Language therapy often focuses on early intervention; but what happens if students continue to struggle with language in the high school years? Many SLPs are pressured to drop students from their caseloads or move to a consult-only model when students transition to secondary school. Yet that often means many students enter adulthood lacking skills that have a significant impact on their ability to access advanced education or job opportunities. If students don’t have a solid grasp on complex syn...
Jan 31, 2024•48 min•Ep. 147
In this conversation, Ben Hockema and I discuss how to create a solid financial plan in your career so you can focus your time and energy on the impact you can make. We discuss all kinds of possibilities; whether you want to stay in your current position as a therapist and/or teacher, whether you want to add an additional income stream, or whether you know for certain you want to start a business full time. We even talk about ways to explore opportunities if you have lots of ideas in your head a...
Jan 24, 2024•42 min•Ep. 146
Executive functioning and financial literacy go hand-in-hand; which is why money management should be a part of any K-12 curriculum. Much of this has to do with self-evaluation, the ability to think into the future, and the understanding of quantitative and temporal concepts. There are endless digital tools designed to help people manage their finances, but these tools won’t be useful for people who don’t have a solid sense of the quantity or the value of money. That’s why I invited Ben Hockema ...
Jan 17, 2024•54 min•Ep. 145
Many people working in K-12 education have ambitions to start their own company where they have the ability to redesign the way student learning happens. The motivation often comes from wanting to create a scenario where they feel less constrained , more innovative , and more impactful . When I ventured into self-employment, I found that many of the “how to start your business” programs focused on simple business models that allowed people without a business background to become profitable quick...
Jan 10, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 144
Many clinicians are trained to focus on checklists and evaluations so we can walk in to work confident; knowing exactly what our protocols are. And while systems and processes are extremely important, we have to know how to use them flexibly. When we think about this in relation to cultural competency; we often think of eliminating biases in our evaluations and materials; but it goes so much deeper than that. We also need to think about how we interact with coworkers, how policies are impacting ...
Jan 03, 2024•54 min•Ep. 143
People working in the schools are often expected to make everything a priority all the time, without consideration of how they might be able to manage the backlog of projects. They have to say “No” to people who need help in the interest of saying “Yes” to others. They have to see the faces of the people their decisions are impacting. While there is an understanding that prioritization is part of the methodology in other industries and agencies, it's viewed with much more skepticism when it’s do...
Dec 27, 2023•39 min•Ep. 142
Skeptics of the Science of Reading claim that the current push for evidence-based reading instruction is just another pendulum swing. Yet if you look at the research, we haven’t so much been “swinging” as much as we’ve been building, evolving, and expanding on what we know about how we learn to read. Even though the Science of Reading is “trending” as I write this, there are still many kids without access to quality instruction. Part of that has to do with teacher preparation programs and profes...
Dec 20, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 141
Many leadership initiatives in education need to come from the top… But change can happen when direct service providers emerge as leaders on their teams without waiting for permission from someone else. School administrators and other people making decisions at the district and policy level are constantly pulled in different directions. The further up the chain you go and the more people you’re managing, the longer it takes to make things happen. Good leaders WANT their teachers and therapists t...
Dec 13, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 140
Learners in K-12 settings have changed over the past 25 years, and what were considered best practices in the 1990s may no longer work for learners in the 2020s. Much of this is due to technology, the invention of the Iphone, and the skills young adults need when entering the workforce. There’s a large amount of debate on how to address these evolving needs effectively, and that’s why I wanted to invite Dr. John Burkey to the “De Facto Leaders” podcast to talk about his experiences on the forefr...
Dec 06, 2023•1 hr•Ep. 139
If you’re providing therapy or tutoring services, contracting with schools, or offering professional development to K-12 professionals, you won’t want to miss this episode. As someone who has explored the possibility of school contracts, I’m always looking to learn more about how school leaders make decisions regarding budgets and staffing. I grew up in the Chicago area; which meant I lived in a community with an abundance of organizations, transportation systems, and districts with a variety of...
Nov 29, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 138
Social skills groups have been widely criticized recently. They’re often labeled as ableist and not neurodiversity-affirming. I also take issue with the way social skills interventions are often delivered, but for a different reason. When social skills intervention is done, it’s often delivered via 1:1 therapy, in a “pull-out” model; where the child receives intervention in therapy or small class setting. I get regular emails from readers who tell me they see poor generalization , despite using ...
