The Fishbowl: Eyes on Education

This week, Chris returns to the fishbowl with special guests Holly Kilburn and Michele Lewis as they dive into the concept of One Word for 2025. The One Word challenge is all about choosing a single word to focus on throughout the year. In this episode, Holly, Michele, and Chris share their chosen words and discuss how focusing on one powerful word can simplify life, boost focus, and inspire lasting change. Tune in for some inspiring insights and practical tips for making 2025 your best year yet!

This week on Two for Tuesday, Chris sits down with Kait Burton, Payroll Specialist at CS Partners. Tune in for a fresh episode packed with two valuable insights designed to boost both your personal and professional life.

This week on Two for Tuesday, Chris sits down with Andrea Whitney, Payroll and Accounts Receivable Specialist at CS Partners. Tune in for a fresh episode packed with two valuable insights designed to boost both your personal and professional life.

Join Chris Matheson as he dives deep into the latest M-Step results with CS Partner's Director of Professional Learning/S2, Nick Orlowski. In this enlightening episode, they explore how socioeconomic status shapes educational outcomes and what it means for our schools and students. Tune in for insights that challenge the status quo and inspire change in our education system!

This week on Two for Tuesday, Chris sits down with Laura Carpenter, Senior Vice President of School Financial Operations at CS Partners. Tune in for a fresh episode packed with two valuable insights designed to boost both your personal and professional life.

This week on Two for Tuesday, Chris sits down with Chris Collins, the Director of Campus Recreation & Fitness at SVSU. Tune in for a fresh episode packed with two valuable insights designed to boost both your personal and professional life.

Join Chris this week for the latest Two for Tuesday, where each episode features two insightful ideas aimed at enhancing your personal and professional life.

Join Chris this week for the latest Two for Tuesday, where each episode features two insightful ideas aimed at enhancing your personal and professional life.

Join Chris this week for the latest Two for Tuesday, where each episode features two insightful ideas aimed at enhancing your personal and professional life.

Join Chris this week for the premiere of Two for Tuesday, where each episode features two insightful ideas aimed at enhancing your personal and professional life.

On this episode of The Fishbowl, host Chris Matheson and this week's guests, Dr. Sarah Pazur and Dr. Nick Orlowski dive into the complexities of America's educational landscape. Together, they dissect a thought-provoking article from the Wall Street Journal titled "America Has Too Many Schools." In this captivating conversation, Dr. Pazur and Dr. Orlowski, each bringing their unique perspectives, delve into the advantages and drawbacks of both large-scale educational institutions and smaller, more intimate settings. Their insightful analysis sheds light on the factors contributing to declining enrollment rates and the potential ramifications for the future of education in the United States. Tune in and join the conversation in The Fishbowl!  

  Welcome to the newest episode of the Fishbowl Podcast, where we're excited to have Joe Corkran as our special guest! Join your host Chris Matheson as they embark on a deep dive into Joe's captivating journey, delving into his career, his adventures in educational athletics, and his dedication to community service.

Join Chris this week in The Fishbowl as he sits down with Dr. Nick Orlowski and Ryan Tomlinson to delve into the pivotal role of relationships within educational settings. Tune in to explore their insights on cultivating social capital and gain valuable tips for fostering connections that can help enhance attendance and mitigate behavioral challenges in schools.      

Join Chris this week in The Fishbowl as he sits down with Dr. Sarah Pazur to dive into her experience at the Deeper Learning Conference in San Diego, hosted at High Tech High. Dr. Pazur, alongside FlexTech High School's Instructional Coach, Joy Lyman, co-presented on the intriguing topic of "What Poetry Makes Possible." Tune in to this episode to explore their fascinating insights and discussions.

Join Chris and Harold as they dive into the latest from Flint! From community updates to impactful events, get ready for an engaging discussion on what exactly is shaping the city.

This week, Chris is accompanied by three colleagues from CS Partners as they delve into the significance of their chosen "One Word" for the year. Join the conversation as Ellen Cramer, Chris Douglas, and Kate Sartori share insights into their roles within the company and their aspirations for the year ahead.

This week on The Fishbowl, Chris is joined by Heather Sherrer and Michelle Soltz as they delve into their chosen One Word for 2024. Tune in to this insightful episode as they share their perspectives and reflections for the year ahead.

Join Chris in The Fishbowl this week as he welcomes three new guests to the podcast. Anna Hickel, Amanda Clark, and Andrea Whitney share their One Word choices for 2024. Tune in to this episode to discover their inspiring and thought-provoking insights!

It's a new year, which means it's time to kick off the One Word series! Laura Carpenter, SVP of School Financial Operations, joins Chris in The Fishbowl to reflect on their past words, and discuss Laura's One Word for 2024 and her priorities for implementing it both personally and professionally. Tune in to hear what word she chose!      

