Leaning into Leadership
We all want to see successes in both our personal and professional lives. Often, that requires strong leadership. In a time when leadership can be more challenging than ever, this podcast is dedicated to cultivating leaders by elevating the voices of leaders and promoting positivity. Join Dr. Darrin Peppard, lifelong educator and best-selling author, for this mixed platform podcast (some solo, some guest interview) for inspiration and insight, and some great leadership stories from those are living it, excelling at it, and celebrating it. Together, let's lean into leadership.
S1 E205 · Sun, April 27, 2025
Episode 205: The Leadership Journey with Jimmy Casas
In this episode, I’m joined by Jimmy Casas —best-selling author, leadership coach, and former award-winning principal. Jimmy and I dive into his incredible journey from bar manager to one of the most recognized school leaders in the country. We unpack the power of origin stories, the traps of superhero leadership, and why leaders must know who they want to be in order to lead effectively. Jimmy shares how Culturize became the game-changing book it is today, why so many school leaders fall into “fixer” mode, and how coaching has changed the game for him and countless leaders. We also talk about the evolving landscape of school leadership, the importance of building leadership capacity, and his belief that culture is caused—by adults, not students. Whether you're early in your leadership journey or a seasoned veteran, this conversation is packed with practical insights, authentic reflection, and coaching wisdom that will inspire and equip you to lead with clarity and purpose. 🔗 Connect with Jimmy Casas: https://www.jimmycasas.com 📘 Learn more about Culturize and Words on the Wall 📣 Book Jimmy to speak or coach your team 👤 About Jimmy Casas Jimmy Casas served twenty-two years as a school leader. He is a best-selling author, keynote speaker, and leadership coach who has dedicated his career to building better school culture and stronger school leaders. Under Jimmy’s leadership, Bettendorf High School was named one of the best high schools in the country three times by Newsweek and U.S. News and World Report . He was the 2012 Iowa Principal of the Year and the runner-up NASSP 2013 National Principal of the Year. In 2014, he was invited to the White House to speak on the Future Ready Pledge, and in 2015, he received the Bammy Award for National Principal of the Year. Check out Darrin as a guest on Jimmy's podcast The Interview Chair
S1 E204 · Sun, April 20, 2025
Episode 204: Principal Matters with William D. Parker
In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership , Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with the brilliant William D. Parker—an award-winning former principal, author, speaker, and executive coach. Will is the founder of Principal Matters, LLC and the host of Principal Matters: The School Leader’s Podcast , with over 1.5 million downloads. Through his coaching, books, and virtual leadership academies, Will empowers school leaders to improve culture, communication, and student outcomes. Together, Darrin and Will dive deep into the real and raw experiences of school leadership. Will shares his journey from teacher to principal, including the moment he almost walked away from education—and the letter of resignation that changed his life. They explore the importance of reflection, well-being, and why leaders must pour into themselves before they can lead others. They also discuss Will’s latest book, Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? An Educator’s Guide to Doing What You Love , and how leaders can take back their autonomy by acting with clarity, curiosity, and intention. Key Takeaways: Leadership begins with personal wellness: Will's turning point came through a wake-up call at home, leading him to redefine how he approached leadership. The question every educator should ask: Whose permission are you waiting for? Leading with curiosity can unlock clarity and drive real school improvement. Scaling your influence is not about doing more—it’s about sharing your expertise and elevating others. Reflection and coaching provide the safe space leaders need to grow. Quotes: "You become a better leader when you start pouring into yourself." "You don't need someone's permission to do what's right for kids." "Scaling your influence is an obligation. Don't keep your expertise to yourself." "Curiosity + Inquiry = Discovery. That's the formula for powerful leadership." Connect with William D. Parker: Website: williamdparker.com Email: will@williamdparker.com LinkedIn: William D. Parker Instagram: @william_d_parker Facebook: William Davis P
S1 E203 · Thu, April 17, 2025
Episode 203: So You Want to Be a Principal with Dominic, Todd, & Darrin
Mid-Month Edition with Todd Bloomer & Dominic Armano This month, the Three Amigos—Darrin Peppard, Todd Bloomer, and Dominic Armano—are back with an episode that dives headfirst into one of the most common questions they get: “How do I land that principal job?” From the nerves of the interview to that surreal moment when you finally kick your feet up in the principal’s chair (even if it only lasts 10 minutes), this episode is packed with real talk, practical tips, and plenty of laughs. Whether you're just starting to think about school leadership or are gearing up for your third-round interview, this is the episode for you. 🎯 What We Talk About: How to prepare for interviews (and what not to say) The fine line between confidence and cockiness Doing your homework on the school, superintendent, and district Making a strong impression with school colors, mission alignment, and personal touches Internal vs. external candidates: how to stand out What to do when you don’t get the job The importance of being your authentic self—and including your family in your story Plus, Todd drops some killer one-liners (as always), Dom gets nostalgic, and Darrin makes peace with the Rockies' rough start to the season. 💡 Key Takeaways: Be humble, but don’t undersell your leadership experience Research isn’t just about the school—it’s about the people Scenario-based interview questions are your friend Rejection isn’t the end—it’s a chance to reflect and grow Your personality and values matter just as much as your resume 🧢 Bonus Tips: Wear the school colors Use the school’s hashtag or mission language Bring a notebook and call interviewers by name Answer with “I did,” not “I would” Subscribe so you don’t miss a single episode, and connect with us on social to keep the leadership conversation going. 🛣️ Until next time, have a Road to Awesome week.
S1 E202 · Sun, April 13, 2025
Episode 202: Fired Up Leadership with Dr. Frank Rudnesky
Dr. Frank Rudnesky is a professional speaker, author, and educational leader known for his contagious energy and passion for leadership. He has penned several books, including Fired Up Leadership , Fired Up Student Leadership , and 50 Great Things Leaders Do: Let’s Get Fired Up . Dr. Rudnesky draws on his extensive experience as a teacher and award-winning middle school principal to deliver transformative keynotes, workshops, and presentations. Episode Summary: In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership , Dr. Darrin Peppard welcomes his long-time friend and leadership expert, Dr. Frank Rudnesky. Together, they explore the critical role of student leadership in schools and how empowering students can profoundly impact school culture. Dr. Rudnesky shares personal stories, practical strategies, and lessons from his latest book, Igniting Students’ Passions: Empowering Lifelong Leaders . The conversation touches on creating leadership opportunities for all students, fostering trust, and igniting passions that inspire lifelong leadership skills. Key Takeaways: Leadership is not confined to titles; it’s a choice and a mindset. Creating intentional leadership opportunities for students helps them discover their potential and sets them on a path of lifelong leadership. Empowering students to step out of their comfort zones and take ownership of their learning fosters a positive and inclusive school culture. Practical strategies like leadership academies, service projects, and mentorship programs can help schools cultivate student leaders. Amplifying the voices of students and educators builds strong, connected communities and reinforces the importance of servant leadership. Connect with Dr. Rudnesky at FiredUpLeadership.org , via email at FrankRudnesky@gmail.com , or on X, Instagram, and TikTok @DrFrankRud.
S1 E201 · Sun, April 06, 2025
Episode 201: From Crisis to Proactive Leadership with Chris Dormer
On this episode of Leaning Into Leadership , Darrin welcomes Chris Dormer , Superintendent of Norristown Area School District in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Chris brings nearly three decades of educational experience from diverse settings, including roles as a teacher, coach, principal, and superintendent. Chris shares powerful insights into shifting school leadership from crisis mode—something many leaders have felt stuck in since the pandemic—to a more proactive, intentional leadership approach. He emphasizes the importance of serving each and every student, rather than focusing broadly on “all students,” and how this subtle yet powerful shift in mission can transform school culture. Throughout the conversation, Chris offers practical strategies leaders can immediately implement, including prioritizing classroom visits, giving actionable and meaningful feedback, and ensuring leadership teams stay focused on what truly matters most—teaching and learning. Key takeaways from this episode: Why proactive leadership is crucial in moving beyond crisis-driven schools. How shifting from “all” students to “each and every” student can profoundly impact your school’s culture. Practical ways to protect your calendar and prioritize instructional leadership. Strategies for developing and empowering leadership teams through intentional professional growth. This episode is packed with leadership wisdom and practical insights that will help you and your team refocus, reenergize, and recommit to the most important work in education. Connect with Chris Dormer: Email: cdormer@nasd.k12.pa.us LinkedIn: Christopher Dormer Website: Norristown Area School District Book Darrin for your next event! Darrin Peppard is currently booking keynotes and workshops for opening convocations, teacher and principal conferences, and leadership development events. If you want to set the stage for an unforgettable school year or inspire meaningful growth at your next conference, reach out to Darrin today! Website: roadtoawesome.net Email: darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net Connect on LinkedIn: Dar
S1 E200 · Sun, March 30, 2025
Episode 200: The Power of Commitment
In this milestone 200th episode of the Leaning Into Leadership podcast, host Dr. Darrin Peppard reflects deeply on the theme of commitment. Darrin shares personal insights and impactful stories highlighting how his commitment to delivering weekly episodes since January 2022 has shaped the podcast and his journey as a leadership speaker, coach, and author. He celebrates the community of listeners who have supported the podcast, discusses the evolution of guest selection towards more educational leaders based on audience feedback, and emphasizes how consistency, clarity, and credibility have become foundational values of his leadership philosophy. Throughout the episode, Darrin highlights the profound relationships and opportunities fostered through podcasting, including friendships, collaborations, and impactful professional growth. Key Topics Covered: The Value of Commitment: Inspiration drawn from a flight attendant’s 30-year service pin story. The importance of consistently showing up and following through on commitments. Impactful Guests and Relationships: Reflecting on meaningful conversations with guests such as Katie Kinder, Dominic Armano, Todd Bloomer, Greg Bennick, Bradley Skinner, Luis Báez, Lauren Kaufman, Sean Gaillard, and Joshua Stamper. How these relationships evolved into friendships, business opportunities, and collaborative projects like co-authoring Culture First Classrooms . Listening and Responding to Audience Feedback: Observing analytics and listener communication to shift the podcast focus toward more educational leadership topics. Renewed commitment to align episodes closely with listeners' interests and needs. Personal and Professional Growth: The critical lesson learned about consistency driving clarity, trust, and credibility. How the podcast has enhanced Darrin’s visibility, leading to speaking engagements, coaching opportunities, and deeper professional connections. Notable Moments: Darrin’s personal story about missing only one Sunday episode due to emergency gallbladder surgery, highlighting his deep dedication to listeners. Revisiting Alex Sheen’s "Because I Said I Would" story, emphasizing the power of promises and follow-through. Highlighting listener feedback about recent episodes and their impactful insights, such as Rae Hughart's email productivity tips. Pep Talk (Action Step): Darrin invites listeners to make a commitment today that positively impacts their leadership journey, whether personal, professional, or relational. He encourages reflection on empowering others, clarifying visions, and deepening commitment. Connect with Darrin: Engage on social media platforms. Leave a five-s
S1 E199 · Sun, March 23, 2025
Episode 199: Teachers Deserve It with Rae Hughart
Grab your copy of Culture First Classrooms: Leadership, Relationships, and Practices that Transform Schools from your favorite vendor: Amazon or Barnes & Noble or get your autographed copy here . In this episode, Darrin Peppard sits down with Rae Hughart , educator, TEDx speaker, and founder of the Teachers Deserve It (TDI) movement. Rae is passionate about empowering educators to reclaim their time, reduce burnout, and amplify their impact in the classroom. Rae shares the intriguing backstory behind the TDI movement, starting from an unexpected dinner conversation that led to co-authoring the book Teachers Deserve It with Adam Welcome. She emphasizes the importance of practical, sustainable teaching strategies that genuinely give teachers back their time and autonomy. Key highlights from this episode include: Origin Story of "Teachers Deserve It" : How a dinner conversation with Adam Welcome sparked the creation of a movement and a bestselling book. Practical Tips to Save Time : Rae details a powerful email automation strategy that helped a teacher reclaim five hours of their week. This simple yet effective tip provides immediate value for educators overwhelmed by their inboxes. Supporting Paraprofessionals : Rae discusses the crucial role of paraprofessionals in schools and shares how the TDI team responded to community requests by creating dedicated training bundles specifically designed to uplift and support paraprofessional staff. Content Creation and Problem-Solving : Rae provides insights for educators interested in creating impactful content online. Her advice: clearly identify problems and offer actionable solutions. Leaning into Leadership : Rae reflects on her growth as a leader, specifically emphasizing the importance of active listening, facilitating reflection, and allowing time for solutions to emerge naturally. Connect with Rae Hughart: Website: TeachersDeserveIt.com Social Media: @RaeHughart TikTok: @RaeHughartEDU Free Resource: Email Automation Download (available via TeachersDeserveIt.com )<
S1 E198 · Wed, March 19, 2025
Episode 198: Encore Presentation of Untold Teaching Truths with Katie Kinder
In this special encore presentation, we revisit one of our most inspiring conversations with educator and author Katie Kinder . Katie is the celebrated author of Untold Teaching Truths, Hallway Leadership , and now co-author of Culture First Classrooms: Leadership, Relationships, and Practices that Transform Schools . She is an award-winning educator, and a dynamic professional development facilitator who has been bringing joy and practical teaching strategies to educators nationwide since 2006. Tune in to rediscover Katie's vibrant approach to making learning not only impactful but genuinely fun. Whether it's your first time or you're returning to this classic conversation, get ready to find new ways to hook your students from day one and reignite your passion for teaching! Highlights from the Episode: Strategies to captivate students from the first day of school Infusing joy and fun into everyday learning experiences Practical classroom management tips for lasting student engagement Inspiring educators to embrace their authentic teaching style Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Katie's TED Talk Episode of Teaching Champions (Referenced in #PepTalk) Katie's Website Connect with Katie Kinder: Twitter/X: @KatieKinder1 Instagram: @untoldteachingtruths Connect with Darrin: Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference Explore insightful leadership tips on Darrin’s Blog Join the Road to Awesome Email List Submit your book idea to Road to Awesome
S1 E197 · Sun, March 16, 2025
Episode 197: AI, Education, and the Classroom Revolution with William Grube
Get Your Copy of Culture First Classrooms! Culture First Classrooms: Leadership, Relationships, and Practices that Transform Schools launches tomorrow, March 17! This book is packed with insights from educators across the country on how to build a thriving school culture. Don’t miss out! Get it NOW on Amazon or Barnes & Noble or get an autographed copy here In This Episode, We Cover: How AI is reshaping education and why schools need to embrace it The biggest misconceptions about AI in schools Practical ways school leaders and teachers can integrate AI into their daily work How Gruvy Education is making AI training accessible and actionable for educators AI tools that can save educators time and improve efficiency Connect with William Grube & Gruvy Education: Website: Gruvy Education Twitter (X): @gruvyeducation Instagram: @gruvyeducation Facebook: Gruvy Education LinkedIn: William Grube YouTube: Gruvy Education Join the Conversation: If you found today’s episode valuable, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review the Leaning Into Leadership podcast. Share this episode with fellow educators and leaders who are looking to harness the power of AI in their schools! Thanks for tuning in—until next time, keep leading with purpose!
S1 E196 · Sun, March 09, 2025
Episode 196: Teacher Leadership That Transforms: A Conversation with David James
In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership , host Darrin Peppard welcomes back David James, a 7th-grade social studies teacher at Harold E. Winkler Middle School in Concord, North Carolina. Known for his leadership both in the classroom and through his work with the North Carolina Association for Middle Level Education (NCMLE), David shares powerful insights into what it takes to lead effectively as a teacher. He discusses the importance of building leadership capacity within schools, the impact of teacher-led professional development, and how setting high expectations transforms school culture. David also offers a sneak peek into his contribution to Culture First Classrooms: Leadership, Relationships, and Practices that Transform Schools , the new book by Darrin Peppard and Katie Kinder, launching on March 17th. In his chapter, David explores how establishing clear expectations from day one leads to a positive and sustainable culture, both inside and outside the classroom. Key Takeaways: Building Capacity: The importance of teacher leadership in maintaining school culture, especially with the frequent turnover of school administrators. Wolfpack Workshop: How this in-house professional development model at Winkler Middle School empowers teachers and drives student achievement. Culture First Classrooms: Insights from David's chapter on setting expectations and building a culture of trust and accountability. NCMLE 2025 Conference: An overview of the upcoming conference and its evolution into a national-level event for middle school educators. Leadership Advice: Practical tips for teachers looking to take on more leadership roles in their schools. Mentioned in This Episode: Culture First Classrooms – Launching March 17th! The Wolfpack Workshop at Winkler Middle School. NCMLE 2025 Conference – March 23rd-25th in Charlotte, NC. Book: Culturize by Jimmy Casas. Connect with David James: Twitter/X: @HeroicHistory22 | @NCMiddle Instagram: @HeroicHistory22 | @NCMiddle TikTok: @HeroicHistory22 | @NCMiddle Facebook: @NCMLE Website: <a href="http://www.ncmle.org/" rel="noopener nor
S1 E195 · Sun, March 02, 2025
Episode 195: Can I go to the bathroom and other asinine questions with Bobby Canosa-Carr
In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership , Darrin sits down with Bobby Canosa-Carr , a leadership coach, former principal, mindfulness teacher, and author of Can I Go to the Bathroom? and Other Asinine Questions We Ask in School. They dive deep into how disempowerment impacts school leaders, teachers, and students —and what we can do about it. Bobby shares his journey from principal to leadership coach, the lessons he learned along the way, and why the behaviors we model as leaders shape school culture more than anything else. 🔹 Before the episode starts, Darrin shares some BIG NEWS! His new book, Culture First Classrooms: Leadership, Relationships, and Practices that Transform Schools , co-authored with Katie Kinder , is coming in March! Stay tuned for sneak peeks, exclusive pre-order bonuses, and powerful insights from 23 amazing educators. 📚✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode ✅ The disempowerment many school leaders feel—and how to reclaim authority over your leadership. ✅ Why school culture is built through modeling, not mandates , and how leaders’ behaviors directly impact teachers and students. ✅ The flaws in traditional teacher evaluations and how school leaders can rethink professional learning to empower educators. ✅ How we can shift away from compliance-based leadership and focus on trust, collaboration, and meaningful change. ✅ Practical strategies for showing up as an empowering leader who nurtures talent instead of micromanaging it. Meet Bobby Canosa-Carr Bobby Canosa-Carr is a leadership coach, mindfulness teacher, and former school principal who has dedicated his career to transforming school culture. As a principal, he led the turnaround of a large high school in Los Angeles and later founded a charter school in San Pedro, California. He has worked in nonprofit organizations supporting hundreds of school leaders across 40 states as they navigate school transformation. Bobby is the author of Can I Go to the Bathroom? and Other Asinine Questions We Ask in School , a book that challenges the power dynamics, rules, and rigid structures in education that often disempower students, teachers, and leaders alike. 📖 Get Bobby’s Book: Available on Amazon 🌐 Connect with Bobby: EnlightenedCoaching.us Episode Highlights & Timestamp Guide ⏳ [00:00] – Introduction & Book Announcement: Culture First Classrooms is coming soon
S1 E194 · Sun, February 23, 2025
Episode 194: Leading Through Failure with Bradlee W. Skinner
In this powerful episode of Leaning Into Leadership , Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with longtime friend and educational thought leader Bradlee W. Skinner to discuss the journey through failure, teacher retention, and the importance of empowering educators. Bradlee opens up about his personal struggles with burnout, stepping away from education, and the pivotal moments that brought him back—stronger and more purpose-driven than ever. Together, Darrin and Bradlee explore the role of teacher leadership , the dangers of the "just a teacher" mindset, and how school leaders can create environments that encourage collaboration, trust, and professional growth . They also discuss Bradlee’s impactful contribution to the upcoming book Culture First Classrooms , where he challenges the concept of classroom management in favor of classroom leadership . If you've ever felt the weight of burnout or questioned your path in education, this episode will leave you inspired to own your story, embrace failure as a stepping stone, and create a culture where teachers and students thrive . Key Takeaways: ✅ Teacher burnout vs. teacher beatdown – Understanding the emotional toll of teaching and what really drives educators to leave the profession. ✅ The power of second chances – Bradlee shares how mentorship, self-reflection, and leadership opportunities helped him rediscover his purpose. ✅ Shifting from classroom management to classroom leadership – Why building relationships and empowering students is more effective than simply managing behavior. ✅ Teacher leadership matters – Practical ways teachers can lead without leaving the classroom, and how administrators can create space for leadership to flourish. ✅ Culture and climate in schools – How small actions from school leaders, such as eliminating the "just a teacher" mentality, can transform staff engagement. ✅ Failing forward – Why embracing failure is crucial for student growth, teacher development, and leadership success. Connect with Bradlee W. Skinner: 📲 Follow Bradlee on social media: @BradleeWSkinner on Instagram, Twitter (X), TikTok, and Facebook. 📩 Reach out to Bradlee for speaking, coaching, or leadership support. Resources & Mentions: 📖 Culture First Classrooms: Leadership, Relationships, and Practices that Transform Schools (Coming Soon!) 🎙 Listen to past episodes of Leaning Into Leadership at RoadToAwesome.net
S1 E193 · Wed, February 19, 2025
Episode 193: Co-Authoring Culture First Classrooms, A Behind the Scenes Look with Katie Kinder
In this episode, returning guest Katie Kinder joins Dr. Darrin Peppard for a behind-the-scenes look at their upcoming book, Culture First Classrooms: Leadership, Relationships, and Practices that Transform Schools . They dive into the journey of co-authoring a book, the power of classroom culture, and how fostering strong relationships transforms schools. Katie and Darrin share personal stories about their paths as educators, what led them to co-write this book, and how they selected 21 amazing contributors to share their insights. They also explore why great teaching is an art, not a formula , and how school leaders can support teachers in building a culture-first approach to education. Key Takeaways: ✅ Culture comes first —without strong relationships and a supportive environment, no initiative will thrive. ✅ Teaching is artistry —there’s no single way to be effective, and great educators bring energy, fun, and connection to their work. ✅ Leadership impacts everything —when educators feel empowered and valued , they take more risks and push students to succeed. ✅ This book is a lifeline —it’s filled with real, actionable insights from educators leading the way in post-pandemic classrooms. About Katie Kinder: Katie Kinder, author of Untold Teaching Truths and Hallway Leadership , is a passionate professional learning facilitator and education advocate. With nearly two decades in education, she inspires and equips teachers with real strategies to hook students from day one . A former Teacher of the Year and Top Five District Finalist , Katie brings energy, authenticity, and a deep love for educators everywhere. Connect with Katie Kinder: 🌐 Website | 📌 Twitter/X | 📷 Instagram | 🔗 LinkedIn Pre-Order the Book! 📖 Culture First Classrooms: Leadership, Relationships, and Practices that Transform Schools —Coming March 2025! Stay tuned for launch details and exclusive pre-order bonuses . Bring Culture First to Your School! Darrin and Katie are developing Culture First Coaching & Consulting , bringing hands-on leadership and instructional coaching to schools nationwide. If you’re interested in bringing Culture First to your school , reach out to learn how they can support your educators. <p
S1 E192 · Sun, February 16, 2025
Episode 192: The Making of Culture First Classrooms
In this solo episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on the journey of writing Culture First Classrooms: Leadership, Relationships, and Practices that Transform Schools , my upcoming book co-authored with Katie Kinder! We dive into: ✅ The writing process—what it’s like to co-author a book and how it differs from writing solo ✅ How we identified the 21 incredible educators who contributed their insights ✅ The highs, lows, and unexpected moments in bringing this book to life ✅ What Culture First Classrooms truly means and why this book is so important for educators This is an episode for anyone curious about the book-writing process, thinking about writing their own, or simply wanting a deeper look into what’s coming in March! Plus, I share a few sneak peeks from some of the powerful stories inside the book. 💌 Join the Email List: Want updates on the book release, exclusive pre-order bonuses, and behind-the-scenes insights? Sign up here: roadtoawesome.net
S1 E191 · Sun, February 09, 2025
Episode 191: Empowering School Leaders with Dr. Kelly Hastings
📢 Connect with Dr. Darrin Peppard: Looking for leadership coaching, professional development, or support for your leadership team? Let’s connect! Reach out via my website at roadtoawesome.net or connect with me on LinkedIn , Twitter/X , or Facebook . I’d love to support you on your leadership journey! Episode Summary: In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership , Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with Dr. Kelly Hastings , founder of Enlightening Leadership , a seasoned principal, leadership coach, and expert in implementation science . Dr. Hastings shares her journey from teacher to principal, how leadership coaching transformed her leadership approach , and why building leadership capacity in schools is a moral imperative. She also dives into implementation science , an approach that helps schools sustain meaningful change, and discusses how leaders can grow and support aspiring leaders in their buildings. If you've ever struggled with implementing new initiatives or wondered how to cultivate leadership in your school, this episode is packed with actionable strategies . 🎧 Key Takeaways: ✅ The role of mentorship and coaching in leadership growth ✅ How implementation science helps schools sustain change ✅ Strategies for growing and identifying aspiring leaders ✅ The importance of listening as a leader and empowering teams ✅ Unique challenges and strategies for middle school leadership 📌 Resources & Links: 🔹 Connect with Dr. Kelly Hastings: LinkedIn | Email: kelly@enlighteningleadership.com 🔹 Learn more about Implementation Science : Implement with Impact by Janice Pizzuto
S1 E190 · Sun, February 02, 2025
Episode 190: The Power of IOU Leadership with Dr. Joe Famularo
In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership , Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with Dr. Joe Famularo , a veteran educator and superintendent, to explore his IOU Leadership framework. Dr. Famularo shares his journey from classroom teacher to district leader, the principles that guide his leadership, and how the IOU model — Inward, Outward, and Upward Leadership —helps leaders build a thriving culture rooted in trust and continuous improvement. Key Topics Covered: ✅ The IOU Leadership Framework : What it means to lead inward, outward, and upward. ✅ The Role of Self-Awareness in Leadership : Why knowing yourself is the foundation for effective leadership. ✅ Building a Culture of Trust : The impact of relationships and shared leadership in schools. ✅ Living with Intention vs. Living by Default : How to shift from reactive to proactive leadership. ✅ PH2E Life Propeller Assessment : A tool to evaluate personal and professional growth. ✅ The Importance of Clear Vision and Common Language : How defining values and mission creates sustainable success in schools. ✅ Leader in Me & The 7 Habits : How Covey’s principles influenced his district’s transformation. About Dr. Joe Famularo Dr. Joe Famularo is a lifelong educator with over 34 years in the same district , including 18 as superintendent. Passionate about leadership and continuous improvement, he developed the IOU Leadership framework to help individuals and organizations create cultures of trust, purpose, and excellence. He is the author of IOU Life Leadership and the upcoming book IOU School Leadership . 🔗 Explore IOU Leadership & Take the PH2E Assessment : IOULiving.com 🎧 Listen & Subscribe : 🔹 Apple Podcasts | 🔹 Spotify | 🔹 YouTube | 🔹 Your favorite podcast platform 💡 What’s Your Biggest Leadership Takeaway? Share your thoughts with us on social media using #LeaningIntoLeadership !
