Today on the podcast Elena coaches a former principal turned regional administrator in a power packed 30-minute conversation. The two thought they were going to be focusing on navigating conflict but you’ll hear how with one insightful question the focus shifts to providing the space to reflect on the past turbulent year and what is possible when emotions are explored and we root in our individual and collective experiences.
Today Elena pulls back the curtain on three of her own experiences navigating conflict: with a co-worker, a managee and a manager. She shares her top three tips and one important awareness to hold if you are looking to skillfully navigate conflict in your life and relationships.
This is a Quarterly Wisdom episode. Today Elena explores two foundational understandings that are essential if you want to have conversations that allow for transformational and deep connection. First, what the phrase “every conversation counts” means and how it is a core belief of every Transformational Coach. Next, what a Transformational Coach must believe about their role relative to their coachee and what we often see getting in the way of that being a reality.
This week Elena is in conversation with Trisha Moquino, the founder of Keres Children’s Learning Center (KCLC) in Cochiti Pueblo, NM. KCLC is a Keres-language revitalization school that uses an intergenerational approach to immersion and dual-language with Montessori pedagogy. It is one of very few schools in the country that provides children with the opportunity to learn through their heritage language. And a few short years ago it didn’t exist. Over the course of this conversation Trisha graciously teaches about the history of displacement and war on Native peoples and also beautifully shares the pressing need to support Indigenous people today in reclaiming their children’s education and honoring their heritage in school systems.
In our final week on break from recording new episodes we’re replaying one of our favorite mini-episodes from Elena’s How to Feel Better program. Earlier this spring we aired daily episodes for this four week program and today we’re bringing you one that is relevant all year long: How to Make Changes that Last. If you’re looking to make behavioral changes in pursuit of the life you want to live, this is the episode you need today.
This week on the podcast we’re replaying one of the mini-episodes from Elena’s How to Feel Better program. Earlier this spring we aired daily episodes for this four week program and today we’re bringing you one of our favorites. Today you’ll hear Elena walk you through how to Reflect on Last Year. This is a great exercise to do at the end of the school year or at any point of transition.
We’re taking a short summer break on the podcast. Over the next three weeks we’ll be replaying a few of our favorite mini-episodes from Elena’s How to Feel Better program. Earlier this spring we aired daily episodes for this four week program and today we’re bringing you one that is relevant everyday: How am I Feeling?
In this episode Elena talks with Dr. Nicole Evans, former principal and current Executive Director of Urban Education and Student Engagement at Harris-Stowe State University. The two explore how Dr. Evans pursued a commitment to making equity “the plate” and not an add-on during her time as principal of City Garden Montessori, a public school in St. Louis Missouri.
This is an interview. Today Elena is in conversation with Crystal Echo Hawk. Crystal is an enrolled member of Pawnee Nation in Oklahoma and the founder of IllumiNative, a nonprofit working to increase the visibility of—and “challenge the negative narrative about”—Native Nations. Listen in to learn more about what Crystal believes to be the greatest threat to Native peoples, hear a specific call-in to educators, learn about a tv show you might be missing out on that you don’t want to miss, and much more.
It is possible to create boundaries with cultural competence and humility, yet too often that doesn’t happen. Oftentimes the approach skews to dominance or things running amock. Both of these are failures of leadership. In this episode, Elena and her Bright Morning teammate LesLee Bickford dive into the challenge of white leaders striving to work against white supremacy culture while still providing the leadership needed to run healthy teams where everyone is able to thrive.