This is a follow-up to Episode 101, where we discussed the two recognized attachment disorder diagnoses and their impact on families. In this episode, we focus on how RAD shows up at school—and what teachers, counselors, and administrators need to know to respond with understanding and effectiveness.

Educator Takeaways

• Stay curious, not reactive. RAD behaviors are about survival, not defiance.

• Don’t take it personally. Regulation is contagious—yours can help calm theirs.

• Drop the rope. Avoid engaging in power struggles; instead, step back and stay grounded.

• Connect the adults. Prevent triangulation by keeping clear, direct communication among parents, teachers, and administrators.

• Prioritize safety and consistency. Predictable routines and transparent expectations create a sense of security.

• Support attachment without replacing it. Teachers can be caring and relational without taking on the role of primary attachment figure.

What Doesn’t Work

• Rewards and punishments as motivators

• Multiple warnings or lectures

• Asking “why” after behaviors

• Emotional reactivity from adults

What Does Work

• Calm, consistent follow-through

• Pre-planned responses for known triggers

• Structured routines and visual schedules

• Providing regulated choices

• Team-based collaboration with parents and specialists

• Focusing on regulation first, learning second

What if burnout isn’t just about exhaustion—but something much deeper? In this powerful episode, Julie and Ginger speak with Sheri Kreher, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the Trauma, Illness, and Grief (TIG) Coordinator for 24 school districts in New York. Sheri brings two decades of mental health experience and a deep understanding of the emotional toll today’s educators are carrying.

Together, we explore the growing wave of vicarious trauma, moral injury, and systemic despair among school staff—and why the solution lies beyond individual self-care. Sheri introduces the idea of Active Hope—a framework that acknowledges the pain, honors the grief, and offers a path forward rooted in connection, validation, and systems change.

If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “What’s wrong with me that I can’t do this job anymore?”—this episode will help you reframe that question and begin to heal.

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In This Episode, We Explore:

• Why burnout in education is often a symptom of deeper, systemic wounds

• The role of moral injury and betrayal in driving educator hopelessness

• How vicarious trauma shows up—and why it’s not a sign of weakness

• What it means to practice Active Hope in school systems that feel broken

• How administrators can be a protective factor for staff

• Why naming, witnessing, and validating pain is essential to healing

• What it takes to build school climates of cohesion, care, and courage

"What looks like burnout is often unprocessed grief and betrayal. Educators don’t just need more resilience—they need to be seen, heard, and believed." — Sheri Kreher

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Resources:

• Active Hope (by Joanna Macy & Chris Johnstone)

• Active Hope Book Link: https://a.co/d/6dZ6xbi

In this episode, we talk with Rick and Doris Bowman about their brand-new book, Your FBA is a Fantasy!: A Guidebook to Creating Truly Trauma-Informed, Neuro-Affirming Functional Behavior Assessments & Behavior Support Plans. Together, we unpack why traditional FBAs and behavior plans often fall short—and can even harm students—and what it takes to truly shift toward regulation- and connection-based supports that foster resilience and belonging.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• Why traditional reward-and-punishment systems miss the mark for kids with trauma or neurodivergence.
  

• How to reframe “behavior” as an adaptive response—not defiance.
  

• Practical brain-body truths from neuroscience, Polyvagal Theory, and HeartMath that educators can use daily.
  

• Why adult nervous system regulation is the foundation for supporting students.
  

• A message of hope and encouragement for teachers feeling exhausted.
  

This conversation is full of wisdom, compassion, and practical tools that can change the way we see—and support—our most vulnerable students.

Resources & Links:

• Your FBA is a Fantasy! by Rick and Doris Bowman https://a.co/d/hYj5zoJ

• Learn more about Team Bowman and Bowman Consulting Group https://bowmanconsultgroup.com/