S1 E189 · Sun, January 26, 2025
Episode 189: Simplify, Prioritize, and Thrive with Barb Flowers
In this episode of the Leaning Into Leadership podcast, Dr. Darrin Peppard is joined by Barb Flowers, Principal of the U.S. Elementary Division at Eastwood Global and a certified life coach specializing in leadership development for principals. Barb shares her journey from being a brick-and-mortar school leader to helping launch an innovative online school and homeschooling program while coaching principals to lead with clarity and confidence. Key Topics Discussed: Barb’s unique leadership role at Eastwood Global, combining International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum with the science of reading. The parallels and contrasts between traditional school leadership and leading in a virtual environment. Proven strategies for managing time, reducing stress, and setting boundaries as a school leader. The importance of saying “no” to unnecessary initiatives and focusing on what truly matters. How principals can develop self-belief and avoid the trap of comparison. Barb’s insights into the power of thought work and using affirmations to foster confidence and intentionality in leadership. Practical routines and habits for maintaining focus and avoiding overwhelm. Key Takeaways for Listeners: Why removing email from your phone is a game changer for work-life balance. How to set boundaries that protect your time and energy while modeling the same for your staff. The transformative impact of focusing on thought work to create more positive emotions and actions. Why limiting initiatives and prioritizing depth over breadth benefits your entire school community. Actionable steps to create routines that align with your leadership vision and values. About Barb Flowers: Barb brings 14 years of public education experience, including six years as a principal, to her role as a leadership coach and educational leader. She helps principals overcome stress, manage their time effectively, and lead with purpose, all while balancing the demands of professional and personal life. Connect with Barb Flowers: Podcast: The Principal's Handbook Website: barbflowerscoaching.com LinkedIn: Barb Flowers, PhD Instagram: @DrBarbFlowers
S1 E188 · Wed, January 22, 2025
Episode 188: The Human Side of Leadership with Todd, Dominic, and Darrin
Welcome to episode 188 of the Leaning Into Leadership podcast! In this mid-month episode, Darrin is joined once again by his recurring guests, Todd Bloomer, a high school principal from San Antonio, TX, and Dominic Armano, an elementary principal from Long Island, NY. Together, they dive into the human side of leadership, sharing stories, challenges, and practical insights for leaders at every level. Topics Covered in This Episode: Weathering the Storm (Literally and Figuratively): From snow days to unexpected challenges, the trio shares how school leaders navigate the unpredictability of their work while keeping students' needs at the forefront. Making Tough Decisions: Darrin reflects on a recent blog post about the emotional and professional toll of making hard leadership calls. Todd and Dominic add their insights on balancing what's right for kids and the community while managing personal resilience. Telling Your Story: Dominic leads a discussion on the importance of branding and public relations in education. Todd and Darrin share strategies to effectively showcase your school’s values and successes without fear of being seen as "flashy." Learning from Other Leaders: Todd challenges Darrin and Dominic to share inspiring practices they've seen in schools recently, highlighting leadership newsletters and a deeply integrated SEL curriculum. Focus for 2025: The group wraps up by sharing their personal resolutions and goals for the year, including self-care, leadership clarity, and embracing challenges. Key Takeaways: Leadership decisions are rarely black-and-white; staying focused on what's best for kids can guide tough choices. Strong relationships and clear communication are essential for building trust and minimizing pushback. Social media and storytelling are critical tools for creating a positive narrative about your school and its values. Self-care isn't selfish—it's necessary for showing up as your best self in leadership roles. Innovative ideas from peers and colleagues can inspire and improve your leadership practice. Resources Mentioned: Darrin’s blog post on leadership decisions Fired Up Leadership by Dr. Frank Rudnesky Connect with Us: Darrin Peppard: Website | Twitter Todd Bloomer: Twitter<
S1 E187 · Sun, January 19, 2025
Episode 187: The Viking Code with Anders Indset
Are you feeling overwhelmed and struggling to prioritize your time as a school leader? In this episode, I share some exciting news about my upcoming digital course, Take Control of Your Leadership: . This course is designed to help you overcome overwhelm, focus on what truly matters, and lead with clarity, and it's LIVE - go to theprincipalacademy.com and check out Take Control of Your Leadership . Anders Indset —known as "The Business Philosopher"—is a Norwegian-born writer and deep-tech investor. He is a four-time Spiegel best-selling author and has been recognized by Thinkers50 as one of the most influential thinkers in technology and leadership for the years to come. With two decades of experience working with multinational companies, he is a trusted sparring partner for international CEOs and political leaders, and a guest lecturer at leading international business schools. Anders is the founder of the Njordis Group and the Global Institute of Leadership & Technology (GILT), as well as the initiator of numerous projects like the Quantum Economy Alliance. Anders is a bridge-builder between humanity and technology, shaping the economy of tomorrow with his practical philosophy. With his deep understanding of the impact of exponential technologies, Anders demonstrates how and why leadership and its relationship to philosophy are more relevant than ever. He firmly believes that in a world with nearly unlimited access to knowledge, a deeper understanding and the ability to anticipate future scenarios, combined with the development of interpersonal skills, will be the most sought-after qualities for leaders. His works have been translated into over 10 languages, and his new book, ‘ The Viking Code – The Art & Science of Norwegian Success ’, was released on October 8. His forthcoming ‘Singularity Paradox – Bridging the Gap Between Humanity & AI’ (www.singularityparadox.com) has been scheduled for Q1 2025, a book co-authored with renowned Quantum Physicist Dr. Florian Neukart. Social Media: https://de.linkedin.com/in/andersindset https://www.instagram.com/andersindset http://twitter.com/andersindset http://facebook.com/anders.indset https://www.youtube.com/andersindset We
S1 E186 · Sun, January 12, 2025
Episode 186: Becoming a Lighthouse Leader
In this episode of the Leaning Into Leadership podcast, we’re exploring the powerful metaphor of the lighthouse and how it relates to effective school leadership. Inspired by a visit to Martha’s Vineyard, host Darrin Peppard reflects on the enduring purpose of lighthouses and the lessons they offer for guiding schools and teams in 2025. Discover five lighthouse-inspired principles—from guiding through challenges to creating a culture of hope and safety—and learn actionable strategies to shine brightly as a leader this year. Whether you’re navigating staff burnout, shifting priorities, or the complexities of educational leadership, this episode will leave you inspired and ready to lead with purpose. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The five lighthouse-inspired principles of effective leadership How to provide clarity and focus for your team during uncertain times The importance of being a consistent and visible presence in your school How to position yourself strategically to make the greatest impact The power of empowering your team and fostering trust Why creating a culture of hope and safety is essential for school success Guiding Through Challenges Learn how to define your "true north" and guide your school community through obstacles with clear priorities and a shared vision. Steadfast Presence Discover why consistency and visibility are key to building trust and creating stability for your team. Strategic Positioning Explore how to focus your time and energy where it matters most to drive impactful outcomes for students and staff. Shining a Light for Others Find out how empowering your team with clarity and support can create a culture of trust and shared ownership. Symbol of Hope and Safety Understand how fostering a positive culture helps staff and students feel valued, supported, and ready to grow. Share Your Thoughts: Did this episode inspire you to embrace the lighthouse principles in your leadership? Let us know your thoughts! Leave a review or share the episode on social media with your biggest takeaway. Don’t forget to tag us so we can join the conversation. Blogpost link referenced in the episode - Be a Lighthouse: Five Guiding Principles for School Leaders in 2025
S1 E185 · Sun, January 05, 2025
Episode 185: The Language of Behavior with Charle Peck and Joshua Stamper
In this insightful episode of Leaning Into Leadership , Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with Charlie Peck and Joshua Stamper to discuss their upcoming book, The Language of Behavior , and the accompanying podcast. Together, they explore strategies to decode student behaviors, build positive relationships, and implement proactive systems that empower educators and students alike. From creating the "Relationship Action Team" to implementing the push-in model, this conversation is packed with practical tools and actionable strategies for leaders at every level. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The origin story of The Language of Behavior book and podcast. Why traditional disciplinary measures often fail and how to shift toward relational approaches. Insights into the push-in model and its transformative impact on classrooms. The power of grassroots leadership initiatives in fostering systemic change. How to "lean into leadership" by staying true to your values and beliefs. Key Takeaways: Behavior as a Message : Understand that behaviors are a form of communication and decoding them requires curiosity and compassion. Team-Based Solutions : Building a collaborative team, like the Relationship Action Team, empowers educators to implement meaningful changes. Proactive Strategies : Tools like the push-in model help address low-level infractions without removing students from the learning environment. Invest in Teachers : Equipping teachers with practical strategies and fostering a sense of community can reignite their passion for education. Authentic Leadership : Embrace your values and lead with authenticity to inspire trust and joy in your team. Featured Quotes: "Behaviors are just the message. We can learn to decode them to better support our students." – Charlie Peck "When I stopped trying to meet others' expectations and leaned into who I am as a leader, everything changed for the better." – Joshua Stamper Resources Mentioned: The Language of Behavior book (coming soon) The Language of Behavior podcast (available on all major platforms) Previous episodes featuring Charlie Peck and Joshua Stamper Connect with Our Guests: Charlie Peck: thrivingeducator.com @CharlePeck on all social media <l
S1 E184 · Sun, December 29, 2024
Episode 184: The Turning Point - Why Leaders Must Take Care of Themselves
Episode Summary: In this deeply personal solo episode, Dr. Darrin Peppard shares a pivotal story from his leadership journey that became a wake-up call about the importance of self-care. Reflecting on an experience during his second year as a principal—missing his best friend's wedding due to burnout and exhaustion—Dr. Peppard delves into the lessons he learned about prioritizing health and well-being as a leader. He provides practical strategies for leaders to avoid burnout, set boundaries, and invest in themselves, so they can lead with clarity, focus, and purpose. Whether you’re a school leader or any professional striving to balance the demands of leadership, this episode will leave you inspired and equipped with actionable steps to show up as your best self in 2025. What You'll Learn in This Episode: A Personal Leadership Wake-Up Call: Dr. Peppard recounts how missing his best friend’s wedding due to illness and overwhelm served as a life-changing moment. The Cost of Neglecting Self-Care: How a “superhero” mindset can lead to burnout and missed opportunities. Practical Changes for Leaders: Creating systems for healthy eating and exercise. Setting boundaries for work and personal time. Building clarity around priorities as a school leader. Why Self-Care is Essential for Leadership: Learn how taking care of yourself positively impacts your effectiveness as a leader and your ability to inspire those around you. Actionable Steps for 2025: Tips to reflect, adjust, and prioritize self-care and high-leverage leadership activities in the new year. Resources Mentioned: Blog Post: The Turning Point: Why Leaders Must Take Care of Themselves Free Webinar: Join Dr. Peppard on December 30, 2024, at 4 PM ET for a free webinar on priorities, time management, and intentional leadership. Register here: https://www.theprincipalacademy.com/realresults Take Action: Reflect on your leadership practices over the past year. Are you showing up as your best self? What can you change? Implement one of the strategies shared in this episode to improve your self-care and leadership in 2025. Share this episode with a fellow leader who might need the reminder to prioritize themselves. Let’s Connect: Website: Road to Awesome <strong
S1 E183 · Sun, December 22, 2024
Episode 183: Empowering Leaders Through Story, Positivity, and Purpose with Barbara Gruener
Are you ready to lead with clarity and purpose in 2025? Join me on Monday, December 30, at 3 PM ET for a FREE webinar : Take Control of Your Leadership: Clear Priorities, Real Results . In just one hour, you’ll learn actionable strategies to define your priorities, recognize and reinforce values, and reclaim your time for the work that truly matters. Save your spot today at www.theprincipalacademy.com/realresults —let’s kick off 2025 as your best leadership year yet! Are you feeling overwhelmed and struggling to prioritize your time as a school leader? In this episode, I share some exciting news about my upcoming digital course, Take Control of Your Leadership: . This course is designed to help you overcome overwhelm, focus on what truly matters, and lead with clarity, and it's LIVE - go to theprincipalacademy.com and check out Take Control of Your Leadership . In this engaging conversation, Dr. Darrin Peppard and Barbara Gruener explore the journey of entrepreneurship, the importance of relationships in education, and the therapeutic power of writing. Barbara shares her inspiring background, her transition back to teaching, and the significance of self-care for educators. They also discuss Barbara's latest book, Birdie and Mipps , which reflects on the themes of nicknames and relationships, and the feedback it has received from readers. The conversation concludes with Barbara's insights on leaning into leadership and supporting others in their journeys. Takeaways Entrepreneurship can lead to meaningful connections. Teaching experiences shape our understanding of education. Relationships are at the core of effective teaching. Self-care is essential for educators to thrive. Writing serves as a therapeutic outlet for emotions. Birdie and Mips explores the significance of nicknames. Feedback from readers can highlight the impact of a book. Mentorship plays a crucial role in leadership. Inspiration and kindness can transform lives. Everyone is fighting their own battles, and empathy is key. Find Barbara at: corneroncharacter.com barbaragruenerauthor.com
S1 E182 · Wed, December 18, 2024
Episode 182: So You're the New Principal with Todd, Dominic, and Darrin
Episode 182 is a special episode , in which Todd Bloomer, Dominic Armano, and your regular host, Darrin Peppard, dedicate an entire episode to new principal Candace Pearson. We are excited for Candace to take on her first principalship, and so we decided to share our insights, experience, and expertise to help set her, and anyone else new to the role, up for success. Are you feeling overwhelmed and struggling to prioritize your time as a school leader? In this episode, I share some exciting news about my upcoming digital course, Take Control of Your Leadership: . This course is designed to help you overcome overwhelm, focus on what truly matters, and lead with clarity, and it's LIVE - go to theprincipalacademy.com and check out Take Control of Your Leadership . Got a question for us? Submit it here or hit us up on social media Todd Bloomer was born and raised in New York, Todd Bloomer got to Texas as soon as he could to start his educational career. As a teacher and coach, Todd fell in love (literally) in Texas with public education, high school football, and his wife, Sharon. After moving to San Antonio, Texas, Todd transitioned to the assistant principalship at a middle school in 2007. In 2010, he became a high school assistant principal and in 2014 Todd was named a middle school principal. In 2019, Todd was named a high school principal. In 2020, Todd was name the Texas Region 20 Secondary Principal of the year, During his journey as an administrator, Todd benefited from strong mentors and developed a blueprint to being successful. Through trial and error, and some luck, Todd has developed into a widely respected administrator in the state of Texas. Todd also served as a high school principal during and after COVID. Learning a school of 2,500 students during uncertainty has made his voice, his insight, and his advice all the more relevant. Through humor, storytelling, and being vulnerable, Todd shares his soul on what has worked and what hasn’t. Todd and his wife Sharon have been married for 24 years. They have five wonderful children. Todd and his wife reside in beautiful San Antonio, Texas. Todd is very active on social media. You can follow him @bloomer_sa on Twitter and Todd Bloomer on LinkedIn. Todd is also very active as an advocate at the state level with elected officials as he works to defend the profession he loves. Dominic Armano is a loving husband and father, a proud educator, an innovative principal a speaker and author. Over the course of his career, Dominic has served as an elementary and middle school teacher, assistant principal and currently he is serving as an elementary school principal. In all of these
S1 E181 · Sun, December 15, 2024
Episode 181: The Power of Educational Systems with Kurtis Hewson
Are you feeling overwhelmed and struggling to prioritize your time as a school leader? In this episode, I share some exciting news about my upcoming digital course, Take Control of Your Leadership: . This course is designed to help you overcome overwhelm, focus on what truly matters, and lead with clarity, and it's LIVE - go to theprincipalacademy.com and check out Take Control of Your Leadership . Link to Darrin's blogpost (mentioned in the PepTalk) And now ...about our guest on this week's episode: Kurtis Hewson is an award-winning former administrator and teacher, as well as teaching faculty at the post-secondary level. He is the co-founder of Jigsaw Learning, a co-author of the text Collaborative Response: Three Foundational Components That Transform How We Respond to the Needs of Learners (Corwin, 2022), and currently works with districts and schools nationally and internationally establishing Collaborative Response frameworks and interacting with thousands of educators annually. Check out Episode 137 with Kurtis Hewson Social Media: X - @hewsonk27 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurtishewson/ Email/contact info: kurtis.hewson@jigsawlearning.ca Resources: Overview of Collaborative Response article - https://bit.ly/CR-overview Free Access to the Introductory chapter for the Collaborative Response book - https://bit.ly/CR-intro
S1 E180 · Sun, December 08, 2024
Episode 180: MindStream Coaching with Greg Speranza
Are you feeling overwhelmed and struggling to prioritize your time as a school leader? In this episode, I share some exciting news about my upcoming digital course, Take Control of Your Leadership: . This course is designed to help you overcome overwhelm, focus on what truly matters, and lead with clarity, and it's LIVE - go to theprincipalacademy.com and check out Take Control of Your Leadership . And now ...about our guest on this week's episode: Greg Speranza is a leadership coach , school quality expert and an organizational development specialist who supports school and district leaders—and those aspiring to be- by helping them to optimize their talents, vision, and critical thinking skills. A former school turnaround leader, Greg understands the incredible responsibilities and stresses which his clients face, as well as the skills and competencies necessary to engage the entire organization in a positive manner. Through baseline assessments and in depth conversations, Greg meets clients where they are, and works with them to develop a plan of action. Through clear and reflective coaching, Greg and his clients discuss options and strategies which specifically address the desired shift in both behavior and outcomes. Greg has effectively coached over 300 school and district leaders in 22 states, helping them discover their best selves so that they and their organizations will thrive. Greg has led over 200 school quality visits, as well as focus groups, data analysis sessions, strategic planning; and developed surveys, trainings and delivered a multitude of targeted programs aimed at promoting the education and exceptionalism of each person he has served. He also develops trainings and resources for leaders and their teams to become more cohesive, coherent and laser focused on achieving their goals. Connect with Greg: Social Media: linkedin.com/in/gregsperanza Website: www.mindstreamcoaching.com Email/contact info: Greg@mindstreamcoaching.com
S1 E179 · Sun, December 01, 2024
Episode 179: Work on Your Game with Dre Baldwin
Are you feeling overwhelmed and struggling to prioritize your time as a school leader? In this episode, I share some exciting news about my upcoming digital course, Take Control of Your Leadership: . This course is designed to help you overcome overwhelm, focus on what truly matters, and lead with clarity, and it's LIVE - go to theprincipalacademy.com and check out Take Control of Your Leadership . And now ...about our guest on this week's episode: Dre Baldwin is CEO and Founder of Work On Your Game Inc. He has given 4 TEDxTalks and has authored 35 books. Dre’s content has been consumed over 103 million times. His daily Work On Your Game MasterClass has amassed over 2,900 episodes and over 7.3 million listeners. Dre had a 9-year professional basketball career, playing in 8 countries. Dre’s framework is the "roadmap in reverse" for professional High Performance, Consistency and Results. Website: workonyourgameuniversity.com Social Media: http://Instagram.com/DreBaldwin http://YouTube.com/Dreupt https://www.facebook.com/WorkOnYourGameUniversity http://LinkedIn.com/in/DreAllDay http://Twitter.com/DreAllDay http://TikTok.com/WorkOnYourGame
S1 E178 · Wed, November 27, 2024
Episode 178: Leadership Challenges at the Holidays with Todd Bloomer
Are you feeling overwhelmed and struggling to prioritize your time as a school leader? In this episode, I share some exciting news about my upcoming digital course, Take Control of Your Leadership: . This course is designed to help you overcome overwhelm, focus on what truly matters, and lead with clarity, and it's LIVE - go to theprincipalacademy.com and check out Take Control of Your Leadership . And now ...about this week's special mid-week episode: I am sitting down with Todd Bloomer, one of my two regular mid-week guests to talk school leadership, the holidays, and more! Don't miss this awesome show! Get Todd's book: The Blueprint: Survive and Thrive as a School Administrator
S1 E177 · Sun, November 24, 2024
Episode 177: Managing Brand Transgressions with Dr. Shelly Jain & Dr. Shalini Jain
Are you feeling overwhelmed and struggling to prioritize your time as a school leader? In this episode, I share some exciting news about my upcoming digital course, Take Control of Your Leadership: . This course is designed to help you overcome overwhelm, focus on what truly matters, and lead with clarity, and it's LIVE - go to theprincipalacademy.com and check out Take Control of Your Leadership . And now ...about our guest on this week's episode: Shailendra Pratap Jain is Bret Wheat Endowed Professor of Marketing and International Business at the Foster School of Business, University of Washington, Seattle. He has held faculty positions at Indiana University’s Kelley School, University of Rochester’s Simon School, Cornell University’s Johnson School, University of Western Ontario’s Ivey School, Cambridge University’s Judge School, Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, and BITS School of Management, Mumbai. Well-known for his widely published scholarship in consumer psychology, Dr. Jain has extensive publishing and editorial experience in top marketing journals and has won many executive and graduate (MBA) teaching awards. Prior to his academic career, he worked in sales, brand management, and advertising in industry and is associated with several noted marketing campaigns in India. Shalini Sarin Jain is Associate Professor of Management and the inaugural Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the Milgard School of Business, University of Washington, Tacoma. She has published articles on gender representation and compensation parity in top management, allegations of sexual misconduct, sustaining livelihoods or saving lives during COVID, and corporate response to mandatory CSR regulation in leading management journals including the Journal of Business Research , Journal of Business Ethics , Management and Organization Review , and Journal of Family Business Strategy. Dr. Jain teaches courses in business and society, ethics, and CSR at the undergraduate and MBA level and has extensive industry, government, and non-profit experience leading and providing consulting services to state, county, and city governments. Connect with Dr.'s Jain on LinkedIn: Dr. Shelly Jain Dr. Shalini Jain Get their book here: Managing Brand Transgressions: 8 Principles to Transform Your Brand
S1 E176 · Wed, November 20, 2024
Episode 176: Take Control of Your Leadership
In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership , I’m pulling back the curtain on my new course, Take Control of Your Leadership . This transformative course is designed to help school leaders overcome overwhelm, focus on what matters most, and lead with clarity and purpose. Go to https://www.theprincipalacademy.com to learn more and to enroll in the course today. Use the code TCYL24 at checkout to save $150. (offer expires 11/24/2024) Join me as I share personal stories and practical tips from each of the six modules: Gaining Clarity and Examining Systems : Define your leadership values and focus on what truly matters. Time Management : Take back your time with strategies to stay organized and intentional. Building and Maintaining Positive School Culture : Cultivate a culture where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. Focusing on Teaching and Learning : Become the instructional leader your school needs. Building and Leveraging Leadership Teams : Work collaboratively to amplify your impact. Staying Focused on Your Vision : Align your daily actions with your long-term goals. Whether you’re a seasoned leader or just starting out, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you lead with confidence and clarity. Again, go to https://www.theprincipalacademy.com to learn more and to enroll in the course today. Use the code TCYL24 at checkout to save $150. (offer expires 11/24/2024) Want the School Leader's Weekly Planner for free?? Click here Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a fellow leader who could use a little clarity in their work!
S1 E175 · Sun, November 17, 2024
Episode 175: Casting a Vision with Bentli Lewis
Are you feeling overwhelmed and struggling to prioritize your time as a school leader? In this episode, I share some exciting news about my upcoming digital course, Take Control of Your Leadership: A Road to Awesome Map for Early Career Leaders . This course is designed to help you overcome overwhelm, focus on what truly matters, and lead with clarity, and it's launching soon!!! Sign up for our mailing list at roadtoawesome.net to get early access, special pricing, and exclusive bonuses! And stay tuned for information on this exciting new course. And now ...about our guest on this week's episode: Bentli Lewis serves as the principal of Oakbrook Middle School in Ladson, South Carolina, a community nestled just outside of Charleston in the LowCountry. She began her career in education in 2012 as a high school English teacher and varsity tennis and softball coach. After five years in the classroom, she transitioned into a role as a Graduation Specialist, where she served for one year before moving to her current school district. In her new district, Lewis stepped into the position of Assistant Principal at Summerville High School, a role she held for four years, gaining valuable experience and honing her skills as a building leader. Her dedication and leadership led to her appointment as the principal of Oakbrook Middle School, where she recently completed her second full year in the role. Lewis is passionate about the incredible work happening at Oakbrook Middle and is excited about the school’s ongoing successes and bright future. You can find Bentli on social media: Instagram - @bentlijlew Facebook - Bentli Jones Lewis X (Twitter) - @bentlij
S1 E174 · Sun, November 10, 2024
Episode 174: Building Resilience and Avoiding Burnout
On this solo episode of the podcast, we explore a vital topic for school leaders: maintaining resilience and avoiding burnout. I discuss five practical strategies to help you stay grounded, energized, and focused, even amidst the demands of leadership. From setting boundaries and effective delegation to building a support network and prioritizing self-care, these tips are designed to help you thrive in your role. Tune in to learn how to protect your energy, enhance your impact, and lead with clarity and purpose. Are you feeling overwhelmed and struggling to prioritize your time as a school leader? In this episode, I share some exciting news about my upcoming digital course, Take Control of Your Leadership: A Road to Awesome Map for Early Career Leaders . This course is designed to help you overcome overwhelm, focus on what truly matters, and lead with clarity. Sign up for our mailing list at roadtoawesome.net to get early access, special pricing, and exclusive bonuses! And stay tuned for information on this exciting new course. In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership , we explore why instructional leadership is crucial for student success and how it often gets deprioritized. Learn five actionable steps to reclaim your focus on instruction and make a meaningful impact. Ready to lead with purpose? Tune in now, and don’t forget to sign up at roadtoawesome.net for exclusive offers and updates on my new digital course, Take Control of Your Leadership .
S1 E173 · Sun, November 03, 2024
Episode 173: Leading with Empathy and Grace with Tammy Klotz
Are you feeling overwhelmed and struggling to prioritize your time as a school leader? In this episode, I share some exciting news about my upcoming digital course, Take Control of Your Leadership: A Road to Awesome Map for Early Career Leaders . This course is designed to help you overcome overwhelm, focus on what truly matters, and lead with clarity. Sign up for our mailing list at roadtoawesome.net to get early access, special pricing, and exclusive bonuses! And stay tuned for information on this exciting new course. And now ...about our guest on this week's episode: Tammy Klotz is a vibrant and accomplished executive and best-selling author with over three decades of diverse experience in the manufacturing industry, specializing in cybersecurity and transformational leadership. She offers keen expertise in navigating mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures within both publicly-traded and privately-held companies and is seasoned in security, risk, and compliance leadership. Tammy brings a dynamic and positive approach to problem solving, excelling in simplifying intricate IT and cybersecurity concepts and facilitating pragmatic, non-technical dialogues that resonate with business executives. She is recognized as a strong, knowledgeable, thoughtful security executive who excels in public speaking and thought leadership, striving to empower others through knowledge sharing. Grab Tammy's book here: Leading with Empathy and Grace Connect with Tammy on LinkedIn
S1 E172 · Wed, October 30, 2024
Episode 172: The Fall Classics with Darrin, Dom, and Todd
Welcome to a special mid-week edition of Leaning into Leadership. This week I am sitting down with my once per month guests, my friends and fellow principals Todd Bloomer and Dominic Armano. We play rapid fire this time around with questions leaders have but aren't always willing to ask. Are you feeling overwhelmed and struggling to prioritize your time as a school leader? In this episode, I share some exciting news about my upcoming digital course, Take Control of Your Leadership: A Road to Awesome Map for Early Career Leaders . This course is designed to help you overcome overwhelm, focus on what truly matters, and lead with clarity. Sign up for our mailing list at roadtoawesome.net to get early access, special pricing, and exclusive bonuses! And stay tuned for information on this exciting new course. In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership , we explore why instructional leadership is crucial for student success and how it often gets deprioritized. Learn five actionable steps to reclaim your focus on instruction and make a meaningful impact. Ready to lead with purpose? Tune in now, and don’t forget to sign up at roadtoawesome.net for exclusive offers and updates on my new digital course, Take Control of Your Leadership . Smore - Ever feel like you're the only one reading your school newsletters? Smore is here to change that! Built for educators, Smore gives you hundreds of easy-to-use templates to craft newsletters your community will love...and actually read. You can add videos, images, polls, and more. Stop guessing about what content your community wants to read. Use Smore's analytics to see who opens your emails and which links get clicked. And did I mention that Smore lets you translate your newsletters into more than 100 languages? I'm telling you, this is the platform you want to use. Sign up now and take $50 off your first year of your Smore plan. Make your newsletters easier and more engaging at smore.com/teachbetter. Again that’s smore.com/teachbetter
S1 E171 · Sun, October 27, 2024
Episode 171: Restorative Justice with Nicholas Bradford
Are you feeling overwhelmed and struggling to prioritize your time as a school leader? In this episode, I share some exciting news about my upcoming digital course, Take Control of Your Leadership: A Road to Awesome Map for Early Career Leaders . This course is designed to help you overcome overwhelm, focus on what truly matters, and lead with clarity. Sign up for our mailing list at roadtoawesome.net to get early access, special pricing, and exclusive bonuses! And stay tuned for information on this exciting new course. Smore - Ever feel like you're the only one reading your school newsletters? Smore is here to change that! Built for educators, Smore gives you hundreds of easy-to-use templates to craft newsletters your community will love...and actually read. You can add videos, images, polls, and more. Stop guessing about what content your community wants to read. Use Smore's analytics to see who opens your emails and which links get clicked. And did I mention that Smore lets you translate your newsletters into more than 100 languages? I'm telling you, this is the platform you want to use. Sign up now and take $50 off your first year of your Smore plan. Make your newsletters easier and more engaging at smore.com/teachbetter. Again that’s smore.com/teachbetter And now ...about our guest on this week's episode: Nicholas Bradford is a lifelong educator with extensive experience with challenging students inside and outside the classroom. In 2009 Nicholas Bradford started his Restorative Justice education in VT. Working in therapeutic settings, schools, afterschool programs, and justice settings have shaped a skill set that delivers a comprehensive Restorative Justice framework. Having worked with many schools and districts he has built a robust program that gives schools, educators, and students the skills and structures they need to create a culture of belonging and success in spite of conflict. He recently co-authored “ A Real-World Guide to Restorative Justice for Schools .” Connect with Nicholas: LinkedIn & Facebook Email/contact info: N.Bradford@nationalcenterforrestorativejustice.com
S1 E170 · Sun, October 20, 2024
Episode 170: Keeping it Real with Luis Baez
Are you feeling overwhelmed and struggling to prioritize your time as a school leader? In this episode, I share some exciting news about my upcoming digital course, Take Control of Your Leadership: A Road to Awesome Map for Early Career Leaders . This course is designed to help you overcome overwhelm, focus on what truly matters, and lead with clarity. Sign up for our mailing list at roadtoawesome.net to get early access, special pricing, and exclusive bonuses! And stay tuned for information on this exciting new course. Smore - Ever feel like you're the only one reading your school newsletters? Smore is here to change that! Built for educators, Smore gives you hundreds of easy-to-use templates to craft newsletters your community will love...and actually read. You can add videos, images, polls, and more. Stop guessing about what content your community wants to read. Use Smore's analytics to see who opens your emails and which links get clicked. And did I mention that Smore lets you translate your newsletters into more than 100 languages? I'm telling you, this is the platform you want to use. Sign up now and take $50 off your first year of your Smore plan. Make your newsletters easier and more engaging at smore.com/teachbetter. Again that’s smore.com/teachbetter And now ...about our guest on this week's episode: Luis Báez is a Revenue Enablement Strategist + Sales Coach dedicated to serving executives and sales leaders at businesses. In 2017, after years of working in some of the biggest Silicon Valley startups (think LinkedIn, Google, Uber, Tesla, and more), Luis began to teach impassioned business owners how to scale their revenues and impact by creating and selling high-end offers. During that time, he was also invited to speak about leadership and personal branding at business schools across the country including Stanford, UC Berkeley and Bard. Today Luis is a published author through the internationally-recognized Madecraft organization, which includes an incredibly popular LinkedIn Learning course on personalized sales that has been taken by over 20K people to date. When it comes to podcasts, Luis has absolutely brought the beard & baritone to popular podcasts including ¿Quién Tú Eres? , The Online Business Show with Tyler McCall , <a href="
S1 E169 · Wed, October 16, 2024
Episode 169: Tips to Drive Instructional Leadership
Are you feeling overwhelmed and struggling to prioritize your time as a school leader? In this episode, I share some exciting news about my upcoming digital course, Take Control of Your Leadership: A Road to Awesome Map for Early Career Leaders . This course is designed to help you overcome overwhelm, focus on what truly matters, and lead with clarity. Sign up for our mailing list at roadtoawesome.net to get early access, special pricing, and exclusive bonuses! And stay tuned for information on this exciting new course. In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership , we explore why instructional leadership is crucial for student success and how it often gets deprioritized. Learn five actionable steps to reclaim your focus on instruction and make a meaningful impact. Ready to lead with purpose? Tune in now, and don’t forget to sign up at roadtoawesome.net for exclusive offers and updates on my new digital course, Take Control of Your Leadership . Smore - Ever feel like you're the only one reading your school newsletters? Smore is here to change that! Built for educators, Smore gives you hundreds of easy-to-use templates to craft newsletters your community will love...and actually read. You can add videos, images, polls, and more. Stop guessing about what content your community wants to read. Use Smore's analytics to see who opens your emails and which links get clicked. And did I mention that Smore lets you translate your newsletters into more than 100 languages? I'm telling you, this is the platform you want to use. Sign up now and take $50 off your first year of your Smore plan. Make your newsletters easier and more engaging at smore.com/teachbetter. Again that’s smore.com/teachbetter
S1 E168 · Sun, October 13, 2024
Episode 168: Evidence Empowered Education with Dr. Matthew Courtney
Are you feeling overwhelmed and struggling to prioritize your time as a school leader? In this episode, I share some exciting news about my upcoming digital course, Take Control of Your Leadership: A Road to Awesome Map for Early Career Leaders . This course is designed to help you overcome overwhelm, focus on what truly matters, and lead with clarity. Sign up for our mailing list at roadtoawesome.net to get early access, special pricing, and exclusive bonuses! And stay tuned for information on this exciting new course. Smore - Ever feel like you're the only one reading your school newsletters? Smore is here to change that! Built for educators, Smore gives you hundreds of easy-to-use templates to craft newsletters your community will love...and actually read. You can add videos, images, polls, and more. Stop guessing about what content your community wants to read. Use Smore's analytics to see who opens your emails and which links get clicked. And did I mention that Smore lets you translate your newsletters into more than 100 languages? I'm telling you, this is the platform you want to use. Sign up now and take $50 off your first year of your Smore plan. Make your newsletters easier and more engaging at smore.com/teachbetter. Again that’s smore.com/teachbetter Enjoy today's Peptalk? Click here to check out Darrin's blog on the topic. And now ...about our guest on this week's episode: Dr. Matthew B. Courtney is a passionate advocate for education and a specialist in evidence-informed school improvement. He began his career as a music educator before moving on to leadership roles within the nonprofit, higher education, and state government sectors. Dr. Courtney is a published researcher whose work focuses on school improvement. As the founder of Courtney Consulting LLC, he’s advised schools on leveraging evidence-based decision-making to accelerate student achievement. His impact extends beyond students and schools, influencing state-wide educational policies. Dr. Courtney's expertise and dedication continue to bridge gaps in education, fostering progress and development in diverse communities. Find Dr. Courtney on Social Media: https://www.matthewbcourtney.com/ https://twitter.com/mbcourtneyedd https://
S1 E167 · Wed, October 09, 2024
Episode 167: It Starts with Clarity
Are you feeling overwhelmed and struggling to prioritize your time as a school leader? In this episode, I share some exciting news about my upcoming digital course, Take Control of Your Leadership: A Road to Awesome Map for Early Career Leaders . This course is designed to help you overcome overwhelm, focus on what truly matters, and lead with clarity. Sign up for our mailing list at roadtoawesome.net to get early access, special pricing, and exclusive bonuses! And stay tuned for information on this exciting new course. In this episode, we dive into why clarity is essential for school leaders. I share my personal story of struggling to find clarity as a new principal and offer practical steps to help you define your values and priorities. Ready to lead with purpose? Tune in now, and don’t forget to sign up at roadtoawesome.net for exclusive offers and updates on my new digital course, Take Control of Your Leadership .
S1 E166 · Sun, October 06, 2024
Episode 166: Developing Executive Presence with Dr. Laura Camacho
Are you feeling overwhelmed and struggling to prioritize your time as a school leader? In this episode, I share some exciting news about my upcoming digital course, Take Control of Your Leadership: A Road to Awesome Map for Early Career Leaders . This course is designed to help you overcome overwhelm, focus on what truly matters, and lead with clarity. Sign up for our mailing list at roadtoawesome.net to get early access, special pricing, and exclusive bonuses! And stay tuned for information on this exciting new course. And now ...about our guest on this week's episode: Laura Mixon Camacho, PhD , is an executive communication strategist and culture fixer. From her deep dive research into luxury brand messaging, winning political campaigns, and neuroscience, she takes a bespoke approach to teaching highly intelligent high-performers how to connect, engage and inspire people to improve business outcomes and build culture. Her articles on influence and culture have been regularly featured in several publications, including Forbes , The Southern C, Lionesses of Africa and Training Industry . She is also author of the Cultured Communication Workbook and The Practical Guide to Effective Communication . Her podcast, Speak Up with Laura Camacho , is ranked #2 in the world for communication skills podcasts and lists in the top 2.5% of all podcasts in the world. Laura’s recent clients include ABI, Bosch, Charleston County, Charleston Water Systems, Comcast, Catch Talent, Google, King Bean Coffee, Mayne Pharma, Medtronic, Nestlé, SCRA, Society of Women Engineers, among others. She lives in Mt. Pleasant with husband, Ruben. When not working she can be found daydreaming at the beach on Sullivan’s Island. Connect with Laura: Contact: hello@speakupwithlaura.com Instagram: Speak Up With Laura X/Twitter: Speak Up With Laura Linkedin: Laura Mixon Camacho, PhD Website: www.speakupwithlaura.com Podcast: Speak Up: Develop Your Executive Presence
S1 E165 · Wed, October 02, 2024
Episode 165: Taming Your Time Bandits
Are you feeling overwhelmed and struggling to prioritize your time as a school leader? In this episode, I share some exciting news about my upcoming digital course, Take Control of Your Leadership: A Road to Awesome Map for Early Career Leaders . This course is designed to help you overcome overwhelm, focus on what truly matters, and lead with clarity. Sign up for our mailing list at roadtoawesome.net to get early access, special pricing, and exclusive bonuses! And stay tuned for information on this exciting new course. In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership , I uncover the "time bandits" that steal valuable time from school leaders, including managing budgets, student behavior, and angry parents. Discover strategies to take back your time and focus on what matters most.
S1 E164 · Sun, September 29, 2024
Episode 164: Changemakers with David K Richards
Are you feeling overwhelmed and struggling to prioritize your time as a school leader? In this episode, I share some exciting news about my upcoming digital course, Take Control of Your Leadership: A Road to Awesome Map for Early Career Leaders . This course is designed to help you overcome overwhelm, focus on what truly matters, and lead with clarity. Sign up for our mailing list at roadtoawesome.net to get early access, special pricing, and exclusive bonuses! And stay tuned for information on this exciting new course. David K Richards is a visionary leader who helps changemakers usher in new paradigms for learning and leadership. He is the current Founder & CEO of Changemaker Schools, a network of microschools, and Pathfinder, a program to help others open schools. David is also a speaker and leadership coach and leads a mastermind program, the Wise Warrior and has a podcast named Changemaker ED“U”. He has worked in education reform for over 25 years as a teacher, principal, and founder of several innovative charter schools with nationally recognized Summit Public Schools and the school he started, Growth Public School. David has dedicated his life to helping people of all ages connect with the powerful leader within themselves. David lives in Sacramento, CA with his wife Julie, and his two children, Kyle and Ella. He holds a BA from UC Berkeley and an MA from Stanford University. Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/davidk.richards/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-k-richards-a1b43753/ Websites: https://www.davidkrichards.com/ https://pathfinder-ed.com/ https://www.growthps.org/
S1 E163 · Wed, September 25, 2024
Episode 163: My Dissertation as a Podcast? Yes, and it's awesome!
Full disclosure, I checked out Notebook LM after hearing about it on social media. I was immediately fascinated by the potential it has. So, I uploaded my dissertation, linked here, to see what the fuss was all about. I am stunned at how cool this tool really is. It's a concise summary in a fun, easy to listen to podcast. In this week's special episode, I will share my thoughts, as well as the actual audio created by Notebook LM. Check it out! Are you ready to take your leadership and your team to the next level? As a leadership coach and speaker, I’m passionate about helping school leaders and leadership teams like yours gain the clarity you need to walk confidently in your purpose. I believe that when leaders are clear about their purpose, they can lead with more authenticity and create a ripple effect that impacts every level of their organization. If you’re ready to inspire your team, foster deeper connections, and drive meaningful change, I’d love to work with you. Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E162 · Sun, September 22, 2024
Episode 162: Uncommon Sense with Dr. Ryan Donlan
Are you ready to take your leadership and your team to the next level? As a leadership coach and speaker, I’m passionate about helping school leaders and leadership teams like yours gain the clarity you need to walk confidently in your purpose. I believe that when leaders are clear about their purpose, they can lead with more authenticity and create a ripple effect that impacts every level of their organization. If you’re ready to inspire your team, foster deeper connections, and drive meaningful change, I’d love to work with you. Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here And now...about our guest this week on the show: Dr. Ryan Donlan , Professor in the Indiana State University and Bayh College of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership, served for 20 years in K–12 education, most of that time as a Superintendent, as well as a school building leader. He has served in both traditional and charter schools and school districts. Dr. Donlan has taught for years at the college and university level and provides educational program reviews, speeches, presentations, and trainings for educators. Currently, he is a Board Trustee for the Mensa Foundation and Chair of the Editorial Advisory Board of the Mensa Research Journal. He has served prior as Acting Associate Dean of the Bayh College of Education and Chair of the Department of Teaching and Learning. Once a frequent skydiver, Dr. Donlan today enjoys more conservative, contemporary pursuits, such as cooking, reading, and walking. He has written/co-written numerous articles and books, including Gamesmanship for Teachers: Uncommon Sense is Half the Work ; The Secret Solution: How One Principal Discovered the Path to Success ; Minds Unleashed: How Principals Can Lead the Right Brained Way ;<a href="https://a.co/d/2vjOAaN" rel="noopener noreferrer"
S1 E161 · Wed, September 18, 2024
Episode 161: Navigating Leadership Overwhelm
Welcome to a special, mid-week release of the Leaning into Leadership podcast. In this episode, I want to challenge leaders to think about their day to day work and how they might benefit from some time on the balcony, re-evaluating their priorities and when they spend their time. Are you ready to take your leadership and your team to the next level? As a leadership coach and speaker, I’m passionate about helping school leaders and leadership teams like yours gain the clarity you need to walk confidently in your purpose. I believe that when leaders are clear about their purpose, they can lead with more authenticity and create a ripple effect that impacts every level of their organization. If you’re ready to inspire your team, foster deeper connections, and drive meaningful change, I’d love to work with you. Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E160 · Sun, September 15, 2024
Episode 160: The Leader Inside with Lauren Kaufman
Are you ready to take your leadership and your team to the next level? As a leadership coach and speaker, I’m passionate about helping school leaders and leadership teams like yours gain the clarity you need to walk confidently in your purpose. I believe that when leaders are clear about their purpose, they can lead with more authenticity and create a ripple effect that impacts every level of their organization. If you’re ready to inspire your team, foster deeper connections, and drive meaningful change, I’d love to work with you. Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here And now...about our guest this week on the show: Lauren Kaufman is an educator whose passion lies in empowering fellow educators to lead, share their gifts with others, and foster lifelong literacy practices in all learners. With nearly two decades of experience in education, she has held various roles, including elementary classroom teacher, elementary and middle school literacy specialist, instructional coach, mentor coordinator K–12, and assistant principal. Currently, she serves as a district leader and holds the position of director of literacy K–12 in Long Island, New York. Lauren has spearheaded numerous projects, including the development of seventy-three Units of Study in reading and writing for K–5, and has implemented a comprehensive approach to literacy. She is dedicated to providing educators with job-embedded professional learning opportunities and supporting new teachers in acclimating to the school system’s culture and climate. Lauren values collaboration and is committed to sharing best instructional practices with colleagues, fostering powerful professional learning communities and networks that cultivate meaningful, relevant learning and growth. Lauren consistently shares her passion for learning by speaking at national and local conferences, blogging on her own platform, and participating in podcasts; she also contributed to Because of a Teacher by Geor
S1 E159 · Sun, September 08, 2024
Episode 159: Build a Better Now with Greg Bennick
Are you ready to take your leadership and your team to the next level? As a leadership coach and speaker, I’m passionate about helping school leaders and leadership teams like yours gain the clarity you need to walk confidently in your purpose. I believe that when leaders are clear about their purpose, they can lead with more authenticity and create a ripple effect that impacts every level of their organization. If you’re ready to inspire your team, foster deeper connections, and drive meaningful change, I’d love to work with you. Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here Here is the blogpost I referenced in the PepTalk - Life in the Dropoff Lane And now...about our guest this week on the show: Greg Bennick is a world-class speaker, organizational consultant, and global event host whose ideas have inspired tens of thousands of people to take new approaches to productivity, focus, inspiration and personal development. He engages with audiences in conversations that span borders, appearing on stages in 27 countries (and counting). He is the founder and executive director of an international nonprofit in Haiti ( onehundredforhaiti.org ), which since 2010 has listened to Haitian people to help transform an entire region’s relationship with water, education, food, and housing. You can find out more about Greg at: gregbennick.com Grab a copy of Greg's new book on Amazon Follow Greg on X , LinkedIn , <a href="https://www.instagram.com/gregbennick/" rel="noopene
S1 E158 · Sun, September 01, 2024
Episode 158: Live 100 with Jason Yarusi
Let's get your High Performance Leadership Retreat scheduled today! Reach out to me darrin@roadtoawesome.net to set up the conversation and get your team on the Road to Awesome for the upcoming year! Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here And now...about our guest this week on the show: Jason Yarusi is a charismatic communicator who electrifies every stage he graces. Jason is a Private fund manager of over $300 million dollars in commercial real estate. Since 2017 his company Yarusi Holdings has amassed over 3000 apartment and commercial real estate units. Jason has built and exited multiple companies: construction, restaurants, a brewery and multiple large apartment communities. He is an avid ultra runner and workout enthusiast. Jason is the host of LIVE100 and The Multifamily Live Podcast , runs 7 Figure Multifamily Mastermind and coaches clients on the Live 100 Principles. And most importantly a husband and a father to three amazing kids, a bulldog named Jill and fifteen chickens. Jason brings all of his hands-on experience to you. His personal story and extensive work has made him an inspirational force, captivating audiences as a dynamic motivational speaker. With an innate ability to ignite positive transformations, Jason empowers individuals to conquer challenges and embrace change with unwavering resilience. His electrifying talks instill a renewed sense of purpose, propelling audiences to reach new heights in both personal and professional spheres. Connect with Jason: Website: https://www.jasonyarusi.com/ Email: jason@live-100.com <strong
S1 E157 · Sun, August 25, 2024
Episode 157: Raw Leadership with Colleen Bashar
Let's get your High Performance Leadership Training scheduled today! Reach out to me darrin@roadtoawesome.net to set up the conversation and get your team on the Road to Awesome for the upcoming year! Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here And now...about our guest this week on the show: Colleen Bashar is an Enterprise Software Operations and Sales Executive with a successful record of building business units and teams from the ground up, opening new markets, and delivering consistent, YoY 20% revenue growth at Guidewire (GWRE), a multibillion-dollar public company where she serves as SVP of Enterprise Business Operations and Chief of Staff to the CEO. Connect with Colleen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleenscott/ Website: https://www.basharleadership.com/ Email/contact info: cbashar@guidewire.com
S1 E156 · Wed, August 21, 2024
Episode 156: The Evolving Role with Todd Bloomer & Dominic Armano
Let's get your School Leadership training scheduled today! Reach out to me darrin@roadtoawesome.net to set up the conversation and get your team on the Road to Awesome for the upcoming year! Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here And now...about our guest this week on the show: This special mid-week episode is the eighth edition of a series with Dominic Armano, Todd Bloomer, and Darrin teaming up to talk about the hot topics in educational leadership today. On this episode, we are talking about the ever-evolving role of the building principal. Connect with Darrin: https://x.com/DarrinMPeppard Connect with Dom: https://x.com/DominicArmano Connect with Todd: https://x.com/bloomer_sa Get The Blueprint on Amazon or on Todd Bloomer's website
S1 E155 · Sun, August 18, 2024
Episode 155: School of Engagement with Jonathan Alsheimer
Let's get your High Performance Leadership Training scheduled today! Reach out to me darrin@roadtoawesome.net to set up the conversation and get your team on the Road to Awesome for the upcoming year! Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here And now...about our guest this week on the show: Jonathan Alsheimer is the unorthodox, energetic, and entertaining teacher who refuses to live a life of limitations and works with UFC Fighters, Celebrities, and Clothing Brands. In addition to being a passionate educator, Jonathan is an international keynote speaker and the best-selling author of "NEXT LEVEL TEACHING.” Jonathan, taught at the world-renowned Fred Lynn Middle School, which was featured in two documentaries "Relentless" and "Relentless: Chasing Accreditation,” as the teacher who forged a partnership with UFC Fighter and light-weight contender Paul Felder to bring a message of never giving up, fighting for their education, and empowering the students to believe in themselves, all principles that Jonathan promotes in his classroom. Jonathan Alsheimer also partnered with Fear the Fighter, MMA clothing brand to establish a stop-bullying campaign. Jonathan Alsheimer didn't stop there and established a relationship with "Drama,” MTV reality star and CEO of Young and Reckless to promote and build student leaders in his school. Jonathan, an educator in northern Virginia, has been featured on USA Channel 9 and NBC News for establishing a national give-back movement called “A Rae of Hope,” started in his classroom to help pediatric patients in hospitals, which has now grown and been implemented in schools and classrooms across the nation. As Jonathan always says, "Game-changing is not a cliche motto; it is a way of life... some talk about it while others live by it! Connect with Jonathan: Website: https://www.jonathanalsheimer.com/ Social Media: <a href="https://x.com/mr_Alsh
S1 E154 · Sun, August 11, 2024
Episode 154: Educreators & Entrepreneurship with Jeff Gargas
Let's get your High Performance Leadership Training scheduled today! Reach out to me darrin@roadtoawesome.net to set up the conversation and get your team on the Road to Awesome for the upcoming year! Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here And now...about our guest this week on the show: Jeff Gargas is a 4-time college dropout who started an education consulting business with a buddy he met in the music industry. After building a profitable, 7-figure business in an industry he knew nothing about, he strives to share his 20+ years of experience starting and growing companies in a variety of industries. Jeff is currently the COO and Co-founder of the Teach Better Team (Creators of www.teachbetter.com , The Grid Method, and Teach Further) and co-author of the book, “Teach Better.” He and his team work with schools and school districts to increase student engagement and improve student success. Jeff leads Teach Better’s EDUcreator Club+ Community, built for educators who create things outside of their classroom or school. Through his 1-on-1 coaching and masterminds, Jeff has now helped dozens of EDUpreneurs grow to 6-figure businesses. Prior to co-founding Teach Better, Jeff was the owner of ENI Multimedia, an online marketing firm, where he worked with entrepreneurs and small businesses, assisting them with web design, social media, content marketing, and brand awareness. Prior to all of this, Jeff was an adjunctive professor at Kent State University and spent 10+ years in the music industry. He has spoken at conferences around the country, and has successfully promoted more than 500 events and launched 7 businesses in a variety of industries. Jeff is passionate about music, and enjoys spending time with his family as often as possible. Social Media Handles: Twitter: @JeffGargas
S1 E153 · Sun, August 04, 2024
Episode 153: Back to School with Joshua Stamper
Let's get your High Performance Leadership Training scheduled today! Reach out to me darrin@roadtoawesome.net to set up the conversation and get your team on the Road to Awesome for the upcoming year! Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here And now...about our guest this week on the show: This week on the show I am teaming up with Joshua Stamper from the Aspire to Lead podcast. Joshua is the Director of Innovation with the Teach Better Team and is a former assistant principal. We are joining forces for this episode with an eye on helping you stay out of firefighter mode and live in the leadership world for the coming school year. Follow Joshua on all social media at joshua__stamper Check out the Aspire to Lead podcast for more from Josh.
S1 E152 · Sun, July 28, 2024
Episode 152: Strategic Thinking with Rich Horwath
Let's get your High Performance Leadership Training scheduled today! Reach out to me darrin@roadtoawesome.net to set up the conversation and get your team on the Road to Awesome for the upcoming year! Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here And now...about our guest this week on the show: Rich Horwath is the founder and CEO of the Strategic Thinking Institute where he is a strategy facilitator and coach to executive leadership teams. He is a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of eight books on strategic thinking, including his most recent work, STRATEGIC: The Skill to Set Direction, Create Advantage, and Achieve Executive Excellence which was selected by Inc. Magazine as a top 4 “must-read book for 2024.” Rich has appeared on ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX TV to provide expert commentary on business strategy and his work has been published in Fast Company, Forbes, and the Harvard Business Review. He is a former Chief Strategy Officer and professor of strategy at the graduate level. Rich has helped more than a quarter million leaders develop their strategic thinking and planning capabilities over the past two decades in pursuit of his vision to teach the world to be strategic. Business name: Strategic Thinking Institute Website: http://www.strategyskills.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richhorwath/ E-Book for STRATEGIC: The Skill to Set Direction, Create Advantage, and Achieve Executive Excellence : http://www.strategic-book.com/ Book on Amazon, STRATEGIC: The Skill to Set Direction, Create Advantage, and Achieve Executive Excellence
S1 E151 · Sun, July 21, 2024
Episode 151: Called to Empower with Coach Kurt Hines
Let's get your School Leadership training scheduled today! Reach out to me darrin@roadtoawesome.net to set up the conversation and get your team on the Road to Awesome for the upcoming year! Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here And now...about our guest this week on the show: Blessed with over twenty six years of relentless dedication to high school football (coaching across the nation's diverse landscapes), Coach Kurt HInes has come to an unshakable belief that coaching transcends mere tactics – it's about blessing, serving, and empowering every soul he comes into contact with. His passion ignites in sculpting triumph-forged cultures, propelling individuals, teams, and enterprises to unparalleled heights of achievement. Beyond the gridiron, Coach is a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, striving daily to use his influence to shape lives for the better. From the trenches of the field, to the boundless reach of social media, his mission remains unwavering: to change the lives of as many people as he can. Connect with Coach Hines: Instagram , Twitter (X) , TikTok , Facebook Website: https://www.coachkurthines.com/ Order his new book on Amazon: Called to Empower
S1 E150 · Wed, July 17, 2024
Episode 150: The Blueprint with Todd Bloomer and Dominic Armano
Let's get your School Leadership training scheduled today! Reach out to me darrin@roadtoawesome.net to set up the conversation and get your team on the Road to Awesome for the upcoming year! Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here And now...about our guest this week on the show: This special mid-week episode is the seventh edition of a series with Dominic Armano, Todd Bloomer, and Darrin teaming up to talk about the hot topics in educational leadership today. On this episode, we are talking about Todd's upcoming book The Blueprint and celebrating 150 episodes of Leaning into Leadership
S1 E149 · Sun, July 14, 2024
Episode 149: The Pepper Effect with Sean Gaillard
Let's get your High Performance Leadership Training scheduled today! Reach out to me darrin@roadtoawesome.net to set up the conversation and get your team on the Road to Awesome for the upcoming year! Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here And now...about our guest this week on the show: Sean Gaillard, author of The Pepper Effect: Tap Into the Magic of Creativity, Collaboration, and Innovation , is an accomplished educator with over thirty years of experience as a teacher and school administrator. Sean has held various principal positions on every level of K-12 at various schools in Winston-Salem and Lexington, North Carolina, earning accolades such as Lexington City Schools Principal of the Year and Wells Fargo Piedmont-Triad Region Principal of the Year. Gaillard was also a finalist for North Carolina Principal of the Year. He holds degrees from The Catholic University of America, Trinity University, and the University of North Carolina A&T University. Sean has contributed writings to Education Week, PBS NewsHour Extra, and Culture Sonar, and co-authored Education Write Now, Volume 2. His blog and podcast, “The Principal Liner Notes,” reflect his passion for school culture, innovation, and music. Founder of the #CelebrateMonday movement, Sean has presented and served as a keynote speaker at numerous conferences. He lives in Clemmons, NC with his wife and they enjoy watching the journey of their three daughters into adulthood. Connect with Sean: Blog Site: “Principal Liner Notes”- https://principallinernotes.wordpress.com/ X: @smgaillard- https://x.com/smgaillard Instagram: @smgaillard- https://www.instagram.com/smgaillard/ LinkedI
S1 E148 · Sun, July 07, 2024
Episode 148: Take Me Home with Andrea Bitner
Let's get your High Performance Leadership Retreat scheduled today! Reach out to me darrin@roadtoawesome.net to set up the conversation and get your team on the Road to Awesome for the upcoming year! Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here And now...about our guest this week on the show: Andrea Bitner is an educator, author, and speaker. She lives in Philadelphia, PA. She has worked with students in grades K-12 throughout her twenty-two years in public education from all around the world. Her first book, “Take Me Home,” was published by Austin Macauley in July of 2021. " Take Me Home " is the true story of 11 of her former EL students who give a first-hand account of what it's really like to become bilingual in America. She is also a co-author of Chip Baker’s “ The Impact of Influence-Volume 3 " and Dr. Rick Jetter’s " 100 No-Nonsense Things ALL School Leaders Should STOP Doing .” She teaches EL’s daily, and travels the country speaking and teaching educators how to teach and reach EL students, and effectively communicate with EL families! Connect with Andrea at www.andreabitnerbooks.com Find her on social media: Instagram , Twitter , and LinkedIn
S1 E147 · Sun, June 30, 2024
Episode 147 Intentions to Actions Leadership with Pam Marcheski
Let's get your High Performance Leadership Retreat scheduled today! Reach out to me darrin@roadtoawesome.net to set up the conversation and get your team on the Road to Awesome for the upcoming year! Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here And now...about our guest this week on the show: Pam Marcheski is the visionary force behind Intentions to Actions Leadership, a dynamic company revolutionizing the landscape of leadership. Rooted in mindfulness, her approach empowers individuals and organizations to crystallize their leadership aspirations, both personally and professionally. By merging traditional leadership models with the transformative power of mindfulness, Pam crafts a bespoke roadmap, igniting actions that harmonize with these intentions. With a distinguished career spanning 25 years as a senior-level executive in Fortune 500 companies, Pam brings unparalleled expertise to her coaching practice. Having led teams of over 1,000 employees and managed P&L responsibilities totaling billions, she now channels her insights to guide and support all areas of her coaching and consulting business. Pam's coaching methodology is enriched by her extensive training, including certification in mPEAK (Mindfulness, Performance, Enhancement, Knowledge) from the University of California San Diego, and expertise in Marshall Goldsmith’s Stakeholder Centered Coaching and Strength-Based Coaching. Grounded in practical wisdom, she meets clients at their point of need, bridging the gap between intention and action through personalized coaching engagements. An esteemed member of the Harvard Medical School-affiliated Institute of Coaching, SHRM, and Women’s Leadership Institute, Pam actively contributes to shaping the discourse on leadership and organizational dynamics. She continues to mentor and collaborate with high-level executives, volunteering her time to speak and engage with emerging leaders. Pam's commitment to advancing female leadership is evident in her involvement with prestigious programs like the Executive
S1 E146 · Sun, June 23, 2024
Episode 146: The Great Engagement with Tom Willis
Let's get your High Performance Leadership Retreat scheduled today! Reach out to me darrin@roadtoawesome.net to set up the conversation and get your team on the Road to Awesome for the upcoming year! Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here And now...about our guest this week on the show: Tom Willis is an Organizational Culture Expert. He believes we are all born with unlimited potential. As a former classroom teacher, he also believes in the power of lifelong learning. These beliefs have shaped his primary goal in life: helping others uncover their talents so they can reach their potential. Prior to joining Phoenix, he had the great honor of serving as CEO for Cornerstone; a consultant with PricewaterhouseCoopers; and an engineer with the Intel Corporation. Along the way, he was fortunate to earn degrees from the University of Michigan and the University of Notre Dame (MBA). He thanks God every day for his amazing wife and three wonderful children. Check out the free life engagement Tom mentioned in the show: https://www.phoenixperform.com/leaningintoleadership Website: http://phoenixperform.com Social Media Links: LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasawillis/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@phoenixperformancepartners Grab a copy of Tom's new book: https://www.phoenixperform.com/book Guest provided by: www.exp
S1 E145 · Sun, June 16, 2024
Episode 145: A Special Father's Day Interview by Liz Peppard
Happy Father's Day to all the amazing dads out there, including my dad Dennis and my father in law Dean. This week is a very special interview, as my daughter Liz sits down with me and flips the script. Yes, that's right, I am the guest this week with Liz diving in to some leadership questions that are on her mind. Let's get your High Performance Leadership Retreat scheduled today! Reach out to me darrin@roadtoawesome.net to set up the conversation and get your team on the Road to Awesome for the upcoming year! Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E144 · Wed, June 12, 2024
Episode 144: For the new administrator with Todd Bloomer and Dominic Armano
Let's get your High Performance Leadership Retreat scheduled today! Reach out to me darrin@roadtoawesome.net to set up the conversation and get your team on the Road to Awesome for the upcoming year! Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here And now...about our guest this week on the show: This special mid-week episode is the sixth edition of a series with Dominic Armano, Todd Bloomer, and Darrin teaming up to talk about the hot topics in educational leadership today.
S1 E143 · Sun, June 09, 2024
Episode 143: A Tale of Two AP Roles with Dr. Nick Davies
Let's get your High Performance Leadership Retreat scheduled today! Reach out to me darrin@roadtoawesome.net to set up the conversation and get your team on the Road to Awesome for the upcoming year! Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here And now...about our guest this week on the show: Dr. Nick Davies is an associate principal for Vancouver Public Schools and an adjunct Faculty Member at Pacific University. He has been a school administrator for 5 years at both the primary and secondary levels. He has a Ph.D. in Education and Leadership and wrote his dissertation on curriculum implementation. Dr. Davies is a National Outstanding Assistant Principal and was named the 2024 Elementary Assistant Principal of the Year for the state of Washington. He is a former high school math teacher and head track and field coach. He was a two-time state coach of the year in Oregon. Dr. Davies has had 7 published articles and presented nationwide on school leadership. Dr. Davies also served as a reservist in the U.S. Coast Guard. Connect with Nick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-davies-education/ drnickdavies@gmail.com https://www.drnickdavies.com/
S1 E142 · Sun, June 02, 2024
Episode 142: Mindset Mastery with Paul Gencarella Jr.
Let's get your High Performance Leadership Retreat scheduled today! Reach out to me darrin@roadtoawesome.net to set up the conversation and get your team on the Road to Awesome for the upcoming year! Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here And now...about our guest this week on the show: Paul Gencarella Jr. is a captivating speaker, a self-image consultant and is very passionate about his craft. Paul was an insurance agent for 25 years and has transitioned to a virtual-based enterprise consisting of consulting, mentoring, coaching and professional speaking. He has worked with several individuals and local organizations. Paul attributes his success to a variety of mentors, but specifically Bob Proctor, Jim Rohn and Tony Robbins have made the most impact on his life. Paul has embraced the thinking that when you change your mindset, you change your life. Success in life is a matter of following a system and when you do, you will be in harmony with anything you desire in life. Whether it be turning your annual income into your monthly income, fostering and nurturing relationships or becoming the best version of yourself, Paul will provide the solution that is already rooted within you. This scientific philosophy did not come easy for Paul. He spent time in a psychiatric hospital two years in a row, lost the only job he knew and was on the verge of suicide. That all changed for the better when Paul took control of his thinking and decided how he wanted to live. Allowing outside circumstances to dictate his thoughts, feelings and actions no longer has control over his life. It is a refreshing concept and we all have the potential to live the life we dream of living. Connect with Paul: LinkedIn , Facebook , <a href="https://www.i
S1 E141 · Sun, May 26, 2024
Episode 141: You Deserve to Learn with Dr. Andrea Gilbert
Let's get your High Performance Leadership Retreat scheduled today! Reach out to me darrin@roadtoawesome.net to set up the conversation and get your team on the Road to Awesome for the upcoming year! Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here And now...about our guest this week on the show: Dr. Andrea Gilbert is a leader, learner, educator, and blogger. She is passionate about growing life-long learning within her education corral. Andrea has been awarded several honors, including the Wyoming Sallie Mae Teacher of the Year and the Wyoming Curriculum Director of the Year. She was also a member of two National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association national champion teams for the University of Wyoming. She believes that education is a life-long experience we foster in each individual within our sphere of influence, that a collaboration of learners can change a system, and that we cultivate learners when we actively engage them in learning. Connect with Dr. Gilbert: Website: http://educationcorral.com Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram = @educationcorral Email/contact info: educationcorral@gmail.com
S1 E140 · Sun, May 19, 2024
Episode 140: From Trauma to Transformation with Sofia Gonzalez
Let's get your High Performance Leadership Retreat scheduled today! Reach out to me darrin@roadtoawesome.net to set up the conversation and get your team on the Road to Awesome for the upcoming year! Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here And now...about our guest this week on the show: Sofia Gonzalez is a proud Latina who's a nationally recognized educator of the year, nonprofit leader with Project 214, podcast host, and education activist from the Chicago area. She is a sought-after public speaker regarding the state of education who is known for her cutting-edge presentations and dynamic illustrations with a passion that’s infectious. A High School teacher, 15-year veteran, disruptor, and alum in a variety of spaces like Fulbright, Latinos for Education, Urban Leaders Fellowship, and currently School Ambassador Fellow with the US Department of Education, Sofia's passion and energy towards education equity, racial justice, and trauma-informed practices remains a leading voice for the 21st-century classroom and beyond. Connect with Sofia: Social Media: Twitter/X & Instagram Email: Sofiaspeaks1@gmail.com Website: www.sofiaspeaks.com
S1 E139 · Wed, May 15, 2024
Episode 139: May Mayhem with Darrin, Todd, and Dominic
Let's get your High Performance Leadership Retreat scheduled today! Reach out to me darrin@roadtoawesome.net to set up the conversation and get your team on the Road to Awesome for the upcoming year! Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here And now...about our guest this week on the show: This special mid-week episode is the fifth edition of a series with Dominic Armano, Todd Bloomer, and Darrin teaming up to talk about the hot topics in educational leadership today.
S1 E138 · Sun, May 12, 2024
Episode 138: Against the Wind with Dr. Donya Ball
Let's get your High Performance Leadership Retreat scheduled today! Reach out to me darrin@roadtoawesome.net to set up the conversation and get your team on the Road to Awesome for the upcoming year! Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here And now...about our guest this week on the show: Dr. Donya Ball is a transformative superintendent in California, a passionate author, and an inspiring national keynote speaker. She excels in leading her staff to inspire and motivate students to pursue their passions, preparing them for life beyond the classroom. Dr. Ball also is a professor of administrative leadership and teacher education, bringing over two decades of experience in mentoring and coaching to her roles. As a seasoned guide for top executives, Dr. Ball navigates the complex storms of leadership. She is the author of two impactful books, Adjusting the Sails: Weathering the Storms of Administrative Leadership (2022) and Against the Wind: Leadership at 36,000 Feet (2023), which delve into the real-world challenges of leadership. Her expertise has not only captivated audiences nationwide but also caught the attention of media outlets like USA Today, showcasing her as a thought leader in educational and executive leadership. Check out the Principal Prodigy Program today! Social Media: Website: www.donyaball.com Twitter (X): @SuptDonya Instagram: dr__d__ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SuptDonya/ Linkedin: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/donya-ball-ed-d-314bb011
S1 E137 · Sun, May 05, 2024
Episode 137: Collaborative Response with Kurtis Hewson
Let's get your High Performance Leadership Retreat scheduled today! Reach out to me darrin@roadtoawesome.net to set up the conversation and get your team on the Road to Awesome for the upcoming year! Get Josh Korb's new book, Be the Cause: An Educator's Guide to EFFECTive Instruction here Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here And now...about our guest this week on the show: Kurtis Hewson is an award-winning former administrator and teacher, as well as teaching faculty at the post-secondary level. He is the co-founder of Jigsaw Learning, a co-author of the text Collaborative Response: Three Foundational Components That Transform How We Respond to the Needs of Learners and currently works with districts and schools nationally and internationally establishing Collaborative Response frameworks and interacting with thousands of educators annually. Connect with Kurtis on Social Media: Twitter & LinkedIn Email/contact info: kurtis.hewson@jigsawlearning.ca Overview of Collaborative Response article - https://bit.ly/CR-overview Free Access to the Introductory chapter for the Collaborative Response book - https://bit.ly/CR-intro
S1 E136 · Sun, April 28, 2024
Episode 136: Culture and Strategy Eat Breakfast Together with Sonya Shelton
Let's get your High Performance Leadership Retreat scheduled today! Reach out to me darrin@roadtoawesome.net to set up the conversation and get your team on the Road to Awesome for the upcoming year! Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here And now...about our guest this week on the show: When it comes to navigating the ins-and-outs of business, Sonya Shelton has seen it all: From successful startups with brand new ideas to well-established Fortune 500 companies. Sonya Shelton founded Executive Leadership Consulting in 2007 from her passion for partnering with leaders and high achievers to create a clear vision and build work environments where employees are fulfilled and completely committed to their organization’s success. She has captured her leadership tips and success stories in her #1 Amazon bestselling book “You’re an Executive, But Are You a Leader?” Having been an executive as well as an international speaker and consultant, Sonya knows how to tap into lesser-known, hidden practices that drive true leadership. Her philosophy, background and experience add a strategic, pragmatic and multidimensional approach to making strong leaders. Sonya serves on the Forbes Coaches Council and is a certified Master Corporate Executive Coach through the Association of Corporate Executive Coaches. Learn more at: https://executiveleader.com/ Connect with Sonya on Social Media: Twitter - twitter.com/sonyashelton Instagram - www.instagram.com/execleadership LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/ceosonyashelton <s
S1 E135 · Sun, April 21, 2024
Episode 135: Be the Cause with Josh Korb
Let's get your High Performance Leadership Retreat scheduled today! Reach out to me darrin@roadtoawesome.net to set up the conversation and get your team on the Road to Awesome for the upcoming year! Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here And now...about our guest this week on the show: Josh Korb , a dynamic and multifaceted educator, passionately strives to revolutionize the world of education. Beginning his career as a math teacher, Josh's innate drive to innovate led him to become a Director of Technology and Innovation. This role allowed him to merge his love for teaching with his profound experience in instructional technology, in hopes of transforming the educational landscape. His entrepreneurial spirit and software engineering skills gave birth to Master3DU Inc., an EdTech startup with a mission to empower leaders, teachers, and students through mastery-based teaching and learning. This venture has positioned Josh as a pioneer in the edtech space, garnering accolades and inspiration. As a doctoral candidate, Josh further explores the transformative power of technology in education and standards-based learning, honing his skills as a trailblazer in the industry. Throughout his career, Josh Korb has proven to be an unstoppable force for change in education. By empowering others to embrace innovation and harness the power of technology, he continues to ignite the potential of countless leaders, educators, and students. Connect with Josh and get your copy of the book at: https://www.youcanbethecause.com/
S1 E134 · Wed, April 17, 2024
Episode 134: Stay Visible with Dom, Todd, and Darrin
Let's get your High Performance Leadership Retreat scheduled today! Reach out to me darrin@roadtoawesome.net to set up the conversation and get your team on the Road to Awesome for the upcoming year! Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here And now...about our guest this week on the show: This special mid-week episode is the fourth edition of a series with Dominic Armano, Todd Bloomer, and Darrin teaming up to talk about the hot topics in educational leadership today.
