The Authority Podcast — Expert Insights and Fresh Ideas for Education Leaders
Are you looking for proven ideas to increase your influence, hire and develop an excellent staff, build a stronger culture, lead meaningful change, and form a strong foundation for learning and leadership success? This is the podcast for you. Whether you're a leader to seeks to refine your command of core educational strategies, learn new management techniques from those who have used them at some of the world's largest corporations, gain fresh perspectives on personal development or student success from practitioners across fields, or a little bit of everything, you'll find powerful content on The Authority. Join leadership coach, storytelling...
Wed, April 16, 2025
Teacher by Teacher with John King
Episode 150 of The Authority is a special one. I’m joined by Dr. John B. King, Jr., the 10th U.S. Secretary of Education. John is currently the chancellor of the State University of New York (SUNY), the nation’s largest comprehensive system of public higher education. Over the course of his career in public education, he has been a high school social studies teacher, a middle school principal, the first African American and Puerto Rican to serve as New York State Education Commissioner, a college professor, and the president and CEO of the Education Trust. His new book is called Teacher By Teacher: The People Who Change Our Lives . We discuss: John’s inspiring story Teachers who treat students as worthy of respect The teachers who made an impact and why they still stand out today What we miss when schools are discouraged from supporting and developing the whole person The meaning of public education – why it’s critical and what we miss when it’s not supported The public education discourse - what’s missing or what we get wrong Rigor and joy are not mutually exclusive Going on “offense” to create relevance in school and address chronic absenteeism Reasons for hope in education You can find Teacher by Teacher wherever you get your books. About today’s guest John B. King Jr. served in President Barack Obama’s cabinet as the tenth U.S. Secretary of Education. Over the course of his extensive and influential career in public education, he has been a high school social studies teacher, a middle school principal, the first African American and Puerto Rican to serve as New York State Education Commissioner, a college professor, and the president and CEO of the Education Trust, a national education civil rights organization. King is currently the chancellor of the State University of New York (SUNY), the nation’s largest comprehensive system of public higher education. Both of King’s parents were career New York City public school educators. He lives in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife, an education researcher and former teacher, and his two daughters. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn
Wed, April 09, 2025
Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools with Emily Kircher-Morris and Amanda Morin
This week I welcome Amanda Morin and Emily Kircher-Morris to the show. Amanda is a neurodivergent neurodiversity activist, an award-winning author, early childhood specialist, certified teacher, and nationally known speaker, deeply committed to fostering accessible and inclusive environments for neurodivergent individuals. Emily has dedicated her career to transforming how we understand and support neurodivergent minds. As a licensed professional counselor, educator, and thought leader, she brings a unique blend of clinical expertise and lived experience to her work with neurodivergent individuals. Their book is Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools: Transforming Practices So All Students Feel Accepted & Supported . Hear about: What does neurodiversity-affirming mean? Neurodiverse vs. neurodivergent How many students are neurodivergent? What are most typical diagnoses? Sensory needs and behaviors educators may observe How students often hide their neurodivergent traits How a school can prepare - staffing, training, etc. Neurodiversity-affirming communication (The Double Empathy Problem) Get Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools wherever you get your books. Connect with our guests: https://www.neurodiversityaffirmingschools.com https://neurodiversitypodcast.com/speaking https://www.amandamorin.com/speaking https://www.amandamorin.com/coaching https://neurodiversity.university About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt
Wed, April 02, 2025
AI with Intention featuring Tony Frontier
Today’s guest, Tony Frontier, is an award-winning educator who works with teachers and school leaders nationally and internationally to help them prioritize efforts to improve student learning. He’s the author or co-author of several books, including Teaching with Clarity and Five Levers to Improve Learning . We discuss his latest, AI with Intention: Principles and Action Steps for Teachers and School Leaders (ASCD). Hear about: On the topic of AI and education, what is important for educators to keep in mind about what has changed and what remains the same? Tony’s greatest fear and greatest hope about how AI will change education Essential Question: How can teachers and students use AI tools to support intentional teaching and learning? Most important guiding principles that challenge teachers to think more clearly about what has changed and what is the same Essential Question for Leaders: How can leaders build capacity to ensure AI tools are used to effectively support intentional teaching and learning? Guiding principles for educational leaders Read Tony’s Educational Leadership article, “ Active Learning, Not Passive Compliance ” Get the book AI with Intention from ASCD or wherever you get your books. About today’s guest Tony Frontier, PhD is an award-winning educator who works with teachers and school leaders nationally and internationally to help them prioritize efforts to improve student learning. With expertise in classroom assessment, student engagement, curriculum development, meaningful feedback, technology integration, and strategic planning, Frontier emphasizes a systems approach to empower leaders and teachers to serve others. As a former classroom teacher in Milwaukee Public Schools, an Associate High School Principal, the Director of Instruction for the Whitefish Bay School District, and a college professor who taught PhD candidates statistics, research, and learning theory, Frontier brings a wealth of experience as a classroom teacher, building administrator, central office administrator, and researcher to his workshops, writing, and research. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn I
Tue, March 25, 2025
Every Student Deserves a Gifted Education with Brian Butler
Brian Butler is an educational consultant, speaker, author, and award-winning former principal who is passionate about nurturing collaborative school cultures that unlock every student’s unlimited potential. In this episode, we discuss two of his books, Every Student Deserves a Gifted Education and Limitless Future . We talk about: Brian's inspiring story What is a gifted education? The necessary mindset shift to plan a gifted education for every student The five shifts/elements to help create a schoolwide approach to nurturing each student’s unique strengths, passions, and talents Fallacy of Fixed Intelligence, Labels Be Gone, Obligation of Teams, Our Superpowers, Resistance and Inspiration Persistence, curiosity, communication, flexible thinking Brian’s podcast, “ A Conversation with Brian ” About today’s guest Brian Butler is an educational consultant, speaker, author, and award-winning former principal who is passionate about nurturing collaborative school cultures that unlock every student’s unlimited potential. Brian has advised thousands of schools across the United States, Australia, and Canada. As a former school-based educator and principal, Brian worked with countless parents and parent groups, supporting and guiding them in their essential role in nurturing their children’s growth and potential. He emphasized the importance of leveraging the unique strengths and insights that each family contributed. Brian’s goal is to help parents recognize that they hold the key to their children’s success and development, which drove him throughout his career to create a collaborative and empowering environment so every child could flourish. Brian has enjoyed diverse career experiences, including being a professional basketball player in the European League. He holds a bachelor’s degree in speech communications from The George Washington University, a teacher’s certification in physical education, and a master’s degree in school counseling from George Mason University. With an administrative endorsement from the University of Virginia, Brian is known for his ability to drive positive change. To learn more or contact Brian, visit www.brianbutler.info About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/i
Bonus · Thu, March 20, 2025
Best of The Authority: Engaging Parents and Families in Grading Reforms with Thomas Guskey
We're pleased this week to highlight another "Best of The Authority" episode. This one is my conversation with Dr. Thomas Guskey, Professor Emeritus in the College of Education at the University of Kentucky. He is known throughout the world for his work on student assessment, grading and reporting, professional learning, and educational research. He's the author/editor of thirty books, including the one we discussed for this episode: Engaging Parents and Families in Grading Reforms . We talked about: Defining the purpose of grading “Is my purpose as a teacher to select talent or develop talent?” The state of grading practices in US schools Communicating grading — what families want to know What do families oppose? What leaders get wrong about the change process Examples of successful grading reform in school districts Find Engaging Parents and Families in Grading Reforms from Corwin or wherever you get your books. Learn more at www.tguskey.com . About today’s guest Thomas R. Guskey, PhD, is Professor Emeritus in the College of Education at the University of Kentucky. A graduate of the University of Chicago’s renowned Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistical Analysis (MESA) program, he began his career in education as a middle school teacher, served as an administrator in the Chicago Public Schools, and was the first Director of the Center for the Improvement of Teaching and Learning, a national educational research center. Dr. Guskey served on the Policy Research Team of the National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future, and on the task force to develop the National Standards for Professional Development. He was named a Fellow in the American Educational Research Association and was awarded the Association’s prestigious Relating Research to Practice Award. He is author/editor of thirty books and over three hundred published articles and book chapters on educational assessment, program evaluation, and grading and reporting. He may be contacted by email at guskey@uky.edu, Twitter at @tguskey, or at www.tguskey.com . About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show featu
Tue, March 18, 2025
You're a Teacher Now! What's Next? with Alex Kajitani and Tom Hierck
Today I welcome Alex Kajitani and Tom Hierck to the show. Alex and Tom are both award-winning educators and bestselling authors, and together they’ve written their latest title You’re a Teacher Now! What’s Next? We talk about: “What have I got myself into?” The question all new teachers ask. Why is this the book for right now? What Alex and Tom would change about the typical experience for new teachers Classroom management, relationship building, effective instruction, self-care — where to start? The different people to build relationships with What it takes to feel and be effective at instruction and classroom management “Do nows” for early career teachers What veteran teachers and administrators can learn from the book What about administrators? Making teachers want to be and stay teachers Find the free Teacher Success Video Series: https://alexkajitani.com/education-writing/youre-a-teacher-now Find You’re a Teacher Now! What’s Next? from Solution Tree or wherever you get your books. About the guests Alex Kajitani is the 2009 California Teacher of the Year, and a Top-4 Finalist for National Teacher of the Year. He is the author of several books, including Owning It, which was named “Recommended Reading” by the U.S. Department of Education. A highly sought-after education speaker, Alex is known around the world as “The Rappin’ Mathematician.” He has a popular TED Talk, and was honored at The White House. He was also featured on The CBS Evening News, where Katie Couric exclaimed, “I LOVE that guy!” (and you will too!). For more, visit https://AlexKajitani.com Tom Hierck is an acclaimed educator, best-selling author, and a compelling presenter, infusing his message of hope with strategies culled from a career that has spanned all grade levels and many roles in public education. He was recently named as one of the world's Top-10 Global Gurus for Education, and his belief that “every student is a success story waiting to be told” has led him to work with teachers and administrators across the globe to create positive school cultures and build effective relationships that facilitate learning for all students. He is the author of 25 books, including the acclaimed "Trauma-Sensitive Instruction." For more, visit www.TomHierck.com About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their visi
Bonus · Thu, March 13, 2025
Artificial Intelligence: Real Talk - Navigating AI Bias and Access with Dr. Marlena Ward Dodds
Today I'm thrilled to introduce our newest podcast here on the Be Podcast Network, Artificial Intelligence: Real Talk hosted by Eli Marshall Davis. Eli is an Interventionist at Hemphill Elementary in Birmingham, AL, where he sits on the leadership team and chairs the MTSS/Problem Solving Team committee. He is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of South Carolina, focusing on Teaching and Learning, with research interests in social justice, epigenetics, and the transformative potential of AI in education. In this episode, host Eli welcomes his longtime friend Dr. Marlena Ward Dodds. They explore artificial intelligence, particularly its impact on education and inclusivity, the challenges of online learning, and the digital divide. Dr. Dodds shares her insights and experiences with AI, both in higher education and in the broader context of learning and development. They also discuss the ethical implications and biases in AI, emphasizing the importance of critical thinking and equitable access to technology. Listen to Artificial Intelligence: Real Talk about subscribe here: https://avisionforlearning.com
Tue, March 11, 2025
Revolving Literacy with Lorraine Radice
It’s a pleasure to welcome Dr. Lorraine Radice back to the show. Lorraine is an Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction in a public school district in New York and an Associate Assistant Professor at Hofstra University. Prior to her current role, she was a preK-12 Director of Literacy. Lorraine’s book, Leading A Culture of Reading , was a 2023 GOLD Winner for Education in the Foreword INDIES Book of the Year awards. Her new book is Revolving Literacy: How to Connect Relevance and Future-Ready Skills to Secondary English Instruction . We talk about: What revolving literacy means “Newfound literacies” Future-ready skills for grades 6-12 Future-ready goals and how they relate to goals of the revolving literacy framework Defining engagement and relevance Student agency Teaching students to be readers, writers and researchers Find Revolving Literacy from Solution Tree or wherever you get your books. Learn more at www.lorrainemradice.com Listen to my previous episode with Lorraine (episode 118) About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt
Tue, March 04, 2025
Science of Learning and Data-Driven Instruction with Kimberly Berens and Michael Mercanti-Anthony
Popular guest Dr. Kimberly Nix Berens returns to the show. She’s a scientist-educator, Founder of Fit Learning, and author of Blind Spots: Why students fail and the science that can save them . We’re also joined by Dr. Michael-Joseph Mercanti-Anthony, principal of Antonia Pantoja Preparatory Academy, a public school for students in grades 6-12 in the southwest Bronx. We talk about: Defining the science of learning, and which students and subjects it applies to How instruction designed from the science of learning improves educational outcomes Causes of skepticism (earned and unearned) and how to combat it Why are schools resistant to implementing science-driven instruction? The difference between "evidence-based" and "data-driven” instruction Why "data-driven" instruction is essential for improving learning outcomes with individual students Building school-wide capacity: buy-in and training Certainty with approach vs. certainty in the linearity, outcomes Listen to my previous conversation with Kimberly Berens about her book, Blind Spots: https://bit.ly/486xHpY Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guests Kimberly Nix Berens, Ph.D., is a scientist-educator and Founder of Fit Learning. She co-created a powerful system of instruction based in behavioral science and the Technology of Teaching, which has transformed the learning abilities of thousands of children worldwide, including those who are struggling, average, gifted, or learning disabled. For more than 20 years, her system of instruction has produced one year’s worth of academic growth in only 40 hours of training. Her learning programs effectively target such essential areas as early learning skills, basic classroom readiness, phonemic awareness, reading fluency, comprehension, inferential language, basic and advanced mathematics, logical problem solving, grammar, and expressive writing. Learn more at http://www.drkimberlyberens.com Dr. Michael-Joseph Mercanti-Anthony is the principal of Antonia Pantoja Preparatory Academy, a public school for students in grades 6-12 in the southwest Bronx. He is also an elected member of the Greenwich, CT Board of Education, where he served as chair of the 2024 researchEd Greenwich conference. He taught high school social studies and English for ten years before becoming an administrator. His writings have appeared in Edutopia, Educational Leadership, and the Hechinger Report. Learn more at http://mjma.info About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of <a href="https://septemberstrat.
Tue, February 25, 2025
Universal Design for Learning in Mathematics Instruction with Katie Novak and Ashley Marlow
My guests today are Katie Novak and Ashley Marlow. Katie, an internationally-renowned education consultant, graduate instructor at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, and the best-selling author of numerous books, returns to The Authority for the third time. Ashley is an elementary math coach, consultant, and director of operations for All Learners Network. They co-authored the new book Universal Design for Learning in Mathematics Instruction, K-5 . This fun and timely discussion covers: Well…there’s a lot about bumper stickers (stay tuned) “Supplement not supplant” Math is one of the areas with the biggest hurdles to access and inclusion Algebra as the gatekeeper to future success What to make of the latest NAEP results Creating a math learning environment that sends the message that we are all capable mathematicians The problems with traditional math instruction What would a universally designed math class look like? How is it different from a traditional classroom? Importance of numeracy and keys to teaching it Dolly Parton Read the Edutopia article Making Math Accessible for All Students . Find Universal Design for Learning in Mathematics Instruction, K-5 from CAST Publishing or wherever you get your books. About today’s guests Katie Novak, Ed.D. is an internationally renowned education consultant, a graduate instructor at the University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School of Education, and the best-selling author of 14 books on inclusive practices, with over 250K books sold worldwide. Katie designs and presents workshops both nationally and internationally focusing on the implementation of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), inclusive practices, and universally designed leadership. Connect on LinkedIn or her website . Ashley Marlow, MSEd, is an elementary math coach, a consultant, and the director of operations for All Learners Network. She has 13 years of experience in teaching and coaching and is passionate about supporting teachers of experience in creating equitable learning opportunities in math. Ashley plans professional learning opportunities focusing on instructional routines in mathematics that support belonging, engagement, and access to rigorous grade-level content for all students. Connect on LinkedIn . About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of
Bonus · Thu, February 20, 2025
Best of The Authority: Executive Functions for Every Classroom with Mitch Weathers
For our next "Best Of" episode, I'm excited to republish my conversation with Mitch Weathers, teacher and founder of Organized Binder, Inc. We talked about his book Executive Functions for Every Classroom: Creating Safe and Predictable Learning Environments Grades 3-12 , published by Corwin. Hear our conversation about: Defining executive functions and their importance Signs of executive dysfunction Justin Baeder, The Principal Center, says the book “makes the case for universal classroom routines that free up students' mental bandwidth to focus on learning.” Practical steps to create predictable learning environments — and why you should do it Patrice Bain writes that this statement stopped her in her tracks: “As teachers, if we are aware that our students are partially organized, and we do nothing about it, then we are complicit in their failure.” Goal-setting and accountability Getting families involved Find Executive Functions for Every Classroom from Corwin or at http://organizedbinder.com/book Listen to previous episodes of The Authority referenced in this conversation: Mapping Professional Practice with Justin Baeder and Heather Bell-Williams: https://bit.ly/3TaQsUN A Parent’s Guide to Powerful Teaching with Patrice Bain: https://bit.ly/47RKeOf About today’s guest Mitch Weathers is a teacher and founder of Organized Binder, Inc. Together with the Organized Binder team, Mitch works with K-12 schools and colleges in the US and internationally to equip students with executive functioning skills. When he is not working with schools, you can find him running trails training for his next ultramarathon. He and his wife, Amber, live in Northern California with their two daughters, Vivienne and Olive. Connect with Mitch @organizedbinder About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on LinkedIn or Bluesky . I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt
Tue, February 18, 2025
The 5 Types of Wealth with Sahil Bloom
Sahil Bloom is an inspirational writer and content creator who reaches millions of people every week through his bi-weekly newsletter, “The Curiosity Chronicle,” and related social media content. Sahil is a successful entrepreneur, owner of SRB Holdings, and the managing partner of SRB Ventures, an early-stage investment fund. His first book, The Five Types of Wealth: A Transformative Guide to Design Your Dream Life , is already a New York Times bestseller. Today it’s a pleasure to have him join The Authority. We discuss: What curiosity is and isn’t Unexpected things Sahil has learned and what he’s changed his mind about Making the case that being curious about new ideas is an objective good What’s impressive and disappointing when meeting a new person Five types of wealth: Time, Social, Mental, Physical, Financial Prioritizing when there’s a conflict What fatherhood has taught Sahil about time What 80 and 90 year olds say about their lives The most compelling thing Sahil learned about learning Get The Five Types of Wealth at https://a.co/d/fBZjUvv Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn about all our shows. About today’s guest Sahil Bloom is an inspirational writer and content creator, captivating millions of people every week through his insights and bi-weekly newsletter, “The Curiosity Chronicle.” Sahil is a successful entrepreneur, owner of SRB Holdings, and the managing partner of SRB Ventures, an early-stage investment fund. Sahil graduated from Stanford University with an MA in public policy and a BA in economics and sociology. He was a four-year member on the Stanford Baseball Team. Connect with Sahil: www.sahilbloom.com https://x.com/sahilbloom https://www.instagram.com/sahilbloom https://www.linkedin.com/in/sahilbloom About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on LinkedIn or Bluesky . I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more.
Bonus · Thu, February 13, 2025
Personalize: Meeting the Needs of All Learners with Eric Sheninger and Nicki Slaugh — Transformative Principal
In this bonus episode, originally recorded for Transformative Principal, Jethro Jones speaks with Eric Sheninger and Nicki Slaugh about their book Personalize: Meeting the Needs of All Learners . Hear about: The power of Quest Academy Retain teachers, retain students - how to keep kids there. Free public school Teenagers weren’t engaged. PD time every Friday Mastery Minutes Beginning of day, tracker system. Choice, voice, tracker data. Curating evidence. Culture Self-pacing route vs. choice boards. Removed points, extra credit, percentages, Emerging, developing, mastering, extending Prove-its aligned to proficiency scales. Big shifts require big moves. At Quest, we want you to be proficient When you remove the traditional structures, you have to add The right way is your way, there is no best practice. Performance reviews, students meet with teachers one-on-one. Impersonal approaches to focusing on the “who” How can we do it effectively, and what does it look like? Evidence of effective vs. ineffective practices. Practice, practice, practice, prove. Maximizing the time we have with our students. How to be a transformative principal? Eric: Show people the value of what you are doing Nicki: Get rid of the energy vampires
Tue, February 11, 2025
Make Your Own Glass Half Full with Adam W. Barney — Empowered Optimism and Autonomy
Adam Barney is an Energy Coach who has helped hundreds of emerging and executive leaders unlock their goals, build vitality, and strengthen accountability for long-term transformation. With over two decades of experience in leadership positions at companies like Microsoft, Digitas, and Akamai Technologies, Adam brings a wealth of knowledge to his coaching practice. He believes optimism and autonomy empower us to overcome challenges and seize opportunities with confidence and resilience. Today, we discuss Adam’s new book Make Your Own Glass Half Full: The Path To Empowered Optimism and Autonomy . The episode covers: The “why” and “why now” of making your own glass half full Energy givers and takers – the Colin Robinsons (energy vampires) in your life The dynamic duo of optimism and autonomy, and why they need each other Living in a world of external pressures and expectations Practical strategies leaders can use to manage their energy and maintain resilience in challenging times Aligning personal and professional goals to create lasting impact Get Make Your Own Glass Half Full at https://linktr.ee/makeyourownglasshalffull Connect with Adam: https://www.makeyourownglasshalffull.com https://www.adamwbarney.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamwbarney Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn about all our shows. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on LinkedIn or Bluesky . I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt
Tue, February 04, 2025
Rebound with Matt Doherty — From Pain to Passion
In this episode, simulcast on The Authority and Sideline Sessions , I speak with Matt Doherty, a nationally recognized motivational speaker, executive coach, and former head coach of the University of North Carolina men’s basketball team. As a starter on the 1982 National Championship team at UNC, with his teammate Michael Jordan, Matt began his leadership journey under the legendary Dean Smith. He went on to be the head coach at Notre Dame and North Carolina, and in 2001 led the team to the ACC regular season championship. That year he was named the AP National Coach of the Year. Doherty also served as head coach at FAU and SMU, in addition to working with ESPN, the Indiana Pacers, and the Atlantic 10 Conference. Matt is author of Rebound: From Pain to Passion . Hear about: Who Matt learned from, as he played for and worked for Hall of Fame coaches, played with HoF athletes, and coached many great athletes What he wishes he learned sooner His mission statement Leadership is a learned behavior Putting yourself in position to learn 6 principles of leadership Adversity: What went wrong? Why did this happen? How do you prepare for your next opportunity? Gaining perspective on the things outside your control Culture and culture-building Find Rebound on Amazon or wherever you get your books. Connect with Matt at https://dohertycoaching.com About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on LinkedIn or Bluesky . I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt
Bonus · Thu, January 30, 2025
Best of The Authority: The Principal 2.0 with Michael Fullan
In this episode, one of our Best of 2024, internationally known authority on educational leadership Michael Fullan joins the show. Michael’s work has influenced countless education leaders at all levels. The former Dean of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education and Professor Emeritus of the University of Toronto, he is co-leader of the New Pedagogies for Deep Learning global initiative, served as Premier Dalton’s Special Policy Adviser in Ontario from 2003-2013, and received the Order of Canada (OC) in December 2012. Michael is the author of numerous books, including The Principal 2.0: Three Keys to Maximizing Impact (Jossey-Bass). We talked about the following and more: The Principal 2.0 (2023) is 90% new material from The Principal (2014). We cover the events that caused Michael to undertake such a significant revisitation. The disruptions of the past few years are forcing change in schools – which can turn out for better or worse depending on the evolving role of the principal. What forces have traditionally boxed principals into a narrower role? Spirit Work Global evidence for these principles Systemness in Action Connected Autonomy The Drivers – system change from the bottom up Reasons for optimism about the future Find The Principal 2.0 here: https://bit.ly/3TYJZx4 About today’s guest Michael Fullan is an internationally known authority on educational leadership. Professor emeritus at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto, Fullan is Global Co-Director of New Pedagogies for Deep Learning. He is an adviser and consultant on major education reform initiatives around the world. His previous books include Change Leader, The Six Secrets of Change, and Leading in a Culture of Change. Learn more: https://michaelfullan.ca/ About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies. He is a leadership development and performance coach for professionals in a range of industries and consults with organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry to help communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky and LinkedIn I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt </s
Tue, January 28, 2025
The Emerging Teacher Leader with Kathy Perez and Margaret Coughlan
My guests today are Dr. Kathy Perez and Dr. Margaret Coughlan. Kathy is a professor emerita at Saint Mary’s College of California. She has extensive teaching experience as a general and special educator, literacy and ESL coach, administrator, and curriculum- and staff-development coordinator. Margaret is a classroom teacher, district leader, researcher, and adjunct faculty at Saint Mary’s College of California. Her professional work includes teaching elementary students, teachers, and graduate school master level candidates. We discuss their book The Emerging Teacher Leader: Six Dynamic Practices to Nurture Professional Growth and cover: What is a teacher leader — and what should it be? (positional/formal) Who initiates teacher leadership? The practices of a teacher leader Focusing on your purpose Growing as a teacher and leader Effecting change through collaboration Building and sustaining healthy relationships Taking care of yourself Cultivating a growth mindset Find The Emerging Teacher Leader from Solution Tree or wherever you get your books. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies. He is a leadership development and performance coach for professionals in a range of industries and consults with organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry to help communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky and LinkedIn I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt
Bonus · Thu, January 23, 2025
Best of The Authority: Justice Seekers with Lacey Robinson
I still can't believe it's the year 2025. Can you? But since it is, we can enjoy revisiting some of our top episodes from 2024. Today, I'm sharing my conversation with Lacey Robinson. Lacey is president and CEO of UnboundEd. A former teacher, principal, and professional development specialist who has focused on literacy, equity, and school leadership for more than 25 years, her life’s work aims to enable educators to disrupt systemic inequities in their school districts and classrooms. We talked about her book Justice Seekers: Pursuing Equity in the Details of Teaching and Learning . The conversation includes: GLEAM — Grade-Level, Engaging, Affirming, Meaningful instruction The relationship between justice and equity Justice is found in the details of teaching and learning What’s hard about being a truth-teller? What can a teacher do in an environment that discourages or prohibits explicit discussion of race? How does administration create a supportive environment for this approach? Learn more about Justice Seekers at www.unbounded.org or find it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, bookshop.org or wherever you get your books. About today’s guest Lacey Robinson is the president and CEO of UnboundEd, and the chair of the Board of CORE Learning. As CEO, Robinson sets the organization’s vision for transforming instruction for students at the margins. She is a former teacher, principal, and professional development specialist who has focused on literacy, equity, and school leadership for more than 25 years. Her life’s work aims to enable educators to disrupt systemic inequities in their school districts and classrooms. She led the merger of UnboundEd, Pivot Learning, and CORE Learning under the UnboundEd banner — creating the nation’s largest K–12 educator development organization focused on improving teaching and learning for underserved students. Robinson is a leading national voice on disrupting the predictability of students’ educational outcomes, and was named to 2023’s Forbes 50 Over 50 list in recognition of her innovative leadership. She frequently serves as a keynote speaker and is featured on Emily Hanford’s 2022 “Sold a Story” podcast. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies. He is a leadership development and performance coach for professionals in a range of industries and consults with organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry to help communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky and LinkedIn
Mon, January 20, 2025
Finding the Words with Hayley Watson — Empowering Struggling Students Through Guided Conversations
Today I’m pleased to speak with Dr. Hayley Watson, a Clinical Psychologist who holds a PhD in school bullying interventions, along with four further degrees in the field of mental health. She has been creating and delivering programs for youth and practitioners across the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia for the past 20 years. Hayley is the founder and CEO of Open Parachute, a Tier 1 K-12 curriculum program that supports the mental health of students, teachers, and parents. We talk about her book Finding the Words: Empowering Struggling Students Through Guided Conversations . The episode covers: Hayley’s perspective on the job of an educator Biggest mental health factors to be aware of with students Internal hurdles for educators to overcome Why should teachers be dealing with the mental health of students, when they are not experts in this area? Why should mental health be discussed in schools? Doesn't it take away time from core teaching subjects? Protecting the mental health of teachers Learn more at the website https://openparachuteschools.com/ or connect with Hayley on LinkedIn. Get Finding the Words from Wiley or wherever you get your books. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn about all our shows. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt
Mon, January 13, 2025
The Learn-It-All Leader with Damon Lembi
Damon Lembi is a two-time bestselling author, the host of The Learn-It-All Podcast, and CEO of Learnit – a live learning platform that has upskilled over 2 million people. He also was a Division-I college baseball player who was drafted to play professionally and draws from this experience to bring an athlete’s perspective to leadership. Through his journey, he has gained invaluable insights into what helps organizations grow, how great leaders learn, and why learn-it-all companies outpace their competitors every time. Damon is author of The Learn-It-All Leader: Mindset, Traits and Tools . Hear about: “Great leaders aren't born. They're not made, either. They're in the making. They're constantly creating and re-creating themselves, their companies, and their leadership.” Learn-it-all versus know-it-all leaders Overcoming imposter syndrome Recognizing the potential of leaders Empowering the right people — choosing potential over experience What happens to organizations led by know-it-all leaders? What is the “trust tax?” How implementing a culture of continuous learning & professional development helps attract & retain talent Focus on elevating strengths over improving weaknesses Find The Learn-It-All Leader on Amazon or wherever you get your books. Connect with our guest https://www.thelearnitallleader.com/podcast https://www.learnit.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/damonlembi Instagram: @damonlembi, @Learnittraining About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on LinkedIn or Bluesky . I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt
Mon, January 06, 2025
PBL Simplified with Ryan Steuer
Ryan Steuer is an author, podcaster, and thought leader who specializes in project-based learning. He’s a curious visionary who is a former engineer at a Fortune 50 company and former 8th grade English teacher who now leads Magnify Learning - a PBL professional development company that customizes every PBL training. In this episode, we talk about his book PBL Simplified: 6 Steps to Move Project Based Learning from Idea to Reality . Hear about: What is the case for PBL? Why PBL is timely and relevant to students’ future needs 6 Steps simplified — Problem, Solution, Evaluation Choosing when to use PBL and how Choosing a solution and evaluating Common pitfalls of PBL implementation What leaders need to do to support PBL implementation Examples of learning that isn’t actually PBL How to simplify PBL while still protecting its integrity Find PBL Simplified on Amazon or wherever you get your books. Connect with our guest www.whatispbl.com www.magnifypbl.com @ryansteuer https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryansteuer About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on LinkedIn or Bluesky . I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt
Bonus · Mon, December 30, 2024
Best of The Authority: AI Goes to School with Micah Miner
Thank you all for your support and listenership of The Authority this year. I'm pleased this week to share one of our top episodes of 2024, with guest Micah Miner. Micah is the District Instructional Technology & Social Studies Coordinator at Maywood-Melrose Park-Broadview School District 89 in Illinois. He was an Excellence in Equity Award winner from the American Consortium for Equity in Education, he’s also an ACE-Ed.org Contributing Writer, Ryze AI Advisor, and ISTE Community Leader. Micah is author of AI Goes to School: How to Harness Artificial Intelligence in Education to Prepare Students for the Future (And make you an even better teacher) . We discuss: AI's impact on instruction What should stay the same and what should change instructionally as AI tools become integrated into K-12 education? Identifying the sources of AI resistance Reasonable concerns about access and use How technoskepticism and digital citizenship can be helpful to equipping teachers, administrators, parents, and other stakeholders to deal with AI Identifying goals so we appropriately embrace AI and then choose the right tools. How AI tools can be connected to pedagogies and learning philosophies such as constructivism What needs to happen in the next year? Find AI Goes to School from Times 10 Publications or wherever you get your books. About today’s guest Micah Miner, MA, MEd, EdS has over two decades of experience including time as a teacher in K–12 settings for both regular classrooms and alternative schools, a social studies department chair, an instructional technology coach, an adjunct professor in social studies and instructional technology, and a school and district administrator. He currently serves as the District Instructional Technology & Social Studies Coordinator at Maywood-Melrose Park-Broadview School District 89 near Chicago. Connect at https://micahminer.com , LinkedIn , or @minerclass on X, BlueSky and Mastodon. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on LinkedIn or Bluesky . I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and
Mon, December 23, 2024
KidLead: Growing Great Leaders with Alan Nelson
Dr. Alan Nelson is a leadership development specialist, trainer, speaker, and Lecturer of Management at the Naval Postgraduate School. Alan founded KidLead Academy , the world’s first online course to train parents how to develop their child’s leadership potential. He also founded LeadYoung Training Systems , designing organizational leadership curricula for 3-23-year-olds. He is the author of 40 books and over 200 articles on personal growth and leadership, including KidLead: Growing Great Leaders and My Kid Leads! We discuss: The best time to develop leaders is between ages 3-23 What leadership development looks like at different age levels Are leaders born or made? How to identify leadership talent How to talk to kids about leadership Leadership experts who influenced Alan’s work How adults inadvertently shut down children’s leadership potential What can parents and educators can do to develop their child's leadership potential Learn more about Alan’s books at www.kidlead.com . Connect with him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanenelson . About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on LinkedIn or Bluesky . I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt
Mon, December 16, 2024
The Other Teachers with Ricky Robertson – A Guide to Psychological Safety
Ricky Robertson is an educator, author, and consultant who works with schools, school districts, education service districts, and state departments of education across the country to develop systems of support that foster achievement, well-being, and resilience among staff and students. Much of his recent work focuses on creating workplace conditions that allow educators to thrive, including his new book The Other Teachers: A Guide to Psychological Safety Among Educators . We discuss: Defining psychological safety Its relevance to schools and what inspired Ricky to write a book about it Factors that create psychologically unsafe schools Workplace bullying, cliques, fear-based leadership, and collective burnout Who can take charge of identifying the challenges? Guidelines or protocols for having productive discussions that respect psychological safety How a psychologically safe work environment for educators benefits students Find The Other Teachers from Corwin or wherever you get your books. About today’s guest Ricky Robertson is an educator, author, and consultant. He has had the privilege to work with students from pre-K to 12th grade who have persevered in the face of adversity and trauma. Ricky is the co-author, along with Victoria Romero and Amber Warner, of the Corwin bestselling book, Building Resilience in Students Impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences: A Whole Staff Approach. The model that he and his co-authors developed in their book was included in the Roadmap for Resilience: The California Surgeon General’s Report on Adverse Childhood Experiences, Toxic Stress, & Health as an example of best practices for schools to support children and families impacted by toxic stress and trauma. Connect with him @Teach4Trust and https://teachfortrust.com . About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on LinkedIn or Bluesky .
Mon, December 09, 2024
Their Stories, Their Voices with Kourtney Hake and Paige Timmerman
Welcome back as we continue our special series on literacy, presented in partnership between the Be Podcast Network and Reading Is Fundamental. To hear more from this series, you can revisit our September episodes from National Literacy Month. Today’s guests, Kourtney Hake and Paige Timmerman, are a pair of English teachers. Kourtney has been teaching English at various levels since 2014 and currently works at Sparta Lincoln School in Sparta, Illinois. She teaches eighth-grade English language arts (ELA), but has taught all levels of high school, as well as first-year writing at the college level. Paige has been teaching high school English since 2012 and currently works at Salem Community High School in Salem, Illinois. She teaches all levels of twelfth-grade English, including an honors level dual-credit writing course. She has also taught freshman and junior English. Their book is called Their Stories, Their Voices: Using Personal Narrative to Empower Student Writers, Grades 6–12 . We discuss: Defining personal narrative and how it fits into literacy skills How Paige and Kourtney got interested in personal narrative Core beliefs around committing to personal narrative Use personal narrative in sensitive ways while considering student trauma, diversity of voices, and applicability to all learners Types of narratives: informative, analytical, persuasive, reflective Helping students understand how they can use words to inform others, analyze difficult questions, persuade others to make changes for good and facilitate valuable reflection Approach writing instruction in a scientific way Find Their Stories, Their Voices from Solution Tree or wherever you get your books. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn about all our shows. Visit www.rif.org to learn about Reading Is Fundamental. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn
Bonus · Mon, December 02, 2024
Best of The Authority: Bet on Talent with Dee Ann Turner
This week I'm happy to bring you a Best Of episode, the conversation I had with Dee Ann Turner late last year. Dee Ann was a 33-year veteran of Chick-fil-A, Inc. Prior to retirement, she was Vice President, Talent and Vice President, Sustainability for the company. Selected as the company’s first female officer in 2001, she was instrumental in building and growing Chick-fil-A’s well-known culture and talent systems. Today, she leads her own organization, Dee Ann Turner & Associates, LLC, writing books, speaking to over 50 audiences per year and consulting and coaching leaders globally. She is the author of multiple bestsellers, including Bet on Talent: How to Create a Remarkable Culture and Win the Hearts of Customers . We talk about: Select and steward extraordinary talent What qualifies as extraordinary talent within your organization? Which part of recruitment and hiring is most critical? What does stewardship of talent look like? What Dee Ann learned about “betting on talent” The leader’s responsibility in selecting the right talent for the team How to make hiring managers love the process Trust, Transparency, and Instinct “Why would I choose you for this job?” Find Bet on Talent at https://www.deeannturner.com, on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or wherever you get your books. Visit Dee Ann’s website to download her list of 25 Interview Questions to Select Extraordinary Talent. Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest Dee Ann Turner is a 33-year veteran of Chick-fil-A, Inc. Prior to retirement, she was Vice President, Talent and Vice President, Sustainability for Chick-fil-A, Inc. Selected as the company’s first female officer in 2001, she was instrumental in building and growing Chick-fil-A’s well-known culture and talent systems. Today, she leads her own organization, Dee Ann Turner & Associates, LLC, writing books, speaking to over 50 audiences per year and consulting and coaching leaders globally. She is the author of the best sellers, It’s My Pleasure: The Impact of Extraordinary Talent and a Compelling Culture (2015) and Bet on Talent: How to Create a Remarkable Culture and Win the Hearts of Customers (2019) and Crush Your Career: Ace the Interview, Land the Job and Launch Your Future (2021). She also hosts the Crush Your Career Podcast and is the Talent Expert in Residence at High Point University. In 2023, Dee Ann was named to the Georgia Titan 100. The Titan 100 program recognizes the Top 100 CEO’s & C-Level executives. They are the area’s most accomplished bus
Mon, November 25, 2024
Let's Put the P in PLC with Chad Dumas
Dr. Chad Dumas is a Solution Tree PLC at Work®, Assessment, and Priority Schools associate and international consultant, presenter, and award-winning researcher whose primary focus is collaborating to develop capacity for continuous improvement. With a quarter century of successful leadership experience, Chad has led significant improvements for both students and staff. His latest book is Let’s Put the C in PLC . We discuss: “Don’t just have an impact, make a difference.” – Todd Whitaker in the foreword For over 50 years, educators have known that the key to improving student learning is getting teachers thinking and working collaboratively to improve their effectiveness. Why isn’t this happening in more schools? The evidence that teacher collaboration benefits student learning Schools think they’re doing PLCs but they aren’t Personality-driven or skills-driven? What does a principal need to know and know how to do? Making PLCs practical Addressing typical challenges Find Let’s Put the C in PLC from Solution Tree or wherever you get your books. Learn more here: tinyurl.com/PuttheCinPLC . Learn about Chad’s work at www.NextLearningSolutions.com . About today’s guest Dr. Chad Dumas is a Solution Tree PLC at Work®, Assessment, and Priority Schools associate and international consultant, presenter, and award-winning researcher whose primary focus is collaborating to develop capacity for continuous improvement. With a quarter century of successful leadership experience, Chad has led significant improvements for both students and staff. He shares his research and knowledge in his books, Let’s Put the C in PLC, An Action Guide to Put the C in PLC, and upcoming Teacher Team Leader Handboook, and consulting that includes research, stories, hands-on tools, useful knowledge, and practical skills. He most recently was the executive director of elementary education in the Ames Community School District, a preschool thru grade 12 district in central Iowa of 5,000 students. Before this he was the director of learning for Hastings Public Schools for nine years in south-central Nebraska with 3,700 students and 60% poverty, where the district had five buildings recognized as national models for improving student learning. Dr. Dumas' career has also involved being a vocal music director at a middle school, school improvement chair, professional development coordinator for an intermediate service agency, and a high school principal. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing lea
Mon, November 18, 2024
Happy Teacher Revolution with Danna Thomas
As we get to mid-November, this week’s episode addresses a timely topic: getting real about the social and emotional demands felt by educators. My guest is Danna Thomas, a former Baltimore City Public School teacher. Danna is the founder of Happy Teacher Revolution: a global initiative to support the mental health and wellness of educators. The organization has supported thousands of teachers across the United States, Canada, Nigeria, Brazil, and Senegal by providing educators with the time and space to feel, deal, and be real about the social-emotional demands of the job. We talk about her book, also called Happy Teacher Revolution: The Educator's Roadmap to Claiming and Sustaining Joy . Hear about: How many teachers are facing high levels of stress? The causes of teacher stress and the effects on students The consequences when teachers leave the profession in high numbers Can it be turned around? By who? Benefits of community Begonia the Bus Find Happy Teacher Revolution from Wiley, Amazon, or wherever you get your books. Learn more at https://www.happyteacherrevolution.com . About today’s guest Danna Thomas, a former Baltimore City Public School teacher, is the founder of Happy Teacher Revolution: a global initiative to support the mental health and wellness of educators. The organization has supported thousands of teachers across the United States, Canada, Nigeria, Brazil, and Senegal by providing educators with the time and space to feel, deal, and be real about the social-emotional demands of the job. When she’s not playing saxophone in Baltimore, Danna lives on her converted school bus “Begonia” as she continues her own journey of claiming and sustaining joy. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn
Mon, November 11, 2024
Solving the Literacy Puzzle with Norene Bunt — Practical Strategies for Integrating the Science of Reading Into Classroom Instruction
Welcome back as we continue our special series on literacy, presented in partnership between the Be Podcast Network and Reading Is Fundamental. To hear more from this series, you can revisit our September episodes from National Literacy Month. Today’s guest, Dr. Norene Bunt, is an author and former teacher, principal, curriculum coordinator, school improvement strategist, and superintendent. She is an expert on best practices in literacy instruction and integrating the science of reading effectively and efficiently to support high levels of learning for all students. Her book is called Solving the Literacy Puzzle: Practical Strategies for Integrating the Science of Reading Into Classroom Instruction . We discuss: How the U.S. is performing in the area of reading proficiency What factors are impacting students' reading proficiency? This book consolidates decades of research on effective literacy instruction. It can feel overwhelming to teachers. What are some of the key things to understand? Removing other barriers to using evidence-based practices. Science of reading: some of the common practices teachers might not realize are consistent with the science of reading Practices to eliminate The roles of whole-group, small-group, and independent work Find Solving the Literacy Puzzle from Solution Tree or wherever you get your books. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn about all our shows. Visit www.rif.org to learn about Reading Is Fundamental. About today’s guest Dr. Norene A. Bunt is an author and former teacher, principal, curriculum coordinator, school improvement strategist, and superintendent. She is an expert on best practices in literacy instruction and integrating the science of reading effectively and efficiently to support high levels of learning for all students. Dr. Bunt has more than 15 years of teaching experience and 17 years serving in leadership roles in schools with widely diverse populations of students. Her expertise has been developed through these professional experiences, as well as through action research, classroom observations, and extensive reviews of current research. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn
Mon, November 04, 2024
Where Is The Teacher? with Kyle Wagner
Kyle Wagner is the founder and Learning Experience Designer for Transform Educational Consulting Limited, an organization that empowers forward thinking schools and educators to create globally, socially and emotionally aware citizens through project-based experiences and 12 shifts for student-centered environments. In this episode, we chat about Kyle’s book, Where Is the Teacher? The 12 Shifts for Student-Centered Environments . Our discussion covers: The hard truths about student-centered learning environments The role of the teacher in today's classroom Leadership's role in building this culture: How do they accelerate the shifts? What kind of things need to be in place for the transformation to student-centered learning to take place? 12 shifts framework Who designs learning? What is the role of content? Evaluation vs. motivation Find Where Is The Teacher? from Routledge or wherever you get your books. Read the introduction and order the book at www.transformschool.com/whereistheteacher or take the 12 Shifts Scorecard: www.transformschool.com/12shiftsscorecard . About today’s guest Kyle Wagner is the founder and [Co] Learning Experience Designer for Transform Educational Consulting Limited, an organization that empowers forward thinking schools and educators to create globally, socially and emotionally aware citizens through project-based experiences and 12 shifts for student-centred environments. Kyle fell in love with project-based learning as a teacher at High Tech High, where he witnessed students publish best-selling books, create their own social enterprises, and even influence policy change through real- world projects. He has taken this passion global, founding micro-schools, authoring 2 books, and helping over 1,000 educators develop 1000 + transformative learning experiences and the student-centered environments to support them. A published author, his two books ‘Power of Simple, and ‘Where is The Teacher: The 12 Shifts for Student-Centered Environments’ feature captivating stories, practical case studies, and simple strategies from student-centered classrooms and schools around the world around how to move from teacher-led to student-centered environments and experiences. Get in touch with him at kylewagner@transformschool.com. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulti
Mon, October 28, 2024
The Deliberate and Courageous Principal with Rhonda Roos
Rhonda J. Roos, PhD is an educational consultant coaching principals, district leaders, and administrative teams in the complex and ever-challenging work of leading schools. She is a former assistant superintendent in New Albany, Indiana where she led curricular improvement, aligning those efforts with the district’s progress in becoming a professional learning community. Rhonda joins the show to discuss her book, The Deliberate and Courageous Principal: Ten Leadership Actions and Skills to Create High-Achieving Schools . The episode covers: What Rhonda found to be the most difficult part of being a principal The difference between Essential Leadership Actions and Essential Leadership Skills How to establish a vision focused on learning Clarifying the essential work for educators Take Action (Instead of Being Busy) How to build relationships Favorite strategy to lean into the positive Where do most leaders miss the mark in working with their staffs? Find The Deliberate and Courageous Principal from Solution Tree or wherever you get your books. About today’s guest Rhonda J. Roos, PhD is an educational consultant coaching principals, district leaders, and administrative teams in the complex and ever-challenging work of leading schools. She is a former assistant superintendent in New Albany, Indiana where she led curricular improvement, aligning those efforts with the district’s progress in becoming a professional learning community. Rhonda has been an educator since 1983 serving as a guidance counselor, English teacher, middle school principal, and district administrator. She has taught graduate courses on leadership at Indiana University Southeast in New Albany, Indiana and Spalding University in Louisville, Kentucky. Rhonda served on the leadership team of the Indiana Principal Leadership Institute and is a regular keynote speaker. Honors include the 2010 Indiana Middle School Principal of the Year, 2011 Solution Tree “Redefining Excellence District Award” and the 2015 Indiana University Southeast Educator of the Year. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn
Mon, October 21, 2024
Heroes Within with Aaron Hansen
Aaron Hansen is a professional learning communities (PLC), response to intervention (RTI) and student empowerment expert and a highly sought-after international speaker, strategic consultant, coach and author. He has been featured on CNN, ABC, FOX News, and the BBC, as an innovator and thought leader in U.S. education. As a principal of a turnaround middle school, Aaron has lived the work to award-winning levels. Today, we discuss his book Heroes Within: A Framework for Empowering Students to Own Their Learning Journeys . The conversation covers: Defining heroes and hero-makers How stories relate to self-beliefs Importance of clarifying the learning goal Helping students create and communicate a compelling vision What Aaron has learned about feedback The fear students have to overcome Why Aaron believes education is on the precipice for another fundamental change or crisis Find Heroes Within from Solution Tree or wherever you get your books. About today’s guest As a principal of a turn-around middle school, Aaron Hansen has lived the work to award-winning levels. He has knowledge and track record of helping systems get results. He has a deep understanding for how to develop collaborative processes among educators and transform their schools into high-performing systems. He is passionate about inspiring and helping educators with the knowledge they need to change how students’ experience school. He uses compelling stories paired with educational and psychological research and practical strategies to help teachers empower their students’ as the hero of their own learning journey, ready to face life’s challenges. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn
Mon, October 14, 2024
Uncommon Greatness with Mark Miller
It’s a pleasure to welcome returning guest Mark Miller back to The Authority. Mark is a Wall Street Journal and international best-selling author, communicator, and the former Vice President of High Performance Leadership at Chick-fil-A. Today, Mark serves as the Co-Founder of Lead Every Day, an extension of his life-inspired mission to encourage and equip leaders with the tools they need to be successful. As an author, Mark has more than one million books in print in 25+ languages. His latest is Uncommon Greatness: Five Fundamentals to Transform Your Leadership , which we’re talking about today. We discuss: Why leaders are important Mark’s journey to leadership and how it influenced his understanding of uncommon vs. “common” greatness Reasons for the global leadership crisis 33% of organizations believe there’s not sufficient leadership for today and 50% of leaders don’t believe their organization has enough emerging leaders for the needs of the future “How can I add the most value in this situation?” Is leadership properly incentivized? The Five Fundamentals: See the Future, Engage and Develop Others, Reinvent Continuously, Value Results and Relationships, Embody a Leader’s Heart Being a leader people want to follow In what ways does “Uncommon Greatness” challenge traditional leadership paradigms? Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. Connect with our guest: Get Uncommon Greatness at https://www.leadeveryday.com or wherever you get your books Reach out to Mark directly at 678-612-8441 Text UNCOMMON to 66866 for additional resources Connect on social media at https://www.linkedin.com/in/highperformanceleaders and @MarkMillerLeads About our guest Mark Miller is a Wall Street Journal and international best-selling author, communicator, and the former Vice President of High Performance Leadership at Chick-fil-A. Mark started his Chick-fil-A career working as an hourly team member in 1977. In 1978, he joined the corporate staff working in the warehouse and mailroom. During his tenure with Chick-fil-A, the company grew from seventy-five restaurants to over 2,700 locations with annual sales exceeding $19 billion. Today, Mark serves as the Co-Founder of Lead Every Day, an extension of his life-inspired mission to encourage and equip leaders with the tools they need to be successful. Mark began writing almost twenty years ago when he
Mon, October 07, 2024
The Power of Effective Reading Instruction with Karen Gazith
Welcome to our National Literacy Month series of podcasts, presented in partnership between the Be Podcast Network and Reading Is Fundamental. The month of September may be done, but we’re continuing the series with more conversations this fall. Today, Karen Gazith joins the show. Karen received her PhD in Education and Counselling Psychology from McGill University and has taught at McGill for over two decades. She also serves as the Graduate Program Director of the Certificate in Inclusive Education in the same department and as a liaison to the Office of First Nations and Inuit Education in the Department of Integrated Studies in Education at McGill. Karen’s book is The Power of Effective Reading Instruction: How Neuroscience Informs Instruction Across All Grades and Disciplines . We discuss: Teaching students to read is the most essential duty of schools Reading is everyone’s business What should change in pre-service and inservice learning? What neuroscience research says about how children learn to read The Big 5: Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Vocabulary, Fluency, Comprehension Reading instruction across content areas Find The Power of Effective Reading Instruction from Solution Tree or wherever you get your books. Learn more about Karen’s work: https://teachingmeanslearning.com . Listen to more National Literacy Month podcasts at https://literacy.bepodcast.network . Learn more about Reading Is Fundamental at www.rif.org About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn
Mon, September 30, 2024
Cultivating Competence in English Learners with Margarita Calderón and Lisa Tartaglia
Welcome to our National Literacy Month series of podcasts, presented in partnership between the Be Podcast Network and Reading Is Fundamental. Today’s guests, Margarita Espino Calderón and Lisa Tartaglia, are co-authors of Cultivating Competence in English Learners: Integrating Social-Emotional Learning With Language and Literacy . Dr. Calderón, born and raised in Juárez, is a Professor Emerita/Senior Research Scientist at Johns Hopkins University. Her research and development projects have been funded by US Department of Education, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Labor, and State Offices of Education. One of her empirical studies “The Bilingual Cooperative Integrated Reading and Composition (BCIRC)” is featured in the What Works Clearinghouse. Ms. Tartaglia is a high school assistant principal with Loudoun County Public Schools with over 20 years of public school experience. She has been a classroom teacher, reading specialist, and coach at the elementary and high school levels. She is also a Senior Associate for Margarita Calderón and Associates, and provides training on instructional strategies for ELLs, language and literacy, instructional coaching, and Social Emotional Learning (SEL). We discuss: “Laymen’s definition of SEL” Identifying the English Learners and multilingual learners in our schools How the core tenets of the CASEL framework apply to English learners’ relevant needs Common reasons why English Learners’ needs aren’t met Why it’s critical for core content teachers to engage with these strategies Schoolwide culture shift to SEL — where to start? Assist English learners and multilingual learners in developing their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills Find Cultivating Competence in English Learners from Solution Tree or wherever you get your books. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn about all our shows. Learn more about Reading Is Fundamental at www.rif.org About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn
Thu, September 26, 2024
Educate AI with Joel Backon
Joel Backon is the editor-in-chief of Educate AI Magazine , a new platform dedicated to supporting those who seek to enhance learning through artificial intelligence. The Be Podcast Network is collaborating with Educate AI to share podcasts and other content advancing educators’ understanding of AI tools and trends. I’m proud to be a contributing editor and columnist for Educate AI. You can read my columns here: https://edu-ai.org/author/ross-romano . In this conversation, we discuss: How Joel got involved with Educate AI and the publication’s “why” Topics covered in the magazine: use cases, opportunities and risks, AI’s evolution How educators are discussing their experience with AI The value Educate AI seeks to provide Opportunities to get involved About today’s guest Joel Backon is the editor-in-chief of Educate AI Magazine. Before joining Educate AI, Joel launched and was the founding editor of Intrepid Ed News, an online education publication that grew to almost 100,000 readers. For most of his career, he was an independent school teacher and administrator, teaching history and government while leading the school’s instructional technology effort, running a dormitory, coaching basketball, and chairing several committees. Immediately following college, Joel spent 15 years in the printing and publishing industries. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt
Tue, September 24, 2024
Read Alouds for All Learners & Ending Book Deserts with Molly Ness
Welcome to our National Literacy Month series of podcasts, presented in partnership between the Be Podcast Network and Reading Is Fundamental. Molly Ness, a reading researcher, teacher educator, and former classroom teacher is today’s guest. Molly 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. She serves on the Board of Directors for the International Literacy Association (ILA) and is a New York state chapter founder of the Reading League. She is also creator of the End Book Deserts podcast, which brings awareness to the 32 million American children who lack access to books. We discuss Molly’s book Read Alouds for All Learners and much more: Trends in reading instruction Defining and understanding Book Deserts What is book culture? Implications of limited access to books What is preventing better penetration of literacy solutions? How students become strong readers What does comprehension of a text entail? The case for Read Alouds What they look like across subject areas Find Molly’s book, Read Alouds for All Learners , from Solution Tree Listen to more National Literacy Month podcasts at https://literacy.bepodcast.network . Learn more about Reading Is Fundamental at www.rif.org About today’s guest 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 serves 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 the creator of the End Book Deserts podcast, which brings awareness to the 32 million American children who lack access to books. Connect with her at http://www.drmollyness.com About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano
Bonus · Sat, September 21, 2024
Rethinking Writing Instruction in the Age of AI with Randy Laist — National Literacy Month Bonus
Today we're revisiting a conversation with Randy Laist, originally published in July. We discuss his book Rethinking Writing Instruction in the Age of AI. This episode is being republished as part of the National Literacy Month campaign, presented in partnership by the Be Podcast Network and Reading Is Fundamental. We talk about: Coming up with a modern definition of writing The fears around artificial intelligence and writing Why it’s necessary to rethink writing Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Universal Design for Writing Engagement, Representation, Action and Expression Writing activities using AI Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators or head to https://www.rif.org to get involved with Reading Is Fundamental. About today’s guest Randy Laist is Chair of the English Department at the University of Bridgeport in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He is the author of Rethinking Writing Instruction in the Age of AI, The Twin Towers in Film: A Cinematic History of the World Trade Center, Cinema of Simulation: Hyperreal Hollywood in the Long 1990s, and Technology and Postmodern Subjectivity in Don DeLillo's Novels. He has also edited volumes of essays on college movies, plant studies, Indiana Jones, retro-representations of the 1980s, and inclusive educational design. He lives in New Haven with his wife, two kids, and Sigmund the cat. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossromano
Thu, September 19, 2024
Defining AI’s Brand and Incentivizing AI Innovation with Erik Huberman
Today, it’s my pleasure to be joined by returning guest Erik Huberman, CEO & Founder of Hawke Media, the fastest-growing marketing agency in the US. A serial entrepreneur, Erik has expanded his business portfolio with Hawke Ventures, which raised $25M in its second fund, and HawkeAI, which has helped over 5,000 companies benchmark analytics and improve results. We dig into Erik’s long track record working in the artificial intelligence space, discuss what’s working and what’s not, and talk about ways to bring the best innovation to education. Erik previously joined The Authority for the episode The Hawke Method with Erik Huberman — Marketing Principles to Help Your Brand Soar . In this conversation, we discuss: Erik’s work in the AI space with HawkeAI and Hawke Ventures The factors that initially drew him toward AI What’s working best right now in the AI space? Defining AI’s “brand” and the hurdles to “better” Hawke’s interest in education Determining the potential for AI in education Save time, better outcomes Incentivizing innovation within the education space Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with leading authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest CEO & Founder Erik Huberman launched Hawke Media in 2014 — growing the company value to over $150M and working with 3,000+ brands worldwide. It is the fastest-growing marketing consultancy agency in the United States, working with brands like Red Bull, Verizon, and Eddie Bauer. Erik has expanded his business portfolio with Hawke Ventures, which raised $25M in its second fund, and HawkeAI, which has helped over 5,000 companies benchmark analytics and improve results. Prior to Hawke Media, Erik successfully founded, grew, and sold two e-commerce companies by the age of 26. As a serial entrepreneur, national best-selling author, and marketing expert, Erik has been recognized by his industry peers through honors and awards including, Forbes Magazine’s 30Under30, CSQ’s 40Under40, and Inc. Magazine’s Top 25 Marketing Influencers. Connect with Erik: https://twitter.com/erikhuberman HawkeTalk Podcast https://hawkemedia.com About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a consulting firm that helps organizations and hig
Mon, September 16, 2024
Inspiring Lifelong Readers with Jennifer McCarty Plucker
Welcome to our National Literacy Month series of podcasts, presented in partnership between the Be Podcast Network and Reading Is Fundamental. In this episode, you’ll hear my conversation with Jennifer McCarty Plucker, who has spent more than 20 years in public education as an English teacher, reading specialist, speech coach, teaching and learning specialist, and district administrator. Her doctoral research focused on student engagement and motivation in literacy. Jennifer’s book, Inspiring Lifelong Readers: Using Inquiry to Engage Learners in Grades 6–12 , was a Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award winner. We discuss: Setting the goal to create competent, confident, engaged readers The factors for engagement How the inquiry approach works How building a community of readers, writers, thinkers, and collaborators benefits student learning and achievement Arguing for the inclusion of rich, diverse texts and challenging the idea of assigned reading Physical and social-emotional environments that create ideal conditions for literacy engagement One technique schools should try more Find Inspiring Lifelong Readers from Solution Tree or wherever you get your books. Learn more at www.jenniferplucker.com . Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn about all our shows. Learn more about Reading Is Fundamental at www.rif.org About today’s guest Jennifer McCarty Plucker, EdD, is the director of learning and development and a literacy consultant at Mackin Educational Resources in Burnsville, Minnesota. She has spent more than twenty years in public education as an English teacher, reading specialist, speech coach, teaching and learning specialist, and district administrator. Her doctoral research focused on student engagement and motivation in literacy. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn
Bonus · Thu, September 12, 2024
The Writer's Mindset with Chris Hall — National Literacy Month Bonus
Today we're revisiting a conversation with Chris Hall, originally published in December 2022. We discuss his book The Writer’s Mindset: Six Stances That Promote Authentic Revision . This episode is being republished as part of the National Literacy Month campaign, presented in partnership by the Be Podcast Network and Reading Is Fundamental. We cover: Why Chris chose to focus his book on the topic of revision The 6 Stances students can adopt toward their writing Beliefs about optimism: students should learn from their strengths & students should choose what to write and revise How to make risk-taking inviting for young writers How teachers can model flexible thinking — openness to new ideas and approaches — for students The Writer’s Mindset is published by Heinemann . Chris was recommended by former guest Mike Anderson. Listen to Mike’s episode: Tackling the Motivation Crisis with Mike Anderson . Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators or head to https://www.rif.org to get involved with Reading Is Fundamental. About today’s guest Chris Hall teaches language arts at Oyster River Middle School in Durham, NH. Over the past 20 years he has taught in urban, suburban, public, independent, and international schools, where he has helped young writers find authentic purpose, build community, and discover the power of their own words. Chris served as a Heinemann Fellow, researching innovative writing practices within a cohort of dynamic educators from across the country. You can find him on Twitter at @CHallTeacher . About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossromano
Mon, September 09, 2024
Igniting the Joy of Reading with Erin Bailey
Welcome to our National Literacy Month series of podcasts, presented in partnership between the Be Podcast Network and Reading Is Fundamental. Today, I have the pleasure of chatting with Erin Bailey, Ed.D., Vice President of Literacy Programs and Research at Reading Is Fundamental. Erin is RIF’s subject matter expert and develops, curates, and manages content and professional learning in literacy for educators and families. We discuss: Erin’s literacy journey as a student and teacher What brought her to RIF How to define joy in reading and education Why joy is a critical goal Fostering competence, confidence, and engagement How can joy be measured? Should it? What educators can do to ignite a joy of reading for their students What role does joy play in the science of reading? Book recommendation: Outside in the Teaching Machine by Gayatri Spivak Listen to more National Literacy Month podcasts at https://literacy.bepodcast.network . Learn more about Reading Is Fundamental at www.rif.org About today’s guest Erin Bailey, Ed.D., joined Reading Is Fundamental in 2021 and currently serves as the Vice President of Literacy Programs and Research. Her role includes serving as the subject matter expert and developing, curating, and managing content and professional learning for educators and families on literacy. 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. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or <a href="https://www.linked
Bonus · Thu, September 05, 2024
National Literacy Month Bonus: The 21st Century School Library with Ryan Tahmaseb
Today we're revisiting a conversation with Ryan Bani Tahmaseb, originally published in October 2022. We discuss his book The 21st Century School Library: A model for innovative teaching & learning. This episode is being republished as part of the National Literacy Month campaign, presented in partnership by the Be Podcast Network and Reading Is Fundamental. The episode covers: How administrators and teachers can lean on the library to support teaching, learning, and innovation The modern role of a school librarian – and what is still misunderstood How librarians can be a valuable resource to new teachers The benefits of engaging students in hands-on learning How to “revitalize research” so students can develop original work that shows their learning Balancing free exploration with important lessons on information literacy and digital literacy The librarian’s role in supporting inclusivity The 21st Century School Library is available from John Catt Educational . Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators or head to https://www.rif.org to get involved with Reading Is Fundamental. About today’s guest Ryan Tahmaseb is the Director of Library Services at the Meadowbrook School in Weston, Massachusetts. In addition to writing about education in publications such as Edutopia and Education Week, he also writes short fiction and poetry, with work appearing in journals such as the Carolina Quarterly. Connect on Twitter @RyanTahmaseb About the host Ross Romano is co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC, a consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K–12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano and LinkedIn .
Mon, September 02, 2024
Leading a Culture of Reading with Lorraine Radice
Welcome to our National Literacy Month series of podcasts, presented in partnership between the Be Podcast Network and Reading Is Fundamental. In this episode, I discuss igniting a love of literacy with Dr. Lorraine Radice, who is currently Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction in a public school district in New York. Prior to her current role, she was a preK-12 Director of Literacy. She is also an Associate Assistant Professor at Hofstra University. Her book, Leading a Culture of Reading: How to Ignite & Sustain a Love of Literacy in Your School Community , was a 2023 GOLD Winner for Education in the Foreword INDIES Book of the Year awards. We discuss: What it means to be a literacy leader The current state of literacy engagement The effects of devices and social media in students’ lives Using social media to support reading engagement How ot create and launch literacy campaigns What would jeopardize strength of literacy culture? Getting families involved Find Leading A Culture of Reading from Solution Tree or wherever you get your books. Learn more at www.lorrainemradice.com . About today’s guest Lorraine Radice, Ph.D. is an educator, author, speaker, and professional developer. Lorraine is an Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction in a public school district in New York. Prior to her current role, she was a preK-12 Director of Literacy. She is also an Associate Assistant Professor at Hofstra University. She is a leader in supporting educators in creating literacy and learning cultures in schools as well as in designing curriculum and instruction that prioritizes authenticity and choice in literacy learning. Her work has appeared in publications such as Literacy Today by International Literacy Association, Educational Leadership by ASCD, Edutopia, NCTE Blog, ASCD Blog, and Solution Tree Blog. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn
Fri, August 30, 2024
Optimism About Literacy: Alicia Levi of Reading Is Fundamental Helps Us Kick Off National Literacy Month
Welcome to our National Literacy Month series of podcasts, presented in partnership between the Be Podcast Network and Reading Is Fundamental . I’m proud to launch the series by speaking with Alicia Levi, President and CEO of Reading Is Fundamental (RIF). During Alicia’s tenure, RIF reached the notable milestone of serving its 100 millionth child. Throughout her career, Alicia has been committed to advancing education and has worked to transform the lives of children through smart strategies to improve academic outcomes. Our conversation covers: The state of children’s literacy in the U.S. and reasons for optimism Understanding RIF’s work and mission What listeners will gain from this content partnership Why partnerships are a valuable part of RIF’s approach to making an impact If parents can only do one thing to support kids’ interest in reading… One thing for listeners to remember today More content and engagement: Subscribe to The Authority for more in-depth author interviews: https://authoritypodcast.net/subscribe Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn about all our shows. Learn more about Reading Is Fundamental at www.rif.org About today’s guest Alicia Levi currently serves as President and CEO of Reading Is Fundamental (RIF). Since the start of her tenure in 2016, Alicia’s vision and guidance have led to an increased digital presence offering substantial book resources, a greater depth and breadth of community engagement, and a growth of program offerings including RIF's digital library, Skybrary. Alicia’s leadership has also ushered in an enhanced focus on the importance of race, equity and inclusion within children’s literacy and a key pillar of RIF’s programmatic offerings. During Alicia’s tenure, RIF reached the notable milestone of serving its 100 millionth child. Throughout her career, Alicia has been committed to advancing education and has worked to transform the lives of children through smart strategies to improve academic outcomes. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn
Mon, August 26, 2024
Discussing UDL & DI with Katie Novak and Carol Ann Tomlinson — The $2 Billion Podcast
In this episode, I’m thrilled to have two popular guests returning for a deep conversation covering the work they each do individually, along with the connections in their approaches. Katie Novak and Carol Ann Tomlinson, who each joined individually for previous conversations, return to have a conversation about Differentiated Instruction, Universal Design for Learning, what they have in common, what makes them unique, and how we can clarify misunderstandings so these practices can be used to the maximum benefit of learners. We discuss: The common questions and misunderstandings that led to this discussion Defining the “why” of UDL and DI Identifying the differences that are and/or are not important to understand What Differentiated Instruction Is — And Isn’t. What UDL Is — And Isn’t. Honoring the reality of the students we teach What can I do tomorrow to grow my practice? The problem with “We did that last year.” What moves should come from school leadership? What do you want listeners and readers to remember? About today’s guests Katie Novak, Ed.D. is an internationally renowned education consultant, a graduate instructor at the University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School of Education, and the best-selling author of 14 books on inclusive practices, with over 250K books sold worldwide. Katie designs and presents workshops both nationally and internationally focusing on the implementation of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), inclusive practices, and universally designed leadership. Carol Ann Tomlinson is William Clay Parrish, Jr. Professor Emeritus at the University of Virginia’s School of Education and Human Development where she served as Chair of Educational Leadership, Foundations, and Policy, and Co-Director of the University’s Institutes on Academic Diversity. During her time at UVa, she authored or co-authored over 300 books, book chapters, articles, and other educational materials for K-12 teachers and school leaders. In 2023, she was ranked #12 in the Education Week Edu-Scholar Public Presence Rankings of the 200 “University-based academics who are contributing most substantially to public debates about schools and schooling,” and as the #4 voice in Curriculum. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn
Mon, August 19, 2024
EdTech Essentials with Monica Burns - Strategies for the Age of AI
Dr. Monica Burns is an edtech and curriculum consultant, former New York City public school teacher, and founder of ClassTechTips. She works with schools and organizations around the world to support PreK-20 educators with thoughtful technology integration. Monica’s website ClassTechTips.com and Easy EdTech Podcast help educators place “tasks before apps” by promoting deeper learning with technology. Monica’s latest book is EdTech Essentials: 12 Strategies for Every Classroom in the Age of AI, 2nd Edition (ASCD & ISTE, 2024). We discuss: The biggest challenges in education the past 3 years How to get to the heart of AI and what makes it meaningful How students and educators can develop an AI mindset Becoming a trusted source as an educator What’s now possible in education? Navigating online spaces effectively Generating ideas and resources with AI Assessment — checking for understanding and pivoting instruction Interesting voices on AI: Ken Shelton and Dee Lanier (The Promises and Perils of AI in Education), Joy Buolamwini (Unmasking AI), Ethan Mollick (Co-Intelligence) Favorite resources for teachers to learn more about AI Find EdTech Essentials, 2nd Edition from ASCD or wherever you get your books. Learn more about Monica and all of her books at https://classtechtips.com . Connect with today’s guest Listen to Monica’s Easy EdTech Podcast or connect with her on social media: https://classtechtips.com/category/podcast/ Twitter.com/classtechtips Facebook.com/classtechtips Pinterest.com/classtechtips Instagram.com/classtechtips https://www.linkedin.com/in/monicaaburns/ About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: <a href="https://bit.ly
Mon, August 12, 2024
Support and Retain Educators of Color with Andrea Terrero Gabbadon
Dr. Andrea Terrero Gabbadon is an author, scholar, and the founder/lead principal consultant of ILM Consulting Group. Her work touches on culturally responsive and sustaining education, school racial climate, and educator diversity. In this episode we discuss her new book, Support and Retain Educators of Color: 6 Principles for Culturally Affirming Leadership (ASCD). Our conversation covers: Why educators of color are underrepresented in schools, as compared to the student population (20% to 50%) Importance of clear and precise language Where recruitment/hiring diverges from support/retention How retention for educators of color relates to overall teacher retention 6 Principles for Culturally Affirming Leadership Closing the gap between intent and impact How to foster supportive environments Get Support and Retain Educators of Color from ASCD or wherever you get your books. Connect with Dr. Gabbadon or learn more about her work at https://www.ilmconsultinggroup.com or on LinkedIn . About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn
Thu, August 08, 2024
Sigh, See, Start with Alison Escalante
Jethro Jones hosts today's episode as he speaks with Dr. Alison Escalante about her book Sigh, See, Start: How to Be the Parent Your Child Needs in a World That Won’t Stop Pushing . ShouldStorm - Culture of perfectionism and criticism We as parents want to do what is best for our kids, but we are bombarded by everyone telling us what we should and should not do. Finding the “right” answer. Defining “expert” How the ShouldStorm impacts our kids We like to blame social media, but it really comes from what we talk about in our communities. What matters is not the college but the student. If you play someone else’s game, you will always lose, if you’re playing your own game, you can’t lose. Sigh, See, Start: transitions you from the anxiety of the ShouldStorm, to connection with your kids. The sigh is a built-in mechanism in our bodies, breathe out long and slow - sends a message to our body that we are OK. Vagus nerve turns on prefrontal cortex. See - moment of mindfulness - see your child. Noticing, not doing. Start - run an experiment about how to help the situation. Built on a faith that is scientifically grounded, you (and your kids) are more capable than you think (and than the world will tell you are). Emphasizing repair Find the book Sigh, See, Start on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3WN7mud About today's guest Alison Escalante, M.D., is a pediatrician, speaker, and author of Sigh, See, Start: How to Be the Parent Your Child Needs in a World That Won’t Stop Pushing. In a perfectionistic parenting culture that tells you that you are never enough no matter how much you do for your kids, this unique approach empowers you with a simple parenting technique to gain confidence, remain grounded, and connect positively with your children. About today's host Jethro Jones, 2017 Digital Principal of the Year, is a former principal and host of Transformative Principal, Cybertraps, Resilient Schools, and My Bonus Money podcasts. He is also the author of the books How to be a Transformative Principal and SchoolX: How principals can design a transformative school experience for students, teachers, parents – and themselves! Jethro currently consults schools and districts on redesign efforts that don't seem like another program. Jethro has worked as a principal at all K-12 levels, including a prison school, a district coach, distance learning team lead, and English teacher, and currently works as a consultant to edtech organizations.
Mon, August 05, 2024
Credibility Nation with Mitchell Levy — Insights from 500 Thought Leaders
Today’s guest is global credibility expert Mitchell Levy, who joins to discuss his book Credibility Nation . We discuss: Definition of credibility: accurate, known and liked What Mitchell learned in interviewing 500 thought leaders on credibility Why he says credibility starts with clarity What jeopardizes one’s credibility? What is the relationship between credibility, expertise, authenticity, and genuineness? Making a LinkedIn profile credible Being seen and heard as a thought leader More resources: Find the book at https://getbook.at/CredibilityNation . Watch Mitchell’s TEDx Talk “We are losing our humanity and I’m tired of watching it happen”: https://AHA.pub/CredibilityTEDtalk Watch Mitchell’s second TEDx Talk: “BEing Seen and BEing Heard as a Thought Leader”: https://AHA.pub/TEDtalk About today’s guest Global Credibility Expert Mitchell Levy is a 2x TEDx speaker (including the 28th most popular in 2021), an international bestselling author of over 60 books, a Certified Stakeholder Centered Coach, and an executive coach at Marshall Goldsmith’s 100 Coaches. As an Executive Coach, Mitchell is a sounding board, a thinking partner, and someone who can hold the mirror to generate insights for personal change. This impact has earned him a place among the world’s Top 200 Leadership Voices by LeadersHum (#16 in 2023), and as the #1 Thought Leader in Ecosystems and Top 100 Thought Leader Overall by Thinkers360. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn
Mon, July 29, 2024
AI Goes to School with Micah Miner
Micah Miner is the District Instructional Technology & Social Studies Coordinator at Maywood-Melrose Park-Broadview School District 89 in Illinois. He was an Excellence in Equity Award winner from the American Consortium for Equity in Education, he’s also an ACE-Ed.org Contributing Writer, Ryze AI Advisor, and ISTE Community Leader. Micah is author of the new book AI Goes to School: How to Harness Artificial Intelligence in Education to Prepare Students for the Future (And make you an even better teacher) . We discuss: AI's impact on instruction What should stay the same and what should change instructionally as AI tools become integrated into K-12 education? Identifying the sources of AI resistance Reasonable concerns about access and use How technoskepticism and digital citizenship can be helpful to equipping teachers, administrators, parents, and other stakeholders to deal with AI Identifying goals so we appropriately embrace AI and then choose the right tools. How AI tools can be connected to pedagogies and learning philosophies such as constructivism What needs to happen in the next year? Find AI Goes to School from Times 10 Publications or wherever you get your books. About today’s guest Micah Miner, MA, MEd, EdS has over two decades of experience including time as a teacher in K–12 settings for both regular classrooms and alternative schools, a social studies department chair, an instructional technology coach, an adjunct professor in social studies and instructional technology, and a school and district administrator. He currently serves as the District Instructional Technology & Social Studies Coordinator at Maywood-Melrose Park-Broadview School District 89 near Chicago. Connect at https://micahminer.com , LinkedIn , or @minerclass on X, BlueSky and Mastodon. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn
Bonus · Thu, July 25, 2024
Building a Culture of Collaboration: Peter DeWitt and Michael Nelson on Leading with Intentionality and Human Interconnectedness
Today I'm pleased to share an episode of Building a Culture of Collaboration, another podcast on the Be Podcast Network. Each episode of the show features simple tips, ideas, and strategies to take your organization's collaborative efforts to the next level. Listen to more episodes and subscribe here: https://cultureofcollaboration.transistor.fm In this episode, host Kurtis Hewson is joined by Peter DeWitt and Michael Nelson, two leaders dedicated to supporting other educational leaders through their individual efforts, as well as their latest joint endeavor, establishing the Instructional Leadership Collective. Hear about the work Peter and Michael do through the Instructional Leadership Collective, how to build and sustain cultures of collaboration in organizations, and the impact of human interconnectedness. --------- Access the FREE PDF article Five Planning Considerations to Transform Your Team Meetings - https://bit.ly/5planningteams --------- Related Resources Leading with Intention - May 2024 https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/deep-leading/book287548 Join the Instructional Leadership Collective - https://instructionalleadershipcollective.com/ How to Deepen Collaboration with Your Teams - access the conversation between Peter and Michael on the Leaders Coaching Leaders Podcast - https://youtu.be/pxJp57DoRBM?si=iZaQF1r1Mk_k3TjI --------- Learn more about Collaborative Response https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tbgetTdAiA&t=0s Access the FREE Overview of Collaborative Response Article https://bit.ly/CR-overview Explore the book Collaborative Response by downloading the introduction for FREE https://bit.ly/CR-intro - if interested in ordering the book, use the code JLPodcast10 to receive 10% off! Learn more about WeCollab and access a FREE three month trial https://jigsawlearning.ca/wecollab.ca Become a JL Insider to receive access to newly added resources and video content, advance notice for sessions/workshops, discounts for learning events and resources, plus so much more! https://bit.ly/JLinsider Join the Facebook Group “The Collaborative Leader”, to engage in further conversations and resource sharing with others dedicated to ensuring effective teams and collaborative structures - <a href="https
Mon, July 22, 2024
The Principal’s Guide to Conflict Management with Jen Schwanke
Jen Schwanke, Ed.D., is a longtime educator who currently serves as a Deputy Superintendent in Ohio, as well as an instructor in educational administration at Miami University of Ohio. Her latest book is The Principal’s Guide to Conflict Management . We discuss: Is all conflict bad? The opportunities conflict can present Long-term risks of conflict Did Jen receive training before becoming a leader? Process: Anticipate, Analyze, Act Is there conflict that doesn’t require action? Common sources of conflict to eliminate Get The Principal’s Guide to Conflict Management from ASCD or wherever you get your books. Hear more from Jen on the Principal Matters Podcast . About today’s guest Jen Schwanke, Ed.D., is a longtime educator, teaching and leading at all levels. She is the author of four ASCD books and has published hundreds of articles for various educational publishers. She has written and presented for multiple state and local education organizations, and has provided professional development to various districts in the areas of school climate, personnel, and instructional leadership. An instructor in educational administration at Miami University of Ohio, Dr. Schwanke currently serves as a Deputy Superintendent in Ohio. You can find her at https://jenschwanke.com . About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn
Bonus · Thu, July 18, 2024
Make It Mindful: AI Is Overhyped But Also Fun and Weird with Justin Reich
Today I'm excited to share an episode of Make It Mindful, one of the newest shows in the Be Podcast Network. This wonderful show peels back the layers on today's educational challenges with mindfulness and compassion. Hosts Seth, Lauren, and Komal tap research and insights from innovators, psychologists and teachers to understand what’s really going on for students and educators. Subscribe to Make It Mindful here: https://makeitmindful.transistor.fm About the episode: In this episode of Make It Mindful, host Seth Fleischauer engages with Justin Reich, an MIT faculty member who critically examines the rapid evolution of AI and its implications in the educational landscape. Reich provides a nuanced perspective, challenging the prevailing excitement around AI's exponential growth and its integration into educational settings. He discusses the historical context of AI development, notably the shift from GPT-3 to GPT-3.5, and raises concerns about the sustainability of improvements in AI technologies given the finite nature of data sources. Reich also explores the classification of technologies as either adoption or arrival technologies, with AI posing unique challenges due to its sudden and pervasive emergence. Throughout the discussion, Reich emphasizes the importance of understanding AI's operational mechanics and advocates for a thoughtful and informed approach to integrating AI in educational practices, highlighting potential risks and the need for a critical assessment of new tools. His insights urge educators to consider both the immediate and long-term effects of AI on teaching and learning dynamics. Guest Links : Justin Reich's podcast, the Teach Lab Podcast: Teach Lab Podcast Justin Reich's professional group at MIT, the Teaching Systems Lab: Teaching Systems Lab A specific subsection for AI-related content on the Teaching Systems Lab website: TSL MIT AI Co-Host Links: Seth Fleischauer Founder and President of Banyan Global Learning LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-fleischauer/ Website: https://banyangloballearning.com/ Lauren Pinto Cofounder of Ambitious Ed, Educational Technology Specialist Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-s-pinto/ Website: https://www.ambitioused.com/
Mon, July 15, 2024
Supporting Student Executive Functions with Lisa Carey and Alexis Reid
Today, we’re joined by Lisa Carey and Alexis Reid for a discussion centered around their book, Supporting Executive Functions: Insights & Strategies for Educators . We talk about: The most important thing to know about executive functions How they generally develop over the PreK-12 years Signs that learners are struggling with executive functions What makes UDL an effective strategy? Most meaningful supports at different stages from elementary through high school How teachers can “go smaller” with their adjustments Metacognition and reflection at different stages Learning climate and class agreements Find Supporting Executive Functions: Insights & Strategies for Educators from CAST Publishing or wherever you get your books. About today’s guests Dr. Lisa Beth Carey is a teacher educator and researcher with a focus on improving educational experiences and outcomes for students with neurodevelopmental disabilities. Alexis Reid is an educator, educational therapist and learning consultant in private practice (Reid Connect, LLC) in Boston & Falmouth (Cape Cod) MA, USA, adjunct professor, educator, author, and CAST UDL Faculty member. Learn more about them: Listen to the Reid Connect-ED Podcast Visit www.ReidConnect.com Follow @AlexisAnnReid on Instagram and Twitter Follow @dr.lisa_b_carey on Instagram and @EquitableAccess on Twitter About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn
Thu, July 11, 2024
There Are No Deficits Here with Lauren Wells
Enjoying The Authority? Please leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. It really helps new listeners to find the show! My guest today is Lauren Wells, Ph.D., an educator, researcher, and community organizer whose work centers on comprehensive, systemic, culturally responsive, and collaborative approaches to educational and social change. She is author of There Are No Deficits Here: Disrupting Anti-Blackness in Education . We talk about: Background of Anti-Blackness in education “The fixes that characterize many school improvement initiatives hinge on deficit beliefs” “Cognitive and neuroscience substantiate that we are all wired with the innate propensity for the development of strengths and high intellectual performances, the imperative for self-actualization, and the desire to make contributions.” – Yvette Jackson New insights Lauren has gained from her research Describing the new educational paradigm she proposes “Ecosystem within an ecosystem” and the nature of ecosystems What it looks like in practice: Central High School and the Newark Global Village School Zone Get There Are No Deficits Here from Corwin or wherever you get your books. About today’s guest Lauren Wells, Ph.D. is an educator, researcher, and community organizer whose work centers on comprehensive, systemic, culturally responsive, and collaborative approaches to educational and social change. She is currently an Assistant Professor at Kean University and founder of Creed Strategies, a community of consultants whose core mission is to use their knowledge, experience, and resources to work alongside educators and communities to ignite conditions for equity and justice. Learn more about Dr. Wells and her work at http://www.creedstrategies.com and follow her on X and Instagram @docwellsthatsme About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn
Mon, July 08, 2024
Unleashing Teacher Leadership with Joshua Barnett
Dr. Joshua Barnett is CEO of the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET), a national nonprofit based in Phoenix, AZ which has trained over 35,000 teacher leaders across the country. Josh's research work throughout his career has explored how to improve educator quality in all schools for all students by addressing two related issues: examining how teachers and principals are evaluated and how resources are distributed to and used within schools. He is author of Unleashing Teacher Leadership: A Toolkit for Ensuring Effective Instruction in Every Classroom , a co-publication of ASCD and NIET. We talk about: The current state of teacher leadership Know-how, will, and perceived capacity – how they relate to leadership opportunities What are the problems teacher leadership is designed to solve? Formal vs. informal – whether it matters and why Key competencies of an effective teacher leader Components of effective teacher leader development How a strong teacher leadership structure benefits school leaders, teachers, and students What changes will we see in education with better teacher leadership? Get Unleashing Teacher Leadership from ASCD or wherever you get your books. About today’s guest Joshua H. Barnett is chief executive officer of the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET), a not-for-profit organization that has trained and supported more than 30,000 teacher leaders over 20 years. He works with NIET partner districts, states, and higher education institutions to improve educator effectiveness and student learning by investing in teacher leadership as a lever for change and creating the systems and structures that enable teacher leaders to be successful. His work supports teachers to develop leadership skills, take on new leadership roles, and contribute to the improvement of teaching and learning in their school and district. Barnett earned his doctorate in education at the University of Arkansas. Follow him @NIETjbarnett and learn more about NIET at https://www.niet.org About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and pare
Bonus · Thu, July 04, 2024
Best of The Authority: Blind Spots with Kimberly Berens
In this "Best Of" episode, we revisit our conversation with scientist-educator Dr. Kimberly Nix Berens. Kimberly is Founder of Fit Learning and author of Blind Spots: Why students fail and the science that can save them . We talk about: We must know about and make an effort to truly see the blind spots The beliefs and traditions that shape education in the US create blind spots 60% of students graduate below proficiency. But what does this statistic mean? Examples of blind spots in action How behavioral science supports effective teaching How parents and educators can advocate for their children Learn more about the book Blind Spots at www.drkimberlyberens.com. Find it at bookshop.org, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. Learn about Fit Learning at www.fitlearning.com. About today’s guest Kimberly Nix Berens, Ph.D., is a scientist-educator and Founder of Fit Learning. She co-created a powerful system of instruction based in behavioral science and the Technology of Teaching, which has transformed the learning abilities of thousands of children worldwide, including those who are struggling, average, gifted, or learning disabled. For more than 20 years, her system of instruction has produced one year’s worth of academic growth in only 40 hours of training. Her learning programs effectively target such essential areas as early learning skills, basic classroom readiness, phonemic awareness, reading fluency, comprehension, inferential language, basic and advanced mathematics, logical problem solving, grammar, and expressive writing. From her early beginnings in a broom closet at the University of Nevada – Reno, Dr. Berens has helped grow Fit Learning to an organization with more than 30 locations worldwide. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn
Mon, July 01, 2024
Rethinking Writing Instruction in the Age of AI with Randy Laist
Randy Laist is Chair of the English Department at the University of Bridgeport in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He has taught in middle schools, high schools, and colleges, and his writing has appeared in The New York Times, Salon, and The Chronicle of Higher Education. We discuss his book Rethinking Writing Instruction in the Age of AI . The episode covers: Coming up with a modern definition of writing The fears around artificial intelligence and writing Why it’s necessary to rethink writing Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Universal Design for Writing Engagement, Representation, Action and Expression Risks to consider Writing activities using AI Find Rethinking Writing Instruction in the Age of AI from CAST Publishing. About today’s guest Randy Laist is Chair of the English Department at the University of Bridgeport in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He is the author of Rethinking Writing Instruction in the Age of AI, The Twin Towers in Film: A Cinematic History of the World Trade Center, Cinema of Simulation: Hyperreal Hollywood in the Long 1990s, and Technology and Postmodern Subjectivity in Don DeLillo's Novels. He has also edited volumes of essays on college movies, plant studies, Indiana Jones, retro-representations of the 1980s, and inclusive educational design. He lives in New Haven with his wife, two kids, and Sigmund the cat. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossromano I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt
Mon, June 24, 2024
Hacking School Discipline Together with Jeffrey Benson
Jeffrey Benson has more than 40 years of experience as a teacher, mentor, and school administrator, with a focus on supporting schools that can work for all students. Today Jeffrey returns for his second episode of The Authority to discuss his latest book Hacking School Discipline Together , available from Times 10 Publications. We discuss: This book follows up a previous Times 10 Publications bestseller, Hacking School Discipline . We talk about the significance of adding TOGETHER. Outlining the roles of administrators, staff, and teachers in collaborative approaches to discipline. Creating a culture of empathy and responsibility. Chronic structural flaws in routines and practices that make it harder for students to do the right thing. “Be More than a Hammer” — the importance of having a toolkit of responses Combining complexity with consistency “Leave No Staff Behind” (stories of buy-in) Prevent instead of intervene Addressing common criticisms of restorative justice We become accustomed to dysfunction — how to sustain the efforts and not revert to status quo About the guest Jeffrey Benson has more than 40 years of experience as a teacher, mentor, and school administrator, with a focus on supporting schools that can work for all students. His books include Improve Every Lesson Plan with SEL , Hanging In: Strategies for Working with the Students Who Challenge Us Most , and 10 Steps for Managing Change in Schools: How do we take initiatives from goals to actions? His website is JeffreyBenson.org . Connect on Twitter @jeffreybenson61 About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossromano I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt
Bonus · Thu, June 20, 2024
Speaking and Communicating Podcast: Become a Powerful Public Speaker with Barbara H. Smith
Today I'm pleased to share an episode from the Speaking and Communicating Podcast, part of the BE Podcast Network. Three times each week, host Roberta Ndela publishes a conversation with a leading professional from across the industry spectrum with practical advice to help you improve communication skills in all settings. Learn more about the show and subscribe here: https://sac.bepodcast.network Episode Description: How do you become a powerful public speaker? Meet Barbara H. Smith! Barbara is an Award Winning Celebrity Speaker, Trainer and Coach. She helps B2Bs take presentations from Boring to Bravo. She is also the TV Host of Empowering YOU! The Barbara H. Smith training company helps CEO’s, managers, and entrepreneurs overcome the fear of public speaking, propelling them forward to confidently stand up, stand out , engage their audiences, and tell their stories to clients, prospects, and customers. An author, international speaker, entrepreneur, coach, actor, and business strategist - her speaker development training events have expanded to include a TV show, The Empowering You Show which streams every week on the IBMTV network, POD.TV on Roku and broadcasts live and on demand to over 200 countries. Her bestselling book titled " Speak, Coach, Train! Strategies to Discover Your Passion ", is a self-help book that engages, inspires, and empowers readers to level up their careers and lives. With more than 20 years’ technology experience and training, her claim to fame is executive coaching, helping countless business leaders transform. Empowering others to level up their communications, presentations, and themselves. Key Points: - how to engage your audience - overcoming fear and nerves before speaking - what to do before the speaking event - how to overcome stuttering - pacing and other strategies to elevate your speaking - how to redirect your message if the audience is not on board ...and so much more!
Mon, June 17, 2024
Coaching for Multilingual Student Success with Karen Johannesen Brock
Dr. Karen Johannesen Brock has been an educator and educational consultant for more than three decades. She has assisted more than one hundred schools and districts with implementing instructional coaching and design as well as professional learning plans and school-improvement plans and has worked at the state, school, and district levels. Our conversation centers on her book Coaching for Multilingual Student Success: Intentional Practices to Accelerate Learning and Close Achievement Gaps . We discuss: Understanding multilingual students in our schools The achievement gaps we’re working to close and the challenges in doing so How to build teachers’ confidence An asset-based approach Engaging parents in the learning process Leveraging instructional coaching to strengthen collective teacher efficacy Karen’s approach to instructional coaching Teacher-coach relationships 4 essential practices for teachers that accelerate learning for all students Find the book Coaching for Multilingual Student Success from Solution Tree or wherever you get your books. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossromano I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt
Thu, June 13, 2024
Calm in the Chaos with Danny Bauer and Glenn Robbins — Ancient Stoic Wisdom for Successful School Leadership
Today we present a great conversation with returning guest Danny Bauer of Better Leaders Better Schools and Glenn Robbins, superintendent of Brigantine Public Schools in New Jersey. Danny and Glenn have co-authored the new book Calm in the Chaos , applying ancient Stoic wisdom to the demands of school leaders. Our conversation covers: Summary of ancient Stoic wisdom and philosophy The Obstacle is the Way - Ryan Holiday Why the authors applied this philosophy to school leadership Modern chaos in schools School leaders’ stress levels are high. What is stillness in the chaos? Four virtues: Wisdom, Temperance, Courage, and Justice Equanimity is the outcome — calmness of mind and soul Find the book on Amazon . About today’s guests Daniel Bauer is host of the Better Leaders Better Schools podcast, ranked in the TOP 0.5% of 3 million global podcasts, and author of books including Mastermind: Unlocking Talent Within Every School Leader , co-published by Corwin and the National School Superintendents Association (AASA). Subscribe to Better Leaders, Better Schools on Apple Podcasts or Spotify . Glenn Robbins is the proud Superintendent of the Brigantine Public School District in Brigantine, New Jersey. He has been awarded numerous administrative national and state recognitions including the National Exemplar of Education Award, Northeast Innovative Superintendent Award, NJ Visionary Superintendent Award, Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools Member, NASSP Digital Principal of the Year, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Winner, and SETDA Student Voice Award Winner. Glenn is passionate about helping school leaders create schools where every student and educator can have the opportunity to succeed to their utmost potential in a VUCA world. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossromano <b
Mon, June 10, 2024
A Complete Guide to Effective Mentoring with Andy Lopata
There’s clear research demonstrating that professionals who are mentored out-earn and outperform those who are not. They also have greater satisfaction and lower rates of burnout. However, only a little over one-third of professionals have a mentor. I spoke with Andy Lopata about this valuable topic. Andy is a specialist speaker on professional relationships, mentoring, networking and social media strategy. He has worked in the field of networking and professional relationships for 25 years, working with global giants such as Paypal, GSK, AstraZeneca, HSBC, the BBC, and more, as well as with leading universities. He has written or co-authored six books on networking and professional relationships, with his sixth book, The Financial Times Guide to Mentoring , co-authored with Ruth Gotian, being published in Spring 2024. Our conversation covers: Defining mentorship Mentors tell, coaches ask Benefits to the mentee and why not everyone is aware of them How to find a mentor and what to expect Benefits to mentors and organizations How to be a better mentor and mentee Why do these programs often fail? Learn about the book: http://mentoring-guide.com Take the quiz: http://ftmentoring.scoreapp.com Learn more about Andy: http://linktr.ee/andylopata About today’s guest Andy Lopata is a firm believer that professional relationships underpin our success in our business, our roles and our careers. The right relationships with the right people can lead to new business opportunities, investment, collaborative working, innovation and career progress. We just need to be comfortable approaching those relationships strategically, without making people feel ‘networked’ by us. Andy has worked in the field of networking and professional relationships for 25 years, working with global giants such as Paypal, GSK, AstraZeneca, Wella, HSBC, Wembley Stadium, the BBC, the Prime Minister’s Office of the UAE and many more in that time. He has worked with leading universities including NYU, Duke University and Oxford University’s Said Business School. A regular blogger for Psychology Today, Andy has been quoted in The Sunday Times, The Financial Times and The Guardian as well as many other national and regional newspapers and magazines worldwide. Connect with him on social media: twitter.com/andylopata linkedin.com/in/networkingstrategy About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coac
Thu, June 06, 2024
On The Same Team with Ari Gerzon-Kessler — How to Bring Educators & Underrepresented Families Together
For this episode, it was a pleasure to speak with Ari Gerzon-Kessler about the critical topic of authentic family engagement. Ari leads the Family Partnerships department for the Boulder Valley School District (CO) and is an educational consultant working with schools and districts committed to forging stronger school-family partnerships. He’s author of On The Same Team: Bringing Educators & Underrepresented Families Together, which was just named the Independent Publishers Book Award 2024 IPPY Gold Medal for the best education book The conversation covers: Do educators and parents feel like we’re on the same team? Defining what we mean by “underrepresented families” The difference between “family involvement” and authentic partnerships 4 Pillars of Authentic Partnerships How to design Families and Educators Together Teams (FETs) The goals of FETs and the problems they prevent Capacity-building for educators Learn about Ari’s book and get free reproducibles here: https://www.solutiontree.com/on-the-same-team.html Access Ari''s free resources HERE . Learn more about bridging the gap between educators and families on Ari's webpage . Read Ari’s recent articles on Edutopia: https://www.edutopia.org/article/parent-teacher-conference-tips About today’s guest Ari Gerzon-Kessler is author of On The Same Team: Bringing Educators & Underrepresented Families Together , which won the Independent Publishers Book Award 2024 IPPY Gold Medal for the best education book. He leads the Family Partnerships department for the Boulder Valley School District (CO) and is a speaker, trainer, and coach working with schools and districts committed to forging stronger school-family partnerships. Ari has been an educator since 2000, having served as a principal and bilingual teacher. His leadership efforts to strengthen partnerships with underrepresented families and dismantle unjust practices was featured in Education Week in 2015. Ari regularly presents at national and international conferences on Families and Educators Together (FET) teams and other innovative family partnership best practices. He received his bachelor’s in African American Studies from Wesleyan University and a master’s in instruction and curriculum from the University of Colorado. Connect with him on LinkedIn . About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder
Tue, June 04, 2024
Customer Transformation with Chris Hood — Google & Disney Veteran Shares Strategies to Ensure Stakeholder Success
My guest, Chris Hood, is a keynote speaker who specializes in merging customer success with digital strategy. His background includes leading digital strategy at Google and innovating storytelling technologies at Fox and Disney. He offers a Fractional Chief Customer Officer practice to help organizations align closely with customer needs. Additionally, Chris influences the Gaming and AI sectors, hosts 'The Chris Hood Digital Show,' and educates students at Southern New Hampshire University. He is author of Customer Transformation and Customer Transformation for Nonprofits . We talk about: The foundational “why” of customer transformation Defining the stakeholder How organizations should connect with and understand stakeholders Communicating organizational mission and values The goal of stakeholder loyalty when there’s nothing to “sell” The heart of effective innovation Anticipating and adapting to the needs of tomorrow Learn about Customer Transformation at https://chrishood.com About today’s guest Chris Hood, a keynote speaker, specializes in merging customer success with digital strategy. With over 35 years, he's a leader in fostering customer-centric cultures. The author of 'Customer Transformation,' Chris is recognized among the Top 30 Customer Experience Gurus in 2024. His background includes leading digital strategy at Google and innovating storytelling technologies at Fox & Disney. He offers a Fractional Chief Customer Officer practice to help organizations align closely with customer needs. Additionally, Chris influences the Gaming and AI sectors, hosts 'The Chris Hood Digital Show,' and educates students at SNHU on the fusion of business strategy and technology. Follow Chris on LinkedIn . About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossromano I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt
Thu, May 30, 2024
The Way Forward with Anthony Muhammad — A Leader’s Urgency to Create the Bright Future of Education
Dr. Anthony Muhammad is an author and international thought leader who currently serves as the CEO of New Frontier 21 Consulting, a company dedicated to providing cutting-edge professional development to schools all over the world. He served as a practitioner for nearly twenty years, as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal, was named the Michigan Middle School Principal of the Year in 2005, and has been honored by the Global Gurus organization as one of the 30 Most Influential Educators in the world for the past four years. In this timely and urgent episode, we discuss his latest book, The Way Forward: PLC at Work® and the Bright Future of Education . We talk about: The Big Idea in his new book Effects of COVID-19 on educators and students “I am concerned that this profession is losing its soul.” Will vs. skill How to make things better for educators How did we get here? The history and promise of public schooling Why right now is a unique window for innovation PLC at Work — Anthony’s journey with it, mentorship from Rick DuFour, and how to do it right His hope for the future of education Find The Way Forward from Solution Tree or wherever you get your books. About today’s guest Anthony S. Muhammad, Ph.D. is an author and international thought leader. He currently serves as the CEO of New Frontier 21 Consulting, a company dedicated to providing cutting-edge professional development to schools all over the world. He served as a practitioner for nearly twenty years. He served as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal. He was named the Michigan Middle School Principal of the Year in 2005. Dr. Muhammad has also been honored by the Global Gurus organization as one of the 30 Most Influential Educators in the world in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. Dr. Muhammad is recognized as one of the field’s leading experts in the areas of school culture and Professional Learning Communities at Work (PLC). He also serves as an Associate Professor of School Leadership and Culture at Academica University of Applied Sciences in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Connect with him on Twitter and LinkedIn . About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or <a h
Mon, May 27, 2024
I See You! with Erin Diehl — A Leader’s Guide to Energizing Your Team Through Radical Empathy
Erin Diehl is a Business Improv Edutainer, Failfluencer, and Keynote Speaker. She created improve it!: a unique professional development company that uses improvisational comedy and experiential learning to sharpen leaders and teams so they can thrive in ever-changing environments, and do it with a whole lot of laughs along the way. Having spoken on global stages with companies, including Amazon, LinkedIn, McKesson, and the Obama Foundation, Erin has an energy and message to share with the world that creates lasting ripple effects for change. Her book, I See You! A Leader’s Guide to Energizing Your Team Through Radical Empathy , is an Amazon bestseller and Top New Release. We discuss: What leaders are struggling with The book is for people – leaders and otherwise – who put others first. It is designed to make sure YOU are taken care of first Risk factors of putting others first What is radical empathy? Why humor is important The qualities of a leader who influences people Use your core values to attract and retain top talent Erin hosts The improve it! Podcast Free resource: https://mailchi.mp/learntoimproveit/book-club-checklist Learn more about Erin’s book, I See You! , and her work www.learntoimproveit.com and www.itserindiehl.com . About today’s guest Erin “Big” Diehl is a Business Improv Edutainer, Failfluencer, and Keynote Speaker. Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin created improve it!: a unique professional development company that uses improvisational comedy and experiential learning to sharpen leaders and teams so they can thrive in ever-changing environments, and do it with a whole lot of laughs along the way. Having spoken on global stages with companies, including Amazon, LinkedIn, McKesson, and the Obama Foundation, Erin has an energy and message to share with the world that creates lasting ripple effects for change. As a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program and member of The Chicago Innovation Awards Women’s Cohort, Erin is a living testament to the power of life-long learning, and how working to understand ourselves helps others to do so, too. Erin is the proud host of a Top 1% Global Podcast, The improve it! Podcast, which you can find anywhere you listen to pods! About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term
Bonus · Thu, May 23, 2024
Embracing MESSY Leadership with Alyssa Gallagher — Insights from 20,000 School Leaders
Today we're sharing an episode originally published on Transformative Principal. Over the course of 600 episodes, Jethro Jones has inspired principals and aspiring administrators to stop putting out fires and start leading. Listen and subscribe: https://transformativeprincipal.org Show Notes: Emotional Connection - Research in MESSY started at the beginning of the pandemic. There will always be the next crisis. Leaders establishing themselves as larger than life. Authenticity - personal and professional are more blurred. Presence triangle - think about the other person and how you’re delivering your message. Self-other-outside Taking a deep breath, thinking about the relationship, moving to the perspective of the other individual. You matter, you’re not alone. Schools need you. Coaching creates a confidential space. Challenges: courage, empowering and coaching others, taken servant leadership too far, influence others to change their practice, lack of confidence, slowing down and not reacting all the time. Pleaser and Martyr De-implementation Leaders get things done through influence. This is a Choose Your Own Adventure style of book. Two voices in our heads - Judge and Pessimist • M eaning Making: Create a shared vision and engage others by collaborating more effectively. • E motional Connection: Build deeper, more trusting relationships to give feedback and hold difficult conversations. • S ensing the Future: Think creatively and tackle entrenched school improvement problems through experimentation and innovation. • S eizing Momentum: Be proactive, gain control of how you prioritize your time, and embrace new ways of working. • Y our Presence: Build confidence by identifying the barriers that hold you back and learning how to overcome them. About Alyssa Gallagher Alyssa Gallagher is the author of the book Embracing MESSY Leadership: How the Experience of 20,000 School Leaders Can Transform You and Your School . She is also the Co-Head of BTS Spark, North America, for BTS Spark, a not-for profit practice focused on bringing executive level coaching to every school leader. She has extensive experience leading schools and districts to revolutionize learning for students. Under Alyssa’s guidance Los Altos School District became a nationally recognized leader in education innovation with her work featured in Forbes, Wired, The Economist magazine and on CNN and CBS’ 60 Minutes. After two decades working within k12 education, Alyssa led the global leadership practice for The Wiseman Group, co-designing executive development strategies to enable leaders to become better ‘multipliers’ of the
Bonus · Mon, May 20, 2024
Sideline Sessions: Nail the Recruiting Process with Jared Zeidman
Today I'm excited to bring you a conversation from Sideline Sessions, another series I host on the BE Podcast Network. On Sideline Sessions, I speak with coaches and performance experts from across the sporting landscape — including the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, youth academies, and more — to draw out their practical advice and deep insights for those who coach at the youth and scholastic levels, as well as parents and student-athletes. If you're involved with sports as a coach, administrator, or parent, this show is for you. Listen and subscribe here: https://ss.bepodcast.network My guest is Jared Zeidman, a basketball coach with 15 years’ experience in college athletics who authored the new book Nail the Recruiting Process . This conversation touches on Jared’s direct experience plus his conversations with numerous coaches and athletes, as we explore evidence that suggests the college athletics landscape is changing rapidly. For student-athletes hoping to get recruited, and the coaches and parents who are supporting them, this information is a must-have. We discuss: How the college sports landscape is changing The myths about how college coaches think What coaches are looking for: Talent, Attitude, Resilience, Communication How athletes can get confirmation of their ability and the schools they should target Jared’s GEAR Framework (Growth-Oriented, Engaged, Aware, Ready) Red flags in the recruiting process Developing the right network Find the book Nail the Recruiting Process here: https://www.nailtherecruitingprocess.com
Thu, May 16, 2024
Understanding Teen Stress & Anxiety with Emer O’Donnell — A Parent's Guide to Building Love And Connection
Emer O’Donnell has over 20 years of experience in psychology, working in global organizations and as a qualified behavioral change coach. She joins the show to discuss the critical and timely topics of stress and anxiety in our teenagers. Emer’s book is called Understanding Teen Stress & Anxiety . A warning for listeners: this episode features a brief discussion of teen suicide. Our conversation covers: Teens are bombarded with messages that they’re not good enough. Where does that come from? What’s going on in the teenage brain? Sources and risks of stress and anxiety “Bad day behavior” and how this shows up and works Why young people struggle to connect and form positive relationships What impacts the quality of a parent's relationship with their teenager? Parents: what we want vs. what we do Tips for active listening and delivering feedback to support your teen Understanding Teen Stress & Anxiety: A Parent's Guide to Building Love And Connection is available wherever you get your books. Find it on Amazon or learn more at http://www.teenreconnect.com/EmerODonnell If you’re interested in interviews with professional, collegiate, Olympic and amateur sports coaches, season 2 of my show Sideline Sessions has just launched. We have advice for coaches, parents, and student-athletes. Check it out here: https://sidelinesessions.transistor.fm/subscribe About today’s guest With over 20 years of experience in psychology, working in global organisations and as a qualified behavioural change coach, Emer O’Donnell, in 2016, recognised a gap in young people's education. She went on to build a company that proactively gives them the tools to learn how to live a life they love to guard against tragedies like suicide. Emer now focuses all her work on empowering young people, parents and educators to create meaningful connections and relationships, emphasising the importance of well-being for sustained performance. Emer is passionate about making a difference, believing that young people deserve better. Follow her on LinkedIn . About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies. He is a leadership development and performance coach for professionals in a range of industries and consults with organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry to help communicate their vision and
Mon, May 13, 2024
The Me1st Method with Michael Palanski — Hands-On Leadership Development for New Roles and Big Challenges
Today, I’m discussing a research-based method for hands-on leadership development with Dr. Michael Palanski, a social scientist and Professor of Management in the Saunders College of Business at Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY. Michael is an active researcher in the area of leader development and business ethics and teaches classes in leadership, business ethics, and cross-cultural management. We talk about his book, The Me1st Method: Hands-On Leadership Development for New Roles and Big Challenges . The conversation covers: How this book helps “Next Big Challenge Leaders” (those taking on new roles and big challenges) Does focusing on self first mean being self-centered? The hurdles Next Big Challenge leaders are facing “From face to embrace” Should leaders “go it alone?” Avoiding the appeal of the quick fix Your Personal Leadership Purpose Statement and how that connects to organizational change Engaging one’s team Learn more about The Me1st Method at http://mikepalanski.com About today’s guest Mike Palanski is a social scientist who is dedicated to developing better leaders and organizations. He’s a pracademic, meaning he strives to combine the academic-oriented pursuits of teaching and research with the practice-oriented pursuits of writing, speaking, coaching, and consulting. He is a Professor of Management in the Saunders College of Business at Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY. He teaches classes in leadership, business ethics, and cross-cultural management and is an active researcher in the area of leader development and business ethics. Follow him on LinkedIn . About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossromano I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt
Bonus · Thu, May 09, 2024
Best of The Authority: Hacking Teacher Burnout with Amber Harper
For Teacher Appreciation Week, we bring you an extra “Best Of” episode focused on supporting teachers. Amber Harper, a kindergarten teacher, podcaster, and Teacher Burnout Coach joined the show to talk about her book Hacking Teacher Burnout . We discussed: Amber’s “burnout story” and how she came to this work What makes teacher burnout different from the burnout in other roles and professions The types and stages of teacher burnout “Your burnout isn’t your fault, but it is your responsibility” Going from isolated to empowered Better support for new teachers Developing your Teacher Brand and how this benefits the whole school Hacking Teacher Burnout is published by Times 10 Publications. Learn more HERE . Learn about Amber’s work at http://www.burnedinteacher.com About the guest Amber Harper is a Kindergarten Teacher, author of Hacking Teacher Burnout, podcaster, and Teacher Burnout Coach. She gives struggling teachers a path to follow as they navigate their way out of burnout by helping them grow through their burnout and take their next best steps toward what they want from their career in education and in life. You can learn more about her and the services she offers at www.burnedinteacher.com About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC, a consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano and LinkedIn
Mon, May 06, 2024
The Path of the Mindful Teacher with Danielle Nuhfer
Danielle Nuhfer is a former public school teacher turned coach who has spent the last 20+ years navigating the ebbs and flows of the current school system, while helping her clients prioritize their own well-being. She focuses on helping teachers to be their best inside and outside their classrooms and schools. In this episode, we talk about the advice in her book, The Path of the Mindful Teacher . We discuss: How Danielle defines work-life balance The basics of mindfulness practice — and how teacher mindfulness changes schools Intentional decisions: Calm over Chaos; Serenity over Stress Chaos and Stress are things we choose? The contagion of stress Burnout prevention, recovery, and alleviation/management How teacher wellness corresponds to student wellness Listen to the related episode, Hacking Teacher Burnout with Amber Harper: https://bit.ly/3WtM8BR Learn more about The Path of the Mindful Teacher at https://teachingwell.life/book About today’s guest Danielle Nuhfer is a former public school teacher turned coach, author of The Path of the Mindful Teacher and founder of Teaching Well. She's spent the last 20+ years navigating the ebbs and flows of the current school system, while helping her clients prioritize their own well-being so that they can be their best inside and outside their classrooms and schools. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossromano I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt
Bonus · Thu, May 02, 2024
Best of The Authority: Shaping the Future of Education with Nolan Bushnell and Leah Hanes
In this "Best Of" episode, I speak with Nolan Bushnell — the “father of electronic gaming” who has founded 20+ companies, including Atari and Chuck E. Cheese’s — and Dr. Leah Hanes, CEO of the Two Bit Circus Foundation. Nolan and Leah are currently working together on the gamified education company ExoDexa and have co-authored the book Shaping the Future of Education: The ExoDexa Manifesto , an Amazon best seller. We discuss innovations that have the exciting potential to shape an all-new future of education. Our conversation includes: How Nolan got interested in tackling education A question from Steve Jobs: “What if you’re in a room and everybody thinks you’re wrong, but you think you’re right and you’ve thought more deeply about it than anybody?” The vision and goals of the school of the future What it really means to be designed around "students first" Artificial intelligence (AI) and why we should embrace it Entrepreneurship in the classroom “Competing” with video games vs. leaning into their organic ability to support learning Challenges and opportunities of using video games in the classroom “Games should be easy to learn but difficult to master.” Are schools focusing on mastery? Shaping the Future of Education is available on Amazon . Learn more at https://www.exodexa.com . Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. About today’s guests In 1972, Nolan Bushnell created an industry when he founded Atari and gave the world Pong, the first blockbuster video game. Today his design credo―that games should be “easy to learn and difficult to master”―is inspiring a new generation of developers. A prolific entrepreneur, Bushnell has started more than 20 companies, including Chuck E. Cheese’s Pizza Time Theater; Catalyst Technologies, the first Silicon Valley incubator; and Etak, the first in-car navigation system. Bushnell was the first and only person ever to hire Steve Jobs, which he details in his 2013 book, Finding the Next Steve Jobs . He is chairman of ExoDexa, a gamified education company; CKO of Moxy, a “play to earn” game and token platform; and an advisor to companies in the gaming and eSports spaces. He was named one of “50 People Who Changed America” by Newsweek. A biopic about Bushnell, tentatively titled “Atari,” was acquired by Leonardo DiCaprio’s production company and is in pre-production. Leah Hanes, PhD , is CEO
Mon, April 29, 2024
Partnering with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Families in Special Education with Kristin Vogel-Campbell
Kristin Vogel-Campbell, Ed.D. has twenty years of experience in Special Education. She is currently a Coordinator of Special Education for the San Mateo Foster City School District. Kristin’s research centers the perspectives of parents and families from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds. Her book is Partnering with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Families in Special Education (Rowman & Littlefield). Our conversation covers: Kristin is an internationally ranked pinball player What has motivated her to spend her career in special education IEP process — what should the team be, what are the shortcomings? What FULL participation looks like for families Barriers to full participation for those with cultural and linguistic differences The "must-dos" that educators should put into place at the beginning of a working relationship with families Dr. Liz Murray, Early Childhood Education Assembly of the NCTE (National Counsel of Teachers of English): “A must-read for pre-service and in-service teachers.” Partnering with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Families in Special Education is available on Bookshop.org, Amazon and more. Find it here: https://linktr.ee/drkvc If you’re interested in interviews with professional, collegiate, Olympic and amateur sports coaches, season 2 of my show Sideline Sessions has just launched. Check it out here: https://sidelinesessions.transistor.fm/subscribe About today’s guest Kristin Vogel-Campbell, Ed.D. (she/her/hers) has twenty years of experience in Special Education. She began her career as a Special Education aide at the Chinatown Head Start in New York City and has taught in various settings in California with students aged 5-14. She has served as a district-level Program Specialist and Director of Special Education and is currently a Coordinator of Special Education for the San Mateo Foster City School District. Her research centers the perspectives of parents and families from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds. She is an avid reader and internationally ranked pinball player in her spare time. Follow her on LinkedIn . About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies. He is a leadership development and performance coach for professionals in a range of industries and consults with organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry to help communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano and <a href="https://www.l
Bonus · Thu, April 25, 2024
Best of The Authority: A Parent's Guide to Powerful Teaching with Patrice Bain
In this "Best Of" episode, we replay my conversation with veteran K–12 educator, speaker, and author Patrice Bain. As a finalist for Illinois Teacher of the Year and a Fulbright Scholar in Europe, she has been featured in national and international podcasts, webinars, presentations, and popular press, including NOVA and Scientific American. Patrice is co-author of Powerful Teaching and author of A Parent’s Guide to Powerful Teaching , which reinforces the “Teaching Triangle'' of student, parent, and teacher collaboration. We talked about: The traditional state of the Teaching Triangle How kids learn Why it’s important for parents to know how kids learn The “power tools”: retrieval, spacing, interleaving, and feedback-driven metacognition Daniel Willingham: “Children are more alike than different in terms of how they think and learn.” What are some of the other critical things for educators to communicate to parents? How educators can become better at creating parent engagement Book recommendation: Initium by Emma Turner A Parent’s Guide to Powerful Teaching is published by John Catt Educational. Learn more at https://www.patricebain.com. Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest Patrice M. Bain, Ed.S., is a veteran K–12 educator, speaker, and author. As a finalist for Illinois Teacher of the Year and a Fulbright Scholar in Europe, she has been featured in national and international podcasts, webinars, presentations, and popular press, including NOVA and Scientific American. In addition to Powerful Teaching, she also co-authored an essential practice guide for educators: Organizing Instruction and Study to Improve Student Learning, in collaboration with the Institute of Education Sciences (IES). Bain’s latest book A Parent’s Guide to Powerful Teaching reinforces the “Teaching Triangle'' of student, parent, and teacher collaboration. Patrice was one of two U.S. teachers on the working task group: Neuromyths vs. Neurotruths, sponsored by (IES) and the National Commission of Educational Research (NCER). In addition, she was a contributor to the United Nation’s UNESCO ISEE (International Science and Evidence-based Education) Assessment, outlining the vision for world education by 2030. Connect with Patrice at https://www.patricebain.com and @patricebain1 . About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations a
Mon, April 22, 2024
Ace Your Life with Michelle Maidenberg — How to Unleash Your Best Self
Michelle P. Maidenberg, Ph.D., MPH, LCSW-R maintains a private practice in Harrison, NY. She is also the Co-Founder and Clinical Director of “Thru My Eyes”, a nonprofit 501c3 organization, and an adjunct faculty member at New York University (NYU) teaching a graduate course in Mindfulness Practice. Her latest book is Ace Your Life: Unleash Your Best Self and Live the Life You Want . We talk about: Identifying core values How do our core values help guide us in making sound decisions to foster our satisfaction and contentment for a thriving life? How do we learn to trust process over outcomes? What gets in the way of us keeping up with good habits and maintaining meaningful changes? Emotional avoidance ACE: Acceptance, Compassion, Empowerment How to cultivate self-acceptance and self-compassion to increase our overall well-being Bouncing back when things don’t go right Find Ace Your Life wherever you get your books or learn more at www.michellemaidenberg.com If you’re interested in interviews with professional, collegiate, Olympic and amateur sports coaches, check out my new show Sideline Sessions: https://sidelinesessions.transistor.fm/subscribe If you find the show valuable, please leave us a 5-star review on Apple or a Spotify review. About today’s guest Michelle P. Maidenberg, Ph.D., MPH, LCSW-R maintains a private practice in Harrison, NY. She is also the Co-Founder and Clinical Director of “Thru My Eyes”, a nonprofit 501c3 organization that offers free clinically-guided videotaping to chronically medically ill individuals who want to leave video legacies for their children and loved ones. Michelle is adjunct faculty at New York University (NYU) teaching a graduate course in Mindfulness Practice. She is a Board of Directors member at The Boys & Girls in Mount Vernon and is a member of the American Red Cross Crisis Team. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Westchester Trauma Network (WTN) in Westchester, NY. Listen to Michelle’s TED TALK: Circumventing Emotional Avoidance . She is also a blogger for Psychology Today . About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies. He is a leadership development and performance coach for professionals in a range of industries and consults with organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry to help communic
Bonus · Thu, April 18, 2024
The Mid-Career GPS Podcast: Finding Your Pathway to Career Growth with Ross Romano
Today I’m pleased to share an episode of The Mid-Career GPS Podcast on which I was a guest. If this is the year you plan to get that promotion or level up your career, what is your pathway to growth? It can’t be to do more, spend more time on the job, and work harder. You have to be more intentional and strategic to create whatever is next for you and your career. But what are the right moves? In this episode, I had a chance to share my insights with John Neral about how you can create those pathways to growth while remembering to place your career in the context of your entire life. We discuss how to identify a great work opportunity, how to remove the fear of helping people grow “beyond you,” and how to best identify your "Hell Yeahs" and "No Ways." Connect with Ross: If you enjoyed this episode – or get value from The Authority Podcast as a series – and you’re seeking answers to the challenges, goals, and dreams in your own career, let’s connect. I help high performers in all industries and roles solve their biggest pain points, clarify their vision, identify strategic decisions that lead to growth, and feel encouraged along the way. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano , LinkedIn , or schedule an intro call . About The Mid-Career GPS Podcast: John Neral had a mid-career moment that changed his path and direction. Building a Mid-Career GPS helped guide him to create what was next for his career. Now, he’s here to help you do the same. Join him and his guests as they share their stories, strategies, and tips to help you create whatever is next so you can find a job you love or love the job you have.
