Classroom Narratives: Healing in Education

by Joseph Weisler

Season 5

Beyond the Hurdle: Building Resilience Through Identity, Failure, and the Courage to Keep Going with Dr. Vonetta Kalieta

📝 Episode Synopsis What if the greatest obstacle standing between us and success isn't failure—but our expectation that success should come easily? In this episode of Classroom Narratives, Dr. Joey Weisler welcomes psychologist, former counselor educator, and sports performance consultant Dr. Vonetta Kalieta for a powerful conversation about resilience, identity, perfectionism, and the psychology of high performers. Drawing from decades of experience working with athletes, students, and educators, Dr. Kalieta explains why true excellence is never built through shortcuts—it is built through consistency, setbacks, and learning to keep moving forward even when life refuses to cooperate. Together, they explore how social media has distorted our understanding of perfection, why failure is an essential part of learning, what happens when our identity becomes tied to a single role, and how educators can create classrooms where students feel supported without removing the productive struggle that growth requires. Along the way, they challenge common misconceptions about resilience, redefine what mental wellness really means, and remind us that sometimes getting stuck isn't failure—it's exactly where transformation begins. Whether you're an educator, coach, student, parent, or anyone navigating life's inevitable hurdles, this conversation offers a refreshing reminder that success isn't about never falling—it's about choosing to keep going. 🔗 Links and Resources 📌 About Dr. Voneetta Kalieta 👉 Meet the Abrams Psychological Services Team.... 📌 CLASSROOM NARRATIVES SEGMENT: Adjust the Flame: Exploring Anger and Emotional Intelligence in Schools with Dr. Mitch Abrams 📌 CLASSROOM NARRATIVES SEGMENT: "The Pie Just Gets Bigger”: Parenting, Identity, and Emotional Survival in Schools with Dr. Julie Davelman

S5 · E13

Sep 9, 2026

49:09

Teaching with HEART and SOUL: TRUTH Beyond a Story

📝 Episode Synopsis In the final installment of the HEART series, Dr. Joey Weisler explores the Truth pillar and asks what may be the most important question of all: What do students do with everything they've learned? Beginning with a classroom tradition in which students read Joey's own screenplay about the aftermath of the Parkland tragedy, this episode examines how storytelling can become a bridge between lived experience and meaningful learning—not through disclosure for its own sake, but through responsible reflection and purposeful communication. Through examples spanning English, mathematics, science, engineering, economics, and beyond, Joey argues that every discipline offers students opportunities to discover truths about themselves, their communities, and the world around them. The final pillar of HEART reminds educators that while content teaches knowledge, stories help students decide what that knowledge means. 🔗 Show Notes In This Episode Why Joey assigns his own screenplay during the first week of class. The purpose of asking, "What did you think about this work?" instead of testing plot recall. Why stories exist to create meaning—not simply to be decoded. Modeling vulnerability without turning classrooms into confessional spaces. The difference between trauma disclosure and purposeful storytelling. Helping students shape difficult experiences responsibly through language. Why every discipline contains opportunities for meaningful storytelling. Revisiting Your Voice, Your Change as an example of truth through authentic expression. Helping students find pieces of a curriculum that resonate personally. Concluding the HEART framework through the power of student voice. 👉 Key Takeaways Stories become powerful when they create meaning. Teachers model reflection—not performance. Truth is cultivated through thoughtful communication. Every subject offers opportunities for personal connection. Students don't simply learn content—they discover voices worth sharing. Show Links and Resources 📌 CLASSROOM NARRATIVES SEGMENT: Voices of Resilience: Paula Reed on Healing Through Education After Columbine 📌 HEART SOLO SERIES SEGMENTS: 💛 Teaching with HEART and SOUL: "The Look" That Taught Me to Care, Not Carry 💛 Teaching with HEART and SOUL: The HABITS That Evolved Community Beyond Compliance 💛 Teaching with HEART and SOUL: ENGAGEMENT Beyond a Right Answer 💛 Teaching with HEART and SOUL: AWARENESS Beyond "Why Does This Matter?" 💛 Teaching with HEART and SOUL: RESILIENCE Beyond "I Can't"

S5 · E12

Sep 2, 2026

16:37

Teaching By Day: The Boundaries that Sustain Great Teachers with Yvette Dixon Ledford

