Podcasts about ixl

About the Guest(s):Dr. Leah Kelley is a distinguished neurodivergent education consultant, author, activist, educator, and parent. With 25 years of experience as a public school teacher, her roles have included primary teacher, inclusion resource teacher, and SEL Mental Health helping teacher. Leah is known for her national and international presentations on neurodiversity, advocacy, and inclusion, as well as her popular blog “30 Days of Autism.” She is a sought-after speaker recognized for her storytelling and practical wisdom, encapsulated in her book “The Person Who Arrives: Connecting Disability Studies to Educational Practice for Teachers, Parents, and Others.”Dr. Kari Gustafson is an instructor and researcher specializing at the intersection of neurodiversity, disability studies, education, and role-playing games. Kari holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy of Education from Simon Fraser University, where their dissertation delved into relationality and inclusion within role-playing games like D&D. Currently a faculty member in the Disability and Community Studies program at Douglas College, Kari brings a unique perspective to educational practices that prioritize strength-based collaboration and inclusivity.Episode Summary: In this episode of Think Inclusive, host Tim Villegas engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Dr. Leah Kelley and Dr. Kari Gustafson. The conversation delves into the importance of play and creativity within the context of inclusion, education, and disability studies. As advocates for neurodiversity, Leah and Kari offer insightful perspectives on how play can be an essential tool for both personal growth and collaborative learning, especially for individuals with disabilities.Complete show notes and transcript: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/exploring-plays-role-in-inclusion-and-personal-growth/Key Takeaways:-Play is a vital tool for imagination, personal growth, and collaborative learning in neurodiverse and inclusive settings.-Societal pressures often replace play with structured therapies, particularly for children with disabilities, emphasizing the need to reclaim play.-Role-playing games, such as D&D, offer collaborative storytelling experiences that promote inclusivity and value diverse strengths.Embracing play can lead to increased joy and energy, benefiting personal well-being and educational outcomes.-Facilitating inclusive environments that prioritize creativity and play helps individuals thrive and fosters strength-based collaboration.Thank you to our sponsor, IXL: https://ixl.com/inclusive Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello Listeners.We are excited to share a conversation we had with Steve and Deb. We talked about Deb's book, Identity Theft: Rediscovering Ourselves After Stroke, their nonprofit, Stroke Onward, and their carepartnership journeying with Deb's stroke and aphasia. We know you are going to enjoy this one.Thanks,Carey and Brianne The Be Podcast Network is 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

  Jethro Jones on Breaking the Robot Principal Playbook The Ruckus Report Quick take: Most school leaders are trained to lead like emotionless robots. But students aren't spreadsheets and staff don't need a boss with a checklist — they need a human being. Time to reject the premise that logic alone should run our schools. Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Jethro Jones, 2017 NASSP Digital Principal of the Year, is a former principal from Fairbanks, Alaska, and the host of Transformative Principal, where he interviews leaders from around the world who are reimagining K-12 education. He's the founder of the Transformative Leadership Summit and author of SchoolX: How principals can design a transformative school experience for students, teachers, parents – and themselves! Breaking Down the Old Rules

In this episode, Jethro Jones and Damon Hargraves discuss innovative software solutions tailored for educational purposes. They share insights on the impact of AI and other emerging technologies on school environments, the conception of customized applications, and the future of software development in schools. Join the Transformative Mastermind Today and work on your school, not just in it. Apply today. 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, we're joined by literacy expert Dr. Molly Ness, author of Making Words Stick, to unpack the science behind orthographic mapping and what truly effective spelling instruction looks like. If you've ever found yourself wondering whether “irregular” words really exist—or how to teach spelling in a way that actually transfers to reading and writing—this episode is for you.Dr. Molly Ness is a former classroom teacher, a reading researcher, and a teacher educator. She earned a doctorate in reading education at the University of Virginia, and spent 16 years as an associate professor at Fordham University in New York City. The author of five books, Molly served on the Board of Directors for the International Literacy Association and is a New York state chapter founder of the Reading League. Dr. Ness has extensive experience in reading clinics, consulting with school districts, leading professional development, and advising school systems on research-based reading instruction. She is also the host of the End Book Deserts podcast. In 2024, she founded Dirigo Literacy, a literacy consulting firm supporting schools, districts, and states align with and implement the science of reading.

Have you or your kids ever wrestled with hard questions about faith? If so, you're not alone and you're definitely in the right place today. This week, I'm talking with Nicholas McDonald about his personal journey through disillusionment, deconstruction, and ultimately a deep renewal of his hope in Jesus. His honesty, wisdom, and compassion are such a gift to parents who are navigating this with their kids or experiencing it themselves.Here are four takeaways from our conversation:Nicholas shows how asking hard questions can actually deepen faith when approached in a safe, truth-filled environment.Community is key. He shares why isolation makes doubt heavier and how loving, honest relationships can carry us through it.Parents don't need to have all the answers. Walking with your child through their questions with empathy and humility is more powerful than a perfect explanation.Hope is always on the table even in the hardest seasons, God's love remains, and he invites us to keep wrestling, trusting, and returning.Nicholas is a pastor, writer, and speaker with a heart for helping people encounter Jesus through the truth of Scripture and the beauty of story. He is the author of The Light in Our Eyes: Rediscovering the Love, Beauty, and Freedom of Jesus in an Age of Disillusionment, and his teaching often bridges the gap between doubt and belief for a new generation of Christians.I know this conversation will encourage your heart and give you practical wisdom for those messy, holy moments of parenting. You don't have to be perfect—you just have to show up.(00:00) Introduction and Background(05:24) Disillusionment with the Church(10:46) Parenting and Faith Challenges(16:27) The Importance of Community(22:02) Hope for the Future of FaithConnect with NickX accountSubstackThe Light in Our Eyes bookResources MentionedChristian Parenting resourcesA Great Cloud of Witnesses Prayer JournalThe Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.orgOur Sponsors:* Check out Happy Mammoth and use my code CPPODCAST for a great deal: https://happymammoth.com* Check out IXL and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Teaser:“Hello colleagues and welcome to the Assistant Principal Podcast. I'm your host Frederick Buskey. The goal of this podcast is to Improve the quality of life and leadership for assistant principals. Together we can achieve that by focusing on three things:Escaping the tyranny of the urgentEngaging in strategic behaviors each dayAnd, most importantly, becoming outstanding developers of teacher talent”That's how I began Episode 1 of APP back on August 26, 2021. It is a bit early to celebrate our fourth birthday but the content of this episode seems like a better fit for July, and as the podcast has grown by over 50% in the first half of this year, I think it is a good time to look at several of the foundational concepts I reference frequently.Sponsor Spot 1:Before we get started, I'd like to thank Kaleidoscope Adventures for sponsoring today's show. Lots of companies can help you organize class trips, but Kaleidoscope helps you organize adventures – because isn't that what student trips should be? Kaleidscope is a full-service tour company offering a range of adventure opportunities and they excel at customizing trips based on your unique context, needs, and goals. Kaleidoscope offers exceptional travel experiences for students (and their group leaders). Thinking about student travel? Reach out to Kaleidoscope using the link in the show notes.Show IntroCelebrations:Happy birthday to the pod! And still excited about 100K and continuing growthKey Points Part 1Why redo episode 1?Quality (lol)My thinking has changedSo many new listeners – need to share core beliefsStrategic Leadership Consulting: the original value propositionEscape the gravitational pull of urgencyUnderstand organizations and changeBecome a purpose-driven strategic leaderThe three primary responsibilities of leadersThe Eisenhower Matrix (3 v 2, protect and sustain)What does Support and Grow actually mean?The six dimensions (dive into this in episode 179)People are the purposePurpose as a battlegroundTest scoresIndividual leaders' purposeUnit level purposeContested purpose: New signs in national parks echoing or previewing the narrative and values that will dominate our schools (“any signs or other information that are negative about either past or living Americans or that fail to emphasize the beauty, grandeur, and abundance of landscapes and other natural features.”)Why do we have schools?Systems level – complex and messyHuman level – clear StructuresResourcesDistinguishing between Static and dynamicTime and attention as the most valuable resourcesExternal forcesInternal forces – an actionable definition of culture!SupportGrowChange leadership = alignment leadershipSponsor Spot 2:I want to thank IXL for sponsoring this podcast…Everyone talks about the power of data-driven instruction. But what does that actually look like? Look no further than IXL, the ultimate online learning and teaching platform for K to 12. IXL gives you meaningful insights that drive real progress, and research can prove it. Studies across 45 states show that schools who use IXL outperform other schools on state tests. Educators who use IXL love that they can easily see how their school is performing in real-time to make better instructional decisions. And IXL doesn't stop at just data. IXL also brings an entire ecosystem of resources for your teachers, with a complete curriculum, personalized learning plans, and so much more. It's no wonder that IXL is used in 95 of the top 100 school districts. Ready to join them? Visit http://ixl.com/assistant to get started.Key Points Part 2Strategic leadershipUrgent leadersStrategic leadersFour questions strategic leaders ask:Is this simply urgent, or is it important?What's the problem?How can I make this better right now?Who can I grow today?What's changedNow I have a bookPeople before purpose (because people are the purpose)Support and grow as explicit conceptsSummarizing (The big takeaway)People are the purposeWe support people by aligning the organization to make their work easierWe grow people by developing their KSDHLeaders use change processes to align the organizationSupport and Grow – it is the way we move our schools forward*See also, Episode 179 from November, 2023Sponsor Links:IXL: http://ixl.com/assistant Kaleidoscope Adventures: https://www.kaleidoscopeadventures.com/the-assistant-principal-podcast-kaleidoscope-adventures/Episode Links:153: Holding Up the MirrorCloseLeadership is a journey and thank you for choosing to walk some of this magical path with me.You can find links to all sorts of stuff in the show notes, including my website https://www.frederickbuskey.com/I love hearing from you. If you have comments or questions, or are interested in having me speak at your school or conference, email me at frederick@frederickbuskey.com or connect with me on LinkedIn.If you are tired of spending time putting out fires and would rather invest time supporting and growing teachers, consider reading my book, A School Leader's Guide to Reclaiming Purpose. The book is available on Amazon. You can find links to it, as well as free book study materials on my website at https://www.frederickbuskey.com/reclaiming-purpose.html Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast.Remember the secret to good leadership:Be intentional in choosing how you will show up for othersBe fully presentAsk reflective questionsAnd then just listenDon't overcomplicate it, the value is in the listening.Have a great rest of the week!Cheers!Frederick's Links:Email: frederick@frederickbuskey.comWebsite: https://www.frederickbuskey.com/ LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/strategicleadershipconsulting Daily Email subscribe: https://adept-experimenter-3588.ck.page/fdf37cbf3a The Strategic Leader's Guide to Reclaiming Purpose:

In today's episode, Sarah shares some real behind-the-scenes podcast talk with listeners. She chats about how Best Laid Plans came to be, how she chooses guests, how she tracks podcast logistics, what she outsources, how she handles listener emails, and much more! Visit her website, theshubox.com, if you haven't been for links to all of her prior episodes. Newsletter: theshubox.com/newsletterCourses: theshubox.com/coursesBooks Read in 2025: theshubox.com/2025-books Episode Sponsors IXL: Learning doesn't have to stop in the summer!  Best Laid Plans listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ⁠⁠ixl.com/plans⁠⁠.  Green Chef: Make this summer your healthiest yet with Green Chef. Head to ⁠⁠greenchef.com/50BESTLAID⁠⁠ and use code 50BESTLAID to get 50% off your first month, then 20% off for two months with free shipping.  PrepDish: Healthy menu plans and prep instruction to take the mental load out of dinner!   Visit ⁠⁠PrepDish.com/plans⁠⁠ for your first 2 weeks, FREE.   Mint:  Affordable unlimited wireless!  Get your new customer offer and your 3-month Unlimited wireless plan for $15 a month at ⁠⁠mintmobile.com/BLP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Jethro Jones hosts Erin Bailey, Vice President of Literacy Programs and Research at Reading is Fundamental, to discuss the importance of reading in children's development. They delve into how reading fosters connections, the impact of screen time on reading habits, and effective strategies for schools and families to encourage reading. The episode also touches on the role of AI in literacy and mental health education through books.How To Help Families Find Joy In Reading with Dr. Erin Bailey Transformative Principal 586Focused on language components - material and affective component. Sitting side-by-side and face-to-face with a child.When kids want to read the books a hundred times in a row! Gen Z Parents Not Reading to their KidsQuick attention. Training your brain to only be able to pay attentionMissing out on opportunities to bond with children when reading. Reading can take you places, and you can escape.Family education Meet families where they are at. Schools cutting back on read-aloud time. Accessible guides.Teaching in Hong KongCognitive Debt ResearchHow to Train Your Amygdala Join the Transformative Mastermind Today and work on your school, not just in it. Apply today. 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

The Ruckus Report Quick take: The biggest legal risk most districts face isn't a headline-grabbing lawsuit — it's the hidden gap between the accommodations they promise and the ones students actually receive. Sam Feeney built a tool that collapses this compliance gap to 10 seconds and a single click. Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Sam Feeney has been an educator for twenty-five years as an English teacher, counselor, administrator, and consultant. He created Accommodate in response to his professional observations and his personal experience as a father. Sam and the team at Accommodate provide classroom supports for students with all kinds of learning needs so every teacher can maintain instructional integrity. In his spare time, Sam enjoys reading and collaborating with others to build something new. Sam, his wife, and his five children live in suburban Denver, where they enjoy sports and the outdoors. And—no—he doesn't ski. Breaking Down the Old Rules

In this episode, host Jethro Jones interviews Barb Solish, the National Director of Innovation for the National Alliance on Mental Illness. They discuss the importance of mental health awareness, early intervention, and the impact of literacy in shaping children's futures. Barb shares insights into the Macy's and NAMI partnership, the importance of building strong connections through reading and other activities, and the crucial role of community support in mental health care.For the interview between Barb and Erin, go here: https://transformativeprincipal.orgHalf of all mental health issues start before 14. Only half of those who need it are getting the help they need. Distinct warning signs. https://nami.org/signsLooking for changes. Call a pediatrician Conversation startersFind a support groupWhen you are not alone, you have hope.Cathleen Beachboard on Resilient Schools talking about hope.Trauma Awareness TrainingKids are a lot stronger than we give them credit for. Outcomes for students - what are the outcomes we want. Mental health education is health education.Focus on connection not perfection. Barb Solish: National Alliance on Mental illnessBarb Solish is NAMI's National Director of Innovation. She is passionate about mental health awareness, education, and advocacy, especially after the loss of a friend to suicide. Barb's lived experience developing a mental health condition as a young person also motivates her work improving outcomes for young people with mental health concerns.In her time at NAMI, Barb has led NAMI's Youth and Young Adult Initiatives team, developing new resources for kids, teens, young adults, educators, and caregivers. She also led the creation of new initiatives, including the virtual version of the NAMI Ending the Silence presentation program for middle and high school students and NAMI Next Gen, NAMI's young adult advisory group. In addition to youth and young adult work, Barb oversees NAMI's Workplace Mental Health Initiatives, including NAMI StigmaFree Workplace. Barb believes strongly that not only is creating a mentally healthy workplace the right thing to do, it's an economic imperative. Join the Transformative Mastermind Today and work on your school, not just in it. Apply today. 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

Ever feel like your school is trying all the “right” strategies—social skills groups, planners, behavior charts—but students still struggle with time management, motivation, and peer relationships?You're not alone—and there's a reason why.This episode is a clip from my free training, “Create a Research-Based Implementation Plan for your School Team.”It's designed for school leaders who want to guide their teams in embedding executive functioning support across both general and special education settings—without burning out staff.This episode is for you if you're ready to: ✔️ Help students truly benefit from academic instruction ✔️ Support social-emotional growth alongside learning ✔️ Avoid overwhelming your team with another “initiative”In the training, I'll reveal:✅Why social skills groups fall flat—and how to really boost students' emotional regulation and peer connections.✅The truth about planners, lists, and behavior charts—and why they're not improving student's time management or motivation.✅The 3 key elements school teams need to support executive functioning across gen ed and special ed—without burning out your staff (in this episode, I share element #1).This episode is the first half of the training in audio format, but to view the whole training with the video, you can go to drkarendudekbrannan.com/efteams. 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

What do we do when God's calling for our child's life looks nothing like we expected? This week's episode is such a gift. I'm joined by Katie Davis Majors, a mom, missionary, and founder of Amazima Ministries who shares her journey from a planned gap year to a lifelong mission in Uganda. Her story will stretch your perspective on calling, parenting, and what it means to truly trust God with your kids.Here are four key takeaways from our conversation:God's plans often surprise us. Katie's “one-year” mission trip became a lifelong ministry and calling.Katie talks about raising kids who care deeply for others and reflect the love of Jesus.Letting go is part of faithful parenting. We don't need to control the outcome, but we do need to walk in trust.Sustainable service requires surrender; serving others shouldn't lead to burnout when it's done from a place of abiding in Christ.Katie is the founder of Amazima Ministries in Uganda, a mother of fifteen through adoption and birth, and the author of multiple books including Kisses from Katie and Safe All Along. She lives in Uganda with her family, where she continues to serve and write about faith, motherhood, and surrender.This conversation will remind you that the bravest thing we can do as parents is trust God with the story he's writing in our kids' lives.Resources Mentioned:A Great Cloud of Witnesses Prayer JournalChristian Parenting resources(00:00) Katie's Journey to Uganda and Amazima(05:51) The Impact of Compassionate Parenting(11:57) Letting Go of Control in Parenting and Ministry(18:13) Amazima's Mission and Future GoalsThe Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.orgOur Sponsors:* Check out Happy Mammoth and use my code CPPODCAST for a great deal: https://happymammoth.com* Check out IXL and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.com* Check out Marianne and the Maker: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Power Quote: “Climate is the emotional state felt within the physical space”Description:I had so much fun recording today's show. My guest stands tall (literally and figuratively) in the realm of helping school leaders develop positive culture and climate. If you are a regular listener, you know I have my own specific framework on school culture, so stay tuned to the end of the show where I will reflect on commonalities and differences between the approaches. I hope you have as much fun listening as I did recording, but before we get into it…Sponsor Spot 1:As a loyal listener to this show, you know I am a big advocate for short, targeted observations, so I'm excited about digiCOACH sponsoring this podcast. digiCOACH makes it easier to follow up on observations with meaningful feedback. I love that you can focus on specific elements and that there is a ready-made bank of items to use for telling teachers what they are doing well! You can learn more about digiCOACH at digiCOACH.com or click the link in the show notes.Show IntroGuest Bio:Stand Tall Steve (aka Steve Bollar) is an educational thought leader, former Superintendent of Schools, principal, author, and a school culture and motivation expert. He is a renowned speaker who has inspired countless individuals and organizations to achieve their goals and unleash their full potential. Drawing on his extensive experience in education and leadership, Steven delivers powerful and inspiring messages that challenge audiences to think differently about their lives and their work.In 2023 Steve earned a place on Global Gurus World's Top 30 Education Professionals. He is the author of the book Stand Tall Leadership, the school culture and climate book series Ideas, Ideas, Ideas and a contributing author in Because of a Teacher.Husband of one. Father of three. Owner of two dogs & 10 fish, Stand Tall Steve openly shares his knowledge, experiences, and creativity with others. He currently speaks to schools, organizations, businesses, and communities across the globe about how to think differently about schools, education, and life.Ladies and gentlemen… Stand Tall Steve!Warmup questions:We always like to start with a celebration. What are you celebrating today?Is there a story that will help listeners understand why you are doing what you do?Questions/Topics/PromptsClimate and cultureLet's define cultureWhat do people get wrong when it comes to cultureSimplest ways to build a better culture?Leadership teamHow do we balance supporting and growing teachers with managing all the stuff?Thinking big – how do we inspire hope AND acknowledge the real chaos and negativity out there?It's a rough time – what are you hearing from people in the field and what's your message to them?Sponsor Spot 3:I want to thank IXL for sponsoring this podcast…Everyone talks about the power of data-driven instruction. But what does that actually look like? Look no further than IXL, the ultimate online learning and teaching platform for K to 12. IXL gives you meaningful insights that drive real progress, and research can prove it. Studies across 45 states show that schools who use IXL outperform other schools on state tests. Educators who use IXL love that they can easily see how their school is performing in real-time to make better instructional decisions. And IXL doesn't stop at just data. IXL also brings an entire ecosystem of resources for your teachers, with a complete curriculum, personalized learning plans, and so much more. It's no wonder that IXL is used in 95 of the top 100 school districts. Ready to join them? Visit ixl.com/assistant to get started.Closing questions:What part of your own leadership are you still trying to get better at?If listeners could take just one thing away from today's podcast, what would it be?Before we go, is there anything else that you'd like to share with our listeners?Where can people learn more about you and your work…Sponsor Spot 4:Before we wrap, I'd like to thank Kaleidoscope Adventures for sponsoring today's show. Lots of companies can help you organize class trips, but Kaleidoscope helps you organize adventures – because isn't that what student trips should be? Kaleidscope is a full-service tour company offering a range of adventure opportunities and they excel at customizing trips based on your unique context, needs, and goals. Kaleidoscope offers exceptional travel experiences for students (and their group leaders). Thinking about student travel? Reach out to Kaleidoscope using the link in the show notes.Summary/wrap upThere are a lot of great things in today's show but I want to focus this summary on the core concepts Steve talked about of values, culture, and climate.6 dimensions: overlap of people's values and org. purpose = core values?Inner forces (aka culture): similar and different from Steve's “climate”My climate experience… Building walkthroughReceptionFacility (esp. art)Student – studentStudent – teacherTeacher – teacherAdmin visibilityFour quadrant door peakingThank you to our sponsors!IXL: https://www.ixl.com/assistant Kaleidoscope Adventures: https://www.kaleidoscopeadventures.com/the-assistant-principal-podcast-kaleidoscope-adventures/digiCOACH: https://digicoach.com/ Guest links:Website: www.standtallsteve.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@standtallsteve1330www.withinourranks.com https://www.youtube.com/@withinourranksFrederick's Links:Email: frederick@frederickbuskey.comWebsite: https://www.frederickbuskey.com/ LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/strategicleadershipconsulting Daily Email subscribe: https://adept-experimenter-3588.ck.page/fdf37cbf3a The Strategic Leader's Guide to Reclaiming Purpose: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C...

