Educational consultant and author Karl Pupé joins Becky Dawson to explore the secrets behind effective classroom leadership. Karl shares his journey from a "school terrorist" to an SEMH specialist, offering a masterclass in building trust and managing behavior through relationships. This episode dives deep into the "Action Hero" approach to teaching, prioritizing teacher wellbeing and human connection over rigid curriculum delivery

• The "Maslow before Bloom" Philosophy: Why establishing a safe, caring relationship is the prerequisite for any academic learning
• Trust Mountain: A breakdown of the four types of student behavior—Disruptor, Compliant, Reflective, and Engaged—and how to move students up the mountain
• The Leadership Zone: Finding the balance between "Authority" and "Warmth" while avoiding the pitfalls of being a "Dictator," "Doormat," or "Yo-yo" teacher
• Teacher Wellbeing as Co-regulation: Understanding how a teacher’s emotional state acts as the "bellwether" for the entire class
• Whole-School Consistency: The importance of crystal-clear, simple rules that every staff member upholds to prevent students from "bending" the system

• Prioritize Connection: No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care; relationships are the "North Star" of behavior management
• Read the Room: Use "two-minute check-ins" at the door to gauge student temperatures and catch potential issues before they escalate
• The Student Triangle: Effective teachers understand the three pillars of a student's life: their personality, their home environment, and their school experience
• Establish a Social Contract: Build a classroom culture from day one by making respect explicit and involving students in the "unwritten rules" of the room
• Seek the "Trusted Adult": If you're struggling with a student, find the one person in school they trust (a coach, TA, or cleaner) and use that bridge to build your own rapport

• Karl Pupé recommends visiting Young Minds for mental health resources and exploring the Boxall Profile to understand childhood attachment and practical psychology
• To learn more about Karl’s "Action Hero" framework, visit actionheroteacher.com or follow his daily "bite-sized brilliance" on LinkedIn

• 00:00 - Introduction - Meet Karl Pupé, author of The Action Hero Teacher
• 01:17 - The Action Hero Origin - How a "school terrorist" became an educational consultant
• 07:06 - Maslow Before Bloom - Debunking the myth that curriculum comes before relationships
• 10:12 - Teacher Wellbeing & Co-regulation - Why you are the "emotional bellwether" of your class
• 14:49 - The Burnout Crisis - Addressing why 40,000 teachers are leaving the profession
• 17:37 - Trust Mountain - Identifying the four levels of classroom behavior
• 22:56 - The Leadership Zone - Balancing authority and warmth in your teaching style.
• 24:27 - Styles to Avoid - The Dictator, the Doormat, and the Yo-yo teacher
• 27:18 - Whole-School Approach - Why "crystal clear" rules beat complex policies
• 30:57 - Practical Psychology - Why behavior leadership is a learnable skill
• 33:56 - The Two-Minute Check-in - A simple habit to build trust.
• 37:05 - The Student Triangle - Seeing the whole child beyond the desk.
• 43:04 - The Social Contract - Advice for new teachers on establishing culture

47:33 - Sharing is Caring - Recommended resources for trauma-informed practice