📝 Episode Synopsis For generations, education has celebrated the teacher who arrives first, stays last, answers emails at midnight, and sacrifices everything in the name of serving students. But what if those habits aren't signs of dedication at all? In this episode, Dr. Joey Weisler speaks with educator, speaker, and author Dr. Yvette Dixon-Ledford, author of Teacher By Day: A No-Guilt Guide to Boundaries, Balance, and Bliss, to challenge one of education's most dangerous assumptions: that caring more must always mean doing more, and often beyond contractual hours. Together, they explore teacher burnout, professional boundaries, emotional labor, school culture, and the subtle ways educators begin tying their worth to exhaustion. From "teacher tired" to after-hours expectations, grading overload, difficult student situations, administrator relationships, and redefining success beyond standardized test scores, this conversation offers practical strategies for building a sustainable career without sacrificing compassion. Dr. Ledford offers ways for educators to love their job while hold onto a healthy professional identity. 👉 Show Notes In this episode, we discuss: Why "teacher tired" has become normalized—and why it shouldn't be. The hidden cost of equating availability with professional value. How healthy boundaries actually make teachers more effective for students. Practical ways to reduce burnout without becoming disconnected or uncaring. Why quality almost always outweighs quantity in classroom design. The emotional challenge of supporting students while protecting your own well-being. Building relationships with administrators that make honest conversations possible. Using the "village" approach to share responsibility for students in crisis. Moving beyond standardized test scores as the primary measure of success. Redefining professional fulfillment through sustainable teaching instead of self-sacrifice. Why rest is not selfish—but essential for longevity in education. 💭 Memorable ideas from the conversation "We are professionals, not possessions." Teacher exhaustion should not become a badge of honor. Boundaries don't reduce compassion—they protect it. Great teaching isn't measured by how late you stay at school. Sustainable teachers create sustainable classrooms. The goal isn't simply surviving education—it's continuing to love teaching years from now. 🔗 Links and Resources 📌 Dr. Ledford's personal website 📌 BOOK: Teacher By Day: A No-Guilt Guide to Boundaries, Balance, and Bliss 📌 Instagram handle: @dr.yvetteledford

S5 · E11

Aug 26, 2026

46:33

Teaching with HEART and SOUL: RESILIENCE Beyond "I Can't"

📝 Episode Synopsis In the fifth installment of the HEART series, Dr. Joey Weisler explores the Resilience pillar and reframes one of education's greatest misconceptions: that struggle signals failure. Through stories ranging from a classroom disagreement in college literature to a powerful eighth-grade "No Puedo" ceremony that continues to shape his teaching today, Joey argues that emotion is not the opposite of learning—it is often evidence that learning is taking place. This episode examines how educators can respond when students encounter discomfort, resistance, frustration, or failure without attempting to eliminate those emotions altogether. Instead, resilience is presented as the process of helping students move through those emotions with purpose, support, and practical strategies that transform "I can't" into "Let's try another way." 👉 Key Takeaways Emotion is evidence that learning is being internalized. Resistance often signals that students need support, not less challenge. Grace and rigor can coexist. Revision communicates possibility. Resilience is not avoiding difficult emotions—it's learning what to do with them. Show Links and Resources 📌 CLASSROOM NARRATIVES SEGMENT: Making Moments Matter: Weisler Alumni (Pt. I) — Mandy Lanier & Ryan Romero on Student Voice, Creativity, and Authentic Classrooms 📌 HEART SOLO SERIES SEGMENTS: 💛 Teaching with HEART and SOUL: "The Look" That Taught Me to Care, Not Carry 💛 Teaching with HEART and SOUL: The HABITS That Evolved Community Beyond Compliance 💛 Teaching with HEART and SOUL: ENGAGEMENT Beyond a Right Answer 💛 Teaching with HEART and SOUL: AWARENESS Beyond "Why Does This Matter?"

S5 · E10

Aug 19, 2026

17:33

Leading with Culture: Building Schools Students and Teachers Want to Attend with Shaun Hurtado

📝 Episode Synopsis What makes students genuinely want to come to school? In this episode of Classroom Narratives, Dr. Joey Weisler sits down with principal, speaker, and author Shaun Hurtado to explore how school culture is created—not through slogans or assemblies, but through thousands of intentional interactions between students, teachers, and leaders. Together they discuss why every student deserves at least one trusted adult, how administrators can lead through visibility instead of isolation, and why authentic relationships are among the strongest forms of prevention available in today's schools. Shaun shares practical leadership strategies from his Leading with Culture framework, including his powerful "No Dot Student" exercise, daily leadership habits, and the importance of creating schools where both educators and students feel genuinely seen. The conversation also examines teacher wellbeing, leadership empathy, safe spaces, student voice, and the responsibility every adult carries in shaping school climate. Whether you're a classroom teacher, administrator, counselor, or educational leader, this episode offers practical ideas for building cultures where people don't simply attend school—they belong. 💭 Memorable Takeaways: 💡 "Every data point has a heartbeat." 💡 "It only takes one trusted adult for a student to feel connected to school." 💡 "Culture is never finished—it's something we build every single day." 💡 "Everybody has an effect on culture." 🔗 Links and Resources 📌 Shaun Hurtado personal website 📌Leading With Culture: Creating Schools That All Students Want To Attend 📌 Leading With Culture-75 Leadership and Culture 🎧 CLASSROOM NARRATIVES PODCAST SEGMENT: When Presence Becomes Prevention: School Safety, Trauma, and Educator Voice with Abbey Clements 🎧CLASSROOM NARRATIVES PODCAST SEGMENT: More Than a Title: Leadership Through Service and Presence (Part I with Jeremy Brooks) *Special thanks to Jeremy Brooks https://www.theedtalk.com/ for the connection to Principal Hurtado!

