Regulating Your School’s Central Nervous System
Schools, like all institutions and organizations, have a central nervous system.
Just as our body's nervous system regulates our emotional states, a school's nervous system regulates the emotional temperature of the institution.
You can sense it immediately when you walk into a building.
In some schools, there's palpable energy, excitement, enthusiasm, and optimism. You enter a classroom and witness engaged learning and excellent teaching. The excitement spills into the hallways. Meaningful conversations happen around the lunch table. You can feel that positive energy.
In other schools, however, you encounter a different reality. People feel burnt out, exhausted, weary, and overwhelmed. There's a sense of chaos and disorder. It simply doesn't feel healthy or right.
What you're sensing as you move through these spaces is the central nervous system of that school expressing itself.
As leaders—whether classroom teachers or school administrators—we have the responsibility and the opportunity to regulate the nervous system of our learning communities.
In this video, you'll discover:
Why emotional contagion means your feelings directly impact your school's culture
The critical connection between psychological safety and innovation, collaboration, and authentic expression
Practical macro and micro renewal practices to regulate your own nervous system
Simple ways to support your faculty's well-being through gratitude and service
How setting boundaries protects both you and your school community
This is something I’m really keen on fleshing out both as a leader myself and for school leaders looking to create healthier, more connected, more engaged learning communities!
Enjoy!
Regulating the School's Central Nervous System (transcript)
The 2026 Flourishing School Leaders Cohort is open!
We launched the first month of the 2026 Flourishing School Leaders Cohort with a discussion on how to future proof education through meaning, purpose, innovation and care
If you missed that conversation, you can jump in at anytime and join the journey with us
We have an amazing group of school leaders from around the world leaning into connection, authenticity, purpose, collaboration, strategy, inspiration, and hope
If that sounds like something you’ve been craving…check it out:
