How do you teach someone to stay calm when a parent walks in angry? Our guest this episode is Dr. Wayne Davies, Instructor, Director of Student Teaching, Faculty of education at the University of Winnipeg. Wayne believes you don’t tell—you show. He explains why mentorship must be experiential: watching, trying, and debriefing together. He shares moving stories of humility, humour, and hard-won wisdom from decades of principalship.Great principals aren’t born—they’re mentored. Wayne Davies shares how riding alongside seasoned leaders taught him the nuances of trust, timing, and emotional intelligence. His take on mentorship moves beyond checklists to real human connection—relationships that let leaders take risks, reflect, and grow. In a time when many new administrators feel isolated, his message lands deeply: leadership is learned in community.

Mentor's Guidebook: Unleashing Your Potential to Inspire and Retain New Teachers https://a.co/d/5RSIx12

What resonated with you? What challenges do you face in your day to day principal practice? Take 5 minutes to share your thoughts at https://www.restorative.ca/cff

Be sure to check out the website https://restorative.ca

#Education #Leadership #SchoolLeadership #EdLeaders #MentalHealth#RestorativePractices#restorativejustice#traumainformedpractice#emotionalintelligenceinschools#PrincipalWellbeing #TeacherWellbeing #RestorativeLeadership #mentalhealth#EducationalLeadership #PsychologicalSafety #StaffSupport#PreventBurnout #LeadWithCare #FlattenTheHierarchy #BuildingTrust #ResilientLeadership#ListenToUnderstand #BuildingTrust #LeadWithCare #HealthySchools #StrongerTogether#conflictresolution

What if curiosity was the single best antidote to stress, shame, and trauma in schools? Our returning guest this episode is Dr. Robyn Koslowitz, Educational Director of the Targeted Parenting Institute and author of Post-Traumatic Parenting: Break the Cycle and Become The Parent You Always Wanted To Be. Dr. Robyn argues that curiosity is the opposite of pathology—it shifts our focus outward and makes space for authentic connection. Principals, vice-principals, and teachers will hear how curiosity helps in staff conflicts, parent meetings, and classrooms where the usual playbook doesn’t work. Principals and teachers can practice trauma-informed leadership simply by staying curious and kind. In this conversation, Dr. Robyn shows how curiosity helps de-escalate conflict, validate human experience, and model problem-solving skills for students. Robyn also offers guidance on how to notice and manage our own triggers, so we lead with steadiness instead of reactivity.

What resonated with you? What challenges do you face in your day to day principal practice? Take 5 minutes to share your thoughts at https://www.restorative.ca/cff

Be sure to check out the website https://restorative.ca

#Education #Leadership #SchoolLeadership #EdLeaders #MentalHealth#RestorativePractices#restorativejustice#traumainformedpractice#emotionalintelligenceinschools#PrincipalWellbeing #TeacherWellbeing #RestorativeLeadership #mentalhealth#EducationalLeadership #PsychologicalSafety #StaffSupport#PreventBurnout #LeadWithCare #FlattenTheHierarchy #BuildingTrust #ResilientLeadership#ListenToUnderstand #BuildingTrust #LeadWithCare #HealthySchools #StrongerTogether#conflictresolution

New principals often face the pressure of staying on script, but what happens when the real need is something else entirely? Our returning guest this episode is Dr. Robyn Koslowitz, Educational Director of the Targeted Parenting Institute and author of Post-Traumatic Parenting: Break the Cycle and Become The Parent You Always Wanted To Be. She shares how she balances the tension between curriculum and connection by addressing what’s truly happening in the room. Her CARING model- Connection, Assessment, Resourcing, Integration, Normalization, and Generation - offers leaders a step-by-step way to move from frustration to collaboration with parents, staff, and students. We hear about aha moments that shift blame into understanding and conflict into problem-solving. From cattiness in Grade 6 to territorial debates among teachers, Robyn describes how leaning into tough conversations fosters connection and trust.She shares powerful stories about becoming trauma-informed and creating space for teachers to connect with kids in meaningful ways. Instead of pushing through the curriculum, Dr. Robyn encourages us to pause and teach the social-emotional lessons that matter most.

What resonated with you? What challenges do you face in your day to day principal practice? Take 5 minutes to share your thoughts at https://www.restorative.ca/cff

Be sure to check out the website https://restorative.ca

#Education #Leadership #SchoolLeadership #EdLeaders #MentalHealth#RestorativePractices#restorativejustice#traumainformedpractice#emotionalintelligenceinschools#PrincipalWellbeing #TeacherWellbeing #RestorativeLeadership #mentalhealth#EducationalLeadership #PsychologicalSafety #StaffSupport#PreventBurnout #LeadWithCare #FlattenTheHierarchy #BuildingTrust #ResilientLeadership#ListenToUnderstand #BuildingTrust #LeadWithCare #HealthySchools #StrongerTogether#conflictresolution