TheSchoolHouse302 One Thing Series School Leadership Podcast: Recent Episodes
Joe & T.J. from theschoolhouse302.com
In this episode the Leading Better and Growing Faster podcast for school leaders, Joe and T.J. discuss how school leaders can effectively manage the riptides found in everyday school leadership.. Imagine a calm beach day, preferably Savage Ditch, Delaware, where you can drive onto the beach and enjoy an incredible experience of sun and sand. Imagine this, though, you're swimming close to shore in the refreshing water when suddenly, a powerful current pulls you out to sea. This is the unnerving reality of an ocean riptide, and you can’t see them coming and you can’t fight your way out of them. But did you know these hidden currents have a surprising parallel in the world of education? Educational leaders, much like beachgoers, can find themselves caught in unexpected challenges – swirling currents of change, budget constraints, or evolving student needs. Just like fighting a riptide is futile, these challenges demand a different strategy. In this podcast, you’ll learn about the following 3 Strategies to Navigate the Current: Develop a culture of open communicationDevelop a culture of continuous improvement Develop a culture of self-development.Don't get swept away! Tune in and learn the secrets to leading through educational riptides.This podcast offers actionable strategies for:Building trust and a unified school communityMoving beyond the common notion that "we've always done it this way"Creating systems that reinforce a culture of continuous learning and growthLeading by example through self-developmentOur goal is to be able to help school leaders discover how to effectively navigate the educational riptides and chart a course for success in your school.Joe & T.J. Are Now Booking Summer and Fall Events!Space is limited but dates are still available. If you’re ready to take your leadership skills to the next level or you want to build the capacity of the folks on your team, we have the solutions that you need. Our engaging keynotes and interactive leadership workshops are designed to equip you and your leaders with the tools and strategies you need to thrive in today's complex and ever-changing educational environment. Contact us to learn more about our offerings and book a session for your organization today! A few ideas: Join one of our Mastermind groupsBook us for a keynote to kick off the year with your teachersAllow us to train your school leaders on any number of our proven modelsHave us join your retreat to kick things up a notch with practical takeaways Bring us in virtually or in-person to talk about one of our booksCall us for something uniqueWe can’t wait to hear from you. Joe & T.J.
About Glenn RobbinsGlenn Robbins is the proud Superintendent of the Brigantine Public School District in Brigantine, New Jersey. He has served as a public school superintendent in New Jersey since 2016. Prior to becoming a superintendent, he was a middle school principal, a high school assistant principal, a high school social studies teacher, and a varsity coach. He is a best selling author of Calm In The Chaos: Ancient Stoic Wisdom for Successful School Leadership and a sought after speaker.Glenn has been awarded numerous administrative national and state recognitions, including the National Exemplar of Education Award, Northeast Innovative Superintendent Award, NJ Visionary Superintendent Award, Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools Member, NASSP Digital Principal of the Year, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Winner, and SETDA Student Voice Award Winner. He has been invited to the White House and the US Department of Education several times. He is also the proud recipient of a National Superintendent Certification, and serves as an AASA National Governing Board Member, AASA Aspiring Superintendent Mentor, and Chair of NJASA Technology Committee.Glenn has been recognized across the globe for his innovative school and district improvement methods and has been featured in numerous conferences, books, podcasts, and other publications. Glenn is passionate about helping school leaders create schools where every student and educator can have the opportunity to succeed to their utmost potential in a VUCA world.What You’ll Find in this Episode with Glenn RobbinsGlenn starts with the connection between stoicism and school leadership. He takes us back to ancient philosophy, including Epectitus. The book is short and powerful. A practical read and guide for school leaders. Glenn talks about how the world is so chaotic and how the wisdom in his book is a friend to new and inspiring leaders.Listen to what Glenn says about being a Superintendent in a shore community and what he takes from the waves.Glenn poses a great reflection question: How do we react when things hurt us? Expressing gratitude once again is a primary habit and mindset people must embrace. Don’t miss what Glenn says about the imposter syndrome. Glenn mentions following Robert Greene’s work, Damon West, Chris Singleton, Danny Bauer, and other friends that have supported his leadership. Check out Billy Oppenheimer’s Sunday Six.Glenn talks about the future. Don’t miss what he’s done with the school furniture. Lastly, Glenn reminds us that running schools is not a zero-sum game; reach out to a leader on social media and connect about school leadership, personal growth, and human connection. Joe & T.J. Are Now Booking Summer and Fall Events!Space is limited but dates are still available. If you’re ready to take your leadership skills to the next level or you want to build the capacity of the folks on your team, we have the solutions that you need. Our engaging keynotes and interactive leadership workshops are designed to equip you and your leaders with the tools and strategies you need to thrive in today's complex and ever-changing educational environment. Contact us to learn more about our offerings and book a session for your organization today! A few ideas: Join one of our Mastermind groupsBook us for a keynote to kick off the year with your teachersAllow us to train your school leaders on any number of our proven models Have us join your retreat to kick things up a notch with practical takeaways Bring us in virtually or in-person to talk about one of our booksCall us for something uniqueWe can’t wait to hear from you. Joe & T.J.
In this episode of Leading Better and Growing Faster for school leaders, Joe and T.J. discuss how school leaders must recognize how their decisions create undercurrents within the organization. Every decision you make at school, from offering certain foods in the cafeteria to the consequence a student receives for being late to school because they stopped for a chai latte, creates undercurrents that ripple throughout the school like a rogue dodgeball during PE class. These undercurrents can have a more dramatic impact than you might think, potentially causing serious disruption. This is why we tell leaders to remember that the next time you're faced with a school decision, tread mindfully and follow the suggestions in this episode. Your decisions can either steer the ship towards a calm and productive harbor of school pride and spirit or set sail for the unpredictable waters of confusion and disengagement.Demystifying Decision-Making with Joe and T.J.T.J. reminds that our decisions are either rippling toward success or triggering negative waves of dissent. Check the books that Joe and T.J. recently recommended to school leaders. This concept reminds leaders to maintain the Power of Perception and to be mindful and aware of the present versus constantly thinking about the past or the future.Joe outlines several initiatives that could breathe new life into schools, but they also carry the potential to fall short and leave our good intentions floundering.T.J. dives into the Initiative Implementation Chart and quickly goes through the 7 areas and their importance.Last but not least, T.J. and Joe underscore the critical role of key decision-makers, including individual staff members in addition to school leadership, in making impactful choices for the success of the school and its students.Let us know what you think by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership newsletter every week by subscribing on the site. We can’t wait to hear from you. Joe & T.J.
Unlocking Excellence: Read to Lead Better, Learn to Grow FasterIn this episode, Joe and T.J. introduce two books that they know will make the difference in your life as a leader. Kotler’s book is about operating in a state of flow for improved focus and productivity. Who couldn’t benefit from learning more about flow and how we can get into a flow state? Murphy’s book is basically a “how-to” on management. Very practical with specific suggestions to improve your skills. There are also some ideas and thoughts that will challenge your current thinking about managing people. The author is clear that many management principles simply don’t work. Why Joe and T.J. Recommend The Art of Impossible by Steven Kotler and What Makes Great Managers Great by Curtiss Murphy T.J. kicks off by explaining that when we don’t believe something or can’t imagine accomplishing it, we are limiting ourselves. We can’t do what we don’t think is possible. He reminds us of Roger Bannister breaking the 4-minute mile barrier, which seemed like an impossible feat. In fact, scientists deemed it physically impossible for humans to do. T.J. tells listeners how the book moves through the key concepts of peak performance: motivation, learning, creativity, and flow. One major feature that makes this book a critical read for leaders is that it has research and data, along with various stories, to back up the assertions that the author makes. T.J. calls The Art of Impossible his favorite book of 2023. Bold statement!Joe starts by letting the audience know that What Makes Great Managers Great has stories that accompany the management principles being described. This is a great feature because too often when reading books that are designed to improve our skill set, we don’t necessarily understand the full context. This book’s table of contents is organized so that you understand precisely what management principle is going to be covered. One principle that really resonated and challenged Joe was to assume confusion is everywhere. Listen to Murphy describe that himself on our podcast episode with him. Another great facet of this book is the focus on the power of praise. Similar to what we’ve described in the past, this book emphasizes the need for the praise to be specific and focused. T.J.’s Reading Tip: Set specific reading goals, which are essentially learning goals. Along with your goal, develop a list of books that you want to read. Don’t leave your reading habit and growth to chance. Too many of us finish books and don’t start another one right away. With your list in hand, that won’t ever happen again. Let us know what you’re reading by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership newsletter every week by subscribing on the site. We can’t wait to hear from you. Joe & T.J.
About Curtiss MurphyCurtiss Murphy has spent 32 years as a software engineer (20 of those years in games and gaming and twelve years building educational games. He spent 3 summers hosting the NSF's Edugaming workshop and six years as a professor of game design at Laguna College of Art and Design (for their Game Design MFA program). He has a few dozen minor publications/chapters. He’s an award winning speaker, author, and game designer. He’s been on 21 episodes of the podcast Game Design Zen. And he’s currently the VP of Engineering at a Mobile Game Studio.He is the recent author of What Makes Great Managers Great: How to Raise Engagement, Give Feedback, and Answer the Questions No One’s Asking.What You’ll Find in this Episode with Curtiss Murphy Curtiss starts by flipping the show back to Joe and T.J. with a question about why they would want to have an “outsider” from education on the show. Listen to hear about comfort zones, learning from new people, and seeking alternative perspectives. That’s what Leading Better and Growing Faster with Joe and TJ is all about. Curtiss simply says it, many managers are doing it wrong. His story will resonate with you as he admits that he once was one as well. Don’t miss what he says about how it all changed for him.You want to hear what he says about medical errors and deaths based on miscommunication. He talks about going from 5 people to 40 and what management practices have done to increase performance on his team. The number one premise to start with as a leader is that there’s confusion everywhere. ~ Curtiss Murphy Tune in to hear why we must always be clarifying expectations. Joe asks about “safety and making people feel safe at work.” Reminder for school leaders: Whatever we do impacts our employees. Don’t miss what Curtiss says about “not enough” in this category. Curtiss looks for inspiration from his wife (and he tells us that we can’t have her). He talks about being a nerd by trade and using the rules of improv (we wrote about this is 7 Mindshifts for School Leaders). Three rules (1) accept everything, (2) use yes, and, and (3) make your co-workers and partners look good. Curtiss wants to learn to be calm, be in the moment, and slow down his sense of urgency. He focuses on praising people to support the behaviors that he wants from them to repeat. Curtiss used to think that his job was just to empower people; he learned to empower the skill, not the person. His final thought: leadership = influencing others through trusting relationships. Let us know if there’s a guest who you want us to have on the show by leaving a comment below or by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership content updates every week by subscribing on the site. We can’t wait to hear from you. Joe & T.J.
Unlocking Excellence: Read to Lead Better, Learn to Grow FasterThese are two powerhouse books that capture the journey of leadership. These two books are distinctly different, but both reflect our focus on school leaders' need to Navigate the Seas of School Leadership. Joe recommends, Sea Stories: My Life in Special Operations, which is an autobiographical book by Admiral William H. McRaven, a retired Navy SEAL and former commander of the United States Special Operations Command. The book is a firsthand account of Admiral McRaven's remarkable military career, spanning from his childhood, the early days in training, to his experiences leading special operations missions.The narrative is filled with anecdotes and insights into the world of special operations, offering readers a glimpse into the challenges, triumphs, and lessons learned in high-stakes environments. It's an amazing exploration of leadership, resilience, and the values that underpin success in the most demanding situations. The book not only shares the author's personal journey but also imparts valuable leadership lessons that can be applied in various contexts, making it a great recommendation for school leaders who are navigating their own challenges.T.J. recommends, Working Backwards: Insights, Stories, and Secrets from Inside Amazon, a book written by Colin Bryar and Bill Carr, former executives at Amazon. The book provides a unique insider's perspective on Amazon's culture, leadership principles, and business strategies.In "Working Backwards," the authors share anecdotes and insights based on their experiences working with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. The book covers Amazon's customer-centric approach, decision-making processes, and the principles that have contributed to the company's success. It also offers valuable lessons for leaders and businesses seeking to adopt Amazon's innovative practices.What You’ll Learn in this Episode with Joe & T.J. Joe reveals that his mentor and friend, Dr. Steven Godowsky, originally shared this book with him knowing his interest in leadership perspectives from the military. Listen to Joe describe how Admiral McRaven structures the book to capture the intention of the reader.Joe also emphasizes how Sea Stories covers McRaven’s career. Too often leadership books don’t chronicle the journey of a leader and the many different leadership positions that an individual may hold. This book does!Who doesn’t want a look inside Amazon? Listen to T.J. describe why he likes this book and why he recommends it to school leaders.T.J. describes how these gentlemen detail their work within Amazon and the lessons that can be learned for leaders. You don’t want to miss how the authors describe working for Jeff Bezos.Let us know what you’re reading by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership newsletter every week by subscribing on the site. We can’t wait to hear from you. Joe & T.J.
About Donya BallDr. Donya Ball is a leader, author, and national keynote speaker. She currently serves as a superintendent of schools in California and, for over two decades, has been a change-maker in public education. Dr. Ball is a professor of both educational administration and teacher education. She is passionate about studying, writing, and speaking on overcoming leadership hardships. Her first book of the leadership series, Adjusting the Sails: Weathering the Storms of Administrative Leadership, was published in 2022. Her second book, Against the Wind: Leadership at 36,000 Feet will be released this January.What You’ll Find in this Episode with Donya BallDonya starts with a story about her experiences working through various positions and the fact that we tend to talk a lot about “the stuff,” but there isn’t enough “real talk” in books. She wanted her work to get to the real talk. We call that “real talk for real leaders.” Listen to Donya’s thoughts on why we’re so reactionary in educational leadership.She has unique ideas about writing and conveying her message, particularly how she combines her love for reality TV and what needs to be in books for school leaders. One “sail” we talked about adjusting is the negative reviews in books. Joe tells the story of how TheSchoolHouse302 was born because it relates to Donya’s take about the need for “real talk.” One inspiration for her book is the need to discuss career rejection; it happens, but not enough of us are actually talking about it. Don’t miss her story about her dad who was born in Iran and how he had to establish a new life. We all need to become fighters! Donya talks about the need for branding…our perception of ourselves is not always in alignment with the public perception of us. Listen to her describe how branding is an obstacle and how we need to do an assessment of our social media accounts. What message are we sending to our school community? Donya says that we need to embrace the crises when they occur, not shield ourselves and others from them. Don’t miss her analogy for the three types of leadership strategies with social media. DismissivePassive Engaged Donya tells us to follow Roni Habib at eqschools.com for inspiration and aspiration in the space of leadership and personal well-being. Great leaders ask this question daily: “Are my people taken care of?” This transcends resources, facilities, pay, etc. She wants to know if those she leads truly feel taken care of.Don’t miss what she says about “raw, authentic, heartfelt conversations.” Donya wants to master the art of patience. Joe says that TJ is not a person to ask for help in this area. She talked about growing as a leader and why it’s imperative to surround yourself with people who are different from you--political leaders, community leaders, thought leaders in various fields. She delivered a great call-to-action: We need to get outside of our comfort zones when it comes to bringing people into our circle. She recommends Blindspots: Hidden Biases of Good People for school leaders who want to uncover their own biases and move past them. Donya admits that she used to think about short-term results and getting quick wins on accountability metrics, but she’s shifting her thinking to more long-term approaches to teaching, learning, and leading that have a lasting impact on the world. Let us know if there’s a guest who you want us to have on the show by leaving a comment below or by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership content updates every week by subscribing on the site. We can’t wait to hear from you. Joe & T.J.
In this episode the Leading Better and Growing Faster podcast for school leaders, Joe and T.J. tackle strategies for building an environment where teachers want to work and want to stay. As our good friend, Principal EL, always says, “trying to find, hire, and retain teachers is like the hunger games.” There is definitely a shortage of qualified teachers, so it is imperative that we hang onto the ones we have. To do so, every school leader must actively work to create an environment where teachers thrive. We recommend a multifaceted approach: First and foremost, celebrating and praising the dedication and hard work of educators is paramount. Recognize their achievements, both big and small, not only to boost morale but also to reaffirm their value in the school community. Secondly, finding more time for teachers to engage in professional development, collaboration, and self-care is crucial. We know it’s difficult, but school leaders must uncover ways to reduce the unnecessary administrative burden placed on staff, prioritizing time for their growth and renewal.Lastly, creating leadership opportunities within the school empowers teachers to take ownership of their roles, fostering a sense of purpose and investment in their work. This three-pronged approach is grounded in celebration, time management, and leadership cultivation.In the episode, T.J. digs into one the communication feedback models that we work with school districts on, including Specific Praise. The challenge is that managers believe they do this, but most workers disagree. Joe doubles down on the need for the 3Rs: Recuperate, Rejuvenate, and Regroup. Leaders often mistake downtime as wasted time, a major mistake. We suggest finding time for staff to achieve the 3Rs at work and beyond. The key is to communicate the goal and intended usage of the time provided for them. Lastly, don’t forget to lift your influential teachers. They can galvanize school culture, but they should be developed as well. Do not leave their growth to chance. Find ways to give them leadership experiences and avenues to grow as a leader.Achieve the aforementioned strategies and you will be well on your way to developing the school culture where teachers thrive.Let us know if there’s a topic you want us to cover by leaving a comment below or by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership content updates every week by subscribing on the site. We can’t wait to hear from you. Joe & T.J.
Joe and T.J. Recommend that School Leaders Read The Song of Significance and Retention for A ChangeIt’s no mystery that we are big fans of Seth Godin, especially T.J., but there is a good reason for that in terms of learning to lead better and grow faster. In many ways, Godin challenges conventional wisdom, but yet remains practical in his advice. His insights are unique, and school leaders can benefit from his work. Here’s what you’ll learn from this podcast:Find your unique voice as a school leader to help develop the school environment that empowers teachers and students. There is no greater superpower than authenticity. Schools are not only a part of the community; in many respects they are a community within themselves. Godin writes about tribes and groups that join together to unlock potential. Schools are a natural place for this work. It requires a skilled leader to create the right conditions, though.Lastly, Godin talks about generosity. Tune in to find more.We always feel a little odd showcasing our own work. However, Retention for A Change (RFAC) is packed with great strategies, from practitioners for practitioners.Learn how to Motivate, Inspire, and Energize your team.Uncover key ways to onboard and support your new hires. The real work starts when the hiring is done. Lastly, schools are in a constant state of transition. We would love for things to slow down and for the waters settle, but we don’t see that happening any time soon. RFAC recognizes that reality in education and provides school leaders with real tools to navigate the daily grindl. Let us know what you’re reading by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership newsletter every week by subscribing on the site. We can’t wait to hear from you. Joe & T.J.
In this episode the Leading Better and Growing Faster podcast for school leaders, Joe and T.J. tackle strategies for building an environment where teachers want to work and want to stay. As our good friend, Principal EL, always says, “trying to find, hire, and retain teachers is like the hunger games.” There is definitely a shortage of qualified teachers, so it is imperative that we hang onto the ones we have. To do so, every school leader must actively work to create an environment where teachers thrive. We recommend a multifaceted approach: First and foremost, celebrating and praising the dedication and hard work of educators is paramount. Recognize their achievements, both big and small, not only to boost morale but also to reaffirm their value in the school community. Secondly, finding more time for teachers to engage in professional development, collaboration, and self-care is crucial. We know it’s difficult, but school leaders must uncover ways to reduce the unnecessary administrative burden placed on staff, prioritizing time for their growth and renewal.Lastly, creating leadership opportunities within the school empowers teachers to take ownership of their roles, fostering a sense of purpose and investment in their work. This three-pronged approach is grounded in celebration, time management, and leadership cultivation.In the episode, T.J. digs into one the communication feedback models that we work with school districts on, including Specific Praise. The challenge is that managers believe they do this, but most workers disagree. Joe doubles down on the need for the 3Rs: Recuperate, Rejuvenate, and Regroup. Leaders often mistake downtime as wasted time, a major mistake. We suggest finding time for staff to achieve the 3Rs at work and beyond. The key is to communicate the goal and intended usage of the time provided for them. Lastly, don’t forget to lift your influential teachers. They can galvanize school culture, but they should be developed as well. Do not leave their growth to chance. Find ways to give them leadership experiences and avenues to grow as a leader.Achieve the aforementioned strategies and you will be well on your way to developing the school culture where teachers thrive.Let us know if there’s a topic you want us to cover by leaving a comment below or by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership content updates every week by subscribing on the site. We can’t wait to hear from you. Joe & T.J.
In this podcast, we are completely focused on successfully implementing and managing the multiple initiatives that can be found in every school system. What you’ll find in this episode:Despite the enormous amount of various initiatives in schools, maintain a mindset that sees how they all fit into the system versus it being “one more thing.”Zoom out to gain a greater perspective so you can successfully organize the initiatives and work into buckets. Very often the area of focus may gel nicely with work already being done. As a school leader, be sure to include teacher voice and their perspective. They will point out obstacles and roadblocks that will save an enormous amount of time. Let teacher leaders run with the work, but don’t leave them out to dry. Providing ongoing leadership development and capacity building is key. Lastly, do an inventory of all the programs and initiatives. Sometimes the work overlaps with other efforts and either something can be eliminated or coupled. Let us know if there’s a topic you want us to cover in our short Leading Better & Growing Faster episodes by leaving a comment below or by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership content updates every week by subscribing on the site. We can’t wait to hear from you. Joe & T.J.
Leading Better and Growing Faster with Joe & TJ: Guest Debbie Silver Talks about Inspiring Educators to Enjoy the Job They Once LovedAbout Debbie SilverDr. Debbie Silver is a former Louisiana Teacher of the Year, a best-selling author, and a highly sought-after speaker. She has presented to educators, administrators, parents, and students in 49 states, Europe, Asia, Africa, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and the Middle East. Her best-selling books include Drumming to the Beat of Different Marchers, Teaching Kids to Thrive, and the recently updated and revised Fall Down 7 Times Get Up 8, and Deliberate Optimism: Still Reclaiming the Joy in Education. Debbie’s high-energy sessions address both the art and heart of teaching. Audiences delight in hearing this 30-year veteran teacher whose presentations are described as “where learning collides with laughter.”What You’ll Find in this Episode with Debbie SilverDebbie starts off with the fact that her book Deliberate Optimism focuses on leadership, specifically teacher leaders. Dr. Silver talks about the need for teachers to have more time without students so they can break the stagnation and build a relationship culture.Don’t miss what she says about optimism and “what matters.” Debbie talks about incremental steps rather than massive changes. We need to balance the art and the heart of teaching. She reminds us to look for glimmers, not triggers. She dives into the idea of failing better and building our collective efficacy.She talks about teaching educators to vent properly and not pull the profession down. Don’t miss what she says about new teachers not having more than 4 hours of teaching a day so that they can spend more time observing master teachers. T.J. asks Debbie about modeling. Don’t miss her response and her call for unity. Her insight about teacher training and isolation is thought provoking. What we expect from teachers, specifically new teachers, is impossible and unlike any other profession. Joe mentions the potential that PLC have to support teacher capacity and growth. Listen to what she says they cannot be. Her ingredients for leadership success are straightforward: common vision, shared value system, mutual respect, and optimism. Debbie brings up Brene Brown, Rick Wormli, Association of Middle Level Educators, and other resources that you’ll want to check out. The one thing people should do more regularly is to give others the benefit of the doubt. She reminds us that adults want to be treated like adults. Dr. Silver ends with wanting to learn more about how to use Artificial Intelligence. Our riff on Chat GPT is great.Let us know if there’s a guest who you want us to have on the show by leaving a comment below or by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership content updates every week by subscribing on the site. We can’t wait to hear from you. Joe & T.J.
Walk into any school and you’ll find countless different types of work being done. Yes, teaching and learning are at the heart of what we do, but a great school culture, one where teaching and learning can thrive, is about so much more. Creating this kind of culture places a huge demand on countless people who are doing exciting work. But, at times, with all of the spinning plates, it can also be overwhelming.
It’s easy to get caught up in the fast-paced, whirlwind of initiatives and responsibilities that can tax even the most formidable educator. The goal is to successfully lead initiatives, striving to achieve the goals of the school, yet without burnout looming. This requires the effective use of proven leadership strategies along with a collaborative approach, paving the way for successful implementation.
That’s why we picked these two books as our recommendations for school leaders who want to implement initiatives well. They provide the tips, tools, and tricks for the necessary learning and insight to do just that.
Joe and T.J. Recommend that School Leaders Read These Two Books
These two books are powerful reads that can transform how you operate and manage initiatives in your schools.
T.J. tell us that one major take away that we had from Right From the Start was to find bright spots. Jim Marshall tells us that school leaders often look for gaps to fill, but the bright spots show us the places that need replication. The bright spots are those areas that are working well and performing optimally. We often want to fix things, but it is within the bright spots where we identify what is working and potentially what can be reproduced elsewhere.
Don’t miss what we say about the power of preplanning as well!
In our recommendation that school leaders read Every Teacher a Leader we emphasize the need to build teacher leaders and to invest in the capacity to influence others. School administrators cannot do it all, and they certainly won’t do it well without the help of teachers. Schools are constantly implementing initiatives and that reality should prompt every school leader to embrace this mindset--the need for teacher leaders--and drive change through their development.
The classroom is the most important space in a school, and at the end of the day, teachers need to be inspired and empowered to teach, learn, and lead.
Our reading tip for this month is simple: find reading material and books that support the ancillary aspects of what you are trying to achieve. For example, if you are implementing restorative practices in your school, don’t only read books on that topic. Yes, it’s critical to become highly skilled in that space, and there are great books to help you on that journey, however, digging into Chip and Dan Heath’s book Switch, which covers the psychology of change, can prove to be invaluable. Pick something up that isn’t in the typical school leader’s library or playlist.
Enjoy these books to lead better and grow faster as school leaders. We always appreciate a like, a follow, a comment, or a share. And, if you read our newest book, please rate it on Amazon. It helps.
Let us know what you’re reading by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership newsletter every week by subscribing on the site.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Joe & T.J.
About Miriam Plotinsky Miriam Plotinsky is an instructional specialist with Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland, where she has taught and led for more than 20 years.
She is the author of Teach More, Hover Less, Lead Like a Teacher, and Writing Their Future Selves (W.W. Norton & Company). She is also a National Board–Certified Teacher and a certified administrator.
What You’ll Find in this Educational Leadership Podcast Episode with Miriam Plotinsky
Miriam says that her new book--Lead Like a Teacher--was pretty much an accident. She simply found that the schools with more teachers at the table had stronger cultures.
She talked about teachers’ misconception of school leaders as well as school leaders’ misconception of teachers. She called this “the empathy gap.”
Miriam points out that “if you don’t know the story, you’ll create one. And, it might be wrong.”
Miriam acknowledges that we often learn from the models we have around us, which is only a good thing when the model is effective. Otherwise it works against us.
Hear Miriam discuss why visibility is so critical for a school leader.
Miriam gave us some insights into how the book unfolds, including what she calls “macro” and “micro” aspects of school leadership.
She calls for more classroom visits. We couldn’t agree more.
Don’t miss what she says about “Wait Time 1” and “Wait Time 2” as both teaching and leadership strategies. We can’t disagree with talking less to learn more.
Miriam mentions Twitter as a place to go to find like-minded people and new ideas.
She identifies some well known and not so well known resources that are valuable for all educators. She points to Teachers Going Gradeless as a cool organization. She also calls out Edutopia and ASCD as well as Solution Tree as great resources.
Miriam uses the ten-minute reset each day to make sure that she does something that she loves. Tune into what she says about movement and breaks.
She talks about being a “dabbler” in a bunch of things, and she wants to learn how to write more nonfiction. And, we all agreed to learn how to be more funny.
Joe reflects on the need to get more people involved early in our process for any given initiative.
Don’t miss what she used to think about those who wanted to go into administration and how her perspective has changed.
Let us know if there’s a guest who you want us to have on the show by leaving a comment below or by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership content updates every week by subscribing on the site.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Joe & T.J.
About Jim MarshallJim Marshall’s life-long work lies at the intersection of people and the organizations in which they work—and optimizing the synergy that fertile convergence holds. A Professor of Educational Leadership at San Diego State University, his scholarship, teaching, and consulting combine our understanding of human performance and organization development to assess strengths, devise strategy, and improve even the most vexing of challenges. With over 200 publications to his credit, Marshall’s scholarship encompasses a diverse range of works that include empirical research, program evaluation efforts, and policy development. His evaluation endeavors are particularly significant and include more than 250 individual studies of funded projects and program investments totaling over $120 million dollars. He serves as a thought partner to leaders seeking to hasten the collective impact of their organization’s investments. From assessing strengths and needs to conceptualizing strategy and program initiatives and then measuring return on investment, Marshall’s unique approach relies on a proven mix of assessment and evaluation, appreciative inquiry, and empathic understanding that predictably yields quantifiable results. His book, Right from the Start: The Essential Guide to Implementing School Initiatives, summarizes lessons learned through evaluation of hundreds of programs in both the public and private sectors. What You’ll Find in this Educational Leadership Podcast Episode with Jim MarshallJim starts with his experience as the evaluator of initiatives and projects, which led him to write the book. He has been able to reflect on what school leaders could do differently at the start of initiatives, which would make all the difference in the long run. Jim calls for careful and thoughtful planning for initiatives so that when we get to the implementation phase we end up with a more predictable result. Joe asks about the balance between whether the initiative itself is the problem or the people who execute it. Don’t miss what Jim says about how people interface with the initiative. You want to hear what Jim says about his motivation equation: motivation = value * convince. He gives credit to Vroom through his expectancy theory. Jim argues that a “program” is like the tip of an iceberg while an “initiative” should be able to get to the deeper parts of the iceberg. Jim recommends that we start by looking for bright spots in our work. He calls it “appreciative inquiry.” We typically look for things to fix, and that’s not always the best way to evaluate what works and what doesn’t. Jim wants to know why there’s not more knowledge and shared best practices among schools and outside organizations. Don’t miss what he says about dissemination of best practices. He talks about his continued strategy for growth. He runs through the use of performance engineering. Jim used to think of evaluation as “gap analysis,” now he looks for strengths first. Jim ends by saying that this work doesn’t have to be complicated. We couldn’t agree more!Let us know if there’s a guest who you want us to have on the show by leaving a comment below or by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership content updates every week by subscribing on the site. We can’t wait to hear from you. Joe & T.J.
Joe and T.J. Recommend that School Leaders Read In Search of Deeper Learning and Fearless SchoolsWhat you’ll discover in this episode of Leading Better & Growing Faster w/ Joe & T.J.We recommend In Search of Deeper Learning for school leaders. We also recommend Fearless Schools for school leaders. Why in the world is Joe wearing a NASA Jacket?There is “deeper learning at the margins and why the periphery is more important than the core.” This is an excellent example of how this book pushes the boundaries. The key tenets of a learning culture.Evidence of learning. What does it look like in classrooms? Trust is imperative for psychological safety.Focus on learning at every level within the hierarchy of schooling.Each episode, Joe and T.J. leave a tip to lead better and grow faster. This month’s reading tip is to read these books with your team! Don’t miss what Joe says about it. Developing a learning culture requires time and effort, but the dividends are incredible. How does your culture stack up?Let us know what you’re reading by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership newsletter every week by subscribing on the site. We can’t wait to hear from you. Joe & T.J.
About Jennifer AbramsFormerly 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 and author who works with educators and others on leadership development at all levels, effective collaboration skills, having hard conversations and creating identity safe workplaces. Jennifer’s publications include Having Hard Conversations, The Multigenerational Workplace: Communicate, Collaborate & Create Community, Hard Conversations Unpacked: the Whos, Whens and What Ifs, and Swimming in the Deep End: Four Foundational Skills for Leading Successful School Initiatives. Her newest book, and the focus of this episode, is Stretching Your Learning Edges: Growing (Up) at Work. Jennifer shares her work in other mediums as a featured columnist on growth and change for Learning Forward’s The Learning Professional journal as well as contributing to The International Educator (TIE) focusing her writing on adult development and collaboration skills. Jennifer has been invited to keynote, facilitate and coach at schools and conferences worldwide and is honored to have been named one of the “18 Women All K-12 Educators Should Know,” by Education Week’s ‘Finding Common Ground’’ blog. More about Jennifer’s work can be found at her website, www.jenniferabrams.com. and on Twitter @jenniferabrams.What You’ll Find in this Podcast Episode with Jennifer AbramsJennifer starts with the fact that “we speak to” being lifelong learners, but are we really living up to that? What if we developed ourselves in ways that allowed us to respond rather than react? Listen to what she says about the typical response to feedback. Joe asked why we have such trouble with a learning culture. Jennifer’s response is profound--time, being “done” as a learner, school leaders assuming that the adult is already good enough.You have to hear what she says about the difference between how teachers are given prep periods but not reflection periods. T.J. asked about why educators often become defensive when given feedback or asked to make a change. Jennifer puts it simply: the system is not designed that way. We don’t have the apprenticeship-style learning that would induct us into the profession as a learner. Jennifer talks about resiliency as working on our own emotional and psychological hygiene. Don’t miss what she says about Pigpen and how people can bring in a lot of dust.Education is complex. Listen to what she says about shifting from “teacher of record” to “a space of learning” and how it can have a huge void. You want to know how to use the tool she describes to get people to check their energy when we start a meeting. Jennifer follows Shane Parrish at Farnam Street. She also studies Jennifer Garvey Berger, Cultivating Leadership for adult learners.Pay attention to her leadership check-in questions that gauge relationship health, but can work well with a team. Jennifer wants to learn how to cook better. She wants to feel free to fail. Powerful statement.Three things to do to learn and grow as a leader: Find a conference and attend as a learner. Find a conference and apply to co-present with someone. If you’re interested in someone’s work, find them. Reach out to them. Jennifer reveals that she has a cognitive crush on Peter Block, author of The Answer to How is Yes. Lastly, Jennifer reminds us that you can get things done. Just go forth and do it.Let us know if there’s a guest who you want us to have on the show by leaving a comment below or by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership content updates every week by subscribing on the site. We can’t wait to hear from you. Joe & T.J.
Joe and T.J. Recommend that School Leaders Read Harvard Business Review’s On Mental Toughness and Success Through A Positive Mental AttitudeIn this episode, you’ll hear key points made by both T.J. and Joe about two books every school leader should read to mind your mental map to the future.T.J. immediately underscores that On Mental Toughness has a bonus article with Martin Seligman. Dr. Martin E.P. Seligman is the Director of the University of Pennsylvania Positive Psychology Center.You also don’t want to miss the critical points he makes on mental toughness and the value of perseverance.Joe shares one of his favorite books because of the power of the success principles featured in it, Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude. Spend a life pursuing them and you will grow as a person and a leader. Each episode, Joe and T.J. leave a tip to lead better and grow faster. This month’s reading tip is to build in time to reflect on what you’ve read. This is easy to do but so often we just move on without reflecting on how we might apply the information in the books we read. Knowledge without application serves no one and won’t make you any better than you were before you started reading. Let us know what you’re reading by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership newsletter every week by subscribing on the site. We can’t wait to hear from you. Joe & T.J.TheSchoolHouse302.com
In this episode, Joe and T.J. explore what it really means to mind your mental map. Our minds can be very scary places if we are not careful. School leaders must remain in a productive space in order to lead effectively, but the thread of events throughout the day and week can take their toll. This is why school leaders must do the following:Flip Your ThinkingDon’t Jump to JudgeAdapt, Don’t AdoptKey Points from Joe & T.J. T.J. starts the conversation on the crucial importance of being aware of the potential of living in Groundhog Day--experiencing the same set of events over-and-over.Joe double downs on some ChatGPT, unfinished learning, school climate, an increase in student discipline, the teacher shortage, ESSER funds running out, and how we frame all of these circumstances in our minds is critical. Yes they are problems, but where are the possibilities? We are firm believers that with the right approach, no problem is unsolvable. Take control of your thinking and flip it. Listen to T.J. talk about Tim Ferris and how he approaches an issue. Innovation and analysis--think with your team.Don’t jump to judge--so easy to judge others by their actions and not intentions. Adapt, don’t adopt--put an issue on its side.Perceptual illusion--what don’t you see?Let us know a topic that you want us to cover by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership newsletter every week by subscribing on the site. Like, follow, share, comment--we appreciate it! We can’t wait to hear from you. Joe & T.J.
