The Well-being Classroom

What does it truly take to build a leadership brand in education that's anchored in well-being? Today, I'm joined by Janine Stratford, an acclaimed leadership coach, career strategist, and was awarded by Australian website- The Educator as 2024 Most Influential Educator. With years of experience guiding educational leaders, Janine specialises in turning skilled teachers into confident, strategic leaders. She’s also writing a book on leadership in education—focused on helping leaders get out of the weeds and into big-picture, strategic thinking. And today, the tables have turned: Janine will be interviewing me about the story behind this podcast, the role of wellbeing in leadership, and how educators can build their personal brand. We’ll also dive into the “why” behind The Well-being Classroom—including how it connects to the wellbeing programmes I’ve helped create at my school, like Inspiring Insights and Inspiring Minds, which are designed to support students' social, emotional, and academic growth. Janine Stratford's website: https://coachingfocus.com.au and a link to the Monday Motivation: https://coachingfocus.simplero.com/page/654378-monday-motivation-sign-me-up Welcome to The Well-being Classroom.

Welcome back to the Well-being Classroom! Today, I’m honored to host Dr. Helen Kelly, an author, consultant, and former international school leader. Dr. Kelly brings a unique perspective, dedicating over a decade to researching educator well-being. Drawing on her legal background and experience leading schools, Dr. Kelly focuses on helping organisations make staff well-being strategic, practical, and sustainable. She is the author of School Leaders Matter: Preventing Burnout, Managing Stress and Improving Wellbeing. Today, we're discussing key strategies for leaders to improve staff well-being and workplace culture. Welcome to the Well-being Classroom, Dr. Helen Kelly! Link to book: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=School+Leaders+Matter%3A+Preventing+Burnout%2C+Managing+Stress+and+Improving+Wellbeing.&crid=1KDFE5253IVGN&sprefix=%2Caps%2C290&ref=nb_sb_noss  

Today, we're honored to host Fran Reddan, a distinguished Board Director, Principal Consultant, and Executive Coach. Fran brings vast experience, having been a successful principal for nearly fifteen years and serving on the board of education regulators. Fran now specialises in supporting leaders in the education sector, advising on strategy, innovation, and leadership. Her expertise includes revitalising schools and driving growth, even establishing an Enterprise Academy that received Innovation Awards. Today, we're discussing the power of external coaching, focusing on key takeaways about accountability, impact, and navigating a leadership career. Welcome to the Well-being Classroom…

Welcome to the podcast! Today, we're joined by Divesh Bathija, co-founder of UnMath School. With a decade of dedication to transforming mathematics education, Divesh has helped over 60,000 students and 12,000 educators embrace a new way of learning. He uses a unique approach that goes beyond conventional methods, using real-world applications to build critical thinking and problem-solving skills. His innovative programs like "Cricket Math" and "Math in the City" have been adopted by 350 schools across India and beyond. Today, we'll be discussing well-being in mathematics and how to overcome the fear of the subject. Welcome to the Well-being Classroom, Divesh! Want to get in touch or get to know more about Divesh? Here are some links: Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/divesh-bathija/ Email : db@unmathschool.com Company Website : www.unmathschool.com Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/@unmathschool TedTalk on Mathematics: https://youtu.be/Mn5-Wh225Ww?si=EvuEB2RyIZxApdbq

Welcome to the podcast! Today, I’m joined by Imanat Ali, an experienced EFL lecturer with a career spanning since 2010. Beyond his work as a course coordinator and trainer, Imanat is dedicated to philanthropy, serving as the president of an educational organization, and the founder of a non-profit school system. He is also a motivational speaker, traveler, and writer, on a life's mission to add value to human lives and inspire others with his passion for humanity and selflessness. Today, we will be exploring the impactful work he is doing in the Kashmir region of Pakistan with micro-scholarships. Welcome to the Well-being Classroom.

