Edspire

Elizabeth Stowers, who works with Communities in Schools, and Ryan Kmetz, an elementary school counselor, are guests on today's show, and they had us laughing! Elizabeth and Ryan talk about their partnership to help bridge the gaps in their students' lives. Having successful relationships with children and their families requires a certain mindset of respect, openness, humility, grace, love...and humor. Ryan and Elizabeth remind us--as educators or parents--to find our people, that things aren't always what they seem, and laughing while crying is an essential and beautiful coping skill.

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Feel free to contact us at [email protected] with questions or suggestions for upcoming topics...if we use your suggestion, we will give you a shout out on the show!

Communities in Schools National Website: https://www.communitiesinschools.org/ 

Communities in Schools Virginia Website: https://cisofva.org/

Shirley Ramsey, our guest, shares her story about her 16-year-old son, Jackson. "He was compassionate, thoughtful, engaging, handsome and athletic. He was kind of kid others wanted to be around." But no one realized the depth of the Jackson's inner struggles with mental illness. Jackson died by suicide in February 2010. His mother, Shirley, has made it her mission to spread awareness and provide education about suicide prevention so this does not happen to anyone else. She will stop at nothing to break down the stigma and make having a #realconvo normal. Suicide can be difficult to talk about because people don't always know what to say or they are afraid they will put ideas into that person's mind, and in response, people say nothing or brush it off. I get why we do it, but it isn't the answer. When we know better, we do better. Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for teens and young adults. Read that again...we have to do better. Danny and Holly learned so much talking to Shirley and we know you will, too. Please share this episode and reach out to us for questions and comments. We are on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Or you can email us at [email protected]

Are you in a crisis? Call 800-273-8255 or text TALK to 741741 

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: Have a #Realconvo https://afsp.org/realconvo

Out of the Darkness Walk Info: https://afsp.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=cms.page&id=1370

Follow Shirley on Twitter! https://twitter.com/shoreyram

1) When someone is struggling, just listen

2) Let the other person share at their own speed

3) Don’t pass judgement or offer advice — just be there

4) We all experience mental health differently, and that’s okay

5) Check back in, and offer to connect them to help if they need it

Jentae Scott-Mayo is a professional school counselor, author, and holds a position on the Virginia School Counselor Association Board of Directors. On this episode, we talk about how we sometimes hide our true selves or dim our light in an effort to not be "too much" for other people or protect an image. When we do this; when we play it safe... we lose out on authentic and meaningful relationships with others, including our students and families. Jentae shares how being vulnerable and transparent, and how her own push to take risks makes big impacts in her relationships with her students. Through vulnerability, she has learned to burn her light bright, and to do so proudly. She brings authenticity and fire into her calling as a school counselor.  Dare to be dynamic! 

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