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 ...
Oct 16, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 41
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 ...
Oct 09, 2022•43 min•Season 1Ep. 40
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 profes...
Oct 02, 2022•46 min•Season 1Ep. 39
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...
Sep 25, 2022•51 min•Season 1Ep. 38
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 caree...
Sep 18, 2022•45 min•Season 1Ep. 37
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 digi...
Sep 11, 2022•42 min•Season 1Ep. 36
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 School...
Sep 04, 2022•39 min•Season 1Ep. 35
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 in...
Aug 28, 2022•57 min•Season 1Ep. 34
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...
Aug 21, 2022•46 min•Season 1Ep. 33
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: D...
Aug 14, 2022•45 min•Season 1Ep. 32
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 ...
Aug 07, 2022•52 min•Season 1Ep. 31
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? N...
Jul 31, 2022•49 min•Season 1Ep. 30
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...
Jul 24, 2022•46 min•Season 1Ep. 29
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 withi...
Jul 17, 2022•39 min•Season 1Ep. 28
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 a...
Jul 10, 2022•56 min•Season 1Ep. 27
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 contribu...
Jul 03, 2022•49 min•Season 1Ep. 26
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 varie...
Jun 26, 2022•45 min•Season 1Ep. 25
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 ins...
Jun 19, 2022•48 min•Season 1Ep. 24
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, ...
Jun 12, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 23
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 call...
Jun 05, 2022•43 min•Season 1Ep. 22
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 open...
May 29, 2022•46 min•Season 1Ep. 21
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 ...
May 22, 2022•39 min•Season 1Ep. 20
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...
May 15, 2022•42 min•Season 1Ep. 19
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 conference...
May 08, 2022•47 min•Season 1Ep. 18
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 ...
May 04, 2022•24 min•Season 1Ep. 17
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, developi...
May 01, 2022•50 min•Season 1Ep. 16
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 ...
Apr 24, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 15
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 ...
Apr 17, 2022•51 min•Season 1Ep. 14
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...
Apr 10, 2022•27 min•Season 1Ep. 13
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 Sp...
Apr 03, 2022•50 min•Season 1Ep. 12
