What does it take to create a truly safe, healthy, and connected school environment in the modern era? In this Hopkins at Home: Dean’s Notebook conversation, Dr. Odis Johnson Jr., Executive Director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Safe and Healthy Schools, sits down with the new Dean of the School of Education, Dr. Catherine Bradshaw.

Returning to the institution where she launched her career, Dean Bradshaw shares her extensive background in developmental psychology and prevention science. Together, they explore the most pressing issues facing educators today, moving beyond the reactive fortification of schools to discuss comprehensive, evidence-based prevention strategies. This wide-ranging conversation tackles the intersections of youth mental health, chronic absenteeism, and the profound impact of peer groups and school climate on student well-being.

The discussion also delves into the rapidly evolving role of artificial intelligence in education—from the need for AI literacy among students to the ethical implications of using surveillance technologies for school security. With a shared commitment to community-based participatory research and addressing discipline disparities, Dean Bradshaw and Dr. Johnson outline a bold vision for the Johns Hopkins School of Education as an honest broker and national leader in translating rigorous research into impactful policy and practice.

Dr. Catherine Bradshaw is a developmental psychologist, prevention scientist, and the Dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Education.

Dr. Odis Johnson, Jr. is a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Social Policy and STEM Equity, and the Executive Director of the Center for Safe and Healthy Schools at Johns Hopkins.