In this powerful holiday episode of The Language of Behavior, Joshua Stamper and Charlie Peck unpack a question from their educator cohort: How do we respond to people who constantly frustrate us—students, colleagues, or even ourselves? Centering on the concept of social plasticity, they explore how quickly brains jump to fixed labels like “jerk,” “bad student,” or “burnt-out teacher,” and how those snap judgments silently shut the door on curiosity, compassion, and change.​

Charlie shares her unforgettable “Madison” story—a former student she misjudged, only to learn too late about the pain Madison was carrying—and uses it to illustrate why the brain is a “big fat liar” when stress and bias are in charge. Josh brings in a moving example of a veteran teacher who transformed once a principal chose to see beyond the reputation and simply get to know the person behind the behavior. Together, they offer concrete ways to:​

• Notice your own physical stress signals before a hard interaction
• Reframe negative assumptions in the moment to move from reactive to responsive
• Give staff time and space to practice new mental habits that literally rewire the brain
• Use cohort and leadership structures to model this work and create a ripple effect across a whole building or district​

This episode invites educators and leaders to humanize the “Madisons” on their campus—and the one in the mirror—so behavior becomes an opening for connection, not a verdict on character.

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About Charle Peck:

Charle Peck is the co-creator of Thriving School Community, a revolutionary program designed for schools to improve mental health. She holds an MS in Education and an MS in Social Work as a 20+ year veteran in education (K-12). As a global keynote speaker, she delivers powerful messages of hope to educators and facilitates meaningful professional development. Charle successfully equips school staff with practical tools to mitigate teacher burnout and the youth mental health crisis providing relief to schools all across the country. Her unique lens as a high school teacher turned clinical therapist specializing in trauma makes her stories relevant and captivating to educators struggling in today’s system. You can purchase her book “Improving School Mental Health: The Thriving School Community Solution” on Amazon and connect with her on X @CharlePeck.

Follow Charle Peck:

• Website: www.ThrivingEducator.org
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/CharlePeck
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charlepeckconsulting?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlepeck/
• Other: charle@thrivibgeducator.org
• Podcast: Thriving Educator
• Book: https://www.amazon.com/Improving-School-Mental-Health-Community/dp/B0BTS3MN2P?crid=EIKAGWZ4V006&keywords=charle+peck&qid=1705780803&sprefix=charle+peck%2Caps%2C181&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=aspirewebsite-20&linkId=6456f4f1bc2440be71d094a5d14656a4&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

About Joshua Stamper:

Joshua Stamper is the Director of Innovation for the Teach Better Team, a multifaceted role that encompasses his talents as an author, podcaster, leadership coach, and education keynote speaker. With a rich background as a middle school administrator, classroom art educator, and athletic coach, Joshua brings a wealth of experience to his work in education.

Joshua is passionate about implementing trauma-responsive techniques, exploring alternative student discipline methods, and promoting healthy leadership habits. He is deeply...