Thriving Educator

Improve School Culture With 5 Principles

Dwight Carter is an award-winning education leader from Central OH. He has served as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal and is currently the Director of Student Support Systems for the Eastland-Fairfield Career and Technical School District. 
 
He is the co-author of What’s In Your Space? Five Steps to Better School and Classroom Design (Corwin, 2016), Leading Schools in Disruptive Times: How to Survive Hyper-change (Corwin 2017/2021); and a contributing author to Because of a Teacher: Stories of the Past to Inspire the Future of Education written and curated by George Couros. His first solo book, Be GREAT: Five Principles to Improve School Culture from the Inside Out, was published recently (IMPress, 2022). 
What is the most challenging mental health issue in your school or district right now?: Anxiety and depression 
How is mental health currently addressed in your school(s), and what are the limitations?: Social workers, small group therapy sessions, SMART Labs, de-escalation strategies, Panorama playbook, focus on emotional intelligence
Please follow and contact this guest via mrdwightcarter@gmail.com
 
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Thriving School Community Podcast HOST:  Charle Peck, M.Ed., MSW
 
Hire Charle to run your mental health teacher and school staff professional development. 
 
BOOK A CALL:
https://calendly.com/thrivingschool/discoverycall
 
Get the BOOK: Book: https://a.co/d/0rrXb53
“Improving School Mental Health: The Thriving School Community Solution”
*Now on Amazon*
 
SPEAKER PROFILE: ThrivingEducator.org
COMPANY PROFILE: ThrivingSchool.org
EMAIL: charle@thrivingschool.org
 
BIO: Charle Peck is the co-creator of Thriving School Community, a revolutionary program designed for schools to improve mental health. With over 20 years of education and mental health leadership experience, she has the unique lens of both a certified teacher and a licensed clinical therapist specializing in trauma. Charle holds an MS in Education and an MS in Social Work. Her role as a high school teacher coupled with her work with children and families in crisis gives her incredible insight into solving youth mental health problems stemming from our schools. She is the co-author of Improving School Mental Health: The Thriving School Community Solution and a global keynote speaker delivering powerful messages of hope to educators. Connect with Charle at: charle@thrivingschool.org and on Twitter at: @CharlePeck
 
Twitter https://twitter.com/CharlePeck
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@thrivingschoolcommunity
LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charle-peck/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlepeck/
Website: ThrivingEducator.com
Clubhouse: @charlepeck
Twitter https://twitter.com/CharlePeck
LinkedIN:https://www.linkedin.com/in/charle-peck/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlepeck/
LinkTree:  https://linktr.ee/CharlePeck
 
#ThrivingSchool

Tips for Supporting EL Students

Andrea Bitner is an educator, author, and speaker.  She lives in Philadelphia, PA. She has worked with students in grades K-12 throughout her twenty-two years in public education from all around the world.   Her first book, “Take Me Home,” was published by Austin Macauley in July of 2021. "Take Me Home" is the true story of 11 of her former EL students who give a first-hand account of what it's really like to become bilingual in America.  She is also a co-author of Chip Baker’s “The Impact of Influence-Volume 3 and Dr. Rick Jetter’s 100 No-Nonsense Things ALL School Leaders Shout STOP Doing.”  She teaches EL’s daily, and travels the country speaking and teaching educators how to teach and reach EL students, and effectively communicate with EL families!  
You can find Andrea at www.andreabitnerbooks.com
 
Resource: “Take Me Home”
 
What is the most challenging mental health issue in your school or district right now?: Teacher Retention, Student Traumas, Socialization 
 
How is mental health currently addressed in your school(s), and what are the limitations?: Monthly Social Worker Newsletter, free counseling services, admin support
 
What are a few points you'd like to cover relating to school mental health improvement? (This serves as a helpful reminder when it's time for you to interview).: Traumas, Resiliency, and Affect on EL students and families
 
Please follow and contact this guest via @BitnerAndrea
 
_______________________________________
 
Thriving School Community Podcast HOST:  Charle Peck, M.Ed., MSW
 
Hire Charle to run your mental health teacher and school staff professional development. 
 