S5 · E9

Aug 12, 2026

1:00:09

Teaching with HEART and SOUL: AWARENESS Beyond "Why Does This Matter?"

📝 Episode Synopsis In the fourth installment of the HEART series, Dr. Joey Weisler explores the Awareness pillar and asks one of education's most important questions: Why does this matter? Reflecting on a first-year teaching assignment that left both him and his students uninspired, Joey introduces a different vision for learning—one where curiosity replaces compliance and students move beyond simply completing assignments to creating meaningful work that reflects their own interests, values, and purpose. Through the framework of Recognition, Expression, and Solution, this episode explores how educators can help students identify what they care about, transform those interests into authentic learning experiences, and create work that extends beyond the classroom. Whether you're teaching elementary school, secondary education, or higher education, this conversation invites you to rethink how awareness transforms learning into action. Key Takeaways Awareness begins with curiosity. Students become invested when they discover personal meaning. Learning becomes memorable when students create something that extends beyond the classroom. Design learning transforms assignments into contributions. Authenticity invites authenticity. Show Links and Resources 📌 CLASSROOM NARRATIVES SEGMENT: A Conversation With Dr. Adam Wolfsdorf (Pt I): Teaching in the Riptide: Subversion, Power, and the Moments That Redefine the Classroom 📌 CLASSROOM NARRATIVES SEGMENT: A Conversation With Dr. Adam Wolfsdorf (Pt II): Teaching in the Riptide: Trauma, Authority, and the Ethics of Response in the Classroom 📌 CLASSROOM NARRATIVES SEGMENT: Invitation Over Compliance: Design Thinking in Classrooms with Dr. Fred Estes 📌 HEART SOLO SERIES SEGMENTS: 💛 Teaching with HEART and SOUL: "The Look" That Taught Me to Care, Not Carry 💛 Teaching with HEART and SOUL: The HABITS That Evolved Community Beyond Compliance 💛 Teaching with HEART and SOUL: ENGAGEMENT Beyond a Right Answer

S5 · E8

Aug 5, 2026

21:49

Beyond the Plate: Helping Students Build Healthy Relationships with Food, Body, and Mind with Lauren Dorman

📝 Episode Synopsis For decades, health education has focused on what students should eat. But what if the bigger question is how students think about food, their bodies, and themselves? In this episode of Classroom Narratives, Dr. Joey Weisler sits down with registered dietitian, nutrition therapist, and author Lauren Dorman to explore the emotional side of nutrition and why lasting health begins with self-compassion—not self-criticism. Drawing from more than twenty years of clinical experience, Lauren shares how social media, diet culture, body image, and shame are shaping today's students, and why schools must move beyond calorie counting and weight-focused messaging. Together, they discuss Lauren's STRONG Student Shift framework, the neuroscience behind healthy habits, the connection between nutrition, sleep, mindset, and emotional regulation, and how educators and families can help young people become the CEOs of their own minds & bodies. Rather than promoting perfection, Lauren offers a refreshing vision of sustainable wellness built on curiosity, flexibility, and small daily choices that support lifelong wellbeing. 👉 Show Notes In this episode, you'll learn: Why traditional nutrition education often overlooks the emotional and psychological factors behind healthy behaviors. How social media and diet culture have contributed to rising concerns surrounding body image, food anxiety, and disordered eating among young people. Lauren's STRONG Student Shift framework and how each element helps students build sustainable habits from the inside out. Why vision, purpose, and identity are stronger motivators than rules or willpower. The importance of teaching media literacy so students can recognize misleading nutrition and wellness messaging online. How respecting—not perfecting—the body creates healthier long-term habits. The connection between nutrition, sleep, focus, emotional regulation, and academic performance. Why restrictive food rules often create guilt and shame instead of healthy relationships with eating. How educators and families can encourage flexible, balanced approaches to food rather than all-or-nothing thinking. Why nourishment extends far beyond food to include the ways we think, cope, connect, move, & rest. Practical strategies schools can implement to foster healthier, more resilient students through compassionate health education. 🔗 Guest Resources Lauren Dorman, RD: Personal website ('schools' tab) IG: dont_diet_dietitian Nine to Nourish: The Nine Ingredients to Refuel Your Relationship with Food, Body, and Mind Snack Plate STRONG student shift

