Dr. Joseph Jones is the Superintendent in the New Castle County Vocational-Technical School District. A passion to provide all students an incredible and valuable learning experience Dr. Jones started teaching World and US History in 1996. A few short years later he found himself within the ranks of school administration hoping to make a difference on a larger scale. That desire and pursuit continued as he worked as a principal for seven years striving to reach two major goals: One, give teacher...
Jun 09, 2021•44 min•Season 2Ep. 55
Formerly a high school English teacher and a new teacher coach in Palo Alto Unified School District (Palo Alto, CA, USA), Jennifer Abrams is currently a communications consultant who works with educators and others on new teacher and employee support, being generationally savvy, effective collaboration skills, having hard conversations and creating identity safe workplaces. Jennifer’s publications include Having Hard Conversations, The Multigenerational Workplace: Communicate, Collaborate & Crea...
Jun 07, 2021•35 min
Mary Grassa O’Neill Founding co-lead faculty for the HGSE/HBS Certificate in School Management and Leadership powered by HBS Online. HGSE Director of the Principals' Center and Managing Director of Programs in Professional Education First layperson Secretary of Education and Superintendent of Schools in the Archdiocese of Boston (led second-largest school district in Massachusetts - 120 schools and 42,000 students) Superintendent of Milton, MA Public Schools for 10 years Earned national recognit...
Jun 02, 2021•40 min•Season 2Ep. 54
Judith W. Umlas is Sr. Vice President, author and trainer at International Institute for Learning, Inc. (IIL), a global corporate training company. She wrote the ground-breaking books including: The Power of Acknowledgment, Grateful Leadership, Using the Power of Acknowledgment to Engage All Your People and Achieve Superior Results , and You’re Totally Awesome! The Power of Acknowledgment for Kids . In 2016 she founded the Center for Grateful Leadership whose members from around the world are co...
May 26, 2021•39 min•Season 2Ep. 53
Houston is a speaker, author, and kindness advocate who has spoken at over 600 schools or events internationally. In 2016, he co-founded CharacterStrong - curriculum and training that help teach social and emotional skills. To date, they have worked with over 2500 schools globally serving over 2 million students. In 2019, his face was featured on Lays BBQ chip bags as someone who helps "spread smiles.” In 2020, his first book, Deep Kindness (Simon & Schuster, Tiller Press) was released. His mom ...
May 19, 2021•36 min•Season 2Ep. 52
Susie Harder, M.A., CCC-SLP is an experienced clinician who devotes much of her passion to working with children, teens, and adults who stutter. She works in private practice and the school setting to help support children who stutter, trains speech-language pathologists to work more effectively with students who stutter, provides various fluency trainings to school districts across the state, and is also directing the Junior Authors Program platform. Susie grew up in Central California and comp...
May 12, 2021•35 min•Season 2Ep. 51
Dr. Mike Stacy is currently the superintendent at Beechwood Independent Schools in northern Kentucky. (This is his sixth year in this position). During his educational career, he’s had the opportunity to be an administrator at the building level (elementary, middle school, high school) and the district office. During his 20 years as an administrator, he’s enjoyed a lot of different aspects of his work, but coaching principals is what he loves most. Show Highlights 3 lessons being a 1st generatio...
May 05, 2021•35 min•Season 3Ep. 50
Dr. Andrew B. Campbell (Dr. ABC) is a graduate of the University of Toronto, with a PhD. in Educational Leadership, Policy, and Diversity. He is presently a Faculty member in the Master of Teaching (MT) Program at the University of Toronto and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Queens University (online). He is an Ontario Certified Teacher (OCT) and has been an educator for over 25 years in Jamaica, The Bahamas and Canada. He has authored two books, “Teachable Moments with DR.ABC: A Spoonful for ...
Apr 28, 2021•36 min•Season 3Ep. 49
Deivis Pothin (Davis Po-tin) is an international school leader and educator who is passionate about empowering students’ lives through education. Having worked in schools in the United Kingdom and in Brazil, he has built his expertise in working with teachers, students and parents from different nationalities, ethnic and social backgrounds. Such experiences have helped him to enrich his leadership capacity and to develop an international minded approach to education. He is currently the Head of ...
Apr 21, 2021•35 min•Season 2Ep. 48
SANDRA NAGY is a sought after advisor to school leaders around the world. Renowned for her deep expertise in strategic development and education; she works with organizations looking to transform learning. A creative, passionate, and experienced senior professional in the Education technology industry with leadership, change management, product development, learning strategy and execution proficiency. A driver of innovation who is ...
