The Employee Experience in Education Podcast: Recent Episodes
Eric Bransteter
Let’s be honest…it’s bad out there. Did you know teachers are twice as likely to experience stress as the general population? Or that 90% of teachers have experienced burnout symptoms in the last year?
In this podcast, we’ll speak with educational leaders, former educators, and industry experts to better understand the employee experience in education. We’ll dig deep into causes of teacher burnout and transitions into other professions, and we’ll discuss strategies school leaders can implement to increase teacher retention. Our goal is to equip school leaders with realistic and actionable strategies to keep more teachers in the classrooms.
Subscribe today, and start creating a better employee experience right away!
"One of the rules that I have when I work with folks - I call it the ‘research says’ rule. I'll put a little bell on the table, and sometimes we pass it around. And anytime someone says research says, we ring the bell and we stop. We say ‘whose research says that? In what context do do that research say that?’ And we hold ourselves accountable to being as specific and transparent as possible.
But how can school leaders effectively empower educators to make evidence-based decisions?
On this episode, we’ll speak with Matthew Courtney, a specialist in evidence-based decision making in school improvement settings. Today, Matthew shares his unique insights on the crucial role of knowledge brokering in helping educators apply research to solve deep-rooted problems.
Matthew also discusses:
- The importance of deep root cause analysis using local data
- The essential steps for creating a sustainable system for evidence-based decision-making
- And the secrets to empowering educators through transparent communication
Guest Bio - Dr. Matthew B. Courtney is a passionate advocate for education and a specialist in evidence-informed school improvement. He began his career as a music educator before moving on to leadership roles within the nonprofit, higher education, and state government sectors. Dr. Courtney is a published researcher whose work focuses on school improvement.
As the founder of Courtney Consulting LLC, he’s advised schools on leveraging evidence-based decision-making to accelerate student achievement. His impact extends beyond students and schools, influencing state-wide educational policies. Dr. Courtney's expertise and dedication continue to bridge gaps in education, fostering progress and development in diverse communities.
Links to additional resources:
- https://www.matthewbcourtney.com/
- https://twitter.com/mbcourtneyedd
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/mbcourtneyedd/
- https://www.youtube.com/@mbcourtneyedd
- https://www.facebook.com/mbcourtneyedd
- https://www.instagram.com/mbcourtneyedd/
“AI can support personalized learning for teachers by providing resources tailored to their learning styles and goals.”
But how can educators access the necessary professional development to utilize AI effectively in the classroom?
On this episode, we'll speak with Nneka McGee about AI in education and personalized professional development. Nneka shares her insights on the
- challenges and opportunities of implementing AI
- tailoring professional development to teachers' needs
- and the impact of AI on the overall teacher experience.
Guest Bio - Nneka McGee has served in public schools for over 15 years. She taught middle school mathematics for six years and was recognized as a district finalist for teacher of the year. Nneka has also served as District Gifted and Talented Coordinator, Director of GT and Advanced Academics, Executive Director for Learning and Innovation, and currently, as Chief Academic Officer for San Benito Consolidated Independent School District. As part of her doctoral studies, Nneka completed research on the impact of artificial intelligence in K-12 learning environments. She serves on the Board of Directors of HAKing Innovation, a non-profit organization providing students STEM access and opportunities.
Episode links:
- Nneka's Linkedin profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nnekamcgee/
- https://day29.ai
"The idea of earning and learning at the same time, which is what the apprenticeship program can provide. That might open up more opportunities for people with more diverse backgrounds.”
In a rapidly changing educational landscape, how can schools effectively prioritize essential tools for student and adult success amidst the influx of possibilities?
On this episode, we speak with Graham Forman, an experienced EdTech investor with a passion for the impact of technology in education. Today, Graham shares his unique insights on the challenges and opportunities in education today, including:
- The 4 areas in education that need continued innovation and investment
- Why student personalization is essential in the learning experience
- And the ever-evolving landscape of education technology
Guest Bio - Graham is founder and managing director of Edovate Capital. He’s spent his career in education, entrepreneurship, and investing. He spent 15 years leading sales, marketing, business development, and customer success in startup SaaS education companies. In his last operating role, he led sales and business development for Netchemia where he grew the company to serve more than 2,400 districts and 20,000 schools. Netchemia was acquired by Vista Equity Partners in 2015. With Edovate, Graham backs impact-focused K12 companies with investment and advisory support, including companies like Pear Deck (acquired by GoGuardian), LearnPlatform (acquired by Instructure), ClassWallet, Paper, and more.