CS Partners Chief Human Resource Officer Carlie Lockwood joins Chris in The Fishbowl to discuss Peace, Love, and Joy and how she hopes to work on each moving forward in her day-to-day life. 

Dr. Lisa Weir and Lorraine Cook join Chris in The Fishbowl to discuss what television series they recommend to educators to help them become more efficient and effective in the job that they do serving students. If you are interested or curious about leadership roles as they relate to schools, this episode is for you! 

Dr. Sarah Pazur joins Chris in the fishbowl to discuss another recommendation for educators looking to unwind and watch something while still furthering their growth in the education field. This recommendation will be sure to make you smile. "School of Rock" is a fictional and comedic portrayal of teaching, it underscores the significance of passion, creativity, and individualized approaches in education. Educators can use the takeaways discussed in this episode to inspire and enhance their teaching practices.

To kick off the Television for Educators series, Dr. Nick Orlowski joins Chris in the fishbowl to share the show he recommends to educators to watch to help them improve their practice. While the show is not directly about education, tune in to hear about the themes of positivity, leadership, and teamwork and how that can resonate with educators and offer valuable insights into creating a positive and effective learning environment for their students.   

This year on November 20th and 21st, CS Partners hosted the 12th Annual Conference for their entire network of charter school partners. Early feedback from attendees suggests that this could possibly have been the best conference yet. Tune in to hear Nick Orlowski and Sara Fields tell Chris just what made this year so great, and what they plan to make next year even better! 

Dr. Sarah Pazur, Iris Law-Hicks, Elaina Holsey and Dr. Nick Orlowski join Chris this week in The Fishbowl to discuss the issue of chronic absenteeism. What is causing students to miss so much school? What are the effects of absenteeism on the school system? How can we combat it? The questions around this topic are endless, and this stellar group of educational professionals is ready to jump right in! 

Chris and Tim are joined by a handful of guest to discuss The Daily Stoic. Join us as we share some nuggets of wisdom are shared from this great book. 

Join us in The Fishbowl as we chat with Dylan Luna, Board Member of Flint Community Schools. 

Join Chris and Tim in The Fishbowl as they discuss several topics that are swirling around in the education world today. Some of the topics discussed are cell phone use in schools, pick up and drop off at schools, school board dynamics, and more! We would love to hear your take on some of these issues in schools. Please join our conversation! 

Are you curious about what makes a school a good school? If so, we invite you to join us in the Fishbowl for a lively discussion on this topic. During our conversation with Dr. Nick Orlowski, we'll explore various factors that contribute to a school's success, such as teacher quality, curriculum, and extracurricular activities.  Through engaging dialogue and thoughtful reflection, we hope to gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be a good school and how all schools can thrive to support their students in achieving academic success. 

Join Chris and Tim in The Fishbowl as they discuss some recent Professional Development that has been put on at the CS Partners Home Office. We would encourage you to not only listen to this podcast but also check out Tim Spiker's book, "The Only Leaders Worth Following" as it is the foundational leadership approach that the training is centered around. Tim Spiker's ideas are perfect for both the new and veteran leader. 

Happy New Year!! Back in The Fishbowl for the first time in 2023 and excited to bring you our annual podcast on our One Word. For our new listeners, One Word comes from Jon Gordan and is a unique take on new years resolutions! Looking forward to a great 2023!!

CS Partners was blessed to have Hamish Brewer join our Network at our Annual Conference. Hamish Brewer is a powerful and positive disruptor who transcends the status quo and typical norms in leadership and education. Mr. Brewer is a globally recognized advocate who built his reputation on results and performance, becoming affectionately known as the Relentless, Tattooed Skateboarding Principal with his galvanizing message to “Be Relentless” and his high-octane delivery style. Join us in The Fishbowl as we talk with Hamish about his Keynote, his passion for the work that he does, and some tangible tips for any leader. 

Dylan Luna was just recently elected to the Flint Community Schools School Board. We are grateful for him joining us in The Fishbowl to talk about his campaign and his vision for the future of Flint Community Schools! 

Join us in The Fishbowl as we talk about an article Tim wrote on LinkedIn about Two Things Good Leaders Do. We would love to hear your thoughts!

Chris and Tim are joined in The Fishbowl by Laura Carpenter, Senior VP of School Operations, to discuss Jon Acuff's book, Soundtracks. Jon lays out a solution to solve the superproblem of overthinking into your superpower.  If you feel like you have a problem with overthinking, this podcast is for you! 

What comes to mind when you hear strategic planning? I'm guessing just reading that caused your eyes to roll. Give us 41 minutes of your time to show you a better way to go from where your school is to where you want your school to be. Chris and Tim are joined by Dr. Nick Orlowski to talk about how implementing an operating framework has the power to help school leadership teams gain the clarity and control necessary to achieve their long term vision. 