Apr 14, 2021•37 min•Season 2Ep. 47
In high school, Michael never realized that he could make a living off of his hobbies. He majored in graphic design in college and those possibilities became a reality. Even today, he is amazed that design is a profession. Michael’s mantra is: 'Every experience in life can be improved through intentional design', and he strives to make remarkable experiences. Show Highlights Boundaries a leader should set when expressing a vision Navigate unintended blind spots that emerge when you create as a t...
Apr 12, 2021•30 min
Erin Igoe is currently a high school administrator, forever teacher, mentor, coach, Gen Z mom, and wannabe Dorthea Lange. Erin has 18 years in education (teaching and administration), a project and problem-based learning classroom guru, 3 years as BTSA Support Provider, Districtwide Literacy Lead on CCSS implementation, Restorative Justice/Peer Court Coordinator and Civic Action Project lead teacher. Erin Igoe is determined to make a difference by helping young people discover how they can too. ...
Apr 07, 2021•36 min•Season 2Ep. 46
As a nonprofit CEO who is, first and foremost, a husband and father of three, Rob cares deeply about promoting justice and equitable opportunities for all kids to be able fulfill their dreams. After earning his graduate degree focused on U.S. human rights foreign policy, Rob worked on U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) programs and at other nonprofits that shaped his belief that health is a human right. Rob believes that we have under-invested in kids’ health and well-being and th...
Mar 31, 2021•40 min•Season 2Ep. 45
Lindsay Lyons is an educational consultant who works with teachers and school leaders to inspire educational innovation for racial and gender justice, design curricula grounded in student voice, and build capacity for shared leadership. Lindsay taught in NYC public schools, holds a PhD in Leadership and Change, and is the founder of the educational blog and podcast, Time for Teachership . Lindsay helps leaders build their adaptive capacity to lead school-wide change grounded in antiracism, inclu...
Mar 24, 2021•30 min•Season 3Ep. 44
Dr. Amy Platt is delighted to be the Head of School at the Paul Penna Downtown Jewish Day School. Amy is passionate about excellent instruction and working with teachers to be the talented professionals they are destined to be. Amy holds a PhD and an MA from the University of Toronto. When Amy is not at work she can be found on long-distance bike rides, pondering the larger issues facing education. Show Highlights A safe space to iterate, incubate and sometimes vent Create viable opportunities t...
Mar 17, 2021•29 min•Season 2Ep. 43
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 Humanities Teacher in world renowned High Tech High in San Diego; t...
Mar 15, 2021•38 min
Craig's experience as a counselor, coach, teacher, and principal set him up perfectly to develop a model of teacher observation focused on building trusting relationships that spark teaching and learning growth. As the author of Trust-Based Observations , Craig is on a mission to change the world of teacher observations to a model of support that fosters risk-taking, innovation, and creativity. Driven to transform the world of teacher evaluation and observation through Trust-based Observations. ...
Mar 10, 2021•30 min•Season 2Ep. 42
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Better Leaders Better Schools is launching a new cohort of the mastermind that is just for women. Learn more and apply today: https://betterleadersbetterschools.com/forwomen In today's bonus conversation, Daniel interviews Karine about why women need a support network. Copyright © 2021 Twelve Practices LLC
Mar 08, 2021•35 min
Scott L. Steward is an international business owner ( musicspool.com and Genius Lab, Inc.), a youth tech educator, podcast co-host (Money, Sex, Gen X), and author (A Book of Stewism's: 31 Ways to Improve Your Life). Scott is squarely focused on preparing young people for jobs that don’t exist yet, especially in the Black and Latinx communities. Scott has a strong and vast business school education and he wants to share all of his knowledge. He has more than 30 years of business experience from w...
Mar 03, 2021•46 min•Season 2Ep. 41
Dr. Franklin D. Gilliam, Jr. began his tenure as the eleventh Chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) in September 2015. He is the first African American chancellor to lead a non-HBCU in the UNC System. Chancellor Gilliam brings to UNCG a wealth of experience from a career that spans more than 30 years in higher education. During that time, he was Dean of the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs as well as a longtime Professor of Public Policy and Political Science at...
Feb 24, 2021•41 min•Season 2Ep. 40
Sharla Stevens transform schools into anti-racist, thriving institutions for academic excellence and social justice! She develops school leaders to bring out the best in students of color and help deter white students from sustaining or embracing white supremacy. Your school will be transformed for the better as a result of her coaching. Schedule a call and explore possibilities. Show Highlights Historical context of the opportunity gap vs the achievement gap Blind spots of racism embedded in th...