About Nancy and Elizabeth JorgensenElizabeth Jorgensen has been published in many popular journals, including the English Journal, Edutopia, Teachers & Writers Magazine, and many, many more. Her book on process-based assessment, Hacking Student Learning Habits, was published by Times 10 Publications in 2022, and her most recent book was released in October 2022, Gwen Jorgensen: USA’s First Olympic Gold Medal Triathlete, which is our focus today, along with her co-author and mother, Nancy. She has presented nationally and is an award-winning writer and teacher and sought-after speaker. Nancy Jorgensen was a high school choir director for many years, she is the co-author of two music education books, Things They Never Taught You in Choral Methods and From the Trenches: Real Insights from Real Choral Educators. She is also the author of several essays and an Olympic blog, published in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Very impressive teachers and family!What You’ll Find in this Podcast Episode with Nancy and Elizabeth JorgensenListen to this incredible story of mother and daughter working in the same school and how Nancy (mom) was publishing articles and other work, and how she went to Elizabeth (an English teacher) to help with editing. Then, Elizabeth asked her to return the favor. They’ve been writing together ever since. Nancy explains why candor was critical with her children. There’s no time to slow down to “be nice.” Don’t miss what Elizabeth and Nancy say about ideation and staying on task, including the kind of feedback they want and expect from each other. We really liked the concept of the “beta-readers” to help with polishing work before publication. They get very granular about their writing and editing process. It’s fascinating to hear how they can often lose track of who wrote the initial piece. The research behind why they wrote Gwen Jorgensen: USA's First Olympic Gold Medal Triathlete is fascinating. Their discovery: there aren’t books available for young people about female athletes.One powerful theme in the book comes from how Gwen listened to a track coach even though she didn’t consider herself a runner.Nancy and Elizabeth emphasized the power of listening and embracing what others see in us, even if we don’t see it in ourselves.Elizabeth talked about the essence of feedback and how Gwen refined her skills to grow into an Olympic Gold medalist. Don’t miss how school leaders can use these lessons in each and every classroom. The point about strength-identification is a powerful takeaway. Elizabeth’s answer on the power of reflection and the activity of having students write letters is something every teacher can do. What Nancy says about student leadership in the choir classroom is profound. We were not surprised to learn that both of them follow Gwen as a positive force in their lives. In fact, they have to follow her on social media because she’s so busy. The way that Elizabeth uses social media to praise and celebrate the people she follows is an awesome strategy. The goals that Gwen makes public about her olympic training is both vulnerable for her and inspirational for the rest of us. Elizabeth talks about the need for sleep. You need the Oura ring! Nancy talked about sticking to a schedule as a superpower. Nancy wants to learn how to run and do a 5K with Gwen. Liz suggested that hiring a coach is a game changer!Elizabeth talked about her desire to be more patient, compassionate, and kind. Especially in her response and delivery to others. Nancy used to think that she had an obligation to certain groups but now gives herself the freedom to say no. Let us know if there’s a guest who you want us to have on the show by leaving a comment below or by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership content updates every week by subscribing on the site. We can’t wait to hear from you. Joe & T.J.
Mitch Weathers Joins Joe & T.J. Mitch became a gifted teacher because he was a mediocre student. He rarely felt comfortable in the classroom. In fact, it took him 7 years for him to graduate from college.Choosing to become a teacher, Mitch was fortunate enough to experience school as if it was happening all around him. He was unsure how to jump into his learning with confidence. There is a loneliness to experiencing your education as a passive object as opposed to an active subject. From the moment he entered the classroom Mitch relied on his personal experiences as a learner. He recognized that what we teach, the content or curriculum, is secondary. We must first lay the foundation for learning before we can get to teaching. In fact, unless students develop a solid foundation for learning it does not matter how great your teachers deliver content, or how emergent the technology, or even how engaging a lesson might be. Mitch designed Organized Binder to empower teachers with a simple but research-backed strategy to teach students executive functioning skills while protecting the time needed for content instruction. The secret is found in establishing a predictable learning routine that serves to foster safer learning spaces. When students get practice with executive functions by virtue we set them up for success.What You’ll Find in this Podcast Episode with Mitch WeathersMitch starts this episode with a clear definition of executive functioning, including debunking the myth that it’s only for special education students. He says that executive functioning skills is an umbrella term with a bunch of other skills working toward executive functioning.Mitch is surprised that more people aren’t talking about executive functioning because it’s so foundational for how students learn. We can’t just focus on what students’ learn, we need to teach them how to learn. This results not just a bump in their grades but a big boost to their confidence. Joe asked a very poignant question: why don’t we teach executive functioning skills, making our life as teachers even harder than it needs to be? Here what Mitch says about time and Zone of Genius.How are executive functioning skills best learned? Modeling and deliberate practice in a safe space. T.J. brings up the point that executive functioning skills have to be part of our equity work. If EF helps to level the playing field for all students, they need to be embedded in our equity plans. One key to helping students develop executive functioning skills is to have very predictable routines in the classroom. Mitch talked about the fact that consistency is a huge factor in students’ ability to learn. Joe asks Mitch to outline how he teaches teachers to help students with these skills. Mitch mentions that a school wide approach is important. Listen to what he says about shared learning routines. Don’t miss Mitch’s five part series on executive functioning skills, which is totally free. The tenets of executive functioning: clarity, routine, and modeling.It was a lot of fun to hear Mitch talk about “working memory” and how teachers can learn to use students’ working memory through routines at the beginning and end of every classroom period. Don’t miss the discussion on what good instruction looks like!Success criteriaClear goalsStructured reflectionMitch brings up Marzano and the importance of exposing students to concepts multiple times. The Leading Better & Growing Faster with Joe & T.J. ShowLet us know if there’s a guest who you want us to have on the show by leaving a comment below or by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership content updates every week by subscribing on the site. You appreciate a like, comment, follow, or share. And, if you’re reading our books, please rate them on Amazon. We can’t wait to hear from you. Joe & T.J.
In our most recent book, 7 Mindshifts for School Leaders: Finding New Ways to Think About Old Problems, we introduce 7 Mindshifts that principals and other school leaders can use to solve problems that are constantly plaguing our schools. It’s important that not every problem requires these shifts, but rather those that are important, persistent, and urgent. When a problem is IPU, we use our first mindshift, A Crisis Mindset.In this episode, Joe and T.J. explore what it really means to use a Beginner’s Mindset when solving a problem. It’s hard to accept, but our experience can prevent us from seeing solutions. Joe and T.J. were first introduced to this concept when they interviewed the late Richard Elmore on what it means to be a learning leader. Key Points Reinforced Throughout the PodcastThe Beginner’s Mindset sheds preconceived ideas and thoughts on what should be done. Our own expertise can get in the way of seeing ideas and opportunities.Look to great business examples like Sarah Blakely of Spanx who sought to solve a problem she was facing as a real estate agent. Who would have thought she would have revolutionized shapewear? The Spaghetti Tower activity says it all.Each mindshift in the book is equipped with a model to help school leaders navigate the process of analyzing a problem and finding new solutions. The Beginner’s Mindset Model is designed to ignite the childlike mind needed to see new possibilities and dream new realities.We hope you enjoy this book to lead better and grow faster as school leaders. We always appreciate a like, a follow, a comment, or a share. And, if you’re on Amazon, please rate it.Let us know what you’re reading by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership newsletter every week by subscribing on the site. We can’t wait to hear from you. Joe & T.J.
Joe and T.J. Recommend that School Leaders Read 7 Mindshifts for School Leaders: Finding New Ways to Think About Old ProblemsWe want to share some of our favorite aspects of our newest book, 7 Mindshifts for School Leaders: Finding New Ways to Think About Old Problems. Written with our co-author, Connie Hamilton, this book calls into question some of the problems with our Educational Industrial Complex, problems that have persisted for too long, and the mindshifts that it will take to truly challenge the status quo. It’s for any school leader who wants better outcomes for all students. If you’re fine with the way things are, it’s not for you.Consider a problem, which is frankly too common: poor attendance. Lots of students miss days here-and-there rather than stringing them together with an obvious and long absence. The problem is that a student who misses a couple of days in September is likely to miss a whole month of school by the end of the year. Think of the type of impact that this kind of poor attendance has on student performance, socialization, reading proficiency, and a host of other things. We might otherwise not even catch the problem, and when we do, we often don’t have models for examining and fixing the problem. A nuance here is that attendance is not always on the radar screen. Picture a school who is uber focused on elevating reading proficiency. This could be a costly mistake, spending money and time on reading resources when the problem isn’t the reading program but rather student attendance rates. Maybe if students were in school for a great percentage of the days that school is in session they would have better reading proficiency scores. That’s why this book is so powerful. We introduce 7 models that can be used with your teams to help examine problems under a new light. In this episode of Leading Better & Growing Faster with Joe and T.J., we feature two of our favorite models from the book. Joe describes the Octopus Approach and how it can be used to help make sure that the many variables associated with an issue are brought to the table before a decision is made. This model is designed for implementing systems thinking in your school. T.J. covers a second model called, Disciplined Tunnel Vision. Having tunnel vision can be seen as a negative response, but there is a need at times for an all out, complete-and-utter, focus on an issue for it to be solved. T.J. discusses our six-part practical change model that schools can use from developing a vision for a change all the way to the creation of specific model for what that change looks like in practice. The first three steps are common, but that’s only 50% of what will get you to the implementation of something new in your school. Enjoy this book to lead better and grow faster as school leaders. We always appreciate a like, a follow, a comment, or a share. And, if you like this new book, please rate it on Amazon. It helps. Let us know what you’re reading by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership newsletter every week by subscribing on the site. We can’t wait to hear from you. Joe & T.J.
Our job is to make the learner’s thinking visible. ~ Paul Blooberg About Paul BloombergDr. Paul Bloomberg is the Founder and CEO of The Core Collaborative Learning Network based in San Diego, CA and New York City. The mission of the Core Collaborative Learning Network is to expand learner ownership and agency through building a culture of belonging and efficacy through collaborative inquiry. The Core Collaborative defines “learner” as ALL the people in a system who partner with students. The Core Collaborative strives to cultivate learners who embody empathy, open-mindedness, patience and perseverance who use their energy and expertise to make a positive impact in the world we share with others.Dr. Bloomberg is the co-author of the best-selling book, Leading Impact Teams: Building a Culture of Efficacy, a lead author of Peer Power! Unite, Learn and Prosper: Activate an Assessment Revolution through Mimi and Todd Press and a lead author on The EmpowerED Learner eToolkit. Paul has led multiple, successful school turn-around efforts and believes that public education must play a major role in deconstructing systems of oppression.His new book, which we talk about in this episode, is called Amplify Learner Voice through Culturally Responsive and Sustaining Assessment. Paul served on the National Parents Union Board of Directors. The National Parents Union is a network of highly effective parent organizations and grassroots activists across the country that is united behind a set of common goals and principles to channel the power of parents.Paul lives with his husband, Tony, in California. Alex and Taylor, Tony and Paul’s sons, are the inspiration for launching the Core Collaborative in 2014.Paul starts with the concept of systems. He talks about how some schools are thriving more than others and what we need to do to re-think formative assessment through a cultural lens. What You’ll Find in this Podcast Episode with Paul Bloomberg Paul starts with a vital aspect of how all educators can effectively engage students, Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education (CRSE). This is about changing what we do to meet students’ needs through culturally responsive formative assessments. We dive into the conversation about assessments and the cross-section between traditional grading and equity. None of us can answer the question about why more schools aren’t moving to more culturally responsive grading? There is power in interviewing students. Listen to what can shock teachers into creating a different type of learner-focused environment. Don’t miss what Paul says about the textbook industry: “I can’t do it anymore” applied to covering all the concepts that we’re giving in our content areas. Paul mentions Dr. Allen Daly as his mentor. The social justice focus of his doctoral program left a mark that he uses in all of his work today. Paul talks about “active listening” and reflecting back what people are saying and feeling as a super-tool for leadership, for teaching, and for learning. Paul talked about wanting to learn how to be a restorative practitioner. His answer is heartfeltReframe negative thinking Wake up and be optimistic Treat people with dignityT.J. mentions the wisdom from Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg that links to #1 above. He talks about The Science of Happiness Podcast as a learning and growth strategy for himself. Paul answered the last question with something he learned from Omar Mercado: a trigger is your own responsibility, not that of others, even the people who trigger you. Let us know if there’s a guest who you want us to have on the show by leaving a comment below or by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership content updates every week by subscribing on the site. We can’t wait to hear from you. Joe & T.J.
About Tanya SheckleyTanya Sheckley is Founder and President of UP Academy, an elementary lab school which values innovation, empathy and strength and incorporates a unique neuro-development program for children with physical disabilities. Tanya’s vision and mission show it’s possible to celebrate differences, challenge what’s broken in the American education system, and that all children can receive a rigorous, well rounded education. She is an edupreneur, author of Rebel Educator: Create Classrooms of Imagination and Impact, and host of the Rebel Educator podcast. She speaks frequently on the future of education and entrepreneurship. She is a rebel educator who works with new and existing schools to question the status quo and develop innovative student experiences through inclusion and project based learning.What You’ll Find in this Podcast Episode with Tanya SheckleyFrom selling beer to educating children. Don’t miss Tanya’s journey to creating UP Academy. She opens up about her daughter's education and her search for “other ways” of educating students with disabilities. We all have the one lesson that stands out in our own education, her diorama project sounds amazing!Her journey in the creation of a school is inspiring. Tanya knew they had to forego many of the policies and procedures and focus on the family and child. A strictly student-centered experience. Tanya talks about shifts that schools need to make to revolutionize how we deliver education, especially to students with disabilities. A “rebel educator” pushes the status quo and asks questions like, why are we doing this? Who is getting the advantage, and is there a better way?Don’t miss her juxtaposition of homework and creative play. Leading change is never easy and she tells us to start small with “activators.” And then others will become interested. Tanya looks to a womens’ founders group on Facebook who have great questions as entrepreneurs. T.J. recalls the foundational stories that we curated for 7 Mindshifts for School Leaders. She recommends walking and running in the morning as a way to make sure that our minds don’t get sluggish. Move! Tanya wants to learn how to play the piano. So many of our guests care about the arts. Looking for a coach? She jokes that TheSchoolHouse302 is a great place to go! We appreciate that and you’ll want to hear what she says about coaching and how to find one. Listen to her change of heart about children, especially working with them. Books We Recommend Based on this Podcast with Tanya Sheckley Rebel Educator: Create Classrooms Where Impact and Imagination Meet by Tanya SheckleyLet us know if there’s a guest who you want us to have on the show by leaving a comment below or by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership content updates every week by subscribing on the site. We can’t wait to hear from you. Joe & T.J.
What You Should Know About DanDan Shortridge, author of DIY Public Relations, is a communications and marketing consultant and author with more than 20 years of experience in the trenches of local public relations and daily journalism. He's led communications for a school district and state government agencies and has helped support small businesses and nonprofits. He holds a master's of education in instructional design and a bachelor's in business administration--marketing. Before moving into public service, he worked for 11 years as a reporter, editor, and designer at newspapers in Delaware, Maryland, and Ohio. A national award-winning reporter, he was part of a team that won a Sigma Delta Chi Award for Public Service Journalism from the Society of Professional Journalists, and was an Ochberg Fellow with the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma. He's also the co-author of three local-interest books about Delaware and Delmarva. He can be reached at danshortridge.com.What You’ll Find in This Episode with DanDan makes it clear that marketing is both a business function and a leadership function. It’s not a “nice-to-have thing” but rather a must-have. He talked about the many benefits of good marketing. He kicks us off with gems right from the start. Joe asked about how school leaders can get started, and Dan talks about your core story--what are the three top impressions that you want your audience to know about? Dan talks about the broad themes that leaders can think about as takeaways that they want for their audience and then the stories that go with those themes. Don’t miss what he says about knowing your audience and the wide variety of audiences that we have, including parents, students, community members, voters, politicians, union members, etc. He also reminds us that how we target each is vital since we can’t be everything to everybody.Don’t get overwhelmed! Dan tells us that your communication plan only needs to start as a couple of pages. Want to know which platforms to use and which strategies help with public perception? Don’t miss the answer to this one. Dan’s Mantra is classic marketing: the most amount of people for the least amount of effort. What’s the plot and compelling narrative? Think about obstacles and challenges, characters, and resolutions.Dan points us to Jesse Cole from the Savannah Bananas as someone to follow. Creative, unique, and different!Don’t miss what he says about reading novels!Dan wants to learn more about photography. Listen to what he says about the value of a photo and the gift his wife possesses.Check out How I Built This, a podcast that Dan recommends. Dan used to think that a story needs a nice neat ending, but he realizes now that stories can be messy and unfinished. Let us know if there’s a guest who you want us to have on the show by leaving a comment below or by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership content updates every week by subscribing on the site. We can’t wait to hear from you. Joe & T.J.
In this episode of 302 Thoughts, Joe and T.J. riff on how school leaders take control of their school’s story. Schools are unique and complex hubs of the community, doing incredible things each and every day that must be shared.
The harsh reality is that many people believe that schools are failing our students. There is no doubt that schools and schools systems can improve, but great things are happening and need to be showcased.
T.J. begins by explaining the very nature of our schools and how resources and support are paramount for success. We don’t overlook this because marketing is secondary to the critical work in schools that must be done up front. However, once that work is moving forward, we have to showcase the school, the students, and the staff.
People already have an impression of schools so the narrative school leaders portray must be true, accurate, and also unique. If someone graduated from high school then they’ve taken biology. However, many of today’s biology classes are working with instrumentation and conducting labs that are fascinating in ways that past generations didn’t experience--showcase it! Shock people with knowledge and with a window into the great learning that is going on every day.
Be sure to feature who you are, not just what you are. This was one of the key takeaways from TheSchoolHouse302 OneThingSeries Podcast with Amanda Holdsworth. Schools are small cities with a tremendous number of cool things going on and great people who do awesome work. Share it! Involve the students, don’t be afraid to use Tik Tok, and most importantly, have fun.
Joe’s one thing is to keep the branding efforts raw and organic. Schools aren’t marketing firms and nor should they act like one. That said, the digital age we live in allows for authentic and everyday marketing efforts. Easy to do, use it often and use it well.
T.J.’s one thing is to ship the work! Get it out there. Don’t hesitate. Take inventory of the great things going on, including the unique about the school, and blast it out for the world to see.
Let our team know if there’s a topic that you want Joe and T.J. to cover by leaving a comment below or by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com.
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Joe & T.J.
About Amanda Holdsworth Dr. Amanda Holdsworth, APR, is the founder of Holdsworth Communications, a PR and enrollment marketing agency in the education sector; the School Comms Lab, a membership community for school communicators; and Comms Mom, a global community for moms working in communications.
A former collegiate tennis and soccer player, Amanda earned a B.S.B.A. in Communications Management and Honors International Studies from Robert Morris University, and both a Master of Arts in Strategic Public Relations and a Doctor of Education in Organizational Change and Leadership from the University of Southern California.
Amanda’s work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, CNN Money, Fast Company, Forbes, Inc. and Parents Magazine, but her pride and joy is her family: husband, Doug, a successful entrepreneur and two daughters, Avery and Shelby.
What You’ll Find in this Podcast Episode with Amanda Holdsworth Amanda has done PR work in higher education, private schools, and public schools. Her insight about marketing and branding your school is invaluable. Learn how “to cut through the noise.”
It’s all about telling the story about the people who work in the organization. Create connections by telling their story to the community. Don’t miss the Curt Schilling example.
Too many PR agencies, schools, and districts still think that public relations are about sending out press releases…not true.
She gives sage advice regarding how stories should tie the school to the community so that it matters to the interests of the local people.
T.J. gravitated toward the concept of an “ideal customer avatar” and how the ICA drives the narrative. The people, the vision and mission, and the impact the school is making are all ICA drivers.
To develop your ideal customer avatar, we need to enumerate our audiences. Schools and districts have multiple audiences, all with different interests. Who are we communicating to? What are their interests? Who can help us get the word out?
Schools can’t have a one sided relationship with local journalists. You’ll want to hear what Amanda says about supporting relationships with the press so that they know how to help when the time comes.
Amanda talks about the trend in the ability to get a hold of national press versus local organizations.
Amanda tells us about a two-prong approach that she learned at USC--have a strategic PR plan as well as “brand ambassadors.”
Amanda connected us to Jeremy Tiers to study how higher education is attracting students. Check out @coachtiers.
She talks about practicing gratitude as something that all leaders can do daily. Use this sentence stem: “I’m so lucky to be in a position to…”
She acknowledges that she has never seen this degree of negative reporting about schools, making gratitude even more important.
Listen to why she wants to play the bass guitar.
Amanda has learned to stay in her lane. Schools and districts can learn to focus on what they do best and how we can communicate that.
Don’t miss what she says about being afraid to be an entrepreneur and what she realized when she went out on her own.
Amanda ends by saying that we should tell the stories of our teachers and staff. Who is the school nurse? What can we share about the bus driver? It’s a people business. Let’s tell their stories.
Let us know if there’s a guest who you want us to have on the show by leaving a comment below or by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership content updates every week by subscribing on the site.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Joe & T.J.
School leaders who want to build a strong school brand recognize the importance of learning specific skills to do so effectively. This month Joe and T.J. offer two books that reinforce their 5 ways that school leaders can think like a marketer and tell your school’s story.
Culture is King--Marketing is about who you are, not what you are Great Brands Make a Difference--Marketing is about innovation and leadership First Follows Matter--Marketing is about knowing “the others” Stand Out Amongst the Crowd--Marketing is about being unique Show Up Regularly--Marketing is about being consistent
Joe’s Pick: The Power of Small: Why Little Things Make All the Difference Featured Authors: Linda Kaplan Thaler & Robin Koval Joe is a huge fan of Thaler and Koval’s work. The Power of Small is born from the genius that has birthed some of the greatest marketing advertising campaigns that we are familiar with. The simple mention of Aflac and our mind immediately goes to the duck. Enough said, they’ve done their jobs.
What’s special about this book, though, is that it IS NOT a how-to book, but rather a book filled with stories that showcase the right mindset in order to be successful. We can’t ignore the details, the small things, and the discreet chances of success.
T.J.’s Pick: This is Marketing: You Can’t Be Seen Until You Learn to See Featured Authors: Seth Godin
T.J. may be Seth Godin’s biggest fan, and This is Marketing is definitely one of his favorite books. The power in Godin’s work is how he frames marketing. He explains that it’s not just about selling “soap.” Instead, marketing is really about solving a problem. Godin talks about how the leader is someone who is willing to do something that might not work and how that changes the culture forever.
Most importantly, Godin breaks down marketing in five crystal clear steps that you won’t want to miss. He skillfully acknowledges the traps that we all fall into without being offensive or condescending to his readers. He doesn’t just highlight our mistakes but encourages us and provides a great path forward. “Ship the work!” “Ship it!”
Technical Tip for Leaders Who Read Each month, Joe and T.J. leave listeners with a tip. Both of these books should be read patiently and studied all the while. Joe mentions the art of Sacred Reading and how monks studied the bible to truly understand what they were experiencing. Although these aren’t holy texts, the idea is to fully embrace what you are reading so that you are a different person when you are done.
Enjoy both of these books to lead better and grow faster as school leaders. We always appreciate a like, a follow, a comment, or a share.
Let us know what you’re reading by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership newsletter every week by subscribing on the site.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Joe & T.J.
About Jonathan Alsheimer Jonathan Alsheimer is the unorthodox, energetic, and entertaining middle school teacher who refuses to live a life of limitations. Jonathan is often referred to as "my favorite teacher" by his students, and he’s the author of NEXT LEVEL TEACHING. As a passionate educator and National Keynote Speaker, Jonathan Alsheimer presents about limitless possibilities for teachers and the impact of an infectious classroom and school culture. NEXT LEVEL TEACHING is about every teacher bringing their unique flair to better their school every single day, always reaching for the NEXT LEVEL. Jonathan, taught at the world-renowned Fred Lynn Middle School, which was featured in two documentaries "Relentless" and "Relentless: Chasing Accreditation." He has been featured as the teacher who forged a partnership with UFC Fighter and light-weight contender Paul Felder to bring the message that students should never give up, fighting for their education, and empowering them to believe in themselves, all principles that Jonathan promotes in his classroom. As Jonathan always says, "Game-changing is not a cliche motto; it is a way of life...some talk about it while others live by it!” What You’ll Find in this Podcast Episode with Jonathan Alsheimer Jonathan starts out of the gate on fire! His energy is almost a superpower.
Listen to him dispel the misunderstanding about what it means to be a “next level teacher.” It’s not about perfection.
Jonathan opened up about the stress that teachers feel and what school leaders can do about it. These are things leaders can do right away.
When asked about protecting teachers from minutiae, Alsheimer talked about meaningless meetings that “kill the heart of the staff.”
Don’t miss what Jonathan says about teachers’ time and what it takes to plan an awesome lesson.
Jonathan talks about working together so that we don’t all have to work harder. Let’s pool our resources and share more. Think about what this would mean for new teachers!
Jonathan gives administrators advice: Develop “lesson plans” for staff meetings. Reflect on the agenda items--are they critical? Does the meeting focus on learning, teacher development, and relationships?
Jonathan throws out a number of ideas to gamify the classroom and make it more fun for students. How can you use this in your classroom?
Alsheimer mentions Dave Burgess (@burgessdave), Jimmy Casas (@casas_jimmy), Hamish Brewer (@brewerhm). Bottom line, go on Twitter.
Teachers and leaders should see us smiling and having fun. If we want kids to be motivated to learn, we have to be motivated to teach and lead.
You have to hear what Jonathan says about turning a worksheet into an activity. He literally cut it up and put it into paper bags to make it more fun and exciting for kids.
Oh, Boy! Wait till you hear what he says about diving with sharks and our response as Delaware beach-goers.
Jonathan talks about being tough on himself in a competitive way to get 1% better each day. He reflects on his “why” often, and that reflection makes a difference for his growth and perseverance.
He thinks about what kids deserve, including his own, and that fuels his drive each day.
He used to think that test grades matter; now he thinks that growth is the bigger deal.
Let us know if there’s a guest who you want us to have on the show by leaving a comment below or by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership content updates every week by subscribing on the site.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Joe & T.J.
If You’re Going to Lead then You Must Read Learning and growing as a school leader through reflection, training, and experience is a professional choice. One powerful way to improve is through reading great books, which is why we feature two books on a particular topic each month. These are books that we have curated from 100s of titles to help school leaders to lead better and grow faster.
This month we are completely focused on the 5 ways that school leaders can support new teachers. These are five research-based strategies to support and retain your most vulnerable teaching population. This is critical becasue we are definitely facing a crisis in education. School districts are moving to four-day weeks simply due to lack of staff. In a recent Ed Week article by Madeline Will, she wrote the following,
“...the researchers estimate that there are more than 36,500 teacher vacancies in the nation. They also estimate that there are more than 163,500 positions filled by teachers who aren’t fully certified or are not certified in the subject area they’re teaching.” Will, M. Ed Week (2022)
The data are staggering. If you want to dig into the government database and find out specifics in your state, click here.
The Definitive 5 Ways to Support New Teachers
1. Maintain high standards while providing support for growth
2. Increase productivity by being present and using praise
3. Balance risk and autonomy to unlock innovation
4. Communicate the expectations of the position
5. Provide meaningful mentorship
These are proven ways that demonstrate support, while maintaining a culture of excellence and high standards. To support these efforts, we feature two great books to help you as a leader.
Joe’s Pick: The Power of Unstoppable Momentum: Key Drivers to Revolutionize Your District Featured Authors: Michael Fullan & Mark A. Edwards
The Power of Unstoppable Momentum is an incredible book with very specific examples about how to achieve dramatic results in your school.
There are few features that really stand out for Joe in this book: Technology is not the answer. Time-and-time again research shows that technology is a tool that highly effective teachers master. The tool itself is not the answer.
Fullan and Edwards provide very specific ways for schools to excel, specifically through coherence, which is the “...the degree to which people at the school and district levels have a common sense of the district’s core priorities and how to achieve them” (Fullan & Edwards, 2017).
T.J.’s Pick: Retention for A Change: Motivate Inspire, and Energize Your School Culture Featured Authors: Joseph Jones, Salome Thomas-El, & T.J. Vari
We rarely promote our own work, but this book is written on the topic of teacher retention, and we dedicate two chapters to new teachers. This is the second book in a two-part series designed to attract and retain incredible teachers. Both books, Building a Winning Team and Retention for A Change are built on the effective reading strategy, BDA.
T.J. dives right into explaining how school leaders must embrace their responsibility to build a culture that Motivates, Inspires, and Energizes the staff.
He emphasizes that the book is filled with practical stories that any school leader can implement for great school success.
Lastly, this book is filled with models to guide leaders. Whether it is the BDA, which can be applied in a number of strategic ways, or striving for Habitual Happiness Highpoints, the models guide school leaders.
Enjoy both of these books to lead better and grow faster as school leaders. We always appreciate a like, a follow, a comment, or a share.
Let us know what you’re reading by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership newsletter every week by subscribing on the site.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
In this episode of 302 Thoughts, Joe and T.J. dig into how school leaders must be very tactical about supporting their new teachers. So much time is spent identifying personnel needs, preparing for interviews, drafting the right questions, using the write words in the position posting, and the interview itself, but all of that means nothing if you fail to support teachers once they are hired. That’s all preparation for the game, not the game itself. If you want to play at a higher level, you realize the real work is after the hiring is done.
In this episode, listen to Joe paint a dismal picture regarding vacancies across the U.S. This is why school leaders can’t mess up onboarding and support. What do the data say, in short, we are in a crisis: 36,500 teacher vacancies 163,500 positions filled by teachers who aren’t fully certified
T.J. develops the conversation further by discussing our most vulnerable teacher populations: Our Best Teachers Our New Teachers
He explains that our best teachers are in high demand, so if they aren’t receiving the support and professional growth they need, they may walk right into the door of another school. The other population is our new teachers. The first few years are challenging, and there are a lot of lucrative industries willing to pay, support, and develop them if they choose to leave early. These teachers will walk out the door and right into another industry; one that is readily waiting to scoop them up and pay more than new teachers make in their first 5 years.
There are only a few solutions to these problems so be sure to tune in and don’t miss what T.J. says about the power of specific praise. Praise seems easy but the data don’t lie: 70% of staff don’t feel celebrated, while 70% of managers say they praise. There is a disconnect somewhere!
Don’t miss Joe’s one key takeaway-- be outrageously involved. You can’t let your new teachers’ growth happen by chance. You need to be connected, often and intentionally.
T.J.’s one key takeaway--leaders need to talk behind people’s back. Not the way you think. You have to hear what he says about what it means for collective efficacy.
T.J. and Joe always provide the how with the what, enabling school leaders to lead better and grow faster.
Let our team know if there’s a topic that you want Joe and T.J. to cover by leaving a comment below or by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com.
Was this forwarded to you? Subscribe on the site.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Joe & T.J.
About Frederick White
Dr. Frederick White is the COO of Digital PD 4 You, LLC and the author of the book, The Skin You Are In: Colorism in the Black Community, the First (2020) and Second (2021) Edition. Frederick has served as a leader in the educational field for twenty-four years.
Dr. White has also spent the past fourteen years serving as an AVID staff development instructor. Dr. White obtained a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Trevecca University and currently serves as a principal of a middle school in Memphis-Shelby County Schools in Tennessee.
His newest book is The Labyrinth of Leadership: Navigating Your Way Through the Maze, which we talk about on the show along with so much more leadership insight for school leaders who are looking to lead better and grow faster.
Follow Frederick on Twitter @fdwhite02 to get his bi-weekly Labyrinth of Leadership tips for school leaders.
What You’ll Find in this Podcast Episode with Frederick White
The Labyrinth of Leadership, as Fredrick explains it, is a solicitation of ideas from leaders around the country--folks with “skin in the game.”
Don’t miss what Dr. White says about his personal take-away from the Labyrinth project.
Listen to the language he uses, so important and grossly undervalued.
Frederick talks about self-reflection as a universal need for leaders. It’s all about finding the time.
Dr. White tells us about the importance of defining the “end product.” This part is profound.
He says that the greatest leaders are the ones who are willing to continue to grow, regardless of how much they have achieved.
Joe asks Frederick to explain one of his recent tweets about celebrating small wins. Every school leader needs to hear this.
Dr. White talks about the difference between goal setting and dream chasing. This alone is worth the listen. Be a dream chaser!
You want to hear the part about failure being the struggle that we often need to grow. Frederick’s butterfly story is awesome.
Frederick mentions both Principal Kafele and Todd Whitaker as inspiration.
Check out The Principal Project.
Advice from Dr. White: pause and go for a walk. Just taking the time to walk and observe is powerful for peace, self-reflection, and a solid reminder of what we want and need.
Frederick is striving for the most perfect environment he can provide. His reflection about this is great.
To continue to grow, Frederick starts by never settling. He looks to be present with his teachers to learn from them. He mentions writing and researching as things that force him to continue to grow.
Books We Recommend Based on this Podcast with Frederick White
What Great Principals Do Differently by Todd Whitaker
Is My School Better Because oI Lead It by Baruti Kafele
Let us know if there’s a guest who you want us to have on the show by leaving a comment below or by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership content updates every week by subscribing on the site.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Joe & T.J.
302 Thoughts for School Leaders
In this episode of 302 Thoughts, Joe and T.J. dig into how school leaders must shift their minds to lead better and grow faster.
Shifting our mindset is not easy. It requires a dogged pursuit to focus our mind in the most productive ways to function better as a leader. There are two major shifts that are worth making--embracing courage instead of being ruled by fear and maintaining a long-term mentality. Both of these are challenging but incredibly rewarding.
In this episode, listen to Joe describe the power of cognitive dissonance and the stockdale paradox that we learned from Jim Collins.
Learning to push forward and donning a cape of courage, rather than fretting with fear, is the mental shift that will push an organization forward.
T.J. reminds listeners that the key is to fear less, not be fearless. Dive further into this idea with Tim Ferris and Performance Psychologist Michael Gervais.
Lastly, Joe talks about how you can do this through the power of teamwork and developing collective efficacy.
Joe’s one key takeaway for school leaders is that shifting from fear to courage is a choice. Be aware of the situation and then move forward.
T.J. brings up a critical notion about data usage in schools. Having a data consciousness allows you to deal with reality when confronted with opinion. You’ll want to hear more about how to do this as a school leader.
The truth is that if you're leading, you are not alone. Learn to lean in and lean on others. This is where T.J. picks up the ball and pivots to the other critical mental shift--Long-Term thinking.
Don’t miss T.J. discuss the critical importance of pre-planning.
