Today our guest is Dr. John Salovardos. Dr. Salovardos is the Director of Pupil Services in the Athol-Royalston Regional School District, in Athol-Royalston, Massachusetts. He has been working in special education in public schools for the past 23 years. We talk with Dr. Salovardos about ways that we can help all students feel connected at school, and how we can help students to thrive in our communities after high school. John Salovardos Ed.D. is a Director of Pupil Services who has been working in special education in public schools for the past 23 years to develop programs and services in collaboration with organizational stakeholders. Prior to going into public education he worked in clinical inpatient psychiatric units for nearly 15 years and strives to work regionally on increasing awareness of mental health needs in the communities where he lives and works. Dr. Salovardos has engaged in considerable work in improving inclusion and co-teaching models in schools, developed a stand-alone alternative high school, and has been engaged in leadership research and consultation for more than ten years. As part of his community outreach, he has developed a trauma-informed regional curriculum pilot project for adolescents,. His professional mission is to utilize intent-based leadership practices to work with staff in collaborative teams and to challenge students to excel academically and emotionally by making sure that all students get what they need to succeed and are ready to become active community members once they leave the public school setting.