In this new episode, we are so happy to welcome Polly Netto who has been making a huge difference at Beechen Cliff School. With over 10 years of experience, she is the Head of Religion, Philosophy and Ethics, a qualified PSHE Lead and Deputy Head of 6th Form. She is the whole school Mental Health and Solution Focused (SF) Lead - using her SF training and a team approach to plan, review and update annually, schemes of school-wide mental health. Netto delivers whole staff training, incorporates SF in the staff appraisal process, and includes parents in SF conversations. She facilitates assemblies and creates resources for both the classroom and to use one-to-one with young people. In December of 2025, Netto worked with Tara Gretton to deliver training to school counsellors on behalf of the Cypriot Ministry.

Netto's exceptional work demonstrates the impact of developing relationships at school and positively noticing everyone for their personal resources, in a climate where all are valuable and add value. She infuses an intention to notice what's working rather than what's not, and helps staff and students alike, to talk about what they want as a vehicle for individual successes in progressive steps. Netto brings hope to all schools, to experience productive differences when solution focused communication is prioritized. We had a great conversation and hope you will enjoy it as well! Thank you Polly!

#schoolleadership #mental health #wellbeing #solutionfocus #communication #caring #staff #students #parents #success

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Work Collaborative, a not-for-profit movement restoring confidence in schools worldwide. Based on the best-selling book Change Starts Here by Shane Leaning and Efraim Lerner, Work Collaborative helps schools lead change from within instead of relying on external solutions. The collaborative’s approach trusts that teachers, leaders, parents and students have the capability to solve their own challenges when given the right support. If you're interested in solution-focused approaches that build internal capacity, join this global movement of educators at workcollaborative.com.

Instructional Coaching Group is the global destination for coaching in education, including instructional coaching and leadership coaching. Led by Dr. Jim Knight, ICG’s work is grounded in more than 25 years of research focused on improving teaching and strengthening leadership, with the ultimate goal of increasing student success. Through research-based learning and consulting, the Instructional Coaching Group partners with schools and systems worldwide to build sustainable coaching practices and programs that support schools. www.instructionalcoaching.com

The Canadian Centre for Brief Coaching (CCBC) - Founded by Dr. Haesun Moon, is a company based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The CCBC provides competency-based workplace training programs as well as coaching and consulting services to organizations across sectors, both in Canada and across the globe. Since its inception as a research body and think tank comprised of graduate students, subject-matter experts and community partners, the CCBC has evolved to provide programs and services designed with Solution Focused Coaching as the fundamental framework. Go to: www.pracademia.com

Family Based Solutions is a charitable organization based in the UK and founded by Ayse Adil and Joe Lettieri. They offer counselling services, support groups, solution focused training, online support and global leadership. They work collaboratively to end the cycle of abuse in families and to repair relationships. Using Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), FBS gives families full control of their healing, alowing families to take small and manageable steps toward their bests hopes. Go to https://familybasedsolutions.org.uk/

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Cynthia Franklin, an internationally recognized leader and one of the 100 Most Influential Contemporary Social Work Faculty worldwide. Highly regarded as a premier authority on Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Cynthia has spent over three decades shaping evidence-based mental health practice, authoring 16+ books and 200+ publications, and serving as Editor-in-Chief of Oxford University Press’s Encyclopedia of Social Work. She currently serves as the Stiernberg/Spencer Family Professor in Mental Health at UT Austin’s Steve Hicks School of Social Work, with a courtesy appointment in the Department of Psychiatry at Dell Medical School. In this great conversation, Cynthia shares how SFBT in schools works and becomes sustainable when young peoples' needs and wants are prioritized and when leaders support a whole-school approach.

https://socialwork.utexas.edu/directory/cynthia-g-s-franklin/

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Work Collaborative, a not-for-profit movement restoring confidence in schools worldwide. Based on the best-selling book Change Starts Here by Shane Leaning and Efraim Lerner, Work Collaborative helps schools lead change from within instead of relying on external solutions. The collaborative’s approach trusts that teachers, leaders, parents and students have the capability to solve their own challenges when given the right support. If you're interested in solution-focused approaches that build internal capacity, join this global movement of educators at workcollaborative.com.