T.J. talks about how leaders are susceptible to falling into the trap of constantly putting out the urgent fires at the expense of what’s important. This is one of the key concepts from our latest book, 7 Mindshifts for School Leaders.
T.J. also dives into time-blocking for an effective way to schedule each day. This is not a strategy that you want to overlook. Especially, if you are facing the difficult crossroads of important versus urgent work.
Readers are reminded of the 5 bad boss behaviors to avoid.
T.J.'s one key takeaway for school leaders: plan. Leading is a choice that can’t be left to chance.
T.J. and Joe always provide the how with the what, enabling school leaders to lead better and grow faster.
Let us know if there’s a topic you want us to cover by leaving a comment below or by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership content updates every week by subscribing on the site.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Joe & T.J.
Leaders are Readers
Learning and growing as a school leader through reflection, training, and experience is a professional choice. One powerful way to improve is through reading great books, which is why we feature two books on a particular topic each month. These are books that we believe can help school leaders to lead better and grow faster.
This month we are completely focused on two mental shifts that school leaders must make for greater success. The first is shifting from a place of fear to operating in a space of courage. The second is shifting from short-term thinking to long-term thinking. As easy as it is to grasp both of these concepts as necessary, shifting the mind from fear to courage and from short-term reaction to long-term planning is incredibly difficult. That’s why we’ve chosen these two books that are designed to shepherd you through making the change necessary to lead better and grow faster.
Joe’s Pick: How to Stop Worrying and Start Living Featured Author: Dale Carnegie
First, let’s acknowledge that Dale Carnegie is a beast. His work, How to Win Friends and Influence People is legendary and a must read for anyone who is serious about leading effectively. However, How to Stop Worrying and Start Living is also a phenomenal book, filled with incredible advice that applies to school leadership. There are few things that really stand out for Joe in this book:
Carnegie fills the book with relatable stories from practical people. The stories are real and you’ll find yourself in the people he features. He offers advice that you can implement right away. Suggestions like “living in day-tight compartments” make a ton of sense. Carnegie also writes about the importance of mental attitudes and how to cultivate the right mindset--to make a mental decision to be happy and live a full life, as an example. He reminds readers of the eight most important words we can ever hear, “our life is what our thoughts make it.” ~ Marcus Aurelius
This book is a must read so you too can live and lead from a seat of courage with tools to help you as the worry and fear creep into your life.
T.J.’s Pick: The Power of One More: The Ultimate Guide to Happiness and Success Featured Author: Ed Mylett
If you don’t know Ed Mylett, stop reading this post right now and Google his name: Ed Mylett. Ed is an impressive leader who has taken social media by storm over the last few years. He built his fortune in the financial services industry, as what he describes a team-made millionaire. That’s one reason we love his work. It’s not about Ed. Granted, his endeavors have worked out very well for him, but his service and dedication to people are very evident in his shows and books. Here are a few reasons why T.J. chose The Power of One More as his pick this month:
Mylett humbly describes what “the power of one more” is really about and how he learned to be resilient. His description of his alcoholic, turned sober, father is compelling. Ed attributes much of his success to his father but not always through the good times.
The book is filled with sage advice, but one great takeaway is how Ed organizes his day and time. The advice is radical although it makes sense. Dividing up your day is very effective and can lead to astronomical productivity.
Mylett decrees why this work is important to him. His WHY will inspire you to ensure that yours is clear too.
Enjoy both of these books to lead better and grow faster as school leaders. We always appreciate a like, a follow, a comment, or a share.
Let us know what you’re reading by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership newsletter every week by subscribing on the site.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Joe & T.J.
Leaders have to regularly do hard things. ~ Ryan Hawk About Ryan Hawk
Ryan Hawk is the host of The Learning Leader Show. He has recorded more than 475 episodes over the past 7 years. Forbes called The Learning Leader Show, “the most dynamic leadership podcast around.” Inc Magazine said, “it’s one of the 5 podcasts to make you a smarter leader.” Apple named it an “all-time best seller” in 2020 and 2021.
Ryan is the author of Welcome to Management: How To Grow From Top Performer To Excellent Leader. Book Authority named it to its 100 Best Management Audiobooks of all time (#25). Forbes called it, “the best leadership book of 2020.” Ryan’s second book is called The Pursuit of Excellence: The Uncommon Behaviors of The World’s Most Productive Achievers. It sold through its first printing in eight hours and shot to the top of the Amazon rankings.
Previously, Ryan worked in corporate America for 12 years. He started as an entry-level telephonic sales rep and worked his way to manager, director, and ultimately VP of sales for a multi-billion-dollar company.
When he’s not recording podcasts or writing books, he tries to help leaders be more effective. Some of the ways that he does that is through Leadership Circles, 1:1 advising, and teaching in The Learning Leader Academy (the online school that he created). Ryan has delivered hundreds of keynote speeches on leadership and performance excellence all over the world.
What You’ll Find in this Podcast Episode with Ryan Hawk
Ryan mentions tremendous leaders and their ability to change their mind. Don’t miss what he says about being hard on values but soft on beliefs.
Check out what Ryan says when Joe talks about humility versus confidence.
Ryan has interviewed tremendous individuals on his Learning Leader Podcast, listen to his Jim Collins reference from Episode 216.
Thoughtful Intentions: find out what kitchen cabinets have to do with leadership and who you surround yourself with.
Ryan says to pick your mentors based on someone who did something that you admire and that they did it in a way that you admire. Don’t miss what he says about specificity.
Ryan talked about his parents and upbringing. Listen to how they were influential in terms of their work ethic.
Listen to what Ryan says about showing up and doing the work without balance to achieve success early and in the long run.
You want to hear how Ryan thinks about seasons, both in life and the year.
You don’t want to miss why Ryan wants to be home at 3:00PM each day and what he’ll do to make that happen.
How he picks his guests for his podcasts is very intriguing and speaks to how he thinks and learns as a leader.
We loved what he says about living at the edge of your current zone of competency. Stretching yourself is critical as a leader. Ask this: Am I going to learn from this?
Cambridge, Massachusetts, home to many mental giants. You’ll want to tune into the simplicity in his answer about imposter syndrome.
Ryan has evolved his thoughts about leadership styles and the meaning of being a leader.
Books We Recommend Based on this Podcast with Ryan Hawk The Pursuit of Excellence by Ryan Hawk
Welcome to Management by Ryan Hawk
Good to Great by Jim Collins
Let us know if there’s a guest who you want us to have on the show by leaving a comment below or by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership content updates every week by subscribing on the site.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Joe & T.J.
In this episode of 302 Thoughts, Joe and T.J. dig into how school leaders can turn adversity into opportunity. Every leader will face issues and how they perceive those problems often determines how they will approach them, which can be the difference between success and failure.
Listen to Joe describe the power of It’s Possible. This isn’t just wishful thinking but an earnest belief that regardless of the situation there is a silver lining. Inspired by Les Brown, Joe makes a compelling case for using this same belief and attitude in education. We know that every school and district is facing issues, whether it’s attracting and retaining teachers, student mental health needs, limited resources, unfunded mandates, etc. Take your pick, the list is long.
T.J. ties this winning mindset to these perennial problems, and if we want to solve the most difficult issues facing education, leaders are going to need the proper mindset. T.J. mentions the crisis mindset definition that we created, which can be found in our upcoming book, 7 Mindshifts for for School Leaders: Finding New Ways to Think About Old Problems.
Crisis Mindset Definition: An unfiltered 360° view and approach to solving problems with urgency that abandons conventional wisdom and accepted restraints until a meaningful solution is found, implemented, and sustainable.
Lastly, they talk about a critical leadership hack: make it tangible. Too often, issues seem abstract and elusive. One way to combat this is by writing the problem on a sheet of paper and setting it in the center of the table for everyone to see. This strategy seems odd, but it allows the group to focus and deal with what is right in front of them. Try it and let us know how it works out.
T.J. and Joe always provide the how with the what, enabling school leaders to lead better and grow faster.
Let us know if there’s a topic you want us to cover by leaving a comment below or by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership content updates every week by subscribing on the site.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Joe & T.J.
Leaders are Readers Learning and growing as a school leader through reflection, training, and experience is a professional choice. One powerful way to improve is through reading great books, which is why we feature a couple of books on a particular topic each month. These are books we enjoy and believe are worth reading.
Our aim is to link great books to our theme for the month. This month we are focused on school leaders recognizing the opportunity within a crisis. We know how incredibly challenging this can be because every issue brings with it the fact that it also dominates everyone’s mental energy, which means that looking for opportunity in the very moment that you’re trying to solve a problem can be daunting. However, the crisis itself may be our only chance to think differently to not only solve the problem at hand but also determine what advantages may arise during the situation that can be applied in the future. Because this type of thinking is necessary during a crisis, we chose these two powerful books this month. Common with John Maxwell books, they offer sage advice coupled with practical skills. Great leaders don’t just read books to gather tips and steps for how to lead but also the style of thinking required to lead better and grow faster. Great leaders are heavy readers and deep thinkers.
Joe’s Pick: Good Leaders Ask Great Questions Featured Author: John Maxwell
If you’re going to lead effectively, you have to be able to ask great questions. This book presents questions in two different ways. First, it starts with questions that the leader should ask in various situations. Maxwell lists great questions that can get a conversation started even if you don’t know where or how to begin.
We can’t stress enough how important it is to have canned questions to lean on. Asking great questions to get to the root of a problem is hard, and this book offers several gems. Second, the book details many of the questions that Maxwell has been asked as a leader. The insight into his thinking is powerful and will help any leader consider the various ways to navigate difficult situations.
T.J.’s Pick: Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes into Stepping Stones for Success Featured Author: John Maxwell
This book confronts success head on and why some people achieve it and others don’t. The difference between triumph and failure is a question that many people wonder about and Maxwell offers the answer--response to adversity. He starts the book with a compelling concept from J. Wallace Hamilton who argues that people generally train to be successful while they should be training for failure. And, in typical Maxwell fashion he illustrates his point through great stories, kicking it off with Mary Kay Ash.
If you are going to lead you are going to have problems. It’s inevitable. Effective leaders not only understand that conflict is necessary but they learn how to thrive amid the adversity as they seek to make a change. It means that great leaders are willing to fail forward as they make things better. It’s what Seth Godin says about leadership: leaders are the ones who are willing to do something that might not work. This is a book that won’t disappoint, and every school leader should read it.
Enjoy both of these books to lead better and grow faster as school leaders. We always appreciate a like, a follow, a comment, or a share.
Let us know what you’re reading by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership newsletter every week by subscribing on the site.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Joe & T.J.
When we start a new initiative in schools, we have to take into account the rich tapestry of things that are already in place. ~ Nathan Maynard
About Nathan Maynard
Nathan Maynard is a youth advocate, educational leader, and change maker. He is the co-author of the Washington Post bestselling and award-winning book, Hacking School Discipline: 9 Ways to Create a Culture of Empathy and Responsibility Using Restorative Justice.
Nathan also is the co-founder of BehaviorFlip, the first restorative behavior management software. Nathan studied Behavioral Neuroscience at Purdue University and has been facilitating restorative practices for over 15 years. He was awarded “Youth Worker of the Year” through dedicating his time with helping underserved and underprivileged youth involved with the juvenile justice system in Indiana. He was on the founding administration team that opened Purdue University’s first high school in 2017, Purdue Polytechnic High School, serving youth in inner city Indianapolis, Indiana. Prior to his four years as a school administrator, he was a youth worker and program director in a youth residential treatment care center.
He is passionate about addressing the school-to-prison pipeline crisis and closing the achievement gap through implementing trauma-informed behavioral practices. Nathan has expertise in Dialectical Behavioral Coaching, Motivational Interviewing, Positive Youth Development, Restorative Justice, and Trauma-Informed building practices to assist with creating positive school climates. He now runs a team of people who do restorative implementation work, called the Restorative Group. Check them out restorativegroup.org.
What You’ll Find in this Podcast Episode with Nathan Maynard Nathan starts the podcast with a strong stance on how systems and structures are necessary for innovation to last, particularly those on restorative practices.
Nathan gives us a quick history lesson on how restorative practices are tied to indigenous roots.
One pillar of innovation is listening. Nathan talked about using qualitative data in addition to quantitative data, particularly within micro-communities.
Nathan mentions Dr. Luke Roberts from Cambridge and his powerful work within systems.
Don’t miss what Nathan says about internalizing change and attacking fixed disposition. He truly appreciates The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.
Nathan’s insight about the ripple effect of innovation and restorative justice is transformative.
Nathan talks about what makes a good leader great. He refers back to Dr. Luke Roberts a second time. The story that Nathan tells about how Dr. Roberts changed his mind regarding restorative practices is great. Very impressive.
He recommends being more self-aware and being conscious of your self-talk. His personal strategies are great tools for every leader. You need a bowl with water and ice…listen why.
Nathan talked about getting better at collecting “street data.” Check out Street Data by Shane Safir and Jamila Dugan
He learns by listening, interviews, being involved in groups, and honoring others’ ideas. This part is inspiring.
“Success doesn’t have to be tangible.” Nathan used to think that it was all about the external data. He switches that point-of-view to an internal notion of success. Listen to what he says about making success intangible.
As always, let us know what you think of this with a like, a follow, or a comment. Find us on Twitter, YouTube, iTunes, Facebook, & SoundCould. And, again, if you want one simple model for leading better and growing faster per month, follow this blog by entering your email at the top right of the screen. We hope you’ll tell a friend or book us to join your team for professional learning.
TheSchoolHouse302 is about getting to simple by maximizing effective research-based strategies that empower individuals to lead better and grow faster.
Joe & T.J.
In this episode of 302 Thoughts, Joe and T.J. dig into how leaders can implement, develop, and support innovation in schools by identifying three ideas that actually work for school leaders.
Innovation in schools is often a byproduct of other areas of focus. For example, if schools purchase instructional technology, many leaders hope that the byproduct will be innovation. The fallacy in this approach is that the tool is the primary focus and not a culture of innovation beyond what the tool might provide. We know that computers and other devices alone don’t improve instruction or student performance nor will they be used with efficacy and excitement if the culture doesn’t already support innovation.
However, in the right hands, those tools can completely transform a classroom. This is why innovation is so critical; it’s not a thing, but a value. By maintaining and fostering innovation as a value, we can permeate other areas of schooling and not just the obvious application of new tools, like technology.
Other school practices demand innovative thinking. From human resources and creating innovative hiring practices to school discipline and bell schedules. Innovation is critical to reach greater heights of performance. This is why school leaders have to be intentional and embrace their role as the chief innovation officer.
This doesn’t mean that school leaders have to be the model innovator, but rather create the culture that nurtures it. To ensure that this happens, we offer a unique 3-part model to help school leaders think about what it means to create a culture of innovation.
Listen to Joe describe how great schools and its leaders don’t put a lid on innovation. The school must maintain innovation as a norm during meetings, professional learning, PLCs, all facets of the organization.
T.J. explains how the three core areas of focus--diversity, open dialogue, and risk-taking--are essential.
Diversity: Diversify the staff and other teams for new and unique thinking. Open Dialogue: Create norms where new ideas are free-flowing in safe spaces. Risk-Taking: Encourage staff to take calculated risks and learn from their experiences.
Lastly, they describe how schools cannot only focus on the WHY, and the reasons for something, but also embrace a “bias for action” and develop a culture of TRY.
T.J. and Joe always provide the how with the what, enabling school leaders to lead better and grow faster. To become a CIO in your school, try the following:
Look at your teams through a diversity lens. Ensure meetings allocate time to discuss innovative ideas and practices. Praise effort and encourage persistence.
We conclude this month’s 302 Thoughts with this quote from Peter Drucker, "If you want something new, you have to stop doing something old.”
Let us know if there’s a topic you want us to cover by leaving a comment below or by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership content updates every week by subscribing on the site.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Joe & T.J.
Great School Leaders are Avid Readers
Learning and growing as a school leader through reflection, training, and experience is a professional choice. One powerful way to improve is through reading great books, which is why we feature a couple of books that we benefit from each month.
Our aim is to link great books to our theme for the month. This month we are focused on school leaders who know that innovation is a key ingredient to successful schools. Innovation in school thrives in a culture that supports diverse and different thinking. Innovation isn’t a thing, it’s not a professional development session; we contend that it’s a value that needs nurturing and support.
For this reason, we chose two books that are must reads for school leaders who want to build environments, for teachers and other staff members, that are innovative. These may not be the first books that you think of when you reach for a book about innovation, but they’ll support your team’s endeavors to actually be innovative versus just talking about what that means for schools.
Joe’s Pick: Flamin’ Hot: The Incredible True Story of One Man’s Rise from Janitor to Top Executive
Featured Author: Richard Montanez
When we think of innovation in schools, we often think of technology. Whether blended lessons, cool assessment platforms, or flipping a classroom, we love the tech innovations that are reconstructing the instructional prowess of many teachers. However, innovation doesn’t begin or end with tech. Rather, it’s a mindset that should permeate every decision we make. This is why we appreciate Richard’s story and the lessons taught throughout this book.
Listen to our description about how teachers and leaders can embrace an “owner’s mentality” to break from conventional thinking and unveil new ideas and new developments.
T.J.’s Pick: Hacking School Discipline: 9 Ways to Create a Culture of Empathy and Responsibility Using Restorative Justice
Featured Authors: Nathan Maynard & Brad Weinstein
We love the old adage, “doing the same thing and expecting different results is the definition of insanity.” There are a lot of things that we do in schools where this applies, especially with school discipline. So often our efforts to correct student misbehavior simply fall short. Don’t get us wrong, this doesn’t mean that people aren’t working hard to help students succeed. But, very often discipline practices are out-of-date and fail to address some of the deeper needs that students have. This is where restorative practices can be very effective, but they require an innovative mindset.
Listen to our explanation about how this book provides an innovative approach to discipline that works toward correcting student conduct, which is likely obstructing their own and others' learning. We love that this book addresses equity, empathy, diversity, and inclusiveness--all elements of a truly innovative mindset in schools.
Technical Tip for Leaders Who Read
We close every Read This Series with a technical tip. This month’s tip is how to read two books a month. Most people believe that you need to be a fast reader to consistently devour books. Not true. It’s not speed, but consistency. Consider an average reading pace of 200 words per minute. This is a very reasonable pace. If you read 20 minutes a day, that’s 4,000 words per sitting. The average book is about 64,000 words. This means that f you read 4,000 words a day, you will read a book every 16 days. That’s about 2 a month.
Enjoy both of these books to lead better and grow faster as school leaders. We always appreciate a like, a follow, a comment, or a share.
Let us know what you’re reading by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership newsletter every week by subscribing on the site.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Joe & T.J.
About David Brazer
S. David Brazer is Principal Consultant at. Formerly Associate Professor and Director of Leadership Degree Programs in the Stanford University Graduate School of Education (where he earned his Ph.D.), Brazer continues to design courses and teach in the Stanford EdLEADers online professional development program for executive level education leaders. Brazer’s theory development and empirical research on strategic decision making, leadership, teacher learning, and organizational design have appeared in numerous peer-reviewed journals and edited volumes. Brazer is the lead author of Leading Schools to Learn, Grow, and Thrive: Using Theory to Strengthen Practice (with Scott C. Bauer and Bob L. Johnson, Jr., 2019, Routledge). He has also published (with Robert G. Smith) Striving for Equity: District Leadership for Narrowing Opportunity and Achievement Gaps (2016, Harvard Education Press), and (with Scott C. Bauer) Using Research to Lead School Improvement: Turning Evidence into Action (2012, Sage Publications).
What You’ll Find in this Podcast Episode with David Brazer
Open-minded, engaging, inquiring…don’t miss what David says about asking questions and becoming a “learning leader” who is willing to listen to the answers.
David’s discussion of how educators respond to poor performance in Algebra I is insightful. It says so much about our common problems in education and will resonate.
David says that we need to engage in WHY questions, not about purpose, but to uncover the root causes for the problems we have.
What David says about stress and reverting to old routines is powerful. When we ask people to change, we have to know that it will cause stress. It means that we need to ensure that they feel safe so that they don’t go back to old practices.
Every leader wants to motivate their staff, David references Frederick Herzberg and Hygiene Factors when discussing what de-motivates people. You’ll want to hear what he says about what leaders should attend to!
Don’t miss what David says about “dreaming” big to make plans about what school could be if we’re focused and that we’re poised to take risks.
We love what David says about the elements of a learning experience.
David discusses the need for people to try out new practices in simulated settings before having to do it in reality when they’re under pressure.
David didn’t hesitate to mention Larry Cuban as a place where he gets knowledge and inspiration.
Referencing Dewey, what David says about social construction for knowledge and the simple truth about “talking to people” is awesome.
David wants to get better at asking questions before responding with passion. Don’t miss what he says about learning about teachers’ theory of action.
David is a reader. Don’t miss why David chooses to read more books than articles.
David attributes Scott Bauer to turning his academic life around.
David used to think that there are leadership rules-of-thumb that work in schools, but he learned long ago that rules-of-thumb for school leadership are mythical. Listen to his analogy about school discipline.
Books Mentioned During the Podcast with David Brazer
The Black Man in America by Larry Cuban
The Managerial Imperative and the Practice of Leadership in Schools by Larry Cuban
Student-Centered Leadership by Viviane Robinson
More Free School Leadership Resources for Principals
As always, let us know what you think of this with a like, a follow, or a comment. Find us on Twitter, YouTube, iTunes, Facebook, & SoundCould. And, again, if you want one simple model for leading better and growing faster per month, follow this blog by entering your email at the top right of the screen. We hope you’ll tell a friend or book us to join your team for professional learning.
TheSchoolHouse302 is about getting to simple by maximizing effective research-based strategies that empower individuals to lead better and grow faster.
Joe & T.J.
In this episode of 302 Thoughts, Joe and T.J. dig into a major responsibility of school leaders that very often poses challenges. Although professional learning is common in schools, not everyone views it as a primary vehicle for getting better. Whether for personal development or improving instructional practices, leveling up one’s skills aren’t always viewed with a positive attitude.
There are a host of reasons for this in schools, but one thing that must be in place to change the culture is that the leader needs to view themselves as a professional growth influencer. School leaders have to be intentional, not only with which trainings they bring to staff, but for casting the vision for how and why everyone in the school must grow.
To improve this aspect of school culture, we believe that three things must occur, which are discussed in this episode.
Listen to Joe describe how great schools build great teachers within healthy systems. The school itself needs to be viewed as a living, breathing organism and its health needs to be monitored routinely.
T.J. explains how every school has a dynamic staff with a unique set of talents and skills and it is the school leader’s responsibility to tailor learning accordingly. That’s not all though. This is a two-pronged approach, the other prong is that the professional learning needs to be real and relevant--grounded in the nuances of the school or district.
Lastly, they describe how growth is intentionally developed through leadership opportunities. Effective school leaders create opportunities for teachers to take on a variety of roles from professional learning responsibilities, non-evaluative and non-threatening peer observations, researcher roles, community outreach, assessment team leader, and a host of other possibilities.
T.J. and Joe always provide the how with the what, enabling school leaders to lead better and grow faster. To become a professional growth influencer, school leaders must know and do the following:
Conduct interviews and inventories about the unique strength of the teachers. Without this understanding, you’ll likely plan one-size-fits all PD.
Ensure alignment between the learning opportunities and the vision, goals, and initiatives of the school. Misalignment creates strife and frustration.
Delegate responsibilities and support teacher leaders. Teacher leaders are the life-blood of great schools, but the making of a great teacher is not the same as the making of a great leader.
We conclude this month’s 302 Thoughts with this quote from Abraham Maslow: "One can choose to go back toward safety or forward toward growth. Growth must be chosen again and again; fear must be overcome again and again." In this type of environment, growth is a core value integrated into the culture.
Listen to Joe and T.J. take a deep dive into how school and district leaders, at all levels, can rethink growth in schools.
Let us know if there’s a topic you want us to cover by leaving a comment below or by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership content updates every week by subscribing on the site.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Joe & T.J.
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Great School Leaders are Avid Readers
Learning and growing as a school leader through reflection, training, and experience is a professional choice. One powerful way to improve is through reading great books, which is why we feature a couple of great books each month.
Our aim is to link great books to our theme for the month. This month we are focused on school leaders who want to build a culture of growth in their schools. Growth in any given area requires intentionality with time specifically dedicated to supporting personal development.
For this reason, we chose two books that are must reads for school leaders who want to build environments, for teachers and other staff members, that nurture growth.
Joe’s Pick: The Advantage: Why Organizational Health Trumps Everything Else in Business Featured Author: Pat Lencioni
In this podcast, Joe quickly identifies why The Advantage is a powerful read for growth-driven leaders. Unlike Lencioni’s other books, this is not fable but rather a guide to develop an organization’s health.
Listen to why an organization’s health is bigger than culture.
Joe also identifies quick ways to determine how well an organization is functioning. As Lencioni points out in the book, there should be minimal politics and confusion, high morale and productivity, and low staff turnover, which is the purpose of Retention for a Change as well.
T.J.’s Pick: Time, Talent, and Energy Featured Authors: Michael Mankins and Eric Garton
T.J. lands on Time, Talent, Energy this month, knowing that if you desire to grow people, then you need to fully understand the impact of time, talent, and energy on what the author’s call “organizational drag.” Not using the three wisely can lead to disastrous results.
Listen to T.J. describe how these are the scarcest resources that need to be protected in schools.
He also reveals how the right culture unearths the unique talents within a school and district. Additionally, companies often focus on the strategic goals, financial capital, but fully understanding how to manage your team’s time, talent, and energy is just as, if not more important.
Technical Tip for Leaders Who Read
We close every Read This Series with a technical tip. This month’s tip is to journal specifically on what you are reading about. Leaders gain results from reading when they take 5 to 10 minutes for free-writing on what the book content means to you and your leadership.
As educators we tout the critical importance of having students synthesize information, and this is one way that we do it that will yield great results. Don’t let the knowledge you gain go to waste. Ideas are fleeting; write them down and grow your own leadership ability exponentially.
Enjoy both of these books to lead better and grow faster as school leaders. We always appreciate a like, a follow, a comment, or a share.
Let us know what you’re reading by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership newsletter every week by subscribing on the site.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Joe & T.J.
Today’s content was brought to you by GhostBed, a family-owned business of sleep experts with 20+ years of experience. With 30K+ 5-star reviews, you can’t go wrong with GhostBed. Their mattresses are handcrafted, and they come with a 101-night-at-home-sleep trial. For a limited time, you can get 30% by using our code — SH302 — at checkout. And, even if you tell someone about GhostBed, you can earn a $100 referral reward. Go to Ghostbed.com today and use SH302 at checkout.
In this episode of 302 Thoughts, Joe and T.J. tackle a common topic in education--support. Although common, it’s an elusive concept because it means so many different things for so many different people. It is also challenging to do in a systematic and organized way.
We also should clarify that we are not talking about showing support when needed, but rather building a culture of support. In this type of environment, support isn’t an afterthought, but, rather, it is a core value and integrated into the culture. Listen to Joe and T.J. take a deep dive into how school and district leaders, at all levels, can rethink support in schools.
They begin this episode with an overview of their Voices Model.
Joe and T.J.’s model for this month is called Voices.
Joe goes on to explain that this is an important model because it is really about listening. We cannot fall into the trap of supporting individuals based on what school leaders deem important or necessary without hearing the voices from the field. The support should be aligned to the goals and values of the school but should also be tailored toward each individual. That is how many organizations fall short; management shows support in the ways it deems best and it is not necessarily speaking “the language” of the employee.
Listening also means that people feel comfortable talking. To do so, TJ explains the 5 critical areas of support in schools. These areas are taken right from the research we did for Building a Winning Team and Retention for a Chance:
Welcome ideas and suggestions from everyone. Feeling comfortable to share difficult issues. Providing time and space to listen. Feeling like we’re on a team. Ensuring people have the resources to do their jobs well.
Although each of the 5 are independent of one another, listen to TJ explain how they are interconnected and work to build the culture of support through meaningful dialogue and conversations. The last point is of critical importance because if people lack the resources needed to do their job well, it will be a constant source of pain and frustration, which will make people feel unsupported.
Each of these are necessary to get to the core of what is on people’s minds and how they can be further supported by school leaders. Remember, the model is built around teachers, personnel, and students. Each group is unique.
Let us know if there’s a topic you want us to cover by leaving a comment below or by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership content updates every week by subscribing on the site.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Joe & T.J.
This blog post was brought to you by GhostBed, a family-owned business of sleep experts with 20+ years of experience. With 30K+ 5-star reviews, you can’t go wrong with GhostBed. Their mattresses are handcrafted, and they come with a 101-night-at-home-sleep trial. For a limited time, you can get 30% by using our code — SH302 — at checkout. And, even if you tell someone about GhostBed, you can earn a $100 referral reward. Go to Ghostbed.com today and use SH302 at checkout.
About Dan Butler
Dan Butler serves as the principal of Epworth Elementary School and has been named the next Superintendent in the Western Dubuque Community School District effective July 1. Previously, he was the principal of Epworth and Farley Elementary Schools simultaneously for four years, focusing on positive relationships with all members of the learning community, high impact instructional techniques, building leadership capacity in others, and establishing successful school cultures. Prior to serving as an administrator, Dan taught third and fifth grades in the Western Dubuque District, as well as serving as a baseball and football coach. In addition to his responsibilities as a building principal, Dan works as an adjunct professor in the Educational Leadership department at the University of Northern Iowa where he earned his doctoral degree.
Dan has received numerous awards and most recently was recognized as a finalist for the School Administrators of Iowa Elementary Principal of the year in 2019 and 2020. He received the University of Northern Iowa Educational Leadership Legacy award in 2018 and was a 2017 bizTimes.biz Rising Star in the Dubuque area. For more than six years, Dan served as a co-moderator of Iowa Educational Chat (#IAedchat), a weekly Twitter forum dedicated to the latest trends in education. He recently published his first book, Permission to be Great, and has published various articles to Principal Magazine, focused on digital leadership, literacy, productivity, and educator engagement. Dan and his wife, Johna reside in Iowa with their sons, Mason and Nolan. Read more about Dr. Butler by visiting danpbutler.com or follow him on Twitter: @danpbutler.
What You’ll Find in this Podcast Episode with Dan Butler Dan talked about the concept of support for the employee in the work environment. Don’t miss what he says about defining what matters most, including core values.
You’ll want to pay attention to what he says about reactive approaches to support versus proactive approaches to support.
Dan lists some essential questions when creating the right environment: What are the things that need to stay? What are the things that we can remove?
He reminds us that if everything is a priority, nothing is a priority.
Dan reminds us of the very powerful Eisenhower Matrix when we are looking to make critical decisions.
Pay attention to how Dan frames delegation and what you might be doing that takes away from the talents and skills of others.
When asked about key people who Dan tunes into for inspiration, he doesn’t hesitate to talk about the powerful work of Tim Kight. If you want to learn more about culture, check him out.
Dan says that everyone needs a physical activity routine, preferably in the morning. He focuses on mental clarity and other important results from exercise.
Listen to Dan eloquently describes the sweet spot of performance feedback.
We are always intrigued to learn more about people who great leaders turn to for their own growth; Dan describes the work of Greg Deutmeyer and Jenny Hillebrand -- School Talk Podcast.
Dan finishes the interview strong and reminds us that as leaders we don’t have to know all the answers. That success hinges on empowerment and collaboration.
As always, let us know what you think of this with a like, a follow, or a comment. Find us on Twitter, YouTube, iTunes, Facebook, & SoundCould. And, again, if you want one simple model for leading better and growing faster per month, follow this blog by entering your email at the top right of the screen. We hope you’ll tell a friend or book us to join your team for professional learning.
TheSchoolHouse302 is about getting to simple by maximizing effective research-based strategies that empower individuals to lead better and grow faster.
Joe & T.J.
Great School Leaders are Avid Readers
Learning and growing as a school leader through reflection, training, and experience is a professional choice. One powerful way to improve is through reading great books, which is why we feature a couple each month. Our aim is to link great books to our theme for the month. This month we are focused on rethinking what accountability looks like in schools.
We’ve heard from our subscribers that this content is being used as a leadership development curriculum. Kudos to you for investing in yourself as a school leader to grow and improve.
When we think about accountability, a school leader’s mind typically races to state and federal accountability--state assessments, scorecards, and different measures and metrics. This month we wanted to take a different look at accountability, one that speaks to the heart of the work within schools and that drills down into the classroom.
For that reason, we chose two books that get granular with very specific examples of what schools are doing and how to guide practice for improvement.
Joe’s Pick: Performance Conversations: How to Use Questions to Coach Employees, Improve Productivity, and Boost Confidence Featured Author: Christopher D. Lee, Ph.D.
Joe loves Performance Conversations because it is about improving performance. This is a necessary turn in education where administrators develop not only evaluation skills but also coaching skills. Having the ability to coach teachers and staff members to accelerate performance will raise the achievement in any school.
A Few Key Reasons to Read Performance Conversations
This book dives into the power of inquiry, coaching, and positive mindset, making a case for the value of each one and how they develop an individual.
The author clearly supports the use of questioning and how we must view it as a tool--a tool used to generate incredible conversations that inform the listener.
There is also a really cool Continuum of Support figure, detailing the methods of support discussed in the book--Supervisory, Coaching, Mentoring, and Sponsoring.
With a focus on supporting effective cultures, this book is a must read.
T.J.’s Pick: The Carrot Principle Featured Authors: Adrian Gostick & Chester Elton
T.J. landed on The Carrot Principle being his book of the month because, well, he loves this book. There are some books that truly resonate with the reader and this book is one of T.J.’s all time favorites. Here’s why it’s so good: it’s based on empirical evidence and the contents are easy to apply. Everyone can celebrate, and everyone should get better at it. With 70% of managers still skeptical about the use of praise, maybe it’s not praise but rather their confidence with doing so.
A Few Key Reasons to Read The Carrot Principle
Let’s begin with a major, must understand, takeaway for any leader: “79% of people who leave their company cite lack of appreciation as a key reason for leaving.” What? This is something we can change tomorrow.
The authors describe, and this is a main point from T.J., that many leaders are afraid to use praise. The key is not to hold back and to build a culture of systemic recognition.
Another terrific point made throughout the book is that the praise should be done right. A few things not to do: Don’t be vague Don’t be skeptical Don’t be ambiguous
Most importantly, the authors provide their readers with a way to bring recognition and praise front-and-center in four ways: Goal Setting Communication Trust Accountability
Countless leaders work incredibly hard, but what if all of your efforts fall short because you are getting one thing wrong that is in your grasp to change and control.
Enjoy both of these books to lead better and grow faster as school leaders.
Let us know what you’re reading by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership newsletter every week by subscribing on the site.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Joe & T.J.
In this episode of 302 Thoughts, Joe and T.J. take a deep dive into how school and district leaders, at all levels, can rethink accountability in a post-pandemic world. The tough reality is that many of the mandated efforts force school leaders to take a direction that leaves other critical work in its wake. Ask any effective principal, assistant principal, or district leader and they can tell you what needs to happen in schools. It’s time that educators empower one another to redefine accountability and pursue goals that consider the whole child.
Joe and T.J. break down key elements of a school so school leaders can review how effective each one is and assess each one systemically for greater student achievement. This is not a task for the weak-willed. This challenge is for those who rise each day, and before they even put a sock on, are thinking about how they can make a difference in their school. We need clear goals and a follow-up process for each key function within every school. It starts with you today.
