I've Tried Everything ESC Region 13

Districts, campuses, and classroom staff are trying to strike a balance between academics and behavior support for students. It is not about putting one in front of another. It is about finding a way to blend the two to address the whole child. Join me as I speak with our Deputy Executive Director of Academic Services, Kerry Gain, on how to create a continuum of services.

Behavior has changed after the pandemic. We are seeing a greater need for behavior knowledge and skills from teachers, principals, and even our superintendents. Keith Thompson, our director of leadership initiatives and supports, shares with us how his teams are preparing new staff for the increased challenges they are facing.

The million-dollar question right now in education is, "How do we address the teacher shortage?" We are fortunate to have Whitney Brown, special programs coordinator for Smithville ISD, join us to give her suggestions on what could be done to address the shortage. She also shares her insights on how behavior has changed through the years.

Since students returned after the pandemic, we have seen a shift in behaviors, and some of that behavior has been extreme. It leads us to the question of whether it is skill or will. Albert Felts, Associate Director of student support services, has spent his career working with challenging student behavior. Join me for what he feels is our last real hope in addressing student behavior in schools.

Being a new teacher has its own challenges in the classroom. Add coaching responsibilities to the plate, and you have a recipe for exhaustion. Brittany Harley shares her experiences as a new teacher and coach at Taylor High School in Taylor ISD. She is learning the ins and outs of being an educator in our Education Certification Program here at Region 13.

Trying to find the balance between setting boundaries/limits and providing support/nurturing to your students is a challenge even veteran teachers face. Find out how William Treadwell, a new teacher at Deer Park MS in Round Rock ISD, finds his balance. He shares the importance of building relationships with his students, the must-have classroom management components, and what he wishes he had known about education before he stepped into the classroom.