Joe McQueen, author of "Calming Young Minds," doesn't just talk about education—he lives it every day. After 27 years working with youth that others often turn away from, Joe brings a raw authenticity to this powerful conversation about seeing the world through students' eyes and the systemic issues driving teacher burnout.
"We forget that our kids developmentally are in the same place we were, but in a different world than we were," Joe explains, highlighting how adults often fail to adapt their approaches to children's perspectives. This disconnect becomes increasingly problematic as educational environments evolve while teaching methods remain rooted in outdated paradigms.
The conversation takes a candid turn when exploring the realities of educator burnout. Joe shares his own experiences of questioning his career path and the limited options available to educators seeking alternatives. His insights on being "the meat in the sandwich" as an administrator—caught between top-down pressures and the needs of teachers and students—resonates deeply with anyone who's navigated educational leadership roles.
Perhaps most compelling is Joe's critique of educational policymaking. Unlike fields where experts make the decisions (think surgeons guiding medical policy), education policies are typically created by politicians with minimal classroom experience. "We're one of the only fields where all the decisions made for us are made by people who have no idea what we do every single day," he observes, pointing to a fundamental disconnect driving many of education's most entrenched problems.
Whether you're an educator struggling with burnout, a parent trying to understand today's educational challenges, or someone passionate about systemic reform, this episode offers both validation and a roadmap for change. Subscribe to Taught, the podcast for more conversations that tackle the real issues in education without sugar-coating the difficulties or oversimplifying the solutions.
Contact Joe!
https://www.theraputicperspectives.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-mcqueen-360729240/
Calming Young Minds : Understanding Mental Health, De-Escalation, Trauma, and Restorative Practices in Teens https://a.co/d/4aN3BKo
Read the Episode Transcripton the TAUGHT website.
Connect with host Amy Schamberg on LinkedIn
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