The Interview Chair

The Interview Chair

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Are you an educator who is currently feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or wondering if you can continue to do this work? Visualize yourself back in the interview chair. You were genuine, sincere and full of passion. You convinced a group of people that you were the best person for the job and you believed it. That is the real you. Join Jimmy Casas, educator, speaker, and best-selling author as he takes you back to the interview chair to remind you of why you wanted to become an educator. If you are ready to reflect on the role you play in impacting the culture and climate in your school, this podcast is for you!

Jimmy Casas


    • May 18, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 17m AVG DURATION
    • 88 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Interview Chair

    Episode 88: Unleashing Relentless Leadership

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2025 38:23


    In this episode, I sit down with Hamish Brewer, a globally recognized educational leader known for his relentless approach to school improvement and leadership. Hamish shares his journey from New Zealand to becoming an award-winning principal in Virginia, discussing his challenges, including personal injuries and leadership struggles. Filled with motivational insights and practical advice, this conversation is one you won't want to miss. 

    Episode 87: Supporting Bilingual Students & Families

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2025 31:58


    In this engaging conversation, Andrea Bitner shares her journey as a teacher, focusing on her experiences with English language learners and the importance of community support in schools. She emphasizes the need for collaboration among educators and understanding the diverse backgrounds of students to foster success. Andrea's heartfelt stories highlight the challenges and triumphs of teaching, offering valuable insights for educators navigating similar paths.

    Episode 86: The Importance of Self-Care

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2025 41:47


    In this conversation, Principal Sean Gaillard discusses the emotional toll of working in education and the importance of personal health and well-being. He shares how educators often face immense pressure and the necessity of carving out time for self-care and reflection, emphasizing the significance of seeking support from others to navigate the challenges of the profession.

    Episode 85: Forgive Often and Forgive Quickly

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2025 44:09


    In this episode, Jimmy sits down with Joy Kelly, a seasoned educator and leadership coach, who shares the challenges faced by many school leaders and the importance of leaning into your core values during difficult times. 

    Episode 84: Finding Clarity In Our Work

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2025 50:10


    In this episode, Jimmy interviews former principal and Superintendent Darrin Peppard. They discuss the critical aspects of educational leadership, emphasizing the importance of clarity and intentionality and the need for educators to focus on positive reinforcement. 

    Episode 83: Be the Leader That Is Needed

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2025 34:53


    In this episode of the Interview Chair, Dr. Sanée Bell reminds us to be excellent on purpose, emphasizing the need for educators to maintain high expectations for all students and staff in order to inspire, motivate and empower them to be their very best. 

    Episode 82: Cultivating a Thriving Community

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2025 28:26


    In this episode, Texas Principal of the Year, David Arencibia shares his journey from humble beginnings, overcoming situational poverty and dyslexia to becoming a nationally recognized leader in education. David discusses the essential components that transformed his school campus into a thriving school community.

    Episode 81: The Power of Mentorship

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2025 45:10


    In this episode, Jennifer Womble shares her journey from a law school dropout to a leader in educational technology.  Jimmy and Jen discuss the challenges and opportunities in education, focusing on the importance of understanding resistance to change, adapting professional development to meet the needs of adult learners, and the role of mentorship and modeling in teaching for all educators.   

    Episode 80: Finding Purpose Through Adversity

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2025 35:02


    In this episode, Jimmy interviews Jordan Montgomery, a USA Today bestselling author and renowned performance coach. They discuss Jordan's journey from financial services to coaching, the challenges he faced during a difficult season in his life, and the importance of aligning values with goals. Jordan shares practical advice for navigating adversity, the power of vulnerability in leadership, and how to build meaningful relationships through thoughtful questioning. The conversation emphasizes the significance of personal growth and finding purpose in both professional and personal life.

    Episode 79: The Power of Support Systems

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2025 34:10


    In this episode, Beth Houf shares her journey as principal, discussing the challenges and triumphs she has faced in her career. She emphasizes the importance of support systems, personal growth, and leading authentically. The discussion serves as a reminder that even the most accomplished leaders can face struggles and that reaching out for help is crucial in navigating the complexities of educational leadership.

    Episode 78: We All Need People to Lean On

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2025 33:05


    In this episode, Illinois Superintendent Mike Lubelfeld, shares his experiences in dealing with the trauma of COVID-19, the impact of non-person vs. in-person learning, and the challenges of scaling e-learning with limited resources - all amid a mass shooting in his community.  Mike opens up about how all of this took a toll on him both mentally and physically. 

    Episode 77: Every Teacher Is Great at Something

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2025 31:43


    In this episode, Jimmy is joined by teacher Nick Ferroni, who reminds us that there is no such thing as a perfect teacher. However, every teacher is great at something—and even greater when they stop comparing themselves to others.  

    Episode 76: Making an Impact Beyond Your Walls

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2025 30:23


    In this episode, Jimmy sits down with current practitioner and Teacher Librarian Shannon Miller. Shannon shares how she lost her sparkle after she felt boxed in and not given the opportunities to lead or contribute in meaningful ways.

    Episode 75: Empathy is the Antidote to Burnout

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2025 33:44


    In this episode, Dr. Jody Carrington reminds us that to best serve our students and families the biggest investment we can make is on ourselves first and that our job as educators and caretakers is to do the next best, right, kind thing.

    Episode 74: ROI: Return on Impact

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2025 32:49


    In episode 74, we sit down with Dr. Stephen Peters who reflects on his role as a leader as he shares what he did to honor and be faithful to the work in order to make the greatest impact possible.

    Episode 73: You Can Change the Narrative

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2025 34:24


    In this episode, Jimmy sits down with Salinas, CA Superintendent and 2023 ALAS National Superintendent of the Year Zandra Jo Galván who shares how educators can change the narrative and help break the cycle of generational poverty for all kids!

    Episode 72: Loving Kids is Not Always Enough

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2025 34:58


    In this episode Weston talks about “that one kid” who almost made him quit the profession. 

    Episode 71: I Wish I Knew Then What I Know Now

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2025 30:07


    In this episode, guest Shane Saeed owns up to the challenges she faced as a first-year teacher and how she almost left the teaching profession. However, these experiences helped her learn and grow and made her a better educator. 

    Episode 70: Stand on Purpose

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2025 26:58


    In this episode, guest Baruti Kafele shares two things we can do in life as it relates to our work - We can go along to get along or stand on principle. Hear his story as it relates to his work. 

    Episode 69: 2024 Final Thoughts

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2024 16:28


    In this final episode of 2024, Jimmy discusses his thoughts as we close out the year and shares some exciting news about changes coming to The Interview Chair in 2025!

    Episode 68: Acknowledging the Contributions of Others

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2024 11:02


    In this episode, Jimmy shares a recent conversation with a principal who felt his feedback was dismissed, leading to a missed opportunity by his director. 

    Episode 67: Normalizing Mistakes

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2024 12:40


    In this week's episode, Jimmy shares an excerpt from Shane Saeed, ConnectEDD author of Be the Flame – Sparking Positive Classroom Communities. Learning can happen in a classroom when we not only make time to build connections and relationships among our students but also normalize mistakes.

    Episode 66: I Am So Glad You Are Here Today

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2024 10:31


    It is November and educators have a right to be tired. In this episode, Jimmy gives thanks to all the educators who continue to impact students by finding time to interact with them in meaningful ways. By doing so, we learn they often impact us in even greater ways.   

    Episode 65:Layering Change

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2024 14:59


    In this Part 2 episode, Jimmy continues sharing his perspective on the change process from last week's episode and describes his Layering the Change process in order to avoid the favoritism undercurrent and achieve a better result.

    Episode 64: Decreasing the Distance

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2024 13:47


    In this Part 1 episode, Jimmy breaks down the change process and shares the disconnect between those who are driving it and those who are implementing it.

    Episode 63: Making Classroom Learning Irresistible

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2024 10:37


    In this week's episode, Jimmy shares how students may sometimes behave in less desirable ways that are outside of our control. However, we can examine the elements well within our control, such as our tasks, activities, and how we assess our students, which can directly impact how kids respond in our classrooms.

    Episode 62: See the Best...Expect the Best

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2024 12:14


    In this episode, Jimmy shares a personal story about a former student to remind us of the impact we can make when we see the best in others and expect the best from ourselves.

    Episode 61: Leadership Is Not a Spectator Sport

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2024 9:26


    In this episode, Jimmy discusses the school leader's role and the impact of leadership on student outcomes, both inside and outside the classroom.    

    Episode 60: We Cause the Culture

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2024 12:20


    In this episode, Jimmy shares 3 Essential Elements in developing checkpoints that must occur for us to create a high-performing classroom and school culture.    

    Episode 59: Creating Culturize Checkpoints for Observable Impact In Your Classroom

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2024 10:47


    In this episode, Jimmy shares valuable examples of Culturize Checkpoints to help bring clarity to what being a Champion for Students truly looks like in our classrooms, and more importantly, what it leads to when it comes to observable impact. 

    Episode 58: Culture Is Not a Fluke

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2024 10:27


    In this episode, Jimmy shares his perspective on organizational culture. He believes that if we truly want to understand and impact the culture of our organizations, we must dive deeper below the surface to see what's lurking. In other words, why do people behave the way they behave?

    Episode 57: Redefining the Gotcha Game

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2024 8:56


    In this week's episode Jimmy encourages us to replace the word “gotcha” with “I've got you.”