During this episode, Joe discussed how the education narrative around accountability should change and become less reliant on annual performance measures. Although annual state assessments can still serve a purpose, the above key functions should have a key measure of performance associated with each of them. Each one covers an aspect of schooling, and if they are all functioning at peak performance, then high levels of learning are far more attainable in the classroom.
T.J. took the opportunity to discuss the importance of setting clear and measurable goals using pre-identified and reliable data. Stiggins and Chappuis contend that students can hit any clear, non-moving target. The same is true for adults. When school leaders, along with teacher leaders, create goals that everyone can get excited about, then everyone and every initiative should be moving toward attaining that measure. The power is in the momentum that is gained and the ability to check to see if things are working.
Joe takes a moment to discuss how this lends the perfect opportunity for feedback. Feedback doesn’t have to be perceived as negative or bad. In fact, we continue to posit that cultures that are built on trust, thrive on feedback. In our One Thing Interview with Joy Kelly, she discusses how great leaders and teachers are able to provide feedback to one another.
This last point goes perfectly with some exciting news that we have to share. TheSchoolHouse302 Candid and Compassionate Feedback Virtual MasterClass is up and running, ready for you to sign up today. This class is built on our first book that has resonated with so many school and district leaders. Be sure to sign up and become a master at providing feedback.
Find us at theschoolhouse302.com.
About Joy Kelly
Joy Kelly has been an educator for more than 25 years. She has served as a high school teacher, 7-12 parochial school principal, and a public high school associate principal, where she was named the Iowa 2015 Associate Principal of the Year.
After serving as high school principal, Joy currently serves as the Head of School at Regina Catholic Education Center. Having been a principal in both public and parochial schools, Joy brings extensive knowledge and understanding of student achievement, community building, student and family engagement, and teacher leadership. Joy believes that the vitality and success of any school rests in the culture of the school community. It is her belief that positive student achievement occurs as a result of the caring and supportive relationships developed among the adults in the school and with the students and their families.
Along with Jimmy Casas, Joy co-authored the book Handle with Care: Managing Difficult Situations in Schools with Dignity and Respect. Joy is the proud mother of five children and believes that her journey with them makes her a better school leader to the students and staff with whom she works every day.
What You’ll Find in this Podcast Episode with Joy Kelly
T.J. starts off with a direct question about maintaining high expectations, while creating a culture that helps people thrive, and Joy immediately debunks the myth that accountability is about what you did wrong.
While describing the power of accountability, Joy reminds us of three human realities: Everyone has a story that impacts how they think, how they feel, and how they respond. We have to remember that everyone has suffered trauma, pain, and hardship. Outward expressions don’t always align with internal feelings. For example, outward anger is often internal sadness. The adults don’t always get it right and should be willing to acknowledge so. At the core of relationships is trust.
Joe asks Joy to dive deeper into how we can connect better with the people we serve. Listen to how Joy creates a culture where we get to really know your staff:
Let them know who you really are as a person and not just as a leader. Staff need to feel valued and heard. Feedback should be a two-way street.
You’ll want to hear the conversation about feedback, discipline, punishment, and how to handle accountability with care.
Leaders should adopt the sentiment that “we don’t have a monopoly on making all the right decisions.”
You have to hear Joy’s story about the student who came to the office without his lanyard and ID. Powerful and humbling.
Learn how Joy gleans a ton from her experiences as a parent, learning from her children. She also describes her powerful relationship with Jimmy Casas and the impact it has on her leadership.
You will definitely want to check out the books she mentions:
Lead with Faith by Sara Johnson The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon Be Excellent on Purpose Sanee Bell Atlas of the Heart by Brene Brown The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
More Free School Leadership Resources for Principals
As always, let us know what you think of this with a like, a follow, or a comment. Find us on Twitter, YouTube, iTunes, Facebook, & SoundCould. And, again, if you want one simple model for leading better and growing faster per month, follow this blog by entering your email at the top right of the screen. We hope you’ll tell a friend or book us to join your team for professional learning.
TheSchoolHouse302 is about getting to simple by maximizing effective research-based strategies that empower individuals to lead better and grow faster.
Joe & T.J.
Great School Leaders are Avid Readers
Learning and growing as a school leader through reflection, training, and experience is a professional choice. One powerful way to improve is through reading great books, which is why we feature a couple each month. Our aim is to link great books to our theme for the month. This month we are focused on rethinking what accountability looks like in schools.
We’ve heard from our subscribers that this content is being used as a leadership development curriculum. Kudos to you for investing in yourself as a school leader to grow and improve.
When we think about accountability, a school leader’s mind typically races to state and federal accountability--state assessments, scorecards, and different measures and metrics. This month we wanted to take a different look at accountability, one that speaks to the heart of the work within schools and that drills down into the classroom.
For that reason, we chose two books that get granular with very specific examples of what schools are doing and how to guide practice for improvement.
Joe’s Pick: What School Could Be: Insights and Inspiration from Teachers across America Featured Author: Ted Dintersmith
This is a unique book because Dintersmith visited schools across the U.S. and reported on some incredible schools doing great work. Very early on in the book, he introduces us to the key principles that emerged as he visited schools across America. He identifies them as P.E.A.K.:
Purpose Essentials Agency Knowledge
Each of the four represents key aspects of high level performance that can be implemented by school leaders. This is why this is a great book for accountability; it describes what is working and what may be very helpful in another school or district. Sustainability and replicability are as important as the identified practice itself.
He also provides a provocative overview of how we got to where we are in regard to schooling. His brief overview and short history of state tests, rankings, and institutes of higher education are fascinating as he describes their impact on innovation in schools.
Lastly, this book is filled with real stories from the field. You won’t be disappointed. Get your copy of What School Could Be today.
T.J.’s Pick: Practice Perfect: 42 Rules at Getting Better at Getting Better Featured Authors: Doug Lemov, Erica Woolway, & Katie Yezzi
There are a few reasons why we love this book. One reason is that the journey to this book’s creation started in a high poverty school, detailed in the book that many are familiar with, Teach Like A Champion. Two, this book is about getting better through practice. Programs are great, but they are only as effective as the individual using them. In our accountability approach, we have a very teacher-centric focus.
A common issue in education is our lilly pad approach to change. Too often, schools jump from one initiative to the next in search of a better program that will yield greater student learning. This isn’t due to leadership laziness in schools, but rather an attempt to find a solution in a short amount of time. However, true growth requires time and practice--Perfect Practice. As T.J. describes in his account, the authors detail key practices like Name It, Make It Fun, and Apply First then Reflect as key tools to improving. Practice also goes perfectly with feedback, which is an essential ingredient to improvement.
Enjoy both of these books to lead better and grow faster as school leaders.
Let us know what you’re reading by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership newsletter every week by subscribing on the site.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Joe & T.J.
In this episode of 302 Thoughts, Joe and T.J. take a deep dive into how school and district leaders, at all levels, can develop, build, and sustain trust in schools. The tough reality with trust is that it is easily lost and hard to gain, which is why we remember this powerful quote by Sophocles, Trust dies but mistrust blossoms.
Joe emphasizes how trust is needed now more than ever, but is definitely in short supply. Not just in schools or education but throughout our country. If there is any doubt to this, just tune into any news channel and listen to the criticism, uncertainty, and mistrust espoused by the commentators.
One thing to always remember as a leader is that we are not always the cause of the mistrust, but we still might be the recipient of it. This is critical for leaders because we need to remain steadfast and focused on the success of our students, regardless of the perceived public perception. This means that we can’t be swayed by our emotions and worries, even though it is incredibly challenging at times.
One way to remain focused as a school leader is to work within the four most powerful domains that yield the greatest student gains:
Leading for the capacity of the staff Ensuring quality teaching in every classroom Establishing goals & expectations through a clear vision Strategic resourcing for effective implementation
T.J. takes the time to explain why trust is mostly counterintuitive in the workplace. Although trust is a universal need, we often work to build trust in the wrong ways in schools.
As we look to develop trust and lead more effectively, we need tools that can remind us of how we can continually develop trust. Joe featured, Speed of Trust Action Cards, that are great reminders of the principles associated with the best selling book, Speed of Trust. Joe keeps these cards on his desk and periodically visits them to remind himself of the crucial ideas.
T.J. took the opportunity to share our REPSS survey and the specific design regarding measuring trust. School culture thrives when trust is at the center, and the survey is built to get a pulse on how people are feeling. Think about the power of knowing how your staff is doing and feeling, particularly during these challenging times. Granted, this also requires courage. It’s easier to keep “leading” and not checking in with those on the front lines. Don’t be average, lead with greatness.
Our 302 Thoughts are monthly recordings as part of our OneThingSeries to help school leaders lead better and grow faster. It’s like school leadership training without having to leave the comfort of your office or home. Look for our other leadership interviews and books that we recommend, all part of the same podcast series at TheSchoolHouse302.
Let us know if there’s a topic you want us to cover by leaving a comment below or by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership newsletter every week by subscribing on the site.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Joe & T.J.
This blog post was brought to you by GhostBed, a family-owned business of sleep experts with 20+ years of experience. With 30K+ 5-star reviews, you can’t go wrong with GhostBed. Their mattresses are handcrafted, and they come with a 101-night-at-home-sleep trial. For a limited time, you can get 30% by using our code — SH302 — at checkout. And, even if you tell someone about GhostBed, you can earn a $100 referral reward. Go to Ghostbed.com today and use SH302 at checkout.
About Robyn Jackson
Robyn Jackson is passionate about building better schools. As the CEO of Mindsteps Inc.®, she has helped thousands of K–12 administrators and teachers develop the clarity and confidence to turn their classrooms and schools into success stories.
Jackson combines her experience as an English teacher and middle school administrator and her work in thousands of schools and districts to help teachers and administrators develop rigorous instructional programs that provide students with the support and motivation they need to reach or exceed the standards and helps refocus vision, mission, and core values to build better schools. She is the author of 10 books, host of the School Leadership Reimagined podcast, and an internationally recognized keynote speaker and consultant.
What You’ll Find In This Episode with Robyn Jackson
Robyn started with the concept that schools can’t do very much of anything well unless the vision is clear. She talked about a hierarchy of needs in schools, and the foundation of trust is built on the vision, mission, and core values.
Don’t miss what Robyn says about how alignment allows for clear decision-making.
Robyn talked about the fact that the vision makes the environment predictable.
The niceties of leadership are discussed and you don’t want to miss Joe’s question on cookies and listening tours.
Robyn upends conventional ideas on developing a shared vision and getting buy-in. Don’t miss her joke about camels and how they are really a...
Listen to Robyn talk about why leaders end up maintaining versus building.
Hear what Robyn says about the myth of buy-in and shared-vision creation. Definitely reminded us of what Doug Reeves shared with us!
Robyn listens to the podcast: Hidden Brain. Check it out!
All leaders should learn to challenge their assumptions. Don’t miss Robyn’s process for training people to get this right as problem-solvers.
Check out Buildership University and Robyn’s book Stop Leading, Start Building.
Robyn wants to learn more about getting people to see their possibilities. We talk about self-efficacy and collective-efficacy in schools.
Robyn shared that she used to think that others’ opinions of her were more important than they actually are. What’s more important is that the person she projects is consistent with the person she wants to be.
Check out her podcast at School Leadership Reimagined. More Free School Leadership Resources for Principals
As always, let us know what you think of this with a like, a follow, or a comment. Find us on Twitter, YouTube, iTunes, Facebook, & SoundCould. And, again, if you want one simple model for leading better and growing faster per month, follow this blog by entering your email at the top right of the screen. We hope you’ll tell a friend or book us to join your team for professional learning.
TheSchoolHouse302 is about getting to simple by maximizing effective research-based strategies that empower individuals to lead better and grow faster.
Joe & T.J.
This blog post was brought to you by GhostBed, a family-owned business of sleep experts with 20+ years of experience. With 30K+ 5-star reviews, you can’t go wrong with GhostBed. Their mattresses are handcrafted, and they come with a 101-night-at-home-sleep trial. For a limited time, you can get 30% by using our code — SH302 — at checkout. And, even if you tell someone about GhostBed, you can earn a $100 referral reward. Go to Ghostbed.com today and use SH302 at checkout.
Learning and growing as a school leader through reflection, training, and experience is a professional choice. One powerful way to improve is through reading great books, which is why we feature a couple each month. Our aim is to link our suggested reading to our theme for the month. This month we are completely focused on trust. Kudos to you for picking yourself to grow and improve.
This month we chose to dive deep into one book that every school leader needs to read and read again, The Speed of Trust.
Featured Author: Stephen M.R. Covey Featured Book: Speed of Trust: The One Thing that Changes Everything
Let us first say that we love this book and believe that should be on every leader’s desk. This is not a one time read but rather a book to refer to for guidance and inspiration. Some books deserve an annual read…this is one of them. You can also check out our blog on the topic of trust and our interview with Stephen M.R. Covey himself.
An important aspect of the book for note taking and continual reference are the 13 Behaviors of a High Trust Leader. We love this chart from the University of North Texas Health Science Center because it crystallizes each behavior, what it is and is not. We particularly like the counterfeit column because it precisely describes the behavior of the individual who is not operating as a high trust leader.
An additional element of the book that we discussed in our review was the final section. This part of the book deals with instilling and inspiring trust, which is desperately needed right now. Listening to fully understand people, what they’re experiencing, and gaining clarity on issues is crucial for leaders who want to inspire trust. This doesn’t mean that school leaders always have the answers to problems they’re willing to hear, but by understanding someone clearly, you are in a better position to make that determination. What you’ll often discover is that listening alone does help the situation. That said, if there is an opportunity to make a commitment and work toward a solution, then listening intently also provides a perfect opportunity to build trust by keeping and honoring the commitment.
We always like to leave our audience with a #ReadThisSeries tip for readers, and this month we encourage leaders to read this book with your teams. Speed of Trust is not a book that school leaders should read alone. We encourage you to create a book study group and discuss the content and how to apply it with others.
Let us know what you’re reading by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership newsletter every week by subscribing on the site.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Joe & T.J.
This blog post was brought to you by GhostBed, a family-owned business of sleep experts with 20+ years of experience. With 30K+ 5-star reviews, you can’t go wrong with GhostBed. Their mattresses are handcrafted, and they come with a 101-night-at-home-sleep trial. For a limited time, you can get 30% by using our code — SH302 — at checkout. And, even if you tell someone about GhostBed, you can earn a $100 referral reward. Go to Ghostbed.com today and use SH302 at checkout.
See the full version of the show notes below at theschoolhouse302.com.
In this episode, Joe describes the process and power behind introspection:
I know my purpose at work each day. My purpose at work directly corresponds with my daily activities.
Considering the statements above, are you clear on purpose and is your daily work aligned? Or consider your family. If spending time with your kids is important to you, are you ensuring you are creating enough time in your week to meaningfully be a part of their day?
Looking within ourselves and willing asking and answering the tough questions is essential to purpose because it is empowering.
In this episode, T.J. reminds us of the power in praising others for working toward a predefined purpose. Praising others empowers them to continue on their path with confidence. In turn, when we look to praise, we gain an awareness of all of the great things within our lives, which produces a feeling of gratitude. Gratitude leads to positivity and a better attitude. You can’t be negative and grateful at the same time.
We never like to conclude a show without providing some tangible resources for our audience that will make a difference in your work as a school leader. This month, T.J. discusses our REPSS survey, which can be found in our Building a Winning Team book. This survey is designed to give administrators keen insight into their faculties’ perceptions within key areas. In order to move in the right direction and focus on the right aspects of your school culture, including purpose, school leaders need to understand what to focus on as priorities. The survey results are a clear source of information that will lead to better navigation as a leader. Here’s a free copy of the survey.
Joe focused on a resource for women called, Career Contessa. This site “...helps working women be more fulfilled, healthy, and successful at work.” With online courses, career coaching, and more, the site helps women find and fulfill their purpose as leaders.
Our 302 Thoughts are monthly free live podcast recordings that help leaders to lead better and grow faster. It’s like school leadership training without having to leave the comfort of your office or home. We hope you’ll join us next month. Look for the dates in our newsletter.
Let us know if there’s a topic you want us to cover by leaving a comment below or by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership newsletter every week by subscribing on the site.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Dr. Whitaker delivers a powerful and funny interview with keen insight on how to maintain poise and focus by keeping learning at the forefront of all of our decisions as principal and teacher leaders.
What You’ll Find In This Episode with Todd Whitaker
Todd’s insight on how people act and react during crises is enlightening. His comment, “people always look to leaders but in times of change they stare” is spot on. He reminds us that the difference that we can make in our schools and districts always resides within the people.
He candidly reveals that a crisis exposes weakness and that certain people have the skills to figure it out, while others don’t.
Todd tells us to stop being defensive. COVID19 revealed that schools are needed more than ever. Our purpose is to make a difference, that simple. Embrace it and believe it!
He spends time talking about our best teachers and their willingness to ask others for help. This deeply resonated with us as we often discuss the power of a #learningculture.
You don’t want to miss how he describes how some people use their moods as a weapon and that the reward for negative people is that we never ask them to do anything.
Todd talked about Twitter--how the knowledge of one becomes the knowledge of all.
He takes a few minutes to illustrate the difference between a leader teaching and a leader telling and how it diffuses disagreement.
His example of everyone “getting a trophy these days” and how it creates a scapegoat mentality is something that you want to hear, possibly more than once. His explanation of the difference between placing blame and embracing responsibility is powerful.
Todd talks about learning from great people by finding the sharpest people in the room and spending time with them versus any mediocre person he might come across. Again, Todd shares an incredible story about a principal’s goal and what she can control.
We spend an enormous amount of time on the concept of improving schools and education in general, and he tells us plainly: hire better people or improve the ones you have. How he breaks down superstars, backbones, and mediocres will empower any principal leader.
What doesn’t Todd believe anymore? Tune in and find out. You won’t be disappointed. (Hint: What’s a blanket monkey?)
As always, let us know what you think of this with a like, a follow, or a comment. Find us on Twitter, YouTube, iTunes, Facebook, & SoundCould. And, again, if you want one simple model for leading better and growing faster per month, follow this blog by entering your email at the top right of the screen.
TheSchoolHouse302 is about getting to simple by maximizing effective research-based strategies that empower individuals to lead better and grow faster.
Joe & T.J.
This blog post was brought to you by GhostBed, a family-owned business of sleep experts with 20+ years of experience. With 30K+ 5-star reviews, you can’t go wrong with GhostBed. Their mattresses are handcrafted, and they come with a 101-night-at-home-sleep trial. For a limited time, you can get 30% by using our code — SH302 — at checkout. And, even if you tell someone about GhostBed, you can earn a $100 referral reward. Go to Ghostbed.com today and use SH302 at checkout.
Featured Author: Compilation of Authors Featured Book: THE SOCIAL PHILOSOPHERS MAN AND MAN (THE WORLD'S GREAT THINKERS SERIES)
Our second book this month is a terrific must read and something that we believe should be revisited from time-to-time. Todd Whitaker has become a force for educational leaders as they learn how to navigate challenges. We chose, What Great Principals Do Differently not only because it offers simple and sage advice for school leaders, but it also helps leaders reclaim their purpose.
One aspect that we truly appreciate is how Whitaker describes that we must invest in people. And, we can’t think of a more important time than now to do so. As he describes,
“We can spend a great deal of time and energy looking for programs that will solve our problems, but these programs frequently do not bring the improvement or growth we seek. Instead, we must focus on what really matters. It is never about programs, it is always about people.”
Featured Author: Todd Whitaker Featured Book: What Great Principals Do Differently
Let us know what you’re reading by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership newsletter every week by subscribing on the site.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Joe & T.J.
This blog post was brought to you by GhostBed, a family-owned business of sleep experts with 20+ years of experience. With 30K+ 5-star reviews, you can’t go wrong with GhostBed. Their mattresses are handcrafted, and they come with a 101-night-at-home-sleep trial. For a limited time, you can get 30% by using our code — SH302 — at checkout. And, even if you tell someone about GhostBed, you can earn a $100 referral reward. Go to Ghostbed.com today and use SH302 at checkout.
Being an effective leader is far from easy. In fact, good leaders recognize that every day is an opportunity for either excellence or average performance. With so many factors at play each day, superior leaders realize that their behaviors have to be superior and fully aligned to high leverage leadership strategies. Otherwise, we fall prey to poor leadership and management behaviors.
This month, we featured the opposite of what great leaders do, so people would know what to avoid doing. Typically, you won’t find an explicit list like this in school leadership training seminars or classes, but our goal is to provide content for leaders who are striving to improve. Below are our five bad boss behaviors, and for this 302 Thoughts we take a deep dive into two of them.
1 Micromanaging Your Team: Empowering leaders assign work and then follow up
2 Withholding Information from Others: Communicate it right away
3 Stealing Great Ideas: Give credit to innovative thinking, out-of-the-box idea sharing, and risk-taking
4 Taking Credit for Supports or Success: Reduce “I” from your vocabulary and begin saying “we” more often
5 Using Relationships to Leverage Power: Leaders must have people around them who can be honest and truthful
Get the full show notes at theschoolhouse302.com.
Our 302 Thoughts are monthly free live podcast recordings that help leaders to lead better and grow faster. It’s like school leadership training without having to leave the comfort of your office or home. We hope you’ll join us next month. Look for the dates in our newsletter.
Let us know if there’s a topic you want us to cover by leaving a comment below or by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership newsletter every week by subscribing on the site.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Joe & T.J.
Learning and growing as a leader is a professional choice.The ironic part of rising to greater levels of leadership is that the skills, traits, and talents that got an individual to the new position, may not be enough for her to excel in the new role.
This idea of being promoted to one’s level of incompetence was coined by Laurence J. Peter in The Peter Principle. The concept is fascinating because we’ve all experienced or have witnessed this in our own organizations--people who rise to great heights due to superior performance in their role, only to find themselves in over their head in the next position.
This begs the question: how do we avoid this situation for ourselves and others? We appreciate the remedy found at Investopedia because it directly aligns with what our featured author, Michael Useem describes in The Edge, which is that leaders must continually learn to keep their organization succeeding.
A possible solution to the problem posed by the Peter Principle is for companies to provide adequate skill training for employees receiving a promotion, and to ensure that the training is appropriate for the position to which they have been promoted.
The Edge is filled with real stories that leaders can learn from. Useem paints a very detailed picture of the challenges that many CEOs faced and the conditions in which they were operating. From Kroger to Tyco, he reveals what is adversely affecting the organization and how it was handled and how some CEOs evolved and rose to the occasion by realizing they needed to learn more. He willingly looks at both successes and failures, even within the same company.
This is one reason The School House 302 loves his work, whether The Edge or other books like The Leadership Moment, Useem tackles the very difficult realities that leaders face. This is not a feel good book, but rather an instrument of learning if you are willing to invest the time.
As Useem writes, this book is really “...updated leadership for a new era…” We hope you enjoy it as much as we did. And don’t miss our interview with Michael on the site.
Featured Author: Michael Useem
Featured Book: The Edge: How Ten CEO’s Learn to Lead -- And the Lessons for Us All
The second featured book this month is an oldy but goody--Gung Ho! Turn On the People in Any Organization. This is a great, easy to read book, with clear strategies on how to raise the performance of individuals in a company. Make no mistake, easy to read and easy to do are not the same thing. Implementation is key, which is why we couple this book with The Edge.
Blanchard and Bowles provide a step-by-step way to increase morale and really build a culture that is willing to learn and grow. Andy, the main character, demonstrates the opposite leadership characteristics than the bad behaviors that we wrote about this month.
The three principles of Gung Ho are: The Spirit of the Squirrel The Way of the Beaver The Gift of the Goose
You won’t be disappointed as you become Gung Ho! in your own organization. However, the question remains about actually doing the work; having knowledge and using knowledge are two different things.
Featured Author: Ken Blanchard and Sheldon Bowles
Featured Book: Gung Ho! Turn On the People in Any Organization
Let us know what you’re reading by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership newsletter every week by subscribing on the site.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Joe & T.J.
About Michael Useem
Michael Useem is Professor of Management and Faculty Director of the Center for Leadership and Change Management and McNulty Leadership Program at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. His university teaching includes MBA and executive-MBA courses on management and leadership, and he offers programs on leadership and governance for managers in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America.
He works on leadership development with many companies and organizations in the private, public and non-profit sectors. He is the author of The Leader’s Checklist, The Leadership Moment, Executive Defense, Investor Capitalism, Leading Up, and The Go Point.
He is also co-author and co-editor of Learning from Catastrophes; co-author of The India Way, Leadership Dispatches, Boards That Lead, and The Strategic Leader’s Roadmap, Fortune Makers: The Leaders Creating China’s Great Global Companies (2017), Go Long: Why Long-Term Thinking Is Your Best Short-Term Strategy (2018), and Mastering Catastrophic Risk: How Companies Are Coping with Disruption (2018). His latest book, The Edge, is what we will be digging into today.
Mike is co-anchor for a weekly program “Leadership in Action” on SiriusXM Radio Channel 132, Business Radio Powered by the Wharton School.
What You’ll Find In This Episode with Michael Useem
Michael pours his wealth of knowledge into this transformative episode on how leaders continually learn to ensure that they rise to meet the demands of the job. Leaders know that the job description is about the only thing regarding the position that fits nicely onto a sheet of paper. Many roles evolve as demands emerge and arise from multiple avenues.
Michael pointed out the irony in the subtitle of The Edge, which is about CEOs learning to lead. He acknowledged that we might assume that CEOs know how to lead, but that’s not always true.They need to learn how to lead provided the circumstances they find themselves within.
Michael talked about the fact that for many leaders, what got you here won’t get you there. Although not mentioned in the show, check out Marshall Goldsmith’s book, What Got You Here, Won’t Get You There, which we love.
Don’t miss what Michael says about Mark Turner and his learning tour.
Michael says that leaders need to recognize their responsibility in leading the people they serve. This is what brings them to a point of wanting to learn more about learning to lead.
You have to hear why Michael takes students to Antarctica and the Marine Corp.
Michael mentioned Herminia Ibarra’s book on reinventing identity. Check it out.
Michael says that the single most important thing that a leader can do to grow is to get out of their comfort zone.
Dr. Useem follows many sources for leadership, but often comes back to the Chief Executive of Progressive Insurance, Tricia Griffith. Learn about how she redefines what it means to be the Big Boss.
Michael talked about looking at leadership as 360 but in reverse. We ought to think about leading our peers and the people above us, not just our subordinates.
Don’t miss what he says about having more impact. Oh, and yeah, wishing he could climb Mt. Everest.
Michael talked about learning to lead by seeing others do it poorly. There’s a lot to learn from setbacks and catastrophes. Don’t miss how he describes the CEO of Tyco.
Joe was reminded about leading to grow and thrive versus just to get by.
Michael liked our last question and recalls asking CEOs what they find to be true that they didn’t realize before.
Lastly, Michael reminds us that leadership never really comes down to one thing, but a mission critical checklist.
As always, let us know what you think of this with a like, a follow, or a comment. Find us at theschoolhouse302.com.
TheSchoolHouse302 is about getting to simple by maximizing effective research-based strategies that empower individuals to lead better and grow faster.
Joe & T.J.
This month, America lost a tremendous leader, General Colin Powell. We started this 302 Thoughts by recognizing his work and legacy as a leader. If anyone could talk about how to grow during the grind and thrive amid chaos, our bet would be on General Powell.
We often desire for circumstances to improve so our conditions become better. Unfortunately, that does not always happen the way we would like it to or in the timeline we have in mind. Because ideal circumstances don’t always come our way, we have to always be prepared to weather the storm. This month we landed on 5 strategies that help educational leaders stay focused in a chaotic environment.
In the live recorded podcast, we teased out two essential areas that we discussed further:
3. Determining Urgent Versus Important
4. Assessing Full Versus Fulfilling.
All five are critical, but we narrowed in on these two because they speak to the day-to-day work that must get done but also that still needs to result in personal fulfillment. During challenging times, it’s hard to maintain perspective and keep our own well-being intact; by strategically looking at our calendars to block time for the fulfilling work, we set ourselves apart from those who just end up with full days that lack what matters to them most. Learn more by listening to our discussion.
By mastering the Eisenhower matrix (check out the blog for more details, including a visual), school leaders at all levels, uniquely structure their day to maximize efforts. Too often during a storm, it’s tough to gain your footing. This is what’s going on now for teachers and leaders in schools. Each day can feel like two or three. The matrix, when used well, is an effective way to analyze and organize each day to keep First Things First.
Each month during our 302 Thoughts we also work to support our listeners with a few resources that help in your efforts to lead better and grow faster. This month, T.J. highlighted the power of mastermind groups, particularly Danny Bauer’s Better Leaders, Better Schools. Masterminds are not new and we first read about them in Think and Grow Rich. As Napoleon Hill writes, it is the “coordination of knowledge and effort, in a spirit of harmony, between two or more people, for the attainment of a definite purpose.” It’s the direct focus and effort that is vital. Even if you don’t join a formal mastermind, do seek out another school leader, identify a clear aim or goal, and then work towards reaching it. The results will be incredible.
Joe took a slightly different route and discussed Headspace, the app. On the show, Joe admits to his own limitations with meditation; yet, he describes how apps like headspace and Calm can support early efforts to find quiet time, be introspective, reduce stress, or simply “unplug” for a while.
Our 302 Thoughts are monthly free live podcast recordings that help leaders to lead better and grow faster. It’s like school leadership training without having to leave the comfort of your office or home. We hope you’ll join us next month. Look for the dates in our newsletter.
Let us know if there’s a topic you want us to cover by leaving a comment below or by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership newsletter every week by subscribing on the site.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Joe & T.J.
This blog post was brought to you by GhostBed, a family-owned business of sleep experts with 20+ years of experience. With 30K+ 5-star reviews, you can’t go wrong with GhostBed. Their mattresses are handcrafted, and they come with a 101-night-at-home-sleep trial. For a limited time, you can get 30% by using our code — SH302 — at checkout. And, even if you tell someone about GhostBed, you can earn a $100 referral reward. Go to Ghostbed.com today and use SH302 at checkout.
Growing as a leader is a professional choice. The challenge is that trying to grow during a storm, or in the case of the last year and a half, a pandemic is difficult. Typically, in a storm, we seek shelter and hunker down to wait it out. Although this is great survival behavior, it’s not good leadership practice. Principal leaders, district leaders, and others in leadership roles do not have the luxury of waiting anything out and playing it safe until a time when things are easier. Actually, it’s just the opposite. The leader has to move forward in the storm and brave the elements.
The two books that we feature this month will help leaders do just that--move forward by braving the elements. Consistent with our theme this month both books can be viewed through the lens of growing through the grind. Our first book, The Art of Woo: Using Strategic Persuasion to Sell Your Ideas, was chosen because leadership success rises and falls on influence. During these times, leaders need the skill set to effectively persuade others to positively move forward, even when they are scared, worried, and uncertain.
This book really is a relationship book. Richard Shell and Mario Mousa brilliantly break down the four steps to how Woo works. Survey Your Situation Confront the Five Barriers Make Your Pitch Secure Your Commitments
What’s refreshing is that the authors describe the steps in great detail throughout the book and remind us that the four pieces of the puzzle are always a progression. Don’t miss our interview with one of the authors, Richard Shell.
Featured Author: Richard Shell and Mario Moussa
Featured Book: The Art of Woo: Using Strategic Persuasion to Sell Your Ideas
The second featured book this month is The Culture Engine: A Framework for Driving Results, Inspiring Your Employees, and Transforming Your Workplace. We chose this book because it focuses on culture, and leaders need to constantly tend to the culture of their school or business. Culture building isn’t an event, it’s a full-time experience. This book spends time on you as a leader and how you are responsible for the school’s culture and how you cannot leave it to “chance.” Lastly, the book finishes strong by demonstrating the need to have everything aligned to the overall purpose and vision. Check it out!
Featured Author: S. Chris Edmonds
Featured Book: The Culture Engine: A Framework for Driving Results, Inspiring Your Employees, and Transforming Your Workplace
Let us know what you’re reading by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership newsletter every week by subscribing on the site.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Joe & T.J.
This blog post was brought to you by GhostBed, a family-owned business of sleep experts with 20+ years of experience. With 30K+ 5-star reviews, you can’t go wrong with GhostBed. Their mattresses are handcrafted, and they come with a 101-night-at-home-sleep trial. For a limited time, you can get 30% by using our code — SH302 — at checkout. And, even if you tell someone about GhostBed, you can earn a $100 referral reward. Go to Ghostbed.com today and use SH302 at checkout.
Richard is an award-winning scholar, teacher, and author at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. In his work, he helps students and executives reach peak levels of personal and professional effectiveness through skilled negotiation, persuasion, influence, and the discovery of meaningful life goals. Three beliefs permeate everything that he teaches and writes. First, success begins with self-awareness. Second, success progresses through excellence in practice. Third, as he shows in his latest book, The Conscience Code, success demands a lifelong commitment to the highest standards of integrity.
Richard teaches a course in “ethics and responsibility” where students share stories about navigating value-challenges, in other words, the times that we are compelled to do things in life that don’t align with our sense of integrity. Throughout this interview, Richard calls on individuals to have courage and face those tough issues that surface from time-to-time.
As the interview begins, we dive right into a powerful story that is featured in the book. Sarah, who works at a firm, is being asked to do something which she knows is not acceptable. In short, Sarah decides to walk away from her job. Richard confronts this decision with the reality that many of us simply cannot do that due to a host of various responsibilities. Here at TheSchoolHouse302 we have joked on several occasions about the fact that our growing list of adult responsibilities can limit our courage. Throughout this interview, and in his book, The Conscience Code, Richard describes how we all need to learn how to stand-and-fight versus the alternative, cut-and-run.
Richard eloquently describes People of Conscience as those individuals who bring their sense of right and wrong to work and then listen to their internal voice as they work to lead in the directions of their values.
He beautifully describes the CRAFT of ethics in the book. Richard also refers to it in the show and how it is used--you need this tool! Compassion Respect Accountability Fairness Truth
Richard notes that humans are social creatures and that even when we feel alone we have allies. In moments of isolation, we need to seek a partner, mentor, teacher, or colleague who believes what we believe--the power of two.
You’ll love the practical nature of the OODA Loop developed by Air Force Colonel John Boyd. It is a great strategy to use for decision-making. In essence, value-conflicts are multi-stage events; they require a loop, always returning to observation. Observe Own Decide Act
Richard follows Robert Caildini (Joe is also a big fan). Check out Influence, Pre-Suasion, and Richard’s book, which Caildini said he would put in his top three if he had to only take three books with him in life, Bargaining for Advantage.
Richard wastes no time when we ask about the onething that people should do on a regular basis--Meditate! Check out our incredible interview with Valerie Brown and Kirsten Olson if you want to explore a powerful approach to self-awareness and mindfulness.
We were intrigued to learn that Richard is interested in learning more about how people change their beliefs.
As professional learners, we are always interested to hear what supports an individual's growth and Richard uses Covey’s advice: Seek first to understand and then to be understood. The power in this strategy is that all we have to do is be aware. The good news is that we already have the ability to do this each and every day.
As always, let us know what you think of this with a like, a follow, or a comment. Find us on Twitter, YouTube, iTunes, Facebook, & SoundCould. And, again, if you want one simple model for leading better and growing faster per month, follow this blog by entering your email at the top right of the screen.
TheSchoolHouse302 is about getting to simple by maximizing effective research-based strategies that empower individuals to lead better and grow faster.
Joe & T.J.
The school year is in full swing and although we are thrilled that students across the country and the globe are back in person, there is undoubtedly a lot of trepidation as educational and principal leaders navigate this difficult time. Not only are there ongoing, daily issues that we wrestle with because of Covid19, school leaders are simultaneously acclimating students and staff back to schools when much has changed. We are not the same as we were when Covid19 struck and the pandemic took hold.