Instructional Coaching Group is the global destination for coaching in education, including instructional coaching and leadership coaching. Led by Dr. Jim Knight, ICG’s work is grounded in more than 25 years of research focused on improving teaching and strengthening leadership, with the ultimate goal of increasing student success. Through research-based learning and consulting, the Instructional Coaching Group partners with schools and systems worldwide to build sustainable coaching practices and programs that support schools. www.instructionalcoaching.com

The Canadian Centre for Brief Coaching (CCBC) - Founded by Dr. Haesun Moon, is a company based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The CCBC provides competency-based workplace training programs as well as coaching and consulting services to organizations across sectors, both in Canada and across the globe. Since its inception as a research body and think tank comprised of graduate students, subject-matter experts and community partners, the CCBC has evolved to provide programs and services designed with Solution Focused Coaching as the fundamental framework. Go to: www.pracademia.com

Family Based Solutions is a charitable organization based in the UK and founded by Ayse Adil and Joe Lettieri. They offer counselling services, support groups, solution focused training, online support and global leadership. They work collaboratively to end the cycle of abuse in families and to repair relationships. Using Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), FBS gives families full control of their healing, alowing families to take small and manageable steps toward their bests hopes. Go to https://familybasedsolutions.org.uk/

Leaders shape culture by what they choose to value out loud. 'Kindness' doesn't always get center stage, but what if it is one of the most reliable indicators that a school community is healthy? We have a moving conversation with Julie Magadance, assistant director for counselling and guidance services in a large urban school district in San Antonio, Texas, and start with a moment from a graduation ceremony that stayed with her - where school leaders highlighted kindness as being the most redeeming characteristic of an entire graduating class, and celebrated the impact to the whole school community.

Having supported young people from ages 4-18 in her capacity as teacher, school counselor and crisis intervention counselor, Julie reflects on how positive character traits such as kindness, unfold for all ages in environments of empathy and connection. As young people grow, the audience gets bigger, the social world gets louder, but the core need for safety, boundaries, mattering and belonging stays constant. Solution Focused conversations and interventions by school staff, counselors and caring adults, help students to support one another as they productively learn in inclusive spaces.

Join Julie's Solution Focused Online Peer Consultation Group which she co-facilitates with Sharon Casey and Erin Cusanno. This group is for school based practitioners and leaders. Go to: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScP0LA0i7yes1SIjaMjibuAP-RO00gxE47e0czLnas9i1OAEg/viewform.

We thank you for listening! Please subscribe, share this episode with an educator or school leader, and leave a review so more people can find us.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Work Collaborative, a not-for-profit movement restoring confidence in schools worldwide. Based on the best-selling book Change Starts Here by Shane Leaning and Efraim Lerner, Work Collaborative helps schools lead change from within instead of relying on external solutions. The collaborative’s approach trusts that teachers, leaders, parents and students have the capability to solve their own challenges when given the right support. If you're interested in solution-focused approaches that build internal capacity, join this global movement of educators at workcollaborative.com.

Instructional Coaching Group is the global destination for coaching in education, including instructional coaching and leadership coaching. Led by Dr. Jim Knight, ICG’s work is grounded in more than 25 years of research focused on improving teaching and strengthening leadership, with the ultimate goal of increasing student success. Through research-based learning and consulting, the Instructional Coaching Group partners with schools and systems worldwide to build sustainable coaching practices and programs that support schools. www.instructionalcoaching.com

The Canadian Centre for Brief Coaching (CCBC) - Founded by Dr. Haesun Moon, is a company based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The CCBC provides competency-based workplace training programs as well as coaching and consulting services to organizations across sectors, both in Canada and across the globe. Since its inception as a research body and think tank comprised of graduate students, subject-matter experts and community partners, the CCBC has evolved to provide programs and services designed with Solution Focused Coaching as the fundamental framework. Go to: www.pracademia.com

Family Based Solutions is a charitable organization based in the UK and founded by Ayse Adil and Joe Lettieri. They offer counselling services, support groups, solution focused training, online support and global leadership. They work collaboratively to end the cycle of abuse in families and to repair relationships. Using Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), FBS gives families full control of their healing, alowing families to take small and manageable steps toward their bests hopes. Go to https://familybasedsolutions.org.uk/

A school can have the right plans and still feel exhausted in practice. Productive change can best be measured by the quality of our conversations, what we listen for, and how much space we give other people to think. In our inspiring interview with Jason Pascoe, he explains why solution focus is simple but not easy, and how it helps leaders to stop defaulting to “fixing” and to start listening for strengths, resources, and the exceptions that already work. We explored the “more of you” versus “less of you” continuum in leadership conversations, including how staying too directive can quietly create learned helplessness across a team.