Episode links:
- Email Graham - graham@edovatecapital.com
- Graham's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/grahamforman/
- Follow Graham on Medium - https://grahamforman.medium.com/
“Teachers value relationships and agency as important factors in their job satisfaction.”
We talk all the time about the need to increase teacher retention, yet despite our efforts teachers continue to leave the classroom at alarming rates.
But how can district leaders ensure teachers have high job satisfaction while feeling empowered in their roles?
On this episode, we’ll speak with doctoral candidate and former educator Nicole Endsley. Today, Nicole shares her unique insights and research on how school and district leaders can improve teacher satisfaction and combat teacher turnover. Nicole also discusses:
- How Frederick Herzberg’s two-Factor Theory of Motivation applies to education
- The impact of relationships and teacher agency on the employee experience
- and a surprising truth about what truly motivates teachers to stay in the profession
Guest Bio - Nicole Endsley is a doctoral candidate at the University of West Florida. Her research interests include national teacher turnover trends and teacher turnover trends in the wake of COVID-19. Nicole has over 10 years of classroom experience and 5 years of experience working in state government. Nicole is passionate about furthering her research on teacher turnover and bringing reform to the profession.
Links:* Nicole\'s LinkedIn page
“Classroom management is a term I really don’t like to use. Because I really want my teachers to be classroom leaders.”
Many teachers struggle with classroom management. And most administrators struggle to fully support their teachers with strategies that work in the classroom.
On this episode, we speak with author, founder, and speaker Larry Davis. Larry shares his unique insights on the need to transition from classroom management to classroom leadership. Larry also shares:
- The connection between data and culture
- Ways to address the well-being of teachers
- And the analysis you need to conduct in your organization today
Guest Bio - Davis’s passion for education and social betterment is fourth only to his love of God, his blessed children, and family. Davis spent 12 years in corporate America, and 24 years in education. Davis has published seven books and received his Associate degree from Weatherford College, his bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Arlington, and his master’s degree from Texas Woman’s University. Education Needs A Champion and Our Children Deserve One!
Episode links:
- remedyteam.org
- Email Larry
- Larry’s LinkedIn Profile
"We are fundamentally focused on making sure that while we move forward with innovation, we're doing so in a safe and ethical way”
AI is everywhere, and there is no going back.
But how do we strategically think about and plan for the ethical and responsible use of AI in the classroom for both students and educators?
On this episode, we’ll speak with Eric Nentrup, writer, filmmaker, and strategic education consultant. Today, Eric shares the role of AI in education, including the opportunities and challenges it presents. Eric also shares:
- Paradigm shifts that are already underway
- The need for guidelines and guardrails to ensure ethical use of AI
- and how AI can fundamentally change the way educators do their jobs.
Guest Bio - Eric Nentrup is an avid writer, filmmaker, and strategic education consultant. With experience in working across media, edtech, marketing, and having served as a classroom teacher and administrator, he shares a unique cross-section of interests and understanding of the factors empowering the an equitable evolution of teaching and learning.
Links:
- Eric's LinkedIn Page
“We have taken the approach at Gwinnett to really lean into providing career opportunities internally for our teachers to provide the opportunity for promotion without having to leave the classroom.”
About a year ago, Cathy Hardin left a successful HR career in healthcare to become the CHRO at the nation’s 13th largest school district, Gwinnett County Public Schools. While the two industries are very different, there are remarkable similarities - including the need to create a space that’s safe and where people feel respected and valued.
But how can an organization of 11,000 teachers and 177,000 students stay nimble and agile to best support everybody throughout the organization?
On this episode, we’ll speak with Cathy Hardin, Chief Human Resource Officer at Gwinnett County Public Schools. Today, Cathy shares impactful strategies employed by Gwinnett to attract and retain top talent, such as:
- the importance of promoting creativity in education
- their focus on creating career opportunities for teachers within the classroom
- and how they are building and managing a top-tier recruiting strategy
Guest Bio - Cathy Hardin is the CHRO of Gwinnett County Public Schools, the nation’s 13th largest school district. Cathy brings nearly 30 years experience leading and building HR teams in Healthcare, Higher Ed and now K-12 education. Specializing in standing up high functioning teams and leading strategies which support great business outcomes, Cathy brings an intentional balance of work and personal life to the educators at GCPS.
Links:
- linkedin.com/in/cathyhardin
“The impact that makes is insane. The average amount of student loan debt forgiven through the program is north of 90,000 American dollars...”
Peter Dunn (Pete the Planner®) is a financial expert, USA TODAY columnist, the author of ten books, the host of the popular radio show and podcast The Pete the Planner Show, and has appeared regularly on CNN Headline News, Fox News, Fox Business as well as numerous nationally syndicated radio programs.
