Classroom Narratives: Healing in Education

Episodic SynopsisIn Part Two, Dr. Matthew Arau shares practical ways to transform classrooms through circles, peer-to-peer leadership, and his Power of GET — a mindset of gratitude, enthusiasm, and treasure that helps teachers and students thrive🔗 Featured Links & ResourcesPower of GET Discover Dr. Arau’s signature mindset shift — moving from “have to” to “get to” — with resources, stories, and tools to help you bring gratitude, enthusiasm, and treasure into your daily practice.Power of GET – Leadership Quiz Take a free 4-question quiz to uncover your GET leadership style (Grower, Energizer, or Trailblazer) and r...

Episodic SynopsisIn Part One, Dr. Matthew Arau shares how educators can find joy and trust even in the midst of burnout. He unpacks the six human needs, the difference between joy and happiness, and why the inner work of mindset sets the tone for our classrooms.🔗 Featured Links & ResourcesPower of GET Discover Dr. Arau’s signature mindset shift — moving from “have to” to “get to” — with resources, stories, and tools to help you bring gratitude, enthusiasm, and treasure into your daily practice.Power of GET – Leadership Quiz Take a free 4-question qui...

📖 Episodic SynopsisIn this episode of Classroom Narratives: Healing in Education, Dr. Joey Weisler speaks with Dr. Alexander Fields—Assistant Professor of counselor education at Florida Atlantic University, licensed professional counselor, and nationally certified counselor. Together, they explore Dr. Fields' groundbreaking work in suicide prevention among young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs), his BEAM curriculum (Bias Exploration and Awareness in Mental health diagnosis), and why systemic change is urgently needed in both education and mental health care.Listeners will hear practical strategies for trauma-informed classrooms, stories that reveal the hidden signs students use when...

Episodic SynopsisIn this powerful episode of Classroom Narratives: Healing in Education, Dr. Joey Weisler sits down with award-winning musician, author, and youth empowerment coach Emma G. From surviving ten brain surgeries to transforming classrooms through songwriting, Emma shares how music can help students process emotions, confront trauma, and reclaim their voice. Drawing from her Māori heritage, teaching background, and her Youth Empowerment Through Songwriting program, Emma offers educators practical ways to move beyond compliance-driven teaching toward safe, creative, and student-centered learning. This conversation blends artistry, resilience, and practical strategy for anyone passionate about reimagining education.</p...

📘 **Episode Synopsis (for podcast directories):In this powerful episode, Dr. Joey Weisler welcomes Frances Shefter—former special education teacher turned education attorney—for a heartfelt conversation on what it means to advocate for students within (and often against) the system. As the founder of Shefter Law PA and the visionary behind the “Stress-Free IEP” method, Frances opens up about her journey from the classroom to the courtroom, shares the hard truths about bureaucratic barriers, and reminds educators and parents alike of the simple, radical idea: focus on the child. Whether you’re a teacher quietly trying to do what’s rig...

📘 Episodic Synopsis (for episode notes):What does school safety look like beyond metal detectors and fire drills? In this gripping and deeply personal episode, Dr. Joey Weisler sits down with Chad Chaney—Marine Corps veteran, retired law enforcement sergeant, and current school safety manager for Florida Virtual School—to explore what it truly means to keep students safe. After walking through the preserved crime scene at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Chad experienced a personal reckoning that redefined his mission: not just to prevent violence, but to hold systems accountable. From digital risk to trauma-informed strategy, this convers...

📖 Episodic Synopsis In this episode of Classroom Narratives: Healing and Education, Dr. Joey Weisler sits down with Eleni Webster—survivor of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas tragedy, Master's student, and Graduate Teaching Assistant for Public Speaking courses at Florida Atlantic University. Together, they explore how trauma shapes pedagogy, why culturally and emotionally informed teaching matters, and how classrooms can become spaces for both safety and transformation. From socratic circles in the classroom to bringing student voice into class conversation, Eleni shares how her past informs her present, and how every student deserves to be seen...

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of depression, suicidal ideation, and trauma, which may be distressing to some listeners.Disclaimer: The views expressed are not a substitute for professional mental health advice. Listener discretion is advised.📘 Episode SynopsisIn this powerful episode, Dr. Joey Weisler sits down with Stephanie Kunkel—leadership development expert, trauma-informed coach, and author of Perspectives Through Broken Glass—to explore the deep intersections of grief, resilience, and leadership. Stephanie shares her journey through suicidal ideation, motherhood, and healing, offering transformative insights into how we process trauma, reframe guilt, and...

✏️ Episodic SynopsisBrooklyn-based artist and educator Traci Molloy has spent over two decades creating collaborative art projects with youth impacted by trauma—from 9/11 to poverty, gun violence, and systemic injustice. In this deeply moving conversation, Traci reflects on her years as artist-in-residence at America’s Camp, her school-based healing initiatives post-COVID, and why collective artmaking is a sacred act of both mourning and joy. Through her mantra—“If you’re complacent, you’re complicit”—Traci reminds us that art is not a bonus in education; it’s essential.📚 Show NotesGet in touch with Traci and l...

📘 Episodic SynopsisWhat does it mean to treat a story as sacred? In this powerful conversation, trauma-informed storyteller and strategist Maria Bryan joins Dr. Joey Weisler to reframe how educators, nonprofits, and changemakers gather and share stories—without causing harm. From concepts like story readiness and agency to classroom-based tools for nervous system regulation, this episode offers an honest, compassionate look at how to create storytelling spaces rooted in consent, care, and connection. Whether you're a teacher, nonprofit leader, or advocate, Maria’s words will challenge and ground your role as a listener and facilitator of lived experie...

