Ed Tech Founder Sonny Thadani on Training All Frontline Workers at Schools to Aid Students Struggling With Mental Health
In response to the increasing mental health challenges faced by schools across the country during the pandemic, Sonny Thadani recognized that it wasn’t just students and teachers who needed support.
Thadani, the co-founder of Robin, an edtech startup focused on improving mental health outcomes in school communities, expanded their coaching and curriculum services to include all frontline members, ranging from bus drivers to cafeteria workers to sanitation staff.
"One of the key aspects of Robin’s platform is coaching, fostering connections, building resilience, and developing the necessary skills to confront life’s difficulties," explained Thadani. "If we want to effectively support students, we must also provide exceptional support to all the adults in their lives."
Thadani’s personal connection to mental health destigmatization is profound. As a young parent, he met a father from Newtown, Connecticut who shared his heartbreaking experience of losing his 7-year-old son in a school shooting. This father turned out to be Mark Barden, the co-founder and CEO of Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing gun violence in schools. Inspired by Barden’s dedication to protecting children, Thadani began volunteering for the organization, an experience that ultimately led to the establishment of Robin.
"As I delved deeper into their work, I reflected on how mental health has affected my own family and loved ones," said Thadani. "That became a decisive moment for me, motivating me to take action."
The following interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
: I understand that your involvement with Sandy Hook Promise played a significant role in the creation of Robin. Can you walk me through how your volunteer work led to the establishment of an educational technology startup?
I feel incredibly proud and fortunate to have crossed paths with the team at Sandy Hook Promise. It all started a few years ago when I happened to have a conversation with Mark Barden. At that moment, I didn’t fully grasp who he was, but as he shared his story with me, I learned that he was not only a father who had lost his 7-year-old child but also one of the co-founders of Sandy Hook Promise.
We connected on a personal level and had a meaningful conversation. Mark shared his goals, ambitions, and the details of that tragic day. As a young parent myself, his story profoundly impacted me. I asked him how I could contribute, and he provided me with various ways to help. So, I became a Promise Leader and dedicated my time to volunteering and fundraising.
Many people are familiar with the incredible policy work Sandy Hook Promise does in preventing gun violence, but a major part of their impact lies in their mental health programs for children. They have two well-known programs called Start With Hello and Knowing the Signs. When I learned more about these programs and had discussions with Mark, Nicole, and the rest of the team, I realized their significance and wished they were accessible everywhere. We began discussing the challenge of reaching every school in America and making these programs available. While Sandy Hook Promise is an outstanding nonprofit, their reach is limited.
The more I learned about their work, the more I reflected on how mental health has affected my own family and close friends. This became a sign and inspiration for me to take action. I discovered that there is a lack of preventive and proactive programs that make a real impact. This is what drove me, Scott, and our expanding team to start Robin.
Related: Take a Stand Against Gun Violence: Make the Commitment This Week to "Say Something"
I understand that Robin provides resources to all frontline members of school communities, including bus drivers, cafeteria workers, and sanitation staff. Can you elaborate on this initiative?
As we engaged in conversations with more individuals, we came to realize that it’s not only the teachers who have daily interactions with students. It includes the cafeteria worker, the bus driver, and even the crossing guard. If we take a moment to think about it, the bus driver is the first person to encounter our children in the morning and the last person to drop them off in the afternoon. They have the potential to shape the tone of the day based on their own demeanor.
During a conference, we had the opportunity to speak with the leadership team of a school in upstate New York. They discussed the difficulties their transportation team faced. Being a bus driver can be challenging when dealing with students who are screaming, yelling, or being unruly on the bus. On top of that, administrators, unions, and parents can also present challenges. The question is, who is there to support and provide them with the opportunity to talk to someone? Robin’s mission centers around coaching, establishing connections, building resilience, and comprehending the necessary skills to handle life’s challenges. Therefore, if we want to do an exceptional job with students, we must also excel in supporting the adults in their lives.
This journey to support all frontline members began with a single school in upstate New York, which allowed us to engage with their transportation team. We conducted a six-part coaching series with all 18 members and discussed the challenges they face in their daily work. I am proud to say that after the series concluded, everyone retained their jobs, returned to school, and entered with a sense of pride. This is now a program we implement across the country, from upstate New York to South Carolina, and even in our own backyard of New York City. We aim to support school communities, as this is crucial for creating sustainable change and long-term impact.
