Transformative Principal

In this episode, host Jethro Jones welcomes Shenita Perry, an assistant principal from Montgomery Public Schools, Alabama. They discuss the unique challenges of educating gifted students, Shenita's experience with the SchoolX book study, and valuable insights on empathy and perspective in education. Shenita also shares practical advice for transformative leadership.Magnet Middle School Academically and artistically gifted childrenAwkwardness of being middle schoolers and gifted can be challengingPrincipal Matters ListenersThe School Experience vs the Traditional ExperienceDesign thinking processWhat does the school look like through the other peoples' viewpoints. Treating kids as if they're not human. We forget the humanity of every other part. Day to day work - Looking at things through other peoples' eye. How to be a transformative principal? Have a listening ear and an open eye to see from different perspectives. Listen to understand instead of listening to respond. Join the book study here. We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

In this episode of Transformative Principal, host Jethro Jones welcomes Dr. Melinda Bier, the Theresa M. Fisher Endowed Professor for citizenship education at the University of Missouri St. Louis. They discuss the character education program, the impact of a national cohort, and faculty changes during the pandemic. They also delve into the design of the new cohort at UMSL, the importance of practical learning, and the integration of character education and social emotional learning into school leadership.Having a national cohort, online only programReally interesting what people learned from each otherThe design of the programAdaptive to the needs of studentsUrban university with a historyLoss of faculty membersModeling is an important part of our theoretical basisNext cohort - character development, social-emotional learning, and leadershipFaculty team to walk through this with people. Who You are is More Important with Tom Hoerr Transformative Principal 224Formative Five with Tom Hoerr Transformative Principal 225Chief Empathy Officer with Dr. Tom Hoerr Transformative Principal 495Character Education is a focus on the whole personAdults need to model the behaviors they want to see in the kids. Kids need opportunities to experience all the virtues. Use your power for the common good. Kids get gains in academics when you start with character. Schools have changed a lot over the last few years. Dissertation in Practice is a different kind of dissertationRetrospective pretest. About Mindy BierMindy Bier is currently the Teresa M. Fischer Endowed Professor for Citizenship Education at University of Missouri, St. Louis. Mindy's expertise spans the fields of Character Education, teacher preparation and professional development, and the design and use of instructional technology for enhanced teaching and learning. She has extensive experience in the adoption of K-12 educational innovations, providing and managing professional development for geographically and culturally diverse teachers, and in the philanthropic sector. Mindy is the principal investigator for a series of cross-disciplinary service learning projects that address the social determinants of health disparities called Youth Empowerment in Action (YEA!) We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

Are your teachers overwhelmed with busywork and disconnected mandates? In this episode of Transformative Principal, Jethro Jones sits down with Emily Makelky, Vice President of the Curriculum Leadership Institute, to tackle the real problem facing schools: how to create a meaningful, locally-developed curriculum that actually improves teaching and learning.Discover:The difference between curriculum, standards, and resources (and why it matters)Why local, district-wide curriculum is essential for student and teacher successHow to involve teachers in meaningful work that energizes them (not just more paperwork)The role of principals in supporting—not micromanaging—curriculum developmentHow to keep curriculum relevant, flexible, and focused on what students really needWhether you're a principal, teacher, or education leader, you'll walk away with practical ideas to make curriculum work for your school community. We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

In this episode, Jethro Jones interviews Brent Zirkel, the elementary principal at Mary Welsh Elementary in Williamsburg, Iowa. They discuss how Brent is utilizing artificial intelligence to create curriculum tailored for his students. The conversation covers a range of topics including the advantages of AI in organizing content, creating engaging learning activities, and facilitating high-level thinking. Brent shares his experiences and insights on curating educational materials that resonate with both students and the community, and the importance of transparency in education.Importance of curriculum being transparentMaking sure parents know exactly what we are teaching. Web sites for classroom. If you put yourself out there in the public, it motivates you to create more and better things. https://Raidersocialstudies.com AI makes it easier to organize your thoughts and put it in a systemic way. 80/20 in work usage. Middle East UnitGives kids deeper ways to understand what is going on in the world. Not getting kids to understand facts and dates. Helping kids understand and perceive the world and make judgments. American values and patriotism are very important to our community. When you arm teachers with good curriculum you can have good discussions. Greater freedom in the discussion point because it is a discussion, not a “lesson”. Layering with AI - Using multiple technologies that wouldn't be possible with just one AI. AI Tools used: Suno (music), ChatGPT (art & more), MagicSchool (make it relevant), SchoolAI, assessmentsAI Tools are thought partners. How to be a transformative principal? Good Better Best, Never Let it rest till your good is better and your better is your best. About Brent Zirkel:Brent Zirkel is currently the Elementary Principal at Mary Welsh Elementary in Williamsburg, Iowa, a school of about 650 students.  He also serves as the district ELL Director, Migratory Education Program Director, and Preschool Program Director. Brent has previously served as the Associate Principal at Williamsburg Jr/Sr. High School (7-12) and Fort Madison Middle School (4-8).  Brent taught Spanish at Fort Madison High School for 12 years where he was honored for 5 consecutive years with the Terry Branstad Inspiring Teacher Award for serving as a motivational force to some of Iowa's top-performing high school students. He has a BA in Geography and Spanish Education, an MS in Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in Bilingual Education (ELL), and is certified as a Pre-K-12 Administrator and Special Education Supervisor.Brent is also a co-founder of the Test Kitchen Educational Foundation: a non-profit organization that creates innovative after-school programming for rural communities in Iowa by getting youth excited about learning through engagement in academics, culinary arts, and valuable life skills.  Brent is married to Michelle, a K-6 Media Teacher, and has two children, Brevin (16) and Bram (10). Brent enjoys spending time with his family. He is an avid fan of Survivor, the TV show, and is a true believer in progress through struggle. Brent sees education as the greatest opportunity to build a better tomorrow by positively impacting the lives of his students today.

In this episode, Jethro Jones interviews Dr. Valerie Dehombreux, an experienced educator and school principal who recently completed her doctorate in leadership and innovation. They discuss her dissertation on the trust-based observation protocol and its application, providing valuable insights for both her work and Jethro's own doctoral process.Started as a 3rd grade teacher on the white mountain apache reservation. Engaging in an intervention that is solving a problem of practice. You can just do stuff! Valerie adopted his book and implemented it. Literature review - showed how his approach was good. Chose 4 research questions because they were all important. Open-ended interview questions. Formative interviews along the way. Mixed-methods approach. Reflective conversations are so powerful. How to be a transformative principal? Start talking and meeting with your teachers. About:Dr. Valerie Dehombreux has been a PreK-12 educator for 27 years including 15 as a school principal and 22 years in providing teacher training and professional development. Valerie holds Arizona superintendent, principal, and teacher certifications with two endorsements: Early Childhood and English as a Second Language. In 2019 as principal of McDowell Mountain Elementary School in the Fountain Hills Unified School District, Valerie led the school community in achieving an Arizona Educational Foundation A+ School of Excellence™ award for the first time in the school's and district's history. In December 2024, Valerie graduated with an EdD in Leadership and Innovation from Arizona State University. It is a unique, 3 ½-year cohort program that follows the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED) model where practitioners identify a Problem of Practice (PoP) in their work place settings and conduct cycles of action research to implement innovations/interventions seeking to address the PoP and to build up to the culminating experience of the final dissertation. Valerie's action research explored formative teacher supervision's effects on trusting administrator–teacher relationships and teachers' professional growth.

In this episode, Jethro Jones interviews Dr. Kate Anderson Foley, founder and CEO of the Education Policy and Practice Group. They discuss the integral role of special education in school improvement, the double helix approach to support systems, and the importance of tailoring instruction to student needs. Dr. Foley shares insights on the necessity of breaking down silos in education and promoting a student-centered approach that prepares learners for adult life.Tight instruction specifically for special education students. Double HelixDesigning lessons that are comprehensively situating the adults and students.Almost half a million students are identified as special education. Ban the Tiers! Nimble and responsive instruction. Not working in isolation anymore. Double Helix as a replacement for the RTI/MTSSStrength-based system - foundation of school improvement process. High expectations of staff. Accountability is measured by evidence of impact. Data that is used to inform and adjust. Shared accountability. Collaboratively working on improvement. Discussion about explicit instruction vs. non-explicit instruction. Blooms and scaffolding. The scaffolding needs to be doneHow do we scaffold that skill so they demonstrate it in novel ways? Explicit instruction is 15 minutes and then you transfer that skill. Understand the concept of AM & PM. About Dr. Foley:Kate Anderson Foley, Ph.D.Founder & CEO of the Education Policy & Practice Group, International Keynote, McLean Affiliate of Harvard Medical School Institute of Coaching Fellow, Thought Partner, Author. Kate Anderson Foley is a transformational leader with significant experience leading public school districts and states toward equitable and integrated services for all learners. Her work has been grounded in social justice and breaking down barriers for children who have historically been marginalized. She has led organizational change utilizing a strategic framework that ensured guaranteed and rigorous learning leading to college and career readiness for all students.Kate began her career as a special education teacher pioneering inclusive practices for students at risk and with disabilities. Her work focused on creating conditions that fostered high expectations of adults for students and innovation which catalyzed equitable opportunities for each learner. Kate's deep commitment to creating nimble and responsive systems that supported the whole child led her into administration where she advocated for local, state, and federal reform. That experience with large-scale reform led to improved academic and social-emotional outcomes for students, fair funding models, innovative healthcare models, and efficient operations. As a senior educational leader for the State of Illinois, Kate's vision of fulfilling the promise of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was nested within the Every Student Succeeds Act. She was an expert contributor to the State Plan where the deficit-based system was interrupted and a preventative and nimble system was created that intentionally addressed opportunity gaps of all learners, regardless of background or circumstance. Her deep understanding of equity-based school funding also contributed to a legislative reform model for the state of Illinois. As the founder and CEO of The Education Policy & Practice Group, Kate partners with local, state, national, and international organizations, education agencies, and various industries providing her expertise with the improvement process, professional learning communities, strategic planning, asset-based education policies and practices, special education, coaching, and consulting. Kate is a Roslyn Wolf Lecturer with the Levin College of Public Affairs in Urban Education. Kate teaches a graduate-level Special Education Law course to aspiring superintendents and principals. Kate works closely with senior leadership across various sectors providing executive coaching aimed at creating growth-minded organizational cultures (www.edpolicyconsulting.com). Kate is the author of numerous articles and books including Ida Finds Her Voice and Fearless Coaching. Kate's new book, Radically Excellent School Improvement: Keeping Students at the Center of it All presents a model for ambitious improvement and tireless focus that ensures every student grows, thrives, and achieves to their fullest potential. It provides district and school leaders with a bold blueprint for designing,implementing, and monitoring a comprehensive school improvement process for radical excellence (https://us.corwin.com/books/radical-excellence-289045).