📘 Episodic Synopsis (for episode notes)When her son’s suicide attempt became the breaking point, Jheri South did what any mother would—she stepped in, learned everything she could about ADHD, and became the coach he needed to survive. In this gripping and compassionate conversation, Jheri opens up about raising seven neurodivergent children, confronting rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD), and the powerful overlap between trauma and ADHD. If you've ever wondered whether your classroom reactions are helping or harming, this episode will shift the way you see—and support—your students.📋 Show Resources~Visit Jheri South's...

~SENSITIVE CONTENT WARNING~📘 Episodic Synopsis:When a fourth-grade student brought a weapon into her classroom, Amber—a dedicated teacher of 14 years—faced a decision no educator should ever have to make. Rather than "sweep it under the rug," she chose to speak up, advocate for her students, and walk away from a toxic system. In this deeply vulnerable episode, Amber (@beautifullyorganizedchaos) shares her harrowing experience, the emotional fallout that followed, and her powerful journey through post-traumatic growth. Now a graduate student in clinical mental health counseling, Amber is turning her pain into purpose—creating...

🎧 Episode Synopsis: In this special roundtable episode—the first in a new, ongoing Weisler Alumni series—Dr. Joey Weisler reconnects with two of his former eighth-grade students: Mandy Lanier, a dance and neuroscience major at the University of Florida, and Ryan Romero (aka DJ Romi), a communications major and campus DJ at Nova Southeastern University.Together, they reflect on what it means to be a student within—and beyond—a school system shaped by testing, trauma, and transformation. Mandy and Ryan offer honest insights about what helped, what hurt, and what stuck with them, speaking candidly ab...

📘 Episodic Synopsis (for episode notes):What does school safety look like beyond metal detectors and fire drills? In this gripping and deeply personal episode, Dr. Joey Weisler sits down with Chad Chaney—Marine Corps veteran, retired law enforcement sergeant, and current school safety manager for Florida Virtual School—to explore what it truly means to keep students safe. After walking through the preserved crime scene at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Chad experienced a personal reckoning that redefined his mission: not just to prevent violence, but to hold systems accountable. From digital risk to trauma-informed strategy, this convers...

📘 Episodic Synopsis:In this deeply reflective episode, Dr. Joey Weisler is joined by Professor Brenda Cowan—author, theorist, and educator at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York city—to explore how everyday objects in classrooms, museums, and memory-laden spaces carry the power to heal. Through her groundbreaking framework Psychotherapeutic Object Dynamics, Cowan breaks down the seven ways people interact with objects in times of joy, trauma, and recovery—from associating and synergizing to releasing and composing. Together, they unpack how educators can build intentional, emotionally resonant environments that support both student and teacher well-bein...

📘 Episode SynopsisIn this powerful and resonant episode of Classroom Narratives: Healing in Education, Dr. Joey Weisler sits down with Dr. Guiliana Conti—music educator, researcher, and Director of Professional Development at Music Workshop—to explore how music transcends curriculum and becomes a lifeline for student connection, regulation, and identity. Through personal stories and practical insight, Dr. Conti reveals the neurological and emotional impact of music on trauma-affected learners and how even non-music educators can use sound to anchor safety and spark belonging in their classrooms. This episode is a must for anyone looking to deepen the emotion...

📄 Episodic SynopsisIn this powerful episode of Classroom Narratives: Healing in Education, Dr. Joey Weisler sits down with Dr. Andrea Mata (aka Dr. Dre), a clinical child psychologist and founder of Bright Spot Families. From her transition out of academia to launching a high-impact private practice, Dr. Dre shares how presence, consistency, and adaptability are foundational for both parenting and teaching. Whether you're managing a classroom or raising kids, this episode is packed with straight talk and actionable advice to help you connect, guide, and grow with young minds. Plus, hear about the poop-inspired parenting book that’s mak...

📘 Episodic Synopsis:In this deeply reflective and empowering episode, Joey sits down with former educator and wellness guide Kim Brooks to unpack the reality of teacher burnout—and how educators can reclaim their energy without guilt. Drawing from nearly two decades in the classroom and her journey into breathwork, yoga, and healing, Kim shares practical tools and heartfelt wisdom to help educators slow down, set boundaries, and reconnect with themselves. Whether you’re in your first year or a seasoned teacher contemplating change, this conversation is your permission slip to pause and breathe.🔗 Resources...

📘 Episodic SynopsisIn this episode, Dr. Joey Weisler is joined by nationally recognized trauma expert Dr. Tom DeMaria to explore what it really means to support students and educators through loss. Drawing on decades of experience responding to crises like 9/11, Sandy Hook, and Parkland, Dr. DeMaria offers powerful insight into how grief shows up in schools—and how we can meet it with compassion, clarity, and care. As a senior consultant with the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement (NCSCB), Dr. DeMaria shares proven strategies for creating emotionally safe spaces and helping school communities heal. Together, they...

📖 Episodic Synopsis What does it mean to keep students safe—and what happens when it costs you everything? In this episode, I sit down with Megan Farison, author of Dissonance and a passionate music educator, to unpack the delicate intersections of trauma, boundaries, and educator resilience. Together, we explore what it looks like to build trust in the classroom while navigating the invisible scars of your own past. From micro-moments of connection to the macro-systems that fail our youth, this is a raw and necessary conversation for anyone who’s ever tried to do the right thing in an i...