In this book club episode of The Efficacious Educator Podcast, Sarah Bialek is joined by school leaders to discuss The Disengaged Teen by Jenny Anderson and Rebecca Winthrop. Together, they explore why so many adolescents disengage from school and how the Four Modes of Engagement—Passenger, Achiever, Resistor, and Explorer—can help educators rethink behavior, discipline, and MTSS systems. A must-listen for middle and high school leaders seeking more human, effective approaches to student support.

Student mental health needs have reached crisis levels — and traditional support systems aren't enough. In this episode, we explore how one Chicago community used community organizing to build a new System of Care that connects schools, families, and mental health services in powerful new ways.

Jessica Biggs, educator, organizer, and newly elected member of the Chicago Board of Education, shares how her team leveraged community navigators, trust-building, and collaborative leadership to transform access to mental health supports for students and families.

We talk about what makes systems sustainable, why relationships are more powerful than referrals, and what schools and communities everywhere can learn from this innovative model.

🎧 Topics we cover:

• How schools can address the student mental health crisis

• Why community navigators became the bridge between families and services

• Building trust between schools, community organizations, and families

• Lessons in organizing collective leadership across a city

🔗 Read the full study: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jessica-biggs-6b06b413_using-community-organizing-to-build-a-system-activity-7287496086104023041-w7Pp?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAALOY90BPIcHH3u3HTwkCRcEerZIOV4fcI4
🔗 Connect with Jessica Biggs: linkedin.com/in/jessica-biggs-6b06b413

What do you do when a school’s morning entry feels out of control? In this episode of The Efficacious Educator Podcast, host Sarah Bialek speaks with Chris Conant, Jim Brasile, and Meg Shea from New Britain High School in Connecticut about how they tackled a chaotic start to the school day—and transformed it into an organized, welcoming experience for students and staff.

They share how they:
✅ Built a collaborative team to address school climate issues
✅ Designed a morning entry system that improved safety, behavior, and morale
✅ Used collective teacher efficacy to drive meaningful change
✅ Applied lessons from morning entry success to new challenges, like bathroom culture

This episode is a must-listen for educators, school leaders, and anyone passionate about building positive school culture through collaboration and innovation.

🎧 Listen now!
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In this episode of The Efficacious Educator Podcast, Sarah Bialek interviews Demetrius Fuller, assistant principal at Sokolowski Elementary, about the transformative power of the HOMies (Habits of Mind). Demetrius shares how these eight creative characters empower students to embrace their potential, foster resilience, and build critical thinking skills, while also uniting educators around a shared language for growth. Discover how the HOMies have become a cornerstone of Sokolowski’s school culture, inspiring students and teachers alike to thrive as their whole selves.

Contact Demetrius Fuller: [email protected] 

Show Links

Publications Mentioned in the Podcast

In this episode of the Efficacious Educator Podcast, host Sarah Bialek interviews Sean Mulvey, principal of Summit School in Grand Junction, Colorado. They discuss the importance of restorative practices in education, the unique therapeutic environment at Summit School, and the challenges faced by students with behavioral and mental health needs. Sean shares insights on the skills and expertise required for staff working in such environments, the significance of communication in transitioning students back to mainstream schools, and the role of peer mediation in conflict resolution. The conversation also touches on the gaps in mental health services and the impact of funding on supporting vulnerable students. In this conversation, Sean Mulvey discusses the importance of peer mentorship in education, focusing on building connections and fostering belonging among students. He emphasizes the need for conflict resolution skills and the impact of trauma on students' experiences in school. Sean shares insights on leadership in education, the purpose of education in community building, and reflects on his personal journey and aspirations for the future.

Links:

1. The Efficacious Educator Website

2. Chalkbeat Article - The schools that take Colorado’s ‘most vulnerable’ children are disappearing

3. Reach out to Sean Mulvey on LinkedIn: