In this episode, Laine Whitaker is joined by guest co-host Dr. Cherina Betters, Chief of Equity and Access for San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, for a powerful conversation with Dr. Rebecca Branstetter, school psychologist, author, and national voice on student well-being and burnout prevention. Together, they explore the biggest mental health challenges facing PreK–12 schools, common misconceptions about educator and student burnout, and practical strategies for building school cultures where both students and educators can thrive.

In this episode, Laine Whitaker and guest co-host Megan McCullough, Director of Student Services for the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District, welcome Dr. Ellen Wartella, a leading expert on children, media, and development. Together, they explore the evolving role of media in shaping mental health, common misconceptions about screen use, and practical ways families and schools can support healthy development in a digital age.

https://effectiveschoolsolutions.com/

In this episode, Sarah Rose Cavanagh joins Duncan and Laine to discuss how K-12 educators can harness emotion to enhance student engagement, the connection between emotions and learning, and what “teacher burnout” really looks like and how school systems can better support teacher well-being.

https://www.teenvogue.com/story/ai-therapy-chatbot-eating-disorder-treatment

https://effectiveschoolsolutions.com

In this episode, Jordan Shapiro, PhD, from Temple University and the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop, joins Duncan and Laine to discuss how educators should differentiate between healthy and harmful digital practices, issues of digital equity, and lessons K-12 educators can learn about designing digital experiences that are developmentally appropriate.

https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/04/children-adolescent-mental-health-anxiety-depression/

https://effectiveschoolsolutions.com/

In this episode, Dr. Jenny Radesky from the University of Michigan Medical School joins Duncan and Laine to discuss the impact of technology and social media on youth mental health. She shares recommendations about how educators can navigate the digital ecosystem with students and offers advice for families and caregivers to help students have healthy relationships with digital media.

https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2025/04/22/teens-social-media-and-mental-health/

https://effectiveschoolsolutions.com/

In this episode, Dr. Daniel Eisenberg, Professor of Health Policy and Management at UCLA, joins Duncan and Laine to discuss his research on adolescent and young adult mental health. He explores findings from the Healthy Minds study and highlights the importance of systemic solutions, including multi-systemic therapy (MST), and discusses the economic benefits of investing in mental health, from improved graduation rates to higher lifetime earnings.

https://www.npr.org/2025/02/14/nx-s1-5262897/parents-solutions-anxiety-stress-burnout

https://effectiveschoolsolutions.com/

In this episode, Dr. Sharmil Shah joins Duncan and Laine to discuss where she sees the biggest opportunities for improvement in school-based mental health initiatives over the next 5-10 years, the role of Certified Wellness Coaches, and what the state of California is doing to fund sustainability for school-based mental health initiatives.

https://theconversation.com/technology-is-supposed-to-decrease-teacher-burnout-but-we-found-it-can-sometimes-make-it-worse-243683

https://effectiveschoolsolutions.com/

In this episode, Duncan and Laine are joined by Ross Szabo to explore how we can transform the conversation around mental health and make these discussions a regular part of school culture. Ross shares his personal journey and offers valuable insights on taking control of your mental well-being while breaking down stigma.

https://www.nj.com/opinion/2024/12/mental-health-services-in-nj-schools-are-severely-lacking-heres-a-strategy-opinion.html#:~:text=Despite%20the%20state%20budget%20allocating,the%20584%20public%20school%20districts.

https://effectiveschoolsolutions.com/