In this episode, Jethro Jones interviews Will Richardson, a veteran in the educational field for over 30 years. The discussion covers Will's new educational cohort initiatives, his manifesto addressing the need for educational reform in chaotic times, the role of politics in education, and the significance of long-term thinking for future generations. They delve into the necessity of reshaping educational goals to foster relationships and prepare students for a complex future.Constant Evolving, every five or so years. Three C's - Complexity, Chaos, and CollapseThe ManifestoWill's SubstackThere is still common ground here regardless of who is in political power.What do you want to still exist in 50 years? We can go to our school communities and just ask to have a chat. Parents are the fundamental educators in a child's life. Jethro on StewardshipWhat are we doing for our grandchildren? It's personal work first. Soul work before school work. Out of relation with each other and out of relation with other living things. Join Will's Workshops at https://futureserious.school About Will RichardsonBuilding capacity and community for educators (and others) ready to confront "complexity, chaos, and collapse." Founder, Future Serious Schools; Co-Founder, Big Questions Institute; Speaker, Author, Provocateur, Educator

In this episode, host Jethro Jones interviews Mike Cronley, founder and CEO of Class Composer, about how his software helps create equitable classrooms. They discuss the challenges faced by educators in balancing class compositions and how Class Composer addresses these issues.Getting the right kids in the right places in elementary schoolFocus on behavior and then start overloading based on other characteristics. Rarely changed once the school year starts. Classroom imbalance can impact the school for much longer than just the school year. Teachers are happy with the output. People weren't starters but they make an impact. About Mike CronleyWhile some big ideas are born in the boardroom, others are born in the lunchroom. In his 12 years teaching third grade near Denver, Colorado, Mike shared the frustrations of many colleagues enduring inequitable classes – for example, classes having an imbalance of low readers or students with challenging behavior. These imbalances weren't surprising, given the student placement process was done with pink and blue paper cards. Over lunch one day in 2007, the school's music teacher was venting to Mike about some unruly students who mistakenly ended up in her class together, even though they were supposed to have been separated based on their disruptive behavior the year before. Wouldn't it be great, they mused, if there were some software to create class lists and avoid these basic errors? As a self-professed technology geek, Mike started dreaming about the possibility of creating his own solution. That dream grew into an obsession, and he found himself spending evenings and weekends consumed by research – driving his wife crazy. The result was Class Composer, software built on Mike's tech savvy, his teacher's perspective, and his commitment to creating positive learning environments. Mike, who received his B.S. in Psychology from the Ohio State University and an elementary teaching certificate from the University of Colorado Denver, is no longer in the classroom, but is an educator at heart who loves making a positive impact on the lives of teachers and students. He lives in Boulder, Colorado with his wife and two poodles, and he loves to ski, bike, and camp with his family, including his college-age son and daughter. We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

In this episode, Jethro Jones welcomes back Adam Geller, the founder and CEO of Edthena. They discuss the new Observation Copilot tool, designed to streamline principals' feedback processes for teachers, and delve into the challenges and solutions regarding teacher observations. Adam shares insights on how this innovative tool bridges the gap, saving valuable time for principals while maintaining meaningful and timely feedback for teachers.Observation copilot. Streamlining feedback to teachers Where are your pain points in observing teachers. Making sure chickenscratch notes turn into valuable prose and you can generate valuable ideas.Quick turnaround time - Observe today and get feedback today. How is streamlining the observation process transformativeHuman powered notes from the principal. Focus is on reorganizing, not on filling in blanks. Computer's job is to show the evidence that a principal inputs. System to help a principal make a first draft. This service is free for anyone to use spring 2025. observationcopilot.com free for spring 2025 We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

This episode is a special From the Vault. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Robert Feirsen and Dr. Seth Weitzman about their new book From Conflict to Collaboration: A School Leader's Guide to Unleashing Conflict's Problem-Solving Power.We talk about how to avoid conflict, the three A's to approach conflict, and much more.About the GuestsDr. Robert Feirsen is currently an associate professor and coordinator of the Educational Leadership Program at Manhattanville College. Previously, he was assistant professor and chair of the Education Department at the New York Institute of Technology. A former SAANYS member, Dr. Feirsen enjoyed a distinguished career in P-12 schools. As a school building leader in Westchester and Nassau Counties, he served as an elementary school principal, a middle school assistant principal, and a middle school principal. At the central office level, he served as an assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, deputy superintendent, and superintendent of schools. Dr. Feirsen taught at the elementary, middle, and high school levels as a social studies and special education teacher in schools in New York City before moving into supervisory roles. Dr. Feirsen holds an Ed.D. from Fordham University. Dr. Feirsen's research interests include addressing organizational conflict, the school principal-school counselor relationship, principal and teacher retention, the relationship between psychological ownership and professional learning, college readiness, and the applications of design thinking. His research and other articles have been published in a number of academic journals, as well as Educational Leadership and Education Week. Dr. Feirsen has led workshops at such venues as ASCD, the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), and the American Educational Research Association (AERA). With Seth Weitzman, he has presented at national and statewide conferences including ASCD, the New York State Council of School Superintendents (NYSCOSS), and the New York Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (NYACTE). Seth Weitzman is also the co-author of From Conflict to Collaboration: A School Leader's Guide to Unleashing Conflict's Problem-Solving Power and How to Get the Teaching Job You Want.Dr. Seth Weitzman sat in a middle school principal's chair for 27 years in Nassau and Westchester counties. Leadership positions included co-president of the Mamaroneck administrators' union, president of the Nassau County, and later, the Westchester County Middle School Principals' Association, and a New York State Middle-Level Liaison (a working group of principals representing every county and BOCES in New York State meeting with NYSED officials). Together with Dr. Robert Feirsen, he is the co-author of two books: How to Get the Teaching Job You Want and From Conflict to Collaboration: A School Leader's Guide to Unleashing Conflict's Problem-Solving Power. He is either author or co-author of a number of articles published in national education journals including Educational Leadership and American Middle-Level Education Magazine. Drs. Feirsen and Weitzman have presented in numerous professional association conferences at the county, state, and local levels (e.g. Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, American Association of School Personnel Administrators, New York State Middle School Association, New York State Association of Teacher Educators) and graduate-level classes (Teachers College, Bank Street College of Education). He is currently Senior Instructor in the Mercy College Educational Leadership Department. His 40-year education career began teaching elementary school and middle school in Connecticut and New York City. He holds an EdD from Teachers College, Columbia University. We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

In this episode, Jethro Jones introduces the Big Impact Mixer, where innovative minds gather to share and implement impactful ideas. Jethro discusses his approach of small, manageable experiments aimed at making significant changes and provides insights into some of his personal experiments, including supplements, workout routines, and productivity methods. He encourages listeners to join the mixer and his SchoolX Beta book study for collaborative growth and development. We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

In this episode of the Transformative Principal podcast, we introduce you to Dr. Trish Stoll, a transformative leader who played a pivotal role in the Mississippi Miracle—a remarkable effort to improve child literacy rates in the state. Dr. Stoll will share her insights on how to empower teachers, build their capacity for literacy instruction, and create a culture of learning where all students can thrive. She'll discuss the importance of focusing on teacher capacity, providing ample training and support, and involving teachers in decision-making. Dr. Stoll will also share her thoughts on how principals can be transformative leaders by observing classrooms, learning from students, and creating a culture of continuous improvement. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in improving literacy outcomes for all students.Mississippi MiraclePrior initiativesBarksdale Reading AcademyReading Universe Reading First - Literacy block was protected, pockets not the entire stateLiteracy-Based Promotion Act - 3rd grade assessmentMississippi Kindergarten ReadinessFocus on Teacher Capacity on LiteracyState literacy programs3 Consortiums throughout the state to help teachers learn moreAIM Pathways partnering with the stateLots of training and support for all teachers. If we focus on learning to read from Pre-K to secondEmpowering TeachersState literacy coaches were teachersTeacher advisory committee - created by state Supt. Teachers take ownership of their professional learningTEDx talk for teachersHow to be a transformative principal? Go into classrooms observe what students are doing and be a learner. Even district personnel are learners tooAbout Trish StollDr. Trish Stoll is a dedicated and experienced educator who currently serves as the ELA Curriculum Specialist for the Gulfport School District in Gulfport, Mississippi. With over two decades of experience in the field of education, Dr. Stoll has held various roles including general education teacher, Visual Arts Instructor, Literacy Coach, and Instructional Coach. Her passion for implementing best practices in literacy education has made her a valuable asset in improving literacy for students in Mississippi and beyond. Dr. Stoll's commitment to continuous learning, research, and collaboration with other literacy professionals across the nation ensures that students receive the most effective literacy instruction possible. Holding an Ed. D in Educational Leadership, a Specialist Degree in Instructional Leadership, a Master of Science, and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, Dr. Stoll has a strong educational background that informs her work in the field. Furthermore, Dr. Trish Stoll is a Middle and Early Childhood Art National Board Certified Teacher, showcasing her expertise and dedication to the field of education. With her wealth of experience and qualifications, Dr. Stoll continues to make a significant impact on the literacy education landscape, striving to enhance learning outcomes for students and promote excellence in education. We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

