Throwback Thursday! Supporting the Whole Child featuring Dr. Sarah Kirk

Throwback Thursday! Supporting the Whole Child featuring Dr. Sarah Kirk

Author: Matthew Woods - Education Podcast Network March 12, 2026 Duration: 34:05
Throwback Thursday! Supporting the Whole Child featuring Dr. Sarah Kirk

Originally Released On: 12-15-2023

This week we’re revisiting another powerful conversation from Leading Out The Woods. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Sarah Kirk, CEO of Yoga 4 Classrooms and Oklahoma’s 2018 School Counselor of the Year, to discuss how schools can better support the academic, social-emotional, and overall well-being of students. Takeaways from this classic:
  • How wrap-around supports strengthen student success
  • The role of social-emotional practices within daily instruction
  • Practical ways educators can support the whole child inside the classroom and across the school community
Whether you’re hearing it for the first time or revisiting a classic, this conversation is packed with insights that still resonate today. 🎧🕰️ Don’t forget to check back every Thursday for more Throwback episodes!


Matthew Woods, a former teacher and current administrator, draws from his own journey to create Leading Out The Woods. This isn't a lecture from an ivory tower, but a conversation grounded in the real, often messy, world of K-12 schools. Each episode feels like a candid talk with a colleague who's been in your shoes, sharing reflections and practical strategies that have emerged from the classroom and the administrative office. You'll hear honest discussions about the challenges educators face daily, paired with actionable ideas aimed at improving practice and fostering resilience. The goal is to navigate the complex forest of modern education together, finding clearer paths forward. Released every other Friday, this podcast from the Education Podcast Network serves as a regular source of camaraderie and insight for teachers and administrators looking to refine their craft. It’s a space dedicated to thoughtful exchange, where the shared experiences of educators are valued as the most important resource.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Leading Out The Woods
Podcast Episodes
Throwback Thursday! Rethinking Black History [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:23
Throwback Thursday! Rethinking Black History featuring Dr. LaGarrett KingOriginally Released On: 2-12-2021This week, we’re revisiting one of our timeless episodes from Leading Out The Woods! In this episode. Takeaways fr…
Anchor Chat #27: Clarity Is the Strategy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:33
Anchor Chat #27: Clarity Is the StrategyIn this episode of Anchor Chats, Dr. Woods reflects on Clarity Is the Strategy, emphasizing that clear expectations, focused priorities, and consistent communication are the founda…
Teaching Peace in a Divided Time [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:57
Episode #129 is up! Check it out!!!Special Guest Ryan Tillman, Speaker, CEO, and Founder of Breaking Barriers United, joins Dr. Woods on episode #129 of Leading Out The Woods to discuss Teaching Peace in a Divided Time.…
Throwback Thursday! Teachers Promise [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:28
Throwback Thursday! Teachers of Promise featuring Wade WhiteheadOriginally Released On: 9-9-2022This week, we’re revisiting one of our timeless episodes from Leading Out The Woods! In this episode:Takeaways from this cla…
Throwback Thursday! Unpacking Collaborative Leadership [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:26
Throwback Thursday! Unpacking Collaborative Leadership featuring Pam EhnleOriginally Released On: 4-4-2025This week, we’re revisiting one of our timeless episodes from Leading Out The Woods! In this episode:✅ Pam shares…
Growth Mindset [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:42
Episode #128 is up! Check it out!!!Special Guest Dr. John Craig joins Dr. Woods on episode #128 of Leading Out The Woods to discuss Growth Mindset. In this episode, they explore what it truly means to cultivate a growth…
Throwback Thursday! Learning from Mistakes & Failure in the Classroom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:29
Throwback Thursday! Learning from Mistakes & Failure in the Classroom featuring Dr. Julie WarnerThis week, we’re revisiting one of our timeless episodes from Leading Out The Woods! In this episode:✅ Dr. Warner discusses…
Throwback Thursday! Loving Your Neighbor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:26
Throwback Thursday! Loving Your Neighbor featuring Chris SingletonOriginally Released On: 7-28-2023This week, we’re revisiting one of our timeless episodes from Leading Out The Woods! In this episode:✅ Chris shares his i…
Anchor Chat #25: Start of Day Systems [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:47
In this episode, Dr. Woods explores how the first moments of the school day shape everything that follows. From adult presence at arrival to clear routines and instructional warm starts, effective start-of-day systems cr…