Dr. Tracy Vitale proudly serves as Superintendent of Schools for the Seneca Valley School District, one of the largest public school districts in Western Pennsylvania. She is credited with opening and implementing the district's first elementary world language program, accelerating academic rigor and leading educators in a collaborative approach to systems thinking. Show Highlights Shift traditional teaching methods toward coaching and facilitating rather than just imparting knowledge. Create an...
Nov 20, 2024•36 min•Ep. 238
. Chris Loeffler is the Head of Wilmington Friends Lower School. Prior to this role, Chris spent 7 years in administration, 13 years in the classroom, and even graduated from Wilmington Friends. His experience as a student, where he felt valued and given a voice in a peaceful environment, motivates him as an educator to provide the same experience for each of his students. Show Highlights Mastermind helps leaders be proactive and prepared for future challenges. Listening is crucial for new leade...
Nov 13, 2024•47 min•Ep. 237
. Kwame Sarfo-Mensah holds a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics and a Master's Degree in Elementary Education from Temple University. For nine years, he served as a middle school math teacher in Philadelphia, PA and Boston, MA. Currently, he is the founder of Identity Talk Consulting, a global educational consulting firm that specializes in developing K-12 teachers into identity-affirming educators. Throughout his 17-year career as a classroom teacher, author, and consultant, Kwame has earned nume...
Nov 07, 2024•47 min•Ep. 236
Dr. Derrick Gay is a globally recognized intercultural competency strategist, dedicated to fostering cultures of dignity and respect. With multifaceted expertise as an international speaker, author, researcher, educator, and university lecturer, Dr. Gay empowers individuals and organizations to deepen belonging and empathy by cultivating shared language, raising awareness, and fostering inclusive personal behaviors and organizational practices and policies. Drawing from his extensive internation...
Oct 30, 2024•43 min•Ep. 233
Every principal deserves high quality coaching and mentorship. Who is your coach or mentor? What would you be able to accomplish with help figuring out how to accomplish your biggest goals? At Ruckus Maker HQ we have two great options for you: Option 1: Join the BRAND NEW Ruckus Maker Club. Learn more here Option 2: Join The Ruckus Maker Mastermind™ our flagship program. Learn more here. Show Highlights Set clear goals for both personal and professional growth to drive success and balance in lif...
Oct 23, 2024•46 min•Ep. 234
Every principal deserves high quality coaching and mentorship. Who is your coach or mentor? What would you be able to accomplish with help figuring out how to accomplish your biggest goals? At Ruckus Maker HQ we have two great options for you: Option 1: Join the BRAND NEW Ruckus Maker Club. Learn more here Option 2: Join The Ruckus Maker Mastermind™ our flagship program. Learn more here. Show Highlights Why you need the 90-day planning and the 'Ruckus Maker Mindset.' 'Playing with the Lead' for ...
Oct 16, 2024•45 min•Ep. 233
Frederick Buskey leverages 33 years of k-12 and higher education leadership experience. He provides simple frameworks and practical tools to help leaders make immediate incremental improvements. Frederick hosts The Assistant Principal Podcast , and is the author of A School Leader's Guide to Reclaiming Purpose . He works with school and non-profit leaders to help them live and lead better. Show Highlights The challenges faced by colleagues helps leaders provide tailored support and guidance. The...
Oct 09, 2024•40 min•Ep. 232
Every principal deserves high quality coaching and mentorship. Who is your coach or mentor? What would you be able to accomplish with help figuring out how to accomplish your biggest goals? At Ruckus Maker HQ we have two great options for you: Option 1: Join the BRAND NEW Ruckus Maker Club. Learn more here Option 2: Join The Ruckus Maker Mastermind™ our flagship program. Learn more here. Show Highlights Prioritize Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) amid challenges. Focus on scheduling, int...
Oct 02, 2024•44 min•Ep. 231
Every principal deserves high quality coaching and mentorship. Who is your coach or mentor? What would you be able to accomplish with help figuring out how to accomplish your biggest goals? At Ruckus Maker HQ we have two great options for you: Option 1: Join the BRAND NEW Ruckus Maker Club. Learn more here Option 2: Join The Ruckus Maker Mastermind™ our flagship program. Learn more here. Show Highlights effective email management and communication strategies to alleviate overload. The need for o...
Sep 25, 2024•52 min•Ep. 230
Every principal deserves high quality coaching and mentorship. Who is your coach or mentor? What would you be able to accomplish with help figuring out how to accomplish your biggest goals? At Ruckus Maker HQ we have two great options for you: Option 1: Join the BRAND NEW Ruckus Maker Club. Learn more here Option 2: Join The Ruckus Maker Mastermind™ our flagship program. Learn more here. Show Highlights Challenges in school culture can lead to a lack of trust and effectiveness. Student disciplin...
