H2H: A Quick Guide to Leading Educators and Making a Difference

Cultural differences often creates big barriers to conflict resolution. In this segment we explore the insights gleaned from recent research that can help us become more skilled at managing cross- cultural conflict. Follow:@annelitwinphd , @SueOffutt, @hollyelissabrun @hollyelissabrun @bamradionetwork Dr. Anne Litwin has been a consultant to organizations and a coach to senior managers for more than 30 years in the USA and internationally. Author of, New Rules for Women: Revolutionizing the Way Women Work Together. Dr. Brandi Pritchett-Johnson is a Licensed Psychologist working as a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Florida and ASPIRE Coordinator. Vonetta T. Rhodes, Ed.M. is the first African-American Director of the Niagara County Community College Child Development Center. Susan Offutt is the Executive Director at the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership, providing leadership and overseeing the day-to-day operations that relate to the orchestration of tasks and establishment of systems.

Technology can be good. But what happens when technology is so good that we can't do without it? Join our discussion on technology compulsion and addiction. Follow:@web20classroom @hollyelissabrun @bamradionetwork

As more of us are increasingly expected to do more with less, overwhelmed has become the new normal. Restoring work-life balance is much easier said than done, but our guests offer practical steps we all can take to move in the right direction. Follow:@StewFriedman @CarterD@gjps.org @blairteach @hollyelissabrun @bamradionetwork Stew Friedman is the Practice Professor of Management at the Wharton School of the Universtiy of Pennsylvania, and founding director of both the Wharton Leadership Program and the Wharton Work/Life Integration Project; author of the bestseller Leading the Life You Want: Skills for Integrating Work and Life. Dr. Marquita Furness Davis is the Executive Director for the Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity (JCCEO), a community action agency that provides services for low-income families in Jefferson County, Alabama. Nancy Blair is a middle school principal in Georgia. She previously served as a school improvement consultant. Dwight Carter is the Principal/Lead Learner at Gahanna Lincoln High School in Gahanna, OH.

Our guests in this segment discuss the practical challenges of maintaining and teaching the critical intellectual qualities in our schools that are required for life-long learning. Follow:@BloomfieldDavid @hollyelissabrun @bamradionetwork Robert C. Roberts is Distinguished Professor of Ethics at Baylor University. Dr. W. Jay Wood is in his 33rd year of teaching at Wheaton College. He has published in the areas of epistemology, philosophy of religion, and intellectual virtues. Dr. David Bloomfield, is Professor of Education Leadership, Law, and Policy at City University of NY. Jill Berkowicz Ed.D. works with school districts to gain a deeper understanding of the use of evaluation to improve leader performance resulting in improved student achievement.

When white women supervise black women, cultural differences can create significant and often unspoken leadership challenges. Tune in to an uncommonly transparent discussion on this issue. Follow:@GLHSLions @Dwight_Carter @hollyelissabrun @bamradionetwork Dr. Marquita Furness Davis serves as the Executive Director for the Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity (JCCEO. Cori Berg serves as Executive Director of Oak Lawn Child Development Center in Dallas, TX. Dr. Brandi Pritchett-Johnson is a Licensed Psychologist working as a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Florida and ASPIRE Coordinator. Dwight Carter is the Principal/Lead Learner at Gahanna Lincoln High School in Gahanna, OH. He’s been an educator for 20 years and was a 2013 NASSP Digital Principal of the Year.

When white women supervise black women, cultural differences can create significant and often unspoken leadership challenges. Tune in to an uncommonly transparent discussion on this issue. Follow:@GLHSLions @Dwight_Carter @hollyelissabrun @bamradionetwork Dr. Marquita Furness Davis serves as the Executive Director for the Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity (JCCEO. Cori Berg serves as Executive Director of Oak Lawn Child Development Center in Dallas, TX. Dr. Brandi Pritchett-Johnson is a Licensed Psychologist working as a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Florida and ASPIRE Coordinator. Dwight Carter is the Principal/Lead Learner at Gahanna Lincoln High School in Gahanna, OH. He’s been an educator for 20 years and was a 2013 NASSP Digital Principal of the Year.

