Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Mike Azzalina, M.Ed., to the Restorative Works! Podcast.   

 

Mike joins us to discuss navigating the nuances of creating inclusive communities, starting with the simple yet profound act of showing up for others. Mike shares personal stories from his journey, including his own challenges growing up with a heart condition and the educators who uplifted him during his toughest moments. Discover how these experiences inspired Mike's bestselling book, Heartbeats: My Greatest Challenge and My Greatest Strength, and fueled his mission to instill love and value in every student and colleague. 

 

Mike highlights the importance of authenticity, intentionality, and resilience in nurturing healthy school cultures. From fostering meaningful relationships to prioritizing self-care, his wisdom offers practical and inspiring anecdotes on which educators can reflect when navigating today's complex educational landscape. 

 

 

Mike is an instructor and implementation coach at the IIRP Graduate School. He spent over 16 years in public education as an elementary school teacher, assistant principal, and principal across elementary and middle schools. Mike is a rising international bestselling author of Heartbeats: My Greatest Challenge and My Greatest Strength. He is passionate about building connections and relationships with people while helping them to develop those same connections with others. Mike is also a public motivational speaker to pass along his passion to educators everywhere. He earned his Bachelor in Elementary Education from Elizabethtown College, Master of Curriculum and Instruction from Penn State University, and Master of Educational Leadership from the American College of Education. 

 

Tune in to hear Mike’s perspective as an educator and leader on what it means to be intentionally restorative in the school-space.