How Do You Begin to Rebuild Trust When You Have Staff Members that Have Shut Down?

The Dips of Doubt

Rebuilding trust with staff members who have disengaged can be challenging, but it’s crucial for a healthy school culture. In this episode, Susan and Tessa share effective strategies for reconnecting with shut-down staff and creating a transparent feedback environment. They discuss the importance of assessing campus culture carefully, keeping an eye out for pitfalls like relying on the same voices, receiving insincere feedback, and neglecting to provide a safe space for open dialogue. Susan and Tessa encourage leaders to embrace hard conversations with empathy, creating a foundation for trust and meaningful change.

The Hosts of The Dips of Doubt:

Tessa Brock

Tessa is a passionate, engaging and inspiring presenter who tackles the tough topics of Organizational Culture, Trauma Responsive Approaches, Communication, Reflective Practice, and Self-Care with a balance of expertise, honesty, and humor. Tessa has worked with schools through Fortune 500 organizations to enhance interpersonal interactions. Through her genuine and authentic manner, Tessa skillfully uses story to drive home key concepts that make a lasting impression. Tessa has a Master’s degree, is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), is Infant/Toddler Mental Health Endorsed Level III (IMH-E III), and is a Certified Executive Coach. Tessa actively coaches, trains, and consults with organizations and schools to enhance relationship-based and trauma-responsive skills and strategies used with professionals, students, and parents. The Neurosequential Network acknowledges that Tessa has completed NMT Training Certification through the Phase I level. She is an international speaker and national consultant.

Susan Rosenthal

Prior to joining the Pima County School Superintendent's office, Susan spent 30 years in the Catalina Foothills School District (CFSD) where she served in a variety of roles. She found her passion for mentoring early in her career and had a Superintendent who supported her desire to create a Beginning Teacher Assistance Program that helped new teachers onboard, acclimate and thrive. Later her work morphed into an Induction Program through her work as a Career Ladder Supervisor for K-12 educators. Susan's unique approach to teaching, learning and leadership is a result of her K-12 perspective and experiences as a former elementary teacher, high school assistant principal and middle school principal. She was afforded many training opportunities over her career and upon retiring from her former district, she spent her first year mentoring new administrators and coaching individuals obtaining their teaching certificate through Arizona Teachers of Tomorrow. Susan now serves as the Director of LEADNow! In her role, she is the co-facilitator of the LEADNow! Institute for new and aspiring principal leaders, and she provides mentorship to former LEADNow! participants who want to continue to optimize their leadership skills. She has her M.Ed., Standard Principal, PreK-12, Standard Professional Elementary, K-8, Early Childhood Endorsement, and she is a Certified NAESP National Principal Mentor.