BOOK A CALL:
https://calendly.com/thrivingschool/discoverycall
 
Get the BOOK: Book: https://a.co/d/0rrXb53
“Improving School Mental Health: The Thriving School Community Solution”
*Now on Amazon*
 
SPEAKER PROFILE: ThrivingEducator.org
COMPANY PROFILE: ThrivingSchool.org
EMAIL: charle@thrivingschool.org
 
BIO: Charle Peck is the co-creator of Thriving School Community, a revolutionary program designed for schools to improve mental health. With over 20 years of education and mental health leadership experience, she has the unique lens of both a certified teacher and a licensed clinical therapist specializing in trauma. Charle holds an MS in Education and an MS in Social Work. Her role as a high school teacher coupled with her work with children and families in crisis gives her incredible insight into solving youth mental health problems stemming from our schools. She is the co-author of Improving School Mental Health: The Thriving School Community Solution and a global keynote speaker delivering powerful messages of hope to educators. Connect with Charle at: charle@thrivingschool.org and on Twitter at: @CharlePeck
 
Twitter https://twitter.com/CharlePeck
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@thrivingschoolcommunity
LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charle-peck/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlepeck/
Website: ThrivingEducator.com
Clubhouse: @charlepeck
Twitter https://twitter.com/CharlePeck
LinkedIN:https://www.linkedin.com/in/charle-peck/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlepeck/
LinkTree:  https://linktr.ee/CharlePeck
 
#ThrivingSchool

Are Advisory Programs the Solution

Evan Robb Retired Principal, Head of Upper School, Powhatan School
 
Please follow and contact this guest via…
Twitter - @ERobbPrincipal
The Robb Review Blog - https://therobbreviewblog.com/
Robb Communications - https://robbcommunications.com/
Linkedin - Evan Robb MBA
Facebook - The Robb Review
Evan Robb has over twenty years of experience serving as a building-level principal. Prior to being a school principal, he was an English teacher, department chair, and Assistant Principal. Evan is a recipient of the Horace Mann Educator of the Year Award. In addition, the NCTE Commission on Reading selected him to serve on its national board.
 
A TEDx Speaker, Evan offers inspirational keynotes, workshops, webinars, and ongoing professional learning opportunities on leadership, mindset, culture, impactful change, and how to improve literacy in schools. Evan has shared his ideas with thousands of educators at dozens of workshops across the United States and in other countries.
 
His first book titled, The Principal’s Leadership Sourcebook: Practices, Tools, and Strategies for Building a Thriving School Community was published by Scholastic in the fall of 2007. His next book, The Ten-Minute Principal, was published by Corwin in May 2019. Evan and Laura Robb collaborated with Dave Burgess Publishing to write, Team Makers, which was published in August of 2019. In addition, Evan partnered with Laura Robb to write, A School Full of Readers, with Benchmark Education, which was published in January 2020. Evan’s newest book with Corwin, Aiming High: Leadership Actions to Increase Learning Gains, was published in February 2022.
What is the most challenging mental health issue in your school or district right now?: Student relationships the shifts staff need to make to provide student supports outside of core content.
 
How is mental health currently addressed in your school(s), and what are the limitations?: A team effort of staff- counselors- parents- an advisory period and responsive classroom training.
“Improving mental health in schools is crucial to ensuring the overall well-being and success of students. “
 
Creating a positive school culture: A positive and inclusive school culture is essential for promoting good mental health among students. This can be achieved by fostering a sense of belonging, respect, and acceptance for all students.
Providing mental health resources: Schools should provide a range of mental health resources, including counseling services, mental health screenings, and access to mental health professionals. This can help identify students who may be struggling with mental health issues and provide them with the support they need.
Implementing mental health education: Mental health education can help students understand the importance of mental health and develop the skills they need to manage their own mental health. This can include teaching coping strategies, stress management techniques, and promoting healthy habits such as exercise and mindfulness.
Addressing stigma: Addressing mental health stigma is an important step in improving mental health in schools. This can be done by promoting open and honest discussions about mental health, and by creating a safe and supportive environment where students feel comfortable seeking help.
Encouraging parental involvement: Schools should encourage parents to get involved in their child's mental health by providing information about mental health resources and encouraging them to talk openly with their children about mental health.
Providing support for teachers: Teachers can play a critical role in promoting good mental health among students.

The Benefit of Being a Superintendent of a Small, Diverse School Community

Bhavna Sharma-Lewis, Ph.D currently serves as Superintendent of Schools in Diamond Lake District 76 which is located in the northern suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. She is an experienced educator with 29 years of service in public education, having worked as an elementary and middle school teacher, assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction and superintendent. Dr. Sharma-Lewis received her Doctorate in Education from the University of Illinois at Chicago and serves as an adjunct professor at Concordia University. 
 
