Barbara's Lighthouse

10/31/2026

RENEWED. RECERTIFIED. RECOMMITTED TO THE WORK! 🎉💙

I am excited to announce that I have officially renewed my certification as a CPI Certified Instructor through the Crisis Prevention Institute!

For me, this is more than another professional credential. It represents my continued commitment to equipping educators, behavioral health professionals, caregivers, and community organizations with the knowledge and practical skills needed to prevent crises, de-escalate challenging behaviors, and respond with dignity, compassion, and confidence.

After years of working with students, families, educators, and individuals experiencing behavioral challenges, one thing remains clear to me:

We cannot expect people to respond effectively to crises if we have not equipped them with the tools to recognize, prevent, and manage them.

Prevention matters. Relationships matter. Training matters. And how we respond to people during their most vulnerable moments matters.

Through Barbara's Lighthouse Resource Center, I am excited to continue expanding professional development and CPI training opportunities for schools, agencies, organizations, and community partners.

My mission remains the same: Build capacity. Strengthen confidence. Protect dignity. Transform responses.

I'm grateful for the opportunity to continue this important work as part of CPI's worldwide instructor community.

📍 Charlotte, North Carolina

RENEWED. RECERTIFIED. RECOMMITTED TO THE WORK! 🎉💙

I am excited to announce that I have officially renewed my certification as a CPI Certified Instructor through the Crisis Prevention Institute!

For me, this is more than another professional credential. It represents my continued commitment to equipping educators, behavioral health professionals, caregivers, and community organizations with the knowledge and practical skills needed to prevent crises, de-escalate challenging behaviors, and respond with dignity, compassion, and confidence.

After years of working with students, families, educators, and individuals experiencing behavioral challenges, one thing remains clear to me:

We cannot expect people to respond effectively to crises if we have not equipped them with the tools to recognize, prevent, and manage them.

Prevention matters. Relationships matter. Training matters. And how we respond to people during their most vulnerable moments matters.

Through Barbara's Lighthouse Resource Center, I am excited to continue expanding professional development and CPI training opportunities for schools, agencies, organizations, and community partners.

My mission remains the same: Build capacity. Strengthen confidence. Protect dignity. Transform responses.

I'm grateful for the opportunity to continue this important work as part of CPI's worldwide instructor community.

In-person or Virtual classes available!

https://forms.gle/W27MtfmkLHU5wDjL8

Because crisis prevention begins long before a crisis occurs!



Because crisis prevention begins long before a crisis occurs!

10/29/2026

When I ask participants to complete my CPI training evaluation, I read their feedback. Their feedback helps me reflect on my delivery and sharpen my practice.

Reviewing evaluations from an October CPI training encouraged me. Participants recognized the training's professionalism and relevance, the clear instructions tied to real-life situations, and the thorough, informative content. They also appreciated the conversation and different perspectives shared in the room.

That matters to me because I want participants to have space to ask questions, connect the material to their daily responsibilities, and think carefully about how they respond when situations become challenging.

I take my responsibility to prepare and teach seriously. My goal is to make the learning clear, practical, and worthy of the time staff invest.

Thank you to the folks who participated, contributed, and provided thoughtful feedback. I’m grateful for the opportunity to support your work!

— Dr. Delisa Rodgers

10/28/2026

Respond with confidence. Lead with compassion. Prioritize safety. 💙

Join Dr. Delisa Rodgers-Fields for CPI Nonviolent Crisis Intervention® Training focused on de-escalation skills and trauma-informed responses.

📅 November 7 | 9:00 AM
📍 Barbara’s Lighthouse Resource Center, Charlotte

Ready to strengthen your response to challenging situations? Scan the QR code on the flyer to register!

10/10/2026

💙 CARE STARTS HERE. AND IT CAN START WITH YOU. 💛

Today, Barbara’s Lighthouse Resource Center recognizes World Mental Health Day and encourages individuals and families to prioritize their mental and emotional well-being.

Self-care doesn't have to be expensive, complicated, or time-consuming. Sometimes, it means taking a walk, enjoying a quiet cup of tea, setting a healthy boundary, reaching out to someone you trust, or simply giving yourself permission to rest.

At Barbara’s Lighthouse Resource Center, we believe that caring for yourself is an important part of building healthier families and stronger communities.

You deserve moments of peace. You deserve meaningful support. You deserve opportunities to heal and grow.

💙 Today's Self-Care Challenge: Take 10 minutes to do something that restores your sense of peace.

💬 Let's talk: What's one thing you do to care for your mental and emotional well-being?

Barbara’s Lighthouse Resource Center
Guiding Families, Empowering Lives

🌐 www.barbaraslighthouse.org

10/07/2026

(Smallest, Useful Amount of Support):

The Art of Minimal Scaffolding: Empowering Students Through Strategic Support by Dr. Delisa Rodgers Fields

This is the essence of effective scaffolding!

It's the idea of providing the minimum assistance the student needs to move forward, rather than giving them the answer or doing the work for them. This approach, often referred to as "optimal scaffolding" or "just-in-time support," is incredibly powerful because it:

Maintains the cognitive load: By not over-assisting, we ensure that the student is still doing the heavy mental lifting. This is where the actual learning and skill development happen.

