PMP484: Brain-Body Literacy with Trish Keiller

A Quick Note to Listeners:

Before this week’s interview, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to answer a listener question. 

—- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks.

Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What’s your summer math plan this year? A great way to start is by ordering FREE summer workbook samples at Summer Pops Workbooks.com. —-

This week’s question is: 

What is something you will never forget about school leadership?  How did you learn it and how did it impact your career? 

Listen in to hear their response!

Meet Trish Keiller:

Trish Keiller is an Emotional Intelligence Trainer, SEL Coach, and founder of Roots Education https://roots-education.com/. With more than 20 years in education and dual master’s degrees, her career spans from middle school teaching to pioneering wellness practices for schools. Trish is the creator of Brain-Body Literacy™, a framework that integrates mindfulness, neuroscience, yoga, nutrition, and leadership to help educators and students thrive. Drawing on her background as a teacher, administrator, and holistic health practitioner, she equips schools with practical tools to manage stress, build resilience, and foster authentic connection. Through her training and coaching, Trish empowers educators to transform school culture, showing that well-being is not an add-on, but the foundation for achievement and joy.

The Importance of Learning Readiness:

In her work, Trish promotes a “Learning Readiness” framework as an important way to talk about wellness with students, teachers, and school leaders. She based this framework on her experience as a middle school math teacher. As a young teacher, Trish utilized yoga as a way to help her deal with stress. She began practicing it in front of her students, who said that they wanted to try yoga too. Through this experience, Trish began to examine the disconnect that happens in modern teaching, saying that the whole child is being taught while neglecting the body. Thus the “Learning Readiness” framework was born. Through the use of yoga practices and other tools, the framework that Trish uses creates a sense of belonging and connection for students that allows for greater learning experiences. The “Learning Readiness” framework allows students to be more centered and feel less anxious. 

Understanding the Brain and Body Connection:

Trish is passionate about educators gaining a deeper understanding of learning and brain and body connection. She reiterates that the body is not fully included in how we think about learning in modern teaching practices. “Learning Readiness” is about getting students’ minds and bodies ready to focus on learning. It is important for students to learn how to practice preparing to learn, so that those skills become subconscious. When educators want students to be able to self-regulate and remain calm in conflict, they first have to teach students those skills and allow them to practice them. Doing so helps these skills become part of the students’ subconscious and saves teachers time and energy in the future. 

The Significance of Self-Forgiveness and Self-Compassion:

In her work as a coach, Trish spends a lot of time preaching self-forgiveness and self-compassion to school leaders. School leaders have to deal with a lot of stress, and approaching stress with self-forgiveness and self-compassion gives leaders space to acknowledge that their job is a lot. She uses a framework called the LOVE framework to help school leaders deal with stress and uncomfortable emotions. The LOVE framework stands for Lean in, Observe, Validate, and Embrace. Through this method, school leaders can really understand stress at a deep level. 

Staying Connected:

Listeners can stay connected with Trish Keiller and her work via the following channels:

Linkedin

https://roots-education.com

Thank you for doing what matters!

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