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 leadership in educational settings.

Ryan's remarkable journey from law enforcement through ministry to becoming an internationally recognized conflict coach offers unique insights into managing pressure, building instant trust, and navigating emotionally charged conversations. As founder of Conflict-ish and creator of The Real Tact Model® used by organizations like Chick-fil-A and Yale, Ryan shares practical frameworks that help leaders move from reactive responses to strategic relationship building.

This conversation tackles the real challenges educational leaders face daily - from difficult parent conversations to managing consistently negative team members. Ryan reveals why facts don't resolve feelings, how to be right and wrong simultaneously, and the critical difference between communicating with care versus communicating carefully.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to build instant trust and rapport in high-pressure situations without pre-existing relationships

• The three unconscious questions every person asks when meeting someone new and how to address them

• Why validating emotions must come before presenting facts in any difficult conversation

• How to recognize when you're doing the right thing the wrong way and pivot gracefully

• Practical strategies for managing team members who consistently bring negative energy to workplace dynamics

Featured Guest: Ryan Dunlap combines over 20 years of experience in law enforcement, ministry, and executive leadership as founder and Chief Conflict Officer at Conflict-ish. He holds an M.S. in Communication and Leadership from Purdue University and brings over 3,600 hours of specialized training including FBI Interviews & Interrogations and SWAT operations. His background as an SVU Detective, SWAT hostage negotiator, and crisis intervention officer provides unique insights into pressure management and strategic communication. Ryan serves as co-faculty at the University at Buffalo School of Management and expert advisor to state governments including the Georgia Sexual Assault Response Team and Tennessee Human Trafficking Advisory Council.

Recommended Resources: • The Art of Tact 60-day training program  • The Real Tact Model® conflict management framework  • "How to Untie a Balloon" book

Visit the Deans' Roundtable: https://deansroundtable.org Check out the Deans' Roundtable Community: https://bit.ly/drt-community-profile LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridget-johnson510/ Email: [email protected]

The Dean's Roundtable: Where student life professionals connect, learn, share, and grow together.

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 Student Life at Taft School. Drawing from his 22 years with the Gardner Carney Leadership Institute, he explains how leadership can be taught through everyday experiences in any educational setting. At its core, this approach helps students develop agency, self-awareness, and collaborative skills that extend beyond classroom walls.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to redefine leadership as skills that can be taught rather than innate talents

• Practical ways to incorporate leadership education into existing academic settings

• Techniques for creating psychologically safe spaces through effective feedback loops

• Strategies for building faculty cultures that model collaborative leadership

• How leadership education helps students develop agency in the face of social media pressures

• Why relationships, not transactions, should be at the heart of education

Featured Guest: Jeremy LaCasse is Assistant Head of School for Student Life at Taft School in Connecticut and executive director of the Gardner Carney Leadership Institute. His impressive career spans roles as acting assistant head at Cheshire Academy, head of school at Kents Hill School, head of senior school at Shady Side Academy, and dean of students at Fountain Valley School. A graduate of Berkshire School and Bowdoin College, Jeremy holds a master's from Columbia's Teachers College. Throughout his career, he has taught history, coached skiing and crew, and led outdoor programs while speaking at numerous NAIS and TABS conferences.

Recommended Resources: Gardner Carney Leadership Institute (gclileadership.org) offers professional development through their Leadership Lab: June 16-22 at Fountain Valley School, Colorado Springs.

Visit the Deans' Roundtable: https://deansroundtable.org

Check out the Deans' Roundtable Community Website: https://bit.ly/drt-community-profile

 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridget-johnson510/

Email: [email protected]

The Dean's Roundtable: Where student life professionals connect, learn, share, and grow together.

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 complex issues around AI deep fakes and their impact on students. With recent data showing 11% of students age 9-17 admit knowing classmates creating fake nude images, schools need immediate response strategies.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to develop effective policies and protocols for NCII incidents

• Legal requirements and the newly passed Take It Down Act

• Evidence handling best practices that keep staff legally protected

• Strategies for supporting victims while addressing perpetrators

• How to prepare your school community through proactive education

• Future AI threats on the horizon for educational institutions

Check out Evan's "A Parents Guide to NCIIs"

Featured Guest: 

Evan Harris is the president of Pathos Consulting Group, where he helps independent schools develop real-world policies and incident response plans to address emerging digital threats, including deepfake sexual abuse and sextortion. With over a decade of experience as teacher and administrator, he holds a master's in private school leadership from Teachers College and has furthered his studies in tech ethics at Stanford's Human-Centered AI Institute. Evan has collaborated with the general counsel of NAIS, the Texas State Senate, and the Office of the First Lady on initiatives to strengthen school safety and student protection in the age of AI.

Recommended Resources: Special parent resources for preventing and addressing AI-generated deep fakes

Visit the Deans' Roundtable: https://deansroundtable.org

Check out the Deans' Roundtable Community: https://bit.ly/drt-community-profile

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/deans-roundtable

Email: [email protected]

The Dean's Roundtable: Where student life professionals connect, learn, share, and grow together.