S1 E133 · Sun, April 14, 2024
Episode 133: Teach Happy with Kim Strobel
Let's get your High Performance Leadership Retreat scheduled today! Reach out to me darrin@roadtoawesome.net to set up the conversation and get your team on the Road to Awesome for the upcoming year! Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here And now...about our guest this week on the show: Kim Strobel is a renowned motivational speaker and author of Teach Happy: Small Steps to Big Joy , sought after by schools, businesses, and organizations worldwide. With her powerful message about the impact of happiness on well-being and the pursuit of fulfillment, she traverses the globe, sharing her insights. Kim specializes in empowering educators and professionals, equipping them with the necessary tools and strategies to shift their mindsets, reclaim their happiness, reignite their passion, and lead with purpose. Drawing from her extensive background as a teacher and curriculum director, Kim’s ultimate aim is to inspire her audience. Through her engaging talks, she presents captivating research, heartwarming anecdotes, and practical steps for achieving life-altering results. In addition to her professional pursuits, Kim is a devoted animal rescuer, having rescued 187 dogs. She is also an avid runner and has an unwavering love for life. Connect with Kim on Facebook or Instagram Email Kim: kstrobel@strobeleducation.com Order your copy of Kim's book Teach Happy: Small Steps to BIG JOY
S1 E132 · Sun, April 07, 2024
Episode 132: The Principal's Journey with Dr. Rachel Edoho-Eket
Let's get your High Performance Leadership Retreat scheduled today! Reach out to me darrin@roadtoawesome.net to set up the conversation and get your team on the Road to Awesome for the upcoming year! Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here And now...about our guest this week on the show: Dr. Rachel Edoho-Eket is a wife, mother, principal, public speaker, and author. With decades as a teacher and leader in public education, she has earned the reputation as a strong instructional leader, passionate educational advocate, and dedicated mentor. As the Principal of a top ranked school in Maryland, she is a life-long learner who strives for excellence not only for herself, but also for everyone she serves. Dr. Edoho-Eket’s belief in fostering meaningful relationships serves as the foundation for everything she does. During her educational career, she has proudly served as a classroom teacher, instructional team leader, mentor teacher, Assistant Principal, and Principal. Her new book, “The Principal’s Journey: Navigating the Path to School Leadership” provides a helpful and practical blueprint for educators to follow as they transition into new leadership roles. Dr. Edoho-Eket holds a B.S. in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from Temple University, a M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction from McDaniel College, and a Doctorate in Leadership and Professional Practice from Trevecca Nazarene University. Connect with Dr. Edoho-Eket: Twitter: @racheledohoeket Instagram: @the_principals_journey Youtube: @racheledoho-eket Linkedin: Rachel Edoho-Eket Website: https://bio.site/the_principals_journey Grab Rachel's book here: The Principal's Journey: Navigating the Path to School Leadership
S1 E131 · Sun, March 31, 2024
Episode 131: Reclaiming Purpose with Dr. Frederick Buskey
Let's get your High Performance Leadership Retreat scheduled today! Reach out to me darrin@roadtoawesome.net to set up the conversation and get your team on the Road to Awesome for the upcoming year! Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here And now...about our guest this week on the show: Frederick Buskey ’s purpose is to help school leaders live and lead better. Building on 33 years of k-12 and higher education leadership experience, Frederick provides simple frameworks and tools to improve life and leadership. His new book, A School Leader’s Guide to Reclaiming Purpose, helps leaders master the six steps to move from spending time putting out fires to investing time in growing teachers. Frederick hosts The Assistant Principal Podcast , writes a daily leadership email , and develops short powerful courses for teachers and those who serve them. Connect with Frederick on LinkedIn Learn more about Frederick on his website at frederickbuskey.com . Order your copy of his new book A School Leader's Guide to Reclaiming Purpose Contact him via email at: frederick@frederickbuskey.com
S1 E130 · Sun, March 24, 2024
Episode 130: The Empowered Educator with Dr. Melinda Vandevort
Let's get your High Performance Leadership Retreat scheduled today! Reach out to me darrin@roadtoawesome.net to set up the conversation and get your team on the Road to Awesome for the upcoming year! Dr. Melinda Vandevort has been an educator for well over 20 years, dedicating herself to shaping the educational landscape. In 2016, she transitioned into administration driven by her passion for professional learning and a desire to empower fellow teachers. Recognizing the need for guidance in the journey from teacher to leader, Melinda is now a career transition coach. Her commitment to education extends into the digital realm, where she explores the intersection of technology and teaching. In 2019, she launched the Empowered Educator podcast, catering to teachers yearning for professional learning on the go and the desire for transition into leadership. Melinda's insightful discussions cover leadership mindset, career options, and the knowledge needed for a successful transition. Furthering her mission to empower others, Dr. Melinda Vandevort is the driving force behind the Empowered Pathways Network. This network serves as a dynamic platform for fostering growth in two different paths. The Coaching Path designed for individuals aspiring to embark on a purpose-driven career journey. The Consulting Path designed for educational institutions interested in harnessing data to identify and foster growth within their teaching staff. Grab Dr. Vandevort's FREEBIE here Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E129 · Sun, March 17, 2024
Episode 129: Nail the Interview - A Collaboration with the Schurtz & Ties Podcast
In this special collaborative episode , I'm sitting down with Brian Miller from the Schurtz & Ties Podcast. Brian T Miller is a middle school principal, writer, speaker, and podcaster who is dedicated to building and maintaining healthy school cultures and encouraging all to #DoGreatThings! For more on this episode, visit Brian's blog here Interview season is here! And we’d love to help. Below are a few lessons and tricks we have picked up along the way and share in this episode TELL YOUR STORY: What word or idea do you want your audience to know/think about you and what stories can you share that embody them? Write them down, rehearse them to the windshield, then confidently share them in the interview. Be intentional. It is what your audience will remember most. BE MORE THAN THE POSITION: No matter the position you are applying for, show yourself as a leader willing to do and be more than that position. Sure, they need you as an English teacher, but how else might you impact or help the building, the district, or the community? Be the go-to person on something other than the position you are applying for. BE FULL-THROTTLE YOU: There are things worse than not getting the job . . . getting a job under pretense. Be who you are, fully and confidently. If they love you they’ll hire YOU! Showing up to work and trying to be someone you’re not sounds miserable. Quality educators are not looking for someone to fit in the box. So be confident. Be you. REMEMBER, IT’S A TWO-WAY STREET: Sure, you’re the one sitting in the hot seat, but they also need the position filled. Take the opportunity to learn about the district, the school, and the leaders. Ask some questions, take notes, and ask yourself if YOU want to hire THEM! Not only does this relieve some pressure, but it can also put a little confidence in your spine. And confidence is always attractive. BE A LLAMA: Nobody has the perfect resume. And although we don’t want to spend too much time speaking to our weaknesses, it is okay to acknowledge them. But also, and more importantly, it is imperative that we highlight our strengths, talents, and abilities. Again, BE CONFIDENT! Just don’t brag. Instead, share how your badassness will help students, staff, and the community. Use who you are to protect and support others. ASK ABOUT THE KIDS: Don’t forget that at the root of all of this are students. They are impacted MOST by your interview for they either get to have you in their building or miss
S1 E128 · Wed, March 13, 2024
Episode 128: March Madness with Darrin, Dominic, and Todd
Got a question for us? Submit it here or hit us up on social media Episode 128 is a special mid-week collaboration with elementary principal Dominic Armano and high school principal Todd Bloomer. Continuing our special series, Dom, Todd, and I sit down and share our insights on March Madness, not basketball, just simply the craziness that is March in our schools. Listen in as we talk hiring, budget, recruitment and retention, staff support, and more. Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E127 · Sun, March 10, 2024
Episode 127: Legacy of Learning with Meghan Lawson
Meghan Lawson is a thought leader who studies and implements the conditions and systems needed for transformational change. A lover of learning who believes in the goodness of people, Meghan works to cultivate spaces that honor the humanity of all people. She promotes storytelling, the exchange of ideas, and risk-taking. She is passionate about disrupting the status quo and creating kinder, forward-thinking communities of action. Meghan is also intensely curious about how to enhance the customer experience in schools. Meghan began her career in the English Language Arts classroom. So, inevitably, her mantra is “Words matter”. She has worked in all levels of K–12 education as a teacher, school administrator, district administrator, and educational consultant. Connect with Meghan: X: meghan_lawson Instagram: MeghanLawsonBlog Email/contact info: Meghanlawsonblog@gmail.com Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E126 · Sun, March 03, 2024
Episode 126: The Positive Growth Lounge with Phil Januszewski
Phil Januszewski is a tattoo covered, Netflix baking-show flopping, high-energy chemistry/physics teaching professional speaker. He is on a mission to create and spread happiness through education, motivation, and entertainment. Phil is a nationally known dynamic speaker of 10+ years and a public school educator since 2005 with a masters in teaching leadership and a certification in positive education. His personal mission is to empower others to overcome burnout and work towards a more flourishing life. When not teaching, speaking, or supporting educators, Phil enjoys everyday adventures with his wife and two children and pursuing his personal passions of fitness, baking, networking, and personal development. If you ever meet Phil, be prepared for a great deal of positive energy, love, and passion. Connect with Phil on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/philjanuszewski/ https://www.facebook.com/PhilJanuszewskiSpeaks https://www.tiktok.com/@philjanuszewski https://twitter.com/philjanuszewski https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9XP-J4f6vdFuY-0WlV27yg Website: www.PhilJanuszewski.com Email: Phil@PositiveGrowthLounge.com Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E125 · Sun, February 25, 2024
Episode 125: Tone Down Your Walk with Claire Chandler
Claire Chandler, President and founder of Talent Boost , deeply believes that leaders shape cultures, and stronger cultures drive greater success. Leveraging 30 years of experience in people leadership, human resources, and business ownership, Claire helps organizations expand their business without losing their best talent using her proven “Growth on Purpose” methodology. Claire holds a certificate in strategic HR leadership from Cornell’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations, a master’s degree from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and a bachelor’s degree from Fairfield University. She has appeared as a guest on more than 150 podcasts, is the author of several books on leadership and business strategy, and is a contributing writer for Forbes . Get Claire's free ebook, The Culture Effect, here Connect with Claire: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairechandlersphr/ https://www.clairechandler.net https://www.talentboost.net Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E124 · Sun, February 18, 2024
Episode 124: Guiding Transformational Change with Dr. Kristina Mattis
Dr. Kristina V. Mattis advises statewide educational technology efforts for the California Department of Education, specifically addressing the Closing the Digital Divide Initiative to achieve digital equity. Kristina’s 20+ years in education spans roles from classroom teaching to executive director, and from strategic plan development to leading change and project management across public and private instructional institutions. She is an ESL multilingual speaker and published author. Kristina’s expansive experience and expertise in educational initiatives allow for her collaborative and holistic systems-thinking approach to examine the needs for high-quality equitable access to necessary technologies that propel instructional opportunities and operational effectiveness so that “we prepare students to live, work, and thrive in a multicultural, multilingual, and highly connected world” as per the CA DOE mission. Order your copy of Dr. Mattis' book: Guiding Transformational Change in Education Connect with Dr. Mattis: Website: www.consulteddevelopment.org Twitter: @kristinamattis Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinamattis/ Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E123 · Wed, February 14, 2024
Episode 123: Discussing the Undiscussable with Darrin, Dominic, and Todd
Got a question for us? Submit it here or hit us up on social media Episode 123 is a special mid-week collaboration with elementary principal Dominic Armano and high school principal Todd Bloomer. Continuing our special series, Dom, Todd, and I sit down and share our insights on the Super Bowl (complete with our picks) and answer a viewer/listener question about creating a culture where staff will discuss the undiscussable issues. The article from which this topic came can be found here Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E122 · Sun, February 11, 2024
Episode 122: Passion Struck with John R. Miles
John R. Miles is a leading authority on intentional behavior change, personal growth, and mattering. He is a keynote speaker, author, top-rated show host, and the founder and CEO of Passion Struck®. His award-winning podcast, Passion Struck with John R. Miles, consistently ranks among the world’s top 100 shows and the #1 Alternative Health podcast. Recognized as one of the top thinkers in personal mastery and a Premier 100 Leader, his influence extends far and wide. With over two decades of corporate and military leadership experience, he’s the trusted advisor sought after by some of the world’s most prominent companies and visionary entrepreneurs. Yet, beneath these remarkable achievements, John’s true passion lies in guiding individuals to live a passion-struck life in every facet. His story, like his podcast, is an inspiring journey toward significance. Get your copy of Passion Struck here Check out all things Passion Struck: https://passionstruck.com/ & https://johnrmiles.com/ Connect with John on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/john_r_miles/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milesjohn/ Medium: https://medium.com/@JohnRMiles Twitter: https://twitter.com/John_RMiles Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E121 · Sun, February 04, 2024
Episode 121: Inquiring Minds Want to Learn with Erik Francis
Erik M. Francis, M.Ed., M.S ., is an international author, educator, presenter, and professional development provider with over 25 years of experience in education. He is the author of the book Deconstructing Depth of Knowledge: A Method and Model for Deeper Teaching and Learning published by Solution Tree. His book Inquiring Minds Want to Learn: Posing Good Questions to Promote Student Inquiry will be published by Solution Tree in Spring 2024. 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 plan and provide 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 international research organization Global Gurus and the Top 25 Thought Leaders. Connect with Erik: Twitter / X: @maverikedu12 Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E120 · Sun, January 28, 2024
Episode 120: Take it Personal with Lisa Parry
Lisa Parry is a veteran writing teacher and school leader who provides a variety of services to professionals including custom communication, conflict mediation, keynotes, and professional development. She especially loves to help others create scripts for the tough talks we all have to have at home and at work. Lisa is proud to lead a 2021 National Blue Ribbon Elementary School and a 2020 ESEA Distinguished Elementary School, and she was honored to be named 2022 South Dakota Region 1 High School Principal of the Year. One of her most gratifying experiences is being asked to co-develop & facilitate the South Dakota Department of Education's Good to Great Teacher Mentoring Program. In addition to working with South Dakota educators, Lisa enjoys connecting with other professions around the United States. Her expertise transcends the K-12 space and includes a focus on, among other topics, People-Pleasing, Master Mindsets, Meaningful Messaging, and Likable Leadership. She has presented at the National Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence Conference and the Making Schools Work Conference, both in Orlando, Florida; she leads professional development in South Dakota; and she has shared leadership lessons with individuals in industries ranging from telecommunications to photo organizing. Lisa earned her M.S.Ed. in Educational Leadership from South Dakota State University and a B.S.Ed. in English Education from the University of South Dakota. Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn Contact Lisa: www.principalparry.com lisa@principalparry.com Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E119 · Sun, January 21, 2024
Episode 119: A Leader of Significance with Mosongo Moukwa
Mosongo Moukwa is a seasoned executive and consultant who has dedicated his career to helping companies thrive by commercializing new technologies, diversifying their product offerings, and entering new markets. Across thirty-plus years in leadership, Mosongo has applied his unique talent for identifying leadership gaps and developing the talent and culture necessary for success. He helps solve important innovation challenges that hold organizations back by unleashing the collective creativity of their people. As a thought leader in leadership development and organizational change, Mosongo has shared his insights such as leadership demystified with Human Capital, and panel discussions on neuroscience, project management, and business moderated by Wanda Curlee of American Public University. His articles have appeared in Business Today, The Journal of Creative Behavior, Crain’s Cleveland Business, R&D Innovator, and he is a regular contributor to Business Standard. Mosongo serves as the President at Hathaway Advanced Materials and has held leadership positions in R & D and operations at some of the world’s most respected brands, including vice president, global technology at SC Johnson; vice president, global technology at Reichhold; vice president, technology at Asian Paints; director of technology at Avient (formerly PolyOne); and chief, global R & D at PCBL (formerly Phillips Carbon Black Ltd.). Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E118 · Wed, January 17, 2024
Episode 118: What Happens When You Put Three Principals in a Room?
Allow me to introduce two incredible educators to you all. Todd Bloomer and Dominic Armano are both currently seated principals and are highly respected in their field by their peers. Both are soon to be published authors (Road to Awesome, LLC) and will be regularly featured here on the podcast during each month's special mid-week release. Got a question for us? Submit it here or hit us up on social media Todd Bloomer was born and raised in New York, Todd Bloomer got to Texas as soon as he could to start his educational career. As a teacher and coach, Todd fell in love (literally) in Texas with public education, high school football, and his wife, Sharon. After moving to San Antonio, Texas, Todd transitioned to the assistant principalship at a middle school in 2007. In 2010, he became a high school assistant principal and in 2014 Todd was named a middle school principal. In 2019, Todd was named a high school principal. In 2020, Todd was name the Texas Region 20 Secondary Principal of the year, During his journey as an administrator, Todd benefited from strong mentors and developed a blueprint to being successful. Through trial and error, and some luck, Todd has developed into a widely respected administrator in the state of Texas. Todd also served as a high school principal during and after COVID. Learning a school of 2,500 students during uncertainty has made his voice, his insight, and his advice all the more relevant. Through humor, storytelling, and being vulnerable, Todd shares his soul on what has worked and what hasn’t. Todd and his wife Sharon have been married for 24 years. They have five wonderful children. Todd and his wife reside in beautiful San Antonio, Texas. Todd is very active on social media. You can follow him @bloomer_sa on Twitter and Todd Bloomer on LinkedIn. Todd is also very active as an advocate at the state level with elected officials as he works to defend the profession he loves. Dominic Armano is a loving husband and father, a proud educator, an innovative principal a speaker and author. Over the course of his career, Dominic has served as an elementary and middle school teacher, assistant principal and currently he is serving as an elementary school principal. In all of these roles, he has made it his priority to promote a positive culture for students, staff, and the community. Dominic has an undergraduate degree in elementary education and graduate degrees in both special education and school district leadership. Through his years in education, Dominic has become passionate about social-emotional learning and has developed programs that encourage education through a whole child approach. This pathway strengthens the core of instruction and helps to build a community of eager, enthusiastic, and passionate learners.
S1 E117 · Sun, January 14, 2024
Episode 117: Lively Minds with Candace Heiken
Candace Heiken, M.Ed . combined her background in education and psychology with her passion for empowering students and founded Lively Minds Institute, an organization with a mission to cultivate independent, lifelong learners through the development of executive function skills. Lively Minds developed an executive function solution called Cerebrate that provides educators with a simple way to identify deficiencies based on observable classroom behaviors and then access lessons to teach the strategies needed. Candace leads a team of talented educators who utilize Cerebrate to advance their mission with school administrators, teachers, parents, and students across the country. With over 25 years in education, Candace is driven to affect lasting and impactful change by helping teachers and students see what they can achieve when they have the executive function skills necessary for learning success. Check out these free resources courtesy of Candace: Executive Functions Defined https://www.cerebrate.education/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/The-8-Executive-Functions.pdf Ways to Model Executive Functions https://www.cerebrate.education/72-ways-to-model-executive-functions/ Executive Function Journal Prompts https://www.cerebrate.education/200-executive-function-writing-prompts/ Executive Function Challenges https://www.livelymindsinstitute.com/unraveling-the-mysteries-of-executive-functions/ Connect with Candace: email candace@cerebrate.education Website www.cerebrate.education and www.livelymindsinstitute.com
S1 E116 · Sun, January 07, 2024
Episode 116: 5 Months to School Improvement with Dr. Kristilynn Turney
Dr. Kristilynn Turney: A highly experienced subject matter expert in school improvement initiatives, leadership professional development, coaching and mentoring, and diversity, equity, and inclusion, Dr. Kristilynn Turney has dedicated over two decades to making education work and educators thrive. Her vast experience with multicultural systems and their language-related learning challenges has developed her into a favored go-to for training, coaching, goal establishment, results metrics analysis, and related systems program and project implementation. Dr. Turney lives and breathes educational and organizational leadership, coaching, and mentoring for school improvement. While positive outcomes for students are priority one, Dr. Turney knows well that empowering administrators and teachers to lead is what delivers job one: student-outcome continuous improvement. Dr. Kristilynn Turney has served as an English teacher, School Improvement and Literacy Coach, Assistant Principal, Principal, and District Level Administrator. She has a Bachelor’s in Secondary Education- Communications, a Master’s in Educational Administration, and Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Management. Grab Dr. Turney's newest book: https://a.co/d/bVpHNMa Connect with Dr. Turney on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/drkristilynn/ https://www.facebook.com/kristilynn.turney.50 https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkristilynnturney/ https://twitter.com/DrKristilynn Email Dr. Turney: www.drkristilynnturney.com Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and
S1 E115 · Sun, December 31, 2023
Episode 115: The 5 Ways Leaders Must Show Up in 2024
This is the year when you decide to embrace having that leadership coach. Having a coach took me from being a struggling manager to a leader of people, to Principal of the Year. It can do that for you too...hit this link and schedule a free conversation with me about leadership coaching for you, your team, or an individual on your leadership team. My purpose is to help leaders gain clarity, walk in their purpose, and find joy in their leadership life. Let's connect... Thank you for listening to Episode 115: The 5 Ways Leaders Must Show Up in 2024 TL/DL (too long, didn't listen) summary 5 keys ways that leaders must show up in the coming year to ensure success in their organizations: 1. Show up for relationships 2. Show up looking for positives 3. Show up as a coach 4. Show up resiliently 5. Show up focused on yourself Here is a link to Zac Bauermaster's blog post on meeting them where they are, it's awesome!! Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E114 · Sun, December 24, 2023
Episode 114: A Holiday Collaboration with the Teaching Champions Podcast
This special episode is a collaboration between Leaning into Leadership and The Teaching Champions podcast with Brian Martin Darrin & Brian take on each other's questions about education, leadership, experience, and the holiday season. If you haven't already, make sure you check out the Teaching Champions Podcast Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E113 · Sun, December 17, 2023
Episode 113: Equip, Empower, Engage with Dr. Joy Karavedas
Dr. Joy Karavedas is an experienced leader with over 20 years of executive-level leadership in independent schools and nonprofits. With a Masters in Education and a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership, Dr. Karavedas actively teaches as a Professor at Bachelors and Masters levels. She currently holds the position of Director of Research and New Program Development at Orange Lutheran High School where she is responsible for development and oversight of the school’s flexible learning options and pathways exploring innovation in education. With a strong academic and research focus on development of middle management leaders for next level leadership, Dr. Karavedas has written multiple publications and made several presentations on a variety of topics including Becoming Your Own Leader, Impact and Influence of Mid-Level Leaders, Leadership for Leaders, Hiring, Training and Retaining Teachers, Women in Leadership, and more. After multiple academic publications, Dr. Karavedas recently published her first book, From Striving to Thriving , as a practical guide for growth in leadership and life. Dr. Karavedas is also the owner of Karavedas Coaching and Consulting which provides individual and organizational coaching and consulting for leaders and teams at all levels. Find Joy on Social Media: LinkedIn X/Twitter Instagram Website: drkaravedas.com Email: drkaravedas@gmail.com Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E112 · Wed, December 13, 2023
Episode 112: Leading from the Classroom with David James
Check out the NCMLE Inspire 2024 conference here David James is a 7th grade social studies teacher at Harold E. Winkler Middle School in Concord, NC. He serves his students and colleagues in multiple leadership capacities including the Lead Mentor as part of the Winkler Middle School Beginning Teacher Program, 7th grade level chair, and 7th grade social studies lead. David believes effective teacher-leadership is a core proponent of the K-12 school building that is built on passion, trust, and a growth mindset. He is married to his Ohio University sweetheart Erin and they have a son Aiden who is a 1st grade student in Cabarrus County Schools as well. They enjoy their time traveling to athletic fields and race tracks. Find David on: Twitter , Instagram , and TikTok Check out NCMLE: on Twitter , Instagram , and TikTok Website: www.ncmle.org Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E111 · Sun, December 10, 2023
Episode 111: Whatever it Takes with Dr. Bryan Pearlman
Dr. Bryan Pearlman is a veteran educator/school administrator, a mental health therapist, keynote speaker, and adjunct professor. He is the author of two books: Maslow Before Bloom: Basic Human Needs Before Academics released in May 2020 & Whatever It Takes For All Students To Succeed In School and Life , released in January 2019. Dr. Pearlman is also the co-founder and board member of the mental health non-profit DSMHW.org . His expertise is helping all children to succeed, challenging behaviors, trauma, school improvement, mental health, and self-care. Dr. Pearlman has presented to over 80,000 people in the past few years. He is regularly asked to provide keynote addresses, featured presentations, and trainings for state, regional and national organizations. Check out Bryan's new book: From Struggles to Successes: A Handbook for Parents and Educators Connect with Bryan: on Twitter or at the Maslow Before Bloom Facebook Group Email/contact info: 314-323-7340 bryan@mostvaluablepd.com Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E110 · Sun, December 03, 2023
Episode 110: Within Our Ranks with Steve Bollar
Steve Bollar , a.k.a. Stand Tall Steve, is an educational thought leader, former Superintendent of Schools, principal, author and a school culture and motivation expert. He is known for his quick wit, creative thought, and humorous personality. Steve has been identified as one of the Top 30 Global Gurus In Education. He is the author of the leadership book Stand Tall Leadership , school culture book Ideas, Ideas, Ideas! , Ideas, Ideas, Ideas Rally Edition, and is a contributing author in the book Because of a Teacher and School Climate 2.0: Preventing Cyberbullying One Classroom at a Time , and his new book, Ten Minute Classroom Openers . Steve openly shares his knowledge, experiences and creativity with others. He currently speaks to students, staff and communities throughout the world about how to think differently about schools, education, and life. Check out Within Our Ranks if you're interested in speaking professionally as an educator. Connect with Steve: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/standtallsteve/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/standtallsteve1/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/standtallsteve/ X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/StandTallSteve YouTube: https://www.youtub
S1 E109 · Sun, November 26, 2023
Episode 109: The Six Step Leadership Challenge with Jim Saliba
Jim Saliba is a certified coach, trainer, and public speaker with a BS, MBA, and over thirty years of experience in the leadership world. His career began as a software engineer before being promoted to management in the IT industry, where he eventually became the VP of a $4 billion tech company. He has been in the trenches and has conquered most challenges leaders face throughout their careers. Jim adopted a growth mindset and created an atmosphere where employees were encouraged to experiment and were rewarded for their hard work. Mistakes were not seen as failures but rather as learning opportunities to make changes and improve. Check out Jim's new Six Step Masterclass Grab a copy of Jim's book: The Six Step Leadership Challenge Connect with Jim on: LinkedIn , Twitter , and Facebook Email Jim: jim@jamessaliba.com Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E108 · Sun, November 19, 2023
Episode 108: Untold Teaching Truths with Katie Kinder
Katie Kinder, author of Untold Teaching Truths and Hallway Leadership , is a professional learning facilitator, and she has been an educator since 2006. She brings her message of hope, fun, and real strategies to educators all over the nation. She believes that life is fun, and learning should most definitely be fun. A teacher of the year, top five district finalist, Speaker, Author, Professional Development Leader, a Mom, a Wife, a Fierce Advocate for Education, and grant award winner, Katie has learned a trick or two in the classroom, so come on in, and have some fun, and hook your students from day one! Check out Katie's Ted Talk Connect with Katie: Twitter: @KatieKinder1 IG: @untoldteachingtruths Website: Katie-Kinder.com Check out this episode of Teaching Champions (referenced in the #PepTalk) Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E107 · Wed, November 15, 2023
Episode 107: Q & A with Teacher Candidates from Ft. Hays State University
This week on the show , I am recapping a fabulous visit with Ft. Hays State's Future Educators Day. On this episode, I am answering four questions of undergraduate teacher candidates. Big thank you for Morgan Barba, Lauren Cure, Skylar Steinle, and Vanessa Renteria for their willingness to record their questions and being on the show! Go Tigers!! Check out Episode 68 : When Calling Parents isn't your Calling with Crystal Frommert Check out Ft. Hays State University's Teacher Education Program here Follow them on Social Media: Facebook , Twitter (X), Instagram Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E106 · Sun, November 12, 2023
Episode 106: Stop Blaming Your Tools with Don Schmincke
Don Schmincke is the author of the Best-Selling book The Code of the Executive and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal and USA Today. He is an Award-Winning Speaker, Researcher, Founder of the SAGA Leadership Institute and delivered over 1,700 speeches. His new book, Winners and Losers: Entrepreneurial Lessons from 30,000 CEOs on How to Come Out on Top is available now on Amazon. Connect with Don: don@sagaleadership.com or on LinkedIn or Twitter (X) Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E105 · Sun, November 05, 2023
Episode 105: Empty your Backpack with Sam Demma
Sam Demma is the best-selling author of Empty Your Backpack: Unpack Your Beliefs, Take Consistent Action, and Create a Life of Meaning , and one of the most in-demand keynote speakers in the Education and Association sectors. He co-founded the volunteer organization PickWaste, delivered two TEDx talks, and—as a result of his exceptional contributions to Canada—was awarded the prestigious Queens Platinum Jubilee Award. His work is often featured on national news shows like Marilyn Dennis, Breakfast Television, and most notably, his mom’s Facebook profile. Sam delivers hundreds of programs across North America annually, and his entertaining presentations address the topics of Mental Health, Leadership and Kindness. See Sam in Action & subscribe to his channel: https://youtu.be/533XfhrMzyc Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sam_demma/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/sam_demma Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-demma/ Contact Sam: sam@samdemma.com Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E104 · Sun, October 29, 2023
Episode 104: The Art of ISS with Johnathan Cranford
October is National Principal's Month - to celebrate and help principals walk in their purpose we have the autographed copy of my book, Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here , at a special price of just $20 and free shipping ( use code FOBA ) Johnathan Cranford has seven years of experience as a special education teacher on a therapeutic campus for students with emotional disturbance and four more years as an in-school suspension teacher at two middle schools. After discovering how in-school suspension programs are failing to meet the needs of our most at-risk students, Johnathan created a successful in-school suspension program to address the current disciplinary, academic, and restorative requirements of our student populations. After establishing successful ISS programs on two campuses, he made the decision to create a roadmap for others to follow in his latest book The Art of In-School Suspension . Social Media: Twitter: @MrCranfordISS, website: www.theartofiss.com Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E103 · Sun, October 22, 2023
Episode 103: Love it, Learn it, Live it with Maxwell Roach
October is National Principal's Month - to celebrate and help principals walk in their purpose we have the autographed copy of my book, Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here , at a special price of just $20 and free shipping ( use code FOBA ) Maxwell Roach is a children’s book author and the Founder of JonAyves Learning Club, a personalized learning organization that teaches children concepts such as long division as early as the age of 3. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto and is certified as a Professional in Human Resources (PHRi). As a former musician, sharing stages with Beyoncé and the Rolling Stones, leading a child care organization as CEO, and working as a consultant for ecommerce tech companies globally, Maxwell values the need to "fill the industry gaps" by way of disruption and modern solutions. Connect with Maxwell: JonAyves Learning Club Books: JonAyves Learning Club Books JonAyves Learning Club Complete Book Listing - https://www.jonayves.com/shop Maxwell Roach & JonAyves Learning Club Twitter - @JonAyvesTV LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxwellroach Facebook - JonAyves Learning Club Website - https://www.jonayves.com Fun Academic Kids Videos YouTube Shorts - https://www.youtube.com/@JonAyvesTV TikTok - JonAyves TV (@jonayvestv) | TikTok Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/AJsHouseKids Count By Numbers and Nursery Rhymes Videos YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@AJsHouseKids Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book <a href="https://walkinyourpurpose.roadtoawesome.net/ebook" rel="
S1 E102 · Sun, October 15, 2023
Episode 102: Problem Solver with Cheryl Einhorn
October is National Principal's Month - to celebrate and help principals walk in their purpose we have the autographed copy of my book, Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here , at a special price of just $20 and free shipping ( use code FOBA ) Cheryl Strauss Einhorn founded Decisive, a decision sciences company that trains people and teams in complex problem solving and decision-making skills using the AREA Method. AREA is an evidence-based decision-making system that uniquely controls for and counters cognitive bias to expand knowledge while improving judgment. Cheryl developed AREA during her two decades as an award-winning investigative journalist writing for publications ranging from The New York Times and Foreign Policy Magazine to Barron’s and The Stanford Social Innovation Review. Cheryl teaches at Cornell University and has authored three books: Problem Solved, A Powerful System for Making Complex Decisions with Confidence and Conviction, about personal and professional decision-making; Investing In Financial Research, A Decision-Making System for Better Results about financial and investment decisions; and new book about Problem Solver Profiles, Problem Solver: Maximizing Your Strengths To Make Better Decisions . Learn more by watching her Ted talk and visiting areamethod.com. Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E101 · Sun, October 08, 2023
Episode 101: Own Your Epic with Dr. Jay Dostal
Dr. Jay Dostal has served as a high school principal in both Nebraska and Arkansas. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska at Kearney where he received endorsements in English and Physical Education. He holds a Masters and a Doctorate Degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from the University of Nebraska. In 2013, he was named the Nebraska Association of Student Councils Principal of the Year, in 2016 was named the Nebraska State Association of Secondary School Principals (NSASSP) Principal of the Year, and in 2021 was named the Arkansas Association of Secondary School Principals (AASSP) Principal of the Year. Dr. Dostal has presented at a variety of conferences on the topics of improving school culture, improving graduation rates, the value of career and technical education in today’s high schools, and leveraging the power of technology in school administration. His bride, Melanie, is a special education teacher and they have two children who remind them on a daily basis why the field of education is the noblest of professions with the greatest impact to change the world. Dr. Dostal’s passion in life is to listen and share stories that enable others to find relevance and purpose. His #OwnYourEpic hashtag on Twitter provides regular encouragement to others to tell their stories and be proud of the person they are and who they can become. He believes that we alone need to travel our own paths, but along the way, we will meet a number of characters that will fill out our life story. Connect with Jay on X (formerly Twitter) @jaydostal86 Check out Jay's blog: http://ownyourepic.blogspot.com/ Get Jay's book: #OwnYourEpic Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here at a special price of $20 ( use code FOBA ) Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit t
S1 E100 · Wed, October 04, 2023
Episode 100: Celebrating the Century Mark
Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here at a special price of $20 ( use code FOBA ) Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here Equipment and Software for the aspiring podcaster: Blue Yeti stereo microphone - Amazon Knox Gear headphones - Amazon Microphone Boom Arm - Amazon StreamYard for episode recording (guests) Audacity free editing software Check out the Teach Better Podcast network as well
S1 E99 · Sun, October 01, 2023
Episode 99: Imparted Joy with Jillian DuBois
Jillian DuBois is a redesigned educator who has been in the elementary classroom for over 20 years. She is currently a Professional Learning Specialist with Forward Edge/Edge•U. Jill is passionate about infusing joy in educational leadership by focusing on service and using her voice to foster hope by celebrating diversity. She is a published author and illustrator of several children's books with social-emotional learning messages. She is also the Chief Optimistic Originator of Imparted Joy LLC, in Clearwater, Florida. In this role, Jill guides others to spark their stories with heart and confidence. Jillian is a dynamic and inspiring leader who is committed to making a difference in the lives of children and educators. She is a role model for educators everywhere, and her work is helping to create a more joyful and hopeful world for all. Connect with Jillian: Facebook Twitter Instagram and LinkedIn or on her website Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here at a special price of $20 ( use code FOBA ) Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E98 · Sun, September 24, 2023
Episode 98: School Culture by Design with Phil Boyte
Phil Boyte has traveled the continent for over 35 years working with educators in thousands of schools to transform school culture. He believes in the power of sharing our stories in order to build relationships and trust so everyone can say: I belong here, I am safe here, I can learn and grow here. He is the founder of Learning for Living and the creator of nationally known programs including, Link Crew, WEB, and Breaking Down the Walls. Phil authored the book, “School Culture By Design,” and is host of the "School Culture By Design" Podcast. Most recently, Phil launched People First Administrators Training. Connect with Phil on his website: https://www.learningforliving.com/phil-boyte Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here at a special price of $20 ( use code FOBA ) Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E97 · Sun, September 17, 2023
Episode 97: Beyond the Desk with Katie Powell
This episode is sponsored by EverFi - check out there amazing, FREE resources for K-12 at https://everfi.com/edleaders Katie Powell is the Director for Middle Level Programs for AMLE and author of the books Boredom Busters and Frustration Busters . As part of her role with AMLE, Katie works closely with schools, districts, and affiliate organizations through the Successful Middle School book study, assessment, and Schools of Distinction programs as well as providing professional development and coaching on a variety of middle grades topics. Social Media: Twitter @beyond_the_desk Insta @teach_beyond_the_desk TikTok @teach_beyond_the_desk Email/contact info: kpowell@amle.org Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E96 · Sun, September 10, 2023
Episode 96: PBIS and the ABC's with Larry Carey
Larry Carey is a Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports Coordinator in Columbus City Schools. Prior to this role, he was acting as a teacher on special assignment for the NEA Organizing Fellowship Academy. His journey began as a student in the Columbus City Schools. In 2014, after working as a Pre-Kindergarten instructional assistant and library aide, Mr. Carey enrolled back in college to obtain his teaching license to pursue his goal as an Early Childhood Educator. During the pandemic, Mr. Carey created a YouTube channel for those students who may not have had access to a computer but had access to a tablet or phone. He also began completing the final touches to his book Alliteration Boosts Communication: The ABCs of Vocabulary . After publishing his book, Mr. Carey created companion activities that align to the National Standards for fellow educators that range from Pre-Kindergarten to 8th grade. A vast number of the activities focus on letter recognition, sounds, colors, identifying what is occurring in the illustrations, and of course, vocabulary! For the higher grade levels, vocabulary and creating their own alliteration is key to mastery. These activities along with the book can be found on his website: www.larrycareyltd.com Here is the Parkmoor Elementary School PBIS video Catch Larry on Social Media: Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , and LinkedIn Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas </p
S1 E95 · Sun, September 03, 2023
Episode 95: Define YOUniversity with Lindsay Titus
This episode is sponsored by EverFi - check out there amazing, FREE resources for K-12 at https://everfi.com/edleaders Lindsay Titus is a passionate, inspirational educator specializing in the field of behavior analysis. She is driven every single day to teach other educators how to transform connections and relationships with all students. Her ultimate goal as a behavior specialist is to inspire other educators to recognize that all students have a story to share. By owning our truth as educators, Lindsay believes that all educators can be the power of hope that so many of our students need. Over the past 15 years, Lindsay has worked as a classroom teacher and behavior specialist in public school, residential and private settings, and shares her passion for her profession through her own experiences to help guide, motivate and encourage other educators to use their own personal stories to create connections and relationships with others. As a board certified behavior analyst with a Master’s in Special Education, Lindsay works every day to share simple yet strategic tools and strategies with educators so they too can feel confident in who they are as educators, and strengthen the connections with their students every single day. Lindsay is an educator, whose passion drives her ability to coach educators on how to define themselves from their inner-authentic selves. By helping educators to redefine who they are, Lindsay helps to ignite the inner-spark we all hold as educators, and helps educators transform their lives by finding their authentic purpose and passion inside and outside of the classroom setting. Connect with Lindsay on Social Media: Facebook @Lindsay Titus Instagram @ lindsaytitusedu Twitter: @ltitus828 Email lindsay.titus@gmail.com or go to her website www.defineyouniversity.com Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose </p
S1 E94 · Sun, August 27, 2023
Episode 94: Upping Your Leadership Game with J Remo Kapuchuck
This episode is sponsored by Peer Driven PD - Visit peerdrivenpd.com and request a quote. Tell them the Leaning into Leadership podcast sent you , and they’ll give you a free trial access so you can check out all of their content and decide for yourself and 10% off your first year’s subscription. J Remo Kapuchuck is a currently seated principal at Peak View Elementary in Rockingham County, VA. He has previously served as either an assistant principal or principal for the past 10 years. J has taught 1st, 3rd, 4th, grade at Jacox Elementary in Norfolk, VA. He taught 6th grade in at Peter Muhlenberg Middle School in Shenandoah County, VA, as well as having taught High School Special Education students as a School-to-work-instructional coordinator. Follow J on Social Media: Twitter: @PrincipalKap & Instagram @Principalkapuchuck Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E93 · Sun, August 20, 2023
