Strong Starts

About Strong Starts

Welcome to the Strong Starts Podcast. We are your hosts, Jessica Whitehead and Sarah Gerber-Kai. Strong Starts is your go-to source for building strong foundations in K-12 education. Each episode explores how to create inclusive, supportive, and thriving environments for all learners. We unpack key topics like neurodiversity, social-emotional learning, creating meaningful connections, universal supports, and Tier 1 strategies. Whether you’re setting up your classroom for the first time or leading a school-wide initiative, join us for practical insights, expert interviews, and real-world stories that inspire strong starts for all learners.

Publisher

Jessica Whitehead and Sarah Gerber-Kai

Category

education · science

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

21 Jul 2025

Latest episode

9 Nov 2026

Latest episodes

30 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   9 Nov 2026

   Leading with Empathy, Grace, and Accountability with Dr. James Whitehead

   Dr. James Whitehead, an assistant superintendent with roots in special education, joins the Strong Starts Podcast to discuss behavior, inclusion, and the realities facing educators. He explores how school culture, empathy, and reflective leadership can help staff support students, without expecting perfection or taking every challenging interaction personally.

2. 

   26 Oct 2026

   From a Rewired Teacher: Simple Classroom Shifts That Help Neurodivergent Kids Thrive

   A rewired middle school ELA resource and inclusion teacher, Sally Coates opens up about her own ADHD, years of feeling controlled in school, and the moment she realized the classroom could work differently. The advice most teachers are given about behavior is making classrooms harder, not easier. Sally shares the neuro-affirming shifts that helped her move from survival mode to the kind of classroom where students feel safe, seen, and genuinely capable of learning. Together with the Strong Starts Podcast hosts, she breaks down what actually changes when you stop chasing compliance and start building autonomy, regulation, and trust. You'll discover: Simple sensory shifts that reduce overwhelm fast, including lighting, visual clutter, fidgets, and timers How to give students real choice without creating 20 different lesson plans Why “you don't have control” can be liberating, not discouraging, for teachers Practical tools like 5-4-3-2-1 attention cues, “no vibes,” visual stem videos, and quick regulation resets How a vibe check and support check can reveal what students have likely never been asked before Sally also explains why she doesn't use rewards or token systems, and how that decision reduces shame, increases buy-in, and changes the emotional climate of her room. She shares the moment she stopped class to model her own breathing, then came back and watched students respond with more independence than she thought possible. Choice board link: https://payhip.com/b/ST1qI?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZnRzaAVLVgRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mAmZkaWQWUQ_pUdja1M79xeAQ3ePG7NYuZ6nl-HNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzEyNDAyNDU3NDI4NzQxNAABpxLgJfB8TqCd4yH--JH8QyWT3233vJCNovrvpQ2MB_EWGV13CcYpv_kNmU7M_aem_-BIXeKHsrZgZdfvqg4r6OQ (https://payhip.com/b/ST1qI?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZnRzaAVLVgRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mAmZkaWQWUQ_pUdja1M79xeAQ3ePG7NYuZ6nl-HNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzEyNDAyNDU3NDI4NzQxNAABpxLgJfB8TqCd4yH--JH8QyWT3233vJCNovrvpQ2MB_EWGV13CcYpv_kNmU7M_aem_-BIXeKHsrZgZdfvqg4r6OQ) Link to fill out to get Student Jobs Freebie: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfe-9wzh443LXGR93a6fUF4XFAfiq6pbYlojQYbn7c4eikZmw/viewform?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfe-9wzh443LXGR93a6fUF4XFAfiq6pbYlojQYbn7c4eikZmw/viewform?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio) Here’s a link to the LNDTA (Let’s Not Do That Again) course: https://www.rewirededucationgroup.com/lndta (https://www.rewirededucationgroup.com/lndta)

3. 

   28 Sept 2026

   The Illusion of Inclusion: Are Our Inclusive Practices Keeping Students on the Outside?

   Most classrooms think they’re inclusive, but the real test is this: does every student actually belong, or are some kids just being managed on the side? Sarah and Jessica unpack the difference between true inclusion and the sneaky "illusions" schools often mistake for it, and what it takes to build a classroom where access, autonomy, and belonging are real. They break down the common traps that look like support but quietly create separation: island desks, peer helper hierarchies, contingency-based access, and lowered expectations dressed up as inclusion. If you’ve ever wondered whether your classroom setup is helping students or just making inclusion look good on paper, this conversation gets honest fast. This episode matters because the old accommodation-first model leaves too many students waiting to be included later. True inclusion changes the starting point so more kids can access learning, participate with dignity, and show what they know in ways that work for them.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

5.0 / 5

6 ratings

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.