Jason Pascoe is a leadership consultant, coach, former teacher and school leader with over 20 years’ experience across education and organisational development. Beginning his career in schools, Jason understands firsthand the complexity, pressure, and relational demands of working with people every day. As the Founder of The Enactive Solution and Vice-President of the Australasian Solution-Focused Association, Jason specialises in translating Solution-Focused practice and related research into practical conversations that help people move forward, strengthen relationships, and reduce burnout.

Jason’s work spans education systems across Australia and internationally, where he has supported thousands of educators and leaders. He also co-hosts the Towards Solutions Podcast, where he engages global Solution-Focused practitioners to share their work and promote Solution-Focused practice. Thank you Jason for a great conversation!

For more information, go to: The Enactive Solution, Toward Solutions Podcast, Dialogic Orientation Quadrant, Jason’s Café

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Work Collaborative, a not-for-profit movement restoring confidence in schools worldwide. Based on the best-selling book Change Starts Here by Shane Leaning and Efraim Lerner, Work Collaborative helps schools lead change from within instead of relying on external solutions. The collaborative’s approach trusts that teachers, leaders, parents and students have the capability to solve their own challenges when given the right support. If you're interested in solution-focused approaches that build internal capacity, join this global movement of educators at workcollaborative.com.

Instructional Coaching Group is the global destination for coaching in education, including instructional coaching and leadership coaching. Led by Dr. Jim Knight, ICG’s work is grounded in more than 25 years of research focused on improving teaching and strengthening leadership, with the ultimate goal of increasing student success. Through research-based learning and consulting, the Instructional Coaching Group partners with schools and systems worldwide to build sustainable coaching practices and programs that support schools. www.instructionalcoaching.com

The Canadian Centre for Brief Coaching (CCBC) - Founded by Dr. Haesun Moon, is a company based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The CCBC provides competency-based workplace training programs as well as coaching and consulting services to organizations across sectors, both in Canada and across the globe. Since its inception as a research body and think tank comprised of graduate students, subject-matter experts and community partners, the CCBC has evolved to provide programs and services designed with Solution Focused Coaching as the fundamental framework. Go to: www.pracademia.com

Family Based Solutions is a charitable organization based in the UK and founded by Ayse Adil and Joe Lettieri. They offer counselling services, support groups, solution focused training, online support and global leadership. They work collaboratively to end the cycle of abuse in families and to repair relationships. Using Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), FBS gives families full control of their healing, alowing families to take small and manageable steps toward their bests hopes. Go to https://familybasedsolutions.org.uk/

In this episode, we interview an amazing group of individuals who have been facilitating and researching a whole-school approach to improving communication, behaviour, & school culture. The study is called SOLIS – Solutions in Schools. Professor Rose McCabe (City St. George's, University of London, UK) is a psychologist specialising in professional-patient communication in mental health care. She has expertise in developing and implementing solution focused interventions to improve wellbeing for young people. rose.mccabe@citystgeorges.ac.uk . Dr Fiona Robinson (City St. George's, University of London, UK) is a mental health Research Fellow specialising in research with children, young people and parents. Her current work focuses on brief solution focused interventions to promote wellbeing in school students and staff. fiona.robinson@citystgeorges.ac.uk. Mr. Ben Starkey is Assistant Principal at a mixed comprehensive all through school lin London, UK, where he oversees behaviour. We’re so thankful to this great team for joining us to share their story.

Learn more about the SOLIS Study at: www.solutiontalkinschools.co.uk.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Work Collaborative, a not-for-profit movement restoring confidence in schools worldwide. Based on the best-selling book Change Starts Here by Shane Leaning and Efraim Lerner, Work Collaborative helps schools lead change from within instead of relying on external solutions. The collaborative’s approach trusts that teachers, leaders, parents and students have the capability to solve their own challenges when given the right support. If you're interested in solution-focused approaches that build internal capacity, join this global movement of educators at workcollaborative.com.

