The Empowering Teacher

When you were a student, did you have a clear idea of why you were earning the grades you did? Join Molly and guest Keli Sare, Legacy Principal at Sallie Jones Elementary, as they explore how Student-Led Conferences foster self-reflection and accountability, opening up a new level of communication between students, families, and teachers. 

How do you get everyone excited about Leader in Me? It can feel really overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. Join Molly and guest Juley Sexton, Principal at A. B. Combs Elementary, as they talk about practical tips on how to build trust in ways that will take staff commitment to a whole new level.

Do you ever wonder how some schools stay inspired and avoid burnout while ensuring students continue to thrive as leaders? Join Molly and guest Melody Hazeltine, Legacy Principal at Neil Armstrong Elementary, as they explore creative strategies for keeping Leader in Me dynamic and impactful. 

We often think about what legacy we will leave. Have we ever considered how we can bring that thinking to our students? What would happen if they began their educational journey with that same question? Join Molly and guest Chris Edwards, Legacy Principal at Richland County Elementary, as they explore how students can not only find their voice, but use it to begin building a legacy that will echo far beyond their school years.

Data, data, data! We know that what gets measured, improves. Join Molly, Dr. Eve, and guest Katie Booth, Legacy School Principal at Silver Springs Elementary School, as they talk about how to lean into data in a doable, practical way.

Is a to-do list enough? Join Molly, Dr. Eve, and guest Jason Bennett, Legacy School Principal at Bowmar Elementary, as they discover how to grow beyond a manager mindset and empower students to accomplish the things that matter most.

How do your paradigms about students shape their stories about themselves? Join Molly, Dr. Eve, and guest Erin Hardy, Legacy School Lighthouse Coordinator at Richland County Elementary, as they unpack the power of the paradigms we hold and the impact they have on students.

Does the thought of a noisy classroom fill you with fear? Join Molly, Dr. Eve, and guest Andrea Partington, Legacy School Teacher at Natcher Elementary as they discuss what active learning sounds like and the “chaos eliminators” that keep the focus on the learning.

When students are missing from class, we feel it. Join Molly, Dr. Eve, and guest Brett Shelby, Legacy School Principal at Jack Elementary in Tyler, Texas, as they talk about how more connection means less absenteeism. 

All behavior is communication. Join Molly, Dr. Eve, and guest Gabriel Cárdenas, Principal at Evergreen Elementary and former Principal at Leader in Me Legacy School Mildred B. Janson Elementary, as they explore how paradigms help us shift from reaction to behavior to responding to students in challenging moments.

Welcome to Season 5 of The Empowering Teacher podcast! Join Molly and Eve as they kick off this season by talking with Jan McCartan, FranklinCovey Coach and Consultant, about the impact of Legacy Schools—schools that have received global recognition for exemplifying a strong leadership culture by unleashing the highest potential in students, staff, families and their communities.

The 8th Habit offers us an opportunity to think about how we can use our unique talents and passion to make things better in the world. Join Molly, Dr. Eve, and guest John Urick, 6th Grade Teacher from Miriam Elementary in Kansas City, as they explore how educators can implement routines and structures that foster The 8th Habit in the classroom.

Education can feel like a push and pull between a focus on academics and taking time to nurture students as whole people—body, mind, heart, and spirit. In reality, it's not about sacrificing one for the other, they go hand in hand. Join Molly as she talks with Dr. Eve and guests Patty Parson, Principal, and Lawren Hunter, Lighthouse Coordinator, at Live Oak Elementary, about how to build a focus on students as whole people into every school day.

When students are leaders of change, they are more likely to be academically motivated, have a higher sense of self-worth, and show more effort and persistence. Join Molly, Dr. Eve, and guest Alex Butler, 3rd-grade Teacher at A.B. Combs Elementary, as they talk about practical ways to intentionally empower students to participate, innovate, and lead efforts to improve their classrooms, schools, and communities.

When we release learning to students, we make an intentional choice to empower them. We step back, so they can step up. This can, however, come with some uneasy feelings that we'll lose control. Join Molly, Dr. Eve, and Dereck Marr, Principal at Rich Pond Elementary, as they explore the benefits and challenges of empowering students to lead their own learning.

If you were asked to close your eyes and describe an elementary classroom, what would you share? Typically, we describe what we can see, however, we know that a leadership environment entails so much more! Join Molly, Dr. Eve, and guest Kate Cisney, principal at Northwest Elementary School in Iowa as they explore practical ways to build a leadership-learning environment including, and beyond, the classroom walls.