In today's episode, Sarah answers accumulated questions for July! Topics include: Laurel Denise + Full Focus is too much -- what do use instead? Task management (2 questions on various angles of this common challenge!) and how not to lose all of those great ideas that come to you that you want to see at the right time Discussion of the Alistair Method for the listener struggling to fit tasks into an unpredictable schedule (details on this method here: https://bulletjournal.com/blogs/bulletjournalist/projects-the-alastair-method Ways to structure/plan out a period of lighter work (sabbatical of sorts) As mentioned early in the episode, Sarah's Mid-Year Check In is available for viewing -- great for those looking for a mid-year boost! This 1-hour guided mid-year planning session is available for instant viewing for anyone who purchases access to Planning 2026 (Sarah's 4 hour annual planning course, held in December/January). Visit theshubox.com/courses for details! Episode Sponsors IXL: Learning doesn't have to stop in the summer!  Best Laid Plans listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ⁠ixl.com/plans⁠.  Green Chef: Make this summer your healthiest yet with Green Chef. Head to ⁠greenchef.com/50BESTLAID⁠ and use code 50BESTLAID to get 50% off your first month, then 20% off for two months with free shipping.  PrepDish: Healthy menu plans and prep instruction to take the mental load out of dinner!   Visit ⁠PrepDish.com/plans⁠ for your first 2 weeks, FREE.   Mint:  Affordable unlimited wireless!  Get your new customer offer and your 3-month Unlimited wireless plan for $15 a month at ⁠mintmobile.com/BLP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Jethro Jones introduces a special conversation between Dr. Erin Bailey, Vice President of Literacy Programs and Research at Reading is Fundamental, and Barb Solish, the NAMI National Director of Innovation. They discuss the partnership between Reading is Fundamental (RIF) and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), supported by Macy's, to provide books and mental health resources to children nationwide. The conversation dives into the youth mental health crisis, the literacy crisis, and how these two organizations are working together to support children's mental and emotional well-being through literacy and other resources.NAMI and RIF joining together with the support of Macy'sBeing next to someone is powerfulName it to tame it. Identifying emotions for kids is powerfulLiteracy for skills in both areas. The power of a mother reading aloud to her children. NICU mothers reading aloud to kids every day lowered rates of post-partum depression and stress. Routine and trust are built together. Early intervention The Presence and the connection is what really matters. Barb Solish: Link to headshot - National Alliance on Mental illnessBarb Solish is NAMI's National Director of Innovation. She is passionate about mental health awareness, education, and advocacy, especially after the loss of a friend to suicide. Barb's lived experience developing a mental health condition as a young person also motivates her work improving outcomes for young people with mental health concerns.In her time at NAMI, Barb has led NAMI's Youth and Young Adult Initiatives team, developing new resources for kids, teens, young adults, educators, and caregivers. She also led the creation of new initiatives, including the virtual version of the NAMI Ending the Silence presentation program for middle and high school students and NAMI Next Gen, NAMI's young adult advisory group. In addition to youth and young adult work, Barb oversees NAMI's Workplace Mental Health Initiatives, including NAMI StigmaFree Workplace. Barb believes strongly that not only is creating a mentally healthy workplace the right thing to do, it's an economic imperative.Erin Bailey, Vice President, Literacy Programs & Research, Reading Is FundamentalErin Bailey, Ed.D., joined Reading Is Fundamental in 2021 and currently serves as the Vice President of Literacy Programs and Research. Dr. Bailey brings deep curriculum and instructional expertise to her position, which includes serving as the subject matter expert and developing, curating, and managing content and professional learning for educators and families on literacy.She has played a pivotal role in shaping high-quality, research-based content that supports Pre-K through Middle School students nationwide. With a strong command of literacy best practices, she leads cross-functional efforts to ensure RIF's resources spark reading joy while aligning with effective instructional strategies. Passionate about empowering educators, Dr. Bailey has spearheaded RIF's professional development initiatives—designing and delivering hands-on, relevant learning experiences that build lasting capacity and support classroom success.Dr. Bailey has been an educator in U.S. and international classrooms. Her teaching experience spans from PreK-8 including roles as a classroom teacher, literacy specialist, English language learning specialist, and university instructor. Her interests include professional learning for teachers on family and community engagement, instructional strategies for multilingual learners, and literacy instruction. She is interested in the ways that partnering with families and communities, particularly for children from historically marginalized communities, can transform literacy instruction. Additionally, she designs curriculum and professional development for utilizing play-based learning to teach language and literacy to young children.Dr. Bailey has a robust and interdisciplinary research repertoire including learning through informal spaces such as public gardens, art museums, and social movements. She takes up art processes such as film, photography, and sound mixing to expand approaches to qualitative inquiry. She has presented her work at several major conferences including the American Education Research Association (AERA) and the World Organization for Early Childhood Education (OMEP) and has published in academic journals including Qualitative Inquiry, Journal of Early Childhood Literacy, and Journal of Literacy Research. Join the Transformative Mastermind Today and work on your school, not just in it. Apply today. 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

Get the book, Grading Visible Learners: Learning with Fluidity Visit the website, www.CenterForCollaborativeExpertise.com About The Authors Dave Nagel and Bruce Potter are co-founders The Center for Collaborative Expertise.   Dave's work focuses on helping schools and districts implement Visible Learning research, assessment and feedback, and effective grading reform at both school and classroom levels. He has supported schools in building impactful PLCs and is a thought leader in the PLC+ framework. Dave has authored seven books, 4 of which are best sellers–aligned to the PLC+ Suite of publications, and contributed to publications such as Principal Leadership, Educational Leadership, and The Learning Professional. He regularly presents at national conferences. Bruce Potter is a school administrator with over 30 years experience. Bruce began his career as a classroom teacher and has held leadership roles at the building level as a principal and at the district level as a superintendent for 11 years. Bruce brings a wealth of experience in implementing Visible Learning research, guiding districts, schools, and teachers in transforming their practices. His schools have earned national recognition for innovative approaches that redefine success for traditionally underserved students.       This episode of Principal Center Radio is sponsored by IXL, the most widely used online learning and teaching platform for K-12. Discover the power of data-driven instruction in your school with IXL—it gives you everything you need to maximize learning, from a comprehensive curriculum to meaningful school-wide data. Visit IXL.com/center to lead your school towards data-driven excellence today.   

