Creating Inclusive School Cultures Through Brain Science ft. Dr. Lisa Riegel

In this episode of Black Representation in the Curriculum, Dr. Lisa Riegel discusses her journey from teaching to leadership in education, emphasizing the importance of neuroscience in understanding student engagement and behavior. She highlights the need for collective identity and belonging in schools, particularly for Black students, and how cultural values impact educational practices. Dr. Riegel advocates for creating safe and supportive learning environments that foster motivation and engagement, while also addressing the challenges teachers face in implementing these changes. In this conversation, Lisa A Riegel and Catherine Quinlan explore the critical themes of self-awareness, teacher effectiveness, parent engagement, cultural sensitivity, and the impact of societal assumptions on education. They discuss the importance of understanding the underlying fears that drive teacher behavior, the need for genuine partnerships between parents and schools, and the significance of adapting educational practices to align with diverse cultural values. The conversation emphasizes the role of brain science in fostering emotional safety and transformative change in educational leadership.

About Dr. Lisa Riegel:

Lisa Riegel started her career in education, driven by one goal: to help people reach their potential. Over time, she realized that fulfillment—whether in a classroom, company, or community—comes from understanding how the brain drives behavior and how systems shape success.

That discovery became the foundation for her life’s work. As an educator, researcher, and author, she has spent two decades helping schools, leaders, parents, and organizations align brain science with human systems—creating cultures where people feel connected, capable, and in control of their growth.

Dr. Riegel earned dual bachelor's degrees in English and Secondary Education from Kent State University. She holds a master's degree in curriculum and instruction from Otterbein University and a Ph.D. in Education Policy and Leadership from The Ohio State University. Her work has appeared in peer-reviewed journals and she has authored five books, including her two latest books, NeuroWell, and Aspirations to Operations, focused on brain science and how we can leverage it to help people become happier, healthier, and more successful.

Book links

NeuroWell

Aspirations to Operations

Stop Doing What Doesn't WorkAuthor page: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=lisa+riegel&crid=30TTDXLJRNQMO&sprefix=lisa+riegel%2Caps%2C158&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

About the Host: Dr. Catherine L. Quinlan, ED.D.

I am a researcher, professor, and curriculum design expert.I currently hold the Brenda B. Brodie Endowed Chair for Teacher Education inthe School of Education at North Carolina Central University.

Learn more about me and my research on my websites andYouTube channels.

For more information visit my websites:

Personal Website of Dr. Catherine L. Quinlan: ⁠⁠⁠https://drcatherinequinlan.com⁠⁠⁠

Visibility In STEM Education Consultant/Services: ⁠⁠⁠https://visibilityinstem.com/⁠⁠⁠

TEDx Talk: The ClarityWe Need For Belonging: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3xAD3I3x-M&feature=youtu.be⁠⁠⁠

Recent Academic Book: Black Representation in the ScienceCurriculum: Implications for Identity, Culture, Belonging, and CurriculumDevelopment. ⁠⁠⁠https://www.routledge.com/9781032757193⁠⁠⁠

Keystone Passage,Chapter Series Book: ⁠⁠⁠https://keystonepassage.com⁠⁠⁠

Check out the podcast: Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6IlAjleK06X35gdoGqylGH⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@drcatherinequinlan⁠⁠⁠

Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/black-representation-in-the-curriculum-conversations/id1785560564

Music: ⁠⁠⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/649118d6-1db7-4273-aa01-bfd495703f71/learning-for-truth-and-love⁠⁠⁠

iHeart Radio: ⁠⁠⁠ https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-black-representation-in-th-248725998/