Our guests agree, accepting mistakes and learning from failure is a lot easier said than done. In this segment, we discuss how to move from platitudes to practice on managing our response to missteps. Follow:@benjamingilpin @hollyelissabrun @bamradionetwork Thomas Hoerr, PhD is head of New City School in St. Louis. Tom is the author of four books, including School Leadership For The Future. Kay Albrecht, Ph.D. is president of Innovations in Early Childhood Education, Houston, TX. and faculty member at 4 universities. Ben Gilpin, 16th year involved in education.  He has been Principal at Warner Elementary, in Spring Arbor, Michigan for 4 years.

Our guests all seem to agree that although education is a serious discipline, we may be subverting our education goals by taking our work too seriously. Find out why humor surprise and joy are pivotal tools of great education leadership. Follow: @laughwithchad @JimDetwiler1 @Joe_Mazza @hollyelisabrun @bamradionetwork Chad Caddell is the drama teacher at Stephens Elementary School. He teaches, writes, creates, does stand up comedy, and leads a Strong Fathers program. James Detwiler is Stephens Elementary School principal; former school music teacher; owner of the NuttySchoolClosings channel on Youtube. Dr. Joe Mazza serves as K-12 Director of Connected Teaching, Learning & Leadership in the 6th largest school district in Pennsylvania.

Our guests all seem to agree that although education is a serious discipline, we may be subverting our education goals by taking our work too seriously. Find out why humor surprise and joy are pivotal tools of great education leadership. Follow: @laughwithchad @JimDetwiler1 @Joe_Mazza @hollyelisabrun @bamradionetwork Chad Caddell is the drama teacher at Stephens Elementary School. He teaches, writes, creates, does stand up comedy, and leads a Strong Fathers program. James Detwiler is Stephens Elementary School principal; former school music teacher; owner of the NuttySchoolClosings channel on Youtube. Dr. Joe Mazza serves as K-12 Director of Connected Teaching, Learning & Leadership in the 6th largest school district in Pennsylvania.

The threat of gun violence in schools has given rise to the need for active shooter drills. But finding the right balance between realism and traumatizing students can be difficult. There are also liability issues to consider. Our guests walk use through the issues school leaders need to consider. Follow: @safeschools,@GLHSLions @hollyelisabrun @bamradionetwork Dr. Ronald Stephens serves as Executive Director of the National School Safety Center (NSSC). Ken Trump is the President of National School Safety and Security Services. Dwight L. Carter is the principal at Gahanna Lincoln High School in Ohio. Peter DeWitt is a principal in Upstate, NY. Before becoming a principal he taught elementary school for eleven years.

We close the year with a look back and a look ahead with three of our most insightful regular guests. Follow: @Bloomfield @principalspage, @SueOffutt, @hollyelisabrun @bamradionetwork Dr. David Bloomfield is Professor of Education Leadership, Law, and Policy at Brooklyn College and the City University of NY Graduate Center. Michael Smith: is Superintendent of Tuscola Community Unit School District #301 in Tuscola, Illinois. He has more than 17 years of education experience as a teacher, coach, K-12 Principal, Assistant Superintendent, and Superintendent. Sue Offutt is the Executive Director at the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership.

Our guest has developed a program that using rescue dogs in schools to teach skills like empathy, heal emotional ills and fight bullying. The program's director has reported significant success, so we asked a couple of school leaders to help us determine whether programs like these are a truly viable way to make a difference in children's lives. @joemazza @twitthealingspecies @hollyelisabrun @bamradionetwork Adele Little is the Executive Director of Healing Species, a Violence Prevention and Compassion Education organization. Ann Ditty is Past President of the National Association for Regulatory Administration that provides education and consultation for licensors and agencies responsible for child care programs. Dr. Joe Mazza (@Joe_Mazza) is lead learner at @KnappElementary in suburban Philadelphia. He is co-moderator and host of weekly #PTchat.