  Mitch Weathers on Breaking the Bottleneck Leadership Trap The Ruckus Report Quick take: Most principals think they're the chief problem solver—but that mindset is actually what's breaking their schools. When you're the go-to for every fire, you're not leading, you're enabling dependence. Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Mitch became a gifted teacher because he was a mediocre student. Mitch rarely felt comfortable in the classroom. In fact, it took him 7 years to graduate from college. Choosing to become a teacher, Mitch was fortunate enough to experience school as if it was happening all around him. He was unsure how to jump into his learning with confidence. There is a loneliness to experiencing your education as a passive object as opposed to an active subject. From the moment he entered the classroom, Mitch relied on his personal experiences as a learner. He recognized that what we teach—the content or curriculum—is secondary. We must first lay the foundation for learning before we can get to teaching. Mitch designed Organized Binder to empower teachers with a simple but research-backed strategy to teach students executive functioning skills while protecting the time needed for content instruction. The secret is found in establishing a predictable learning routine that serves to foster safer learning spaces. When students get practice with executive functions by virtue, we set them up for success. Learn more in his recent book Executive Functions for Every Classroom: Breaking Down the Old Rules

In this eye-opening episode, I sit down with Dr. A. Jordan Wright, psychologist who brings both professional insight and lived experience to the conversation—having been diagnosed with ADHD in college. Together, we explore the often-overlooked stories of kids who manage to compensate for ADHD symptoms well into adolescence or adulthood, only to receive a diagnosis later in life.We also dive into why early educational settings are crucial for embedding executive functioning supports and how these skills can be proactively taught rather than reactively addressed. Our guest offers a compelling argument for why executive functioning should be considered the new social-emotional learning—essential, foundational, and deeply tied to lifelong success.We also spend a good portion of the episode discussing best practices for assessing executive functioning in a way that is robust and sensitive to diverse learning needs—moving to deeper understanding.Topics Covered:✅ Being diagnosed with ADHD in college and why high-performing kids with ADHD are often missed✅ The case for embedding executive functioning support into early education✅ Executive functioning as the new SEL: What educators need to know✅ Best practices for executive functioning assessment, including surveys, non-standardized methods, and optimal functioning measures. Dr. A. Jordan Wright is the Chief Clinical Officer at Parallel Learning and leading clinical psychologist who specializes in psychological assessment (including learning disabilities and ADHD) and therapy. Dr. Jordan received his Ph.D. from Columbia University. He is on faculty at New York University, where he leads the Clinical/Counseling Psychology PhD program, training doctoral students in psychological assessment and counseling, and he founded and runs the Center for Counseling and Community Wellbeing, the low-fee community mental health training clinic at NYU.Dr. Jordan has authored multiple widely-used books on psychological assessment, including Conducting Psychological Assessment: A Guide for Practitioners (2nd ed.; Wiley, 2020); Essentials of Psychological Tele-Assessment (with Susie Raiford; Wiley, 2021); Essentials of Psychological Assessment Supervision (Wiley, 2019); and, with Gary Groth-Marnat, the sixth edition of the Handbook of Psychological Assessment (Wiley, 2016), the most widely used text in graduate training on assessment. His most recent book is Essentials of Culture in Psychological Assessment (Wiley, 2024), which focuses on areas of diversity, culture, privilege, and oppression in how we evaluate and understand individuals.You can learn more about Parallel Learning's comprehensive services for providers on their website here: https://www.parallellearning.com/You can find Dr. Jordan's free White Papers from Parallel Learning on executive functioning assessment, self-care for clinicians, telehealth best practices, plus much more here: https://www.parallellearning.com/white-papersIf you're a clinician looking for new career opportunities, you can take a look at Parallel Learning's “Careers” page here: https://www.parallellearning.com/careersIn this episode, I mentioned “The School Leader's Guide to Executive Functioning Support”, a 7-day course to help school leaders launch their executive functioning implementation plan. You can learn more about the course here : https://drkarenspeech.lpages.co/school-leaders-guide-to-executive-functioning-support/ 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

Power Quote: “How do you want me to listen?”Description:Today's guest is someone I consider to be a master at the art of coaching, which is appropriate as she wrote the best-selling book titled The Art of Coaching. I Had Elena Aguilar on the show a little over a year ago and we split the interview into two parts, episodes 204 and 205 (link in the show notes) because it was so rich and packed with powerful thoughts and techniques. This interview with Elena is even more dense – so much so that we are splitting it into three parts. In today's section Elena and I dive into listening and there is so much packed into the span of fifteen minutes that I decided to release it as a full episode. If you listen closely, you'll recognize that the discussion is embedded within the intro section of celebrations and stories. We didn't even get to the main interview before Elena shared some wisdom that I wanted to put on its own, for your benefit.After this conversation, I've added Elena's thoughts on “the one thing leaders should take away.” It is consistent with today's main topic, but I will also include it in each of the next two part of our discussion because it is so powerful I think we all, myself included, need to listen to it once a week.Sponsor Spot 1: I'd like to thank Kaleidoscope Adventures for sponsoring today's show. Lots of companies can help you organize class trips, but Kaleidoscope helps you organize adventures – because isn't that what student trips should be? Kaleidscope is a full-service tour company offering a range of adventure opportunities and they excel at customizing trips based on your unique context, needs, and goals. Kaleidoscope offers exceptional travel experiences for students (and their group leaders). Thinking about student travel? Reach out to Kaleidoscope using the link in the show notes.Show IntroGuest Bio:Elena Aguilar is a writer, leader, teacher, coach and podcaster. She is the author of eight highly acclaimed books including: The Art of Coaching, The Art of Coaching Teams, The PD Book: 7 Habits that Transform Professional Development, and the newly released Arise: The Art of Transformational Coaching. She has also been a frequent contributor to Edutopia, ASCD's Educational Leadership, and EdWeek Teacher.Elena is the founder and CEO of Bright Morning Consulting, an organization committed tohelping individuals and organizations create the conditions for transformation. She has taught tens of thousands of folks how to have conversations that build a more just and equitable world. Elena can be heard demonstrating these conversations on The Bright Morning Podcast.Elena was a guest on episodes 204 and 205, June 2024Warmup questions:We always like to start with a celebration. What are you celebrating today?Is there a story that will help listeners understand why you are doing what you do?Sponsor Spot 3:I want to thank IXL for sponsoring this podcast…Everyone talks about the power of data-driven instruction. But what does that actually look like? Look no further than IXL, the ultimate online learning and teaching platform for K to 12. IXL gives you meaningful insights that drive real progress, and research can prove it. Studies across 45 states show that schools who use IXL outperform other schools on state tests. Educators who use IXL love that they can easily see how their school is performing in real-time to make better instructional decisions. And IXL doesn't stop at just data. IXL also brings an entire ecosystem of resources for your teachers, with a complete curriculum, personalized learning plans, and so much more. It's no wonder that IXL is used in 95 of the top 100 school districts. Ready to join them? Visit ixl.com/assistant to get started.Closing questions:What part of your own leadership are you still trying to get better at?If listeners could take just one thing away from today's podcast, what would it be?Before we go, is there anything else that you'd like to share with our listeners?Where can people learn more about you and your work…Summary/wrap upThe first step to listening is to understanding self: our beliefs, our ways of beingIs the simple answer to everything listening? And asking good questions (which we dive into more in part 3)?How do you want me to listen? Decreases power and increases trust.Listening as a muscle (and how I exercised mine this morning).We will release part 2 and 3 in back-to-back weeks at the end of July and first week of August, so consider today's episode to be a teaser of more incredible part of our discussion. Links to my previous 2024 episodes with Elena (204 and 205) are in the show notes.Our interview ended with “slow down” This July 4th week is a great time to practice that.Thank you to our sponsors!IXL: https://www.ixl.com/assistant Kaleidoscope Adventures: https://www.kaleidoscopeadventures.com/the-assistant-principal-podcast-kaleidoscope-adventures/Elena's links:Elena's new book: Arise: The Art of Transformational CoachingSpecials for listeners:  Pre-Order Bonuses Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elena_aguilar_writer/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elena-aguilar/Book Shop: https://bookshop.org/lists/books-by-elena-aguilar/Bright Morning: https://www.brightmorningteam.com/The Bright Morning Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bright-morning-podcast-with-elena-aguilar/id1517537206Newsletter: https://www.brightmorningteam.com/resources/newsletterFrederick's Links:Email: frederick@frederickbuskey.comWebsite: https://www.frederickbuskey.com/ LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/strategiclea...

In today's episode, Sarah shares rationale and ideas for completing your own mid-year check in session, where you take stock of where things are, look at annual goals, and decide how you'd like to move forward. She provides ideas for the setting/scope of this session, and then shares her very own mid-year check in - processing her own progress on the air! If you are interested in a guided mid-year check in video that takes you through the process step by step, Sarah is offering this as part of BLP at Home: Planning 2026 this year! You can get access to this video by preordering BLP at Home for next year (4 hour guided planning experience divided into two sessions, taking place in Dec 2025/Jan 2026). All details will be shared via newsletter (July edition out 7/1), so visit theshubox.com/newsletter to sign up! Episode Sponsors IXL: Learning doesn't have to stop in the summer!  Best Laid Plans listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ixl.com/plans.  Green Chef: Make this summer your healthiest yet with Green Chef. Head to greenchef.com/50BESTLAID and use code 50BESTLAID to get 50% off your first month, then 20% off for two months with free shipping.  PrepDish: Healthy menu plans and prep instruction to take the mental load out of dinner!   Visit PrepDish.com/plans for your first 2 weeks, FREE.   Mint:  Affordable unlimited wireless!  Get your new customer offer and your 3-month Unlimited wireless plan for $15 a month at mintmobile.com/BLP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Jethro Jones speaks with Bobby Canosa-Carr, a leadership coach, author, and former principal. They discuss various educational topics, including the power dynamics in schools, the importance of permission-seeking culture, and strategies for creating dialogue and addressing systemic issues.Why do we even ask to go to the bathroom? American schools have built a culture of permission seekingCharter schools are not the magic bullet! Is that what we're here for? What are we here in school for? If you really audit what schools do, it doesn't align to what we say it does.The system trains us to point fingers at each other. Create more opportunities for dialog. Can you prove it will improve test scores? How to be a transformative principal? Start a conversation with the person who is the most at odds with you. About Bobby Canosa-CarrBobby Canosa-Carr is a leadership coach, an author, a mindfulness teacher, a former teacher and principal, and a senior public education executive. He is the founder/CEO of Enlighten Leadership Coaching and the Senior Managing Director of Schools at Equitas Academy Charter Schools.As a school principal, Bobby led the turnaround of a large public high school in Los Angeles and subsequently founded a charter school in his hometown of San Pedro, California. He is a pioneer in personalized & project-based learning, restorative practices, and mentoring in schools. Bobby recently published his first book, Can I Go to the Bathroom? and Other Asinine Questions We Ask in School. It's an exploration of the dysfunctional power dynamics that leave almost everyone feeling disempowered in American schools.Bobby is most fulfilled when doing anything that brings him to the present moment and reminds him to breathe on purpose. You might find him climbing boulders in Joshua Tree, swimming in the waves of the Pacific Ocean, or riding his Harley Davidson up a winding coastal road. Join the Transformative Mastermind Today and work on your school, not just in it. Apply today. 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

