In this new episode, Tara and Vicky are so happy to welcome Polly Netto who has been making a huge difference at her school. She is a secondary school teacher in the UK with over ten years experience in both pastoral and academic provision. Polly is the whole school Mental Health and Solution Focused lead, PSHE Lead, Head of Religion, Philosophy and Ethics, and Deputy Head of Sixth Form.

As part of her school’s mental health strategy, Polly, a trained solution focused practitioner, was inspired to share with staff, students and parents, how SF promotes positive engagement, collaboration and success with practical strategies that are easily implemented on a daily basis. Her work demonstrates the impact of being heard and positively noticed in a climate where everyone is valuable and adds value. Strength-based communication amplifies personal resources, focusing on what is working, with a sense of curiosity and possibility. Polly also speaks to noticing what individuals want and helping them to discover paths to success in progressive steps.

Polly Netto’s work brings hope to all schools to prioritize communication as a vehicle for overall success. We had a great conversation and hope you will enjoy it as well! Thank you Polly!

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In this new episode, it was such a joy for Tara and Vicky to host two very inspiring women - Marcella Stark and Linda Metcalf – researchers, counselors, professors and authors. They are leaders in Solution Focused Brief Therapy and its applications in schools and workplaces. They shared their wonderful journeys, insights and stories with us. They also recently co-authored an exciting new book - Solution-Focused Strategies for K-12 Leaders – Improving School Climate, Teacher Confidence and Student Wellness.Join us in an interview that celebrates personal and professional growth, and the power of developing relationships and making an impact with Solution Focus.

Linda Metcalf, M.Ed., PhD, is graduate of Baylor University, BA, Texas Christian University, M.Ed., and Texas Woman’s University, PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy. She is a certified school counselor, licensed professional counselor, licensed marriage and family therapist, and currently, a Professor in graduate counseling at Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth, Texas. She is the author of Solution Focused Narrative Therapy and ten other books. She has presented to school counselors and clinicians extensively in the United States, Australia, Japan, Newfoundland, Germany, Scotland, England, Norway, Amsterdam, Singapore, UK, Canada, Thailand and more. She specializes in using solution focused narrative therapy in schools to assist students and teachers to engage, hopefully creating peaceful classrooms and stop school violence. Her website is https://solutionfocusedschool.com

Marcella Stark is a Professor of Counseling at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas, USA. She teaches in the Counseling & Human Services Program and serves as its Program Coordinator. This program emphasizes a solution-focused approach to counseling. As such, her research examines applications of the solution-focused approach, exploring its use in school administration, clinical supervision, student affairs work, and issues of political disagreement. She is a past President and Conference Chair for the Solution Focused Brief Therapy Association (SFBTA).Her research may be located at https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4263-1487

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In this new episode, Tara Gretton and Vicky Essebag have the pleasure of interviewing Sonja Pullen. Sonja's journey through teaching, school leadership, coaching and consulting has equipped her to support students and teachers across Canada, Ethiopia, and Australia. Based in Toronto, she is the founder of SP Coaching and the Canadian consultant for the world-renowned Instructional Coaching Group led by Jim Knight. Sonja is dedicated to advancing coaching and professional development in education so that students and educators everywhere have the support they need to flourish. A certified coach in education, Sonja holds the European Mentoring and Coaching Council’s Global Accreditation award at the Practitioner level. She is a Senior Mentor Coach and facilitator with the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education Mentorship Program at the University of Toronto. Guided by values of respect, kindness, and empathy, Sonja sees the best in others and believes in the limitless potential of every individual she serves. Outside of work, she loves fitness, time with family and friends, cheering on local sports teams, and is on a mission to keep her plants alive!

In this conversation, through her powerful storytelling, Sonja brings to life remarkable shifts that can take place in schools when educators are given the opportunity to receive mentorship and provide it to their peers. We thank Sonja for generously sharing her wisdom and expertise with us!

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