Welcome back to Season 9 of the ISS EDUlearn AMA podcast!

🎉 In this episode, host Mike Pierre and co-hosts Dana Watts and Celiah Bunsie are joined by special guest Nadia Erlendson, an international educator and therapeutic play mentor. Nadia wholeheartedly believes in the power of empathy to navigate challenging times.

She shares invaluable insights on reframing student behavior, from "misbehavior" to a signal of unmet needs. Discover the power of "cognitive empathy," the importance of self-regulation, and Nadia's bold vision for creating consent-based school communities where every member feels supported and understood. This episode offers powerful strategies for school leaders, educators, and parents alike to foster resilience and build a truly compassionate community.

💬 Key Quotes

• "There's no such thing as misbehavior. Everything is stress behavior when we're thinking about confusing and wild behaviors." – Nadia Erlendson 🧠

• "Noncompliance is actually self-advocacy." – Nadia Erlendson 📢

• "When we meet it with softness, when we meet it with a response instead of a reaction, we minimize so much of the distrust." – Nadia Erlendson 💖

• "Crying is this massive self-regulation skill that we have." – Nadia Erlendson 💧

• "The best part about this strategy... is we don't have to be perfect, because the idea of repair exists." – Nadia Erlendson 🛠️

• "If it were my ideal world... schools should be consent-based." – Nadia Erlendson 💡

🎯 Key Insights

• Beyond Emotional Empathy 🤝: We often think of empathy in terms of emotion, but Nadia introduces the power of cognitive empathy—a skill that can be developed to understand others' perspectives, allowing us to respond with compassion without experiencing burnout.

• Redefining Behavior 🤔: Every behavior is communication. Instead of labeling confusing behaviors as "misbehavior," shift your mindset to view them as "stress behavior" that signals an unmet need, whether biological, social, or emotional.

• The Power of Softness and Regulation ✨: Responding to a child's challenging behavior with a soft, calm, and regulated approach is the most powerful way to build trust. When we react with bigger energy, we create distrust.

• Well-being Through Consent 💡: Nadia's ideal school system is consent-based. Giving students a true locus of control over their learning, even if it's just a small part, is a major factor in improving well-being and fostering a democratic, resilient community.

  A Community-Wide Framework 🌍: These principles of understanding stress and needs apply to everyone—students, staff, and leadership. Leaders can foster a more empathetic culture by helping staff identify and communicate their own stressors (like being "hangry" or overwhelmed by heat) and responding with compassion.Acknowledging Global Shifts 🌐: Nadia highlights that what feels like new instability (e.g., visa issues, travel restrictions) for Western teachers has always been a reality for people from other parts of the world. It’s crucial for the international education community to contextualize who is experiencing a shift and why, as "turbulent times" have always existed.

  
  

  ✨ Conclusion

  This episode emphasizes that by leading with empathy, we can navigate the complexities of our ever-shifting global landscape. The key is to change our perspective—seeing behavior as communication and emotional regulation as a shared skill. In doing so, we not only foster resilience in our students and school communities but also cultivate a deep, compassionate understanding for all.

  🔗 Resources & Contact

  • Nadia Erlendson:

  • Email: nadialynn03@gmail.com

  • LinkedIn: Nadia Erlendson

  • Instagram: NLEDucation

  • ISS:

  • Leading with Empathy in Turbulent Times is available for purchase at iss.edu/events.

  • Find other virtual events, certifications, and PD resources at iss.edu/events.

  • Explore career opportunities at ISS virtual and in-person job fairs.