Build Momentum - Thought Leadership for Education

In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Dr. Matthew Montgomery, the current superintendent of two school districts, Lake Forest Community High School District 115 and Lake Forest Elementary District 67, for almost four years. In addition to this unique setup, he is also the Lead Superintendent for Cohort and Partner Connections in AASA, The School Superintendents Association. Some Questions We Ask:Can you tell us more about your career as a superintendent for two school districts? (01:30)What are the most rewarding aspects of school leadership? (06:19)What is your take regarding the 2023 RAND study, and how do you cope with the stress that your role brings? (08:18)Has scrutiny of the superintendency changed over the years? (12:27)Do you think your experiences are similar or different compared to other superintendents across the nation? (15:23)What strategies do you incorporate to help the community understand your vision for the district? (19:15)What are your thoughts regarding humanizing the role of superintendency? (24:11)How can we better support district leaders? (28:51)In This Episode, You Will Learn:About Dr. Montgomery's career (01:53)Rewarding aspects of school leadership (06:22)Thoughts about the 2023 RAND study and coping with stress (08:31)Scrutiny of the superintendency (12:37)Similarities and differences regarding superintendents' experiences (15:40)Strategies for uniting the community around a vision for the districts Dr. Montgomery leads (19:29)Thoughts on humanizing the superintendency (25:04)How K-12 education system supporters can advocate for district leaders (29:03) Quotes:“I was a high school science teacher, and I always wanted to know what was happening in the principal's office when they would close the door. … When I got to the principal's office, then I was curious about what was happening in the superintendent's office. And now I make the joke that when I'm in my office, if anybody walks in and closes the door, I'm like, ‘Oh, please don't!' [Now] I've had my fill of what happens.”“As a leader, you are a conduit for an incredible amount of stakeholder voices. You need to try to find some cohesiveness and then be responsible for helping lead them in the direction that they have defined.”“Leadership is the most rewarding and challenging role that people can experience, and it is a privilege to be given this responsibility.”“We need to have a community that understands that you need great people leading organizations. How we treat our leaders matters—and increases the likelihood when one leader leaves, you are going to find another great leader to follow.”Stay in touch with Dr. Matthew Montgomery:LinkedIn Lake Forest Schools Stay in touch with Sarah Williamson:SWPR GROUP WebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Chad Bolser:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Dr. Heidi Sipe, Superintendent of Umatilla School District in Oregon, a role she has held for a remarkable 17 years. Dr. Sipe previously served as  the district's Federal Programs Director and Assistant Superintendent for five years. She also has a higher education background: She is an Adjunct Professor at Lewis and Clark College in Oregon and was an Adjunct Professor at Concordia University in Chicago.  Dr. Sipe brings a government perspective as well, having served as an Assistant Superintendent in the Oregon Department of Education.Some Questions We Ask:What is the most rewarding aspect of serving as a superintendent? (01:24)What is your opinion about the 2023 RAND Study and how do you cope with stress in the superintendency? (02:06)How has scrutiny of the superintendency changed over the years? (03:26)What are your strategies for bringing the community together to see your vision as a superintendent? (06:51)How do you gauge the engagement level of your community?  (10:00)Do you think your stress level as a superintendent is representative of others across the nation? (11:30)What creative ways have you used storytelling and communication? (13:04)What's your advice to district leaders who are having difficulty building a community? (16:56)Why is it important to see superintendents as real people? (20:02)How can we better support superintendents in their roles? (21:39)In This Episode, You Will Learn:Rewarding aspects of the superintendency (01:33)Dr. Sipe's opinion on the 2023 RAND study and stress coping mechanisms (02:22)Scrutiny of the superintendency (03:31)Bringing the community together around one vision (07:01)Gauging community engagement levels (10:12)Stress level comparisons among superintendents (11:41)Creative ways of reaching out to the community (13:17)Advice for other district leaders (17:01)The importance of humanizing superintendents (20:28)Tips for advocating for superintendents (21:50)Quotes:“How I do parental involvement: I try to be places. I try to visit. I try to get to know people.”“We can't ever forget that we are given this incredible opportunity—but also responsibility—to be a partner in raising the next generation of leaders, and if we don't own that and recognize the significance of it, we're failing our communities. No one's going to trust someone to be a partner in raising their kid unless they know that person and they know what they stand for."Stay in touch with Dr. Heidi Sipe:LinkedIn Stay in touch with Sarah Williamson:SWPR GROUP WebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Chad Bolser:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Dr. James Lane, Chief Executive Officer of PDK International, a nonprofit that supports those who work in public education, and its community-based movement Educators Rising. He has served at the federal, state, and local levels: in the U.S. Department of Education as Acting Assistant Secretary and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education; as Superintendent of Public Instruction in Virginia; and as Superintendent of three Virginia school divisions in Chesterfield County, Goochland County, and Middlesex County. Dr. Lane is also a former school principal and band director.Some Questions We Ask:Tell us more about your career at all levels of K-12 education and now as a leader at PDK? (01:22)What is the most rewarding aspect of your career? (05:01)What insights from your time in the Department of Education surprised you—and were there any misconceptions about the superintendency that you experienced while working as a policymaker? (08:02)What are your thoughts about the 2023 RAND study, and do you have similar perspectives as other superintendents? (12:36)What are your strategies for bringing the community together to see your vision? (17:09)How have you been able to connect with the whole community to support you along the way in your career? (22:59)What is your opinion regarding humanizing the role of superintendents? (28:36)What advice would you give to supporters of K-12 education about advocating for district leaders? (33:13)In This Episode, You Will Learn:About Dr. James Lane (01:32)Rewarding aspect of his expansive career (05:20)Insights he gained and misconceptions he encountered (08:21)Thoughts about the 2023 RAND study (13:06)Strategies for bringing the community together (17:34)How he connected with the community (23:13)His thoughts on humanizing the role of superintendents (28:51)Advice on advocating for K-12 district leaders (33:47)Quotes:“For me, the rewarding part of education is working with kids and preparing them for an amazing life and career and job and everything else. And I tried to remember that in every role I've ever been in.”“The very best school districts I've seen have stability in the board and the superintendent, and then that leads to stability in the principalship, of the teachers, and of expectations around what we do in schools.”“What your families want for their kids is important. Be willing to change what you want to do in that community based on the feedback of families.”“The best thing that we can do to improve schools is make sure there's a great teacher in every classroom who's engaging parents and students.”Stay in touch with Dr. James Lane:PDK InternationalEducators RisingLinkedIn Stay in touch with Sarah Williamson:SWPR GROUP WebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Chad Bolser:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Dr. Buddy Berry, the superintendent of Eminence Independent Schools in Kentucky. He founded the innovative model “School on FIRE” (Framework of Innovation for Reinventing Education). He was recognized by the Obama Administration as one of the top 100 School Superintendents in America for his district's implementation of digital learning and invited to the ConnectED Superintendents Summit at the White House. Some Questions We Ask:Please tell us about your career as a superintendent. (01:13)What is the most rewarding aspect of being a superintendent? (04:53)What can you say about the 2023 RAND study and how do you cope with the stress your career brings? (06:06)How has scrutiny of the superintendency changed over the years? (07:41)Do your experiences represent other school administrators' experiences across the nation? (09:21)How do you bring the community to see your vision? (11:02)What are the core values or core metrics that you focused on to change the community's view of the education system? (16:52)What is your advice to other district leaders for building a community? (23:55)What is your take on humanizing the role of superintendents and how can the community benefit from it? (26:48)What advice can you give supporters of K-12 education about advocating for district leaders? (28:45)In This Episode, You Will Learn:About Dr. Buddy Berry (01:39)Rewarding aspects of being a superintendent (05:02)His take on the 2023 RAND Study and coping with stress (06:33)Scrutiny of the superintendency (07:46)Comparison of his personal experiences to other administrators' (09:30)Building a community with one vision (11:17)Establishing core values across a district  (17:24)Advice for district leaders (24:18)Humanizing the role of superintendents (26:56)Advice to those advocating for superintendents and district leaders (29:13)Quotes:“Enrollment has doubled in the last decade. Test scores have gone from the eighth percentile to hovering around the 80s. We started the first early college high school program in Kentucky that's on a college campus. … We've had 500 kids go through that program, and 498 have earned a degree or are college right now. Crazy results from a population that's, you know, 70% free and reduced lunch, 18% homeless, and the vast majority first-generation college.”“I'm a big believer that your teachers live in the community. They're the people that are mostly talking to everybody at the grocery. And so if you can win your teachers over to your vision and your thinking and what you're doing, they'll sell it for you.”“You can't win everybody over in one day. So it's about that consistency and that transparency and just being real to them—that I think eventually does win everybody over.”Stay in touch with Dr. Buddy Berry:School on F.I.R.E School on Fire Innovating Instruction Stay in touch with Sarah Williamson:SWPR GROUP WebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Chad Bolser:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Dr. Matthew Hicks, Superintendent of Northeastern Wayne Schools in Indiana. He is also currently a lecturer at Purdue University and a dissertation chair at Indiana Wesleyan University. Earlier in his career, he served as a language arts classroom teacher and as a principal at the high school and middle school levels. He has volunteered as a Den Leader for Crossroads for America Council, Boy Scouts of America for the past eight years.Some Questions We Ask:Can you share more about yourself and your career as a superintendent? (01:46)What is the most rewarding aspect of your career? (03:58)Do you agree with the 2023 RAND study? And how do you cope with the stress your career brings? (06:56)Has scrutiny of the superintendency changed over the years? (09:27)In comparison with other administrators you interact with across the nation, do you believe your own personal experiences align with their experiences? (11:21)How do you bring the community to see and share your vision so you can build it together? (13:07)How do you communicate with the community and connect with educators and families through creative storytelling? (15:04)What is your advice for other district leaders who are struggling with building a community? (16:50)Why do you think it's important to see superintendents as humans and not just robots? (19:16)How can the community support and advocate for superintendents? (21:52)In This Episode, You Will Learn:About Dr. Matthew Hicks (01:56)Rewarding aspects of being a superintendent (04:05)Thoughts about the RAND study and coping with stress (07:31)Scrutiny of the superintendency (09:34)About his personal experiences in district leadership vs others' (11:32)Uniting a community around one vision (13:17)Effective communication strategies (15:17)Advice for district leaders (16:55)Humanizing the role of superintendents (19:25)How the community can advocate for superintendents (22:05)Quotes:“There are things in education that happen that are just very difficult to deal with. Losing a student is an absolute nightmare scenario for that family, for a school community—and it is one of those things that reverberates through time. You don't forget those moments because they hurt so bad. Those sorts of things will unfortunately be a part of the role.”“And our [vision statement] is that we're a nurturing family where each Knight belongs, grows, and contributes. That's our whole vision. And so if I can't run something through the ‘belong, grow, or contribute' filter, then we're not doing it. If it doesn't fit into that filter, that's not us. That's not what we're doing right now. And so it really has helped with the decision-making. It puts us in a position to give a quality ‘no' for the things that don't fit in that vision and an enthusiastic ‘yes' for the things that do fit within that vision.”Stay in touch with Dr. Matthew Hicks:Email: mhicks@nws.k12.in.usStay in touch with Sarah Williamson:SWPR GROUP WebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Chad Bolser:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Dr. Rachel White, Founder and Lead Researcher at The Superintendent Lab, a hub for data, research, insights, and innovation on the public school district superintendency. She is currently the Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy at the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. White has also taught at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and Old Dominion University and has served as a school board member and volunteer coach at Van Wert City Schools in Ohio. She is a member of the University Council for Education Administration, the American Educational Research Association, and the Association for Education Finance and Policy.  Some Questions We Ask:Tell us about yourself and The Superintendent Lab. (01:31)How do you humanize the role of superintendents and incorporate that in your research? (04:26)In what ways did the RAND study inspire your research? (08:08)How has scrutiny of the superintendency changed over the years, and is turnover being addressed by retention programs? (11:52)In your research, have you looked at partnerships between superintendents and the community? (16:07)Which of your research findings are most alarming? (18:34)In your opinion, how will the new administration impact K-12 leadership? (24:48)How can the community support and advocate for superintendents? (28:06)Tell us more about your hopes for The Superintendent Lab. (30:26)In This Episode, You Will Learn:All about Dr. Rachel White and The Superintendent Lab (01:40)Humanizing superintendents (04:34)Dr. White's research (08:13)Scrutiny of the superintendency and retention programs to address turnover (12:22)Partnerships between superintendents and the community (16:33)Research findings that alarm her (18:40)Impacts of the new administration on K-12 leadership (24:58)Advocating for superintendents at the community level (28:22)Hopes for The Superintendent Lab in the future (30:32)Quotes:“Superintendents that have strong trusting relationships with their school board—and particularly their school board president—are significantly less likely to be job seeking.”“What we know is that principal stability impacts teacher stability, and we know teacher stability does impact students outcomes and educational experiences, right? So it's sort of like doing a stepwise process to get to what is the impact of superintendent turnover.”