
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
Share Your Story
Please consider joining us as a guest by completing our brief proposal form.
Leadership Talks Proposal Form
| Episode 0 - Leadership Talks: Getting Started |
Welcome!Join our hosts Susie and Lawrence to hear more about what Leadership Talks is all about. We are looking forward to our conversations with leaders in education sharing their passions, areas of expertise and authentic stories about what drives their leadership journey. |
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
| Episode 1 - OPC International Exchanges Program |
Our Guests
DetailsThis episode takes us global! |
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Episode 2 - Leading with Confidence: Empowering Women in Leadership Roles |
Our Guest
DetailsJoining us for this episode of Leadership Talks is Sheena Yap Chan, bestselling author of The Tao of Self Confidence and Bridging the Confidence Gap with Wiley, and a renowned speaker on leadership and empowerment. Sheena shares how confidence-building strategies can transform leadership potential, especially for women in education. This conversation explores the unique challenges women face in leadership, actionable steps to build self-belief and how cultivating authenticity can inspire and empower teams.
Episode 2.2 Transcript PDF |
Past Episodes
Leadership Talks Podcast Season 1
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