The Thriving School Podcast with Jenni Awesome

Jenni Awesome

The Thriving School Podcast with Jenni Awesome is for K–12 principals and school leaders who know their schools are capable of more. Each episode helps you build sustainable systems, strengthen school culture, improve discipline and accountability, and lead meaningful change without losing the humanity at the heart of education. Jenni brings nearly two decades of experience in education and school leadership to practical conversations about the systems behind student behavior, staff alignment, belonging, MTSS, leadership, school improvement, and culture. This is not about adding another initiative. It is about identifying what is working, resetting what is not, and intentionally building the systems your students, staff, and community need to thrive. Expect practical strategies, leadership tools, honest conversations, and ideas you can take back to your school and use. Sustainable Systems. Connected Culture. Enduring Impact. Because thriving schools do not happen by accident. We build them.

  1. 6d ago

    The Power of Failure: Why Getting It Wrong Helps Us Grow

    The podcast episode explores the concept of behavior as a form of communication and the importance of understanding belonging in addressing student behavior. It emphasizes relationship-centered discipline, fail-forward approach, and the impact of school culture on student behavior. www.awesomeconsluting.org/subscribe Takeaways Behavior is a form of communicationUnderstanding belonging is crucial in addressing student behavior Chapters 00:00 Behavior as Communication03:09 Relationship-Centered Discipline12:20 Belonging and School Culture16:17 Chronic Absenteeism and School Avoidance18:22 Fail Forward Approach

  2. Oct 6

    How Puppetry Helps Children Communicate: Safety, Connection & Relational Puppetry with Helen Meurs

    Helen Meurs, the founder of Relational Puppetry, shares her journey of using hand puppets as a relational bridge between adults and children. She emphasizes the importance of creating a safe space for children to communicate and express themselves. Helen's approach focuses on understanding and connecting with children through the use of puppets, allowing them to open up and share their thoughts and feelings. The conversation with Helen Meurs delves into the transformative impact of using puppets in education and child development. Helen shares insights on building emotional safety, creating a relationship with a puppet, and the profound influence it has on children. She emphasizes the importance of seeing children as unique individuals with their own needs and the power of consistent, small shifts in teaching and caregiving. Takeaways Relational Puppetry: Using hand puppets as a relational bridge between adults and children.Creating a Safe Space: The importance of creating a safe and supportive environment for children to communicate and express themselves. Emotional SafetyRelationship with PuppetImpact of Small Shifts https://www.helenmeurs.com/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Relational Puppetry02:32 The Journey of Relational Puppetry04:39 The Role of Puppets in Creating Safety06:15 Connecting with Children through Puppets11:07 The Impact of Puppetry on Children34:19 Choosing and Using Puppets41:24 Embracing Imperfection in Puppetry45:21 Building Emotional Safety46:19 Creating a Relationship with a Puppet01:20:20 The Power of Small Shifts

  3. Sep 29

    Starting Over After Divorce: Reinvention, Self-Discovery, Finding Yourself Again: Jennifer Anderson

    The conversation covers themes of navigating life transitions, parenting and transitioning roles, rediscovering self and setting boundaries, photography as a storytelling medium, the importance of printed memories, and embarking on life coaching. The discussion delves into personal growth, family dynamics, and the significance of capturing and preserving memories through photography. The conversation delves into the challenges of modern living, the impact of technology on human connection, and the importance of finding balance and reconnecting with oneself. It also highlights the need to shift focus from technology to being human and the nostalgia for a simpler, more connected way of life. https://www.autumnlynn.photography/ Takeaways Navigating life transitions requires a positive attitude and a focus on rediscovering oneself.Printed photographs hold sentimental value and serve as a tangible reminder of cherished memories. Finding balance in a fast-paced worldReconnecting with oneself amidst technology Chapters 00:00 Navigating Life Transitions03:30 Parenting and Transitioning Roles07:07 Rediscovering Self and Setting Boundaries21:18 Photography as a Storytelling Medium27:57 The Importance of Printed Memories29:56 Embarking on Life Coaching29:56 Unfolding of Life30:21 Random Experiences and Connections31:17 Finding Your Voice32:28 Disconnecting from Technology33:37 Reconnecting with Ourselves34:31 Balancing Technology and Life35:27 Impact of Technology on Human Connection37:29 Routines and Accountability38:45 Shifting Focus to Being Human50:06 Nostalgia for 90s Life

  4. Sep 24

    Student Behavior Problems? Why Belonging May Be the Missing Piece

    The podcast episode explores the concept of belonging as a doorway, not a destination, and delves into the significance of behavior as information, human dignity, love, failure, and building a better tomorrow through action and connection. It also emphasizes the importance of education, curiosity, systems, policy examination, learning from failure, and purposeful action. www.awesomeconsulring.org/subscribe Takeaways Belonging as a doorway, not a destinationBehavior as information, not just disruptionHuman dignity as non-negotiableFailure as an opportunity for learning and growthBuilding a better tomorrow through action and connection Chapters 00:00 Belonging as a Doorway03:15 Behavior as Information10:21 Human Dignity and Love12:54 Education and Curiosity17:04 Systems and Policy Examination19:00 Fail Forward and Learning25:08 Purpose and Action

  5. Sep 22

    Behavior Is Communication: Understanding Student Behavior & SEND Support with Lee Park

