The Out of the Trenches Podcast

Episode # 407: Andrea Bitner

Wed, 13 May 2026 19:20:05 -0600

Return guest Andrea Bitner is an English Language Learner (ELL) educator, author, and speaker based in Philadelphia, PA. With 25 years in public education, she has taught K–12 students from around the world. Her debut book, Take Me Home (2021), shares the powerful true stories of 11 former EL students navigating bilingualism in America, while her second book, When Niagara Falls, inspires resilience, belonging, and growth for students and educators alike.

Andrea also co-authored The Impact of Influence – Volume 3: 100 No-Nonsense Things ALL School Leaders Should STOP Doing, and contributed to Culture First Classrooms and other works by Dr. Andrea Honigsfeld. Recognized by the state of Pennsylvania for her innovative teaching, she was featured in PSEA’s The Voice for her work with EL learners.

Currently, Andrea teaches EL students daily while traveling nationally to train educators on confidently supporting EL learners, connecting with families, and creating inclusive school communities.

Find her online: Connect with Andrea at www.andreabitnerbooks.com or on LinkedIn, IG and Twitter @andreabitnerbooks

Episode # 406: Jen Otte

Wed, 06 May 2026 19:51:12 -0600

Jen Otte is an innovative educational leader with over 20 years of experience as both a teacher and an administrator. After teaching high school social studies for 17 years, Jen stepped into her current role as a high school associate principal. In both positions, and as a stepmom of two teenagers for over a decade, Jen began to realize there was a lot that she - and her fellow educators - needed to learn and understand about the teenage brain. She is the founder of The Teenage Brain Thing, a resource and professional development framework and action plan to help educators tap into the potential of the teenage brain. Jen believes that if teachers understand and embrace the unique needs of the teenagers sitting before them, then they will increase their job satisfaction, fall in love with teaching again, and see more academic success from their students.

Find Jen online: www.theteenagebrainthing.com @the_teenage_brain_thing on IG

Episode # 405: Decoteau Irby & Ann Ishimaru

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:39:27 -0600

Decoteau J. Irby, PhD's life work focuses on creating and sustaining organizations that contribute to Black people’s self-determined well-being, development, and positive life outcomes. He is Professor at University of Illinois at Chicago in the Department of Educational Policy Studies. He is the author of Stuck Improving: Racial Equity and School Leadership.

Dr. Ann M. Ishimaru is an award-winning scholar, writer, educator and the Killinger Endowed Chair and Professor of Educational Foundations, Leadership and Policy at the University of Washington College of Education. Through her work, she cultivates the leadership and solidarities of educators, organizational leaders and racially minoritized youth, families and communities to realize more transformative futures. In addition to many peer-reviewed articles in top-tier educational research journals, she is also the author of Just Schools: Building Equitable Collaborations with Families and Communities. They are the editors of the new volume Doing the Work of Equity Leadership for Justice and Systems Change.

Find them online: Visit Dr. Decoteau Irby's website, www.DecoteauIrby.com IG, LinkedIn, Fb @decoteauirby IG @decoteaublack

Visit Dr. Ann Ishimaru's website, www.AnnIshimaru.com LinkedIn, IG, Bluesky @prof_ishimaru for IG/bluesky

Episode # 404: Josh Tovar

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 21:04:52 -0600

Josh Tovar is the Principal at Memorial Pathway Academy (6-12) in Garland Independent School District NE of Dallas since 2016 & the Host of the #PGPPODCAST Sundays 5 pm CST.

Find Josh online: Twitter/X: @MPA_GOJAGUARS @JTSOTLIGHTS IG: @jtspotlightd

FB: @Mpa Jaguars LinkedIn YOUTUBE @ JOSH TOVAR

Episode # 403: Brenna Muldoon & Christine Connor

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 19:04:47 -0600

Brenna Muldoon is in her 23rd year in education. She is currently the K-12 Director for World Languages and ENL in the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake School District in upstate New York and serves as the co-director of the NYCAL Exam Consortium and Chair of the Capital Area Language Leaders. She started her career as a German teacher in the North Colonie School District. She is the recipient of the 2025 NYSAFLT Remunda Cadoux Award for Leadership in World Language Supervision. She has co-presented with her colleague Christine Connor on the Seal of Biliteracy at the Day of European Languages at the Goethe Institute New York. She and Christine also presented at the 2024 and 2025 ACTFL National Conferences and the 2024 NYSAFLT Regional Conference in New York.

Christine Connor spent her childhood and most of her young adult life in Germany. That is also where she completed her college education and teacher training. She received her Master’s degree in German, English and American Literature and Linguistics and Education from the Saarland University. After her student teaching she relocated to Upstate New York in 2008. For 18 years, she has been teaching German at the Middle, High School Level in the NYS public school system. As a Goethe Institute GEM, she has had the opportunity for the past 5 years to support fellow German teachers with their professional growth and expertise. In her capacity as a GEM, she offers workshops online or at conferences. She presented at the 2023, 2024 and 2025 ACTFL conferences along with other GEMs Brenna Muldoon. Brenna and Christine also co-presented on the Seal of Biliteracy at the Day of European Languages at the Goethe Institute New York and at the 2024 NYSAFLT Regional Conference in New York.

Find them online: https://www.goethe.de/ins/us/en/spr/unt/ffd/opd/gem/oge.html

Instragram: @connorfrau https://www.instagram.com/connorfrau/

Episode # 402: Dr. Barbara Oakley

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 20:05:38 -0600

Barbara Oakley, PhD is a Distinguished Professor of Engineering at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan; Michigan’s Distinguished Professor of the Year; and Coursera’s inaugural “Innovation Instructor.” Her work focuses on the complex relationship between neuroscience and social behavior. Dr. Oakley’s research has been described as “revolutionary” in the Wall Street Journal. She is a New York Times best-selling author who has published in outlets as varied as the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times. Her book A Mind for Numbers, on effective learning in STEM disciplines, has sold over a million copies worldwide; Uncommon Sense Teaching is a critically praised guide to teaching based on insights from neuroscience. Dr. Oakley has won numerous teaching awards, including the American Society of Engineering Education’s Chester F. Carlson Award for technical innovation in engineering education and the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers William E. Sayle II Award for Achievement in Education. Together with Terrence Sejnowski, the Francis Crick Professor at the Salk Institute, she co-teaches Coursera’s “Learning How to Learn,” one of the world’s most popular massive open online courses with some four million registered students, along with a number of other leading MOOCs.

Dr. Oakley has adventured widely through her lifetime. She rose from the ranks of Private to Captain in the U.S. Army, during which time she was recognized as a Distinguished Military Scholar. She also worked as a communications expert at the South Pole Station in Antarctica, and has served as a Russian translator on board Soviet trawlers on the Bering Sea. Dr. Oakley is an elected Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering and of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering.

Find her online: www.barbaraoakley.com

Episode # 401: Queen D Michelle

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 21:45:46 -0600

Michelle has taught elementary/middle school students for 27 years, four of those years, she was an administrator. She holds certifications in Michigan, Nevada, and Georgia. She's taught in private, public, charter, and magnet school arenas across the country. Although she has retired, her life’s mission is dedicated to Generation Alpha. She wrote "52 Insights for Gen Alpha: A Conscious Curriculum to place in schools" which talks about the tools of Social and Emotional Intelligence needed to navigate THEIR world. This is a program created by a teacher for leaders to empower middle and high school students to become conscious thinkers and creators.

Follow Queen D Michelle online: https://www.fulaamerican.org/ - houses her history & genealogy society info, click on 52 insights tab, tab w/ her books/writing, “my soul’s journey home”- it's a 16-chapter blog about her trips to Egypt & Guinea, Africa. https://www.facebook.com/qdmichele/ @fulaamerican on all socials https://x.com/1Light1Luv https://www.youtube.com/@MovingInwardOnward https://www.instagram.com/considerations2020/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/cots/

Episode #400: Panel on Recruitment, Retention & Resilience

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 09:03:58 -0600

During the live stream of the 400th episode, yours truly was having some connectivity issues so my guests took over and had a great conversation! They were:

Dr. Robert A. Martinez, most recently Superintendent/Chief of Human Resources - has retired from the Antioch Unified School District after 38 years in public education. Dr. Martinez has continually focused on improving and expanding educational opportunities for students. He strives to advance understanding of resiliency research for all his employees, students, and their families. He frequently says, “Let the lives we help others live be the measure of our success”.

Dr. Tim Cusack is the Dean of Education at Concordia University of Edmonton and the Commanding Officer of HMCS Nonsuch in the Canadian Naval Reserve. With extensive experience in educational leadership, teacher development, and mentorship, Tim has dedicated his career to supporting educators and leaders at every stage of their professional journey.

Josh Tovar is the Memorial Pathway Academy Principal in Garland Independent School District NE of Dallas since 2016 & Host of the #PGPPODCAST Sundays 5 pm.

Find them online: Rob: @ResiliencyGuy on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn

Tim: @CusackTim or find me on Linked IN

Josh: X @MPA_GOJAGUARS or X @JTSPOTLIGHTS YouTube @ Josh Tovar IG @jtspotlights

Episode # 399: Lulu Buck

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 20:18:41 -0600

Lulu Buck is a children’s Book author who is currently serving as a coordinator for a local school district in Northern CO. Previously, Lulu held the position of English Language Development and World Language Senior Consultant at the Colorado Department of Education, where she also contributed her expertise to the Standards and Instructional Support Office. Notably, she served as a state trainer for cultural responsiveness, impacting thirty-eight Colorado school districts. Lulu's teaching journey spans a decade, during which she passionately taught English and Spanish in public secondary schools.

"Sue's Sky," Lulu's debut book, recently translated into Spanish as "El Cielo de Susana," delves into the important themes of acceptance and friendship.

Find Lulu online: Twitter/X: @c_lu_lu FB: @Bucks Books Consulting

Insta: @lulubuckster Website: https://lulubuck.org/

Episode # 398: Dr. James Lane

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 20:15:01 -0600

Dr. James Lane is a dynamic leader in education whose journey—from classroom teacher and band director to state superintendent and senior advisor at the U.S. Department of Education—is as inspiring as it is impactful. Now serving as Managing Director of K–16 at ETS, Dr. Lane is at the forefront of transforming how we connect high school, college, and career readiness. His insights span leadership, policy, equity, and innovation—making him an ideal guest for podcasts focused on education, leadership, public service, or personal growth. A former principal, band director, and lifelong trumpet player, Dr. Lane is also a Carolina Beach Music Hall of Fame inductee with The Castaways.

Find James online: https://www.instagram.com/drjameslane/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesflane

His book is called Leading with Laser Focus- avail on Amazon now. www.laserfocus.education

Episode # 397: Bruce Potter & Dave Nagel

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 21:03:12 -0600

Dave Nagel and Bruce Potter are co-founders of The Center for Collaborative Expertise. Dave’s work focuses on helping schools and districts implement Visible Learning research, assessment and feedback, and effective grading reform at both school and classroom levels. He has supported schools in building impactful PLCs and is a thought leader in the PLC+ framework. Dave has authored seven books, 4 of which are best sellers–aligned to the PLC+ Suite of publications, and contributed to publications such as Principal Leadership, Educational Leadership, and The Learning Professional. He regularly presents at national conferences. Bruce Potter is a school administrator with over 30 years experience. Bruce began his career as a classroom teacher and has held leadership roles at the building level as a principal and at the district level as a superintendent for 11 years. Bruce brings a wealth of experience in implementing Visible Learning research, guiding districts, schools, and teachers in transforming their practices. His schools have earned national recognition for innovative approaches that redefine success for traditionally underserved students.

Find them online: www.centerforcollaborativeexpertise.com

& on LinkedIn

Episode # 396: Dr. Michelle Singh

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 18:41:14 -0600

Dr. Michelle Chanda Singh is a National Board Certified Teacher, CEO of LCT-E Learning Solutions®, and founder of Restful Teacher® and Empty2Empowered™. A globally recognized education leader, Michelle champions equity, innovation, and well-being in education. Her EQUAL Methodology™ equips educators and leaders with research-based strategies and emerging technologies to create inclusive and engaging learning environments.

Find Michelle online: www.connectwithmichelle.com it will email you all the resources. www.Restfulteacher.com

Episode # 395: Russell Van Brocklen

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 19:26:57 -0600

Russell Van Brocklen- aka the Dyslexia Professor, shifts daily reading frustrations into confident academic wins for students facing dyslexia.Dyslexia touches as many as 15–20 % of all learners, yet most families still hear “wait and see.” He flips that script. As the Dyslexia Professor, he translates structured-literacy methods proven most effective for struggling readers into bite-size actions parents can use right away.

Find Russell online: website: www.dyslexiaclasses.com

https://www.facebook.com/dyslexiaclasses/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_cqwfxn9FqFx1Idl0YbeHg

https://www.instagram.com/dyslexiaclassesus/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-van-brocklen-2007ab87

Episode # 394: Dr. Anthony Muhammad

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 19:04:10 -0600

Dr. Anthony Muhammad is a highly sought-after educational speaker and presenter. With nearly 20 years of experience as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal, he has transformed school cultures and student proficiency globally. He was named the Michigan Middle School Principal of the Year in 2005.

Dr. Muhammad has also been honored by the Global Gurus organization as one of the 30 Most Influential Educators in the world in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. His most recent books include The Way Forward: PLC at Work and the Bright Future of Education (2024), Learning by Doing: A Handbook for Professional Learning Communities at Work, 4th Edition (2024).

Find him online: www.newfrontier21.com there you will find links to upcoming events, books, videos, etc. He is on FB & LinkedIn.

Episode #393: Jackie Pelegrin

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 21:30:43 -0600

Jackie Pelegrin is an Instructional Designer and Adjunct Instructor. Jackie leverages decades of experience as an instructional designer within both higher education and the corporate world. She holds an MBA and a Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology, both acquired through online learning. In addition to her full-time role as a curriculum writer, Jackie serves as an adjunct instructor, teaching online courses at Grand Canyon University.

Find Jackie online: https://designingwithlove.buzzsprout.com/

Website: https://sites.google.com/view/instructorpelegrin/home

Episode # 392: Janet Patti & Robin Stern

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 19:13:10 -0600

Dr. Janet Patti wrote Emotional Intelligence for School Leaders a former school leader, is CEO of Star Factor Coaching, a founding member of CASEL, and professor emeritus at Hunter College School of Education at City University of New York, where her teaching and research concentrated on educational leadership.

Dr. Robin Stern is the cofounder and senior advisor to the director at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, a licensed psychoanalyst with 30 years of experience, and the author of The Gaslight Effect.

They are cocreators of the STAR Factor Coaching model, which helps educational leaders enhance their emotional intelligence skills.

Find them online: www.starfactorcoaching.com they have online courses Emotional Intelligence for School Leaders Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence (YCEI). https://medicine.yale.edu/childstudy/services/community-and-schools-programs/center-for-emotional-intelligence/

Episode # 391: Shira Wolff Cohen

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 19:05:34 -0600

Shira Wolff Cohen brings 25 years of experience in youth workforce development and education. Over a decade of her career was spent in school leadership at a Philadelphia charter school. As a Teacher, Program Director, Dean, Vice Principal, and Principal, she championed student engagement, innovative instruction, and strong community partnerships to create impactful learning experiences.

Shira is the co-founder of Innovageous, where she focuses on building partnerships, designing programs, and improving instruction in both school-based and out-of-school settings. She wrote Leading Future-Focused Schools- came out July 2025.

Find her online: www.innovageous.com to set up a meeting Linked in, IG, FB both her & @innovageous

Episode # 390: Josh See

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 13:04:01 -0600

Josh See is a former teacher, academic advisor, and principal of 13 years. With the average cost of college more than six figures, he has set out to show families how to save tens of thousands of dollars in future college costs by starting college early, in high school. He has helped over 3,000 families create their own college-in-high-school strategy using resources readily available to them, such as earning college credit and graduating with a college degree before graduating from high school.

He works 1:1 with families and also has a step-by-step course: The College Fast-Track Start Kit that walks a family through the exact process to start their college journey in high school.

Find Josh online: https://stan.store/joshsee (this is more of a site to buy his products or book a consultation). He has a free Klepp guide. On Thursdays 12 EST, he has a power hour reimaging HS. It’s on Tik Tok. Refer to his LinkedIn also for links.

https://www.facebook.com/collegeinhighschool1/

https://www.instagram.com/collegeinhighschool/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-see/

Tik Tok: @collegeinhighschool1

Episode # 389: Glenn Forbes & Jenni Donohoo

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 22:16:42 -0600

Glenn Forbes is a school principal and school improvement coach in Queensland, Australia. Forbes has been an educator since 2000 moving from classroom teaching to principalship over the span of his career. His principal experience ranges from small, one-teacher rural schools through to leading large, diverse and complex metropolitan schools.

Glenn’s strong belief in cultivating collective teacher efficacy and establishing a culture of high expectations has resulted in marked improvement in various schools. Glenn is a member of the Queensland Association of State School Principals (QASSP). He chairs the curriculum subcommittee and serves as president of the Ipswich Branch. He has been the recipient of the QASSP Travelling Scholars grant which he used to further his knowledge of collective teacher efficacy construct.

His schools have been recognized at the Showcase Awards for Excellence in schools for Excellence in Parent and Community Engagement and Excellence in Early & Primary Years Education. Glenn has presented at the World Education Summit with Jenni Donohoo and has been a keynote speaker at several conferences. Several of Glenn’s articles have been published in The Queensland Principal journal. Glenn has been a member of the Menzies School Leadership Incubator Advisory Board which has been tasked with building a pipeline of school leaders equipped to lead and grow collective efficacy.

Jenni Donohoo, PhD, is a professional learning facilitator, author, and researcher. Jenni has been an educator for more than twenty-five years, with experience in elementary, secondary, and postsecondary settings. She has multiyear partnerships with numerous organizations and government agencies where she works alongside system and school leaders supporting high-quality professional learning designed to improve outcomes for all students. Her areas of focus include collective teacher efficacy, collaborative inquiry, and metacognition. Jenni is a five-time best-selling author and her books have been translated into several languages.

As the director of the Jenni Donohoo Center for Collective Efficacy, she has been recognized internationally as an educational thought leader. Jenni has been a keynote speaker at conferences including WorldEduLead, Raising Student Achievement, Annual Visible Learning, Corwin’s Women in Education, and the LEAP Conference in Australia.

Find them online Glenn: https://glennforbes.com.au/

Jenni: https://www.jennidonohoo.com

Episode # 388: Chad Dumas

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 19:46:00 -0600

Return guest Dr. Chad M.V. Dumas is a Solution Tree PLC at Work®, RTI at Work®, Assessment, and Priority Schools associate and international consultant, presenter and award-winning researcher whose primary focus is collaborating to develop capacity for continuous improvement. Having been a successful teacher, principal, central office administrator, professional developer and consultant in a variety of school districts, he brings his passion, expertise, and skills to his writing and speaking as he engages participants in meaningful and practical learning. In his Amazon best-selling books, Let’s Put the C in PLC, An Action Guide to Put the C in PLC, and The Teacher Team Leader Handbook, Chad offers readers and audiences educational research, engaging stories, hands-on tools, and useful knowledge and skills they can implement immediately. The results of Chad’s work speak for themselves. One district was identified as “Persistently Lowest Achieving” upon his arrival, and within a few years multiple schools were recognized as National PLC Models for improving student learning. Chad has served on and led accreditation visits for Cognia around the United States and world, presented nationally and internationally, and collaborated with school boards, intermediate service agencies, state departments of education, and professional associations. Find

Chad on his website: https://www.nextlearningsolutions.com/

X, FB, LinkedIn @chaddumas His books have free reproducibles

Episode #387: Jeff Linden

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 14:31:02 -0600

Jeff Linden brings energy, real-world experience, and actionable strategies that can inspire educational leaders at all levels. Whether discussing school improvement, leadership development, or the challenges facing modern educators, his insights are engaging and impactful. From experiences working in a variety of school settings such as small rural schools, urban districts, and suburban schools, he's found one universal truth: everyone in education is working toward the same goal to help students learn and grow. And while the challenges may differ depending on the setting, the single most important thing you can do as an educational leader, no matter where you are, is to build a culture of collaboration.

Find Jeff online: Facebook: @PrincipalJL

X: @ThePrincipal_JL

Instagram: @principal_jl

Tik Tok: @principal_jl

Threads: @principal_jl

BlueSky: @principal_jl

Episode # 386: Dr. Michelle Seijas

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 18:25:22 -0600

Michelle Seijas, Ed.D. is a Latina leader on a mission to honor the generations before her and to liberate the generations to come. Her passions and values led her to begin her career as a bilingual education teacher. Over her 15 years in K-12 schools, she was an instructional coach, elementary school vice principal, district coordinator, and high school principal. Eventually, she moved into the non-profit world as the Founding Executive Director of the Surge Institute in Oakland. There, she established and led a team focused on developing Black and Latinx education leaders to create transformative change for the youth and communities they served. As a trauma-informed certified coach, experienced consultant, education leader, and former nonprofit executive, she has learned to be her authentic self in various contexts. She partners with leaders to grow their confidence, value their strengths, create a clear vision for their life and career, and learn practices to make leadership sustainable. Michelle has a special gift of facilitating engaging experiences for people to step into their power and identify how they will live and lead with purpose.

Find Michelle online: https://www.michelleseijas.com/

IG: @thrivingchingona LinkedIn @michelleseijasedd

She has a weekly newsletter w/ coaching tips- sign up on her website

Episode #385: Clay Cook

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 20:38:10 -0600

Dr. Clay Cook is the Chief Development Officer at CharacterStrong and is an implementation scientist, psychologist, and former paraprofessional and middle school math teacher. He has spent the past 15 years working in partnership with school systems across the country to support the implementation of effective practices that promote better and more equitable outcomes for students. He has been a professor and researcher at three universities (Louisiana State University, University of Washington and University of Minnesota) studying topics such as implementation of evidence-based practices, educator well-being and resilience, social-emotional learning, and youth mental health.

He has obtained over 20 million dollars in grant funding for his research and published over 100 peer-reviewed scientific articles. For his work, he has been invited to the White House and served on expert panels with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the US Department of Education.

Find Clay online: www.characterstrong.com

Episode # 384: Todd Bloomer

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 19:42:00 -0600

Mr. Todd Bloomer, with 29 years in public education and 18 in administration, recently retired from a high school principal leading a campus of over 2,500 students. His extensive experience across middle and high school levels, talent for building positive campus cultures, and exceptional hiring practices set him apart. As an author and coach, he offers valuable insights on educational leadership and effective communication. Mr. Bloomer's commitment to creating a supportive, family-like atmosphere ensures a dynamic and transformative coaching experience. Contact him using the form below for more information on his coaching services.