Episode 93: School Leadership from A to Z with Bradley James Davies
This episode is sponsored by EverFi - check out there amazing, FREE resources for K-12 at https://everfi.com/edleaders Celebrated school leader and former Oscar Mayer Wienermobile Driver, after a two-decade career in education that included teaching, coaching, and leading across all grade levels, Bradley James Davies fulfilled his long-held dream of writing a book. School Leadership from A to Z: How to Lead Well Without Losing Your Way is about the ups, downs, and all-arounds of school life and leadership. It’s lighthearted, heavy at times, and funny throughout. Its goal is to help educators thrive through the challenges and stresses of school life and leadership. Born and raised in Minnesota, Davies attended Stanford University where he served as junior class president and captained the men’s soccer team. Later, he was honored as a Lily Fellow at Duke Divinity School, where he graduated magna cum laude. He holds a Certificate in Leadership Coaching from Georgetown University and is the founder of Falkor, a leadership and life consultancy dedicated to helping clients live better, love better, and lead better. His current clients span all sectors, from technology and entertainment to government and education, and all levels of leadership, from rising stars to c-suite veterans. When not roaming the Earth as an author, speaker, coach, and photographer, Davies calls Colorado and Florida home. His big dream is to someday add to his family a therapy dog named Fred. You can connect with Davies via his website bradleyjamesdavies.com , on Instagram at bradley.james.davies, and via Facebook at Bradley James Davies. Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit
S1 E92 · Wed, August 16, 2023
Episode 92: Empowering New Leaders: Answers to Your Burning Questions Featuring Darrin Peppard and Joshua Stamper
This episode is sponsored by Peer Driven PD - Visit peerdrivenpd.com and request a quote. Tell them the Leaning into Leadership podcast sent you , and they’ll give you a free trial access so you can check out all of their content and decide for yourself and 10% off your first year’s subscription. On this special mid-week episode, Darrin teams up with Joshua Stamper of the Aspire to Lead podcast to answer your burning leadership questions heading into a new school year. Make sure you check out Joshua's podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aspire-to-lead/id1384210762 Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E91 · Sun, August 06, 2023
Episode 91: Great on Their Behalf with AJ Crabill
This episode is sponsored by EverFi - check out there amazing, FREE resources for K-12 at https://everfi.com/edleaders Improving student outcomes is AJ Crabill’s focus. He serves as Conservator at DeSoto, Texas ISD. During his guidance, DeSoto improved from F ratings in academics, finance, and governance to B ratings. He’s also Faculty at Leadership Institute of Nevada and Director of Governance at the Council of the Great City Schools. He served as Deputy Commissioner at the Texas Education Agency and spearheaded reforms as board chair of Kansas City Public Schools that doubled the percentage of students who are literate and numerate. Crabill is a recipient of the Education Commission of the State's James Bryant Conant Award. Get AJ's new book: Great on Their Behalf Social Media Twitter: @ajcrabill7 LinkedIn: @ajcrabill Pinterest: @ajcrabill7 Facebook: @ajcrabill Instagram: @ajcrabill7 Youtube: @ajcrabill Vimeo: @ajcrabill Blog: ajcrabill.com Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/ajcrabill Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/ajcrabill Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose</
S1 E90 · Sun, July 30, 2023
Episode 90: From Struggle to Strength with Kip Shubert
Kip Shubert is an educator and coach who is driven to lead and love staff and students to believe and discover that they are the greatest miracle in the world. Having almost thirty years’ experience in education, Kip is sharing that secret sauce as an educator, coach, author, speaker, and as a podcast host of The Secret Sauce with Kip Shubert. Kip recently moved from Oklahoma to the mountains of Colorado where he now teaches and coaches for the Woodland Park School District. Kip has climbed mountains that once seemed impossible to him. He uses his experiences of being homeless, an alcoholic, losing custody of his daughter, and his wife’s diagnosis with an incurable blood cancer to share how he used adversity to find his advantage, his secret sauce. His WHY is to use those powerful stories, combined with building real, authentic relationships to reach back over the mountains he has climbed so that he can be that sherpa to guide and empower others. Kip is fierce in his belief that our school’s culture and success depends on us being all in and all together in cultivating connections that ensures all stakeholders are seen, heard and valued. Kip is a proud father of four great kids, three amazing grandchildren and blessed husband to his wife Cindy. He loves to be outdoors, hiking, and especially college football season and Italian food. He is excited to be joining the Road To Awesome family and is grateful that each day he “gets to” share that secret sauce and make a difference in the lives of staff and students. Get the book: https://kipshubert.com/book-struggle-to-strength/ Social Media: Facebook & LinkedIn: Kip Shubert Twitter & Instagram: SecretSauceEDU Podcast & YouTube: The Secret Sauce with Kip Shubert ____________________________ Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome <a href="https://roadtoawesome.net/" rel="noopener no
S1 E89 · Sun, July 23, 2023
Episode 89: Brand Up with Stacey Ross Cohen
This episode is sponsored by Peer Driven PD - Visit peerdrivenpd.com and request a quote. Tell them the Leaning into Leadership podcast sent you , and they’ll give you a free trial access so you can check out all of their content and decide for yourself and 10% off your first year’s subscription. Stacey Ross Cohen is an award-winning branding professional who earned her stripes on Madison Avenue and at major television networks before launching her own agency. Stacey specialized in “everything” branding. She is the CEO and founder of Co-Communications, a PR, Marketing and Design agency headquartered in New York. A Ted X speaker and staple at industry conferences, Stacey is a contributor at Huffington Post, Entrepreneur and has been featured in Forbes, Crain’s, and a suite of other national media. She has a B.S. from Syracuse University, an MBA from Fordham University, and a certificate in Entertainment from NYU Leonard Stern School of Business. Stacey’s book Brand Up: The Ultimate Playbook for College & Career Success (Post Hill Press/Simon & Schuster) released in April 2023, is a game changer for teens to stand out in our increasingly connected, cluttered, and competitive world. Link for Stacey's TedX Talk: https://youtu.be/97WKB4MGTrY Social Media links for Stacey Facebook: https://facebook.com/StaceyRossCohen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/staceycohen2 Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/StaceyRossCohen Instagram: www.instagram.com/staceyrosscohen/ Email/contact info: scohen@cocommunications.com Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference <a href="https://roadtoawesome.net/contact-us" rel="noopener noreferrer" ta
S1 E88 · Sun, July 16, 2023
Episode 88: Clearing Out the Adult Problems with Beth Napleton
This episode is sponsored by EverFi - check out there amazing, FREE resources for K-12 at https://everfi.com/edleaders Beth Napleton is an executive leadership coach, consultant and the owner and founder of Beth Napleton Consulting . She offers senior leaders in education and at mission-driven organizations a clear path to excellence through individual, executive and group coaching experiences. Additionally, she offers busy leaders a container and her expertise so they can expand their capacity in all areas. Beth leverages her extensive experience in education to work with senior leaders in education and mission-driven organizations to help them clear out the “adult problems” that get in the way of student success. Beth is a national award-winning teacher and has been in the education field for over 20 years, having trained over 1,800 teachers and leaders to success. She is an alumni of Columbia University, Building Excellent Schools, and Teach For America. Most recently, she served as Founder and CEO of a small charter school network on the South Side of Chicago that opened in 2013. All graduates of her schools – most of them first-generation students – were accepted to at least two four-year colleges, changing their paths forever. Beth took her leadership skills a step further and became a certified Clifton Gallup Strengths Coach so she can offer leaders the opportunity to lean into their own strengths and succeed. Beth completed the National Principal Supervisors Academy at Relay, and is a former member of the Far South Side Community Action Council. Beth has been a guest on The EJT Show and the Teacher Renewed: What's Possible in Education podcasts, and hosted her own podcast Live on Leadership with Beth Napleton . Get in touch with Beth: Website: www.bethnapleton.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bethnapletonconsulting/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beth.napleton/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethnapleton/ Take Beth's Leadership Quiz right here: https://bethnapleton.involve.me/leadershipquiz Here is a link to the <a href="https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/home.aspx?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_
S1 E87 · Wed, July 12, 2023
Episode 87: Thriving Schools with Charle Peck
Make sure you check out: the FREE Thriving School Community Educator Virtual Summit - register here https://www.thrivingschool.org/summit2023 Charle Peck is the co-creator of Thriving School Community, a revolutionary program designed for schools to improve mental health. With over 20 years of education and mental health leadership experience, she has the unique lens of both a certified teacher and a licensed clinical therapist specializing in trauma. Charle holds an MS in Education and an MS in Social Work. Her role as a high school teacher coupled with her work with children and families in crisis gives her incredible insight into solving youth mental health problems stemming from our schools. She is the co-author of Improving School Mental Health: The Thriving School Community Solution and a global keynote speaker delivering powerful messages of hope to educators. Connect with Charle: Twitter @CharlePeck or email: charle@thrivingschool.org Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E86 · Sun, July 09, 2023
Episode 86: Executive Branding with Dr. Benjamin Ritter
This episode is sponsored by Peer Driven PD - Visit peerdrivenpd.com and request a quote. Tell them the Leaning into Leadership podcast sent you , and they’ll give you a free trial access so you can check out all of their content and decide for yourself and 10% off your first year’s subscription. Dr. Benjamin Ritter , founder of Live for Yourself Consulting, is a leadership and career coach, Talent Development Executive, values geek, international speaker, online course instructor, and podcaster (The Executive, and The Live for Yourself Revolution), who’s passionate about guiding leaders to be the leader of their own career and create a career they love. With over 11 years of experience working with clients from companies such as Amazon, Coursera, Doordash, Google, Fiserv, Northwestern, Pinterest, and Yelp, Ben understands how to navigate any career path you decide you want to travel. From empowering professionals to get unstuck, to guiding senior leadership on how to stand out from the competition, develop executive presence, and feel confident in being a leader, Ben is an expert in his field and will guide you toward truly living for yourself at work and in life. Ben received his Doctorate in Organizational Leadership with a focus on value congruence and job satisfaction and earned an MBA in entrepreneurial management, and an MPH in health policy administration. Catch up with Ben on Social Media: linkedin.com/in/ritterbenj https://youtube.com/benjaminritter Go to Ben's website for this eBook: https://www.liveforyourselfconsulting.com/ Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up </strong
S1 E85 · Sun, July 02, 2023
Episode 85: Leading the Whole Teacher with Allyson Apsey
This episode is sponsored by EverFi - check out there amazing, FREE resources for K-12 at https://everfi.com/edleaders Allyson Apsey has been an award-winning school leader for nearly 20 years, leading all levels from elementary to High School. She had the honor to help open a highly successful charter school, which included developing a secondary program designed around research-proven practices. Allyson next served as an elementary principal and district leadership coach. She was on the Executive Board of Directors for MEMSPA (Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association) as the Professional Development Chair and is on the NAESP Editorial Advisory Board. Allyson is the best-selling author of several books—including Leading the Whole Teacher , The Path to Serendipity , and the picture book The Princes of Serendip , She loves working with passionate groups of educators to support them in taking care of the whole child and the whole educator by implementing research-proven practices. Allyson’s TEDx Talk can give you an insight into her passion. Connect with Allyson: AllysonApsey@gmail.com & https://allysonapsey.com Grab her new book: Lead with Collaboration Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog <a href="https://darrinpeppard.edublogs.org/" rel="n
S1 E84 · Sun, June 25, 2023
Episode 84: Growing through PBL with Drew Perkins
This episode is sponsored by Peer Driven PD - Visit peerdrivenpd.com and request a quote. Tell them the Leaning into Leadership podcast sent you , and they’ll give you a free trial access so you can check out all of their content and decide for yourself and 10% off your first year’s subscription. Drew Perkins: As TeachThought’s Director of Professional Development and co-host of the TeachThought Podcast Drew helps design and deliver workshops and learning both on-site and virtually as well as coordinating PD work with our team. A graduate of Michigan State University with a degree in Political Science in three years, he was decidedly against the idea of being a teacher. With a mother and grandmother both educators, a stint as a substitute teacher lured him back to earn a teaching certificate in secondary social studies. Thus began a journey that includes 15 years in the classroom and leadership in Michigan, California, Texas and most recently Kentucky and spanned middle and high school, Special Education to Advanced Placement and basketball and golf coaching. Formerly with the Buck Institute for Education and the Collaborative for Teaching and Learning he has designed and contributed to several PBL models, including the TeachThought PBL Model . Drew continues to deliver professional development and speak internationally. He has been light-heartedly referred to as a professional thought stretcher due to his emphasis on leading through inquiry and questioning. 5 Phases of PBL blog post: https://www.teachthought.com/project-based-learning/phases/ The Enduring Residue of PBL blog post: https://www.teachthought.com/education/benefits-of-project-based-learning/ Blog post Drew referenced the 2008 Housing Crisis: https://www.teachthought.com/education/push-teaching-vs-pull-teaching-thinking/ Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on <a href="https://a.co/d/8KeBpQA" rel="noopener noreferr
S1 E83 · Sun, June 18, 2023
Episode 83: Teaching for Justice with Lindsay Lyons
Lindsay Lyons is an educational justice coach who helps schools and districts co-create feminist, antiracist curricula that challenges, affirms, and inspires all students. A former NYC public school teacher, she holds a PhD in Leadership and Change, and is the founder of the blog and podcast, Time for Teachership . She believes the secret sauce of educational equity is student voice. Grab this amazing free resource from Lindsay Email Lindsay: hello@lindsaybethlyons.com Connect with Lindsay: Website: https://www.lindsaybethlyons.com YouTube: www.youtube.com/@lindsaybethlyons Twitter: https://twitter.com/lindsayblyons LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lindsaybethlyons Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E82 · Wed, June 14, 2023
Episode 82: Taking Ownership with Vernon Wright
Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose right here! Vernon Wright is a speaker, author, consultant, and leader. He has over 18 years of experience in education working in large, urban school districts and has previously served in the roles of teacher, teacher leader, campus leadership team member, and district-level support. A proud graduate of the American College of Education (ACE.edu), Vernon has leveraged the knowledge he gained from his Master’s courses in Educational Leadership. That knowledge has allowed him to share his experiences as a speaker numerous times over the years at the campus, district, regional, state levels, and beyond garnering acclaim and accolades from recognized industry leaders. In addition, Vernon is also a speaker consultant for School Pro K-12, assisting clients in realizing synergies, increasing efficiencies, maximizing impact, and building high-performing cultures. Vernon has an established presence on Twitter and other social media ( @TheWrightLeader across all platforms), and he unabashedly stands as a voice for the people with zero apologies (ZeroApologyZone.com). He is committed to a life of elevating others with a relentless focus on informing minds and touching hearts around the globe. Books Vernon referenced: Drive by Daniel Pink, Multipliers by Liz Wiseman, 5 Levels of Leadership by John Maxwell Link for the American College of Education, as mentioned by Vernon Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E81 · Sun, June 11, 2023
Episode 81: Give a Damn with Chad Brown
This episode is sponsored by Peer Driven PD - Visit peerdrivenpd.com and request a quote. Tell them the Leaning into Leadership podcast sent you , and they’ll give you a free trial access so you can check out all of their content and decide for yourself and 10% off your first year’s subscription. Chad Brown is a leadership engagement expert. He coaches executives and entrepreneurs in the art and science of leadership for themselves, their teams, and clients to create new, unprecedented results and experience fulfillment in their work. Chad is an Associate Partner at Take New Ground and the host of the The Naked Leadership Podcast with the founding partners of TNG. Chad founded a media production studio called Shade Tree Films in 2008 that has serviced global companies such as Volkswagen, Target, and Pixar Animation Studios. This is where his love and passion for leadership and causing results through others was ignited. He thrives in the extreme environments and finds comfort in difficult conversations. Over the last 5 years, Chad has trained and developed leaders at globally recognized brands like Lulu Lemon, and Ironclad Document Services along with many burgeoning start ups. Hit this link for the Negotiation Quiz from Take New Ground Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E80 · Sun, June 04, 2023
Episode 80: Transform Learning with Debbie Tannenbaum
Debbie Tannenbaum is an ISTE certified educator with over twenty years of experience. She works each and every day to “transform” learning using technology. During her time in education, she has served both as a classroom teacher in various grades and as an elementary technology coach. Outside of the classroom, Debbie promotes using technology tools to amplify student learning in her work as an educational technology consultant, author, blogger and speaker. You can connect with Debbie at TannenbaumTech.com and check out her blog as well. Get Debbie's book on Amazon here: Transform: Techy Notes to Make Learning Sticky Join Debbie this summer at Empowering Student Voice: A Tech Tool Boot Camp . In this session, you will learn easy ways using technology tools such as Book Creator, Flip, Pear Deck and Wixie to give your students opportunities to share their voices in interactive ways. Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E79 · Wed, May 31, 2023
Episode 79: For Aspiring, New, and Rising Leaders
This entire month on the podcast has been dedicated to new, aspiring, and rising leaders. It can be so exciting to land that first (or next) leadership opportunity. But, landing the job is the easy part. Now, you've got to go do the work. Today's episode is focused around the lessons learned during the month from our amazing guests. A great place to start is Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter for even more insights and information from RtA Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E78 · Sun, May 28, 2023
Episode 78: She Leads with Dr. Rachael George
This episode is sponsored by Peer Driven PD - Visit peerdrivenpd.com and request a quote. Tell them the Leaning into Leadership podcast sent you , and they’ll give you a free trial access so you can check out all of their content and decide for yourself and 10% off your first year’s subscription. Dr. Rachael George: From fighting wildland fires with the U.S. Forest Service to putting out fires in the classroom, education was the last place that Rachael thought she’d end up. It wasn’t until a hard conversation with a base manager in Grangeville, Idaho did Rachael realize she needed to put her chainsaw down and make a bigger impact on the world. Rachael is a member of the ASCD Emerging Leaders Class of 2015 and currently serves as the Executive Director of Elementary Programs and Prek Principal in the Oregon Trail School District. She is the past principal of Sandy Grade School and during her seven years there, they moved from being one of the lowest ranked elementary schools in the state of Oregon to performing in the top 20% of elementary schools. Sandy Grade School has been recognized by the International Center for Leadership in Education (ICLE) as a Model School for closing the achievement gap. Prior to serving as an elementary principal, she was a middle school principal of an “outstanding” and two-time “Level 5: Model School” as recognized by the State of Oregon. Rachael specializes in curriculum development, instructional improvement as well as working with at-risk students and closing the achievement gap. Connect with Rachael on Twitter @DrRachaelGeorge. Grab a copy of her book right here: She Leads Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and
S1 E77 · Wed, May 24, 2023
Episode 77: Build Leadership Momentum with Daniel Bauer
Grab a copy of Daniel's new book: Build Leadership Momentum right here !! Daniel Bauer is an UNORTHODOX leadership coach and love to ask “Why follow the rules when you can make them up?" He hosts a podcast that ranks in the TOP 0.5% of all shows worldwide with over 2 million downloads. He's the best selling author of Mastermind: Unlocking Talent Within Every School Leader. He's really into meditation and just started a 2-year journey to become a certified mindfulness and meditation teacher. Danny wants to help leaders be more aware, intentional, and conscious. Website: https://betterleadersbetterschools.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielevanbauer/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/alienearbud Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alienearbud/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danevanbauer?ref=bookmarks Medium: https://alienearbud.medium.com/ Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E76 · Sun, May 21, 2023
Episode 76: A Coaching Conversation with Jason Ryan
This episode is sponsored by Peer Driven PD - Visit peerdrivenpd.com and request a quote. Tell them the Leaning into Leadership podcast sent you , and they’ll give you a free trial access so you can check out all of their content and decide for yourself and 10% off your first year’s subscription. Jason Ryan is in his first year as principal at Papillion-La Vista High School. Jason started his teaching and coaching career at Papillion-La Vista High School in 1997-98. Ryan spent 4 years as an assistant boys’ basketball coach before moving to Bellevue East in 2001-2002. At Bellevue East, Ryan was the Head Boys’ Basketball Coach and Dean of Students for 10 seasons. In 2013, Ryan took over as the Activities / Athletic Director position at PLHS. Jason and his wife, Shannon, have been married for 25 years and have 5 children Kelley, Josey, Caitlyn, Alyna and Ty. Connect with Jason on Twitter: @jasonandrewryan Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E75 · Wed, May 17, 2023
Episode 75: A Walk and Talk with a First Year Superintendent
Michelle Osterhoudt is a wife, mother, and 24-year educator and community leader. Active in civil rights work within her community, Michelle serves as the President of the Oneonta Area NAACP. Michelle has also served on the Commission on Community Relations and Human Rights for the City of Oneonta and was the first African American Council member for the city of Oneonta serving the 4th Ward. She continues to lead through a social justice lens, ensuring equity and access for students. Currently, Michelle enjoys her role as Superintendent of Margaretville Central School District. Connect with Michelle: Twitter Facebook Instagram Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E74 · Sun, May 14, 2023
Episode 74: The New School Leader with Dr. Lute Croy
This episode is sponsored by Peer Driven PD - Visit peerdrivenpd.com and request a quote. Tell them the Leaning into Leadership podcast sent you , and they’ll give you a free trial access so you can check out all of their content and decide for yourself and 10% off your first year’s subscription. Dr. Lute Croy is finishing up his 20th year in public education. In that time, he has worked as a teacher, coach, instructional coach, and administrator. He has a bachelor’s degree in history and psychology from Southern Methodist University, a master’s degree in educational leadership from Lamar University, and a doctorate in organizational leadership from Abilene Christian University. Currently, he is an assistant principal at Prosper High School in Prosper, Texas, where he serves a student body of roughly 3,800 students. Dr. Croy is passionate about developing new and aspiring school administrators, which is what led him to co-creating the New School Leader with his long-time best friend, and talented school leader, Brett Phipps. The mission of the New School Leader is to help new and aspiring administrators take the next step in their leadership journey…whatever that step may be. Catch Lute on Social Media: Twitter: @LuteCroy LinkedIn: Lute Croy YouTube: The New School Leader Website: www.thenewschoolleader.com Assistant Principal Interview Bootcamp Course : courses.thenewschoolleader.com Coupon code for Leaning Into Leadership listeners to save 10%: awesome Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book <a href="https://walkinyourpurpose.roadtoawesome.net/ebook" rel="noopener noreferr
S1 E73 · Wed, May 10, 2023
Episode 73: Five Fail-Proof Teacher Appreciation Tips
Book your Two-day High Performance Leadership Teams Retreat by emailing darrin@roadtoawesome.net Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose May is a very special month here on the Leaning into Leadership podcast. The entire month is dedicated to aspiring, new, and rising leaders. Whether you're a leader moving from the classroom into their first position or a seasoned administrator jumping into the next role, we have something for you! In this episode, I'm talking about teacher appreciation and sharing 5 ways we can genuinely appreciate our teachers. Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E72 · Sun, May 07, 2023
Episode 72: Running Toward the Problem with Adam Stolzer
This episode is sponsored by Peer Driven PD - Visit peerdrivenpd.com and request a quote. Tell them the Leaning into Leadership podcast sent you , and they’ll give you a free trial access so you can check out all of their content and decide for yourself and 10% off your first year’s subscription. Adam Stolzer is the principal of Burwell High School (NE). He is a proud graduate of Platteview High School, Wayne State College, and the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Adam taught and coached high school boys basketball at Burwell for 7 years and is in the midst of wrapping up his first year of the 7 - 12 principalship at Burwell High School. Adam strives daily to promote the Power of Purple and make Burwell a better place for staff and students. He's passionate about Burwell and about kids having the best opportunity possible. Education has taken him down many awesome roads and he's excited for what future roads it will lead him down as he chases awesomeness! Find Adam on Twitter: @Adam_Stolzer28 @BHSLonghorns Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E71 · Wed, May 03, 2023
Episode 71: My First Steps into Leadership (A Special Edition)
This episode is sponsored by Peer Driven PD - Visit peerdrivenpd.com and request a quote. Tell them the Leaning into Leadership podcast sent you , and they’ll give you a free trial access so you can check out all of their content and decide for yourself and 10% off your first year’s subscription. May is a very special month here on the Leaning into Leadership podcast. The entire month is dedicated to aspiring, new, and rising leaders. Whether you're a leader moving from the classroom into their first position or a seasoned administrator jumping into the next role, we have something for you! In this episode, I tell a little bit of the story of my first steps into a school leadership position as well as share some of what's to come this month. Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E70 · Sun, April 30, 2023
Episode 70: A Place the Love with Elijah Carbajal
Elijah Carbajal is a teacher who followed in the footsteps of teachers in his family. He has served as an educator in the state of New Mexico since 2014 and is currently a Title I Reading Interventionist. Along with being the host of The Shut Up and Teach Podcast , he is the author of the book A Place They Love . Elijah works hard to make school and his classroom a place that students love! He loves to spend time with his wife, Tracey, and his cat, Nala. Check out Elijah's book, A Place They Love : Creating a Healthy School Culture and Positively Impacting Students ! Connect with Elijah on Twitter: @carbaeli on Instagram: @carbaeli on TikTok: @carbaeli on Facebook: Elijah Carbajal or at his website: www.shutupandteachedu.com Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E69 · Sun, April 23, 2023
Episode 69: Playful and Courageous Classrooms with Jed Dearybury
This episode is sponsored by Peer Driven PD - Visit peerdrivenpd.com and request a quote. Tell them the Leaning into Leadership podcast sent you , and they’ll give you a free trial access so you can check out all of their content and decide for yourself and 10% off your first year’s subscription. Get your copy of I'm Autistic and I'm Awesome here Jed Dearybury began his education career in 2001. He was featured in GQ Magazine as Male Leader of the Year, met President Obama as the South Carolina honoree of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching, and was named top 5 finalist for SC Teacher of the Year. Since leaving 2nd grade in 2015 he has been leading professional development across the country, and training the next generation of educators through teaching in Higher Ed. He published his first book, The Playful Classroom in June 2020. His second book, The Courageous Classroom , released in July 2021. Book number three, The Playful Life , was released in October 2022. Connect with Jed mrdearybury@gmail.com or www.mrdearybury.com Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? <a href="https://roadtoawesome.net/o
S1 E68 · Sun, April 16, 2023
Episode 68: When Calling Parents isn't Your Calling with Crystal Frommert
Crystal Frommert, M.Ed , has over 20 years of experience as an educator, mostly in middle school. Crystal has taught math in public, parochial, and international schools. In addition to math, she has taught computer science and social justice. Beyond teaching, she has served as an instructional coach, school board member, adjunct college instructor, technology coordinator, and assistant head of middle school. She has presented at local, national, and international educational conferences on topics ranging from social and emotional learning to technology integration. She currently serves as a grade-level coordinator and math teacher in Houston, where she lives with her husband, daughter, and dog. Buy Crystal's book : When Calling Parents isn't Your Calling Find Crystal on Social Media: Twitter LinkedIn About Me View details about her book launch and read all her work on Edutopia Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E67 · Sun, April 09, 2023
Episode 67: You Matter with Angela Maiers
This episode is sponsored by Peer Driven PD - Visit peerdrivenpd.com and request a quote. Tell them the Leaning into Leadership podcast sent you , and they’ll give you a free trial access so you can check out all of their content and decide for yourself and 10% off your first year’s subscription. My guest is Angela Maiers: Leader. Visionary. Entrepreneur. Disruptor. Change Maker. Angela Maiers embodies each of these descriptors with passion, commitment, and fierce determination. She has been creating and leading change in education and enterprise for 31 years, teaching every level of school from grade school to graduate school and consulting with companies around the world. She helps schools, organizations, and brands ignite change and spread hope through the science and practice of mattering. Her outspoken and passionate advocacy for innovative education, balanced with her down-to-earth style, has made her a sought-after keynote speaker and a vibrant courageous voice in both the business and education space. She is the author of eight books, including Genius Matters , Classroom Habitudes , and The Passion-Driven Classroom , and she has inspired readers everywhere with lessons and ideas for passion projects, Mattergrams, and more. Check her out at angelamaiers.com Angela referenced the book The Power of Moments by Dan and Chip Heath Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter <
S1 E66 · Sun, April 02, 2023
Episode 66: Surviving and Thriving with Andrew Marotta
Check out When Calling Parents Isn't Your Calling by Crystal Frommert from Road to Awesome publishing. Andrew Marotta is an energetic and enthusiastic leader who has put his positive imprint on his beloved Port Jervis HS, in Port Jervis, NY. With the release of his first book, The School Leader: Surviving and Thriving, Andrew is expanding his impact on the educational leadership community. Andrew is the author of four books, most recently completing Dads, Leaders, & Father Figures. In his personal life, Andrew is a loving husband to his wife, Jennifer, and a supportive father to their three young children. In his professional life, Andrew has been leading at Port Jervis HS since 2005, serving as Assistant Principal for seven years and Principal for the past nine. He has led the transformation of PJHS, helping to raise the graduation rate from a low 60% to almost 90%. He accepted the Port Jervis Middle School Principal position in the summer of ‘21. Andrew is a former men’s division 1 college basketball official, taking many leadership lessons from that time in his life to his leadership in schools and with school leaders. He lives the words on his logo: Energy, Enthusiasm, Extra, Effort, & Excellence! Learn more at www.andrewmarotta.com & through his #ELBlog & #ELB podcast: Education Leadership & Beyond found on facebook, linkedin, twitter @andrewmarotta21, and instagram. #ELB #ELBlog, #survivethrive #keeprolling Here is a link to Andrew's blog post "Send all the shoes you have" Books referenced by Andrew during this episode Clockwork by Michael Snell The Obstacle is the Way The 5am Club The Miracle Morning She Leads Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of
S1 E65 · Sun, March 26, 2023
Episode 65: Ending the Martyr Mentality with Elizabeth Dampf
Elizabeth Dampf is the director of professional learning at Round Lake Area Schools 116 in the Chicago area. She holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees in English from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, as well as a Master of Arts in School Improvement Leadership from Olivet Nazarene University. She has worked in education for thirteen years. Here are link to the articles on martyr mentality , quiet quitting , and imposter syndrome in school leadership Check out all of Elizabeth's work on ASCD here Social Media handles: Twitter: @ElizabethDampf (personal) @RLAS_DPL (professional account) Instagram: ElizabethADampf Email Elizabeth: edampf@rlas-116.org Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E64 · Sun, March 19, 2023
Episode 64: Seen, Heard, and Loved with Dr. Phil Campbell
Dr. Phil Campbell, known to his students and staff as PC, is a veteran educator with a passion for loving kids and motivating educators. His goal is to assist schools in becoming the best learning environment they can possibly be for students to learn and for teachers to teach. His philosophy to accomplish this is simple: put relationships first, genuinely love and protect one another, and create a sense of family within your school setting. With educational experience as a teacher, coach, athletic director, and principal, PC understands how to overcome obstacles to win for today’s youth and educators. Connect with PC on all Social Media platforms: @drphilcampbell Connect with PC at drphilcampbell.com Check out The Green Room with PC: https://www.jostensrenaissance.com/greenroom/ Check out and register for the Jostens Renaissance conference: https://www.jostensrenaissance.com/jrgc-2023/ Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E63 · Sun, March 12, 2023
Episode 63: Solving Problems & Preventing Tragedies with Maria Barrera
Maria Barrera is the founder of Clayful , a company on a mission to help kids build the skills and resilience to tackle anything that comes their way. Clayful is saving some pilot spots for the Leading into Leadership Podcast community! To learn more go to clayful.co/leadership . Throughout her career in education, technology, and human resources, she has always been focused on solving big problems in complex systems. Now, she is tackling the biggest problem of all - the mental health crisis. Maria's dedication to helping others is rooted in her own experiences. She ran her first coaching session when she was just 15, and has always found joy in coaching others through everyday life stressors and challenges. Her passion for education led her to start a tutoring company while getting her engineering degrees at Stanford University, and to working with thousands of districts as a member of the founding team at Nearpod. With Clayful , Maria is bringing together education, technology, and healthcare in a way that is helping kids improve their mental wellness, regardless of socio-economic status. Connect with Maria and Clayful on social media: linkedin.com/in/maria-barrera-42033427/ twitter.com/mariabarrera__ instagram.com/clayfulhealth twitter.com/clayfulhealth facebook.com/clayfulhealth Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome <a href="https://roadtoawesome.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target=
S1 E62 · Sun, March 05, 2023
Episode 62: Four Pillars of Leadership with Aaron Keith Hawkins
Want PD that's like a Master Class for Teachers? Connect with Peer Driven PD at Connect with Peer Driven PD at https://peerdrivenpd.com/ to learn more. Make sure you tell them the Leaning into Leadership podcast sent you and get your FREE trial access! Aaron Keith Hawkins is an author, motivational leadership and success keynote speaker, and personal performance mentor. He's an internationally recognized podcast host, and has been featured as a subject matter expert on dozens of podcasts, radio shows, and other media outlets. Aaron is a retired Police Captain with decades of leadership experience. He's been a teacher, mentor, coach and speaker since the 1990’s. Aaron holds a Master's Degree in Administrative Leadership with a focus on Professional Coaching from the University of Oklahoma, he's a certified NLP Practitioner, and is a proud alumnus of the 255th session of the invitation-only FBI National Academy where he engaged in advanced leadership studies alongside his fellow hand-picked delegates from dozens of countries. As is often the case, Aaron's believes his greatest education has come from life itself, including fatherhood, and his journey of marriage to his best friend and wife, Cathy, with whom he’s been sharing life since 1996. His book Million Dollar Influence gives actionable and research-backed insights on create life-changing connection, trust, and impact in your business and life. Grab a copy today, read it, then share with a friend. Connect with Aaron at https://aaronkeithhawkins.com/ or email him at aaron@aaronkeithhawkins.com Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome <a href="https://roadtoawesome.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer"
S1 E61 · Sun, February 26, 2023
Episode 61: Magic in Margaretville with Michelle Osterhoudt
Michelle Osterhoudt is a wife, mother, and 24-year educator and community leader. Active in civil rights work within her community, Michelle serves as the Vice President of the Oneonta Area NAACP. Michelle has also served on the Commission on Community Relations and Human Rights for the City of Oneonta and was the first African American Council member for the city of Oneonta serving the 4th Ward. A project Michelle is most proud of is her Collaboration with Glimmerglass Festival in Cooperstown and Dr. Eddy Franciso Alvarez of SUNY Oneonta, to create grades 6-12 draft ELA Curriculum for the original libretto "Stomping Grounds," by Paige Hernandez and Victor Simonson. This project fused hip hop culture and music with Opera in the classroom. The project was one of many that focused on her teaching style of addressing issues of social justice in the classroom. She continues to lead through a social justice lens, ensuring equity and access for students. Currently, Michelle enjoys her role as Superintendent of Margaretville Central School District. Connect with Michelle: Twitter Facebook Instagram Check out Michelle's Journalist Portfolio Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E60 · Sun, February 19, 2023
Episode 60: The Radical Truth with Brian T. Miller
Brian T. Miller is a husband, father of five, reader, writer, blogger, public speaker, podcaster, and proud principal of Chief Joseph Elementary. Samwise Gamge is his hero. Check out Brian's Schurtz & Ties podcast here Connect with Brian: Website: Millerbrian.com Facebook: Brian T. Miller Twitter: @Miller_brian_ or @SchurtzandTies TikTok: miller_brian_ Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Walk in Your Purpose here Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E59 · Wed, February 15, 2023
Episode 59: 3 Tips for Aspiring Leaders (a mid-week special)
Welcome to a special mid-week episode of Leaning into Leadership. I was once an aspiring administrator and know how challenging the job search process can be. As someone who believes so strongly in supporting and coaching early career leaders, I think these mid-week episodes (and yes, there will be more) can have a great impact on those just starting or getting ready to start a career in leadership. On this episode, I will share three tips for aspiring leaders to consider. Think about the opportunities that may exist in your prospective new role and district. Think about the fit of the community and school in your prospective new role and district. Think about the support you'll be getting in your prospective new role and district. Grab a copy of Robert Breyer's book, Taking the Leap Got questions, contact Darrin at darrin@roadtoawesome.net
S1 E58 · Sun, February 12, 2023
Episode 58: Mountains and Marathons with Jamin Heppell
Jamin Heppell is the a co-creator and leadership coach of Mountains and Marathons, which is a revolutionary leadership development company that focuses on holistic transformation and completes each program with an epic physical challenge, such as running a marathon or climbing a mountain in iconic locations around the world. Jamin’s clients have included senior executives of Fortune 500 companies, leaders of international non-profits, founders of multi-million dollar start-ups, leaders in Network Marketing companies, ex-military, industry leaders of real-estate, stay-at-home Mom’s and everyone in between. Jamin has been traveling and living nomadically for the last 5 years, visiting and living in over 40 countries and spending most of his time in Asia, Africa and Central America. Jamin has ran a marathon in 6 continents, climbed Mt Everest Base Camp in Nepal, summited Mt Kilimanjaro 8 times, completed 3 ultramarathons, and is in the Guinness Book of World Records for the world's highest obstacle course race. Jamin is passionate about adventure, authentic relating, healing generational trauma, and exploring what it means to be a leader in this moment in time. Connect with Jamin : Instagram Jamin - @jaminheppell Instagram MM - @mountainsandmarathons Facebook Jamin - /jamin.heppell FB MM - /mountainsandmarathons LinkedIn Jamin - /jamin-heppell Linkedin MM - https://www.linkedin.com/company/13673941/ Website - www.mountainsandmarathons.world/australia23 Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Walk in Your Purpose here Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here
S1 E57 · Sun, February 05, 2023
Episode 57: The Grass Fire Analogy with Hal Bowman
Hal Bowman can see the future, and he is determined to do all he can to change it for the better, one life at a time. He is certain that schools are the key to a better world down the road. “Every school can be a phenomenal school” is his mantra, and it shows in his actions. Most days, you are likely to find him with his shirtsleeves rolled up and doing at least one thing to make it so. He is constantly mulling over the possibilities while designing programs, road maps, and materials to help make it happen. Hal has dedicated his life to helping the nation’s best teachers and schools reach a new level of excellence. Hal's book recommendations: Scott Galloway: Adrift in America Richard Reeves: Of Boys and Men William Farrell: The Boy Crisis Check out Hal: YouTube , Website , Twitter , Facebook , Instagram Men in Education FB Group Email Hal: hal@halbowman.com Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader now!! Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Walk in Your Purpose here Check out Darrin's blog <a href=
S1 E56 · Sun, January 29, 2023
Episode 56: The Career Toolkit with Mark Herschberg
Mark Herschberg is the author of The Career Toolkit: Essential Skills for Success That No One Taught You and creator of the Brain Bump app . From tracking criminals and terrorists on the dark web to creating marketplaces and new authentication systems, Mark has spent his career launching and developing new ventures at startups and Fortune 500s and in academia, with over a dozen patents to his name. He helped to start the Undergraduate Practice Opportunities Program, dubbed MIT’s “career success accelerator,” where he teaches annually. Catch Mark on Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hershey/ https://www.instagram.com/thecareertoolkit/ https://www.facebook.com/TheCareerToolkitBook https://twitter.com/CareerToolkitBk Contact Mark: https://www.thecareertoolkitbook.com/contact Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Walk in Your Purpose here Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here Professional learning for leaders doesn’t have to be a mystery. As leaders there are times when learning alongside your staff is very important. You have to know what is expected of them and what strategies and processes should be evident in the classroom. However, we often overlook professional learning specifically fo
S1 E55 · Sun, January 22, 2023
Episode 55: The Leader You Always Wanted with Thomas Annunziata
Thomas Annunziata is the Director of Student Activities at Freedom High School in Woodbridge, Virginia. Mr. Annunziata is a 3-time Teacher of the Year and recent addition to the Freedom Eagles Administration team. In the short time since accepting the role as Freedom’s Activities Director in August , Mr. Annunziata has brought Wrestling, Swim, Golf, and Baseball back to the school expanding the opportunities available to the students. He continues to look for ways to increase opportunities for students to succeed through athletics and clubs, increasing their involvement in the school, to truly make Freedom HS a place where Eagles Soar. Follow Thomas on Twitter: @Mr_Annunziata Grab your copy of Walk in Your Purpose here Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here Professional learning for leaders doesn’t have to be a mystery. As leaders there are times when learning alongside your staff is very important. You have to know what is expected of them and what strategies and processes should be evident in the classroom. However, we often overlook professional learning specifically for leaders designed to help them be…BETTER LEADERS. This is what we do at Road to Awesome. Working with leadership teams to be their most effective and efficient, one on one coaching for leaders, collaborative leader cohorts, or specific and job-embedded supports each have their own specific processes. I want to work with you to support YOU, your TEAM, or your district on growing leaders to their peak level of performance.
