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From Tension to Trust: Navigating Hard Conversations in Education
Date:
November 20, 2025 @ 8:30 am – 3:30 pm
Price:
Instructor(s):
Esther Charlestin
Event Type:
In-Person
Professional Learning Hours:
6
Intended Audience:
Anyone who works in or with schools, including classroom teachers, special educators, SLPs, OTs, coaches and consultants, school counselors and social workers, paraprofessionals, and administrators.
Participants must attend all events:
- Event Date
- Event Date
This workshop is designed for educators seeking to strengthen their ability to navigate difficult conversations with students, colleagues, families, and community members. Grounded in the realities of school environments, the session equips participants with the mindset, skills, and strategies needed to approach challenging dialogue with greater confidence, care, and clarity. Through engaging activities, role plays, and guided reflection, participants will explore frameworks for effective communication, practice de-escalation techniques, and examine the personal and systemic dynamics that shape how we show up in moments of tension. By the end of the day, educators will leave with a practical toolkit to foster trust, build stronger school communities, and support growth through discomfort and repair.
Participants will:
- Identify the factors that make conversations difficult in school settings and how to prepare for them with clarity and care.
- Learn and practice tools for active listening, boundary-setting, and de-escalation, specifically tailored to classroom and staff interactions.
- Develop strategies for managing their own emotional responses while supporting the emotional needs of students and colleagues.
- Gain a framework for fostering accountability, repairing harm, and building mutual understanding within educational communities.
- Leave with a customizable toolkit to support effective communication, conflict navigation, and relational leadership in schools.