She earned her National Superintendent Certification from the American Association of School Administrators, and was elected by her peers to represent and advocate for the Northern Illinois region as a Governing Board Member for AASA. She currently serves on various local and state level boards to foster collegiality, collaboration and professional development among her colleagues and peers. She also serves as a mentor for aspiring Superintendents on a state and national level. She prioritizes enhancing healthy professional cultures and building teacher leadership to optimize student success.
 
Community Liaison 
 
 #Sparkle On is a mindset
What are some mental health challenges facing your students, families and staff right now?
 
How is mental health currently addressed in your schools?
 
What are some limitations to addressing mental health the way you'd like to?
 
Your district supports both student achievement and student mental health initiatives. Why is there such a strong link?
 
How do you envision a thriving school community?
 
What would you hear and observe in a healthy school community?
 

A Superintendent’s Dream Mental Health System

FREE RESOURCE: leadfromwhereyouarebook.com
 
Dr. Joe Sanfelippo is the Superintendent of the Fall Creek School District in Fall Creek, WI. The Fall Creek School District was named an Innovative District in 2016 and 2017 by the International Center for Leadership in Education. Joe holds a BA in Elementary and Early Childhood Education, an MS in Educational Psychology, an MS in Educational Leadership, and a Ph.D. in Leadership, Learning, and Service. Joe has authored multiple books including the best selling Hacking Leadership: 10 Ways Great Leaders Inspire Learning That Teachers, Students, and Parents Love and his latest Lead From Where You Are: Building Intention, Connection, and Direction in our schools. He was selected as 1 of 117 Future Ready Superintendents in 2014 and 1 of 50 Superintendents as a Personalized Learning Leader by the US Department of Education in 2016. Education Dive named Joe their National Superintendent of the Year in 2019.
 
“Every interaction matters because every interaction could be the one they talk about forever.” Dr. Joe Sanfelippo  
 
Some questions we covered:
What is the most challenging mental health issue in your school or district right now?: Trying to do and teach too much
How is mental health currently addressed in your school(s), and what are the limitations?: Taking things off the plates of our staff.
How do we do that and still meet instructional goals?
What are a few points you'd like to cover relating to school mental health improvement? (This serves as a helpful reminder when it's time for you to interview).: Recognize great work, acknowledge great work, and extend great work.
 
Please follow and contact this guest via Twitter and IG @joe_sanfelippo
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Thriving School Community Podcast HOST:  Charle Peck, M.Ed., MSW
 
Get the BOOK: Book: https://a.co/d/0rrXb53
“Improving School Mental Health: The Thriving School Community Solution”
*Now on Amazon*
 
SPEAKER PROFILE: ThrivingEducator.org
COMPANY PROFILE: ThrivingSchool.org
EMAIL: charle@thrivingschool.org
 
BIO: Charle Peck is the co-creator of Thriving School Community, a revolutionary program designed for schools to improve mental health. With over 20 years of education and mental health leadership experience, she has the unique lens of both a certified teacher and a licensed clinical therapist specializing in trauma. Charle holds an MS in Education and an MS in Social Work. Her role as a high school teacher coupled with her work with children and families in crisis gives her incredible insight into solving youth mental health problems stemming from our schools. She is the co-author of Improving School Mental Health: The Thriving School Community Solution and a global keynote speaker delivering powerful messages of hope to educators. Connect with Charle at: charle@thrivingschool.org and on Twitter at: @CharlePeck
 
Twitter https://twitter.com/CharlePeck
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@thrivingschoolcommunity
LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charle-peck/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlepeck/
Website: ThrivingEducator.com
Clubhouse: @charlepeck
Twitter https://twitter.com/CharlePeck
LinkedIN:https://www.linkedin.com/in/charle-peck/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlepeck/
LinkTree:  https://linktr.ee/CharlePeck
 
#ThrivingSchool

A Truly Fantastic Equity + Inclusion Approach

Lindsay Lyons is an Educational Justice Coach who helps schools and districts co-create feminist, antiracist curricula that challenges, affirms, and inspires all students. A former NYC public school teacher, she holds a PhD in Leadership and Change, and is the founder of the blog and podcast, Time for Teachership. She believes the secret sauce of educational equity is student voice.
 
FREE RESOURCE: extras.lindsaybethlyons.com/thriving
 
“what I see is the toll white supremacy (in culture, policy + curriculum) takes on school stakeholders”
 
How to co-create community agreements (as staff or with students)
 
Centering justice in curriculum (Why: students should see themselves in curriculum and have multiple opportunities to use their agency and innovation to advance justice in their communities + How!)

