Beyond Behavior: Bev Johns on Advocacy, Trauma, and Supporting Teachers Who Speak Up (Bev Johns)

📝 Episode Synopsis (for episode description)In this powerful conversation, Dr. Joey Weisler sits down with nationally recognized special education leader and behavioral consultant Bev Johns, whose four-decade career has helped shape special education law, classroom practice, and behavioral supports across the United States. Bev shares deeply personal stories—from teaching students who were once denied access to school altogether, to advocating for legislation protecting students from harmful disciplinary practices.Together, they explore what happens when behavior is misunderstood, why teachers’ calls for help often go unheard, and how trauma, anxiety, and invisible disabilities manifest in classrooms. Bev challenges punitive approaches and urges educators and systems alike to see behavior as communication—not defiance.This episode highlights the life-changing power of relationships, the necessity of documentation and advocacy, and the restorative role of the arts in helping students regulate emotion and reclaim dignity. Above all, Bev reminds us that supporting students begins with supporting teachers—and that education, at its core, is an act of human connection.🤞🏻A Message of HopeSupporting educators is key to sustaining the profession.Collaboration between families, schools, and community services is essential.Positive relationships remain the most powerful force for change in education.📌 Show Notes (Key Ideas and Highlights)Check out Bev Johns website here"Sally Sits On My Shoulder" article Classroom Narratives podcast segment with Dr. Lisa KayRestorative Practices in Education Through the Arts (Book)