E53. From Control to Connection: A Trauma-Informed Roadmap for Transforming Student Behavior
From The Intentional IEP Podcast by Stephanie DeLussey
May 5, 2026 · 33 min
About this episode
This episode discusses a trauma-informed approach to transforming student behavior through connection rather than control.
If student behavior has been leaving you feeling stuck, this episode is one to lean into. This conversation challenges the way we’ve been taught to think about discipline and offers a shift that actually supports long-term change, not just quick fixes. In this episode, Stephanie is joined by Nathan Maynard to break down what it really means to be trauma-informed and how moving from control to connection can completely change how we respond to behavior. Why fear-based discipline often escalates behavior and what to do instead How to tell the difference between a student who won’t comply and one who can’t regulate What it looks like to build proactive systems and move from power struggles to collaborative problem-solving If you’ve been looking for a more effective, realistic way to support behavior, this episode will give you a strong place to start.
People in this episode
Host: Stephanie DeLussey
Guest: Nathan Maynard
Topics covered
- trauma-informed education
- student behavior
- discipline
- collaborative problem-solving
- proactive systems
Keywords
- student behavior
- trauma-informed
- discipline
- collaboration
- proactive systems
- power struggles
- behavior management
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- E56. The Top 5 Self-Reflection Questions Teachers Should Ask at the End of the Year · May 25, 2026 · 10 min
- E55. 3 Benefits of Sending a Draft IEP Home Before the Meeting · May 18, 2026 · 12 min
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