Handle with Care: Managing Difficult Situations in Schools with Dignity and Respect

Once again, Jimmy Casas and Joy Kelly hit it out of the park. All educators can relate to the challenges and scenarios presented. All students and educators deserve someone who will help engage them in these positive, healing and growth minded practices. A must read for the SEL work in your school community!

Every other page was glued to the next page so the book was unreadable but the return was handled smoothly.

Great read!

Authors Jimmy Casas and Joy Kelly do not shy away from our most challenging situations in their new book Handle with Care: Managing Difficult Situations in Schools with Dignity and Respect. As an educator and district administrator for the past 30 years, I related deeply to each scenario presented in the book and saw the faces of students and adults who had found themselves in similar situations. While Culturize made us aware of the core principles for making schools better places for students and adults, Handle with Care provides us with clearly- defined tools to implement these principles. The “Eyes on Culture in Action” sections offer sound strategies for building better school cultures in almost every area. The authors address the varied aspects of school culture including academics, athletics, drama, social and emotional learning, English language learners, special education, student voice, social justice, equity, and student/teacher relationships. The scenarios and strategies found in the book are firmly grounded in the reality of today’s educators and students. As educators, we are facing the challenges of providing a quality education and positive school culture during a pandemic, in a time of social unrest and divisive political upheaval. Casas and Kelly face these situations head-on and embrace them as opportunities to build better relationships with students, teachers, and families. Through these relationships, we can provide stronger school cultures that promote equitable opportunities in and out of school for the success of both students and adults. If taken to heart, reflected on, and most importantly acted on, the tools in Handle with Care will make us better. They will make our schools better, and they could make our society better. If you have been looking for an educational book that demonstrates a full understanding of the challenges facing educators today while also providing strategies for dealing with these challenges, then look no further than Handle with Care. The scenarios will speak to you, and you will see yourself, your colleagues, and your students in these stories. You will also see hope for making these situations better in the future. Through implementing the strategies presented here, educators can work with all stakeholders to move beyond compliance and truly bring joy back into our learning spaces for the students and for the adults. If you can only make time to read one educational book during this hectic year, it must be Handle with Care, but don’t just read it. Re-read it. Implement strategies from it. Live it, and use it to make your classroom, school, or district a joyous place filled with care, dignity, and respect for all.Stoney M. Beavers, Ph.D., Assistant Director of the Alabama Best Practices Center, Former Assistant Superintendent for Blount County Schools

This amazing book embraces the daily challenges of our jobs as administrators in both respectful and dignified ways so that we can maintain a positive school or district culture. As I read Handle with Care, I noticed a resoundingly positive message woven throughout the story as I reflected on how I could continue to be a champion for students, expect excellence, carry the banner, and be a merchant of hope even at the district level of my school district. Jimmy Casas and Joy Kelly write an engaging narrative that shares painfully honest and challenging school vignettes that speak to relevant topics in our schools in dealing with social justice, student voice, and difficult situations. The Eyes on Culture in Action assist one with being self-reflective at the district or school administrator level. "The four core principles invite educators to find ways to make a positive impact to leave a lasting impression on students, staff, and the larger school community." This book leaves you energized with a charge to go forth on your journey and make a difference in a positive way "today, tomorrow, and always."Julia Wall, Elementary Curriculum Coordinator,, Director of OSR Pre-K, Limestone County Schools

For educators who are champions for all students or want to be, Handle with Care is a must read!! Jimmy Casas and Joy Kelly target our assumptions (and you know what assuming can do), and allow us to see the world from our students’ perspective. By giving real-world examples and strategies to help deal with behavior with dignity, this book helps educators re-discover the “why” behind their practices and refine them in a way to ensure the students are successful. I highly recommend this timely and necessary handbook as it should be in the hands of all in the education profession. Especially now, we need to understand our students, staff, and families and build relationships in order to keep our promises and lead and teach with empathy and grace. Thanks to Jimmy Casas and Joy Kelly for providing us with core principles and a road map to be the best we can for our students!Jenny Nauman, Asst. Superintendent, Cape Henlopen, School District, 2016 National Distinguished Principal

As educators, we never know what students have endured or faced in their personal life that truly impacts their educational experiences. Handle with Care addresses the complexities that both teachers and administrators face when it comes to understanding the individual needs of every student as they navigate mental health issues, including death, financial challenges, depression, and anxiety. In order for educators to be true agents of change, we must be comfortable with disrupting the status quo and fostering authentic equitable environments for all students to thrive. Each chapter unpacks a core principle, real educational vignettes, as well as practical and realistic takeaways, and reflective questions that help educators to take the next steps towards culturizing their practices. This is the perfect book and resource for every educator and their team that is serious about fostering inclusive learning environments for all students through the lens of building a strong culture!Basil Marin, Ph.D. HS Assistant Principal/DEI Consultant, Atlanta, GA