Inspiring Leaders Podcast

Episode 12: What Really Matters in Reducing Absences During COVID and Beyond   In Episode 12 of TASA's Inspiring Leaders Podcast, we explore how schools can tap into their relationships with families to dispel myths about attendance and decrease chronic absences by 10 to 15%. We talk to Dr. Todd Rogers, a behavioral scientist and professor of public policy at Harvard who co-founded EveryDay Labs, about what his research has shown about scalable interventions. As is true with most parts of education policy, a simple compliance focus may leave out the information educators need to make a real difference in student access to support. This episode is sponsored by EveryDay Labs.   Learn more about Dr. Rogers' research and interventions on the EveryDay Labs website. Access some of the research referenced in this podcast.   Review EveryDay Labs Family Insights Toolkit, which offers strategies on how to partner with families.

Episode 11: Exploring the Threat of Cyberattacks in Texas Districts In Episode 11 of TASA's Inspiring Leaders Podcast, we explore the cybersecurity issues facing Texas districts. We hear from Jeff Burke and Buddy Denman about Splendora ISD's experience with one of the biggest ransomware perpetrators to hit the United States. We also visit with Clear Creek ISD Chief Technology Officer Robert Bayard about how his district works to protect itself from this threat to large and small districts alike. This episode is sponsored by Scholastic. Learn how your district can partner with the FBI and gain valuable information about ongoing attacks by visiting Infragard Visit this episode's sponsor, Scholastic, to learn more about their solutions for research-based literacy instruction

Episode 10: Instructional Leadership Drives Teacher Efficacy and District Transformation   In Episode 10 of TASA's Inspiring Leaders Podcast, Shannon Buerk, founder and CEO of engage2learn, discusses how district instructional leadership affects teacher efficacy and allows districts to maintain direction during times of crisis. We'll also visit with Winters ISD Superintendent Sean Leamon and Director of Curriculum Kathy Horner about how their foundational work with e2L has produced sustainability in their district's transformation work.   This episode is sponsored by engage2learn.   Learn More about eSuite and the engage2learn DIY Strategic Vision and Winters ISD Future Leaders Learning Framework.

Episode 9: Crystal Xu and Purvi Patel Coach Districts on Designing Systems for Equity   In Episode 9 of TASA's Inspiring Leaders Podcast, we talk with Purvi Patel and Crystal Xu. Their paper, “Capture the Opportunity: Steps to Redesign School-Level Systems for Equity," was released as part three of Education Elements' Returning, Reimagining, Revamping series on reopening schools. Patel and Xu look at some of the overlooked opportunities that the return to schools present in the arena of social equity. By designing with equity in mind, schools can address the systemic racism and bias that affect all students, and finally make the lasting changes that schools have pursued for decades. This episode is sponsored by Education Elements.   Capture the Opportunity: Steps to Redesign School-Level Systems for Equity   Follow Purvi and Crystal on Twitter: Purvi Patel = @Purvip4 Crystal Xu= @EE_CrystalX

Episode 8: Leading by Example with Community ISD's Roosevelt Nivens In Episode 8 of TASA's Inspiring Leaders Podcast, we visit with the superintendent of Community ISD, Roosevelt Nivens. He was awarded the National Alliance of Black School Educators' Superintendent of the Year Award in November 2019, only a couple of weeks after a tragic car accident killed four of his students and devastated his community. The way Community ISD came together to support each other after the accident served as inspiration for a message of unity that Nivens and his fellow municipal leaders released in response to the civil unrest that arose after the killing of George Floyd this summer. This episode is sponsored by ClassLink. #WeAreCommunity Video by Dr. Nivens: https://youtu.be/oR0Fj6VjpYc Texas Association of Black School Educators (TABSE) Texas Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents ClassLink: www.classlink.com/remotelearning

