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In this episode, Dr. Paulie Gavoni sits down with veteran superintendent Dr. Don Haddad of St. Vrain Valley School District to explore one of the most hotly debated educational shifts in recent years—the 4-day school week. With over 17 years of experience leading one of Colorado’s largest districts, Dr. Haddad brings deep insight into the logistical, academic, and behavioral implications of this bold move.

What started as a spirited back-and-forth on social media turns into a candid, thought-provoking dialogue between two leaders in education. They unpack the reasons behind the shift, the data being considered, and what’s at stake for students, families, and staff. Can cutting a day really lead to better outcomes—or are we just masking deeper systemic issues?

This conversation challenges assumptions and offers multiple perspectives rooted in both leadership and behavioral science.

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In this episode, Dr. Paulie sits down with Nicola Soares, President of Kelly Education, to tackle one of the most urgent issues in education today: the staffing and workforce crisis. With over 20 years of experience spanning product development, policy reform, and leadership across major organizations like NBC Universal and McGraw-Hill, Nicola brings a powerful, pragmatic perspective to the table.

They dig into the root causes of high turnover in education, explore data-driven strategies for creating sustainable workforce pipelines, and discuss how schools can shift from reactive hiring to proactive talent cultivation. Nicola shares hard truths, real solutions, and a compelling vision for how schools can survive—and thrive—by rethinking how we recruit, train, and retain great educators.

🔥 Whether you're a district leader, teacher, or policymaker, this episode offers actionable insights grounded in experience and behavioral science.

👉 Don’t just talk about the crisis—tune in and learn how to fix it.

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In this episode of The Crisis in Education Podcast, Dr. Paul "Paulie" Gavoni sits down with Missouri middle school teacher and author Philip Wire to unpack a provocative and timely topic: Are schools getting trauma-informed education right—or missing the mark entirely?

Inspired by Philip’s bold book, "Trauma-Informed Tragedy: How Schools Got Trauma Part Right and Part Wrong," this conversation dives deep into the well-intentioned yet sometimes misguided practices that have emerged in the name of supporting students with trauma.

Dr. Paulie and Phil explore:

✅ What schools are doing well in addressing trauma
✅ Where the system is falling short—and even causing harm
✅ Why good intentions aren't enough without behaviorally sound strategies
✅ How educators can actually empower students without overaccommodating dysfunction

This is not your average trauma talk. It’s a raw, respectful, and practical conversation between two professionals committed to helping—not harming—students through real, actionable solutions.

🎧 Tune in now to hear what it really means to be trauma-informed—and how to do it better.