Find Todd online: #theblueprint, Todd Bloomer IG @todd_bloomer_ author Has been creating IG reels. X @bloomer LinkedIn @toddbloomer www.toddmbloomer.com

Episode # 383: Nancy Parkes

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 13:06:07 -0600

Dr. Nancy Parkes is an educational consultant and lecturer. Much of her work is focused on helping Jewish educators and directors integrate social, emotional, and spiritual learning in their settings. Several of her articles on the topic have appeared in Jewishphilanthropy and she is currently working on an SESL book and toolkit for Jewish educators. Nancy is a lecturer at the Jewish Theological Seminar and is currently teaching an online certificate program in Social, Emotional, and Spiritual Learning for Jewish educators. She is also a founding member of SESL4Jewished, which is a collaborative for promoting holistic growth for learners and educators in all Jewish settings. Nancy served as the Director of Congregational Learning at Temple Israel Center in White Plains for ten years, and is an outspoken advocate for the partnership between Rabbis and educators in bringing about innovation and change in the congregational (edit out flub) school setting. Nancy earned her doctorate in Education and her M.A. degree in Jewish Studies and Education in the William Davidson School of Education at JTS.

Find Nancy online: https://www.nancyparkesconsulting.com

Episode # 382: Rich Bernato

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 16:06:51 -0600

Richard Bernato, Ed.D. enters his fifty-third year in schooling, that spans higher education, research, in doctoral and graduate levels like Stony Brook, St. John’s University, Molloy University, and CUNY Queens College, many K-12 leadership roles, and consulting with and presenting to many school districts. His interests include catalyzing interactive and research-based effective curricula that are a result of futuring systems, planning, decision making, and high engagement of all stakeholders to ensure systemically healthy schooling and organizational practices. His latest book, Co-Creating the Future, a Simulation to Catalyze School Change (2024) Solution Tree, is a unique offering to those interested in innovative professional development principles and planning. His books, Futures-Based Change Leadership (2017), Planning as Futuring, Futuring as Planning, (2020) also capture those ideas. He is also co-author of The Collective Mindset (2022), blogs, podcasting and articles that are devoted to that vision. An expert on the uses of and how to design simulations for learning and organizational improvement Dr. Bernato, supports all efforts to reform schools for futures they have yet to consider and supports these through his efforts as Editor in Chief of the SCOPE Journal for Leadership and Instruction. Find Rich online:

https://www.facebook.com/richard.bernato.3

@richDis48 X, Bluesky/LinkedIn

rbernato_simulation_educator (Instagram)

Rbernato@gmail.com Richard.bernato@scopeonline.us

www.linkedin.com/in/richard-bernato-1658854

https://www.solutiontree.com/richard-bernato.html

Episode # 381: Matt Rhoades & Belinda Karge

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 19:46:12 -0600

Matthew Rhoads, EdD, is an expert and innovator in educational technology and instructional strategy integration within online, blended, and traditional in-person classroom settings. With a special education background, Dr. Rhoads co-taught for many years at the high school level in the areas of English, mathematics, and social sciences. He continues to co-teach regularly while coaching teachers and presenting professional development.

As a practicing technology and instructional leader, trainer, integrationist, and coach in adult education, K–12, and higher education, he develops instructional integrations of edtech tools with research-based strategies to drive instruction. He is a coach and professional learning
specialist for new and experienced teachers within the consortium and at a local university. Dr. Rhoads is also a doctoral dissertation chair who coaches doctoral students to conduct their research, write, and defend their dissertations. Dr. Rhoads eight books focus on integrating instructional strategies with edtech and AI tools to amplify student learning within in-person, online, and blended learning classrooms. His latest books include Crush It From the Start: 50 Tips for New Teachers, Instruction Without Boundaries: Enhance Your Teaching Strategies With Technology Tools in Any Setting, Amplify Learning: A Global Collaborative series, and Navigating the Toggled Term: A Guide for K–12 Classroom and School Leaders. His blog on his website has 75+ posts on all things related to education, instruction, Special Education, and more. He also has his podcast, Navigating Education, which discusses all topics related to education and instruction.

Belinda Dunnick Karge (j) PhD, is a professor in the doctoral studies program at Concordia University Irvine and a professor emeritus at California State University, Fullerton. She taught both general education and special education and served in administrative roles in elementary and high school prior to teaching in higher education. Her interest in co-teaching began when she was originally in the classroom; she has co taught at several levels.

Belinda’s professional record demonstrates a consistent pattern of research publications; she has produced five textbooks, five curriculum texts, four book chapters, several educational tools, and more than 150 articles. Her latest book is Watch, Listen, Ask, Learn: How School Leaders Can Create an Inclusive Environment for Students With Disabilities. She has made numerous presentations to international, state, and local groups of school
district employees and has keynoted several conferences. She serves as a consultant for the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Overseas Schools and travels extensively around the world. Research-based instructional strategies, schoolwide change, co-teaching, and inclusive practices are a few areas she consults on.

Belinda received the Council for Exceptional Children’s Susan Phillips Gorin Award. She was also honored with the Council for Learning Disabilities’ Floyd G. Hudson Outstanding Service Award and the Association for Childhood Education International service award. Belinda’s PhD is in quantitative methods, special education, and educational psychology and her
master’s degree is in special education and reading. She received both from the University of California, Riverside.

Find them online:

X, LinkedIn, IG, Bluesky, FB Contact Solution Tree for consulting opportunities

www.matthewrhoads.com, www.coteachingevolved.com

Social Media

X - @mattrhoads1990

Instagram/Threads - @DrRhoadsEdu

https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-rhoads-ed-d-95772120/

Bluesky - matthewrhoads.com

Belinda: Linkedin @BelindaKarge

Episode # 380: Walter Cullin

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 21:36:18 -0600

Walter Cullin Jr. is a dedicated educator, higher education administrator, consultant, and podcast host with a diverse background spanning healthcare administration, teaching, coaching, and leadership roles such as dean and associate principal. He holds a B.S. in Healthcare Administration, an M.A. in Urban Education, and an M.S. in Educational Leadership. Walter champions intrinsic motivation, accountability, and student empowerment through his motto: "Intrinsically motivated with no excuses." Passionate about building authentic educator-student relationships, Walter fosters inclusive learning environments and equips educators with strategies to connect meaningfully with students, particularly in urban education. His book, Intrinsically Motivated With No Excuses, inspires minority youth to develop self-confidence, self-awareness, and resilience.

Find Walter online: FB @instrinsticallymotivated @IG YouTube @whatsyourmotive

Episode # 379: Dr. Cecelia Gillam

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 21:04:13 -0600

Dr. Cecelia Gillam is a native of New Orleans who has earned a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Southeastern Louisiana University of Hammond. Dr. Gillam has been a Science teacher for nineteen years. She has helped write science district curriculum and assessments for Environmental Science. She is an advocate for the National Equity Project by being selected as a board member for the Black Teacher Project. She is an ambassador for Pear Deck and Edpuzzle.Dr. Gillam has earned the distinction of being an ISTE Certified Educator. She is a member of the inaugural group of Trendsetters for Vernier. She also serves as a coach for Screencastify. Her involvement in the EdTech world does not stop with her role as an ambassador and coach; she is also a Distinguished Modern Classroom Educator and Expert Mentor for Modern Classroom. Cecelia is a Teacher Leader Advisor in EdTech content for the Louisiana Department of Education. She serves as an ambassador for EcoRise. She has attended and presented at multiple national conferences including ISTE and NSTA to train teachers on how to incorporate EdTech tools in their classrooms. Cecelia created a step team to engage at-risk youth in a positive community service-based organization. She has published a motivational children’s book that can be found on Amazon. The book is Black Girl, Black Girl you are AMAZING!. She is a National Grand Prize Winner for the Shell Lab Grant and a recent recipient of the Shell Urban Educator Development award. Dr. Gillam comes with a wealth of knowledge that can benefit all science teachers across the nation. She has served as an Affinity Group Leader for the State of Louisiana with the goal of helping to retain and preserve new science teachers. Her knowledge and skill sets will be very beneficial for the science community.

Find Cecelia online on X,IG: @Cecelia21082 FB: @Ceceliagillam TikTok: @Cece210

Episode # 378: Nicola Soares

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 20:30:13 -0600

As president of Kelly® Education, Nicola Soares believes that education is the bedrock of a thriving society and that the talented people who work in our schools, colleges, and universities are crucial to powering the future of learning and unlocking student potential. Nicola has successfully led the expansion of Kelly Education from providing substitute teachers in K-12 schools across the U.S., to providing specialized talent solutions––including adjuncts, paraprofessionals, tutors, therapists, and nurses––in academic settings from early childhood through higher education, making Kelly Education the nation’s largest and most trusted education talent solutions provider.She recently led the acquisition of the premier executive search agency, Greenwood/Asher & Associates. The firm’s reputation for inclusion and diversity in academic leadership placements in higher education is unrivaled.

A champion of women in the workforce, Nicola serves as the executive sponsor for the Kelly Leadership in Action program—which began with a focus on women, and is now dedicated to developing successful leaders of all genders in the global marketplace. She’s also the executive sponsor of the Kelly LatinX Affinity Group, an employee-led community focused on building a more inclusive workplace.

Find Nicola online:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolasoares/

https://twitter.com/NSoares_KellyEd

Episode # 377: Dr. Brandi Kelly

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 13:47:04 -0600

Repeat guest Dr. Brandi Kelly brings over 20 years of heart, hustle, and hands-on experience to the world of education. A licensed clinical social worker and Maxwell Certified Coach, she’s worn many hats — from school social worker to principal to superintendent. Along the way, she’s been honored with the NAESP Distinguished Elementary School Principal Award (2014) and Middle School Principal of the Year (2021). Dr. Kelly is proud to be part of inspiring networks like the Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA), Teach Better Network, Illinois Principals Association (IPA), and the Educational League of Illinois (ELI). She loves sparking change through speaking, writing, and hosting the Lead with HOPE podcast — where she shares real conversations about leadership, resilience, and growth. When she's not leading with hope, you’ll find Brandi spending time with her family, getting lost in a good book, or exploring new places. Follow her journey at www.sparkhopeedu.com and on your favorite social media platforms @brandinashkelly or @leadwithhope

Episode # 376: Dr. Teresa Hill

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 17:52:51 -0600

Dr. Teresa Hill is a speaker, author, and leader whose work focuses on underserved communities and making the system work for every child. She is devoted to eliminating achievement gaps and ending what she terms “failure as a default”. Her motto is “All children can learn . . . Period.” Dr. Hill began her career teaching thirty-one kindergarten students in Peoria, IL, has served as a principal and assistant superintendent, and has served as Superintendent in South Holland, IL since 2012.

Find Dr. Hill online: @tdhilledd LinkedIn X, IG website: www.TDhilledd.com

Episode # 375: Peter Marshall

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 19:39:27 -0600

Peter Marshall has more than thirty-five years of experience as an educator. He has served as a teacher, school administrator, and system leader in Ontario, working in leadership and staff development as well as opening a new school. He currently serves as a Solution Tree Assessment Center Associate. Wrote Today’s Teachers, Tomorrow’s Leaders: A Guide to Identifying and Developing Future Administrators.

Find Peter online: www.petermarschallconsulting.com @petermarshall on Solution Tree

Episode # 374: Eugene Williams

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 20:38:19 -0600

Eugene Williams, Jr. received a B.A. in English from Emory University in 1991, and a M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from The University of Mary Washington in 2007. He is a writer, speaker, educator, and former child actor who has appeared on stage, screen, and television with such celebrities as Ray Charles, Pearl Bailey, and Stephanie Mills. In 1978, he became the first black child in a major, recurring role on the highly acclaimed CBS soap opera, "Search For Tomorrow". Eugene has authored six books including IT'S A READING THING... HELP YOUR CHILD UNDERSTAND, THE RAISIN-IN MILK SYNDROME, REFLECTIONS OF A CONFUSED MIDDLE CLASS BLACK YOUTH, and GROUNDED IN THE WORD. a SAT verbal prep guide based on the vocabulary found in the King James Version of the Bible. Eugene's books and opinions have been featured in JET, BLACK EXCELLENCE, The Washington Post and various national publications. He has also been a guest and contributor on NBC, CBS, CNN, and BET. Eugene spent 27 years as a public school educator. He has served as a teacher in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. He has been an assistant principal at both the middle and high school levels and, most recently, spent five years as a high school principal. Eugene lives in Virginia with his wife Jewel, a former elementary school principal. Their daughter, Paige is a professional artist and entrepreneur with a Master's Degree in Journalism from Georgetown University.

Find Eugene online: https://www.instagram.com/eugwilljr?igsh=NGVhN2U2NjQ0Yg==

https://www.linkedin.com/in/eugene-williams-jr-m-ed-34bb2375

https://www.tiktok.com/@ewill521?t=8kRVvKTzUEg&_r=1

https://www.eugenewilliamsjr.com/

Episode #373: Christine Zuppa

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 19:08:42 -0600

Christine is an experienced educator with a wide range of experience in both private and public school settings with a focus in special education. She is passionate about equipping educators with knowledge & confidence to create engaging & welcoming classrooms. She brings her conscientious & ambitious mindset to the Making The Grade team.

Find Christine online: Website: www.makingthegradeproject.com

Instagram/TikTok: @makingthegradeproject and IG: @executivefunctionfix LinkedIn @christinezuppa

Executive Function Info: www.Makingthegradeproject.com/executive-function-for-educators-start with the quiz to learn your learning style.

Episode # 372: Valcine Brown

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 18:25:00 -0600

Dr. Valcine Brown is a veteran teacher of high school English Language Arts serving in public education. Dr Brown holds a BA in English Literature, an MFA in Humanities: Creative Writing, an MFA in English Literature, and a PhD in Education: Curriculum and Instruction. Understanding the connection between literacy and economic prosperity, her passion is increasing literacy in adolescents, an often neglected topic. Dr. Brown was born and raised in So. California where she still resides.

Find her online: FB @valcinebrown website:

https://drvalcinebrown.live-website.com/

Episode #371: Dr. John Almarode

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 19:58:32 -0600

John is a Professor of Education in the College of Education at James Madison University. In 2015, John was awarded the inaugural Sarah Miller Luck Endowed Professorship. In 2021, John was honored with an Outstanding Faculty Award from the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia. Most recently, he was named a Madison Scholar in the College of Education and awarded the Madison Vision Teaching Award.

At James Madison University, he continues to work with pre service teachers and graduate students, as well as actively pursues his research interests including the science of learning and the design and measurement of classroom environments that promote the greatest gains in student learning. John works closely with John Hattie’s Visible Learning research, The Visible Learning® research base represents more than 2,103 meta-analyses comprising more than 132,000 studies involving more than 300 million students around the world. The Visible Learning research has identified more than 350 factors that influence student achievement.

Find John online: X, FB, website www.johnalmarode.com you can send him an email there. Look him up at JMU website.

Episode # 370: Jill Handley & Lara Donnelly

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 20:54:19 -0600

Jill Handley & Lara Donnelly are the authors of "What Can I Take Off Your Plate? A Structural—and Sustainable—Approach to Countering Teacher Burnout"

Lara Donnelly, EdD, is a veteran teacher and school counselor in Jefferson County Public Schools (Kentucky). She is an education consultant, speaker, and author supporting schools and administrators with burnout, family engagement, and multilingual learners with trauma and mental health concerns. Donnelly has been featured in podcasts, news articles, and televised interviews for her expertise in supporting mental health. In addition, she has presented at numerous national conferences, including ASCD, ESEA, and the Whole School REACH conference.

Jill Handley, EdD, is the assistant superintendent of multilingual learners in Jefferson County Public Schools (Kentucky). Prior to this role, she was the award-winning principal of Kenwood Elementary. During her 16-year tenure as principal, she led her school to be recognized for several achievements, including National School of Character, National Distinguished ESEA School, and the first Family Friendly Certified school in the state of Kentucky.

Episode # 369: Casey Watts

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 16:51:10 -0600

Casey Watts is the founder of Casey Watts Coaching & Consulting, LLC, and a Team Leadership Expert. She has over 20 years of experience in education as a classroom teacher, adjunct professor, academic coordinator, and district instructional specialist. She is passionate about empowering teams to move beyond silos and transform into cohesive, vision- driven powerhouses. Through strategic guidance and practical tools, Casey helps leaders cultivate clarity, collaboration, and a collective purpose that drives meaningful results.

Find Casey online: get from her website www.catchingupwithcasey.com @catchupwithcasey on LinkedIn

Episode # 368: Dr. John Chanaca

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 19:27:00 -0600

Dr. John Chanaca is the founder of MJChanacapublishing LLC, a family-owned publishing company dedicated to creating heartwarming, educational stories that emphasize positive family values and parenting. He is the author of several children's books, including The Keymaker, Annie's Flutterflies, Color Your Own Story Books, and the Humor & Heart collection, which earned a Silver Medal in the Global Book Awards 2024. Dr. Chanaca has devoted his career to inspiring and educating both young readers and parents through literature. A Licensed Professional Family Counselor since 1985, Dr. Chanaca has supported countless families and individuals in navigating life’s challenges. This experience led him to author the three-part series A Survival Guide for Parents: Nurturing Super Students in a Modern World, with a follow-up book, Power Parenting: Nurturing Successful Students in the Modern World, soon to be released.

find you online: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089699787125

https://twitter.com/mjchanacapubish

https://www.youtube.com/@mjchanacapublishing/videos

https://www.instagram.com/mjchanacapublishing/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-chanaca-04b7a7175/

www.mjchanacapublishing.com

Free e-book In Canva style: https://www.canva.com/design/DAFo1cW4Qno/uwNG2Rx_PUjzDOexhQx6kw/edit?utm_content=DAFo1cW4Qno&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton

Survival Guide Part 1

https://mjchanacapublishingllc.aiinteractivebooks.com/book-view/1794

Episode #367: Jessica Lee Haxhi

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 20:16:06 -0600

Jessica Haxhi has been the Supervisor of World Languages for New Haven Public Schools in Connecticut since 2013, overseeing 85 teachers of Arabic, ASL, Chinese, French, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Pashto, and Spanish. She also teaches one Japanese class at James Hillhouse High School.

Jessica was President of ACTFL in 2021 and is a past President of the American Association of Teachers of Japanese. She served on the Northeast Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages Board from 2006-2010, the ACTFL-NCSSFL Can-Do Statements Committee, and the original National Standards Committee for Japanese.

Previously, Jessica taught Japanese for 20 years in a PreK-5 program and has taught world language methods as an adjunct instructor at local universities in CT. She has received the Milken Family Foundation National Teacher Award (2002), the U.S.-Japan Foundation Elgin Heinz Outstanding Japanese Teacher Award (2008), and the International Women’s Day New Haven Award for Outstanding Public Service (2019).

Find Jessica online: @jhaxhi on Bluesky, X, LinkedIn and via her district website: https://sites.google.com/a/nhps.net/nhpswl/home

Episode #366: Kurtis Hewson

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 21:23:51 -0600

As Lead Leader and Co-Founder of Jigsaw Learning, Kurtis has championed the call for collaborative structures in schools to ensure success for all students and enhance the collective efficacy of those dedicated educators working in classrooms. Kurtis works to establish responsive relationships with districts and system level leaders to design collaborative frameworks for educators and develop leadership capacity at all levels. He has over 25 years of experience in the classroom, including over a decade as an award-winning school administrator. An engaging speaker and facilitator, Kurtis interacts with thousands of educators and educational stakeholders annually to ensure Collaborative Response is foundational to how schools work together to ensure success for all students. Find Kurtis online: http://jigsawlearning.ca/

https://www.facebook.com/JigsawLearningAB/

https://www.twitter.com/Jigsaw_Learning

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3U_RKp7yxQhckpKaQur7ow

https://www.linkedin.com/company/jigsaw-learning-inc/?viewAsMember=true

https://www.instagram.com/jigsawlearningab/

Episode # 365: Starr Sackstein

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 15:13:50 -0600

Starr Sackstein is a recovering perfectionist who is an assessment reforming enthusiast. Starr just started her role as Massachusetts State Coordinator for Educators Rising and is the COO of Mastery Portfolio, an Edtech Startup committed to helping schools move to Standard-Based communication. Additionally, she works with teacher teams to engage students in the learning process, advocate for personal growth, and effectively use student data to drive instruction. She was a high school English and journalism teacher for 16 years, a lead Humanities learner for 2 years, a publisher and developmental editor, and social media manager. Starr is an author, blogger, and speaker committed to changing the way we do assessment nationally and globally. You can learn more about her work on her website MsSackstein.com. When Starr isn’t advocating for students and educators, she is a mom and partner looking for the next adventure.

Find Starr online: @Starrsackstein LinkedIn, Bluesky

website: www.mrssackstein.com

Episode #364: Jennifer Ozgur

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 16:31:40 -0600

Jennifer Ozgur is an Organizational Development & Change Management Consultant, Professional Development Designer & Facilitator, Appreciative Inquiry Practitioner, Certified Trauma-Informed & Brain-Based Coach, Parenting Programming Creator, Columnist and Author. Jennifer has combined her years of classroom experience with evidence-based practices to create informational and transformational experiences that uplift and inspire any workplace culture. From crafting a collective vision, celebrating core values and strengths, to co-creating a dynamic inclusive plan everyone can embrace, your team will be energized around a shared purpose that achieves sustainable results.

In 2000, After completing her BSED, Jennifer began her career as a middle and high school English teacher for the Pennsylvania public school system. While in the classroom, she built positive relationships with her students so that they might be challenged and feel supported.

In 2022, Due to heavy interest in her strengths-based design and facilitation skills, Jennifer stepped away from the classroom for 2 years to pursue consulting with corporations and larger educational organizations like the Southern Oregon Education Service District, the Arizona Bureau of Indian Education. She teaches senior English.

Find Jennifer online: jennfer@jenformation.com She's not much on social media but you can DM her on FB. She's re-launching Trail of Conversations private group on FB.

Episode #363: Dr. Jen Mott

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 10:41:53 -0600

Dr. Jen Mott is a school administrator at one of the largest middle schools in Ohio and a professor at Xavier University in the Educational Administration Graduate program. Outside of serving the students and staff there, she is a professional juggler, stilt-walker, balloon artist and fire performer who merges her passions for entertainment + education through keynote speaking for schools and organizations. Her TEDx Talk on “Juggling Career & Passion” gives more context about this journey. Dr. Mott is also the author of two books. One is a nonfiction book based on her dissertation research on teacher perseverance called "Teacherverance" which encourages teachers and school leaders by capturing reasons for why teachers stay in such a challenging profession. The other book is a picture book companion called "Why Teaching?" created to inspire students who might still want to be teachers and teachers at any point in their career.

Find Jen online: www.drjenmott.com IG/FB: @jenmott

Episode #369: Dr. Joshua Ray

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 06:22:01 -0600

Special Episode: Finding Your Balance for School Leaders Joshua Ray, EdD, is an educational speaker and author who has led the Professional Learning Communities (PLC) at Work® process at the elementary, secondary, and district level. He is passionate about building healthy school cultures, the work of collaborative teams, systems of support, and educator well-being.