School is becoming more hyper-localized. Parents' choice is expanding, and public schools are already having to court new families to choose them, and this is going to become even more important as time goes on. John Mihalyo joins me to discuss how to improve your school's branding. Your identity and brand is an individualized school decision. How to look at a school from a parent perspectiveWhat is the last parent perspective? If you have a problem with enrollment, retention, and engagement, it might actually be a branding problem. What are your teachers' elevator pitch? Give them topics of conversation. Give people opportunities to discuss great things happening in your school. Kids who start at your school want to finish at your school! Two ways to look at things: “Tuition is so expensive” and “I'm getting all that for just $X in Tuition? Sign me up!”Word of mouth opportunities. If you are not telling your story effectivelyChaos to alignment to integration! How to be a transformative principal? Ask this question: What is causing things to not go well? About John Mihalyo:John Mihalyo is a distinguished education professional and the visionary founder of Elementary Advancement Solutions, a premier consulting firm dedicated to empowering Catholic and faith-based school leaders, and host of the excellent Catholic School Leaders Podcast. With over 20 years of administrative experience and 15 years as a Catholic school principal, John has become a trusted expert in navigating the complexities of Catholic education, including leadership development, advancement, and enrollment growth.Throughout his career, John has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to supporting Catholic school leaders as they address the unique challenges of faith-based education. His extensive collaborations with pastors, bishops, superintendents, and dioceses across multiple states highlight his ability to develop innovative strategies that align with Catholic mission and values while driving measurable success.John's expertise in advancement is evidenced by his instrumental role in establishing two successful Advancement Offices, securing over $1.8 million in funding, and leading impactful initiatives such as a $6 million renovation project. Under his leadership, schools have experienced transformative growth, including an average enrollment increase of 24%, all while building stronger communities rooted in faith and mission. We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

In this episode, host Jethro Jones chats with Mike Caldwell, the founder of LinkEd Leaders. They discuss the importance of on-demand mentorship for school leaders, the benefits of having an outside perspective, and the significance of creating a brave space for vulnerability and growth. Mike shares insights on the unique challenges faced by principals and the power of peer-to-peer mentoring.Telecoaching for school leadersHelpful to have a detached leaderA place to go and be realSafe space vs. brave spaceBeing vulnerable sometimes leads to being excluded from opportunities. In 30 minutes, you can have affirmation, support, and clear goals for going forward.Retention problem at the school level. ExhausterwhelmulatedNeeds change over time. Power in curiosityUnderstanding Principal TurnoverLinkedLeaders.com We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

I'm excited to announce my Book Study. Get more info and join me here.In this episode, Jethro Jones interviews Dr. Nason Lollar, author of 'The Five Principles of Educator Professionalism'. They discuss the erosion of trust in the education system, the impact of educational fads, and the importance of professional development and teacher morale in rebuilding trust.Chasing fads leads to a lack of trust. COVID exacerbating issues. Technology could be a fad.Take ownership of our own morale. Morale is a personal decision, but admin still have an impact. Negatives vs. Negativity.Damon and I made a commitment to never complain about our leaders. The ways to create a positive culture.Don't entertain negativity. Looking for problems is easy. Strong collaboration to stay away from negativityIsolation is the enemy of improvement - Richard ElmoreHow to be a Transformative Principal? Get teachers to share where they need support. Listen to them and have empathy. About Nason Lollar:Having served twenty-four years in the field of education, Dr. Nason Lollar has leveraged those experiences into his first book, The Five Principles of Educator Professionalism.   Nason began his career in the classroom, serving as a high school math and social studies teacher and as a baseball coach for fourteen years. He then transitioned to administration, serving as a high school assistant principal for nine years. He is currently serving in his 2nd year as principal at the Madison Career & Technical Center in Madison, Mississippi. His journey as a student of Educational Leadership began with graduate work at Mississippi College, and culminated with a Doctorate of Education from William Carey University in 2018. In 2023, Nason was honored by the Mississippi Association of Secondary School Principals as state Assistant Principal of the Year.  Connect with Nason: On X, @nasonlollar, through his Facebook page, Personal Development, or on his blog, nasonlollar.wordpress.com.  We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

I'm excited to announce my Book Study. Get more info and join me here.In this episode, Jethro Jones interviews Dr. Layne Dillard, an educational leader with over 27 years of experience in transforming schools and empowering leaders. Dr. Dillard shares insights on achieving 100% reading proficiency among third graders, the importance of teaching at grade level, and strategies for effective school improvement.Cast a vision, shoot for the moon, maybe you'll hit the starsWith 37% special education students. We realized we just changed lives. First state report card was an F. Looking at our “Why” Going to have to do things that are hard for adults and right for kids. Tier 1 at grade level. How can we expect them to be proficient if they never see that content?Every year they don't see grade level, they're even further behind. Fill in gaps from last year, then you never get to current year. Look at data like blood work, not personal. Data can feel like we're blaming people. Data can be used as a weapon. True differentiation is…Intentional grouping of students. Teaching a skill. Knowing your data. Your data is like skeleton. Nobody is a queen bee. How to be a transformative principal? Get a clipboard and go down the halls and look for everything in your building going right. Dr. Layne DillardTransformative Educator | School Turnaround Strategist | Creator of the LEAD FrameworkDr. Layne Dillard (X, LinkedIn, Web Site) has dedicated over 27 years to transforming schools and empowering leaders to create environments where students thrive. With 18 years of experience as a principal, she led a high-poverty school from an "F" to a "B" on the state report card, earning recognition as a CLAS Banner School and a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. Under her leadership, all 3rd graders at her school achieved 100% proficiency in reading on state assessments.Layne's extensive career spans every level of education, from Pre-K to high school seniors. She has also served as the principal of an alternative school, where she worked to ensure that even the most at-risk students could succeed.Her journey inspired the creation of the LEAD Framework—a student-centered, research-backed approach designed to help schools make meaningful, sustainable progress. Currently serving as an Educational Administrator in the Office of School Improvement with the Alabama State Department of Education, she specializes in data-driven strategies, leadership development, and building positive school cultures.Layne is a passionate speaker who loves motivating districts, schools, and educators to be the absolute best they can be every single day—because students deserve nothing less. Her mission is to help principals turn challenges into opportunities and imagine the possibilities for their schools and students.Layne earned her B.S. in Secondary Education and an M.A. in Educational Leadership and Administration at the University of North Alabama. She earned a Doctor of Education in Learning Organizations and Strategic Change from Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

I'm excited to announce my Book Study. Get more info and join me here.In this podcast episode, Joel Lavin and Jethro Jones discuss transition services for students with disabilities as they mature out of the K-12 schooling program. We talk about combining CTE and Transition Services to make sure students are prepared for life, independence, self determination, communication, and living on their own. See Joel's previous interview on Transformative Principal episodes 258 and 259.Education and Training, Employment, Independence, self determination and communication, planning for your future.Transition Vision Project. Including General Ed and CTE programs.Visioning process. The pathway process. North Star, positive and possible, enroll, strongerWhy is CTE and Transition services so important for working together? Career Technical Education.Sometimes kids needing services in their IEP gets in the way of their opportunities to have more work experiences. CTE: FutureBuildUnified Sports and other unified programs - if you don't have this in your school, make it happen!Ryan- started in the pandemic as a freshman in charter school struggled, moved to the alternative school still struggled, finally moved to a program in one of our high schools focused on transition, still included in regular classes though it was regional, began to thrive in the setting, had an opportunity to access a centralized program called future build.Student continues to thrive as a senior. Is now a keynote speaker for the Oregon Statewide Transition Conference in March 2024.Transition Services take a lot of teamwork! How to be a transformative principal? All staff need to be on board with inclusive practices.About Joel LavinJoel is in his 15th year as an administrator and 25th year as a public educator. He is currently an equity and inclusion administrator for high schools in Eugene School District 4J. His job is focused on removing barriers for students in high school through age 21 who experience disabilities and autism. Joel has worked with students prekindergarten through age 21 in his career. He started teaching as a middle school science teacher and branched out to administration in 2009.• Joel has two children, who are each about 3 years apart. They are currently in high school and college.• His hobbies include camping with his family, gardening, running, cooking and martial arts.His passions include: inclusive education, transition services, restorative justice, bilingual education and educational equity. He has been a facilitator for the CFEE Collaborative for 15 years, Coaching for Equity in Education Collaborative. We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

I'm excited to announce my Book Study. Get more info and join me here.In this episode, Jethro Jones interviews Dr. Sandy Breece, founder and superintendent of Telesis Center for Learning Incorporated. They discuss Dr. Breece's journey starting a school before the concept of charter schools existed, her commitment to small class sizes and individualized instruction, and her advice for those looking to start their own schools today. They also delve into the power of community and the importance of having a clear vision.Charter schools didn't start until 1994, when the school was three years old. The community needed choice. Small class sizes.Individualization for everyone. Advice for starting your own school. Don't wait, just do it! Find communityIgnore the naysayers. Reach out to community members individually. Power of Community bookAdvice for funding schools. How to be a transformative principal - Call Sandy. About Dr. Sandy Breece:Dr. Sandy Breece is the Founder and Superintendent of Telesis Center for Learning, Inc. founded in 1991 in Lake Havasu City, AZ which includes two tuition free public charter schools: Telesis Preparatory Academy for grades 9-12 and Telesis Preparatory for grades K-8 which she oversees and operates the non-profit corporation Telesis Center for Learning, Inc. with a staff of 48 and student enrollment of 350. Dr. Breece holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Breece also has her BS and MS degrees in Elementary Education with an Early Childhood endorsement and a double minor in Psychology and Zoology from Arizona State University. She has many years of experience as a teacher and administrator in K-12 education as first an elementary teacher with a focus on reading and Early Childhood Education and then school founder and director of a private and public school, ultimately becoming a certified principal and then certified superintendent all in Lake Havasu City, AZ where she has lived for 58 years. Telesis Preparatory Academy (grades 9-12) and Telesis Preparatory (grades K-8) are both accredited schools by Cognia Accreditation. Both schools have received A and B letter grades from the State of Arizona consistently each year. Dr. Breece added Paw Prints Preschool to the Telesis Center for Learning, Inc. complex in 2019, a tuition-based preschool program for 3 and 4-year-olds.She most recently founded School Founders Academy to mentor others passionate about starting a school after publishing an anthology book titled “Power of Community” last March which became a #1 International Bestseller. Her chapter “From Vision to Reality: Navigating the Challenges of Starting a School” tells of some of the many challenges and how she solved them. Dr. Breece often does speaking engagements on educational topics which are listed on her speaker sheet on the School Founders Academy's website. For more information visit schoolfounders.academy and like and follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn.  We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