Instructional Coaching Group is the global destination for coaching in education, including instructional coaching and leadership coaching. Led by Dr. Jim Knight, ICG’s work is grounded in more than 25 years of research focused on improving teaching and strengthening leadership, with the ultimate goal of increasing student success. Through research-based learning and consulting, the Instructional Coaching Group partners with schools and systems worldwide to build sustainable coaching practices and programs that support schools. www.instructionalcoaching.com

The Canadian Centre for Brief Coaching (CCBC) - Founded by Dr. Haesun Moon, is a company based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The CCBC provides competency-based workplace training programs as well as coaching and consulting services to organizations across sectors, both in Canada and across the globe. Since its inception as a research body and think tank comprised of graduate students, subject-matter experts and community partners, the CCBC has evolved to provide programs and services designed with Solution Focused Coaching as the fundamental framework. Go to: www.pracademia.com

Family Based Solutions is a charitable organization based in the UK and founded by Ayse Adil and Joe Lettieri. They offer counselling services, support groups, solution focused training, online support and global leadership. They work collaboratively to end the cycle of abuse in families and to repair relationships. Using Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), FBS gives families full control of their healing, alowing families to take small and manageable steps toward their bests hopes. Go to https://familybasedsolutions.org.uk/

Tara and Vicky have a wonderful conversation with Sharon Casey from Quebec, Canada - a solution-focused trainer with a background in education, crisis intervention, drug rehabilitation, and suicide prevention. What do small changes really mean when the stakes are high for students? Sharing many engaging experiences, Sharon takes us through why solution-focused coaching always works in education, and especially when students are experiencing particular challenges in their lives. She speaks to how to advocate for student wellbeing by being trauma-informed rather than trauma-obsessed. In her experience, strength-based conversations build agency and learning accelerates when a young person is supported in seeing themselves as a learner. You can find Sharon at https://www.lavoiesolutions.com/english/.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Work Collaborative, a not-for-profit movement restoring confidence in schools worldwide. Based on the best-selling book Change Starts Here by Shane Leaning and Efraim Lerner, Work Collaborative helps schools lead change from within instead of relying on external solutions. The collaborative’s approach trusts that teachers, leaders, parents and students have the capability to solve their own challenges when given the right support. If you're interested in solution-focused approaches that build internal capacity, join this global movement of educators at workcollaborative.com.

Instructional Coaching Group is the global destination for coaching in education, including instructional coaching and leadership coaching. Led by Dr. Jim Knight, ICG’s work is grounded in more than 25 years of research focused on improving teaching and strengthening leadership, with the ultimate goal of increasing student success. Through research-based learning and consulting, the Instructional Coaching Group partners with schools and systems worldwide to build sustainable coaching practices and programs that support schools. www.instructionalcoaching.com

The Canadian Centre for Brief Coaching (CCBC) - Founded by Dr. Haesun Moon, is a company based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The CCBC provides competency-based workplace training programs as well as coaching and consulting services to organizations across sectors, both in Canada and across the globe. Since its inception as a research body and think tank comprised of graduate students, subject-matter experts and community partners, the CCBC has evolved to provide programs and services designed with Solution Focused Coaching as the fundamental framework. Go to: www.pracademia.com

Family Based Solutions is a charitable organization based in the UK and founded by Ayse Adil and Joe Lettieri. They offer counselling services, support groups, solution focused training, online support and global leadership. They work collaboratively to end the cycle of abuse in families and to repair relationships. Using Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), FBS gives families full control of their healing, alowing families to take small and manageable steps toward their bests hopes. Go to https://familybasedsolutions.org.uk/

In this episode, Tara and Vicky have the pleasure of interiewing Erin Cusanno. Erin has worked as a middle school counselor for 26 years. About eight years ago, she became fascinated with the Solution Focused approach and started to incorporate it into her work at school. Two years ago she shifted into a program to help students who struggle with chronic absenteeism. She utilizes Solution Focused Principles in every aspect of the program, working with students, caregivers and school staff. Outside of school, Erin has a private practice where she primarily works with high school and college age students while using the Solution Focused approach. https://www.erincusanno.com/. Erin also co-facilitates a Solution Focused Peer Consultation group for school based practitioners and leaders. Go to https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScP0LA0i7yes1SIjaMjibuAP-RO00gxE47e0czLnas9i1OAEg/viewform.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Work Collaborative, a not-for-profit movement restoring confidence in schools worldwide. Based on the best-selling book Change Starts Here by Shane Leaning and Efraim Lerner, Work Collaborative helps schools lead change from within instead of relying on external solutions. The collaborative’s approach trusts that teachers, leaders, parents and students have the capability to solve their own challenges when given the right support. If you're interested in solution-focused approaches that build internal capacity, join this global movement of educators at workcollaborative.com.

