The Well-being Classroom

What if the biggest barrier to school improvement is the way leaders think about leadership itself?

Today, I’m delighted to welcome Michael Nelson and Dr. Peter DeWitt, co-founders of the Instructional Leadership Collective and two of the most respected voices in educational leadership today.

Michael has spent more than four decades in education as a teacher, principal, superintendent, state leader, and professional learning facilitator. A former Washington State Superintendent of the Year, his work is rooted in empathy, collaboration, and a relentless focus on improving outcomes for students. Peter is an internationally recognised leadership expert, author, speaker, and former principal whose work on instructional leadership, collective efficacy, and professional learning has influenced schools and systems around the globe.

In this episode, we explore why leadership can be an isolating profession and how collective inquiry is helping leaders move beyond that isolation. We discuss the critical difference between collaboration and collective leadership, why leaders need to stop asking what teachers should do differently and start asking what they should do differently themselves, and how evidence, vulnerability, and shared problem-solving can transform both leaders and school cultures.

We also examine the power of collective efficacy, the challenge of balancing technical and adaptive leadership, and how leaders can create the conditions for meaningful, sustainable improvement rather than simply implementing another initiative. Along the way, Michael and Peter share powerful stories of leadership transformation, reveal some of the common themes emerging from collectives across the world, and outline their ambitious vision for connecting educational leaders through shared problems of practice... and much more!

Welcome to The Well-being Classroom.

Click to learn more about the Instructional Leadership Collective: https://instructionalleadershipcollective.com

What happens in the brain before a child truly learns?

Today, I’m thrilled to welcome Dr. Erwin Bryan Utchanah to the podcast. Dr. Utchanah is an international educator, Art Teacher, and a practicing artist with over four decades of teaching experience, including more than 25 years in international education. He holds a Doctorate in Education with a focus on Affective Neuroscience and Education, an MFA, and an MA in Educational Leadership.

His experience spans IB Visual Arts and Art & Design. His practice in the classroom is heavily inspired by the work of Professor Mary Helen Immordino-Yang, guided by the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) framework: “I FEEL • I THINK • I LEARN”.

In this episode, we explore how emotions, curiosity, creativity, and meaningful reflections help young people become thoughtful, balanced, and lifelong learners. We also dive into how to use provocations—like unfamiliar objects or a change in seating—to stimulate curiosity, the delicate balance of combining emotional well-being with academic rigor to create a space for intellectual risk, and how to cultivate "transcendent thinking" to help students look beyond the immediate and become responsible global citizens—and much more!

Welcome to The Well-being Classroom.

Can nature teach children about life, loss, and hope better than we can?

Today, I’m delighted to welcome Caroline Young, an experienced educator, coach, author, and former international school leader whose career has taken her from bustling London classrooms to the rainforests of Brunei and beyond. Through her work with educators and school leaders, Caroline champions the power of connection, communication, and joyful learning. She is also the author of Grandad’s Garden, a beautifully crafted story inspired by her own family’s experiences and the lessons nature can teach us about change, grief, and renewal.

In this episode, we explore why time outdoors is far more than just play, how nature can calm the mind and support wellbeing, and what children gain when they are given the freedom to connect with the natural world. We dive into the story behind Grandad’s Garden, the surprising inspiration that came from two foxes in an overgrown garden, and how poetry helps children make sense of their experiences and emotions. We also discuss bereavement, loss, and change, why schools need to be having these conversations more openly, and how nature provides a gentle and hopeful way to help children understand life’s cycles. Along the way, we reflect on seasons, metaphor, creativity, children's voice, outdoor learning, the importance of gardens, and much more.

Welcome to The Well-being Classroom.

Can empathy be taught?

Today, I’m delighted to welcome Ed Kirwan, filmmaker, former teacher, and founder of Empathy Studios. After beginning his career in education, Ed became fascinated by a simple but profound question: how can we help young people better understand themselves, others, and the world around them? That question ultimately led him to create a global movement that uses the power of film and storytelling to develop empathy, reaching more than 1.8 million students worldwide.

In this episode, we explore why empathy should be viewed as a skill rather than a personality trait, how it underpins wellbeing, belonging, trust, and healthy relationships, and why it may be one of the most important human skills in an age of AI. We discuss the connection between empathy and creativity, the role of perspective-taking in leadership and education, and how film can provide students with experiences and viewpoints they may never otherwise encounter. We also examine how powerful stories can unlock deeper classroom conversations, support safeguarding and inclusion, help students feel seen and understood, and create cultures where people can disagree without losing connection... and much more!

Check out Empathy Studios: https://empathystudios.com

Why are adult relationships often the hardest part of school life?

Today, I'm delighted to welcome Jennifer Abrams, an international educational consultant, author, speaker, and self-described "voice coach" who has spent decades helping educators navigate some of the most challenging aspects of professional life. Jennifer is the author of several influential books, including Having Hard Conversations, Hard Conversations Unpacked, The Multigenerational Workplace, and her most recent release, Stretching Your Learning Edges: Growing (Up) at Work. She has worked with schools and organisations across the globe, supporting educators to strengthen communication, collaboration, leadership, and adult development.

