In this episode, Adam Zingsheim, Director of People Services at Verona Area Schools in Wisconsin, joins us to discuss the powerful connection between academic success and emotional well-being. From his years as a teacher to his district leadership today, Adam shares how Verona is integrating social-emotional learning, mental health, and academic rigor into one unified system of support.

You’ll learn:
– Why students can’t separate their emotional and academic selves — and why schools shouldn’t either
– How Verona is reimagining time, coaching, and professional learning to create more aligned systems of care
– Why emotional safety is foundational to academic performance
– How joy, connection, and “permission to have fun” can reignite teachers’ passion for the work
– The importance of relationship-driven leadership that builds trust and belonging

Adam reminds us that when educators teach the whole child, they also rediscover the joy of why they started teaching in the first place.