203. Unlocking Potential: The Real Tools Students Need to Thrive with AJ Crabill

A.J. Crabill, a top expert in education leadership, joins us with a fresh, transformative approach to unlocking every child’s potential. Even if education isn’t your world, you’ll find plenty of “ah-ha” moments as A.J. shares why our current system misses the mark—and how it could create a radically better future for us all. With decades of success in transforming schools by supporting students in fresh ways, Crabill has been featured on NPR’s All Things Considered and is here to discuss his new book, Our Tools They Deserve, where he argues that students need social-emotional skills taught as rigorously as math or reading. Chapters 00:00 – Intro & Welcome 03:03 – Why School Systems Exist 08:34 – Maximize Potential for Students 13:50 – The Story of ‘Jasmine’ 23:48 – Break 26:04 – Aj’s Book ‘Our Tools They Deserve’ 37:25 – Practice Restoration, Not Retribution 43:51 – Misconceptions Towards Children 48:40 – AJ’s Origin Story 53:20 – All Kids Want to Learn 56:45 – Behavior is Communication 01:01:18 – Everyone Has the Capacity for Something Great 01:02:15 – Engage With Your Community 01:05:05 – Closing