The Well-being Classroom

#20 The Creative Teacher with Xavier Woods

How can we stop treating the arts as an elective "extra" and instead bake that creative spirit right into the core of our students' literacy and identity?
 
Today, I’m joined by Xavier Woods for a milestone 20th episode of the show. Xavier is a highly accomplished primary school teacher with over 21 years of experience in diverse communities across the United States. He is a true polymath—a painter, a music artist, and the author of The Powerful Book of Positively Powerful Poems. He’s currently teaching in elementary school, where he’s focused on empowering the next generation of creative leaders through innovative curriculum and some really exciting student opportunities.
 
This episode is actually a special return to a conversation that felt too vital to leave alone. We’re diving into Xavier’s "Learning Studio" concept and exploring how his own journey—from pushing through creative blocks to sharing his music with his class—helps build an ecosystem where every kid feels like they’re part of something that truly matters.

#19 Inclusion by Design with Samantha Mcfarlane

How could we move beyond "retrofitting" lessons and instead design learning that is accessible to everyone from the very start?
 
In this episode of The Well-being Classroom, Samantha McFarlane from NASEN joins us to discuss "Inclusion by Design." We explore how to move away from traditional differentiation and toward adaptive teaching, ensuring every student reaches high-aspiration goals through intentional, flexible support.
 
Key Takeaways:
Adaptive Teaching via the "Five-a-Day": Discover how to use the "five-a-day" framework—including explicit instructions and scaffolding—as the foundation for effective adaptive teaching.
Proactive Design: How the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework removes barriers to progress before they even arise.
High Aspirations for All: Shifting the focus so all students work toward the same objectives via varied, adaptive paths.
• Authentic Engagement: Utilizing flexible grouping and accessibility technology (like dictation tools) to help every learner thrive.

#18 Leadership Stress with Fran Reddan

How can leaders move from simply managing the daily "people complexity" of schools to truly thriving under the pressure?
Welcome back to The Well-being Classroom. Today, I’m rejoined by Fran Reddan, an accomplished Executive Coach and Board Director with the Victorian Registration & Qualifications Authority. Having spent fifteen years as a school principal, Fran now uses her deep expertise in emotional intelligence and leadership development to help educators revitalise both their organisations and their own professional well-being.
Here is a link to Fran's website: https://www.franreddanconsulting.com/
In today’s episode, we dive into the five major triggers of leadership stress. We’ll explore practical "1% shifts," the science of performance-enhancing thoughts, and how to build personal rituals that protect your mental space.
Welcome back to The Well-being Classroom.

#17 The Educator's Brand with Janine Stratford

What does it truly take to build a leadership brand in education that's anchored in well-being?
Today, I'm joined by Janine Stratford, an acclaimed leadership coach, career strategist, and was awarded by Australian website- The Educator as 2024 Most Influential Educator. With years of experience guiding educational leaders, Janine specialises in turning skilled teachers into confident, strategic leaders. She’s also writing a book on leadership in education—focused on helping leaders get out of the weeds and into big-picture, strategic thinking.
And today, the tables have turned: Janine will be interviewing me about the story behind this podcast, the role of wellbeing in leadership, and how educators can build their personal brand. We’ll also dive into the “why” behind The Well-being Classroom—including how it connects to the wellbeing programmes I’ve helped create at my school, like Inspiring Insights and Inspiring Minds, which are designed to support students' social, emotional, and academic growth.
Janine Stratford's website: https://coachingfocus.com.au and a link to the Monday Motivation:https://coachingfocus.simplero.com/page/654378-monday-motivation-sign-me-up
Welcome to The Well-being Classroom.

#16 Staff Well-being with Dr. Helen Kelly

Welcome back to the Well-being Classroom! Today, I’m honored to host Dr. Helen Kelly, an author, consultant, and former international school leader. Dr. Kelly brings a unique perspective, dedicating over a decade to researching educator well-being.
Drawing on her legal background and experience leading schools, Dr. Kelly focuses on helping organisations make staff well-being strategic, practical, and sustainable. She is the author of School Leaders Matter: Preventing Burnout, Managing Stress and Improving Wellbeing.
Today, we're discussing key strategies for leaders to improve staff well-being and workplace culture. Welcome to the Well-being Classroom, Dr. Helen Kelly!
Link to book: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=School+Leaders+Matter%3A+Preventing+Burnout%2C+Managing+Stress+and+Improving+Wellbeing.&crid=1KDFE5253IVGN&sprefix=%2Caps%2C290&ref=nb_sb_noss
 

#15 Leadership Coaching with Fran Reddan

Today, we're honored to host Fran Reddan, a distinguished Board Director, Principal Consultant, and Executive Coach. Fran brings vast experience, having been a successful principal for nearly fifteen years and serving on the board of education regulators.
Fran now specialises in supporting leaders in the education sector, advising on strategy, innovation, and leadership. Her expertise includes revitalising schools and driving growth, even establishing an Enterprise Academy that received Innovation Awards.
Today, we're discussing the power of external coaching, focusing on key takeaways about accountability, impact, and navigating a leadership career. Welcome to the Well-being Classroom…

#13 Well-being in Mathematics with Divesh Bathija

Welcome to the podcast! Today, we're joined by Divesh Bathija, co-founder of UnMath School. With a decade of dedication to transforming mathematics education, Divesh has helped over 60,000 students and 12,000 educators embrace a new way of learning. He uses a unique approach that goes beyond conventional methods, using real-world applications to build critical thinking and problem-solving skills. His innovative programs like "Cricket Math" and "Math in the City" have been adopted by 350 schools across India and beyond. Today, we'll be discussing well-being in mathematics and how to overcome the fear of the subject. Welcome to the Well-being Classroom, Divesh!
Want to get in touch or get to know more about Divesh? Here are some links:
Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/divesh-bathija/Email : db@unmathschool.com Company Website : www.unmathschool.com Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/@unmathschoolTedTalk on Mathematics: https://youtu.be/Mn5-Wh225Ww?si=EvuEB2RyIZxApdbq

#12 Micro-Scholarships with Imanat Ali

Welcome to the podcast! Today, I’m joined by Imanat Ali, an experienced EFL lecturer with a career spanning since 2010. Beyond his work as a course coordinator and trainer, Imanat is dedicated to philanthropy, serving as the president of an educational organization, and the founder of a non-profit school system. He is also a motivational speaker, traveler, and writer, on a life's mission to add value to human lives and inspire others with his passion for humanity and selflessness.
Today, we will be exploring the impactful work he is doing in the Kashmir region of Pakistan with micro-scholarships. Welcome to the Well-being Classroom.

#11 Career Well-being with John Woodberry

Welcome to the podcast! Today, I’m incredibly excited to be joined by John Woodberry, the founder of Red Dragon Education, an organization dedicated to helping international schools by addressing critical areas like teacher training, recruitment, and leadership development. With over 25 years of experience in education across Asia, John is an expert in connecting policy, strategy, and people to drive meaningful change. He's passionate about driving educational innovation and has a deep understanding of what schools, teachers, and universities truly need to succeed.
Today, we'll be discussing career progression through the vital lens of well-being. Welcome to the well-being classroom….

#10 Games with Rachel Lu

Today, I’m thrilled to welcome Rachel Lu, a visionary in game and experience design. Rachel creates immersive programs that engage participants in creative problem-solving, storytelling, and strategic thinking. With her expertise, she equips students and educators with tools to foster engagement, collaboration, and meaningful learning. We'll be diving into why games are such an important tool for student well-being, exploring how her innovative approaches cultivate dynamic environments where ideas flourish and skills develop. Welcome to The Well-being Classroom…