Nov 22, 2023•27 min•Ep. 137
Most of us still don’t know what we want to be when we grow up, but at least we know more than we did when we wanted to be pro athletes or “movie stars” (the old people version of influencers). As we have conversations with kids and think about how to prepare them for adulthood, helping kids explore their passions and interests becomes challenging. Not all communities have access to the resources to be able to provide “real-life” career experiences to students. Transporting kids and prioritizing...
Nov 15, 2023•48 min
When kids have a poor sense of time, the common response is to give them a planner or some kind of a timer. While these tools may be a part of your strategy, they don't address time-blindness. That's why in episode 136 of De Facto Leaders, I’m answering the question: "Why don't timers improve my students' time-management skills? Time-blindness is a hallmark characteristic of executive functioning issues, and most timers don't facilitate these skills. In this episode, I explain why that’s the cas...
Nov 09, 2023•31 min•Ep. 136
If you want to learn how to present information to school boards, administration, or other leadership or land more speaking engagements, you won’t want to miss this episode! Reading the room is an essential life skill, whether we’re talking about a child navigating recess, or an adult trying to navigate the workplace. For kids, this skill will impact their ability to succeed academically and make friends. For an adult, it not only impacts their relationships, but their ability to get a job, keep...
Nov 01, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 135
Teen’s brains are wired to seek pleasure, avoid pain, and conserve energy. On top of that their prefrontal cortex isn’t fully developed yet, which means they don’t always make decisions that are in their best interest. They’re learning so much about how to navigate relationships and manage their day-to-day lives. Things like: 👉Handling setbacks, like not making the sports team or getting the job 👉Learning to be comfortable with how they look/sound/act 👉Figuring out how to make and keep friend...
Oct 25, 2023•51 min•Ep. 134
The whole point of school is to prepare kids for adult life , but many people worry we aren’t giving kids what they need. Whether kids go right into the workforce after high school or plan to attend college or trade school, they need certain skills to succeed at work. That’s why I wanted to have a discussion about the ins and outs of employee training and onboarding with experts in the learning and development field. In episode 133, I invited Scott Schuette, Zeta Gardner, and Daniel Coonrod from...
Oct 18, 2023•54 min•Ep. 133
In some of the work we do with students, we may have to help them interpret the actions of others or help them understand how they’re coming across. Within the context of executive functioning, this is known as perspective-taking. This is an essential life skill in both our professional and personal lives; which is why we need to keep developing this skill through adulthood. With the life coaching industry growing, this has triggered discussions about “mindset”. It can include the way we attach ...
Oct 11, 2023•50 min•Ep. 132
In K-12 education , there’s been a recent push to go digital, and many educators are wondering if people creating the products have the kids’ best interest in mind; especially in the for-profit space. That’s why I invited Meg Hearn to episode 131 of the De Facto Leaders podcast to get a behind-the-scenes perspective of curriculum and tech products for kids. Meg is an educator with over 20 years of experience. She currently leads a highly collaborative and growing team of curriculum specialists t...
Oct 04, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 131
Most people involved in K-12 education aren’t in it for the money, but with high caseloads and low pay; a lot of people are considering a career transition. For people in therapy roles, private practice is a common option on the table; but many come from a “helping people” mindset and struggle with the idea of focusing on business and revenue . That’s why I invited Ebony Green to episode 130 of the De Facto Leaders podcast to talk about how scaling her private practice has helped her provide acc...
Sep 27, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 130
Many of my listeners don’t know this, but I went to a private Catholic school until 8th grade before transitioning to a public high school. I had what I like to call “Catholic school RtI”, where I got extra reading help with Sister Marie (and it paid off!). I’ve focused a lot of my content on issues impacting the public schools , so when I connected with Tom Conroy, a Catholic school principal, I thought he’d bring an interesting perspective to the show; especially because I know that many of my...
Sep 20, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 129
If kids haven’t developed certain academic skills by a certain age, their ability to advance in their education diminishes. This means the opportunities they have in adulthood decreases. As I’ve been talking with different curriculum experts and school leaders , many of them have shared that closing academic skill gaps is an important part of addressing equity issues. Kids need to learn the skills that will enable them to advance in their education because it can substantially expand their caree...