Here at TheSchoolHouse302, we would like to think the educational community has grown. These months have revealed our resolve and our willingness to go to great lengths to reach and teach our students. We also recognize that in order for us to continue to grow and build a network of support, we need to fully immerse ourselves in social and emotional learning (SEL). The great news is that SEL is not new. The challenge, though, is making sure that it is integrated seamlessly within our school cultures and not a stand alone.
To do so, we created The SEL Blend to remind educators of the balance that must exist between the curriculum and the care side of our work. .
The SEL Blend highlights four primary areas that are linked to SEL priorities and behaviors. For example, as much as we focus on our curriculum and adopt accelerated learning best practices, we need to be sure that they are coupled with care and kindness.
The Blend serves as a nice reminder about how we can weave SEL into our daily practices. But, we cannot be satisfied with just having this knowledge. The critical step is in making sure that what we are doing is having an impact. As John Hattie always says, “know thy impact.” To that end, we’ve created 6 ways to ensure that you're building the SEL culture that your students and staff need.
In this episode, we break down the key areas that stuck out to us and why. Listen to the podcast to hear more about our 6 surefire strategies to develop a thriving SEL culture. Assemble a Core Team Improve Self-Awareness Complete Certificate-Based Courses Use a Table for Lesson Organization Connect to Other Meaningful Work Tap into Established Systems
T.J. further discussed the great work from Loreah Martinez and her Heart In Mind blog and book is an incredible resource. Our goal is to connect you to people and resources, outside of our own, to learn to lead better and grow faster. With this in mind, Joe tackled the benefits and sophistication of earning a credential or certificate. This is a powerful way to develop a train-the-trainer model. Lastly, T.J. reminded us of a great interview we had with Lavonna Roth and the terrific and FREE resources she has on her site.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Joe & T.J.
This episode was brought to you by GhostBed, a family-owned business of sleep experts with 20+ years of experience. With 30K+ 5-star reviews, you can’t go wrong with GhostBed. Their mattresses are handcrafted, and they come with a 101-night-at-home-sleep trial. For a limited time, you can get 30% by using our code — SH302 — at checkout. And, even if you tell someone about GhostBed, you can earn a $100 referral reward. Go to Ghostbed.com today and use SH302 at checkout.
As school doors open this year to welcome back students, successful schools recognize that if they want to reach and teach all students, they need to touch their hearts and their minds. Amid the dual pandemics--Covid19 and the social and civic unrest--students are entering the school year with a host of needs that must be addressed to ensure that they are successful.
These needs cover the spectrum from a deficit in mathematics to a family hardship. Regardless, in the end, we know that student achievement improves when students feel connected and safe, when relationships flourish in the classroom. There is no substitute for a student having a meaningful connection with a teacher, counselor, paraprofessional, administrator, or other educator at school. Our blog this month focused on 6 different ways to build SEL in schools, and we hope you found them easy to implement. As educational leaders, we realize that one of the best places to start your learning is by reading great books, which is why we curate our lists of books to help you on your path to leading better and growing faster.
This month, we recommend two books that we believe can make a difference where it matters the most—in the classroom. The first book is The Formative Five by Thomas Hoerr and the second one is Improve Every Lesson with SEL by Jeffrey Benson.
Featured Author: Thomas Hoerr Featured Book: The Formative Five: Fostering Grit, Empathy, and Other Success Skills Every Student Needs
The Formative Five focuses on developing empathy, self-control, integrity, embracing diversity, and grit . Each one of the five serves our students (and teachers) well as they strive to deepen their understanding and execution in each area. The five also have a unique way of focusing on the self and others. We found this to be practical for all educators.
Focusing on others, having empathy, is something that we can all improve upon, and as we seek to understand others, we often learn quite a bit about ourselves. Lastly, Heorr recommends other reads throughout the chapters, which is a great springboard to other books that may be valuable. Don’t miss our interview with Thomas Hoerr. You can find it on our site at the schoolhouse302.com by clicking on the podcast button at the top.
Featured Author: Jeffrey Benson Featured Book: Improving Every Lesson Plan with SEL
Improving Every Lesson Plan with SEL demystifies the process of weaving social and emotional learning into your lessons. That last thing we want is for SEL activities to be taught in isolation or devoid of the classroom content. The more SEL can find a home within each lesson, the more students will understand the dynamic nature of so many of the topics we discuss. Consider Hurricane Ida that just devastated areas of the east coast, it’s important to know what a hurricane is, the various categories for example, but tying that to the human side of destruction and loss can teach empathy along with the content.
Let us know what you’re reading by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Joe & T.J.
This episode of our ReadThisSeries was brought to you by GhostBed, a family-owned business of sleep experts with 20+ years of experience. With 30K+ 5-star reviews, you can’t go wrong with GhostBed. Their mattresses are handcrafted, and they come with a 101-night-at-home-sleep trial. For a limited time, you can get 30% by using our code — SH302 — at checkout. And, even if you tell someone about GhostBed, you can earn a $100 referral reward. Go to Ghostbed.com today and use SH302 at checkout.
Who Is Thomas Hoerr?
Thomas R. Hoerr retired after leading the New City School in St. Louis, Missouri for 34 years and is now the Emeritus Head of School. He is currently a Scholar In Residence at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and he teaches in the Educational Leadership program, preparing prospective principals. He also led the ISACS New Heads Network and founded the Non-Profit Management Program at Washington University in St. Louis. Hoerr has written five books, and his newest book is Taking Social Emotional Learning Schoolwide: The Formative Five Success Skills for Students and Staff. He has written more than 150 articles, including “The Principal Connection” column in Educational Leadership Magazine from 2004 to 2017.
Major Takeaways from Our Interview with Thomas Hoerr:
Tom wastes no time in this interview by quickly acknowledging that academics in the school set the floor not the ceiling. His insight about David Shield’s moral and character development versus content learned uncovers the power in what schools can be.
His advice for administrators right now: “grab a cup of coffee and take a deep breath.” His next bit of advice, totally focuses on developing the SEL culture that every school needs.
He discusses how language is key and how simply changing the name of faculty meetings to “learning meetings” sets a different expectation for staff.
Tom talks about the Formative Five and how you should not attempt all five at once.
You don’t want to miss what he says about the power of halls and walls.
Tom continues to learn and grow and finds incredible value in Howard Gardner, and his new book is A Synthesizing Mind.
His pursuit to seek differing views to broaden his own understanding is profound. He shares sage advice: listen more than you talk and ask more than you tell.
In an ever-changing and diverse world, Tom humbly admits that he really works to understand people from a diverse background.
Tom used to think that knowledge and being smart were critical to success but now he realizes that compassion, empathy, and SEL are the gate to real knowledge and understanding.
Let us know what you’re reading and who else you want us to bring on the show by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Joe & T.J.
This episode was brought to you by GhostBed, a family-owned business of sleep experts with 20+ years of experience. With 30K+ 5-star reviews, you can’t go wrong with GhostBed. Their mattresses are handcrafted, and they come with a 101-night-at-home-sleep trial. For a limited time, you can get 30% by using our code — SH302 — at checkout. And, even if you tell someone about GhostBed, you can earn a $100 referral reward. Go to Ghostbed.com today and use SH302 at checkout.
What better conversation to have in August than the very best ways to engage students this school year. Our focus throughout this school year must be on the whole child--an academic intensity coupled with social and emotional development. You will hear us often say that our students need to know that our care for them is just as important as our curriculum. To ensure this focus, we developed the 6 Key Classroom Practices Model.
This model encompasses each necessary element that we must reflect upon, and, if needed, make a change to ensure that we are leveraging the practice to its fullest extent. In this fireside chat, T.J. begins by breaking down the model with details about how educational leaders, and, in particular, principal leaders, can use these 6 categories to ensure that student achievement remains our central focus throughout the school year. Each element is interconnected and strengthens the other.
In addition to breaking down this comprehensive model, Joe discussed the critical importance of capacity building. We rarely have a discussion on leadership and not discuss personal growth and capacity building at some point. One important result of a leader who embraces being a learning leader is that they are far more receptive to ideas and advances because they naturally see opportunities and possible connections to the overall vision.
Critical Ideas from our 302 Thoughts: A Deeper Dive
In light of time, for this podcast episode and live broadcast, we decided to hone in on three of the six practices that are simply a must in this post-pandemic educational world. They also provide a gateway for other practices to be used effectively. The first practice we delved into was the importance of an organized learning management system (LMS).
An LMS can serve a few very important purposes. As a software application, it is designed to turn virtual learning into a reality. But, we’ve also discovered that it is very effective at providing direction and organization for students and parents, even during in-person learning. We often discuss creating transparency between the classroom and the home, and teachers who excel at using an LMS truly create clarity for families.
Another vital aspect of learning for our students this year will be our consistent use of methods to determine their Evidence of Learning. The reality is that due to Covid19, many teachers' technological skills skyrocketed. Although we don’t subscribe to one primary tool to assess students throughout the lesson, we do believe in Madeline Hunter’s 10+2 method, ensuring that you’re checking for understanding on a regular basis throughout the lesson.
Lastly, we didn’t want to overlook the power of reflection for teachers. Not only is this a great way to learn and grow as a professional, we also tie this into the social and emotional well-being of staff. Recognizing how much growth we’ve all experienced in our profession is inspiring, and we need to continue to experiment, reflect, and grow within a learning culture in all of our schools.
Join Us for the Next Live Session of 302 Thoughts
This was our second live 302 Thoughts and we were thrilled with the turn out and look forward to our next episode on September 22nd at 7:30 EST. We are going to be talking about social and emotional learning and how to build a school culture that supports SEL for students and staff. Register today.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Joe & T.J.
This episode was brought to you by GhostBed, a family-owned business of sleep experts with 20+ years of experience. With 30K+ 5-star reviews, you can’t go wrong with GhostBed. Their mattresses are handcrafted, and they come with a 101-night-at-home-sleep trial. For a limited time, you can get 30% by using our code — SH302 — at checkout. And, even if you tell someone about GhostBed, you can earn a $100 referral reward. Go to Ghostbed.com today and use SH302 at checkout.
Don’t miss this vblog on YouTube or catch our Read This segment of our One Thing Series podcast--books you need to read to lead better and grow faster.
Featured Author: Doris Kearns Goodwin
Featured Books: Leadership: In Turbulent Times
Why We Love This Book for School Leaders
We love this book for school leaders, especially now, because Kearns draws on the skills and attributes of four American presidents--Abraham Lincoln, Theodre Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Lyndon B. Johnson--who encountered times of confusion, fear, despair, and hope. Leadership: In Turbulent Times is destined to be a classic.
Here are just a few reasons to pick it up:
The author points out the specific traits that make for a successful leader in any organization. For example, we learn that not only was Lincoln ambitious--running for the office of the presidency at age 23--he had “the motivation and willpower to develop every talent he possessed to the fullest.” This is something that school leaders can emulate and model to develop a learning culture for themselves and others.
Reflection Question: What learning experiences do you have lined up for this year that will help to develop your talents to the fullest?
The last four chapters are a ton of fun, including transformational leadership, crisis management, turnaround leadership, and visionary leadership. It’s almost like this book was written exclusively for school leaders, although it’s universal to any organization.
Reflection Question: How will you communicate your vision for change in your school this year?
Lastly, this is an incredible book to lead a book study on with other educational leaders. Kearns Goodwin is remarkable about describing each leader’s journey. As we move into our second school year filled with uncertainty and doubt, having candid leadership conversations that go beyond procedures and processes, and into the heart of tough decision-making, can prove to be invaluable.
Reflection Question: How will you support others this year along their leadership journey?
Becoming a Better School Leader During a Disruptive Time in Education
Another book that we recommend in this ReadThisSeries episode is Leading Schools in Disruptive Times: How to Survive Hyper-Change by Mark White and Dwight Carter. We appreciate this book because it redefines certain aspects of school leadership for those who are experiencing overload and demands beyond control. The authors have a CAT strategy--coping, adjusting, and transforming--strategy that they embed within the conversation about school safety. Safety is no longer just about the physical aspects of school violence but also the psychological safety that students need to be effective learners. This point and many others make the book an important read for all school leaders. Let us know what you think, and don’t miss our podcast episode with Dwight Carter.
Let us know what you’re reading by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Joe & T.J.
PS -- If you have a topic you want us to cover or need recommendations on books to read in a particular area of leadership, just send us a tweet or an email.
This episode was brought to you by GhostBed, a family-owned business of sleep experts with 20+ years of experience. With 30K+ 5-star reviews, you can’t go wrong with GhostBed. Their mattresses are handcrafted, and they come with a 101-night-at-home-sleep trial. For a limited time, you can get 30% by using our code — SH302 — at checkout. And, even if you tell someone about GhostBed, you can earn a $100 referral reward. Go to Ghostbed.com today and use SH302 at checkout.
Who Is Dwight Carter?
Dwight Carter is a nationally recognized school leader from Central Ohio and has been an educator for 27 years. Because of his collaborative and innovative leadership, in 2010, he was inducted into the Jostens Renaissance Educator Hall of Fame. He was also named a 2013 National Association of Secondary School Principals Digital Principal of the Year, the 2014 Academy of Arts and Science Education High School Principal of the Year, the 2015 Ohio Alliance of Black School Educators Principal of the Year, and a 2021 Columbus Afrocentric Early College Sankofa Emerging Leader Award winner. He is currently the Director of Student Support Systems for the Eastland-Fairfield Career and Technical Schools District.
He is the co-author of three books: What’s In Your Space? Five Steps to Better School and Classroom Design (Corwin, 2015), Leading Schools in Disruptive Times: How to Survive Hyper-change (Corwin 2017), and the second edition of Leading Schools in Disruptive Times (Corwin, 2021).
Major Takeaways from Our Interview with Dwight Carter:
Dwight dives into how we have to move past our feeling that these are “unprecedented times” so that we don’t inadvertently limit our schools and classrooms in ways that we may not even be aware of.
He specifies that students need consistency and safety. Don’t miss how he defines safety as mulit-dimensional--emotional, social, and communal. Social emotional learning wasn’t created by the pandemic, but it’s compounded by it.
His perspective on the importance of having a system of accountability after implementing ways to connect with students is critical for us to know every child. The conversation on the “dot exercise” is insightful and most importantly doable.
We dive into the power of the Jostens Renaissance Education as a framework that Dwight uses with students. Don’t miss what he has to say about finding out how we need to know how students want to be celebrated.
Listen to what Dwight has to say about hyper-change and to-do lists.
Dwight willingly gets personal and describes what he wants to learn how to do, mainly because it’s limiting family experiences.
Dwight references The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks. You need this book if you don’t have it already.
Check out the VIA Assessment, something that Dwight uses to continue his leadership growth.
Let us know what you’re reading and who else you want us to bring on the show by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Joe & T.J.
Critical Ideas from our 302 Thoughts: Capacity Driven Investments
Administrators must ask, what investments will yield the highest returns? When considering staff members, be sure to have a 360° view, including administrators, instructional staff, support staff, and non-Instructional personnel. Schools need an all hands-on-deck approach, which we describe in great detail in our book, Passionate Leadership.
Professional learning should be dynamic, not only focused on equipping the educator with skills, but also diving deep into self-care and ways they can fill their own cup each day. There should also be a clear distinction between training and professional learning. There are incredible products that can definitely help students learn and assist teachers in the classroom. But, consider services and products that help staff to learn beyond training them to use a new tool--a new way to rejuvenate and get better at the work, now and into the future. We think highly of the following purchases that school leaders might make with ESSER funds because we believe that they can be impactful as we ask ourselves this critical question: what investments will yield the most sustainable returns?
Great educators are lifelong learners, but that doesn’t mean that they have had access to some of the most impactful experiences for lifelong learning, including a mastermind group designed to lead better. Check out Danny Bauer’s mastermind, Better Leaders Better Schools, and join a group. Also, get his new book and don’t miss our review of it.
An investment that we find captivating since it solves so many common problems in the classroom is Organized Binder. Organization, goal setting, productivity, and more are all skills, and as we seek to address unfinished learning, we need our students to be organized and ready for what we put in front of them.
We also dug into what is called the fitbit of education, TeachFX. Great teachers design lessons where the learners are the ones who are working the hardest within the classroom, not the teacher. Put simply, TeachFX measures teacher talk versus student talk. Check it out.
It wouldn’t be an episode of 302 Thoughts without a book recommendation or two. We simply can’t ignore the expansive research found in neuroscience and how that impacts the classroom. As much as Joe tried not to mention a particular book, three titles were dropped quick: Make It Stick 71/2 Lessons About the Brain Powerful Teaching
One thing we learned after No Child Left Behind is that money is not the answer for sustainable outcomes if not used wisely. In fact, hiring more personnel and filling voids can lead to unwanted vacancies in just a couple short years. Invest in your people, help them develop and grow by asking them what they need and want. They are the professionals in the classroom and can provide tremendous insight.
Join Us for the Next Live Session of 302 Thoughts
This was our first live 302 Thoughts and we were thrilled with the turn out and look forward to our next episode on August 11th at 7:30 EST. We are going to be talking about leadership during such a disruptive period and how to re-engage students as they return to in-person learning. Register here.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Joe & T.J.
This episode was brought to you by GhostBed, a family-owned business of sleep experts with 20+ years of experience. With 30K+ 5-star reviews, you can’t go wrong with GhostBed. Their mattresses are handcrafted, and they come with a 101-night-at-home-sleep trial. For a limited time, you can get 30% by using our code — SH302 — at checkout. And, even if you tell someone about GhostBed, you can earn a $100 referral reward. Go to Ghostbed.com today and use SH302 at checkout.
Don’t miss this vblog on YouTube or catch our Read This segment of our One Thing Series podcast--books you need to read to lead better and grow faster.
Featured Author: Danny Bauer
Featured Books: Mastermind: Unlocking Talent Within Every School Leader
Why We Love This Book for School Leaders
We’ll say it up front and just get it out of the way, Danny is a friend of TheSchoolHouse302, and we are thrilled about his new book. You might say we are biased, and that is impacting our review. Honestly, we would agree 100%. But only because we curate authors as often as we curate books, and Danny’s last book was a hit with us as well.
We carefully select what we read at this point, and each page that we turn is with the expectation that we will learn something new to apply in our roles. This book achieves that for us with a twist. As Bauer quickly writes in the beginning of his book, Masterminds are not a new way to develop leaders. In fact, we first read about the concept of a Mastermind in Napoleon Hill’s classic, Think and Grow Rich. Before we go on, if you have not read Think and Grow Rich, pause right now and buy it. Don’t let the title fool you. The riches Hill describes are far beyond material wealth and include what many educators truly desire--making a difference for the betterment of this world.
Back to Danny’s new book. Here’s why we consider this is a must read:
Danny tackles several taboos that limit our growth as school leaders.
The book uncovers the A, B, & C of successful professional learning.
It is written almost as a testimony to how Masterminds have changed leaders for the better. The case studies are fantastic.
The book dives into the power of emotional intelligence, which is needed now more than ever.
A Better School Leader
To be a great leader we have to be willing to venture out and experience learning in new and different ways that can stretch and challenge our thinking. Reading is a great way to do that if you build a system to implement what you read. Another great way is to join a community of individuals who don’t want to be average leaders and who truly want to do something great for their community.
The second best thing you can do right now is to take the time to learn about the power of masterminds and how they can transform and unlock your thinking. The first best thing you can do is to enroll yourself today.
Let us know what you’re reading by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Joe & T.J.
PS -- If you have a topic you want us to cover or need recommendations on books to read in a particular area of leadership, just send us a tweet or an email.
This episode was brought to you by GhostBed, a family-owned business of sleep experts with 20+ years of experience. With 30K+ 5-star reviews, you can’t go wrong with GhostBed. Their mattresses are handcrafted, and they come with a 101-night-at-home-sleep trial. For a limited time, you can get 30% by using our code — SH302 — at checkout. And, even if you tell someone about GhostBed, you can earn a $100 referral reward. Go to Ghostbed.com today and use SH302 at checkout.
Learn more about Danny Bauer
Daniel Bauer is an unorthodox Ruckus Maker who has mentored thousands of school leaders through his Better Leaders Better Schools blog, books, podcasts, and powerful coaching experiences.
His new book, The Mastermind: Unlocking the Talent Within Every School Leader introduces a proprietary process called the ABCs of powerful professional development™ which is changing the landscape of how school leaders experience professional development.
Key Thoughts from Our Interview with Danny Bauer Danny wastes no time about the harsh reality that 90% of school leaders who leave their school, leave the profession. The cost of retention is too high, which is why joining a community of dedicated professionals is paramount.
Listen to Danny explore the imposter syndrome--how it limits our abilities, why it kicks in, and how we can push past our self-defeating behaviors when we are a member of the right community.
Danny shares a quote: What’s ordinary for you is extraordinary for me. ~ Derek Sivers. Check out entrepreneur and founder of CD Baby, Derek Sivers, you won't be disappointed.
A big part of the Mastermind process is the “hotseat” protocol. It’s where we challenge one another to do and be better. Listen to what Danny says about the collective IQ.
Danny mentions Dr. Benjamin Hardy as someone who he follows to learn and grow. Dr. Hardy is an organizational psychologist and author of Willpower Doesn’t Work and Personality Isn’t Permanent.
What is Danny looking forward to in his future? Eventually, he wants to serve 1200+ leaders in his Mastermind. This is where the interview gets very tangible, and Danny tells about what he learned from The Strangest Secret by Earl Nightingale.
Teaching others is what leads to his growth because it helps to make the learning stick. He is always looking for something that stretches his thinking. Check out the altMBA, an investment that he made in his own leadership.
Lastly, listen to what he says about “just cause.”
Let us know what you’re reading and who else you want us to bring on the show by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Joe & T.J.
This episode was brought to you by GhostBed, a family-owned business of sleep experts with 20+ years of experience. With 30K+ 5-star reviews, you can’t go wrong with GhostBed. Their mattresses are handcrafted, and they come with a 101-night-at-home-sleep trial. For a limited time, you can get 30% by using our code — SH302 — at checkout. And, even if you tell someone about GhostBed, you can earn a $100 referral reward. Go to Ghostbed.com today and use SH302 at checkout.
The Information Age and Principal Leadership
We live in a time that has been deemed the “information age.” Some argue that in the 21st Century we can be exposed to more information in one week than those who lived in the 17th Century would be exposed to in their entire lives. In many ways that makes our mere existence more challenging as we look to lead our schools effectively. We need discrete skills that enable us to process and filter an abundance of information. Knowing how to discern and weed through all of the channels in order to make sound decisions is a marquee skill of any effective principal. That skill needs to be coupled with another critical and complementary skill, which is knowing how to apply that knowledge in actionable and strategic ways.
Who is John Dewey and How Did He Impact the World?
Effective principal leaders know how to synthesize information and apply it to the unique needs of their schools. This is what brought us back to the work of John Dewey this month. We wanted to study the claims that Dewey might have made about teaching and learning during COVID19. And, we explore this in our 302 Thoughts this month.
Taking what we’ve learned and experienced from the pandemic, we sought to embark on a tried and true classroom practice: problem based learning. We focus on the good that can come from such a tumultuous time in education. We wanted to add an abstract element to spark creativity, so we did our best to filter our ideas through the powerful lens of the great educational reformer, John Dewey.
Critical Ideas from our 302 Thoughts: Student-Centered Learning
Students and teachers need support in multiple ways and beyond just learning in the classroom. As humans we are confronted with challenges that stifle and limit teaching and learning. Great principals need to understand, recognize, and build support for students and teachers.
Engagement is everything. Students need to be engaged in the classroom and teachers need to be engaged in their departments and the school as a whole.
Opportunities are found in the right mindset. Going through the last year and not learning from all of our trials would be an injustice to our school system.
Ultimately, it is up to us to decide if we will learn from the great thinkers and reformers of the past and capitalize on the opportunities of today, no matter what form they take. COVID19 was completely unexpected, and it certainly upended our educational system. Let’s take advantage of what we accomplished and the lessons we learned thus far.
We hope you like this month’s 302 Thoughts as we continue to discuss leadership and the impact that you can have on your community. Next month, we go live with our first ever open audience 302 Thoughts; we hope to see you there.
Stay tuned for more nuggets of wisdom, podcasts, books to read, reflection sessions, and the best resources for leading better and growing faster in schools. Follow us at theschoolhouse302.com to join thousands of leaders who get our content each month. Send this to a friend.
As always, let us know what you think of this with a like, a follow, or a comment. Find us on Twitter, YouTube, iTunes, Facebook, & SoundCould. And, again, if you want one simple model for leading better and growing faster per month, follow this blog by entering your email at the top right of the screen.
Joe & T.J.
This episode was brought to you by GhostBed, a family-owned business of sleep experts with 20+ years of experience. With 30K+ 5-star reviews, you can’t go wrong with GhostBed. Their mattresses are handcrafted, and they come with a 101-night-at-home-sleep trial. For a limited time, you can get 30% by using our code — SH302 — at checkout. And, even if you tell someone about GhostBed, you can earn a $100 referral reward. Go to Ghostbed.com today and use SH302 at checkout.
Learn More About LaVonna Roth
As a former elementary and secondary educator, keynote speaker, author, consultant and mom, LaVonna bridges her passion for how the brain learns with education and shows every individual how to S.H.I.N.E. through their mindset and social-emotional well-being so achievement soars for all.
She has a Bachelor’s and two Master’s Degrees, taught at the elementary and secondary levels, author of 8 books (about to be 9), and has worked with educators in the U.S./Canada, Europe, South America and the Middle East. She is the founder of the Ignite Your S.H.I.N.E.® framework and creator of brain-powered learning. To elevate educators further, LaVonna teaches educators how to get into educational consulting – part-time or full-time - through her Prime to S.H.I.N.E. consulting course and membership site.
She will leave you inspired, remembering why you got into education, and how to create substantial change in your classroom, district or organization that is sustainable. She is here to serve you, so you can effectively serve your students through the lens of brain research, social-emotional needs and psychological safety.
Key Thoughts from Our Interview with LaVonna Roth
LaVonna discussed how the pandemic didn’t come with a manual and how we should be careful with the language we use, such as lost year, lost learning.
“We need to take a step back and understand what just happened over the last year and a half. We need to survive to thrive, and we need space to transition.”
Don’t miss the key strategies she provides for when students return. This reminded us of Dan Sullivan’s book, Who Not How. LaVonna clearly establishes who should be at the table.
Lavonna talked about how educators need to have age appropriate conversations. Check out her free SEL resources.
LaVonna uses a structured way to look at situations, and she asks very specific questions: “What was the lesson, benefit, or takeaway?”
LaVonna talks about psychological sciences and cognitive psychology. She points to books from ASCD. We also recommend taking a look at Make It Stick, Powerful Teaching, and a company called TeachFX.
Don’t miss LaVonna’s personal hacks for self-care. Become aware of your thoughts. Check out, also, a great book on this topic, Chatter, by Ethan Kross.
LaVonna wants to slow down a bit...listen to what she says about it. It reminded us of Essentialism.
LaVonna combines learning with self-care to continue to grow as a leader. You’ll want to hear this.
Her final segment was powerful, vulnerable, and relatable for those of us who struggle with imposter-syndrome and the value we seek to add.
Let us know what you’re reading and who else you want us to bring on the show by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Joe & T.J.
PS -- Sign up for our next Masterclass in Candid and Compassionate Feedback and our first ever Masterclass in Building a Winning Team.
This episode was brought to you by GhostBed, a family-owned business of sleep experts with 20+ years of experience. With 30K+ 5-star reviews, you can’t go wrong with GhostBed. Their mattresses are handcrafted, and they come with a 101-night-at-home-sleep trial. For a limited time, you can get 30% by using our code — SH302 — at checkout. And, even if you tell someone about GhostBed, you can earn a $100 referral reward. Go to Ghostbed.com today and use SH302 at checkout.
Don’t miss this vblog on YouTube or catch our Read This segment of our One Thing Series podcast--books you need to read to lead better and grow faster.
Featured Author: John Dewey (October 20, 1859–June 1, 1952)
Featured Books: Experience and Education and How We Think
Leaders are busy. Educators are always running short on time so it is of the utmost importance to select the right books, ones that will take your leadership skills to another level.
Think about the following reflection questions as educators:
Do you want to think more clearly about thoughts, balance of mind, and how to think critically? Do you want to understand how to analyze your school and thoughtfully determine what decisions will lead to the greatest gains for students? Do you want to better understand how to lead change, maintain high standards, and not suppress individuality?
If you answered a BIG YES to these questions then take some time and enjoy these two incredible books by one of the most influential educational reformers in history, John Dewey.
Experience and Education We’ll start with Experience and Education. Honestly it’s tough to choose what books to select since John Dewey was such a prolific writer. However, these two do a great job encapsulating the guiding thoughts of John Dewey.
Experience and Education is a relatively short work in which Dewey analyzes education. This is one lens to read this book from--not only to learn what John Dewey thought and believed in but to also understand how he critically examined our profession as a philosopher. This is a very important skill for any administrator.
What we find sobering is that when you delve into this work and read how Dewey contrasts traditional and progressive education, you almost can’t believe that it was written so long ago. It reads like a present day reform effort. There is no doubt that education has advanced, but the system itself has not fundamentally changed.
How We Think The second book we chose was How We Think (free download), partly because it shines an amazing light into what it means to be human, and, also, because we are educational leaders, we must understand the importance of how we operate as people. Our thoughts and our actions are what define us as leaders; by understanding ourselves better, we create greater potential for success in others.
An example of how Dewey delves into our inner workings is in Chapter 2 with our need to train our thinking. This is a concept that has spanned many works from Tony Robbins, Awaken the Giant Within, to books on Emotional Intelligence. Check out Dewey’s quote below.
Let us know what you’re reading by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Joe & T.J.
PS -- If you have a topic you want us to cover or need recommendations on books to read in a particular area of leadership, just send us a tweet or an email.
This episode was brought to you by GhostBed, a family-owned business of sleep experts with 20+ years of experience. With 30K+ 5-star reviews, you can’t go wrong with GhostBed. Their mattresses are handcrafted, and they come with a 101-night-at-home-sleep trial. For a limited time, you can get 30% by using our code — SH302 — at checkout. And, even if you tell someone about GhostBed, you can earn a $100 referral reward. Go to Ghostbed.com today and use SH302 at checkout.
Don’t miss this vblog on YouTube or catch our Read This segment of our One Thing Series podcast--books you need to read to lead better and grow faster.
Featured Authors: Amber Teamann & Melinda Miller
Featured Book: Lead with Appreciation: Fostering a Culture of Gratitude
Here’s Why Every School Principal Should Read This Book About Appreciation for in the Workplace:
Lead with Appreciation is great because it’s written by practitioners. Principals and school leaders are looking for ideas that they can implement right away. Look no further on how to show appreciation than this fantastic book.
Not everyone accepts appreciation or desires to experience appreciation the same way. This book not only features some great tools like the enneagram, but it digs into our work-appreciation languages. P.S. You can find our interview with enneagram specialist, Kaley Klemp at theschoolhouse302.com.
This book is littered with primary resources. The pictures are real, and they add an element of authenticity and reassurance. As a visual learner, this is awesome and takes away some of the mental wrestling that occurs when you are trying to understand what something would look like.
Another great takeaway is that this book is written with most of the chapters focused on the months of the school year. It’s a power planning tip when we can pre-populate our calendar with action items months ahead of schedule.
Let us know what you’re reading by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Joe & T.J.
Amber Teamann serves as the Director of Technology for Crandall ISD, a fast-growing district outside of Dallas, Texas. During her educational career, Amber’s comprehensive understanding of student learning has resulted in a successful blend of technology and leading. Through her campus and district level leadership, she has helped initiate instructional change district-wide, empowering teachers at all levels.
Amber knows that we can all be better together and strives to make every day the very best it can be for each member of her staff and students. As an award-winning administrator, she has been a featured speaker in multiple states helping motivate, encourage, and help develop the capacity of teachers and leaders nationwide. Recognizing the power of social media, working with districts and campuses on finding their voice, and leveraging the power of connected educators has led her down a path she completely owes to the power of a professional learning network.
Key Thoughts from Our Interview with Amber Teamann:
Amber wastes no time diving into key strategies to stay connected with teachers and remain sensitive to the time of year and all the stresses associated with wrapping up this school year. Her wisdom will guide any listener who is looking to finish the school year strong and who wants to be mindful of the various activities that could easily send the wrong message.
Listen to how Amber continually recognizes that the classroom is the most important space in every school.
Amber reminds us that we always have to remember that as leaders our position precedes us as people--it is our responsibility to maintain the same level of energy and enthusiasm throughout the entire year. Don’t miss Amber’s third key strategy, which is focused on how not to overwhelm our staff.
Amber identified Angela Watson as her go-to resource for herself and her teachers.
There is no doubt that Amber is techie, but you don’t want to overlook her sage advice on setting boundaries with social media.
One of her professional goals will resonate with any district leader who is really striving to make an impact through service.
Throughout this interview, Amber displayed a level of insight and wisdom. You can’t miss her testimony on how she learned the power in identifying what she doesn’t know.
Amber puts an end to this wonderful conversation by amplifying the concept that the smartest person in the room is the room itself.
Lastly, we highly recommend her book Lead with Appreciation: Fostering a Culture of Gratitude. Stay tuned for our review on our ReadThisSeries.
Amber’s interview is filled with very specific strategies to end the year in a supportive and encouraging way, coupled with high expectations. We are grateful that she discussed her experience as a principal and those early lessons she learned that taught her how to effectively lead. It was an awesome follow-up to our latest blogpost on effective educational leadership and how to finish the school year strong.
We hope to hear from you about your favorite parts of both the blog and the interview. Please comment below.
Please follow, like, and share. Use #onethingseries and #SH302 so that we can find you. For more great leadership content, follow theschoolhouse302.com.
Joe & T.J.
Don’t miss this vblog on YouTube or catch our Read This segment of our One Thing Series podcast--books you need to read to lead better and grow faster.
Featured Author: Jennie Magiera
Featured Book: Courageous Edventures: Navigating Obstacles to Discover Classroom Innovation
Here’s Why Every Principal Leader, Instructional Technology Coach, and Curriculum Specialist Must Read This Corwin Book by Jennie Magiera:
Courageous Edventures is a great book for all educators. Why? It’s real in that it’s written by a former teacher, and it blends the challenges that are associated with using technology in the classroom with how to overcome them successfully.
The author, Jennie Magiera, now the Global Head of Education Impact at Google, tells a common story, found within many schools--a story where technology is available, but woefully underemployed and arguably misunderstood. Fortunately, she also provides clear ways on how to excel at using these tools to transform teaching and learning.
This month, our focus is on innovation and learning, particularly women in leadership who are making a significant impact. Jennie is one of those individuals who embraces change leadership through innovation. You can’t miss our interview with her, which uncovers a great deal of her stance on school and district leadership.
Her story is found among many early adopters who discover the power of a new teaching tool, “terrifying and confusing.” In this case, Jenny realized early on that technology in the classroom, when used well, can radically improve student learning. However, it wasn’t an easy journey. Courageous Edventures is organized into four parts that we believe make it a great read and very user friendly.
Learning from reading is our goal, and it is why we feature very specific books for educational leaders. The four parts of this book create a journey and require readers to engage with the content as a measure of growth.
