top of page
Holding Space for Anxiety and Still Moving Forward
Today was not a planned moment. It was not on the agenda. It was not part of a polished staff meeting slide deck. But it was exactly what we needed. In the middle of everything that comes with this time of year, state testing, fatigue, behavior consistency, and the quiet pressure to show growth, we paused and pulled the team into an impromptu circle. Just a check-in. Nothing formal. Just space. And what unfolded in that circle said more about our school than any data point ev
Melissa France
Apr 22 min read
When the Needs Are Bigger Than the Staff: The Hidden Strain of Middle School Turnaround Work
In many high-need middle schools, the challenge isn’t just academics. It’s doing emotionally complex, relationship-driven work with too few adults, core classes of 38–40 students, and fewer student support roles than ever. When counselor positions are cut and staffing is stretched, prevention turns into triage. Turnaround work is still possible, but it cannot be built on minimal staffing. Adolescents need support systems, not just systems on paper.
Stephanie Nardi EdD
Feb 155 min read
When Compliance Isn’t Care: Why Middle School Turnaround Work Needs Restorative Practices, Not PBIS
In middle school turnaround work quiet is not the same as healthy and compliant is not the same as cared for.
In my latest Turnaround Unscripted post, I dig into emerging research and lived leadership experience to make the case that PBIS often centers surveillance and normalization, while restorative practices build voice, accountability, and real behavioral growth. If we want transformation instead of performance, we have to choose restoration over compliance.
Stephanie Nardi EdD
Feb 75 min read
bottom of page