The Crisis in Education Podcast

• Beyond Restraints: Designing Environments That Prevent Harm

  Send us a textIn this powerful episode of the Crisis in Education Podcast, Dr. Paul “Paulie” Gavoni sits down with Bonnie and Thomas Liotta, founders of Creating Champions For Life, for an unfiltered conversation about behavior, safety, and the cost of getting it wrong.The discussion centers on a reality educators and parents can no longer ignore: when systems rely on reactive, punishment-based approaches, everyone loses—students, families, and staff. Drawing from decades of experience and thousands of transformed families, the Liottas challenge conventional behavior management practices and offer a proactive, skills-based alternative grounded in prevention, regulation, and human dignity.Together, Paulie, Bonnie, and Thomas unpack why restraint-driven cultures persist, how fear and misinformation shape decision-making, and what happens when adults are trained to teach life skills instead of managing crises. The conversation connects behavior science, parenting, education, and leadership through one unifying question: What would change if we focused on building capacity instead of controlling behavior?This episode is a must-listen for educators, administrators, behavior analysts, parents, and leaders who want safer environments, better outcomes, and approaches that actually work in the real world.About the GuestsBonnie and Thomas Liotta are the founders of Creating Champions For Life, where they have helped over 3,000 children achieve a 90% behavioral transformation rate and a 78% medication elimination rate across hundreds of families.After Bonnie’s own children struggled with behavioral diagnoses, she discovered Thomas’s methodology and experienced a complete transformation at home. Today, they challenge traditional parenting and behavior models by teaching families how to eliminate challenging behavior through proactive life-skills development, not punishment. Combined, they bring over 60 years of experience in child development and personal growth.Resources Mentioned in This Episode🔹 Digital Collection – The Path to Parenting Paradise https://thepathtoparentingparadise.com/🔹 E-Book Resources https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pQ05RIBDfSBj7D_buUs8K-9Rcz6TTVPntqJPvurS_kc/edit?usp=sharing🔹 LinkedIn Article by Bonnie & Thomas Liotta https://www.linkedin.com/posts/bonnie-and-thomas-liotta-13339480_last-week-a-staff-member-died-restraining-activity-7389407546563989504-c3WpClick here to explore the Parent & Care Giving Courses today!

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• Keeping Kids in School — and Out of the System

  Send us a textIn this episode of the Crisis in Education podcast, Dr. Paul “Paulie” Gavoni sits down with Michael Waller, an attorney and Executive Director of Georgia Appleseed, to talk about the real work of keeping students safe, supported, and out of the criminal justice system. Drawing from legal, educational, and behavioral science perspectives, they unpack how poverty, exclusionary discipline, and lack of proactive support funnel students — especially kids in poverty and kids of color — from classrooms into courts. The conversation shines a light on what actually works: strengthening schools as prevention hubs, building predictable environments, and giving educators the tools to respond to behavior before it escalates.🔑 Key Topics CoveredWhy the criminal justice system was never designed for childrenHow poverty and school exclusion feed the “school-to-system” pipelineThe real impact of suspension, expulsion, and “push-out” practicesWhat educators can do when they don't control the home environmentHow legal advocacy and behavior science intersect in preventionThe role of predictable, reinforcing environments in reducing crisis behaviorWhy “safety” must be defined as more than just the absence of violenceIf you believe schools should be places of opportunity, not gateways to the system, share this episode with a colleague, educator, or policymaker. Subscribe for more behavior-science-driven conversations about fixing what’s broken in education. Click here to explore the Parent & Care Giving Courses today!