Charting Your Course Navigating Your Problems Sailing into the Great Beyond Reflecting on Your Edventure
Each part of Courageous Edventures is written as a journey and carries the reader to the destination. There are very practical models introduced throughout the book, such as the SAMR model or the Teacher Innovation Exploration Plan (TIEP). These models are important because they guide the development of the reader toward something that they can actually use in practice in terms of making a difference in their classroom and school.
Another aspect of this book that truly resonated with us is the Critical Friends section. Our friend and Chief Ruckus Maker, Danny Bauer of Better Leaders Better Schools, has long championed the power of belonging to a mastermind group for support, connectedness, and intentional growth. Having critical friends is a tremendous way to grow as a professional because, among other things, accountability is a key aspect of the relationship.
We’ll end this post on one of Jennie’s tips, which you’ll find early in the book: “Loyalty to Students Over All Else.” When our purpose eclipses everything, it’s easy to find courage to do those things that frighten us. Putting students first is really what this book is about; technology is the just one of the great ways that we can get it done!
We hope to hear from you about your favorite parts of the book, our blog, and the interview. Please comment below. Follow, like, and share.
For more great leadership content, follow theschoolhouse302.com.
Joe & T.J.
This episode was brought to you by GhostBed, a family-owned business of sleep experts with 20+ years of experience. With 30K+ 5-star reviews, you can’t go wrong with GhostBed. Their mattresses are handcrafted, and they come with a 101-night-at-home-sleep trial. For a limited time, you can get 30% by using our code — SH302 — at checkout. And, even if you tell someone about GhostBed, you can earn a $100 referral reward. Go to Ghostbed.com today and use SH302 at checkout.
Learn More About Jennie Magiera, Head of Education at Google Jennie Magiera is the Global Head of Education Impact at Google, bestselling author of Courageous Edventures, and the founder and president of the non-profit Our Voice Alliance (whose mission is to elevate marginalized voices and perspectives to improve equity and empathy in education). Previously, she was the Chief Innovation Officer for CCSD62, the Digital Learning Coordinator for the Academy for Urban School Leadership, and a Chicago Public Schools teacher. A White House Champion for Change, Apple Distinguished Educator, Google Certified Innovator, and TEDx Speaker, Jennie works to improve education globally.
She is also passionate about transforming professional learning, having served on the Technical Working Group for the US Department of Education’s National Educational Technology Plan, co-founding PLAYDATE and other conferences. You can follow Jennie on Twitter at @MsMagiera and pick up her book on Amazon.
Key Thoughts from Our Interview with Jennie Magiera
Understanding the Diffusion of Innovation Curve and how it applies to people and their adoption of innovation is profound for educational leaders who are transforming classrooms into innovation hubs. Don’t miss our discussion about Crossing the Chasm.
You have to hear how Jennie shifted her approach as an instructional coach to enable people to see how technology can radically improve student achievement and solve their unique problems as teachers.
Her insight into how educators define and see themselves provides an excellent window into why change can be so difficult.
Listen to how she is “double clicking” on the humanity of change and who she would love to have pizza with.
Her time blocking suggestion is powerful for go-getters who are looking for more space in their day.
You can’t miss why she wants to learn Korean.
She articulates how she accomplishes an enormous amount in a day, yet also knows when enough has been done.
Don’t miss Jennie’s protractor story and how she describes that technology is a tool, only to be used for the right reasons.
One Thing Series Summary
Jennie’s interview is a powerful blend of technology and human performance. She eloquently describes that a people-first mentality is needed to successfully lead an innovation revolution in our schools. We are grateful that she discussed how she was not always an innovator but sought disruption to improve the student experience.
We hope to hear from you about your favorite parts of both the blog and the interview. Please comment below. Follow, like, and share.
Use #onethingseries and #SH302 so that we can find you. For more great leadership content, follow theschoolhouse302.com.
Joe & T.J.
This episode was brought to you by GhostBed, a family-owned business of sleep experts with 20+ years of experience. With 30K+ 5-star reviews, you can’t go wrong with GhostBed. Their mattresses are handcrafted, and they come with a 101-night-at-home-sleep trial. For a limited time, you can get 30% by using our code — SH302 — at checkout. And, even if you tell someone about GhostBed, you can earn a $100 referral reward. Go to Ghostbed.com today and use SH302 at checkout.
Learn from Women Leaders: A Look Into Top Female Innovators
There is no substitute for effective leadership and taking the time to read and learn from diverse people from all industries only helps to expand a school principals’ ability to view complex issues through a broad yet critical lens.
We’ve discovered that innovation in schools can be limited by the culture of the organization. Fortunately, it is well within the scope of any leader’s reach to become more innovative by implementing a few key practices. Below is our School Innovation Leadership Model.
Topics We Cover Regarding Innovative Educator Leadership:
We discuss how to be innovative even during times of uncertainty and mass change. The Dual Pandemics of Covid19 and Racism have created opportunities to seize change and to be innovative in schools and the classroom.
We highlight that innovation can be incremental and that small adjustments can eventually make for major changes. We pointed back to Society Nine from our blog this month. We talk about how values can create an environment that welcomes and embraces new ideas.
We hope you like this month’s 302 Thoughts as we continue to discuss leadership and the impact that you can have on your community.
Stay tuned for more nuggets of wisdom, podcasts, books to read, reflection sessions, and the best resources for leading better and growing faster in schools. Follow us at theschoolhouse302.com to join thousands of leaders who get our content each month. Send this to a friend.
As always, let us know what you think of this with a like, a follow, or a comment. Find us on Twitter, YouTube, iTunes, Facebook, & SoundCould. And, again, if you want one simple model for leading better and growing faster per month, follow this blog by entering your email at the top right of the screen.
TheSchoolHouse302 is about getting to simple by maximizing effective research-based strategies that empower individuals to lead better and grow faster.
Joe & T.J.
This episode was brought to you by GhostBed, a family-owned business of sleep experts with 20+ years of experience. With 30K+ 5-star reviews, you can’t go wrong with GhostBed. Their mattresses are handcrafted, and they come with a 101-night-at-home-sleep trial. For a limited time, you can get 30% by using our code — SH302 — at checkout. And, even if you tell someone about GhostBed, you can earn a $100 referral reward. Go to Ghostbed.com today and use SH302 at checkout.
Don’t miss this vblog on YouTube or catch our Read This segment of our One Thing Series podcast--books you need to read to lead better and grow faster.
Featured Author: Baruti Kafele
Featured Book: Is My School Better BECAUSE I Lead It?
Here’s Why Every Principal Should Read This ASCD Book by Principal Kafele:
The title alone deserves an answer. We believe everyone in an educational leadership position should answer this question and take time to reflect on whether or not they are making a positive impact. It speaks to our latest blog on service- and servant-leadership.
Similar to other Principal Kafele books, he starts with the power of questions. If you read this book through the lens of self-development, not only will you understand yourself better, you’ll also continue on the great and challenging journey of leadership growth.
Principal Kafele is comfortable with the uncomfortable. As humans, we don’t always like to confront the brutal reality, but growth occurs in the space where we willingly uncover our areas of weakness. A must read.
Don’t miss our One Thing Series podcast interview with Baruti Kafele where we dive into the servant leadership, social justice, and so much more. Find the podcast at theschoolhouse302.com.
Let us know what you’re reading by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Joe & T.J.
PS -- If you have a topic you want us to cover or need recommendations on books to read in a particular area of leadership, just send us a message.
Servant leadership is touted and recognized as an effective way to lead. Principals who embrace servant leadership build their winning team by empowering their school community at all levels. This month, we draw a simple distinction between servant leadership and service leadership. We contend that service leadership is the actionable aspect of effective leadership that goes beyond the general duties of the job. Service leaders provide something special and unique for each person on the team or for the community at large. They don’t just empower, they provide.
To better understand how to be a service leader, we offer the 4 Ps of Service Leadership, which we breakdown in this month’s 302 Thoughts. This component of our One Thing Series podcast, takes a deep dive into this month’s topic so that anyone in an educational leadership position--district leaders, principals, assistant principals, instructional coaches, and teacher leaders--all see how they can uniquely support a learning environment throughout the entire school community.
Topics We Cover Regarding Service Leadership:
We discuss how service leadership is the engine behind servant leadership. Essentially, the way we empower others impacts how they can serve in their roles.
We break down the 4 P model and how it can guide our daily work. We emphasize the power of a positive attitude and how it really is a choice.
We talk about turning pride into something of virtue rather than voice.
We hope you like this month’s 302 Thoughts as we continue to discuss leadership and the impact that you can have on your community.
Stay tuned for more nuggets of wisdom, podcasts, books to read, reflection sessions, and the best resources for leading better and growing faster in schools. Follow us at theschoolhouse302.com to join thousands of leaders who get our content each month. Send this to a friend.
As always, let us know what you think of this with a like, a follow, or a comment. Find us on Twitter, YouTube, iTunes, Facebook, & SoundCould. And, again, if you want one simple model for leading better and growing faster per month, follow this blog by entering your email at the top right of the screen.
TheSchoolHouse302 is about getting to simple by maximizing effective research-based strategies that empower individuals to lead better and grow faster.
Joe & T.J.
A highly-regarded urban educator in New Jersey for over twenty years, Principal Baruti Kafele distinguished himself as a master teacher and a transformational school leader. As an elementary school teacher in East Orange, NJ, he was selected as the East Orange School District and Essex County Public Schools Teacher of the Year, he was a New Jersey State Teacher of the Year finalist, and a recipient of the New Jersey Education Association Award of Excellence.
As a middle and high school principal, Principal Kafele led the turnaround of four different New Jersey urban schools, including "The Mighty" Newark Tech, which went from a low-performing school in need of improvement to national recognition, which included U.S. News and World Report Magazine recognizing it three times as one of America's best high schools.
A prolific writer, Principal Kafele has written extensively on professional development strategies for creating a positive school climate and culture, transforming the attitudes of at-risk students, motivating Black males to excel in the classroom, and school leadership practices for inspiring schoolwide excellence. In addition to writing several professional articles for popular education journals, he has authored eleven books, including his six ASCD best sellers -- Motivating Black Males to Achieve in School & in Life, Closing the Attitude Gap, The Teacher 50, Is My School a Better School BECAUSE I Lead It?, The Principal 50, and The Assistant Principal 50. He is also the author of the ASCD book, The Aspiring Principal 50. His next book – The Equity and Social Justice Education 50 will be released in May, 2021.
Key Thoughts from the Interview:
Principal Kafele dives deep into how principals can best support their teachers to create an award winning school. He also delves into the topic of social justice and how every listener can better understand what this means to reimagine our schools for the future.
Listen to how Principal Kafele shielded his teachers, allowing them to focus on their classroom and their students.
Principal Kafele describes his philosophy regarding lesson planning and the power of only planning one week at a time. “If you’re not planning, you’re winging it.”
He describes what supportive leadership really is and what it looks like in practice. Don’t miss the story he tells about challenging his superintendent.
Principal Kafele identifies Frank Mickens and his success as a principal as instrumental in his own development.
You don’t want to miss his advice on how to regain your purpose and stay true to your why. His own why: “I want to build men out of boys.” Similar to other guests, Principal Kafele describes his desire to jump from an airplane. He already knows how to fly one.
Several times, Principal Kafele described “holes” in our current conversations about equity in schools. He lists 4 books that everyone should read to have an understanding of race, racism, and social justice in America. Before the Mayflower The Mis-Education of the Negro Introduction to African Civilizations From Slavery to Freedom
Listen to how Principal Kafele’s views have changed on teachers and what makes the difference in the lives of children. “We need solid people who can take care of business and who will learn what they don’t know.”
Principal Kafele’s interview is a powerful testimony of someone who has successfully led award-winning schools amid incredibly challenging circumstances. We are grateful that he discussed how social justice can be reflected throughout the curriculum and what we can do to better prepare ourselves as educational leaders. It was an awesome follow-up to our latest blogpost on service leadership.
We hope to hear from you about your favorite parts of both the blog and the interview. Please comment below.
Please follow, like, and share. Use #onethingseries and #SH302 so that we can find you. For more great leadership content, follow theschoolhouse302.com.
Joe & T.J.
Featured Author: Robert Jackson Book: Becoming the Educator they Need: Strategies, Midsets, and Beliefs for Supporting Male Black and Latino Students
Why We Picked This Book:
This book includes real stories about young Black and Latino males, which provides a perspective for a predominantly white workforce in education. We need to know more about our students, and they need to know more about us.
Robert’s book begins with the five factors that impact male Black and Latino students, and educators need to be incredibly aware of them: Invisibilization Marginalization Pre-criminalization Stereotype threat Colorism
He challenges educators with a how-to chapter on culturally aware teaching practices. We should be doing a book study on this book in every school.
Robert writes from the heart. By weaving in his own experiences, the book emerges as a powerful testimony to the work that can be done.
Don’t miss our One Thing Series podcast interview with Robert Jackson where we dive into the book and so much more.
Let us know what you’re reading by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Joe & T.J.
Robert Jackson began his teaching career almost 25 years ago in Indianapolis Public Schools with a No More Excuses teaching approach with all of his students after being cut from the NFL Minnesota Vikings. As an educator, he didn’t allow his students to feel sorry for themselves or let their circumstances define their futures. He set high expectations for his students and expected them all to do well. Those same students went from low performing to successful Pastors, Lawyers, School Administrators, Teachers, Pharmaceutical Sales Reps, Business Owners, Pro Athletes, Entertainers and more. He has become one of the most sought-after speakers in the country, delivering keynote addresses and workshops to educators and administrators at national conferences.
Mr. Jackson has written and published 6 books. His new book, Becoming the Educator They Need: Strategies, Mindsets, and Beliefs for Supporting Male Black and Latino Students just won the Gold Excel Award for Technical Writing in July 2020. His “No More Excuses” Curriculum has been featured in publications nationally and is being used in K-12 Schools, Colleges and Universities in the US and Canada. His books include, Black Men Stand Up, A Boys Guide to Manhood, A Young Woman’s Guide to Womanhood, Put a Stop to Bullying, and Solutions to Educating Black and Latino Males.
He is married to Essence Best Selling Author, Tajuana “TJ” Butler-Jackson and they have 3 children and 1 grandson.
His motto is: “For Every Problem, there is a Solution.”
Key Thoughts from the Interview:
Robert Jackson delivers a powerful message, packed with clear strategies that every school administrator and teacher should know and do.
Robert emphasized the need to simply ask students questions and talk to them about their lives. He suggests a simple survey to get keen insights. “Equip them by asking them.”
Listen to the distinction he makes between empathy and feeling sorry for a student. He went deep into the data and illuminated the disparities in school discipline practices, particularly between objective and subjective offenses.
You have to hear what no one ever asked him about. Robert delved into the importance of self-care and what we should do every day, from getting rest to prayer.
His line, “I’m wearing my life on my face,” will cause you to think and consider how you perceive individual students and certain situations. Robert describes how his pastor, Creflo Dollar, impacts him as a person. He also lists a few very influential leaders, athletes, and activists from the past who he listens to online to help him grow as a person and a leader.
Robert’s views on the critical importance of perspective finding to navigate relationships and circumstance is powerful. Find out what he says about leadership and what it means for everyday living.
Robert ends by letting us know that every story needs to be heard, even the ones that we would typically ignore.
Mr. Jackson’s interview is filled with clear takeaways on how to grow as a person and better connect with our students in schools. He challenges us to take action and make a difference. It was a wonderful follow-up to our latest blogpost, highlighting incredible Black educators from the past and present who every educator should know. We hope to hear from you about your favorite parts of both the blog and the interview.
Please follow, like, and comment. Use #onethingseries and #SH302 so that we can find you. For more great leadership content, follow theschoolhouse302.com.
Joe & T.J.
The 302 Thoughts segment of our One Thing Series takes a deep dive into our blog post for that particular month. February is dedicated to Black History Month and we thought it was only appropriate to honor and celebrate outstanding Black educators from the past and present.
This month we invited our good friend, Dr. Salome Thomas-EL, to join us to discuss his journey as an educator and how the education industry can attract more teachers of color.
Dr. Salome Thomas-EL has been a teacher and principal in Philadelphia, PA and Wilmington, DE since 1987. He is currently the Head of School at Thomas Edison Public Charter School in Wilmington, DE. Thomas-EL received national acclaim as a teacher and chess coach at Vaux Middle School, where his students have gone on to win world recognition as Eight-Time National Chess Champions. Principal EL was a regular contributor on “The Dr. Oz Show” and the author of the best-selling books, I Choose to Stay and The Immortality of Influence (Foreword by Will Smith). The Walt Disney Company optioned the movie rights to I Choose to Stay. Thomas-EL speaks to groups across the country and frequently appears on C-SPAN, CNN, and NPR Radio.
He has received the Marcus A. Foster Award as the outstanding School District Administrator in Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania’s distinguished Martin Luther King Award. Reader’s Digest Magazine recognized Principal EL as an “Inspiring American Icon” and he has appeared on Oprah Radio! And, with Joseph Jones and T.J. Vari, he co-authored Passionate Leadership: Creating a Culture of Success in Every School as well as Building a Winning Team: The Power of a Magnetic Reputation and the Need to Recruit Top Talent in Every School. His new book, again written with the two of us, is available for pre-order, Retention for a Change: Motivate, Inspire, and Energize Your School Culture.
What you’ll hear and learn in this segment:
Principal EL’s journey into the classroom is nothing short of a calling from above. While working for Prism sports and talking to various athletes, EL realized the tremendous impact that educators had on the lives of the athletes, and he wanted to do the same for others.
Listen to why Principal EL decided to teach at the K-8 grade levels and not at the high school level.
EL’s explanation of why he decided to introduce students to chess is profound and poses the critical question: in what other ways can we engage students to think critically and have fun simultaneously in schools?
The conversation takes a nice turn to how schools must have a culture that supports teachers and attracts future educators into the profession.
EL gets very practical on how to recruit teachers of color. Lastly, listen to EL rap and promote the power of an education.
This 302 Thoughts was a wonderful follow-up to our latest blogpost, Principal Leadership at TheSchoolHouse302.com:
Every School Leader Should Know These 6 Incredible Black Educators–Celebrating Black History Month “Then” and “Now” . We hope to hear from you about your favorite parts of both the blog and the interview.
Please follow, like, and comment. Use #onethingseries and #SH302 so that we can find you. For more great leadership content, follow theschoolhouse302.com.
Joe & T.J.
Don’t miss this vblog on books you need to read to lead better and grow faster. We recommend three titles that are must reads on the topic of learning and growing as a leader.
Focus: Elevating the Essentials to Radically Improve Student Learning by Mike Schmoker
Instructional Rounds in Education by Elizabeth City, Richard Elmore, Sara Fiarman, and Lee Teitel
Brain Rules by John Medina
Let us know what you’re reading by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Joe & T.J.
PS -- If you have a topic you want us to cover or need recommendations on books to read in a particular area of leadership, just send us a tweet or an email.
Richard Elmore is currently a Research Professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education where he has been on the faculty since 1990. He was the founding faculty director of the Doctorate in Educational Leadership (EdLD) at Harvard, an innovative interdisciplinary residential, cohort-based leadership program for the learning sector, now in its eleventh year.
His on-line HarvardX course, Leaders of Learning, has been taken by more than 100,000 learners internationally since its inception in 2014. From 1995 to 2014, his research and consulting practice focused on building instructional improvement capabilities of teachers and administrators through direct observation and analysis of classroom practice.
He has worked with schools in large urban districts in the U.S., and with government and private schools in Australia, Canada, Mexico, Chile, and China. His current work focuses on the relationship between research on the neuroscience of learning and the physical, cultural, and social design of new learning environments for adults, adolescents, and young children. He consults with architectural design firms working with international clients on the design and construction of innovative learning environments. He is a painter, working in watercolor and oil media, and a writer of Tanka poetry.
Key Thoughts from the Interview:
Dr. Elmore plainly describes the power of learning through the beginner’s mindset. In a sobering way, Richard takes us on a journey that uncovers the limitations that the institution of education has and what must be done about it.
Richard describes how simple, granular conversations during medical rounds is the premise behind educational rounds. Hear how he clearly distinguishes between education and learning. Listen to what he describes as one of the most powerful practices a leader can do to improve student learning.
This interview was steeped in neuroscience and how much has been learned over the last few decades. Richard touted the work of Alison Gopnick and Sarah Blakemore and encouraged us to read their work with a beginner’s mind.
Richard’s philosophy on learning is profound and challenging. Learn more about ground zero.
Find out what Richard would still like to learn and his unique insight into China. He also recommended Tom Vanderbilt’s book called Beginners as the perfect read for lifelong learning.
Richard describes how we can write our biography as a learner, something we should all do.
Finally, don’t miss how his mindset toward learning and schooling has changed significantly over the years. He shares a life-changing experience that led him to revamp his teaching style as a professor.
Dr. Elmore’s interview is truly a call-to-action. He challenges the educational system from architectural design to the application of neuroscience. It was a wonderful follow-up to our latest blogpost on the four often overlooked learning strategies for leaders. We hope to hear from you about your favorite parts of both the blog and the interview.
Please follow, like, and comment. Use #onethingseries and #SH302 so that we can find you. For more great leadership content, follow theschoolhouse302.com.
Joe & T.J.
Richard Elmore is currently a Research Professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education where he has been on the faculty since 1990. He was the founding faculty director of the Doctorate in Educational Leadership (EdLD) at Harvard, an innovative interdisciplinary residential, cohort-based leadership program for the learning sector, now in its eleventh year.
His on-line HarvardX course, Leaders of Learning, has been taken by more than 100,000 learners internationally since its inception in 2014. From 1995 to 2014, his research and consulting practice focused on building instructional improvement capabilities of teachers and administrators through direct observation and analysis of classroom practice.
He has worked with schools in large urban districts in the U.S., and with government and private schools in Australia, Canada, Mexico, Chile, and China. His current work focuses on the relationship between research on the neuroscience of learning and the physical, cultural, and social design of new learning environments for adults, adolescents, and young children. He consults with architectural design firms working with international clients on the design and construction of innovative learning environments. He is a painter, working in watercolor and oil media, and a writer of Tanka poetry.
Key Thoughts from the Interview:
Dr. Elmore plainly describes the power of learning through the beginner’s mindset. In a sobering way, Richard takes us on a journey that uncovers the limitations that the institution of education has and what must be done about it.
Richard describes how simple, granular conversations during medical rounds is the premise behind educational rounds.
Hear how he clearly distinguishes between education and learning. Listen to what he describes as one of the most powerful practices a leader can do to improve student learning.
This interview was steeped in neuroscience and how much has been learned over the last few decades. Richard touted the work of Alison Gopnick and Sarah Blakemore and encouraged us to read their work with a beginner’s mind.
Richard’s philosophy on learning is profound and challenging. Learn more about ground zero.
Find out what Richard would still like to learn and his unique insight into China. He also recommended Tom Vanderbilt’s book called Beginners as the perfect read for lifelong learning.
Richard describes how we can write our biography as a learner, something we should all do.
Finally, don’t miss how his mindset toward learning and schooling has changed significantly over the years. He shares a life-changing experience that led him to revamp his teaching style as a professor.
Dr. Elmore’s interview is truly a call-to-action. He challenges the educational system from architectural design to the application of neuroscience. It was a wonderful follow-up to our latest blogpost on the four often overlooked learning strategies for leaders. We hope to hear from you about your favorite parts of both the blog and the interview.
Please follow, like, and comment. Use #onethingseries and #SH302 so that we can find you. For more great leadership content, follow theschoolhouse302.com.
Joe & T.J.
Valerie Brown transformed her high-pressure, high-stakes twenty-year career as a lawyer-lobbyist, representing educational institutions and nonprofits, to human-scale work with diverse leaders and teams to foster trustworthy, compassionate, and authentic connections.
She holds a Juris Doctorate, she’s an accredited leadership coach at the Professional Certified Coach level (PCC), international retreat leader, writer, and Chief Mindfulness Officer and Professional Pilgrim of Lead Smart Coaching, specializing in the application and integration of mindfulness and leadership, and she is a Co-Director of Georgetown’s Institute for Transformational Leadership in Washington, D.C.
Kirsten Olson works with leaders engaged in transformational change, sector-shift, and the new demands of leadership in the learning sector, nationally and internationally. She is an ICF-certified leadership coach and an adjunct instructor at Georgetown University’s Institute for Transformational Leadership. She holds a doctorate from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, where she focused on the systemic demands of large scale educational improvement, and is the author of The Mindful School Leader (Corwin, 2014), Wounded By School (Teachers College Press, 2009) and Schools As Colonizers (Verlag, 2008).
Also a retreat leader focused on mindfulness for leaders, self-compassion, and permissioning in leadership and social action, Kirsten was a founding board member of the Institute for Democratic Education in America (IDEA), a national not-for-profit organizing educational leaders, teachers, students, and parents around a vision for education founded in greater equity, social justice, compassion and passionate learning.
Major Takeaways from the Interview:
Valerie and Kirsten vividly describe the issues that many educators are facing and how mindfulness is more important than ever. Full of wisdom, they provide practical steps to achieve mindfulness within the human experience.
They remind us that although mindfulness takes time, everything that we need to achieve it already exists within us. Using a story about an urban school leader, they discuss ways to become more self-aware and reduce anxiety. Hear what they have to say about microbursts and how cortisol is a killer.
Quick Tip: As you're reading this--Pause, put your feet on the floor, take a deep breath, and slowly exhale. Take notice of what you are feeling.
Valerie described the power of connection and being a part of a wonderful community, like the Plum Village, which was founded by Thich Nhat Hanh. Don’t miss everything else they reveal about who they value for knowledge and inspiration.
Both Valerie and Kirsten describe the “gift of empty time” and the need “to do less” and how “contentment is knowledge of enough.” Taking something out of your day or life is what leads to excellence, not the other way around.
Don’t miss what they would love to learn, but more importantly, pay attention to why.
Listen to what they say about how leadership is an x-ray of the self and why you shouldn’t live one more day without a community of support.
You don’t want to miss what they don’t think anymore and how they challenge contemporary service leadership as misunderstood.
This interview courageously confronts the concept of leading with excellence in a totally different way than our culture might expect its leaders. The raw humanness exposed in this interview will make you think about how you are living each day and what you can do to be a mindful leader. It was a wonderful follow-up to our latest blogpost on excellence hacks every educator needs to know and the three books we recommend this month at theschoolhouse302.com.
Please follow, like, and comment. Use #onethingseries and #SH302 so that we can find you. For more great leadership content, follow theschoolhouse302.com.
Joe & T.J.
Douglas Reeves is the founder of Creative Leadership Solutions, a non-profit with the mission to improve educational opportunities for students throughout the world using creative solutions for leadership, policy, teaching, and learning. Dr. Reeves is also the founder of DouglasReeves.com, ChangeLeaders.com, and has created a non-profit called FinishTheDissertation.org, which helps doctoral students finish their dissertations via phone, Skype, or personal conferences.
Dr. Reeves has worked with education, business, nonprofit, and government organizations throughout the world. The author of more than 30 books and more than 80 articles on leadership and organizational effectiveness, he has twice been named to the Harvard University Distinguished Authors Series and was named the Brock International Laureate for his contributions to education. Dr. Reeves received both the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of Secondary School Principals and the Parent's Choice Award for his writing for children and parents. His career of work in professional learning led to the Contribution to the Field Award from the National Staff Development Council. For his international work, Dr. Reeves was named the William Walker Scholar by the Australian Council of Educational Leaders.
Key Thoughts from the Interview:
Dr. Reeve’s urgent call-to-action regarding what will be a national crisis is compelling. Listen to the three things we can do today as educational leaders. His description of “the buy-in myth” will change how you think about initiating and sustaining change.
Are you looking for insight on grading practices? Dr. Reeves discussed former curriculum coordinator, Ken O’Connor and his transformative work as well as Rick Wormli. Also, check out the resources at CreativeLeadership.net.
Amid all that’s going on and the need to connect students for the sake of learning, Dr. Reeves explains how there is no substitute for relationships in schools. “The most underused technology is the telephone.”
Don’t miss what Dr. Reeves is doing to model more effectively and what he is currently learning. He recommends The Marshall Memo and Zotero.com.
Find out what Dr. Reeves considers to be a “prescription for a petrified brain” and consider picking up his latest book recommendation, Upswing.
Dr. Reeve’s interview is jammed with practical ideas that can be implemented in any school system. He attacks issues with candor in this captivating interview that demonstrates the power of action during this crisis. It was a wonderful follow-up to our latest blogpost on lessons learned during the pandemic and the three books we recommend this month at theschoolhouse302.com.
Please follow, like, and comment. Use #onethingseries and #SH302 so that we can find you. For more great leadership content, follow theschoolhouse302.com.
Joe & T.J.
Stephen M. R. Covey is co-founder of CoveyLink and of the FranklinCovey Global Speed of Trust Practice. A sought-after and compelling keynote speaker and advisor on trust, leadership, ethics, and high performance, he speaks to audiences around the world. He is the New York Times and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Speed of Trust, and coauthor of the #1 Amazon bestseller Smart Trust. He advocates that nothing is as fast as the speed of trust and that the ability to establish, grow, extend, and restore trust with all stakeholders is the critical leadership competency of the new global economy. Stephen passionately delivers that message and is skilled in enabling leaders and organizations to experience the dividends of high trust. Audiences and organizations alike resonate with his insightful, relevant approach to real-time issues that affect their immediate and long-term performance.
He is the former CEO of Covey Leadership Center, which, under his stewardship, became the largest leadership development company in the world. Stephen, with Greg Link, led the strategy that propelled his father’s book, Dr. Stephen R. Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, to become one of the two most influential business books of the 20th Century, according to CEO Magazine. A Harvard MBA, he joined Covey Leadership Center as a Client Developer and later became National Sales Manager and then President and CEO. Under Stephen’s direction, the company grew rapidly and profitably, achieving Inc. 500 status.
Stephen currently serves on the board/advisory board of several entities and is a Top Thought Leaders in Trust Lifetime Achievement Honoree from Trust Across America-Trust Around the World. Stephen resides with his wife and children in the shadows of the Rocky Mountains. You can follow Stephen on Twitter @StephenMRCovey.
Key Thoughts from the Interview:
Stephen’s account of the Franklin Quest and Covey merger illustrates the power of trust in every organization. You don’t want to miss how trust revitalized the organization and what happened when it was low.
His explanation of self-trust and how everything “ripples out” from that place has the power to change how we think and act.
Stephen reveals the impactful work and leadership excellence of former President and CEO of the Campbell Soup Company, Doug Conant. Check out Doug’s books: The Blueprint and TouchPoints.
We were thrilled to hear how he uses his father’s work in his own life on a daily basis to achieve a “daily private victory.”
A lover of music, Stephen opens up about his desire to be able to sing.
He indicated how he is always keeping abreast of current trends and ideas through podcasts, speeches, and audio books. His insight into staying at the forefront of shifts and changes is perfect.
Stephen wraps up the interview with how he started--the power and importance of leading with trust. He reveals how his view of trust has changed from something warm and fuzzy to the very essence of all of our relationships.
Stephen’s interview reveals how trust transforms everything from the classroom to the board room. It was a wonderful follow-up to our latest blogpost on trust and the three books we recommended this month at theschoolhouse302.com.
Please follow, like, and comment. Use #onethingseries and #SH302 so that we can find you. For more great leadership content, follow theschoolhouse302.com.
Joe & T.J.
Also, coming soon: Our first Masterclass: Candid and Compassionate Feedback -- Request info by emailing contact@theschoolhouse302.com.
Dr. Catlin Tucker is a bestselling author, international trainer, and keynote speaker. She was named Teacher of the Year in 2010 in Sonoma County, where she taught for 16 years. Catlin earned her doctorate in learning technologies at Pepperdine University.
Currently, Catlin is working as a blended learning coach and education consultant. Catlin has written a series of bestselling books on blended learning, which include Balance With Blended Learning, Blended Learning In Action, Power Up Blended Learning, and Blended Learning In Grades 4-12. She is active on Twitter @Catlin_Tucker and writes an internationally ranked blog at CatlinTucker.com.
Key Thoughts from the Interview:
Don’t miss how Catlin’s own needs drove her to become a foremost expert on blended learning.
She gets her learning-fix from mind/shift and, you guessed it, Brene Brown.
Like many of our guests, she recommends physical activity for brain breaks.
She wants to know more about neuroscience and how the brain learns. Don’t miss our geeked-out conversation about Powerful Teaching.
She says that you have to ask for feedback with a level of humility if you want to continue to get better. Feedback!
It’s interesting to hear an expert say that you don’t have to be an expert. Don’t miss the last #onethingseries question that she answers.
Catlin’s interview reveals how curiosity and desire can transform any classroom.
Please follow, like, and comment. Use #onethingseries and #SH302 so that we can find you. For more great leadership content, follow theschoolhouse302.com.
Joe & T.J.
Jethro Jones (@jethrojones) is the 2017 NASSP Digital Principal of the Year and the host of Transformative Principal, where he interviews principals, leaders, and influencers who help improve K-12 education throughout the world. He is also the founder of Transformative Leadership Summit, which is like his podcast, but on steroids! He is the author of SchoolX: How principals can design a transformative school experience for students, teachers, parents – and themselves, available now for pre-order.
Key Thoughts from the Interview:
Schools are dynamic places. Listen to how Jethro led 32 initiatives simultaneous to transform his school for the better. As you will hear, it all starts with empathy.
Jethro raves about Seth Godin’s Creative Workshops. Jethro’s approach to learning and growing is fascinating.
Recently inspired by Tim Feriss’s interview of Hugh Jackman, Jethro is journaling each day and has already experienced the power of this simple practice. But, this is journaling with a twist. Discover how you can also make this a consistent part of your life for big changes.
One thing Jethro would love to learn--the piano! Not surprising since so much of this interview is wrapped around change, growth, and creativity.
Interestingly, Jethro describes how his own Podcast is at the center of his exponential growth. His process for identifying his guests is unique and extremely worthwhile.
Jethro’s final response on what he used to believe, but doesn’t anymore, is at the heart of change--that it doesn’t have to be a certain way. His Tik Tok story is a perfect example of learning in new and dynamic ways.
Jehtro’s interview is very insightful for any educator looking to make a difference in the classroom, school, or district.
Please follow, like, and comment. Use #onethingseries and #SH302 so that we can find you. For more great leadership content, follow theschoolhouse302.com.
Joe & T.J.
Dr. Joe Sanfelippo is the Superintendent of the Fall Creek School District in Fall Creek, WI. The Fall Creek School District was named an Innovative District in 2016 and 2017 by the International Center for Leadership in Education. Joe holds a BA in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from St. Norbert College, a masters in Educational Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a masters in Educational Leadership, and a PhD in Leadership, Learning, and Service from Cardinal Stritch University.
Joe co-authored The Power of Branding-Telling Your School's Story, Principal Professional Development: Leading Learning in a Digital Age, and Hacking Leadership: 10 Ways Great Leaders Inspire Learning That Teachers, Students and Parents Love. He was selected as 1 of 117 Future Ready Superintendents in 2014 and 1 of 50 Superintendents as a Personalized Learning Leader in 2016 by the US Department of Education. He attended summits at the White House for both distinctions. Education Dive named Joe 1 of 5 K-12 administrators to watch in 2018 and their National Superintendent of the Year in 2019. He has been a featured speaker in multiple states in the areas of Advancing the Use of Social Media for School Leaders, Telling Your School Story, Creating a Culture of Yes, and Personalized Professional Growth for Staff.
Key Thoughts from the Interview:
“In the absence of knowledge, people make it up.” Joe provides incredible insight on the power of branding and why schools need to embrace telling their story. Learn how Joe creates connections and forces engagement. We’ll forgive him for his comments regarding the Philadelphia Eagles.