Mon, April 15, 2024
The Retention Formula with Brian Carter — How to Stop the Turnover Crisis and Harmonize Generations
With over two decades of business experience and a Masters of Science, Brian Carter is an accomplished keynote speaker, author, comedian, marketer, salesperson, leader, teammate, and bestselling author of multiple books. He's regularly booked by major bureaus with and satisfied clients like Microsoft, McDonald's, JP Morgan, as well as non-profits, the public sector, and national and state associations. Today, we’re talking about his book The Retention Formula: Stop the Turnover Crisis, Harmonize the Generations, and Skyrocket Profits . We discuss: Having a multi-generational strategy for managing employees What Gen Z and Millennial professionals care about beyond money Younger generations refuse to accept when values and realities are misaligned Professionals want freedom to be fully themselves, not hide other passions Negative outcomes of high turnover Communication about decisions and about change Leadership styles and communication barriers when leading between generations The role of mentorship Find The Retention Formula on Amazon . Learn more about Brian at https://keynotespeakerbrian.com If you’re interested in interviews with professional, collegiate, Olympic and amateur sports coaches, check out my new show Sideline Sessions: https://sidelinesessions.transistor.fm/subscribe About today’s guest From marketing to sales, CRMs to AIs, Brian Carter has had his finger on the pulse of innovation for over 20 years, has been seen on Bloomberg TV and interviewed by news media like the Wall Street Journal and New York Times. and served as an expert generations consultant for the National Academy of Sciences His presentation topics range from generational issues and teamwork to leadership, sales, AI, marketing, HR, employee retention, and more. As a bestselling author of multiple business books, he provides customized presentations for each audience to deliver the perfect mix of motivation, humor, insights, and takeaways. Brian balances hilarious original comedy and heartwarming stories with customized recommendations that move organizations to the next level. With a practical approach, and drawn from his ongoing up-to-the-minute work as a consultant, he offers cutting-edge tactics honed through real-world application with today's workforce. Follow him on LinkedIn . About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies. He is a leadership development and performance coach fo
Thu, April 11, 2024
UDL Now! with Katie Novak — How to Apply Universal Design for Learning in Today’s Classrooms
Dr. Katie Novak is an internationally-renowned education consultant, a graduate instructor at the University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School of Education, and the best-selling author of 14 books on inclusive practices, with over 250K books sold worldwide. Her latest book is UDL Now! (Third Edition): A Teacher’s Guide to Applying Universal Design for Learning in Today’s Classrooms . In this important episode, we discuss: “If UDL is the answer, what is the question?” Who should be doing UDL? UDL is best practice: “Teachers are working too hard to not have a greater impact on learners.” Understanding the similarities and differences between UDL and differentiated instruction (DI) — and why teachers should be doing both Collective efficacy. “We can’t prevent all the challenges students will face, but we can help to alleviate them by designing a learning environment that leaves no room for failure.” Role of PLCs The three core beliefs of UDL: variability, firm goals, and expert learning What is the right amount of student voice and choice? Find UDL Now! from CAST Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and on Katie’s website: https://www.novakeducation.com/udl-now If you’re interested in interviews with professional, collegiate, Olympic and amateur sports coaches, check out my new show Sideline Sessions: https://sidelinesessions.transistor.fm/subscribe About today’s guest Katie Novak, Ed.D. is an internationally renowned education consultant, a graduate instructor at the University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School of Education, and the best-selling author of 14 books on inclusive practices, with over 250K books sold worldwide. Katie designs and presents workshops both nationally and internationally focusing on the implementation of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), inclusive practices, and universally designed leadership. Connect on Twitter @KatieNovakUDL and LinkedIn . About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies. He is a leadership development and performance coach for professionals in a range of industries and consults with organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry to help communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano and LinkedIn
Mon, April 08, 2024
Be the Best Part of Their Day with David Schreiner — Values-Driven Leadership to Enhance Communication
Dr. David L. Schreiner is a values-driven leader and a passionate advocate for rural hospitals, having spent most of his life in small towns and working within small communities. His research focuses on improving executive communication. His new book is Be the Best Part of Their Day: Supercharging Communication with Values-Driven Leadership . We talk about: The relationship between leadership and communication Closing the gap between wanting to be the best part of their day and getting to make it happen Seeing it as an opportunity versus a burden Intentionality around making oneself accessible Engaging with intent through various mediums George Bernard Shaw: “The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” Transparency and frequency Be mission-focused and present united leadership Increase team cohesion and buy-in for initiatives Increasing personal influence Find Be the Best Part of Their Day on Amazon or visit www.drdavidschreiner.com to learn more. If you’re interested in interviews with professional, collegiate, Olympic and amateur sports coaches, check out my new show Sideline Sessions: https://sidelinesessions.transistor.fm/subscribe About today’s guest Dr. David L. Schreiner is an inspiring and values-driven leader who strives every day to live up to his definition of leadership. For him, being a values-driven leader means living in the moment, continually learning, challenging existing practices, producing positive results, innovating to improve the lives of others, and loving unconditionally. His passion for improving himself, his family, his friends, his community, and the world is unparalleled, and he aims to be a missionary for excellent health and vibrant communities by spreading love through generosity and healing. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies. He is a leadership development and performance coach for professionals in a range of industries and consults with organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry to help communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano and LinkedIn
Thu, April 04, 2024
Learnership with James Anderson — Simulcast with Transformative Principal
James Anderson is a prominent Australian-based international speaker, author, and educator deeply committed to enhancing our capacity for effective learning. His notable concept of Learnership, raising the status of learning from an act to an art, offers a powerful framework to comprehend and enhance our engagement in the learning process, ultimately helping schools to create the paradigm shift that is needed. His book is Learnership: Raising the status of learning from an act to an art in your school . In this conversation, Jethro and James discuss: Agency makes you the master of your circumstances, not the victim. Voice and Choice lip service Power to choose vs. permission to choose. Agency is an outcome, not a pedagogy. Learning culture vs. teaching culture. Learning is not the product of teaching, but the product of the activity of learners - John Holt Kids had been learning, but hadn’t yet become learners. Diagnostic tool to determine the level of learnership. Character development or learnership are two sides of the same coin. Helping kids become creatures of discomfort. Help kids be safe while climbing, not taking away the opportunity to climb. Teachers are expert teachers, but they are not expert learners. Find the book Learnership here: https://amzn.to/4aFXMO8 About today’s guest James Anderson is a prominent Australian-based international speaker, author, and educator deeply committed to enhancing our capacity for effective learning. Central to his philosophy is the "Mindset Continuum," an extension of Carol Dweck's groundbreaking work on Growth Mindsets, providing practical tools to cultivate a profound understanding of ourselves as learners. His notable concept of Learnership, raising the status of learning from an act to an art, offers a powerful framework to comprehend and enhance our engagement in the learning process, ultimately helping schools to create the paradigm shift that is needed. With a rich background as a teacher and school leader, James has spent the past two decades collaborating with schools to create more thoughtful learning environments. He challenges educators to critically reflect on their own Mindsets and how these beliefs are subtly communicated to students, offering tangible strategies beyond clichés to instigate genuine shifts in learners' mindsets.
Mon, April 01, 2024
Approaching Improv with Caitlin Drago — Communication and Connection Strategies for Leaders
Caitlin Drago — a Los Angeles-based actor turned upstate New York-based certified leadership coach, trainer, and facilitator — works with leaders and teams to help them to listen to one another, communicate and connect, using improvisation as a platform for interactive learning. In this episode, we discuss ideas from her book, Approaching Improv: Communication and Connection in Business and Beyond . The conversation includes: Creating a culture of open-mindedness and active listening Building relationships with trust Looking for what can work versus what can’t work about an idea Improv principles to bring to the workplace and how to do so Common communication mistakes Addressing the fears and resistance people have with improv techniques How can leaders get their teams to buy in? How individuals can use this approach to be heard or gain more influence Find Approaching Improv on Amazon or learn more at Caitlin’s website www.inspireimprov.com If you’re interested in interviews with professional, collegiate, Olympic and amateur sports coaches, check out my new show Sideline Sessions: https://sidelinesessions.transistor.fm/subscribe About today’s guest Caitlin Drago’s mission is to create cultures of empathy, creativity, and trust, beginning with how people communicate and connect. She is an LA-based actor turned upstate NY-based certified leadership coach, trainer, and facilitator. Acting taught her to be present, self-aware, empathetic and to prioritize connection with others. Improv taught her to listen, trust her gut and deal with the unexpected in a positive and creative way. She now works with leaders and teams to help them to listen to one another, communicate and connect, using improvisation as a platform for interactive learning. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies. He is a leadership development and performance coach for professionals in a range of industries and consults with organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry to help communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano and LinkedIn
Thu, March 28, 2024
Engaging Parents and Families in Grading Reforms with Thomas Guskey
Dr. Thomas R. Guskey is Professor Emeritus in the College of Education at the University of Kentucky. He is known throughout the world for his work on student assessment, grading and reporting, professional learning, and educational research. Guskey is author/editor of thirty books, including his latest, Engaging Parents and Families in Grading Reforms (Corwin). We discuss: What is the purpose of grading? “Is my purpose as a teacher to select talent or develop talent?” The state of grading practices in US schools Communicating grading — what families want to know Connotations around the phrase “grading reform” What do families oppose? Purposefully engaging families: understanding roles and making it authentic What leaders get wrong about the change process Examples of successful grading reform in school districts Find Engaging Parents and Families in Grading Reforms from Corwin or wherever you get your books. Learn more at www.tguskey.com . About today’s guest Thomas R. Guskey, PhD, is Professor Emeritus in the College of Education at the University of Kentucky. A graduate of the University of Chicago’s renowned Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistical Analysis (MESA) program, he began his career in education as a middle school teacher, served as an administrator in the Chicago Public Schools, and was the first Director of the Center for the Improvement of Teaching and Learning, a national educational research center. Dr. Guskey served on the Policy Research Team of the National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future, and on the task force to develop the National Standards for Professional Development. He was named a Fellow in the American Educational Research Association and was awarded the Association’s prestigious Relating Research to Practice Award. He is author/editor of thirty books and over three hundred published articles and book chapters on educational assessment, program evaluation, and grading and reporting. He may be contacted by email at guskey@uky.edu, Twitter at @tguskey, or at www.tguskey.com . About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossromano I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show fe
Mon, March 25, 2024
Begin with WE — Kyle McDowell on 10 Principles for Building and Sustaining a Culture of Excellence
For nearly three decades, Kyle McDowell, a former Sr. Executive turned leadership coach, has amassed an impressive track record of delivering superior results while also cultivating authentic leaders and driving cultural change. Prior to exiting Corporate America, he led tens of thousands of employees at some of the biggest companies in the country. We discuss his Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller, Begin with WE , in which he highlights the plague of a “me-oriented” paradigm and provides the remedy with his framework, The 10 WEs. The conversation includes: Why leaders often develop a me-oriented approach The outcomes of a me-oriented atmosphere The definition of a WE approach and the challenge of making the shift Mutual accountability is at the center of the 10 WEs WE 1 - We do the right thing always. How to determine “the right thing.” WE Do the right thing; WE own our mistakes; WE pick each other up; WE embrace challenge — how to create environment that incentivizes these principles WE 10 - We obsess over details — not micromanage or get stuck Communication and transparency Find Begin with WE and more about Kyle’s work at https://kylemcdowellinc.com If you’re interested in interviews with professional, collegiate, Olympic and amateur sports coaches, check out my new show Sideline Sessions: https://sidelinesessions.transistor.fm/subscribe About today’s guest For nearly three decades, former Sr. Executive turned bestselling author, speaker, and leadership coach, Kyle McDowell amassed an impressive track record of delivering superior results while also cultivating authentic leaders and driving cultural change. Prior to exiting Corporate America, he led tens of thousands of employees at some of the biggest companies in the country. In his Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller, Begin With WE, McDowell examines the root causes of dysfunction in business, highlighting the plague of a “me-oriented” paradigm, and provides the remedy with his framework, The 10 WEs. Today McDowell is regularly invited to speak at business, educational, and nonprofit institutions and events, and has been featured in major national publications, such as The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and Inc. Magazine. Follow Kyle on LinkedIn, Instagram or Twitter @kylemcdowellinc About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies. He is a leadership development and performance coach for professionals in a range of industries and consults with organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry to help communicate their vision and make strategic decis
Bonus · Thu, March 21, 2024
Best of The Authority: AI and the Future of Education with Priten Shah — Teaching in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
In this "Best Of" episode, we replay my conversation with Priten Shah, CEO of Pedagogy.Cloud and author of AI and The Future of Education: Teaching in the Age of Artificial Intelligence , published by Jossey-Bass (Wiley). You can also learn more about Priten and his innovative company on the BE Podcast Network series, EdTech Startup Showcase . We discuss: The cloud of rumors, confusion, and fear surrounding the rise of artificial intelligence Defining AI and machine learning Why it’s important to get not only to accepting, but embracing these technologies Ethical concerns to consider What should schools do around teacher training? How AI can either solve or widen the achievement gap depending on how schools proceed What can teachers automate and make more efficient? The potential of AI that most excites Priten Find AI and The Future of Education: Teaching in the Age of Artificial Intelligence at https://prtn.me/book About today’s guest Priten Shah, M. ED and B.A, Harvard, is the CEO of Pedagogy.Cloud, which provides innovative technology solutions to help educators navigate global challenges in a rapidly evolving world. He is the author of Wiley’s Jossey-Bass publication, “AI & The Future of Education: Teaching in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.“ Priten is also the founder of United 4 Social Change, a civics education nonprofit that focuses on helping teachers integrate interdisciplinary education into their curricula through animated videos, lesson plans, and innovative classroom activities. Connect at instagram.com/pedagogycloud and linkedin.com/in/pritenhshah About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC. He is a leadership development and performance coach for professionals in a range of industries and consults with organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry to help communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano and LinkedIn
Tue, March 19, 2024
Life Skills with Shari Pierce — A Career Special Educator Presents Her Proven Handbook
Today’s guest, Shari Pierce, received her B.S. in Special Education from New York University, an M.A. in Learning Disabilities from Teachers College, Columbia University, and was a special educator for the Yonkers Public Schools for thirty-three years. For most of that time, she taught middle and high-schoolers with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities and enjoyed finding innovative ways to work with her students and their families. She is the author of Life Skills: A Handbook for Parents & Teachers of the Intellectually Disabled . We discuss: Shari’s career in special education Understanding intellectual disabilities What educators can only learn from experience, and what you learn in your training Helping kids understand and manage their emotions Managing out emotions as adults Authenticity — keeping it real at home and in the classroom Expectation setting — realistic, reachable, ambitious Communication between parents and teachers Find Life Skills on Amazon . About today’s guests Shari Pierce was born and raised in Yonkers, New York and was a special educator for the Yonkers Public Schools for thirty-three years. For most of that time, she taught middle and high-schoolers with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities and enjoyed finding innovative ways to work with her students and their families. She received her B.S. in Special Education from New York University and an M.A. in Learning Disabilities from Teachers College, Columbia University. Shari was named a Leader in Education by the JCY - Westchester Community Partners in 2012. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossromano I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt
Thu, March 14, 2024
Live for a Living with Paula Caligiuri — How to Work Happier, Not Harder
Paula Caligiuri, PhD, is CEO and, with Andy Palmer, co-founder of Skiilify, a public benefit corporation dedicated to helping people build professional success. Caligiuri and Palmer co-authored the new bestselling career guide, Live for a Living . We discuss: Career planning for a happier life. Where to start? Making happiness an integrated part of your career Personal values — using them for life and career How to identify ideal career Arthur C. Brooks, Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School: Careers today are more unpredictable than ever before; the book shows how it should be a source of excitement, not dread In order to get results we haven’t gotten before, we have to do something we haven’t done before Practical advice for starting a new career path Find Live for a Living on Amazon . Links to resources mentioned in the episode: https://www.skiilify.com https://myjournii.com About today’s guests Paula Caligiuri, PhD, is a DMSB Distinguished Professor of International Business and Strategy at Northeastern University and has authored numerous award-winning articles and books on multicultural effectiveness, global careers, and fostering cultural ability. She is the CEO and, with Andy Palmer, co-founder of Skiilify, a public benefit corporation dedicated to helping people build professional success. Follow her on LinkedIn About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossromano I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt
Mon, March 11, 2024
Wisest Learners with Wallace Panlilio and Artyom Zinchenko
Today’s guests, neuroscience educators Dr. Wallace Panlilio II and Dr. Artyom Zinchenko, are co-authors of Wisest Learners (Parent Edition): Unlock the Secrets to Your Child’s Academic Success . We discuss: What is a “Wisest Learner?” Can children be taught to be a Wisest Learner? How good learning habits are instilled Stories of Thomas Edison and Oprah Winfrey What parents need to know about the research around learning versus the practical application Making children into lifelong learners versus only successful in school Styles of parenting, relationships, communication that have a positive effect on child’s academics Test anxiety causes and solutions Managing negative emotions in parenting Find Wisest Learners on Amazon . About today’s guests Dr. Wallace Panlilio II has a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Educational Psychology, with a specialization in online learning, best learning practices, and parenting. Dr. Panlilio works with educational institutions to elevate the quality of education in the Philippines, even serving as a headmaster of an IB World School for 14 years. His colleagues look up to him as a visionary, and applaud him for his expertise and innovation in the field of education. Artyom Zinchenko, PhD, is an accomplished author and cognitive neuroscientist with extensive experience in the field. He earned his Doctorate in Cognitive Neuroscience from the Max Planck Institute for Cognitive Human and Brain Sciences in Leipzig, where his research focused on emotions and cognitive conflict processing. Dr. Zinchenko is now a researcher and faculty member at Ludwig-Maximilian University in Munich, where his research interests include cognition-emotion interaction and long-term memory guided attention during visual search. He uses various neurophysiological methods to support his research, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation, electroencephalography, skin-conductance, eye-tracking, and combined EEG-fMRI methodology. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossromano I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: <a hr
Bonus · Thu, March 07, 2024
Best of The Authority: The Hawke Method with Erik Huberman — Marketing Principles to Help Your Brand Soar
Welcome to Best of The Authority! Thanks to wonderful listeners like you, this Be Podcast Network original series now ranks in the Top 5% of the more than 3 million podcasts globally. In case you haven’t been with us since the beginning, the “Best Of” is designed to catch you up on some of the best and most popular episodes you may have missed. In this episode, I got to discuss some topics near to my heart — specifically branding, storytelling, and communication — with Erik Huberman, one of the leading marketing minds in the world. Erik founded Hawke Media in 2014, growing the company value to over $150M and working with 3,000+ brands worldwide. It is the fastest-growing marketing consultancy agency in the United States, working with brands like Red Bull, Verizon, and Eddie Bauer. As a serial entrepreneur, national best-selling author, and marketing expert, Erik has been recognized by his industry peers through honors and awards including, Forbes Magazine’s 30Under30, CSQ’s 40Under40, and Inc. Magazine’s Top 25 Marketing Influencers. We discussed Erik's book, The Hawke Method: The Three Principles of Marketing That Made Over 3,000 Brands Soar , and considered how these proven principles can also help leaders in education improve the perception, affinity, and trust of their institutions: The Marketing Tripod — Awareness, Nurturing, and Trust Why Trust is synonymous with Brand 75% won’t buy from a company they won’t trust. What engenders trust? The lifecycle of nurturing relationships Awareness — Red Bull, Crocs — not getting granular; creating a feeling. Word of mouth — why it matters and how to create it Influencers inside the building. How to use them. Third-Party Validation — promoting your press and recognition What today’s educators and learners should know about AI Get The Hawke Method at https://www.hawkemethod.com Connect with Erik: https://twitter.com/erikhuberman HawkeTalk Podcast https://hawkemedia.com About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC. He is a leadership development and performance coach for professionals in a range of industries and consults with organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry to help communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano and LinkedIn</strong
Mon, March 04, 2024
SHOW UP with John Neral — Lead a More Energetic and Impactful Career
My guest today, John Neral, is a certified professional coach who helps mid-career professionals who feel stuck, undervalued, and underutilized SHOW UP to find a job they love or love the job they have. John had a 25-year career in education and was later a longtime corporate consultant for Fortune 500 giant, Casio America, Inc. John’s book is SHOW UP: 6 Strategies to Lead a More Energetic and Impactful Career . We talk about: Brene Brown: “Sometimes the bravest and most important thing you can do is just show up.” What it means to show up at work Honoring who you are and living in alignment with your core values Setting the ground rules for your job How to have intentional conversations Owning where you are and creating new opportunities “Your brand is what other people say about you when you’re not in the room.” - Jeff Bezos. How to own and protect it. Owning your career without fear Find SHOW UP on Amazon or learn more at John’s website: https://johnneral.com Listen to John’s podcast: The Mid-Career GPS Podcast About today’s guest John Neral is a certified professional coach who helps mid-career professionals who feel stuck, undervalued, and underutilized SHOW UP to find a job they love or love the job they have. John's professional walk included a 25-year career in education and as a longstanding corporate consultant for Fortune 500 giant, Casio America, Inc. John is the host of "The Mid-Career GPS Podcast" and the author of SHOW UP – Six Strategies to Lead a More Energetic and Impactful Career and Your Mid-Career GPS – Four Steps to Figuring Out What's Next. Connect with him on LinkedIn . About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC. He is a leadership development and performance coach for professionals in a range of industries and consults with organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry to help communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano and LinkedIn Explore more BE Podcast Network Shows: Sideline Sessions: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt Morning Motivation for Educators: https://bit.ly/42dLGJa The Learning Bridge with Richard Gerver: https://bit.ly/3Hw3AgC
Mon, February 26, 2024
Executive Functions for Every Classroom with Mitch Weathers — Strategies to Create Safe and Predictable Learning Environments
Mitch Weathers is a teacher and founder of Organized Binder, Inc. He works with K-12 schools and colleges in the US and internationally to equip students with executive functioning skills. Mitch’s latest book is Executive Functions for Every Classroom: Creating Safe and Predictable Learning Environments Grades 3-12 , published by Corwin. In this episode, Ross and Mitch discuss: Defining executive functions and their importance Signs of executive dysfunction Justin Baeder, The Principal Center, says the book “makes the case for universal classroom routines that free up students' mental bandwidth to focus on learning.” Practical steps to create predictable learning environments — and why you should do it Patrice Bain writes that this statement stopped her in her tracks: “As teachers, if we are aware that our students are partially organized, and we do nothing about it, then we are complicit in their failure.” Goal-setting and accountability Getting families involved Find Executive Functions for Every Classroom from Corwin or at http://organizedbinder.com/book Listen to previous episodes of The Authority referenced in this conversation: Mapping Professional Practice with Justin Baeder and Heather Bell-Williams: https://bit.ly/3TaQsUN A Parent’s Guide to Powerful Teaching with Patrice Bain: https://bit.ly/47RKeOf About today’s guest Mitch Weathers is a teacher and founder of Organized Binder, Inc. Together with the Organized Binder team, Mitch works with K-12 schools and colleges in the US and internationally to equip students with executive functioning skills. When he is not working with schools, you can find him running trails training for his next ultramarathon. He and his wife, Amber, live in Northern California with their two daughters, Vivienne and Olive. Connect with Mitch @organizedbinder About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC. He is a leadership development and performance coach for professionals in a range of industries and consults with organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry to help communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano and LinkedIn
Mon, February 19, 2024
Leaderfluence with Mike Kelly — Effectively Leading Yourself and Influencing Others
Mike Kelly is an executive coach, consultant, financial planner, and a board director. As a speaker and trainer, he focuses on topics related to improving individual and organizational performance, getting results through others, and financial literacy. Mike’s book is Leaderfluence: Secrets of Leadership Essential to Effectively Leading Yourself and Positively Influencing Others . In this conversation, Ross and Mike discuss: The lack of sound leadership advice available on how to lead oneself Leading yourself into good habits Personal mission statements The correlation between one who is effective at leading oneself and one who can successfully lead an organization The most important communication skills How much of one’s leadership efficacy is defined by the ability to influence others? How a leader can earn influence Get the book Leaderfluence here: https://bit.ly/49kSqrg About today’s guest Mike Kelly is an executive coach, consultant, financial planner, and a board director. He is Managing Partner of Right Path Enterprises and Founder and Principal of Kelly Financial Planning. Mike is a speaker and trainer, who focuses on topics related to improving individual and organizational performance, getting results through others and financial literacy. Prior to starting his businesses, he gained valuable business experience with recognizable brands such as Macy’s, Inc. and Michelin, Inc. His expertise includes operations, human resources, finance, and sales. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC. He is a leadership development and performance coach for professionals in a range of industries and consults with organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry to help communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano and LinkedIn
Mon, February 12, 2024
Holding the Calm with Hesha Abrams — The Secret to Conflict Resolution
Hesha Abrams is an internationally acclaimed master attorney, mediator, negotiator, and deal maker who, for 30+ years, has been renowned for her success in resolving high profile or difficult matters, including mediating the case over the secret recipe for Pepsi. She has distilled her experience into her book, Holding the Calm: The Secret to Resolving Conflict and Defusing Tension . In this conversation, Ross and Hesha discuss: Finding a solution when solutions seem impossible Defusing tension The power of silence Maintaining your composure independent of your counterpart’s emotionality Politeness and civility matter Creating small, winnable victories Winning with grace Find Hesha’s book at http://www.holdingthecalm.com About today’s guest Hesha Abrams is an internationally acclaimed master attorney mediator, negotiator, and deal maker who, for 30+ years, has been renowned for her success in resolving high profile or difficult matters, including mediating the case over the secret recipe for Pepsi. She has worked with Apple, Google, Amazon, Facebook, IBM, Verizon, and other large multinational companies, as well as individuals, inventors, and small businesses, creating deals and solving disputes. She has distilled her experience into a popular new book, “Holding the Calm: The Secret to Resolving Conflict and Defusing Tension”, an insightful, practical, and easy to use toolkit to guide anyone to defuse tension, eliminate conflict, and make deals in their own lives. Learn more at http://www.heshaabramsmediation.com About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC. He is a leadership development and performance coach for professionals in a range of industries and consults with organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry to help communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano and LinkedIn Explore more BE Podcast Network Shows: Sideline Sessions: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt Morning Motivation for Educators: https://bit.ly/42dLGJa The Learning Bridge with Richard Gerver: https://bit.ly/3Hw3AgC
Thu, February 08, 2024
Achievement Teams with Steve Ventura — A Better Approach to PLCs
Steve Ventura is a former elementary and secondary teacher, has worked as both a school and district-level administrator, and is currently the president and lead consultant at Advanced Collaborative Solutions. He is passionate about helping school-based leaders instill a culture grounded in collective teacher efficacy through his flagship work, Achievement Teams. Steve’s book, co-authored with Michelle Ventura, is Achievement Teams: How a Better Approach to PLCs Can Improve Student Outcomes and Teacher Efficacy , published by ASCD. In this episode, Ross and Steve discuss: Why collaboration matters The causes of ineffective PLCs A better approach to PLCs Improving student outcomes and teacher efficacy The 4-step structure of Achievement Teams meetings Establishing relational trust Find Achievement Teams from ASCD or wherever you get your books. Learn more at https://www.steveventura.com About today’s guest Steve Ventura is the president and lead consultant at Advanced Collaborative Solutions. He is a highly motivational and knowledgeable speaker who approaches high-stakes professional development armed with practical, research-based strategies. Steve is a former elementary and secondary teacher and has worked as both a school and a district-level administrator. He is passionate about helping school-based leaders instill a culture grounded in collective teacher efficacy through his flagship work, Achievement Teams. Connect with Steve: LinkedIn Twitter Instagram About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC. He is a leadership development and performance coach for professionals in a range of industries and consults with organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry to help communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano and LinkedIn Explore more BE Podcast Network Shows: Sideline Sessions: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt Morning Motivation for Educators: https://bit.ly/42dLGJa The Learning Bridge with Richard Gerver: https://bit.ly/3Hw3AgC
Bonus · Thu, February 01, 2024
I Want to Run with Sue Humphrey, Three-Time Team USA Olympic Track & Field Coach (Sideline Sessions)
Today we bring you an episode from Sideline Sessions with trailblazing track & field coach Sue Humphrey, author of I Want to Run: The Olympic Developmental Training and Nutritional Guide For Young & Teen Track Runners Ages 10 To 18 . In the early 1970s, after Title IX was enacted, she originated the women’s track program at Arizona State University. She also has coached at the University of Texas and California State University - Long Beach. Sue is the only female coach to have coached NCAA champions in the long jump, triple jump, and high jump. Sue also coached for Team USA at the Olympics 3 times, including as Head Women’s Track & Field Coach in 2004. She individually coached 1996 Men’s Olympic High Jump Gold Medalist Charles Austin. In this conversation, we discuss her book as well as insights from her 50+ years in coaching: Progress made since Title IX Ongoing challenges for female athletes and coaches What it’s like to coach at the Olympics Her experience working with all-time great athletes Wilt Chamberlain and Jackie Joyner-Kersee Find Sue’s book, I Want to Run , on Amazon . Subscribe to Sideline Sessions to hear the rest of our fall-winter season. We’ll continue to bring you insights from diverse coaches across the sporting landscape. Subscribe here: https://sidelinesessions.transistor.fm/subscribe About the host Ross Romano is co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and also hosts The Authority Podcast. He began his career in the pro sports industry before becoming a leading communications, marketing, and management expert working with education companies. He is founder and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. He also works directly with professionals at all levels, in all industries, coaching them in their pursuit of success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn . Are you a professional looking for insights to reach the next level, find a fulfilling new career, or achieve peak performance? You may be a candidate for performance coaching. Schedule an introductory chat here .