I'm excited to announce my Book Study. Get more info and join me here.In this episode,  Jethro Jones interviews Meira Koponen, a learning designer at Kahoot. They discuss the importance of game-based learning, the integration of AI to enhance classroom experiences, and innovative approaches to make learning more inclusive and engaging. Meira shares her experiences from Finland, her passion for education, and some exciting new features of Kahoot that support both teachers and students.Meira Koponen is a Pedagogy and Didactics Manager (Learning Designer) at Kahoot!See previous interviews about education in Finland with Pirjo Suhonen: Episode 183, and Episode 184What a learning designer at Kahoot! does. Testing with teachers.Things must be designed in such a way that teachers can createAI Creator in Kahoot!On being the last place all the time.Team, classroom collaborativePlaying at your own speed and level.Self-paced, different goal, Being part of a communityKahootopia - Learning portfolioLearning doesn't happen without effort.We put a lot of emphasis on Academic skills.We need to focus also on other skills. Organic vs. Mechanistic skillsLearning line upon line, little by little. Fail often, that's how you learn.  We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

I'm excited to announce my Book Study. Get more info and join me here.Public Benefit CorporationsBenefit of school leadersSchool is nestled within a communityBeing authentic in who they are so they can show up authentically. Things happen for a reason. Breaking inappropriate rulesTruth vs. truthTheory of Development Bronfenbrenner, U. (1977). Toward an experimental ecology of human development. American Psychologist, 32(7), 513–531. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.32.7.513How to be a transformative principal? Be yourselfAbout Marcela AndrésMarcela Andrés, a visionary leader in education and the President and CEO of designEDengagement, PBC. Marcela has dedicated her career to creating culturally responsive strategies that foster strong relationships between educators, families, and communities. She's also the author of Purposeful Educator Connections: Five Principles to Strengthen Relationships with Students, a transformative guide that offers practical strategies to help educators deepen their connections with students and drive meaningful change in the classroom.Marcela's work is focused on empowering educators to go beyond compliance and embrace the power of relationships as a foundation for student success. Her book highlights key principles that allow educators to create high-quality learning environments, foster meaningful interactions, and partner with key stakeholders to support students in fulfilling their life's purpose.In today's conversation, we'll dive into Marcela's approach to transforming the educational experience and explore how Purposeful Educator Connections can serve as a blueprint for educators looking to strengthen their relationships with students and make a lasting impact. We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

I'm excited to announce my Book Study. Get more info and join me here.Kevin would bring a deep passion and eagerness to discuss the impact of our latest project, the docuseries "What We Show Them" with the goal to engage your audience in a vital conversation about the future of learning, inspiring positive change in education through the power of media.  DO I feel safe in this school? Sign - All visitors need to report to main officeSafety is the basic issue of a school. Docuseries: What we Show ThemSecond Class Foundation - Improve the stories about education through the use of media. Start with the problemGood stories - Bring in the community Entertainment mattersFragmentation of schools is happening at an accelerated rate.Social interactionsHow did the vote turn out? About Kevin Stoller:The Better Learning Podcast is hosted by Kevin Stoller, CEO of Kay-Twelve and author of Creating Better Learning Environments. The podcast is also associated with other organizations that are focused on improving education including the Education Leaders' Organization (ELO) and the Second Class Foundation We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

I'm excited to announce my Book Study. Get more info and join me here.The Power of ICU - focuses on giving kids what they need when they need it. Bringing it all back to Tier 1. ICU MenuChanging language - how can I help you, what can I do for you? Lifeguards - 7 LifeguardsICU time (Advisory/WIN/RTI time)9 departments - every subject is involved and every subject matters. 35 minute window - walk around helping students. Love beeps. About 75 students per teacher. 10 or so might be heavy hitters Teacher designed, for teachers by teachers. ICU Database. Parent communication. Healthy grading - learning target that's easy to identify for everyone involved.Tied to a learning standard. Humans not heroes.This isn't equitable when some teachers don't have students. Blitzes - getting additional support from the Tier 1 teacher. Math access - Partial Teacher 550 hours in the school year. Menu of supportDepth of Knowledge - Maverik Education AISafety is the cost of doing business, not the number 1 priority. 100% completion rate of essential assignments.Blitz day - 90 minutes for ICU at the end of the day. No homework school.Key Stats: A/B Honor roll fall 2022: 248 studentsFall 2023: 376Spring 2024: 439 kidsODRs reduced by 34%70 Fs (75% decrease)99% completion rate. How to be a Transformative Principal? Servant Leadership - Serve your people better. About Garett CookGarett Cook has dedicated 15 years of his life to education, with nine of those years as a principal. His journey in education has taken him to various states, including Kansas, Missouri, and Texas, where he has left a lasting impact as an educator. Cook's core value is to be a positive influence on all individuals he interacts with, serving others through his actions. He strives to live out his faith in God through his daily walk, aiming to inspire and uplift those around him. Cook's passion for education and his unwavering commitment to serving others have made him a respected and valued leader in the field. See his previous interview here on Transformative Principal. We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

I'm excited to announce my Book Study. Get more info and join me here.In this episode of Transformative Principal, host Jethro Jones interviews Erik Francis, an expert in educational leadership and the creator of Maverik Education AI. Francis discusses the role of AI in education, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and critical thinking. Key points include:AI's Limitations: ChatGPT and other AI tools can sometimes produce inaccurate information due to the nature of their sourcing and synthesis processes.Depth of Knowledge (DOK):  Francis highlights the need for students to deeply understand their learning, moving beyond surface-level comprehension. He outlines how different levels of DOK correspond to various question types (e.g., "whether" questions indicate DOK 1, while "how" questions indicate DOK 2).AI as a Tool, Not a Replacement: Francis argues that AI should be used as a stimulus for learning, not a source of definitive answers. It can offer suggestions, but educators and students must ultimately use their own judgment and critical thinking skills.The Importance of Authenticity: Francis believes that the future of AI in education lies in authenticity. Educators and students should "be the brain" and use AI as a tool to enhance, rather than replace, their own thinking and decision-making processes.Misinterpretation about DOK and We don't know the source that chatGPT Is using. OpenAI synthesizing all those hits in Google that gives back information that is not accurate. How deeply do students have to comprehend their learning?You can't just rely on a calculator. The technology doesn't make things less complex, it makes it easier to do that work.There are people who are going to say, “It's good enough.” Circle the verbs and underline the standards. Assessing on skills and stuff (old way)  vs context (new way) Whether - DOK 1How - DOK 2Supports - DOK 3Two or more - DOK 4“Worksheets don't grow dendrites” - Marcia TateCreated this to help teachers expand their instructional talent. AI is a stimulus, not a source. Suggestions, not decisions. Teaching is not just a science, it's an art. Rogers' diffusion of innovation. How do we know that our AI stuff is actually good? The Future of AI is authenticity. “Be the brain and make the impact.” About Erik Francis:Erik Francis specializes in providing guidance, support and training to academic leaders and classroom teachers on how to develop rigorous learning environments and deliver engaging educational experiences that engage and encourage students to demonstrate different levels of thinking and understand and use their Depth of Knowledge (DOK) through inquiry and by questioning with good questions. He created Maverik Education AI. We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

Dr. David Lipman joins Jethro to talk about critical aspects of health optimization and its impact on our well-being in a modern world filled with physical and environmental stressors. Dr. Lipman discusses how everyday stress activates our fight-or-flight response, depleting energy at a cellular level and affecting our health. He advocates for grounding practices like walking barefoot on natural surfaces, deep breathing techniques like the Wim Hof method, and the importance of proper nutrition. Dr. Lipman also emphasizes removing obstacles at the spinal level to improve nervous system function, a topic aligned with his expertise as a chiropractic physician. Listeners will gain insights on how simple changes, such as hydration with salt, can initiate transformative health improvements. Through his conversation, Dr. Lipman challenges common misconceptions about work-life balance and stresses the importance of making proactive health investments to thrive in both personal and professional life.Learn how to optimize your health and make small, impactful changes, and discover how Dr. Lipman's bio-optimization methods can help you lead a healthier, more balanced life.Stress is activating our sympathetic nervous system, fight or flight. Losing energy at the cell level - Modern world that we live in has many attacks against us. All that the modern world is hurting us with. Shoes and socks off, bare feet on the grass and dirt.Getting enough oxygenWymhoff deep breathing. Bio-optimization centerRemoving obstacles at the spinal level in how our nervous system is treating our whole systemNutrition is important as well. Gym class vs. teaching kids to play sportsPresident's council on physical fitnessRemediation before basic trainingDoes everyone need to take the same Invest in the incline of our healthThe more we strive for the easy life…Growth requires stress and challengeWe're either growing or we are degeneratingHow to be a transformative principal? Choose the one thing to do to to make things better, maybe drinking water with a little salt.Connect with David LipmanAbout Dr. David LipmanDr. David Lipman owns Physical Evidence Chiropractic and is a seasoned chiropractic physician who has successfully treated thousands of patients. With a deep personal commitment to bio-optimization, Dr. Lipman has achieved extraordinary levels of strength, endurance, and overall health well into his 60s. His mission is to share the knowledge and processes that have profoundly benefited his own life, helping others to achieve optimal health and wellness. We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