S1 E54 · Sun, January 15, 2023
Episode 54: Leadership Lesson 1 with John VanDusen
John VanDusen is currently an 8th grade U.S. History teacher in Kingsford, Michigan where he also enjoys coaching football and being involved in his church along with his wife and son. John served as a military police and infantry platoon leader in Baghdad, Iraq. When he returned, he began his teaching and coaching career while continuing with the military. He is also an instructor in the Army reserves where he teaches Army Majors masters level courses as part of their professional military education. In his free time, you can often find John hanging out with his wife or trekking through the woods, riding his four-wheeler, or taking the boat out enjoying nature with his son. John's book: Lesson 1: Leveraging Leadership in Everyday Life Website: www.johnvandusen.com Check out John's YouTube channel as well for all kinds of great stuff!! Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here Professional learning for leaders doesn’t have to be a mystery. As leaders there are times when learning alongside your staff is very important. You have to know what is expected of them and what strategies and processes should be evident in the classroom. However, we often overlook professional learning specifically for leaders designed to help them be…BETTER LEADERS. This is what we do at Road to Awesome. Working with leadership teams to be their most effective and efficient, one on one coaching for leaders, collaborative leader cohorts, or specific and job-embedded supports each have their own specific processes. I want to work with you to support YOU, your TEAM, or your district on growing leaders to their peak level of performance.
S1 E53 · Sun, January 08, 2023
Episode 53: The Empowered Educator with Jen Rafferty
Jen Rafferty is an educator, author, and international public speaker, who started as a middle school music teacher for 15 years in Central New York. She is known for bringing her energy, humor and expertise in her presentations while inspiring educators to stay connected to their " why ." Jen is a certified Emotional Intelligence Practitioner and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology. Since its inception, the Empowered Educator has reached teachers and school leaders all over the world. Jen has been featured in Authority Magazine, Medium, Thrive Global, Voyage MIA, and was on the TEDx stage with her talk, Generational Change begins with Empowered Teachers. She is also the host of the podcast Take Notes with Jen Rafferty which is rated in the top 3% of podcasts globally. Jen's insatiable curiosity continues to make the Empowered Educator programs relevant and reflective of the most up-to-date research in mindset, leadership, and cognitive neuroscience. She is committed to inspiring teachers and school leaders to discover their voice and maintain a healthy longevity throughout their careers. Here is the YouTube short on Jen's TedX Talk - and the full link Connect with Jen: Website , FB: @empowerededucatorfacultyroom, YouTube: @empowerededucator and Twitter, TikTok, & Instagram @jenrafferty_ Email/contact info: jen@empowerededucator.com Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here Professional learning for leaders doesn’t have to be a mystery. As leaders there are times when learning alongside your staff is very important. You have to know what is expected of them and what strategies and processes should be evident in the classroom. However, we often overlook professional learning s
S1 E52 · Sun, January 01, 2023
Episode 52: Right Leader, Right Time with Robert Jordan
Robert Jordan is the CEO of InterimExecs , which matches top executives with companies around the world. Based on research with thousands of leaders and companies, he and Olivia Wagner wrote Right Leader Right Time: Discover Your Leadership Style for a Winning Career and Company , and have launched the FABS Leadership Assessment, a free assessment at RightLeader.com designed to help leaders and organizations perform better. Jordan also authored How They Did It: Billion Dollar Insights from the Heart of America , and helped publish Start With No , Jim Camp’s bestseller on negotiation. Check out the FABS Assessment here Check out the book, Right Leader, Right Time here Find Robert on Social Media: Twitter YouTube LinkedIn Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here Professional learni
S1 E51 · Sun, December 25, 2022
Episode 51: Goals, Transparency, and #OneWord for 2023 with Darrin Peppard
Let's reflect on 2022, our goals, our successes, and our short comings. Great leaders are the ones who are willing to be open and transparent about their work. Great leaders are the ones who are aware of their failures and look at failure as an opportunity to learn and grow. As my friend Wade Stanford shared this week, "It is nearly impossible for you to have your best idea the first time you think about something. The most likely way to uncover important insights is to frequently revisit a problem. The longer you're in the game, the more ideas bubble up to the surface. Time unlocks insights." Today's episode has me sharing my goals from 2022 and sharing both the successes and the areas where I missed the mark. As well, I'm sharing my 2023 goals, reflecting on my #oneword for 2022 (which was #impact) and unveiling the word for 2023. Here is the link to Jon Acuff's podcast and specifically the episode I referenced today Here is the link to this week's blog post: Putting 2022 in the Books Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here Professional learning for leaders doesn’t have to be a mystery. As leaders there are times when learning alongside your staff is very important. You have to know what is expected of them and what strategies and processes should be evident in the classroom. However, we often overlook professional learning specifically for leaders designed to help them be…BETTER LEADERS. This is what we do at Road to Awesome. Working with leadership teams to be their most effective and efficient, one on one coaching for leaders, collaborative leader cohorts, or specific and job-embedded supports each have their own specific processes. I want to work with you to support YOU, your TEAM, or your district on growing leaders to their peak level of performance.
S1 E50 · Sun, December 18, 2022
Episode 50: Bridges to Heal Us with Erin Jones
Erin Jones has been involved in and around schools for the past 26 years. She has taught in a variety of environments, from predominantly Black to predominantly White to some of the most diverse communities in the nation. Erin received an award as the Most Innovative Foreign Language Teacher in 2007, while teaching in Tacoma and was the Washington State Milken Educator of the Year in 2008, while teaching in Spokane. She received recognition at the White House in March of 2013 as a "Champion of Change” and was Washington State PTA’s “Outstanding Educator” in 2015. After serving as a classroom teacher and instructional coach, Erin worked as an executive for two State Superintendents. Erin left the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2012 to work in college-access at the school district level. She left her job to run as a candidate for State Superintendent and was the first Black woman to run for any state office in Washington state, a race she lost by a mere 1%. Erin has 3 adult children - a daughter who graduated from Central Washington University and works for the Equity in Education Coalition, a son who is a second-year graduate student at USC and one who attends college and coaches high school football and rugby with her husband of 27 years, James, who is a teacher and football coach in North Thurston School District. Contact Info : Email: erin@erinjonesdreams.com Social Media: Instagram Facebook Twitter and LinkedIn Erin's Ted Talks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ7xY60a6z4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFc9axy2ktQ Erin's book: Bridges to Heal Us ROAD TO AWESOME COURSES ARE NOW LIVE ( here's the link ) Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Check out Darrin's blog <a href="https://darri
S1 E49 · Sun, December 11, 2022
Episode 49: Leveraging Teacher Expertise with Mike Alpert
Mike Alpert founded Peer Driven PD in 2019 with the goal of bringing streamlined, private sector solutions to public education. Mike’s corporate experience as a project analyst for an international renewable energy firm (Iberdrola Renewables) and as a financial services specialist (employee credit union of Intel and Microsoft) led him to realize the importance of education across all fields. Mike earned his MBA at Portland State University, with focused coursework in finance and innovation management, and took his expertise to the classroom and front office, where he worked over the next decade as a middle school humanities teacher before becoming a building administrator. Mike is a Crystal Apple Award Winning educator, and has worked in both small, rural districts and large, suburban districts in the Portland metro area, even serving overseas as a teacher and Central Administrator in Prague, Czech Republic. Mike is also a founding board member of Ex Novo Brewing Co , a benefit corporation donating all net proceeds to charitable organizations. On his “off days” (a little educator joke) you can find him training for his next half-marathon or at home with his wife and their son. Email/contact info: mike@peerdrivenpd.com Check out Peer Driver PD - https://peerdrivenpd.com/ Walk in Your Purpose: Five Mindsets to Level Up Your Leadership - a free eBook from Dr. Darrin Peppard - click here to download your free copy today ROAD TO AWESOME COURSES ARE NOW LIVE ( here's the link ) Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here Professional learning for leaders doesn’t have to be a mystery. As leaders there are times when learning alongside your staff is very important. You have to know what is expected of them and what strategies and processes should be evident in the classroom. However, we often overlook professional learning specif
S1 E48 · Sun, December 04, 2022
Episode 48: Finding Your Fit with Dr. Larry Dake
Dr. Larry Dake has served in leadership positions for over 12 years as a curriculum coordinator, principal, and assistant superintendent. He attended King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, PA, and Binghamton University, in Binghamton, NY. Beyond spending time with family, Larry is an avid fan of baseball history and spends way too much time looking up stats on baseball-reference.com. Professionally, Larry has served as a school leader for 13 years spanning three districts and roles as a curriculum coordinator, building principal, and Assistant Superintendent overseeing personnel, instruction, and finance. He also teaches in the Binghamton University Educational Leadership program and mentors prospective and early career administrators. Larry is the author of two previous books, Crisis Management: Effective Leadership to Avoid Early Burnout and Identifying Small Habits: Left Unchecked by School Leaders, Small Faults Can Become Major Cracks . Social Media: Twitter at @larrydake and don't forget to check out #SAANYSCHAT Walk in Your Purpose: Five Mindsets to Level Up Your Leadership - a free eBook from Dr. Darrin Peppard - click here to download your free copy today ROAD TO AWESOME COURSES ARE NOW LIVE ( here's the link ) Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road
S1 E47 · Sun, November 27, 2022
Episode 47: An Outsider's Inside Perspective with Rick Morton
Rick Morton has been a Jostens representative in Tacoma, WA for the last 21 years. Rick grew up in San Diego and has been married to his High School sweetheart for 34 years. Rick has 3 adult children and 1 grandkid. His passion is to help every school he serves improve their environment with proven strategies and programs. Rick believes that Jostens Renaissance plays a significant role in helping schools go from good to great. Rick says, "I am who I am today because of the heroes in my life that believed in me. Parents, Family, colleagues and especially Teachers! I stand everyday on the shoulders of giants!" Email/contact info: rick.morton@jostens.com Phone: 253-592-5977 Walk in Your Purpose: Five Mindsets to Level Up Your Leadership - a free eBook from Dr. Darrin Peppard - click here to download your free copy today ROAD TO AWESOME COURSES ARE NOW LIVE ( here's the link ) Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here Professional learning for leaders doesn’t have to be a mystery. As leaders there are times when learning alongside your staff is very important. You have to know what is expected of them and what strategies and processes should be evident in the classroom. However, we often overlook professional learning specifically for leaders designed to help them be…BETTER LEADERS. This is what we do at Road to Awesome. Working with leadership teams to be their most effective and efficient, one on one coaching for leaders, collaborative leader cohorts, or specific and job-embedded supports each have their own specific processes. I want to work with you to support YOU, your TEAM, or your district on growing leaders to their peak level of performance.
S1 E46 · Sun, November 20, 2022
Episode 46: A Next Level Conversation with Jonathan Alsheimer
Jonathan Alsheimer is the unorthodox, energetic, and entertaining middle school teacher who refuses to live a life of limitations. He currently teaches at the Chancellor Middle School in Spotsylvania County, VA. In addition to being a passionate educator, Jonathan is an international keynote speaker and the author of "NEXT LEVEL TEACHING," a #1 new release in education on Amazon in March of 2020. Jonathan worked at the world-renowned Fred Lynn Middle School, which was featured in two documentaries, "Relentless" and "Relentless: Chasing Accreditation,” as the teacher who forged a partnership with UFC Fighter and light-weight contender Paul Felder to bring a message of never giving up, fighting for their education, and empowering the students to believe in themselves, all principles that Jonathan promotes in his classroom. Jonathan Alsheimer also partnered with Fear the Fighter, MMA clothing brand to establish a stop-bullying campaign with "Relentless" Principal Hamish Brewer. Jonathan Alsheimer didn't stop there and established a relationship with Chris "Drama" Pfaff, MTV reality star and CEO of Young and Reckless to promote and build student leaders in his school. As Jonathan always says, "Game-changing is not a cliche motto; it is a way of life... some talk about it while others live by it! Check out Jonathan's book Next Level Teaching right here “A Rae Of Hope” , named after Jonathan's mom who died of cancer, is a student led project making boxes of LOVE for Kids in Hospitals battling life-threatening illnesses. To donate click the link here: https://square.link/u/YyIHelAX Connect with Jonathan on social media: Twitter: @mr_alsheimer Instagram: @mr_alsheimer ROAD TO AWESOME COURSES ARE NOW LIVE ( here's the link ) Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list a
S1 E45 · Sun, November 13, 2022
Episode 45: The Leader of Learning with Dr. Dan Kreiness
Dr. Dan Kreiness is an instructional leader, podcast host, author, and speaker who constantly searches for the most effective ways to advance education and produce high student achievement. Dr. Kreiness has worked in education for over 16 years as a school administrator, instructional coach, intervention specialist, and classroom teacher while working in districts in the New York City metro area in New York and Connecticut. Dr. Kreiness holds a doctorate degree in leadership and master’s degrees in adolescent education and educational leadership. His original research and dissertation is called “Transformational Leadership to Inspire Growth Mindset in Classroom Teachers.” Dr. Kreiness hosts the popular Leader of Learning podcast which can be found on all podcast apps and music streaming services and was ranked #7 on Feedspot’s list of the Best 35 Educational Leadership Podcasts . He has also been a guest on several other podcasts . Dr. Kreiness is also a published author, having contributed chapters to 100 No-Nonsense Things that ALL Teachers Should STOP Doing, 100 No-Nonsense Things that ALL Teachers Should STOP Doing , 100 No-Nonsense Things that ALL Teachers Should STOP Doing , and Edumatch Snapshot in Education (2017) Volume 2: Professional Practice . He is currently under contract with Edumatch Publishing to publish a solo book. Dr. Kreiness is emerging as an expert presenter at education conferences and trainings on topics including leadership, growth mindset, student engagement, various instructional technologies, and content creation and branding. Dr. Kreiness was named to the 2017 class of ASCD Emerging Leaders . He is also a Google Certified Educator, Microsoft Certified Educator, Nearpod PioNear, Flipgrid Ambassador, WeVideo Certified Educator, and Wakelet Ambassador. His specific educational interests include leadership, educational technology, and student engagement. Social Media handles: Twitter: https://twitter.com/dr_kreiness YouTube: https://youtube.com/
S1 E44 · Sun, November 06, 2022
Episode 44: Leading Behind the Scenes with Dr. Amy Mathews-Perez
Texas-born & raised, Dr. Amy Mathews-Perez is currently in her 30th year of public education where she has served as a General Ed. Teacher, SLP, Diagnostician, SPED Supervisor, Principal, Assistant Principal and a Director of Special Education. Dr. Mathews-Perez has worked in the private sector as an Education Coordinator at a County JJAEP and in both home health & nursing home settings as an SLP. As a learner, she considers herself an “Experience Expert.” Amy lists passions as communication & laughter and using them to inspire & empower others. Life is short but our influence is never ending, so seek joy and create smiles through connecting, sharing, and highlighting the best in others. Connect with Amy: Social Media handles: AMP@drgrowtoknow (Twitter) Email/contact info: talkalotamy@yahoo.com and drmathewsprez@gmail.com ROAD TO AWESOME COURSES ARE NOW LIVE ( here's the link ) Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here Professional learning for leaders doesn’t have to be a mystery. As leaders there are times when learning alongside your staff is very important. You have to know what is expected of them and what strategies and processes should be evident in the classroom. However, we often overlook professional learning specifically for leaders designed to help them be…BETTER LEADERS. This is what we do at Road to Awesome. Working with leadership teams to be their most effective and efficient, one on one coaching for leaders, collaborative leader cohorts, or specific and job-embedded supports each have their own specific processes. I want to work with you to support YOU, your TEAM, or your district on growing leaders to their peak level of performance.
S1 E43 · Sun, October 30, 2022
Episode 43: Poking the Bear with Katelynn Giordano
Katelynn Giordano is a Middle Level Language Arts and Social Studies educator and co-author of Poking the Bear: A guide for engaging in the conversations that matter most . Katelynn is a dynamic educator who is passionate about student voice and empowerment, promoting equity, and valuing teachers as professionals. It is her belief that what we teach goes far beyond our content—we are teaching our students to become active members of their society who have a positive impact on the world. She continues to work with educators on promoting student voice, not only to empower students to take ownership of their learning, but to help them become the people they will ultimately be. Katelynn has presented at various state and national conferences on assessment & grading practices, language arts instruction, social emotional learning, and equitable teaching practices. She has contributed chapters to innovative books on educational practice, including The New Teacher’s Guide to Overcoming Common Challenges and 100 No-Nonsense Things that ALL Teachers Should STOP Doing . You can follow Katelynn - her Social Media handle is @kngiordano everywhere! ROAD TO AWESOME COURSES ARE NOW LIVE ( here's the link ) Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Here is Dr. Kreiness' video: <a href="htt
S1 E42 · Sun, October 23, 2022
Episode 42: SEEing to Lead with Dr. Chris Jones
Dr. Chris Jones has been an educator in Massachusetts for 22 years. His experience in the classroom ranged from 8th - 11th grade working in an urban setting. He is currently the Principal of Whitman-Hanson Regional High School in Whitman, Massachusetts. He is the author of SEEingtoLead , a book that provides strategies for how modern leaders can and must support, engage, and empower their teachers to elevate student success. Chris is also the host of the podcast SEEing to Lead . A finalist for the Massachusetts School Administrators Association’s Principal of the Year award and named the 2022 Massachusetts School Counselors Association’s (MASCA) Administrator of the Year. Catch Dr. Jones on Social Media Twitter: @DrCSJones Instagram: @drcsjones Linkedin: drcsjones TikTok: @drcsjones Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ChristopherJonesDr ROAD TO AWESOME COURSES ARE NOW LIVE ( here's the link ) To book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here Professional learning for leaders doesn’t have to be a mystery. As leaders there are times when learning alongside your staff is very important. You have to know what is expected of them and what strategies and processes should be evident in the classroom. However, we often overlook professional learning specifically for leaders designed to help them be…BETTER LEADERS. This is what we do at Road to Awesome. Working with leadership teams to be their most effective and efficient, one on one coaching for leaders, collaborative leader cohorts, or specific and job-embedded supports each have their own specific processes. I want to work with you to support YOU, your TEAM, o
S1 E41 · Sun, October 16, 2022
Episode 41: Outliers in Education with Erich Bolz and Eric Price
For the first time in the brief history of this show, I have two guests this week. Erich Bolz's educational career spans over 25-years in public education as a remedial reading teacher, pre-K-12 principal, central office administrator (small, large, and Educational Service District levels), Adjunct Professor at Heritage University and 2013 recipient of the Violet Lumley Rau Alumni Outstanding Alumnus Award, and board Member at Communities In Schools of Benton-Franklin, WA and Partners for Early Learning serving Tri-Cities, WA. Eric Price has been a 4th -7th grade teacher, a middle school principal, elementary principal, and Director of Curriculum Instruction and Assessment. He teaches at Washington State University, focusing on pre-service teachers in math, literature and classroom management. He also is currently coaching principals and superintendents and supporting districts with professional development at Confluence Leadership. Here is a link to the Outliers in Education podcast with Erich and Eric Characteristics of Positive Outlier Schools report brief available here for the full report go to https://www.effectiveness.org/research ROAD TO AWESOME COURSES ARE NOW LIVE ( here's the link ) Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference or email him here Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here Professional learning for leaders doesn’t have to be a mystery. As leaders there are times when learning alongside your staff is very important. You have to know what is expected of them and what strategies and processes should be evident in the classroom. However, we often overlook professional learning specifically for leaders designed to help them be…BETTER LEADERS. This is what we do at Road to Awesome. Working with leade
S1 E40 · Sun, October 09, 2022
Episode 40: Life Above the Line with Tom Cody
Tom Cody , a co-founder of Top 20 Training, shares his unique witticisms, insights and wisdom gathered from his 40 years in the classroom. His professional life has been committed to education, serving as a grade school and high school math teacher and Social Emotional Learning teacher from 1974 until his retirement from teaching in 2014. Tom now devotes his time and energy to Top 20 Training and its mission to revolutionize American education. His one-of-a-kind trainings are engaging, humorous and thought-provoking. He has co-authored Top 20 Teachers: The Revolution in American Education, Top 20 Parents: Raising Happy, Responsible and Emotionally Healthy Children and Top 20 Teens: Discovering the Best-kept Thinking, Learning and Communicating Secrets of Successful Teenagers . A graduate of Colorado State University, Tom is a crossword puzzle fanatic and a deeply committed baseball fan. He and his wife Judy, also a former teacher, have three sons; one is now a high school math teacher. ROAD TO AWESOME COURSES ARE NOW LIVE ( here's the link ) Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference or email him here Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here Professional learning for leaders doesn’t have to be a mystery. As leaders there are times when learning alongside your staff is very important. You have to know what is expected of them and what strategies and processes should be evident in the classroom. However, we often overlook professional learning specifically for leaders designed to help them be…BETTER LEADERS. This is what we do at Road to Awesome. Working with leadership teams to be their most effective and efficient, one on one coaching for leaders, collaborative leader cohorts, or specific and job-embedded supports each have their own specific processes. I want to work with you to support YOU, your TEAM, or your district on growing leaders to their peak level of performance.