Sep 18, 2024•46 min•Ep. 229
Every principal deserves high quality coaching and mentorship. Who is your coach or mentor? What would you be able to accomplish with help figuring out how to accomplish your biggest goals? At Ruckus Maker HQ we have two great options for you: Option 1: Join the BRAND NEW Ruckus Maker Club. Learn more here Option 2: Join The Ruckus Maker Mastermind™ our flagship program. Learn more here. Show Highlights Shifting from accomplishment-focused education to learning and community contribution. Balanc...
Sep 11, 2024•51 min•Ep. 228
Every principal deserves high quality coaching and mentorship. Who is your coach or mentor? What would you be able to accomplish with help figuring out how to accomplish your biggest goals? At Ruckus Maker HQ we have two great options for you: Option 1: Join the BRAND NEW Ruckus Maker Club. Learn more here Option 2: Join The Ruckus Maker Mastermind™ our flagship program. Learn more here. Show Highlights Boosting Leadership Effectiveness in a Post-Pandemic World. Aligning professional development...
Sep 04, 2024•48 min•Ep. 227
Every principal deserves high quality coaching and mentorship. Who is your coach or mentor? What would you be able to accomplish with help figuring out how to accomplish your biggest goals? At Ruckus Maker HQ we have two great options for you: Option 1: Join the BRAND NEW Ruckus Maker Club. Learn more here Option 2: Join The Ruckus Maker Mastermind™ our flagship program. Learn more here. Show Highlights Essential tips for first-year principals, Be aware of political landscape and power structure...
Aug 28, 2024•37 min•Ep. 226
Dr. Chara N. Willaford, founder of Be Your Best Yet Coaching and Consulting, is an educational leader with 25+ years of experience. A National Mentor and Trainer, she specializes in turning around schools, empowering future and early-career principals. Dr. Chara's journey spans roles at state, district, national, and building levels, reflecting a deep commitment to shaping the future of education. Her holistic approach and commitment to continuous learning are embodied in the motto, 'The Best is...
Aug 21, 2024•33 min•Ep. 225
Adam Stolzer is the Burwell Jr./Sr. High School Principal located in Burwell, Ne. Adam is an educational leader who makes a ruckus with his mobile office, Longhorn Support Days, and helps facilitate bringing out students' passions. Adam takes great pride in leaving a daily legacy of being a model of support for students. Show Highlights Strategies aimed at enhancing student engagement and behavior. Improvement in absences with motivational reward days off. Power of Purple and Passion in Educatio...
Aug 19, 2024•28 min
Kathy Kolbe is an acclaimed theorist, best-selling author and pioneer, Kathy Kolbe was the first to prove the existence of the conative mental faculty, which causes us to act, react and interact. She has spent over 40 years collecting and analyzing conative traits to help us be ourselves. She founded Kolbe Corp, was CEO for 30 Years, and is now its Chairman Emerita. Nicole Loucks is the Vice President of Youth and Education Programs and Director of Training at Kolbe Corp, Nicole has the privileg...
Aug 14, 2024•53 min•Ep. 224
Hannah's story began in a blue pickup truck at age 12. Sparked by this intro to business by her dad, she went to college early, graduating with her bachelors at 18. Now, Hannah is the Chief Rebel at d'Skills - a hub where students turbo-charge their passions with AI, then convert them into paid, real-world projects. Chris Lochhead calls her "one of the most important voices in education today" and a school administrator called her "offensive to some." Show Highlights avoid obsolete education and...
Aug 12, 2024•46 min
Ari Gerzon-Kessler is author of On The Same Team: Bringing Educators & Underrepresented Families Together, which won the Independent Publishers Book Awards 2024 IPPY Gold Medal for outstanding education book. He is a speaker, trainer, and coach working with schools and districts committed to forging stronger school-family partnerships. Ari also leads the Family Partnerships department for the Boulder Valley School District (CO). Ari has been an educator since 2000, having served as a princip...
Aug 07, 2024•41 min•Ep. 223
Where is the Teacher? 12 Shifts for a Student Centered Classroom Kyle Wagner, the founder of Transform Educational Consulting Limited, has always had a bold mission since he became an educator 15+ years ago: Create transformational learning experiences that connect students' interests and passions to issues that matter in the real world. This bold mission has literally taken him around the world. From the design of living museums, model governments, and engaging project-based experiences as a Hu...
Jul 31, 2024•47 min•Ep. 222
Graham Dugoni is the founder and CEO of Yondr. Founded in 2014, Yondr is the pioneer of "phone-free spaces." The company helps educators, artists, and organizations around the world create distraction-free environments where focus and creativity can flourish in the absence of technology. Show Highlights Phone-free spaces and its benefits for students and teachers. Reduction in behavioral issues and increased student engagement. Steps to implement phone-free policies in schools, starting with lea...