“Any sort of changes at the federal level may mean that superintendents really have to step up right and make sure that we continue to say, ‘We are going to serve every kid that walks in our door, and we're going to do whatever it takes to do that.'”Stay in touch with Dr. Rachel White:LinkedInThe Superintendent Lab websiteEmail: rachel.white@austin.utexas.eduStay in touch with Sarah Williamson:SWPR GROUP WebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Chad Bolser:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Dr. Alena Zachery-Ross, Superintendent of Ypsilanti Community Schools in Michigan. She has decades of experience at public K-12 and charter schools of all sizes, including serving as Superintendent for Okemos Public Schools and for the Muskegon Heights Public School Academy System. She is a sought-after professional speaker, educational consultant, and leadership development coach as well as a church pastor.Some Questions We Ask:Can you tell us more about your career and your current role? (01:23)What is the most rewarding aspect of your career? (02:10)What can you say about the RAND research, and how you are able to cope with stress? (03:03)How do you think scrutiny of the superintendency has changed over the years? (04:32)How do you unify people to build community within your school district? (05:32)How much do you think your experiences align with those of superintendents in your state or across the country? (07:11)How are you sharing stories to bring people together? (08:33)What advice can you give to other superintendents with regards to cultivating engagement? (10:34)What makes people forget that superintendents are real people, and how can we demonstrate that you are solving challenging issues to give K-12 students the best education possible? (12:35)How can a community advocate for superintendents? (14:06)In This Episode, You Will Learn:All about Dr. Zachery-Ross' educational career (01:31)Rewarding aspects throughout her career (02:19)Her take on coping with stress (03:26)Scrutiny of the superintendency through the years (04:54)Unifying the community (05:47)Her personal experiences as a superintendent compared with others' (07:26)Sharing stories to unify people (08:50)Dr. Zachery-Ross' advice to other school leaders (10:49)Treating superintendents as individuals and not robots (12:55)Advocating for superintendents (14:44)Quotes:“During my time as superintendent in two different districts, I've been able to take students to Ghana, Africa, on educational journeys, and watching them has been the best joy. It's been life-changing for those groups of students. It was phenomenal to see them return as transformed people and as transformed learners.”“We all want to make a difference in our students' lives. We all want to see academic growth. We all want to support our staff and families and make an impact on our community.”“A smile goes a long way—and it's up to us to be personal. It's up to us to make that connection.”Stay in touch with Dr. Alena Zachery-Ross:Dr. Alena Zachery-Ross WebsiteYpsilanti Community Schools WebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideSWPR GROUP WebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Chad Bolser:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Dr. Dan Cox, the Superintendent of Schools in Rochester Community Unit School District 3A in Rochester, Illinois. In his 16-year education career in the state, he led the Staunton Community Unit School District and the Jasper County Community Unit 1 School District. He also served as an Assistant Principal and Principal at East Richland Elementary School in Olney. He is active on many boards at the local, regional, and state levels, including the State Assessment Review Committee for the Illinois State Board of Education.Some Questions We Ask:Can you tell us more about your career as a superintendent? (01:25)What aspect of your career is most rewarding? (02:18)What are your thoughts about the RAND research and how important wellness is to you in coping with stress? (04:04)How do you feel scrutiny of the superintendency has changed over the years? (05:45)What are key factors in unifying the community to support your vision? (09:34)How much do you think your experiences align with those of superintendents in your state or across the country? (07:11)How are you able to share and communicate your stories with the community? (12:39)What advice can you give to other school leaders who are struggling in building a community? (15:21) Why is it important for people to see superintendents as human beings? (18:23)How can the community support superintendents? (20:20)In This Episode, You Will Learn:Dr. Cox's career in education (01:36)Rewarding aspects of his career (02:29)The  importance of wellness in coping with stress (04:15)Scrutiny of the superintendency (05:53)Developing a single vision for the community (09:56)Thoughts on communication and storytelling (12:54)Advice on community-building for fellow school leaders (15:43)Humanizing the role of superintendents (18:35)Advocating for superintendents (20:26)Quotes:“We had a pandemic, and it was our responsibility as superintendents to bring a sense of hope, but also a sense of peace and calm and renewal—and then bring in joy and love: the joy of education and the love for what we do and who we serve, which is our kids and our communities.”“If I was to break it down and just really be authentic and vulnerable about it, [my advice for wellness] is to know who you are at your core and don't identify yourself with your profession.”Stay in touch with Dr. Dan Cox:LinkedInStay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideSWPR GROUP WebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Chad Bolser:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Dr. Quintin Shepherd. Quintin has 19 years' experience as a superintendent and currently holds that leadership role at Pflugerville Independent School District in Texas. He has a demonstrated history of improving school districts in both rural and urban areas in multiple states by being committed to transformational and collaborative leadership focused on doing what is best for the children in each district. Quintin is the co-author of the book “The Secret To Transformational Leadership,” together with podcast co-host Sarah Williamson, and his second book, “Transforming Education for Systemic Change and Empowered Communities,” was published in February 2024Some Questions We Ask:Tell us more about your career as a superintendent. (01:20)What is most rewarding about being a superintendent? (04:21)What are your thoughts regarding the 2022 and 2023 RAND research, and how do you cope with stress in your career? (06:02)How has scrutiny of the superintendency changed over the years? (09:32)In what ways have you developed a shared vision for your district with your community? (11:57)How are your experiences similar to other K-12 school leaders across the nation? (15:09)What is the best way to illuminate the humanity of district leaders? (17:27)As advocates for K-12 education, how can we truly support superintendents today? (19:14)In This Episode, You Will Learn:About Dr. Quintin Shepherd's career in education (01:30)The joys of being a superintendent (04:27) The changing nature of stress in this job over time, and his strategies for coping with it (06:29)Changes in scrutiny of the superintendency with the rise of the internet (09:38)Developing a shared vision for the district and being the chief storyteller (12:17)His experiences as a superintendent compared to others across the nation (15:17)Humanizing superintendents and district leaders (17:48)How supporters can all advocate for superintendents (19:41)Quotes:“There are only two types of people who work in schools. There are those who teach and those who support teachers. And never forget that [as a principal] you are now the chief supporter of your teachers in your school. ”“If I'm not my best self, I can't be an effective leader for the people who are counting on me.”“Leaders are tremendously adept at filling space. We can create it and fill it all day long, but it's a totally different skill set to be able to create the space and then just hold it for others, to be able to fill that space—and do so in a way that's respectful."“I'm just a big advocate of going to the community first. It requires tremendous vulnerability, tremendous humility. But if you lead that way, the community will actually step up and help you solve the problem.”Connect with Quintin Shepherd:Dr. Quintin Shepherd's LinkedInDr. Quintin Shepherd's TwitterStay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideSWPR GROUP WebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Chad Bolser:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Dr. George Philhower, Superintendent of Eastern Hancock Schools in Indiana since 2021. Previously he was an administrator for 13 years at Western Wayne Schools, another rural Indiana district. He holds a bachelor's degree in elementary and special education from Cardinal Stritch University, a master's in educational leadership and administration from the University of Indianapolis, and both an Ed.S. and Ph.D. from Indiana State University.Some Questions We Ask:Tell us more about your career as a superintendent. (01:33)What brings you joy in being a superintendent? (03:32)What are your thoughts regarding the 2022 and 2023 RAND research, and how do you cope with stress in your career? (05:01)How has scrutiny of the superintendency changed over the years? (07:02)How are your experiences similar to other K-12 school leaders across the nation? (08:52)What is the best way to illuminate the humanity of district leaders? (10:16)In what ways have you developed a shared vision for your district with your community? (12:02)What is your advice for someone who's just starting as a superintendent, and how can they build their community? (14:54)What advice can you give to superintendents who might be struggling with that? (15:51)As advocates for K-12 education, how can we truly support superintendents today? (17:12)In This Episode, You Will Learn:Dr. Philhower's career in education (01:45)The joys of being a superintendent (03:42)His point of view on the RAND research and his strategies for coping with stress (05:25)Change in scrutiny of the superintendency (07:08)His experiences as a superintendent compared to others across the nation (09:16)Developing a shared vision for the district (12:07)His advice for superintendents who are just starting to build their communities of support (15:13)Different ways of rallying a community through storytelling (16:24)Advice for struggling superintendents (16:00)How supporters can all advocate for superintendents (17:28)Quotes:“I just really believe that if we do nothing, the gravity of the work we're doing, the gravity of the world, is not pulling us towards a place of joy. So if we're going to get there, it's got to be intentional. And that intentionality comes from just looking for things that bring you joy and looking for opportunities to cause moments of joy.”“A face-to-face conversation or a phone call when you have questions or concerns is 100% the best way to resolve an issue.”“We do what we call CAFE meetings. It stands for community and family engagement. We do those quarterly. We've got a network of employee partners and community leaders and anybody that's willing to sit down and chat with us that we meet with. And we'll get over 100 people at those meetings sometimes.”Stay in touch with Dr. George Philhower:Eastern Hancock SchoolsLinkedIStay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideSWPR GROUP WebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Chad Bolser:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Dr. Rainey Briggs, the superintendent of the Baraboo School District in Baraboo, Wisconsin.. In 2022, he was recognized as one of the 48 Most Influential Black Leaders in Wisconsin. Dr. Briggs and his wife, Julie, who is also an educator, are the co-founders of Meraki Consulting, which offers seminars, workshops, professional development, coaching, mediation, and other services centered on equity and inclusion.  Dr. Briggs works collaboratively with organizations such as North Star Consulting Services, where he partners to provide equity institutes to school districts around the country. In their spare time, the Briggses enjoy going to sporting events and traveling with their three teenage daughters: Rayna, Rylee, and Reagan.Some Questions We Ask:Tell us more about your career. (01:25)Do you agree with the RAND research showing that superintendents have one of the most stressful jobs in America, and how did you cope with stress in your own career? (04:51)How has scrutiny of the superintendency changed over the years? (08:30)How did your experiences compare with other superintendents across the nation? (10:24)What brings you joy and what do you love about your job? (12:15)What have you found is the key to bringing people together to see your vision as a leader and cultivate community support? (14:39)In what ways are you using storytelling to connect with educators, families and the broader community? (16:14)What advice can you give to superintendents who might be struggling with divisiveness and building a community? (18:06)Why is it important for the community to see superintendents as real human beings? (20:11)What can community advocates do better to support K-12 leaders? (23:50)In This Episode, You Will Learn:About Dr. Briggs' career (01:33)His perspective on job stress and coping strategies (05:22)Changes in scrutiny of the superintendency (08:52)His personal experiences as a superintendent as compared to others (10:38)About what brings him joy in his work (12:39)Keys to bringing people together and cultivating community support (15:01)Different ways of rallying a community through storytelling (16:24)Advice for superintendents struggling with divisiveness (18:21)The importance of communities' viewing superintendents as real human beings (21:05)Suggestions on advocating for K-12 leaders (24:32)Quotes:”When you start to judge, you lose out on curiosity, right? That curiosity of really wanting to know and understand what's happening or how you can even support others is really important.”“Knowing your values, your worth, your beliefs, and what you stand for is the number one piece of advice that I would give.”Stay in touch with Dr. Rainey Briggs:Baraboo School District WebsiteMeraki Consulting, LLCLinkedInStay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideSWPR GROUP WebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Chad Bolser:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Dr. Sandy Husk. During her remarkable 48-year career, she has served at every level, from classroom teacher and school counselor to superintendent to  interim CEO and executive director for ACSD (the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, a nonprofit with more than 125,000 members in 128 countries). She is currently the advisor to the CEO for MindPrint Learning; a member of the board of directors at Wayfinder and at Abl; and a board member and advisor for Husk Consulting. As a district leader, she has helped prepare students for graduation all across the U.S., including Oregon, Tennessee, and Colorado, learning each state's idiosyncrasies.Some Questions We Ask:Tell us more about your career. (01:22)What have been the most rewarding aspects of your work in education? (02:47)Do you agree with the RAND research showing that superintendents have one of the most stressful jobs in America, and how did you cope with stress in your own career? (04:05)How has scrutiny of the superintendency changed over the years? (06:03)How did you unify communities to see your vision for the district–especially during times of budget cuts? (06:51)How did your experiences compare with other superintendents across the nation? (09:28)How are you able to rally people around storytelling and communications opportunities? (11:05)What advice can you give to superintendents having difficulties building relationships within a divisive community? (12:21)Why is it important for the community to see superintendents as real human beings? (14:53)What can community advocates do better in supporting K-12 leaders? (16:25)In This Episode, You Will Learn:About Dr. Husk's career (01:31)Rewarding aspects of her career serving districts in multiple states (03:01)Her perspective on stress and coping strategies (04:30)Changes in scrutiny of the superintendency (06:12)How to promote a unifying vision for a district (07:12)Her personal experiences as a superintendent as compared to others (09:45)Different ways of rallying a community (11:24)Advice for superintendents today (12:29)The importance of communities' viewing superintendents as real human beings (15:03)Suggestions on advocating for K-12 leaders (16:46)Quotes:“Every employee and every connected leader needs to be working towards the same communications so that you can get that confidence and the belief up. I have said this many, many times: I can get up and make a speech, and a whole bunch of people aren't going to believe it—but if the teacher and the bus driver and the secretary are saying it, now you've got momentum.”“One thing I learned over the many years is I had to get some rules for myself on work-life balance.”“You have to keep focusing on the vision. We want to feel good about each other even when we're making really, really tough decisions.”