Find Joshua online: IG @joshray_consulting, X @joshray711, LinkedIn @joshuaray Reach him via Solution Tree website: https://www.solutiontree.com/our-solutions/plc-at-work

Episode #362: Dr. Craig Hane

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 15:50:51 -0600

Dr. Craig Hane, also known as Dr. Del, is a math educator and innovator dedicated to transforming how math is taught and learned. With a Ph.D. in Algebraic Number Theory and decades of teaching and business experience, Dr. Del empowers students and professionals alike by demystifying math using modern tools like scientific calculators and Wolfram Alpha. His mission is to break down math barriers and inspire listeners to "invest in yourself" for a brighter future.

Find Craig online:

https://craighane.com/ https://www.facebook.com/TriadMath https://x.com/TriadMath https://www.youtube.com/@triadmath1 https://www.instagram.com/triadmathinc/ https://triadmathinc.com/tmt/ This link invites listeners to explore the Triad Math Tribe (TMT), a community dedicated to empowering individuals with practical math skills, wisdom, and tools for leading optimal lives. Membership is just $30/month, but the first month is entirely free, allowing listeners to experience the benefits risk-free. Members gain access to innovative math education resources, personal growth tools, and a supportive network focused on collaboration and lifelong learning.

Episode #361: Priscila Prestes

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 18:59:56 -0600

Priscila Prestes is a Brazilian teacher with 15 years of experience at all levels and grades. She graduated in Pedagogy at the Federal University of Paraná and moved to the United States in 2015 to teach DLI Portuguese. She taught first grade for 5 years. She is starting her fifth year this fall as a Middle School DLI teacher and she loves it. She has presented at several Education and Language Conferences because she loves sharing what she has learned. She is currently trying to find a balance between full-time work, family, and finishing her MA in Portuguese Pedagogy at BYU.

Find Priscila online via her website: http://sites.google.com/alpinedistrict.org/pprestes/about-me

Episode #360: Dr. Cynthia Rapaido

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 18:10:06 -0600

Dr. Cynthia Rapaido, a highly accomplished educator, holds an Ed.D. in International and Multicultural Education and an M.A. in Educational Administration from the University of San Francisco. She earned her B.S. in Applied Arts and Sciences Biology from San Diego State University. With over 30 years of experience in K–12 education, she has served as a high school principal, assistant principal, and teacher, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the educational landscape across various schools and districts in California. Find Cynthia online: https://www.amazon.com/Step-Your-School-Leadership-Game/dp/B0D6HLQZ2B

(her book) LinkedIn ‪@CynthiaRapaido‬ reach out to her if you’d want coaching virtually. See her @NAASP- Seattle mid July.

Episode #359: Sarah Wysocki

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 13:50:53 -0600

Sarah Wysocki is a longtime educator, child advocate, author, and mom, living in Annandale, Virginia. She is a lifelong learner who has a Bachelor of Science in health psychology, a master's in teaching, and a post-graduate certificate in TESOL. Sarah is driven to support the growth and development of the whole child, with a special interest in social and emotional well-being. When she's not busy sparking the love of learning in her students, she can be found volunteering in her neighborhood or out on the pickleball courts building friendship and community.

Find Sarah online: X: sarahwysocki10 , LinkedIn @sarahwysicki

Edutopia: https://www.edutopia.org/profile/sarah-wysocki

Episode # 358: Dr. Chris Jochum

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 13:07:20 -0600

Christopher J. Jochum, Ph.D. currently serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Teacher Education at Fort Hays State University (FHSU) where he leads a large teacher preparation program, serving on-campus and virtual students across the country. Jochum’s previous professional appointments include the University of Nebraska at Kearney as an Associate Professor of Foreign Language Education and Spanish, the University of Central Missouri as an Assistant Professor of Secondary Education, Salina High School South (Kansas) as a secondary Spanish teacher and Chair of the World Languages Department and Kearney Public Schools (Nebraska) as a K-12 English as a Second Language teacher.

Dr. Jochum is the author of “The Department Chair: A Practical Guide to Effective Leadership” (Rowman & Littlefield) and serves as the Co-Chair of the Advisory Board for the Academic Chairpersons Conference, where he is also one of the facilitators for the New Chair Alliance. Chris was recently elected as a Commissioner for the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP) and was one of the founding Directors of The National Center for Clinical Practice in Educator Preparation.

Find Chris online: https://cjleadership.com/ links from there to podcast, LinkedIn, Tik Tok

Episode #357: Alyssa Gallagher

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 14:43:11 -0600

Alyssa Gallagher is the Head of BTS Spark, America (West & Central), Speaker & Facilitator in Leadership Development, Multipliers, Design Thinking and co-author of MESSY Leadership. She is a passionate and experienced education leader, author, speaker, and consultant. She has over 20 years of leadership experience in various educational settings, from district administration to non-profit management. She is currently the Head of BTS Spark, America (West/Central), a global education non-profit that empowers educators to transform their schools and communities. Alyssa's mission is to unleash the intelligence and potential of everyone on her team and in her network.

She is a certified Multiplier practitioner and collaborator, as well as a co-author of two books on design thinking for school leaders and educators and a book on embracing the messiness of leadership. She designs and delivers engaging and impactful learning experiences that help leaders and educators foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and well-being. She is also a sought-after speaker and facilitator who shares her insights and best practices on leadership, learning, and change.

Find Alyssa online: BTS Spark & @LinkedIn www.btsspark.org

They share a lot of free resources via website

Episode # 356: Roni Habib

Wed, 28 May 2025 18:29:05 -0600

Roni Habib author of Happy & Resilient: The Complete Guide to Joyful Teaching, Learning & Living. He is an expert in helping leaders, educators, and parents become happier, more resilient, more connected to their purpose, and more playful. The founder of EQ Schools, he leads workshops and speaks in organizations nationally and abroad.

Follow Roni on FB, X, IG, Bluesky @roninhabib

Episode #355: Matt Sherrill

Wed, 21 May 2025 19:03:38 -0600

Matt Sherrill is a Regional Educational Technology Coordinator for the Learning Technology Center, serving Illinois’ East Central region. Always an early adopter, Matt is passionate about utilizing technology to drive impactful learning and supporting fellow educators as they grow fluent in new tech. An educator with 15 years of classroom experience, Matt previously worked as an ELA teacher and department chair in McLean County Unit 5 schools. Matt also holds a Master’s Degree in Teaching and Learning and a Technology Specialist endorsement on his Illinois Professional Educator License. In addition to his classroom work, Matt has served on his district’s AI Advisory Team where he developed and delivered AI-focused professional development to the district’s staff. He has also shared his insights as a guest speaker on AI literacy for Illinois State University’s pre-service teachers.

Find Matt online: on LinkedIn or use the website www.LTCIllinios.org & email him.

Episode #354: Brenda Yoho

Wed, 14 May 2025 18:57:49 -0600

Brenda Yoho is the author of Lead with Two Rules: Feeling Good and Feeling Safe. Her career in public education spanned more than 25 years, as a teacher, elementary principal, middle school principal, and director. She provides encouragement and leadership advice. As an educational consultant with over two decades of experience in the education sector, she partners with the Illinois Principals Association to support K-12 principals, educational leaders, and staff members in rural and urban settings. She helps them develop their skills and competencies in areas such as school improvement, curriculum, staff development, crisis planning, school culture, family involvement, grants, bullying, and goal setting. She also provides mentoring and coaching to aspiring, new, and seasoned administrators, building trusting relationships and facilitating professional growth. Contact her via www.BrendaYoho.com she publishes blogs every Wednesday Socials: @BrendaYoho X, IG, FB, but she isn’t super active. On LinkedIn she's most active.

Episode #353: Tom Pesce

Wed, 07 May 2025 13:52:58 -0600

Tom Pesce is an international speaker, educator, emcee, and motivational entertainer. His long client list includes companies such NASA, Amazon, Google, NBC, Nasdaq, Formula 1, and more. He’s been a 4th & 6th teacher for 20 yrs. Tom has toured as a headliner for Princess Cruises and regularly works with professional sports teams and Fortune 500 companies around the world. Recently named “Entertainer of the Year” and honored by the Site Crystal Awards as “Standalone Celebratory Event of the Year”, Tom’s mission is clear: to make a lasting, positive impact wherever he goes. In addition to his award-winning stage work, Tom is also a distinguished educator with over twenty years' experience. He has earned multiple graduate degrees in the fields of elementary education, school district administration, and advanced leadership studies.

Today, Tom shares his passion worldwide, helping individuals and organizations discover their own magic in both their personal and professional lives. Tom possesses an intimate understanding of the daily trials and triumphs educators face. His captivating and personalized presentations aren't merely designed to prevent teacher burnout; they ultimately leave participants equipped and inspired to take action.

Tom lives in Ridgefield, CT with his wife, Becky, and their three children.

Find Tom on most socials but Tik Tok, IG, X @tompesceoffical or via his website: www.tompesce.com

Episode #351: Zach Groshell

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 16:55:19 -0600

Zach Groshell, PhD is a highly distinguished teacher, instructional coach, and education consultant. Zach is based in Seattle, WA and works with schools nationwide and internationally to develop high quality instruction based on the science of how kids learn. Zach hosts the podcast, Progressively Incorrect.

Find Zach online: Twitter, Threads, BlueSky (@mrzachg) @scienceofmath He has a FB group. Visit his blog, www.educationrickshaw.com

Episode #350: Dr. Jim Marshall

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 18:32:58 -0600

Dr. Jim Marshall author of Right from the Start: The Essential Guide to Implementing School Initiatives Professor of Educational Leadership at San Diego State University, where he serves as the Senior Director for the Ed.D. program in PK-12 School Leadership. Dr. James Marshall’s life-long work lies at the intersection of people and the organizations in which they work—and optimizing the synergy that fertile convergence holds. His scholarship, teaching, and consulting combine our understanding of human performance and organization development to assess strengths, devise strategy, and improve even the most vexing of challenges. Engagements have found him evaluating virtual reality-delivered training for active shooter containment, to devising strategy that improved the community-focused impacts realized by the national network of over 150 public television stations. His book, Right from the Start: The Essential Guide to Implementing School Initiatives, summarizes lessons learned through evaluation of hundreds of programs in both the public and private sectors. It was released in 2023. His book, Fixing Education Initiatives in Crisis: 24 go-to strategies, came out in 2024.

Find Jim online on LinkedIn & via his website: www.jamesmmarshall.com

Episode #349: Dr. Chris Culver

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 09:14:45 -0600

Dr. Christopher Culver is a proud product of Oklahoma education and has served educational communities since 2013 as a classroom teacher, secondary principal, and most recently as a cabinet-level administrator. Dr. Culver is a product of a divorced family and split time between Tulsa & Wyandotte, OK and Fayetteville, NC during his childhood. Currently, Dr. Culver serves as a consultant with expertise in kindness, culture and understanding Gen Z/Gen A, and as an adjunct professor at Oklahoma City University, teaching future teachers and leaders. He is well known for his high-energy, passionate, engaging, and motivational professional development. Participants call him “engaging, charismatic, dynamic, and enthusiastic.” He has his pulse on today’s generation. He is focused on spreading kindness, improving mindset, cultivating culture, and educating about Gen Z/A.

Find Chris online: www.orangesparrow.org • christopher@orangepsparrow.org Follow Chris on social media | @DrChrisCulver X, FB, IG, Tik Tok

Episode #352: Dr. Laurie Barron

Sun, 13 Apr 2025 13:39:36 -0600

Special episode: Spotlight on Master Scheduling

Dr. Laurie Barron is the superintendent of the Evergreen School District in Kalispell, Montana, and was named 2021 Montana Superintendent of the Year. She has been a high school English teacher and coach, a middle school assistant principal, a middle school principal, and a part-time assistant professor. A National Board–certified teacher, she was 2012 Georgia Principal of the Year and 2013 MetLife/NASSP National Middle Level Principal of the Year. Barron is a coauthor of the books What Parents Need to Know About Common Core and Other College-and Career-Ready Standards and Middle School: A Place to Belong and Become and has authored numerous articles. She is also a speaker who provides motivation and professional learning to teachers and administrators throughout the United States.

