In this timely holiday episode of The Language of Behavior, Joshua Stamper and Charle Peck answer a pressing question many educators are asking: “Student behavior is shifting—what can we do differently in the new year?” As schools head into the spring semester and the pressure of state testing ramps up, they unpack why behavior often spikes and how leaders can respond with intention instead of exhaustion.​

Josh and Charle walk listeners through the power of creating a Relationship Action Team (or any grassroots cohort) to move from isolated frustration to collective problem-solving. They outline a guiding question for leaders—Who needs to be on my action team to support clarity, accountability, and regulation?—and explain why adult stability and nervous system regulation are non‑negotiable for any behavior plan. From designing systems that actually work, to revisiting referral processes and behavior matrices, they show how small, diverse teams can challenge “we’ve always done it this way” and build structures that truly support students and staff.​

Perfect for school leaders, coaches, and teacher‑leaders, this episode offers a practical blueprint for using the new year as a launchpad for culture change—so your 2026 behavior plan is more than a wish list.

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FREE The Language of Behavior Book Study Kit: https://thrivingeducator.myflodesk.com/lobbookstudy

Do you have any questions for the podcast? Fill out this quick Google Form: https://forms.gle/u5axHazzuyN5pry76

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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:

1. Website: www.ThrivingEducator.org
2. Twitter: https://twitter.com/CharlePeck
3. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charlepeckconsulting?mibextid=LQQJ4d
4. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlepeck/
5. Other: charle@thrivibgeducator.org
6. Podcast: Thriving Educator
7. 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

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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FREE The Language of Behavior Book Study Kit: https://thrivingeducator.myflodesk.com/lobbookstudy

Do you have any questions for the podcast? Fill out this quick Google Form: https://forms.gle/u5axHazzuyN5pry76

--

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...

Have you ever wondered how to respond when a parent walks into your office already angry, defensive, or full of ego?

In this episode of The Language of Behavior, Joshua Stamper and Charle Peck shift the focus from student behavior to parent behavior, unpacking what is really happening in those high-intensity encounters and why traditional “holding your ground” often backfires.​

What if the real power move is not “shutting a parent down” but refusing to climb the ladder of conflict with them? Drawing on their behavioral framework and clinical experience, Joshua and Charle explore how environment, nervous system regulation, and fair (rather than unfair) judgment can transform explosive meetings into problem-solving conversations.​

How can leaders set the stage so parents feel less judged and more like true teammates in supporting their kids? You will hear practical strategies such as using neutral spaces, scripting key phrases, naming underlying emotions like fear or embarrassment, inviting trusted allies into the room, and using the “path of possibilities” question set what do you want and what don’t you want to bring parents back from chaos to collaboration.

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FREE The Language of Behavior Book Study Kit: https://thrivingeducator.myflodesk.com/lobbookstudy

Do you have any questions for the podcast? Fill out this quick Google Form: https://forms.gle/u5axHazzuyN5pry76

--

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 committed to enhancing leadership capacity through self-care practices, ensuring that educators are equipped to lead with empathy and resilience. As the author of The Language of Behavior and Aspire to Lead and host of two popular podcasts, Joshua continues to inspire and empower educators and leaders worldwide.

Follow Joshua...