  The Ruckus Report Quick take: The "lone wolf" leader is a toxic myth that's burning out school administrators and failing students. Veronica Holyoke proves that transformational leadership happens in community, not isolation — and one hour a week can change everything. Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Veronica Holyoke is a 25-year education veteran and Utah's 2024 Assistant Principal of the Year. A former 5th grade teacher with master's degrees in Curriculum and Instruction and Educational Leadership, she's spent her fourth year as an elementary Assistant Principal in Jordan School District. Beyond her accolades, Veronica has navigated supporting her husband through serious disability while excelling in her leadership role — proving that community support transforms both professional and personal resilience. Breaking Down the Old Rules

In this episode, I  interview Connie, a student from the Language Therapy Advance Foundations program. She shares her practical experiences and results achieved with her students. Key highlights include:✅ Engaging a Disengaged Student: Connie discusses her strategies for working with a high school student who was bored with therapy, emphasizing the use of engaging books to enhance vocabulary learning.✅ Time Efficiency: Learn how Connie cut her preparation time in half by implementing the frameworks taught in our program, allowing for more focused and effective sessions.✅ Achieving Generalization: Connie reports significant progress in several of her students who had previously plateaued, particularly in their ability to generalize syntax skills.This episode offers actionable insights for language therapists looking to improve engagement and outcomes in their practice.Ready to elevate your language therapy skills? Join Language Therapy Advance Foundations and start transforming your therapy approach today.  Learn more about Language Therapy Advance Foundations here: https://drkarenspeech.com/languagetherapy/ 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

We're continuing our school choice series, and today's episode is such a thoughtful one. I'm joined by Ashley Grutzmacher—a public school teacher, mom, and passionate advocate for loving your neighbor and showing up well in your community. Ashley offers such a grounded and honest look into the public school experience, and I think this conversation will leave you feeling both encouraged and equipped.Whether public school is your current path or you're simply exploring options, Ashley brings clarity and hope to the decision-making process.Here's what you'll hear in today's conversation:Public schools offer unique opportunities to build relationships, engage with diversity, and reflect Christ in a natural way.Faith and public education can coexist. With intentionality, families can stay grounded in their values while fully participating in the public system.Challenges will come, but so will growth. Ashley shares practical ways to prepare your kids spiritually for real-world experiences.You don't do this alone. Community, church, and family rhythms all help support your child's faith, wherever they attend school.Ashley is a seasoned public school teacher and mom who brings a front-row perspective to the joys and challenges of raising Christian kids in a public school setting. Her heart for students and her passion for faithful parenting make her a trusted voice in this important conversation.I hope this episode reminds you that with prayer, wisdom, and support, you can thrive wherever God calls your family.With grace,Steph(00:00) Introduction to Public Education and Personal Background(15:08) Benefits of Public Schooling(29:53) Challenges in Public Schooling for Believers(24:06) Misconceptions About Public Schools(31:48) Navigating School Choices as Parents(36:42) Core Values in EducationResources MentionedNIV Application BibleSupport Christian ParentingThe Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.orgOur Sponsors:* Check out Happy Mammoth and use my code CPPODCAST for a great deal: https://happymammoth.com* Check out IXL and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.com* Check out Marianne and the Maker: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Link to post on LinkedIn for book giveawayDescription:Today's interview will be a bit different as my guest is coming from four decades of leadership experience in the corporate arena. Despite the different setting, the leadership lessons will sound familiar to you. I think this discussion with someone coming from a different place invites us to reexamine fundamental leadership themes from a slightly different perspective.Sponsor Spot 1:Administrators, you walk through classrooms, take notes, and you plan to follow up… but how much of that feedback actually reaches teachers in a meaningful way?With digiCOACH, you don't just observe—you coach in the moment. Provide clear, specific feedback instantly and track progress over time. No more forgotten notes or lost opportunities—just real conversations that drive real change.With digiCOACH, you're not just giving feedback—you're building a system for growth. Track trends, measure progress, and give teachers the real-time feedback they love. Ready to make coaching more impactful? Start today at digiCOACH.com.Show IntroGuest Bio:With over 30 years of leadership experience, Jim Carlough is an accomplished business strategist, speaker, and author. Having successfully driven explosive growth for healthcare organizations—from start-ups to industry leaders — Jim is a trusted expert in building high-performing teams, revitalizing underperforming businesses, and guiding organizations through transformational change. Jim's core philosophy—leaders aren't born; they're developed—challenges the myth of innate leadership. In his book, The Six Pillars of Effective Leadership: A Roadmap to Success, Jim delivers a practical and inspiring guide for leaders at every stage of their journey. His approach focuses on six essential traits that empower individuals to embrace leadership as a skill that can be learned, honed, and mastered through experience, mentorship, and intentional growth.Warmup questions:We always like to start with a celebration. What are you celebrating today?Is there a story that will help listeners understand why you are doing what you do?Questions/Topics/PromptsYou've written a book based on your experiences and the leadership lessons you've learned from others. In The Six Pillars of Effective Leadership, you identify empathy and compassion as two of the six. I am really intrigued by this as my immediate reaction was, “aren't these the same thing?” Help me understand…You shared with me in our email exchange you had a story involving a middle school principal that related to empathy and compassion. Can you share it?Your background is in the private sector and I noticed you were a VP of Client Development for Health Management Systems. I've done some work with corporate leaders and have been amazed at how similar being a VP is to being a school administrator. Corporate has their demands and the people you serve have a different set of demands, and you are right there in the middle trying to muddle your way through. Can you talk about this tension and then share some wisdom about how school leaders can navigate this?Sponsor Spot 3:I want to thank IXL for sponsoring this podcast…Everyone talks about the power of data-driven instruction. But what does that actually look like? Look no further than IXL, the ultimate online learning and teaching platform for K to 12. IXL gives you meaningful insights that drive real progress, and research can prove it. Studies across 45 states show that schools who use IXL outperform other schools on state tests. Educators who use IXL love that they can easily see how their school is performing in real-time to make better instructional decisions. And IXL doesn't stop at just data. IXL also brings an entire ecosystem of resources for your teachers, with a complete curriculum, personalized learning plans, and so much more. It's no wonder that IXL is used in 95 of the top 100 school districts. Ready to join them? Visit ixl.com/assistant to get started.Closing questions:What part of your own leadership are you still trying to get better at?If listeners could take just one thing away from today's podcast, what would it be?Before we go, is there anything else that you'd like to share with our listeners?Where can people learn more about you and your work…Sponsor Spot 4:Before we wrap, I'd like to thank Kaleidoscope Adventures for sponsoring today's show. Lots of companies can help you organize class trips, but Kaleidoscope helps you organize adventures – because isn't that what student trips should be? Kaleidscope is a full-service tour company offering a range of adventure opportunities and they excel at customizing trips based on your unique context, needs, and goals. Kaleidoscope offers exceptional travel experiences for students (and their group leaders). Thinking about student travel? Reach out to Kaleidoscope using the link in the show notes.Summary/wrap upWhether you are in a school or the private sector, you can't lead from your office (MBWA)Tasks versus people; tension between prioritiesTransparency, honesty, information => trust (integrity)Even during an end, your work matters (should be much easier in education, but we need to stay compassionate by supporting and growing our people)Link in the show notes – free books to the first three who comment on our LinkedIn post!Thank you to our sponsors!IXL: https://www.ixl.com/assistant Kaleidoscope Adventures: https://www.kaleidoscopeadventures.com/the-assistant-principal-podcast-kaleidoscope-adventures/digiCOACH: https://digicoach.com/ Jim's links:FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/jimcarloughmsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimcarloughmotivation/LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/jimcarloughmsYouTube: www.youtube.com/@jimcarloughmsFrederick's Links:Email: frederick@frederickbuskey.comWebsite: https://www.frederic...

It's a Q&A podcast! Topics include: - Ways to plan/manage tasks when your time is unpredictably chopped up (gig worker)?- How to move into a new planner midyear?- How to talk with a partner who feels your planning systems are over the top (and you feel like they are absolutely necessary for a functional family life)?- How to handle a close friend or relative who refuses to make firm plans?- Planner recs for a child with ADHD entering middle school Keep your questions coming! Email sarah.hart.unger at gmail, leave a message on the show notes (theshubox.com) or reply to the newsletter! Newsletter signups: theshubox.com/newsletter EPISODE SPONSORS IXL: Make an impact on your child's learning, get IXL now.  BLP listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ⁠⁠⁠ixl.com/plans⁠⁠⁠. Green Chef:  Make this summer your healthiest yet with Green Chef. Visit ⁠⁠⁠greenchef.com/50BESTLAID⁠⁠⁠ and use code 50BESTLAID to get 50% off your first month, then 20% off for two months with free shipping. Mint Mobile: Save this summer with a Mint Mobile Wireless plan!  Get your summer savings and shop premium wireless plans at ⁠⁠⁠mintmobile.com/BLP⁠⁠⁠ PrepDish:  Delicious and healthy plans to take the mental load out of planning dinner!  Visit ⁠⁠⁠prepdish.com/plans⁠⁠⁠ for two weeks free! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Visit Jheri's Website www.JheriSouth.com About The Guest Jheri South is a passionate advocate for teenagers, young adults, parent-child relationships, and individuals with ADHD. She empowers families, schools, and organizations to grow together, communicate effectively, and build healthier connections. Jheri is an ADHD Specialist, Teen & Parent Coach and the founder of Headspace Hub. Jheri is the mom of 7 neurodivergent kids, and has worked as a corporate airline trainer, with clients, and in public school settings. As the creator of ADHD Simplified, Jheri is helping individuals change their lives through 1:1 coaching, online learning and in person workshops.   This episode of Principal Center Radio is sponsored by IXL, the most widely used online learning and teaching platform for K-12. Discover the power of data-driven instruction in your school with IXL—it gives you everything you need to maximize learning, from a comprehensive curriculum to meaningful school-wide data. Visit IXL.com/center to lead your school towards data-driven excellence today.   

