Thriving Together
A Blueprint for Flourishing Staff and Students
David Kolpak
David Kolpak's Thriving Together: A Blueprint for Flourishing Staff and Students is a timely and practical guide for educational leaders, teachers, and professionals committed to embedding wellbeing into the fabric of school life. Drawing on over 30 years of experience across various educational roles, Kolpak offers strategies for creating environments where both staff and students can thrive.
Kolpak moves beyond traditional models of behaviour management, instead positioning wellbeing as foundational to learning and teaching. Drawing on insights from positive psychology, particularly the work of Martin Seligman, the book integrates themes such as grit, resilience, social-emotional learning, and student agency. These are not presented as buzzwords, but as interconnected, actionable elements that can be cultivated through intentional practice and school-wide culture.
What makes Thriving Together especially relevant is its practicality and immediate applicability. Kolpak offers thoughtful strategies, frameworks and examples grounded in research and real-world application, that support educators in embedding wellbeing into the everyday life of a school. From trauma-informed practice to gratitude exercises, from staff connection to student voice, each idea is framed in a way that feels achievable without oversimplifying the complexity of school settings.
The tone of the book is warm and collaborative, reflecting a deep respect for the work of educators. It invites reflection, not criticism, and encourages a shared commitment to long-term cultural change.
For teachers and school leaders seeking to foster flourishing communities, Thriving Together is both affirming and energising. It doesn’t claim to have all the answers, but it does offer a clear invitation: to lead with care, to teach with purpose, and to prioritise wellbeing not as an add-on, but as the foundation of effective education.
This is the kind of book that sparks meaningful staffroom conversations and lingers long after the final page.