Change starts with me. It sounds simple, but it's not always easy to step away from blaming others and, instead, look first to ourselves for solutions. Join Molly, Dr. Eve, and guests Ana Arias, Principal, and Gabby Trudeau, 3rd-Grade Teacher, from Fallbrook STEM Elementary, as they talk about practical ways to help students build their ability to adopt and live the Paradigm of Change.

Our hope for students is that they will lean into the 7 Habits to navigate the challenges and opportunities life has to offer, and bring their leadership and effectiveness into who they become. Join Molly, Dr. Eve, and guest Laura Smith, District Elementary School Lighthouse Coordinator and Leadership Instructional Coach, as they dig into the power behind teaching leadership and integrating it into what we do every day.

We can see the genius of students so clearly, how can we help them see it too? Join Molly, Dr. Eve, and guest Emily Avila, Dual-Language Teacher at Maie Ellis Elementary School as they explore practical strategies that help students become able to see their own light and the impact it has on themselves and each other.

What happens when we model for students how we, too, are learners? Join Molly and special guest Muriel Summers, as they talk about the power of the Inside-Out Approach to learning and teaching.

On September 19, 2023, we'll be releasing an Empowering Teacher Podcast for Early Learning educators, another for Elementary educators, and our third one for Secondary educators, our middle and high school teachers.

And just like that, the end of the year is here! It comes and goes in the blink of an eye, and if we are not careful we can miss out on an amazing opportunity to honor the pause and reflect on all that accompanied a year of learning. Join Molly, as she talks with Robin Becker, Coach and Consultant from Texas, who shares practical ways to lean into reflection and move us forward as we plan for the upcoming year.

We can all relate to the butterflies in our belly, remembering to take a deep breath, and that feeling of just wanting it over when we lean into the courage it takes to hold a difficult conversation—whether with a student, a parent, or a colleague. Join Molly, as she talks with Stephanie Gow, Coach and Consultant from Texas, about how to create a 7 Habits toolkit to navigate difficult conversations and transform relationships.

We find our voice when we use our passion, talents, and our conscience to address a need in the world. When we model this for our students and colleagues, we empower them to find their voice. It's the heart of teaching. So, what does this look like in our classroom? Join Molly, as she talks with Dana Penick, Coach and Consultant from North Carolina.

Does it ever feel like all you do is set goals? You might have goal fatigue! If we want to go beyond setting goals and see goal achievement with excellence, we need a system or process that can help our students own it and crush it! Join Molly as she talks with Lesley Eason, Coach and Consultant from North Carolina, who walks us through a simple outline to begin this work.

Do you ever sit back and wonder what is going on in the brains of your students? Like, if I could just figure out the why, or see a little deeper, I might be able to figure out how to help them. You're not alone! Spend some quality time with Dr. Eve Miller, Cognitive Neuroscientist, as she talks with Molly about how to build a neuroscience toolkit that can help us understand and support our students.

Our students are like us. They can get overwhelmed and sometimes they carry some big emotions from the day before into a new morning. As teachers, what can we do in those moments? Join Molly and guests Toni White and Ashely Tucker as they share how leaders at Cuivre Park Elementary created and use a calming space for students to work through their emotions.

Achieving Lighthouse Certification is a whole-school accomplishment! It's a process that involves every stakeholder—especially students. Imagine the impact if every student engaged in the process and understood what it means to actively achieve Lighthouse. Imagine if every student could articulate why they are a “beacon of hope.” Join Molly, as she talks with Lindy and Krista, two leaders at Bellefontaine Elementary in Ohio, about how students at their school drive the certification journey.

Schools come in all different shapes and sizes, and that is absolutely wonderful! It's what personalizes the work we do to meet the needs of each of our communities. Listen in, as Susanna Hobrath, Leader in Me Coach and Consultant, shares how we can personalize our Lighthouse Teams to fit our school's needs, while staying true to the foundational components of shared leadership.

Do you ever feel like you're carrying all the responsibility for student learning and school culture? Learn how one school let students take the lead. Molly is joined by La Paloma Elementary School Principal,  Claudia De Leon, and Coordinator, Kayla Cavanaugh.

How do you invite students to lead—we mean, really lead? Join Molly as she talks with Kristan Riedinger, Principal at Vickery Creek Elementary in Georgia, about how one school learned to honor the pause, and watched as students solved real problems with terrific results.

Have you ever sat through a day of professional development and thought to yourself, how in the world does this connect to me and my students? You may not be alone! Listen in, as Jerry Lee, Principal at Woodlawn Elementary School in Florida, shares with Molly how their school takes a Win-Win approach to professional development.

