{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Autonome","title":"Building Systems of Support: Creating Consistency, Connection, and Psychological Safety with Dr. Rebecca DeVries","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2698,"description":"In this episode of Autonome, host Fran Kenton sits down with Dr. Rebecca DeVries, Director of K–12 School Counseling for Schenectady City School District. Leading a team of more than 40 counselors across 22 schools, Dr. DeVries shares how her district is building a comprehensive counseling model that supports students from elementary school through graduation.\nDrawing on her background as a school psychologist, Dr. DeVries discusses the importance of moving beyond individual interventions to create systems that promote equity, belonging, and student success. She explains how Schenectady is aligning counseling services across grade levels, embedding social-emotional learning into daily instruction, and creating structures that help both students and staff thrive.\nThe conversation explores psychological safety, attendance, career exploration, MTSS, and why creating consistent experiences across schools is essential for supporting every learner.\nKey Moments\n\n03:42 Moving from individual support to systems leadership\n05:10 Leading a district-wide counseling program\n06:55 Building trust and collaboration across schools\n09:18 Listening to staff and addressing communication gaps\n11:19 Creating consistency through MTSS structures\n13:10 Aligning counseling supports across K–12\n16:17 Using data to guide Tier 1 student support\n17:53 Implementing Aaron’s Law through collaborative instruction\n21:10 Identifying students who need support before crisis occurs\n24:30 Career exploration and identity development in middle school\n27:56 Embedding human skills into academic instruction\n32:20 Why attendance is the most important metric\n34:38 Creating classrooms where mistakes are safe\n37:16 Raising expectations while providing support\n42:07 The power of psychological safety in learning\nWhy You’ll Love This Episode\n\nThis episode offers valuable insights for educational leaders looking to build stronger systems of student support. Dr. DeVries shares practical strategies for aligning...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/seTJ6nScwCspveU8Z82YbH5eLfeDGipVEqgHAPCWjo0/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8wMzBl/YTQ4NzQyYmUzYWIy/MDM2ODk4YmQ5N2Yz/NmU1Mi5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}