Episode 7: An In-depth Conversation with Flip Flippen In Episode 7 of TASA's Inspiring Leaders Podcast, we bring you an exclusive conversation with Flip Flippen, best-selling author and entrepreneur. A social-emotional learning pioneer, Flippen discusses how the stress of the unknown affects both teachers and students, the difference between being “trauma-informed” and administering “trauma-informed care,” and the importance of relationship-building in helping students deal with the emotional fallout of a tumultuous summer. This episode is sponsored by Virco. https://flippengroup.com/capturing-kids-hearts/ http://www.virco.com

Episode 6: A Tale of Two Districts' Reopening In Episode 6 of TASA's Inspiring Leaders Podcast, we take a look at back to school in two very different districts. Keene ISD Superintendent Ricky Stephens talks about what it's like to see kids in his buildings for the first time since March 13, and Garland ISD Superintendent Ricardo Lopez debriefs the first three days of virtual school with its challenges and successes. This episode is sponsored by iStation.

Episode 5: Summer Conference, Summer Wellness, and Summer Planning In Episode 5 of TASA's Inspiring Leaders Podcast, we preview our first-ever TASA Virtual SummerCon with TASA's own Brandon Core, visit with featured SummerCon Thought Leader Todd Whitthorne about wellness leadership and the biggest indicators for a healthy immune system, and hear from Superintendent Tanya Larkin on how planning for summer school has helped Pampa ISD imagine what school will be like in the fall. This episode was sponsored by Google for Education and Naturally Slim.

Episode 4: Graduation and Team Building Habits In Episode 4 of TASA's Inspiring Leaders Podcast, we look at the state's newest guidance on graduation ceremonies, hear how a few districts across Texas are planning special celebrations for their 2020 seniors, and visit with Keara Mascareñez, co-author of "The New Team Habits." Superintendents interviewed include Wichita Falls ISD Superintendent Michael Kuhrt, Lytle ISD Superintendent Michelle Carroll Smith, and Denton ISD Superintendent Jamie Wilson.

Episode 3: Meeting Needs in Vulnerable Populations, Pt 2 Episode 3 of TASA's Inspiring Leaders Podcast is Part 2 of our series on vulnerable populations. In it, we explore how increased economic vulnerability and the stress of the pandemic affects students and adults. We start with the second half of our conversation with Ruby Payne, legendary education thought leader and best-selling author. Then we learn about the effects the pandemic is having on child abuse reporting from Lindsey Jordan, research and strategy senior manager, Children's Advocacy Centers of Texas. We also hear from Wes Cunningham with Frisco ISD on how the district's outreach and virtual counseling is helping students in crisis. Finally, we talk with Shelby McIntosh, managing partner at Education Elements, about the organization's work in trauma-informed leadership.

Episode 2: Meeting Needs in Vulnerable Populations, Pt 1 In Episode 2 of TASA's Inspiring Leaders Podcast, we bring you part 1 of a special two-episode series on vulnerable populations. In this episode, we explore how districts are meeting students' special needs and IEPs during the COVID-19 pandemic. We start with an interview with legendary education thought leader and best-selling author, Ruby Payne. We also visit with Frisco ISD Chief Academic Officer Wes Cunningham about bringing special education services to continuing instruction, and to Monica Simonds, Director of Advanced Learning Programs and Services in Richardson ISD, about the needs of gifted and talented students. Next week, we'll explore how the crisis affects the reporting of child abuse, the emotional impacts on students and families, and how districts can move forward with trauma informed leadership practices.

Episode 1: Instructional Continuity Planning and Community Messaging In TASA's first podcast episode, we visit with Gunter ISD Superintendent Jill Siler about the process her team used to bring instructional continuity to 1,002 K-12 students; gain insight on some of the best practices for community engagement during this unprecedented crisis from Laura Milne, who works with our Corporate Partner, Thoughtexchange; and we explore the ways that Fort Bend ISD is addressing equity in supporting continuing instruction with Superintendent Charles Dupre.