Find Laurie online: https://www.evergreensd50.com/page/superintendents-office

Episode #348: Dr. Debbie Zacarian

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 17:58:56 -0600

Dr. Debbie Zacarian is known for her expertise in strengths-based leadership, policy analysis, instructional practices, and partnerships with culturally and linguistically diverse student and family populations. With over three decades of combined experience as a district administrator, university faculty member, and educational service agency leader, she founded Zacarian & Associates and has been providing consulting and professional development throughout the United States.

She has written many books (including top- and best-selling) and more than 100 journal articles as well as district and state policies focused on leadership, strategic planning and analysis, and instructional practices with diverse learners- including multilingual learners and students living with adversity.

Find Debbie online: www.zacarianconsulting.com

Episode #347: Joe Davis

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 17:17:45 -0600

Joe Davis is the author of The Generous Leader: 7 Ways to Give of Yourself for Everyone’s Gain. Joe is a Managing Director and Senior Partner at the Boston Consulting Group. He is a former Head of BCG in North America and member of the firm’s Executive Committee. He oversaw BCG’s operations in the US, Canada and Mexico and was recognized as one of the Top 25 Consultants of the year in 2011. He has 4 children and 8 grandchildren. Board chair of the Center for Inclusion and Equity.

Find Joe online? www.JoeDavis.com LinkedIn, FB @JoeDavis

Episode #346: Debra Armstrong

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 17:39:14 -0600

Debra Armstrong is an Educator, Trainer, and Coach (ETC) dedicated to guiding professionals and small business owners on their journeys to achieve professional growth and business success. With years of experience, she has honed the art of personalized coaching, offering tailored solutions that fit her clients' unique needs, goals, and personalities.

Find Debra online: www.nexxtlevelcareers.com LinkedIn: @debraarmstrong

Episode #345: Dr. Rick Hess

Sun, 16 Mar 2025 20:20:25 -0600

Rick Hess is a scholar, author, and educator. Pens “Rick Hess Straight Up” for Education Week and “Old School with Rick Hess” for Education Next. Senior contributor to Forbes, executive editor of Education Next, contributing editor to National Review, and author of books including A Search for Common Ground and The Great School Rethink. Dr. Hess started his career as a high school social studies teacher. He has taught at the University of Virginia, the University of Pennsylvania, Georgetown University, Rice University, Johns Hopkins University, and Harvard University. He is also the senior founding fellow of the Public Education Foundation’s Leadership Institute of Nevada.

Find Rick online: Twitter/X: @rickhess99

Website: https://www.aei.org/profile/frederick-m-hess/

Read Rick's weekly policy brief via his profile page.

Episode #344: Rob Owen

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 14:46:57 -0600

For over 20 years as a school principal, educator, author, and coach, Rob Owen has seen the deep impact that stress and burnout have on teachers. After a life-changing car accident at 17, Rob found healing through Tai Chi and Qigong, practices that became central to both his personal and professional life. Now, he shares these mindful practices through Move 2 Focus, helping educators and students—especially those with ADHD and anxiety—find calm, focus, and emotional balance in the classroom and beyond.

Find Rob online: https://www.instagram.com/move_2_focus/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertowen2019/

https://move2focus.com/

https://teacherstress.coach/

This link will direct listeners to a teacher stress test (10 questions) and 3-day mini course that will offer free lessons in Tai Chi and Qigong for the classroom - for both teacher and students.

Episode #343: Dr. Shelby Kretz

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 18:31:16 -0600

Dr. Shelby Kretz is the creator of Little Justice Leaders, an organization that provides social justice education resources for educators and families. Shelby earned her Ph.D. in Education from UCLA, and her research explores social justice education at the elementary school level. Over the past decade, Shelby has worked with thousands of parents, teachers, and school leaders to bring social justice education to elementary aged kids.

Find Shelby online:

Get her free guide for talking to kids about difficult current events! https://view.flodesk.com/pages/621d377d78ab99224ea6dddc

https://littlejusticeleaders.com/

https://www.facebook.com/littlejusticeleaders

https://twitter.com/justiceleaders

https://www.pinterest.com/littlejusticeleaders/

https://youtube.com/@littlejusticeleaders

https://www.instagram.com/littlejusticeleaders/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/34228617/admin/feed/posts/

https://tiktok.com/@littlejusticeleaders

Episode #342: Scotty Aemis

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 19:51:57 -0600

Scotty Aemis is passionate about helping parents navigate childhood trauma. After he and his wife adopted two children, they found themselves learning everything they could about helping their children thrive. Everything that felt instinctively “right” was actually not helpful for children trying to heal from trauma. That set him on a journey to develop his PSR (Positive Safe Relationships) Approach toparenting. It’s helpful for all children and parents, but especially those navigating childhood trauma. Find Scotty online:

He has a number of free resources on his website, a free Facebook Group, and a bestselling book available. Lakeside collaborative he works for offers training.

Find Scotty online:

https://www.childtraumasherpa.com/

https://www.instagram.com/childtraumasherpa/

https://www.facebook.com/childtraumasherpa

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1002238933611804

He has a number of free resources on his website, a free Facebook Group, and a bestselling book available. Lakeside collaborative he works for offers training.

Episode #341: Renes Lophanor

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 19:54:37 -0600

Renes Lophanor is a multilingual (speaks English, Haitian Creole, French, German, Spanish and Slovak) author and certified teacher (Spanish/French at secondary ages 11-18) with over two decades of experience in education. Has also taught music, drama, art. He is a musician and performs every weekend. He is the author of I Still Love Teaching Despite Having All The Reasons In The World To Quit: Observations Of The Education System. Find Renes online: https://reneslophanor.com/

https://www.facebook.com/bbwi.renes/ also on FB/IG https://www.youtube.com/@renesbbwi - his music life

https://www.linkedin.com/in/renes-l-468a94/

Episode #340: Mike Anderson

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:18:43 -0600

Mike Anderson has been an educator for many years. A classroom teacher for 15 years, he has also coached swim teams, worked in preschools, and taught university graduate-level classes. In 2004, Anderson was awarded a national Milken Educator Award, and in 2005, he was a finalist for New Hampshire Teacher of the Year. Now an independent education consultant, Anderson works with schools in rural, urban, and suburban settings across the United States and beyond. A bestselling author, he has written nine books about great teaching and learning. In 2020, Anderson was awarded the Outstanding Educational Leader Award by NHASCD for his work as a consultant. Find Mike online: Linkedin at / mike-anderson-37953512

X/Twitter at @balancedteacher www.leadinggreatlearning.com you can connect with the courses he’s developed Here's a link to his newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/leadinggreatlearning/back-to-school-reminders?e=5503dc48f7

Episode #339: Kass Minor

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 20:50:26 -0600

Kass Minor is the co-founder of The Minor Collective, which fosters sustainable equity in schools. Author of Teaching Fiercely: Spreading Joy & Justice in Our Schools (ASCD). Bio: Kass Minor is an inclusive educator and author who is deeply involved in local, inquiry-based teacher research and school community development.

She is the author of Teaching Fiercely: Spreading Joy and Justice in Our Schools and the co-founder and Chief Strategist of The Minor Collective, a community-based organization designed to foster sustainable equity and literacy in schools. While she has worked in numerous capacities in partnerships with universities and school districts, classroom teacher has been her most coveted role. Her pedagogy is centered in joy from the communities that surround her and motivated by the idea that every adult can teach, and every student can learn. Teacherhood, paired with motherhood, has driven her love of information sharing, redefining who gets to be a knower in the fiery world we live in today. Find Kass online: Purchase Teaching Fiercely: Spreading Joy and Justice in Our Schools on Amazon.

Follow her on X, IG @mskass1 @theminorcollectove Website: www.kassandcorn.com She has a quarterly newsletter.

Episode #338: Dr. Mark Windschitl

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 18:49:19 -0600

Mark Windschitl is a professor of Science Teaching and Learning at the University of Washington. His research interests deal with the early career development of science teachers—in particular, their trajectories toward ambitious and equitable pedagogy. He is the lead author of Ambitious Science Teaching (Harvard Ed Press), along with Jessica Thompson and Melissa Braaten. His research has appeared in The American Educational Research Journal, Teachers College Record, Cognition and Instruction, Phi Delta Kappan, Science Education, and in white papers commissioned by the National Research Council and the National Academy of Science. He's been PI on multiple Noyce Teaching Scholars and Research grants and have supported teachers in that program in their transitions to urban schools. He has also administrated the Annenberg Fellowship program, known as the Rhodes Scholarships of Teaching— for teacher candidates at the UW. He's a recipient of the AERA Presidential Award for Best Review of Research, the co-author of the chapter on Science Teaching in the new AERA Handbook of Research on Teaching, and a member of the National Research Council Committee on Strengthening and Sustaining Teachers.

Find Mark online: companion website to book: www.climate-change-educator.org if you don’t have the book, resources are still there. It's an incredible source of information & data teachers can use to focus on. Also go to Mark Windschitl | UW College of Education

Episode #337: Steve Bollar

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 20:45:49 -0600

Steve Bollar, a.k.a. Stand Tall Steve, is an educational thought leader, former Superintendent of Schools, principal, author and a school culture and motivation expert. He is known for his quick wit, creative thought, and humorous personality.

Find Steve online: LinkedIN, FB, Tiktok, YouTube @standtallsteve IG @stevenbollar

Episode #335: Dr. Almitra Berry

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 18:38:16 -0600

Dr. Almira Berry is a nationally recognized motivational speaker, author, podcast host, and consultant on the topic of culturally and linguistically diverse learners in America’s K12 education system. Her works and research focus on equity and academic achievement for marginalized learners – particularly in majority-of-color, low-wealth, large, urban school districts.

Dr. Berry is host of the podcast, Educational Equity Emancipation and author of the books Effecting Change for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learners and Equitable Instructional Practices for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learners as well as numerous other articles addressing educational equity.

Find Almitra online: @almitraberry everywhere it’s easy to find her. FB, LinkedIn, Treads, TikTok. You will find links to her books, website, podcast from there.

Episode #334: Dr. Andrea Terrero Gabbadon

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 16:08:47 -0600

Andrea Terrero Gabbadon, PhD is an urban education and leadership scholar, speaker, consultant, and qualitative researcher. Dr. Gabbadon's work and research explore the intersection of culturally affirming leadership, school working conditions and racial climate, and educator diversity. Previously, Dr. Gabbadon served as a high school teacher, teacher leader, and assistant principal/director of curriculum and instruction in traditional public and charter schools. Dr. Gabbadon has also served as a visiting professor and instructor of undergraduate and graduate education at numerous institutions of higher education, including Temple University and Swarthmore College.

Dr. Gabbadon's scholarship has been published in leading academic journals such as Urban Education and The Urban Review. She is also the author of "Support and Retain Educators of Color: 6 Principles for Culturally Affirming Leadership" in publication with the Association for Supervision, and Curriculum Development (ASCD). More importantly, she is an activist, committed partner, and devoted parent.

Find Dr. Gabbadon online: LinkedIn, X @atgabbadon IG, website: https://www.atgabbadon.com/

Episode #333: Loren Brody

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 19:53:53 -0600

Loren Brody is an elementary school principal on the East Coast. He is also a husband, father of two teenagers, amateur violinist, dedicated swimmer, vegetarian cook, mindfulness devotee, and new triathlete.

