Educator-Author Christy Wopat on Talking About Grief and Rethinking Labels and the Expression of Emo

Dr. Elisabeth Page interviews educator and author Christy Wopat (with co-host Deb Johnston) on “Mindful Happy Kids” about her teaching background, writing journey, picture book, Always Ours, and middle grade novel, Overruled. Christy describes the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse Paid Teacher Residency Program addressing the special education teacher shortage through a yearlong residency with two mentors and a $30,000 stipend. She shares her memoir origins after the death of her premature twins and discusses her picture book Always Ours, which helps families grieve infant loss openly through two sisters and a butterfly life-cycle parallel, highlighting trusted adult support and the non-linear “scribbles” of grief. Her middle-grade novel Overruled follows fifth-grader Mac, labeled the “naughty kid,” who is accused of pushing a classmate; his teacher stages a mock trial to examine fairness, accusations, emotions, and how schools label children. Christy explains her classroom-informed character building, extensive student workshop and beta-reader editing, and a new in-progress novel featuring peer mediator Tia Turner within the Overruled school world. You can find information about Dr. Elisabeth Paige at www.mindfulhappykids.com.