Did you know that a leadership environment can begin teaching students without even cracking open a book? Join Molly, as she talks with Sharla Austin, Leader in Me Coach and Consultant, about how to intentionally create a leadership environment, where even the walls teach lessons that reveal students' worth and potential.

When students and staff know they are loved, school culture is strengthened and everyone is better equipped to deal with the day-to-day challenges that may come our way. Listen in, as Connie West, Leader in Me Coach and Consultant, shares how we can get intentional about culture with Emotional Bank Accounts.

You know that feeling when you look at your students and are just mesmerized by their potential? We know these students are going to change the world! We see it—how do we help them see it? Join Molly as she talks with Jenna Tate, Leader in Me Coach and Consultant about how we can communicate the worth and potential to students so clearly that they see it in themselves.

Have you ever listened to a podcast and thought, “I bet students could do that”? They can! Listen in as Lisa, 4th Grade Teacher at Sycamore Springs Elementary, and Kyleigh, Sycamore student and fellow podcaster, share with Molly how they found their voice with their very own student-led podcast.

When you are asked to “teach students to lead” what do you think of? Join Molly, as she talks with Vi Vuong and Jorge Parra from Solano Elementary, LAUSD East in Los Angeles. Together, they'll break it down to the specifics about how we begin empowering our students by intentionally teaching them to lead.

What single concept is responsible for more life-changing moments for teachers and greater empowerment in a school and classroom? What is the most powerful part of the Leader in Me process? Join Molly, as she talks about the power of paradigms with New York Times best-selling author and President of FranklinCovey Education, Sean Covey. 

We want the best for our students. When we integrate Leader in Me into our professional development we can better support our students as they grow into the leaders we know they can be. Join Molly as she connects with Jorge Parra, Principal at Solano Avenue Elementary School in LAUSD-East, about intentional and organic ways to weave Leader in Me into everything we do. 

We can choose to see leadership as a position made for a few, or we can choose to see leadership as a shared role—it's up to us! Join host Molly, as she connects with Matt Smith, Superintendent of the Des Moines Independent Community School District to explore the impact shared leadership can play in our schools.

How do we wholeheartedly embrace the possibilities of the new school year when we know that things can change at the drop of a hat? Listen in, as Leader in Me Global Ambassador Muriel Summers shares her wisdom, experience, and honor for all of the powerful teachers who are heading into another year of impacting young lives.

Did you know the 4 Disciplines could be as easy as whiteboard? Listen in, as Miss Ayotte, a teacher leader in the Nadaburg school district in Whitman, Arizona shares how students in her 3rd Grade class use the 4 Disciplines of Execution every single day. 

We've achieved Lighthouse! Now what? Growing in our Leader in Me Framework does not stop when we achieve Lighthouse Certification. Join host Molly, as she talks with Jan McCartan, leader in Me Coach and Consultant and Lead Lighthouse Certification Reviewer about what comes next.

Feeling tired? Burned out? We want so much for our students and it can feel like we don't have enough time to do it all. Join host Molly Garcia and Sean Covey, New York Times Best-Selling Author and President of FranklinCovey Education, and tap into the power of finding moments of balance and renewal, especially when things are tough.

What's the best way to set the tone for the day? Join Molly and guest Ms. Giona from Desert Oasis Elementary as they dig into how to integrate Leader in Me through morning huddle.

How can students lead the way in creating a more trusting school experience? Join teacher Ms. Madrigal and two student leaders at Skypointe HS in Las Vegas, Nevada as they share how they used the 13 Behaviors of High Trust to grow trust in their school.

Empowering educators work in a profession where valuing differing opinions is essential to job satisfaction and happy customers. Sean Covey joins host Molly Garcia to dive into the genius of Habit 6 and uncover how synergy is so much more than simply compromising.

As empowering teachers, we intentionally pause to inspect our own beliefs and perspectives and evaluate the impact they have on ourselves and our students. Join Molly as she leans into the power of paradigms with Robin Sampson. They explore how our own limiting beliefs can impact student learning and what we can do to break free from these mindsets and embrace all the possibilities in front of us.

Why don't we prioritize ourselves? What would happen if we intentionally chose to apply the 4 Disciplines of Execution (4DX) to our wellness by making our wellness a goal we achieve, not just one we consider? Join Molly as she uncovers the possibilities and impact 4DX can bring to our well-being with Muriel Summers, Leader in Me Global Ambassador and lifelong educator.

Do you find yourself wondering if you're doing Leader in Me “right”? Join Molly and Leader in Me Coach Jamie Spinks, as they explore how we can see Leader in Me as an opportunity to amplify the goodness we already harness within our classrooms, rather than a checklist of “to-dos.”