Often, these frontline members of school communities come from diverse backgrounds with lower incomes. How does Robin ensure that the coaching and resources provided are not only accessible but also culturally relevant?
It all begins with the origin of the content and curriculum. Robin’s team consists of a diverse group of coaches, teachers, counselors, and social workers who are not only mental health experts but also individuals who have worked in the communities and schools we serve. The largest community we serve is right in our own backyard, the Bronx, New York City. The Bronx is home to many students and families from lower-income backgrounds, predominantly from Black and Brown communities where English may not be their first language. To address this, we have made sure that all our content is available in Spanish, with closed captions included. Especially for our older students, it is essential that they not only see someone who resembles them or has faced similar challenges but can also understand the language in which the content is presented.
Another crucial aspect of Robin’s approach is truly listening to the school communities we serve. Every school is unique, even within a city as large as New York City. Each school presents its own set of challenges, opportunities, and needs. I believe schools continue to seek our support because we reflect who they are. While we may not be able to cater to everyone’s needs, we draw from a range of communities and strive to genuinely understand what each community is requesting. Through the use of technology, data analysis, and good old-fashioned listening skills, we can comprehend the experiences and challenges of the communities we serve.
In light of the recent school shooting in Nashville, what is an aspect of gun violence prevention that more school communities should discuss?
Coincidentally, I was in Tennessee, approximately an hour southeast of Nashville, visiting one of the schools we collaborate with when the shooting occurred. Naturally, I discussed the incident with the superintendent of the district. There are indicators that were present for these particular students, whether through their social media posts or by displaying signs of stress or anger. These students, or graduates, lacked an outlet or connection and experienced a sense of loneliness. It is important to acknowledge that various studies have demonstrated these patterns among those who commit such horrific acts.
The Nashville shooter was found to possess seven firearms and was undergoing treatment for an ’emotional disorder’.
You have raised an important point about the importance of mental health training. Please elaborate on the significance of destigmatizing conversations surrounding mental health in school communities.
When we received feedback from schools, it became evident that they are seeking this type of training. However, their focus is not solely on identifying potential school shooters, as there are already resources available for that purpose. Instead, they are interested in understanding how to recognize when a student is experiencing mental health challenges and how to provide immediate help – whether it’s for a panic attack, anxiety, or even test anxiety. For example, March is a crucial time for standardized tests like the SATs and ACTs, and many students, along with their parents, experience high levels of anxiety and nervousness.
There are proactive measures we can take to support these students in advance. This is precisely the preventative approach that Robin advocates for. By equipping students with essential skills, starting as early as elementary school, we empower them to manage any mental health challenges that may arise in the future, be they minor or major.
Despite the urgent need, states and districts are slow to utilize the allocated $1 billion in mental health funds.
How have the ongoing discussions about gun violence prevention and mental health influenced your personal perspective on this issue?
As a parent, my primary responsibility is to protect and care for my children. The current climate has made me acutely aware that the possibility of gun violence exists anywhere and at any time. What does this mean for the younger generation? It means we must create an environment where they feel comfortable discussing this topic. It struck me when my second-grade daughter came home after participating in her first active shooter drill. Growing up in the 80s and 90s, we only had fire drills and safety measures for natural disasters. However, our children will only know a world that necessitates these active shooter drills. As a parent, it is essential to engage in open conversations with our children, helping them understand the reasons behind these drills. Whether I prefer it or not, this is the reality we face.
Moreover, this has motivated me to bring about change. Whether it is through my involvement with Robin, my support for organizations like Sandy Hook, or my participation in interviews and podcasts, I am determined to have these conversations. It is unfortunate that this issue has become politically divided when it shouldn’t be. We do not have all the answers, but I possess some elements of the solution. However, it will require the collective effort of individuals from all walks of life to address this problem. I firmly believe that everyone wants to find a solution, and it is crucial for us to come together and acknowledge that our children are suffering from suicide, gun violence, and other medical and mental health issues that have alarming consequences.
As a parent of young children who will be in school for the next decade, this issue is always at the forefront of my mind. Although I may not think about it daily or live in constant fear, I empathize with parents who have tragically lost their child to such incidents.
Currently, I am immensely proud of the generation of students and leaders who are actively prioritizing this issue in their schools, rallying principals, superintendents, and mental health clubs. I truly believe that this movement is gaining traction because of the students in this generation who are speaking up and demanding a solution.