This episode with Eric Sheninger and Nicki Slaugh discusses their book "Personalize: Meeting the Needs of All Learners" and their insights on transformative education practices, particularly at Quest Academy.Quest Academy's approach emphasizes student engagement and personalized learning. They prioritize retaining teachers and students by fostering a culture of choice, voice, and evidence-based practices.The school has implemented innovative strategies such as Mastery Minutes and a tracker system to monitor student progress and provide personalized support.Traditional grading structures like points, extra credit, and percentages have been removed in favor of a proficiency-based system. Students are assessed on their ability to demonstrate mastery of essential skills and knowledge.Big shifts in education require big moves, and Quest Academy embraces this philosophy. They encourage educators to find their own "right way" and avoid rigid adherence to any single "best practice."About Nicki SlaughNicki Slaugh stands out as a trailblazer in the field of educational transformation. Through her efforts, she has established a school culture dedicated to customizing learning experiences for individual students, cultivating a positive atmosphere,highlighting the importance of STEM education, and purposefully integrating technology to unleash each student's potential. As a secondary principal, Nicki's forward-thinking leadership has transformed a conventionally structured school into one that advocates for personalized, competency-based learning, attracting nationwide attention.Nicki's focus has been creating proficiency scales, developing rubrics, self-paced pathways, incorporating technology as a resource, and giving teachers and students voice and choice in the classroom.Nicki is a Google-certified innovator who is certified in MagicSchoolAI. Notable achievements include creating a Mastery Tracker  for students and enhancing student progress in competency-based learning environments. Additionally, Nicki has presented her work at numerous local and national conferences teaching educators and leaders. Nicki championed innovative practices and received the Teacher of the Year Award, Model School Award, and was part of the reason her school accomplished being one of the first STEM-designated schools in Utah.  Nicki has served as the Ogden/Weber Partners in Education Chair for three years, where she facilitated collaborative efforts to enhance educational opportunities for students.Nicki Slaugh's education legacy spans over two decades, starting as a classroom teacher from kindergarten to third grade. She also served as an instructional technology and curriculum coach for grades K-9. Nicki currently serves as a secondary principal, fueled by a passionate commitment to cultivating a love of learning within her school and is an educational consultant for Aspire Change EDU working with schools around the country. About Eric SheningerEric works with schools throughout the world, helping educators meet and exceed their potential to improve outcomes for learners. He is the founder and CEO of Aspire Change EDU, a collaborative consultancy designed to provide personalized support to all educational systems. Prior to this, he was a teacher and the award-winning Principal at New Milford High School. Under his leadership, his school became a globally recognized model for innovative practices. Eric oversaw the successful implementation of several sustainable change initiatives that radically transformed the learning culture at his school while increasing achievement.His work focuses on innovative and practical ways educators can transform teaching, learning, and leadership.  Through his work with thousands of schools, Eric has emerged as an innovative leader, best-selling author, and sought-after speaker. His main focus is using research, evidence-based practices, and artificial intelligence (AI) to empower learners and educators.How Eric and Nicki came together to write this book: Personalize: Meeting the Needs of All Learners  Eric Sheninger's first appearance on Transformative Principal.The power of Quest AcademyRetain teachers, retain students - how to keep kids there. Free public schoolTeenagers weren't engaged. PD time every FridayMastery MinutesBeginning of day, tracker system. Choice, voice, tracker data. Curating evidence. Culture Self-pacing route vs. choice boards. Removed points, extra credit, percentages, Emerging, developing, mastering, extendingProve-its aligned to proficiency scales.Big shifts require big moves. At Quest, we want you to be proficientWhen you remove the traditional structures, you have to addThe right way is your way, there is no best practice. Performance reviews, students meet with teachers one-on-one. Impersonal approaches to focusing on the “who”How can we do it effectively, and what does it look like? Evidence of effective vs. ineffective practices. Practice, practice, practice, prove. Maximizing the time we have with our students.How to be a transformative principal? Eric: Show people the value of what you are doingNicki: Get rid of the energy vampires We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technology...

In this episode, Mike Duncan, president and CEO of Battelle for Kids, explores the concept of a portrait of a graduate and its importance in shaping education. He discusses the need to include all voices in creating a portrait that reflects the competencies most important to students' success.Duncan emphasizes the value of inquiry-based learning, self-direction, and creating products that have an impact beyond the classroom. He also highlights the importance of leveraging the talent within schools to build capacity and co-create the design process.The episode also touches on the importance of psychological safety in creating an environment where students and educators feel comfortable taking risks and failing. Duncan shares his insights on how to be a transformative principal and the resources available to support principals in their leadership journey, such as the EdLeader21 network and the Future Cast report.This episode provides valuable insights into the role of a portrait of a graduate in shaping education and the essential qualities of transformative principals.Locally developed, globally positionedIncluding all voices in creating a portrait of a graduateWhat competencies are most important in a portrait of a graduate? Being good people and a good citizen. Put their perspectives on the table, and let people do their 5-7 most powerful. Portrait is the very beginning of that journey. Inquiry based learning, self-direction, products that have impact beyond the classroomPortrait of a graduate as a catalyst. Knowing vs. doing curriculumLearning expo - Leveraging the talent in our schools already to build capacity on Cocreating the process of designing It's about time, you need coaching, support, and help in doing it efficientlyHow to be a transformative principal? Create Psychological safety to create and fail.Bill Daggett EpisodeEdLeaderFuture CastAbout Mike DuncanMike Duncan is the president and CEO of the national nonprofit Battelle for Kids. Prior to his role, he was one of the longest-serving superintendents in the state of Georgia, having been the superintendent at Pike County Schools since 2005. Before arriving in Pike, he was a high school principal, high school and middle school assistant principal, and a middle school teacher. Mike earned a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Georgia in 2004. He has been a member of EdLeader21, the national network of Battelle for Kids, for over a decade and previously served as the network's advisory vice chair. We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

In this episode, David Schipper, director of the Strategic Learning Clinic, discusses the challenges that students face in reaching their full potential. He highlights the prevalence of SAD (Stubborn Adult Disorder) as a major obstacle and emphasizes the need to address the soft bigotry of low expectations. Schipper argues that learning to read is the number one civil rights issue of our time and stresses the importance of testing all children by age 1 to identify those who may need additional support. He recommends high-impact tutoring and emphasizes the need to put the right emphasis on the right syllable when teaching reading. Schipper also discusses the role of transformative principals in identifying students who are struggling and provides practical tips for educators.The #1 obstacle to helping students become the best they can be - SADHuge resistance to many ideas. Sold a story that if students would just memorize all the words.Soft bigotry of low expectationsTest all kids by age 1. It's a total mystery why students struggle. High-Impact TutoringPut the right emphasis on the right syllable. Learning to read is the number 1 civil rights issue of our time. If teachers are taught how to teach, they'll be more effective. How to be a transformative principal? Test the phonological processing skills of students. Note who is struggling.  About David SchipperDavid Schipper is the director of Strategic Learning Clinic, a position he has held since 2013. David obtained a B.A. in English Literature from Concordia University in 1998 as well as a B.Ed. in Secondary Education (English and History) from McGill University in 2002. After some work as a local teacher in Montreal, David founded 2Torial Educational Centre in 2007. Aside from his ability to put both parents and students at ease, David uses his clinic's fairly unique approach to help get to the root of students' learning challenges and propose the most suitable remediation to resolve these weaknesses. As a father of two children, David knows how to relate to the concerns of parents and as an experienced educator, thoroughly understands the struggles of students. His passion and dedication to teaching and learning is second to none. We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

In this podcast interview, Julie Ulstrup discusses the concept of the "Zone of Brilliance," where individuals can create a vision and achieve their dreams. She emphasizes the importance of having a definite chief aim and aligning one's actions, time, and money with that aim. Ulstrup highlights the common problem of educators providing a lot of value but not being compensated fairly for it.She suggests that educators can increase their income by understanding their zone of brilliance, changing their mindset about compensation, and becoming more aware of their transferable skills. Ulstrup also challenges the idea put forth by Simon Sinek that one should start with "why" when setting goals, arguing that teachers should focus on their zone of brilliance and act accordingly.Zone of Brilliance - We help everyone else create a vision and achieve their dreams. Every achievement is a result of a definite chief aimHow you see yourself, how others see you, how you spend your time, how you spend your money.We say we value something, but we do something else. It looks like doing nothing. Impact, influence, increase and income. We know it is our zone of brilliance when we feel it inside. How to change your mindset about compensation.Common and chronic problem that educators provide a lot of value and don't get paid enough for it. Increase is three dimensional - who are we becoming. How we serve on the earth is how we can define ourselves. How much did the US pay out for all the Olympic gold, silver and bronze medals? Teachers do have a lot of transferable skills. Act in your zone of brilliance Simon Sinek was wrong - Don't start with whyTeachers have skills that can work well in other settings. Teachers have always been in sales. Mindset, human-centered part of being an entrepreneur. Five minutes and use the quote by Sarah Blankely “The biggest risk is not taking a risk” - Journal about that for two minutes. “I serve and I deserve” and what does that mean?Venn to Zen. About Julie UlstrupMeet Julie Ulstrup, the visionary CEO of Women's Brilliance Collective and transformational personal and business strategist for experienced educators seeking their next chapter. With more than two decades of counseling expertise and a track record of incredible  business growth, Julie is the catalyst educators trust to turn their expertise into purpose and passion driven new opportunities.A two-time international leadership award winner and top 1% entrepreneur, Julie's unique blend of business acumen and deep understanding of human potential  guides  educators to create a vision for their careers so they  increase their impact, income and influence.Julie's superpower? Helping you discover yours. She combines razor-sharp strategy with heartfelt empathy, empowering you to:• Leverage your skills, knowledge, expertise and wisdom in innovative ways• Cultivate authentic leadership that inspires across sectors• Align your passion with purpose-driven opportunities• Make meaningful contributions in exciting new fieldsAs a sought-after speaker and trusted mentor, Julie's insights have transformed lives at universities, schools, and prominent events worldwide. Her message is clear: Your passion and purpose is the key to unlocking a future filled with increased influence, income, and impact.Julie's mission is to create a ripple effect of positive change by guiding educators like you to thrive in your next chapter. Whether you're eyeing leadership roles, consultancy, or entrepreneurship, she'll help you navigate the path with confidence and purpose.Ready to write the most exciting chapter of your career? Connect with Julie and the Women's Brilliance Collective today. Together, we're creating a world where  the rest of your  life truly becomes the best of your life. We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

On June 10, 2024, Passion Driven Leadership celebrated two schools in the Orange Township School District with the designation of being Passion Driven Schools. (see links below)PDL - Orange Recap June 2024.mp4Passion Driven Schools - Dr. Fitzhugh Interview .movThis means that they have decided to make Intentional Self-Care a priority for the adults in schools and completed our two-year process.Previous interview with Tyrone here.We work in a system that is broken by design. Accountable vs. ResponsibleWe work at the point of exhaustionEAP, too little too late. Starts with leadership. Process has six frames, SEL, instructional,  teacher, parent involvement, school reviewData driven vs. data informedDashboard for SELWellness & culture & climate surveys that teachers take on a regular basis. The value of the psychometric analysis is that it helps people see themselves and who their teammates are. Teachers came to work happier and more productive, fewer sick days, ownership.Students are more relaxed because of the impact of the teacher attitudes and perspectives. Passion Driven Schools for adults. Parent involvement - helping parents understand their kids better. Passion-Driven Leadership web site.  Please add your bio here: Dr. Tyrone D. Burton is an author, speaker, and Founder of Passion Driven Leadership. With over 40 years' experience in education Dr. Burton is recognized and sought after as a proven leader in education.  He has served as a Distinguished Principal, mentoring other Principals in his proud state of Louisiana. He has worked as a School Turnaround Specialist, successfully helping, and supporting Principals turn around schools in Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, Cayman Island and Connecticut. He has served as an adjunct professor teaching aspiring principals to lead. He has been featured on notable podcast such as, Courtney Bowden, The Transformative Principal and Leading Lane hosted by award winning Principal Adam Lane. He is a regular featured speaker at Alabama`s MEGA Conference. He has authored two books, More Than a Notion, A Journey in Educational Leadership in the Age of Accountability and The Reframing of American Education, A Framework for Understanding American Education Post COVID-19. Both books are used at the University level to train educational leaders. His company Passion Driven Leadership was awarded a New Schools Venture Fund Grant, which he used to pilot his program to help educators lead lives filled with “Intentional Self-Care”! He has helped hundreds of educators to restore and revitalize their emotional health and wellbeing. His vision to create a community of educators who become emotionally literate and emotionally Intelligent through the development of human capital. His mission is to help educators realize and recognize that “Intentional Self-Care” is not selfish! We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