Find Loren online LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loren-brody-622241141

Episode #336: Navigating the Trenches in '24

Sun, 29 Dec 2024 16:17:00 -0600

Dana's personal trench story that took place over the period of the 23/24 school year and until mid-Sept.

Dr. Dana Goodier has 25 years of experience in education. She has taught World Languages and English and has worked at the middle and elementary school level as an administrator. She completed her doctorate degree (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership in 2020. She often speaks at conferences, providing educators with techniques to minimize off-task behavior and to increase time on task. Currently, she serves as the president of CCFLT (Colorado Congress for Language Teachers). She often writes blogs for the Teach Better Team and is the author of Out of the Trenches: Stories of Resilient Educators, published in 2022. She is the host of the “Out of the Trenches” podcast, which features educators who share their stories of resiliency.

Follow her on X, FB, Bluesky & LinkedIn @danagoodier & IG @outoftrenchespc and visit her website at: www.danagoodier.com

Episode #332: Dr. David Franklin

Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:48:45 -0600

Dr. David Franklin: author of “Advice from the Principal’s Desk: 5 Pillars of School Leadership” Bio from website: Dr. David Franklin is an award winning school administrator, education professor, curriculum designer, and presenter. He earned a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from California State University, East Bay, a Master’s Degree in Education Technology from National University, and holds a B.A. in Music from the University of California, San Diego. Dr. Franklin is an Education Consultant and an Adjunct Professor of Education for Colorado State University. He is also a Marzano Research fellow trained in High Reliability Schools, Instructional Rounds, Collaborative Teams, and PLCs.

Find David online: https://principalsdesk.org/author/dfranklin77/

The Principal’s desk podcast: https://principalsdesk.org/the-principals-desk-podcast/

Advice from the Principal’s Desk book: Publications – The Principal's Desk https://principalsdesk.org/tpd-publications/

\Principal’s Desk blog: https://principalsdesk.org/the-principals-desk-blog/

Episode #331: David K. Richards

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 15:35:05 -0600

David K. Richards is the podcast host of Changemaker ED"U" who has spent his career working in various roles as a teacher, principal, superintendent, board member, consultant and school founder. Started 10 award winning schools. David’s life mission is to help changemakers usher in new paradigms for learning and leadership. He is the Founder & CEO of Changemaker Microschools, a network of innovative love-based microschools. He also coaches leaders through his Wise Warrior program and podcast, Changemaker ED“U”.

He has worked in education reform for over 25 years as a teacher, principal, and founder of several innovative schools with nationally recognized Summit Public Schools and Growth Public Schools. David has dedicated his life to helping people of all ages connect with the powerful leader within themselves. David lives in Sacramento, CA with his wife and two children. He holds a BA from UC Berkeley and an MA from Stanford University.

Find David online: https://www.davidkrichards.com/

LinkedIn & IG: @davidkrichards

Episode #330: Leroy Slanzi

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 18:59:21 -0600

Leroy Slanzi is an experienced educator with a remarkable 25-year career in education. As an author, he penned the influential book "Emotional Schools," delving into the importance of emotional intelligence and mental health in the education system. Leroy also excels as a facilitator of professional development sessions, has been on numerous podcasts and is a sought-after keynote speaker, helps parents, teachers and schools through the chaos life brings. Is principal at an Elementary school, has been a principal at all levels.

Find Leroy online:

https://leroyslanzi.com/ https://www.facebook.com/leroy.slanzi.9

https://twitter.com/http://@playistheway https://www.pinterest.ca/leroyslanzi https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9OH1J2G2mG6ZSWgRLZSHLQ https://www.instagram.com/authorleroyslanzi?igsh=M2gxcnBlODVpdG1r https://www.linkedin.com/in/leroy-slanzi-3632b2233

leroyslanzi@gmail.com

He does leadership, teacher & parent coaching. Will have a free consultation.

Episode #329: Dr. Lisa Lande

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 06:27:41 -0600

Dr. Lisa Lande has dedicated her professional endeavors to advocating for teachers and students around the globe. It is her aspiration that every classroom in every school is one that she would want her own three children to learn in.

Dr. Lande is a former teacher, college professor, and director of several large-scale school reform projects. She currently serves as the Director of International Programs for the Quaglia Institute for School Voice and Aspirations. Dr. Lande is a co-author of Teacher Voice: Amplifying Success; Engagement by Design: Creating Learning Environments Where Students Thrive; and The Power of Voice in Schools: Listening, Learning, & Leading Together.

Find Lisa online: www.quagliainstitute.org

X: @Lisa_Lande

Episode #328: Matt McGee

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 18:34:09 -0600

Matt McGee is the founder of MRM Education, an elite tutoring and college admissions consultancy that emphasizes academic curiosity and confidence in students with the ultimate goal of admission into a top university. His 15-year career included private tutoring, special education and admissions consulting before founding MRM Education in 2020. His student-first approach and intensive peer-adjacent mentorship method has helped hundreds of students raise their grades and gain admission to Ivy-Plus schools. In 2024, he founded MRM Academy, a fully virtual 1:1 school for families desiring customizable and flexible education options for their child. Find Matt online: https://www.mrmeducation.com/

https://www.instagram.com/MrmEducation/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/mrm-education/

@mrmeducation (company) @mattmcgee_edconsulting (personal) @themrmacademy (school)

Episode #327: Tim Cusack & Vince Bustamante

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 18:26:24 -0600

Tim Cusack, EdD has more than 30 years of experience as an educator and naval warfare officer with the Royal Canadian Navy (Reserve) and currently serves as Dean of Education at Concordia University of Edmonton.

Vince Bustamante is an instructional coach, curriculum content developer, and author who resides in Calgary, Canada who has co-authored two bestselling books with Corwin, Great Teaching by Design and The Assessment Playbook for Distance and Blended Learning.

Find Vince & Tim online: Visit Tim's Website, www.TimothyCusack.com

Follow Tim on LinkedIn, X @CusackTim Visit Vince's Website, www.VinceBustamante.com

Follow Vince on X @VinceBusta

Episode #325: Kim Strobel

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 18:39:54 -0600

Kim Strobel is a renowned motivational speaker and author of Teach Happy: Small Steps to Big Joy, sought after by schools, businesses, and organizations worldwide. With her powerful message about the impact of happiness on well-being and the pursuit of fulfillment, she traverses the globe, sharing her insights. Kim specializes in empowering educators and professionals, equipping them with the necessary tools and strategies to shift their mindsets, reclaim their happiness, reignite their passion, and lead with purpose. Drawing from her extensive background as a teacher and curriculum director, Kim’s ultimate aim is to inspire her audience. Through her engaging talks, she presents captivating research, heartwarming anecdotes, and practical steps for achieving life-altering results.

Find Kim online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kim.sabelhausstrobel

Teach Happy Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1798779396858380

Teach Happy Book: https://a.co/d/72rcsQ0 go to her website for bulk orders, download study guide to use w/ your staff: Here’s the link for study guide. https://strobeleducation.com/teach-happy/

Teach Happy Book Website Link: https://strobeleducation.com/teach-happy/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimstrobeljoy/

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-strobel/

Twitter: @strobeled

Episode #324: Adam Stolzer

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 14:38:35 -0600

Adam Stolzer is the principal of Burwell Junior/Senior High School in Burwell, NE. Currently in his 2nd year as principal, he has been extraordinarily intentional about his approach to instructional leadership. In this episode, he talks about Instructional Leader Visibility & Presence.

Find Adam online: X: #cornhuskerchats X: @adamstolzer28 FB: @adamstolzer

Episode #323: Jay Schroder

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 06:03:23 -0600

As a classroom teacher, Jay Schroder’s pursuit of excellence led the Oregon Council of Teachers of English to award him with the High School English Teacher of Excellence Award in 2021, and in 2022 he received the High School Teacher of Excellence Award from the National Council of Teachers of English.

Jay is the founder of the Teach from Your Best Self professional learning program and author of Teach from Your Best Self: A Teacher’s Guide to Thriving in the Classroom.

Find Jay online: www.teachfromyourbestself.org contact him via his website LinkedIn, X @jayschroder

Episode #322: Dr. Matthew Zakreski

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 08:20:43 -0600

“Dr. Matt”PsyD is a high energy, creative clinical psychologist and professional speaker who utilizes an eclectic approach to meet the specific needs of his neurodivergent clients. He is proud to serve the Gifted community as a consultant, a professor, an author, and a researcher. He has spoken over 400 times all over the world about supporting neurodivergent people. He is also a frequent podcast guest and can be found on many different platforms.

Dr. Zakreski graduated from Widener University’s Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology (IGCP) in 2016. He is the co-founder of The Neurodiversity Collective which provides therapy, IQ testing, coaching, and consulting.

Find "Dr. Matt" online:

https://www.theneurodiversitycollective.com/ speaking/training www.drmattzakreski.com

https://vimeo.com/drmattzakreski

https://www.facebook.com/drmattzakreski/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-zakreski-0a32358

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/the-neurodiversity-collective-succasunna-nj/1254692

https://www.theneurodiversitycollective.com/ (For Therapy)

Https://www.drmattzakreski.com

Episode #321: Danielle Lindner

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 07:12:50 -0600

Danielle Lindner started her own preschool in New Jersey and has taken what she's learned in her years as an educator (and as a mother) and poured that knowledge into a parenting pocket guide. She thrives on helping parents through the difficult preschool years, all the while using her wit, humor and caring demeanor.

An esteemed educational consultant in early childhood education and a renowned parenting coach, Danielle Lindner is also an accomplished entrepreneur and author. She holds an MA in teaching and elementary education (Hons.) from Fairleigh Dickinson University and is the founder of The London Day School, a prestigious institution that provides a nurturing and enriching environment for young learners.

Danielle was recognized as a Top 25 Leading Women Entrepreneurs by Leading Women Entrepreneurs & Business Owners (LWE), a networking home to an impressive roster of talented female entrepreneurs. Visit www.daniellelindner.com to learn more about Danielle, her new book “Parent’s Pocket Guide to Surviving the Preschool Years: One Challenge at a Time,” or to request a parent coaching consultation. Danielle has published numerous children's books, designed to raise caring kids. Recently, she published “Parent’s Pocket Guide to Surviving the Preschool Years: One Challenge at a Time,” to help parents handle their two to five year-olds.

Danielle would be happy to discuss the transition from preschool to KG as well as the challenges teachers may encounter at the KG-2nd grade level with separation anxiety.

Find Danielle online: https://daniellelindner.com/

IG: @danielle.lindner

Special Episode #326: Noemí Rodríguez

Sun, 13 Oct 2024 15:00:00 -0600

Noemí has been a dedicated and passionate force in the world of language education since 2005. A proud graduate of Rutgers University, where she earned her B.A. in Spanish and two Ed.M. degrees, she has built a remarkable career supporting teachers across the globe. From founding the WL Tech Institute and edcampWL to leading Lo Logramos Consulting, her contributions to the field are vast and invaluable.

Over the past 15 years, Noemí has presented at state, regional, national, and international conferences, always bringing her unique insights and enthusiasm for language learning. Today, I’m interviewing her at the CCFLT conference to present her keynote, “The Future is NOW: Redefining Language Learning through Generative AI.”