“What I did with employees … was to try to get them to equate [the cuts] to something that they understand in their househStay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideSWPR GROUP WebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Chad Bolser:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Dr. Adam Clark, Superintendent of Mount Diablo Unified School District in California. He was named as a 2022 Superintendent to Watch by the National School Public Relations Association. Previously, Dr. Clark served as Superintendent for Vallejo City Unified School District and Associate Superintendent at Antioch Unified School District. He has also been a principal at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.Some Questions We Ask:Tell us about your career in education and your current role at Mount Diablo. (01:30)What is the most rewarding aspect of your career? (02:27)How are you able to deal with stress? (04:45)How do you think the scrutiny of the superintendency has changed over the years? (07:12)How do you bring different communities together to see your vision? (11:05)To what extent do you believe your experiences are typical of superintendents in your state or nationally? (13:56)What advice can you give to other superintendents who are struggling to cultivate engagement within their communities? (17:53)What causes people to overlook the fact that superintendents are actual individuals, and how can we show that you are real people tackling difficult problems to enable K-12 kids to receive the best education possible? (20:38)What can you suggest to advocates, community members, and parents for supporting district leaders? (24:31)In This Episode, You Will Learn:All about Dr. Adam Clark's career (01:38)Rewarding aspect of his work  in education (02:40)Strategies for coping and dealing with stress (04:52)Changes in scrutiny of the superintendency (07:21)Unifying communities around a vision (11:24)His personal experiences vs. other superintendents' experiences  (14:13)Dr. Clark's advice to other superintendents (18:06)Seeing superintendents as individuals (20:54)Suggestions for advocates in the community (25:07)Quotes:“I remember how it was to be a young parent, and how maybe I didn't have all the information, and I just reacted to certain things. I also remember being a student myself—and that's one thing I try to remind people, to remember when you were a student, remember how your mind worked and the things that were important to you.”“I want to show my true self and who I am. Yes, I do have to, at times, speak properly and correctly and use the right terminology and things like that. But at other times, I've got to show myself. I have to show excitement. I have to show disappointment. I have to talk about things that we won't stand for, we won't tolerate, and I need to be forceful when I say those things. But then I need to show true excitement and exuberance when good things are happening.”Stay in touch with Dr. Adam Clark:LinkedIn Mount Diablo Unified School District Stay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideSWPR GROUP WebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Chad Bolser:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined Dr. Randy Mahlerwein, an Assistant Superintendent in Mesa Public Schools in Arizona. He has been a public educator and leader for the past 24 years and a key contributor for the past four years in his district's implementation of the Next Education Workforce. He is also an influencer, researcher, and educator. Dr. Mahlerwein is hyper-motivated to change the conditions that influence the environments in which educators and students operate daily.Some Questions We Ask:Please tell us about your career and your current role. (01:13)What are the most rewarding aspects of serving in school leadership? (02:29)How are you able to cope with the stress of your career? (06:47)How has scrutiny of your position changed in the last few years? (09:52)How are you able to communicate with diverse groups to support your district's goals, help them come together constructively despite disagreements, and truly create a sense of community? (11:54)How do you think your experiences compare to those of school administrators in your state, locality, or country? (15:30)Can you tell us more about your leadership style in education trades? (20:49)Why do you think the community needs to perceive you as a genuine person tackling difficult problems and giving K-12 children the finest education possible? (23:06)What advice would you give advocates for supporting their district leaders? (25:45)In This Episode, You Will Learn:About Dr. Mahlerwein's career in district leadership and his role in Mesa Public Schools (01:26)Aspects of serving in school leadership (02:36)Strategies for coping with stress (06:50)Changes in scrutiny of his position (10:05)Ways to bring the community together to support district goals (12:09)Similar experiences among school administrators(15:56)Dr. Mahlerwein's leadership style in education trades (20:56)The importance of community acknowledgement of superintendents as real people (23:15)How advocates can support district leaders (25:57)Quotes:“I believe happy teachers and happy administrators produce happy students—and happy students learn.”“We really started talking about the concept of earning your title every day. When you've been bestowed with an opportunity as a governing board [member] or superintendent, and you have to be the model. You have to work harder. As you move up through the ranks as leaders, the responsibility becomes greater.”“Once you build a psychologically safe team, there's nothing they can't do, because they're going to talk about all the most difficult things together with respect and dignity.”“If we want to be thought of as humans, it's our responsibility to communicate and lead in a way that people can see. You can't just expect to hand people a belief about you that you haven't worked hard to earn.”Stay in touch with Randy Mahlerwein:Email: rmahlerwein@mpsaz.orgStay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideSWPR GROUP WebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Chad Bolser:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Dr. Susan Enfield, the former superintendent of the Washoe County School District in Nevada. She also spent 10 years as the superintendent of Highline Public Schools in Burien, Washington. Prior to joining Highline in 2012, she had held the positions of Chief Academic Officer and Interim Superintendent at Seattle Public Schools.  Some Questions We Ask:Please tell us more about your roles as a superintendent, the districts you oversaw, and your current activities? (1:23)Describe how you have gone about building The Network of Distinguished Educators and its work and achievements? (1:56)What was your greatest source of fulfillment as a superintendent? (4:11)Can you tell us more about your upcoming book? (5:39)How did you handle different stressors throughout your career as a superintendent? (9:21)What are your observations with regards to the changes in the role of superintendents over the years? (11:50)How much do your experiences reflect those of other superintendents across the nation—and do you think you all have had similar experiences in relation to the stressors? (13:26)What is the key to bringing people to see your vision as a leader and cultivating communal support? (15:36)How have you been able to engage with educators, families, and communities through storytelling and communication? (17:56)How can parents and members of the community help our country's school districts more effectively? (20:04)Would it be beneficial if community people and parents could comprehend superintendents by placing themselves in their position? (23:09)How do you cultivate quality board members? (25:02)In This Episode, You Will Learn:About Dr. Susan Enfield's life as a superintendent (1:30)Her role in building The Network of Distinguished Educators (2:05)Dr. Enfield's greatest sources of fulfillment as a superintendent (4:15)All about her upcoming book (5:56)How she handled stressors while in the role of a superintendent (9:28)Changes in the role of superintendents throughout the years (12:00)Ways in which her own experiences were similar to other superintendents (13:40)Key factors in uniting people behind her vision as a leader (15:51)Her engagement with educators, families, and communities (18:11)How of parents and members of the community can help school districts (20:18)Effectively understanding superintendents  (23:49)Cultivating quality board members (25:37)Quotes:“I think we are in a time where we have to find language and causes that bring all of us together around the right things and have conversations around that.”“The work of serving children is a gift on any day, and you endure those hard days on the job for the sake of the work."“Leadership is not about self-aggrandizement. Leadership is not about personal, individual accomplishments. Leadership is about service above self.”Stay in touch with Dr. Susan Enfield:The NetStay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideSWPR GROUP WebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Chad Bolser:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

Hello Build Momentum for Education listeners, we're so excited to kick off Season 5 of the Build Momentum for Education Podcast. This season, we're exploring a particularly unique perspective in K-12, thought leadership, humanizing the role of the superintendent. In this special podcast series, we interview current and former superintendents and researchers to pursue the core question, how can we better see superintendents as real people navigating complex challenges to provide the best possible education for our K-12 students. We dig deeper into how this important work can help build community, invite collaboration and increase widespread engagement. Episodes will run every other Thursday on Spotify, iTunes or whatever platform you listen to.Stay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideSWPR GROUP WebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Chad Bolser:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebookStay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideSWPR GROUP WebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Chad Bolser:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Marina Parr, Director for Workforce System Advancement at Washington's Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board and Stephanie Davidsmeyer, a Director of Communications for the Washington State Board of Education. Stephanie has 10 years of experience in nonprofit, corporate, and government outreach media relations.Some Questions I Ask:Marina, tell us more about your work and if you have seen a shift in how districts prioritize workforce development. (01:25)Stephanie, from the communications perspective, what trends are you seeing in workforce development and advancement? (04:03)Have you both seen an increase in public-private partnership when it comes to workforce development in Washington? (08:09)How is the ESSER cliff impacting districts in Washington in terms of workforce development? (16:39)What are the key takeaways of the Workforce System Poster? (21:20)Stephanie, how do you share powerful success stories to the community? (23:51)What are you most hopeful about for the future of workforce development? (27:57)In This Episode, You Will Learn:Marina's work and her view of districts prioritizing workforce development (01:49)Stephanie's perspective on workforce development across Washington state (04:34)Marina and Stephanie's points of view with regards to expansion of workforce development (11:08)Impact of the ESSER cliff on workforce development in Washington state (18:32)Key takeaways of the Workforce System Poster (21:42)How Stephanie tells powerful success stories(24:13)Marina's hopes for the future of workforce development (28:21)Quotes:“We know that businesses are busy. Probably the biggest challenge in workforce development is getting businesses to the table, because they're really trying to run their businesses. So you need to make effective use of their time.” “I've talked to students that are making canoes and then talking with advisors and building reports about how much it would cost to open their own business in boat making. They have all this math and all these figures that go into it. These kids will just blow you away.”“Our state has had something called industry skill panels that bring together similar businesses so they can discuss common skill gaps, hiring challenges, difficulties that their employees face finding housing and other support. And the interesting thing is that these businesses are typically competitors.”“Chronic absenteeism is an issue. It really did start with the pandemic [when] kids kind of checked out, and then they never really checked back in. So we have to figure out how to re-engage students and really get them to be present. And we know that populations that have struggled the most had the widest gap.”Stay in touch with the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board:WebsiteStay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideSWPR GROUP WebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Chad Bolser:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this replay episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Jessica Morrison, the Executive Director of Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative, one of the partners in the newly established Career Launch Southwest initiative, which serves as a vital link between employers and the workforce of the future. She was previously the Director of Career and College Counseling at Animas High School in Durango for six years. In June 2021, the school won the Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP) Award from the Colorado Department of Education for its Sophomore Inspire Week program.This episode concludes our series focusing on rural collaboratives that are developing opportunities for students in specialized career pathways.This is the final episode in a four-part series focusing on rural collaboratives that are developing opportunities for students in specialized career pathways.Some Questions I Ask:Tell us more about Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative. (01:21)How do you create partnerships? (04:39)What are the challenges and successes in working with higher education partner institutions? (07:50)What is your funding model and how do you make it work for school districts? (11:51)What are the credentials you are currently offering to high school students and what are the outcomes of the program? (15:22)What advice can you give to leaders about starting the collaboration process? (24:30)How are you sharing your success stories? (30:14)In This Episode, You Will Learn:All about the Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative (01:34)Southwest Colorado Educational Collaborative's partnerships (04:56)Challenges and successes in higher ed partnerships (08:14)Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative's funding model (12:07)Credentials and outcomes of the program (15:53)Advice to leaders interested in collaborating on workforce development(25:17)Strategies for sharing success stories and elevating thought leadership in education (30:40)Quotes:“I want all of your listeners to understand that these pieces take time—this is not for a school district that is faint of heart. I've worked in K-12 institutions as well as on the federal government side, and I know how important data is. What are the numbers? How many students are earning industry credentials? But laying the groundwork takes years, so it's looking at all of the different components to then determine what are the steps that need to be put in place along the way.”“As you're building out this dream of consolidating resources in order to do more or bring more to a region, you can also be doing some more low-hanging fruit like priming students to be ready, which pushes your partners to get to the place of shared courses.”Stay in touch with Jobs for the Future:Career Launch Southwest WebsiteSouthwest Colorado Education Collaborative WebsiteEmail: info@swcoedcollaborative.orgStay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideSWPR GROUP WebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Chad Bolser:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this replay episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Aaron Black. He is currently the Superintendent at Randolph Eastern School Corporation in Union City, Indiana, and is spearheading the Rural Alliance Zone 32. Aaron was named a semifinalist for the Yass Innovation Prize 2023 from the Yass Center for Education (formerly the Center for Education Reform). The prize recognizes leaders in sustainable, transformational, outstanding, and permissionless education.This is the third episode in a four-part series focusing on rural collaboratives that are developing opportunities for students in specialized career pathways.Some Questions I Ask:Tell us something about yourself and Randolph Eastern. (02:22)What do you do in Randolph Eastern and what trends do you see on a national scale? (05:47)What made you decide to start the Rural Alliance Zone 32? (07:32)What is your funding model and how would you advise other superintendents about joining a collaborative? (09:16)What credentials students are looking for and what are you offering? (11:31)What are students' experiences within your program? (15:15)What are your goals in the next five years? (18:33)How do you share your story? (20:10)In This Episode, You Will Learn:All about Aaron Black (02:35)His role at Randolph Eastern and trends he sees (06:02)The start of rural collaboratives in Randolph County (07:59)His advice to other superintendents about joining rural collaboratives and about funding models (09:39)Credentials students look for and what Randolph Eastern offers (11:57)Student experiences with the program (15:46)Goals in the next five years (18:48)How to emulate the way Aaron shares his story (20:22)Quotes:“We start with kindergarteners, taking career exploration trips and being very intentional about getting them out in front of employers and learning how the world works. We do that with every grade level, and it culminates at the high school.”“We know [students] have their skills and interests, right? We know what their passions are. But we're not telling them, ‘Hey, you're going to be a nurse your entire life.' We're saying, ‘Hey, check out this health care pathway. It may be a perfect fit for you.'”“Success looks like student participation and access. … The win is in five years if the numbers multiply five times by student participation and if we continue to attract schools to help us figure out this access issue.“Stay in touch with Aaron:LinkedInTwitterThe UC Experience PodcastWebsiteStay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideSWPR GROUP WebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Chad Bolser:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Lauren Marie Hall Riggins, a senior manager at Empower Schools, a national nonprofit that partners with communities and educators to reimagine local education systems. Lauren is currently the Director of Youth Poet Laureate at VOICES Corporation, an organization offering culturally sustaining programs for young people, where she also serves as a board member and consultant. She is an experienced educator, researcher, and nonprofit leader with many notable achievements.This is the second episode in a four-part series focusing on rural collaboratives that are developing opportunities for students in specialized career pathways.Some Questions I Ask:Can you tell us more about Empower Schools? (01:34)What workforce issues are being addressed in the traditional CTE space? (04:04)What opportunities have you developed with higher education partners, and what challenges have you encountered? (07:05)How do you address funding in K-12 education collaboratives? (10:54)What credentials are you looking to offer in these collaborations, and how do they enhance students' futures? (14:19)How do the collaborations address student transportation? (19:21)What are your goals in rural collaboratives, and do you have to be rural to be part of them? (25:08)What other places across the country have built impressive collaborations to support students? (28:43)How do you share your powerful story of success? (31:33)In This Episode, You Will Learn:All about Empower Schools (01:46)Workforce issues traditional CTE addresses (04:19)Opportunities and challenges with higher education partners (07:35)Strategies for funding K-12 collaboratives (11:09)Pros and cons of credentials (15:41)Creative approaches to student transportation (19:34)Aspirational goals for education collaboratives anywhere (25:29)Which other states have built impressive collaborations (29:02)How Lauren shares her organization's success (31:49)Quotes:“I joke with my friends in the education innovation scene—excuse my language if we can't use this term—but someone needs to make transportation sexy. Why is no one innovating transportation?.”“We've created a situation where we have thousands and thousands of students across the country who have insane amounts of post-secondary debt and no real career prospects. … Post-secondary is important, but let's marry it with very intentional academic supports and a clear path that kids have explored and feel good about—and that leads to a family-sustaining wage.”“Rural collaboratives are a really unique way of maintaining community identity and collective efficacy, the sense that a group of people feel like they can do something well together, take care of their kids, [and] create a really strong regional economy.”Stay in touch with Lauren:LinkedInEmail: lhallriggins@empowerschools.orgStay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideSWPR GROUP WebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Chad Bolser:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this replay episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Michael Gonzalez, executive director of the Rural Schools Innovation Zone out of Premont,Texas. He was also a former principal at Premont Collegiate High School. This is the first episode in a four-part series focusing on rural collaboratives that are developing opportunities for students in specialized career pathways.Some Questions I Ask:What is the Rural Schools Innovation Zone? (01:16)Please tell us more about the three school corporations involved. (07:06)What are the challenges and successes in dealing with the higher education system? (09:27)How do you recommend the funding model to other education organizations and districts? (12:58)What are the outcomes of the zone and how are you growing this? (16:59)How do you address the potential barrier of transportation? (22:01)What about other logistics like bell schedules? (24:12)What advice can you give to school leaders about starting a real collaborative? (26:08)How do you share your story to the community and the whole educational sphere? (27:45)In This Episode, You Will Learn:All about the Rural Schools Innovation Zone (01:31)The participating schools (07:41)The successes and challenges in dealing with the higher education system (09:49)Recommendations for the funding model (13:10)Student outcomes and growth (17:31)Ideas for handling transportation  (22:10)Making the logistics work (24:48)Mike's advice to school leaders looking to start a collaborative (26:17)His way of sharing this story to the community (27:59)Quotes:“Be a champion for your community. Be a champion for the kids that are there that are underserved for a wide variety of reasons, whether it be resources or parity or scarcity, whatever the right word is. The local champions need to come to the forefront [and] advocate for the right things to do for kids. Start with your local school boards, your principals, your students, your superintendents, and then take it to the next step from there.”“You can live in your community and take advantage of other resources and other programs away from your community but come back and still have community pride.”“I'm trying to get to those organizations that reach the older members of the community that don't have kids in school so they can understand what we're doing, because they're the ones going out and voting.”Stay in touch with Michael:RSISZ WebsiteLinkedInEmail: mgonzalez@thersisz.orgText: (361)-522-0261Stay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideSWPR GROUP WebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideSWPR GROUP WebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Chad Bolser:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode we have a special group with us from the Sturm Collaboration Campus in Castle Rock, Colorado: Jill Garber, the Director of the CSU Collaboration Campuses; Dr. Stephanie Fuji, the President of Arapahoe Community College; and Danny Winsor, the Assistant Superintendent of Douglas County Schools. We explore the Big Blur and how they have brought individuals, partners, and education institutions together to do what's best for students.Some Questions I Ask:How did the collaborative come together in Castle Rock? (01:19)What problems would you like to solve through this partnership — and have you been involved in K-12 public-private partnerships in the past? (03:02)Tell us more about the Big Blur. (06:39)For Danny: How can K-12 school districts reimagine their collaborations to ensure they provide relevant experiences to students? (11:07)For Jill: How do you see the rise of work-based programs at Sturm and what is your advice for higher education institutions implementing them? (16:44)What's next for Sturm? (20:45)How do you share your ventures with the community? (28:09)What are you most hopeful about for the future of work for our students? (35:15)In This Episode, You Will Learn:From Jill about the Sturm Collaboration Campus (01:31)Danny's point of view regarding public-private partnerships (03:19)Stephanie's take on the Big Blur (06:54)How to ensure school district partnerships provide relevant experiences(11:41)Jill's take on the rise of work-based programs (17:11)The future of Sturm (21:30)Strategies for sharing their ventures with the community (28:52, 30:41, 32:54)Their hopes for the future of work (35:27, 36:07, 38:54)Quotes:“If you truly, truly want to blur the lines between K through 12, post-secondary education, and the world of work, you have to have partnerships in which folks are willing to do work that's messy.”“It's important to seek the input of industry, involve them in the process, and have relationships with them … and to also have wraparound services for students — things like advising, career counseling, and especially transfer admissions. Our internal minutiae can make it weird for students sometimes and impact their success.”Stay in touch with:D. Winsor:Douglas County School DistrictDr. Fujii:Arapahoe Community CollegeJ. Garber:Colorado State UniversityEmailResources Mentioned:The 74 Million SurveyStay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideSWPR GROUP WebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Chad Bolser:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Tim Taylor who is a Co-Founder and President of America Succeeds-a non-profit organization that is committed to engage business leaders in modernizing the education system.. He also served as the President of Colorado Succeeds.Some Questions I Ask:Tell us more about America Succeeds (01:14)What are the skills applicable to the workforce community based on your research? (02:50)Have you seen more public private partnerships with K12 organizations now than the past? (06:10)How did America Succeeds begin working with the Indiana Employability Skill Implementation Grant and what was the outcome? (08:16)How are you working with America Succeeds partners network across the country?  (15:46)How do you recommend business leaders, partners and everyone to work together and move this mission in a collaborative way? (18:13)How are you sharing America Succeeds stories to the community? (19:50)What are your hopes about the future of work? (22:04)In This Episode, You Will Learn:All about America Succeeds (01:40)Applicable skills for the workforce (03:06)Public Private partnerships with K12 organizations (06:26)America Succeeds and Indiana Employability Skill Implementation Grant (09:07)America Succeeds Partnerships across the country (16:03)Tim Taylor's recommendations (18:46)Sharing America Succeeds Stories (20:03)His hope for the future of work (22:13)Quotes:“The challenge everywhere is how do we make a student's day look different, a classroom look different to practice these skills, when we're asking so much of teachers already. And one of the things we discovered in working on this project, right, is that it's not doing more necessarily, it's just doing what you do a little differently."“And it's rare that I have talked this long about durable skills without talking about one of our big drivers, right is economic mobility and equity. And as you talk about, you know, the in you think about those things, and how these are happening in the classroom and where else they're happening. There's been a lot of inequity.”“The Association for Talent Development did a study and 83% of employers complain about a skills gap, the largest two in the workforce, our critical thinking and communication skills, right? We're hearing this over and over again, this is not an isolated problem. One point to note that right, everybody is hired for any job ever wished for some combination of technical and durable skills.”Stay in touch with Jobs for the Future:America Succeeds WebsiteDurable Skills by America Succeeds WebsiteEmail:info@americasucceeds.orgStay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideSWPR GROUP WebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Chad Bolser:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Joel Vargas of Jobs for the Future, a nonprofit  that focuses on strategies to transform education and workforce systems. Vargas is vice president of JFF's Education practice, which supports systems change in the education ecosystem, influences policies that promote diverse pathways, and identifies and applies data-informed, learner-centered solutions. Before joining JFF, Vargas directed, initiated, and studied programs designed to help students from populations underrepresented in post-secondary education enter and complete college.Some Questions I Ask:Tell us more about Jobs for the Future. (01:18)How have you seen districts prioritize workforce development? (03:43)How are effective are educators at transmitting this shift to students and parents? (06:56)What's The Big Blur and what impact is it having? (11:08)Is there an increase in public-private partnership in terms of workforce development? (16:37)What are some successful funding strategies for district partnerships? (20:20)How do you feel about AI? (22:29)Tell us more about how you share your success stories across the education community? (25:15)What are you most hopeful about for the future of workforce development? (27:20)In This Episode, You Will Learn:All about Jobs for the Future (01:30)Joel's thoughts on districts prioritizing workforce development (04:05)How this shift in priorities is transmitted to students and parents (07:37)The Big Blur as a principle for organizing older adolescents' learning (11:20)Public-private partnerships in workforce development (17:07)Funding strategies for district partnerships (20:35)Joel's thoughts about AI (22:50)Tips for sharing successful stories across the education community (25:33)Joel's hopes for the future of workforce development (27:27)Quotes:“We really think we need the ‘power of us' in this day and age—and frankly, in this political climate—to get some of these things done. So we're going to have an explicit focus on policy.“Young people have to start working earlier, out of necessity. And our systems don't support learning and working at the same time. So we said, ‘What we need to do is blur all the systems.'”“Our Pathways to Prosperity network just celebrated 10 years. We've worked with well over 30 communities, states, and regions over the last 10 years to advance these kinds of college and career pathways.”Stay in touch with Jobs for the Future:WebsiteEmail: jvargas@jff.orgStay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideSWPR GROUP WebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Chad Bolser:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Marina Parr, Director for Workforce System Advancement at Washington's Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board and Stephanie Davidsmeyer, a Director of Communications for the Washington State Board of Education. Stephanie has 10 years of experience in nonprofit, corporate, and government outreach media relations. Some Questions I Ask:Marina, tell us more about your work and if you have seen a shift in how districts prioritize workforce development. (01:25)Stephanie, from the communications perspective, what trends are you seeing in workforce development and advancement? (04:03)Have you both seen an increase in public-private partnership when it comes to workforce development in Washington? (08:09)How is the ESSER cliff impacting districts in Washington in terms of workforce development? (16:39)What are the key takeaways of the Workforce System Poster? (21:20)Stephanie, how do you share powerful success stories to the community? (23:51)What are you most hopeful about for the future of workforce development? (27:57)In This Episode, You Will Learn:Marina's work and her view of districts prioritizing workforce development (01:49)Stephanie's perspective on workforce development across Washington state (04:34)Marina and Stephanie's points of view with regards to expansion of workforce development (11:08)Impact of the ESSER cliff on workforce development in Washington state (18:32)Key takeaways of the Workforce System Poster (21:42)How Stephanie tells powerful success stories(24:13)Marina's hopes for the future of workforce development (28:21)Quotes:“We know that businesses are busy. Probably the biggest challenge in workforce development is getting businesses to the table, because they're really trying to run their businesses. So you need to make effective use of their time.” “I've talked to students that are making canoes and then talking with advisors and building reports about how much it would cost to open their own business in boat making. They have all this math and all these figures that go into it. These kids will just blow you away.”“Our state has had something called industry skill panels that bring together similar businesses so they can discuss common skill gaps, hiring challenges, difficulties that their employees face finding housing and other support. And the interesting thing is that these businesses are typically competitors.”“Chronic absenteeism is an issue. It really did start with the pandemic [when] kids kind of checked out, and then they never really checked back in. So we have to figure out how to re-engage students and really get them to be present. And we know that populations that have struggled the most had the widest gap.”Stay in touch with the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board:WebsiteStay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideSWPR GROUP WebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Chad Bolser:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Jessica Morrison, the Executive Director of Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative, one of the partners in the newly established Career Launch Southwest initiative, which serves as a vital link between employers and the workforce of the future. She was previously the Director of Career and College Counseling at Animas High School in Durango for six years. In June 2021, the school won the Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP) Award from the Colorado Department of Education for its Sophomore Inspire Week program.This episode concludes our series focusing on rural collaboratives that are developing opportunities for students in specialized career pathways.This is the final episode in a four-part series focusing on rural collaboratives that are developing opportunities for students in specialized career pathways.Some Questions I Ask:Tell us more about Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative. (01:21)How do you create partnerships? (04:39)What are the challenges and successes in working with higher education partner institutions? (07:50)What is your funding model and how do you make it work for school districts? (11:51)What are the credentials you are currently offering to high school students and what are the outcomes of the program? (15:22)What advice can you give to leaders about starting the collaboration process? (24:30)How are you sharing your success stories? (30:14)In This Episode, You Will Learn:All about the Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative (01:34)Southwest Colorado Educational Collaborative's partnerships (04:56)Challenges and successes in higher ed partnerships (08:14)Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative's funding model (12:07)Credentials and outcomes of the program (15:53)Advice to leaders interested in collaborating on workforce development(25:17)Strategies for sharing success stories and elevating thought leadership in education (30:40)Quotes:“I want all of your listeners to understand that these pieces take time—this is not for a school district that is faint of heart. I've worked in K-12 institutions as well as on the federal government side, and I know how important data is. What are the numbers? How many students are earning industry credentials? But laying the groundwork takes years, so it's looking at all of the different components to then determine what are the steps that need to be put in place along the way.”“As you're building out this dream of consolidating resources in order to do more or bring more to a region, you can also be doing some more low-hanging fruit like priming students to be ready, which pushes your partners to get to the place of shared courses.”Stay in touch with Jobs for the Future:Career Launch Southwest WebsiteSouthwest Colorado Education Collaborative WebsiteEmail: info@swcoedcollaborative.orgStay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideSWPR GROUP WebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Chad Bolser:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Aaron Black. He is currently the Superintendent at Randolph Eastern School Corporation in Union City, Indiana, and is spearheading the Rural Alliance Zone 32. Aaron was named a semifinalist for the Yass Innovation Prize 2023 from the Yass Center for Education (formerly the Center for Education Reform). The prize recognizes leaders in sustainable, transformational, outstanding, and permissionless education.This is the third episode in a four-part series focusing on rural collaboratives that are developing opportunities for students in specialized career pathways.Some Questions I Ask:Tell us something about yourself and Randolph Eastern. (02:22)What do you do in Randolph Eastern and what trends do you see on a national scale? (05:47)What made you decide to start the Rural Alliance Zone 32? (07:32)What is your funding model and how would you advise other superintendents about joining a collaborative? (09:16)What credentials students are looking for and what are you offering? (11:31)What are students' experiences within your program? (15:15)What are your goals in the next five years? (18:33)How do you share your story? (20:10)In This Episode, You Will Learn:All about Aaron Black (02:35)His role at Randolph Eastern and trends he sees (06:02)The start of rural collaboratives in Randolph County (07:59)His advice to other superintendents about joining rural collaboratives and about funding models (09:39)Credentials students look for and what Randolph Eastern offers (11:57)Student experiences with the program (15:46)Goals in the next five years (18:48)How to emulate the way Aaron shares his story (20:22)Quotes:“We start with kindergarteners, taking career exploration trips and being very intentional about getting them out in front of employers and learning how the world works. We do that with every grade level, and it culminates at the high school.”“We know [students] have their skills and interests, right? We know what their passions are. But we're not telling them, ‘Hey, you're going to be a nurse your entire life.' We're saying, ‘Hey, check out this health care pathway. It may be a perfect fit for you.'”“Success looks like student participation and access. … The win is in five years if the numbers multiply five times by student participation and if we continue to attract schools to help us figure out this access issue.“Stay in touch with Aaron:LinkedInTwitterThe UC Experience PodcastWebsiteStay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideSWPR GROUP WebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Chad Bolser:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Lauren Marie Hall Riggins, a senior manager at Empower Schools, a national nonprofit that partners with communities and educators to reimagine local education systems. Lauren is currently the Director of Youth Poet Laureate at VOICES Corporation, an organization offering culturally sustaining programs for young people, where she also serves as a board member and consultant. She is an experienced educator, researcher, and nonprofit leader with many notable achievements. This is the second episode in a four-part series focusing on rural collaboratives that are developing opportunities for students in specialized career pathways.Some Questions I Ask:Can you tell us more about Empower Schools? (01:34)What workforce issues are being addressed in the traditional CTE space? (04:04)What opportunities have you developed with higher education partners, and what challenges have you encountered? (07:05)How do you address funding in K-12 education collaboratives? (10:54)What credentials are you looking to offer in these collaborations, and how do they enhance students' futures? (14:19)How do the collaborations address student transportation? (19:21)What are your goals in rural collaboratives, and do you have to be rural to be part of them? (25:08)What other places across the country have built impressive collaborations to support students? (28:43)How do you share your powerful story of success? (31:33)In This Episode, You Will Learn:All about Empower Schools (01:46)Workforce issues traditional CTE addresses (04:19)Opportunities and challenges with higher education partners (07:35)Strategies for funding K-12 collaboratives (11:09)Pros and cons of credentials (15:41)Creative approaches to student transportation (19:34)Aspirational goals for education collaboratives anywhere (25:29)Which other states have built impressive collaborations (29:02)How Lauren shares her organization's success (31:49)Quotes:“I joke with my friends in the education innovation scene—excuse my language if we can't use this term—but someone needs to make transportation sexy. Why is no one innovating transportation?.”“We've created a situation where we have thousands and thousands of students across the country who have insane amounts of post-secondary debt and no real career prospects. … Post-secondary is important, but let's marry it with very intentional academic supports and a clear path that kids have explored and feel good about—and that leads to a family-sustaining wage.”“Rural collaboratives are a really unique way of maintaining community identity and collective efficacy, the sense that a group of people feel like they can do something well together, take care of their kids, [and] create a really strong regional economy.”Stay in touch with Lauren:LinkedInEmail: lhallriggins@empowerschools.orgStay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideSWPR GROUP WebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Chad Bolser:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Michael Gonzalez, executive director of the Rural Schools Innovation Zone out of Premont,Texas. He was also a former principal at Premont Collegiate High School. This is the first episode in a four-part series focusing on rural collaboratives that are developing opportunities for students in specialized career pathways.Some Questions I Ask:What is the Rural Schools Innovation Zone? (01:16)Please tell us more about the three school corporations involved. (07:06)What are the challenges and successes in dealing with the higher education system? (09:27)How do you recommend the funding model to other education organizations and districts? (12:58)What are the outcomes of the zone and how are you growing this? (16:59)How do you address the potential barrier of transportation? (22:01)What about other logistics like bell schedules? (24:12)What advice can you give to school leaders about starting a real collaborative? (26:08)How do you share your story to the community and the whole educational sphere? (27:45)In This Episode, You Will Learn:All about the Rural Schools Innovation Zone (01:31)The participating schools (07:41)The successes and challenges in dealing with the higher education system (09:49)Recommendations for the funding model (13:10)Student outcomes and growth (17:31)Ideas for handling transportation  (22:10)Making the logistics work (24:48)Mike's advice to school leaders looking to start a collaborative (26:17)His way of sharing this story to the community (27:59)Quotes:“Be a champion for your community. Be a champion for the kids that are there that are underserved for a wide variety of reasons, whether it be resources or parity or scarcity, whatever the right word is. The local champions need to come to the forefront [and] advocate for the right things to do for kids. Start with your local school boards, your principals, your students, your superintendents, and then take it to the next step from there.”“You can live in your community and take advantage of other resources and other programs away from your community but come back and still have community pride.”“I'm trying to get to those organizations that reach the older members of the community that don't have kids in school so they can understand what we're doing, because they're the ones going out and voting.”Stay in touch with Michael:RSISZ WebsiteLinkedInEmail: mgonzalez@thersisz.orgText: (361)-522-0261Stay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideSWPR GROUP WebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Chad Bolser:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Adam Kulaas, the Director of Innovative Learning and Career and Technical Education for Tacoma Public Schools in Washington State. He also founded Jobs 253, which offers the district's high school students the opportunity to earn credit toward graduation while gaining meaningful work experience.Some Questions I Ask:Tell us about Tacoma Public Schools and your role in the district? (01:15)What is the Job 253 program? (02:10)What impact does Jobs 253 have for students and the community? (04:31)Who funds the program? (06:47)How do you work with other entities? (08:36)How do employers respond? (11:14)Will there be a shift in how districts implement workforce experiences in the future? (12:04)What is your advice for others who want to consider a similar approach in other cities? (13:29)When do you introduce the program to students? (15:29)How do you share your success with others? (17:09)In This Episode, You Will Learn:Adam's role at Tacoma Public Schools (01:21)All about the Jobs 253 program (02:43)Impacts of Jobs 253 (04:42)Funding sources for Jobs 253 (07:01)Expansion of the program (09:09)Employers' response toward the program (11:26)Trajectory of priorities for Job 253 in the future (12:26)His advice to other districts adapting theJobs 253 program (13:44)Reasons to introduce the program as early as possible (15:41)Sharing Adam's success story to the community (17:26)Quotes:“We served over 1,000 kids in paid work experiences. For perspective, that mirrored the 10 years previous. It's this really rich, exciting opportunity that evolved over the years [but] still remains firmly anchored in this idea of giving kids a paid work experience and serving community.”“It's been fun to watch us shift or solidify some of the trajectories for youth in terms of life in high school, but even beyond in terms of what's next.”“The faster we can adapt to scenarios that empower learners–give them not just a sense of ownership, but actual control over what their current experiences are, and then help them frame what that looks like beyond–then we win. I see an intentional push at the state and national levels to integrate more real work experiences, real world experiences. But I think I'm in a unique scenario. You have to gather a mass in order to go from theory to action.”Stay in touch with Adam Kulaas:Getting Smart WebsiteJob 253 WebsiteTacoma Public SchoolsStay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideSWPR GROUP WebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Chad Bolser:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by a new co-host, Chad Bolser, a Chancellor from Ivy Tech Community College in Indiana. In previous roles, he served as vice president of Strategic Operations-Southern Campuses and Chancellor at the Richmond Campus. Chad was the athletic director at Richmond Community Schools for six years and the head coach for boys basketball for 10 years. We also bid farewell to Dr. Katie Lash as she embarks on a new chapter of her career as Ivy Tech's Vice President for K-14 and Strategic Initiatives.Some Questions I Ask:What news do you have to tell us, Katie? (02:12)Who is Chad Bolser? (03:51)How do community colleges (including Ivy Tech) impact their local areas? (05:25)How are K-12 educators expanding their role in preparing students for the workforce?  (07:38)How are community colleges adapting to these changes? (10:14)What takeaways do you have from national conferences you attend? (11:33)How does thought leadership play a role in elevating Ivy Tech's reputation and influence at the state and national level? (14:30)How does Katie's new role (from K-12 to K-14) illustrate community colleges' strategies? (19:36)In This Episode, You Will Learn:Katie's new career path (02:17)All about Chad Bolser (04:10)The growth of community colleges like Ivy Tech (05:45)Chad's insights regarding K-12 and the workforce (08:00)Community colleges' adaptation to AI (10:38)The evolution of community colleges nationally (11:52)The influence of Ivy Tech through thought leadership and education (15:25)Katie's transition from K-12 to K-14 (20:36)Quotes:“One of the reasons that I like the term community college—as opposed to two-year or, when we leave off the community portion of that and just say college to try to stay in the higher education lane—is because we are the connectors of the community. And I think one of the reasons that we're having this moment when lots of folks are talking about how we can be integrators is because we're connectors. We connect to employer partners.”“It doesn't matter whether it's an elementary student, a middle school student, or high school student, if you ask them about knowledge, rarely are they turning to the curriculum that they've been presented with. They're turning to their devices, they're turning to AI, they're turning to all of the options that they have. We shouldn't be surprised that they're also learning how to do a lot of things that we would have gone to classes for—and they're doing it in 15-minute increments on the internet. That's not a bad thing. That's a wonderful thing.”“Accessibility has always been the core of what community college's two-year experience has been for the educational system.” Stay in touch with Dr. Katie Lash:LinkedInStay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideSWPR GROUP WebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Chad Bolser:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

Hello, Build Momentum listeners. We're excited to kick off season four of the podcast and we have some exciting changes to share this season. We're so thrilled for last season's co-host, Dr. Katie Lash, who recently left the service center to take on the role of VP of K-14 and Strategic Initiatives at Ivy Tech are so happy for her and wish her well as she focuses on her new job. The good news is that we're still keeping our Indiana connection and Chad Bolser and Chancellor from Ivy Tech will be this season's new co-host!This season are kicking off a workforce development series including interviews with Superintendents, District CTE leaders, and rural education organizations committed to driving innovation and leading impactful change in K- 14 to support workforce development.Stay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideWebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Chad Bolser:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode of Build Momentum, Sarah and Katie are joined by Julia Fallon. Julia, a self-described technology and learning alchemist, is the Executive Director of the nonprofit State Educational Technology Directors Association, where she works with U.S. state and territorial digital learning leaders to empower the education community to leverage technology for learning, teaching, and school operations. Prior to joining SETDA, Julia worked for Washington state's Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction for 17 years. In her free time, she runs the Crazy Idea Factory™.Some Questions We Ask:What is SETDA? (00:45)What have you discovered about state edtech trends? (05:43)What is your organization's Cybersecurity and Privacy Collaborative? (11:11)How does SETDA unify and elevate voices and messages? (15:04)What are your views on seeing AI and VR pop up everywhere? (19:15)What are your hopes for the future? (26:01)In This Episode, You Will Learn:All about Julia Fallon and SETDA (01:03)About cybersecurity and investments in devices and learning management systems (06:22)About the Cybersecurity and Privacy Collaborative with the Melinda Gates Foundation (11:18)SETDA's strategies as a learning community (15:39)Julia's perspectives on AI and VR (19:30)Her thoughts and hopes for the future (26:12)Quotes:“We really believe that states have a role to play. It depends on your state, though, of course—because everybody talks about local control. And that means different things for different regions. But the idea is how can you leverage what other states have already done so you don't have to start from scratch.”“Technology is here to automate. Had we had the pandemic 10 years ago, think about video conferencing! It used to be like, you had a book a room, and then 14 people got involved, and the thing got plugged in, and you had to show up somewhere. And now I'm in my house talking to people around the world.”“ [The pandemic] highlighted a lot of the gaps that we had and the reality that there are communities we haven't served and we didn't serve well. And now there are different ways to serve them.”Connect with Julia:SETDA WebsiteSETDA TwitterJulia Fallon's LinkedInJulia Fallon's TwitterResources Mentioned:”Human Work In the Age of Smart Machines” by Jamie Merisotis”The Lexus and the Olive Tree: Understanding Globalization” by Thomas L. Friedman Stay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideWebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Katie Lash:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode of Build Momentum, Sarah and Katie are joined by Doug Roberts, who is the founder and CEO of the Institute for Education Innovation. IEI specializes in bridging the gaps between individuals and organizations that are committed to seeing students succeed in school and in life. Doug and his team create safe spaces for problem-solving and innovative thinking, including the IEI Summer Summit where this episode was recorded.Some Questions We Ask:Could you tell us why you're here and what IEI has going on this week? (00:59)What is IEI? (02:28)What are your thoughts about superintendents' stress levels and how does IEI support them during difficult times? (02:45)Why is it important for edtech companies to have evidence, and how should they be ensuring they have it, especially with ESSER funding dwindling? (05:48)How do you think edtech companies are getting it wrong when they focus on AI support for school districts? (11:12)What are some of the ways you have committed to increasing the superintendent pipeline, and how do you think others can help support it too? (15:13)Tell us more about Supes' Choice Awards. (21:31)You've really worked to build your thought leadership presence throughout the years. Is there anything you would change in the industry in terms of how people publicly try to build their exposure and awareness? (27:45)In This Episode, You Will Learn:About the IEI Summer Summit (01:11)About the Institute for Education Innovation (02:32)About superintendents' stress levels and how IEI supports them  (03:03)The importance of evidence and why companies should have it, especially in connection with ESSER funds (06:14)What edtech companies do wrong when they focus on AI support for school districts (11:30)What IEI Lead is and what it does (15:23)Doug and Katie's perspective on the Supes' Choice Awards (21:54)Katie's advice for people who want to apply for the Supes' Choice Awards (26:54)Doug's thought leadership (28:06)Quotes:“Evidence is really in the eye of the beholder. That's a decision between a superintendent and her or his cabinet and the actual educators who will implement the thing.”Connect with Doug:Doug's TwitterEmail: doug@instituteforedinnovation.comDoug Robert's LinkedInIEI TwitterIEI WebsiteSupes' Choice WebsiteStay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideWebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Katie Lash:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode of Build Momentum, Sarah and Katie are joined by Tom Vander Ark, an advocate for innovations in learning. He is the CEO of Getting Smart, a design learning firm that helps education organizations increase their impact with innovations for a better learning experience. Tom is also a prolific writer and speaker who has authored or co-authored eight books, including “The Power of Place: Authentic Learning Through Place-Based Education” and “Smart Parents: Parenting for Powerful Learning,” and he's working on a new one. He has also been a content contributor for Forbes, LinkedIn, and Getting Smart. In his free time, Tom enjoys cycling and making vegan creations. Some Questions We Ask: What career experiences led you to launch Getting Smart? (00:44)What trends and challenges are districts facing now? (01:50)What's your take on the evolution of AI? (03:31)Can you tell us more about your new book? (11:39)What are your thoughts on developing an entrepreneurial mindset among students? (15:17)Looking ahead, what are your hopes in education? (18:14)What advice and insights do you have for other organizations hoping to follow the path you've taken? (20:03)In This Episode, You Will Learn:All about Tom Vander Ark and Getting Smart (00:53)The top challenges school districts face today (02:06)Tom's perspective about AI (03:48)About Tom's new book (11:58)His thoughts regarding entrepreneurial mindset (15:42)How to create more opportunities and environments where young people can succeed (18:24)His advice for other organizations to follow his path to success (20:34)Quotes:“The key to education today is helping students develop a sense of identity and agency, understand their strengths and interests, and then understand how and where they can act on the world, spot opportunities to make a difference, design solutions, and deliver impact to a community.”“That the rise of the platform economy has created many new ramps for people to step into employment or create a new business or campaign. It has enabled a new wave of entrepreneurship.”“We can create environments where students are experiencing success in what's next. They're actually doing work that matters. That's project-based learning. That's work-based learning. That's enterprise.”Connect with Tom:Getting Smart WebsiteTom's TwitterTom's LinkedInTom's InstagramTom's Epic Veggie Creation InstagramResources Mentioned:Human Work In the Age of Smart Machine by Jamie MerisotisTom Vander Ark BooksStay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideWebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Katie Lash:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode of Build Momentum, Sarah and Katie are joined by Ken Eisner. Ken is currently a Consulting Advisor with Avathon Capital, a Special Partner at Good Harbor Partners, and a Senior Advisor at New Markets Venture Partners. He is the former Director of Business Development for Amazon Web Services' Global Learning Systems.Some Questions We Ask:What have you been up to since leaving Amazon earlier this year? (00:56)What do you think about the shifts in higher education? (03:23)What is the most effective way to evaluate microcredentials? (09:05)How can you apply the lessons you've learned through working in education with the government and private sectors? (16:21)What tips can you share for those who want to secure investments? What is your advice for those who want to elevate their profile and establish their platform within the education sphere? What are your predictions for education in the future? In This Episode, You Will Learn:About Ken's life after Amazon (01:00)His thoughts about higher education (03:57)To evaluate microcredentials (09:23)How Ken applied the lessons he learned in education (16:51)His advice and tips for securing funds His advice for those who want to establish a platform in education Ken's thoughts and predictions for education in the future Quotes:“There are two systems of learning: Education from elementary school to middle school to secondary school to higher ed, and then there's corporate training, which really should be the lifelong learning path. Higher ed traditionally focuses on civic mindedness and an elite education—at least, that's the roots of it— while corporate training puts the round peg of learning into the square hole of people who are selling widgets or services.”“We know that the ‘sage on the stage' is a foregone educational experiment. It worked for a period of time, for various reasons, but it needs to evolve.” “‘Have backbone, disagree, and commit' is one of my favorite leadership principles. As a leader, how are you encouraging debate within your organization? How are you reaching out to every person in your organization and ensuring their voice is heard?”Connect with Ken:Ken Eisner's LinkedInken.eisner@gmail.comStay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideWebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Katie Lash:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode of Build Momentum, Sarah and Katie are joined by edtech pioneer Michael Horn. Michael is the co-founder of and a distinguished fellow at the Clayton Christensen Institute, a nonprofit think tank dedicated to Disruptive Innovation, and an adjunct lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Michael has won numerous awards for his insightful work, serves on a range of advisory boards, and is the author of books such as “From Reopen to Reinvent: (Re)creating School for Every Child,” ”Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns,” “Blended: Using Disruptive Innovation to Improve Schools,” “Choosing College: How to Make Better Learning Decisions Throughout Your Life,” and “Goodnight Box.”Some Questions We Ask:Describe your journey in education. (00:47)What do you think about this current moment in education? (02:07)What is your opinion on incorporating AI in education? (05:15)Please tell us about your book “From Reopen to Reinvent” (08:05)We're seeing a shift in what students are doing post high school. New pathways are developing. What are your thoughts on that? (16:12)What are you most hopeful about in the direction education is headed? (19:28)What insights can you share for listeners who are looking to build their own profiles? (24:31)In This Episode, You Will Learn:About Michael's journey in education (00:58)His thoughts on AI in education (03:11)How  schooling can best coexist with technology (06:37)The key message of his book “From Reopen to Reinvent” (08:20)The importance of choosing the right pathways that are accessible and that suit the student (16:36)Michael's thoughts on building your leadership profile (24:31)Quotes:“Know your expertise. Lean into that expertise. And make insights out of that expertise. That's number 1. Second, be humble. You have a lot to learn from everyone you connect with. Third, be authentic. If a theory on which you're drawing doesn't have a perspective on something, say that. Know your limits.”“I think the biggest regret in that book is that we named it “Choosing College” as opposed to something a little catchy and more encompassing—but lesson learned, right? The idea was like, ‘Hey, step back and think about what progress you're trying to make. What's the outcome you're really seeking?' And if you can understand that, then all of a sudden, you realize college isn't the only pathway anymore to get from A to B. ”“We're seeing more pathways open up that empower students. It's really positive. It's putting kids at the center. It's giving families more options. I think AI tools are going to create more pathways, and I think we're going to see more districts create their own pathways and portfolios of different school types that power students to learn whatever they want and to chase their dreams in exciting ways.”Connect with Michael:LinkedInWebsiteBooksStay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideWebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Katie Lash:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode of Build Momentum, Sarah and Katie are joined by Bart Epstein,a Research Associate Professor in the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Virginia. The education entrepreneur was named one of the 30 K-12 IT Influencers to Follow by EdTech Magazine in 2022. He is the founder of the EdTech Evidence Exchange, a board member at ISTE+ASCD,  and a civil test pilot for NASA.Some Questions We Ask:Tell us about your background and journey in education. (00:32)What are your thoughts about the ASU+GSV conference? (01:55)Could you share your research about the EdTech Genome Project and the EdTech Evidence Exchange? (05:31)What are the challenges and opportunities for ISTE+ASCD in relation to AI? (13:38)How do you evaluate tech solutions and recommend them to district leaders? (19:22)How did you build and elevate your own profile, and what are your suggestions for other leaders? (27:09)What are you most hopeful about in the coming year? (34:18)In This Episode, You Will Learn:Bart Epstein's background and journey in education (00:43)His thoughts about ASU+GSV and AI (02:38)All about EdTech Evidence Exchange and the EdTech Genome Project (05:55)Challenges and opportunities for ISTE+ASCD (13:59)Tech solution evaluations and recommendations (19:36)His process for building his own profile and suggestions for other leaders (27:37)His hopes and expectations for the coming year (34:25)Quotes:“I think we're most likely in the coming years to see AI teaching assistants help reduce variability in classrooms in a way that makes whole class lessons more effective for all students.”“At ISTE and ASCD, we are focused on providing educators with the tools and support, and community that they need as they lead this recovery. Quite frankly, they are exhausted, and many of them are working environments in environments where there are teacher shortages. They are heroes who can only operate on fumes for so long. And so we need to collectively find ways to make it as easy as possible for them to get the support that they need.”“AI, when it's done right, like other technologies, should save you a lot of time. And it should free you up to do the things that are most human and most impactful.”“Stay laser-focused on the wants and needs of your intended audience. In a world of endless boring press releases and webinars, the way to stand out, in my experience, is to understand what people want and then give it to them. And if you don't know, ask them! People love to talk about their problems. Ask them what frustrates them, what else have they tried, what would fix their problem, what evidence they'd want to see what change they care about in the world.”