In this episode,  Jethro Jones interviews Samantha Hamilton, an award-winning principal, national education consultant, speaker, and author. Samantha shares insights from her career, discusses her book 'Brave On Purpose,' and emphasizes the importance of courageous, empathetic leadership in education. The episode also touches upon the challenges of leadership, the role of faith in leadership, and tips for preventing burnout among educators.Brave on Purpose means choosing courageIntentional leadership when it's easier to not have that. LISA Academy - be seenLeaders can't rely on titles to have trust.Help people feel seen, safe, and valued.Don't have access to what happens day-to-day in schoolsLeadership on paper is different than leadership in real life.Can't assume we know what happened right before.People first paper second. More info from Erika Garcia-NilesPower of delegation & perfectionism - sign up for Jethro's email list.Interweaving faith into leadership.How to help principals who feel burnt out or stuck.What defines success today? How to be a transformative principal? Give yourself permission to be human, pick one thing that you want to get better at tomorrow. Progress over perfection. About Samantha HamiltonSamantha Hamilton (BarefootPrincipal.com) is an award-winning school principal, national education consultant, speaker, and author of non-fiction leadership books that inspire courage, connection, and culture change. With over two decades of experience in early childhood education and K-12 school leadership, she's known for transforming vision into action and heart into strategy.Born in Joplin, Missouri to two lifelong educators, Samantha began “teaching” both real and imaginary students by the age of five. That early calling grew into a career defined by faith, humor, and an unshakable belief that relationships—not rigid rules—are the foundation of lasting success. Whether she's leading a school community, coaching new leaders, or navigating chaos with compassion, Samantha brings grit, grace, and just the right amount of sparkle to shift the atmosphere.She has served in both public and charter schools, taught multiple grade levels, and led schools through tornado recovery, staffing crises, major cultural transformations, and systemwide change initiatives. Her leadership philosophy is simple: people first, always. Her impact? Anything but simple.Beyond the school walls, Samantha mentors aspiring leaders, develops curriculum, and trains educators nationwide on topics such as leadership resilience, school culture transformation, data-driven decision-making, and sustainable servant leadership. She is a doctoral candidate in Organizational Leadership and a proud wife, mom of three, and Christmas enthusiast who blends fun and focus into everything she leads.Her debut book, Brave on Purpose: How Courage, Culture, and Connection Create Lasting Impact, is a love letter to educators and leaders navigating the real trenches of change. It invites readers to lead with clarity, courage, heart, and a little sparkle. Join the Transformative Mastermind Today and work on your school, not just in it. Apply today. 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 interviews Thomas Boles, founder of I Love My Tech Team, about the unique challenges Catholic schools face with technology and cybersecurity. They discuss common traps schools fall into online and effective strategies to safeguard against these dangers.Personal stuff on school deviceOnline shopping - discountsPrincipal has to be the expert at everything. Using password managers, and not using passwords. Principals get more cold email from people. Let's put in some traps to keep people from doing Screenshot, don't forward the email.How to protect yourself? Multi-factor authenticationFirewall and network - put in worthwhile routers and network protection devices. Connect with Thomas at ilovemytechteam.comAbout Thomas BolesThomas Boles is the founder of I Love My Tech Team, a company dedicated to solving tech problems for Catholic schools across the U.S.With a background as a teacher, administrator, and tech director, Thomas understands the unique challenges Catholic schools face. Under his leadership, the Tech Team sets up, repairs, and manages networks, accounts and devices nationwide—while also offering professional development and program design to help schools transition from “nothing works” to being a “shining example of innovation.”  Thomas and the Tech Team are passionate about making technology work seamlessly so teachers and administrators can focus on what they do best: educating students. 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

About the Guest(s):Emily Ladau is an activist, writer, and speaker, known for her relentless advocacy for disability rights. With a decade of experience, Emily serves as the editor of Able News, a digital newspaper amplifying the voices and stories of New York's vibrant disability community. Her involvement in disability rights extends beyond writing, as she continually seeks to inspire and challenge societal perceptions through her speaking engagements and published works, including her book aimed at bridging understanding between disabled and non-disabled communities.Episode Summary:In this stimulating episode of Think Inclusive, host Tim Villegas engages with long-time friend and leading disability advocate Emily Ladau. As they delve into pressing issues confronting minority groups, Emily reflects on the systematic erosion of rights for the disability community, particularly those with multiple marginalized identities. She provides personal insights into navigating these challenges while expressing the uncertainties of future potentials for individuals' rights, especially under the current sociopolitical climate of 2025.The conversation moves to explore the intricacies of communicating effectively with diverse audiences, with an emphasis on thoughtfully engaging conservative politicians. Emily shares the balance of maintaining authenticity while strategically choosing words that resonate across party lines, addressing the need for cross-aisle dialogue in advancing disability rights. She also provides crucial advice for those striving to be allies, emphasizing the importance of mindful communication and adaptive advocacy efforts as tools for sustaining momentum in inclusivity goals. This episode is a rich tapestry of personal reflection and strategic insights, capturing the pulse of advocacy in challenging times.Complete show notes and transcript: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/Key Takeaways:-The current sociopolitical environment is eroding disability rights, with advocates like Emily Ladau emphasizing the dire impacts on those with multiple marginalized identities.-Strategic vagueness in political rhetoric is creating an environment of fear and uncertainty, where advocacy requires deliberate and thoughtful communication.-Emily Ladau underscores the necessity of adjusting language to gain support from conservative audiences by aligning advocacy messages with core values.-Recognizing the limits of individual capacity, Emily advises allies to engage in advocacy through manageable actions without compromising personal well-being.-She stresses the significance of platforms like social media in advocating for disability rights, highlighting its dual role in fostering community and echo chambers.Resources:Emily's Website: https://emilyladau.com/Able News: https://ablenews.com/Thank you to our sponsor, IXL: https://ixl.com/inclusive Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello Everyone!Brianne and I are excited, grateful, and truly in awe of today's guest. Renee Beavers is an exceptional human being with expertise and experience working with kids and families experiencing trauma. She supports family and helps them to access critical support to begin their healing process. Today, she talks about her work with these families as well as her own journeys of grief. We know that you will get so many nuggets of wisdom from this conversation. Enjoy. The Be Podcast Network is 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

  The Ruckus Report Quick take: Most districts are dumping water into leaky buckets while wondering why they can't fill them. Nate Eklund shows us why we've been solving the wrong problem — and how "punching the shark" creates the workplace conditions that make educators want to stay. Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Nate Eklund is the founder and CEO of Vital Network, a national organization focused on improving educator retention and well-being through workplace improvements. A former classroom teacher and author of How Was Your Day at School? Improving Dialogue about Teacher Job Satisfaction, Nate brings deep experience and research-backed insight to the conversation on creating sustainable, joyful workplaces for educators everywhere. Breaking Down the Old Rules

Many clinicians, educators, and school leaders know they should be working collaboratively, but don't know how to find time to do it. If you have a friend or colleague who seems to have magical productivity powers, I promise there's a method to the madness. Most likely, they've just gotten really good at a concept I call “asset stacking”. It starts with asking yourself the question, “What can I create now that can save me time or effort later?”  In this third episode in the 3-part clinical leadership, I share how the concept of “asset stacking” can be used by both current and aspiring clinical and educational leaders to make an impact on the systems they're working in. Key Points:✅ Creating a long-term strategic vision for your professional growth✅ The concept of asset stacking and how to use it to impact systems✅ Multiple service delivery models that position you as a leader✅ Developing a master plan that aligns your expertise with system needsTakeaways:✅ Asset stacking compounds your influence over time✅ Your unique combination of skills creates distinctive value✅ Service delivery innovation positions you as a thought leaderAction Step: Begin your leadership master plan by identifying your unique "stack" of professional assets and one system-level challenge they could address.In this episode, I mentioned “The School Leader's Guide to Executive Functioning Support”, a 7-day course to help school leaders launch their executive functioning implementation plan. You can learn more about the course here: https://drkarenspeech.lpages.co/school-leaders-guide-to-executive-functioning-support/  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

We're continuing our special series on school choices today, and I'm so excited to share this conversation with Leigh Nguyen, a mom who never planned to homeschool but followed God's nudge and hasn't looked back. Her story is honest, inspiring, and full of practical insight for anyone wondering if homeschooling could actually work for their family.Whether you're curious about it, overwhelmed by it, or already in the thick of it, Leigh brings a calm, grace-filled perspective that might just be the encouragement you need today.Here's what you'll hear in today's conversation:Faith can lead us down unexpected paths. Leigh didn't start out with a homeschool plan, but God met her in the unknown.Homeschooling isn't perfect, but it's purposeful. Every hard moment is an opportunity for connection, growth, and trust.Learning happens everywhere. From the kitchen table to the grocery store, faith and education beautifully intertwine.There's no “right” way to do it. Homeschooling looks different for every family and that's the beauty of it.Leigh is a homeschooling mom of four with a background in education and a heart for helping other parents feel confident and equipped in their own homeschooling journey. She speaks and writes about faith-filled parenting and creating a home where learning and discipleship go hand in hand.I hope this episode gives you clarity and encouragement as you navigate your family's next steps.(03:03) The Decision to Homeschool(05:55) Daily Life in Homeschooling(09:10) Integrating Faith into Education(11:58) Choosing Curriculum(15:05) Overcoming Doubts in Homeschooling(18:01) Socialization in Homeschooling(20:29) Holistic Learning Through Everyday Activities(23:29) The Socialization Debate in Homeschooling(26:54) Challenges of Homeschooling: Finding Balance(29:07) The Growth of Homeschooled Children(33:42) Lessons Learned: Reflections on Homeschooling(36:47) Advice for New Homeschooling ParentsConnect with LeighInstagramLittle by Little HomeschoolLittle by Little Homeschool podcastResources MentionedChristian Parenting storeSupport Christian ParentingThe Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.orgOur Sponsors:* Check out Happy Mammoth and use my code CPPODCAST for a great deal: https://happymammoth.com* Check out IXL and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.com* Check out Marianne and the Maker: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Meet Siera Pickering, the Dean of Students at Petrova Elem. in beautiful Saranac Lake, NY. I met Siea on a leadership visit to Saranac Lake, and she stood out in so many ways--participation, positivity, assertiveness, and more. She's joining us LIVE on the podcast on Tuesday, 6/17/25 at 4:30 PM EST. Siera is expecting her 3rd child next month (WOW!) and is very interested in how the brain functions in relation to learning and reading. She is looking to make a positive impact on her school culture--Join us! Keep surviving & thriving, friends! This podcast is sponsored by IXL Personalized Learning. IXL is used by more than 1 million teachers each day. It is also the most widely used online learning and teaching platform for K-12. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/ELBIXL

