Schools have long been places of learning, possibility, and growth. Today, however, many are strained by rising stress, emotional overload, and an urgent need for deeper connection. In this episode of Facing the Moment, host Toufic Hakim speaks with Joanna Curry-Sartori, a clinician-educator whose work brings mindfulness, presence, and compassion-based tools into classrooms across the country. 

Together, they explore the growing crisis in U.S. schools—how behavioral challenges, trauma histories, academic pressure, and constant activation impact both students and educators. Joanna sheds light on the inner world of overwhelmed teachers, the silent emotional burdens students carry, and the systemic pressures that make genuine connection harder to sustain. 

Drawing on her clinical background and her work training school teams, she introduces the PAUSE framework, a practical method for slowing down, grounding, and responding thoughtfully when tensions rise. Through real classroom stories, she illustrates how small shifts in presence can transform conflict moments, rebuild trust, and ease the emotional climate of a room. 

This conversation offers a clear-eyed look at what educators are facing today, while also pointing toward restorative possibilities. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of school-based stress, the power of attuned relationships, and tools that support both adult well-being and student self-regulation in challenging moments.