Jul 24, 2024•37 min•Ep. 221
Show Highlights A Ruckus Maker Club for innovative school leaders who want to do school differently with shared ideas and support. Ruckus Maker Club features and benefits Access to tools and free content Coaching calls Innovation labs Accountability space. Discussions on challenges in educational leadership Tech support and event recordings. Inventive solutions on challenges working within resistant systems. Practical, actionable strategies for innovation provided by the club. The value between ...
Jul 17, 2024•33 min•Ep. 220
Lindsay Cravens is currently in transition from being the High School Principal at Stockton (KS) for the past 3 years to my new position of High School Principal at Republic County (Belleville, KS). This fall will be her final semester working towards my EdS in District Administration from Fort Hays State University. Show Highlights Impact of 'Build Leadership Momentum' on her interview process and confidence. Dynamic book insights, strategies and leadership philosophy. Importance of being calm ...
Jul 12, 2024•33 min
Charles Hartney is the Head of Upper School and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion coordinator at The Park School of Buffalo, a progressive, independent school serving students from PreK and Montessori through Grade 12. Outside of school, Charlie is a proud husband and father of two, an avid reader, and a lifelong Buffalo sports fan. #GoBills. Show Highlights Create intentional deposits with every member of your learning community. Charles' highlights his quest from transitioning from teacher ...
Jul 10, 2024•55 min•Ep. 219
Leticia Britos Cavagnaro, Ph.D., is a scientist turned designer who has created and facilitated a wide range of learning experiences in design, creativity, and innovation at the Stanford d.school and beyond. Her creative methods include the use of emerging technologies to help people grow as self-directed, action-oriented, reflective, and responsible shapers of the future. She co-directs the University Innovation Fellows Program and is an adjunct professor at the Stanford School. Leticia has a P...
Jul 03, 2024•47 min•Ep. 218
Laura Di Franco is the CEO of Brave Healer Productions, an award-winning publisher for holistic health and wellness professionals. She spent 30 years in holistic physical therapy, has 14 years of training in the martial arts, and has authored 10 books. Her company has published over 60 Amazon bestselling books with a global community of over 1000 authors who are waking the world up to what's possible for healing, one brave word at a time. Show Highlights Your healing journey begins with living, ...
Jun 26, 2024•37 min•Ep. 217
Danielle Nuhfer, a former teacher turned coach and author of "The Path of the Mindful Teacher," has dedicated over 20 years to supporting educators in navigating the challenges of the school system. As the founder of Teaching Well, she works with teachers and school leaders to prioritize well-being and transform schools into thriving learning communities. Show Highlights The crucial role of school administrators' support and mindfulness practices to avoid teacher burnout. Practical applications ...
Jun 19, 2024•34 min•Ep. 216
Andy Rodford is the Principal of Venture Gained Consulting and works with school, camp, and business leaders to build capacity. He's been involved in education for 30 years, holding senior roles at various independent schools, and is passionate about experiential learning. He has degrees in Science, Education, and leadership and loves wood carving, outdoor adventures, and helping others unearth potential. Show Highlights Every interaction is an opportunity for managing trust and building relatio...
Jun 12, 2024•48 min•Ep. 215
Alexandra Mejia, who goes by Sasha, is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in private practice specializing in working with complex trauma, dissociation, and personality disorders. She aims to de-stigmatize trauma and personality disorders through her social media platforms and Clinical Residency Program and to spread the word on using DBT (dialectical behavioral therapy) to settings outside of therapy. Show Highlights Coexistence of self-acceptance and change through Dialectical Behavior Thera...
Jun 10, 2024•35 min
Robyn Hamasaki is the Managing Director of Leadership Development at the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). Leading a multidisciplinary team of Leading & Learning, Student Program Operations, Recognition & Engagement, and External Relations, she fosters the growth and engagement of school leaders, advisers, and students through impactful programs and services nationwide. Previously, she established the Principal Leadership Institute at Colorado's Department of E...
Jun 07, 2024•41 min
Camp is Head of Teaching & Learning at NEIA. He oversees the development of systems to recruit, hire, support, and evaluate teachers and helps teachers develop and implement the curriculum. He's been a leader and a teacher at a variety of schools throughout his 29-year career: boarding, day, single-sex and college. Show Highlights 'Aim to teach what cannot be googled.' NIA's unique mashed up of 5 different assessment systems for mastery learning. A needed mindset shift to let go of rigid str...
Jun 05, 2024•40 min•Ep. 214
