Meka Childs is a South Carolina native, former middle school teacher, and longtime education leader with deep experience in policy, school improvement, and educator development. A Duke University graduate, she has spent her career supporting schools, districts, and communities to ensure every child, regardless of zip code, has access to high-quality learning opportunities. Meka is also a military wife, mother, mentor, and active community servant committed to strengthening education through collaboration, local leadership, and student-centered solutions.

On this episode, Ann Marie and Todd explore South Carolina's School Report Cards with Meka.

Ann Marie and Todd explore accountability with John Payne, Deputy Superintendent of the South Carolina Public Charter School District. John oversees authorization, data, and accountability for more than 40 public schools statewide.

He previously served as Deputy State Superintendent at the South Carolina Department of Education, leading major initiatives including protecting $80 million in IDEA funding, helping create the South Carolina High School Credential, and managing the deployment of $3.5 billion in pandemic relief funds.

A three-time graduate of the University of South Carolina, John has taught at the high school and university levels, published nationally, and led statewide programs spanning special education, accountability, assessment, and charter authorization. He has also served on the Council of Chief State School Officers and the National Assessment Governing Board, helping oversee NAEP—the Nation’s Report Card.

On this episode of Unbridled, Ann Marie and Todd talk about teacher well-being with Tish Jennings, Ph.D. Tish is an internationally recognized leader in the fields of social and emotional learning (SEL), mindfulness in education, and teacher well-being. A Professor of Education at the University of Virginia’s School of Education and Human Development, her research focuses on promoting well-being in K-12 learning environments. Her work has been recognized by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for supporting school mental health and by the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) for supporting adult SEL. A former teacher, school director, and teacher educator with over two decades of practical experience, Jennings brings deep insight to her work. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and several books including Mindfulness for Teachers, The Trauma-Sensitive Classroom, and The Mindful School.

The Unbridled Crew explores Teacher Leadership with Dr. Trevor T. Ivey, founder of Liberty STEAM Charter in Sumter County, South Carolina. Now in its fifth year, Liberty STEAM is transforming education and opportunity in the region with a focus on innovation, social-emotional learning, and career-ready pathways in business, health, engineering, and technology. A proud Sumter County public school graduate, Dr. Ivey is a National Board Certified Teacher, former Peace Corps Volunteer, and recognized leader in education innovation, earning accolades like Sumter’s Top 20 Under 40 and the 2024 Yass Prize. With nearly two decades in education, he’s dedicated his career to creating meaningful change and preparing the workforce of tomorrow.

On this episode, Ann Marie and Todd discuss teacher recruitment and retention with Dr. Ann Byrd. Ann is the executive director of SC-Teacher, an organization that provides comprehensive research about South Carolina’s educator workforce. Through her work with SC-Teacher, Dr. Byrd partners with researchers, educators, district administrators, and other state education officials across South Carolina to transform data into actionable insights that guide policy, strengthen practice, and address educator pipeline challenges. Her work focuses on bridging the gap between research and practice, ensuring that decision-makers and education leaders have the evidence they need to support teacher recruitment, preparation, and retention.

In this episode of Unbridled, Ann Marie and Todd talk with Matthew Bowerman about creating trauma-sensitive spaces.

Bowerman is a trauma-responsive, culturally competent servant leader who prioritizes collaborative, discovery-based learning for K-12 and higher education staff, students, and families; also a passionately creative, critical thinker and solution-maker with over thirty years in education and the arts who seeks to balance equitable, social emotional supports with empowering student resilience, compassion, mindfulness, and academic exploration.

Read more from Matthew here:

Edutopia (https://www.edutopia.org/profile/matthew-j-bowerman)

➢ Trauma-Responsive Leadership in K-12 Schools

➢ Addressing Cyberbullying and Bullying in Schools

➢ Integrating Culturally Responsive Teaching and Trauma-Informed Practices

➢ How School Leaders Can Guide the Work of Paraeducators: Trauma Responsive Supports

➢ 3 Tips for Using Trauma-Informed Practices As A School Leader

➢ The School Leader-Counselor Alliance

➢ A Guide to Psychological Safety for Educators

➢ How To Safely Manage A Student In Crisis

➢ A School Administrator’s Strategy for Calming Disruptive Students

➢ 3 Types of Engagement

➢ Approaching Student Data Holistically

➢ Building Trauma-Sensitive Spaces in Schools

TeacherGoals

➢ Bridge-building: Keys to supporting equitable and authentic school-family

engagement

(https://teachergoals.com/bridge-building/?v=7516fd43adaa)

➢ Trauma-Responsive Living

(https://teachergoals.com/trauma-responsive-living/?v=7516fd43adaa)

National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP)

➢ Trauma-Responsive, Trauma-Informed School Safety in PreK-8 Schools

➢ 7 Tips to Restore the Hearts and Minds of Students

(https://www.naesp.org/resource/7-tips-to-restore-the-hearts-and-minds-of-students/)

Teach Better (https://teachbetter.com/author/matthew-j-bowerman/)

➢ Remove the Guardrails: Facilitate a Productive Struggle

➢ Carrying Heavy Things: Support Students

➢ Additional material: https://teachbetter.com/?s=matthew+j.+bowerman

Association of Middle Leaders in Education (AMLE)

➢ Navigating the Gray: Trauma in the Middle Grades

(https://www.amle.org/navigating-the-gray-trauma-in-the-middle-grades/)

Stronger Together with Dr. Matthew X. Joseph

➢ School and Life on Spin Cycle

(https://mxjedu.net/spin-cycle)

Principal’s Project

➢ Three Ways to be Rigorous With Our Care for Our Teams

(https://principalproject.org/3-ways-to-be-rigorous-with-our-care-for-our-teams/)

In this episode of Unbridled, Ann Marie and Todd sit down with Dr. Jon Eckert, Professor of Educational Leadership and the Lynda and Robert Copple Endowed Chair for Christians in School Leadership at Baylor University. With more than two decades of experience as a classroom teacher, policy advisor, and researcher, Jon brings a deeply human and hopeful perspective to what it means to teach and lead well in today’s schools.

Together, Todd and Jon explore the promise and challenge of collective leadership and why real change starts with relationships rooted in trust and purpose.

Whether you’re a teacher, school leader, or simply someone who cares about the future of education, this conversation will remind you why the work of teaching still matters, deeply.

Listen to more from Dr. Jon Eckert:🔗 ⁠Baylor Center for School Leadership⁠🎧 ⁠Just Schools Podcast on Spotify⁠ | ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠📚 ⁠jonathaneckert.org⁠

Springhouse Community School in Pilot, VA got its name because its purpose is very similar to an actual springhouse. A springhouse is built around a fresh spring of water that comes up from the ground. Its purpose is to protect the precious resource of water, making it useful to others. The school Springhouse has the same intention – but with people.

"We know that if we protect and take care of the preciousness of each person, they come alive. When we know our own preciousness and take care of it, we naturally protect and care for the preciousness of others. Over time, this grows more vital communities and, eventually, a more vital culture for all."

Join Springhouse's Jenny Finn (Executive Director) and Sarah Stabler (Head of School) as they discuss their model and what it means to be vitality-centered.