Setting Up Your Community to Prevent the Suicide Crisis

Brenda Vargas, Director of Counseling and Social Services 
Lindsay Taylor
Former Sped teacher, School Counselor, JH &HS Administrator, current District Director of Counseling & Social Services.AzSCA board
East Valley of Phoenix
EMAIL: thi.cusd@gmail.com
www.cusd.ed.com
@BrendaeVargas
Hope Institute https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHy5piWZr3Y
importance of having school counselors + social workers positioned in our schools. 
collaboration between the two and the essential role that plays in our schools.
Do we need more of them? What will that do? 
What are the challenges facing school counselors + social workers in our schools?
What are the success and limitations of Tiered systems? 
What if we equipped teachers to become better informants?
What are critics saying about Hope Institute and how do you counter that?
threat assessments…part of a problem we’ve seen is that some kids are flagged and get sent to the hospital further traumatizing them…how can we do that differently to protect those kids?
“Collaboration doesn’t just happen within those individuals that work within a school. Collaboration has to happen within the community as well.” 

Crystal Clear Processes + Connection = Solid Mental Health

Dr. Matthew Woods is a K-12 educator in Virginia. His professional experience includes being a high school social studies teacher, middle and high school assistant principal, middle school principal, director of student support services, adjunct professor, field instructor for student-teachers, keynote speaker, and educational consultant. Additionally, Dr. Woods hosts a K-12 podcast, Leading Out The Woods, and is the author of #Digital PD for Educators, and the children’s book series, “I Wanna Be…”. You can connect with Matthew on Twitter @woodfromawoods or visit his website www.leadingoutthewoods.com
 
“I wanna be…” book series.
 
How important is it for student mental health to see themselves represented in material we present?
If you were in charge of the entire district, what change would you make first to improve our school mental health system?
 
Please follow and contact this guest via Twitter @woodfromawoods or visit his website www.leadingoutthewoods.com
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Thriving School Community Podcast HOST:  Charle Peck, M.Ed., MSW
 
Get the BOOK: Book: https://a.co/d/0rrXb53
“Improving School Mental Health: The Thriving School Community Solution”
*Now on Amazon*
 
SPEAKER PROFILE: ThrivingEducator.org
COMPANY PROFILE: ThrivingSchool.org
EMAIL: charle@thrivingschool.org
 
BIO: Charle Peck is the co-creator of Thriving School Community, a revolutionary program designed for schools to improve mental health. With over 20 years of education and mental health leadership experience, she has the unique lens of both a certified teacher and a licensed clinical therapist specializing in trauma. Charle holds an MS in Education and an MS in Social Work. Her role as a high school teacher coupled with her work with children and families in crisis gives her incredible insight into solving youth mental health problems stemming from our schools. She is the co-author of Improving School Mental Health: The Thriving School Community Solution and a global keynote speaker delivering powerful messages of hope to educators. Connect with Charle at: charle@thrivingschool.org and on Twitter at: @CharlePeck
What is the most challenging mental health issue in your school or district right now?: Getting buy-in that these challenges have always been present, and that only an inclusive solution/s will tackle the problem.
How is mental health currently addressed in your school(s), and what are the limitations?: Host of different ways, but more attention should be brought to collective solutions instead of silos.
What are a few points you'd like to cover relating to school mental health improvement? (This serves as a helpful reminder when it's time for you to interview).:
- How it's always been present (prior to the pandemic).
- Solutions in isolation doesn't work.. has to be a collective solution.

Power Up What You Already Have in Place

Have a system in place for kids who have a more immediate concerns such as a report of bullying, feeling ill, or a bunch of things that may come up, but EVERYONE should already know what to do when these things come up so ALL people in the building can direct the student to where they need to go in that case. Work with with mental health team to come up with a way to ask teaching staff about concerns they have like this and try to set up something BEFORE it occurs.
 
This will provide relief to the system without expensive and overwhelming overhauls.
 