Welcome to our National Literacy Month series of podcasts, presented in partnership between the Be Podcast Network and Reading Is Fundamental (RIF).In this episode of Transformative Principal, Jodi Rubin, Senior Vice President of Marketing & Partnerships at Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), discusses the "Rally to Read 100" initiative. Launched in response to declining reading frequency and motivation among children, this initiative aims to encourage children to read 100 books by the end of March. Anyone can participate, and there are incentives for schools and individuals, including book giveaways and social media contests. RIF provides various resources to support the initiative, such as videos, activity sheets, and purposeful questions for each book. Rubin emphasizes the importance of early reading experiences, reading aloud, and community involvement in fostering a love of reading in children. She also highlights the "RIF Literacy Central" website, which offers over 30,000 resources for educators and families.Rally to Read 100Frequency and motivation of reading was way down100,000,000th B&N storytime pick and Random House partnershipsRead 100 books by the end of the month of March. Anyone can participateWhy community is so important! Competition in individual groups. Motivation - giving away 10,000 books. 100 schools to win 100 books. Social media contestsEvery month 2 new videos will appear for the month's theme (community, nature, changemakers, and more).Packets, coloring sheets, and more activities for students to do and use. 12 titles for read-alouds - Maxine Gets a Job and Built to Last, for example.Purposeful questions for each book they read. The power of early reading experiences.Importance of reading aloud. Enter to get your classroom sets. Celebratory event live at Union Square in NY. RIF Literacy Central - over 30,000 resourcesPlease add your bio here: Jodi Rubin is a marketing strategy and project management leader with more than 25 years of experience in the areas of strategic marketing, brand management, partnership marketing, communications, and strategy development. Jodi currently serves as RIF's Senior Vice President Marketing & Partnerships and is responsible for the organization's marketing strategy, communications, and partnership marketing to drive awareness and engagement with the RIF brand and its programs.Prior to RIF, Jodi was with Discovery Communications serving in a variety of strategic marketing roles in Domestic Distribution and Discovery Education. Jodi oversaw international educational marketing initiatives, new content provider partner efforts, and worked with Discovery's various networks to bring key initiatives to teachers and students with unique educational content and resources to inspire and engage students.Jodi also held prior positions at Comsat International, W.B Doner Advertising, and Booz Allen & Hamilton.Jodi holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Michigan. We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

Dr. Daris McInnis joins Jethro to explore the complex nature of the reading process and the pivotal role that parents play in building literacy foundations at home. Dr. McInnis emphasizes the expertise that parents bring to the table, urging schools to honor and tap into that knowledge. He challenges the assumptions that parents inherently have everything they need to support their child's learning or that lack of engagement signals disinterest. Instead, he advocates for creating meaningful partnerships with parents, giving them a seat at the table, and understanding the pressures they face, such as time constraints. Throughout the discussion, Dr. McInnis highlights the value of programs like Reading is Fundamental (RIF) and literacy nights, which provide families with tools and strategies to support their children's learning. He also encourages educators to rethink their roles as learners themselves, emphasizing the importance of linguistic expression and understanding students as cosmopolitan intellectuals. Tune in to discover how schools can better engage families in the literacy process and how transformative leadership begins with meaningful, student-centered conversations.Reading process is complex. Starts at homeAt home start understanding the literacy foundationsParents have expertise, and we need to acknowledge it. Parents' knowledge of how their students' everyday life impacts learning.Schools should honor and seek that expertise out. Schools don't honor parent expertise because they don't have expertiseGrandma's statisticsAssumption: Parents have everything they need to support student learning (in the way we do it). Assumption: People have time. Uninvolved or don't care is not what silence always meansGiving them a seat at the table.What do they need from the school district? RIF is a great resourceLiteracy nights - valuable for many reason Strategies and tools for parents. Linguistic expressionHow do we rethink about ourselves as learners as well. How to be a transformative principal? Identify a student that a teacher is struggling to reach, then go into the classroom, and have a conversation with that student. Frame them as the cosmopolitan intellectuals they are. Please add your bio here: Dr. Daris McInnis is an assistant professor of literacy in the College of Education and Social Work at West Chester University of Pennsylvania. His research interests include family literacy, reading research, critical literacy, family-school partnerships, and early childhood education. Daris holds a doctorate in Reading/Writing/Literacy from the University of Pennsylvania, serves on multiple advisory boards with Reading is Fundamental, previously taught early elementary grades in Washington, D.C., and currently volunteers as a reading specialist in New Castle County, Delaware. He is also a Pat Tillman Scholar, and an Army veteran who served five years on active duty as an Ordnance Logistics Officer. We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

Welcome to our National Literacy Month series of podcasts, presented in partnership between the Be Podcast Network and Reading Is Fundamental (RIF).How schools have turned off millions of kids from loving reading. “We escaped a train wreck because of my son”Balanced Literacy 3-cueing. Explicit and systematic way to sound out words. Kenneth Goodman - founder of whole language, which is what balanced literacy is based on. Observational study on how children learn to read. National Reading Panel - convened by congress in late 1990s. Emily Hanford - Sold a Story PodcastWhy don't we have computers teaching our kids to read. Kids just press buttons.Teaching a child to read is remarkably easyTeaching a child who has been taught incorrectly to read is not easy. Samuel Orton - Orton Gillingham method of teaching reading. Is it the child, or is it us? Phonemic awareness is not an inheritable trait, it's a skill that can be taught. Do you teach or let the child discover on their own? Teach the basic skillsSteps To ReadingPlease add your bio here: Today, Irene Daria is a cognitive developmental psychologist and reading tutor to the stars, including the children of Kate Winslet, Tom Brady and Cate Blanchett. At the time of this story, she was a graduate student and "just" a mom thrilled that her son had been accepted to one of the most esteemed schools in Manhattan. Sure that he was on the path to a venerable education, she did not listen when her 5-year-old told her that he-like millions of other children-was not being taught how to read in school.An entire, very painful school year passed before Eric got her to realize he was right. Follow along as Daria begins a perplexing but ultimately empowering journey to save his academic life. She finds herself pitted against well-intentioned teachers and administrators she would have loved to trust if only they weren't so misinformed. The more Daria tries to get the school to see that it-like tens of thousands of other schools across the country is teaching reading all wrong, the more the school insists there is something wrong with her child and not with its teaching.Although / Didn't Believe Him is about a disturbing topic, it is a joy to read. Its pages overflow with the tenderness and love a mother has for her child and the trust a child has that his mother will make everything right. In addition to sharing her personal story, Daria takes you behind closed doors at a top-rated school to witness how flawed teaching methods are causing millions of kids to struggle with reading. You will see how a child's struggles in school affect the entire family. In an entertaining who-dun-it way, you will learn about the horrifying history of reading instruction in our country and the absurd way reading is currently being taught in many schools.In the end, simply by going on this life-altering journey with Daria and her son, you will learn how to teach a child to read and will be empowered to set any child on the path to becoming a proficient reader. We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

Welcome to our National Literacy Month series of podcasts, presented in partnership between the Be Podcast Network and Reading Is Fundamental (RIF).Dr. Jocelyn Washburn, an associate director of the Center for Research on Learning at the University of Kansas, discusses the Strategic Instruction Model (SIM), an approach to instruction that focuses on teaching students learning strategies. SIM has shown a significant impact on students' learning outcomes, particularly in adolescent literacy. Dr. Washburn also shares concerns about the current Science of Reading movement, emphasizing the importance of considering research-based evidence and practice-based evidence in curriculum decision-making. She highlights the need for principals to focus on supporting teachers and facilitating productive collaboration to create effective learning environments.SIM is an approach to instruction that focuses on teaching students strategies for learning. In short, SIM emphasizes HOW to learn.Learning strategies (explicit instruction) and content enhancement (teacher guided learning) strategies, Cue, Do, ReviewSIM is designed for teachers in middle and high schoolSIM Paraphrasing activityCenter for Research on LearningPretest and make commitments to learn. Success formula = If you figure out what works for you, what strategies will help you perform it, that will make it effective for life. Strategic is about having strategiesWhy hasn't anyone taught me “like this” beforeLearning strategies vs. Cue, do, reviewResearch-based informationConcerns about science of reading approachesReview process - reviewed against a long list of components (do those specific components have research showing they work.)Teacher not being able to teach something even though they have experience showing that it works. Adapting evidence-based practices based on student data. iSTAR Adaptive intervention based on SIM writing strategies. Learn how write complete sentences and effective purposeful paragraphs. Many different types of gaps and writing that has happened. Human-delivered instruction but with dashboards for families, teachers, students, and administrators with AI to supportInterest-inventoryAuthentic Audience - writing with purpose routine, built into iStar. How to be a transformative principal? Learn alongside your teachers. About Dr. Jocelyn WashburnJocelyn Washburn, Ph.D., is an associate director of the Center for Research on Learning at the University of Kansas and the Director of Professional Development for their international network of Strategic Instruction Model (SIM) professional developers. She has been a special education teacher, instructional coach, district literacy coordinator, and regional technical assistance coordinator. Her career has been dedicated to the use of evidence-based, inclusive practices to support students with and without disabilities with an emphasis on adolescent literacy. In addition to adolescent literacy, her research focuses professional learning models, educator collaboration, and systems change. Through federally funded research, she is iteratively designing, testing, and scaling an Adaptive Professional Learning Model for coaches and teachers implementing evidence-based writing instruction and assessment practices. She also has a new federally funded project starting soon called iSTAR to re-design the SIM sentence and paragraph writing strategies into an adaptive intervention using artificial intelligence. We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