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• Building Better School Leaders with Mike Caldwell of LinkedLeaders

  Send us a textIn this episode, Dr. Paul “Paulie” Gavoni sits down with Mike Caldwell, founder of LinkedLeaders, a national platform dedicated to accelerating the growth and effectiveness of K–12 school leaders. With a shared passion for bringing out the best in people through leadership and behavioral science, Paulie and Mike explore what it really takes to build schools where leadership is intentional, scalable, and deeply human.They unpack the importance of mentorship, collaboration, and professional support systems that truly equip leaders to thrive—not just survive—in today’s complex educational landscape. Mike shares lessons from his work with charter schools and district leaders, emphasizing that leadership development isn’t a luxury—it’s the lever for sustainable change.Through stories from the field, Paulie and Mike connect the dots between values, systems, and performance. They dig into how leaders can multiply their impact by investing in others, building communities of practice, and aligning actions with purpose. The conversation highlights how effective leadership ripples outward—from the superintendent’s office to the classroom, and ultimately to the students themselves.🔑 Key TakeawaysLeadership growth happens through mentorship, modeling, and deliberate practice, not chance.Schools flourish when leaders create reinforcement-rich environments that build trust and accountability.Effective leaders see themselves as part of a system—their behavior sets the tone for everyone else’s performance.Collaboration and connection aren’t soft skills—they’re the foundation of sustainable school improvement.Empowering school leaders means empowering students, families, and communities.💬 About the GuestMike Caldwell is the founder of Link Leaders, a national organization connecting K–12 education leaders to expertise, tools, and community. Previously the Director of Bluum, Mike has mentored and coached school leaders across Idaho to design innovative models, strengthen leadership capacity, and scale high-quality practices that improve student outcomes.Click here to explore the Parent & Care Giving Courses today!

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• Preparing Teachers for the Real World: A Conversation with Dr. Greg Rockhold

  Send us a textIn this episode, Dr. Paulie welcomes back Dr. Greg Rockhold, a seasoned educator and leader with nearly 30 years of experience and service, including on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Known for his thought-provoking LinkedIn posts, Dr. Rockhold joins to discuss one of his most pressing concerns: the lack of preparation first-year teachers receive before being thrown into the classroom “frying pan.”Together, they explore why teacher preparation programs often fall short, how systemic issues leave new educators vulnerable to burnout, and what schools and districts can do to better support them. The conversation also touches on the potential of simulations and artificial intelligence as game changers in teacher training and education at large—tools that could revolutionize how educators build skills before they ever step into a classroom.Key Topics CoveredThe hidden challenges first-year teachers face in today’s classrooms.Why traditional teacher preparation programs aren’t enough.The critical role of leadership in supporting and retaining new educators.Lessons from the Marine Corps and Boy Scouts about preparation and adaptability.How simulations and AI could transform teacher training and student learning.Practical steps districts can take to reduce teacher turnover and empower staff.Why Listen?If you’re a school leader, teacher, policymaker, or parent, this conversation will shed light on the realities of teaching and why so many educators leave the profession early. You’ll walk away with actionable insights on how to create systems that prepare, support, and sustain teachers—because when teachers thrive, students do too.Click here to explore the Parent & Care Giving Courses today!

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• Should Teachers Be Ashamed? Dr. Gavoni and Dr. Cubbin Square Off

  Send us a textIn this episode of The Heart & Science of Leadership Podcast, Dr. Paulie Gavoni sits down with veteran educator Dr. Michael L. Cubbin for a spirited debate on classroom leadership. The conversation was sparked by Cubbin’s critique of Paulie’s article on establishing expectations during the first week of school, and by his own provocative piece, “Don’t Grade Student Work On-Time? Shame on You!”What followed was an honest, challenging dialogue about:Whether classroom systems support or drive teachers awayThe role of values, culture, and reinforcement in shaping student behaviorThe balance between accountability and compassion in teacher expectationsWhy grading and timely feedback remain a flashpoint in educationAt times direct and contentious, this discussion highlights both differences in philosophy and shared concern for improving outcomes for students and teachers. Listeners will hear two strong perspectives that push each other—and the audience—to think more critically about what true classroom leadership looks like.Click here to explore the Parent & Care Giving Courses today!

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