_______________________________________
 
Thriving School Community Podcast HOST:  Charle Peck, M.Ed., MSW
 
Get the BOOK: Book: https://a.co/d/0rrXb53
“Improving School Mental Health: The Thriving School Community Solution”
*Now on Amazon*
 
SPEAKER PROFILE: ThrivingEducator.org
COMPANY PROFILE: ThrivingSchool.org
EMAIL: charle@thrivingschool.org
 
BIO: Charle Peck is the co-creator of Thriving School Community, a revolutionary program designed for schools to improve mental health. With over 20 years of education and mental health leadership experience, she has the unique lens of both a certified teacher and a licensed clinical therapist specializing in trauma. Charle holds an MS in Education and an MS in Social Work. Her role as a high school teacher coupled with her work with children and families in crisis gives her incredible insight into solving youth mental health problems stemming from our schools. She is the co-author of Improving School Mental Health: The Thriving School Community Solution and a global keynote speaker delivering powerful messages of hope to educators. Connect with Charle at: charle@thrivingschool.org and on Twitter at: @CharlePeck
 
Twitter https://twitter.com/CharlePeck
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@thrivingschoolcommunity
LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charle-peck/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlepeck/
Website: ThrivingEducator.com
Clubhouse: @charlepeck
Twitter https://twitter.com/CharlePeck
LinkedIN:https://www.linkedin.com/in/charle-peck/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlepeck/
LinkTree:  https://linktr.ee/CharlePeck
 
#ThrivingSchool

Parent Engagement

Guest: Cameron Caswell, PhD
FREE RESOURCES: https://www.thrivingschool.org/tsc_free_resources
BOOK: https://a.co/d/4bixVd4
Cameron (Dr. Cam) Caswell, PhD, “The Teen Translator,” is an adolescent psychologist, parent coach, and Director of Parent Education for the Thriving School Community, a revolutionary program she co-founded to improve student, educator, and parent well-being within the school system.
 
As a TEDX speaker, podcast host, author, and private practitioner she empowers parents and teens with the tools and knowledge they need to create positive, peaceful relationships with one another.
 
Dr. Cam received her doctorate in Developmental Psychology from George Mason University, where she was mentored by Dr. Susanne Denham and recognized for her superb teaching as a professor of Adolescent Psychology. Dr. Cam also developed the I Am Enough Teen Workshop for the Ryan Bartel Foundation. This popular 12-week workshop helps teens develop resiliency, mindfulness, self-management, self-esteem, and self-awareness.
 
Dr. Cam speaks regularly at schools, national organizations, and conferences. After her presentation at the Nysmith School for the Gifted, the coordinator described it as, “The best Parent Education event the school has ever had.” She has also been featured as a parenting expert on television, radio, podcasts, and in publications including Newsweek, Grown & Flown, and HerMoney.
 
Dr. Cam is the mom of a teen too, so she not only talks the talk, she walks the walk!
What is the most challenging mental health issue in your school or district right now?: too many kids are struggling
What are the barriers to overcoming that issue, and what do you believe is the best approach?: focusing on intervention not prevention
 
FREE BOOK STUDY KIT: www.ThrivingSchool.org/bookstudy
ThrivingParent.org
 
DrCamConsulting.org
drcam@thrivingschool.org
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/drcamcaswell
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drcamcaswell
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@parentingteenswithdrcam
Twitter: https://twitter.com/drcamcaswell
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drcamcaswell
_______________________________________
 
Thriving School Community Podcast HOST:  Charle Peck, M.Ed., MSW
 
Get the BOOK: Book: https://a.co/d/0rrXb53
“Improving School Mental Health: The Thriving School Community Solution”
*Now on Amazon*
 
SPEAKER PROFILE: ThrivingEducator.org
COMPANY PROFILE: ThrivingSchool.org
EMAIL: charle@thrivingschool.org
 
BIO: Charle Peck is the co-creator of Thriving School Community, a revolutionary program designed for schools to improve mental health. With over 20 years of education and mental health leadership experience, she has the unique lens of both a certified teacher and a licensed clinical therapist specializing in trauma. Charle holds an MS in Education and an MS in Social Work. Her role as a high school teacher coupled with her work with children and families in crisis gives her incredible insight into solving youth mental health problems stemming from our schools. She is the co-author of Improving School Mental Health: The Thriving School Community Solution and a global keynote speaker delivering powerful messages of hope to educators. Connect with Charle at: charle@thrivingschool.org and on Twitter at: @CharlePeck
 
Twitter https://twitter.com/CharlePeck
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@thrivingschoolcommunity
LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charle-peck/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlepeck/
Website: ThrivingEducator.com
Clubhouse: @charlepeck
Twitter https://twitter.com/CharlePeck
LinkedIN:https://www.linkedin.com/in/charle-peck/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlepeck/
LinkTree:  https://linktr.ee/CharlePeck
 
#ThrivingSchool