological safety, she shows how open reporting and honest conversations make teams stronger rather than weaker. At the same time, Shauna emphasizes that recognition is at the heart of staff well-being. Educators at every level—from custodians to EAs to teachers and principals—don’t want token gestures or pizza lunches. They want to be truly seen for the hard, messy work they do every day, whether that’s managing a difficult student or navigating a tough parent conversation. This episode connects the dots between psychological safety, recognition, and relational  leadership practices that reduce stress leaves for teachers AND principals. What resonated with you? What challenges do you face in your day to day principal practice? Take 5 minutes to share your thoughts at https://www.restorative.ca/cff  

Be sure to check out the website https://restorative.ca

#Education #Leadership #SchoolLeadership #EdLeaders #MentalHealth#RestorativePractices#restorativejustice#traumainformedpractice#emotionalintelligenceinschools#PrincipalWellbeing #TeacherWellbeing #RestorativeLeadership #EducationalLeadership #PsychologicalSafety #StaffSupport#PreventBurnout #LeadWithCare #FlattenTheHierarchy #BuildingTrust #ResilientLeadership

Did you know that many stress leave claims in schools trace back to the relationship between principals and staff? In this episode recorded earlier this year,  our guest is Shauna Streich, Case Manager, Disability Benefits Plan, The Manitoba Teachers’ Society.  She shares insights from a Manitoba project that tackled the root causes of rising stress leave claims and mental health challenges in schools. The findings were clear: many claims stem from the principal–teacher relationship, highlighting the urgent need for training and support in adult-to-adult dynamics.

Shauna explains how survey data on loneliness, burnout, and psychological safety challenged principals’ perceptions — and why these tough conversations are necessary. She introduced practical frameworks showing how principals can flatten hierarchies, improve communication, and build trust with staff. If you’re a principal, vice-principal, or education leader, this episode offers powerful tools to reduce stress leave, strengthen relationships, and create healthier schools.  Be sure to catch our next episode where Shauna Streich reports back on some of the interim findings. 

What resonated with you? What challenges do you face in your day to day principal practice? Take 5 minutes to share your thoughts at https://www.restorative.ca/cff  

Be sure to check out the website https://restorative.ca

#Education #Leadership #SchoolLeadership #EdLeaders #MentalHealth#RestorativePractices#restorativejustice#traumainformedpractice#emotionalintelligenceinschools#PrincipalWellbeing #TeacherWellbeing #RestorativeLeadership #EducationalLeadership #PsychologicalSafety #StaffSupport#PreventBurnout #LeadWithCare #FlattenTheHierarchy #BuildingTrust #ResilientLeadership

What does it take to build trust with parents who arrive in your office angry or fearful? Our guest on this first episode of Season 11 is Dr. Amy Newman, principal of Newton Elementary in Surrey, British Columbia.  She believes the answer lies in restorative leadership—meeting hard conversations with listening, compassion, and resilience. In this episode, she shares how “being like grass” , a quote from Richard Wagamese, allows leaders to bend under pressure without breaking, while modeling this approach for staff and students. From restorative circles to daily hallway conversations, Amy shows how trust is built step by step, moment by moment. She describes how “softening” isn’t weakness but a powerful way to shift energy in the room and open space for real dialogue. With stories of working with students on the edges and building trust with families, Amy brings restorative leadership to life.#education

What resonated with you? What challenges do you face in your day to day principal practice? Take 5 minutes to share your thoughts at https://www.restorative.ca/cff  

Be sure to check out the website https://restorative.ca

#Leadership #Education #SchoolLeadership #ConflictResolution #Resilience
#RestorativePractices#restorativejustice#traumainformedpractice#emotionalintelligenceinschools#RestorativeLeadership #Principals #VicePrincipals #EducationalLeadership #TrustBuilding #SchoolCommunity,#ListenToUnderstand #LeadWithCare #BeLikeGrass #TransformConflict