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 academic integrity expert, shares insights on why departmental approaches to AI policy might work better than blanket rules, how online education has expanded the opportunity for misconduct, and the concerning trend of students hiring attorneys to fight academic misconduct allegations.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why clear, consistent policies are crucial for addressing AI use in education

• How teachers and students can use AI responsibly in academic settings

• Practical strategies for detecting AI misuse in student work

• The impact of technology on assessment validity in online education

• Why administrator support for teachers reporting misconduct is essential

Featured Guest: Derek Newton is recognized as one of the 10 education influencers to follow in 2024. His analysis on academic integrity has appeared in prestigious publications including the Washington Post, the Atlantic, and Forbes, where he serves as a contributing writer.

Visit the Deans' Roundtable: https://deansroundtable.org

Check out the Deans' Roundtable Community:  https://bit.ly/drt-community-profile

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/deans-roundtable

Email: [email protected]

Check out Derek's Substack, "The Cheat Sheet": https://thecheatsheet.substack.com/

The Dean's Roundtable: Where student life professionals connect, learn, share, and grow together.

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 from independent school student to administrator and now consultant. Drawing from their experience as Director of Residential Life and Associate Dean of Students, Jayde provides practical insights on building consistent, accountable, responsive, and empathetic student support systems. This conversation explores both the challenges and solutions for creating communities where students can thrive.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to implement clear, consistent policies that students actually understand and follow

• Strategies for building authentic relationships that create psychological safety for students

• Why restorative approaches must begin with relationship-building, not just conflict resolution

• How to maintain institutional knowledge through leadership transitions

• Ways to balance accountability with empathy in disciplinary situations

• Practical approaches for day and boarding schools to educate students on boundaries and safety

Featured Guest: Jayde Bennett brings their experience as both a former independent school student and administrator to their work at Learning Courage, where they help schools develop ethics of care that center healing and survivorship while remaining responsive to community needs.

Visit the Deans' Roundtable:

Website: https://www.deansrountable.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/deans-roundtable

Email: [email protected]

Dean's Roundtable: Where student life professionals connect, learn, share, and grow together.

The Art of Feedback: Fostering Growth in Educational Settings with Aubry Triptow

Effective feedback is essential for growth, yet often challenging to implement. In this insightful episode, Aubry Triptow shares practical strategies for creating feedback cultures that motivate rather than discourage educators.

Bridget and Aubry explore the nuances of giving and receiving feedback in educational environments, from establishing psychological safety to handling resistant team members. Through personal stories and professional expertise, they reveal how intentional feedback practices can transform school cultures and enhance leadership effectiveness.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to tailor your feedback approach to different communication styles

• Techniques for creating school-wide systems where feedback is welcomed

• Strategies for delivering difficult feedback to resistant team members

• Methods to process feedback effectively and determine what's actionable

• The vital connection between emotional intelligence and feedback reception

Featured Guest: Aubry Triptow leverages her experience from classroom teaching to Texas Education Agency leadership to coach educational leaders nationwide. As founder of The GEAR Leader, she helps administrators build genuine, effective, admirable, and resilient leadership skills, with particular expertise in feedback systems that drive professional growth.

Visit the Deans' Roundtable: https://deansroundtable.org

Check out the Deans' Roundtable Community:  https://bit.ly/drt-community-profile

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/deans-roundtable

Email: [email protected]

The Dean's Roundtable: Where student life professionals connect, learn, share, and grow together.

Veteran educator David Torcoletti shares how mentorship shaped his own career and why it's essential for student life professionals at every stage. This candid conversation reveals why the most effective deans balance accountability with support and how self-knowledge is the foundation for authentic leadership.

In this enlightening episode, host Bridget Johnson reconnects with her own mentor to explore the evolving landscape of student life leadership. From David's unexpected start living in dormitories to becoming a transformative dean, his journey illuminates the delicate balance between building student relationships and holding them accountable. Their discussion covers how artistic perspectives enhance leadership, the value of embracing difficult conversations, and why even experienced deans benefit from ongoing mentorship.

• Why understanding your own triggers and values is essential before leading others

• How to maintain your personal identity while fulfilling professional responsibilities

• Techniques for having difficult conversations without compromising relationships

• When to seek mentorship, regardless of your career stage

• The balance between restorative practices and accountability in modern student life

• Why self-care remains crucial for sustained leadership effectiveness

David Torcoletti began as a photography teacher before becoming a campus dean at Northfield Mount Hermon and later Dean of Students at Milton Academy. His experience spans decades of student life leadership, where he developed a philosophy of mentorship that emphasizes self-knowledge, craft development, and balanced perspective. David's artistic background has informed his approach to educational leadership, helping countless administrators find their authentic voice.

Visit the Deans' Roundtable: https://deansroundtable.org

Check out the Deans' Roundtable Community:  https://bit.ly/drt-community-profile

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/deans-roundtable

Email: [email protected]

The Dean's Roundtable: Where student life professionals connect, learn, share, and grow together.

