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Coaching the Whole Educator — Education
Coaching the Whole Educator

Coaching the Whole Educator, hosted by education consultant and author Becca Silver, is a podcast on instructional coaching, teacher leadership, and school leadership for anyone who wants to strengthen their educators’ effectiveness and resilience, especially the ones who need it most. Each week, you’ll hear quick tips, proven coaching strategies, and coaching mindsets designed to keep you on top of your game.

This show is rooted in a human-centered coaching approach, where we get things done through people’s humanity, not around it. Whether you’re new to instructional coaching or a seasoned coach or leader looking for fresh perspective, you’ll learn how to focus on the mindsets and motivations driving unproductive behaviors. By getting to the root of teacher resistance, using the Catalyst Mindsets framework from Becca Silver’s book, The Resistance Solution, you’ll discover how to build stronger relationships, lead with clarity, and create lasting impact in your school.

You can reach Becca Silver at info@thewholeeducator.com.

Copyright: © 2024 Coaching the Whole Educator

Latest Episodes:

#153: Quick to Listen, Slow to Speak: Why Great Leaders Pause Before Acting Sep 07, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Becca Silver interviews Bethany Rees about her unique approach to leadership, using the metaphor of the "body of leadership": head (mindset), heart (relationships), hands (execution), and guts (accountability). They discuss the importance of pausing, reflection, and focusing on what truly matters ("rocks over sand") to avoid burnout and be more effective leaders. Bethany shares practical mantras and strategies for nourishing leadership and emphasizes the value of self-accountability and proactive problem-solving. The episode also highlights Bethany’s new book, Leadership on the Rocks.

Take the Catalyst Mindsets Quiz!

Bethany Rees is a leadership coach, speaker, and author of the Amazon bestseller Leadership on the Rocks: How to Survive, Adapt, and Succeed in the Wilderness of Leadership. With humor and practical wisdom, she equips overwhelmed leaders with her Leadership Survival Kit framework to trade chaos for clarity and thrive in the wilderness of leadership.

Bethany Rees' Info:

Order the book: Leadership on the Rocks on Amazon
Free resource: Leadership Survival Checklist
Learn more: leadershipontherocks.com
Connect: LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

Let's Stay Connected!
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#152: The Science of Depletion: Why Small Changes Can Feel Impossible Aug 30, 2025

Show notes

Every coach and leader has felt the sting of teacher pushback, especially when the change you’re asking for seems so small it shouldn’t cause resistance. But here’s the catch: sometimes it’s not the change itself that sparks resistance, it’s depletion. When teachers are constantly pulled in a dozen directions, their self-control tanks become empty. That’s when even minor adjustments feel like mountains.

This episode unpacks the concept of ego depletion and why willpower is more like a muscle than an endless supply. You’ll discover how exhaustion masquerades as resistance, why “just one more thing” pushes teachers over the edge, and how to spot when pushback is really about depletion. More importantly, you’ll learn practical ways to protect teacher bandwidth so that when you do introduce a change, it has a fighting chance of sticking.

Because here’s the shift: what looks like defiance is sometimes just depletion. And if you can recognize that difference, you can respond in a way that actually builds trust and momentum instead of frustration on both sides.

🔗Check out this research on Ego Depletion

The Resistance Remedy On Demand Course is HERE!

Let's Stay Connected!
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#151: Radically Simple PD Systems: Cut the Clutter & Focus on What’s Essential Aug 24, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Becca Silver is joined by Tami Shaw to discuss effective approaches to designing professional development (PD) systems. Tami shares insights from her book "Radically Simple Training," including practical activities like using quotes to foster meaningful connections among participants. The conversation explores the importance of making PD relevant and engaging, emphasizing strategies such as "less is more," anchoring activities in the content, and shifting from a mindset of judgment ("shoulds") to one of support and curiosity. Tami and Becca also discuss learning from other industries to improve mentoring and PD practices, the value of continuous reinforcement of key messages, and the role of connection in adult learning. The episode concludes with Tami highlighting feedback on her book’s most popular strategies and sharing where listeners can find more about her work.

Check out The Resistance Remedy On Demand Course HERE!