Feb 17, 2021•36 min•Season 2Ep. 39
Jen is a local here in Atlanta (an "ATLien") where she is on a mission to make education humanizing and equitable for ALL learners. Shortly after earning her BS.Ed. at UGA, Jen’s fire for student-centered learning was ignited on a year-long adventure in New Zealand. There she taught in a progressive public charter school, trained in student-directed and inquiry-based learning strategies, and began partnering with students to help them take ownership of their educational journeys. She brought tho...
Feb 10, 2021•45 min•Season 2Ep. 38
Jonathan C. W. Jones is a seasoned award winning educator and founder of Ideation4, working with educators, schools, districts, nonprofit professionals and under resourced communities through grant workshops, coaching, consulting and innovation. Currently he’s working on a philanthropic innovation called UpLIFT, dedicated to celebrating black male educators in the USA. Show Highlights Turning ideas into reality. Be a catalyst for change Hurdles black male educators face UpLIFT your black male te...
Feb 03, 2021•35 min•Season 2Ep. 37
Emily Alexander is a Partner at Thomas, Alexander, Forrester & Sorensen LLP, a law firm in Venice, CA. She also has served as the Board Chair at New Roads School for the last 6 years. New Roads is an independent school in Los Angeles dedicated to authentic diversity and inclusion. Show Highlights Build true authentically diverse and inclusive schools Navigate the unknown with courage to embark on what is best Yield the power of silence and find your authentic voice Create “Meaningful Access” not...
Jan 27, 2021•31 min•Season 2Ep. 36
Would you start a business with someone you’ve only met in person once and talked to for about 5 minutes? Spotlight Trust co-founders Lisa Lambert of Rule Number Six and Rick Kitagawa of Kaiju Coaching did. That’s the power of trust. Lisa and Rick first met while working remotely as leadership coaches (later head coaches) in Seth Godin’s altMBA . They had the chance to very briefly meet in-person in New York City, but collaborating on Spotlight Trust wasn’t even a seed of an idea at the time. Th...
Jan 13, 2021•43 min•Season 2Ep. 34
Maureen O’Shaughnessy, EdD, is a career educational activist with over 30 years of transforming learning in schools to better serve all students. She is the founding director of Leadership Preparatory Academy, a nonprofit progressive micro-school in Washington State. With a master’s degree in educational administration and a doctorate degree in educational leadership, she has an extensive understanding of the components needed to transform the education system. Dr. O’Shaughnessy is the author of...
Jan 06, 2021•30 min•Season 2Ep. 33
Curtis Zimmerman has worked two decades as a keynote speaker and consultant, he’s had the honor of developing deep relationships with companies including Kroger, Proctor and Gamble, McDonald’s, Coca Cola, Duke Energy, Bacardi and Universal Orlando Resorts—along with The United States Air Force and hundreds of colleges and universities nationwide. He also loves working with non-profit organizations and teachers and faculty to give back to the people who have had the biggest impact on his life. If...
Dec 30, 2020•40 min•Season 2Ep. 32
Dr. Vernita Glenn-White is the CEO of Glenn-White Global Solutions and Founder of Empowered Educators Academy © , a company that empowers educators, leaders, and trainers to reach their next level by using their voice and influence to create their own platforms and pathways! Dr. Vernita is a former K-12 mathematics educator, Academic Instructional Coach, and served as a District Specialist for the Office of School Transformation. Dr. Vernita has been an advisor and strategist for leaders from Pr...
Dec 23, 2020•25 min•Season 2Ep. 31
Alexs has had a diverse career bringing an innovative eye and heart to the areas of education, literature, business and race. He is an award winning author and a passionate proponent for the renovation of the American public education system by infusing our schools with a focus on the innocence and goodness of their marginalized students, especially students of color. This theme, above all others is interwoven in all of his literary works as well as his consultative efforts with public and priva...
Dec 16, 2020•31 min•Season 2Ep. 30
Dr. Darnisa Amante-Jackson is an educational and racial equity strategist that is deeply committed to the studies of culture; innovation; equity and adult development. Since earning her master’s degree in Socio-cultural Anthropology from Brandeis University, and her doctorate from Harvard’s Educational Leadership Doctorate (Ed.L.D.), Dr. Amante-Jackson has honed her knowledge to transform organizations, nonprofits and schools on issues of equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging. Dr. Amante-J...
Dec 09, 2020•37 min•Season 2Ep. 29
