158. What Grief Actually Looks Like in Your Classroom (And Why It's Not Just About Death) with Special Guest Kera Sanchez

Aug 04, 2026

Have you ever had a student who suddenly seemed defiant, checked out, or unmotivated — and you couldn't quite figure out why? What if it wasn't a behavior problem at all?

Kera Sanchez, certified grief and resilience expert, founder of Get Griefy Magazine, and TalkDeath's 2025 Grief Educator of the Year, joins me to challenge everything most of us think grief actually looks like. We get into what's really going on behind some of the most misunderstood behaviors in the classroom, the phrase teachers should stop asking grieving students altogether, and a moment from Kera's own classroom she still thinks about today. We also talk about whether burnout itself might be a form of grief no one's ever named — and what that means for how you're showing up right now.

This one's going to change how you see at least one student in your classroom. Maybe more than one.

CONNECT WITH KERA:

Instagram: @getgriefymagazine
Website: getgriefymagazine.com
Grief U for EDU (educator workshops and training)

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The Resilient Teacher Podcast is the show that will give overwhelmed educators the support, tools, and mindset to reduce teacher burnout and keep teaching sustainable. Each week, Brittany Blackwell, M.Ed. & her guests will share inspiration and actionable steps to avoid or recover from the dreaded teacher burnout.

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