Instructional Coaching Group is the global destination for coaching in education, including instructional coaching and leadership coaching. Led by Dr. Jim Knight, ICG’s work is grounded in more than 25 years of research focused on improving teaching and strengthening leadership, with the ultimate goal of increasing student success. Through research-based learning and consulting, the Instructional Coaching Group partners with schools and systems worldwide to build sustainable coaching practices and programs that support schools. www.instructionalcoaching.com

The Canadian Centre for Brief Coaching (CCBC) - Founded by Dr. Haesun Moon, is a company based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The CCBC provides competency-based workplace training programs as well as coaching and consulting services to organizations across sectors, both in Canada and across the globe. Since its inception as a research body and think tank comprised of graduate students, subject-matter experts and community partners, the CCBC has evolved to provide programs and services designed with Solution Focused Coaching as the fundamental framework. Go to: www.pracademia.com

Family Based Solutions is a charitable organization based in the UK and founded by Ayse Adil and Joe Lettieri. They offer counselling services, support groups, solution focused training, online support and global leadership. They work collaboratively to end the cycle of abuse in families and to repair relationships. Using Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), FBS gives families full control of their healing, alowing families to take small and manageable steps toward their bests hopes. Go to https://familybasedsolutions.org.uk/

In this Episode of School Solutions Talk, Tara and Vicky have the pleasure of interviewing Gesa Doringer, an experienced Solution Focused practitioner, occupational therapist and trainer from the Netherlands. For the past 18 years she has been working as a Job Coach at the department for Adolescents with Early Onset Psychosis at the Amsterdam University Medical Center. Gesa respectfully witnesses the resilience and solutions of these young people. She admires how they dust themselves off after experiencing mental health problems and dare to focus on their goals and next steps ahead. Experiential learning and game elements are her secret ingredients to hold space for her clients and encourage them to gain new insights and hope. For the past 10 years she has worked as an author and Solution Focused Trainer in Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. In 2023 Gesa published her Solution Focused game, the Mindsetter, which is now played in 29 countries worldwide and implemented in schools in several countries. Today’s conversation with Gesa, highlights how the solution focused Mindsetter Game is making a difference in schools. To learn more about the Mindsetter, go to https://listo-amsterdam.com/the-mindsetter-3/, or email Gesa at info@listo-amsterdam.com.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Work Collaborative, a not-for-profit movement restoring confidence in schools worldwide. Based on the best-selling book Change Starts Here by Shane Leaning and Efraim Lerner, Work Collaborative helps schools lead change from within instead of relying on external solutions. The collaborative’s approach trusts that teachers, leaders, parents and students have the capability to solve their own challenges when given the right support. If you're interested in solution-focused approaches that build internal capacity, join this global movement of educators at workcollaborative.com.

Instructional Coaching Group is the global destination for coaching in education, including instructional coaching and leadership coaching. Led by Dr. Jim Knight, ICG’s work is grounded in more than 25 years of research focused on improving teaching and strengthening leadership, with the ultimate goal of increasing student success. Through research-based learning and consulting, the Instructional Coaching Group partners with schools and systems worldwide to build sustainable coaching practices and programs that support schools. www.instructionalcoaching.com

The Canadian Centre for Brief Coaching (CCBC) - Founded by Dr. Haesun Moon, is a company based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The CCBC provides competency-based workplace training programs as well as coaching and consulting services to organizations across sectors, both in Canada and across the globe. Since its inception as a research body and think tank comprised of graduate students, subject-matter experts and community partners, the CCBC has evolved to provide programs and services designed with Solution Focused Coaching as the fundamental framework. Go to: www.pracademia.com

Family Based Solutions is a charitable organization based in the UK and founded by Ayse Adil and Joe Lettieri. They offer counselling services, support groups, solution focused training, online support and global leadership. They work collaboratively to end the cycle of abuse in families and to repair relationships. Using Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), FBS gives families full control of their healing, alowing families to take small and manageable steps toward their bests hopes. Go to https://familybasedsolutions.org.uk/