True Classroom Management Is Relationship Management: A Conversation With Dena McNeal

In this episode of Active Listener, Dominique sits down with Dena McNeal, a middle school assistant principal with over 20 years of experience, to explore how relationships, routines, and consistency shape effective classroom management. Dena shares practical strategies for setting expectations, supporting teachers, and balancing accountability with care while emphasizing that respect is built through connection, not control. At its core, this conversation is a reminder that when students feel seen and supported, classrooms become spaces where both behavior and learning can thrive.