Power Quote: “Uncover the rock”Description:If you haven't begun reflecting on the year yet, today's episode will get you in the mood. I encourage you to pause today's show frequently – there are a number of moments that deserve some contemplation and pausing to think about what something looks or feels like in your context could be very beneficial. This is such a thoughtful conversation – I found myself feeling both reflective and uplifted by the end. I hope you experience the same feelings.Sponsor Spot 1:Before we dive in, I'd like to thank DigiCoach for sponsoring today's show. As a loyal listener to this show, you know I am a big advocate for short, targeted observations, so I'm excited to have DigiCoach as one of our sponsors. DigiCoach makes it easier to follow up on observations with meaningful feedback. I love that you can focus on specific elements and that there is a ready-made bank of items to use for telling teachers what they are doing well! You can learn more about DigiCoach at digicoach.com or click the link in the show notes.Show IntroGuest Bio:Will Lepech has worked in various roles within a K-12 system level. He earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Group Science, a Master of Arts (MA) in Educational Leadership K-12, has a Michigan Elementary Teaching Certificate with additional endorsements in Music Education and Science along with a Michigan School Administrator Certificate. Prior to becoming the Continuous Improvement Consultant at Montcalm Area ISD, he taught in self-contained elementary classrooms at multiple levels, and was an elementary assistant principal at Kent City Community Schools in Kent City, Michigan. In addition, Will served as the Kent City Community Schools Director of Multi-Lingual and Migrant Education Programs and held multiple roles in the MTSS/PBIS process. Will is a member of the Michigan Continuous Improvement Facilitators Network (MCIFN), as well as the Michigan Association of State and Federal Program Specialists (MASFPS)Warmup questions:We always like to start with a celebration. What are you celebrating today?Is there a story that will help listeners understand why you are doing what you do?Questions/Topics/PromptsWhen you and I first talked, you shared some things you wish you had known while you were a building administrator. I'd like to have conversations around three of them, with you describing the “thing” and then the two of us digging into why understanding the “thing” is so challenging when you are in the midst of it:The power of influencing at the granular (individual) levelChange processNot having to have the answersIf there is time, we can dive a bit more into the change processes.Sponsor Spot 2:I want to thank IXL for sponsoring this podcast…Everyone talks about the power of data-driven instruction. But what does that actually look like? Look no further than IXL, the ultimate online learning and teaching platform for K to 12. IXL gives you meaningful insights that drive real progress, and research can prove it. Studies across 45 states show that schools who use IXL outperform other schools on state tests. Educators who use IXL love that they can easily see how their school is performing in real-time to make better instructional decisions. And IXL doesn't stop at just data. IXL also brings an entire ecosystem of resources for your teachers, with a complete curriculum, personalized learning plans, and so much more. It's no wonder that IXL is used in 95 of the top 100 school districts. Ready to join them? Visit http://ixl.com/assistant to get started.Closing questions:What part of your own leadership are you still trying to get better at?If listeners could take just one thing away from today's podcast, what would it be?Before we go, is there anything else that you'd like to share with our listeners?Where can people learn more about you and your work…Sponsor Spot 3:Before we wrap, I'd like to thank Kaleidoscope Adventures for sponsoring today's show. Lots of companies can help you organize class trips, but Kaleidoscope helps you organize adventures – because isn't that what student trips should be? Kaleidscope is a full-service tour company offering a range of adventure opportunities and they excel at customizing trips based on your unique context, needs, and goals. Kaleidoscope offers exceptional travel experiences for students (and their group leaders). Thinking about student travel? Reach out to Kaleidoscope using the link in the show notes.Summary/wrap upIndividual versus systems focus (ultimately, does change happen at the individual level?)People are the purposeUncover the rock = what's the problem?Resistance is feedback – misalignment in the system and M=v/eSystems and structures support sustainability – good summer investmentStrengthen what is, this is not the time for new stuffCloseLeadership is a journey and thank you for choosing to walk some of this magical path with me.You can find links to all sorts of stuff in the show notes, including my website https://www.frederickbuskey.com/I love hearing from you. If you have comments or questions, or are interested in having me speak at your school or conference, email me at frederick@frederickbuskey.com or connect with me on LinkedIn.If you are tired of spending time putting out fires and would rather invest time supporting and growing teachers, consider reading my book, A School Leader's Guide to Reclaiming Purpose. The book is available on Amazon. You can find links to it, as well as free book study materials on my website at https://www.frederickbuskey.com/reclaiming-purpose.html Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast.Remember the secret to good leadership:Be intentional in choosing how you will show up for othersBe fully presentAsk reflective questionsAnd then just listenDon't overcomplicate it, the value is in the listening.Have a great rest of the week!Cheers!Sponsor Links:IXL: http://ixl.com/assistant Kaleidoscope Adventures: https://www.kaleidoscopeadventures.com/the-assistant-principal-podcast-kaleidoscope-adventures/DigiCOACH: digiCOACH.comGuest links:Email: wlepech@maisd.comLinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/will-lepech-4a05b3342 Frederick's Links:Email:

Today's episode centers around strategies for travel planning, from super-long range (5-10+ years) to daily planning while on vacation! Sarah shares her favorite strategies at each time horizon to craft travel plans that reflect your values and highest priorities, while meeting your actual real-life needs (budget, kids' ages, etc!). Mentioned:Kelsey's "The Years Are Short" sheet:https://www.risingshining.com/2022/10/the-years-are-short-family-spreadsheet.html Cameras (idea from Sarah Jedd, prior guest who blogs at harrytimes.com):https://www.urbanoutfitters.com/shop/hybrid/camp-snap-screen-free-digital-camera EPISODE SPONSORS IXL: Make an impact on your child's learning, get IXL now.  BLP listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ⁠⁠ixl.com/plans⁠⁠. Green Chef:  Make this summer your healthiest yet with Green Chef. Visit ⁠⁠greenchef.com/50BESTLAID⁠⁠ and use code 50BESTLAID to get 50% off your first month, then 20% off for two months with free shipping. Mint Mobile: Save this summer with a Mint Mobile Wireless plan!  Get your summer savings and shop premium wireless plans at ⁠⁠mintmobile.com/BLP⁠⁠ PrepDish:  Delicious and healthy plans to take the mental load out of planning dinner!  Visit ⁠⁠prepdish.com/plans⁠⁠ for two weeks free! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  The Ruckus Report Quick take: If your school has beautiful values painted on the walls but nobody's living them, you're running a theater, not a school. Jimmy Casas exposes the brutal difference between what we say and what we do. Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Jimmy Casas has been an educator for over 30 years, serving twenty-two years as a school leader. Under his leadership, his school was named one of the Best High Schools in the country three times by Newsweek and US News & World Report. Jimmy was named the 2012 Iowa Secondary Principal of the Year and was selected as runner-up NASSP 2013 National Secondary Principal of the Year. In 2014, Jimmy was invited to the White House to speak on the Future Ready Schools pledge. Jimmy is also the author of ten books, including the Washington Post's best-selling book CULTURIZE: Every Student. Every Day. Whatever It Takes, which has sold over 350,000 copies to date. Jimmy is the owner and CEO of J Casas & Associates, where he and his team serve as professional leadership coaches for school and district leaders across the country. Breaking Down the Old Rules

In this episode, Dr. Sarah Ranney shares her journey from instructional coach to executive director of Lafayette Preparatory Academy. She and Jethro dive into the powerful—and sometimes delicate—dynamics of instructional coaches evaluating teachers. Dr. Ranney discusses how LPA has built a culture of continuous improvement, the role of academic rigor, and how leadership vision shapes school success.Lafayette Preparatory Academy, started k-2 and added a grade each year, K-8The reason schools exist is to educate kids. Strong academic program Inner core of St. Louis CityDiverse by design - socio-economic status and race and religious diversityWhat three words would you use to define our school? It really does take a village to raise a childParent experienceIntake conference - teachers asking parents to build relationshipsFamilies are our students' first teachers. Teachers are spending many hours with our kids. Students grew academically over the pandemic because of the relationships with parents. Designing school. Data personalizes and depersonalizes all at the same timeTeaching is a very personal project. If you think you don't have anywhere to grow, you probably should get out of the field you're in. Why their coaches do evaluations instead of the principal.How to be a transformative principal? Ask for feedback and be willing to be vulnerable to respond to that feedback.About Dr. Sarah Ranney  Dr. Sarah Ranney has been with Lafayette Preparatory Academy (LPA) since 2014 and is a proud parent to an LPA 8th grader. She believes that every child has an inalienable right to attain an excellent education no matter their economic status, residential location, or background. Sarah joined LPA after four years working as an instructional coach with Teach For America where she focused on developing Early Childhood and Elementary teachers across the metropolitan area. She supported more than 300 teachers in more than 40 schools during her tenure there. Prior to Teach For America, Sarah spent several years in the classroom in the St. Louis Public Schools and an Independent, Private School. Sarah has an Ed.D in School Administration as well as an Education Specialist and Masters in School Administration from the University of Missouri- St. Louis, a Master of Arts in Teaching from Webster University, a Bachelor of Arts in Media Relations and a Bachelor of Arts in Women's and Gender Studies from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She is a certified Teacher, Principal, and Superintendent. Sarah is also a Doula and Certified Lactation Counselor. She is also an Assistant Scoutmaster with Troop 362 and loves helping youth develop leadership skills in the great outdoors. When not at school, you might find her playing strategic games like War Chest or Settlers of Catan or hanging out in Tower Grove park with her family. Join the Transformative Mastermind Today and work on your school, not just in it. Apply today. 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

Meet Steve Estatico, the Superintendent of Schools at Superior School District in Superior, AZ. A PA native, Steve was a long-time teacher and coach, and he recently celebrated his 25th wedding anniversary, along with the birth of his first grandchild. Surviving & Thriving!Join us LIVE on the #ELB podcast tonight, Thursday, June 12, at 7:15 EST, 4:15 PT--we'll talk leadership, learning, and life in the AZ heat! #SurviveThriveThis podcast is sponsored by IXL Personalized Learning. IXL is used by more than 1 million teachers each day. It is also the most widely used online learning and teaching platform for K-12. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/ELBIXL

