VPA Podcast

In this episode we hear from the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) Executive Director, Dr. Earl Franks. I was joined by the VPA's assistant executive director, Erica McLaughlin Dr. Franks is a veteran association executive and advocate for public education and school leadership with over three decades of pre-K–12 education experience. In his role as NAESP's executive director, Franks advances the Association's mission to lead in the advocacy and support for elementary and middle-level principals and other education leaders in their commitment for all children. He represents the nation's pre-K­­­­­–8 principals on the Board of Directors of the Learning First Alliance, the National Policy Board for Educational Administration, and as a member of multiple national educational organizations and coalitions. Prior to his selection as the NAESP executive director, he served as executive director of the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools (CLAS), Alabama's leading umbrella organization for principals and school administrators. He was inducted into the Alabama Educational Leadership Hall of Fame in 2018. Franks received his doctorate in Educational Leadership from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. He received his Master of Science in Education, Bachelor of Music Education, and Educational Specialist degrees from Troy University in Troy, Alabama.

In this episode, we talk with Glennys Sánchez and Leah Tuckman of the Great Schools Partnership. We talk about the research and reports that have been conducted the past few years in regards to the needs for diversifying the educator workforce in New England including the Call to Action for Increasing the Racial, Ethnic, and Linguistic Diversity of the Educator Workforce (2020) and the Regional Landscape Report Snapshot (2022). Now, with support from the BARR Foundation, the Great Schools Partnership is hosting a series of Community of Practice convenings with different stakeholders from around New England. Those convenings aim to bring together and support leaders to facilitate sharing, collaboration, and coordination across the region to work towards a common goal: accelerating efforts to diversify the educator workforce. 

Part 2, Vermont: Diversifying the Educator Workforce Series, with Mikaela Simms  Mikaela Simms has been working as the Diversity Coordinator for the Windham Southeast Supervisory Union for more than a decade. She is the...

Part 1 Vermont: Diversifying the Educator Workforce Series with Lashawn Whitmore-Sells In Part 1, Mike talks with Lashawn Whitmore-Sells. Lashawn has been a teacher and school leader of color in Vermont since 1992. She...

Ronn Nozoe is a lifelong educator and the Chief Executive Officer of NASSP, an organization dedicated to transforming education through school leadership. Nozoe previously served as associate executive director and interim executive director at...

Rob Miller is a master's Crossfit athlete, father of two and four-time cancer survivor. He grew up in South Africa playing any sport he could. His love of sports helps drive him in his...

Mike Tromello is a man who wears many hats. When I first met him, he was the strength and conditioning coach for Harvard Westlake and assisted with their water polo team, whilst creating an...

In this episode, Mike talks with celebrated psychologist and educator, Dr. Wendi Williams. Dr. Williams' career spans two decades and features important research and writing, recently becoming Provost at Fielding Graduate University, previously as...

In this episode we talk with filmmaker and primary care physician, Delaney Ruston. Delaney is most well known for her films, Screenagers, and Screenagers–The Next Chapter. These films have been screened widely, aired on...

On this episode of Sideline Conversations we spoke with Katie Tromello. Katie is a licensed therapist in Southern California who works with student-athletes. As a former professional athlete, she utilizes her skills and athletic...

Introducing Sideline Conversations: a podcast for those that are interested in athletics and sport. We're hoping to connect with those who were athletes, are athletes or work with athletes, to build some connection between...

In this episode, we talk with Bob Johnson, Associate Executive Director at the Vermont Principals' Association. We had the chance to talk to Bob on his last day at the office before retirement. Bob...

In this episode we spoke with Alin Bennett of education reimagined. Alin is Education Reimagined's Vice President of Practice and Field Advancement. He is a staunch advocate for national school transformation and creating an...

In this episode, we speak with Joe Truss of Truss Leadership. Joe will be a speaker and stand presenter at 2022 leadership academy. Joe is committed to dismantling white supremacy culture in schools. He...

In this episode, we speak with Sandra Nagy, who leads the Education Practice at Future Design School, building strong academic partnerships with school leaders that help to drive their strategic priorities through consulting support,...

We talk with Laurel Butler of the VT Small Business Development Center, Tammie-Jo Dickinson Champlain Valley Union High School Business Teacher, and Gwen Pokalo of the Vermont Center for Women and Enterprise about the...

In this episode, we talk with UVM's Dr. Belliveau and educator, Kathy Lara about all that can be learned when you are cooking to learn, not just learning to cook–in the course, “Democracy in...

(September 9, 2020) On this episode of the VPA podcast Mike spoke with Sarah Pickering. Sarah is the 2020 National Association of Secondary Schools Vermont Robert Pierce High School Principal of the year. She...

(September 3, 2020) On this episode of the VPA podcast Mike spoke with Stacy Rice. Stacy is the 2020 John Winton Vermont Middle Level Principal of the year. She was the principal of Burke...

(May 14, 2020) Mike spoke with Jeff Renard of VTVLC. VTVLC is offering the Online Teaching Best Practices course to help teachers prepare for next year. This standards-based, 10-hour online course is facilitated by an experienced online...