Collaboration is increasingly the mantra of the day. However, our guest's research suggests that encouraging collaboration can be de-motivating to some and that race is a factor. Her compelling insights may require you to rethink how you manage your staff. @BloomfieldDavid @hollyelisabrun @bamradionetwork Dr. MarYam Hamedani is Associate Director of the Center for Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity (CCSRE) at Stanford University. Dr. David Bloomfield is Professor of Education Leadership, Law, and Policy at Brooklyn College and the City University of NY Graduate Center. Jill Berkowicz Ed.D.consults for Learner-Centered Initiatives, and blogs for Education Week.

Strife, struggle, conflict and discord are all often part of the price that must be paid to lead ambitious programs, projects or initiatives. In this segment our guests provide valuable insights for education leaders to help us on manage one of the most difficult aspects of working with people. @@BloomfieldDavid, @principalspage @bamradionetwork Joseph L. Badaracco is the John Shad Professor of Business Ethics at Harvard Business School. Sue Twombly has been an early childhood program director for 25 years. Dr. David Bloomfield is Professor of Education Leadership, Law, and Policy at Brooklyn College and the City University of NY Graduate Center. Michael Smith is Superintendent of Tuscola Community Unit School District #301 in Tuscola, Illinois.

Education leaders need to be positive through difficult times, right? Turns out that the answer may be no. In this segment our guests explain why your "can-do" attitude can produce a can't do or won't do response from the people you lead. Elise Foster and Liz Wiseman co-authored The Multiplier Effect: Tapping the Genius Inside our Schools, Elise teaches leadership to business and educational leaders, has served as a faculty adviser and coach to students at Indiana University (Kelley School of Business) and as a management fellow at Harvard University., Liz is the President of the Wiseman Group, a leadership research and development firm headquartered in Silicon Valley, California, and was a former executive at Oracle Corporation for 17 years. Susan Offutt is the Executive Director at the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership. Patrick Larkin: @patrickmlarkin, is the Assistant Superintendent for Learning for Burlington Public Schools in Massachusetts.

A sizeable segment of school-aged children have been traumatized by sexual abuse, physical abuse or verbal abuse. How can we create schools where wounded children learn? Follow:@PeterMDeWitt @Teach_Preschool @bamradionetwork Dr. John J. Medina is a developmental molecular biologist, and author of the of Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School." Jim Sporleder is principal of Lincoln High School, Walla Walla, Washington, one of a few high schools in the nation that use a Trauma Informed model. Peter DeWitt Ed.D has been a principal in Upstate, NY. He blogs at Finding Common Ground for Education Week. Deborah J. Stewart, M.Ed. is the Executive Educational Director over three childcare campuses.

A sizeable segment of school-aged children have been traumatized by sexual abuse, physical abuse or verbal abuse. How can we create schools where wounded children learn? Follow:@PeterMDeWitt @Teach_Preschool @bamradionetwork Dr. John J. Medina is a developmental molecular biologist, and author of the of Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School." Jim Sporleder is principal of Lincoln High School, Walla Walla, Washington, one of a few high schools in the nation that use a Trauma Informed model. Peter DeWitt Ed.D has been a principal in Upstate, NY. He blogs at Finding Common Ground for Education Week. Deborah J. Stewart, M.Ed. is the Executive Educational Director over three childcare campuses.

A recent court decision has given new significance to the notion of gender fluidity. In the segment we discuss the practical implications for schools and education leaders. Follow:@PeterMDeWitt @bamradionetwork Kelly Wade is the Administrator of Dayspring Christian Learning Center. David Bloomfield is professor of edcuation leadership law and policy at Brooklyn College and author of American Public Education Law. Ritch C. Savin-Williams is author of The New Gay Teenager. Peter DeWitt Ed.D has been a principal and author of Dignity for All: Safeguarding LGBT Students. Robin Fox is chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and an expert in gender fluidity.

Dealing with the constantly changing demands of an increasingly high stakes education profession can profoundly impact your life. In this segment we discuss the unique stresses of education leadership and how to manage them. Follow:@PrincipalJ @PeterMDeWitt @bamradionetwork Bruce S. McEwen Ph.D. is co-author of "The End of Stress as We Know It." Dr. Alia Crum is an Adjunct Professor of Management and Postdoctoral Scholar at Columbia Business School. Her research examines the effect of mindsets. Luis A. Hernandez is an Early Childhood Education Specialist at Western Kentucky University. Jessica Johnson is an Elementary School Principal. Peter DeWitt (Ed.D.) is a principal in Upstate, NY. Before becoming a principal he taught elementary school. He blogs at Finding Common Ground for Education Week.

There are myriad pros and cons to having and using a cell phone in the classroom. Our guests offer guidance on creating a sound and viable cell phone policy. Ann Ditty is Past President of the National Association for Regulatory Administration which provides education and consultation for licensors and agencies responsible for child care programs. Suzanne Eckes is an associate professor at Indiana University in the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. Sue Offutt Ph.D. is the Executive Director at the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership. Lee Kolbert is an educator, and self-proclaimed geek who has been with Palm Beach County Schools for over 27 years.

Personal presence is a quality that leaders of all stripes desire. It's often associated with credibility and charisma, but what is presence really? Do education leaders really need it and how can anyone develop it? Hear the answers just ahead in this week's segment. Muriel Maignan Wilkins is managing partner aof Isis Associates and the co-author of OWN THE ROOM. Belle Linda Halpern, Ariel Group Founding Partner, is Co-author of "Leadership Presence: Dramatic Techniques to Reach Out, Motivate, and Inspire". Lyn Hilt is an elementary instructional technology integrator and coach from Pennsylvania. Michael Smith is Superintendent of Tuscola Community Unit School District #301 in Tuscola, Illinois.

In this segment we face the fact that most of your staff hates meetings, especially "ho-hum" meetings. Today our guests offer suggestions on how to kick boring meetings to the curb and host meetings that your staff will actually appreciate and enjoy. Carson Tate, MS O.D. is Founder and Principal of Working Simply. Carson also serves as a consultant, coach and trainer to executives at Fortune 500 companies. Elizabeth Grace Saunders is the author of "The 3 Secrets to Effective Time Investment: How to Achieve More Success With Less Stress." She is also the founder & CEO of Real Life E Time Coaching & Training. Brian Nichols is currently the Executive Director of School Leadership for Newport News Public Schools, (Virginia) and previously the principal of two award winning Title I K-5 schools. Chris Lehmann is Founding principal of Science Leadership Academy, a progressive science and technology high school in Philadelphia, PA.

Twitter has become a popular tool among many education leaders who say it's invaluable on many levels. Yet many education leaders are not connected to this vibrant community. In this segment our guests make the case for why you should give a twit about Twitter. Steven Weber is the principal at Hillsborough Elementary School located in Hillsborough, NC. George Couros, Principal at Forest Green School and creator and author of the "Connected Principals" collaborative. Jo-Ann Spence has been the Executive Director of Lowell Day Nursery for 25 years, taught for 10 years, on the Advisory Board of Middlesex Community College and the Early Ed. Dept. of the Vocational School and National Director of the year and Bammy Award winning Director of the Year. Nancy Blair is a school improvement consultant who frequently worked with the High Schools That Work and Making Middle Grades Work initiatives.

Where does the gender fluid child fit at your school? Do they feel safe? Are they protected? Better still, are they accepted and validated? How do you deal with those who still believe that boys should be boys and girls should be girls? Our guests today offer some guidance. Ritch C. Savin-Williams is author of The New Gay Teenager. Robin Fox is chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Her areas of research are families that are LGBT headed and children who are gender fluid. David Bloomfield, author of American Public Education Law. Peter DeWitt Ed.D has been a principal and author of Dignity for All: Safeguarding LGBT Students.

Progressive discipline can be good for staff, bad for children and either an asset or a liability for education leaders. Our guests walk us through what we need to know about progressive discipline and when and how to abandon it. Chris Hawthorne is an attorney at Ronald V. McGuckin and Associates, the nation's foremost resource for legal, business, and administrative support for the early care and education industries, (Bristol, Pennsylvania). David Bloomfield is Professor of Education Leadership, Law, and Policy at Brooklyn College and the City University, and author of American Public Education Law. Michael Smith is Superintendent of Tuscola Community Unit School District #301 in Tuscola, Illinois. He has more than 17 years of education experience as a teacher, coach, K-12 Principal, Assistant Superintendent, and Superintendent.

When education leaders have to terminate an employee there are often multiple layers of issues that must be considered. In this segment our guests provide practical tips for avoiding the big mistakes when showing an employee the door. Chris Hawthorne is an attorney at Ronald V. McGuckin and Associates, the nation's foremost resource for legal, business, and administrative support for the early care and education industries. David Bloomfield is Professor of Education Leadership, Law, and Policy at Brooklyn College and the City University. Peter DeWitt Ed.D has been a principal in Upstate, NY since 2006.

Lying, conniving, manipulative behind the scenes, informal, maneuvers for power are found in education communities as well. It would be naive for any education leader to believe that these dynamics are not in play in their organization. Today our guests talk candidly about playing politics without being eaten alive or losing your soul. While teaching journalism at DePaul University, Marilyn Moats Kennedy founded Career strategies. Author of 6 books and writer of several articles. Michael Smith is Superintendent of Tuscola Community Unit School District #301 in Tuscola, Illinois. Sam Chaltain is a DC-based writer and education activist, and a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Democratic Education in America (IDEA). The author or co-author of six books, Sam is also a regular contributor to Huffington Post and CNN.

Education leaders are increasingly finding that technology is a double edged sword. On one hand, it offers the promise of unlimited ways to transform our lives and our mission to educate children. On the other hand, technology can be overwhelming, frustrating and even addictive. In this segment we ask three experts on the subject of technology in education to help us find the balance. Dr. Larry Rosen is a research psychologist, recognized as an international expert in the Psychology of Technology. Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach, Co-founder and CEO, Powerful Learning Practice, LLC and author: The Connected Educator - Learning and leading in a digital age. Jason Flom is the Director of Learning Platforms at Q.E.D. Foundation where he works to cultivate, inspire and build learning communities dedicated to transformational learning practices.

Too much to do, too little time. It's an old problem that just keeps getting bigger as more demands are placed on education leaders. But our guests say they have found extra time in some unexpected places and share their discoveries with us in this segment. Zoë Chance is a postdoctoral researcher at Yale School of Management specializing in decision making and social welfare. Lisa Dabbs spent 19 years as an education administrator. Jessica Johnson has been an elementary school teacher in Minnesota, Arizona and is now an Elementary School Principal in Wisconsin.

Too much to do, too little time. It's an old problem that just keeps getting bigger as more demands are placed on education leaders. But our guests say they have found extra time in some unexpected places and share their discoveries with us in this segment. Zoë Chance is a postdoctoral researcher at Yale School of Management specializing in decision making and social welfare. Lisa Dabbs spent 19 years as an education administrator. Jessica Johnson has been an elementary school teacher in Minnesota, Arizona and is now an Elementary School Principal in Wisconsin.

Education leaders are routinely called upon to help change the minds and feelings of students, parents, administrators, staff and peers. Changing hearts and minds is difficult. Data and logic are note enough. Our guest says that knowing how to change the story playing in the minds of others is the key to getting others to change their mental or emotional positions. Timothy D. Wilson is Sherrell J. Aston Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia. He has published over 100 articles in scholarly journals, edited books, and published, Redirect: The Surprising New Science of Psychological Change. Patrick Larkin is the newly appointed Assistant Superintendent for Learning for Burlington Public Schools in Massachusetts. He was recently selected as one of three national Digital Principal Award winner by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

The education world is not exempt. Education leaders have rivals and enemies. In this segment our guest presents new science which explains why it's so difficult to turn workplace enemies into allies. He then builds on this new knowledge to offer a viable strategy for getting more of your rivals to becoming willing collaborators. Brian Uzzi, Richard L. Thomas Professor of Leadership and Organizational. Business School, MBA, Executive Education, Executive Program, Kellogg School of Management; Justin Baeder is a public school principal in Seattle, Washington. He speaks and writes about principal performance and productivity, and is a doctoral student at the University of Washington in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies. He writes "Leader Talk" at Education Week. writes a blog called "On Performance."

In this segment we look at what causes so many education leaders to be so kind, compassionate, nurturing and supportive of others, yet so hard on themselves. Our guests say that being kind to yourself is a critical leadership skill. Without this ability its difficult to succeed. Learn how to start being kinder to yourself right now. Britta Larsen graduated from Wellesley College in 2004 with a BA in psychology. She received her MA and Ph.D. in experimental psychology from the University of California, San Diego, where she studied social interactions and cardiovascular health. Her research has explored the physiological effects of stress and recovery from stress, with a focus on social cognitive processes such as social support, rumination, and forgiveness. Susan Offutt is the Executive Director at the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership, providing leadership and overseeing the day-to-day operations that relate to the orchestration of tasks and establishment of systems.

When should an education leader disrupt and shake up their organization? According to our guests the answer is now and the question is how. Tune in to learn about the value of disruptive leadership and how to skillfully use disruption to take your organization to a new level of performance. Britta Larsen graduated from Wellesley College in 2004 with a BA in psychology. She received her MA and Ph.D. in experimental psychology from the University of California, San Diego, where she studied social interactions and cardiovascular health. Her research has explored the physiological effects of stress and recovery from stress, with a focus on social cognitive processes such as social support, rumination, and forgiveness. Susan Offutt is the Executive Director at the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership, providing leadership and overseeing the day-to-day operations that relate to the orchestration of tasks and establishment of systems.

Most will agree that forgiving and forgetting is a lot easier said than done. In this segment we look at what happens when petty hurts and offenses create grudges in early childhood settings. Moreover, we look at how education leaders can help create work place where people can more easily and rapidly get over the small stuff. Britta Larsen graduated from Wellesley College in 2004 with a BA in psychology. She received her MA and Ph.D. in experimental psychology from the University of California, San Diego, where she studied social interactions and cardiovascular health. Her research has explored the physiological effects of stress and recovery from stress, with a focus on social cognitive processes such as social support, rumination, and forgiveness. Susan Offutt is the Executive Director at the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership, providing leadership and overseeing the day-to-day operations that relate to the orchestration of tasks and establishment of systems.

Most experienced education leaders know and acknowledge that gossip can be very destructive to an organization. One solution is a zero tolerance gossip policy, but do these policies work and more importantly, are they really good for your organization. Tune in and find out. Matthew Feinberg earned his PhD from UC Berkeley in 2012 and is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at Stanford University’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education. Beth Weissenberger is a Co-Founder and Vice Chairman with The Handel Group®. She has over 25 years as an expert corporate coach. David Bloomfield is Professor of Education Leadership, Law, and Policy at Brooklyn College and the City University.

