Educator Wellness Podcast: Season 2

PreK-12

Event Details

Watch, listen, and reflect on each of the 8 episodes in Season 2 of the Educator Wellness Podcast to earn 1 free Iowa Licensure Renewal Credit! Episodes will be released monthly starting in October 2023 on YouTube or your favorite podcasting platform.

About the Podcast

A podcast just for K-12 educators! Prioritize YOUR wellness to better care for your students and yourself. Dr. Kari Vogelgesang hosts nationally-recognized experts that help us explore and reflect on various dimensions of health and well-being. Take away strategies and tips to transcend wellness knowledge and practices into your classroom or school.

Learning Outcomes

Examine personal wellness strengths and areas of growth that impact your overall well-being.
Identify key issues in education that are impacting your life and work.
Analyze strategies and skills that can improve your well-being.
Analyze strategies and methods that educators can do to improve the well-being of school systems.
Investigate how community systems directly impact school systems and vice versa.

Iowa Licensure Renewal Credits

Educators who register for, attend, and complete all readings and discussions via the online course platform for all 8 Season 2 Educator Wellness Podcast episodes will earn one free teacher license renewal credit.

To earn ILRUs, teachers much create an account:

Create your account now/Log into your account

How Can I Tune In?

Podcast Website

Scanlan Center for School Mental Health YouTube Channel

Search for “Educator Wellness Podcast” on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Amazon Music

Currently Released Season 2 Episodes

October 2023 – Creating a Culture of Caring

Host Dr. Kari Vogelgesang welcomes distinguished guests – Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Ian Roberts, the 2019 National Teacher of the Year Rodney Robinson, and the 2018 Iowa School Counselor of the Year Shelby Bryce – to the 2023 Iowa BEST Summit stage. Join us for an enlightening conversation about the importance of caring for our educators, ideas for building school communities and classrooms of belonging, and how our complex education system can shift to better support educators, students, and families.

November 2023 – Challenging Behaviors in the Classroom – Whose Problem Is It?

Challenging behaviors in K-12 classrooms have increased in frequency and intensity over the last few years. Host Dr. Kari Vogelgesang welcomes Dr. Allison Bruhn, professor of special education and executive director of the Scanlan Center for School Mental Health at the University of Iowa, to discuss what challenging behaviors are, who is at fault, and how we can work toward more supportive learning environments for both educators and students.

December 2023 – Emotional Intelligence for Educators: The Transformative Power of Understanding Emotions

Emotional intelligence is more than just a buzzword. It is the crux of effective human interactions, including those with our students, co-workers, friends, and family. Host Dr. Kari Vogelgesang welcomes Dr. Erika Bocknek, a university professor, family therapist, and mom of 3, to discuss how emotional intelligence impacts our lives, and how by better understanding it, we can create harmonious and enriching educational environments. Also, Dr. Bocknek shares practical tips for emotional intelligence skill-building and the positive ripple effect it has on the lives of those we teach.

January 2024 – The Cost of Addiction: How Substance Abuse Damages Youth’s Brains, Bodies and Communities

Substance abuse is a serious issue in our schools and communities. The statistics are alarming. Drug use among 8th graders from 2016-2020 increased by 61%; 62% of teens in 12th grade have abused alcohol; and 11% of overdose deaths are aged 15-24. Host Dr. Kari Vogelgesang welcomes Jeffrey Johnston (founder of Living Undeterred) and Drew Martel (chief clinical and training officer at Foundation 2) to the Educator Wellness Podcast for a powerful conversation about the effects that substance abuse has on the brains and bodies of children and adults. During this episode, tough questions are asked and powerful stories are shared, as we unpack how substance abuse affects our relationships, our students, and our schools.

February 2024 – One Size Fits All? Full Inclusion vs. Self-Contained Classrooms

In this episode of the Educator Wellness Podcast, host Dr. Kari Vogelgesang welcomes Dr. Justin Garwood, associate professor at the University of Vermont, to discuss the difference between self-contained classrooms and full inclusion. We unpack why full inclusion isn’t necessarily the best choice for all students and how different learning environments impact the well-being of not just students but their families and educators.

March 2024 – Embracing Our Differences, Elevating Our Schools Through Global Education

In today’s interconnected world, global citizenship is an indispensable skill set for understanding differences and analyzing local realities through a critical lens. Dr. Kari Vogelgesang hosts a compelling discussion with Dr. Will Coghill Behrends, Amy Andreassen, and Monique Cottman on how we can leverage global education as a powerful tool for establishing equitable education systems. Uncover innovative ways to integrate global education best practices in the classroom that enable both educators and students to develop the knowledge and skills needed to thrive.

April 2024 – The Social Media Tug-of-War: How Much is “Too Much” for our Students?

In today’s digitally-driven world, social media and technology play an integral role in our students’ lives. But what happens when tech use becomes excessive, unhealthy, or detrimentally affects our students’ emotional and mental health? Host Dr. Kari Vogelgesang welcomes Dr. Jacqueline Nesi, a psychologist and assistant professor at Brown University, to explore the latest tech research, healthy ways to incorporate it into our lives and classrooms, and safeguards that both educators and parents should consider as they navigate this complex topic.

May 2024 – Nature Nurtures: How to Leverage the Outdoors for Enriched Learning

A rejuvenating conversation all about the power of outdoor education! Dr. Kari Vogelgesang hosts Dr. Angela Rekers, assistant professor at St. Ambrose University, and Jay Gorsh, director of the University of Iowa’s School of the Wild, to discuss the social, emotional, and mental health benefits of outdoor education for our students, educators, and education systems as a whole. Learn how to get nature-based programs started at your school or tips on integrating outdoor learning into your classroom.