Encourages critical thinking: When students aren't handed the solution, they must analyze the problem, evaluate potential strategies, and think critically about their approach.

Fosters independence: Each time a student successfully navigates a challenge with minimal support, their confidence grows, and they become more self-reliant learners.

Promotes deeper understanding: Discovery and problem-solving lead to a more profound and lasting understanding of the concepts involved, compared to simply being told the answer.

Think of it like learning to ride a bike. You don't hold the bike steady the entire time; you support it at first, maybe by running alongside, then gradually let go as the rider gains balance and confidence.

In the classroom, this might look like:

Rephrasing the question: Instead of giving the answer, try asking the question in a different way to prompt a new line of thinking.
Highlighting key information: Gently pointing out relevant details the student might have missed.

Suggesting a strategy: Offering a potential approach without dictating the exact steps.

Encouraging peer collaboration: Suggesting the student discuss the problem with a classmate.

By intentionally providing the smallest, useful amount of support, we empower students to become active participants in their own learning journey, capable of thinking, discovering, and solving problems independently.

10/07/2026

(Finishing vs. Learning):

Completion vs. Comprehension: Why Helping Students Finish Isn't Always Helping Them Learn by Dr. Delisa Rodgers- Fields

This is a crucial distinction and hits on a common pitfall in education!

It's easy to focus on completion – checking off boxes, getting the assignment turned in. But true learning is about the process, the struggle, and the deeper understanding that comes from grappling with challenging concepts.

When we prioritize finishing over learning, we might:

Provide too much scaffolding: Jumping in too quickly to solve problems for students prevents them from developing their own problem-solving skills and resilience.

Focus on the right answer, not the right process: Emphasizing correct answers over the steps taken to get there can discourage exploration and lead to a superficial understanding.

Miss opportunities for productive struggle: As discussed earlier, struggle is essential for growth. Over-assisting can rob students of valuable learning experiences.

Instead, we can focus on:

Asking guiding questions: Prompting students to think critically and find their own solutions.

Encouraging collaboration: Allowing students to learn from each other and explain their reasoning.

Providing constructive feedback: Focusing on the process and offering suggestions for improvement, rather than just pointing out errors.

Celebrating effort and progress: Recognizing the hard work and growth, even if the final product isn't perfect.

Ultimately, helping students learn means empowering them to become independent, confident, lifelong learners. It's about fostering a love for discovery and a willingness to embrace challenges.

10/07/2026

The Power of Productive Struggle: Why Embracing Challenges is Key to Student Growth by Dr. Delisa Rodgers-Fields

Ever watched a student grapple with a difficult problem, brow furrowed in concentration, maybe with a hint of frustration? It's tempting to jump in and offer the answer, to smooth the path and ease their discomfort. But what if that struggle is actually one of the most valuable parts of their learning journey?

In education, we often talk about "productive struggle." This isn't about leaving students to flounder aimlessly. It's about giving them challenging, meaningful tasks just beyond their current reach, then providing the support and scaffolding they need to work through them.

Why is this so crucial? Because productive struggle provides students with essential opportunities to:

Persevere: When faced with a roadblock, students learn to keep going. They develop grit and resilience, understanding that success often requires sustained effort and multiple attempts. This ability to push through difficulty is a vital life skill, far beyond the classroom.

Learn from Mistakes: Mistakes aren't failures; they're data points. Productive struggle encourages students to analyze why something didn't work, to adjust their approach, and to try again. This process of trial and error deepens understanding and fosters a growth mindset – the belief that intelligence and ability can be developed.

Build Confidence: Overcoming a genuine challenge brings an incredible sense of accomplishment. When students successfully navigate a difficult task through their own effort and problem-solving, their confidence soars. They begin to see themselves as capable learners, ready to tackle the next obstacle.

Think about it: the most significant learning experiences in our own lives often involve overcoming challenges. Why should it be any different for our students?

By embracing productive struggle, we're not just teaching content; we're equipping students with the tools they need to become independent, resilient, and lifelong learners. We're showing them that they are capable of hard things and that the journey, with all its ups and downs, is where the real growth happens.

How do you encourage productive struggle in your classroom or home? Share your strategies and stories in the comments! 👇

10/07/2026

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness, encourage preventive care, and remind employees that routine screenings can help detect health concerns before symptoms appear.

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting women, but when detected early, treatment is often more successful and less invasive. Regular screenings play a critical role in identifying potential issues early, often before they can
be seen or felt.

Know Your Recommended Screenings

Preventive care is not one-size-fits-all. Screening recommendations vary based on age, gender, family history, and individual risk factors. Staying up to date on the screenings
appropriate for you can help protect your long-term health.

For Women
• Mammograms are one of the most effective tools for detecting breast cancer early.
• Talk with your healthcare provider about when to begin mammogram screenings and how often they should be completed.
• Routine preventive visits can also help identify risk factors and determine whether additional screenings are recommended.

For Men
• While breast cancer is much less common in men, it can still occur. Men should watch for changes in their breast tissue and discuss any concerns with their healthcare provider.

In addition, age-appropriate screenings are an important part of preventive health. Some examples include:
• Blood pressure checks
• Cholesterol screenings
• Colorectal cancer screenings
• Prostate cancer discussion

07/12/2026