Leadership transitions are inherently complicated and rich with the potential for problems. However, taking over the reigns from a founder of an organization poses a unique set of issues for the new leader. In this segment our guests offer insights on how to step out of the shadow of the founder and lead. Tom McLaughlin formed McLaughlin & Associates after nearly two decades as a nonprofit consulting specialist with two national accounting and consulting firms. Susan Offutt is the Executive Director at the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership.

Free spirited, unstructured leaders who often fly by the seat of their pants are often viewed as less competent, less responsible and less reliable. But is it really true that highly structured, highly organized leaders are more effective? Tune in as we discuss. Professor Eric Abrahamson is the Hughie E. Mills Professor of Business Management at Columbia Business School. Hile Rutledge, MSOD President and Principal Consultant, a certified master trainer with both the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®) assessment and the EQ-i 2.0 (Emotional Intelligence) assessment. David Bloomfield is Professor of Education Leadership, Law, and Policy at the City University.

How an education leader approaches a new leadership position can profoundly impact how effective she will be with that group. There's the risk of being perceived as too bossy or too weak to lead effectively. In this segment we look at how new leaders can strike the right balance from day one. Stephen J. Sauer is an assistant professor in the Organizational Studies department at Clarkson University’s School of Business. His research focuses on issues of leadership, status and diversity in management teams, and entrepre- neurial team processes. David Bloomfield is Professor of Education Leadership, Law, and Policy at Brooklyn College and the City University.

The seemingly endless stream of new education reforms, policies, campaigns and gimmicks has left many educators exasperated and difficult to motivate or manage. Here are some tips for working with those who are fed up and tuned out. Michelle Gielan is Co-Founder of the Institute for Applied Positive Research, where she researches the connection between a positive brain and success in business, health and relationships. She is also a Partner at Good Think Inc, a positive psychology consulting firm. Justin Snider is a contributing editor at The Hechinger Report and teaches undergraduate writing at Columbia University, where he is also completing his doctorate in Politics and Education.

Educating children, preparing them for the future and raising student achievement is a serious responsibility. Our guests today say that we'll all do a much better job off meeting those goals if we approach them with a spirit of play. Learn more... Stuart Brown MD is the founder of the National Institute for Play, where he speaks, consults and educates organizations, corporations, universities, and public policy makers about the importance of play in our lives and the unexpected, serious consequences that occur when play is neglected. Susan Offutt is the Executive Director at the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership, providing leadership and overseeing the day-to-day operations that relate to the orchestration of tasks and establishment of systems.

Being an introverted leader can be painful in a world that celebrates charismatic leadership. However, recent research suggests that introverts are actually better leaders than extroverts. Our guest agrees and shares insights, practices and strategies an introverted leader needs to manage situations and the people. Susan Cain is the author of the New York Times bestseller QUIET: The Power of Introverts in A World That Can't Stop Talking. A former Wall Street lawyer, she has taught negotiation and communication skills at law firms, universities, and corporations. She is an honors graduate of Princeton and Harvard Law School.

Our guest studies skilled leaders in crisis and distills their wisdom about how to manage through difficult times. In this segment we look at leadership skills and traits that may be counterintuitive to many education leaders, but are critical to know and master in today's education climate. Nancy F. Koehn is a Harvard historian who inspires solutions to today’s issues by examining relevant lessons, individuals and moments from the past. She holds the James E. Robison chair of Business Administration at Harvard Business School where her research focuses on entrepreneurial leadership and how leaders, past and present, craft lives of purpose, worth and impact.

It's called 360 degree feedback, the process of staff judging bosses publicly online. It's being viewed as a threat by some and an opportunity to be harnessed by others. In this segment we look at the pros and cons of having your leadership performance judged publicly, by staff, online. Linda A. Hill is the Wallace Brett Donham Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School. She is the faculty chair of the Leadership Initiative and has chaired numerous HBS Executive Education programs, including the Young Presidents' Organization Presidents' Seminar and the High Potentials Leadership Program. She is the author, with Kent Lineback, of the best seller Being the Boss: The 3 Imperatives of Becoming a Great Leader and the author of Becoming a Manager: How New Managers Master the Challenges of Leadership (2nd Edition).

