What does it take to build trust with parents who arrive in your office angry or fearful? Our guest on this first episode of Season 11 is Dr. Amy Newman, principal of Newton Elementary in Surrey, British Columbia. She believes the answer lies in restorative leadership—meeting hard conversations with listening, compassion, and resilience. In this episode, she shares how “being like grass” , a quote from Richard Wagamese, allows leaders to bend under pressure without breaking, while modeling this approach for staff and students. From restorative circles to daily hallway conversations, Amy shows how trust is built step by step, moment by moment. She describes how “softening” isn’t weakness but a powerful way to shift energy in the room and open space for real dialogue. With stories of working with students on the edges and building trust with families, Amy brings restorative leadership to life.#education

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

#Leadership #Education #SchoolLeadership #ConflictResolution #Resilience
#RestorativePractices#restorativejustice#traumainformedpractice#emotionalintelligenceinschools#RestorativeLeadership #Principals #VicePrincipals #EducationalLeadership #TrustBuilding #SchoolCommunity,#ListenToUnderstand #LeadWithCare #BeLikeGrass #TransformConflict

Steve may be “retired,” but his reflections in this episode couldn’t be more relevant.

He shares sharp insights on education’s colonial legacy, especially within Indigenous communities, and challenges us to imagine systems that actually change. From his favorite podcast guests (including Barbara Coloroso and Edward Valandra) to his new role in public recreation, Steve shows how restorative thinking transcends the classroom. This episode is a masterclass in applying relational practice to new phases of life, leadership, and learning.What happens when a seasoned principal and trainer starts winding down… but never really stops?

In this heartfelt episode, Steve reflects on the long arc of his restorative journey—from alternatives to suspension in the early 2000s to podcasting, Indigenous education insights, and even working marathons. Alongside Stan and Shelley, he shares how storytelling, shared meals, and mismatched perspectives created powerful learning for educators and teams. This is a tribute to the value of lived experience—and the importance of stepping back while lifting others up. 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

#SchoolLeadership,#Principal,,#leadership,#restorative practice,#listening,#relationshipbuilding,#connection,#sustainability,#distributedleadership,

How do you lead a school where office referrals are piling up—and it feels like all you do is suspend students? In this episode , Part 1 of 2, with co-host, Steve Young ,he shares the exact aha moment that led him to adopt restorative practices. With data showing an 80% drop in office referrals and teachers learning to ask better questions, this episode explores how small shifts lead to cultural transformation. Steve recounts how early experiments with RP turned into school-wide practice. Over three years, student suspensions dropped, staff confidence grew, and discipline became something teachers owned again. What made the difference? Modeling, data, and asking the right questions—not mandates. We also dive into how RP becomes a natural part of your leadership style—and how to bring reluctant staff along for the ride. 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

#SchoolLeadership,#Principal,,#leadership,#restorative practice,#listening,#relationshipbuilding,#connection,#sustainability,

Do your staff feel seen, heard, and professionally valued—or just evaluated? In Part 2 of this conversation, Craig Randall of Trust-Based Observations challenges school leaders to reimagine how trust is built—not by intention, but through dozens of consistent, small behaviours. From sitting beside teachers to asking permission to offer a suggestion, these shifts create space for true reflection. When trust grows, so does teaching and learning. 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

#SchoolLeadership,#Principal,,#leadership,#restorative practice,#listening,#relationshipbuilding,#connection,#sustainability,#distributedleadership,#prevention,#selfawareness, #strengthsbased, #selfmanagement,#trustbasedobservations,#teacherobservations

What happens when school leaders stop evaluating and start listening?Our guest this episode is Craig Randall of Trust-Based Observations. Craig unpacks how a simple shift—asking the right questions—can change everything about teacher observations. Principals and vice-principals will appreciate the real stories of growth, relational trust, and student achievement. Craig explains how his model moved one school from fear to collaboration—raising achievement by over 12%. He shares how trust-based observations transform teacher morale and professional growth. Instead of ratings and judgment, Craig invites teachers to reflect and lead their own improvement.

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

#SchoolLeadership,#Principal,,#leadership,#restorative practice,#listening,#relationshipbuilding,#connection,#sustainability,#distributedleadership,#prevention,#selfawareness, #strengthsbased, #selfmanagement,#trustbasedobservations,#teacherobservations

Before you fix curriculum, fix communication. Our podcast guest this episode is Tre Gammage, Owner of Strengths Based Training helping superintendents build high performance leadership teams.Tre shares why adult strengths-awareness and emotional intelligence are at the heart of real school change. We explore how small conflicts — if ignored — spiral into absenteeism, frustration, and burnout. Through strengths-based assessments and coaching, adults can learn to speak, lead, and connect confidently with each other and with students. When principals understand themselves and their staff, schools become stronger, happier places for everyone — including students. It’s a very practical roadmap to change that starts from the inside out.

What resonated with you? What challenges do you face in your day to day principal practice? Take 5 minutes to share your thoughts

https://www.restorative.ca/cff

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

#SchoolLeadership,#Principal,,#leadership,#restorative practice,#listening,#relationshipbuilding,#connection,#sustainability,#distributedleadership,#AI,#artificialintelligence,#staffing,#mentalhealth,#stress,#selfcare,#makingitright,#prevention,#selfawareness, #strengthsbased, #selfmanagement

We spend so much time trying to "fix" students... but what if the real change starts with us — the adults? Our podcast guest this episode is Tre Gammage, Owner of Strengths Based Training helping superintendents build high performance leadership teams. Tre digs into why adult strengths awareness and skills isn’t just important — it’s essential if we want better student outcomes and stronger schools. Tre Gammage shares his journey from psychology to educational leadership, and he doesn't hold back about what it really takes: self-awareness, honest conversations, and sustainable growth (not just another one-off PD session).
He shows how staff resistance isn’t a roadblock — it’s actually one of the best opportunities for real transformation. Tre discusses how he uses personalized strengths assessments and strategic coaching to help educators move past resistance and build better learning environments. Real change starts with the people leading the classrooms, not just the kids sitting in them.

What resonated with you? What challenges do you face in your day to day principal practice? Take 5 minutes to share your thoughts

https://www.restorative.ca/cff

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

#SchoolLeadership,#Principal,,#leadership,#restorative practice,#listening,#relationshipbuilding,#connection,#sustainability,#distributedleadership,#AI,#artificialintelligence,#staffing,#mentalhealth,#stress,#selfcare,#makingitright,#prevention,#selfawareness, #strengthsbased, #selfmanagement

What happens when you believe in collaboration—but your system doesn’t? Our guest again this episode is Jessica Lees, Deputy Head Teacher of Teaching and Learning, Cairo English School. She explores that very tension in this conversation about creating cultural change from the middle. Jessica tells the story of recognizing when she was managing instead of mentoring—and how one conversation shifted everything. This episode is about the power of asking better questions, being vulnerable, and creating space for others to step up. Jessica Lees walks us through how she tackled unsustainable policies by inviting department leaders into real problem-solving, not just top-down directives. It’s a compelling story of pushing for change with courage and care.

What resonated with you? What challenges do you face in your day to day principal practice? Take 5 minutes to share your thoughts

https://www.restorative.ca/cff

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

#SchoolLeadership,#Principal,,#leadership,#restorative practice,#listening,#relationshipbuilding,#connection,#sustainability,#distributedleadership,#AI,#artificialintelligence,#staffing,#mentalhealth,#stress,#selfcare,#makingitright,#prevention