A powerhouse of inspiration, Joe mentions that Inky Johnson is a person he can listen to every day. If you don’t know Inky’s story, don’t let another minute go by! Within the world of education, Joe also mentions that he “leans into” Jimmy Casas and Tom Murray and we couldn’t agree more.
Interestingly, Joe discussed the one thing that we should be doing every day is listening more. He powerfully describes how he often gets caught up in the “next thing” and can overlook the moment. You have to hear what he also says about doing something a little scary.
Listen to what he says about reading. It’s awesome and totally about immersion and engagement.
With whom do you surround yourself? Are you around individuals who push you to another level? Joe describes how to grow, find out just how simple it is if you are actually willing.
Joe’s final response on what he used to believe is a great example of doing what makes a difference versus doing things you think make a difference.
Joe’s interview is a practical how-to interview. His suggestions on telling your story are simple yet profound. The story he tells of the young man bagging groceries is what it is all about.
Please follow, like, and comment. Use #onethingseries and #SH302 so that we can find you. For more great leadership content, follow theschoolhouse302.com.
Joe & T.J.
Tom Lewis is the founder of T.W. Company, an award-winning Scottsdale, Arizona based real estate and investment company known for its quality and outstanding customer service in the homebuilding industry.
Lewis received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Professional Builder Magazine and was the first inductee into the National Housing Quality Hall of Fame. In 2002, Lewis and his wife Jan formed TomLewis Foundation to support higher education, children and families in need, youth character education and a variety of local and national non-profits that strengthen Americas’ civil society. In 2015, they created the Lewis Honors College at the University of Kentucky.
In his new book, SOLID GROUND, Lewis asserts that, when it comes to success, nothing is more critical than a solid foundation. Taking the time, now, for reflection and analysis will yield enormous dividends in the future, he attests.
Key Thoughts from the Interview:
Tom provides incredible insight on how effective leaders don’t sidestep reality. His views on vision, trustworthiness, and compassion are powerful and can be used effectively through his simple steps.
His philanthropic work with college-bound students is impressive.
He discussed the wisdom of Dennis Prager and referred to him as a modern day philosopher.
Tom introduced us to a new concept he called “esteemable.” You have to listen to how he describes the fact that the work we do, especially for others, leads to greater fulfillment.
He genuinely talked about his desire to reach more millennials and offer them the wisdom he has gained throughout his life.
He encouraged everyone to find their talent, not just their passion.
Lastly, Tom eloquently describes the difference between strategy and execution.
Tom’s interview is a practical how-to interview, including ways to infuse hope into everything we do for greater fulfillment in life and work.
Please follow, like, and comment. Use #onethingseries and #SH302 so that we can find you. For more great leadership content, follow theschoolhouse302.com.
Joe & T.J.
Jon Rennie is a Business Leader, Author, and Speaker. He is Co-Founder, President, and CEO of Peak Demand Inc., a global manufacturer of products for electric utilities.
He served as a Naval Officer on Nuclear Submarines during the Cold War and has been leading industrial businesses for more than 20 years.
He is passionate about leadership and employee engagement. His articles and blog posts have been read and shared all over the world. He believes that Leadership can make a significant difference in the performance of any organization.
His latest leadership book, I Have the Watch: Becoming a Leader Worth Following is an Amazon bestseller.
Key Thoughts from the Interview:
Jon provides incredible insight into how the absentee boss leads from their comfort zone.
When asked who he turns to learn and grow, Jon didn’t hesitate to acknowledge the impactful work of Coach Bru.
You have to hear why he gets up at 4:00AM every day.
Jon describes how a ship is nothing more than cold metal in a harbor and that it’s the crew who brings a ship to life. Listen for what he wants to continue to do and how he wants to grow.
Don’t miss what she says about his Dashboard University.
Lastly, Jon covers some of his fascinating life story; he reveals, in the end, that leaders don’t have to know all the answers.
Jon’s interview is packed full of practical ways to become a more present leader. We hope you enjoy this interview as much as we did!
Please follow, like, and comment. Use #onethingseries and #SH302 so that we can find you. For more great leadership content, follow theschoolhouse302.com.
Joe & T.J.
Amy Cooper Hakim, Ph.D., is an industrial-organizational psychology practitioner and workplace expert. She is a speaker, author, and the executive consultant and founder of The Cooper Strategic Group. She helps employees and employers to get along better, and coaches leaders and employees to improve productivity, morale, satisfaction, and overall work-life balance. Her book, Working with Difficult People, provides clear strategies to effectively handle the ten types of difficult bosses, colleagues, and subordinates. The book hit #1 in sales at Amazon for Business Etiquette books and was highlighted in Parade Magazine. She is currently putting the finishing touches on her next book about work-life balance.
Dr. Amy has been featured in numerous publications, including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, NBC News, Chicago Tribune, Vogue, Cosmopolitan, CNN, CNBC Make It, and MSN. She has also been a guest on a variety of news and radio shows. She has a blog at Psychology Today, called “Working with Difficult People.”
Key Thoughts from the Interview:
Amy provides very practical advice for dealing with difficult situations and people. Learn how to take the emotion out of situations and work within the boundaries of what you can control.
Amy’s tribute to her grandmother is heartwarming and inspiring. You have to hear about the amazing life she led.
You’ll want to hear how you can easily pivot your thinking for greater appreciation.
You have to hear her story about cutting her son’s hair and how we should never miss out on an opportunity to learn something new.
Don’t miss what she says about seeing life as a series of experiences that guide our growth and development.
Lastly, take a moment to reflect on how powerful the values are that direct your day-to-day. She ends with what we should all use as the beginning.
Amy’s interview sets the stage to transform how you lead and live. We hope you enjoy this interview as much as we did!
Please follow, like, and comment. Use #onethingseries and #SH302 so that we can find you. For more great leadership content, follow theschoolhouse302.com.
Joe & T.J.
Bob Burg is a sought-after speaker at company leadership and sales conferences, sharing the platform with everyone from today’s business leaders and broadcast personalities to even a former U.S. President.
Bob is the author of a number of books on sales, marketing, and influence, with total book sales of well over a million copies. His book, The Go-Giver, coauthored with John David Mann, itself has sold over 925,000 copies, and it has been translated into 28 languages. His and John’s newest parable in the Go-Giver Series is The Go-Giver Influencer.
Bob is an advocate, supporter, and defender of the Free Enterprise system, believing that the amount of money one makes is directly proportional to how many people they serve. He is also an unapologetic animal fanatic, and is a past member of the Board of Directors of Furry Friends Adoption, Clinic & Ranch in his hometown of Jupiter, Florida.
Bob’s interview with TheSchoolHouse302 is a powerful example of how success can be achieved when someone totally focuses on others. He shared his own path to success and why he embraced the Go-Giver mindset. Don’t miss it.
Key Thoughts from the Interview:
Bob describes a complete mindshift that transforms how we focus on ourselves to focusing on others. The goal: add immense value to other people. Find out what he says about David Marquete’s Turn the Ship Around.
When asked about who he listens to for inspiration and growth, he points to Dan Rockwell. We asked what makes Dan’s work so powerful, and Bob simply said that his “thoughts, ideas, wisdom are over the moon.” Listen for more.
You’ll want to hear how he focused on self-improvement and the wisdom he gleaned from Benjamin Franklin.
He talked about the “mystery of human nature” and how he wants to continue to explore it.
His thoughts about being the protege and the mentor are powerful.
Lastly, Bob gives sage advice, “shut up and listen more.” He adds that “we think we know, but we really don’t.” Check out the interview and become a Go-Giver.
Bob’s interview sets the stage to transform how you lead and live. We hope you enjoy this interview as much as we did!
Please follow, like, and comment. Use #onethingseries and #SH302 so that we can find you. For more great leadership content, follow theschoolhouse302.com.
Joe & T.J.
Jamy Bechler is the host of the popular Success is a Choice podcast. He is also the author of The Bus Trip and The Leadership Playbook. As a former college basketball coach and high school athletic director, he now travels across the country speaking and consulting with sports teams and educators about leadership, culture, and teamwork. Jamy is also a certified John Maxwell Leadership Coach, and you connect with him on Twitter @CoachBechler or at his website JamyBechler.com.
His interview with TheSchoolHouse302 is full of leadership wisdom. He speaks directly to how we must maintain perspective to gain insight as leaders. Don’t miss it.
Key Thoughts from the Interview:
You can’t miss his compelling story regarding an obituary and the impact that it had on his mindset!
Jamy discusses John Maxwell and Jon Gordon and how influential they are on his work. But, he also talks about someone we were completely unfamiliar with, coach and communication specialist, Betsy Butterick. You can find more about Betsy, here.
You’ll want to hear what he has to say about being “dead right.”
He talks about how we need to be sensitive to situations so that we can prevent issues, be proactive, and prepare accordingly.
His thoughts about being intentional about seeing other people’s perspective are enlightening. You have to listen to the turtle on the log story.
Lastly, he breaks down how ego and impulse are basic human traits that limit us as individuals and leaders when we let them.
Jamy’s interview uncovers what it means to be a great teammate, someone who works to gain perspective as a leader, and much much more.
Please follow, like, and comment. Use #onethingseries and #SH302 so that we can find you. For more great leadership content, follow theschoolhouse302.com.
Joe & T.J.
Fred Stuvek Jr. has achieved extraordinary success in diverse realms. Born in West Virginia and raised in Pennsylvania, he has been inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame for achievements in football, basketball, baseball, and track.
He graduated from the United States Naval Academy, after lettering three years as quarterback for the Midshipmen. After service as a Naval Officer, he transitioned to the business world where he has held senior leadership positions in private and public companies, both domestically and internationally.
Fred’s key successes include an international medical imaging start-up that led to a successful IPO, and forming a private medical services company, which he subsequently sold. From the playing field to the war room to the board room, his leadership and accomplishments have given him a distinct perspective and a results-oriented mindset.
His interview with TheSchoolHouse302 is intense, direct, and filled with effective takeaways for any leader who is trying to reach their goals in 2020 and beyond.
Listen to what he says about the importance of belief, mindset, confidence, and success. And he reads our blog!
He acknowledges that it’s important to follow a diverse group of leaders to get information from a number of avenues. He follows the hashtags #leadership, #management, and #learning.
You can’t miss what he says about being open to feedback.
He talks about the fact that growth is not static. He wants his book to be used for leadership development and training. Don’t miss our #readthisseries, we’re going to give away three of Fred’s books.
His thoughts on getting out of your comfort zone and stretching yourself are priceless. His career pivots are inspiring.
Lastly, you can’t miss his views on not having all the answers as a leader.
Fred’s interview uncovers the powerful insight in getting results, achieving your goals, following key principles of leadership, and much much more.
Please follow, like, and comment. Use #onethingseries and #SH302 so that we can find you. For more great leadership content, follow theschoolhouse302.com.
Joe & T.J.
Don’t miss this leadership podcast with Anna Carroll.
Anna Carroll, MSSW, is an author, executive coach, and speaker. She helps leaders and professionals speed up their cycles of successful leadership, feedback, and results.
Anna graduated from Sarah Lawrence College, including a year at Massachusetts Institute of Technology to study the social aspects of computing. She received her MSSW degree from University of Texas at Austin with a focus on human behavior, influence, conformity, and how change does and doesn’t happen. She founded Interaction Design, Inc. in 1990 to facilitate organizational improvement projects and design and lead structured interactive training. She received her Licensed Professional Coach certification in 2013 from the Coaches Training Institute.
Her clients include Austin Regional Clinic, eBay, Engagio, Fandango, Horseshoe Bay Resort, NES Global Talent, PayPal, and Zimmer-Biomet. She has spoken recently at Microsoft, the Texas Conference for Women, and the Society for Human Resource Management, to name only a few.
Carroll wrote The Feedback Imperative: How to Give Everyday Feedback to Speed Up Your Team’s Success (River Grove Press, 2013) and The Everyday Feedback Workbook: How to Use the Everyday Feedback Method with Your Team (Ingram-Sparks, 2015) and conducts training for how to give and receive helpful, transparent feedback. An important quality of her “everyday feedback” approach is lowering stress and building great relationships along the way. She is passionate about researching future workplace trends and exploring the brain science and psychological factors that are key to making great feedback happen. She is currently writing a book about surprising insights regarding good and bad feedback in organizations.
She lives in Austin, Texas with her husband Michael Wilkes and loves world music, cities, and great conversations.
Her interview with TheSchoolHouse302 cuts straight to the heart of what we value and believe in for organizational growth, which is quality feedback.
Listen to what she says about organizational dynamics and how leaders often handle tough conversations. She talks about what is often ignored yet we complain about it and still expect improvements to occur.
She acknowledges that much of the feedback conversation is steeped in brain research and the NueroLeadership Institute is leading the way.
You can’t miss what she says about how she learned under duress. We can all benefit from her story. Don’t miss this part.
She’s the third person to bring up Tango on our One Thing Series. The beauty is in why!
Anna’s thoughts on luck, excellent performances, and solutions are thought-provoking, to say the least.
You can’t miss what she used to believe. It’s something we typically think regarding success but she challenges the notion! Most importantly, she reminds us to Stay Calm & Try Things!
Anna’s interview uncovers some of the dysfunctional behaviors common in many organizations. She calls out the typical reactions to feedback as ineffective and provides simple ways to work through them. What really resonates with us is that feedback is the key to improvement. Her experience and wisdom provide insight for leaders to create an environment where feedback is the norm. Be sure to listen and share so that we can all learn to address tough issues through difficult conversations.
Please follow, like, and comment. Use #onethingseries and #SH302 so that we can find you. For more great leadership content, follow theschoolhouse302.com.
Joe & T.J.
Don’t miss our leadership podcast with Toni Faddis.
Dr. Toni Faddis has served as a public school educator for the past twenty-six years as a teacher, principal, and district leader. For 13 years, she was a principal of two schools close to the United States/Mexico border and established strong, collaborative teacher teams that resulted in improved content delivery, greater student achievement, and increased teacher self-efficacy. In her current capacity as a district leader, Toni coaches and supports aspiring and novice school leaders.
She is also a faculty member of the Educational Leadership Department at San Diego State University, teaching courses on problem-solving, professional learning, and instructional leadership to teachers who aspire to become school principals.
Toni’s passion for educational excellence, equity, and ethical school leadership led to doctoral research to understand principal decision-making in the unique contexts of border school communities. The degree, conferred by San Diego State University, marked the end of Toni’s study, but not of her learning journey.
She recently authored The Ethical Line: 10 Leadership Strategies for Effective Decision Making (Corwin Press, 2019) and is currently developing a second book for new principals. Toni looks for something new to learn every day and is committed to improving access and outcomes for learners of all ages.
Her interview with TheSchoolHouse302 was engaging and incredibly authentic. Check it out.
Listen to what she says about how we have to transform ourselves professionally to meet the demands of the job. She describes how her values truly drive her decisions, her attitude, and her behavior.
She acknowledges that Brene Brown is very influential in her life. The quote, “being clear is kind and being unclear us unkind,” truly resonated with us. We completely agree that Brene Brown is someone we all should follow.
Toni talked about the power of nature. Get outside!
One thing we love about so many of our guests is what they share about their “bucket lists.” Toni doesn’t disappoint with her desire to go to the Olympic Games. “Citius, Altius, Fortius.”
Regarding what continues to support her growth as a leader...yoga! After you hear about her initial attempts, you’ll be inspired to try it.
We always ask our guests about one thing they believe anymore. The responses are phenomenal and Toni’s is something we all need to get better at doing--stop wasting energy on worrying about what people think. Free yourself and live with courage.
Toni’s interview is a powerful example of a great educator committed to students and staff. Her examples are real, doable, and honest.
Please follow, like, and comment. Use #onethingseries and #SH302 so that we can find you. For more great leadership content, follow theschoolhouse302.com.
Joe & T.J.
Don’t miss this leadership podcast with Austin Kleon.
Austin Kleon is the New York Times bestselling author of Steal Like an Artist, Show Your Work!, and Keep Going. His work has been translated into over twenty languages and featured on NPR’s Morning Edition, PBS NewsHour, and in the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. New York magazine called his work “brilliant,” the Atlantic called him “positively one of the most interesting people on the Internet,” and the New Yorker said his poems “resurrect the newspaper when everybody else is declaring it dead.”
He speaks about creativity in the digital age for organizations such as Pixar, Google, SXSW, TEDx, and the Economist. In his previous lives, he worked as a librarian, a web designer, and an advertising copywriter. He grew up in the cornfields of Ohio, spent a dozen summers in Austin, Texas, and now he’s taking a sabbatical on Lake Erie with his wife and sons.
Visit him online at austinkleon.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @austinkleon and on Facebook @Mr.Austin.Kleon.
His interview with TheSchoolHouse302 was fun, engaging and packed with great advice about being creative and much much more. Check it out.
Listen to what he says about creating time and space for chaos and how it actually can unlock happiness.
He acknowledges that much of his world is influenced by artists and writers. He talked about the incredible and talented Lynda Barry. He also spoke of the uniqueness and depth of Nick Cave’s, The Red Hand Files.
Austin talked about the power and intimacy of taking a walk and how there really is something magical in the act of walking. He also described the importance of paying attention to your life’s moments and how a notebook can be a simple tool to help with that.
Don’t miss what he says about learning how to speak Spanish and improving his cooking skills. He told us to check out Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat.
Austin emphasized reading as an important habit, which he desires to do more of.
Listen to what he says about how he used to underestimated the existence of luck.
Austin’s interview is a powerful example of some of the simplicities in life that are truly remarkable. His experience and wisdom provide insight for leaders to encourage creativity and to see through their own chaos. Be sure to listen and share so that we can all learn to trust our own growth and let go of some of the control.
Please follow, like, and comment. Use #onethingseries and #SH302 so that we can find you. For more great leadership content, follow theschoolhouse302.com.
Don’t miss this leadership podcast with Mark Crowley.
Mark C. Crowley spent over 25 years in the dog-eat-dog world of financial services, an environment known for its heartlessness and “take no prisoners” attitude. Twice, he held national-level responsibilities – most recently as Senior Vice President-National Sales Manager for Investment Products at one of America’s largest financial institutions, where he was named “Leader of the Year.” After much success, Mark decided to leave the financial services world and devote himself to fully answering the question:
“What happens inside of people that makes them fully committed to doing extraordinary work?”
His research led to the publication of his first book, Lead From The Heart, which we believe has a very powerful message.
Recognized globally as a workplace thought-leader, Mark is a regular leadership contributor to Fast Company Magazine and has been published in the Seattle Times, The Huffington Post, Reuters, CEO Magazine Great Britain, USA Today, and by the Great Place To Work Institute. He has interviewed CEOs and senior executives at innumerable high-performing companies (including Google, SAS, Gallup and the Cleveland Clinic) who are models for “managing the emotional side of work.” And his profound conclusion draws on new scientific research which shows that the human heart is a source of remarkable intelligence:
What people feel in their hearts has tremendous influence over their motivation and performance in the workplace. “The heart is the driving force of human achievement.”
His interview with TheSchoolHouse302 is enlightening as it challenges many conventional ideas about leadership. He provides practical ways for leaders to effectively manage through care and high expectations for great employee engagement at work.
Listen to Mark debunk the fears of “soft management” and how tactics like fear and intimidation simply don’t work effectively.
Mark talked about psychological safety and the importance of honoring people for who they are and how he follows the work of Harvard Professor, Amy Edmondsons.
He also discussed the power of “thank you.” Don’t miss what he says.
You definitely want to hear his thoughts on why we resist change when we know things aren’t working.
We were thrilled to hear him talk about the power of “knowing thyself.”
You have to hear how his thoughts on how people should lead and the wisdom he acquired over his years leading others.
Please follow, like, and comment; it really helps. Use #onethingseries and #SH302 so that we can find you. For more great leadership content, follow theschoolhouse302.com.
Joe & T.J.
Don’t miss this leadership podcast with Kaley Klemp.
Kaley Warner Klemp is a sought-after facilitator, speaker, and coach. She is an expert in small-group dynamics and leadership development. She leads “offsites” to help teams end drama, and, instead, communicate and interact in ways that achieve their strategic objectives—even in the face of challenging circumstances.
Kaley is an Enneagram specialist, helping organizations outperform their competitors by unlocking a deeper understanding of what motivates and drives people. A favorite with Young Presidents Organization (YPO) forums and chapters, Kaley has facilitated retreats for more than 300 member and spouse forums throughout the world. She is known for guiding groups to the next level of depth.
Kaley is the author of 13 Guidelines for Effective Teams and a co-author of The Drama-Free Office and The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership. In addition to her study at the Gottman Institute, the Hendricks Institute, and Byron Katie’s School for The Work, she is a certified YPO Forum Facilitator, Enneagram Institute Teacher, TEDx Speaker, and Shadow Work Coach.
She is a graduate of Stanford University, where she earned a B.A. in International Relations and an M.A. in Sociology, with a focus on Organizational Behavior. Kaley is an avid athlete, spending time skiing, hiking, mountain biking, and practicing yoga. Kaley lives in Boulder, Colorado with her husband and daughter.
Her interview with TheSchoolHouse302 is fun and engaging. She provides tons of key takeaways for leaders, focusing on the topic of motivation but diving into much, much more.
Listen to what she says about the difference between “content” and “context.” Don’t miss out on taking an Enneagram test; listen to what she says about it.
Let’s all follow Nate Klemp for mindfulness. And, don’t miss what she says about Oprah and Brene Brown.
She talks about our need to “create space.” Super important for leaders.
Listen to what she says about learning to balance the digital versus the human touch. Wow!
Don’t miss what she says about the value of having a coach. We all need one.
Her thinking around “possibilities” is evolving. Super cool to hear.
Action Step: Sign up for one of her courses.
Please follow, like, and comment; it really helps. Use #onethingseries and #SH302 so that we can find you. For more great leadership content, follow theschoolhouse302.com.
Joe & T.J.
Don’t miss this leadership podcast with John Hittler. John specializes in creating seemingly impossible outcomes, whether transforming a struggling team to become the top performer, or engaging an audience with his playful, interactive, life-changing style. His belief is simple: we are each endowed with one unique genius, different than any other person on the planet. John uses his genius to create seemingly impossible outcomes and in doing so, helps people win big!
John runs Evoking Genius, a transformational business coaching company, working primarily 1:1 with CEO’s to grow exponentially. John is also a father to 7 kids, with 6 sets of DNA, happily married, competitive athlete, world’s worst Tango dancer, health freak, and avid learner.
His interview with TheSchoolHouse302 is enlightening with insights for leaders in any field. We talk about teamwork, results, taking responsibility, and much much more.
Don’t miss what he says about the pilot light as a constant source of energy.
He follows Shane Parrish for knowledge and inspiration. Listen to why.
He talks about his “Top One, Top Three” practice. You’ll want to put this into action for sure.
He wants to engage in trauma therapy and he’s learning about it from Tucker Max.
Check out what he says about healthy habits and the transfer to leadership.
More-and-more he’s learning that people fundamentally stay the same. And, he says it’s both good and bad. Don’t miss what he says about punching his 7th grade teacher in the face.
John’s interview is packed with great advice along with tons of interesting nuggets from his past, present, and even future self. Leaders will gain perspective on taking action and all kinds of other fun stuff.
Please follow, like, and comment; it really helps. Use #onethingseries and #SH302 so that we can find you.
Joe & T.J.
Don’t cheat us of you. ~ Kimberly Davis
An expert on authentic leadership, Kimberly Davis shares her inspirational message of personal power, responsibility, and impact with organizations across the country and teaches leadership programs world-wide, most notably, through her program “OnStage Leadership,” which runs in New York and Dallas. Additionally, Kimberly teaches Authentic Influence and Executive Presence for Southern Methodist University’s (SMU) Cox School of Business' Executive Education Program, and partners with SMU in teaching for the Bush Institute's Women's Initiative Fellowship program (empowering female leaders from the middle east) and for the National Hispanic Corporate Council.
Kimberly is a TEDxspeaker and her new book, Brave Leadership: Unleash Your Most Confident, Authentic, and Powerful Self to Get the Results You Need, has been named as the number one book to read by Inc. Magazine’s “The 12 Most Impactful Books to Read in 2018.” With a cover-endorsement by best-selling author Daniel Pink, Brave Leadership is a must read for every leader.
Her interview with TheSchoolHouse302 was insightful and brought light to the power in being brave as well as authentic as a leader.
Find out how she defines “authenticity” within the framework of leadership and influence. She follows the work of Bill George.
She's affirmed by the work of Dan Pink, especially the book Drive. Check out When as well.
Listen to what she says about touching base with your “super-objective” and centering yourself throughout the day.
She wants to learn to speak Spanish, find out how she plans to make that happen.
For growth, she surrounds herself with a network. Listen to why that’s so important.
You can’t miss how she opens up to believing in herself.
This interview with Kimberly Davis is packed with leadership lessons and sage advice for any leader who craves the tools and tactics necessary to be brave and authentic at the same time.
Please follow, like, and comment. Use #onethingseries and #SH302 so that we can find you.
Joe & T.J.
Don’t miss this leadership interview with John Beede, @johnbeede. Adventurer, John Beede has been struck by lighting, attacked by a 5-foot iguana, and he once did the hokey-pokey in the eye of a hurricane. He knowingfully went swimming with Hammerhead, Great White, and Whale sharks. He was once even trapped in the Indonesian jungle between warring tribes and the world’s largest goldmine. His travels have taken him to 56 countries and every continent, including Antarctica.
John is an expert on peak performance and leadership, many of the lessons he learned while pursuing his life’s biggest dream: reaching the summit of Mount Everest.
After two months of climbing, 9 months of full-time preparation, and 17 years of mountaineering, he planted his trusty ice axe into the summit of Mount Everest. Subsequently, he was featured on TV’s 60 Minutes and media outlets across the globe.
He is not sponsored. All funding for his expeditions comes from building and selling his own companies. Additionally, he has authored two books, including Climb On! Success Strategies for Teens and The Mini-Manual for Becoming Super Awesome. Together, they have sold over 50,000 copies.
His interview with TheSchoolHouse302 was simply awesome, check it out.
Listen to what John says about how we need to change our concept of being tough. His explanation of being at peace is worth hearing for any leader. Don’t miss it.
He told us that the mountains are his inspiration. Climbing keeps him centered as a person. He also takes time to explain how he values himself and creates a lifestyle that honors his values.
John talked about curiosity and strategies to limit fear by not trying to predict and control the future.
Amid all of is incredible accomplishments, he describes his desire to have a family and be a dad.
He told us that to continue to grow he remains open to being wrong and accepting that he doesn’t know everything.
And, you have to hear what he says about the false metrics of success we set for ourselves.
John’s interview is filled with wisdom for leaders and really connects with our purpose of developing leaders by getting to simple. Be sure to get your copy of Climb On! and let us know what you think.
Please follow, like, and comment. Use #onethingseries and #SH302 so that we can find you.
Joe & T.J.
Don’t miss this leadership interview with Denise Lee Yohn, @deniseleeyohn. Denise Lee Yohn is the go-to expert on brand leadership for national media outlets, an in-demand speaker and consultant, and an influential writer. Denise is the author of the bestselling book What Great Brands Do: The Seven Brand-Building Principles that Separate the Best from the Rest, the e-book Extraordinary Experiences: What Great Retail and Restaurant Brands Do, and the new book FUSION: How Integrating Brand and Culture Powers the World's Greatest Companies.
News media including CNBC, FOX Business TV, The Wall Street Journal, and NPR call on Denise when they want an expert point-of-view on hot business issues. With her expertise and inspiring approach, Denise has become a seriously sought after keynote speaker. She has addressed business leaders around the world at corporate events such as Facebook, NFL, and Lexus, and conferences including the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), The Art of Marketing, and Sustainable Brands.
Denise enjoys challenging her readers to think differently about brand-building in her regular contributions to Harvard Business Review and Forbes, and has been a writer for publications including Fast Company, Entrepreneur, Knowledge@Wharton, Seeking Alpha, QSR Magazine, and more.
Denise initially cultivated her brand-building approaches through several high-level positions in advertising and client-side marketing. She served as lead strategist at advertising agencies for Burger King and Land Rover and as the marketing leader and analyst for Jack in the Box restaurants and Spiegel catalogs. Denise went on to head Sony Electronic Inc.’s first ever brand office, where she was the vice president/general manager of brand and strategy and garnered major corporate awards. Her clients have included Target, Oakley, Dunkin' Donuts, and other leading companies.
Her interview with TheSchoolHouse302 cemented key qualities great brands possess that create a highly functioning corporate culture, check it out.
Denise opens up the interview quickly on how a company’s brand must be the same on the inside as what it says it is to the outside. In other words, the corporate culture must reflect the values and purpose that it espouses to achieve for not only it’s customers but also its employees.
You have to listen to how she opens herself up to a multitude of people and resources by taking advantage of all opportunities to learn and grow. She reminds us that thought leaders aren’t myopic and remain open to learning from all situations and opportunities. Genuine in her own approach to purpose and core values, Denise tells us that each morning she takes time to reflect, meditate, and pray to center herself so that her day’s work is aligned to what she truly wants to accomplish.
You can’t miss the one thing she wants to learn how to do and why. Her eloquent description of her experiences make this goal a no brainer.
Leadership is challenging and Denise takes time to discuss health and all the added benefits it has. She is a self-proclaimed fitness enthusiast with a disciplined regimen you will not want to miss.
We are always grateful when our guests open up regarding the personal beliefs that they once held, and Denise powerfully expresses how she used to think that people needed to think she was smart to like her and how she had to prove to everyone who she was.
Incredibly introspective, she expressed how she is now committed to serving others and understanding them, less worried about herself. Leaders need to listen up.
Denise’s interview is filled with practical advice for leaders, and really connects with our purpose of developing leaders by getting to simple. Be sure to get your copy of Fusion: How Integrating Brand and Culture Powers the World's Greatest Companies and let us know what you think.
Please follow, like, and comment. Use #onethingseries and #SH302 so that we can find you.
Joe & T.J.
Don’t miss this leadership interview with Kevin Lawrence. Kevin Lawrence is a strategic advisor and coach to CEOs and executive teams across North America and internationally.
Driven by a relentless passion to help business leaders get what they really want, in business and life, Kevin has coached clients across a wide range of industries during the past 20 years.
His unique perspective in working with hundreds of leaders inspired him to write Your Oxygen Mask First. The book deals with the dark side of the leadership dichotomy and offers 17 practical steps to triumph in business, without being trampled in life.
Using his deep knowledge of how to take a good company and make it great, Kevin helps leaders build high-performance leadership teams, expand into new markets, attract profitable customers, and increase productivity and profits. CEOs across the globe count on Kevin to facilitate their strategic planning sessions, to align their leadership teams, and to stay focused.
Kevin is also a key contributor to Scaling Up (Mastering the Rockefeller Habits 2.0).
He enjoys participating in motorsports of all kinds and lives in Vancouver, Canada with his family.
His interview with TheSchoolHouse302 is powerful for leaders in any field. He addresses the topic of a winning team and much, much more.
Don’t miss what Kevin says about busting the belief that we have to accept mediocre team performance. “Top talent wants to be around top talent.” You’ll want to grow your team after listening to this.
He learns from the greats, like Jim Collins, and he recommends Scaling Up. Don’t miss what he says about these selections.
He explains what it means to have “resilience rituals” for body, mind, and spirit alignment and the dedicated time we need for ourselves, daily. Wow.
Listen to him talk about wanting to fly a helicopter one day. The freedom, movement, power...all aspects of leading and serving others.
He tells us to embrace our problems. Only then can we truly learn to grow. When we master this, we end up with new problems, which is the key to personal development.
He used to think that it was incredibly difficult to be amazing. Don’t miss what he thinks about that now.
Kevin’s interview is filled with practical advice for instant results. Most importantly, everything he says is about the habits of high achievers--how we can all thrive in leadership and life and how we can build the best teams ever.
Please follow, like, and comment; it really helps. Use #onethingseries and #SH302 so that we can find you. We hope to see you at theschoolhouse302.com.
Joe & T.J.
Don’t miss this leadership interview with Lolly Daskal. Lolly Daskal is one of the most sought-after executive leadership coaches in the world. Her extensive cross-cultural expertise spans 14 countries, six languages, and hundreds of companies. As founder and CEO of Lead From Within, her proprietary leadership program is engineered to be a catalyst for leaders who want to enhance performance and make a meaningful difference in their companies, their lives, and the world.
Based on a mix of modern philosophy, science, and nearly thirty years coaching top executives, Lolly’s perspective on leadership continues to break new ground and produce exceptional results. Of her many awards and accolades, Lolly was designated a Top-50 Leadership and Management Expert by Inc Magazine. Her writing has appeared in HBR, Inc.com, Fast Company (Ask The Expert), Huffington Post, Psychology Today, and others.
Lolly’s proprietary insights are the subject of her book, The Leadership Gap: What Gets Between You and Your Greatness.
Her interview with TheSchoolHouse302 was incredibly insightful, all on the topic of minding your mental map, and much much more. Don’t miss it.
Lolly eloquently describes how there are two competing sides, a polarity of character, within each of us that can lead us to greatness or completely derail our effectiveness. You can’t miss her describe how one minute we can be confident and poised for greatness, while the next minute, we are sabotaging ourselves and playing to our weaknesses. Additionally, you must hear about her balloon analogy and how she ties that to the worst advice she’s ever heard regarding leadership.
For knowledge and inspiration, Lolly tells us how she is a student of life and looks to learn from every situation. She talks about how great leaders wake up before everyone else, which enables her to read a book a day. We found this part of the conversation to be absolutely remarkable. We are still in awe! Lastly, you can’t miss how the work of Frankl, Campbell, and Jung influenced her life and work.
She advises us to not think about what we are doing but rather who we are being. Her advice on self-discovery as a leader is profound.
Lolly also talks about how much she doesn’t know, and by acknowledging this truth, she is able to remain humble. She reminded us that our impact on others is critical, and it’s always important to ask ourselves, “what mark will you leave?”
You can’t miss her thoughts on the power of daily rituals and how they are key for ongoing development and daily growth. She details how this process helps us develop the ability to lead from our strengths and silence the parts of us that undermine our greatest efforts.
Lastly, you can’t miss her reveal her own insecurities and how she, herself, has fought off the imposter syndrome. Her story is simply inspiring.
Lolly’s interview is filled with practical advice for systematic growth. Most importantly, as any great executive coach does, Lolly reminds us that our greatness comes from within and can be obtained by anyone. Greatness is not limited to a select, chosen few. To find out more visit: https://www.lollydaskal.com/blog/.
Please follow, like, and comment; it really helps. Use #onethingseries and #SH302 so that we can find you.
Joe & T.J.
Don’t miss this leadership interview with Christine Comaford. Christine’s coaching, consulting, and strategies have created hundreds of billions of dollars in new revenue and company value for her clients. The potent neuroscience techniques she teaches are easy to learn and immediately applicable to help leaders see into their blind spots, expand their vision, and more effectively influence outcomes.
Christine was recently named one of the Top 50 Human Behavior Experts to Follow in 2017. She is also one of the Global Employee Engagement Influencers. As an entrepreneur, she has built and sold 5 of her own businesses with an average of 700% return on investment. She has served as a board director or an in-the-trenches advisor to 36 startups. Christine has consulted to the White House twice (Clinton and Bush), 700 of the Fortune 1000, and over 300 small and medium-sized businesses. She has repeatedly identified and championed key trends and technologies years before market acceptance, due in part to her work as a software engineer in the early days of Microsoft, Apple, and Adobe.
