Courageous Conversations About Our Schools

What happens when a community's commitment to diversity and equity is put to the test? Join us as we explore the high-stakes conflict in Middletown, Ohio, and the extraordinary moves local leaders made to defuse it. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gWekeHgg #middierising #middletown #ohio #middletownohio #ccaos #education

I am SO moved by this podcast episode. Aaron Stark courageously shares his story of 'almost being a school shooter'. His words are profound, tragic, and beautiful. Thank you, Ken Futernick, for sharing this with the world of education!!! My biggest takeaways: 1. Give love to the ones you think need it least because they need it most. 2. If you are struggling, remember: Depression will lie to you; self-hatred will lie to you.  3. There isn’t any difference in the pain that we all feel as humans. At the bottom is a belief that “I’m not good enough”. Therefore, what we need is the same, regardless of what our darkest moment looks like. 4. If you work in a school, focus on celebrating humanity in children. Help students explore and share what they like as a pathway to connection and hope. 5. Instead of seeing struggling students as having ‘mental health’ challenges (which we assume we can't do anything about unless we are mental health 'specialists'), see individual people who need simple human compassion, kindness, and love. I'm left with the profound sense that if we all follow Aaron's advice, we really could change the world... ❤️ 🙏   #mentalhealtheducation #schoolleadership #schoolleaders #schoolsafety #mentalhealthsupport #mentalhealthadvocate #mentalhealthprofessionals #mentalhealthawarness #schoolimprovement #schools #bullying #suicideprevention #supportoneanother #principalsschool #psychologist #depression #anxiety #trauma #traumainformed #school #mentalhealthstigma #principal #principals #prejudice #parents #parenting #stigmafree #schoolboards #schoolculture #schooldistricts #schoolprincipals #schoolpsychology #schoolcounselors #schoolcounselor #schoolhealth #schooleducation #schoolpsychologist #bullyingprevention #bullyingawareness #peersupport #peertopeer #peergroups #peerlearning #teacherappreciation #resources #teachers #students #teacher #change #future #empathy #help #teachers #teachertraining #teacherlife #teachertips #teachersrock #principals #principalsschool #superintendents #parentsupport #parenthood #parents #parentinglife #parentingtips #parentingcoach #parentingadvice https://lnkd.in/gN4z9rhD

This was a great podcast interview with my new friend and colleague Ken Futernick. We had an important conversation about how we work with people we may disagree with and how important it is for democracy. VERY relevant right now! Take a listen! https://lnkd.in/geYHxPhy

When politics, policies, and personalities collide, how do you move forward? Katy Anthes, former Colorado Commissioner of Education, led through exactly that—turning division into trust, conflict into progress, and disagreement into action. In this episode, she shares what worked, what didn’t, and the hard questions she’s still wrestling with. If you’re navigating the pressures of school leadership, this episode will remind you that you’re not alone—and leave you ready to take the next step forward. 🎧 https://lnkd.in/gtzuV3FA #schoolleadership #educationmatters #edleaders #leadershipineducation #courageousconversationssations #conflictresolution #edpolicy #schoolboard

The story of an Ohio town that almost imploded in school-board conflict...but then didn't. How did they do it? And is this a strategy that school districts nationwide could learn from, as they brace themselves for another high-conflict school year? A fascinating mystery--told in three parts--on Ken Futernick's podcast Courageous Conversations About Our Schools. Check it out and let me know what you think!

It is with a heavy heart that I write this. But also with a strong sense of the importance of the work we all do as a community for school mental health. I had the distinct pleasure of speaking with Ken Futernick on his podcast Courageous Conversations About Our Schools on the topic of school shootings. We actually recorded an episode last week on the importance of teaching mental health skills in schools as a preventative measure to help youth thrive, and then the devastating Apalachee High School shooting occurred a few days later. Ken wisely chose to create a part 2 of our conversation, directly addressing the link between mental health and acts of horrendous violence such as this. If you are in a school, or know anyone in a school, please listen to these episodes and share! It is vital for our youth, our teachers, and our families that we deal with this issue proactively as well as reactively. We need measures in place to deal with an active shooter YES. But we ALSO need measures in place to PREVENT someone from thinking that killing people is a wise choice to make. 😩 This is a longer road, and it's less clear-cut, so it can be overlooked. But it is NECESSARY if we ever want to make lasting changes in our world. ❤️ There are not many things that I feel more strongly about than this! Thank you to everyone who is part of this mission alongside me! It is heartening to know that there are so many of us who share this passion, and I am grateful for you all!! 🙏   #mentalhealtheducation #schoolleadership #schoolleaders #schoolsafety #mentalhealthsupport #mentalhealthadvocate #mentalhealthprofessionals #mentalhealthawarness #schoolimprovement #schools #bullying #suicideprevention #supportoneanother #principalsschool #psychologist #depression #anxiety #trauma #traumainformed #school #mentalhealthstigma #principal #principals #prejudice #parents #parenting #stigmafree #schoolboards #schoolculture #schooldistricts #schoolprincipals #schoolpsychology #schoolcounselors #schoolcounselor #schoolhealth #schooleducation #schoolpsychologist #bullyingprevention #bullyingawareness #peersupport #peertopeer #peergroups #peerlearning #peermentoring #peercoaching #peer2peer #supportgroups #supportnetwork #youngpeople #youth #youarenotalone #supportoneanother #prejudice #vulnerabilityisstrength #womenentrepreneurs #womenempoweringwomen #womenempowerment #empower #empoweringwomen #empowerment #doyourpart #helping #teacherappreciation #resources #teachers #students #teacher #change #future #empathy #help #teachers #teachertraining #teacherlife #teachertips #teachersrock #principals #principalsschool #superintendents #parentsupport #parenthood #parents #parentinglife #parentingtips #parentingcoach #parentingadvice PART 1: https://lnkd.in/gFkfuTSd PART 2: https://lnkd.in/ghYp5FjG

"𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐚 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐫." Aaron Stark was ready to take innocent lives, until a single act of kindness changed everything. In this episode of Courageous Conversations About Our Schools, hear Aaron’s raw and emotional story of trauma, abuse, and neglect—and how a friend’s compassion gave him a reason to live. This is a conversation every educator and community leader should hear. 🎧 Listen now: https://lnkd.in/gcz34gQC #kindnessmatters #mentalhealthawareness #edchat #gunviolenceprevention #educationalleadership #schoolsafety #compassioninaction #traumarecovery #preventingschoolviolence #communitycare #courageousconversations

"𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐚 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐫." Aaron Stark was ready to take innocent lives, until a single act of kindness changed everything. In this episode of Courageous Conversations About Our Schools, hear Aaron’s raw and emotional story of trauma, abuse, and neglect—and how a friend’s compassion gave him a reason to live. This is a conversation every educator and community leader should hear. 🎧 Listen now: https://lnkd.in/gcz34gQC #kindnessmatters #mentalhealthawareness #edchat #gunviolenceprevention #educationalleadership #schoolsafety #compassioninaction #traumarecovery #preventingschoolviolence #communitycare #courageousconversations

Honored to join a host of amazing individuals as an Advisory Board Member for Courageous Conversations About Our Schools! Check out their latest podcast series: We need more stories like "Middie Rising” that give credible hope that schools and communities can unite and overcome toxic divides. You can hear this powerful and inspiring story at: https://lnkd.in/gwYs77EM #middierising #ccaos

It is with a heavy heart that I write this. But also with a strong sense of the importance of the work we all do as a community for school mental health. I had the distinct pleasure of speaking with Ken Futernick on his podcast Courageous Conversations About Our Schools on the topic of school shootings. We actually recorded an episode last week on the importance of teaching mental health skills in schools as a preventative measure to help youth thrive, and then the devastating Apalachee High School shooting occurred a few days later. Ken wisely chose to create a part 2 of our conversation, directly addressing the link between mental health and acts of horrendous violence such as this. If you are in a school, or know anyone in a school, please listen to these episodes and share! It is vital for our youth, our teachers, and our families that we deal with this issue proactively as well as reactively. We need measures in place to deal with an active shooter YES. But we ALSO need measures in place to PREVENT someone from thinking that killing people is a wise choice to make. 😩 This is a longer road, and it's less clear-cut, so it can be overlooked. But it is NECESSARY if we ever want to make lasting changes in our world. ❤️ There are not many things that I feel more strongly about than this! Thank you to everyone who is part of this mission alongside me! It is heartening to know that there are so many of us who share this passion, and I am grateful for you all!! 🙏   #mentalhealtheducation #schoolleadership #schoolleaders #schoolsafety #mentalhealthsupport #mentalhealthadvocate #mentalhealthprofessionals #mentalhealthawarness #schoolimprovement #schools #bullying #suicideprevention #supportoneanother #principalsschool #psychologist #depression #anxiety #trauma #traumainformed #school #mentalhealthstigma #principal #principals #prejudice #parents #parenting #stigmafree #schoolboards #schoolculture #schooldistricts #schoolprincipals #schoolpsychology #schoolcounselors #schoolcounselor #schoolhealth #schooleducation #schoolpsychologist #bullyingprevention #bullyingawareness #peersupport #peertopeer #peergroups #peerlearning #peermentoring #peercoaching #peer2peer #supportgroups #supportnetwork #youngpeople #youth #youarenotalone #supportoneanother #prejudice #vulnerabilityisstrength #womenentrepreneurs #womenempoweringwomen #womenempowerment #empower #empoweringwomen #empowerment #doyourpart #helping #teacherappreciation #resources #teachers #students #teacher #change #future #empathy #help #teachers #teachertraining #teacherlife #teachertips #teachersrock #principals #principalsschool #superintendents #parentsupport #parenthood #parents #parentinglife #parentingtips #parentingcoach #parentingadvice PART 1: https://lnkd.in/gFkfuTSd PART 2: https://lnkd.in/ghYp5FjG