“Remember, it's never about you. It's always about them.”“I'm most hopeful that we'll continue to make progress towards learning how to use technology to better support students and teachers. We really need it to perform.”Connect with Bart:LinkedInTwitterStay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideWebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Katie Lash:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode of Build Momentum, Sarah and Katie are joined by AJ Crabill. AJ is a Conservator at DeSoto ISD in DeSoto, Texas, and as a Director of Governance at the Council of the Great City Schools. The education reform advocate and public speaker also served as a Deputy Commissioner at the Texas Education Agency and as Board Chair of Kansas City Public Schools. He is the author of the best-selling book “Great on Their Behalf: Why School Boards Fail, How Yours Can Become Effective.”Some Questions We Ask:Tell us more about your journey in education. (01:07)What educational path led to where you are today? (02:31)What advice can you give to education leaders on how to elevate their roles? (06:15)Tell us more about your book. (10:13)As an education reformer, what are your thoughts about our system and its impact on our country? (12:06)What is the difference between being focused on student outcomes versus adult inputs? (16:26)What is your final advice for all educators? (20:18)In This Episode, You Will Learn:About AJ's educational journey and what he does as a student outcomes evangelist (01:18)About AJ's past classroom experiences and his current leadership roles (02:50)AJ's advice to education leaders (06:40)All about his book, Great on Their Behalf: Why School Boards Fail, How Yours Can Become Effective” (10:33)His thoughts about the education system and its impact (12:24)His thoughts on student outcomes versus adult inputs (16:40)The key to being a fantastic educator (20:38)Quotes:“It's not actually a change in what happened [in the past] that is driving my behavior, it's a change in how I see what happened and how I view it and what meaning I assigned to it—that is driving my response.”“If there's any magic in public education, it's in the classroom—it's definitely not in the boardroom. And so the thing that matters most is the quality of instruction that students are experiencing day in and day out. If everything else is wrong and that's right, children are blessed. If everything else was right and that's wrong, children aren't going to get the blessings that they deserve.”“The job of school boards is to represent the vision and values of the community. Their job is to constantly be listening for the community's vision of what they want students to know and be able to do, adopting goals that describe what the community expects to see out of their school system, and then monitoring progress toward those goals, constantly trying to figure out, ‘Are we actually producing the community's vision for our children?' Nobody else in the organization has that role of saying, ‘What is the community's vision and how are we making sure that it is happening?'”Connect with AJ:AJ's WebsiteAJ's LinkedInGreat on Their Behalf WebsitePurchase the Great on Their Behalf  by AStay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideWebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Katie Lash:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode of Build Momentum, Sarah and Katie are joined by Oliver James. Oliver is one of social media's rising stars and an influencer on TikTok, where he was able to learn how to read through his fans' support and encouragement.Some Questions We Ask:What is your story? (00:52)When did you realize you needed to tell the TikTok community and your fans about your situation? (02:06)Did people around you know you were struggling? (04:51)Tell us about a teacher who changed your life as a student. (30:10)Do you associate behavior with reading? (36:33)In This Episode, You Will Learn:About Oliver James' humble beginnings. (01:04)The buildup of life and emotions that prompted him to share his situation. (02:39)How Oliver struggled, what the people around him knew of those struggles, and how he was able to cope. (06:08)How teachers helped him change his student life. (30:31)The associations between reading and behavior. (36:47)Quotes:“There's this destination I'm trying to get to as a speaker. But this reading journey has to happen first. I need to become a better reader so then I can become that better speaker.”“I would say  for teachers out there, [if] a kid is struggling, just let him be himself and then entertain his world.”“One of my main goals is to try to make people understand the value of choice. Not just the simple value of choice, I'm talking about digging deep into the choice and being like, “I could choose to be happy, even when I'm sad,” and you be like, “Oh, if you want to give it a try, it's gonna be hard.” But if you break that barrier to pull yourself out of sadness into the smiling joy of laughter, you will be the most joyful person on earth, because you have learned how to overcome things that are way beyond people's comprehension.”Connect with Oliver:Oliver James' TikTokOliver James' Instagramoliverspeaks1@gmail.comStay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideWebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Katie Lash:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode of Build Momentum, Sarah and Katie are joined by Lina Eroh, Communications Director for the Overdeck Family Foundation. Lina leads both internal and external communications efforts, working closely with grantees and the Foundation team. She has also provided her specialties in corporate communication for iconic consumer brands such as eBay. She is the President of the Rye Free Reading Room Auxiliary Board and spends her weekends with her three daughters, husband, and giant schnauzer.Some Questions We Ask:Please share with us your background—including how you ended up in philanthropy. (00:46)How does Overdeck prioritize recipients? How do you decide whether you're going to take on a project? (03:18)What are appropriate ways for an organization that is interested in pursuing funding to reach out? (06:10)As a communications leader, how do you help folks tell stories about their projects? (10:13)What role do you think philanthropy plays in supporting nonprofits? (12:16)Can you share more of your powerful case studies? (23:38) In This Episode, You Will Learn:Lina's background and her philanthropic journey (00:53)About Overdeck Family Foundation, its recipients, and its projects (03:52)Strategies for connecting with potential funders (6:24)Tips for collaboration around messaging (10:38)Overdeck's philosophy of philanthropy for evidence building, innovation, and growth (12:38)Examples of Overdeck's work in education and health care (18:34) About its family engagement work and the Learning Heroes program (23:48)Quotes:“Overdeck Family Foundation's philosophy is to fund what we know the government struggles to fund or is not as interested in funding. So we know that the Department of Education spends less than one tenth of 1% of its budget on R&D. So that is a big reason why we designed our funding in these three pillars: evidence building, innovation, and growth.”“You don't [want to] have an intervention in 2023 relying on evidence from like 2013, when nobody had Chromebooks. You really [want to] have timely evidence that a nonprofit can take to a district and say, ‘This works in this context, and this context is very similar to your context. Therefore, there's a real reason for you to try this product to meet the challenges that your system has.'”“Kids should love learning. It's one of the amazing opportunities of being a human—and one of the real privileges we have of living in a country with a public education system. I'm really hopeful that coming out of the pandemic, some of this innovation that philanthropy has funded really does start to move the needle for kids, both in immediate outcomes and long-term results.”“There's so much funding out there right now that is looking to be put to work for great things that really move the needle for kids.”Connect with Lina:Overdeck websiteLina Eroh's LinkedInEmail: lina@overdeck.orgStay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideWebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Katie Lash:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

On this episode of Build Momentum, Sarah and Katie are joined by Ben Farrell, the Assistant Head of School and Director of the Upper School at the New England Innovation Academy. Prior to joining NEIA, Ben was the Principal and Head of School at The International Montessori School of Beijing. Ben received his M.A. in higher and post-secondary education from Teachers College, Columbia University in New York, and completed graduate coursework in cross cultural conflict transformation and reconciliation at the School for International Training in Vermont.Some Questions We Ask:How can teachers effectively use artificial intelligence in the classroom? (00:43)What are some of the challenges utilizing AI and how can they be addressed in the classroom? (03:37)What are some ways that you see projects being managed with AI? (05:14)How do you think administrators (maybe even PR firm owners!) can take advantage of AI? (8:07)What other ways do you see generative AI integrating into the curriculum? (11:17)How can teachers and school leaders navigate AI conversations with their communities? (14:10)In This Episode, You Will Learn:About the use of AI in classrooms (00:50)Challenges of utilizing AI (03:45)Ideas for differentiated learning with generative AI (05:44)AI use beyond education (08:24)Other integration of generative AI into the curriculum (12:13)Tips for having AI conversations in the community (14:51)Quotes:“All the information in the world is just out there waiting for us to find it and to utilize it..”“This is going to be with us in the future. So I think we have to find ways to not only live with it but utilize it in an ethical, thoughtful way that our students can grab onto because they're going to be using this or some more advanced version of this the rest of their lives now.”“For the first time in my career, I had the ability to sort of sit with my Upper School students and say, ‘What should we do? What do you think we should do?' And I think they were taken aback by that.”Connect with Tom:NEIA websiteBen Farrell's LinkedInStay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideWebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Katie Lash:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode of Build Momentum, Sarah and Katie are joined by Tom Vander Ark, an advocate for innovations in learning. He is the CEO of Getting Smart, a design learning firm that helps education organizations increase their impact with innovations for a better learning experience. Tom is also a prolific writer and speaker who has authored or co-authored eight books, including “The Power of Place: Authentic Learning Through Place-Based Education” and “Smart Parents: Parenting for Powerful Learning,” and he's working on a new one. He has also been a content contributor for Forbes, LinkedIn, and Getting Smart. In his free time, Tom enjoys cycling and making vegan creations. Some Questions We Ask: What career experiences led you to launch Getting Smart? (00:44)What trends and challenges are districts facing now? (01:50)What's your take on the evolution of AI? (03:31)Can you tell us more about your new book? (11:27)What are your thoughts on developing an entrepreneurial mindset among students? (15:04)Looking ahead, what are your hopes in education? (18:04)What advice and insights do you have for other organizations hoping to follow the path you've taken? (19:51In This Episode, You Will Learn:All about Tom Vander Ark and Getting Smart (00:53)The top challenges school districts face today (02:06)Tom's perspective about AI (03:48)About Tom's new book (11:46)His thoughts regarding entrepreneurial mindset (15:30)How to create more opportunities and environments where young people can succeed (18:11)His advice for other organizations to follow his path to success (20:22)Quotes:“The key to education today is helping students develop a sense of identity and agency, understand their strengths and interests, and then understand how and where they can act on the world, spot opportunities to make a difference, design solutions, and deliver impact to a community.”“That the rise of the platform economy has created many new on ramps for people to step into employment or create a new business or campaign. It has has enabled a new wave of entrepreneurship.”“We can create environments where students are experiencing success in what's next. They're actually doing work that matters. That's project-based learning. That's work-based learning. That's enterprise.”Connect with Tom:Getting Smart WebsiteTom's TwitterTom's LinkedInTom's InstagramTom's Epic Veggie Creation InstagramResources Mentioned:Human Work In the Age of Smart Machine by Jamie MerisotisTom Vander Ark BooksStay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideWebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Katie Lash:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode of Build Momentum, Sarah and Katie will be diving into sending marketing emails and making phone calls to superintendents and district leaders and figuring out what strategies are working and what don't.Some Questions Sarah Asks:Katie, could you give us a glimpse into your daily life with emails? (2:48)What are some of the worst experiences you've ever had with regards to receiving emails and what made them so bad? (6:10) What do you think is a reasonable number of times for someone to pester you if they haven't heard back from you? (10:07)Are there any more follow-up strategies they could use? (11:01)What are some descriptions or phrases that are not effective but that vendors think are effective? (17:30)Any other words or thoughts or things to avoid? (20:19)What are some good examples of emails you've received? (21:32)Beyond emails, what is the best way people can connect with district leaders to actually build connections and sell products? What do you think is the most effective way? (27:06) In This Episode, You Will Learn:Katie's current email situation (3:11)Marketing email horrors (6:25)Email and phone call follow-up frequency (10:12)Other strategies that can work in sending emails or making phone calls (11:17)Ineffective phrases not to say in phone calls or emails (17:43)Samples of  marketing emails that can catch attention (21:53)Best and most effective ways to build connections and sell products (27:20)Quotes:“Some of them, I actually might want to [respond to], but they came in at the same time that I needed to respond to someone else and were just a low priority for the moment. And for that reason, I totally expect people to follow up with me.”“I hesitate to say name-dropping [is effective] because then I could see somebody really latching on to that and going overboard. But if somebody genuinely is like, ‘Hey, I know so and so….' I also notice if their message is personal, but with the volume of people they're trying to sell to they don't have time to make it personal. But if you really want my attention, you will."“Relationships matter. Something identifiable, whether that's a salesperson you've worked with at a different school and you bring them to your new school because you know them, or it's a relationship of trust because you've shown me a product that has helped my life.”Stay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideWebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Katie Lash:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode of Build Momentum, Sarah and Katie are joined by Julia Fallon. Julia, a self-described technology and learning alchemist, is the Executive Director of the nonprofit State Educational Technology Directors Association, where she works with U.S. state and territorial digital learning leaders to empower the education community to leverage technology for learning, teaching, and school operations. Prior to joining SETDA, Julia worked for Washington state's Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction for 17 years. In her free time, she runs the Crazy Idea Factory™.Some Questions We Ask:What is SETDA? (00:45)What have you discovered about state edtech trends? (05:43)What is your organization's Cybersecurity and Privacy Collaborative? (11:11)How does SETDA unify and elevate voices and messages? (14:33)What are your views on seeing AI and VR pop up everywhere? (18:44)What are your hopes for the future? (25:30)In This Episode, You Will Learn:All about Julia Fallon and SETDA (01:03)About cybersecurity and investments in devices and learning management systems (06:22)About the Cybersecurity and Privacy Collaborative with the Melinda Gates Foundation (11:18)SETDA's strategies as a learning community (15:07)Julia's perspectives on AI and VR (18:59)Her thoughts and hopes for the future (25:41)Quotes:“We really believe that states have a role to play. It depends on your state, though, of course—because everybody talks about local control. And that means different things for different regions. But the idea is how can you leverage what other states have already done so you don't have to start from scratch.”