  The Ruckus Report Quick take: Most principals manage buildings instead of transforming lives. Dr. Chris Jones flips the script by putting teachers at the center of every decision, creating scheduling magic that serves everyone — and proves that embracing resistance makes you stronger. Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Chris Jones has been an educator in Massachusetts for 24 years. He is finishing his 16th year as a building administrator. He is a teacher centered Principal and passionate about continuous improvement and the idea that success is not a destination, but a process. Chris is the President of the Massachusetts State Administrators Association (MSAA) and was the Massachusetts School Counselors Association (MASCA) 2022 State Administrator of the Year. Chris is active on social media, vlogs about continuous improvement on a weekly basis, and hosts his own podcast called SEEing to Lead as a way to amplify teacher's voices in an effort to improve education as a whole promoting his "just cause": improving the educational experience for as many people as possible by being purposeful, acting with integrity, and building character. Breaking Down the Old Rules

In this second episode in the 3-part clinical leadership series, I explore the 'lesson planning trap'—a common situation where clinicians focus so much on perfecting individual sessions and miss broader opportunities for impact.I experienced this myself, spending years creating detailed therapy plans while seeing little change at the systems level. Then I realized the importance of distinguishing between planning for individual therapy and planning for effective service delivery. This insight transformed my practice and leadership approach.Today, I'll share how you can take your intervention skills and scale them for lasting change in your school or organization. Key Points:✅ Applying effective intervention principles to enhance service delivery.✅ Understanding the difference between therapy planning and service delivery planning.✅ Introducing scalable protocols that maximize your impact.✅ Evaluating your current strategies for scalability.✅ Utilizing intervention principles in team leadership situations.In this episode, I mentioned “The School Leader's Guide to Executive Functioning Support”, a 7-day course to help school leaders launch their executive functioning implementation plan. You can learn more about the course here: https://drkarenspeech.lpages.co/school-leaders-guide-to-executive-functioning-support/ 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

Hi Everyone.We are excited to welcome Ms. Kate Holden to the podcast. We have heard from several folks living with aphasia who work with Kate and her team at the Loyola Clinic. We were so excited to finally chat with Kate. We hope you enjoy this episode.Carey and Brianne The Be Podcast Network is 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

We're continuing our special series all about school options, and today we're diving into private Christian education. This is a conversation that I think will really help if you're trying to figure out what role faith can (and should) play in your child's school life. I'm joined by Katelyn Freitas, the middle school principal at my kids' school, and her insight is full of heart, wisdom, and practical encouragement.Here are four takeaways from our conversation:Faith-based learning shapes character. Discipleship is woven into every subject and classroom moment.Partnership with parents matters. Christian schools work best when parents are active, involved, and aligned in mission.Community changes everything. Relationships between students, families, and staff create a spiritual foundation that lasts.Every child is discipled uniquely. Christian schools aren't one-size-fits-all; they're about helping each child grow in Christ.Katelyn is a passionate leader in Christian education with years of experience in both teaching and administration. As a principal, she brings clarity, compassion, and a deep commitment to seeing students flourish academically and spiritually. She's also someone I personally trust with my own kids which made this conversation extra special.I hope this episode encourages you as you consider what's best for your family.(02:54) Current Role and Responsibilities in Christian Education(05:58) Understanding Private Christian Education(09:08) Benefits of Private Christian Schools(11:58) Challenges of Private Christian Education(15:05) Community and Family Dynamics in Private Schools(18:00) Identifying the Right Fit for Families(20:56) Curriculum and Faith Integration in Christian Schools(21:37) Integrating Faith and Education(27:31) Discipline vs. Discipleship in Schools(33:02) Navigating School Choices for FamiliesResources MentionedChapel Hill AcademyAssociation of Christian SchoolsNIV Application BibleChristian Parenting resourcesMarriage SimplifiedThe Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.orgOur Sponsors:* Check out Happy Mammoth and use my code CPPODCAST for a great deal: https://happymammoth.com* Check out IXL and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.com* Check out Marianne and the Maker: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Lizzie Post is the great-great-grandaughter of famed etiquette expert Emily Post and serves as co-president at the Emily Post Institute along with her cousin Daniel Post Senning. In today's episode Sarah interviews her on all things planning AND etiquette adjacent! First, Sarah inquires about Lizzie's current favorite planning tools and rituals, and then she asks questions that get at some of the stickier parts of planning: how to manage making plans in a group, how to handle planner fatigue, how to deal with managing forms of communication, and how to get past barriers to planning social things. Lizzie and Dan's new book is the the newly-updated Emily Post's Business Etiquette - find out more at https://emilypost.com! She and Dan also cohost Awesome Etiquette, a podcast where they discuss all things modern day etiquette and answer listener questions. EPISODE SPONSORS IXL: Make an impact on your child's learning, get IXL now.  BLP listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ⁠ixl.com/plans⁠. Green Chef:  Make this summer your healthiest yet with Green Chef. Visit ⁠greenchef.com/50BESTLAID⁠ and use code 50BESTLAID to get 50% off your first month, then 20% off for two months with free shipping. Mint Mobile: Save this summer with a Mint Mobile Wireless plan!  Get your summer savings and shop premium wireless plans at ⁠mintmobile.com/BLP⁠ PrepDish:  Delicious and healthy plans to take the mental load out of planning dinner!  Visit ⁠prepdish.com/plans⁠ for two weeks free! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Jethro Jones and guest Danny Bauer delve into the evolution of their collaboration on the 'Reject the Premise' book idea, discussing its transformation into a podcast series and the subsequent book writing process. They share valuable leadership lessons on knowing when to push forward and when to step back, highlight the drawbacks of feedback sandwiches, and emphasize the importance of not writing off people prematurely. They reject traditional premises such as 'operate in isolation,' advocating for a supportive network, and 'give feedback sandwiches,' encouraging honest, inquisitive communication. A poignant discussion on finding the right place for staff members underlines the episode's focus on empathetic and effective leadership.00:00 Introduction and Host Welcome00:49 The Book That Almost Wasn't01:07 Resurrecting the Idea as a Podcast02:08 Leadership Lessons from Letting Go03:06 The Importance of Being in Flow04:05 If You Don't Like Someone, Move Them Out10:43 The Custodian Story14:38 Feedback Sandwiches Don't Work19:29 Effective Feedback Strategies20:18 Challenging and Supporting Superstars22:12 The Importance of a Support Network25:27 Personal Experiences and Insights34:18 Final Thoughts and Encouragement Join the Transformative Mastermind Today and work on your school, not just in it. Apply today. 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

  The Ruckus Report Quick take: Award-winning Superintendent Dr. Nick Polyak reveals why the most innovative school leaders aren't just adding new programs—they're actively tearing down outdated practices to make room for transformational student experiences. Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Dr. Nick Polyak is the proud superintendent of the award-winning Leyden Community High School District 212. He earned his undergraduate degree from Augustana College in Rock Island, IL, his Masters from Governors State University, and his Ed.D. from Loyola University Chicago. Nick has been a classroom teacher and coach, a building and district level administrator, a School Board member, and a superintendent in both central Illinois and suburban Chicago. Nick earned an IASA School of Advanced Leadership Fellowship and he also graduated from the AASA National Superintendent Certification Program. He teaches for both the Illinois and National Aspiring Superintendent Academies and has co-authored four books on school leadership. Breaking Down the Old Rules

In today's episode, Sarah welcomes listeners into summer (and southern hemisphere listeners into winter!). Then, she shares 10 less common (possibly quirky!) planning habits that work for her, from her tracking methods to her use of "defaults" and strategic use of break times, and more. She also shares a listener follow up to the new mom wondering how to deal with tasks that come to mind when she isn't with her planner! EPISODE SPONSORS IXL: Make an impact on your child's learning, get IXL now.  BLP listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ixl.com/plans. Green Chef:  Make this summer your healthiest yet with Green Chef. Visit greenchef.com/50BESTLAID and use code 50BESTLAID to get 50% off your first month, then 20% off for two months with free shipping. Mint Mobile: Save this summer with a Mint Mobile Wireless plan!  Get your summer savings and shop premium wireless plans at mintmobile.com/BLP PrepDish:  Delicious and healthy plans to take the mental load out of planning dinner!  Visit prepdish.com/plans for two weeks free! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you have a child who fights you over going to new places or hemming and hawing about not going to that expensive camp you paid for? Do you have a child who is nervous about family vacation or an upcoming move? Kirk gives you very specific strategies and scripts to overcome anxiety, stop the power struggles, and bond with your child through these big emotions.Our Summer Sale continues this week. Visit https://celebratecalm.com/products to take advantage of our Summer Sale on the Get Everything Package. You get 35 hours of practical strategies for the cost of one trip to a therapist. Email casey@celebratecalm.com with any questions.AG1AG1 Next Gen is a perfect Father's Day gift! Get a FREE gift with your first order. Go to https://drinkag1.com/calm COZY EARTH—FATHER'S DAY SPECIAL!Go to https://cozyearth.com/ and use code CALM for 40% off all men's apparel. For the Dads who work hard during their 9-5, and deserve the best during their 5-9. IXL LEARNINGGet an exclusive 20% off an IXL membership when you sign up today at https://IXL.com/KIRK. SKYLIGHT CALENDARSSkylight is offering our listeners $30 off their 15 inch Calendars by going to https://SkylightCal.com/CALMFUNCTION HEALTHAn annual membership with Function Health includes two sets of tests for only $499 per year, BUT our listeners get a $100 credit at​ https://FUNCTIONHEALTH.com/CALM. The $100 credit is only for the first thousand listeners so sign up right now at ​https://FUNCTIONHEALTH.com/CALM. KIWICO.COMBuild the best summer ever with KiwiCo! Get $15 off on your Summer Adventure Series at https://kiwico.com/CALM. ACORNS EARLYHead to https://acornsearly.com/calm to help your kids grow their money skills today. AIR DOCTOR​Head to https://airdoctorpro.com/ and use promo code CALM to get UP TO $300 off an Air Doctor Air Purifier today!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.