What if resistance in your school is not a sign of defiance, but a signal that something deeper needs attention?
In this episode, Becca Silver shares a research-informed approach to understanding resistance in K-12 education and why it is often rooted in unmet needs rather than unwillingness to change. She explains how school leaders and instructional coaches can move from reacting to resistance to diagnosing it with more intention, clarity, and empathy. Becca also breaks down the five needs that shape whether educators are ready to engage with change: value, belonging, success, growth, and ownership.
You’ll hear practical strategies for responding to teacher resistance in ways that build trust, strengthen belief, and move initiatives forward. Becca also shares how leaders can shift from focusing on compliance and buy-in toward creating real ownership, along with the role of listening, curiosity, and targeted support in meaningful school improvement. Whether you lead a school, coach teachers, or support district initiatives, this conversation will help you better understand what resistance is telling you and how to respond in ways that truly support educators.
About Becca Silver Becca Silver is a speaker, leadership trainer, Resistance Specialist, and author of The Resistance Solution: Why Educators Resist and What They Need Instead. She helps instructional coaches and school leaders understand the human side of change. Becca is also the founder of The Whole Educator and host of the long-running podcast Coaching the Whole Educator, where she explores practical ways leaders can support teachers as whole people while improving practice. Becca’s work focuses on a simple but often overlooked truth: resistance isn’t defiance. It’s information. Through her Catalyst Mindsets™ framework, she helps leaders identify the unmet needs underneath resistance and respond in ways that build trust, ownership, and real progress. Her sessions blend research, real coaching stories, and practical tools educators can use immediately. Follow Becca Silver
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