“Technology is here to automate. Had we had the pandemic 10 years ago, think about video conferencing! It used to be like, you had a book a room, and then 14 people got involved, and the thing got plugged in, and you had to show up somewhere. And now I'm in my house talking to people around the world.”“ [The pandemic] highlighted a lot of the gaps that we had and the reality that there are communities we haven't served and we didn't serve well. And now there are different ways to serve them.”Connect with Julia:SETDA WebsiteSETDA TwitterJulia Fallon's LinkedInJulia Fallon's TwitterResources Mentioned:”Human Work In the Age of Smart Machines” by Jamie Merisotis”The Lexus and the Olive Tree: Understanding Globalization” by Thomas L. Friedman  Stay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideWebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Katie Lash:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode of Build Momentum, Sarah and Katie are joined by Erin Mote. Erin is the co-founder and executive director of InnovateEDU, a nonprofit whose mission is to eliminate the achievement gap by accelerating innovation in Common Core-aligned next-generation learning models and tools that serve, inform, and enhance teaching and learning. She and her husband, Eric, are the co-founders of the Brooklyn Laboratory Charter School, an organization that serves over 800 students. Erin is a loving wife to Eric and a loving mother to Roo and Clare.  Some Questions We Ask:What is InnovateEDU? (00:48)How did you start Project Unicorn? (01:59)Tell us more about the ideas and tools that come from the coalition. (07:46)How does one go about starting an alliance and a coalition? (12:26)What are takeaways or strategies for success we can apply to building our own audiences and growing our own impact (15:21)How do you balance being a CEO, a mother, and everything that comes with those roles? (20:14)What makes you hopeful about the future of education and transforming the lives of young people moving forward? (27:52)In This Episode, You Will Learn:All about InnovateEDU (00:59)How Project Unicorn began (02:24)About Pathways Alliance (08:02)Why trust is the main element in creating a coalition and starting an alliance (12:40)Strategies for success such as being authentic, having a sense of urgency, and being a good listener (15:50)How Erin juggled her career and her family (20:50) What makes her hopeful about the future of education (28:11)Quotes:“Not every organization will agree on everything. But can you agree on the 80% you have in common? … If you can build a coalition on trust and finding common ground when there is that 20% disagreement, it's still comfortable and you have a space for radical candor.”“We don't see vulnerability as a superpower, and we should.” “The thing that gives me hope every single day is actually our young people. They are amazing, dynamic, caring, global citizens, and our job is to create experiences that invest them in their own learning and drive social impact and change. …That's the stuff that fills my cup and makes me feel urgency. “Our schools are amazing. Our educators are innovators. Our young people are catalysts for change. We need to figure out a way to unlock that power, and that's what I'm committed to at InnovateEDU.”Connect with Erin:InnovateEDU WebsiteInnovateEDU ProjectsErin's LinkedInErin's TwitterMediaStay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideWebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Katie Lash:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode of Build Momentum, Sarah and Katie are joined by Tammy Laughner. Tammy is a retired primary/intermediate school teacher who served for almost 30 years in Indianapolis Public Schools. She is also the co-founder and CEO of Vimme Learning, an online math curriculum made by teachers for teachers to be used by students in grades K-8Some Questions We Ask:Please tell us about yourself. (1:06)How and where did you start your journey? (2:03)What has the business world been like for you? (4:31)What's your approach to reaching your target goal? (8:38)Tell us more about your company and why you intend to stay small. (10:46)What are your final thoughts and philosophies? (17:09)In This Episode, You Will Learn:All about Tammy Laughner (1:13)How Vimme started (2:10)Tammy's experiences in shifting to the business world (5:12)Her approach to impacting how students are taught math (8:42)About her company versus the larger companies in Indiana (11:02)Tammy's thoughts on the power of being a classroom teacher (17:27)Quotes:“I'm in a world with big players like textbook companies—huge, huge players in the space. I'm not looking to see how many people I could get onto Vimme Learning. That's not what we're about. My goal is to impact as many students and how they're taught math as we can.”“With manufacturing leaving many medium- and small-sized towns, it's really decimated downtown areas. Math is so important because so many jobs that are not being filled have technical skills, and I'm super excited about the STEM push that's going on. I feel like we're really poised to make sure Indiana students are ready for any direction they want to go.”"I'm born and raised in Indiana. My state is unique. It jumped off the Common Core bandwagon, so our standards are unique to Indiana. The big players go after the big fish, right? That's Common Core. And I just want to do well by the residents of Indiana. That's important to me.”“There's something about seeing content when it hits the desks of a range of learners and how they interact with that curriculum. There's a lot of information there. It's a really powerful space, and I hope teachers understand the role they play and the information that they can see.”Connect with us:Tammy Laughner LinkedInVimme Learning WebsiteStay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideWebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Katie Lash:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode of Build Momentum, Sarah and Katie are kicking off this first episode of the year with their predictions for 2023 in the education space, along with some influential people across the industry.Some Questions We Ask:What are your projections for K12 and ed tech this year?What are some of the challenges and themes we will see in 2023?What are you hopeful and/or excited about for education in 2023?In This Episode, You Will Learn:Sarah's and Katie's projections in education for 2023 (1:37)Jeff Patterson's projections in education for 2023 (11:44)Tammy Laughner's projections in education for 2023 (14:03)Dennis Carpenter's projections in education for 2023 (16:05)Tom Burton's projections in education for 2023 (19:59)Sonny Thadani's projections in education for 2023 (27:49)Michael Barnes' projections in education for 2023 (29:07)Quotes:“We're going to start hearing about looming budget issues. Many districts are already pinched by declining enrollment and its effects on the recurring budget. If we see an economic slowdown, there will be state budget shortfalls. Two, the ed tech market has plateaued. We have too many solutions, many that are a little more than beta products. The venture capital funding bubble will contract but not die. The result will be considerable consolidation and a focus on proven quality.”"Internet for All that was passed by our government will provide high-speed broadband for everyone by 2029. That's a big deal. It will be a game changer.”“Technology is definitely going to continue to gain traction. There's a lot on the horizon as it relates to artificial intelligence, and it has substantially less bias in judgment. So look for that AI to be coming about, and look for those companies to be able to demonstrate how they are showing up in innovative, anti-bias ways.”“We grow the most when we push each other to learn—and that can happen with powerful, purposeful dissension. To some people, it may seem negative, but it certainly isn't. And in Princeton [City Schools], I know that you really want to rumble, if you will, using terminology from Brené Brown. But rumbling with vulnerability and not being afraid to share your opinion is a theme we're going to see more and more.”“Every day of our lives, we have three things that happen—and only three things: We get better, we get worse, or we stay the same. And two of the three, you don't advance. So I feel like every single day is an opportunity to get better. And we can help each other get better by making sure we challenge each other professionally.”Connect with us:Jeff Patterson LinkedInTammy Laughner LinkedInDennis Carpenter LinkedInTom Burton LinkedInSonny Thadani LinkedInMichael Stay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideWebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Katie Lash:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode of Build Momentum, Sarah and Katie are joined by Juliana Finegan and Hayley Spira-Bauer. Juliana is the vice president of strategy and learning for the company Vivi. She is a passionate educator and leader with experience inside and outside the classroom and host of Vivi's Educator Pineapple Podcast. Hayley is the chief academic officer for iTutor.com, a member of the advisory board at Inspiring Educators, and an edtech mentor in StartEd. Hayley is an educator who specializes in elementary education and curriculum development. She hosts a podcast called Learning Can't Wait.Some Questions We Ask:Please introduce yourselves (1:00, 2:43)What were iTutor's beginnings? (5:05)Hayley, how did you and your team bring out the academic perspective of iTutor and its message to the people? (7:04)Juliana, how did you and Vivi cultivate incredible relationships with clients and build partnerships? (10:10)Juliana, how did you identify partnerships and establish broad connections? (13:57)How did you both start in podcasts? (22:41, 26:24)Juliana and Hayley, how do you measure successful PR and thought leadership? (30:30)In This Episode, You Will Learn:About Juliana and Hayley (1:12, 2:57)How iTutor started and its business processes (5:28)What it's like to work together with team of brilliant folks with a background in education, get to know your stakeholders, and constantly talk about the organization's core values (7:14)About building partnerships that genuinely help bring strong communities together (10:55)Ways of bringing people together, identifying commonalities for each individual, and having a common language for continued education (14:08)Hayley's and Juliana's podcast consistency and progress (23:13, 26:35)Using podcasts as a tool for communicating brilliant ideas, giving airtime to intelligence, and interacting with incredible leaders (30:55)Quotes:“I think, you see common threads from conversations to which also impact how you look at what you're doing, and you look at your product because I think that that's like it's not measurable.”“I think common language is key to have those conversations and really fill those gaps strategically. And to build those partnerships and foster that, like continued engagement is like, let's make sure we're talking about the same thing.”“Every person you meet in your life has something that brings value to your world, and it is your job to or to the world, excuse me, not your world, the world, it is your job to find out what that is.”Connect with us:Juliana Finegan LinkedIn | Vivi Website | Educator Pineapple Podcast Hayley Spira-Bauer LinkedIn | iTutor Website | Learning Can't Wait PodcastStay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideWebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Katie Lash:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this special episode, Sarah and Katie attend the Institute of Education Innovation Fall Summit 2022. They are joined by 16 superintendents and other leaders who dive into trends and challenges in education and how IEI helps them navigate. Guests we interviewed:Doug Roberts, Founder and CEO, IEI (1:46)Sara Croll, Vice President, IEI (6:59)Dr. Melvin Brown, Superintendent, Montgomery Public Schools (7:57)Christy Moston Scott, Executive Director, Unchartered Learning (8:49)Tiffany Law, Director of Partner Relations, IEI (11:50)Dr. Jeff Dillon, Superintendent, Wilder School District (14:05)Dr. Kelley Gallt, Superintendent, Lake Zurich District 95 (15:01)Dr. Matthew Hicks, Superintendent, Northeastern Wayne Schools (17:15)Dr. Tahira Dupree Chase, Superintendent, Westbury Union Free School District (20:18)Shanna Downs, Executive Director, West Georgia Regional Education Service Agency (21:59)Joachim Horn, Founder & CEO, SAM Labs (23:06)Brett Roer, High School Strategic Partnerships Lead, Outlier.org (23:57)Michael Lee, CEO & CFO, ERDI Corporation (24:52)Piper Bognar, Superintendent, Van Dyke Public Schools (26:01)Dr. Ann Levette, Superintendent, Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools (27:15)Dr. Alena Zachery-Ross, Superintendent, Ypsilanti Community Schools (29:17) Some Questions We Ask:Describe your organization.What do you gain from events like this one?In This Episode, You Will Learn:How districts are enhancing safetyTips for providing engaging entrepreneurial educationCommon challenges school district face and how IEI helps with solutionsQuote:“It was very humbling to hear my fellow superintendents dealing with the same challenges all over this country.”Connect with us:Doug Roberts | Sara Croll | Tiffany Law | Dr. Melvin J. Brown | Christy Scott | Dr. Jeff Dillon | Dr. Kelley Galtt | Dr. Matthew Hicks | Dr. Tahira Dupree Chase | Shanna Downs | Joachim Horn | Brett Roer | Michael Lee | Piper Bognar | Dr. Ann Levett | Dr. Alena Zachery-Ross Stay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideWebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Katie Lash:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

In this episode of Build Momentum, Sarah and Katie are joined by Kristina Ishmael. Kristina is an educator, learner, advocate, and agent of change. As the Deputy Director of the Office of Ed Tech, she executes the office mission of developing national edtech policy that enable everywhere, all-the-time learning and support digital equity and opportunity.Kristina is also listed in the 30 K-12 IT Influencers Worth a Following 2020 by EdTech Magazine.Some Questions We Ask:How was it that she started in education and ended up in edtech? (1:35)What's a typical day in her life? (7:02)How and when does she work with edtech providers, developers, and entrepreneurs in the field? (17:01)Are there any more products on tutoring companies and social-emotional learning companies? (21:54)Any advices or ideas for school districts on prioritizing investments? (24:39)What is the future of education? (27:23)In This Episode, You Will Learn:Kristina Ishmael's journey from education to edtech (1:50)Kristina's daily routine (7:06)How her team structures its work to ensure they stay up to date on edtech providers, developers, and entrepreneurs within healthy boundaries (17:22)About  artificial intelligence and its future opportunities (22:12)Her advice and ideas for school districts (24:51)About the future of education, with a focus on AI and machine learning,and how educators are involved in the process (27:51)Quotes:“It's not necessarily just making sure that everyone has access to the same things, we know that [is important], but the things that they need, that are going to meet them where they are. And so we talk a lot about that.”“I was really cognizant about coming back into government because I don't really think there were a lot of healthy boundaries the last time that I was in this role. There were expectations for communication at any time of the day and night or early morning. And I was like, ‘We're not doing that.' And so we helped establish healthy boundaries.”“I'm really eager to see where AI is going to take us. I know that there are risks. Don't get me wrong. Perhaps it's the optimist in me, but I just see all of the opportunities that are going to come with this as well.”“I saw what technology could do in the hands of my multilingual learners when I was in the classroom—not only for language acquisition but for content acquisition as well. It is a tool. It is not meant to substitute for the teacher. And as we are developing our report on AI and education, the phrase that we keep coming back to is that ‘the human in the loop.'”Connect with Kristina IshmaelKristina Ishmael LinkedInOffice of Educational Technology websiteOffice of Ed Tech TwitterStay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideWebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Katie Lash:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook