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! Authentic Literature [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:16
Throwback Thursday! Authentic Literature featuring Dr. Donyall DickeyOriginally Released On: 5-7-2021This week, we’re revisiting one of our timeless episodes from Leading Out The Woods! In this episode:✅ Dr. Dickey share…
Connect. Impact. Scale [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:29
Episode #127 is up! Check it out!!!Special Guest Vernon Wright joins Dr. Woods on episode #127 of Leading Out The Woods to discuss Connect. Impact. Scale. In this episode, Vernon shares his instructional leadership philo…
Throwback Thursday! I Choose to Stay [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:31
Throwback Thursday! Episode #64: I Choose to StayOriginally Released On: 7-29-2022This week, we’re revisiting one of our timeless episodes from Leading Out The Woods! In this episode:✅ Dr. Thomas-EL discusses why 'he cho…
Throwback Thursday! Student Content Creator [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:05
Throwback Thursday! Student Content Creator featuring Rachelle Dene PothOriginally Released On: 3-12-2021This week, we’re revisiting one of our timeless episodes from Leading Out The Woods! In this episode:✅ Rachelle sha…
Throwback Thursday! Started from the Bottom, Now I'm Here [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:28
Throwback Thursday! Started from the Bottom, Now I'm Here Originally Released On: 6-18-21This week, we’re revisiting one of our timeless episodes from Leading Out The Woods! In this episode:✅ Darrion discusses how he mot…
Diversifying the Educator Pipeline [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:48
Episode #126 is up! Check it out!!!Diversifying the Educator PipelineSpecial Guest Dr. Shaylyn Marks, Assistant Professor of Teacher Education at California State University, Bakersfield, joins Dr. Woods on episode #126…
Throwback Thursday! Mindfulness Awareness for Educators [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:29
Throwback Thursday!Title: Episode #107: Mindfulness Awareness for Educators featuring Danielle NuhferOriginally Released On: 5-31-24This week, we’re revisiting one of our timeless episodes from Leading Out The Woods! In…
Throwback Thursday! Staff Motivation & Morale [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:26
Throwback Thursday!Title: Episode #27_Staff Motivation & Morale featuring Dr. Todd Whitaker Originally Released On: 2-26-21This week, we’re revisiting one of our timeless episodes from Leading Out The Woods! In this epis…
Anchor Chat #24: Too Much Data, Not Enough Direction [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:45
Anchor Chat #24: Too Much Data, Not Enough DirectionIn this episode of Anchor Chats, Dr. Woods reflects on Too Much Data, Not Enough Direction, exploring how educators can move beyond simply collecting data to using it w…
Navigating the Storm: Crisis Response [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:33
Episode #125 is up! Check it out!!!Special Guest Command Sergeant Major Bart E. Womack, U.S. Army (Retired), joins Dr. Woods on episode #125 of Leading Out The Woods to discuss Navigating the Storm: Crisis Response for S…