Sep 13, 2023•42 min•Ep. 128
I’m excited to share episode 127 of De Facto Leaders about a common debate for therapists and teachers: “Is it worth it to get a doctorate?” In this wide-ranging conversation with my colleague Dr. Christy Borders, we discuss ways to build language skills in students with hearing loss, as well as how to decide if it's time to take the leap and get your doctorate. The backstory of this conversation is that I recorded it back when I didn’t have a podcast thinking, “Maybe one day I’ll launch a podca...
Sep 06, 2023•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 127
Many clinicians start their careers feeling unprepared to navigate the job market . In a lot of professional groups, I’ve noticed a skepticism towards contract companies , recruiters , and staffing agencies simply because many people working in school settings don’t know who they can trust. If you’ve ever had a recruiter awkwardly slide into your DMs or advertise in your online group without permission, you might be feeling some of that skepticism yourself. There is an art and a science to navig...
Aug 30, 2023•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 126
This week, I’m sharing an interview from another host on the BE podcast network because I think it’s something you’ll really enjoy. The episode is going live in the De Facto Leaders podcast feed. I’m pleased to bring you a conversation from The Authority Podcast here on the Be Podcast Network. You’ll hear from Principal Baruti Kafele, author of seven best-selling books, including The Equity & Social Justice Education 50 . About Baruti Kafele One of the most sought-after school leadership and...
Aug 23, 2023•1 hr 3 min
When I was younger I was fixated on clocks and the passage of time . It’s accurate to say it was an obsession of mine, to the point that it caused me large amounts of anxiety. It got difficult for me to tell when I was future-planning or when I was catastrophizing . On top of that, I had a constant need for sensory input. There are multiple childhood videos of me sitting on the floor, rocking back and forth. Then it was the rocking horse. Then the swing set. Then the end of my bed or a rocking c...
Aug 16, 2023•41 min•Ep. 125
I have a love/hate relationship with meditation and mindfulness. I know I should do it. I even talk about why it’s beneficial. But I never want to do it…even though I feel better if I do. If that sounds familiar, you won’t want to miss episode 124 of the “De Facto Leaders” podcast. That’s why I invited Danny Bauer t o talk about the impact mindfulness has had on him as a teacher, leader, and thought leader in the field of education. You’ll also appreciate this conversation if you tend to go full...
Aug 09, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 124
Do flashcards help improve basic numeracy skills? Should we use calculators as a special education accommodation? How many years of math do we really need to take in high school? I invited math curriculum expert Jonathan Regino to episode 123 of the De Facto Leaders podcast to answer some of these questions. With the Science of Reading on the forefront in many districts, we’re starting to have a better understanding of the scope and sequence of English and Language Arts; but this doesn’t always ...
Aug 02, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 123
What if young adults are still prompt-dependent when they go away to college? Or what if they and their parents aren’t aware of how much support they’re actually getting? On top of that, how can professionals navigate the complexity of supporting language and executive functioning (or knowing when to address which skills)? I invited Jill Fahy to episode 122 of the De Facto Leaders Podcast to answer some of these questions. Jill is a licensed speech-language pathologist and professor in the Depar...
Jul 26, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 122
In different discussion groups, I’ve heard the claim that up to 50% of people don’t have an inner voice. Since much of my work has focused on metacognition and language, I wanted to devote an episode to discussing some common questions that come up regarding this topic. That’s why in episode 121 of the “De Facto Leaders” podcast, I discussed the following: ✅Is internal language the best tool to use for reasoning and completing complex tasks ? ✅Are there times it makes sense to use LESS language ...
Jul 19, 2023•46 min•Ep. 121
If you’ve ever thought about leaving the school systems, you may have wondered what options you have as far as jobs go. Maybe you feel burnt out, or maybe you just want a change and don’t want to walk away from education completely. I understand this dilemma on a deep level, so that’s why I invited Aimee Davis to the De Facto Leaders podcast to talk about how she used her teaching and improv skills to find a fulfilling job outside the school systems. Aimee Davis is the Senior Director of the Lea...
Jul 12, 2023•54 min•Ep. 120
