Chitty Chats with Stacy: Moving Mountains with Jon Konen

About this episode

Stacy Nation discusses with Jon Konen the essential elements of changing school culture and supporting the whole child.

What actually shifts a school? In this episode, Stacy sits down with lifelong educator and superintendent Jon Konen to talk about what it really takes to change school culture—from the inside out. This conversation goes far beyond strategies and into the heart of education: relationships, regulation, accountability, and the courage to lead through resistance. Together, they unpack what happens when schools stop focusing only on academics and begin to support the whole child —and the adults responsible for them. If you’ve ever felt the tension between “what works on paper” and “what actually works with people,” this episode is for you. 🔥 “If we don’t address what’s happening beneath the surface, it doesn’t matter what we do with math or reading—nothing sticks.” 🧠 What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why culture always outweighs strategy in schools The shift from academic-only interventions to whole-child approaches What it really looks like to lead through staff resistance How to build buy-in without forcing it The role of accountability in a healthy culture (it’s not just “fluffy”) How relational practices impact: Behavior referrals Staff burnout Student success Practical…

People in this episode

Host: Stacy Nation

Guest: Jon Konen

Topics covered

• school culture
• whole child approach
• leadership
• relationships
• accountability

Keywords

• school culture
• education
• leadership
• whole child
• accountability
• relationships
• staff resistance

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: school, education

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