But why is he on an education-focused podcast?
On this episode, Peter shares what you can do to create a financially supportive culture in your school/district. Peter also shares:
- The impact of finances on educator stress and retention
- Why the hardest years of a person’s financial life are ages 47-53
- And what you can do to help remove the burden of student loans from your staff
Guest Bio - Peter Dunn a.k.a. Pete the Planner® is a USA TODAY columnist and the author of ten books, six of which were featured in a nationwide launch at Barnes & Nobles stores in January of 2015. He is the host of the popular radio show and podcast The Pete the Planner Show. Pete has appeared regularly on CNN Headline News, Fox News, Fox Business as well as numerous nationally syndicated radio programs. In addition to his work educating the public, Pete is also the CEO and Founder of Your Money Line, which is a corporate financial wellness solution connecting employees to confidential, unbiased financial guidance. Pete lives in Carmel, Indiana with his wife and two young children.
Episode Links
- Your Money Line
“In October, the US surgeon General, America's top medical doctor, named mattering at work a key priority for improving the nation's mental health.”
Zach Mercurio is a researcher, writer and speaker who is passionate about cultivating meaningfulness in life and work. He believes that well-being is a community effort and that leaders hold great power in creating environments that support and encourage this. Having experienced purposelessness early on in his career, Zach now focuses on researching and teaching about how people can find meaning in their work and personal lives.
But what exactly is mattering, and what should leaders be doing about it?
On this episode, Zach shares his work around mattering and its profound impact in the workplace. Zach also shares.
- His notice, affirm, and need framework to help people feel like they matter
- What happens when we get mattering wrong for adults and students
- And the skills that leaders need to connect with their employees and avoid creating experiences of anti-mattering
Guest Bio:
Zach is an author, researcher, and consultant specializing in purposeful leadership, meaningful work, and positive organizational psychology. He wrote "The Invisible Leader: Transform Your Life, Work, and Organization with the Power of Authentic Purpose” and works with hundreds of companies, schools, and governments around the world to forge purposeful leaders and cultivate positive cultures that enable more meaning, mattering, motivation, well-being, and performance. His writing on purposeful leadership has been featured internationally in outlets such as Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and The Denver Post and his research has been awarded by The Academy of Management, the Association for Talent Development, and The Association for Human Resource Development.
Episode links:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachmercurio/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ZachMercurio
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachmercurio
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZMercurio
- Web: www.zachmercurio.com
- Article: https://www.zachmercurio.com/2022/11/mattering-at-work/
- Self assessment
"You give time for people to tell their stories, and you really have true empathy and you actually listen. A) you learn a lot, and B) you're going to build a culture where people feel safe.”
Dr. Nick Wahl spent 31 years in public schools, working his way up from a classroom teacher to a superintendent. He now works as an education consultant, speaking to school leaders all over the United States about using leadership tools to positively impact student outcomes, teacher recruitment, and teacher retention.
What is he recommending school leaders do today to create a positive employee experience?
On this episode, Nick discusses the importance of building effective teams and creating a collaborative culture in schools. Nick also shares:
- The power and importance of belonging
- Ways to ensure there are no invisible children (or adults) in your school
- And why storytelling has been a staple of his education leadership success
Guest Bio - Dr. Nicholas D. Wahl, Ed.D. is Vice President for ECRA Group and Founder/Chief Strategist of 1440 Consultants Inc. He is a K-12 education leader who spent over two decades at the helm of prominent school districts in the Midwestern United States. During his time as a Superintendent (16 years), Dr. Wahl served public school systems with over 2,000 employees, 15,000+ students and annual budgets eclipsing $100mm.
Episode links:
- Nick's LinkedIn Profile
"At some point, if you don't have a targeted behavior intervention that the children are actually like, 'okay, I want to avoid this' then you don't have anything.”
When Johnathan Cranford started as in-school suspension teacher, there was no guide for how to run ISS. Instead, Johnathan took his experience in a therapeutic campus and applied it to create an ISS room that is getting amazing results.
But how does he do it? And what happens to the employee experience when this Tier II behavior intervention isn't effective?