The Art of Improv in Education - Building Communication and Creativity w/Andrew McMasters

Discover how the principles of improvisation can revolutionize your team's communication and spark innovation. In this episode, Andrew McMasters shares powerful insights from his decades of experience bridging the worlds of professional acting and corporate training.

Andrew and host Bridget Johnson explore the transformative power of "yes, and" thinking and how simple improv techniques can break down barriers to creativity in professional environments. Learn practical methods for fostering psychological safety, enhancing listening skills, and building teams that thrive in rapidly changing circumstances.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to apply the core principles of improvisation to overcome workplace challenges
• Techniques for creating environments where team members feel safe to contribute ideas
• Practical exercises to improve active listening and responsive communication
• Methods to adapt leadership styles for different team dynamics and situations
• Ways to implement "yes, and" thinking to drive innovation and problem-solving

Featured Guest: Andrew McMasters is a Seattle-based entrepreneur, corporate trainer, and professional actor who has worked with Fortune 500 companies since 1990. His unique approach combines theatrical improvisation techniques with practical business applications to help organizations communicate more effectively, collaborate seamlessly, and innovate continuously.

Recommended Resources: Yes-And Leadership by Andrew McMasters

Visit the Deans' Roundtable: https://deansroundtable.org

Deans' Roundtable Annual Conference: https://deansroundtable.org/deans-roundtable-annual-conference/ 

Check out the Deans' Roundtable Community:

Website: https://bit.ly/drt-community-profile

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/deans-roundtable

Email: [email protected]

The Dean's Roundtable: Where student life professionals connect, learn, share, and grow together.

The Missing Curriculum: Teaching Students How to Have Real Conversations w/Liza Garonzik

In an age of increasing polarization and digital distraction, how do we create spaces for authentic dialogue that builds genuine connection and belonging? Join Bridget Johnson and award-winning educator Liza Garonzik as they explore this critical question facing educators today.

Through her organization R.E.A.L. Discussion, Liza has partnered with over 70 independent schools to transform how they approach dialogue and community building. Drawing from extensive research and firsthand experience as a teacher, administrator, and trustee, she shares powerful insights about the relationship between discussion skills and belonging in school communities.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to break down conversation skills into teachable components for students of all ages

• Practical strategies for creating psychological safety in classroom discussions

• Ways to measure and track the impact of structured dialogue on student belonging

• Techniques for helping students transfer discussion skills to their future careers

• Why "conversation labs" may be as essential as computer labs were in the 1990s

Featured Guest: Liza Garonzik is the Founder of R.E.A.L. Discussion, an organization on a mission to teach discussion skills to young people growing up in today's digital world. A Harvard graduate and award-winning educator, Liza brings unique insights from her research into how structured yet authentic discussions can reshape classroom dynamics and build stronger communities.

Recommended Resources:

• "The Good Life" - Harvard Study on Happiness

• "How to Know a Person" by David Brooks

• R.E.A.L. Discussion Framework: Relating, Excerpting, Asking, Listening

Visit the Dean's Roundtable:

Website: https://deansroundtable.org

Community Profile: https://bit.ly/drt-community-profile

LinkedIn: /deans-roundtable

Email: [email protected]

Connect with Liza Garonzik:

Website: https://realdiscussion.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liza-garonzik-20988835/

The Dean's Roundtable: Where student life professionals connect, learn, share, and grow together.

Sustainable Leadership: How to Lead Better While Doing Less | Dean's Roundtable with Danielle Pickens

Are you trapped in the "always available" leadership cycle? Discover how to create lasting impact without burning out. Leadership expert Danielle Pickens shares game-changing strategies for sustainable leadership in mission-driven organizations.

In this transformative episode, we dive deep into the challenges facing education and nonprofit leaders. Danielle draws from her two decades of experience to challenge traditional leadership approaches that lead to burnout. She shares practical insights on breaking free from micromanagement, setting healthy boundaries, and building systems that support both organizational success and personal wellbeing.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to identify and break free from unsustainable leadership patterns
• Practical strategies to delegate effectively without losing quality
• Ways to push back on the "do more with less" mentality
• Techniques for building trust while maintaining boundaries
• Methods to create sustainable systems in resource-constrained environments

Featured Guest: Danielle Pickens brings over two decades of experience developing mid to senior-level leaders within K12 education, nonprofits, and mission-driven organizations. As an independent consultant and coach, she helps organizations transform their approach to leadership through her innovative "do less method," proving that you don't have to choose between organizational success and personal wellbeing. Visit Danielle's Website or check out her LinkedIn. 

Visit the Deans' Roundtable:

• ANNUAL CONFERENCE: https://deansroundtable.org/deans-roundtable-annual-conference/

• Website: https://deansroundtable.org

• Community Profile: https://bit.ly/drt-community-profile

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/deans-roundtable

• Email: [email protected]

The Dean's Roundtable: Where student life professionals connect, learn, share, and grow together.