Tue, January 30, 2024
Back to Zero with Dr. Joy – The Authority 77
Dr. Joy is an educator, author, and lead consultant at Joy Work EDU. Throughout her career, she has served as a classroom teacher, professional learning facilitator, instructional coach, school administrator, college instructor, and educational consultant. Dr. Joy is the author of two books, including Back to Zero , published by EduMatch. In this episode, Ross and Dr. Joy discuss: Why it’s important for students to have joyful learning environments What joy looks like in the classroom Why she got involved in “Joy Work” What inspired the book Back to Zero Classroom activities to generate joy Find Back to Zero and more about Dr. Joy’s work at joyworkedu.com Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest Dr. Joy is an educator, author, and Lead Consultant Joy Work EDU. Throughout her career, she has served as a classroom teacher, professional learning facilitator, instructional coach, school administrator, college instructor, and educational consultant. In every role she learned the importance of holding on to her joy. She is passionate about the presence of joy in schools and empowers educators to tap into their own joy. Learn more at https://www.joyworkedu.com or connect on Twitter @joyworkedu About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies. He is a leadership development and performance coach for professionals in a range of industries and consults with organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry to help communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano and LinkedIn
Tue, January 23, 2024
Still Learning with Allison Rodman – The Authority 76
Allison Rodman is the Founder and Chief Learning Officer of The Learning Loop, an education consulting organization that provides professional learning design, facilitation, and leadership coaching services. Her work focuses on adult learners, and she brings experience as a teacher, instructional coach, school leader, director of teaching and learning, director of professional learning, and board member. In this episode, we discuss her latest book, Still Learning: Strengthening Professional and Organizational Capacity (ASCD). The conversation covers: What the data says about best practices for educator capacity-building Why educators’ social-emotional development isn’t often prioritized What the past few years — including the pandemic — indicated about the need for educators to be “still learning” Creating more harmony between personal and professional identities Enneagram — how to use it The relationship between individual and organizational learning Importance of intentional time for reflection Get the book Still Learning from ASCD at https://bit.ly/3u68ygR Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest Allison Rodman is the Founder and Chief Learning Officer of The Learning Loop, an education consulting organization that provides professional learning design, facilitation, and leadership coaching services to districts, schools, nonprofit organizations, and businesses internationally. Her work focuses on adult learners, and she has written for Educational Leadership on professional learning, effective teams, and educator wellness, as well as Education Week’s Classroom Q&A and Edutopia. Allison brings experience as a teacher, instructional coach, school leader, director of teaching and learning, director of professional learning, and board member. Learn more about her work: http://www.thelearningloop.com About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies. He is a leadership development and performance coach for professionals in a range of industries and consults with organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry to help communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano and LinkedIn
Mon, January 15, 2024
The Principal 2.0 with Michael Fullan
Michael Fullan, the internationally known authority on educational leadership and proponent of whole system reform, joins us for this episode. No doubt, many of you listeners have been influenced by Michael’s work over the years. The former Dean of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education and Professor Emeritus of the University of Toronto, he is co-leader of the New Pedagogies for Deep Learning global initiative, served as Premier Dalton’s Special Policy Adviser in Ontario from 2003-2013, and received the Order of Canada (OC) in December 2012. Michael is the author of numerous books, including the focus of today’s episode: The Principal 2.0: Three Keys to Maximizing Impact (Jossey-Bass). We discuss: The Principal 2.0 (2023) is 90% new material from The Principal (2014). We cover the events that caused Michael to undertake such a significant revisitation. The disruptions of the past few years are forcing change in schools – which can turn out for better or worse depending on the evolving role of the principal. What forces have traditionally boxed principals into a narrower role? Spirit Work Global evidence for these principles Systemness in Action Connected Autonomy The Drivers – system change from the bottom up Reasons for optimism about the future Find The Principal 2.0 here: https://bit.ly/3TYJZx4 About today’s guest Michael Fullan is an internationally known authority on educational leadership. Professor emeritus at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto, Fullan is Global Co-Director of New Pedagogies for Deep Learning. He is an adviser and consultant on major education reform initiatives around the world. His previous books include Change Leader, The Six Secrets of Change, and Leading in a Culture of Change. Learn more: https://michaelfullan.ca/ About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossromano I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt
Mon, January 08, 2024
Justice Seekers with Lacey Robinson - Pursuing Equity in the Details of Teaching and Learning
Lacey Robinson is president and CEO of UnboundEd. A former teacher, principal, and professional development specialist who has focused on literacy, equity, and school leadership for more than 25 years, her life’s work aims to enable educators to disrupt systemic inequities in their school districts and classrooms. In this episode, Lacey and Ross discuss her book Justice Seekers: Pursuing Equity in the Details of Teaching and Learning . The conversation includes: GLEAM — Grade-Level, Engaging, Affirming, Meaningful instruction The relationship between justice and equity Justice is found in the details of teaching and learning Historical and continuing bias in schools What’s hard about being a truth-teller? What can a teacher do in an environment that discourages or prohibits explicit discussion of race? How does administration create a supportive environment for this approach? How do we know we’re making progress? Learn more about Justice Seekers at www.unbounded.org or find it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, bookshop.org or wherever you get your books. If you’re interested in interviews with professional, collegiate, Olympic and amateur sports coaches, check out my new show Sideline Sessions: https://sidelinesessions.transistor.fm/subscribe About today’s guest Lacey Robinson is the president and CEO of UnboundEd, and the chair of the Board of CORE Learning. As CEO, Robinson sets the organization’s vision for transforming instruction for students at the margins. She is a former teacher, principal, and professional development specialist who has focused on literacy, equity, and school leadership for more than 25 years. Her life’s work aims to enable educators to disrupt systemic inequities in their school districts and classrooms. She led the merger of UnboundEd, Pivot Learning, and CORE Learning under the UnboundEd banner — creating the nation’s largest K–12 educator development organization focused on improving teaching and learning for underserved students. Robinson is a leading national voice on disrupting the predictability of students’ educational outcomes, and was named to 2023’s Forbes 50 Over 50 list in recognition of her innovative leadership. She frequently serves as a keynote speaker and is featured on Emily Hanford’s 2022 “Sold a Story” podcast. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies. He is a leadership development and performance coach for professionals in a range of industries and consults with organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry to help communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that
Bonus · Thu, January 04, 2024
Best of The Authority: Who’s Your Founding Father? with David Fleming
Welcome to Best of The Authority! Thanks to wonderful listeners like you, this Be Podcast Network original series is growing and going strong. In fact, it now ranks in the Top 5% of the more than 3 million podcasts globally. In case you haven’t been with us since the beginning, the “Best Of” is designed to catch you up on some of the best and most popular episodes you may have missed. In this episode, I had a ton of fun chatting with David Fleming, a senior writer at ESPN who has been one of the industry’s most prolific, versatile, and imaginative longform writers over the last three decades at Sports Illustrated, ESPN The Magazine, and ESPN. He has reported on everything from the Super Bowl and Steph Curry to the Musical Chairs World Championship and the NFL’s obsession with glutes. We discussed his great book, Who's Your Founding Father? One Man’s Epic Quest to Uncover the First, True Declaration of Independence : The Mecklenberg Declaration of Independence (the MecDec!) — what it is who wrote it, and who signed it John Adams accuses Thomas Jefferson of plagiarism — the evidence and the defense Traveling to London to uncover an international conspiracy and discovering North Carolina’s Freedom Spring, previously lost for a century If 11 US Presidents along with Ken Burns, David McCullough, George Will and others acknowledged the MecDec, why haven’t we heard more about it? The South’s critical role in the American Revolution Thomas Jefferson…shockingly awful Captain James Jack, the Paul Revere of the South (only braver) The playlist at the Musical Chairs World Championship, and more! Who's Your Founding Father? is available from Hachette. Find it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or wherever you get your books: https://bit.ly/43Wt6F6 Read David’s 2013 ESPN story about the Musical Chairs World Championship here . About our guest David Fleming is a senior writer at ESPN. During the last three decades at Sports Illustrated, ESPN The Magazine and ESPN he has been one of the industry’s most prolific, versatile, and imaginative longform writers, traveling the globe while penning more than 35 cover stories and numerous groundbreaking pieces on everything from the Super Bowl and Steph Curry to the Musical Chairs World Championship and the NFL’s obsession with glutes. Fleming’s unique work has earned numerous national awards as well as a handwritten note from the White House. He is also the author of two previous books, Breaker Boys: The N
Bonus · Thu, December 28, 2023
Sideline Sessions: Caroline McCombs — George Washington University Women’s Basketball Head Coach, 20+ Year NCAA Division-I Coaching Veteran, and 2020 America East Coach of the Year on Success at the D-I Level
Happy holidays! We'll be publishing new episodes of The Authority in January (stay tuned for great conversations with Lacey Robinson, Michael Fullan, and Allison Rodman to start the year). Until then, we'll continue sharing more great content. This week I’m excited to share the second episode of my new show, Sideline Sessions. If you're a youth or high school sports coach, or parent of a student-athlete, make sure to subscribe to the show: https://sidelinesessions.transistor.fm/subscribe In this episode, I speak with Caroline McCombs, head women’s basketball coach at George Washington University. As a head coach and assistant coach, her teams have appeared in six NCAA tournaments and made two Sweet 16 appearances, and she also made an NCAA tournament as an all-conference player at Youngstown State. We discussed Coach McCombs’ transition from playing to coaching, what young players need to know, and more, including: Went directly from being an all-conference college player into coaching How she defines the role of coach Recruiting vs. coaching and how each contributes to success in an NCAA program What high school coaches and parents should know about the recruiting process Coaching a veteran team versus a younger team and what to expect About today’s guest Head coach Caroline McCombs is in her third season at the helm of GW women’s basketball. McCombs' first two seasons with the Buff and Blue resulted in a run to the quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 Championship. During her first year in Foggy Bottom, McCombs helped lead a team that ranked first in program history in points allowed in a season (55.2) and upset #5 La Salle to reach the Quarterfinals of the 2022 A-10 Women’s Basketball Championship. 2022-23 then saw the Buff and Blue with McCombs at the helm earn the 7-seed in the tournament to notch a first-round bye, and then knock off the 10-seed before narrowly falling in the quarters to the second seed. A proven winner at every stop during her 25-year coaching career, McCombs arrived at GW after seven years as the head coach at Stony Brook where she led the Seawolves to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2021. The 2020 America East Coach of the Year, McCombs won 130 games in seven years at Stony Brook. About the host Ross Romano is co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and also hosts The Authority Podcast. He began his career in the pro sports industry before becoming a leading communications, marketing, and management expert working with education companies. He is founder and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic deci
Bonus · Thu, December 21, 2023
Best of The Authority: Richard Gerver on Change
Welcome to Best of The Authority! Thanks to wonderful listeners like you, this Be Podcast Network original series is growing and going strong. In fact, it now ranks in the Top 5% of the more than 3 million podcasts globally. In case you haven’t been with us since the beginning, the “Best Of” is designed to catch you up on some of the best and most popular episodes you may have missed. In this episode, I spoke with internationally renowned speaker Richard Gerver, a multi-time bestselling author and acclaimed thinker on human leadership and human transformation. His career began as a classroom teacher and he eventually worked with an extraordinary range of people, from elite athletes to former US President Barack Obama. And if you enjoy this episode, I have more good news: Richard is launching a new podcast series, The Learning Bridge, here on the Be Podcast Network! Listen to the trailer of The Learning Bridge: https://bit.ly/4asbpB9 Subscribe to Richard's new show, The Learning Bridge: https://bit.ly/478h903 Our conversation on The Authority is built around Richard's book Change: Learn to Love It, Learn to Lead It . We talk about the following and more: How the pandemic necessitated change and changed Gen-Z’s perspective on the inevitability of change. “We are living in the first age where we no longer determine the rate of change.” How Richard navigated the change from teacher to three-time UK Business Speaker of the Year. Overcoming the fear of change caused by “imagined consequences.” What the innovation of “Total Football” shows us about embracing change. Is loving and embracing change necessary for leading it? Overcoming artificial complexity and self-constructed barriers. CQ — the Curiosity Quotient. Find Change , Simple Thinking , Creating Tomorrow’s Schools Today, and all of Richard’s other books and work at www.richardgerver.com Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. About today’s guest Richard Gerver is a sought-after speaker, bestselling author and world-renowned thinker. His career began in education, first as a teacher and then as a school principal, when he turned the fortunes of a failing school and its pupils around in just two years. Since the success of his first book, focusing on his experience in frontline education, Richard has devoted himself to advancing society’s thinking on learning, change, and how best to realise our full potential. He has since
Mon, December 18, 2023
Bet on Talent with Dee Ann Turner
Dee Ann was a 33-year veteran of Chick-fil-A, Inc. Prior to retirement, she was Vice President, Talent and Vice President, Sustainability for the company. Selected as the company’s first female officer in 2001, she was instrumental in building and growing Chick-fil-A’s well-known culture and talent systems. Today, she leads her own organization, Dee Ann Turner & Associates, LLC, writing books, speaking to over 50 audiences per year and consulting and coaching leaders globally. She is the author of multiple bestsellers, including Bet on Talent: How to Create a Remarkable Culture and Win the Hearts of Customers . In this episode, Dee Ann and Ross talk about: Select and steward extraordinary talent What qualifies as extraordinary talent within your organization? Which part of recruitment and hiring is most critical? What does stewardship of talent look like? What Dee Ann learned about “betting on talent” The leader’s responsibility in selecting the right talent for the team How to make hiring managers love the process Trust, Transparency, and Instinct “Why would I choose you for this job?” Find Bet on Talent at https://www.deeannturner.com, on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or wherever you get your books. Visit Dee Ann’s website to download her list of 25 Interview Questions to Select Extraordinary Talent. Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest Dee Ann Turner is a 33-year veteran of Chick-fil-A, Inc. Prior to retirement, she was Vice President, Talent and Vice President, Sustainability for Chick-fil-A, Inc. Selected as the company’s first female officer in 2001, she was instrumental in building and growing Chick-fil-A’s well-known culture and talent systems. Today, she leads her own organization, Dee Ann Turner & Associates, LLC, writing books, speaking to over 50 audiences per year and consulting and coaching leaders globally. She is the author of the best sellers, It’s My Pleasure: The Impact of Extraordinary Talent and a Compelling Culture (2015) and Bet on Talent: How to Create a Remarkable Culture and Win the Hearts of Customers (2019) and Crush Your Career: Ace the Interview, Land the Job and Launch Your Future (2021). She also hosts the Crush Your Career Podcast and is the Talent Expert in Residence at High Point University. In 2023, Dee Ann was named to the Georgia Titan 100. The Titan 100 program recognizes the Top 100 CEO’s & C-Level executives. They are the area’s most accomplished business leaders in their industry using criteria that includes demonstrating excep
Bonus · Thu, December 14, 2023
Best of The Authority: Carol Ann Tomlinson, "So Each May Soar"
Welcome to Best of The Authority! Thanks to wonderful listeners like you, this Be Podcast Network original series is growing and growing and still going strong. In case you haven’t been with us since the beginning, the “Best Of” is designed to catch you up on some of the best and most popular episodes you may have missed. In this episode, I spoke with Carol Ann Tomlinson, one of the most admired, accomplished, and influential authors and leaders in education. We discussed the following and more: George R.R. Martin’s two types of writers, the architect and the gardener. How the journey of writing this book was something different. A “dues-paying member” of innovation in education. A learner-centered classroom dignifies students and honors each learner. What else does it look like? "Learner-centered classrooms rely on teachers who are willing to change and grow, and on school leaders who are willing to intelligently support them.” What does quality mean and what does it ask of teachers? How teachers can honor themselves. So each may soar beyond K-12. What are our ambitions for students? Learn more about the book and get it from ASCD: https://bit.ly/45TeBDM Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. About today’s guest Carol Ann Tomlinson is William Clay Parrish, Jr. Professor Emeritus at the University of Virginia’s School of Education and Human Development where she served as Chair of Educational Leadership, Foundations, and Policy, and Co-Director of the University’s Institutes on Academic Diversity. Prior to joining the faculty at UVa, she was a teacher in public schools for 21 years, where she taught students in high school, preschool, and middle school, and administered district programs for struggling and advanced learners. She was Virginia’s Teacher of the Year in 1974. At the University of Virginia, she taught and advised doctoral, masters, and undergraduate students with a focus on curriculum, instruction, and differentiation. During her time at UVa, she authored or co-authored over 300 books, book chapters, articles, and other educational materials for K-12 teachers and school leaders including: How to Differentiate Instruction in Academically Diverse Classrooms (3rd Ed.), The Differentiated Classroom: Responding to the Needs of All Learners (2nd Ed), So Each May Soar: The Principles & Practices of Learner-Centered Classrooms, and Everybody’s Classroom: Differentiating for the Shared and Unique Needs of Diverse Learners Her books are available in 14 languages. Carol was named Outstanding Professor at UVa’s School of Education in 2004 and received an All-University Teaching Award in 2008. In 2023, she was ranked #1
Bonus · Wed, December 13, 2023
Special Episode: Announcing the Excellence in Equity Award Winners for 2023
In this special episode, I have the honor to announce the Industry winners of the 2023 Excellence in Equity Awards. Beginning with 124 nominees across 25 competitive award categories, we now have 47 nominations that were selected as this year’s winners. Listen in to hear about each of them. To learn more about the Excellence in Equity Awards, visit: https://www.ace-ed.org/awards If you’re an award winner, access your resources here: Digital Badge: https://bit.ly/3RoZ8oi Download Press Release Template (Word) About the host Ross Romano is CEO of September Strategies, co-founder of the Be Podcast Network, strategic advisor to the American Consortium for Equity in Education and founding program chair of the Excellence in Equity Awards. He is a leadership development and performance coach for professionals in a range of industries and consults with organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry to help communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Ross coaches clients one-on-one to solve their pressing professional challenges and is also a mental fitness coach with Positive Intelligence. He is also an advisory board member for Morning Brew Learning and member of the Transformative Leadership advisory board for Shenandoah University. Ross was named a Top 10 Leadership Coach of 2023 and a Top 10 Visionary Leader Transforming Education. Connect with Ross: Twitter: https://twitter.com/RossBRomano LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossromano The Authority Podcast : https://bit.ly/47S0b7e Sideline Sessions podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt
Mon, December 11, 2023
True Story: Lessons That One Kid Taught Us with Rachelle Dené Poth - The Authority Podcast 72
Rachelle Dené Poth is an edtech consultant, presenter, attorney, author, and teacher. She is an ISTE Certified Educator and a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert, was named one of the 150 Women Thought Leaders to Follow for 2022 and one of 30 K-12 IT Influencers for 2021. Rachelle is author of seven books, including True Story: Lessons That One Kid Taught Us published by EduMatch. In this episode, Ross and Rachelle discuss: Importance of student voice in the classroom Do we listen enough to students? How to encourage students to share authentically Why Rachelle wrote the book Some of the standout stories shared in the book and how they will challenge or affirm readers Why is it important for teachers to share these stories with each other? Find True Story and more about Rachelle’s work at www.rdene915.com . Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest Rachelle Dené Poth is an edtech consultant, presenter, attorney, author, and teacher. Rachelle teaches Spanish and STEAM: Emerging Technology at Riverview High School in Oakmont, PA. Rachelle has a Juris Doctor degree from Duquesne University School of Law and a Master’s in Instructional Technology. She is currently pursuing a second doctorate, focused on Educational Technology. Rachelle has written seven books. Her most recent book "Things I Wish [...] Knew" includes the voices of 50 educators from around the world. She presents regularly at state, national, and international conferences and provides professional development and coaching for educators on a variety of topics including assessments, and emerging technologies such as AI, AR and VR, and STEM. Rachelle has more than five years of experience teaching about, presenting on and writing about AI. Rachelle is a columnist for Edutopia, Getting Smart, Defined Learning, and NEO LMS. She has a podcast ThriveinEDU and is the host of a PBL Podcast by Defined Learning on the BAM Radio Network. Rachelle is also a host of ThriveinEDU Live and leads a community of educators on Facebook. Connect with Rachelle: www.Rdene915.com https://twitter.com/rdene915 https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelledenepoth/ About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC. He is a leadership development and performance c
Bonus · Wed, December 06, 2023
Sideline Sessions: Dr. Jen Welter - Trailblazing NFL Coach, World Champion Football Player, and U.S. State Department Sports Envoy on "Shattering the Glass Sideline"
We’re thrilled to introduce Sideline Sessions , the newest original series on the Be Podcast Network. Designed for coaches, parents and other stakeholders in the world of youth, scholastic, and amateur sports, this show brings you interviews with leaders at the highest levels of their respective sports. Hear about their motivations, philosophies, and strategies for success, and take away actionable insights to support the athletes in your life. My first guest on Sideline Sessions is Dr. Jenifer Welter, a trailblazing athlete and coach. In 2015, Welter became the first female coach in NFL history when she coached linebackers for the Arizona Cardinals. She was also the first woman to play a contact position in men’s professional football when she signed as a running back with the Texas Revolution, a professional indoor football team. It’s an honor to share our conversation with listeners of The Authority. If you’d like to subscribe to Sideline Sessions, use this link to find it on your preferred platform: https://sidelinesessions.transistor.fm/subscribe In this episode, hear about: Jen’s journey to playing and coaching football How she prepared herself for the opportunity to coach — before even knowing it was possible Shattering the “glass sideline” (in both the NFL and Madden 2020) The power of authentic leadership Keeping players physically and mentally healthy The state of women’s football and Grrridiron Girls flag football What difference can coaches make in changing opportunities for their athletes and future coaches? About today’s guest Coach Jen Welter is best known as the first female to coach in the NFL as an assistant LBs Coach with the Arizona Cardinals. However, what most people don’t know is that Coach Jen broke into men’s football as the first female to play running back in men’s pro football. From that experience with the Texas Revolution, Coach Jen started her coaching career. Following the NFL, Welter became the Head Coach of the first Australian Women's National Team fielded in July 2017; joined the advisory board of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Game for Life Academy, and wrote her first book Play Big: Lessons in Living Limitless from the First Woman to Coach in the NFL. Prior to joining the men's game, Coach Jen had an amazing career in women's football which included two gold medals with Team USA, four world championships, and eight all-star selections. While playing football, Dr. Jen obtained her PhD in Psychology and a Master’s in Sport Psychology. Dr. Jen also has a BS in Business from Boston College. About the host Ross Romano is co-founder of the Be Podcast Network an
Mon, December 04, 2023
Blind Spots with Kimberly Berens
Dr. Kimberly Nix Berens is a scientist-educator, Founder of Fit Learning, and author of Blind Spots: Why students fail and the science that can save them . In this episode, Kimberly and Ross talk about: “Blind Spots” connote a lack of malintent, but we have to know they exist and make an effort to see them. The beliefs and traditions that shape education in the US create blind spots 60% of students graduate below proficiency. But what does this statistic mean? Examples of blind spots in action How Behavioral Science Supports Effective Teaching How parents and educators can advocate for their children Learn more about the book Blind Spots at www.drkimberlyberens.com. Find it at bookshop.org, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. Learn about Fit Learning at www.fitlearning.com. Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts: https://authoritypodcast.net/subscribe Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest Kimberly Nix Berens, Ph.D., is a scientist-educator and Founder of Fit Learning. She co-created a powerful system of instruction based in behavioral science and the Technology of Teaching, which has transformed the learning abilities of thousands of children worldwide, including those who are struggling, average, gifted, or learning disabled. For more than 20 years, her system of instruction has produced one year’s worth of academic growth in only 40 hours of training. Her learning programs effectively target such essential areas as early learning skills, basic classroom readiness, phonemic awareness, reading fluency, comprehension, inferential language, basic and advanced mathematics, logical problem solving, grammar, and expressive writing. From her early beginnings in a broom closet at the University of Nevada – Reno, Dr. Berens has helped grow Fit Learning to an organization with more than 30 locations worldwide. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn Are you a professional looking for insights to reach the next level, find a fulfilling new career, or achieve peak performance? You may be a candidate for performance coaching. Schedule an introductory chat with Ross here .
Bonus · Thu, November 30, 2023
Best of The Authority: Principal Baruti Kafele on The Equity & Social Justice Education 50
Welcome to Best of The Authority! Thanks to wonderful listeners like you, this Be Podcast Network original series is growing and growing and still going strong. In case you haven’t been with us since the beginning, the “Best Of” is designed to catch you up on some of the best and most popular episodes you may have missed. We’ll republish a previous episode of the show on Thursdays this fall and winter for those who haven’t heard it before — or those who want to revisit. This episode features a conversation with Principal Baruti Kafele, one of the nation's most popular education speakers and author of seven best-selling books. The discussion centers on The Equity & Social Justice Education 50 . Topics include: Equity vs. Equality — the strategy vs. the goal and why it matters Does my presence positively alter the trajectory of my students? The personal nature of this work and this book. How Principal Kafele learned to share his story to the benefit of his students. How do I ensure that no student is invisible in my classroom? Becoming credible to your students “I want my readers to be comfortable with being uncomfortable and uncomfortable with being comfortable.” The Big 3: Individuality, Identity, and Voice. Why these are non-negotiables in every classroom. The Equity & Social Justice Education 50 is available at ascd.org and Amazon. Find it here: https://bit.ly/3YwY2Z5 Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts: https://authoritypodcast.net/subscribe Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About our guest One of the most sought-after school leadership and classroom equity presenters in America, Principal Kafele is impacting America’s schools! He has delivered over 2500 conference and program keynotes, professional development workshops, parenting seminars and student assemblies over his 35 years of public speaking. An expert in the area of “attitude transformation,” Principal Kafele is the leading authority on providing effective classroom and school leadership strategies toward closing what he coined, the "Attitude Gap.” He has authored twelve books, including seven ASCD best-sellers. Follow Principal Kafele online: https://principalkafele.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/principalkafele Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/principalkafele/ About the host
Mon, November 27, 2023
The Abundant University with Michael D. Smith - The Authority Podcast 70
With so much debate over higher education in recent years, it’s time to redefine its value, take advantage of emerging technologies, and ultimately deliver a better experience to more learners. Today’s episode focuses on moving higher ed from scarcity to abundance. Our guest, Michael D. Smith, is J. Erik Jonsson Professor of Information Technology and Marketing at Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College of Public Policy and Management. Smith is the author of The Abundant University: Remaking Higher Education for a Digital World , published by MIT Press. Michael and Ross talk about: The problems with higher education in the US — along with the case for its continued importance The ethical and economic imperatives to increase access A new proposed model for the digital age What about the professors? What happens to campus life? Do colleges and universities communicate a strong value proposition? Blind spots in the higher ed community Find The Abundant University here: https://bit.ly/47ElkkQ Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest Michael D. Smith is J. Erik Jonsson Professor of Information Technology and Marketing at Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College of Public Policy and Management. Smith is the author of The Abundant University: Remaking Higher Education for a Digital World (MIT Press, 2023), and co-author of the book Streaming, Sharing, Stealing: Big Data and the Future of Entertainment (MIT Press, 2016). About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn Are you a professional looking for insights to reach the next level, find a fulfilling new career, or achieve peak performance? You may be a candidate for performance coaching. Schedule an introductory chat with Ross here .
Thu, November 16, 2023
Nolan Bushnell and Dr. Leah Hanes on ExoDexa and Shaping the Future of Education
In this episode, we discuss innovations with the exciting potential to shape an all-new future of education. My guests are Nolan Bushnell — the “father of electronic gaming” who has founded 20+ companies, including Atari and Chuck E. Cheese’s — and Dr. Leah Hanes, CEO of the Two Bit Circus Foundation. Nolan and Leah are currently working together on the gamified education company ExoDexa and have co-authored the book Shaping the Future of Education: The ExoDexa Manifesto , an Amazon best seller. Topics we cover: How Nolan got interested in tackling education Steve Jobs: “What if you’re in a room and everybody thinks you’re wrong, but you think you’re right and you’ve thought more deeply about it than anybody?” The biggest solvable problems Leah and Nolan are focusing on The vision and goals of the school of the future What it really means to be designed around students first Artificial intelligence (AI) and why we should embrace it Entrepreneurship in the classroom “Competing” with video games vs. leaning into their organic ability to support learning Challenges and opportunities of using video games in the classroom “Games should be easy to learn but difficult to master.” Are schools focusing on mastery? What are the critics saying? The St. Crispin’s Day Speech and the “band of brothers” Shaping the Future of Education is available on Amazon . Learn more at https://www.exodexa.com . Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network. About today’s guests In 1972, Nolan Bushnell created an industry when he founded Atari and gave the world Pong, the first blockbuster video game. Today his design credo―that games should be “easy to learn and difficult to master”―is inspiring a new generation of developers. A prolific entrepreneur, Bushnell has started more than 20 companies, including Chuck E. Cheese’s Pizza Time Theater; Catalyst Technologies, the first Silicon Valley incubator; and Etak, the first in-car navigation system. Bushnell was the first and only person ever to hire Steve Jobs, which he details in his 2013 book, Finding the Next Steve Jobs . He is chairman of ExoDexa, a gamified education company; CKO of Moxy, a “play to earn” game and token platform; and an advisor to companies in the gaming and eSports spaces. He was named one of “50 People Who Changed America”
Mon, November 13, 2023
A Parent’s Guide to Powerful Teaching with Patrice Bain
Patrice Bain is a veteran K–12 educator, speaker, and author. As a finalist for Illinois Teacher of the Year and a Fulbright Scholar in Europe, she has been featured in national and international podcasts, webinars, presentations, and popular press, including NOVA and Scientific American. Patrice is co-author of Powerful Teaching and author of A Parent’s Guide to Powerful Teaching , which reinforces the “Teaching Triangle'' of student, parent, and teacher collaboration. In this episode, Patrice and Ross talk about: The traditional state of the Teaching Triangle How kids learn Why it’s important for parents to know how kids learn The “power tools”: retrieval, spacing, interleaving, and feedback-driven metacognition Daniel Willingham: “Children are more alike than different in terms of how they think and learn.” What are some of the other critical things for educators to communicate to parents? How educators can become better at creating parent engagement Book recommendation: Initium by Emma Turner A Parent’s Guide to Powerful Teaching is published by John Catt Educational. Learn more at https://www.patricebain.com. Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest Patrice M. Bain, Ed.S., is a veteran K–12 educator, speaker, and author. As a finalist for Illinois Teacher of the Year and a Fulbright Scholar in Europe, she has been featured in national and international podcasts, webinars, presentations, and popular press, including NOVA and Scientific American. In addition to Powerful Teaching, she also co-authored an essential practice guide for educators: Organizing Instruction and Study to Improve Student Learning, in collaboration with the Institute of Education Sciences (IES). Bain’s latest book A Parent’s Guide to Powerful Teaching reinforces the “Teaching Triangle'' of student, parent, and teacher collaboration. Patrice was one of two U.S. teachers on the working task group: Neuromyths vs. Neurotruths, sponsored by (IES) and the National Commission of Educational Research (NCER). In addition, she was a contributor to the United Nation’s UNESCO ISEE (International Science and Evidence-based Education) Assessment, outlining the vision for world education by 2030. Connect with Patrice at https://www.patricebain.com and @patricebain1. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate t
Bonus · Thu, November 09, 2023
Best of The Authority: Culture Rules with Mark Miller
Welcome to Best of The Authority! Thanks to wonderful listeners like you, this Be Podcast Network original series is growing and growing and still going strong. In case you haven’t been with us since the beginning, the “Best Of” is designed to catch you up on some of the best and most popular episodes you may have missed. We’ll republish a previous episode of the show on Thursdays this fall for those who haven’t heard it before — or those who want to revisit. In this episode, Ross speaks with international best-selling author and business leader Mark Miller. At the time of the interview, Mark was Vice President of High Performance Leadership for Chick-Fil-A. He first started at the company as an hourly team member in 1977 and has served in numerous roles along the way. He recently retired from the company and co-founded Lead Every Day. Culture Rules: The Leader's Guide to Creating the Ultimate Competitive Advantage is Mark’s 11th book. The book became a Wall Street Journal best seller. Mark currently has over one million books in print in more than twenty-five languages. Ross and Mark discussed: 71% of U.S. leaders believe culture is their #1 most powerful tool to drive performance, but enhancing culture ranks low on their priority list — why the gap? First move: decide and declare what you're trying to create. Culture needs to be explicit. Leaders animate culture — this is the big idea of the book The 3 Culture Rules: Aspire, Amplify, Adapt What does culture mean to your customers? Adapt, not react — how to adapt and what the current in-person vs. remote debate tells us. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella wanted to shift the company from being “know-it-alls” to “learn-it-alls” — what did Mark learn while working on the book? The “magic circle” of game design and how it explains culture. What Mark learned about innovation and purpose. Measuring culture Culture Rules is available here: https://www.leadeveryday.com Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About our guest Mark Miller is a business leader, best-selling author, and communicator. Mark started his Chick-fil-A career working as an hourly team member in 1977 and rose through the ranks to become Vice President of High Performance Leadership. He began writing almost twenty years ago, and with over one million books in print in more than twenty-five languages, Mark’s global impact continues to grow. In addition to his writing, Mark enjoys encouraging and equipping leaders. Over the years, he’s travel
Mon, November 06, 2023
Reignite the Flames with Mandy Froehlich The Authority Podcast 67
Mandy Froehlich is an experienced Director of Innovation and Technology, technology integrator, and teacher. She’s the author of a number of books, including Reignite the Flames , published by EduMatch. Mandy and Ross talk about: ● Finding our passion and purpose for learning among the embers ● What makes educators predisposed to burnout? ● Giving ourselves forgiveness for the burnout ● What trauma (secondary traumatic stress) and demoralization look like in schools ● How administrators can contribute to engagement and re-engagement ● Proactive culture-building ● Overlooked types of self-care Find Reignite the Flames and Mandy’s other books at https://www.mandyfroehlich.com and https://www.edumatch.org Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest Mandy Froehlich passionately encourages educators to create innovative change in their classrooms. An experienced Director of Innovation and Technology, technology integrator, and teacher, she has experience at many levels of the organizational structure. Her interest lies in reinvigorating and re-engaging teachers back into their profession, as well as what’s needed to support teachers in their pursuit of innovative and divergent thinking and teaching. She consults internationally with school districts and post-secondary institutions in the effective use of technology to support great teaching, mental health support for educators, and how to create organizational change. Her first book, The Fire Within: Lessons from defeat that have ignited a passion for learning, and discusses mental health awareness for teachers. Her second book, Divergent EDU, is based on an organizational structure she developed to support teachers in innovative and divergent thinking. Her third book, based on educator engagement and mental health, is titled Reignite the Flames which has a recently released companion guide/workbook titled The Educator’s Matchbook. Learn more about her work: www.mandyfroehlich.com , https://twitter.com/froehlichm About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make
Mon, October 30, 2023
My Name is an Address with Ekuwah Mends Moses
Ekuwah Mends Moses is an award-winning educator, international keynote speaker, and author/illustrator of two nonfiction picture books. She joined the show to discuss My Name is an Address , her debut children’s book. It was an Amazon #1 new release and is featured in the School Library Journal. Ekuwah and Ross talk about: “My Name is an Address” — what it means The meaning of Identity and Legacy “I didn't see myself in the classroom or the stories I read as a child.” What difference does it make for reading and literacy when content is representative? Bringing discussions about heritage and culture to the classroom My Name is an Address is published by EduMatch. My Name is an Address is published by EduMatch. Find it on Amazon , edumatch.org and www.ekuwah.com . Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest Ekuwah Mends Moses is an award-winning educator, published author/illustrator of two nonfiction picture books, and an international keynote speaker. My Name is an Address is her debut children’s book, and it was an Amazon #1 new release and is featured in the School Library Journal. Currently, Ekuwah is a specialist who teaches K-5 Engineering to approximately 750 students. Ekuwah is the 2023 Educator of the Year at D.L. "Dusty" Dickens Elementary School and received the 2023 City of North Las Vegas Mayor’s Innovative Teaching Award. During her 22 years of teaching in the Clark County School District, she previously worked as a Performance Zone Instructional Coach, K-5 Literacy Specialist, Learning Strategist, and an elementary classroom teacher. Ekuwah just celebrated her 25th wedding anniversary, and she values quality time with her husband and two teenagers. Learn more at www.ekuwah.com or on social media: Twitter : @ekuwah Instagram: @ekuwah_m Facebook: Ekuwah Mends Moses, Author About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ross
Bonus · Thu, October 26, 2023
Best of The Authority: The Good Boss with Kate Eberle Walker
Welcome to Best of The Authority! Thanks to wonderful listeners like you, this Be Podcast Network original series is growing and growing and still going strong. In case you haven’t been with us since the beginning, the “Best Of” is designed to catch you up on some of the best and most popular episodes you may have missed. We’ll republish a previous episode of the show on Thursdays this fall for those who haven’t heard it before — or those who want to revisit. In this episode, Ross speaks with Kate Eberle Walker, CEO of teletherapy solution provider Presence. Kate is an education industry leader with 20+ years of experience in leading, managing, advising, acquiring and investing in education companies. Her book is The Good Boss: Nine Ways Every Manager Can Support Women at Work , published by BenBella Books. Kate and Ross discuss: Stories about successful women often start with a story about a good boss. We hear Kate’s story. Important negative lessons Kate learned from previous bosses. The “9 Rules of the Good Boss.” Why it’s powerful to get a woman’s name right and use it. Being authentic and being someone employees can relate to. Why it’s important to “watch the clock” to be mindful of the demands on female employees. Rule 9: Tell Her That You See Her Potential, including how this relates to the situation in schools. How do you start to turn things around if you haven’t fostered this type of culture? If someone can read only one chapter of the book, which should it be? The Good Boss is available here: https://www.kateeberlewalker.com/the-good-boss/ Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Find them all at https://authoritypodcast.net . Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest Kate Eberle Walker is an education industry leader, author, and working mom with more than 20 years of experience leading high-profile education companies. Among other roles, she was previously CEO of The Princeton Review and since 2019 has been CEO of Presence, where she leads a majority female staff. Presence is a leading provider of teletherapy solutions for children with diverse needs. Follow Kate on Twitter @eberlewalker or connect on LinkedIn . You can visit her website here: https://www.kateeberlewalker.com About the host Ross Romano is a co-foun
Tue, October 24, 2023
The Beekeeper with Katie Desiderio and Michael Frino - The Authority Podcast 65
Katie P. Desiderio is a Wiley DiSC partner and Partner in Learning at Proximal Development, LLC, her consulting company. She is also Associate Professor of Management at Moravian University’s School of Business and Economics. Michael G. Frino is also a Wiley DiSC partner and oversees Human Capital Development for a Fortune 500 MedTech company. He also leads DE&I program management and leadership development. Their book, The Beekeeper; Pollinating Your Organization for Transformative Growth , is a Wall Street Journal best-seller. In this episode, Ross, Katie, and Michael discuss the book. The conversation touches on the following topics and more: The book is a leadership fable. How did the authors decide to write in this style? The research process for determining their leadership lessons The heart of learning and growth What is the art of learning to be proximal? “Be Nourished” How teams respond to leadership lessons How this approach helps with problem-solving and overcoming challenges What it means to be a “Be Keeper” The Beekeeper is published by Wiley. Find it on Amazon and https://leadershipfables.com Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guests Katie P. Desiderio is a Professor of Management and tenured faculty member at Moravian University, as well as Principal Partner in Learning of Proximal Development, LLC, an authorized DiSC partner, specializing in leadership development and the advancement of performance through learning. Michael G. Frino has over 20 years of professional experience working for Fortune 500 companies in sales, leadership, and organizational development across the payroll/human resources, pharmaceutical, and med-tech industries. Michael finds his flow state today from helping organizations transform their culture with a focus on the growth and development of human beings. Connect with them on Twitter/X @leadersfables About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make
Bonus · Thu, October 19, 2023
Best of The Authority: Always Strive to Be a Better You with Pete Hall
Welcome to Best of The Authority! Thanks to wonderful listeners like you, this Be Podcast Network original series is growing and growing and still going strong. In case you haven’t been with us since the beginning, the “Best Of” is designed to catch you up on some of the best and most popular episodes you may have missed. We’ll republish a previous episode of the show on Thursdays this fall for those who haven’t heard it before — or those who want to revisit. This episode features veteran school administrator, educational consultant, and executive coach Pete Hall. Ross and Pete discussed Pete's latest book, Always Strive to Be a Better You . Discussion points: Why Pete took on this ambitious project How to understand the potential as an asymptote The benefit of building his lessons around normal people The range of goals people pursue to live a better life The four tenets of the book: Know Thyself, Work for Love, Let Your Light Shine, and Rule the Day Key learnings about becoming a better you Why clarity precedes competence Learn more about Pete’s work and the book Always Strive to Be a Better You at https://strivess.com . You can also find the book on Amazon . Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About the guest Veteran school administrator and educational consultant Pete Hall channels his experiences as a school principal, life coach, and small-business owner into manageable lessons for continuous growth, personal improvement, and positive mindset. Follow Pete on Twitter @educationhall About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC, a consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano
Mon, October 16, 2023
Collaborative Response with Kurtis and Lorna Hewson
Kurtis and Lorna Hewson are award-winning educators with experience in the classroom, school and district leadership, and beyond. They are co-founders of Jigsaw Learning and co-authors of Collaborative Response: Three Foundational Components That Transform How We Respond to the Needs of Learners (Corwin). In this episode, Ross, Kurtis, and Lorna discuss: The origin story of Collaborative Response How a Collaborative Response approach compares to Response to Intervention (RTI) and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) Why the book presents a schoolwide approach to addressing individual student needs What makes a good meeting? How Collaborative Response supports teacher collective efficacy Every child deserves a team — driving message of the book Find Collaborative Response at https://bit.ly/45AWGA2 Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guests Kurtis Hewson has been an award-winning teacher, vice-principal, and principal, as well as taught at the post-secondary level. Lorna Hewson is also an award-winning educator with leadership experience at the classroom, school, district and provincial levels. Kurtis and Lorna are the co-founders of Jigsaw Learning, co-authors of the text Collaborative Response: Three Foundational Components That Transform How We Respond to the Needs of Learners (Corwin, 2022), and currently work with districts and schools nationally and internationally establishing Collaborative Response frameworks and interacting with thousands of educators annually. Connect with them on social media: @hewsonk27 and https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurtishewson/ @Lornahewson and https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorna-hewson-713a59104/ About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC. He is a leadership development and performance coach for professionals in a range of industries and consults with organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry to help communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano and LinkedIn
Mon, October 09, 2023
The Summit Mindset with Scott Miller - The Authority Podcast 63
Scott Miller has been the CEO and executive leader of several global beverage companies, including Tampico Beverages and Essentia Water. He is currently co-founder and CEO of YESLY Water. Scott’s first book is The Summit Mindset , co-authored with New York Times bestselling author James C. Moore. In this episode, Ross and Scott talk about: The objectives of the Summit Mindset Winning the battle of You Versus You “Those who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those doing it.” Identifying an organizational North Star How a leader defines and lives an organization’s strategic pillars and values What leaders can do to create a culture of learning that embraces change The business value of building an organization that prioritizes happiness for all its people Find The Summit Mindset at https://summitmindsetthebook.com . Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with authors from education, business, leadership and beyond. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest Scott Miller has been the CEO and executive leader of several global beverage companies. He began his career on the warehouse floor at Pepsi and learned the industry from the frontline to the boardroom. His reputation as an executive was built around a people first approach to conducting business and dealing with customers and vendors. Miller’s reputation has been one of innovation and market expansion through corporate social responsibility and a culture of community involvement for his companies. His most recent accomplishment was leading the growth and acquisition of Essentia, a national bottled water brand, to global food and beverage leader Nestlé. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC. He is a leadership development and performance coach for professionals in a range of industries and consults with organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry to help communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano and LinkedIn .
