Episode Description
In this episode Dr. Spates sits down with Ebony Wilson, MSW, LCSW, PPSC — founder and CEO of Ebony’s Safe Space. Based in Palmdale, California, her organization’s mission is to support and empower groups and communities through relatable mental health and emotional‑wellness services. Ebony and her team provide solution‑focused, strength‑based, anti‑oppressive therapy — including individual and group counseling, workshops and public‑speaking engagements — so that every client feels heard and understood. She brings decades of experience as a licensed clinical social worker and school‑based therapist to help educators build safe, affirming environments where students and staff can process emotions, develop healthy coping strategies, and thrive.
What You’ll Learn
• How to build authentic connections that strengthen trust and belonging in schools
• The role of restorative practices and mental‑health supports in helping students and staff
• Proactive strategies to reduce behavior incidents and create psychologically safe classrooms
• How to coach teachers through conflict, communication and trauma‑informed responses
• Why every school needs a culture plan — not just a discipline plan
• Tools to shift staff mindsets and align campus systems for student success
Key Takeaways for School Leaders
Relationships are the foundation of safe schools; consistency plus care creates culture; student behavior is communication, not defiance; staff need coaching, clarity and community to create belonging; and leaders must model empathy, accountability and presence daily.
About Ebony Wilson
Ebony founded Ebony's Safe Space LLC in 2022. Raised in Southern California’s Antelope Valley, she survived traumatic experiences in adolescence and, with the support of mentors and spiritual leaders, found purpose in serving her community. Her early work as a para‑educator in juvenile lockdown facilities ignited a passion for social justice, and she went on to earn an A.A. in Social and Behavioral Sciences, a B.A. in Sociology and an M.S.W. from California State University, Northridge, along with a Pupil Personnel Services Credential from UCLA. Ebony spent years providing psychotherapy to children, families and adults as a school‑based and wraparound therapist before founding Ebony’s Safe Space to create non‑judgmental spaces where children, adults and groups of all kinds can learn about mental health, process their feelings and develop healthy coping strategies to become the best versions of themselves. Her personal values of spirituality, empowerment, compassion, connection and respect continue to guide the organization.
Chapters
00:00 — Welcome & Episode Overview
02:40 — Ebony’s Journey & Why Safe Spaces Matter
08:15 — Building Trust and Relationships in Schools
15:20 — Restorative Practices & Mental‑Health Supports That Work
22:00 — Coaching Teachers Through Conflict & Communication
29:45 — Designing a School‑Wide Culture Plan
36:10 — Supporting Staff Wellness & Mindset Shifts
42:00 — Final Reflections for School Leaders
Connect with Ebony Wilson
Instagram: @ebonyssafespace
Website: https://www.ebonyssafespace.org
Email: ewilson@ebonyssafespace.org
Phone: 661‑522‑7255
🚌 On the School Bus with Dr. Spates
So here we are. On the School Bus with Dr. Spates — a vehicle (a metaphorical school bus) for learning, growing, laughing, stretching our thinking, and being inspired together.
This podcast is exclusively for two groups of people:
- The passionate school leaders who show up every day determined to improve student outcomes and transform TK–12 school experiences, and
- The once-passionate leaders who may have lost a bit of their spark and just need a dose of inspiration to find their way back.
As the culture says: #WeAreNotForEverybody — and that’s perfectly fine with me.
📬 Connect with Dr. Krishna Darlene Spates
Website: KrishnaSpates.com
Email: hello@OnTheSchoolBusWithDrSpates.com
Instagram • YouTube • TikTok • Facebook: @OnTheSchoolBusWithDrSpates
LinkedIn: Krishna Spates, Ed.D.
📸 Production Studio
Recorded at 661 Creators Space — a creative studio dedicated to amplifying local voices through high-quality audio and visual production.
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