Working through tough, thorny, ethical conflicts is one of the most difficult challenges education leaders face. In this segment we look at how savvy leaders manage ethical dilemmas when they arise. Peter Pizzolongo is the Senior Director, Professional Development Solutions, at the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Justin Snider is a contributing editor at The Hechinger Report. Stephanie Feeney is Professor Emerita of Education at the University of Hawaii. Dr. Feeney was co-author of the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct and two books on professional ethics in early childhood education.

How can leaders maintain a keen mind and stay sharp with age? How can we mentally manage the tsunami of information, increasing complexity and widening mental challenges we face as education leaders? Our guests offer insights and sage advice. Barbara Strauch is deputy science editor of The New York Times in charge of health and medical science. She is the author of two books, “The Secret Life of the Grown-up Brain,’’ on the surprising talents of the middle-aged mind, and “The Primal Teen,’’ on the teenage brain. David Bloomfield is Professor of Education Leadership, Law, and Policy at Brooklyn College and the City University.

Virtual schools are popping up and raising questions about what "school" will be like in the future? Where will learning primarily take place? What will be the role of teachers? What will be the role of principals and directors? What should education leaders be doing and thinking about now to prepare for the road ahead? Elizabeth A. City is Co-Director of the Doctor of Education Leadership (Ed.L.D.) Program and Lecturer on Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Liz has served as a teacher, instructional coach, principal, and consultant. She has had several publications, including Strategy in Action: How School Systems Can Support Powerful Learning and Teaching, coauthored with Rachel E. Curtis (Harvard Education Press, 2009).

According to our guest, too many women in education think of the field as a supportive family. In fact, she asserts, women in education often work in treacherous work environments that require keen survival skills. The issue is real, the topic is taboo, and the need to know these skills is critical to your professional career. Tune in now. Phyllis Chesler is an Emerita Professor of Psychology and Women's Studies at City University of New York. She is also a best selling author, a legendary feminist leader, and a psychotherapist and expert courtroom witness. David Bloomfield is Professor of Education Leadership, Law, and Policy at Brooklyn College and the City University. He is also an the author and a former school teacher possessing principal and superintendent certification.

Principals and directors are on all day and often into the night, making decision after decision after decision. We know this is not a healthy practice, but who hasn't gotten into the rut of not taking breaks? Our guest says this practice can have profound consequences, compromising your ability to make sound decisions or even handle yourself in critical management situations. Learn more... Author Roy Baumiester is the Social Psychology Area Director and Francis Eppes Eminent Scholar. Self-control, choice, decision making is part of his ongoing research. Susan Offutt is the Executive Director at the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership.

When it's time to make those tough leadership decisions who do you turn to for trusted advice? Is it always the same handful of people? When should you look outside of your trusted advisors? How do you determine who should be at the table to get the right advice, at the right time, to make to make the right decision? Bob Frisch, managing partner of The Strategic Offsites Group, is the author of "Who Really Makes the Big Decisions in Your Company?" and his latest book "Who's In The Room? How great leaders structure and manage the teams around them." David Bloomfield is Professor of Education Leadership, Law, and Policy at Brooklyn College and the City University.

There is a certain amount of legal knowledge every school leader needs to know, including laws around student expression, special needs, disciplinary policies and discrimination. Tune in as our experts outline what you need to be legally up to speed. Suzanne Eckes earned her Ed.M. from Harvard University and her J.D. and Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin Madison.. She is author and a co-editor on the Principal's Legal Handbook. Matthew Militello is an assistant professor in the Leadership, Policy, and Adult and Higher Education Department at North Carolina State University. David Bloomfeld is Professor of Education Leadership, Law, and Policy at Brooklyn College and the City Univ. of NY Graduate Center and author of American Public Education Law, second edition soon to be released."