Leading With Love to Transform Student (and Staff!) Behaviour with Bernii Godwin | Season 3: Episode 4

In this episode of the Well-Led Schools Podcast, I sit down with educator and behaviour specialist Bernii Godwin to explore what it truly means to love students on purpose. We discuss how building relationships rooted in respect, honor, and care can empower students far more effectively than control or punishment. Bernii challenges the common myths about student behavior management in education, including the idea that it’s a problem to be solved rather than a dynamic to be understood. Together, we unpack how fear and the need for control often shape the way we manage classrooms—and why shifting toward connection and skill-building leads to more meaningful, lasting change.

In this episode, we cover:

• An alternative approach to student behaviour management that involves meeting them we’re they’re at on an individual level
• What loving your students actually means
• The roadblocks that prevent educators, or even parents, from respecting, honoring and caring for our students and children
• The guiding principles of loving your students on purpose and how the same can be applied to relationships with other adults
• The difference between behaviour management and behaviour education and why the latter is an effective approach to supporting students, staff and community
• How to maintain a healthy balance between respect, boundaries and loving our students
• Common misconceptions about student behaviour management
• An introduction to the empowerment model and how we can use it to empower ourselves and others
• Practical strategies that will enable you to love your students (and other humans) on purpose

About Bernii: 

Bernii Godwin is the Director and Principal Consultant at Godwin Consulting, bringing over two decades of experience in the education and human services sectors. With a background that spans maternity to aged care, Bernii has developed a unique expertise in helping individuals, families, and organisations understand their needs and meet them effectively while respecting the rights of others.

Since 2002, Bernii has worked predominantly in the educator sector, partnering with schools, children, and families to build internally responsible behaviour cultures that promote healthy boundaries, love, respect, and joyful responsibility. She has witnessed transformative cultural shifts in schools, moving from environments driven by fear and control to ones centered on love, trust, and empowerment.

Bernii holds a master’s in Social Work, a Graduate Certificate in Neuropsychotherapy, and a Bachelor of Human Services/Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice, majoring in youth and family justice. She is also a ‘Loving on Purpose’ Trainer and a John Maxwell Team Member, along with being a Maxwell Method DISC Consultant. With a wealth of knowledge and experience, Bernii is passionate about helping educators and school communities build meaningful connections that foster growth and positive change.

Links and Resources:

• Apply to join the Well-Led Schools Partnership program: adriennehornby.com.au/school-partnerships 
• Explore Bernii’s free resources for educators: https://godwinconsulting.com.au/books-and-resources/

Thank you so much for listening. I’m so honoured that you’re here and would be so grateful if you could leave me a review on Apple Podcasts or on your preferred podcast app, that way we can inspire and educate even more people together.

Connect with Bernii Godwin via:

Her website: www.godwinconsulting.com.au

Email: admin@godwinconsulting.com.au

LinkedIn: https://linktr.ee/BerniiGodwin

Facebook and Instagram: @Godwin_Consulting

Get her book: Loving our Students on Purpose (all online platforms for print & audio, their website or in store in Koorong)

Connect with me via:

My website

Linkedin

Instagram 

Email