Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she sits down with her co-author, Quint Studer , to discuss their new book, The Extraordinary Gift: Our Teachers . In this special episode, Quint shares his personal and emotional story of how three teachers changed the course of his life and inspired him to become a special education teacher. Listen as they explore the unique challenges and profound impact of the teaching profession, highlighting the importance of gratitude and creating a culture where educators feel s...
Aug 11, 2025•22 min•Season 7Ep. 401
Welcome to a truly special episode of Accelerate Your Performance! In this 400th episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher takes us back to the roots of the podcast, celebrating six and a half years of sharing extraordinary leadership stories and journeys of continuous improvement. This episode also kicks off a powerful month-long focus on our gratitude for teachers, introducing Janet's new book with Quint Studer, The Extraordinary Gift: Our Teachers . Tune in to rediscover how what seems ordinary in education...
Aug 04, 2025•12 min•Season 7Ep. 400
Continuing our series on Douglas School District 's successful recognition strategies, Dr. Janet Pilcher welcomes School Nutrition Coordinator Jennifer Garner. Jennifer shares her heartfelt approach to staff appreciation, from personalized notes and engaging team activities to transparent communication. Learn how her dedication creates a culture where every team member feels deeply valued, driving remarkable results like 100% staff retention. This episode addresses questions such as: How can lea...
Jul 28, 2025•22 min•Season 7Ep. 399
In the second part of a two-episode series, Dr. Janet Pilcher continues her conversation with Superintendent Rashon Hasan of Plainfield Public Schools . Drawing on his unique blend of education and business experience, Rashon shares advice on building powerful, transparent relationships between school boards and superintendents, emphasizing clarity, consistency, and communication. This episode addresses questions such as: How does a background in operations and finance influence an approach to l...
Jul 21, 2025•19 min•Season 7Ep. 398
In the first part of a two-episode series, Dr. Janet Pilcher welcomes Superintendent Rashon Hasan of Plainfield Public Schools . With a unique background spanning education and business, Rashon shares how rounding has become a cornerstone of his leadership, building trust and continuous engagement across his district. Listen to hear how Plainfield leverages surveys to gather feedback from students, parents, and staff, directly informing district actions and sharpening alignment. Finally, Rashon ...
Jul 14, 2025•17 min•Season 7Ep. 397
Principal Jeannie Clark and second-grade teacher Ms. Laressa Finney share how Francis Case Elementary is taking gratitude to the next level. Listen as they join Dr. Janet Pilcher to explore the impact of recognition and appreciation on school culture, relationships, and morale. Learn how small, intentional gestures create powerful ripple effects that benefit students, parents, and the entire school community. This episode addresses questions such as: What role does recognition play in retaining ...
Jul 07, 2025•28 min•Season 7Ep. 396
It's one thing to acknowledge outcomes that miss the mark; it's quite another to intentionally transform them into rich learning opportunities. Listen as Dr. Peter Stiepleman , leadership coach and retired superintendent , shares with Dr. Janet Pilcher the foundational principle of his podcast : the importance of reflective practice. This commitment to reflection is central to his podcast, An Imperfect Leader , where Peter interviews leaders weekly about decisions they made and what they learned...
Jun 30, 2025•23 min•Season 7Ep. 395
What if two simple practices could significantly improve your district's culture? Tune in as Superintendent Kevin Case of Douglas School District joins Dr. Janet Pilcher to discuss the impact of intentional rounding and heartfelt recognition. They'll talk about how leaders going first in these practices creates a ripple effect, building an environment where employees, families, and students feel valued and supported. Learn how these essential tactics can strengthen your district from within. Thi...
Jun 23, 2025•25 min•Season 7Ep. 394
What inspires the Glencoe School District to keep working toward excellence every day? For Superintendent Dr. Catherine Wang, it all comes back to the students. Tune in as she shares with Dr. Janet Pilcher how her commitment to organizational development is shaping a thriving school district where leaders are empowered to reflect, learn, and grow. You'll also hear how they've transformed new staff onboarding to build a foundation of support and belonging for all new hires. This episode addresses...
Jun 16, 2025•20 min•Season 7Ep. 393
How does a high-achieving district continue to elevate its performance? According to Dr. Kelly Tess , Superintendent of Winnetka Public Schools , the answer lies with leaders who never stop learning and who embrace simplicity in their strategic approach. Tune in as she joins host Dr. Janet Pilcher to share how she and her team are relentlessly pursuing consistent student growth. Learn how high-achieving school district strategies and practices like comprehensive coaching, instructional consisten...