S1 E39 · Sun, October 02, 2022
Episode 39: Leadership Drivers with Dr. Donna Marie Cozine
Dr. Donna Marie Cozine helps overworked and exhausted educational leaders establish work life balance so they can lead their organizations and live the lives they DESERVE. She is a leader, author, speaker, podcast host, and executive coach. She is the founder of Renaissance Academy Charter School of the Arts in Rochester, NY. She grew the school from 194 students and 32 staff members to 506 students and 93 staff members in 7 years. She is passionate about helping leaders find personal and professional happiness. Her first Amazon Best Selling Book, “ So, You Want to Be a Superintendent? Become the Leader You Were Meant to Be! ” outlined her DRIVERS approach to leadership development. She has found this approach particularly successful with her colleagues and clients. Her second Amazon Best Selling Book, “ Happy Teachers, Joyful Students, Engaged Parents: A Guide for Building a School Community that Works ” outlines her framework for a joyful school. She also hosts the Joyful Educational Leadership podcast which can be found on Spotifyand Apple ITunes. She is the founder and CEO of DMC Consulting , a company dedicated to serving educators who want to level up their leadership to enrich the lives of thousands of children and their families. She works with individual leaders and leadership teams to ensure organizations have a sustainable pipeline of highly effective, mission-driven leaders. Social Media: FB : Donna Marie Cozine-Mills Twitter: DocCozine IG: dr_dmc LinkedIn: Dr. Donna Marie Cozine Check out her podcast: Joyful Educational Leadership ROAD TO AWESOME COURSES ARE NOW LIVE ( here's the link ) Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference or email him <a href="https://roadtoawesome.net/contact-us" rel="noope
S1 E38 · Sun, September 25, 2022
Episode 38: The Cards You're Dealt with Doug Kaplicky
Doug Kaplicky is honored to serve as Adams Elementary Principal (Yakima WA) and Consulting Owner of the Positive Focus Group. After 12 years in school administration and teaching at the college level, Doug was named the 2017 Washington State Principal of the Year. This recognition was a direct reflection of an amazing, certified and classified middle school staff, who valued students’ individual needs, teamed with parents, celebrated peers, while collaborating on a district vision. The staff put themselves on the map in July of 2014, when our team was given 42 days to create a school that had sat empty, with limited resources and employees coming from eight different locations. Surprisingly, twenty months later in 2016 this talented staff was named a Top Innovation School by OSPI. Check out the article that launched Doug's speaking career: The Cards You're Dealt on pp 16-17 ROAD TO AWESOME COURSES ARE NOW LIVE ( here's the link ) Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference or email him here Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Professional learning for leaders doesn’t have to be a mystery. As leaders there are times when learning alongside your staff is very important. You have to know what is expected of them and what strategies and processes should be evident in the classroom. However, we often overlook professional learning specifically for leaders designed to help them be…BETTER LEADERS. This is what we do at Road to Awesome. Working with leadership teams to be their most effective and efficient, one on one coaching for leaders, collaborative leader cohorts, or specific and job-embedded supports each have their own specific processes. I want to work with you to support YOU, your TEAM, or your district on growing leaders to their peak level of performance. Check out the Teach Better Conference here: https://teachbetterconference.com/ use the Code: RTATB2022 for $50 off your registration
S1 E37 · Sun, September 18, 2022
Episode 37: Bite Down and Don't Let Go with Dr. Chris Hobbs
Dr. Chris Hobbs is a 20-year veteran of education holding positions of teacher, coach, student minister, principal, athletic administrator, & executive director in the suburbs of Washington D.C., New York City, West Palm Beach, and Houston. In his current role as Director of Institutional Advancement at Second Baptist School, he provides global leadership to admissions, advancement, communications, and marketing for four campuses, two models of education, and nearly 2,000 students. His career has been marked by the ability to excite and rally communities around a common mission. During his time as an athletic director, he was named a Top 40 Under 40 Sports Leader by Coach and AD magazine and the National High School AD of the Year by BSN - Varsity Brands. As a blogger, podcast guest, and keynote presenter, Hobbs’ insights on leadership are regularly featured in the educational, non-profit, and corporate spaces. He holds a bachelor’s degree in physical education, a master’s degree in sports coaching, an educational specialist and doctor of education in educational leadership, he is a certified master athletic administrator from the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrator’s Association, and holds a certificate in organizational leadership from Northwestern’s Kelloggs School of Business. Dr. Hobbs resides in Houston, Texas with his wife, Jen, who holds a master’s degree in educational leadership herself and is the Director of Student Support Services at Second Baptist School. They have three children (20, 18, 16) who have all attended Christian schools and colleges the entirety of their education. Social Media handles: Twitter / Instagram - @dr_chrishobbs Email/contact info: coachchrishobbs@gmail.com Bite Down and Don't Let Go ( Dr. Hobbs' blog ) Book recommendations from Dr. Hobbs: Generation Z Unlimited by Tim Elmore Know What You're For by Jeff Henderson ROAD TO AWESOME COURSES ARE NOW LIVE ( here's the link ) Check out my newest blogpost, Three Time Managemen
S1 E36 · Sun, September 11, 2022
Episode 36: Digital 4 Good with Kim Karr
Kim Karr: After 13 years of teaching, Kim now gives students a voice by speaking full time and working side by side with the student interns and volunteers. In fact she is a co-founder of the non-profit called #ICANHELP. Kim shows students and adults how to use Digital4Good. #ICANHELP, an effective, outcome-based program, has received recognition from Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees and major tech companies like Google, Twitter + Facebook. #ICANHELP celebrates youth innovation, empowers digital changemakers and promotes digital safety. Kim has presented the #ICANHELP program to over 470,000 students and impacting 12.5 million, and has been instrumental in taking down a thousand negative social media sites. Check out Kim's work: https://www.icanhelp.net/ Follow Kim and #ICANHELP on Social Media for all their latest news and events: Twitter @icanhelp Instagram - @ icanhelpofficial @kimkarr_icanhelp ROAD TO AWESOME COURSES ARE NOW LIVE ( here's the link ) Check out my newest blogpost: Five Culture Killers to Stop Right Now Sign up for the Road to Awesome newsletter right here Professional learning for leaders doesn’t have to be a mystery. As leaders there are times when learning alongside your staff is very important. You have to know what is expected of them and what strategies and processes should be evident in the classroom. However, we often overlook professional learning specifically for leaders designed to help them be…BETTER LEADERS. This is what we do at Road to Awesome. Working with leadership teams to be their most effective and efficient, one on one coaching for leaders, collaborative leader cohorts, or specific and job-embedded supports each have their own specific processes. I want to work with you to support YOU, your TEAM, or your district on growing leaders to their peak level of performance. Check out the Teach Better Conference here: https://teachbetterconference.com/ use the Code: RTATB2022 for $50 off your registration Want to book Darrin for your event? Click here
S1 E35 · Sun, September 04, 2022
Episode 35: Making a Ruckus with Daniel Bauer
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 Leaders Better Schools podcast , ranked in the TOP 0.5% of 3 million global podcasts, and via his latest book, Mastermind: Unlocking Talent Within Every School Leader , co-published by Corwin and the National School Superintendents Association (AASA). Daniel's mission is “to connect, grow, and mentor every school leader who wants to level up.” BLBS Website: https://betterleadersbetterschools.com Book website with bonuses: https://www.betterleadersbetterschools.com/mastermindbook/ Book website: https://us.corwin.com/en-us/nam/mastermind/book275490#description Book discount code: Use "RUCKUS" for 20% off the cover price + free shipping! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielevanbauer/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/alienearbud Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alienearbud/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danevanbauer?ref=bookmarks Medium: https://alienearbud.medium.com/ The LEANING INTO LEADERSHIP podcast challenge : share any episode (or the show) on social media and tag 5 people who will LOVE the show. Also tag @DarrinMPeppard to enter the contest. Winners receive an RtA swag package which includes (1 RtA shirt (winner's choice), 1 RtA published book (winner's choice), and an RtA sticker pack). Entries must be in by September 4th. ROAD TO
S1 E34 · Sun, August 28, 2022
Episode 34: Teaching Champions with Brian Martin
Brian Martin is a second grade teacher and has taught for 20 years in a rural district in Western New York. He is a former assistant coach for his school’s boys varsity basketball team and veteran of the United States Army having served in Iraq. He is the Host of the Teaching Champions Podcast. It is dedicated to encouraging, supporting, and lifting educators up and has been listened to in 56 countries. Connect with Brian: Twitter @bmartinreal Instagram @teachingchampionspodcast Email/contact info: teachingchampionspodcast@yahoo.com Teaching Champions Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/teaching-champions/id1545995609 Resources mentioned by Brian: Shawn Achor: The Happiness Advantage David Goggins: Can't Hurt Me Daniel Coyle: The Culture Code Teaching Champions Podcast (Sarah Blakely story) Jon Acuff's All it Takes is a Goal (ATG) Podcast LEANING INTO LEADERSHIP podcast challenge: share any episode (or the show) on social media and tag 5 people who will LOVE the show. Also tag @DarrinMPeppard to enter the contest. Winners receive an RtA swag package which includes (1 RtA shirt (winner's choice), 1 RtA published book (winner's choice), and an RtA sticker pack). Entries must be in by September 4th. Questions: email Darrin at darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net Here is the art
S1 E33 · Sun, August 21, 2022
Episode 33: Leadership is Influence with Chris Jochum
Dr. Chris Jochum currently serves as the Chair of the Department of Teacher Education at Fort Hays State University (FHSU) where he leads one of the largest teacher preparation programs in the state of Kansas. With an enrollment of approximately 1,000 students, his department offers virtual and on-campus degree programs in all areas related to PK-12 licensure. During his time at FHSU, Dr. Jochum and his team have led efforts to recruit and retain future educators across the country. Dr. Jochum’s previous appointments include the University of Nebraska at Kearney as an Associate Professor of Foreign Language Education and Spanish, the University of Central Missouri as an Assistant Professor of Secondary Education, Salina High School South (Kansas) as a secondary Spanish teacher and Kearney Public Schools (Nebraska) as a K-12 English as a Second Language teacher. Chris believes that the best way to affect an organization is to affect its leader. Accordingly, he is passionate about developing leaders within all levels of education. His recent book, “The Department Chair: A Practical Guide to Effective Leadership” is applicable to anyone who leads students, faculty and staff within an educational setting. LEANING INTO LEADERSHIP podcast challenge : share any episode (or the show) on social media and tag 5 people who will LOVE the show. Also tag @DarrinMPeppard to enter the contest. Winners receive an RtA swag package which includes (1 RtA shirt (winner's choice), 1 RtA published book (winner's choice), and an RtA sticker pack). Entries must be in by September 4th. Questions: email Darrin at darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net ROAD TO AWESOME COURSES ARE NOW LIVE ( here's the link ) Throughout your life you are going to encounter imposter syndrome and insurmountable forces that pull you away from your vision of who you want to be. Having a coach guide you through your journey toward your results is critical. Everyone needs a coach. In our FREE course, Accelerating Goals into Action, you will discover exactly what it means to Unlock Unlimited Potential on the Road to Awesome. You will have an opportunity to meet Darrin and Brandon while learning how to plan for consistent success beginning with that “One Thing.” Our Open Road Accelerate Course was designed to guide you toward consistent success. Throughout this 4 part course, you will embark upon an interactive experience with Darrin and Brandon as they walk you step by step through the #UUPontheRTA Results Coaching journey. Professional learning for leaders doesn’t have to be a mystery. As leaders there are times when learning alongside your staff is very important. You have to know what is expected of them and what strategies and processes should be evident in the classroom. However, we often overlook p
S1 E32 · Sun, August 14, 2022
Episode 32: The "IT Factor" with Dean Packard
Dean Packard has been a middle school principal for the last 15 years at Charlton Middle School in Charlton Massachusetts. Dean was an assistant principal at the same school for 5 years before ascending to the principal’s seat. Dean's wife is a teacher and they have three wonderful kids: Brooke (26), Abigail (24) and John (22). His motto: Every Student - Every Day serves as his compass. Connect with Dean : Social Media handles: @CMSPrincipal1 @CMS_Grizzlies @Unlockthemiddle Email/contact info: Dean Packard, Principal at Charlton Middle School dpackard@dcrsd.org or unlockingthemiddle@gmail.com LEANING INTO LEADERSHIP podcast challenge: share any episode (or the show) on social media and tag 5 people who will LOVE the show. Also tag DarrinMPeppard to enter the contest. Winners receive an RtA swag package which includes (1 RtA shirt (winner's choice), 1 RtA published book (winner's choice), and an RtA sticker pack). Entries must be in by September 4th. Questions: email Darrin at darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net ROAD TO AWESOME COURSES ARE NOW LIVE Throughout your life you are going to encounter imposter syndrome and insurmountable forces that pull you away from your vision of who you want to be. Having a coach guide you through your journey toward your results is critical. Everyone needs a coach. In our FREE course , Accelerating Goals into Action, you will discover exactly what it means to Unlock Unlimited Potential on the Road to Awesome. You will have an opportunity to meet Darrin and Brandon while learning how to plan for consistent success beginning with that “One Thing.” Our Open Road Accelerate Course was designed to guide you toward consistent success. Throughout this 4 part course, you will embark upon an interactive experience with Darrin and Brandon as they walk you step by step through the #UUPontheRTA Results Coaching journey. LEADERS: How will you welcome your staff back in the fall? Now is the time to lock Darrin Peppard in for your opening events. Darrin will bring a positive, uplifting, and inspiring message to your staff and remind them that EDUCATORS MATTER! Dates are filling up fast, email darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net or call (307) 371-8947 to get a conversation with Darrin today! Professional learning for leaders doesn’t have to be a mystery. As leaders there are times when learning alongside your staff is very important. You have to know what is expected of them and what strategies and processes should be evident in the classroom. However, we often overlook professional learning specifically for leaders designed to help them be…BETTER LEADERS. This is what we do at Road to Awesome. Working with leadersh
S1 E31 · Sun, August 07, 2022
Episode 31: Funky Flamingo Friday with Dave Schmittou
Dave Schmittou: As an educator for more than two decades, Dave has earned a reputation for being a disruptor of the status quo, an innovator, and a change agent. Having served as a classroom teacher, school-based administrator, central office director, and professor of Educational Leadership, he often uses real-life stories and examples of his own life and career to describe why and how we need to confront “the way we have always done it.” He speaks, consults, and partners with districts around the country and loves to keep learning and growing. He has written multiple books, including “It’s Like Riding a Bike: How to make learning last a lifetime”, “Bold Humility”, and “Making Assessment Work for Educators Who Hate Data but Love Kids”. Check out the Teach Better Conference here: https://teachbetterconference.com/ ROAD TO AWESOME COURSES ARE NOW LIVE Throughout your life you are going to encounter imposter syndrome and insurmountable forces that pull you away from your vision of who you want to be. Having a coach guide you through your journey toward your results is critical. Everyone needs a coach. In our FREE course, Accelerating Goals into Action , you will discover exactly what it means to Unlock Unlimited Potential on the Road to Awesome. You will have an opportunity to meet Darrin and Brandon while learning how to plan for consistent success beginning with that “One Thing.” Our Open Road Accelerate Course was designed to guide you toward consistent success. Throughout this 4 part course, you will embark upon an interactive experience with Darrin and Brandon as they walk you step by step through the #UUPontheRTA Results Coaching journey. LEADERS: How will you welcome your staff back in the fall? Now is the time to lock Darrin Peppard in for your opening events. Darrin will bring a positive, uplifting, and inspiring message to your staff and remind them that EDUCATORS MATTER! Dates are filling up fast, email darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net or call (307) 371-8947 to get a conversation with Darrin today! Professional learning for leaders doesn’t have to be a mystery. As leaders there are times when learning alongside your staff is very important. You have to know what is expected of them and what strategies and processes should be evident in the classroom. However, we often overlook professional learning specifically for leaders designed to help them be…BETTER LEADERS. This is what we do at Road to Awesome. Working with leadership teams to be their most effective and efficient, one on one coac
S1 E30 · Sun, July 31, 2022
Episode 30: Evolving with Lainie Rowell
Lainie Rowell is an educator, international consultant, podcaster and TEDx speaker. She is the lead author of Evolving Learner and a contributing author of Because of a Teacher . Her latest book, Evolving with Gratitude , was just released. An experienced teacher and district leader, her expertise includes learner-driven design, community building, online/blended learning, and professional learning. Learn more at linktr.ee/lainierowell . LEADERS: How will you welcome your staff back this fall? Now is the time to lock Darrin Peppard in for your opening events. Darrin will bring a positive, uplifting, and inspiring message to your staff and remind them that EDUCATORS MATTER! Dates are filling up fast, email darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net or call (307) 371-8947 to get a conversation with Darrin today! Want to know what you’d miss out on, check this link to see Darrin in action Road to Awesome breakout session - CADA 3/2022 Now is the time! Leadership teams are being reorganized across the US. New members will be replacing members who are retiring or moving on to another role. New administrators will be leaping out of the classroom and into leadership for the very first time. Let's be INTENTIONAL with the development of our leadership teams for next year. High Performance Leadership Teams by Road to Awesome is designed to align each member of the new leadership team, to dig deep into the core values of the team, and to ultimately identify and plan the goals for the upcoming year. I would love to work with you and your team to help you achieve that High Performance that you are looking for, that your school and district deserve. Let's connect - email me at darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net or call me at (307) 371-8947 . It costs you nothing to have a conversation. Professional development with Road to Awesome is just a click away. Connect with us at roadtoawesome.net for leadership coaching and consulting, the High Performance Leadership Teams event, staff culture and climate professional development, and keynote and event/school kick-off speaking. Darrin will make your event awesome and have your team ready to roll on the #RoadToAwesome email Darrin at darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net Subscribe to our newsletter at roadtoawesome.net Got a book idea you'd like to pitch to the team at RtA? Go to https://roadtoawesom
S1 E29 · Sun, July 24, 2022
Episode 29: The Tap on the Shoulder with Randy Russell
Dr. Randy Russell currently serves as the Freeman, WA School District Superintendent. Dr. Russell is a visionary and results-producing Education Leader with a career-long passion for serving others by focusing on relationships, leadership, and partnerships for educational excellence. His positive, outgoing personality enables him to interact, communicate, build relationships, and work successfully with a diverse range of students, staff, adults and agencies. He is currently on the AASA Governing Board Executive Committee, the Banner Furnace and Fuel Board of Directors, the North Palouse Chamber Board, and is a past member of the WASA Board of Directors. In addition to serving as the WASA President, Randy has also served as the WASA Superintendent’s Component Chairperson, the NorthEast Washington School Administrator’s President and as the Spokane, WA County Superintendent’s President. Randy is beginning his thirty-fourth year in education as a teacher, coach, assistant principal and principal in addition to his time as a superintendent in Washington, Idaho and Montana. He is also the Founder and President of RLR Leadership Consulting. For more on the Women's Leadership Conference: https://randyrussell.org/f/2022-womens-leadership-conference Dr. Russell's books include: The 3 Ships: Inspirational Passages for Educators. Book Baby, July, 2021. The 3 Ships: Relationships, Leadership and Partnerships. Book Baby, July, 2020. Connect with Randy on his website: www.randyrussell.org via Twitter: @RandyLRussell24 or on Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/randylrussell/ Make sure you listen to The 3 Ships Podcast: anchor.fm/randy-russell rrussell@freemansd.org LEADERS: How will you welcome your staff back in the fall? Now is the time to lock Darrin Peppard in for your opening events. Darrin will bring a positive, uplifting, and inspiring message to your staff and remind them that EDUCATORS MATTER! Dates are filling up fast, email darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net or call (307) 371-8947 to get a conversation with Darrin today! Now is the time! New Player, New Team. Leadership teams are being reorganized across the US. New members will be replacing members who are retiring or moving on to another role. New administrators will be leaping out of the classroom and into leadership for the very first time. Let's be INTENTIONAL with the development of our leadership teams for next year. High Performance Leadership Teams by Road to Awesome is designed to align each member of the new leadership team, to dig deep into the core values of the team, and to ultimately identify and plan the goals for the upcoming year. I would love to work with you and your team to help you achieve that High Performance that you are looking for, that your school and di
S1 E28 · Sun, July 17, 2022
Episode 28: A Strong Core with Brett Schroetlin
Brett D. Schroetlin is the Sheriff of Grand County, Colorado. He is a 4th generation Colorado native, and started his law enforcement journey as an Explorer Scout in 1992, and has served as a sworn Peace Officer since 1999 as a Police Officer/Deputy, K9 Handler, Investigator, Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Assistant Chief. Sheriff Schroetlin was sworn into office in January 2015 and is now in his second term serving the citizens and tourists of Grand County, in addition to his collateral duties within the State of Colorado and through the Western States Sheriffs Association (WSSA), where he is currently the President for 2022. Learn more about the East Troublesome Fire in Grand County Colorado here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5IxGPV67X4 https://www.cpr.org/2021/01/25/colorados-east-troublesome-wildfire-may-signal-a-new-era-of-big-fire-blow-ups/ https://denvergazette.com/news/local/grand-recovery-colorado-town-emerges-from-east-troublesome-fire/article_a625e434-c985-5714-90a9-8671aeb9d28b.html LEADERS: How will you welcome your staff back in the fall? Now is the time to lock Darrin Peppard in for your opening events. Darrin will bring a positive, uplifting, and inspiring message to your staff and remind them that EDUCATORS MATTER! Dates are filling up fast, email darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net or call (307) 371-8947 to get a conversation with Darrin today! Want to know what you’d miss out on, check this link to see Darrin in action Road to Awesome breakout session - CADA 3/2022 Now is the time! Leadership teams are being reorganized across the US this spring. New members will be replacing members who are retiring or moving on to another role. New administrators will be leaping out of the classroom and into leadership for the very first time. Let's be INTENTIONAL with the development of our leadership teams for next year. High Performance Leadership Teams by Road to Awesome is designed to align each member of the new leadership team, to dig deep into the core values of the team, and to ultimately identify and plan the goals for the upcoming year. I would love to work with you and your team to help you achieve that High Performance that you are looking for, that your school and district deserve. Let's connect - email me at darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net or call me at (307) 371-8947 . It costs you nothing to have a conversation. Professional development with Road to Awesome is just a click away. Connect with us at roadtoawesome.net for leadership coaching and consulting, the High Performance Leadership Teams event, staff culture and climate professional development, and keynote and event/school kick-off speaking. Darrin will make your event awesome and have your team ready to rol
S1 E27 · Sun, July 10, 2022
Episode 27: Chasing Greatness with Don Epps
An educator for the last 20 years, Don Epps , has served as a classroom teacher, coach, high school principal and currently a middle school principal in Chanute Kansas. The #ChasingGreatness Principal has been featured in national publications and podcasts for stories of school culture transformation in creating what is now known as 'Frosty Moments'. Epps also is known in the education world for his uplifting videos posted on social media that feature his own unique blend of motivation, comedy and inspirational content that promotes positivity. Don co-authored the children’s book Finding Lost Smiles with his wife Vickie. Most importantly Don is the proud husband to Vickie and the father to Sarah and Charlie, the most important team in his life. You can find Don on all social media profiles as @DonEppsEDU or email him at eppsd@usd413.org LEADERS: How will you welcome your staff back in the fall? Now is the time to lock Darrin Peppard in for your opening events. Darrin will bring a positive, uplifting, and inspiring message to your staff and remind them that EDUCATORS MATTER! Dates are filling up fast, email darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net or call (307) 371-8947 to get a conversation with Darrin today! Now is the time! Leadership teams are being reorganized across the US this spring. New members will be replacing members who are retiring or moving on to another role. New administrators will be leaping out of the classroom and into leadership for the very first time. Let's be INTENTIONAL with the development of our leadership teams for next year. High Performance Leadership Teams by Road to Awesome is designed to align each member of the new leadership team, to dig deep into the core values of the team, and to ultimately identify and plan the goals for the upcoming year. I would love to work with you and your team to help you achieve that High Performance that you are looking for, that your school and district deserve. Let's connect - email me at darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net or call me at (307) 371-8947 . It costs you nothing to have a conversation. Professional development with Road to Awesome is just a click away. Connect with us at roadtoawesome.net for leadership coaching and consulting, the High Performance Leadership Teams event, staff culture and climate professional development, and keynote and event/school kick-off speaking. Darrin will make your event awesome and have your team ready to roll on the #RoadToAwesome email Darrin at darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net Subscribe to our newsletter at <
S1 E26 · Sun, July 03, 2022
Episode 26: Challenging the Status Quo with Dr. Michael Nagler
Michael P. Nagler, Ed.D ., has held many positions in his 34 years in education. Before assuming his current position as Superintendent of the Mineola Public schools, he began his career as a school teacher in NYC while completing his Master’s and earning his professional diploma. Dr. Nagler then went on to earn his doctorate from Columbia University and accepted an administrative position with Mineola in 1999. Believing strongly in the district’s mission to create lifelong learners who contribute positively to a global society, Dr. Nagler rooted himself in the Mineola School District and never left. During his twenty+ years with the district, he has been a big proponent of using technology to engage students in rigorous content. Mineola was one of the first Districts to implement a 1:1 iPad initiative. Mineola’s innovative use of the iPad has led to the rare feat of having all five Mineola schools to be recognized as Apple Distinguished Schools. Mineola is a member of the League of Innovative schools; one of only 104 districts nationwide. Being a member affords Mineola the ability to be at the forefront of nationwide initiatives such as Open Educational Resources (OER), the Maker Movement and computer science for all, #CSforall. Mineola was one of the first schools in the State to implement a comprehensive computer science curriculum starting in kindergarten. Mineola is also at the forefront of digital student portfolios. Dr. Nagler recently utilized the Districts coding platform to create his own digital portfolio . Dr. Nagler was the 2020 New York State Superintendent of the Year and was a Finalist for the 2020 National Superintendent of the Year. Here is the link to Dr. Nagler's Laboratory video referenced in the interview. Connect with Dr. Nagler on Twitter @NaglersNotions LEADERS: How will you welcome your staff back in the fall? Now is the time to lock Darrin Peppard in for your opening events. Darrin will bring a positive, uplifting, and inspiring message to your staff and remind them that EDUCATORS MATTER! Dates are filling up fast, email darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net or call (307) 371-8947 to get a conversation with Darrin today! Want to know what you’d miss out on, check this link to see Darrin in action Road to Awesome breakout session - CADA 3/2022 Now is the time! Leadership teams are being reorganized across the US this summer. New members will be replacing members who are retiring or moving on to another role. New administrators will be leaping out of the classroom and i
S1 E25 · Sun, June 26, 2022
Episode 25: Battlefield Boardroom with Deric Keller
Deric R. Keller is an entrepreneur, coach, and sales specialist. His compassion, integrity, and work ethic have earned him a reputation as a high-performance, service-driven leader. A Warrior-certified trainer and decorated U.S. combat veteran, Deric is on a lifelong mission to create positive change in people’s personal and professional lives by helping to cultivate shifts in their perception. For more than a decade, he has garnered extensive experience within the domain of sales across a variety of industries. Currently, Deric is the President and co-founder of BoulderGX, LLC, an independent, high-complexity diagnostic laboratory focused on healthcare provider applications, employer health and wellness solutions, and patient advocacy. In addition to his central role in BoulderGX, Deric is also the founder and owner of Battlefield Boardroom, a program that aims to integrate battlefield tactics and modern business systems. Through this program, he imparts to clients a tried-and-true system designed to foster the best possible version of themselves—as individuals, spouses, fathers/mothers, and industry leaders. Prior, Deric served as a VP of Sales and an Owner/Trainer for The Wolf Project. Deric has been happily married to his wife for 17 years. Together, they are the proud parents of seven children, ranging from ages 11 to 23. Connect with Deric --> Deric@BoulderGX.com | http://www.BoulderGX.com Deric@BattlefieldBoardroom.com | http://www.BattlefieldBoardroom.com LEADERS: How will you welcome your staff back in the fall? Now is the time to lock Darrin Peppard in for your opening events. Darrin will bring a positive, uplifting, and inspiring message to your staff and remind them that EDUCATORS MATTER! Dates are filling up fast, email darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net or call (307) 371-8947 to get a conversation with Darrin today! Want to know what you’d miss out on, check this link to see Darrin in action Road to Awesome breakout session - CADA 3/2022 Now is the time! Leadership teams are being reorganized across the US this spring. New members will be replacing members who are retiring or moving on to another role. New administrators will be leaping out of the classroom and into leadership for the very first time. Let's be INTENTIONAL with the development of our leadership teams for next year. High Performance Leadership Teams by Road to Awesome is designed to align each member of the new leadership team, to dig deep into the core values of the team, and to ultimately identify and plan the goals for the upcoming year. I would love to work with you and your team to help you achieve that High Performance that you are looking for, that your school and district deserve. Let's connect -
S1 E24 · Sun, June 19, 2022
Episode 24: Unlocking Unlimited Potential with Brandon Beck
Dr. Brandon Beck is an educator, speaker, coach, and author of "Unlocking Unlimited Potential: Understanding the Infinite Power Within to Guide Any Student Toward Success." As a keynote speaker, Brandon is best known for his inspirational storytelling that is directly connected to authentic activities which build upon the ultimate goal for all... Unlocking Unlimited Potential. He is also the host of the "Unlocking Unlimited Potential Stories Show," a live show and podcast where he interviews inspiring people sharing their inspiring stories. Brandon is a National Board Certified teacher and also holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. His primary purpose is a simple one: “To inspire people to have faith in themselves and believe in their inner genius.” He has been an elementary teacher for 18 years and a monolingual, bilingual educator for over 12 years. He is also a college professor, consultant, Results Coach, an editor and reviewer for AASA Journal of Scholarship & Practice, a regular keynote speaker at state, regional, and national conferences. Dr. Beck is also a Mutt-i-grees National Trainer. Mutt-i-grees is a program designed by Yale University’s 21st Century in partnership with North Shore Animal League. The Mutt-i-grees curriculum is an innovative Pre-K - Grade 12 social emotional learning program that brings adopted shelter dogs into schools. Dr. Beck is an entrepreneur and professional soccer coach. He is currently a nationally certified instructor for the United States Soccer Federation. Throughout his career, he has coached teams that have won numerous state, regional, and national championships. Connect with Brandon on his website: https://brandonbeckedu.com/ LEADERS: How will you welcome your staff back in the fall? Now is the time to lock Darrin Peppard in for your opening events. Darrin will bring a positive, uplifting, and inspiring message to your staff and remind them that EDUCATORS MATTER! Dates are filling up fast, email darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net or call (307) 371-8947 to get a conversation with Darrin today! Want to know what you’d miss out on, check this link to see Darrin in action Road to Awesome breakout session - CADA 3/2022 Now is the time! Leadership teams are being reorganized across the US this spring. New members will be replacing members who are retiring or moving on to another role. New administrators will be leaping out of the classroom and into leadership for the very first time. Let's be INTENTIONAL with the development of our leadership teams for next year. High Performance Leadership Teams by Road to Awesome is designed to align each member of the new leadership team, to dig deep into the core values of the team, and to ultimately identify and plan the goals for
S1 E23 · Sun, June 12, 2022
Episode 23: A Pattern of Behavior with Josh Tovar
Josh Tovar is the proud son of Virginia and Jesus Tovar. Josh and Berenice are the proud parents to Matthew, Aaron and Josh II aka Cashew. Josh was born in Cd. Juarez, Mexico and immigrated with his family in the late 70’s to El Paso, Texas. After trouble years in high school, he joined the US Marines Corps as a 0811 artillery man. Proudly joining the Marines, it allowed him to serve his country and attend UTEP. Where he earned his degree in History and Minor in Education. As a public educator, he has been a member of 13 schools at the elementary, middle, high school level all the way to teaching Master level courses at a University. He has a Masters in School Counseling and Administration from Sul Ross State University. He also has a Masters in History from UTEP and he finished his Superintendent course work at Sul Ross. He was a middle school and high school teacher for 8 years, Assistant Principal for 13, worked in Operations for 2 years, and now he’s on his 6th year as Principal at Memorial Pathway Academy in Garland ISD, Texas . Josh understands the power of Social Media and how our customers are deeply connected to these platforms. He understands that we need to meet our students where they are at and connect with them, as Ryan Scott says, “connections before content.” You can email Josh at federico.tovar@yahoo.com or catch up with him on social media at the following locations: Twitter @MPA_GOJAGUARS FACEBOOK Mpa Jaguars IG @mpajaguars Tik Tok @mpajags LEADERS: How will you welcome your staff back in the fall? Now is the time to lock Darrin Peppard in for your opening events. Darrin will bring a positive, uplifting, and inspiring message to your staff and remind them that EDUCATORS MATTER! Dates are filling up fast, email darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net or call (307) 371-8947 to get a conversation with Darrin today! Want to know what you’d miss out on, check this link to see Darrin in action Road to Awesome breakout session - CADA 3/2022 Now is the time! Leadership teams are being reorganized across the US this spring. New members will be replacing members who are retiring or moving on to another role. New administrators will be leaping out of the classroom and into leadership for the very first time. Let's be INTENTIONAL with the development of our leadership teams for next year. High Performance Leadership Teams by Road to Awesome is designed to align each member of the new leadership team, to dig deep into the core values of the team, and to ultimately identify and plan the goals for the upcoming year. I would love to work with you and your team to help you achieve that High Performance that you are looking for, that your school and district deserve. Let's connect - email me at darr
S1 E22 · Sun, June 05, 2022
Episode 22: Becoming the Change with Dan Wolfe
Dan Wolfe has served in Pasco County, Florida for more than 20 years. During this time, he has held roles as a teacher, instructional coach and administrator. He is currently an Assistant Principal at Sunray Elementary. He was selected as Pasco County’s District Teacher of the Year in 2011-2012 school year. He is a part of the district’s Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Committee that recently established Pre-K through Grade 12 SEL standards. For the past two years Dan has written a blog called Becoming The Change (formerly Our Moral Compass) which focuses on a different quote each day and how we can best apply it towards becoming the change through our own moral compass and the five areas in SEL. During his spare time Dan enjoys spending his time reading, listening to podcasts, and going to Disney with his wife and daughter. Grab your copy of Dan's new book, Becoming the Change: Five Essential Elements to Being Your Best Self right here LEADERS: How will you welcome your staff back in the fall? Now is the time to lock Darrin Peppard in for your opening events. Darrin will bring a positive, uplifting, and inspiring message to your staff and remind them that EDUCATORS MATTER! Dates are filling up fast, email darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net or call (307) 371-8947 to get a conversation with Darrin today! Want to know what you’d miss out on, check this link to see Darrin in action Road to Awesome breakout session - CADA 3/2022 Now is the time! Leadership teams are being reorganized across the US this spring. New members will be replacing members who are retiring or moving on to another role. New administrators will be leaping out of the classroom and into leadership for the very first time. Let's be INTENTIONAL with the development of our leadership teams for next year. High Performance Leadership Teams by Road to Awesome is designed to align each member of the new leadership team, to dig deep into the core values of the team, and to ultimately identify and plan the goals for the upcoming year. I would love to work with you and your team to help you achieve that High Performance that you are looking for, that your school and district deserve. Let's connect - email me at darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net or call me at (307) 371-8947 . It costs you nothing to have a conversation. Professional development with Road to Awesome is just a click away. Connect with us at roadtoawesome.net for leadersh
S1 E21 · Sun, May 29, 2022
Episode 21: Don't Be Afraid to be AWESOME with Chuck Moss
Chuck Moss has 25 years of experience in education. Forming meaningful relationships and bringing out the best in others have been the driving forces in his career. He has been a teacher, a coach, an assistant principal, a principal, and now serves as Director of Innovation and Development for Dinwiddie County Public Schools. His most important roles are those of husband and father. LEADERS: How will you welcome your staff back in the fall? Now is the time to lock Darrin Peppard in for your opening events. Darrin will bring a positive, uplifting, and inspiring message to your staff and remind them that EDUCATORS MATTER! Dates are filling up fast, email darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net or call (307) 371-8947 to get a conversation with Darrin today! Want to know what you’d miss out on, check this link to see Darrin in action Road to Awesome breakout session - CADA 3/2022 Now is the time! Leadership teams are being reorganized across the US this spring. New members will be replacing members who are retiring or moving on to another role. New administrators will be leaping out of the classroom and into leadership for the very first time. Let's be INTENTIONAL with the development of our leadership teams for next year. High Performance Leadership Teams by Road to Awesome is designed to align each member of the new leadership team, to dig deep into the core values of the team, and to ultimately identify and plan the goals for the upcoming year. I would love to work with you and your team to help you achieve that High Performance that you are looking for, that your school and district deserve. Let's connect - email me at darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net or call me at (307) 371-8947 . It costs you nothing to have a conversation. Professional development with Road to Awesome is just a click away. Connect with us at roadtoawesome.net for leadership coaching and consulting, the High Performance Leadership Teams event, staff culture and climate professional development, and keynote and event/school kick-off speaking. Darrin will make your event awesome and have your team ready to roll on the #RoadToAwesome email Darrin at darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net Subscribe to our newsletter at roadtoawesome.net Got a book idea you'd like to pitch to the team at RtA? Go to https://roadtoawesome.net/our-services to submit your idea. Follow me on social media at @DarrinMPeppard on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, Alignable, and LinkedIn Final thought for this set of show notes - folks, as educators we are changing the world and we do that one conversation at a time.
