Welcome to the Modern Classrooms Project Podcast. Each week we bring you discussions with educators on how they use blended, self-paced, and mastery-based learning to better serve their learners. In this episode, Toni Rose Deanon is joined by Cassie Johnson to discuss the challenges and triumphs of being a school psychologist

Cassie emphasizes the importance of fully-funded education, particularly for special education, as well as the need for increased mental health support to better meet the diverse needs of students and families. Cassie highlights the crucial role of relationship-building with students, promoting an empathetic and growth mindset approach.

Here are three key takeaways from this podcast episode:

• Fully-Funded Education: Cassie advocates for adequate funding in education, highlighting the potential positive impact on class sizes and student-teacher relationships.

• Mental Health Support: The discussion centers on the importance of meeting students and families where they are, emphasizing the need for enhanced mental health resources within the education system. Cassie says, “If we can really meet kids and families where they are and really focus on them as people, that's when we're going to get our school system working really well.”

• Relationship Building: Cassie underlines the significance of creating a supportive and trusting environment, fostering connections with students through empathy and a growth mindset. Cassie shares, “I love my job because I get to build relationships with kids and families and really make a positive impact on their lives.”

Discussion questions for PLC and PD: 

• Considering Cassie's emphasis on fully-funded education, how do you believe increased financial support could positively influence your teaching environment, student-teacher relationships, and overall educational outcomes?

• In light of the discussion on mental health support, how can educators actively work towards creating an environment that meets students and families where they are, fostering a holistic approach to education that addresses mental health needs?

• How can educators integrate empathy and a growth mindset into their teaching practices to enhance student-teacher connections and create a more supportive learning community?

Our Host

Toni Rose taught MS English for 10 years and will forever identify as a teacher. Toni Rose strives to be the teacher that they never had growing up, so they focus on anti-bias, anti-racist work and wants to create a brave space for everyone around them. As a queer Filipinx, they understand just how important it is to be represented, be valued, and belong. They especially love being a thought partner for and celebrating teachers.

Our Guest: Cassie Johnson

• Connect with our guest via email.

If you like what you hear in this episode, share it with a friend or subscribe to get updates when new podcasts are published.