Jun 09, 2025•22 min•Season 7Ep. 392
Behind every educator is a driving purpose. For Jill Robinson-Wolgamott, Director of Teaching and Learning for K-5 in Bethel School District , that "why" is a powerful story of overcoming obstacles and dedicating her career to literacy education. Join host Dr. Janet Pilcher as Jill shares her inspiring journey, prompting us to reflect on our own driving purpose. You'll also learn how Bethel is achieving impressive literacy results and creating a strong culture of collective responsibility. This ...
Jun 02, 2025•26 min•Season 7Ep. 391
It's one thing to talk about service excellence, another to define it collaboratively and actually put it into practice. Join Dr. Janet Pilcher and Superintendent Dr. Derek Bub to learn how West Ada School District actively engages diverse voices to define shared service standards and uses a feedback process to build understanding and drive improvement. This episode addresses questions such as: Why is it beneficial to involve a cross-functional team in defining service standards? How can a schoo...
May 19, 2025•21 min•Season 7Ep. 390
Why should educational leaders consider adopting a startup mentality? Dr. Janet Pilcher answers this question and guides you through the essential leadership and mindset shifts needed to thrive in today's evolving educational landscape. Tune in and learn which behaviors to embrace and which foundational principles to uphold. This episode addresses questions such as: What's the difference between leading with a legacy mentality and leading with a startup mentality? How can educational systems mov...
May 12, 2025•12 min•Season 7Ep. 389
In Martin County School District , if it's important enough to measure, it's important enough to improve. Join Superintendent Michael Maine as he sits down with Dr. Janet Pilcher to discuss his data-driven approach to continuous improvement. Listen now to hear how the district strategically gathers and shares feedback, transforming it into action plans that drive lasting change. This episode addresses questions such as: How can organizations create a continuous improvement cycle using data and f...
May 05, 2025•20 min•Season 7Ep. 388
Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she thoughtfully revisits the highlights and key takeaways from Studer Education's recent virtual Destination High Performance conference. Listen as she describes the four essentials elements at the core of leadership and emphasizes what it means to do work that is purposeful, worthwhile, and makes a positive impact. This episode addresses questions such as: What are some foundational tactics that develop trust between leaders and their employees? What are the four lead...
Apr 28, 2025•16 min•Season 7Ep. 387
Don't miss this special cross-over episode with our partners at Escambia County Public Schools and their Voices United in Education podcast. Meredith Hackwith Edwards interviews Dr. Robin Largue, a retired Leader Coach from Studer Education. Dr. Largue shares how the strategic use of data and goals, combined with strong leadership and relationships, build thriving and high-performing schools. This episode addresses questions such as: How does coaching bring together parents, students, and school...
Apr 21, 2025•21 min•Season 7Ep. 386
"An organization with a hero is a sign of weakness,” begins Dr. Heidi Eliopoulous, Superintendent of the School District of Altoona . Join her and Dr. Janet Pilcher as they dismantle the myth of the lone-ranger leader, focusing on the impact of collective growth. Discover why investing in leadership development, particularly developing leadership teams in school systems, is a "must-have," not a "nice-to-have." Listen as Heidi shares tactics that drive improvements in student well-being and acade...
Apr 14, 2025•25 min•Season 7Ep. 385
Whether you're building a championship team or a successful organization, consistent effort and a structured approach will get you to the finish line. At El Dorado County Office of Education , short cycles of improvement are a core part of their winning strategy. Tune in as Dr. Janet Pilcher sits down with Dr. Ed Manansala , Superintendent of Schools, to hear how he leads short cycles of improvement to drive real change. He’ll also share specific examples of how these cycles are applied to impro...
Apr 07, 2025•21 min•Season 7Ep. 384
Strong cultures empower winning strategies, and well-executed strategies reinforce strong and healthy cultures. But how do you actually begin the work of transforming a school district's culture? Join Dr. Adam Leckie , Superintendent of Casa Grande Elementary School District , as he discusses with Dr. Janet Pilcher how centering his faculty, staff, and students is the core of driving substantial improvement. Listen as he unpacks strategies that build this culture, empowering his team to execute ...
Mar 31, 2025•22 min•Season 7Ep. 383
Are you seeing the impact you want from your organization's efforts? Tune in now and discover strategies to enhance operational efficiency with Dr. Janet Pilcher and Dr. Pat Greco. Gain insights on improving processes, maximizing outcomes, and identifying hidden inefficiencies. If you’re committed to better serving your employees, students, and families, listen now to learn how to drive peak operational efficiency. This episode addresses questions such as: How does a focus on operational excelle...
