Every school has students who test the system - students who disrupt, avoid, shut down, argue, explode, or keep landing in the office despite everyone’s best efforts. For school leaders, these moments are rarely simple. You must balance student dignity, staff capacity, parent expectations, safety, inclusion, accountability, and the values of your school community. 

This half-day workshop helps leaders move beyond the question, “What consequence does this student need?” and toward a more useful question: “What skill is missing, what problem is unsolved, and how do we help this student grow?” 

Drawing on Collaborative Problem Solving, current mental health research, Dr. Angela Duckworth’s work on grit, and Dr. David Yeager’s research on adolescent motivation, this session explores how schools can pair high expectations with the support, connection, and coaching students need to rise to them. 

Participants will leave with practical tools for understanding challenging behaviour, supporting staff, strengthening accountability, and building a school culture where students develop confidence, responsibility, and belonging.