Conversations with School Leaders

This is a podcast that engages school leaders across Ontario in authentic conversations about their passion and expertise in K - 12 education. We hope listeners will gain practical insights and strategies from each other to enhance learning and strengthen their school communities. Most importantly, this podcast will highlight stories, perspectives and the joy of school leadership! 

Podcast Hosts

Lawrence DeMaeyer 

Professional Learning Consultant, Ontario Principals’ Council 

Susie Lee-Fernandes

Director of Professional Learning and Engagement, Ontario Principals’ Council 

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Please consider joining us as a guest by completing our brief proposal form.

Leadership Talks Proposal Form

Season 2 Episodes

Listen here or on your favourite podcast service. We invite you to subscribe, follow, favorite and comment!

Episode 3 - Understanding Trauma-informed Practice 

Our Guest 

• Dr. Jackie Eldridge, formerly York Catholic DSB

Details

In today’s classrooms, educators shape not only academic outcomes but also the emotional and psychological safety of their students—especially those students who have experienced trauma. Dr. Jackie Eldridge, formerly of York Catholic District School Board, joins us on Leadership Talks, to share her personal trauma story, where school became a refuge. This talk will explore the critical role teachers and administrators play in creating trauma-informed environments that transform both student success and school culture.

Trauma isn’t just an event—it’s the emotional and physiological response to an experience that overwhelms a person’s ability to cope. For students, trauma can arise from abuse, neglect, racism, poverty, or violence. When unaddressed, it may appear as defiance, withdrawal, anxiety or inattention—not as a lack of desire to learn but as a nervous system in survival mode.  

Trauma-informed practice is a mindset—a shift from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?” and eventually, “What’s strong in you?” It’s about recognizing signs of trauma, responding with empathy, and avoiding harm through punitive systems.  

Administrators must model emotional intelligence, foster psychological safety, and embed trauma-informed values into every layer of school life. Teachers, on the frontlines, build safe, responsive classrooms and protect their own well-being too.  

Ultimately, trauma-informed practice isn’t a program—it’s a paradigm. The most powerful tool in any school is the adult who chooses to see, hear, and believe in every child.  

Let’s explore together practical strategies, tactics and skills that can be immediately applicable in classrooms.

Season 2 Episode 03 Transcript

Past Episodes

Leadership Talks Podcast Season 1

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