In this interview, Tanya Sheckley and Brittany Botta from Up Academy discussed their RebelProject Literacy Curriculum. They explained that project-based learning often didn't align wellwith literacy, so they developed this curriculum that focuses on a particular aspect of writing ineach module. They have seen positive results, with students not showing resistance toreading and writing. The curriculum divides the literacy block into community, agency,SELf-check, empowerment, and wrap-up. They emphasized the importance of creating timefor learning what really matters and providing space and time for students to read to increaseliteracy in schools.Up Academy - love of learning, inclusive educational space. Project based learning didn't always align well to literacy. Rebel Project Literacy CurriculumEach module is focused on a particular aspect of writing. Don't see the resistance to reading and writing with this curriculum. Not teaching the same stuff all the time, but getting to the same goals. Literacy block divided into community, agency, SELf-check, empowerment, wrap-upRestaurant project - partnered with a local restaurantSchool Shirt opinion - leading to opinion writing. Science of reading incorporation. How to increase literacy in your school: Create time for learning what really matters. Space and time for students to read. Increase reading time, talk to students about the books they're reading. About Tanya Sheckley and Brittany BottaTanya Sheckley is Founder and President of UP Academy, an elementary lab school which values innovation, empathy and strength. Tanya's vision and mission show it's possible to celebrate differences, challenge what's broken in the American education system, and that all children can receive a rigorous, well rounded education.  She is an Edupreneur,  Author of Rebel Educator: Create Classrooms Where Imagination and Impact Meet and host of the Rebel Educator podcast.  She speaks frequently on the future of education and entrepreneurship. She is a rebel educator who works with new and existing schools and small school leaders to question the status quo and develop innovative student experiences through inclusion and project based learning.Brittany Botta Director of Teaching and Learning at Up Academy and the author of the Rebel Project Literacy Curriculum. We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

This episode is a special episode from UDL-Con, powered by CAST. CAST just released the Guidelines for (Universal Design for Learning) UDL 3.0, which you can find here. If you don't know what UDL is, it's a way to make learning accessible for everyone! You can check out more about the webinars here.Enjoy this special episode.Jethro Jones interviews Missy Emler and Mia Chmiel, who host the UDLForward Community. Missy shares her experiences and insights as a statewide systems coach for UDL in Wisconsin, diving deep into the implementation science framework and the trials process. Mia Chmiel also joins the conversation to discuss practical examples of UDL trials and their impact on student engagement and learning outcomes.00:00 Introduction00:50 Meet Missy Emler01:18 Reasons for Attending UDL Con01:52 Implementation Science and UDL in Wisconsin04:15 Plan, Study, Do, Act Cycles05:57 Practical Outcomes of UDL Trials14:50 Mia Chmiel's Role and Insights26:46 Joining the Wisconsin UDL Community For more information about UDL, visit cast.org

The podcast will discuss RIF's approach to partnerships, emphasizing the importance of both national reach and localized collaboration. It will explore strategies for promoting literacy, such as creating reading spaces in everyday locations like laundromats and parks. The conversation will likely touch on the children's literacy crisis and RIF's core philosophy of fostering the joy of reading. Jennifer Moone, drawing from her extensive experience at RIF, will share insights on how principals can integrate literacy initiatives throughout the school year.How RIF sees partnershipsNational scope and scale vs. localized partnerships. Look at your community and who is already doing those things, and call on those partners to Read-aloud at a street festivalDriving reading motivation through supplemental materials (like providing Literacy Central resourcesLiteracy Network Meeting families and communities where they are. Literacy spaces within laundromats, playgrounds, parks, starbucks. Anyplace where kids are, there can be literacy spaces there, too. Children's literacy crisis is a real thing. Core philosophy - joy of reading - Previous interview with Dr. Erin Bailey of RIFHow to be a transformative principal as it relates to literacy: Think about infusing literacy every single month. About Jennifer MooneJennifer joined RIF in 2011. In her current role as Vice President, Marketing & Partnerships, she oversees RIF's relationships and partnerships with leading educational organizations, civic groups, and governmental officials. She is responsible for driving engagement and awareness, with oversight for development and implementation of many strategic and promotional initiatives. From marketing campaigns, to programmatic implementations to advocacy and awareness events, Jennifer has strategized, managed, and executed myriad initiatives during her tenure at RIF. Previously, she worked as part of RIF's Community Team, focused on building capacity, building relationships, and driving engagement with local partners including school, school districts, youth and community organization, civic and volunteer group, and school-adjacent contacts. Before joining RIF, Jennifer worked as an Associate at a government relations and public affairs firm, serving the firm's municipal and education clients on a broad range of legislative issues including energy, appropriations, public safety, infrastructure and transportation. We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

This episode is a special episode from UDL-Con, powered by CAST. CAST just released the Guidelines for (Universal Design for Learning) UDL 3.0, which you can find here. If you don't know what UDL is, it's a way to make learning accessible for everyone! You can check out more about the webinars here.Enjoy this special episode.Jethro Jones is joined by Alex Dang-Lozano from WestEd. They discuss the concept of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), the UDL Jam session and Joy Room, and the importance of unstructured interaction spaces at conferences. Alex shares insights into creating adaptable conference spaces and highlights the broad applications of UDL beyond the classroom. The episode concludes with information about WestEd and ways to connect with Alex and his team.Get in touch with Alex: Alozano@wested.org00:00 Introduction03:08 The Importance of Unstructured Spaces05:48 Designing an Adaptable Conference Room10:00 About WestEd11:45 Closing Remarks and Contact Information For more information about UDL, visit cast.org

This episode is a special episode from UDL-Con, powered by CAST. CAST just released the Guidelines for (Universal Design for Learning) UDL 3.0, which you can find here. If you don't know what UDL is, it's a way to make learning accessible for everyone! You can check out more about the webinars here.Enjoy this special episode.Jethro Jones speaks with Adam Lalor, Vice President at Landmark College. They discuss Universal Design for Learning (UDL), Landmark College's unique approach to educating neurodivergent students, and broader inclusivity in higher education. Get in touch with Adam: adamlalor@landmark.edu00:58 Welcome and Guest Introduction01:12 Landmark College's Unique Approach02:02 Exploring Neurodiversity03:27 Challenges of Focusing on Identity04:24 Integrating Identities and Advocacy06:50 Advice for Other Institutions09:35 Value of Universal Design for Learning For more information about UDL, visit cast.org

In this episode of the Transformative Principal podcast, Gina Davenport, a seasoned educator with over 30 years of experience, shares her insights on creating a student-centered learning environment. Davenport emphasizes the importance of building strong relationships between teachers and students, highlighting the often-overlooked need for social-emotional learning (SEL) in secondary education.Davenport discusses the success of the AVID program at her school, describing it as "SEL on steroids." She also introduces the "Arundel Attributes," a framework designed to foster ownership and responsibility among students. The implementation of Restorative Practices led to a significant decrease in disciplinary issues, demonstrating the effectiveness of a caring and supportive school culture.The conversation also touches on the challenges faced by educators, including the misconception that students' frontal lobes are fully developed and the lack of support for secondary students. Davenport shares her experience of navigating a controversial incident involving a music video filmed at her school, emphasizing the importance of clear communication and decisive action.Finally, the podcast explores the positive impact of COVID-19 on SEL development and the innovative practice of onboarding freshmen with a "first practice graduation." Throughout the episode, Davenport's passion for education and commitment to student well-being shine through, offering valuable lessons for school leaders everywhere.Pattern for students with discipline behaviors - they were missing something. When they struggle with reading, you teach, when they struggle with math, you teach, when they struggle with Teachers and students were missing out on building relationships. We're under the misconception that their frontal lobe has developed. There's not a lot of support for secondary students. They want to teach their subject, not their students. People lose their jobs because they can't get along with other people. Formative Five podcast interview with the author. AVID Program as the helpers for creating the program. AVID is SEL on steroids. What attributes should a successful student have in our school? Arundel Attributes - OwnershipBrainstorm and share how the attributes will be applied to their day-to-day lifeThe Arundel WayHow you can tell when kids are really taking it to heart. Kids who are struggling don't get the experiences that help them learn resilience. How COVID was beneficial for the school and the SEL development of students. It's hard to be a jerk when you care about someone. Onboarding students to the high school, first practice graduation on first day of school as freshmen - pledge, swag, and tour. Students teach SEL lessons with the teacher as backup. The Music Video disaster.How it went downGina was already being moved to a different school before this was happening. On being instructed to not comment. Mistake was not escorting the student out. Gina and Larry KingAbout Gina DavenportWith over 30 years of experience in the field of education, Gina Davenport is most proud of her work as the principal of a diverse suburban high school that is truly student centered. By employing Restorative Practices, discipline referrals dropped to under 50 per year for a student population of over 1,700 with less than 15 out of school suspensions each year since 2021. In this learning community, adults and students share ownership to build a culture of trust, respect, and authentic caring. Gina leverages student voice as a cornerstone of a positive learning environment.  Her school boasts a 96% graduation rate. Davenport is currently pursuing her doctorate in Educational Leadership for a Change Population at Notre Dame of Maryland University.  To participate in her study of principals' perspectives on student voice as a culturally responsive leadership practice, please complete the survey linked here.  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5ZDCT59Connect with Gina On LinkedIn We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

This episode is a special episode from UDL-Con, powered by CAST. CAST just released the Guidelines for (Universal Design for Learning) UDL 3.0, which you can find here. If you don't know what UDL is, it's a way to make learning accessible for everyone! You can check out more about the webinars here.Enjoy this special episode.Jethro Jones interviews Mirko Chardin, the keynote speaker at the UDL Conference. Together, they discuss Universal Design for Learning (UDL), transformative educational moments, and the importance of ensuring that education is accessible and relevant for all students. They discuss Chardin's personal experiences, innovative teaching methods, and the necessity of preparing the next generation for leadership and decision-making.Get in touch with Mirko: Mirko@novakeducation.com00:00 Introduction to the Special Episode and UDL Conference00:49 Welcoming Guest Speaker Mirko Chardin01:31 Mirko Chardin Shares His Transformative Educational Moment02:41 The Concept of Being a Ruckus Maker in Education04:11 Encouraging Student Expression Through Writing09:11 Empowering the Next Generation to Make Decisions16:05 Conclusion and How to Connect with Mirko Chardin For more information about UDL, visit cast.org