Christine is a leadership columnist for www.Forbes.com and she lectures at Harvard Business School. She has appeared on Good Morning America, CNN, CNBC, MSNBC, FOX Business Network, PBS, and CNET. And the Stanford Graduate School of Business has done two case studies on her unconventional rise to success as a woman with neither a high school diploma nor a college degree.
Her three bestselling business books are: Power Your Tribe: Create Resilient Teams in Turbulent Times, SmartTribes: How Teams Become Brilliant Together, and Rules for Renegades.
Her interview with TheSchoolHouse302 was incredibly insightful, all about building your tribe and much, much more. Christine identifies three critical areas that we are constantly craving as humans--Safety, Belonging, and Mattering. Listen to her breakdown these areas, including the 10 powerful questions you can ask to assess your own environment so that people are functioning at an optimal level.
She talked about being open to learn by being still and finding silence. Paying attention to the Japanese concept of ma, the space between the noise that holds richness and value.
She advises us to meditate. to slow down for inspiration and take control of our thinking, which is incessantly repetitive. Listen to her morning routine to make sure that you start your day off right.
The one thing she said she wants to do is to be compassionate all the time, to meet people where they are and not where she may think they should be. Don’t miss it.
She talks about the powerful work of Michael Singer and his incredible book, Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself. She also dives into the powerful, Outcome Frame, to help us understand what we truly want.
Lastly, you can’t miss her emotional story about her mother and how she learned that stress can be controlled.
Christine’s interview is filled with practical advice for leaders and it really speaks to how we can behave and act to perform at higher levels and influence others to do the same. She reminds us to Power Your Tribe and build emotional resilience. To find out more visit: https://smarttribesinstitute.com/subscribe.
Please follow, like, and comment; it really helps. Use #onethingseries and #SH302 so that we can find you.
Joe & T.J.
Don’t miss this leadership podcast with Brad Lomenick. Brad is from Oklahoma and a passionate follower of Christ. He has had the privilege of leading and directing a movement of young leaders called Catalyst for the last 12 years. This role empowers him to equip, inspire, and release the next generation of young Christian leaders, and do this through events, resources, consulting, content, and connecting a community of like-minded Catalysts all over the world.
He recently moved into a strategic advisor role with Catalyst, along with several other organizations.
Brad is a leadership consultant, speaker, founder of BLINC, and author of The Catalyst Leader and H3 Leadership, which are both powerful books on remaining humble, staying hungry, and always hustling.
He writes about leadership, the next generation, creativity, innovation, social media, teamwork, and personal growth.
His interview with TheSchoolHouse302 was fun engaging and packed with great advice. Check it out.
Listen to what he says about humble, hungry, and hustle being a three-legged stool. You can’t sit well when one of the legs is much longer than the others. He talks about self-awareness, servant leadership, and satisfaction. Don’t miss it.
He follows and reads tons of great leaders for inspiration and personal growth, Pat Lencioni, John Maxwell, Simon Sinek, Dave Ramsey, Daniel Pink, Chip and Dan Heath. Listen to what he says about filtering and selecting great authors.
Brad talks about curiosity: “Everywhere you go is a classroom.” “Be more interested than interesting.” Wow.
He wants to learn how to speak Spanish, play piano, and gain a greater expertise in fitness. Listen to what he says about globalization.
He tells us to work on our who and our what will take care of itself. Don’t miss how he describes working around people who will make you better.
There’s no sense is worrying about haters. Find out how he has redirected his energy away from “the noise.” Brad’s interview is truly one of our best. His experience and wisdom provides powerful insight for leaders. Be sure to listen and share so that we can all learn to be humble, stay hungry, and keep hustling for more fulfillment in work and life.
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Joe & T.J. @ theschoolhouse302.com
Don’t miss this leadership interview with Neen James, @neenjames. Neen is the author of Folding Time™ and her latest book Attention Pays™ is available at bookstores around the world. Over the past two decades Neen has been advising some of the coolest companies in the world, including Viacom, Comcast, Paramount Pictures, and even the FBI, on how to improve their strategic planning, communication, and leadership development. When she is not speaking on stage, you might find her on the back of a Harley Davidson. Originally from Sydney Australia, now a proud new US citizen, Neen is a speaker, an author, and an insanely slow runner (she told us to reveal that for folks), we were incredibly grateful for the time we were able to spend with Neen to produce this interview.
Her leadership podcast interview with TheSchoolHouse302 was fun, energetic, and practical. Check it out.
You have to hear her incredible insight on how we can prioritize our priorities and how 15 minutes a day can truly make all the difference in the world. She talks about the common mistakes that we tend to make regarding time management, and she reminds us that it’s our attention that we manage, not our time.
The one person she mentions that we could all benefit from following is her dear friend and mentor, Matt Church. He is the founder of Thought Leader Global with a true desire to add value for leaders around the world. He offers amazing free resources to those interested in leading more effectively.
She tells us that the one thing that adds perspective, something we should all do regularly, is quite surprisingly very simple--put others first. If you want to be more effective as a leader, truly pay attention to someone you care about.
Neen indicated the one thing she would love to be is funnier. She mentions good friends who “think funny” and how that adds a unique dynamic to their skill set and ability to lead effectively.
Without mincing any words, she lets us know that energy is everything and that we can literally grow our energy when we decide to do so. Don’t miss what she says about it.
Lastly, Neen opens up about her early beliefs and ideas regarding herself. She discusses a time when she first started speaking professionally to groups of leaders and how her mindset limited her. She believed, then, that she had to be “super polished” and perfect. She’s come to realize that what she actually needed was to be her own version of perfect, which she calls, “fun and fabulous.” We couldn’t agree more.
Neen’s interview is filled with practical advice for leaders, and really connects with our purpose of controlling our attention to focus on what matters most. She definitely provides great advice for how to get to simple to lead better and grow faster. Be sure to get your copy of Attention Pays: How to Drive Profitability, Productivity, and Accountability, and let us know what you think.
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Joe & T.J.
Don’t miss this leadership interview with Francesca Gino. Francesca is the Tandon Family Professor of Business Administration in the Negotiation, Organizations & Markets Unit at Harvard Business School. She is also formally affiliated with the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School, with the Mind, Brain, Behavior Initiative at Harvard, and with the Behavioral Insight Group at Harvard Kennedy School.
Professor Gino has won numerous awards for her teaching, including the HBS Faculty Award by Harvard Business School's MBA Class of 2015, and for her research, including the 2013 Cummings Scholarly Achievement Award from the Academy of Management Organizational Behavior Division. In 2015, Francesca was chosen by Poets & Quants to be among their "40 under 40."
Dr. Gino is the author of Sidetracked: Why Our Decisions Get Derailed and How We Can Stick to the Plan and Rebel Talent: Why It Pays To Break The Rules At Work And In Life.
Her interview with TheSchoolHouse302 was incredibly insightful, check it out.
Listen to what Dr. Gino has to say about how we must rethink and reframe our understanding of “rebels” in the workplace. She shares the 5 key talents that rebels possess and how leaders can encourage rebelliousness by creating an environment that inspires people to push boundaries in a positive and healthy way.
For knowledge and inspiration, Francesca raved about NPR’s Hidden Brain podcast by Shankar Vedantam as something she truly enjoys. You must also hear what she says about Harvard where the learning never ends.
She advises us to be “rebels,” to break the rules productively, even if it doesn’t come naturally to us as leaders. You can find her 7-day plan for rule-breaking here. Listen to what she says about her goal to learn to play the piano and who she has teaching her to do so.
She talks about how those around us can lead us to greater levels of achievement. Her insight is inspirational.
Lastly, you can’t miss her milk story and the epiphany she experienced about the rules we live by that we may not even be aware of.
Francesca’s interview is filled with practical advice for leaders and it really speaks to how we must embrace rebel talent to thrive. As any good professor knows to do, she reinforces the importance of learning goals and developing our rebel talents. Take the rebel test to learn what kind of rebel you are.
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Joe & T.J.
Don’t miss this leadership interview with Judith Glaser. Judith is an Organizational Anthropologist. She is one of the most pioneering and innovative change agents, consultants, and executive coaches in the consulting and coaching industry, and she is the world’s leading authority on Conversational Intelligence®, WE-centric Leadership, and Neuro-Innovation. She is also a best-selling author of 7 business books including her newest best seller - Conversational Intelligence: How Great Leaders Build Trust and Get Extraordinary Results. Through the application of “the neuroscience of we” for business challenges, Judith shows CEOs and their teams how to elevate levels of engagement, collaboration, and innovation to positively impact the bottom line.
In 2017, Judith was selected by Marshall Goldsmith as one of the top 15 Coaches in the world. She has also been ranked as the 10th Coaching Guru in the world by Global Gurus and has been selected as a 2017 Brava Award Winner. From 2016 to 2018, Conversational Intelligence® was selected by INC, Magazine as one of the top 5 business trends of the year.
In 2004, she was awarded Woman of the Year in New York City, and the same award, again, in 2017 by Smart CEO. Since 2006, she has been listed in the top 10 consultants globally in the Excellence Top 100 Consultants list and is one of the Top 100 Thought Leaders globally on the subject of leadership.
In 2011, Judith was awarded the Drexel University Distinguished Alumni Award, and in 2006 she was inducted into the Temple University Gallery of Success. She is a Founding Fellow of the Institute of Coaching at McLean Hospital, a Harvard Medical School affiliate. She guest speaks at a number of universities nationally and internationally including Dubai and China, universalizing Conversational Intelligence.
She has appeared on CBS Morning News with Charlie Rose & Gayle King, NBC’s Today Show, ABC World News, The Fox News Channel, The Martha Stewart Show and the Family Network talking about We-Centric Leadership and Cultural Transformation.
Her interview with TheSchoolHouse302 was incredibly insightful, check it out.
Listen to what Judith has to say about traditional methods of communication--asking and telling. She says we need to move to much deeper, richer conversations, which she calls going from transactional to co-creational.
Judith is influenced by a number of leaders and you can find out more about her work, like the concept of C-IQ by visiting Conversationalintelligence.com.
She advises us to “listen to connect not judge or reject.” The key is to learn how to pull the right information from people and not push them away. This style of listening shifts the chemistry in our brains and moves to an open space for greater communication. Don’t miss what she says about language.
Listen to how she truly believes in living outside-of-the-box and not being bound by others. This isn’t the first time that a leader told us that they wanted to be able to fly. Check it out.
She talks about listening to herself and trusting her gut. Don’t miss what she says about instinct.
She talks about the rhythm of the universe and the bond we all have with one other. Fascinating. Don’t miss it.
Judith’s interview is filled with practical advice for leaders, and it really hits home on something we do everyday--communicate--but that we need to do better as leaders. Her ideas helps develop leaders by getting to simple with speaking and listening in a more profound way. Be sure to get your copy of her book, Conversational Intelligence: How Great Leaders Build Trust and Get Extraordinary Results, and let us know what you think.
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Joe & T.J.
Don’t miss this leadership interview with Rand Fishkin, @randfish. Rand is the founder of SparkToro and was previously cofounder of Moz and Inbound.org. He’s dedicated his professional life to helping people do better marketing through the Whiteboard Friday video series, his blog, and his book, Lost and Founder: A Painfully Honest Field Guide to the Startup World. When Rand’s not working, he’s most likely to be in the company of his partner in marriage and (mostly petty) crime, author Geraldine DeRuiter. He did also say that if you feed him pasta or a decent whisky, he’ll give you the cheat code to being ranked #1 on Google. His interview with TheSchoolHouse302 was insightful, check it out.
Listen to what Rand says about failure not being the end of an idea. He challenges many commonly held beliefs about American business culture and stresses the importance of diversity.
He told us to follow @DHH for inspiration as an entrepreneur, Dharmesh Shah, co-founder of HubStop, and Courtland Allen. Listen to why he recommends these leaders.
Rand talked about self-awareness and grounding ourselves in our WHY, asking daily questions about how we feel and if we’re happy.
He plans to be more philanthropic with social efforts. Stay tuned for more from Rand Fishkin...for sure.
He told us that we have to diversify who we’re learning from and surround ourselves with people from different backgrounds and experiences. “You learn more when you’re uncomfortable than when you’re comfortable.”
And, you have to hear what he says about forgiveness and forgiving yourself.
Rand ’s interview is filled with practical advice for leaders, and really connects with our purpose of developing leaders by getting to simple. Be sure to get your copy of Lost and Founder: A Painfully Honest Field Guide to the Startup World, and let us know what you think.
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Joe & T.J.
Don’t miss this fantastic leadership interview with Dr. Mark Brainard, @DrMarkBrainard, the fifth president of Delaware Technical Community College. Dr. Brainard has a wealth of leadership experience in a variety of capacities. He spent over three decades in a series of executive-level leadership roles in the higher education, business, government, and legislative arenas in Delaware. He has served as chief of staff for the House Minority Caucus in the Delaware State Legislature, Director of External Affairs at DelDOT, Assistant Vice President for Human Resources and Legal Affairs at Delaware Tech, Executive Vice President of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, and Chief of Staff for Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner. His experiences and genuine belief in providing a first class education that meets the needs of students and the community is evident throughout this podcast.
Listen to what Mark says about how Del Tech has evolved through their efforts to truly listen to their community--businesses and students--to not only attract and prepare learners, but to ensure that they fully meet the needs of the future.
Even as president of the college, Mark emphasized how critical it is to learn from people in every position in the organization. He stated, “leaders are made when no one is looking.” The organization is not one person, it’s everyone.
Mark reinforced that our peak performance comes from exercising regularly, especially in positions that don’t require a lot of physical activity. Major takeaway--don’t miss it.
In light of his successes and various positions held, he stressed a true desire to learn current and cutting edge technology that is changing the way we live.
Mark attributes much of his success in life to reading, a huge part of his ongoing development as a learner and leader. He reminded of us of the power in having an E.Q. along with an I.Q. Be sure to check out Daniel Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence as well as Robert Cooper and Ayman Sawaf’s Executive E.Q.
Finally, you have to hear what he says about how we are programmed to deal with situations and life and the mistake we may be making along the way.
Dr. Brainard’s interview is jam packed with practical advice for leaders, and it’s a must for anyone leading an organization who is service-oriented and constantly evolving to meet the demands of those who they serve. Of particular interest is his focus on making connections, networking, and finding the right people to take the next steps for the organization to stay healthy.
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Joe & T.J.
Don’t miss this insightful leadership interview with Dr. Martin Lanik, @MartinLanik. Dr. Lanik is the author of The Leader Habit and the CEO of Pinsight®, a global leadership software-as-service company known for its disruptive HR technology. His leadership programs have been implemented by more than 100 companies – including AIG and CenturyLink – and have received awards from Chief Learning Officer and Brandon Hall. Lanik holds a Ph.D. in industrial and organizational psychology from Colorado State University. To learn more about Martin please check out www.pinsight.com.
Listen to what Martin says about the common mistakes we make by relying on traditional methods to learn and grow as a leader--despite our best intentions. He challenges many commonly held beliefs and stresses the importance of habits.
Need inspiration? Check out how Chip and Dan Heath, authors of Switch, and other excellent books, inspired Martin’s 5-minute leadership development exercises.
Martin reinforced that our growth is incremental and that we must understand our micro-behaviors to know how to change our macro-behaviors.
In a results-oriented world, you have to hear what Martin says about outcomes and why we must stop obsessing about them.
He tells us about his approach for continual growth through self-analysis and zeroing in on those areas that need attention.
And, you have to hear what he says about how growing as a leader is a continual journey!
Dr. Lanik’s interview is filled with practical advice for leaders, and really connects with our purpose of developing leaders by getting to simple. Be sure to get your copy of The Leader Habit and check out Dr. Lanik’s free personality questionnaire at leaderhabit.com.
Check out more podcasts like this one at theschoolhouse302.com
Don’t miss this incredible leadership interview with Dr. Larry Rosen (@DrLarryRosen), Professor Emeritus and past chair of the psychology department at California State University. He is a research psychologist and is recognized as an international expert in the "Psychology of Technology." Over the past 30-plus years, Dr. Rosen and his colleagues have examined reactions to technology among more than 70,000 people in the United States and in 22 other countries. His latest book, The Distracted Mind: Ancient Brains in a High-Tech World (MIT Press, 2016), has generated strong public interest and has been quoted in dozens of media outlets.
Dr. Rosen has been featured extensively in television, print, and radio media and has been a commentator on 60 Minutes, The Daily Show, Good Morning America, NPR, and CNN. We are incredibly grateful for the time he spent with TheSchoolHouse302. His advice on staying focused to reach your goals is critical to leadership.
Listen to what Dr. Rosen says about how we are “easily disruptable” by the distractors in our lives. Those distractors from devices, alerts and notifications, and the other distractors that live between our ears. He describes the distractors that increase anxiety and control our behavior, but he also notes what we can do about it to stay in control as leaders.
Larry praised his co-author, founder and executive director of Neuroscape, Adam Gazzaley for his amazing work. You have to hear why he believes Dr. Gazzaley will win the Nobel Peace Prize for his extraordinary accomplishments with therapeutic video games, particularly for ADHD.
You can’t miss what he says about the real loser with technology--face-to-face conversations.
Larry talked about discovering the neuroscience of what’s happening when we are not productive.
He describes how he continues to learn and grow by living the motto on the Life is Good t-shirts, “Do what you like, like what you do.” He tells our listeners that retirement for him has a different definition than it did for his father. Retirement for Larry is being active and doing what he chooses to do based on what interests him the most. Lastly, you have to hear what he says about how to use technology as a tool.
Dr. Larry Rosen’s One Thing Series interview is jam packed with incredible practical advice for leaders and how to maximize the use of technology without it completely using you so that you can reach your goals.
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Don’t miss this incredible leadership interview with Dr. Jackie Wilson, @Jowilson4139, a national expert on school leadership policy. Dr. Wilson is an assistant professor and the Director of the Delaware Academy for School Leadership in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Delaware. Jackie is known for designing and delivering world class professional development for educators across the nation. She is a lead consult to NASSP in designing the National Leaders Academy using design thinking to solve complex school problems. A unique facet of her work is providing technical assistance to the Wallace Foundation to support 14 urban school districts involved with the Principal Pipeline and Principal Supervisor national initiatives. Jackie is a true ambassador for education and has worked tirelessly on the national stage to promote the use of clear standards to ensure quality, equity, and opportunity for all students.
Listen to what Jackie says about how leaders must be willing to learn the “history lessons” of the organization to fully understand where an organization has been in order to go forward.
Jackie emphasized how every great leader must have a mentor. She praised Associate Dean at Vanderbilt Peabody College, Joe Murphy, as a critical part of her growth.
Jackie talked about supporting others and taking care of the now. Listen to what she says about the power of growing other leaders.
She wants to breathe life into national standards to ensure every student has a great education. The empirical research that governed the development of current NELP and PESL standards is mind blowing.
She tells our listeners to read from a variety of resources and champions the book by Marshall Goldsmith, What Got You Here Won’t Get You There.
And, you have to hear what she says about working smart!
Dr. Jackie Wilson’s interview is jam packed with awesome practical advice for leaders, and it’s a wonderful expression of her commitment to education, leadership, and student achievement in Delaware and across the nation.
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Joe & T.J. theschoolhouse302.com
Fayetta M. Blake is the founder and Executive Director of Pathways to Success, Inc. Fay started her career in the Lending Institution with Security Pacific National Bank as a loan officer. She then enjoyed a 20-year banking career at All First Financial where, in 1995, she was appointed as Sr. Vice President of operations--the first African American to be appointed to that level in the banks 200-year history. During that time, she had global oversight of all operations units in the Mid-Atlantic regions. In 1998, she was recognized by the banking institution for Quality Assurance as well as being recognized in the industry by Visa, USA for Quality Service and outstanding customer service.
Fay established Pathways to Success Inc. in 2006. The work that Fay does with Pathways is indeed her passion and it embodies her need to give back to the community, especially in Sussex County Delaware where she was born and raised. Fay herself comes from humble beginnings and understands the devastation of poverty. Fueled with that knowledge and experience, she and the Pathways team strive to make a positive difference in the lives of the people she serves in Sussex County.
The Pathways mission is to prepare youth, adults, and their families for successful lives within our communities. Pathways utilizes innovative and creative approaches in mentoring, education, and community outreach to inform, educate, and empower people.
Fay’s mission is service--to fill a need where others are unable to do so by adding value to them and in turn adding value to herself. Fay introduces us to the guiding model for Pathways to Success, CARE, which steers everything so that every decision and every action demonstrates care: Consistent, Authentic, Respect, Empowerment. Listen to her describe how it works as her model for serving others.
As someone committed to improving the lives of others and helping them succeed in school so that they have a chance in the future, Fay describes how she uses the work of Benjamin Zander, the musical director of the Boston Philharmonic, for inspiration. His book, The Art of Possibility, guides her thinking as she strives to be a spark in the lives of students by considering all possibilities.
Fay reminds us of the importance of gratitude and how grateful she is to be in a position to give back to students and the community after enjoying a successful career in banking. She gives us a quick tip on how she uses a rubber band that she can quickly snap on her wrist to remind her to quit thinking negatively and embrace positivity.
Regarding what she still wants to accomplish, hear her describe her true desire to be in every school in Sussex county to provide a much needed service to at-risk youth.
Her answer to our #onethingseries personal growth question reveals the work of Joel Barker and how paradigm shifts take us to ground zero.
Fay used to think that she had to do everything, which is not something she believes anymore. Listen to her talk about how teams are critical for success and how each team member must be vested into the vision. She describes how her team compliments one another and how they operate from a free-falling perspective--that if she falls back someone will be there to catch her and vice versa.
Let us know what you think of this #onethingseries podcast with a like, follow, or comment. Find us on Twitter, YouTube, iTunes, Facebook, & SoundCould. And if you want a new leadership interview every month to help you lead better and grow faster, follow this blog by entering your email at the top right of the screen. Finally, if you want more on the topics we cover, contact us.
Joe & T.J.
Don't miss this #onethingseries leadership interview by theschoolhouse302.com with Coach Joe Purzycki on building stronger teams and much, much more.
Joe Purzycki was the Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of Barclaycard, the 5th largest issuer of credit cards globally and the 9th largest issuer of credit cards domestically. Prior to joining Barclays, Mr. Purzycki was Executive Vice President of Chase Card Services and a member of the Card Services Senior Management Team. Mr. Purzycki managed the Business Development Segment, which was responsible for partnerships with companies like Disney, Amazon.com, Starbucks, and Sony.
Before his time in the executive office of some of the largest banks in America, and after receiving his Bachelor's and Master’s degrees from University of Delaware, Joe went on to become the head football coach at Delaware State University and James Madison University. And with a decade of coaching experience, which includes an appointment as the first white man to be named head coach of a historically black university, Joe continues to thrive in the leadership arena.
Joe Pyrzycki has been inducted into the State of Delaware Sports Hall of Fame, the State of Delaware African American Hall of Fame, the University of Delaware Alumni Hall of Fame, the New Jersey Athletics Hall of Fame, and the University of Delaware’s Athletics Hall of Fame. Needless to say, Joe is an expert in the field of developing and winning with incredible teams and that’s why he joined us for a great conversation about teamwork...and much more.
No matter the position, Joe reminds us that if you want to be a leader, you have to embrace a coaches mentality. He opens with a discussion on teamwork and the power of bringing people together. Joe acknowledges that “...you can go fast alone, but you can go far together.” His philosophy is grounded in the foundation that teams come together and move forward based on trust. Don’t miss as he retels his first days as the first ever white head coach of a historically black college in 1981. He describes the protests and how he, ultimately earned people’s trust.
As someone who has created winning teams on the field and the boardroom, Joe describes how he has used the powerful work of Pat Lencioni and has hired The Table Group to help develop his own teams. He emphasizes the great work being done by Roselyn Torres of the Boston Consulting Group, and reinforces our need to anticipate change, develop diverse networks, abandon the past, and be courageous enough to explore new ideas.
Purzycki tells our listeners that we need to be cognizant of our attitude and that we need to check our passion levels. He describes how to burn strong and burn slow with passion for greater success. Regarding what he still wants to accomplish in his lifetime, amid so much achievement, he talks about writing a book to help our great nation. He proposes a book about his experiences as the head football coach at an HBCU with the pure desire to give insight into how we might better unite as society. You can hear his disappointment in where we are in terms of a racial divide, and his belief that we truly can come together is inspiring. We’re buying that book, and it will be a #readthisseries selection.
His answer to our #onethingseries personal growth question is incredible. He talks about how he lives a life of discovery, whether from great books or by surrounding himself around fantastic people. Don’t miss it.
Joe used to think that losing is fatal and that losing is final. For years in the corporate world, he witnessed countless people suffer from the thought that failure was final. He shared how he truly learned that failure is really what we make of it and that he was inspired by the words of Nelson Mandela: “I never lose. I either win or learn.”
Have you ever wondered why the implementation of a new idea doesn't seem to be working well? If so, don’t miss this insightful leadership interview with Ted Fujimoto, President of Landmark Consulting Group, Inc., a management and investment consultancy for scaling innovations in learning.
Ted helped to design and create the replication systems and strategy for several of the largest scalable, fastest growing, highest performing public school designs in the country that created over 350 schools, including Big Picture Learning and New Tech Network. Big Picture Learning public schools are located in some of the toughest urban areas in America, are graduating over 95% of their students with nearly 100% of them being accepted to college. The New Tech Network has created over 130 public schools and is opening 30 to 40 new schools per year.
Ted also serves on the Board of Directors of the California Credit Union, a $1.2 billion credit union. This interview is packed with great lessons in leadership and fantastic information about systems thinking and educational reform.
Freshwater fish can’t survive in saltwater tanks! Ted opens with a discussion of systems thinking in education where people enter into the school system with the best of intentions but that the system itself is failing, not the people. He says it’s like taking a healthy freshwater fish and putting it into saltwater tank. His example about an awesome teacher who underperformed in a new situation is painfully common because it’s too often the system, and no the people, that is misunderstood. He also describes a scenario where one school was built on the idea of project-based learning but came close to failure because the system couldn’t let go of pacing guides. Plus, much more...we promise.
As someone who is obsessed with creating healthy systems, Ted surrounds himself with those who are pushing boundaries and closely follows the work of Richard Branson. Listen to what he says about being a disruptor in a sector that is foreign to you.
Fujimoto tells our listeners that the environment around you impacts the way you behave more than we often realize. Listen to what he says about spending years behaving in ways that are contrary to what we know would be more effective.
Listen to Ted talk about the future of artificial intelligence, automation, and the magic of humans doing things that computers can’t do in a time when computers can do so much. It’s an incredible discussion of creativity and innovation.
His answer to our #onethingseries personal growth question is awesome. He talks about isolation as stagnation and working to widen your perspective. Don’t miss it.
Ted used to think that a convincible innovative idea would be enough, but too often the established systems gets in the way. Listen to what he says about actively changing systems or replacing them entirely.
Don't miss this #onethingseries leadership interview on Organizational Growth with President of @SoDelConcepts Scott Kammerer. It's packed with leadership insight. Check out theschoolhouse302.com for more on learning to lead better and grow faster.
Listen to Scott talk about how he stays connected with his people and builds a community as the organization grows. He not only makes sure that the lines of communication are open, but the number and types of celebrations that he describes are impressive. He wants to serve first, and a big part of that is knowing that “the dishwasher’s have an opinion,” and it needs to be heard by the leader.
Scott follows the work of great leadership gurus like Dale Carnegie, but lately, he is mostly into the work of @garyvee. Big plug here for Jab, Jab, Right Hook. Listen to how many books a month he reads so that he continues to grow in his role. Check out our #readthisseries for incredible selections to help you grow faster and lead better.
Kammerer says “service before self” as he tells us about giving thanks, giving back, and staying focused. Don’t miss what he says about helping other people as a priority.
He wants to learn how to better “pivot with grace” as a leader so that he can make quick changes to the organization but with the predictability that will keep others calm. His thoughts on leaving a legacy are inspiring.
He wants our listeners to make a list of their strengths and weaknesses so that we can work to our strengths and hire to our weaknesses. Don’t miss what he says about self-actualization and an honest inventory of your skills.
Finally, pay close attention to what he says about the leader setting the vision and core values and not being swayed off “the rock.” Everything else can be done by consensus, but not the key principles and values upon which all other decisions are made.
Don’t miss this incredible leadership interview with author and keynote speaker, Jon Gordon, @JonGordon11. We’re sure that Jon doesn’t need an introduction, but just in case, Jon is the author of more than 15 books, including 5 best-sellers. We’re sure that you’ve heard of The Energy Bus, Training Camp, The Power of Positive Leadership, and so many more great titles. Watch our #readthisseries on positivity for our favorite picks. Jon has worked with Fortune 500 companies, he’s been featured on Fox and Friends, and his clients include The Los Angeles Dodgers, Southwest Airlines, Campbell Soup, and so many more. As you’ll hear from this great interview, Jon knows a ton about staying positive as a leader and the power it has to lift others.
Listen to what Jon says about positive leadership and it’s impact on vision, putting the organization first and leading with optimism and grit. What he says about having a telescope and microscope, working together, is profound.
He wants us all to check out Erwin McManus on YouTube.
Jon takes a walk of gratitude every morning to be thankful for the day. Listen to what he says about the power of this routine.
He wants to figure out the secrets of the universe. You can’t miss what he says about matter and energy.
He tells our listens to be lifelong learners…stay curious.
And, you have to pay attention to what he says about being a victim of circumstance versus leading your life from the inside out.
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Don’t miss this incredible leadership interview with the Honorable Dan Walzl, Alamosa County Judge in San Luis Valley Colorado. Judge Walzl was the Deputy State Public Defender for the 12th Judicial District prior to his current term, voted into the position of judge with a unanimous recommendation. Dan holds a J.D. from the University of Colorado School of Law. And, as you’ll hear from the interview, he knows a thing or two about listening and about leadership.
Listen to Dan talk about being in court and having to listen all day, every day, where he needs to remain neutral so that he doesn’t pre-judge the scenario.
He talks about knowledge and inspiration, finding objective sources of information and balancing ideas in a time when people seem to be picking sides on every issue. He mentions peers and supervisors as a source of inspiration.
Hear what he says about managing stress as a key leadership quality. A positive mental outlook and a healthy outlet are important.
He tells listeners that an important leadership quality is the ability to keep an open mind. Don’t miss what he says about the device he wishes he could install on his brain.
We loved hearing Dan say that “work ethic” is his advice for any leader who wants opportunity. That and the ability to deal with difficult people. Listen closely to his point about getting involved but without attachment.
Finally, he tells our listeners that leadership is about the realization that most answers to important questions are gray…not black and white like we wish the answers could be.
Judge Walzl’s interview is packed with leadership learning from beginning to end.
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Don’t miss this incredible interview with Dr. Lillian Lowery, a distinguished leader in education. Dr. Lowery has an impressive and storied career in a variety of different roles that range from secondary school English teacher, principal, superintendent of schools, Secretary of Education in Delaware, and State Superintendent of Schools in Maryland. Currently, Dr. Lowery is the Vice President for P-12 policy for The Education Trust, which is a national nonprofit advocacy organization that promotes high academic achievement for all students at all levels, particularly for low-income students and students of color.
Lillian brings a ton of her own personal experiences to this interview, leaving us in awe of her passion and desire to ensure that all students succeed. This is beyond an interview on leadership, it’s a testament to what it takes to lead with energy and enthusiasm. You can’t miss what she says about how to be caring and nurturing while also being disruptive.
She tells us how the leader has to know what the salient work is and always remember who she or he is serving. She hones in on how to be a thoughtful and caring leader who remains sensitive to the needs of individuals through listening and how that is what creates energy and enthusiasm in the organization. She even references some of the ideas from our blogpost on employee motivation and retention as a way to energize the people.
Listen to her describe the power of working with great leaders who come with an “equity lens,” like Dan Domenech, now the Executive Director of AASA.
She talks about the power of listening to really hear what people are saying and how that makes the difference in our daily endeavors. Treat people as trusted advisors.
She tells us that we have to market and brand what we do so that our story is clear, honest, and fair.
She discusses the importance of spending time in the field, despite your position, how getting into classrooms is critical to remaining sensitive to what is happening and what is important regarding school improvement and student success.
She used to think that making a case with data was the primary factor for instituting change, and although it’s important, she says that it’s far more about hearts and minds than she once realized.
This interview is powerful and humble at the same time, and you simply can’t miss all of the other critical pieces of leadership learning that it provides.
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Don’t miss this incredible interview with Dr. Rob Rescigno, Dean of the College of Business at Wilmington University, as he offers wisdom and practical advice on how to connect deeply with the people you lead. The focus is employee motivation and retention, and if you’re a leader, you need to hear this.
He tells us how the leader has to stay in touch with his/her people by listening, by understanding their needs, and by providing them the necessary resources to be successful. This builds an environment of trust, which needs to funnel down through all the layers of the organization for success.
He tells us about the power of mentors and how they have helped him along the way.
He tells us about the benefits of reflection and that looking back on your day leads to greater improvements for tomorrow.
Listen to him as he describes how he works with people to build partnerships.
He tells us how staying curious is a powerful leadership attribute and how asking questions can lead to making things better.
In the end, he humbly wraps up with how each day really is not about him — ”you don’t have to be the center of attention” — and how he learned to focus on character by accepting criticism and listening better.
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Don’t miss this spectacular interview with Dave Telep, Director of Scouting with the San Antonio Spurs.
Dave brings a ton of leadership take-aways to the conversation, and you can’t miss what he says about being part of a team.
He tells us that planning and preparation isn’t about his individual focus but about the focus that his team has on being ready for the season.
He gathers his enjoyment from the process and the people, not winning, and he gives major credit to R.C. Buford for his leadership and inspiration.
He’s clear that you have to know your people and their context…where they’re coming from…before making decisions and casting judgement.
Listen to him talk about slowing down and learning from mistakes.
He recommends reading Ron Shapiro’s Dare to Prepare: How to Win Before You Begin, which you know we love our books at TheSchoolHouse302. Check out our #readthisseries.
Finally, his powerful advice about keeping your professional successes and failures away from how you define yourself as a person is candid and real.
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Don't miss this #onethingseries from TheSchoolHouse302 with Principal EL. Hear about honesty, candor, growth, reflection, and strategies that you can use now as a leader.
“What I do is my passion; my job is to get better at it” ~ @Principal_EL
Principal EL talks about our 5Cs, core values, leadership through action, and candid feedback. He discusses getting to where he is now through data and the recognition that we need to improve ourselves for the sake of kids.
He uses #satchat and social media to learn from his PLN.
He tells our listeners to reflect more and be honest with yourself. Get a thought partner and use a mentor to help you grow.
He wants to start a public boarding school for at-risk youth. Don’t miss him talking about this goal.
He is a big fan of Dr. Covey and The 7 Habits.
And, he has learned that caring for kids isn’t enough, you have to be curious about their lives outside of school…something he solidified in a conversation with Amber Teamann & Angela Watson.
“If you want to wake up with determination, you have to go to bed with satisfaction” ~ Principal EL
Don’t miss this interview with Dr. Elizabeth Farley-Ripple, Associate Professor in the School of Education at the University of Delaware. Liz provides incredible insight on data use for educators and talks about the true power of using unlikely data for student achievement. Listen now to see how you can use data to drive achievement in your organization.
In this podcast, we discuss the power of innovation and how to develop a culture of innovation with educator and author Don Wettrick. Don is the innovation coordinator at Noblesville HS, the founder of StartEdUP, and the author of Pure Genius.