Tami Shaw's Info:

Grab her book "Radically Simple Training" HERE

LinkedIn | Website

Let's Stay Connected!
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#150: A Trust-Based Observation Tool: Working from a Strengths-Based Lens Aug 17, 2025

Show notes

Craig Randall shares his trust-based coaching model for educators, which integrates trust-building into the observation and feedback process. The model uses regular, strengths-based classroom visits and reflective conversations to create a safe environment for teacher growth. By focusing on teachers’ strengths and fostering open dialogue, the approach encourages risk-taking and collective teacher efficacy. Resources and the observation form can be found at trustbased.com.

John Hattie endorsed Trust Based Observations as well: "Classroom observation can lead to telling teachers to do what I did, to advocating different ways of teaching, and to complying with accountability edicts. Trust-Based Observations starts where it matters, establishing trust, building on strengths, focusing on the impact of teachers on the learning lives of students, showing how to have open conversations about learning, and demonstrating collective teacher efficacy in action." -John Hattie

The Resistance Remedy On Demand Course: https://www.thewholeeducator.com/resistance-remedy

Let's Stay Connected!
Website | Instagram | Twitter | Linkedin | Facebook | Contact Us

#149: How to Stress Wisely and Bounce Forward: Dr. Robyne’s 5 Pillars of Resilience Aug 10, 2025

Show notes

Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe shares a deeply human approach to resilience, grounded in both research and personal experience. She introduces the five pillars of resilience—belonging, perspective, acceptance, hope, and humor—as essential anchors for navigating adversity. Rather than viewing resilience as simply “being strong,” she reframes it as the ability to recover, adapt, and move forward with intention. Her concept of “stressing wisely” challenges the idea that stress should be avoided; instead, she encourages proactive strategies like planning ahead, honoring personal values, and building strong support systems. Through her work, Dr. Hanley-Dafoe invites us to let go of perfection, embrace authenticity, and focus on the small, consistent actions that help us bounce forward—not just back.

Learn more about *The Resistance Remedy* On Demand Course

(Grab it now to get the Bonus S.I.P. Implementation Planning Document)

Dr. Robyne's Info:

Instagram | LinkedIn | Website

Let's Stay Connected!
Website | Instagram | Twitter | Linkedin | Facebook | Contact Us

#148:“I Stopped Trying to Convince Teachers... That's When Everything Changed." Aug 03, 2025

Show notes

Learn more about *The Resistance Remedy* On Demand Course

In this episode, Dr. Donna Spangler shares the coaching breakthrough that changed everything:
She stopped trying to convince teachers, and they started showing up with purpose, ownership, and even excitement.

After going through The Resistance Remedy course, Donna realized she wasn’t dealing with a skill gap—she was missing the belief gap. Once she started listening for mindset signals like value, belonging, and ownership, her entire coaching approach shifted. Teachers moved from polite compliance to full engagement. They initiated change. They emailed saying they were excited to teach again.

She stopped relying on instinct and started coaching with intention. That’s when everything changed.

Donna’s biggest realization? Resistance isn’t a roadblock. It’s a message. And when you know how to listen for it, you don’t just coach better. You coach braver.

Learn more about *The Resistance Remedy* On Demand Course

(Grab it now to get the Bonus S.I.P. Implementation Planning Document)

Dr. Donna Spangler's Info:

Podcaste Takeaway One-Pager: https://secure.smore.com/n/hbzyej

Edjacent Website - https://www.edjacent.org/

Sibme Website - https://www.sibme.com/

Emails - coachwithdonna@gmail.com OR donna@edjacent.org

LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/donna-spangler-56835412a

Let's Stay Connected!
Website | Instagram | Twitter | Linkedin | Facebook | Contact Us

#147: He Had 17 Behavior Calls a Day—and What Finally Changed Jul 27, 2025

Show notes

If you feel like your days are just putting out one behavior fire after another, this one’s for you.
I sat down with Hunter Flesch, Associate Principal and host of the Ed Essentials Podcast, to talk about how he moved from 17 behavior calls a day (yes, SEVENTEEN) to just five—and did it by redesigning the system, not just responding harder.
We unpack what systems thinking really looks like when the school day feels like chaos—and how a tiered support system for students and teachers can prioritize clarity, data, ownership, and follow-through without burning teachers out.
This episode will remind you that:

You can’t solve systemic problems with walkie-talkie urgency
Behavior data belongs in the hands of teachers
Ownership starts with leaders who believe change is possible by empowering their educators to be leaders

**The Resistance Remedy drops July 21.**
It’s the on-demand curriculum that gives you intentional tools to coach through resistance.