Bonus · Thu, October 05, 2023
Best of The Authority: Dear Math with Sarah Strong and Gigi Butterfield
Welcome to Best of The Authority! Thanks to wonderful listeners like you, this Be Podcast Network original series is growing and growing and still going strong. In case you haven’t been with us since the beginning, the “Best Of” is designed to catch you up on some of the best and most popular episodes you may have missed. We’ll republish a previous episode of the show each Thursday this fall for those who haven’t heard it before — or those who want to revisit. In this episode, Ross spoke with Sarah Strong, a teacher at San Diego’s High Tech High, and Gigi Butterfield, her former student. Sarah and Gigi co-authored the book Dear Math: Why Kids Hate Math And What Teachers Can Do About It . You'll hear about: Sarah and Gigi’s four-year student-teacher relationship and how they came to collaborate on the book What the “Dear Math” letters are and how Sarah was inspired to assign them The math stories and challenges that come up most frequently from students How to get over being “fraudulently fond” of math Designing a community where math is a liberator rather than a gatekeeper Making math learning collaborative while getting over the competitive instinct Dear Math is published by Times 10 Publications. Find it HERE . Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guests Sarah Strong has taught math to grades 6 through 12 at High Tech High in San Diego, and she also works for the High Tech High Graduate School of Education, teaching Math Methods and Advanced Math Pedagogy courses and supporting the new math teachers in the organization. She has led workshops on Project Based Learning in mathematics, student-centered assessment, and alternative grading systems. Gigi Butterfield is currently a screenwriting major at Loyola Marymount University and a former student of the Gary and Jeri-Ann Jacobs High Tech High in San Diego, California. Gigi has attended project based learning schools since the age of five and, even in college, is passionate about how PBL plays an integral role in revitalizing heavily antiquated math pedagogies. Gigi was captain of the basketball team, head of student ambassadors, leader of Model United Nations, a member of student senate, and a Jeopardy fanatic hoping to go into comedy writing. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC, a consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect
Mon, October 02, 2023
Healing the Wounds of Childhood and Culture: An Adventure of a Lifetime with Don St. John The Authority Podcast 62
Don St. John, PhD, a psychotherapist, has been immersed in the somatic, psychological, relational, and spiritual worlds for more than fifty years. His latest book is called Healing the Wounds of Childhood and Culture: An Adventure of a Lifetime . In this episode, Ross and Don discuss: ● Using the word “wounds” instead of “traumas” ● “This book is dedicated to all of you who intuitively know that ‘being normal’ is so far from who you can truly be.” ● Healing from health, relationship, or well-being issues. ● We are the authors of our own lives ● Emotional intimacy and the consequences of living without it ● Somatic vs. Physical ● Other book recommendations: ○ Man’s Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl ○ The Myth of Normal by Gabor Maté and Daniel Maté Find Healing the Wounds of Childhood and Culture on Don’s website www.pathsofconnection.com Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest Don St. John, PhD, a psychotherapist, has been immersed in the somatic, psychological, relational, and spiritual worlds for more than fifty years. His academic roots are in traditional clinical psychology, but early in his career, he realized from his own experience that one’s body, relational intelligence, and spirituality must be included to achieve a thriving sense of wholeness. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC. He is a leadership development and performance coach for professionals in a range of industries and consults with organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry to help communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano and LinkedIn
Bonus · Thu, September 28, 2023
Best of The Authority: Improve Every Lesson Plan with SEL featuring Jeffrey Benson
Welcome to Best of The Authority! Thanks to wonderful listeners like you, this Be Podcast Network original series is growing and growing and still going strong. In case you haven’t been with us since the beginning, the “Best Of” is designed to catch you up on some of our best and most popular episodes you may have missed. We’ll republish a previous episode of the show each Thursday this fall for those who haven’t heard it before — or those who want to revisit. For this episode, Ross chatted with Jeffrey Benson, author of the ASCD best-seller Improve Every Lesson Plan with SEL . Jeffrey and Ross discuss: Jeffrey’s extensive work with students who suffered the trauma of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) “Are you willing to bet that your lesson plan will work – and work for every student?” How “home-field advantage” can inform perspectives on the classroom Jeffrey’s personal definition of SEL The process of co-creating social-emotional learning goals with students “Differentiated autonomy” in the classroom How an emphasis on SEL leads to improved formative assessment The critical importance of an intentional closure routine for lessons Reconnecting teachers with their “best moments of teaching [that] have always been informed by the social and emotional learning of [their] students” And more! Improve Every Lesson Plan with SEL is published by ASCD. Buy it HERE . Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators, now featuring 30+ shows. About the guest Jeffrey Benson has more than 40 years of experience as a teacher, mentor, and school administrator, with a focus on supporting schools that can work for all students. His books include Improve Every Lesson Plan with SEL , Hanging In: Strategies for Working with the Students Who Challenge Us Most , and 10 Steps for Managing Change in Schools: How do we take initiatives from goals to actions? His website is JeffreyBenson.org . Connect on Twitter @jeffreybenson61 About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC. He is a leadership development and performance coach for professionals in a range of industries and consults with organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-1
Mon, September 25, 2023
Who You Are is How You Lead with Rachel Rider - The Authority Podcast 61
Rachel is a master coach and founder of MettaWorks. She had a distinguished career in HR and has since coached hundreds of business leaders at companies like GitHub and Okta, helping them become high-functioning and self-optimized. Her book is Who You Are is How You Lead . In this episode, Ross and Rachel (not that Ross and Rachel) discuss: What gets you into a “leadership position” isn’t the same as what you need to do once you’re in that position. How does it change? Habitual and emotional responses vs. thinking How Rachel’s coaching questions differ from the norm What makes a leader coachable? “Work is where your demons go to hide.” Is it possible to teach interpersonal skills? Importance of lived experience Find Who You Are is How You Lead on Amazon . Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with authors from education, business, leadership and beyond. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest Rachel Rider founded MettaWorks in 2015 after a distinguished career in HR, receiving executive coaching certification from Columbia University, and extensive training in meditation, Somatic Experiencing, and Polarity Therapy. Starting as HR Business Partner responsible for developing and coaching leaders and teams at Bloomberg, she went on to specialize in leadership coaching at AppNexus (since acquired by AT&T) and Digital Ocean, the third-largest hosting company in the world. Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn . About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC. He is a leadership development and performance coach for professionals in a range of industries and consults with organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry to help communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano and LinkedIn .
Bonus · Thu, September 21, 2023
Best of The Authority: De-Implementation with Peter DeWitt
Welcome to Best of The Authority ! Thanks to wonderful listeners like you, this Be Podcast Network original series is growing and growing and still going strong. In case you haven’t been with us since the beginning, the “Best Of” is designed to catch you up on some of our best and most popular episodes you may have missed. We’ll republish a previous episode of the show each Thursday this fall for those who haven’t heard it before — or those who want to revisit. In this episode, Ross was joined by Dr. Peter DeWitt to discuss Peter’s latest book, De-Implementation: Creating the Space to Focus on What Works . They talked about: The concept of de-implementation and how Peter began to study it How to understand what’s working and what’s not The benefits of focusing on “fewer things, greater depth” What surveys show educators are interested in de-implementing How de-implementation or “strategic abandonment” can create more time for effective instruction to take place “In fact, it is not possible to create tomorrow unless one first sloughs off yesterday” - Peter Drucker De-Implementation is published by Corwin. Find it HERE . Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with authors from education, business, leadership and beyond. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest Peter M. DeWitt, EdD is a former K–5 teacher (eleven years) and principal (eight years). He is a school leadership coach who runs competency-based workshops and provides keynotes nationally and internationally, focusing on school leadership (collaborative cultures and instructional leadership), as well as fostering inclusive school climates. Peter writes the “Finding Common Ground” column for Education Week and co-created Education Week ’s “A Seat at the Table” series, where he moderates conversations with experts around the topics of race, gender, sexual orientation, research, trauma, and many other educational topics. Learn more at https://petermdewitt.com or connect on Twitter @PeterMDeWitt About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC. He is a leadership development and performance coach for professionals in a range of industries and consults with organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry to help communicate their vision and make strategic decisio
Mon, September 18, 2023
The Open System: Redesigning Education and Reigniting Democracy with Landon Mascareñaz and Doannie Tran - The Authority Podcast 60
Landon Mascareñaz and Doannie Tran are co-founders of The Open System Institute and authors of The Open System: Redesigning Education and Reigniting Democracy (Harvard Education Press). In this episode, Ross, Landon and Doannie discuss: The common trait in failing schools: families are cut off from the decision-making process and administrators are divorced from the realities of their students’ lives. Defining an “open system” Open systems are “adaptable and responsive to the needs of students, families, and communities.” Importance of strengthening community relationships The process of co-creating agreements Abundance Partnerships Are there appropriate guardrails around open systems? The relevance of open systems to a strong democracy Colorado’s Homegrown Talent Initiative The Open System: Redesigning Education and Reigniting Democracy is published by Harvard Education Press. Find it here: https://www.theopensystem.org Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest Landon Mascareñaz is an educator, writer, and democracy builder who lives in Denver, Colorado. He is the co-founder of The Open Systems Institute, the chair of the Colorado Community College & Occupational Education Board, and works with organizations around the country to support community aspirations. Doannie Tran is a partner at the Center for Innovation in Education. He formerly served as an assistant superintendent for the Academics and Professional Learning Department in Boston Public Schools and the Innovation Programs Division in Fulton County Schools. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC. He is a leadership development and performance coach for professionals in a range of industries and consults with organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry to help communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano and LinkedIn
Mon, September 11, 2023
AI and the Future of Education: Teaching in the Age of Artificial Intelligence with Priten Shah The Authority Podcast 59
Priten Shah is the CEO of Pedagogy. Cloud, which provides innovative technology solutions to help educators navigate global challenges in a rapidly evolving world, as well as founder of the civics education nonprofit United 4 Social Change. His book is AI and The Future of Education: Teaching in the Age of Artificial Intelligence , published by Jossey-Bass (Wiley). In this episode, Ross and Priten discuss: The cloud of rumors, confusion, and fear surrounding the rise of artificial intelligence Defining AI and machine learning Why it’s important to get not only to accepting, but embrace these technologies Ethical concerns to consider What should schools do around teacher training? How AI can either solve or widen the achievement gap depending on how schools proceed What can teachers automate and make more efficient? The potential of AI that most excites Priten Find AI and The Future of Education: Teaching in the Age of Artificial Intelligence at https://prtn.me/book Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest Priten Shah, M. ED, and B.A, Harvard, is the CEO of Pedagogy. Cloud provides innovative technology solutions to help educators navigate global challenges in a rapidly evolving world. He is the author of Wiley’s Jossey-Bass publication, “AI & The Future of Education: Teaching in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.“ Priten is also the founder of United 4 Social Change, a civics education nonprofit that focuses on helping teachers integrate interdisciplinary education into their curricula through animated videos, lesson plans, and innovative classroom activities. Connect at instagram.com/pedagogycloud and linkedin.com/in/pritenhshah About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC. He is a leadership development and performance coach for professionals in a range of industries and consults with organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry to help communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano and LinkedIn
Tue, September 05, 2023
Using CBT and Mindfulness to Manage Student Anxiety with Katelyn Oellerich The Authority Podcast 58
Katelyn Oellerich, EdS, is a nationally certified school psychologist. In 2022, Katelyn was recognized as the Wisconsin School Psychologist of the Year. In this episode, we discuss her first book, Using CBT and Mindfulness to Manage Student Anxiety . Katelyn and Ross cover: What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and why is it favored for working with students? Pairing CBT with mindfulness Diagnosed vs. undiagnosed anxiety Structure of the therapy sessions, including the learning targets Focus on relationships, which isn’t common in CBT Helping students create an individual “worry plan.” Strategies for teachers and parents Using CBT and Mindfulness to Manage Student Anxiety is available from Routledge. Find it here: https://bit.ly/3P1YHPK Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest Katelyn Oellerich, EdS, is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist practicing as a Social Emotional Learning Coach and Consultant for the Cooperating Educational Service Agency #3 in Southwest Wisconsin and professional counseling intern. In addition to these roles she is a wife and mom of two, author, graduate lecturer, and writer for Middle Web. Katelyn was recognized as Wisconsin's School Psychologist of the Year in 2022. Katelyn has led county & school wide initiatives to support mental health, families, and school connection and engagement. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC. He is a leadership development and performance coach for professionals in a range of industries and consults with organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry to help communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano and LinkedIn
Tue, August 29, 2023
How Creativity Rules the World with Maria Brito - The Authority Podcast 57
Maria Brito is an award-winning New York City-based contemporary art advisor, entrepreneur, author, and curator who was selected by Complex Magazine as one of the 20 Power Players in the Art World. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, Time Magazine, Wall Street Journal, Harper’s BAZAAR, Vogue, Forbes, and many more. Maria’s book, How Creativity Rules the World: The Art and Business of Turning Your Ideas Into Gold , is available from HarperCollins and was the recipient of the Axiom Book Award in the Entrepreneurship category. In this episode, Maria and Ross discuss: ● Daniel Pink called the book “a first-rate guide to creativity that explodes the many myths about the topic.” ● Anyone can learn creativity. So how do we teach it? ● “Nearly everything you’ve been told about creativity is a lie.” ● LinkedIn study and World Economic Forum listed creativity as #1 in-demand skill: Do companies even know what they’re looking for when they say they demand creativity? ● How to manage a team focused on creativity ● From corporate lawyer to entrepreneur and innovator in the art world. ● What is the right environment for creativity? ● Creativity is about fostering specific habits, making associations, and standing behind the ideas that come out of them. ● Inventing the future — micro and macro How Creativity Rules the World is available from HarperCollins Leadership. Visit www.mariabrito.com to find it. Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest Maria Brito is an award-winning New York City-based contemporary art advisor, entrepreneur, author and curator. Her bestselling book How Creativity Rules The World was published by HarperCollins Leadership in March 2022 and it was the recipient of the Axiom Book Award in the Entrepreneurship category. Brito was selected by Complex Magazine as one of the 20 Power Players in the Art World and was named by ARTNEWS as one of the visionaries who gets to shape the art world. A Harvard graduate, Maria has been profiled and her projects have been featured extensively in national and international publications including The New York Times Style Section, T: The New York Times Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg Businessweek, The Financial Times, W Magazine, ELLE Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, Time Magazine, New York Magazine, The New York Observer, The Daily Beast, The Economist, Interview Magazine, VOGUE Italia, VOGUE Mexico, VOGUE Brazil, VOGUE China, VOGUE.
Sat, August 26, 2023
Pushing Up with Stephen W. Gilliland The Authority Podcast 56
Dr. Stephen W. Gilliland is a University Professor at Claremont Graduate University and teaches in the Division of Behavioral and Organizational Sciences and Drucker School of Management. He also serves as the founding director of the Maldonado Executive Leadership Institute, which is committed to the discovery, discussion, and dissemination of insights into the future of executive leadership. Along with his brother Jim, Stephen is co-author of Pushing Up: What Twelve Months of Physical Challenges Taught Two Brothers About Connection, Leadership, and Purpose (Modern Wisdom Press). In this episode, Stephen and Ross discuss: ● The 12-month physical challenge and what attracted Stephen to participate ● How relationships are about opportunities and missed opportunities ● The power of someone believing in you ● “Upside of accountability” — someone caring about you ● Recognizing limits and preparing to fail — how it develops confidence, awareness, and empathy ● What the challenge taught Stephen about leadership and purpose ● Asking for help and finding a genuine connection Pushing Up is available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3KTVf8l Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest Dr. Stephen W. Gilliland is a University Professor at Claremont Graduate University and teaches in the Division of Behavioral and Organizational Sciences and Drucker School of Management. He is responsible for developing degree and non-degree leadership programs and serves as faculty director for the MA Leadership program for working professionals. He also serves as the founding director of the Maldonado Executive Leadership Institute, which is committed to discovery, discussion, and dissemination of insights into the future of executive leadership. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC. He is a leadership development and performance coach for professionals in a range of industries and consults with organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry to help communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano and LinkedIn
Wed, August 23, 2023
Sharing My Lens: The College Experience with Juliette Nelson
Dr. Juliette Nelson is an industrial & organizational psychologist, educator, entrepreneur, and author of the book Sharing My Lens: The College Experience . In this episode, we discuss the higher education question — what options exist and what outcomes do they deliver? — mainly from the student’s perspective and also consider how educators and other influential adults can make a difference. Juliette and Ross cover: “Passionate about empowering people to achieve the highest standards of their purpose.” Insights Juliette picked up as a teacher What are things students should think about before they ever go to college? College planning resources that are beneficial in high school and earlier Looking at each stage — before, to, through and beyond higher education — as part of the complete journey How to build and make positive use of a network Biggest objectives in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) Sharing My Lens: The College Experience is available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3P5PnLU Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest Dr. Juliette Nelson is an industrial & organizational psychologist, educator, entrepreneur, and published author who is passionate about empowering people to achieve the highest standards of their purpose. With a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, she leverages research and data to identify and implement solutions that foster a safe workplace for individuals working at all levels of their organizations. She is the Founder and CEO of JUNURI, a company that equips students, professionals, and business owners, with the tools and resources to be successful in the different areas of their lives. Learn more and connect at https://www.juliettenurinelson.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/nelsonjuliette/ About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC. He is a leadership development and performance coach for professionals in a range of industries and consults with organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry to help communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano and LinkedIn
Tue, August 15, 2023
Radical Principals with Mike Gaskell The Authority Podcast 54
Dr. Mike Gaskell, Principal at Hammarskjold Middle School in East Brunswick, NJ, is the guest on this episode of The Authority. Mike’s latest book is Radical Principals , published by Routledge Eye on Education. In the interview, Mike and Ross discuss: Defining a Radical Principal. This is Mike’s third book. What made this the book for now ? Multipliers vs. diminishers How do equity and stability go together in schools? Who defines the equity goals in Mike’s school? Who is the team? The mindsets required to start and sustain this work. Stubborn obstacles and unintended biases. How do day-to-day quick fixes prevent long-term change? Power of small wins. How leaders can make time for restoration. Radical Principals is published by Routledge Eye on Education. Find it here: https://amzn.to/3wQeGaF Listen and subscribe to Mike’s podcast, BIG Ideas in Small Windows. Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest Dr. Michael Gaskell is Principal at Hammarskjold Middle School in East Brunswick, NJ., following experience as a special educator and assistant principal in Paramus, NJ. He models the pursuit of lifelong learning as he serves to mentor new principals through the New Jersey Leaders to Leaders program. An NJPSA Stars recipient, he has been published in over three dozen articles in education journals and blogs, including Education Post, eSchoolNews, NASSP, Edtech and ASCD Smartbrief, currently has a monthly column in ASCD Smartbrief, and has made the most-read section of ASCD Smartbrief numerous times. Mike has published three books: Radical Principals, Leading Schools Through Trauma and Microstrategy Magic. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC, a consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano
Tue, August 08, 2023
De Facto Leaders and Executive Functioning with Dr. Karen Dudek-Brannan The Authority Podcast 53
Dr. Karen Dudek-Brannan is a licensed speech-language pathologist (SLP) with a doctorate in special education, a special education director license, and an assistive technology graduate certificate. She spent 14 years in the school systems before starting her online education company, Dr. Karen, LLC, in 2015. Her work empowers educators to support language, literacy, executive functioning, and cognitive wellness. Dr. Karen is the host of the De Facto Leaders podcast here on the Be Podcast Network. The show helps pediatric therapists and educators become better leaders, so they can make a bigger impact with their services. Ross and Karen chat about: How De Facto Leaders helps its listeners Defining leadership in today’s schools What are executive functioning skills and what do they do? What are schools currently doing right with respect to mental health, and what could they improve? The variety of individuals involved in executive functioning development, including general education teachers, special educators, parents, and more. Benefits and drawbacks of the "pull-out" model for supplemental interventions Behavior and motivation issues are common barriers to effective instruction. What can school leaders do to make sure they're supporting their teachers and therapists? Get Dr. Karen’s free Executive Functioning Implementation Guide here: https://drkarendudekbrannan.com/efschools Sign up for her free executive functioning training at https://drkarendudekbrannan.com/efleadership Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest Dr. Karen Dudek-Brannan is the founder of Dr. Karen, LLC, a company focused on empowering educators to support language, literacy, executive functioning, and cognitive wellness. She offers online professional development focused on helping K-12 teams develop programs and services that support students in the areas of language, literacy, and executive functioning. Dr. Karen is a licensed SLP and has a doctorate in special education, a special education director license, and an assistive technology graduate certificate. She spent 14 years in the school systems before starting her online education company in 2015. She's currently the host of the De Facto Leaders podcast on the Be Podcast Network. Connect on social media: https://twitter.com/drkaren2014 https://www.instagram.com/drkarenspeechlanguage https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-dudek-brannan About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a c
Mon, July 31, 2023
The Hawke Method with Erik Huberman — Marketing Principles to Help Your Brand Soar
CEO & Founder Erik Huberman launched Hawke Media in 2014 — growing the company value to over $150M and working with 3,000+ brands worldwide. It is the fastest-growing marketing consultancy agency in the United States, working with brands like Red Bull, Verizon, and Eddie Bauer. As a serial entrepreneur, national best-selling author, and marketing expert, Erik has been recognized by his industry peers through honors and awards including, Forbes Magazine’s 30Under30, CSQ’s 40Under40, and Inc. Magazine’s Top 25 Marketing Influencers. Erik’s book is The Hawke Method: The Three Principles of Marketing That Made Over 3,000 Brands Soar . Erik and Ross discuss: The Marketing Tripod — Awareness, Nurturing, and Trust Why Trust is synonymous with Brand 75% won’t buy from a company they won’t trust. What engenders trust? The lifecycle of nurturing relationships Awareness — Red Bull, Crocs — not getting granular; creating a feeling. Word of mouth — why it matters and how to create it Influencers inside the building. How to use them. Third-Party Validation — promoting your press and recognition What today’s educators and learners should know about AI Get The Hawke Method at https://www.hawkemethod.com Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with leading authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest CEO & Founder Erik Huberman launched Hawke Media in 2014 — growing the company value to over $150M and working with 3,000+ brands worldwide. It is the fastest-growing marketing consultancy agency in the United States, working with brands like Red Bull, Verizon, and Eddie Bauer. Erik has expanded his business portfolio with Hawke Ventures, which raised $25M in its second fund, and HawkeAI, which has helped over 5,000 companies benchmark analytics and improve results. Prior to Hawke Media, Erik successfully founded, grew, and sold two e-commerce companies by the age of 26. As a serial entrepreneur, national best-selling author, and marketing expert, Erik has been recognized by his industry peers through honors and awards including, Forbes Magazine’s 30Under30, CSQ’s 40Under40, and Inc. Magazine’s Top 25 Marketing Influencers. Connect with Erik: https://twitter.com/erikhuberman HawkeTalk Podcast https://hawkemedia.com About the host Ross Romano is a co-
Tue, July 25, 2023
From Conflict to Collaboration with Rob Feirsen and Seth Weitzman The Authority Podcast 51
Rob Feirsen and Seth Weitzman combine more than five decades of experience in principal, assistant superintendent for curriculum, and superintendent offices. Their book, From Conflict to Collaboration: A School Leader's Guide to Unleashing Conflict's Problem-Solving Power , draws on knowledge from the fields of education, engineering, psychology and business to offer an on-the-job guide for present and future school leaders. Ross, Rob, and Seth discuss: ● What inspired them to write the book ● Why there’s conflict in schools ● What are the specific areas that are a “fertile ground for discord?” ● Addressing conflict rather than resolving, mediating, managing ● The power of conflict-agility language ● How do school leaders typically respond to conflict? ● Design thinking in conflict resolution ● Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In From Conflict to Collaboration is a co-publication of Rowman & Littlefield and AASA. Get it here: https://bit.ly/3XZuK6T Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guests Rob Feirsen and Seth Weitzman combine more than five decades of experience in principal, assistant superintendent for curriculum, and superintendent offices. They are co-authors of two books, most recently "From Conflict to Collaboration: A School Leader's Guide to Unleashing Conflict's Problem Solving Power" in addition to articles published in national magazines and journals. They have also presented at numerous state and national conferences as well as undergraduate and graduate-level education classes. Rob is currently associate professor and coordinator of the Educational Leadership program at Manhattanville College. Seth is senior lecturer in the Educational Leadership program at Mercy College. Connect with the authors: ● https://www.teacheredge.net ● https://twitter.com/teacheredgenet About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decis
Bonus · Fri, July 21, 2023
Speaking and Communicating Podcast: Storytelling and Communication Strategies For Education Organizations w/ Ross Romano and Roberta Ndlela
Today we're introducing you to the Speaking and Communicating Podcast, the newest member of the Be Podcast Network! The podcast is a platform for sharing expertise on how to improve communication skills, both personally and professionally. Soft skills in the workplace are crucial for job promotions, C-suite and entrepreneurship. Developing and mastering them also improves the quality of your personal relationships. These human-centered skills are not usually the focus of tertiary institutions. Whether you are interviewed for your dream job or climbing the corporate ladder - these skills will be the determining factor between maximizing your success and getting left behind! Learn more and subscribe: https://robertandlela.com/whatido About the episode How do education professionals hone their leadership and communication skills? Is there a platform that can assist them in navigating the challenges that they face? On this episode, Ross shares how crucial communication and leadership skills are, based on his experiences and the clients that he works with. Key Points and Time Stamps: [00:02:54] - Be Podcast Network and its mission and focus [00:04:43] - The Publicist role in the Communications Department [00:06:00] - The communication dynamic between the organization and the community [00:07:01] - Putting the cart before the horse in the start-up phase of the business [00:08:26] - Why smaller companies need to clearly define their niche [00:09:15] - Creating educational products for all facets of education and educators [00:10:05] - Doing Public Relations work for educational institutions [00:13:07] - Do visionaries who lead companies need a coach for strategic direction? [00:13:34] - Mark Miller, VP of Chick-fil-A High Performance Culture… Author of ‘Culture Rules’ [00:14:20] - What happens when leaders are lacking in communication skills [00:15:29] - Why it is crucial for leaders to clearly articulate the vision and mission of the organization [00:17:41] - Do leaders generally struggle to make decisions? How the organization’s vision and mission helps leaders in their decision making [00:19:54] - Ross’s personal mission statement and how it ties in with his work
Mon, July 17, 2023
How to Do It Now Because It's Not Going Away: An Expert Guide to Getting Stuff Done with Leslie Josel
Today’s guest, Leslie Josel, is an award-winning ADHD-academic and parenting coach. She founded Order Out of Chaos®, a virtual company whose mission is to help parents guide their students to success in learning and in life, and has been listed by Global Gurus for the past 7 years as one of the top 20 Time Management experts globally. Leslie’s book, How to Do it Now Because it’s Not Going Away: An Expert Guide to Getting Stuff Done , is the topic of today’s discussion. Ross and Leslie chat about: Everyone procrastinates — why is it so tough for teens? Consequences of chronic procrastination Missed opportunities from inaction What besides time management helps with procrastination? Misconceptions that still exist around ADHD What should schools change about homework? What Leslie knows now that she wishes she knew 20 years ago 3 time management tips for listeners Questions to ask students to help get them out of the procrastination cycle Find the book on Amazon and learn more about Leslie’s work here: https://www.orderoochaos.com/ Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest Leslie Josel, an award-winning ADHD-academic and parenting coach, founded Order Out of Chaos® – a virtual company whose mission is to help parents guide their students to success in learning and in life - when her son was first diagnosed with ADHD. She is the creator of the award-winning Academic Planner: A Tool for Time Management®, a planner that helps students develop time management skills, and the award-winning author of 3 books including the recently published, “How to Do it Now Because it’s Not Going Away: An Expert Guide to Getting Stuff Done.” (Lerner Publishing) A respected resource on ADHD and Executive Functioning, Leslie writes the weekly “Dear ADHD Family Coach®” column for ADDitude Magazine, the premiere magazine for adults and children with ADHD. She speaks to audiences all over the world helping them utilize their resources to best navigate the task-driven world in which they live. In 2020, Leslie’s line of student organizing products developed with SamSill Corp was released. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term suc
Mon, July 10, 2023
The 7-Minute Shift with Michelle Sera
Michelle Sera is a Certified Freedom Formula Facilitator and Certified Happiness Coach. She’s the founder of ElevatedMind, a company focused on helping people manifest their greatest self and highest potential. Her book, The 7-Minute Shift , helps readers get out of their own way and manifest their greatest selves. Ross and Michelle discuss: What does a happiness shift have to do with professional growth? All results are vibrational What is the 7-minute shift? “Set your life on fire. Seek those who fan your flames.” - Rumi Manifesting and values How Imposter Syndrome kills your marketing Recommended book: The Tools by Phil Stutz Find The 7-Minute Shift at https://michellesera.com and https://www.theelevatedmind.com Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About our guest Michelle Sera, author of The 7-Minute Shift™ is a Certified Freedom Formula Facilitator and Certified Happiness Coach. She’s also the founder of ElevatedMind™, a company focused on helping people manifest their greatest self and highest potential. In addition to writing the book, Michelle has spent over 15 years as a copywriter and marketer. Her work in the online marketing space has helped many 7, 8, and 9 figure entrepreneurs excel. Her words have made an impact on millions of people, generating millions of dollars. Her work focuses on helping people get out of their own way to grow a massively successful business. Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn and her website . About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry and beyond clarify their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn .
Thu, July 06, 2023
Traveling Different with Dawn M. Barclay
Dawn M. Barclay is an award-winning author who has spent a career working in different aspects of the travel industry. Her book, Traveling Different: Vacation Strategies for Parents of the Anxious, the Inflexible, and the Neurodiverse , helps parents — including those whose children have Autism Spectrum Disorder and/or mood or distraction disorders — soothe their child’s travel anxieties. Dawn and Ross discuss: ● The challenges of traveling with children ● How parents can overcome their worry about traveling ● How parents can begin to introduce the concept of traveling to their children ● How to start small with mini-experiences ● Child-centric vacations and how to create them ● How to keep children safe while traveling ● Valuable resources to consult Learn more about the book and get it here: http://www.travelingdifferent.com Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest Dawn M. Barclay is an award-winning author who has spent a career working in different aspects of the travel industry. After spending ten years working in sales and marketing for her parents’ two firms, Barclay Travel Ltd and Barclay International Group Short-Term Apartment Rentals, she branched out into travel trade reporting with senior or contributing editor positions at Travel Agent Magazine, Travel Life, Travel Market Report, and most recently, Insider Travel Report. She is a mother of two and resides in New York’s scenic Hudson Valley. A member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the Family Travel Association (FTA), she also writes fiction as D.M. Barr and holds leadership roles in several writer organizations. Connect with Dawn on social media: ● Twitter: www.twitter.com/@travelingdiff ● Facebook: www.facebook.com/travelingdifferent ● Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traveling_different/ ● LinkedIn: www.LinkedIn.com/in/dawnbarclay About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Tw
Mon, July 03, 2023
Who’s Your Founding Father? with David Fleming
We’ve got a great guest for the week of Independence Day! David Fleming is a senior writer at ESPN who has been one of the industry’s most prolific, versatile, and imaginative longform writers over the last three decades at Sports Illustrated, ESPN The Magazine, and ESPN. He has reported on everything from the Super Bowl and Steph Curry to the Musical Chairs World Championship and the NFL’s obsession with glutes. His new book, Who's Your Founding Father? One Man’s Epic Quest to Uncover the First, True Declaration of Independence , was just released. David and Ross discuss: The clues that led David toward writing this book The Mecklenberg Declaration of Independence (the MecDec!) — what it is who wrote it, and who signed it John Adams accuses Thomas Jefferson of plagiarism — the evidence and thee defense Why May 20, 1775 is such a noteworthy date Traveling to London to uncover an international conspiracy and discovering North Carolina’s Freedom Spring, previously lost for a century If 11 US Presidents along with Ken Burns, David McCullough, George Will and others acknowledged the MecDec, why haven’t we heard more about it? The South’s critical role in the American Revolution Thomas Jefferson…shockingly awful Captain James Jack, the Paul Revere of the South (only braver) One takeaway today’s students should learn in their history The playlist at the Musical Chairs World Championship, and more! Who's Your Founding Father? is available from Hachette. Find it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or wherever you get your books: https://bit.ly/43Wt6F6 Read David’s 2013 ESPN story about the Musical Chairs World Championship here . Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About our guest David Fleming is a senior writer at ESPN. During the last three decades at Sports Illustrated, ESPN The Magazine and ESPN he has been one of the industry’s most prolific, versatile, and imaginative longform writers, traveling the globe while penning more than 35 cover stories and numerous groundbreaking pieces on everything from the Super Bowl and Steph Curry to the Musical Chairs World Championship and the NFL’s obsession with glutes. Fleming’s unique work has earned numerous national awards as we
Thu, June 29, 2023
Whoomp! (There it Is) with DC Glenn aka DC the Brain Supreme of Tag Team
DC Glenn is an American musician, film actor, and voice-over artist. He is known as one half of the 90’s rap group Tag Team, who created the multi-platinum classic stadium anthem “Whoomp! There It Is." Tag Team was also part of the award-winning GEICO commercial, Scoop There It Is! In this special episode of The Authority, DC and Ross discuss: DC’s career in music and beyond How Tag Team came together and recorded their breakout hit How early DC knew he wanted to pursue music Lifelong learning through paralegal courses, digital marketing and more Scoop There it Is – AdWeek’s #1 ad of 2021. “Delirious daydream that belongs in the Smithsonian.” What DC has learned about entrepreneurship What’s left to conquer? Learn more about DC Glenn on Twitter @DCGlennATL or online at https://www.tagteambackagain.com Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest DC Glenn is an American film actor and voice-over artist residing in Atlanta, GA. He is also known as one half of the 90’s rap group Tag Team who created the classic stadium anthem “Whoomp! There It Is." And recently the hit SAG National Commercial Ad by GEICO, Scoop There It Is! DC has been training tenaciously for film, tv, and commercial acting since 2017. Enjoying this fruitful journey sharpening his craft with L.A. acting coach Crystal Carson (Auditioning by Heart), ATL acting coach Natalia Livingston (Actor Boutique), and improv veteran Ray Bengston. DC has relished the process of auditioning and training with the aid of all his talented actor colleagues on WeAudition to become a successful working actor. DC has also enjoyed training vigorously for years, seeking mastery in the arts of voiceover. His magnetic presence and rich, textured voice have been nurtured by VO coaches Rudy Gaskins and Joan Baker (S.O.V.A.S.), as well as Denise Woods (author of The Power of Voice), dialect coach to the stars. With the continued support of The People Store agency in Atlanta, GA. as his representation. This partnership is achieving goals only dreams are made of. Connect on Twitter @DCGlennATL or online at https://www.tagteambackagain.com About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education in
Mon, June 26, 2023
Building Boys with Jennifer L.W. Fink
Jennifer L.W. Fink is an award-winning freelance journalist whose work has been published by the New York Times, Washington Post, U.S. News and World Report, FOX News, Parents, Parade, and more. She is a mom of four boys, the creator of BuildingBoys.net, cohost of the podcast On Boys, and author of the new book Building Boys: Raising Great Guys in a World that Misunderstands Males . In this conversation, Jennifer and Ross discuss: How Jennifer got into writing and then onto this journey of writing and talking about parenting boys How different are boys and girls? What do most parents (and teachers) misunderstand about males? Gender stereotypes and sexism Introducing and modeling healthy relationships “Redshirting” or delaying formal education What is the best thing about raising boys? And more Learn more about the book and get it from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3XpkdBx Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest Jennifer L.W. Fink is the creator of BuildingBoys.net and cohost of the podcast ON BOYS: Real Talk about Parenting, Teaching, & Reaching Tomorrow’s Men. She’s a freelance journalist whose work has been published by the New York Times, Washington Post, U.S. News and World Report, FOX News, Parents, and Parade. Fink is also the author of The First-Time Mom’s Guide to Raising Boys: Practical Advice for Your Son’s Formative Years. She lives in rural Wisconsin and is the proud mother of four sons. Connect on Twitter @jlwf About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a consulting and coaching firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn We're so grateful to our sponsor AI Coach by Edthena . AI Coach enables your teachers to go through coaching cycles based on their own needs. The virtual coach guides teachers to reflect on their teaching , set a goa l, and create an action plan … all based on gathering classroom evidence. It gives support between PD days and other coaching cycles. Get a free trial for your teachers <a href="http
Sun, June 18, 2023
Change with Richard Gerver
Richard Gerver is a sought-after speaker, bestselling author, and world-renowned thinker on human leadership and human transformation. His career began in education, first as a teacher and then as a school principal, when he turned the fortunes of a failing school and its pupils around in just two years. Since the success of his first book, focusing on his experience in frontline education, Richard has devoted himself to advancing society’s thinking on learning, change, and how best to realize our full potential. He has worked with an extraordinary range of people, from elite athletes to former US President Barack Obama. Named UK Business Speaker of the Year three times, Richard has been invited to speak on the world’s biggest stages, including TED, the RSA,, and the BBC. Today, it’s our pleasure to welcome Richard to The Authority for an enlightening discussion based on his international bestseller, Change: Learn to Love It, Learn to Lead It . Richard and Ross discuss: What is change and what makes it meaningful? How the pandemic necessitated change and changed Gen-Z’s perspective on the inevitability of change. “We are living in the first age where we no longer determine the rate of change.” How Richard navigated the change from teacher to three-time UK Business Speaker of the Year. Overcoming the fear of change caused by “imagined consequences.” What the innovation of “Total Football” shows us about embracing change. Is loving and embracing change necessary for leading it? Fear of the unknown and how authority figures will react to our own efforts at change. Overcoming artificial complexity and self-constructed barriers. CQ — the Curiosity Quotient. Richard’s next endeavors. Find Change , Simple Thinking , Creating Tomorrow’s Schools Today, and all of Richard’s other books and work at www.richardgerver.com Find Richard’s LinkedIn Learning courses, Overcoming Complexity and Developing Mental Toughness for Leadership, here . Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest Richard Gerver is a sought-after speaker, bestselling author and world-renowned thinker. His career began in education, first as a teacher and then as a school principal, when he turned the fortunes of a failing school and its pupils around in just two years. Since the success of his first book,
Mon, June 12, 2023
So Each May Soar with Carol Ann Tomlinson
Carol Ann Tomlinson is one of the most admired, accomplished, and influential authors and leaders in education. Today, we’re honored to have her on The Authority! Carol is the William Clay Parrish, Jr. Professor Emeritus at the University of Virginia’s School of Education and Human Development; author or co-author of over 300 books, book chapters, articles, and other educational materials for K-12 teachers and school leaders; and has won numerous awards and been named to Education Week ’s Edu-Scholar Public Presence rankings many times. So Each May Soar: The Principles and Practices of Learner-Centered Classrooms is available from ASCD. Carol and Ross discuss: George R.R. Martin’s two types of writers, the architect and the gardener. How the journey of writing this book was something different. A “dues-paying member” of innovation in education. A learner-centered classroom dignifies students and honors each learner. What else does it look like? "Learner-centered classrooms rely on teachers who are willing to change and grow, and on school leaders who are willing to intelligently support them.” What does quality mean and what does it ask of teachers? How teachers can honor themselves. So each may soar beyond K-12. What are our ambitions for students? Carol’s book recommendations: An Ethic of Excellence and Leaders of Their Own Learning by Ron Berger Learn more about the book and get it from ASCD: https://bit.ly/45TeBDM Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest Carol Ann Tomlinson is William Clay Parrish, Jr. Professor Emeritus at the University of Virginia’s School of Education and Human Development where she served as Chair of Educational Leadership, Foundations, and Policy, and Co-Director of the University’s Institutes on Academic Diversity. Prior to joining the faculty at UVa, she was a teacher in public schools for 21 years, where she taught students in high school, preschool, and middle school, and administered district programs for struggling and advanced learners. She was Virginia’s Teacher of the Year in 1974. At the University of Virginia, she taught and advised doctoral, masters, and undergraduate students with a focus on curriculum, instruction, and differentiation. During her time at UVa, she authored or co-authored over 300 books, book chapters, articles, and other educational materials for K-12 teachers and school leaders including: How to Differentiate Instruction in Academically Diverse Classrooms (
Bonus · Thu, June 08, 2023
#SameHere Schools: Why Community is the Foundation of Learning with Ross Romano, Rola Tibshirani, Marisa Jackson, Tracy Mergler, and Elizabeth McDonald
In today's bonus episode, we're sharing a panel discussion I hosted for #SameHere Schools Month, focused on mental health awareness in education. All sessions from #SameHere Schools, originally recorded as Twitter Spaces, are being published by the Be Podcast Network. For more content like this, listen and subscribe here . This session looks at the multiple definitions of community and its importance in establishing the right conditions for learning. Especially in the digital age, professional learning communities can take place on social media and via podcasts like this one. Likewise, classroom learning is rooted in community. The discussion includes: The elements of a supportive community The upside of accountability Building a professional network that supports wellness and growth What it means to receive permission to teach The relationship between community in professional learning and classroom learning How engagement with diverse perspectives and experiences supports learning and mental wellness Speakers: Ross Romano ( @RossBRomano ) Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry and beyond clarify their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on LinkedIn . Rola Tibshirani ( @rolat ) Rola is Vice Principal of St. Benedict School in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Read her blog at https://learningprogression.blogspot.com/ Tracy Mergler ( @TracyMergler ) Tracy is a special education teacher and founder of Safe Space Organization, a non-clinical, community safe space that strives to change the conversation around mental health by educating, connecting and supporting others through a peer-to-peer network. Learn more: https://www.safespacecny.com/ Marisa Jackson ( @MarisaLVJackson ) Marisa is Principal of Woodbridge Elementary School in Rhode Island. She is passionate about all things SEL. Elizabeth McDonald ( @MrsEM_McDonald</stron
Mon, June 05, 2023
Reality Check with Carlo Mahfouz
Carlo Mahfouz is a Renaissance man. An intrapreneur and product development executive in the healthcare ed-tech space with a deep understanding of technology, he works developing products to help improve patients’ outcomes and driving change in organizations, teams, and individuals. In this episode, we discuss Carlo’s book, Reality Check: In Pursuit of the Right Questions . The conversation includes: The right questions direct our attention to the problems that matter most. The wrong questions are aimed at distractions. How to perform a reality check on competing priorities “Priority is a function of context.” - Stephen Covey Context, time, and the observer: each can be used as an excuse or impediment — or as a guide and a tool “To be in the moment, we need to be prepared.” “To ask the right questions is not to look for an answer.” Valuable competencies: comfort with ambiguity, patience, collaboration, reflectiveness, openness, and listening Learn more about the book: https://www.realitycheck.institute/reality-check Subscribe to Carlo’s newsletter: https://www.realitycheck.institute/drc-newsletter Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest Carlo Mahfouz is a firm believer in tech’s power to create positive global change, a novice opera singer who heads innovation at a classical music non-profit company, and a published author. Carlo grew up in Lebanon, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from Notre Dame University. He also holds an Executive MBA from Georgetown University in Washington D.C. In addition to his busy career, he enjoys hiking, drawing, photography, and playing his classical guitar. You can find Carlo elsewhere on Twitter , LinkedIn and Instagram . About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Ross is a performance and leadership development coach, marketing and communications strategist, and thought leadership expert. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or <a href="https
Bonus · Wed, May 31, 2023
What Great Teachers Do Differently with Todd Whitaker — Big Ideas in Small Windows
Today, we're pleased to share an episode originally recorded for Big Ideas in Small Windows with host Mike Gaskell. In Mike's interview with best-selling education author Todd Whitaker (1.5 million books sold and counting), you'll hear about topics ranging from imposter syndrome to "shifting the monkey" back where it belongs (toward difficult people). Whitaker is author of dozens of books, including the most well-known, What Great Teachers Do Differently . Find it on Amazon . This episode contains part 1 of an extended conversation with Todd Whitaker. Listen to part 2 here . For more author interviews from across the Be Podcast Network, make sure to subscribe to The Authority: https://authoritypodcast.net Learn about the Be Podcast Network here: https://bepodcast.network
Mon, May 29, 2023
The Umbrella Effect with Jennifer Forristal
Dr. Jennifer Forristal, founder and CEO of The Umbrella Project, joins The Authority to discuss her book, The Umbrella Effect , available from Lioncrest Publishing. Ross and Jennifer discuss: In life, there’s a 100% chance of rain. How can kids proactively develop the skills to handle it? Learning to use our own umbrella: Working toward being able to share ours and asking others to share theirs Proactive skill-building pre-trauma vs. proactive post-trauma. What does it look like for kids who have already experienced significant trauma? Shift your focus from your child’s external achievements to meaningful social and emotional progress Authenticity, Cognitive Flexibility, Integrity, Realistic Optimism, and Self-Compassion Jennifer’s recommended books: Untangled by Lisa Damour, Radical Wholeness by Philip Shepherd and Jeff Brown Learn more about The Umbrella Effect here: https://umbrellaproject.co/the-umbrella-effect-book/ Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About our guests Dr. Jen Forristal, BSc ND, is a Naturopathic Doctor with a primary focus in pediatric mental health and the founder and CEO of The Umbrella Project, a positive coping curriculum used internationally by thousands of parents, students, and educators. She has worked extensively with schools, researchers, and organizations in protecting the long-term health and performance of children facing unique challenges. Her work has been published in the Canadian Journal of School Psychology, and she was awarded the Health Promotion Canada Award for her contribution to child mental health. Dr. Jen lives in Ontario, Canada, with her husband, two teens, a toddler, and a sweet dog named Mango. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry and beyond clarify their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn .
Thu, May 25, 2023
Mapping Professional Practice with Justin Baeder and Heather Bell-Williams
Justin Baeder is Director of The Principal Center, where he helps leaders in K-12 organizations build capacity for instructional leadership, and Heather Bell-Williams is an experienced teacher, school administrator and consultant, with over 30 years of expertise to bring to her role as Coach and Consultant. Baeder and Bell-Williams are co-authors of Mapping Professional Practice: How to Develop Instructional Frameworks to Support Teacher Growth (Solution Tree), the subject of today’s episode. Justin, Heather, and Ross discuss: Articulating a vision for exemplary practice Put into action, instructional frameworks help teachers: locate their current level of fluency, focus on the key dimensions of professional judgment, and take their practice to the next level. What are instructional frameworks, and how do they compare to observation checklists and other types of look-fors and expectations? The distinction between the terms "fluency" and "performance." The key dimensions of professional judgment Why it’s so important to establish shared expectations for practice and what's difficult about doing so. Learn more about the book: https://www.principalcenter.com/mpp Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guests Heather Bell-Williams is an experienced teacher, school administrator and consultant, with over 30 years of expertise to bring to her role as Coach and Consultant. Heather holds three bachelor’s degrees in arts and education from York University in Toronto and a Masters of Education in Leadership from the University of New Brunswick, as well as several additional qualifications, including Flourishing Coach certification. Justin Baeder is Director of The Principal Center, where he helps leaders in K-12 organizations build capacity for instructional leadership. He's the author of Now We're Talking! 21 Days to High-Performance Instructional Leadership, also published by Solution Tree, and he's the founder of Repertoire, the professional writing app for instructional leaders. Follow him on Twitter @eduleadership About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/RossBRomano
Tue, May 16, 2023
Preventing Polarization with Michelle Blanchet & Brian Deters The Authority Podcast 39
Michelle Blanchet and Brian Deters are our guests on this episode, discussing their timely book Preventing Polarization: 50 Strategies for Teaching Kids About Empathy, Responsibility, and Political Responsibility . Ross, Michelle and Brian discuss: ● “Social-emotional learning meets civic engagement” and how to teach it when even SEL is viewed as polarizing ● The meaning of empathy and how it fosters a productive dialogue ● Can we have empathy and still call out destructive attitudes? ● How to equip students with strategies to question their world and their roles in it ● Embrace Complexity: Stop oversimplifying difficult issues, and why we’re often incentivized to do the opposite ● Ditch the “good guy vs. bad guy” outlook ● Strategies to promote consensus-building Preventing Polarization is available from Times 10 Publications. Learn more here: http://preventingpolarization.com Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About our guests Michelle Blanchet is an educational consultant that infuses startup strategies into professional learning so that teachers are empowered to bring changemaking, social innovation, and SDGs into their work. After teaching social studies in both the U.S. and Switzerland, she founded the Educators’ Lab, which supports teacher-driven solutions to educational challenges. She has worked with organizations like PBS Education and Ashoka, and occasionally blogs for Edutopia. A graduate of IE University in Madrid, she is a part of the Global Shaper Community of the World Economic Forum and has presented at numerous events, including SXSWedu and TEDxLausanne. Brian Deters has been in education for over 28 years teaching social studies and coaching varsity soccer in the United States and Switzerland. Brian also is a co-host of the 4 A Better Tomorrow Podcast, a podcast series that connects his education experiences with his political ones, most notably his run in the 2018 election as a U.S. Congressional primary candidate from the 18th District of Illinois. Brian holds a Bachelor’s in Secondary Education from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign as well as a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Illinois State University where he also served as an adjunct professor working in the field with student teachers in 2018 and 2019. He currently teaches sociology and civics at Morton High School in Morton, IL. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the <a href="https://bepodcast.ne
Thu, May 11, 2023
Higher Ed Storytelling University: Brand Storytelling, Messaging, and Wisdom on Starting a Podcast For Your College w/ Ross Romano of September Strategies
Today, we're bringing you an episode with The Authority host Ross Romano on the other side of the microphone. He was recently interviewed on Higher Ed Storytelling University, right here on the Be Podcast Network. Hosted by video producer and storytelling coach John Azoni, Higher Ed Storytelling University provides quick-win practical advice schools can put to use in your marketing right away. The show's insights are relevant to marketers and leaders in higher ed, as well as K-12. Subscribe here: Apple: https://apple.co/3BjBrGt Spotify: https://spoti.fi/42MY2Xs RSS: https://feeds.libsyn.com/411893/rss Episode Description: Getting clear on your college’s messaging, telling your brand’s story, and should your college start a podcast? Why or why not, and what should you talk about if you do? These are all things we cover in this episode with Ross Romano of September Strategies. Links: -September Strategies -Connect with Ross on Linkedin -Pricing for Video Storytelling Subscription: pricing.unveild.tv -Download "3 Absolutely Crucial Components Every Compelling College Student/Alumni Testimonial Needs"
Mon, May 08, 2023
Leadership for Deeper Learning with Scott McLeod The Authority Podcast 38
Scott McLeod, Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Colorado - Denver, is the guest on this episode of The Authority. His book, co-authored with Jayson W. Richardson and Justin Bathon, is Leadership for Deeper Learning . It’s published by Routledge Eye on Education. In the interview, Scott and Ross discuss: ● The definition of “deeper learning.” ● How Scott and his co-authors interviewed leaders at 30 different deeper learning schools in 2019 and 2020. ● Do most leaders even think about being “innovative?” And if they do, how are they defining it? ● What systemic or structural factors inhibit innovation? ● Why conveying a compelling vision is critical to transformative leadership, from Walt Disney and Steve Jobs to innovative school leaders. ● How much of innovative thinking is determined by leaders’ expectations for student success? ● Do leaders need to set new expectations for teaching and learning — or, instead, do they need to avoid extinguishing the motivations and expectations teachers and students begin with? ● What do leaders at innovative schools do that’s different from their counterparts at “traditional” schools? ● Who is driving the innovation and transformation in schools? Leadership for Deeper Learning is published by Routledge Eye on Education. Find it here: https://bit.ly/Leadership4DL Learn more about Scott’s work on his website Dangerously Irrelevant: http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/ Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest A Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Colorado Denver, Scott McLeod, J.D., Ph.D., is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading experts on P-12 school leadership, deeper learning, technology, and innovation. He is on a mis
Thu, May 04, 2023
SEEing to Lead: Impact to Influence with Jed Stefanowicz
In this episode, we're bringing you a conversation from SEEing to Lead, hosted by Dr. Chris Jones, right here on the Be Podcast Network. As a Digital Learning Coach in Walpole, Massachusetts, Jed Stefanowicz provides job-embedded professional development and instructional coaching for academic technology. Through conferences, workshops, and coaching, Jed aims to engage and build staff/student digital learning capacity, keeping the focus on practice over product. As a 25 year elementary educator, speaker, blogger, and former Massachusetts Teach Plus Policy Fellow, Jed shares his passion for effective tech integration to transform teaching and learning, creating engaging and equitable digital learning environments and experiences that activate, innovate, and motivate digital learning. He is the author of Take AIM at Digital Learning: Activate, Innovate, Motivate and Impact to Influence . Check out his blog at stefanowiczclass@blogspot.com Key Takeaways: We need to recreate the structures to teach rather than just expecting it to happen. Leaders are facing a blank slate as they work to stretch people past their comfort zone because people have been out of their comfort zone for the last two years. Learning something on YouTube is going to teach you how to do it, but not understand how to apply it. We need to find ways to create and support teacher agency. It's essential to be aware of circumstances, surroundings, and how to apply the requisite skills to excel in a situation. Moving people from motivation to commitment is the only way to make progress forward. Education at any level has to go beyond a transactional experience by starting with what people are passionate about. You can't be a coach and equipment manager at the same time. You have to respect where people are to engage them in growth. Leadership isn't about implementing an agenda, but instead finding what the goals of those you serve are and then helping them achieve them. Stick to the A,B,Cs = Always Build Capacity It's about process/project not product. Subscribe to SEEing to Lead: Subscribe on Apple Subscribe on Spotify About the host: Dr. Chris Jones has been an educator in Massachusetts for 22 years. He is currently Principal of Whitman-Hanso
Mon, May 01, 2023
Name, Claim & Reframe with Andrea Mein DeWitt The Authority Podcast 37
Andrea DeWitt joins The Authority to discuss her new book, Name, Claim & Reframe: Your Path to a Well-Lived Life , which was named the Top Motivational Book of 2023 by NBC’s Today Show. Ross and Andrea discuss: “This book is filled with inspiration and wisdom about how to take control of your life.” – Emily Giffin The importance of discovering your core values What happens when we’re triggered to react rather than respond in a heated moment? The process behind Name, Claim, and Reframe Overcoming the limiting beliefs we all carry inside Becoming a Gentle Warrior Andrea’s experience as an elementary teacher and how it still serves her work The most surprising thing about her career Name, Claim & Reframe is available wherever books are sold. Learn more on Andrea’s website: https://www.andreadewittadvisors.com/my-book Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About our guest Known for her infectious energy, Andrea Mein DeWitt is an author, speaker, and life coach who teaches high-performing leaders to see and step into their authentic lives. She is the CEO of Andrea DeWitt Advisors, where she coaches heart-centered working professionals. Andrea holds an M.Ed. in Reading Leadership from the University of California, Berkeley, and is a Certified Professional Coach through The Co-Active Training Institute and The International Coaching Federation. She lives in the San Francisco Bay area with her husband and their beloved Labrador, Maggie. Learn more about Andrea on her company website, LinkedIn, and Instagram. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry and beyond clarify their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn .
Thu, April 27, 2023
Cybertraps Podcast: Mister Rogers' Enduring Lessons for Raising Creative, Curious, Caring Kids with Gregg Behr
In this episode, we're sharing an interview from The Cybertraps Podcast, available here on the Be Podcast Network. You'll hear from Gregg Behr, co-author of When You Wonder, You're Learning: Mister Rogers' Enduring Lessons for Raising Creative, Curious, Caring Kids . Some notes and resources from the episode: whenyouwonder.org Origin story - Gregg and philanthropy Grable Foundation Translating learning from the learning sciences Rogers took the tech of his day and asked how can I make this good Fred Rogers wanted to use the technology of his day to minister to kids. Eric Erickson - identity development How can people do things like what Fred was doing in his time? How do I make what is attractive to kids good and constructive? So many people who can and should carry the work of Fred forward. We’ve got to lift those examples up. The agony of creation. Fred bridged theory and practice in a powerful way. Curiosity, collaboration, creativity Parables of Peanuts Whole child plus learning sciences equals = The Fred Method About The Cybertraps Podcast On the Cybertraps Podcast, Frederick Lane and Jethro Jones explore the risks arising from the use and misuse of digital devices and electronic communication tools. They interview experts in the fields of cybersafety, cybersecurity, privacy, parenting, and technology and share the wisdom of these experts with listeners. Listen here: https://apple.co/3Ktn1Zx
Mon, April 24, 2023
Great on Their Behalf with AJ Crabill The Authority Podcast 36
AJ Crabill joins The Authority for a timely episode focused on school boards and district leadership. His book is Great on Their Behalf: Why School Boards Fail, How Yours Can Become Effective . Ross and AJ discuss: ● The purpose of the public education system ● The non-negotiables of school boards ● “Student outcomes don’t change until adult behaviors change” ● The 3 ways board tend to fail ● Mindset – the biggest mover of adult behavior ● How time should be spent in the board room ● Educators are the experts on curriculum and instruction ● Defining school board accountability ● Can board help with educator recruitment and retention challenges? ● The most promising trend AJ has seen Great on Their Behalf is available on Amazon and at https://www.GreatOnTheirBehalf.com Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About our guest AJ Crabill serves as Conservator at DeSoto ISD — where during his guidance, DeSoto improved from F ratings in academics, finance, and governance to B ratings — and as Governance Director at CGCS. He served as Deputy Commissioner at Texas’ Education Agency and Board Chair of Kansas City Public Schools. Connect with him on Twitter @ajcrabill7 or LinkedIn . About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn .
Tue, April 18, 2023
Mastermind with Danny Bauer The Authority Podcast 35
Daniel Bauer is the Chief Ruckus Maker at Better Leaders Better Schools (BLBS). On this episode, we talk about his book, Mastermind: Unlocking Talent Within Every School Leader , co-published by Corwin and the National School Superintendents Association (AASA). Danny and Ross discuss: ● Danny’s mission “to connect, grow, and mentor every school leader who wants to level up.” ● What is a “ruckus maker” and why do they benefit from a mastermind community? ● Is a school better off with an average leader, bad leader, or no leader? ● The ABCs of powerful professional development – Authenticity, Belonging, Challenge ● “Everyone wins when you get better.” ● My school is better because I lead it; my students are at an advantage because I lead them. ● Agreements vs. expectations ● Why agreements are hard, but worth bringing to your school. ● Danny’s book recommendations: Crazy Good by Steve Chandler, Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg Use code “RUCKUS” to get 20% off the cover price and free shipping on Danny’s book, Mastermind . Find it here: https://bit.ly/3S5fVN4 Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest As a chronically late student, Daniel Bauer once told his Chemistry teacher a fib about saving an entire girl scout troop from a burning building to get out of a tardy. Daniel is not sure if it was the very made up story, the very real cookie he offered his teacher, or a combination of both that got him out of a detention that day … That experience taught him it pays to develop your storytelling skills. Daniel has been telling stories since then, most recently on the Better
Thu, April 13, 2023
Tell Me This: A deep-dive on Bittersweet by Susan Cain
In this episode, we’re bringing you a conversation from Tell Me This, part of the Be Podcast Network. In this combined episode, which was originally published in two parts on the Tell Me This feed, hosts Carey Borkoski and Brianne Roos, along with guest Kate McMahon, discuss Susan Cain’s latest book, Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole. Listeners may also be familiar with Cain’s previous #1 New York Times best-seller, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking. Learn about the book here: https://susancain.net/book/bittersweet Tell Me This is a podcast about belonging, what it means, why it matters, and how we cultivate it. Through stories, interviews, academic research, and discussions, the hosts and their guests explore the ideas of belonging and how to develop and grow it in your classrooms, workplaces, and other personal and professional spaces. Subscribe to Tell Me This: Apple: https://apple.co/3XhxHPo Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3o3brMh Stitcher: https://bit.ly/43dAhJc
Mon, April 10, 2023
Gwen Jorgensen: USA’s First Olympic Gold Medal Triathlete with Elizabeth and Nancy Jorgensen The Authority Podcast 34
Elizabeth Jorgensen returns as a guest for this episode along with her mom and co-author Nancy to discuss the middle-grade and young adult biography, Gwen Jorgensen: USA’s First Olympic Gold Medal Triathlete , which they wrote in collaboration with Gwen. Elizabeth, Nancy, and Ross discuss: How the book is designed to be used with students in the classroom What makes a hero and why kids need heroes Gwen’s “hero’s journey” from kid to accountant to gold medalist How to reward focused effort while also encouraging well-rounded development How Gwen’s early struggles prepared her for success as an adult “There is power in what you tell yourself.” Learn about your own potential: Practice Core Principles, Emphasize Recovery, Show Gratitude Surrounding yourself with the right people Purchase the book on Amazon or get a signed copy: https://www.booksco.com/signed-copy-gwen-jorgensen Download a free educator guide: https://download.m-m-sports.com/extras/GwenJorgensen/Teacher_Guide.pdf For author visits, email nancy.l.jorgensen@gmail.com or elizabeth.jorgensen@gmail.com or visit the authors online at their websites: lizjorgensen.weebly.com and nancyjorgensen.weebly.com . You can also follow both authors on Twitter: @LyzaJo and @NancyJorgensen Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC, a consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano
Mon, April 03, 2023
SEEing to Lead with Chris Jones The Authority Podcast 33
Dr. Chris Jones has been an educator in Massachusetts for 22 years. He is author of the book SEEing to Lead and also hosts the SEEing to Lead podcast , right here on the Be Podcast Network. In this episode, we discuss his book, published by Code Breaker, Inc. Chris and Ross discuss: ● The problem with education traditions: “One of the biggest problems in education is tradition. One of the biggest traditions is top-down leadership,” says Danny Bauer. ● SEE = Support, Engage, Empower ● How Chris realized teachers can’t support, engage and empower students if they’re not feeling their leadership doing the same for them. ● You don’t become a leader and then realize you need to support others first. You become a leader because you’ve realized this. ● Empowering vs. Enabling ● Overcoming the status quo to innovate SEEing to Lead is published by Code Breaker, Inc. Find it here: https://teamjonesedu.com/book Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest Dr. Chris Jones has been an educator in Massachusetts for 22 years. He is currently Principal of Whitman-Hanson Regional High School in Whitman, Mass. and Vice President of the Massachusetts State Administrators Association (MSAA). Chris was named the 2022 Massachusetts School Counselors Associaltion’s (MASCA) Administrator of the Year and is a finalist for the Massachusetts School Administrators Association’s Principal of the Year award. Subscribe to SEEing to Lead on Apple Podcasts or Spotify . About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies , a consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRoma
Tue, March 28, 2023
Teaching for Racial Equity with Tonya Perry, Steven Zemelman and Katy Smith
Today, we welcome the three co-authors of Teaching for Racial Equity: Becoming Interrupters , published by Stenhouse. The book was named as one of three winners in the Best Book for Educators category of the inaugural Excellence in Equity Awards , presented by the American Consortium for Equity in Education. The discussion includes: What it means to be an “interrupter” Critical love, critical humility, and critical reflection How the authors collaborated and learned from one another “Find your people” The “a-ha moments” with students Examples from the book’s educator contributors that simply illustrate “good teaching,” with respect to engaging students and getting them into the material Where readers can begin with the book, based on their prior level of experience with explicit equity work and research Our guests’ book recommendations for educators: Not Light, but Fire by Matthew Kay, Cultivating Genius by Gholdy Muhammad Recommendations for students: Stamped by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi, The 1619 Project: Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renée Watson, illustrated by Nikkolas Smith Teaching for Racial Equity is available from Stenhouse. Find it here: https://bit.ly/3jZN5RV Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guests Tonya B. Perry is a Professor of Secondary English Education and serves as the Executive Director for GEAR UP Alabama and the Red Mountain Writing Project at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Steve Zemelman is a founder of the Illinois Writing Project. He’s helped start innovative small schools in Chicago and promotes student civic engagement there. His most recent book is From Inquiry to Action: Civic Engagement with Project-Based Learning in All Content Areas
Sat, March 25, 2023
The Equity & Social Justice Education 50 with Baruti Kafele
Welcome to a can’t-miss conversation with Principal Baruti Kafele, author of seven best-selling books, including the topic of today’s episode: The Equity & Social Justice Education 50 . The discussion includes: Equity vs. Equality — the strategy vs. the goal and why it matters Does my presence positively alter the trajectory of my students? The personal nature of this work and this book. How Principal Kafele learned to share his story to the benefit of his students. How do I ensure that no student is invisible in my classroom? Becoming credible to your students “I want my readers to be comfortable with being uncomfortable and uncomfortable with being comfortable.” The Big 3: Individuality, Identity, and Voice. Why these are non-negotiables in every classroom. Social justice education — What is it and how do we make it practical? The leader’s role in making equity work resilient Principal Kafele’s recommendations: Before the Mayflower — Lerone Bennett, Jr. From Slavery to Freedom — John Hope Franklin and Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham The Mis-Education of the Negro — Carter G. Woodson Introduction to African Civilizations — John G. Jackson The Equity & Social Justice Education 50 is available at ascd.org and Amazon. Find it here: https://bit.ly/3YwY2Z5 Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About our guest One of the most sought-after school leadership and classroom equity presenters in America, Principal Kafele is impacting America’s schools! He has delivered over 2500 conference and program keynotes, professional development workshops, parenting seminars and student assemblies over his 35 years of public speaking. An expert in the area of “attitude transformation,” Principal Kafele is the leading authority on providing effective classroom and school leadership strategies toward closing what he coined, the "Attitude Gap.” He has authored twelve books, including seven ASCD best-sellers. Follow Principal Kafele online: https://principalkafele.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/principalkafele Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/principalkafele/ Virtual AP Leadership Academy on Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/VirtualAPLeadershi
Thu, March 16, 2023
Mark Miller talks “Culture Rules” - The Authority Podcast 30
We’re thrilled to welcome international best-selling author and business leader Mark Miller as our guest for this episode of The Authority. Mark is Vice President of High Performance Leadership for Chick-Fil-A. He first started at the company as an hourly team member in 1977 and has served in numerous roles along the way. Culture Rules: The Leader's Guide to Creating the Ultimate Competitive Advantage is Mark’s 11th book. He currently has over one million books in print in more than twenty-five languages. Ross and Mark discuss: 71% of U.S. leaders believe culture is their #1 most powerful tool to drive performance, but enhancing culture ranks low on their priority list — why the gap? First move: decide and declare what you're trying to create. Culture needs to be explicit. Leaders animate culture — this is the big idea of the book The 3 Culture Rules: Aspire, Amplify, Adapt What does culture mean to your customers? Adapt, not react — how to adapt and what the current in-person vs. remote debate tells us. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella wanted to shift the company from being “know-it-alls” to “learn-it-alls” — what did Mark learn while working on the book? The “magic circle” of game design and how it explains culture. What Mark learned about innovation and purpose. Measuring culture Culture Rules is now available for purchase, with a number of bonuses available for individual and bulk orders. Learn about them here: https://www.leadeveryday.com Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About our guest Mark Miller is a business leader, best-selling author, and communicator. Mark started his Chick-fil-A career working as an hourly team member in 1977 and today leads as Vice President of High Performance Leadership. He began writing almost twenty years ago, and with over one million books in print in more than twenty-five languages, Mark’s global impact continues to grow. In addition to his writing, Mark enjoys encouraging and equipping leaders. Over the years, he’s traveled to dozens of countries teaching for numerous international organizations. Married to Donna, his high school sweetheart of forty years, they have two sons, Justin and David, a daughter-in-law Lindsay, and three amazing grandchildren Addie, Logan, and Finn. Connect with Mark: ● https://www.linkedin.com/in/highperformanceleaders/ ● https://twitte
Tue, March 07, 2023
Five Practices for Equity-Focused School Leadership with Mark Anthony Gooden, Sharon Radd, Gretchen Givens Generett, George Theoharis
In today’s special episode, we welcome all four co-authors of the book Five Practices for Equity-Focused School Leadership , published by ASCD. The book was named as one of three winners in the Best Book for Educators category of the inaugural Excellence in Equity Awards , presented by the American Consortium for Equity in Education. The discussion includes: How this team of authors connected to write the book. What they learned from one another. What an equity-focused school looks like. How leaders can adopt a transformative approach. The most significant challenges school leaders must face. The ongoing emotional and intellectual work of equity leadership. Developing equity leadership teams. Conducting a needs assessment and planning for the long haul. Five Practices for Equity-Focused School Leadership is available from ASCD. Find it here: https://bit.ly/3RtI00j Get additional resources from the authors: https://www.the5practicesgroup.com/ https://www.the5practicesgroup.com/five-practices-the-book.html Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guests Mark Anthony Gooden, PhD, is the Christian Johnson Endeavor Professor in Education Leadership and Chair of the Department of Organization and Leadership at Teachers College, Columbia University. Connect with him on Twitter @GoodenPhD and LinkedIn . Sharon Radd, Ed.D. is an Associate Professor and Program Director of the MA-Organizational Leadership at St Catherine University; Principal Consultant at ConsciousPraxis; and Senior Partner with The Five Practices Group. Connect with her on Twitter @SharonRadd and LinkedIn . Gretchen Givens Generett, PhD, is Dean, Noble J. Dick Endowed Chair in Community Outreach, and Professor of Foundations in the School of Education at Duquesne University. Currently she serves as President of the American Educational Studies Association (AESA). Connect with her on Twitter @ggenerett and LinkedIn . George Theoharis is a
Mon, February 27, 2023
The Good Boss with Kate Eberle Walker The Authority Podcast 28
Kate Eberle Walker, CEO of teletherapy solution provider Presence, is today’s guests. Kate is an education industry leader with 20+ years of experience in leading, managing, advising, acquiring and investing in education companies. Her book is The Good Boss: Nine Ways Every Manager Can Support Women at Work , published by BenBella Books. In the interview, Kate and Ross discuss: Stories about successful women often start with a story about a good boss. We hear Kate’s story. Important negative lessons Kate learned from previous bosses. The “9 Rules of the Good Boss.” Why it’s powerful to get a woman’s name right and use it. Being authentic and being someone employees can relate to. Why it’s important to “watch the clock” to be mindful of the demands on female employees. Rule 9: Tell Her That You See Her Potential, including how this relates to the situation in schools. How do you start to turn things around if you haven’t fostered this type of culture? If someone can read only one chapter of the book, which should it be? The Good Boss is available here: https://www.kateeberlewalker.com/the-good-boss/ Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest Kate Eberle Walker is an education industry leader, author, and working mom with more than 20 years of experience leading high-profile education companies. Among other roles, she was previously CEO of The Princeton Review and since 2019 has been CEO of Presence, where she leads a majority female staff. Presence is a leading provider of teletherapy solutions for children with diverse needs. Follow Kate on Twitter @eberlewalker or connect on LinkedIn . You can visit her website here: https://www.kateeberlewalker.com About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC, a consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano
Mon, February 20, 2023
The First Five: A Love Letter to Teachers with Patrick Harris II The Authority Podcast 27
Patrick Harris II, a middle school humanities teacher outside of Detroit, is the guest on this episode of The Authority. His book, published by Heinemann, is The First Five: A Love Letter to Teachers . The First Five is a memoir with a call-to-action. Patrick writes about his early life and what brought him to the education profession, and outlines the lessons learned in his first five years – as well as insights from other educators. In the interview, Patrick and Ross discuss: ● What pushed Patrick to write the book ● What it’s been like to share his story with others ● Tackling toxic positivity and being honest about the profession ● What does it mean to teach in 360 degrees? ● The difference it makes to have black male teachers ● Remembering your why. Who needs to know this and why? ● Do most teachers know the entirety of their why? ● Patrick’s greatest fear in writing the book ● What can be done to be more inclusive in recruitment and retention in the profession? The First Five is published by Heinemann. Find it here: https://bit.ly/3VQcrhC Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest Patrick Harris II is a Black queer writer, storyteller, and middle school humanities teacher. He has won multiple national teaching awards for his leadership and innovation in the classroom, including recognitions from NCTE, ASCD, and ILA. Teaching and creating is only part of who Patrick is. He is a big brother, a cat dad, lover of all things horror, a WWE fanatic, and is obsessed with scenic hikes. Find Patrick on Twitter & Instagram @PresidentPat. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC, a consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.
