In Rising Above, we meet Serenity Springs High School’s new school counselor Monica Sheppard as she is fielding a barrage of school conflict issues coming at her from what seems like every direction. Backed by a team of veteran school culture experts from different facets of education, author JC Pohl delivers an engaging, ripped-from-the-headlines narrative about a fictional school community devolving into chaos. With social media running out of control, teachers feeling burnt out, and a principal that has simply lost her way, Monica immerses herself into the school community and strives to bridge many of the divides that define contemporary school environments across the United States.
The book includes insights from real-world experts, including Principal Dr. Pete Getz, relationship expert Emil Harker, LMFT, and school counselor educator Dr. Stephanie Eberts. It also offers: - A comprehensive set of strategies and tools to help cure the ailments destroying school culture - Insightful discussions of teacher-student, teacher-teacher, teacher-administration, teacher-parent, teacher-staff, and student-student conflict management and resolution - A compelling narrative of a school leader rising above the chaos that surrounds her and showing readers a tangible pathway that leads to positive school conflict resolution
An engrossing and essential read for principals, assistant principals, school counselors, and other district administrators, Rising Above also proves invaluable to K-12 teachers and higher education professors with an interest in building exemplary school cultures.
Table of Contents
Preface xv
Featured Experts xix
Section 1 Conflict 1
Chapter 1 Omelets and Arguments 3
Chapter 2 Trouble in Serenity 11
Chapter 3 The Outburst 17
Chapter 4 Online but Disconnected 23
Chapter 5 Red vs. Blue 29
Chapter 6 Burnt Out 37
Chapter 7 GOLFMAST3R_DAD3288 47
Chapter 8 Retreat and Refocus 55
Section 2 Connection 63
Chapter 9 A Little Now or a Lot Later 65
Chapter 10 Silly Beans 69
Chapter 11 Truly Troubled Tony 75
Chapter 12 Serious Digital Beef 87
Chapter 13 A Little Ad Hominem 95
Chapter 14 A Cooling Ember 107
Chapter 15 Trading Vinegar for Honey 113
Section 3 Collaboration 121
Chapter 16 One Problem Too Many 123
Chapter 17 Freedom Through Acceptance 131
Chapter 18 Breakthrough 141
Chapter 19 Face to Face 155
Chapter 20 Hemispheres 167
Chapter 21 Remembering Why 171
Chapter 22 Defused 181
Chapter 23 Harvest 189
Going Deeper: Monica’s Journal 193
About the Authors 233
Index 235