In this episode, we explore why adult-to-adult communication remains one of the most overlooked challenges in schools, the emotional complexity of educational leadership, and why wellbeing is about far more than positivity and self-care. We discuss the importance of clarity before difficult conversations, the role of discomfort in professional growth, how leaders can develop feedback tolerance and emotional regulation, and why schools cannot achieve their goals without trust, strong relationships, and healthy adult cultures. We also dive into the concepts of resilience, self-awareness, and Jennifer's belief that adult development is not an indulgence but a necessity... and much more!

Welcome to The Well-being Classroom!

Check out Jennifer’s website: https://jenniferabrams.com

Can kindness and accountability truly coexist in leadership?

Today, I'm delighted to welcome Joanna Povall, an award-winning international school leader, author, and global education consultant with more than 30 years of experience across the UK, France, and the UAE. Joanna is the Principal of Wales International School in Abu Dhabi, a Lead Improvement Partner for COBIS, and the author of Kind Leadership: Leading Schools with Empathy, Honesty and Impact, which introduces her CHASE leadership framework. She was also named Tes International Principal of the Year 2024 for her work transforming school culture, community engagement, and student outcomes.

In this episode, we explore the critical distinction between being nice and being kind, how negative leadership experiences inspired Joanna to develop the CHASE framework, and why communication, honesty, accountability, self-esteem, and ego management are essential to creating healthy school cultures. We discuss toxic workplaces, the impact leadership has on teacher wellbeing and retention, the misconceptions surrounding kind leadership, and how schools around the world are adopting the CHASE framework to build cultures where people feel valued, supported, and challenged to grow... and much more!

Welcome to The Well-being Classroom!

Get your copy of Kind Leadership: https://www.amazon.com/Kind-Leadership-Leading-Schools-Empathy/dp/178583780X

Can one act of kindness change the course of a life?

Today, I'm honoured to welcome Toby Gorniak MBE, culture transformation specialist, keynote speaker, founder of The Gorniak Method™, and recipient of an MBE for over two decades of service to communities and young people. Born into the Roma community in Poland, Toby endured severe racism, violence, and exclusion, including being beaten into a coma at the age of eleven. After arriving in the UK as a teenage refugee, he made a promise to become the person he needed as a child: a good human being.

In this episode, we explore Toby's extraordinary journey from trauma to transformation, the experiences that shaped his belief that every person possesses a unique genius, and the powerful moment that inspired the values at the heart of The Gorniak Method. We discuss why respect, peace, love, unity, and fun should be the foundation of every school and workplace, how authentic human connection can change lives, the importance of discovering the hidden potential in every child, and why culture should be built with people, not for them... and much more! 

Welcome to The Well-being Classroom!

Get to know more about Toby: https://tobygorniakmbe.com

What does authentic, reciprocal networking look like in education, and how can strong communities empower teachers to step into leadership with confidence?

Today, I’m thrilled to welcome Ben Hobbis, an Assistant Headteacher at a North London primary school, speaker, and social entrepreneur with a deep passion for developing people and building communities. Ben is also the Founder and CEO of Step Up Network CIC, a growing leadership movement dedicated to helping teachers and school leaders connect, learn, and thrive.

In this episode, we dive into his early career struggles that inspired him to create a supportive space for educators. We discuss the realities of moving beyond surface-level social media connections, the power of coaching and mentoring, and how building genuine professional networks directly benefits students and school communities—and much more!

Welcome to The Well-being Classroom!

Check out Step Up Network: https://stepupnetwork.uk

Strategic Strategy, Real-World Action: Setting Up Staff for the Year Ahead

As we launch into a new academic year, prioritizing staff well-being is essential for building a thriving school environment. In this compilation episode of The Well-being Classroom, we bring together insights from two exceptional leaders to explore both the theory and practice of supporting educator health:

Tune in to discover how bridging high-level strategy with real-world practices can transform your school’s culture from day one.

This special compilation episode brings together the core of two standout discussions: Episode 5 featuring Dr. Helen Street and Episode 24 featuring Xavier Woods. Centered on what students really want from teachers, Helen speaks in regard to older, secondary school students with thoughts derived directly from research, whilst Xavier focuses on younger ones by bringing his former students directly onto the podcast to share their experiences. While this compilation highlights the heart of both conversations, there is so much more to listen to on the individual podcast episodes.

Dr. Helen Street brings an academic perspective to Episode 5, with all her thoughts on student motivation and flourishing derived from research. Drawing on her background as an education consultant in applied social psychology and mental health, the published author, co-founder of the Positive Schools initiative, and creator of the 'contextual wellbeing' model bases her advice on evidence-based studies.

In Episode 24, Xavier Woods shares his extensive experience as an educator with nearly 25 years across the U.S. and the Middle East. A two-time Teacher of the Year in Metro Atlanta and a candidate for America’s Favorite Teacher 2026, Xavier is also a painter, music artist, and author of The Powerful Book of Positively Powerful Poems and Keep God 1st and Go to Therapy. Note that all student participation in his episode was conducted with full parental consent in accordance with professional privacy and safeguarding protocols.