Mon, February 13, 2023
The Noble School Leader with Matthew Taylor The Authority Podcast 26
Matthew Taylor joins the show today to discuss his book, The Noble School Leader: The Five-Square Approach to Leading Schools with Emotional Intelligence , published by Jossey-Bass. Matthew and Ross discuss: Whether emotional intelligence is the most important competency of a school leader The components of the five-square approach: values, self-awareness, social awareness, self management, and relationship management Why it’s important for school leaders to focus on the emotional conditions of learning The challenge of transitioning into leadership School leaders' greatest challenges today The seven self-limiting mindsets How school leaders can build a culture of teacher retention Visit noblestorygroup.com to find out more about the book, The Noble School Leader, and the Five Square Approach to leading schools with emotional intelligence: https://noblestorygroup.com/book Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About the guest Matthew Taylor leads the Noble Story Group, a consulting firm that brings an emotional intelligence-based approach to leadership development in education and non-profit organizations. Matthew recently published The Noble School Leader , a practical guide for school leaders and managers seeking concrete strategies for professional improvement. He has extensive experience teaching in and leading schools, having worked in urban neighborhoods, urban charter, international, private, and magnet schools. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC, a consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano
Mon, February 06, 2023
Always Strive to Be a Better You with Pete Hall - The Authority Podcast 25
Veteran school administrator, educational consultant, and executive coach Pete Hall joins The Authority for a discussion about his latest book, Always Strive to Be a Better You . Pete and Ross discuss: Why Pete took on this ambitious project How to understand the potential as an asymptote The benefit of building his lessons around normal people The range of goals people pursue to live a better life The four tenets of the book: Know Thyself, Work for Love, Let Your Light Shine, and Rule the Day Key learnings about becoming a better you Why clarity precedes competence Learn more about Pete’s work and the book Always Strive to Be a Better You at https://strivess.com . You can also find the book on Amazon . Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About the guest Veteran school administrator and educational consultant Pete Hall channels his experiences as a school principal, life coach, and small-business owner into manageable lessons for continuous growth, personal improvement, and positive mindset. Follow Pete on Twitter @educationhall About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC, a consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano
Sun, February 05, 2023
Hacking Deficit Thinking with Byron McClure and Kelsie Reed
Dr. Byron McClure and Dr. Kelsie Reed, a pair of Nationally Certified School Psychologists, join us to discuss their new book, Hacking Deficit Thinking: 8 Reframes That Will Change The Way You Think About Strength-Based Practices And Equity In Schools . The discussion includes: “At-risk.” “Low.” “Title I Kids.” What are some harmful terms and why do we need to do away with them? How educators can unlearn student blame and instead focus on student strengths. “Everybody has somebody that they care about, everybody has something that they love, and when we allow students the opportunity to share those things with us, it helps us to see them in a different light.” Humanizing your data. Overcoming “deficit distortions.” Educators deserve to flourish! “It would be really difficult for an educator to be flourishing and their students to be languishing.” This is an in-depth discussion that goes into most of the 8 reframes presented in the book. Listen in to hear some eye-opening insights. Hacking Deficit Thinking is available from Times 10 Publications: https://www.10publications.com/hacking-deficit-thinking . Follow @hackingdeficits on Twitter to learn more. Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About the guests Byron McClure, D.Ed., is a National Certified School Psychologist and Founder of Lessons For SEL, where he uses research and human-centered design thinking to build empathy, ideate, co-create solutions, and design equitable resources that put the needs of children front and center. McClure has presented across the country as a panelist, featured speaker, and keynote speaker. He believes in maximizing everyone's limitless potential. Follow him on Twitter @SchoolPsychLife Kelsie Reed is a nationally certified school psychologist who presently works in Prince George's County Public Schools in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Reed is passionate about advancing educational equity for minoritized students, disrupting the school-to-prison pipeline, and identifying and implementing alternatives to suspension. She has presented at the community, state, and national levels on school discipline practices. Follow her on Twitter @drkelsiereed and Instagram @dr.kelsiereed. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC. He is a leadership development and performance coach for professionals in a range of indu
Mon, January 30, 2023
Free Agent Learning with Julie Evans The Authority Podcast 24
Dr. Julie Evans, CEO of Project Tomorrow and founder of the Speak Up Research Project, is our guest for this episode of The Authority. Julie and Ross talk about her new book, Free Agent Learning: Leveraging Students' Self-Directed Learning to Transform K-12 Education , published by Jossey-Bass. The conversation covers: Leveraging self-directed learning to improve classroom reach and engagement What is the Student's Vision of Learning? How can educators assert parameters in a way kids see as valuable? Moving to learn environments that are student-directed and adult-sponsored. The most durable findings over 17 years of Speak Up surveys. Students’ most surprising perspectives. Compliance vs. engagement. Learning can be exploring alongside self-motivated students. Recognizing outcomes from free agent learning in your Profile/Portrait of a Graduate. Ask kids what they want. Free Agent Learning is available on Amazon , Barnes & Noble , and more. Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About the guest Dr. Julie A. Evans is the CEO of Project Tomorrow and is the founder of the heralded Speak Up Research Project which annually collects and reports on the authentic views of K-12 students, parents and educators on key education issues each year. Dr. Evans serves as the chief researcher on the Speak Up Project as well as leading research efforts on the impact of innovative learning models and interventions in both K-12 and higher education. Over the past 17 years, almost 5 million K-12 students and an additional 1 million educators and parents have participated in the Speak Up Project representing over 35,000 schools from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and around the world. Learn more at www.tomorrow.org About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC, a consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano
Mon, January 16, 2023
Like Socks on a Rooster with Mike Ficara The Authority Podcast 22
Mike Ficara, an entrepreneur and former school administrator, joins The Authority to discuss his book Like Socks on a Rooster: A Guide to Busting the Entrepreneurial Cliches that Are Holding You Back . Mike and Ross discuss: Mike’s experience as an educator, where he thought his career was going, and how he ended up in entrepreneurship. Mike’s journey of learning by doing. “Like socks on a rooster”...what does it mean? “They aren’t your haters, they’re your narrators.” Mike wasn’t a “good” student but still received encouragement. What difference did it make? The importance of networks, communities, and mentors. Thoughts on the power of podcasting. Learn more about Mike’s work and the book Like Socks on a Rooster at https://mikeficara.com . You can also find the book on Amazon . Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About the guest Mike Ficara is a seasoned entrepreneur and consultant. His core focus is on the growth and scaling strategies for clients, in addition to expertise in personal brand building and social media strategy. He has had the opportunity to work in a variety of industries over his career going from the classroom to the boardroom. This vast experience provided insight into how people learn, leadership, and most importantly what motivates people to succeed. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC, a consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano
Mon, January 09, 2023
Get Weird with CJ Casciotta The Authority Podcast 21
Today, The Authority Podcast gets weird. We welcome CJ Casciotta to the show. CJ is a creative strategist, media producer, and author of Get Weird: Discover the Surprising Secret to Making a Difference . Ross and CJ discuss: How CJ learned to “get weird” Weird suggests the supernatural — something we don’t understand. The story of a girl who “dodged the gavel of who she can and can’t be.” “Too much sanity may be madness—and maddest of all: to see life as it is, and not as it should be!” Designing education around its goals Why sticking out is harder than blending in Misfits start movements Why is it so hard to be like Mr. Rogers? Get Weird: Discover the Surprising Secret to Making a Difference is available on Amazon . Larn more about ‘s work at https://recultu.re/ Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About the guest Seen by many as a trusted voice on 21st century cultural shifts, CJ Casciotta has consulted and developed campaigns for presidential candidates, IPOs, startups, and Fortune 500s alike, partnering with notable brands such as MGM Studios, Delta Airlines, Sesame Street, Lululemon, and The United Nations Foundation. An accomplished media producer, he's collaborated on projects with leading culture-makers like Ira Glass of This American Life, Seth Godin, and FoodNetwork's Maneet Chauhan. He’s the founder of Ringbeller , an interactive media and technology project focused on social emotional learning for early childhood and K-12 learners. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC, a consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano
Mon, January 02, 2023
Dear Math with Sarah Strong & Gigi Butterfield
Sarah Strong, a teacher at San Diego’s High Tech High, and Gigi Butterfield, her former student, co-authored the book Dear Math: Why Kids Hate Math And What Teachers Can Do About It . They are today’s guests on The Authority. In the interview, Ross, Sarah and Gigi discuss: Sarah and Gigi’s four-year student-teacher relationship and how they came to collaborate on the book What the “Dear Math” letters are and how Sarah was inspired to assign them The math stories and challenges that come up most frequently from students How to get over being “fraudulently fond” of math Designing a community where math is a liberator rather than a gatekeeper Making math learning collaborative while getting over the competitive instinct Dear Math is published by Times 10 Publications. Find it HERE . Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guests Sarah Strong has taught math to grades 6 through 12 at High Tech High in San Diego, and she also works for the High Tech High Graduate School of Education, teaching Math Methods and Advanced Math Pedagogy courses and supporting the new math teachers in the organization. She has led workshops on Project Based Learning in mathematics, student-centered assessment, and alternative grading systems. Gigi Butterfield is currently a screenwriting major at Loyola Marymount University and a former student of the Gary and Jeri-Ann Jacobs High Tech High in San Diego, California. Gigi has attended project based learning schools since the age of five and, even in college, is passionate about how PBL plays an integral role in revitalizing heavily antiquated math pedagogies. Gigi was captain of the basketball team, head of student ambassadors, leader of Model United Nations, a member of student senate, and a Jeopardy fanatic hoping to go into comedy writing. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC, a consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano
Fri, December 23, 2022
The Writer’s Mindset with Chris Hall
Chris Hall, an 8th grade language arts teacher at Oyster River Middle School in Durham, NH is the guest on this episode of The Authority. His book, published by Heinemann, is The Writer’s Mindset: Six Stances That Promote Authentic Revision . In the interview, Chris and Ross discuss: Why Chris chose to focus his book on the topic of revision The 6 Stances students can adopt toward their writing Beliefs about optimism: students should learn from their strengths & students should choose what to write and revise How to make risk-taking inviting for young writers How teachers can model flexible thinking — openness to new ideas and approaches — for students The Writer’s Mindset is published by Heinemann. Find it HERE . Chris Hall and The Writer’s Mindset were recommended by former guest Mike Anderson. Listen to Mike’s episode: Tackling the Motivation Crisis with Mike Anderson . Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest Chris Hall teaches language arts at Oyster River Middle School in Durham, NH. Over the past 20 years he has taught in urban, suburban, public, independent, and international schools, where he has helped young writers find authentic purpose, build community, and discover the power of their own words. Chris served as a Heinemann Fellow, researching innovative writing practices within a cohort of dynamic educators from across the country. You can find him on Twitter at @CHallTeacher . About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC, a consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano
Wed, December 14, 2022
Rebel Educator with Tanya Sheckley The Authority Podcast 18
Tanya Sheckley, Founder and President of UP Academy and author of the book Rebel Educator is our guest. Tanya and Ross discuss: The definition of a “Rebel Educator” and the type of school culture that encourages high-impact rebels Why it’s important to keep teachers connected to the reasons they became educators in the first place. What Tanya and her teachers have learned from each other How to create classrooms where impact and imagination meet. UP Academy’s approach to inclusive classrooms The value of educating parents about the way experiential learning happens in the school How the US can do a better job of fairly compensating teachers Where to start if you read only one part of the book (hint: focus on the why of your lessons) Rebel Educator is available from Houndstooth Press. Buy it on Amazon . Learn more about Tanya’s work at https://www.rebeleducator.com/ Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About our guest Tanya Sheckley is the Founder and President of UP Academy, a progressive elementary lab school in San Mateo, California. UP Academy is reinventing education by customizing learning for each student, integrating project-based learning throughout its curriculum, and supporting students with disabilities to attend alongside able-bodied students in mixed-age classrooms. Tanya hosts the Rebel Educator podcast, speaks across the country on the future of education, and leads professional development programs for school administrators and educators. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC, a consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano
Wed, November 30, 2022
The School Choice Roadmap with Andrew Campanella The Authority Podcast 17
Andrew Campanella is the guest today to discuss his book, The School Choice Roadmap: 7 Steps to Finding the Right School for Your Child . The book has won the Foreword Indies Gold Award, a Silver IPPY, a Mom’s Choice Award, and a National Parenting Product Award. While the book is written to help parents navigate schooling options for their children, we look at it from a different angle in this interview. We dissect the advantages available to schools and school leaders when they understand what parents and students are looking for in their schools. How can schools make changes that matter and, importantly, communicate those actions? Ross and Andrew chat about: The advantage schools receive by “getting out there” and proactively sharing their successes The importance of reflecting on one’s own time as a student Some of the top goals parents have for their children What parents want vs. what they need and how to address both How storytelling can make meaning of teachers’ valuable qualifications How schools can collaborate with parent navigator organizations Why all schools should be proud to share their work The School Choice Roadmap is published by Beaufort Books. Learn more HERE . Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About the guest Andrew Campanella is one of the nation’s leading experts on K-12 school choice. He serves as the President and CEO of the National School Choice Awareness Foundation . Throughout his career as a nonprofit executive, Andrew has provided insightful and jargon-free commentary about education options to local, regional, and national media outlets in thousands of interviews. With more than 18 years of senior-level experience in K-12 education, Andrew has led the National School Choice Week charitable program since 2012, playing a key role in the effort’s remarkable growth. Connect on Twitter @andrewrcamp About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC, a consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano This episode is sponsored by the National School Choice Awareness Foundation and features a mini-interview segment with Krissia Campos Spivey, project director of the Fo
Sun, November 27, 2022
Hacking Teacher Burnout with Amber Harper
On this episode, we discuss an ever-timely topic: teacher burnout. And today we get to evaluate solutions from the teacher’s point of view. Amber Harper, a kindergarten teacher, podcaster, and Teacher Burnout Coach is our guest. She joins to talk about her book Hacking Teacher Burnout . Ross and Amber discuss: Amber’s “burnout story” and how she came to this work What makes teacher burnout different from the burnout in other roles and professions The types and stages of teacher burnout “Your burnout isn’t your fault, but it is your responsibility” Going from isolated to empowered Better support for new teachers What are the changes that are within each teacher’s control? Developing your Teacher Brand and how this benefits the whole school Hacking Teacher Burnout is published by Times 10 Publications. Learn more HERE . Learn about Amber’s work at http://www.burnedinteacher.com Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About the guest Amber Harper is a Kindergarten Teacher, author of Hacking Teacher Burnout, podcaster, and Teacher Burnout Coach. She gives struggling teachers a path to follow as they navigate their way out of burnout by helping them grow through their burnout and take their next best steps toward what they want from their career in education and in life. You can learn more about her and the services she offers at www.burnedinteacher.com About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC, a consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano
Thu, November 17, 2022
Improve Every Lesson Plan with SEL ― Jeffrey Benson
Jeffrey Benson, author of the ASCD best-seller Improve Every Lesson Plan with SEL , is the guest for this episode. Jeffrey and Ross discuss: Jeffrey’s extensive work with students who suffered the trauma of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) “Are you willing to bet that your lesson plan will work – and work for every student?” How “home-field advantage” can inform perspectives on the classroom Jeffrey’s personal definition of SEL The process of co-creating social-emotional learning goals with students “Differentiated autonomy” in the classroom How an emphasis on SEL leads to improved formative assessment The critical importance of an intentional closure routine for lessons Reconnecting teachers with their “best moments of teaching [that] have always been informed by the social and emotional learning of [their] students” And more! This is a wide-ranging conversation you won’t want to miss. Improve Every Lesson Plan with SEL is published by ASCD. Buy it HERE . Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About the guest Jeffrey Benson has more than 40 years of experience as a teacher, mentor, and school administrator, with a focus on supporting schools that can work for all students. His books include Improve Every Lesson Plan with SEL , Hanging In: Strategies for Working with the Students Who Challenge Us Most , and 10 Steps for Managing Change in Schools: How do we take initiatives from goals to actions? His website is JeffreyBenson.org . Connect on Twitter @jeffreybenson61 About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC. He is a leadership development and performance coach for professionals in a range of industries and consults with organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry to help communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano and LinkedIn
Thu, November 17, 2022
Hacking Student Learning Habits with Elizabeth Jorgensen The Authority 14
Award-winning writer, teacher, and sought-after speaker Elizabeth Jorgensen is this episode’s guest. She joins the show to discuss Hacking Student Learning Habits , her book on process-based assessment published by Times 10 Publications. Ross and Elizabeth discuss: How to introduce small, measurable, progress-driven goals while de-emphasizing grades as the outcome A relevant story from James Clear’s Atomic Habits that illustrates key concepts about student learning The standards of evaluation for process-based assessment Helping students build daily habits that encourage progress, not perfection Why it would be counterproductive to accept late student work Transferring control to the student “Trust the process.” Hacking Student Learning Habits: 9 Ways to Foster Resilient Learners and Assess the Process, Not the Outcome is available from Times 10 Publications. Get it HERE . Visit Elizabeth’s website: https://lizjorgensen.weebly.com/ Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest Elizabeth Jorgensen is an award-winning writer and teacher. In 2021, she was named one of 20 of America’s Most Inspiring Educators (The Henry Ford’s Innovation Nation Teacher Innovator Awards). She was also named a PBS Innovative Educator, among several other awards. Her memoir was released in 2019. Narrated in alternating voices, G o, Gwen, Go: A Family’s Journey to Olympic Gold (Meyer & Meyer Sport), is an inspiring story about Olympian Gwen Jorgensen and her family. Follow her on Twitter @LyzaJo About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC, a consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano
Thu, November 17, 2022
Tackling the Motivation Crisis with Mike Anderson The Authority 12
Veteran educator and consultant Mike Anderson joins the podcast this week to discuss his ninth book, Tackling the Motivation Crisis: How to Activate Student Learning Without Behavior Charts, Pizza Parties, and Other Hard-to-Quit Incentive Systems . Mike and Ross discuss: Evidence of the motivation crisis in schools — but why it also may not be as bad as it seems What’s wrong with incentives? Why incentive systems are so hard to quit The six key intrinsic motivators and how educators can use them to get students engaged “We need to make sure students’ academic work is compelling and interesting enough that they will want to do it.” The times when extrinsic motivation might work Tackling the Motivation Crisis is published by ASCD. Find it HERE . Additional Resources: Access Mike’s LiveBinder with many more resources on tackling the motivation crisis: LiveBinder Link Learn about Mike’s eCourse on Tackling the Motivation Crisis . Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest Mike Anderson has been an educator for more than 25 years. A public school teacher for 15 years, he has also taught preschool, coached swim teams, and taught university graduate level classes. He now works as a consultant, providing professional learning for teachers throughout the United States and beyond. In 2020, he was awarded the Outstanding Educational Leader Award by NHASCD for his work as a consultant. Learn more at https://leadinggreatlearning.com or connect on Twitter @balancedteacher About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC, a consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano
Mon, November 07, 2022
From Reopen to Reinvent with Michael Horn The Authority 13
In this episode, we talk with Michael Horn, Author of the book, “ From Reopen to Reinvent ”. In this episode we talk about the following: - Thinking a lot about why people make changes in their daily lives. - 4 core sets of reasons that cause people to make a switch. - Help them make better switches. - Systematically said all these things are of lower priority. - What motivates people to make changes - the push of the current situation - The pull of the new - Anxiety of starting a new school. - Habits of the present - Parents and perceptions of schooling. - Finding more success in alternative models. - Educational entrepreneurs are continuing to innovate - How to help teachers: 1 size fits all mindset get rid of it. - Come at it from a question that sparks their interest. - 2nd. Seeing a lot more coteaching
Tue, October 18, 2022
The 21st Century School Library with Ryan Bani Tahmaseb
In this episode, school librarian Ryan Bani Tahmaseb discusses his book The 21st Century School Library: A model for innovative teaching & learning. Some areas of conversation include: How administrators and teachers can lean on the library to support teaching, learning, and innovation The modern role of a school librarian – and what is still misunderstood How librarians can be a valuable resource to new teachers The benefits of engaging students in hands-on learning How to “revitalize research” so students can develop original work that shows their learning Balancing free exploration with important lessons on information literacy and digital literacy The librarian’s role in supporting inclusivity The 21st Century School Library is available from John Catt Educational. Find it here . Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest Ryan Tahmaseb is the Director of Library Services at the Meadowbrook School in Weston, Massachusetts. In addition to writing about education in publications such as Edutopia and Education Week, he also writes short fiction and poetry, with work appearing in journals such as the Carolina Quarterly. Connect on Twitter @RyanTahmaseb About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC, a consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K–12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano
Tue, October 04, 2022
De-Implementation with Peter DeWitt - The Authority 10
On today’s episode we’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Peter DeWitt to discuss his latest book, De-Implementation: Creating the Space to Focus on What Works . Peter and Ross discuss: - The concept of de-implementation and how Peter began to study it - How to understand what’s working and what’s not - The benefits of focusing on “fewer things, greater depth” - What surveys show educators are interested in de-implementing - How de-implementation or “strategic abandonment” can create more time for effective instruction to take place - “In fact, it is not possible to create tomorrow unless one first sloughs off yesterday” - Peter Drucker De-Implementation is published by Corwin. Find it HERE . Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest Peter M. DeWitt, EdD is a former K–5 teacher (eleven years) and principal (eight years). He is a school leadership coach who runs competency-based workshops and provides keynotes nationally and internationally, focusing on school leadership (collaborative cultures and instructional leadership), as well as fostering inclusive school climates. Peter writes the “Finding Common Ground” column for Education Week and co-created _Education Week_’s “A Seat at the Table” series, where he moderates conversations with experts around the topics of race, gender, sexual orientation, research, trauma, and many other educational topics. Learn more at https://petermdewitt.com or connect on Twitter @PeterMDeWitt About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC, a consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K–12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano
Mon, September 26, 2022
Dancing with Discomfort with Carey Borkoski The Authority Podcast 9
Dr. Carey Borkoski, Associate Professor and Research Fellow in the School of Education at Loyola University - Maryland, is our guest on this episode. We chat about her book Dancing with Discomfort: A framework for noticing, naming, and navigating our in-between moments . Carey and Ross discuss: What inspired Carey to write the book The importance of transitions in creating an interesting, fulfilling life How to navigate unanticipated personal or professional transitions Navigating the transition into an administrator role Addressing the discomfort of giving or receiving feedback Getting over imposter syndrome Dancing with Discomfort is published by John Catt Educational. Find it HERE . Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest Dr. Carey Borkoski is an Associate Professor and Research Fellow in the School of Education at Loyola University - Maryland, and a Lead Coach in the Johns Hopkins University School of Education. Her research focuses on the role of building community and cultivating belonging in student and faculty successes. She also writes and speaks on strategies and technology tools that contribute to building a sense of community in our learning spaces. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC, a consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K–12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano
Mon, September 19, 2022
Leading Like a C.O.A.C.H. with Matt Renwick The Authority Podcast 8
Today we welcome elementary school principal and author Matt Renwick to discuss his two most recent books: Leading Like a C.O.A.C.H. , published by Corwin, and Resist the Script , a self-published e-book. Some specific areas of conversation include: The “north star” of helping teachers to become better leaders and learners The importance of affirming positive practices before rushing into change Re-envisioned role of the principal as supportive guide, active listener, learner-teacher, and opportunity creator Improving the quality of feedback to and from teachers “Would students know what they are learning and why it is important?” Bringing a sense of joy through the curriculum Leading Like a C.O.A.C.H. is published by Corwin. Find it at https://us.corwin.com or at this direct link . Resist the Script: Five Critical Questions for Teachers to Adapt, Adopt, or Develop a Literacy Curriculum That Works for All Readers and Writers is available on Amazon . Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest Matt Renwick has served in public education for over 20 years. He started as a 5th and 6th-grade teacher in a country school outside of Wisconsin Rapids, WI. Matt now serves as an elementary principal for the Mineral Point Unified School District. See more of his work at https://mattrenwick.com . Connect on Twitter @ReadByExample About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC, a consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K–12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano
Mon, September 12, 2022
Questioning Education with Sean Slade The Authority Podcast 7
In this episode of The Authority Podcast, our host Ross Romano welcomes guest Sean Slade to discuss his book Questioning Education: Moving from What and How to Why and Who . Some specific areas of conversation include: Some of the false assumptions we make about schools What “off the radar” topics education leaders should be thinking about Sean’s new “Educational Solar System” and how it proposes a shift in the way we consider the focal point of education Sir Ken Robinson and Simon Sinek’s influence on the book Why education must “start with why” Making the teaching profession more attractive to a new generation Where educators of all roles can begin using their influence Questioning Education is published by Routledge Eye on Education. Find it at www.routledge.com or at this direct link . Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guest Sean Slade is a global education leader with more than 25 years of experience in education globally, in a career spanning four continents and five countries. Currently residing in the Washington DC area, he has driven policy change, implemented initiatives, and developed educational leaders to enhance the social impact of education. Connect on Twitter @SeanTSlade About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC, a consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K–12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano
Mon, September 05, 2022
Singletons - Isolation is the Enemy of Improvement with Brig Leane The Authority Podcast 6
Brig Leane, former principal of Fruita Middle School in Colorado, has over 20 years of experience in education. He has been an assistant principal and has taught at the middle and high school levels in inner-city, suburban, and rural schools. He has also been an adjunct professor at Colorado Christian University. As a teacher, Brig learned the power of the PLC process firsthand, as his math team grew students more than any other team, in any grade, in any tested subject in his 22,000-student school district. Education is Brig’s second career, following his successful service as an officer in the US Coast Guard, having attained the rank of lieutenant commander. He graduated with honors from the United States Coast Guard Academy with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and served as an officer for many years on humanitarian missions around the nation. He was selected as a Troops-to-Teachers recipient and has a master’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Colorado Mesa University. How do I get my singletons to want to collaborate? What is a singleton? Someone who doesn’t have a natural collaborative partner. The three on-ramps for singletons; course-alike, content alike, and critical friend The power of common formative assessment - student achievement and improved teacher performance When a teacher team gets focused on the four critical questions - Collaboration vs. the focus on the four critical questions There’s only so much time to meet together, so we must set aside the time for teachers to find support in answering the 4 critical questions of learning. Understand the why of collaboration instead of isolation. Can’t ignore the how. They don’t have the time and support Support is not just about permission, but also about accountability. Preparation is essential. Isolation is the enemy of improvement REAL Criteria: Readiness: Does the learning develop student readiness for the next level of learning? Is it essential for success in the next unit, course, or grade level? Endurance: Does the learning have endurance? Do teachers expect students to retain the knowledge and skills over time as opposed to merely learning it for a test? Assessed: Do teachers assess the learning? Will teachers cover the learning on state testing or college entrance, military, or trade school tests? Leverage: Does the learning have leverage? Will proficiency in this standard help students in other areas of the curriculum and academic disciplines?
Mon, August 29, 2022
Depth of Knowledge with Erik Francis Authority Episode 5
Erik M. Francis is an international author, educator, and presenter with over 25 years of experience in education working as a classroom teacher, a site administrator, an education program specialist in a state education agency, and a professional development producer and provider. Erik is the author of Deconstructing Depth of Knowledge: A Method and Model for Deeper Teaching and Learning published by Solution Tree. He is also the author of Now That’s a Good Question! How to Promote Cognitive Rigor Through Classroom Questioning published by ASCD. Erik is the owner of Maverik Education, providing professional development, guidance, and support on how to develop and deliver teaching and learning experiences that are standards-based, socially and emotionally supportive, and student responsive. He is also consistently ranked as one of the World’s Top 30 Education Professionals by the research organization Global Gurus. What is Depth of Knowledge? Carlifies the cognitive demand of the stuff we do in education It all centers around the standard We’ve beent reating DOK like a Criteria for alignment studies. Categories of Complexity, Criteria, Connections Depth of knowledge is what cames after the verb - Karen Hess It’s not a values judgment. Tier your instruction to the DOK level kids are at. Traditionally do do DOK and RTI as deficit thinking Webb’s DOK levels Engage __ Growing up Gifted page 290 https://www.webbalign.org Cognitive action verbs are abstract Be brave enough to reboot the matrix. We teach the way we were taught, and we teach the way we understand Method and model moving forward. Applications for RTI and The missing link two different types of assessment DOK lends itself to Authentic assessment Stop judging kids based on whether they can Not only can you do it, but can you communicate it. How to be a transformative principal? Ask, why are you teaching what you’re teaching? 5 why’s strategy. What do you mean?
Mon, August 22, 2022
The Elevated Leader by Ryan Gottfredson Authority Podcast 4
Elevated Leader Horizontal vs. Vertical Leadership Emotional Intelligence is vertical development How do we really develop vertically? Must connect to our bodies’ internal operating system. More inclined to self-protect ourselves. We may not have the capacity to address our past trauma. Regardless of where we are, we can always level up. It’s easier than we generally think. The deeper we go, the higher we elevate. First step is always awaken. Formal definition of Vertical Development. The strongest people I know are the people most willing to be vulnerable. Make meaning of our world. Child development vs. Adult development. Most adults don’t develop except based on effort. The Assessment How fascinating! Mind 1.0 Safety comfort and belonging Good soldier mode vs. self-protection mode Dependent Thinkers - give up our thinking for the sake of comfort and MInd 2.0 standing out, getting ahead, advance Independent thinkers Body is programmed to act in Mind 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 ways. Mind 3.0 Contribute, add value, lift others Interdependent thinkers - love sitting right in the middle. formally incentivized to be mind 2.0. Focus on the purpose. Focus should not be on test scores. An organization can never rise above the level of their leader’s vertical altitude Why should someone who is not necessarily a leader strive to understand how to be an elevated leader? Everybody wants to become a better version of ourselves. Vertical Development is about healing ourselves. It’s not evaluative, it’s developmental.
Mon, August 15, 2022
The Success Factor with Dr. Ruth Gotian Authority Podcast 3
Dr. Ruth Gotian is the Chief Learning Officer and Assistant Professor of Education in Anesthesiology and former Assistant Dean of Mentoring and Executive Director of the Mentoring Academy at Weill Cornell Medicine. During her extensive career, she has personally coached and mentored thousands of people ranging from undergraduates to faculty members. As Assistant Dean for Mentoring she oversaw the success of nearly 1,800 faculty members at Weill Cornell Medicine. Currently, she researches the most successful people of our generation, including Nobel laureates, astronauts, CEOs and Olympic champions, in order to learn about their habits and practices so that we may optimize our own success. She is the author of the book [[The Success Factor]]: Developing the Mindset and Skillset for Peak Business Performance. Intrinsic motivation How Ruth started playing soccer. No is the starting point of a conversation. It’s easier if we tell them no, and they don’t argue with. What is the strategy that I haven’t thought of that will convince them? If you want innovation, you can’t have status quo. Innovation is doing something new with something old. We are constantly rewarding those who get 100! Olympians do not do it for the medal. Find the intrinsic motivation in the teachers to start. Passion audit - enjoy, don’t enjoy, good at, but not enjoy - ruthgotian.com/passionaudit. Where is their curiosity? Stanford achievement Test - Exclusive We adults try to get kids to have intrinsic motivation Terrified of tests as an adult. Surrounding yourself with a team of mentors. Senior to you, at your level, and junior mentors - Will you be my mentor - mentoring is a relationship Everyone has something they can offer. Fear How to be a transformative principal? Start with your teachers, see where they are most curious, and start delving
Mon, August 08, 2022
Chief Empathy Officer with Dr. Tom Hoerr The Authority 2
Thomas R. Hoerr, PhD retired after leading the New City School in St. Louis, Missouri for 34 years and is now the Emeritus Head of School. He is currently a Scholar In Residence at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and teaches in the Educational Leadership program, preparing prospective principals. He also led the ISACS New Heads Network and founded the Non-Profit Management Program at Washington University in St. Louis. Hoerr has written several books, and his newest, _Taking Social Emotional Learning Schoolwide: The Formative Five Success Skills for Students and Staff_, was published in December of 2019. He has written more than 150 articles, including “The Principal Connection” column in Educational Leadership Magazine from 2004 to 2017. He was previously on the Transformative Principal Podcast episode 224 where we talked about who you are is more important that what you know, and episode 225 where we talked about his book, The Formative Five. - Why does Empathy matter so much? - If there were more empathy in schools, we’d be in better shape. - If you don’t have empathy, it’s hard for people to follow you. - If you do have empathy, it’s easier for people to follow you. - Empathy is a muscle. You can make it stronger - intentional and transparent - Voluntary - making it voluntary is having empathy. - listening, aggressive, pursuing. - One of your problems - you look too busy. - I was working; I was being accessible. - Who are you closest to in your school. - Even if my idea is the best, it’s not the best if nobody is on board. - Breakfast with Tom - agenda is yours. - Empathetic Conversations - extension of this notion that I really want to get to know people as people, not just teachers. - I know you as a student, I want to know you as a student - Leadership is about relationship. - Teacher observations - school principals should use them as a way to build trust and observations. - Educators are underpaid. - Herzberg’s theory of motivation - Teaching is far too siloed - If people can just read one part of the book, what is it? The part about listening.
Mon, August 01, 2022
Designing for Belonging with Susie Wise The Authority Podcast 1
Dr. Susie Wise is a design leader with experience in the education, tech, and the social sectors. She coaches leaders in equity design and innovation practices. She teaches at the d.school at Stanford. Previously she founded and directed the K12 Lab at the d.school and co-created Liberatory Design. She is the author of the book Designing for Belonging . She was a previous guest on Transformative Principal Episode 121 Where we talked about #shadowastudent and Episode 122 where we talked about the design thinking process. I credit much of the work I did to write my book SchoolX to that conversation with Susie. One of four books that kick of a news series for d.school. - Equity vs. Equality - Belonging is the feeling we are going for when we talk about equity. - Work that I was doing with School principals. - Design cultures with their school. - John Powell work around othering and belonging. - using design tools differently. - Contributing is a powerful way to get to belonging. - Flow is one of the moments of belonging. - Creating a container of belonging. - We’re not just trying to get to one version of belonging. - Feel it, see it, shape it - Shape - create safe-to-fail experiments - Understanding comics with Scott McLoud - If people could only read one part of your book, what should they read? Exercise on page 137 - Design an activity to inspire belonging. Why is it so important for groups of any size to hope its members feel like they belong? When people feel like they belong, they are able to do their best and be their best. When we work toward belonging, we’re working toward creating a space where collaboration and cooperation can flourish. This is true for every kind of group, big and small. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, business manager, community organizer, or leader of any sort, your group is unlikely to thrive if the individuals don’t feel welcome, included, and valued for who they are. What is Design for Belonging? Sometimes when we hear the word design, we think it means visual design – like logos or web design. Design for Belonging provides tools that any group or organization can use to build inclusion. These might be rituals that bring us together, spaces that keep us calm, roles that create a sense of responsibility, and systems that make us feel respected. How do you use design tools to create a feeling like belonging? The tools in Design for Belonging help bridge the gap between the logistical planning of your office meeting or organizational restructure and the way you want people to feel when they participate. Here are some great examples fr
Trailer · Mon, August 01, 2022
Introducing the Authority Podcast - Episode 0
This episode introduces the Authority Podcast as the place to go for educational authors to share the great work in their books.
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