This episode is a special episode from UDL-Con, powered by CAST. CAST just released the Guidelines for (Universal Design for Learning) UDL 3.0, which you can find here. If you don't know what UDL is, it's a way to make learning accessible for everyone! You can check out more about the webinars here.Enjoy this special episode.Jethro Jones interviews Kelli Suding and Michelle Soriano, technical assistant specialists at CAST. They discuss their roles in supporting educators with accessibility and universal design for learning (UDL), the significance of storytelling in education, the importance of UDL-Con, and the value of both engagement and entertainment in learning environments.Get in touch with Michelle: Msoriano@cast.orgGet in touch with Kelli: Ksuding@cast.org00:00 Introduction to UDL Con and Guests01:06 Michelle Soriano on Technical Assistance01:32 Kelli Suding on Her Role and Background02:02 Explaining Technical Assistance04:01 Importance of Storytelling in Education07:51 The Joy Lab and Its Impact05:43 Why Attend UDL Con?10:29 Closing Remarks and Contact Information For more information about UDL, visit cast.org

Yes, we're talking about money and retirement, but don't let your eyes roll into the back of your head. Educators, and other government workers, have a special way that they can maximize their pension funds, so they get the best possible financial result. It's not too late to start, and Hutch explains it all in this episode. Check out the links for more information and to have Hutch coach you about your particular situation. Maximize the pensionRisk-On Money vs. Risk-Off MoneyBankingtruths.com/banks - looking at the balance sheet of banksNow & Later - Permanent Life Insurance Policy has two parts - death benefit and cash value. Least amount of money for the most amount of insuranceCommissions are based on what the death benefit is. Death benefit that doesn't go away - allows you to get a higher payout. Upon retirement - three options - 100% option - you get it all, but your spouse get nothing if you die. 75% option - get less, but your spouse gets half. 50% option - get even less, but your spouse gets all of that when you die. Annuity calculator - How life insurance started with the Romans. 4 things that can happen after retirement: Worker diesSpouse diesBoth dieBoth live to or beyond life expectancyInsurance is another bill. Strategic redeployment of cash flows - infinite banking Requires you to carve off an amount of moneyHow to find money? Overpaying on mortgages and 403b and 457 for supplemental retirement incomeOnce you start insurance policies, you can't increase it without more underwriting and testing.AI underwritingWorkarounds - convertible insurance policy - renting with the option to buy. You can make adjustmentsCheck out more about Pension Maximization here.bankingtruths.com/schedule - model your own money to see where you can start. We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

This episode is a special episode from UDL-Con, powered by CAST. CAST just released the Guidelines for (Universal Design for Learning) UDL 3.0, which you can find here. If you don't know what UDL is, it's a way to make learning accessible for everyone! You can check out more about the webinars here.Enjoy this special episode.Jethro Jones interviews David Gordon, Chief Content Officer of cast. They discuss the 20th and 40th anniversaries of CAST, the evolution of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), the impacts of technology, the development of UDL guidelines, and the importance of engagement and collaboration in education.00:00 Introduction and Recent Updates00:48 Aspirations and Achievements Over 20 Years02:36 Technological Advancements and Their Impact11:02 Publishing and Sharing Knowledge13:30 Collaborative Efforts and Future Vision For more information about UDL, visit cast.org

This episode is a special episode from UDL-Con, powered by CAST. CAST just released the Guidelines for (Universal Design for Learning) UDL 3.0, which you can find here. If you don't know what UDL is, it's a way to make learning accessible for everyone! You can check out more about the webinars here.Enjoy this special episode.In this episode of Transformative Principal, host Jethro D. Jones interviews Corinne Quintana and Mrs. G. from Bishop, California. They discuss their roles in the high school, their experiences with UDL (Universal Design for Learning), and the insights they've gained from attending the UDL conference. They touch on the challenges and strategies for implementing UDL in their school, particularly within the math department, and the benefits of understanding diverse student learning styles.00:00 Introduction00:36 Roles and Background01:24 Reasons for Attending UDL Conference02:44 Takeaways from the UDL Conference04:01 Applying UDL in the Classroom05:49 Personal Insights and Reflections For more information about UDL, visit cast.org

Everyone should have a coachThere are people who are viewed as the real prosThe difference between having a coach and “just getting better”The biggest mistake coaches make.How to mix the coach's agenda with what the teacher is doingPersonal relationship vs. professional relationshipFocus is powerful. Teacher behavior during a training vs. teacher behavior in classroom.Teachers don't have to be an entertainer. Coaches as a model lesson. Power Phrases and Phrases to Never Say.Teacher behavior matches the behavior of the grade they teach.Techniques that work regardless of your personality. Coaching cycles are important. Meet, observe, debrief, Check-inThis is your lesson, do it your way. Coaches need to be smiling during the observation. Debrief - how they evaluated their own lesson. Calibrate with a local coach or administrator. How to be a Transformative Principal? Know that your role is not that of a coach. Coach helps teachers get better. Principal - don't get in the way! Part of a system of improvement.About Gene TavernettiDr. Gene Tavernetti has been involved in education for over forty years. He has served as coach, teacher, counselor, administrator, and consultant. He is the author of Teach FAST, a book about the design and delivery of quality instruction, and Maximizing the Impact of Coaching Cycles, a book that answers many of the questions that were left unanswered in most books on instructional coaching.  In 2006 Gene partnered with his former high school teacher and mentor, Dr. Randy Olson, to found Total Educational Systems Support, (TESS). The focus of TESS has always been training teachers, and those who support teachers, in how to provide the best instruction possible.  Dr. Tavernetti holds a core belief about children and adults: Given the right environment and proper support, everyone can improve and succeed. This core belief has allowed Dr. Tavernetti to help his students, staffs, teachers, and administrators – with whom he now trains and coaches – to attain the levels of competence they desire. We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

This episode is a special episode from UDL-Con, powered by CAST. CAST just released the Guidelines for (Universal Design for Learning) UDL 3.0, which you can find here. If you don't know what UDL is, it's a way to make learning accessible for everyone! You can check out more about the webinars here.Enjoy this special episode.Jethro Jones speaks with Donald Walker, National Career Technical Education Trainer at CAST. They discuss the importance of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in Career Technical Education (CTE), the use of drones to introduce young girls to STEM, addressing barriers in education, and the empowering aspects of UDL. The conversation also addresses the importance of safety in CTE programs and how UDL helps in engaging diverse student populations.Get in touch with Donald: dwalker@cast.org00:00 Introduction to Donald Walker and the Role at CAST01:29 Importance of UDL in CTE03:08 Using Drones to Introduce Girls to STEM04:07 Developing UDL-based Curriculum06:32 Engagement, Representation, and Expression in UDL11:19 Importance of Safety in CTE13:54 Liberation Through UDL17:20 Contact and Further Involvement We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

This episode is a special episode from UDL-Con, powered by CAST. CAST just released the Guidelines for (Universal Design for Learning) UDL 3.0, which you can find here. If you don't know what UDL is, it's a way to make learning accessible for everyone! You can check out more about the webinars here.Enjoy this special episode.In this special episode recorded live at the  UDL-Con: International Conference, host Jethro Jones interviews Shelley Berman, Chair of the Board at CAST, about the transformative nature of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). They explore how UDL shifts the educational focus from fixing students to fixing the educational system itself, emphasizing the importance of creating responsive and empowering learning environments.00:00 Introduction to UDL Con and Shelley Berman01:36 The Life-Changing Impact of UDL13:30 Shifting Perspectives from Students to Systems08:15 The Importance of Knowing the Students12:47 Creating Empowering Learning Environments16:48 Making Meaning in Education We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

Teaching distance before COVIDEnglish as a foreign language virtually and in person. How COVID remote learning laid the groundwork for virtual wellnessStudent Wellness for the internetDeveloping a personal relationship with AI that is based on curiosity and skepticism. Mindful adoption of technologyAI as a spectrumWhere AI brings out YOU!It's not about how you USE this tech, it's about how it augments you personally. What are the things AI can help you with and what are you already doing? How to be a transformative principal? Bring intention to your digital environments and interactions.  About Seth FleischauerSeth is the president of Banyan Global Learning, which he founded in 2008 after teaching elementary school via NYC Teaching Fellows. With Banyan, Seth helps schools leverage technology for teacher and student wellness, including with AI Literacy PD for teachers and live virtual programs for students. Seth's programs have reached more than 10,000 students on three continents and touched the lives of teachers globally. He is a frequent presenter at elite edtech conferences and the host of two podcasts: "Make It Mindful: An Education Podcast" and "Why Distance Learning?" We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

This episode is a special episode from UDL-Con, powered by CAST. CAST just released the Guidelines for (Universal Design for Learning) UDL 3.0, which you can find here. If you don't know what UDL is, it's a way to make learning accessible for everyone! You can check out more about the webinars here.Enjoy this special episode.In this episode Jethro Jones interviews Lindsay Jones, CEO of CAST, during the UDL-Con: International Conference. They discuss the importance of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), the significance of in-person collaboration, and CAST's mission for the future.00:00 Introduction to the UDL Conference01:11 The Impact of UDL and the Conference Experience02:16 Future Directions for CAST and UDL Guidelines 3.003:49 The Three Main Focuses: Lead, Inspire, Convene07:23 Real-World Applications and Stories of UDL09:51 The Importance of In-Person Attendance at the Conference

This episode is a special episode from UDL-Con, powered by CAST. CAST just released the Guidelines for (Universal Design for Learning) UDL 3.0, which you can find here. If you don't know what UDL is, it's a way to make learning accessible for everyone! You can check out more about the webinars here.Enjoy this special episode.In this episode of Transformative Principal, host Jethro Jones interviews Andratesha Fritzgerald live at the UDL-Con: International Conference. They discuss the concept of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and its significance in making learning accessible to all students. Fritzgerald discusses the Instructional Practice Interrogation protocol, explaining how it helps educators identify and address barriers in teaching strategies. The conversation also touches on the importance of community in UDL and how traditional practices can be interrogated and adapted for better learning outcomes.00:00 Introduction to UDL and CAST UDL Con01:08 Interview with Andratesha Fritzgerald01:45 Instructional Practice Interrogation Protocol02:44 Identifying and Addressing Harm in Education04:42 Setting Up Community for UDL08:16 Learning Objectives in Inquiry-Based Learning07:18 Power of Community in Learning14:58 Closing and Connecting with Andratesha