Welcome to Education Suspended,

a podcast focused on exploring, engaging, and dialoguing with those in education who are passionate about changing the status quo and evolving the archaic system we have inherited.

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The Latest Episodes

Episode 54: Dr. Monica McHale-Small

In this episode we sit down and connect with Dr. Monica McHale-Small. Monica shares with us her experience as a Superintendent and how that has impacted her lens on the larger educational system. She highlights the importance of supporting the whole child; especially when thinking about students with specific learning disabilities. Monica also talks us through the challenges that come with navigating the special education realm as a parent.

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Episode 53: Chris Barfield

In this episode we are joined by Chris Barfield. Chris is such a great story teller and shares with us how using sports helps the students he and his team work with at their school. He highlights the importance of dosing the stress appropriately to match the developmental level of the students; knowing students show up in different places. Chris also reminds us that we need to remember for many of our students, school has been a place of negative experiences and it’s our job to help rewrite their scripts.

Read More »

Episode 54: Dr. Monica McHale-Small

In this episode we sit down and connect with Dr. Monica McHale-Small. Monica shares with us her experience as a Superintendent and how that has impacted her lens on the larger educational system. She highlights the importance of supporting the whole child; especially when thinking about students with specific learning disabilities. Monica also talks us through the challenges that come with navigating the special education realm as a parent.

Read More »

Episode 53: Chris Barfield

In this episode we are joined by Chris Barfield. Chris is such a great story teller and shares with us how using sports helps the students he and his team work with at their school. He highlights the importance of dosing the stress appropriately to match the developmental level of the students; knowing students show up in different places. Chris also reminds us that we need to remember for many of our students, school has been a place of negative experiences and it’s our job to help rewrite their scripts.

Read More »

The Team

hosted by:

Jessica Paola Pfeiffer

Jessica is a mother, wife, school social worker, and educational consultant. She has been working with students, teachers, schools, and districts for over 19 years. She is the founder of Intricate Roots, an educational consulting company who supports educational systems in embedding a neurodevelopmental lens into the work they do. She works directly with Steve and the Neurosequential Network in training educators from around the world. 

hosted by:

Steve Graner

Steve is a father, grandfather, and a veteran middle school teacher of 33 years.  He now works directly with Dr. Bruce Perry and Neurosequential Network as the NME Project Director, delivering training to a variety of educators on the intersection of neurodevelopment and effective school practice. This training, which began humbly at a North Dakota middle school, now extends to educators across the world who are grappling with the unique challenges faced by systems no longer adequate to handle the stressors of our evolving world.

produced by:

Jamie Higa

edited by:

Wyatt Rider, PSSC Intern

Wyatt is a senior at the Puget Sound Skills Center and an aspiring sound editor.
graphics by:

Katie Kaneen