Welcome to the podcast! Today, I’m incredibly excited to be joined by John Woodberry, the founder of Red Dragon Education, an organization dedicated to helping international schools by addressing critical areas like teacher training, recruitment, and leadership development. With over 25 years of experience in education across Asia, John is an expert in connecting policy, strategy, and people to drive meaningful change. He's passionate about driving educational innovation and has a deep understanding of what schools, teachers, and universities truly need to succeed. Today, we'll be discussing career progression through the vital lens of well-being. Welcome to the well-being classroom….

Today, I’m thrilled to welcome Rachel Lu, a visionary in game and experience design. Rachel creates immersive programs that engage participants in creative problem-solving, storytelling, and strategic thinking. With her expertise, she equips students and educators with tools to foster engagement, collaboration, and meaningful learning. We'll be diving into why games are such an important tool for student well-being, exploring how her innovative approaches cultivate dynamic environments where ideas flourish and skills develop. Welcome to The Well-being Classroom…

Welcome back to The Well-being Classroom for Part 2 of our vital conversation with Alyssa Temple. Last time, Alyssa shared profound understanding of the subtle yet significant impact of affluent neglect on student well-being. With her extensive background in supporting young people and training practitioners on crucial issues like mental health and safeguarding, Alyssa brings a wealth of practical knowledge. Today, we're building on that foundation, diving deeper into how the challenge of affluent neglect intersects with neurodivergent needs like ADHD and dyslexia. Alyssa will equip us with further strategies for educators and school leaders to provide holistic support, navigate difficult parent conversations, and foster true connection for every student

Today, I’m thrilled to welcome Alyssa Temple. With over 20 years of experience, first as a Specialist Harm Reduction Youth Worker and later as a Counsellor, Alyssa has trained hundreds of practitioners on tricky issues like mental health, safeguarding, and peer-on-peer abuse. She currently works in an international school, continues to provide clinical supervision, and coordinates the Southeast Asia School Counselling Network, which holds annual conferences. We'll be diving into her extensive insights into affluent neglect and its often-hidden impact on young people's emotional lives. Welcome to The Well-being Classroom…

Today, we welcome Gareth Steed, an experienced educator and passionate advocate for inclusive learning. He currently leads the counseling department at an international school. We'll discuss how to truly support student well-being by moving beyond debunked VARK styles to key research-based strategies, with Gareth sharing his valuable insights. Welcome to The Well-being Classroom…”

In episode 7 we're joined by Sania Green-Reynolds, a visionary educator, bestselling author, and the founder of Lit Education & Publishing and the AI-Powered Literacy Collective. With her deep commitment to blending innovation with culturally responsive practices, Sania champions AI-integrated, literacy-rich classrooms. We'll be diving into the powerful connection between well-being and reading, exploring it through the lens of character development and value-based education. Welcome to The Well-being Classroom…

Masters in Education, 14 years experience in leadership and inclusion. Multiple curriculums and an expert of the culture of the gulf region. Currently leading inclusion in her setting, Soraya has developed 5 effective ingredients for a successful school.

Today, we're joined by Dr. Helen Street, an education consultant with a background in applied social psychology and mental health. Known for her influential work on student wellbeing and motivation, including the 'contextual wellbeing' model, Helen is also a published author and co founder of the Positive Schools initiative.

by Sian Jorgensen, a seasoned child protection expert and founder of Encompass Safeguarding, a consultancy dedicated to providing safeguarding and child protection training to international schools and families. With 20 years of experience investigating abuse and supporting families internationally, she's here to discuss the latest developments in child protection and offer practical guidance.

George Cowie has dedicated his career to creating access and inclusion for disadvantaged learners. As the Director of Learning Support Asia, and with published research on autism and dyslexia, he's here to share practical tips for effectively working with our most vulnerable children, those with special educational needs or disabilities.

Dr. Pilant specializes in cultivating collaborative and innovative learning environments. We'll be diving into her practical strategies for enhancing staff well-being, focusing on communication, servant leadership, and effective staff recognition.

Welcome to the very first episode of the wellbeing classroom! Xavier is a dedicated elementary teacher, published author, and educational leader with over 20 years of experience shaping classrooms across the US and the Middle East.  Link to Xavier's published book, A Powerful Book of Positively Passionate Poems to Push People to Pursue... https://a.co/d/fN9YR0N