50% off during launch week only.
Save the date. Mark your calendar.
Learn how to diagnose resistance and take intentional action steps!

CHECK OUT THE RESISTANCE REMEDY *HERE*!

[PODCAST SPONSOR]

Check out Reading Horizons! https://readinghorizons.com/justright/

Let's Stay Connected!
Website | Instagram | Twitter | Linkedin | Facebook | Contact Us

#146: Stop Hoping, Start Coaching For It: Why Optimism Isn’t Optional Jul 20, 2025

Show notes

**Check out The Resistance Remedy HERE!**

Can you lead with optimism without slipping into toxic positivity? In this episode, Jason Adair from Southern Regional Education Board and I unpack what real optimism looks like in schools—and why it’s a critical ingredient in the Ownership Mindset.

We explore the difference between sugarcoated cheerleading and grounded, actionable hope. Drawing on the work of Simon Sinek and Martin Seligman, they highlight how coaches can model optimism, build agency, and support accountability—especially when the system feels heavy.

Because without optimism, coaching becomes blind compliance.

**Check out The Resistance Remedy HERE!**

To Learn more about Jason's organization, SREB (Southern Regional Education Board), check it out here: https://www.sreb.org/

Let's Stay Connected!
Website | Instagram | Twitter | Linkedin | Facebook | Contact Us

#145: When Your Inner Critic Runs the Meeting Jul 13, 2025

Show notes

Coaches and leaders—what if the biggest resistance to change isn’t from your team… but from you? Your inner critic!

In this episode, I’m joined by Amanda Younts of Midlife Catalyst to unpack the internal resistance we rarely name but constantly feel. We’re talking about the shoulds, the shame, the inner critic, and the hidden expectations we carry that sabotage our best intentions—especially when we're leading others.

You’ll hear:

Why self-judgment masquerades as “high standards”
How internal resistance can quietly destroy our momentum
A new way to shift from should to support (yes, we’re flipping the script)
And unconventional, accessible ways to build self-awareness without writing a single paragraph in a journal

If you’ve ever told yourself “I should know better” or “I should be further along by now,” this episode will hit home in the best kind of way.

**The Resistance Remedy drops July 21.**
It’s the on-demand curriculum that gives you intentional tools to coach through resistance.

50% off during launch week only.
Save the date. Mark your calendar.
Learn how to diagnose resistance and take intentional action steps!

CHECK OUT THE RESISTANCE REMEDY *HERE*!

[PODCAST SPONSOR]

Check out Reading Horizons! https://readinghorizons.com/justright/

Amanda Younts Info: Midlife Catalyst Website

Let's Stay Connected!
Website | Instagram | Twitter | Linkedin | Facebook | Contact Us

#144: When You’re Coaching Someone Who Should Get It By Now Jul 06, 2025

Show notes

You know that teacher who should know better by now?
The one who should care more? Be further along?
Yeah… that “should” is telling on you.

In this episode, we’re talking about the quiet coaching killer: holding teachers to invisible expectations that keep you stuck. And we’re calling in a mindset shift that doesn’t lower the bar—but finally gives you a real shot at helping them meet it.

We’ll unpack the Expectation Continuum, drop a research-backed tool called mental contrasting, and ask the one question that can instantly shift your coaching approach.

Ready to stop coaching the fantasy and start moving the real needle? Hit play.

**The Resistance Remedy drops July 21.**
It’s the on-demand curriculum that gives you intentional tools to coach through resistance—no fluff, no guessing.

50% off during launch week only.
Save the date. Mark your calendar.
This is the clarity your coaching’s been missing.

CHECK OUT THE RESISTANCE REMEDY *HERE*!

[PODCAST SPONSOR]

Check out Reading Horizons! https://readinghorizons.com/free

Let's Stay Connected!
Website | Instagram | Twitter | Linkedin | Facebook | Contact Us

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