The Interview Chair - podcast cover

The Interview Chair

Are you an educator who is currently feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or wondering if you can continue to do this work? Visualize yourself back in the interview chair. You were genuine, sincere and full of passion. You convinced a group of people that you were the best person for the job and you believed it. That is the real you. Join Jimmy Casas, educator, speaker, and best-selling author as he takes you back to the interview chair to remind you of why you wanted to become an educator. If you are ready to reflect on the role you play in impacting the culture and climate in your school, this podcast is for you!
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Episodes

Episode 92: Resilience in Education

In this conversation, Dr. Sarah Johnson shares her journey in education and discusses the challenges she faced in her career, the importance of resilience, self-care, and the power of community and networking. Her insights provide valuable advice for educators who find themselves questioning their impact.

Jun 28, 202535 minEp. 92

Episode 91: Lessons from a Ruckus Maker

In this engaging conversation, Jimmy Casas interviews Danny Bauer, who discusses the challenges he faced in his first year as a principal, including receiving unexpected negative feedback and ultimately resigning. He reflects on the lessons learned from adversity, the importance of confronting reality, and the distinction between ruckus makers and traditional educators.

Jun 16, 202543 minEp. 91

Episode 90: Embracing Discomfort for Growth

In this engaging conversation, Brian Mendler discusses the complexities of teaching, emphasizing the role of adults and strategies to engage effectively with students. Topics include classroom management, student behavior, the importance of self-reflection, and the need to recognize behavior as a solution rather than a problem.

Jun 11, 202538 minEp. 90

Episode 89: Finding Joy in the Small Moments

In this episode, Jimmy interviews Zac Bauermaster, an elementary principal who discusses his soon-to-be-released book, Day by Day, 180 Days of Hope and Encouragement, which reflects on the importance of family, the need for self-care, the significance of relationships, and practical advice for educators facing challenges. The discussion also highlights the importance of being present and finding joy in the small moments.

Jun 03, 202537 minEp. 89

Episode 88: Unleashing Relentless Leadership

In this episode, I sit down with Hamish Brewer, a globally recognized educational leader known for his relentless approach to school improvement and leadership. Hamish shares his journey from New Zealand to becoming an award-winning principal in Virginia, discussing his challenges, including personal injuries and leadership struggles. Filled with motivational insights and practical advice, this conversation is one you won't want to miss.

May 18, 202538 minEp. 88

Episode 87: Supporting Bilingual Students & Families

In this engaging conversation, Andrea Bitner shares her journey as a teacher, focusing on her experiences with English language learners and the importance of community support in schools. She emphasizes the need for collaboration among educators and understanding the diverse backgrounds of students to foster success. Andrea's heartfelt stories highlight the challenges and triumphs of teaching, offering valuable insights for educators navigating similar paths.

May 05, 202532 minEp. 87

Episode 86: The Importance of Self-Care

In this conversation, Principal Sean Gaillard discusses the emotional toll of working in education and the importance of personal health and well-being. He shares how educators often face immense pressure and the necessity of carving out time for self-care and reflection, emphasizing the significance of seeking support from others to navigate the challenges of the profession.

Apr 28, 202542 minEp. 86

Episode 85: Forgive Often and Forgive Quickly

In this episode, Jimmy sits down with Joy Kelly, a seasoned educator and leadership coach, who shares the challenges faced by many school leaders and the importance of leaning into your core values during difficult times.

Apr 22, 202544 minEp. 85

Episode 84: Finding Clarity In Our Work

In this episode, Jimmy interviews former principal and Superintendent Darrin Peppard. They discuss the critical aspects of educational leadership, emphasizing the importance of clarity and intentionality and the need for educators to focus on positive reinforcement.

Apr 13, 202550 minEp. 84

Episode 83: Be the Leader That Is Needed

In this episode of the Interview Chair, Dr. Sanée Bell reminds us to be excellent on purpose, emphasizing the need for educators to maintain high expectations for all students and staff in order to inspire, motivate and empower them to be their very best.

Apr 06, 202535 minEp. 83

Episode 82: Cultivating a Thriving Community

In this episode, Texas Principal of the Year, David Arencibia shares his journey from humble beginnings, overcoming situational poverty and dyslexia to becoming a nationally recognized leader in education. David discusses the essential components that transformed his school campus into a thriving school community.

Mar 31, 202528 minEp. 82

Episode 81: The Power of Mentorship

In this episode, Jennifer Womble shares her journey from a law school dropout to a leader in educational technology. Jimmy and Jen discuss the challenges and opportunities in education, focusing on the importance of understanding resistance to change, adapting professional development to meet the needs of adult learners, and the role of mentorship and modeling in teaching for all educators.

