EduCurious Interview with Ashley Cockrell: Do the Hard Thing Every Time

In this episode of EduCurious, Ashley Cockrell, a law enforcement officer, shares her unique perspective on education. Ashley's background includes roles as a parent, an elementary school staff member (guardian and dean of discipline at Hillcrest Elementary), and now a police officer, first in Lake Wales and currently in Lakeland, Florida.Ashley's journey to law enforcement wasn't a typical "midlife crisis," as some might assume. She was inspired by the officers she met while working as a school guardian, and a sense of duty during the "defund the police" movement solidified her decision. She felt compelled to support her community and the officers she respected.The core of the interview revolves around Ashley's advice to students and her insights into the challenges faced by both children and adults. Her central message is to "do the right thing first," a motto given to her by her high school counselor. She emphasizes that choosing the difficult, right path is often more rewarding in the long run, even if it's not the easiest. She uses examples from her own life, such as becoming the first woman to score in an NCAA Division One football game, to illustrate this point.Ashley strongly advocates for the value of sports in developing essential life skills. Sports teach teamwork, time management, resilience, and how to handle difficult personalities (like coaches). She stresses that even if a child doesn't achieve athletic scholarships, the life lessons learned through sports are invaluable for future success.A significant portion of the conversation focuses on the challenges Ashley witnessed while working in the school system. She highlights the difficulty of addressing behavioral issues when students' basic needs (as outlined in Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs) aren't met. Many children come to school lacking food, safety, and a sense of belonging, making it nearly impossible for them to focus on learning and self-actualization. She describes the frustration of suspending students, only to send them back into the very environment that contributed to the problem, acknowledging that there are no easy answers. This same struggle persists in her police work.Ashley shares a touching anecdote about her greatest accomplishment at Hillcrest: connecting with a particularly challenging student who initially refused to speak or make eye contact. After consistently showing him kindness and telling him she loved him, he eventually reciprocated, marking a profound breakthrough.The conversation shifts to the impact of trauma. Ashley discusses her personal experience processing a traumatic event (a shooting involving K9 officer Max) and emphasizes that being "okay" emotionally doesn't negate the physiological effects of trauma. She learned, with help of Dr. Richard Marshall, that trauma affects the brain and central nervous system regardless of one's emotional state, impacting energy levels and even the immune system. This insight provides a crucial perspective for educators, suggesting that behavioral issues or fatigue in students may stem from unseen trauma.Whether you're a teacher, a parent, or just EduCurious, join the community as we explore various educational topics and learn from each other. Be SocialWebsite: https://educuriouspod.com/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EduCuriousPod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edu.curious.podcasts/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/educuriouspod/about YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Edu.Curious.Podcasts Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/49IJd6WG083nXhZeQWt2hk?si=300fba40fb83456c Pandora Playlist: https://www.pandora.com/playlist/PL:92407357392304299:299354639?part=ug-mobile&corr=29939240#LifeLongLearner #EducatorInput#CollaborativePD#LifelongLearning#OnlineLearning#PersonalizedPD#ProfDev#EducatorPD