S5 · E7

Jul 29, 2026

36:45

From the Classroom to Congress: Why Leadership Begins with Service with Amanda Bell

📝 Episode Synopsis What happens when a scientist, substitute teacher, and congressional candidate all become the same person? In this episode of Classroom Narratives: Healing in Education, Dr. Joey Weisler sits down with Amanda Bell to explore an unconventional career rooted in one common purpose: serving others. After nearly 25 years with the U.S. Geological Survey, Amanda stepped away from federal service and into Wisconsin classrooms as a substitute teacher—experiences that ultimately shaped her decision to run for Congress. Rather than focusing on politics, this conversation examines what classrooms reveal about leadership, empathy, educational equity, and civic responsibility. Together, Joey and Amanda discuss why schools function as community hubs, how respectful disagreement can be taught through critical thinking, why educators deserve leaders who understand education firsthand, and how teachers often influence lives far beyond the walls of their classrooms. Whether you're an educator, school leader, student, or someone passionate about building stronger communities, this episode is a reminder that meaningful leadership always begins with listening—and with a genuine commitment to serving others. 🔗 Show Links and Resources IG: amandabellforcongress

S5 · E6

Jul 24, 2026

26:20

Teaching with HEART and SOUL: ENGAGEMENT Beyond a Right Answer

📝 Episode Synopsis In the third installment of the HEART series, Dr. Joey Weisler explores the Engagement pillar and challenges one of education's most persistent questions: How do we get students to care? Reflecting on experiences ranging from teaching Night in middle school to designing an innovative college business writing course, Joey argues that authentic engagement isn't created through compliance or performance. Instead, it emerges when students see themselves in their learning. This episode introduces two complementary forms of engagement—academic and emotional—and offers a practical framework for helping students connect classroom content to their own experiences while maintaining healthy instructional boundaries. Whether you're teaching literature, science, mathematics, or elementary school, this conversation invites educators to rethink what meaningful participation truly looks like. In This Episode Why one student's comment—"I don't care about this class"—changed Joey's approach to teaching. The difference between academic engagement and emotional engagement. Why students often participate to sound "right" instead of to think deeply. Introducing the Reveal • Relate • Justify framework. Helping students make personal connections without turning the classroom into group therapy. Why emotional learning should remain connected to academic purpose. Designing multimodal opportunities for students to demonstrate learning. Why silence isn't always disengagement. Helping students become active participants instead of passive recipients. Preparing students for the next HEART pillar: Awareness. Key Takeaways: Students engage when learning feels meaningful. Intellectual and emotional engagement work best together. Personal connection should deepen comprehension—not replace it. Great discussions invite interpretation instead of simply rewarding correctness. Engagement begins when students recognize themselves within the learning. Show Links and Resources 📌 HEART SOLO SERIES SEGMENTS: 💛 Teaching with HEART and SOUL: "The Look" That Taught Me to Care, Not Carry 💛 Teaching with HEART and SOUL: The HABITS That Evolved Community Beyond Compliance

S5 · E5

Jul 22, 2026

18:45

Listening Beyond the Answer: Narrative Medicine, Grief, and the Courage to Witness with Dr. Rondalyn Whitney

📝 Episode Synopsis What happens when we stop trying to fix people's pain and instead learn how to truly witness it? In this episode of Classroom Narratives, Dr. Joey Weisler welcomes narrative medicine practitioner and occupational therapist Dr. Rondalyn Whitney for a profound conversation on grief, storytelling, and compassionate listening. The discussion ultimately invites educators to reconsider what it truly means to respond responsibly—not by carrying another person's pain, but by helping them know they do not have to carry it alone. In this episode, we discuss: What narrative medicine is—and why it is rooted in deep listening rather than treatment. Why stories, literature, and writing can become powerful tools for witnessing rather than fixing pain. Dr. Rondalyn Whitney's personal journey through widowhood and how writing every day for "a year and a day" became an act of survival. The role of educators as compassionate witnesses while maintaining healthy professional boundaries. Why classrooms should make space for difficult conversations without becoming therapeutic spaces. How literature helps students develop empathy by learning to "deeply read" both texts and people. The difference between responding to students and feeling responsible for saving them. Why authentic listening often requires becoming comfortable with uncertainty and not immediately searching for solutions. 🔗 Links and Resources 📌 Rondalyn Whitney's website 📌Rondalyn Whitney's ResearchGate 📌Habits of Widows (by Rondalyn Whitney) 📌Lies in the Afterlife (by Rondalyn Whitney) 📌 Columbia University: Narrative Medicine Workshops 📌CLASSROOM NARRATIVES SEGMENT: Beyond the Text: Creating Safe Spaces for Emotional Learning with Dr. Adam Wolfsdorf

S5 · E4

Jul 15, 2026

53:01

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