083: Belonging and Bringing Homemade Macaroni to the Potluck with Dr. Sheldon Eakins

What if belonging wasn’t a poster or a pep talk, but a practice you could measure, build, and sustain? We sit down with Dr. Sheldon Eakins to unpack how leadership choices shape whether students feel accepted, supported, and included. From turning speaking engagements into chapters to designing a student belonging survey, Dr. Eakins shows how to move from intent to impact with tools any school can use.We dig into inclusion and assimilation, and why asking students to “fit in” by quietly shedding their identity undermines achievement. Sheldon shares how to audit rituals and traditions, align mission and vision with lived culture, and break down silos between special education, multilingual learning, and general education. His potluck metaphor reframes the work: bring homemade, not boxed. Craft environments where every learner sees themselves on the table and feels safe enough to try something new.Teachers will find concrete ideas to swap “classroom management” for community-building: co-create agreements, build respectful relationships, and design projects that connect standards to students’ lives. We also explore attachment theory across K–12, showing how even 50 minutes can become a secure base for growth. And for the time-starved, Sheldon offers a pragmatic take on AI: use it to draft plans and personalize entry points, then spend your energy on feedback, facilitation, and care. If you’re ready to lead with clarity and purpose, and to build a culture where identity fuels learning, this conversation is your roadmap. EPISODE RESOURCES:Connect with Dr. Sheldon Eakins via his website, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Check out Dr. Eakin's books:Leading Equity: Becoming an Advocate for All StudentsWhat Are You Bringing to the Potluck?: How School Leaders Set the Table for a Community of BelongingMeaningful Classroom Management: Adapting Your Teaching to Build Culture and Community