Mar 24, 202545 minEp. 81

Episode 80: Finding Purpose Through Adversity

In this episode, Jimmy interviews Jordan Montgomery, a USA Today bestselling author and renowned performance coach. They discuss Jordan's journey from financial services to coaching, the challenges he faced during a difficult season in his life, and the importance of aligning values with goals. Jordan shares practical advice for navigating adversity, the power of vulnerability in leadership, and how to build meaningful relationships through thoughtful questioning. The conversation emphasizes the...

Mar 18, 202535 minEp. 80

Episode 79: The Power of Support Systems

In this episode, Beth Houf shares her journey as principal, discussing the challenges and triumphs she has faced in her career. She emphasizes the importance of support systems, personal growth, and leading authentically. The discussion serves as a reminder that even the most accomplished leaders can face struggles and that reaching out for help is crucial in navigating the complexities of educational leadership.

Mar 09, 202534 minEp. 79

Episode 78: We All Need People to Lean On

In this episode, Illinois Superintendent Mike Lubelfeld, shares his experiences in dealing with the trauma of COVID-19, the impact of non-person vs. in-person learning, and the challenges of scaling e-learning with limited resources - all amid a mass shooting in his community. Mike opens up about how all of this took a toll on him both mentally and physically.

Mar 03, 202533 minEp. 78

Episode 77: Every Teacher Is Great at Something

In this episode, Jimmy is joined by teacher Nick Ferroni, who reminds us that there is no such thing as a perfect teacher. However, every teacher is great at something—and even greater when they stop comparing themselves to others.

Feb 23, 202532 minEp. 77

Episode 76: Making an Impact Beyond Your Walls

In this episode, Jimmy sits down with current practitioner and Teacher Librarian Shannon Miller. Shannon shares how she lost her sparkle after she felt boxed in and not given the opportunities to lead or contribute in meaningful ways.

Feb 16, 202530 minEp. 76

Episode 75: Empathy is the Antidote to Burnout

In this episode, Dr. Jody Carrington reminds us that to best serve our students and families the biggest investment we can make is on ourselves first and that our job as educators and caretakers is to do the next best, right, kind thing.

Feb 10, 202534 minEp. 75

Episode 74: ROI: Return on Impact

In episode 74, we sit down with Dr. Stephen Peters who reflects on his role as a leader as he shares what he did to honor and be faithful to the work in order to make the greatest impact possible.

Feb 02, 202533 minEp. 74

Episode 73: You Can Change the Narrative

In this episode, Jimmy sits down with Salinas, CA Superintendent and 2023 ALAS National Superintendent of the Year Zandra Jo Galván who shares how educators can change the narrative and help break the cycle of generational poverty for all kids!

Jan 26, 202534 minEp. 73

Episode 71: I Wish I Knew Then What I Know Now

In this episode, guest Shane Saeed owns up to the challenges she faced as a first-year teacher and how she almost left the teaching profession. However, these experiences helped her learn and grow and made her a better educator.

Jan 12, 202530 minEp. 71

Episode 70: Stand on Purpose

In this episode, guest Baruti Kafele shares two things we can do in life as it relates to our work - We can go along to get along or stand on principle. Hear his story as it relates to his work.

Jan 05, 202527 minEp. 70

Episode 69: 2024 Final Thoughts

In this final episode of 2024, Jimmy discusses his thoughts as we close out the year and shares some exciting news about changes coming to The Interview Chair in 2025!

Dec 28, 202416 minEp. 69

Episode 67: Normalizing Mistakes

In this week's episode, Jimmy shares an excerpt from Shane Saeed, ConnectEDD author of Be the Flame – Sparking Positive Classroom Communities. Learning can happen in a classroom when we not only make time to build connections and relationships among our students but also normalize mistakes.

Nov 17, 202413 minEp. 67

Episode 66: I Am So Glad You Are Here Today

It is November and educators have a right to be tired. In this episode, Jimmy gives thanks to all the educators who continue to impact students by finding time to interact with them in meaningful ways. By doing so, we learn they often impact us in even greater ways.

Nov 03, 202411 minEp. 66

Episode 65:Layering Change

In this Part 2 episode, Jimmy continues sharing his perspective on the change process from last week's episode and describes his Layering the Change process in order to avoid the favoritism undercurrent and achieve a better result.

Oct 27, 202415 minEp. 65

Episode 64: Decreasing the Distance

In this Part 1 episode, Jimmy breaks down the change process and shares the disconnect between those who are driving it and those who are implementing it.

Oct 20, 202414 minEp. 64

Episode 63: Making Classroom Learning Irresistible

In this week's episode, Jimmy shares how students may sometimes behave in less desirable ways that are outside of our control. However, we can examine the elements well within our control, such as our tasks, activities, and how we assess our students, which can directly impact how kids respond in our classrooms.

Oct 14, 202411 minEp. 63
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