    Lee Park shares his inspiring journey from volunteering in youth clubs to working in special education and alternative learning provision. He discusses the challenges he faced, the stigma of men in education, and the importance of understanding and supporting student behavior. Lee's strategies focus on realness, relatability, and the 'we' mentality in education. The conversation covers the pressure on young people, creating safe environments, challenges in mainstream education, emotional regulation, attendance, the role of teachers and TAs, the impact of social media, and the 'us and them' mentality in education. Takeaways Understanding student behavior is key to effective support.Realness and relatability are crucial in building relationships with students. Relationships and behavior are key in education.The 'us and them' mentality in education needs to be addressed. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Lee's Background01:12 Early Career and Personal Journey02:40 Transition to Primary School and Alternative Learning Provision03:09 Challenges and Personal Health04:08 The Stigma of Men in Education06:09 Negative School Experiences and Motivation12:27 Understanding Student Behavior13:24 The Behavior Cycle and Positive Outcomes15:31 Strategies for Behavior Support23:39 Realness and Relatability in Education27:04 The Pressure on Young People27:32 Creating Safe and Supportive Environments28:22 Challenges in Mainstream Education29:51 Emotional Regulation and Active Listening32:07 Attendance and Student Engagement33:31 The Role of Teachers and TAs34:59 The Impact of Social Media on Education50:27 The Us and Them Mentality in Education

  6. Sep 17

    A Better Tomorrow is Possible: We Have to Build It

    The podcast episode explores the themes of embracing change, the purpose of education, love, dignity, leadership, policy, politics, human impact, measuring what matters in education, belonging, failure, purpose, building a community of thinkers, the importance of failure and learning, purpose, action, responsibility, creating meaningful change, and inviting collaboration and action. It emphasizes the importance of human dignity, the need for education to create possibility, the evaluation of systems and policies, the role of failure in growth and learning, and the significance of purpose and action for meaningful change. Takeaways Human dignity is non-negotiableEducation should create possibility, not complianceEvaluation of systems and policies should consider who it serves and whether it worksFailure is an essential part of growth and learningPurpose and action are essential for meaningful change Chapters 00:00 Embracing Change and Responsibility10:47 The Purpose of Education11:35 Love, Dignity, and Leadership13:42 Policy, Politics, and Human Impact16:15 Measuring What Matters in Education18:00 Belonging, Failure, and Purpose20:32 Building a Community of Thinkers27:15 The Importance of Failure and Learning29:16 Purpose, Action, and Responsibility31:00 Creating Meaningful Change32:56 Inviting Collaboration and Action

  7. Sep 15

    IEP Confidence: Know Your Rights with Frances Shefter

    The conversation covers the unintentional mistakes parents make in the IEP process, challenges with school trust and empowerment, personal experiences as a parent and education attorney, advocating for a child's needs in school, diagnosis and understanding of autism and PDA, involving children in IEP meetings and decision-making, parental involvement in IEP meetings and support groups, parental confidence in IEP meetings and understanding of child's needs, and empowering teachers to teach. The key takeaways include parental confidence in IEP meetings, supporting neurodivergent learners, and empowering teachers to teach. https://shefterlaw.com/ Takeaways Educational Law JourneyIEP Expertise Parental confidence in IEP meetingsSupporting neurodivergent learnersEmpowering teachers to teach Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Special Education Law03:00 Transition to Educational Law06:00 Role of an Educational Attorney08:48 When to Seek Legal Support11:07 Understanding IEP and Qualification15:08 Timelines and Rights of Parents25:05 Challenges with School Trust and Empowerment26:15 Personal Experience as a Parent and Education Attorney27:13 Advocating for Child's Needs in School29:27 Diagnosis and Understanding of Autism and PDA32:41 Involving Children in IEP Meetings and Decision-Making36:35 Parental Involvement in IEP Meetings and Support Groups43:36 Parental Confidence in IEP Meetings and Understanding of Child's Needs48:38 Empowering Teachers to Teach

  8. Sep 8

    Music, Loss, and Perseverance with Sharmila Joghi

    Sharmila Joghi, a pop singer-songwriter with a background in social work, shares her journey of music, loss, and perseverance. She discusses the impact of her daughter's passing, her experiences as an independent artist, and the challenges of institutional racism in Holland. https://open.spotify.com/artist/2bxEWUNYWsISusU9916nE3?si=sOmOWNRsTCCwIkON1hJa8w Takeaways Music as a form of expressionPerseverance in the face of adversity Chapters 00:00 The Journey of Music and Loss03:02 The Impact of Loss and Grief08:00 The Challenges of Being an Independent Artist14:59 The Power of Music as Expression19:04 Perseverance and Advocacy22:58 Challenges of Institutional Racism

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About

The Thriving School Podcast with Jenni Awesome is for K–12 principals and school leaders who know their schools are capable of more. Each episode helps you build sustainable systems, strengthen school culture, improve discipline and accountability, and lead meaningful change without losing the humanity at the heart of education. Jenni brings nearly two decades of experience in education and school leadership to practical conversations about the systems behind student behavior, staff alignment, belonging, MTSS, leadership, school improvement, and culture. This is not about adding another initiative. It is about identifying what is working, resetting what is not, and intentionally building the systems your students, staff, and community need to thrive. Expect practical strategies, leadership tools, honest conversations, and ideas you can take back to your school and use. Sustainable Systems. Connected Culture. Enduring Impact. Because thriving schools do not happen by accident. We build them.

Information

  • Creator
    Jenni Awesome
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Jenni Awesome