There’s one thing we know to be true around here: If the big people aren’t okay, the little people don’t stand a chance. In education, relationships know no hierarchy. From administrators and teachers to educational assistants, bus drivers, custodians, and everyone in between, we all play a role in supporting our kids. As emotional dysregulation, overwhelm, and expectations continue to rise, our educators are carrying more than ever. We’ve spent years focusing on the needs of students and families, often overlooking the very people doing the work. If we want our kids to thrive, we have to start by taking care of the big people who care for them. Dr. Jody Carrington brings the science of connection and explains why it comes before everything else, and the most important thing in any classroom will always be the relationship.
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Educators are carrying a heck of a lot. The expectations, the behaviours, the endless needs, and the pressure to somehow hold it all together. But here's what we know: the people taking care of everyone else need to feel seen, supported, and connected, too. Strong schools don't just invest in their students. They take care of the humans who show up for them.
You know those moments when the classroom is chaos, everyone needs something, and your last nerve is hanging on by a thread? Welcome to being human. Regulation isn't about staying calm all the time. It's about recognizing when your own nervous system is overwhelmed and finding your way back to steady. Because before we can help a dysregulated kid, we have to find our own feet first.
Connection isn't another thing to add to an already impossible to-do list. It's the foundation of everything we do. Kids need to feel seen, safe, and understood before they're ready to learn. And those moments of connection don't have to be grand gestures. Sometimes it's a smile at the door, a moment of acknowledgment, or finding your way back after a hard day. Those little moments? They're everything.
This book is for the educators: our teachers, bus drivers, administrators, educational assistants, librarians, administrative assistants, and custodians. And anyone who leads, loves, and supports them.
Your place to land when you need to be reminded of your worth, your importance, and the impact you make on shaping our world.
The people showing up for our kids every day are carrying a hell of a lot. Bigger behaviours, growing expectations, and the emotional weight of trying to be everything to everyone. Dr. Jody reminds us that burnout isn't always about doing too much. Sometimes it's about carrying too much without enough support. Through science, storytelling, and practical strategies, she helps educators and school leaders understand the importance of connection, acknowledgment, and building school cultures where the big people feel seen, too.
Before we can teach them, we have to reach them. When a child's nervous system is overwhelmed, learning takes a back seat to survival. And here's the thing: the same goes for the adults in the room. Dr. Jody helps educators understand why regulation comes first, why connection creates the conditions for learning, and why teaching becomes so much more effective when kids feel safe, seen, and supported. It's not about adding more to your plate. It's about changing how we show up in the moments that matter.
The meltdowns. The defiance. The shutdowns. The moments when you've tried every strategy you know and nothing seems to work. Here's what Dr. Jody wants us to remember: behaviour is communication. When we get curious about what's happening underneath the behaviour instead of focusing only on stopping it, we create opportunities for connection and understanding. That doesn't mean there aren't boundaries or expectations. It means recognizing that kids need regulated adults to help them find their way back.
Absolutely. Learning about where your school or district is at is the most important part. Every school community has its own challenges, and Dr. Jody knows there's no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to humans. Whether your focus is staff wellness, challenging behaviours, leadership, burnout, or rebuilding connection across your school community, Dr. Jody and her team work to understand what matters most to your people. Her presentations bring together science, humour, powerful storytelling, and practical strategies that educators can take back into their classrooms and schools.
Oh, the whole team. Relationship knows no hierarchy. Kids don’t care what your job title is. Every adult in a school has the power to change the trajectory of a child's day. Teachers, educational assistants, administrators, bus drivers, office staff, custodians, before-and-after school care providers, and everyone in between all play a role in helping kids feel safe, seen, and connected. Dr. Jody's work reminds us that building a connected school community isn't one person's responsibility. It takes all of us. And every single one of those big people deserves to feel supported, too.
We'd love to hear what you're planning! Whether you're organizing a professional development day, a district-wide gathering, an education conference, or a special event for your school community, the first step is reaching out to Dr. Jody's team. Tell us a little about your audience, your event, and what you're hoping people will walk away with. We'll help you explore the options and find the right fit for your people.