Find Noemí online: X, IG, FB (@team_lologramos); LinkedIn: Noemí Rodríguez website: www.lologramosconsulting.com

Episode #320: Pablo Muñoz

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 08:01:29 -0600

Pablo Muñoz wrote “The Leader’s Algorithm: How a Personal Theory of Action Transforms your Life, Work & Relationships” Managing Director of Muñoz & Company. As a first-generation high school and college graduate, Pablo’s personal experience fuels his passion for creating high quality school systems. After his retirement from Passaic Public Schools in 2021, Pablo became a Maxwell Leadership Certified Team Member. Pablo uses the leadership techniques garnered as a Maxwell Leadership Certified Team coach, teacher, trainer, and speaker to complement and enhance the profound experiences he has acquired throughout his career in academia. This allows him to create a unique mix of workshops, seminars, keynote speaking, and coaching for his clients, aiding their personal and professional growth.

In addition, Pablo is an Adjunct Professor at Lehigh University; the author of The Leader’s Algorithm; and the host and producer of Latino Leaders podcast. Pablo is gratified by his professional accomplishments, but he is most proud of his family. He is the son of Luz and Pablo Muñoz, both originally from Aguada, Puerto Rico. He is the proud dad of two daughters, Cecilia and Sadie. Pablo is passionate about leadership development, and the crucial role it plays in fostering academic success.

Find Pablo online: @PabloMunoz on LinkedIn

Website: www.themunozcompany.com lots of free content.

Downloadable documents, free chapter of book.

Episode #319: Dr. Don Parker

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 10:06:20 -0600

Dr. Don Parker wrote “Be the Driving Force: Leading Your School on the Road to Equity” provides PD on how to build relationships with students of trauma, SEL and DEI. Don is a highly sought-after speaker and professional development provider. He specializes in supporting teachers to build trusting relationships with students and improving the culture and climate of schools to optimize staff and students experience.

Dr. Parker is a former principal and served at Posen School in Posen, IL where he improved the school climate, staff collaboration, parent engagement, and student achievement. Previous to that he was the principal of Lincoln Avenue School, a K-8 school in Dolton, IL, where he improved the culture, implemented a resilience program, managed the implementation of restorative justice, and increased attendance and student achievement. Dr. Parker has been an educator since 1997 with a background as a teacher, Dean of Students, Assistant Principal of Student Life, Assistant Principal for Curriculum and Instruction, and Assistant Principal for Activities and Athletics.

Find Don online: www.drdonparker.com

X @drdonparker1 FB @drdonparker

Episode #318: Jean Eddy

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 19:07:32 -0600

Jean Eddy is the President and CEO of American Student Assistance (ASA), where she develops and drives the overall strategic direction of the organization. Working with the ASA Board and senior management team, she is responsible for developing and driving the overall strategic direction of the organization in fulfillment of ASA’s mission. Jean provides leadership and oversight for ASA as it evaluates and implements new initiatives to help kids discover their education and career opportunities.

Find Jean online: www.asa.org you can access programs- there are 50 million kids on their platform. @ASA LinkedIn, FB

Episode #317: Jimmy Day

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 21:02:08 -0600

Jimmy Lee Day II, has been a band director for 15 years and has taught in the Aurora Public School District for 7 of those 15 years. In his 15 years as a music educator, Day has rebuilt three band programs under his baton in urban areas. He transformed them into award-winning programs, earning superior ratings scores from district music festivals. As a result of his effective teaching, Day was chosen to participate in the Public Education & Business Coalition and the Aurora Public School Mentoring Community of Practice as a mentor. He was also asked to serve on the Music Advisory Committee for the Aurora Public School District. Day is passionate about meeting students where they are and teaching them life skills and music skills to help them grow as a person and musician. This approach allows him to set high, but attainable expectations that students can feel proud about accomplishing.

Find Jimmy online: Twitter: @jimmylday (The Maestro)

IG: @jimmydayii FB: @The Maestro

Website: www.msha.ke/jimmyldayii dedicated to when he was a Teacher of the Year. His YouTube channel is linked there. Has whole career as an educator music recordings on YouTube.

Episode #316: Larry Dake

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 21:26:09 -0600

Larry Dake is a superintendent out of NY state, Adjunct professor and author of Identifying Small Habits: Left Unchecked by School Leaders Small Faults Can Become Major Cracks (2022), Dads, Leaders, & Father Figures: Creating Influence & Legacy for a Lifetime (2023)-co-author, Crisis Management: Effective School Leadership to Avoid Early Burnout (2021) and a co-author on 100 No-Nonsense Things That ALL School Leaders Should STOP Doing.

Find Larry online: X, FB, LinkedIn @larrydake

Episode #315: Glenn Robbins

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 17:36:10 -0600

Glenn Robbins is the proud Superintendent of the Brigantine Public School District in Brigantine, New Jersey. He has served as a public-school superintendent in New Jersey since 2016. Prior to becoming a superintendent, he was a middle school principal, a high school assistant principal, a high school social studies teacher, and a high school varsity coach. He is also a best-selling author of “Calm In The Chaos: Ancient Stoic Wisdom for Successful School Leadership” and sought after speaker.

Glenn has been awarded numerous administrative international, national and state recognitions including the National Exemplar of Education Award, Northeast Innovative Superintendent Award, NJ Visionary Superintendent Award, Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools Member, NASSP Digital Principal of the Year, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Winner, and SETDA Student Voice Award Winner. He has been invited to the White House, and to the US Department of Education several times.

Find Glenn online: Twitter/X: @GlennGRobbins IG: @GlennGRobbins FB: Glennr1809 and/or Glenn Robbins

Website: GlennRobbins.com

Episode #314: Joël McLean

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 18:43:32 -0600

Joël began his career in education in 1997. He has worked as a science and chemistry teacher at the intermediate and secondary level and has been a school principal since 2006. From 2014 to 2018, Joël was on detachment from his school board as a Pedagogical Leader at CFORP, serving the 12 French school boards of the province of Ontario in Canada, as well as various educational partners. As a leadership coach, he worked with school principals to help develop their leadership skills and board-level pedagogical teams regarding leading, teaching and learning in the digital age. Joël was the principal and the School Efficacy Leader at Conseil scolaire public du Nord-Est de l'Ontario until recently.

He is the founder of Inspire Leadership Coaching and hosts 2 podcasts: Inspire Leadership Podcast and This Is Leadership Podcast.

Find Joël on on FB, X, IG http://inspireleadership.ca

Inspire coaching de leadership FB group: www.facebook.com/inspirelifeleadershipcoaching

Episode #313: Priten Shah

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 18:20:37 -0600

Priten Shah's projects aim to drive change and innovation in education. Priten has an M.ED. in Education Policy and Management from Harvard Graduate School of Education and a B.A. in Philosophy from Harvard College. Priten has had the privilege of educating a wide array of students, ranging from language schools in South Korea to special education classes in New York. These diverse classroom experiences have been instrumental in his understanding of students' unique needs, fostering his ability to deliver tailored educational solutions. A believer in the transformative power of technology, Priten has spearheaded numerous groundbreaking projects, including designing custom Learning Management Systems, developing gamified learning applications, and creating mastery-learning-based online courses. He currently runs two education ventures: United 4 Social Change (U4SC) and PedagogyCloud. At U4SC, his focus is on fostering healthier democracies through interdisciplinary education, making civics education accessible to all. U4SC helps teachers integrate civics into their curricula through animated videos, lesson plans, and innovative classroom activities. PedagogyCloud, on the other hand, blends his passion for education with the latest technology. He and his team are helping educators keep pace with rapid advancements in artificial intelligence. Their projects include a customizable chatbot for teachers to use in their classrooms (SocratAI) and professional development resources and curriculum development tools for teachers (PedagogAI).

Find Priten online via his website: https://pritenshah.com/ pedagog.ai socrat.ai | Instagram Socrat.ai They can host PD in schools: PD Flyer (pcdn.co) They post webinars, news, lesson plans & prompt libraries

Episode #312: Dr. Lindsay Prendergast

Thu, 15 Aug 2024 05:52:45 -0600

Dr. Lindsay Prendergast has served schools and districts across the globe for nearly two decades as a leadership coach, consultant, principal, counselor, and teacher. She holds a master’s degree in education administration from Colorado Western State University and a Doctor of Education in education leadership from Wilkes University. Dr. Prendergast currently serves as Assistant Director of Learning Experiences for The Danielson Group (Framework for Teaching). While spending several post pandemic years directly supporting nearly 30 principals as a leadership coach alongside Piper Lee, Lindsay spent hundreds of hours in classrooms observing teachers. These experiences, coupled with her expertise in instructional leadership and coaching, greatly informed the purpose of and need for this book. Lindsay enjoys advocating for educators by writing and speaking around the world for organizations such as ASCD, Learning Forward, Edutopia, AMLE, and others around instructional leadership grounded in student-centered schools teachers thrive.

Connect with Lindsay via Twitter: @lindspren LinkedIn or her website www.edhabits.com

Episode #311: Jen Manly

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 19:15:49 -0600

Jen Manly is a current college instructor and a former high school and middle school computer science teacher and curriculum developer. She is a skilled facilitator and has presented to thousands of educators at the local, state, and national levels. She is a certified Agile Leader K–12 Trainer and coauthor of the Agile Educator Guide. Nationally, she has been recognized as an ITEEA Teacher Excellence awardee and a CS Teaching Excellence Honorable Mention.

Find Jen online: Twitter: @jennifer_manly Instagram: @strategicclassroom LinkedIn: Jennifer Manly TikTok: @strategicclassroom

Content IG:www.instagram.com/jenmanlycreates

Episode #310: Phil Januszewski

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 03:26:49 -0600

Phil Januszewski is a tattoo covered, Netflix baking-show flopping, high-energy chemistry/physics teaching keynote speaker and coach that is on a mission to create and spread happiness through education, motivation, and entertainment. He empowers his audiences to completely flourish in their personal lives first, in order to ignite passion and purpose in their professional lives as well. Phil is a nationally known dynamic speaker of 10+ years and a public school educator since 2005 with a bachelors in chemistry, a masters in teaching leadership, and a certification in positive education. When not teaching, speaking, or supporting the givers in the world. Phil enjoys everyday adventures with his wife and two children and pursuing his personal passions of fitness, baking, networking, and personal development. If you ever meet Phil, be prepared for a great deal of positive energy, love, and passion. Find Phil online: Website: https://philjanuszewski.com/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/philjanuszewskispeaks

Instagram: www.instagram.com/philjanuszewski

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/philjanuszewski

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/philjanuszewski

Tik Tok: www.tiktok.com/philjanuszewski

Twitter/X: www.x.com/philjanuszewski

Link to Subscribe to Positive Growth Lounge Emails: https://forms.gle/jeGC1EKPeuNAzst

Episode #309: Carlos Johnson

Wed, 24 Jul 2024 08:57:58 -0600

As a professional speaker, trainer, and author, Mr. Johnson, AKA “Coach Carlos,” is locally bred, but his work and research on culture and engagement have taken him nationally and internationally. “Coach Carlos” and his team of consultants have utilized his experience and research to successfully turn around three failing public schools and one private Christian academy. In addition, his training and strategies have helped to change school culture and increase parental engagement, student enrollment, and staff and student retention. His driving belief is: “After 20 years of research, all evidence confirms that a highly engaged school culture is the mother of High-performance!”

His transformational philosophy and practice have recently been published by Solution Tree entitled Power Engage-Seven Power Moves For Building Strong Relationships To Increase Engagement With Students And Parents System And Philosophy. His online/on-site system trains thousands of parents, students, and instructional teams each year on the psychology and practice of engagement.

Additionally, in response to young men’s worldwide academic and behavioral failure, he created the online tutoring, life skills, and coaching program for boys called Future Man Prep. “Coach Carlos’s” purpose of transforming institutions and individuals is obvious, and his passion is infectious when he speaks or trains.

Find Coach Carlos online: www.imageofsucess.com www.carlosjohnson.org FB: @coachcarlos