Mar 24, 2025•26 min•Season 7Ep. 382
Do you want to see your district’s strategy thrive? Start with your culture. Dr. Janet Pilcher and Dr. Pat Greco unpack the crucial link between school district culture and strategic execution, sharing inspiring examples from superintendents and partners at AASA ‘s NCE conference. Listen now to learn how to build a foundation for lasting impact and uncover the essential area that many leaders overlook. Destination High Performance K12 Leadership Conference: Go here to learn more and register. Re...
Mar 17, 2025•18 min•Season 7Ep. 381
Following the AASA conference and reflecting on recent episodes, Dr. Janet Pilcher highlights the importance of feedback loops in improving organizational performance. Listen as she emphasizes how leaders can use surveys and rounding conversations to gather input, identify areas for improvement, make data-driven decisions, and optimize performance so students can achieve better outcomes. Destination High Performance K12 Leadership Conference: Go here to learn more and register. Recommended Resou...
Mar 10, 2025•6 min•Season 7Ep. 380
When Superintendent Dr. Shawn Tennenbaum looks back at his career and wishes he’d started one thing sooner, it’s rounding. Tune in as he explains how the practice of rounding has transformed the San Benito High School District —from the boardroom to the classroom. Listen now to learn how this approach to gathering feedback and integrating it with district services surveys creates a feedback loop that drives positive and lasting change. Destination High Performance K12 Leadership Conference: Go h...
Mar 03, 2025•21 min•Season 7Ep. 379
Showing gratitude is an often overlooked yet essential practice for leading organizations effectively. Listen as Dr. Janet Pilcher reveals three practical ways to embed gratitude into your organization and connect your team to their purpose. Recommended Resources: Cultivating a Culture of Gratitude and Continuous Improvement in the Casa Grande Elementary School District, How Gratitude Anchors Organizations , Pursue Gratitude and Goodwill Read and study: Each episode of the podcast aligns with th...
Feb 24, 2025•6 min
"Leaders as Great Coaches of Teams" Series, Part 7 Superintendent Bradley Roberson of Oxford School District is a leader who understands that true improvement transcends individual schools. He's committed to scaling successful practices across his district, throughout the state of Mississippi, and beyond. Join him in a conversation with Dr. Janet Pilcher as they dive into the strategies and culture he's built to achieve organizational excellence and, ultimately, student excellence. This episode ...
Feb 17, 2025•27 min•Season 7Ep. 377
"Leaders as Great Coaches of Teams" Series, Part 6 How do you empower students to set learning goals and track their own data? Principal Lori Phillips of Oak Grove Elementary shares with Dr. Janet Pilcher how a schoolwide scorecard drives both student achievement and teacher collaboration. Listen as she shares how working together toward a common goal has broken down silos and improved student test scores, attendance, and behavior. This episode addresses questions such as: What role does a colla...
Feb 10, 2025•20 min•Season 7Ep. 376
"Leaders as Great Coaches of Teams" Series, Part 5 Escape the reactive cycle and become a solutions-focused leader. Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she returns for Part 2 of her interview with Dr. Holly Ellis. Listen as Janet reveals how a systems approach to leadership creates an engaged and productive work environment that tackles root causes and empowers teams to perform at their best. Continuing the discussion from Part 1, she also highlights the importance of leaders acting as both coaches and te...
Feb 03, 2025•16 min•Season 7Ep. 375
"Leaders as Great Coaches of Teams" Series, Part 4 In this special episode, Studer Education's very own Dr. Holly Ellis flips the script and interviews podcast host Dr. Janet Pilcher. Listen to the first half of their conversation as Janet shares her reflections on recent conversations with Dr. Christi Barrett and Dr. Ryan Carpenter , exploring the essential role of coaching and continuous learning in effective leadership. This episode addresses questions such as: How is coaching integral to eff...
Jan 27, 2025•18 min•Season 7Ep. 374
"Leaders as Great Coaches of Teams" Series, Part 3 Tune in to hear Dr. Ryan Carpenter, Superintendent of Estacada School District , share how he implements short cycles of improvement to build momentum and achieve results. Listen as he candidly discusses with Dr. Janet Pilcher how one short cycle of improvement often leads to the next and emphasizes the significance of completing the cycles you begin. He closes with a powerful message on empowering and engaging your team so they can execute with...
Jan 20, 2025•30 min•Season 7Ep. 373
"Leaders as Great Coaches of Teams" Series, Part 2 In part 2 of the series, Dr. Janet Pilcher welcomes back Dr. Christi Barrett , Superintendent of Hemet Unified School District , to dig into the impact of daily leadership huddles. Listen as Christi shares how this tool has reshaped her district's approach to student behavior, improved outcomes, and strengthened leadership capacity. This episode addresses questions such as: What are daily leadership huddles, and how do they work? How do huddles ...
Jan 13, 2025•23 min•Season 7Ep. 372