    Episode 56: 4 Ways to Capture and Hold Your Students' Attention

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2024 10:18


    In this episode, Jimmy shares an excerpt from the best-selling book, The Educator's ATLAS by Weston Kieschnick, sharing 4 methods for engaging students in your classroom.     

    Episode 55: Am I a Literacy Leader?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2024 8:04


    In this episode, Jimmy shares an excerpt from The 6 Literacy Levers by Brad Gustafson, highlighting what it takes to overcome imposter syndrome and become a Literacy Leader in your classroom and school. 

    Episode 54: Embrace Your Vulnerability

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2024 9:35


    In this episode, JImmy discusses the impact negative noise can have on us as educators and how we can confront these experiences and take back control by owning our own moments.

    Episode 53: Managing Gossip in the Workplace

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2024 12:05


    In this episode, Jimmy shares 10 ways to positively address negative chatter in our workplace to slow down the gossip train and create a healthier culture for everyone. 

    Episode 52: The Most Important Word in School Culture...Leadership.

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2024 13:38


    In this episode, Jimmy shares an experience he had on social media where he was challenged to reflect on the impact leadership has on the overall culture of a school.  

    Episode 51: Effective Educators Tell the Truth

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2024 11:32


    In this week's episode, Jimmy shares his views on why we must always provide honest feedback when students and staff are not meeting our expectations. As a bonus, he also shares a 4-step Framework to help listeners navigate a critical conversation with staff members who are underperforming.   

    Episode 50: The Six Drivers of Successful Change

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2024 13:24


    In this latest episode, Jimmy discusses his thoughts on change. Although inevitable, we also should not change for the sake of change. Instead, implementing change should be strategic, transparent, and follow a clear framework - The Six Drivers of Successful Change is one you may want to consider.   

    Episode 49: Dress Code or No Dress Code? Time to Stop Complaining

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2024 9:20


    Dress codes continue to be a topic of debate in schools across the country. In this episode, Jimmy shares his thoughts on how dress codes can impact a school's culture and why complaining about them won't solve the problem.

    Episode 48: Five Benefits of Using Frameworks

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2024 13:00


    In this episode, Jimmy challenges us to think about where we teach and lead from when we walk into our classrooms and schools and shares 5 Benefits of Using a Framework to guide us in our daily work. 

    Episode 47: It Will Rarely Be Easy, But It Will Always Be Worth It

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2024 16:56


    In this episode, Jimmy shares his experiences where he believes he and his staff failed a student, even though they had the best of intentions; reminding us that our job as educators is rarely easy, but always worth it. 

    Episode 46: The Gifts of an Influencer

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2024 12:13


    Jimmy reminds us that most of what we have learned we have learned from others, regardless of their roles or titles. In this episode, he shares 10 ways in which others have influenced his thinking throughout his career.

    Episode 45: 13 Ways to Lead the Learning

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2024 14:50


    School leaders often find themselves in management mode. In this episode, Jimmy shares 13 ways leaders can intentionally recalibrate themselves to lead the learning in their schools. 

    Episode 44: Looking For a Job? You're Hired!

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2024 14:33


    Are you looking to land that first job, looking for a career change, or looking to advance in your career? In this episode, Jimmy offers his insights that just might give you a leg up on the competition. 

    Episode 43:Recalibrating Our Collective Commitments

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2024 10:28


    Revisiting core values is one of the most critical components of any healthy culture, but one that we often neglect. In this episode, Jimmy challenges us to re-examine our collective commitments as a staff to ensure that our behaviors are aligned with our words. 

    Episode 42: 5 Ways to Inspire Staff to Stay Rather Than Leave

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2024 16:11


    In this episode, Jimmy challenges leaders to go back to The Interview Chair and ask themselves what they can do differently to reduce staff turnover and inspire staff to stay rather than just wish staff didn't leave.  Show Notes

    Episode 41: Are We Listening to Our Students Who Struggle?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2024 12:55


    In this episode, Jimmy discusses his experiences working with students who struggle in school and shares his thoughts on how we can impact their learning in a positive way when we are more intentional in listening to them so we can understand why they struggle. 

    Episode 40: Is It Time For A Change

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2024 11:08


    In this episode, Jimmy shares an excerpt from his best-selling book, Recalibrate the Culture, where he shares his thoughts for those who are considering leaving their current jobs.

    Episode 39: Pushback Is Inevitable

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2023 10:53


    Avoiding pushback in our role as school leaders is inevitable. In this episode, Jimmy touches on 5 common areas where leaders may face pushback and how we can respond to get a better result and avoid negative undercurrents in our culture. 

    Episode 38: A Fresh Mindset for New Students and Families

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2023 13:43


    We get out of it what we put into it. In this episode, Jimmy shares his insight when it comes to new student and family tours. 

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