Chris and Tim are back in The Fishbowl with the goal of being back on a more regular cadence! Join them as they talk about the kickoff to the 2022-2023 school year! 

I know what your thinking...not that CIA...Joining Chris for this podcast is none other than Copper Island Academy's Principal, Steve Aho. Listen in to hear all the great things happening at Michigan's newest Charter School! 

Chris and Tim are back in The Fishbowl...discussing their recent trip to the Arkansas Charter School Conference, some new developments happening with Flint Community Schools, and some exciting news that you will have to tune in to find out!!

We are fortunate to have Harold Ford join us in The Fishbowl for this installment of Flint Friday. Harold covers all things Flint Michigan for East Village Magazine. In this podcast, we spend the majority of our time discussing Flint Community Schools and the recent happenings with the School Board for Flint Community Schools. 

The concept of One Word comes from the book, One Word that Will Change Your Life, written by Jon Gordon. The idea of One Word will inspire you to simplify your life and work by focusing on just one word for this year. The beauty of One Word comes in the simplicity of it. Choose One Word that will impact all six dimensions of your life – mental, physical, emotional, relational, spiritual, and financial. One word challenges the idea of resolutions, goals, and lists, and instead asks to think of a word to use as a filter on your life for the next 365 days. This multi-part series will shine the light on our Home Office staff and will highlight how and why they picked the words that they did. Have you picked your One Word yet?

We are excited to share our second Flint Friday with a special guest, Rico Phillips. Rico is a retired City of Flint Firefighter and founder of the Flint Inner-City Youth Hockey Program. Join us as we hear Rico share his story and passion for both the City he served for over 25 years and sport he has been connected to for longer than that. Thanks for joining us in The Fishbowl! We hope you enjoy! 

Chris and Tim are fortunate to have a former student join them in The Fishbowl, Mr. Jonathan Blanchard. Not only is Jon a Charter School Graduate, who attended Kettering University, he is a successful entrepreneur that has successfully found a way to blend athletics and concepts of STEM in order to more actively engage students and introduce them to all the potential STEM focused career tracks. You can find out more about STEMLETICS on his website www.stemletics.com and by listening in to this podcast. Thanks for joining us in The Fishbowl Jonathan Blanchard!!

James Reid is one of the nation's top employment attorneys. He counsels business owners, serial entrepreneurs, C-suite executives, in-house counsel, and human resources directors to make strategic business decisions, from hiring to firing, while complying with the ever changing and overlapping laws. He brings a business and proactive approach to legal matters to help employers make strategic business decisions to minimize the potential for litigation and business disruption. James is a renowned keynote and national speaker at conferences and events, including the American Payroll Association, SHRM, and HR Day. We are fortunate to have him in The Fishbowl with us! 

We are excited to bring our first Flint Friday to the Fishbowl. Over the next few weeks we want to bring in exceptional, passionate people that are working incredible hard for students across the City of Flint, MI. Our first guest in The Fishbowl is Bryant Nolden. Mr. Nolden holds many hats, Executive Director of Berston Fieldhouse, County Commissioner, retired School Teacher. We were honored to sit with and learn from Bryant about the City and the work happening at historic Berston Fieldhouse. We hope you enjoy!

Negativity can grow and fester when people talk about each other instead of talking to each other. This is a really fast way to erode your culture. In this podcast, we talk about talking to each other and not talking about each other, and Chris shares some wisdom he has picked up from Simon Sinek on how best to approach conversations where conflict is present. 

Welcome back to The Fishbowl! Listen in as Chris and Tim share their favorite memories of back to school, as well as, discussing some recent events in local Mid-Michigan school politics. We are excited to be back to school! Looking forward to seeing you in The Fishbowl all 21/22 year long!

Tim and Chris are on location in the north end of Flint, MI for this podcast with special guest Steve Wolbert. Steve is the CEO and Co-Founder of SIPI. SIPI is an organization that seeks to empower people and organizations to do great things. You can find out more about SIPI and the work they do by heading to their website https://www.sipi-inc.com/. Listen in to hear from Steve about the great work the team at SIPI are doing within their community.

Chris and Tim are back in The Fishbowl to discuss the role EOS plays in the strategic planning and operations management of CS Partners. We would love to connect with anyone that would like to discuss how to utilize our approach to help your school  fulfill their mission and vision.

Last week, we had the privilege to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony for Orchard Academy, a school of excellence located in the North End of Detroit. Orchard Academy is entering its first year of operation this Fall, and is designed as a replication of the Stockwell Model, out of the Charyl Stockwell Academy District located in Livingston County. Chris and Tim spend some time highlighting some of the key components of the Stockwell Model and the exciting possibilities and opportunities associated with this replication project for the students in City of Detroit and surrounding communities.

Chris and Tim are back in The Fishbowl to discuss an article that Tim came across regarding effective school leadership. Find the article linked below and join us for this thought provoking podcast. What Great Principals Really Do