Skip to content
Get started
Back to all episodes
Ask an Expert: How to Create Safe and Supportive Schools

Ask an Expert: How to Create Safe and Supportive Schools

Schoolin' Around
• 21 min
Play episode
In this episode, Larissa Napolitan and Trudy Bender discuss the top concerns for school leaders, with a focus on creating a safe and supportive environment for both students and staff. They emphasize the importance of building a positive school culture and the role of administrators in modeling the behavior they expect from their staff. They also highlight the need for administrators to be present on the ground and understand the challenges faced by teachers. Small gestures of care and concern, such as providing special lunches or allowing teachers to dress comfortably, can make a big difference in improving staff morale. Additionally, seeking feedback from staff through anonymous surveys can help identify areas for improvement and create a more positive work environment. Trudy is the Senior Manager of Thought Leadership Content at Branching Minds, but comes to us as a District MTSS Leader and Behavior Coordinator. She serves the state of Texas as a Restorative Discipline Facilitator. Trudy is a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology and a Nationally Certified School Psychologist. Takeaways -Creating a safe and supportive environment is a top concern for school leaders. -Building a positive school culture is essential for both students and staff. -Administrators should be present on the ground and understand the challenges faced by teachers. -Small gestures of care and concern can make a big difference in improving staff morale. Chapters 00:40 Top Concerns for School Leaders 02:08 Creating a Safe and Supportive Environment 03:01 Building a Positive School Culture 04:21 Understanding Teachers' Challenges 06:02 The Importance of Being Present 08:08 Small Gestures of Care and Concern 09:21 Creating Special Moments for Staff 10:14 Implementing Small Changes Today 15:55 Seeking Feedback from Staff 19:25 Conclusion Learn more about MTSS and Branching Minds by visiting our website Branchingminds.com, or Sign up for our weekly newsletter on all things MTSS with this link. (https://hubs.la/Q02g9lwV0) Don’t forget to follow and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn @BranchingMinds.