S1 E20 · Sun, May 22, 2022
Episode 20: 5 Keys to Success with Nick Edwards
Nick Edwards graduated from Saint Peter’s College (now University) in Jersey City, NJ with an Elementary Education major and minor in American Studies. He also played baseball for the Peacocks and was the Team Captain his senior year. Nick has been an educator for the last 15 years, having started teaching Kindergarten at a Catholic school in Newark, NJ. He then taught in Kearny, NJ for 11 years, teaching 4th grade. Nick was a head football coach, head baseball coach and coached for 11 years at the High School level. He is now in his fourth year as the building Principal at Smalley School in Bound Brook, NJ. Nick is married to his beautiful wife Susanne and has two beautiful girls ages 3 and 6 months. Here is the link to his recently released blog on 5 Keys to Success for New School Principals. Now is the time! Leadership teams are being reorganized across the US this spring. New members will be replacing members who are retiring or moving on to another role. New administrators will be leaping out of the classroom and into leadership for the very first time. Let's be INTENTIONAL with the development of our leadership teams for next year. High Performance Leadership Teams by Road to Awesome is designed to align each member of the new leadership team, to dig deep into the core values of the team, and to ultimately identify and plan the goals for the upcoming year. I would love to work with you and your team to help you achieve that High Performance that you are looking for, that your school and district deserve. Let's connect - email me at darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net or call me at (307) 371-8947 . It costs you nothing to have a conversation. Professional development with Road to Awesome is just a click away. Connect with us at roadtoawesome.net for leadership coaching and consulting, the High Performance Leadership Teams event, staff culture and climate professional development, and keynote and event/school kick-off speaking. Darrin will make your event awesome and have your team ready to roll on the #RoadToAwesome email Darrin at darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net Subscribe to our newsletter at roadtoawesome.net Got a book idea you'd like to pitch to the team at RtA? Go to https://roadtoawesome.net/our-services to submit your idea. Follow me on social media at @DarrinMPeppard on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, Alignable, and LinkedIn Final thought for this set of show notes - folks, as educators we are changing the world and we do that one conversation at a time.
S1 E19 · Sun, May 15, 2022
Episode 19: A Culture of YES with Barb Schwamman
Barb Schwamman has been Superintendent of Schools of the Osage Community School District since July 1, 2015 (7 years) and is completing her 5th year as a shared superintendent of both Osage Community Schools and Riceville Community Schools in northeast Iowa. Before taking over in Osage, Barb served as PK-8 Principal at South Winneshiek from 2007-2015. Previously she taught/coached at Howard-Winneshiek (2000-2007) Hampton-Dumont (1996-2000) and Newman Catholic (1995-1996). At Osage, Barb has been instrumental in a number of STEM educational initiatives that have helped Osage become a leader in collaborative learning with the Iowa Big North Program (Osage, Charles City, New Hampton, RRMR, North Butler, RIceville, and Turkey Valley), Business Partnership Program, and a leader in the Iowa in PK-12 Computer Science working with Code.org and NewBoCo. Connect with Barb: Twitter: @MrsSchwamman; Facebook: Barb Schwamman Jostens Renaissance - Times are tough for our educators and school culture needs a jolt of positivity! The Jostens Renaissance Global Conference is the answer!! Seriously there is nothing like it. Go to jostensrenaissance.com/events/ for more information and to register - see you in Orlando in July!! Now is the time! Leadership teams are being reorganized across the US this spring. New members will be replacing members who are retiring or moving on to another role. New administrators will be leaping out of the classroom and into leadership for the very first time. Let's be INTENTIONAL with the development of our leadership teams for next year. High Performance Leadership Teams by Road to Awesome is designed to align each member of the new leadership team, to dig deep into the core values of the team, and to ultimately identify and plan the goals for the upcoming year. I would love to work with you and your team to help you achieve that High Performance that you are looking for, that your school and district deserve. Let's connect - email me at darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net or call me at (307) 371-8947. It costs you nothing to have a conversation. Professional development with Road to Awesome is just a click away. Connect with us at roadtoawesome.net for leadership coaching and consulting, the High Performance Leadership Teams event, staff culture and climate professional development, and keynote and event/school kick-off speaking. Darrin will make your event awesome and have your team ready to roll on the #RoadToAwesome email Darrin at darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net Subscribe to our newsletter at roadtoawesome.net Got a book idea you'd like to pitch to the team at RtA? Go to <a href=
S1 E18 · Sun, May 08, 2022
Episode 18: The Principled Leader with Bobby Pollicino
Bobby Pollicino is the Head of Upper School at Bullis School in Potomac, MD. He has served as a school administrator for over 15 years, also in dean of students and assistant principal roles. He has taught high school courses in science, leadership, and public speaking while also serving as a varsity assistant soccer coach and varsity head coach of the lacrosse program at Bullis School. Bobby’s academic leadership career is grounded in a healthy interest in leadership which has led to conferences with Stanley King Institute, Garnder, Carney Leadership Institute, and a fellowship with Leadership+Design. Bobby has presented for local and national organizations on topics including meeting culture, digital wellness and hiring practices. A native of Upstate New York, Bobby attributes many of his life lessons to observing the work ethic and commitment of his parents and older brother. He played high school and college lacrosse, winning a National Championship at the collegiate level. He has used many leadership lessons passed on from his high school and college coaches. When not working or studying leadership, he spends time with his wife and three children. He has coached all three in various youth sports over the years. Bobby also enjoys running and cycling as well as training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He strives to be a better husband, father, leader, and person every day. A graduate of Washington College and William and Mary, Bobby lives with his family in Poolesville, MD. Want to know more about Bobby's upcoming book? Check out his book trailer on the Road to Awesome YouTube channel here Now is the time! Leadership teams are being reorganized across the US this spring. New members will be replacing members who are retiring or moving on to another role. New administrators will be leaping out of the classroom and into leadership for the very first time. Let's be INTENTIONAL with the development of our leadership teams for next year. High Performance Leadership Teams by Road to Awesome is designed to align each member of the new leadership team, to dig deep into the core values of the team, and to ultimately identify and plan the goals for the upcoming year. I would love to work with you and your team to help you achieve that High Performance that you are looking for, that your school and district deserve. Let's connect - email me at darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net or call me at (307) 371-8947. It costs you nothing to have a conversation. Professional development with Road to Awesome is just a click away. Connect with us at roadtoawesome.net for leadership coaching and consulting, the High Performance Leadership Teams event, staff culture and climate professional development, and keynote and event/school kick-off speaking. Darri
S1 E17 · Wed, May 04, 2022
Episode 17: Appreciating Teachers with a Little Bamboo
Teacher Appreciation Week 2022 - this is the time of year when we say thank you to our teachers. While we should do this every week, this is a special episode with my heartfelt thank you for teachers!! You make a difference every day!! My apologies to you all - I'm sure you'll notice I said this is episode 16.5 in the podcast, well unfortunately Captivate won't let me have a .5 episode so this became (after the fact) episode 17. Live and learn, right?!? News from Road to Awesome Now is the time ! Leadership teams are being reorganized across the US this spring. New members will be replacing members who are retiring or moving on to another role. New administrators will be leaping out of the classroom and into leadership for the very first time. Let's be INTENTIONAL with the development of our leadership teams for next year. High Performance Leadership Teams by Road to Awesome is designed to align each member of the new leadership team, to dig deep into the core values of the team, and to ultimately identify and plan the goals for the upcoming year. I would love to work with you and your team to help you achieve that High Performance that you are looking for, that your school and district deserve. Let's connect - email me at darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net or call me at (307) 371-8947. It costs you nothing to have a conversation. Professional development with Road to Awesome is just a click away. Connect with us at roadtoawesome.net for leadership coaching and consulting, the High Performance Leadership Teams event, staff culture and climate professional development, and keynote and event/school kick-off speaking. Darrin will make your event awesome and have your team ready to roll on the #RoadToAwesome email Darrin at darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net Subscribe to our newsletter at roadtoawesome.net Got a book idea you'd like to pitch to the team at RtA? Go to https://roadtoawesome.net/our-services to submit your idea. Final thought for this set of show notes - folks, as educators we are changing the world and we do that one conversation at a time. Follow me on social media at @DarrinMPeppard on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, Alignable, and LinkedIn
S1 E16 · Sun, May 01, 2022
Episode 16: Actually, I CAN with Dr. Lori Koerner
Dr. Lori Koerner has been in the field of education for three decades. She spent the first 26 years of her career as an elementary school teacher, having taught every grade. She is a Fulbright Specialist Scholar, and served as an adjunct professor of special education at several universities in New York. Dr. Koerner is currently the Assistant Superintendent in a large public school district on Long Island in New York. Her research has been centered on educating the whole child; that is, developing students’ social competencies, emotional well-being, and physical fitness through recess and play so that they are best equipped to meet their maximum academic potential. Dr. Koerner is a mom of four, and a bold advocate for children. She has written numerous articles for national magazines regarding paradigm shifts necessary for 21st century learning. Dr. Koerner has presented across the country regarding innovation in education. She is the author of two books - Actually, I Can: Inspiration, Empowerment and Leadership (a book for grown ups) and Rosie and the Power of Positivity Team (a book for children). Social Media handles: @lmh822 Twitter @Lori Halpern Hornik Koerner (FB/Insta) Email/contact info: Lorikoerner22@gmail.com Interested in a FREE professional development planning tool? Go to roadtoawesome.net and claim your pdf copy. Now is the time! Leadership teams are being reorganized across the US this spring. New members will be replacing members who are retiring or moving on to another role. New administrators will be leaping out of the classroom and into leadership for the very first time. Let's be INTENTIONAL with the development of our leadership teams for next year. High Performance Leadership Teams by Road to Awesome is designed to align each member of the new leadership team, to dig deep into the core values of the team, and to ultimately identify and plan the goals for the upcoming year. I would love to work with you and your team to help you achieve that High Performance that you are looking for, that your school and district deserve. Let's connect - email me at darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net or call me at (307) 371-8947 . It costs you nothing to have a conversation. Professional development with Road to Awesome is just a click away. Connect with us at roadtoawesome.net for leadership coaching and consulting, the High Performance Leadership Teams event, staff culture and climate professional development, and keynote and event/school kick-off speaking. Darrin will make your event awesome and have your team ready to roll on the #RoadToAwesome email Darrin at darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net Subscribe to our newsletter at roadtoawesome.net Got a book idea you'd like to pitch to the team at RtA? Go to https://roadtoawesome.net/our-services to submit
S1 E15 · Sun, April 24, 2022
Episode 15: #JoyfulLeaders with Bethany Hill
Bethany Hill: Bethany has been an educator in Arkansas for 23 years. Her experience includes teaching grades kindergarten, one, two, and three, instructional coaching, literacy trainer for her district, assistant principal, and principal. She is currently the Teacher Retention and Recruitment Specialist at Arch Ford Education Service Cooperative, and an adjunct professor at The University of Central Arkansas. She is the founder of #JoyfuLeaders, a hashtag that promotes the positive in education and encouragement among educators. Her passions and speaking engagement topics include: school culture, whole child mindset, trauma informed practices, culturally responsive teaching, family communication/engagement, and social emotional learning. She is an equity, diversity, and inclusion advocate and antiracist educator. You can connect with Bethany on Twitter @bethhilll2829, Instagram, @joyfulleaders, her website at bethanyshill.com, LinkedIn, or her Facebook page, Inspiration for Educators. She is also a handler for an educational service dog that supports teacher wellness. You can follow this journey on Instagram @archibald_ford. Now is the time! Leadership teams are being reorganized across the US this spring. New members will be replacing members who are retiring or moving on to another role. New administrators will be leaping out of the classroom and into leadership for the very first time. Let's be INTENTIONAL with the development of our leadership teams for next year. High Performance Leadership Teams is designed to align each member of the new leadership team, to dig deep into the core values of the team, and to ultimately identify and plan the goals for the upcoming year. I would love to work with you and your team to help you achieve that High Performance that you are looking for, that your school and district deserve. Let's connect - email me at darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net or call me at (307) 371-8947. It costs you nothing to have a conversation. Professional development with Road to Awesome is just a click away. Connect with us at roadtoawesome.net for leadership coaching and consulting, the High Performance Leadership Teams event, staff culture and climate professional development, and keynote and event/school kick-off speaking. Darrin will make your event awesome and have your team ready to roll on the #RoadToAwesome email Darrin at darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net subscribe to our newsletter at roadtoawesome.net Got a book idea you'd like to pitch to the team at RtA? Go to https://roadtoawesome.net/our-services to submit your idea. Final thought for this set of show notes - folks, as educators we are changing the world and we do that one conversation at a time. Follow me on social media at @DarrinMPeppard on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, Alignable, and LinkedIn
S1 E14 · Sun, April 17, 2022
Episode 14: The Learning Curve with Dr. Jared Smith
This week on the podcast, my guest is Dr. Jared Smith. Jared is the Superintendent for the South Tama County School District. Jared holds a BA in Elementary and Middle Level Education from the University of Northern Iowa, an MS in Educational Leadership from National Louis University, and a PhD in Educational Leadership from Iowa State University. Jared has taught and coached at both the middle school and high school levels. Prior to taking his current role of superintendent, Jared worked as an assistant principal and principal for ten years. Jared is an award-winning blogger, the host of The Group Project Podcast , and recently released his first book - Learning Curve: Lessons Learned on Leadership, Education, and Personal Growth . Jared was recently named the new Superintendent for the Waterloo Community School District. His duties will begin July 1st, 2022. For more visit https://www.drjaredsmith.com/ or follow him on social media at Twitter: @JaredSmithPhD Facebook: Jared Smith IG: dr_jaredsmith Now is the time! Leadership teams are being reorganized across the US this spring. New members will be replacing members who are retiring or moving on to another role. New administrators will be leaping out of the classroom and into leadership for the very first time. Let's be INTENTIONAL with the development of our leadership teams for next year. High Performance Leadership Teams is designed to align each member of the new leadership team, to dig deep into the core values of the team, and to ultimately identify and plan the goals for the upcoming year. I would love to work with you and your team to help you achieve that High Performance that you are looking for, that your school and district deserve. Let's connect - email me at darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net or call me at (307) 371-8947. It costs you nothing to have a conversation. Professional development with Road to Awesome is just a click away. Connect with us at roadtoawesome.net for leadership coaching and consulting, the High Performance Leadership Teams event, staff culture and climate professional development, and keynote and event/school kick-off speaking. Darrin will make your event awesome and have your team ready to roll on the #RoadToAwesome email Darrin at darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net subscribe to our newsletter at roadtoawesome.net Got a book idea you'd like to pitch to the team at RtA? Go to https://roadtoawesome.net/our-services to submit your idea. Final thought for this set of show notes - folks, as educators we are changing the world and we do that one conversation at a time. Follow me on social media at @DarrinMPeppard on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, Alignable, and LinkedIn
S1 E13 · Sun, April 10, 2022
Episode 13: It's Masters Week
Yes, that is right. It is Masters week at Augusta National and right here on the Leaning into Leadership podcast. We have all worked around those master leaders, the ones who seem to do amazing things with very little effort (or so it seems). In this episode I will pay tribute to three master leaders I've worked with over the course of my career and share how I tried to add those traits into my leadership bag. Just like the true master golfers, veteran leaders have a knack for knowing when to be aggressive and when to lay up short, playing the hole more cautiously. When you've played the course repeatedly, you've been there and done that. This adds a level of knowledge that younger players learn from experiences and from watching how the masters perform. If you're a golf fan, this episode won't have enough golf references for you. If you aren't a golf fan, don't worry I kept the golf lingo to a minimum. Enjoy... Now is the time! Leadership teams are being reorganized across the US this spring. New members will be replacing members who are retiring or moving on to another role. New administrators will be leaping out of the classroom and into leadership for the very first time. Let's be INTENTIONAL with the development of our leadership teams for next year. High Performance Leadership Teams is designed to align each member of the new leadership team, to dig deep into the core values of the team, and to ultimately identify and plan the goals for the upcoming year. I would love to work with you and your team to help you achieve that High Performance that you are looking for, that your school and district deserve. Let's connect - email me at darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net or call me at (307) 371-8947. It costs you nothing to have a conversation. Professional development with Road to Awesome is just a click away. Connect with us at roadtoawesome.net for leadership coaching and consulting, the High Performance Leadership Teams event, staff culture and climate professional development, and keynote and event/school kick-off speaking. Darrin will make your event awesome and have your team ready to roll on the #RoadToAwesome email Darrin at darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net subscribe to our newsletter at roadtoawesome.net Got a book idea you'd like to pitch to the team at RtA? Go to https://roadtoawesome.net/our-services to submit your idea. Final thought for this set of show notes - folks, as educators we are changing the world and we do that one conversation at a time. Follow me on social media at @DarrinMPeppard on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, Alignable, and LinkedIn
S1 E12 · Sun, April 03, 2022
Episode 12: Contagious Leadership with Jeff Springer
An educator for 34 years, is the founder of the G.O.A.L. TEAM (Getting Others to Achieve Higher Levels). The G.O.A.L. TEAM, was created for helping high school students and young adults to maximize their personal leadership potential. Jeff, a former Texas High School Head Football Coach and eleven-year veteran of the classroom, is also formerly the Principal at Magnolia High School (2002-2016). In 2013 Jeff was selected as the State of Texas TASSP State Principal of the year. Besides founding Spring Strategies LLC, that provides educational executive coaching, Jeff also serves part time as the Minister of Men at Wildwood UMC, is a University Student Teacher Supervisor, and is also the founder of Suit Up Ministries, a nonprofit men’s ministry. Jeff attended Abilene Christian University where he played on the 1977 National Championship Football team, received his Bachelor of Arts in Teaching from Sam Houston State University, and obtained his Masters of Sports Administration from the United States Sports Academy. In the spring of 2020, Jeff completed his Doctorate in Education with an emphasis in Transformational Leadership from Concordia University. Jeff is passionate about people and “play.” Developing others and helping them see their value and completeness is what drives Jeff in all his relationships. Jeff loves being a husband, dad, and a grandfather. He is always seeking for ways to acknowledge men that strive to be the daily active devoted dads they are called to be. Jeff who resides in Montgomery, Texas, has been married for 40 years and has two children, and three grandchildren. Professional development with Road to Awesome is just a click away. Connect with us at roadtoawesome.net for leadership coaching and consulting, the High Performance Leadership Teams event, staff culture and climate professional development, and keynote and event/school kick-off speaking. Darrin will make your event awesome and have your team ready to roll on the #RoadToAwesome email Darrin at darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net subscribe to our newsletter at roadtoawesome.net Got a book idea you'd like to pitch to the team at RtA? Go to https://roadtoawesome.net/our-services to submit your idea.
S1 E11 · Sun, March 27, 2022
Episode 11: Leadership - You don't have to do it alone
Leadership can be a lonely business. They say you should be one with, not one OF the team. Leaders have so much pressure on them and it can be so difficult to navigate the journey on your own, especially as a new leader. I know, I have the battle scars to prove it. I spent the better part of my first two years as a building principal breathing through a snorkel (or actually drowning). In this week's episode, I dive into the lonely life of the new leader. More importantly, I hit the two most important things I did to rescue myself from myself. Along the way, I will tell you the story of a few struggles and how I came to the realization that I needed help. That help came in the form of a leadership coach and in a two-day retreat with my new team that completely changed me. This, honestly, is why I do the work I now do. I'm not some hustler trying to score big as an entrepreneur. Rather, I'm a guy who had the struggles and wants to help anyone who experiences anything similar. Reach out to me via email at darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net Go to our website roadtoawesome.net and sign up for our amazing weekly newsletter Follow me on Social Media Twitter: @DarrinMPeppard Instagram: @darrinmpeppard TikTok: @darrinmpeppard LinkedIn: Darrin M Peppard EdD YouTube: Darrin M Peppard EdD Facebook: Darrin M Peppard & Road to Awesome, LLC
S1 E10 · Sun, March 20, 2022
Episode 10: Realizing Your Dreams with Coach Jim Johnson
Based on what transpired in a few short moments in early 2006, Coach Jim Johnson is now an authority on the subject of realizing your dreams. In his many public-speaking appearances, the Rochester, New York resident relates his role in a basketball game that got Hollywood calling. He also emphasizes the importance of teamwork and sportsmanship, delivering his talks with a heartfelt style that has brought audiences to their feet. Coach Johnson has developed winning high-school basketball teams for 30 years, taking over three losing varsity programs and turning them into winners in short periods of time. Of his 428 career victories, one in particular will surely never be duplicated. On Feb. 15, 2006, Coach Johnson made the kindhearted gesture of inserting his autistic manager, Jason McElwain, now known to the world as J-Mac into Greece Athena High School’s final home game, which the Trojans won 79-43. J-Mac scored 20 points in just over four minutes, including six three-point baskets, to become an instant national celebrity. Coach Johnson, also, was featured in major news outlets around the country. (check out the ESPN story here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-nMab6XDNI&t=20s) To make the Hollywood ending complete, Greece Athena captured the first Section V title of Coach Johnson’s career a few weeks later. For more, visit https://coachjimjohnson.com/ Follow Coach Johnson on social media Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoachJimJohnson/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/coachjimjohnson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachjimjohnson/ Content via: coachjimjohnson.com ------ Professional development planning season is upon us! I'd love to work with you and your school or district to support and grow your leaders and to bring energy and passion to your staff and students. Dates are beginning to fill up for this summer and early fall. Connect with me at darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net and learn more at roadtoawesome.net Follow Darrin on social media @DarrinMPeppard on Twitter, Tik Tok, LinkedIn, Instagram, and on Facebook. Check out Darrin's YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvSqwcmCOMCFGehJTUlmC3Q
S1 E9 · Sun, March 13, 2022
Episode 9: Intentional Leadership
Today's episode takes us back to the roots of the podcast. Yes, a solo episode has returned to the lineup and I'm talking about intentional leadership. Through this episode, I recap our episodes 4-8, each of which had a guest and a common theme of being intentional about something in their leadership. From Alex Carter (ep 4) we were reminded to simplify and focus, something that brought me back to work done during the change of instructional leadership that was critical to our school and district's successes. Zandra Galvan (ep 5) shared intentional backward design in the experience every student has in Greenfield School District (CA). Wade Stanford from Westwood ISD (TX) shared his intentional work around moving from silos to collaboration (ep 6), while Eric Lillis talked about leading from a relationship-focused perspective in episode 7. Finally, Robert Breyer shared with us the intentional work needed to set ourselves up for success at the interview table when Taking the Leap into school administration. Now is the time! Leadership teams are being reorganized across the US this spring. New members will be replacing members who are retiring or moving on to another role. New administrators will be leaping out of the classroom and into leadership for the very first time. Let's be INTENTIONAL with the development of our leadership teams for next year. High Performance Leadership Teams is designed to align each member of the new leadership team, to dig deep into the core values of the team, and to ultimately identify and plan the goals for the upcoming year. I would love to work with you and your team to help you achieve that High Performance that you are looking for, that your school and district deserve. Let's connect - email me at darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net or call me at (307) 371-8947. It costs you nothing to have a conversation. Final thought for this set of show notes - folks, as educators we are changing the world and we do that one conversation at a time. Follow me on social media at @DarrinMPeppard on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, Alignable, and LinkedIn
S1 E8 · Sun, March 06, 2022
Episode 8: Taking the Leap with Robert Breyer
Robert Breyer resides in Broadway, NC with his wife and their four children. He serves as an elementary school principal for the past 5 years and an assistant principal at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels for the 5 years before that. He is a graduate of King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, PA where he received his Bachelors of Arts in Elementary Education. Later he received his Master’s of School Administration from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. When Robert made the transition from classroom teacher to a school administrator, he made a promise to himself and the teachers, students, and parents with whom he would interact on a daily basis. That promise was to go beyond the desk and to become an active school leader who would engage with the school community both inside and outside of the building. To accomplish that, he drew upon his pre-service experience in leading teams in the private sector and his principal preparation program with the Sandhills Leadership Academy. Both of these experiences helped to shape his philosophy that leading and managing are two completely different mentalities and that for him, he would choose to be a transformative leader who works alongside his staff to implement positive changes. Robert continues to lead in schools, and also makes time to coach aspiring leaders who are looking to make the transition from teacher to administration. He is also the host of The Guiding Principals Podcast, where he allows visionary school leaders to share the story of their own leadership journey, and celebrates their success, in the hopes it will inspire future school leaders. To learn more about Robert Breyer and his work with aspiring leaders. You can purchase his book on his website (rbleads.net), on roadtoawesome.net/books or on Amazon.com. Connect with Robert on Facebook and on LinkedIn. Check out High Performance Leadership Teams - a 2 day intensive leadership workshop designed to take leadership teams to the next level. High Performance Leadership increases team efficiency enhances production, and sharpens focus through a focus on 5 keys to building an awesome leadership team: • Clarity of value, mission, and goals • Knowing the house (strengths, fit, leveraging each other) • Getting work done (workflow and sandboxes) • Team dynamics (trust, delegation, and communication) • Continuous evolution (celebration, learning, growing) We want to work with your leadership team to get them on the Road to Awesome. Connect with us today by sending an email to darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net or send a direct message on Twitter to @DarrinMPeppard.
S1 E7 · Sun, February 27, 2022
Episode 7: Grace Swagger Leadership with Eric Lillis
Episode 7 features Eric Lillis. Eric is the Executive Director of the Kingman Academy of Learning. He is in his 29th year as an educator and is one of the very best in the business. Eric leads from his heart and truly cares about everyone he serves. You'll hear that very clearly in this podcast. You'll also learn a term that was new to me, grace swagger. It's worth tuning in to find out more. You can connect with Eric through the following means: Social Media handles: facebook.com/elillis Twitter - @kaollillis88 Instagram - @ericlillis Email/contact info: elillis@kaolaz.org, (928) 716-3168 (Cell) Check out High Performance Leadership Teams - a 2 day intensive leadership workshop designed to take leadership teams to the next level. High Performance Leadership increases team efficiency enhances production, and sharpens focus through a focus on 5 keys to building an awesome leadership team: • Clarity of value, mission, and goals • Knowing the house (strengths, fit, leveraging each other) • Getting work done (workflow and sandboxes) • Team dynamics (trust, delegation, and communication) • Continuous evolution (celebration, learning, growing) We want to work with your leadership team to get them on the Road to Awesome. Connect with us today by sending an email to darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net or send a direct message on Twitter to @DarrinMPeppard. Follow the show on YouTube now at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvSqwcmCOMCFGehJTUlmC3Q
S1 E6 · Sun, February 20, 2022
Episode 6: Answering the Bell for Kids with Wade Stanford
Wade Stanford is the Superintendent of Westwood ISD in Palestine, TX. Wade and I sat down for a conversation about leadership, and what a conversation it was!! In this episode, we share some of our common background, passions for leadership, as well as some amazing accomplishments Westwood ISD has achieved under Wade's leadership. Connect with Wade on Twitter @wadestanford on LinkedIn @Wade Stanford or contact him via email: wstanford@westwoodisd.net High Performance Leadership Teams: Leadership teams need to work with each other toward a common goal. But how do truly High Performance Leadership Teams get there? Through intentional work, outside expertise, and an understanding of what makes each member truly unique. High Performance Leadership Teams from Road to Awesome is an intensive, two-day leadership development workshop geared toward, and customized for, maximizing the work of your leadership team. Because professional development for leaders should be about leadership. Let’s talk about getting YOUR team on their # roadtoawesome - learn more at https://roadtoawesome.net/high-performance-teams or email me at darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net Open Road Results Coaching with Darrin & Dr. Brandon Beck: Expert advice, guidance, and insight from Dr. Beck and Dr. Peppard will help unlock the unlimited potential within you and move you toward the goals you have in your personal or professional life. Each 30 minute session includes reflection, focusing forward, and action steps to ensure you are on the road to awesome. You’ll also have an all-access pass to connect with Darrin and Brandon through text message for those times that get extra challenging and you need your coach in your corner. This intensive coaching program will have you meeting on Zoom with Darrin and/or Brandon at a frequency you choose. Want to start slow, meet one time per month. Want to speed it up, sign up for two meetings per month. If you’re ready to put the pedal to the metal on your success journey, sign up for weekly coaching. For more information, go to https://roadtoawesome.net/uup%2Brta or email me at darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net Follow us on Twitter @DarrinMPeppard and @_RoadToAwesome_
S1 E5 · Sun, February 13, 2022
Episode 5: Putting possible in the universe with Zandra Jo Galvan
New from Road to Awesome, it's High Performance Leadership - a 2 day intensive leadership workshop designed to take leadership teams to the next level. High Performance Leadership increases team efficiency enhances production, and sharpens focus through a focus on 5 keys to building an awesome leadership team: Clarity of value, mission, and goals Knowing the house (strengths, fit, leveraging each other) Getting work done (workflow and sandboxes) Team dynamics (trust, delegation, and communication) Continuous evolution (celebration, learning, growing) We want to work with your leadership team to get them on the Road to Awesome. Connect with us today by sending an email to darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net or send a direct message on Twitter to @DarrinMPeppard. My guest on this episode is Zandra Jo Galvan . Zandra is the Superintendent of Greenfield Union School District and current CALSA President (California Assoc. of Latinx Sups & Admin). She has an amazing origin story and a true passion for making a difference in the lives of kids. She can be found on social media at: Twitter (@zjgalvan) & LinkedIn (Zandra Jo Galván). Zandra speaks to 'putting possible in the universe' as the key to breaking the cycle of poverty and ensuring students know they all have an opportunity to achieve at high levels. Her work in intentionally backward-mapping the experience every student has in Greenfield Union School District is truly inspiring and a model of exceptional leadership. The #PepTalk this week builds right from the phrase 'putting possible in the universe' and serves as a reminder that we, as adults, must never doubt or discount the potential that exists in each and every one of our students. Have a #RoadToAwesome week everyone!! (now on TikTok as DarrinMPeppard)
S1 E4 · Sun, February 06, 2022
Episode 4: Simplify & Focus with Dr. Alex Carter
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Alex Carter to talk about leadership in challenging times. Alex brings his energy and inspiration to Leaning into Leadership. Among the great things you will hear from Alex are thoughts around simplifying and focusing to lead for impact. Below is Alex's bio and contact information. Alex Carter joined the CEI team in 2016. Alex leads the field implementation team to support districts, schools, and educators in their work to accelerate educational improvement and innovation across Colorado. Before joining CEI, Alex enjoyed an exciting twenty-year career as a public school educator. Alex served as the superintendent of schools for Montezuma-Cortez School District in Southwest Colorado. Before that, he was the principal of Telluride High School, a principal and assistant principal in two high schools in Northern Virginia, and taught history as a high school teacher. In 2003, Alex’s work as a classroom teacher was recognized with a National Milken Educator Award. Originally from Woodbridge, Virginia, Alex holds a doctorate in educational leadership from Walden University, a master’s degree in public school administration from the University of Virginia’s Curry School of Education, and a bachelor’s degree in history and secondary education from James Madison University. Contact Alex at Acarter@coloradoedinitiative.org Follow Alex on social media on Twitter @ABC_EDD Instagram: AlexCEICarter and LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-alex-carter-edd/ Want to work with Darrin? Contact me at darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net Follow us on social media on all platforms via @DarrinMPeppard
S1 E3 · Sun, January 30, 2022
Episode 3: Leaning into Change
What does it take for a leader to drive change? The answer might surprise you. Leaders have a responsibility that often leads to the trap of doing it all. Actually a leader's role is to create conditions in which change can occur. Darrin's focus in this episode is leading leaders toward collective efficacy. How do we include more voices in the change process leading to more ownership of the necessary change? Want to work with Darrin in YOUR school? Interested in having Darrin lead a two day leadership seminar with your leadership team to create this collective efficacy and focus on each others strengths? Connect with Darrin via email darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net or on social media at @DarrinMPeppard on all platforms.
S1 E2 · Sun, January 23, 2022
Episode 2: Leadership Lessons from the Airport
In episode 2, Darrin opens with a big thank you to his listeners for making the show a success after only 1 episode. Darrin talks in this episode about how a trip derailed by snow and flight cancellations led to four awesome leadership lessons. As a leader, be aware of the systems we put in place and ensure they work well together Do not be the leader who gets frozen in place, doesn't follow through, or is stuck in the mud. Be mindful of communication and having too many, too loud, or competing messages. Life is not about what happens to you but rather about how you respond. Keep your head. This week's #PepTalk reminds leaders that they don't have to be the one doing all the work in change efforts. Rather, leaders need to create the conditions in which people want and feel the need to change. Connect with Darrin on social media via @DarrinMPeppard on all platforms. Email Darrin at darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net and check out all things Road to Awesome at roadtoawesome.net
S1 E1 · Sat, January 15, 2022
Episode 1: What MATTERS in YOUR leadership
Episode 1 of Leaning into Leadership Who is Darrin Peppard and why should you listen to him about leadership Darrin shares the six things he focused on as a leader Darrin challenges you to find what it is that you are focusing on in your leadership Darrin goes a little further in depth with school culture and why it should be in the forefront in the minds of today's leaders This week's #PepTalk challenges listeners to take a step back and remember why they do what they do to make it through the 'dog days' of education Connect with Darrin on social media @ DarrinMPeppard (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn) Email Darrin @ darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net Go to roadtoawesome.net to book Darrin, work with Darrin for coaching and consulting, for publishing by Road to Awesome, and for #RtA swag
Trailer · Thu, December 30, 2021
Leaning into Leadership
Hi, I'm Dr. Darrin Peppard and this is the Leaning into Leadership podcast. As a 26 year educator, I have been a leader as a coach, teacher, assistant principal, principal, and superintendent. It is my goal with this podcast to bring to you every week an organic conversation all about leadership. Great leadership is great leadership regardless the context it exists in, so you will find guests from all walks of life. Everyone who is in a leadership capacity will learn something every week. Together we will gain clarity as leaders, learn to be intentional with our actions, words, efforts, and communication. Together we will learn to walk in our purpose. Together, we will lean into leadership. Join me every Sunday for a new episode at 7am ET.
loading...