On this episode, Johnathan shares why having an effective in-school suspension program is essential for the wellbeing of your students and teachers. Jonathan also shares:
- Why many teachers and administrators are frustrated with traditional ISS programs
- The strategies he uses for handling redirections, work avoidance, and arguing
- How to make ISS an effective tier II behavior strategy
Guest Bio - Johnathan has seven years of experience as a special education teacher on a therapeutic campus for students with emotional disturbance and four more years as an in-school suspension teacher at two middle schools. After discovering how in-school suspension programs are failing to meet the needs of our most at-risk students, Johnathan created a successful in-school suspension program to address the current disciplinary, academic, and restorative requirements of our student populations. After establishing successful ISS programs on two campuses, he made the decision to create a roadmap for others to follow in his latest book The Art of In-School Suspension.
Episode links:
- The Art of ISS website
“I’ve had more opportunities to be a people-leader and build relationships and trust, and then the instructional leadership seems to go much better”
Being a school principal is no easy feat – they're pulled in a multitude of directions each day, trying to balance the demands of teachers, students, parents, and district leaders.
Traditionally, principals are thought of as the instructional leader, ensuring that teachers are using best practices to help students achieve academic success.
However, the principal’s impact as an instructional leader can be even greater when they focus on people leadership first.
In this episode, Eric Makelky shares his reflections on how being a people leader affects his impact as an instructional leader at his school. Eric also discusses:
- The district’s role in providing a positive employee experience
- What he struggled with most his first year as a new administrator
- And the foundation of all good things in leadership
Eric Makelky is a secondary principal in rural Wyoming, guest host of the Transformative Principal Podcast, and former teacher, coach, and instructional facilitator.
Episode links:
- Transformative Principal Podcast
“Educators across the world are saying this is the best training they’ve ever had.”
After not being observed for two straight years, Craig realized early in his career the teacher evaluation system was broken. He was right - recent research, including from the Gates Foundation, shows “no sustained improvement” with typical teacher evaluations processes.
In this episode, we speak with Craig Randall, former counselor, administrator, college basketball coach, and author of the book Trust-Based Observations.
Today, Craig shares his transformational approach to teacher observations that actually builds trust and risk-taking. He also shares:
- The 9 elements of instruction he looks for when completing observations
- The unique process behind Trust-Based Observations
- And why administrators across the world are calling Trust-Based Observations the best training they’ve ever had
Craig Randall is the author of the book Trust-Based Observations. He worked as a school counselor, teacher, college basketball coach, assistant principal and principal and used these experiences to develop his transformative teacher observation model. He currently trains school leaders in Trust-Based Observations; the results are teachers embracing risk-taking and growth, which leads to improved teaching and learning, and the development of a school-wide culture of trust.
Links:
- www.trustbased.com
“As leaders, we tend to take on so much stuff…I found myself at times being closer to a human doer than a human being.”
As Dean of Education and Associate professor at Trine University’s Franks School of Education, Tony Kline is no stranger to the challenges educators face. While traditional education-program enrollment is down 10-25% nationally over the last decade, Trine University’s School of Education has grown enrollment by 187% since 2016.
What is the key to them bucking these trends?
Serving, equipping, and accelerating others through positive and responsive communication, strategic problem-solving, and integrity.
On this episode, we’ll speak with Tony Kline, Dean of Education and Associate professor at Trine University’s Franks School of Education. Today, Tony shares the important distinction between being a human doer and a human being. Tony also shares:
- How leadership is like wedding planning
- A framework for decision making
- And the importance of making daily deposits on your vision, results, relationships
As a former elementary teacher, Tony was surrounded by individuals who dedicated their lives to impacting students. Now as a dean for Trine University’s School of Education, Tony has had the great pleasure of working with colleagues to help prepare thousands of current teachers who are passionately serving in today's classrooms.
Episode Links:
- Changekidslives.org
“We can’t guess at the well-being of our people anymore. We need to make sure they’re okay”
Hope is more than optimism about the future. It’s actually much more. And it can rewire the brains of students (and adults) in positive ways.
On this episode, Cathleen Beachboard shares the science behind hope and the power it has at your school. Cathleen also shares:
- Why hope is a key to living a resilient, happy, self-satisfied life
- The impact of hope on your achievement and employee experience
- And how to measure the hope levels of your students and teachers for free!
Cathleen Beachboard is an award-winning educator, best-selling author, and a leading innovative researcher on raising psychological hope in schools. Her Building H.O.P.E.© framework has improved resilience, well-being, and achievement in hundreds of schools across the country. As a sought-after speaker on well-being and retention, she provides practical tools and strategies for parents, educators, and leaders to increase hope so every person can thrive.
Links to additional resources
- www.Thrively.com/hope
- www.theschoolofhope.com
- Cathleen's Twitter
- Cathleen's LinkedIn.com
“Don’t be afraid to acknowledge that you need some assistance. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help.”
Being a school principal is one of the hardest jobs in the world, not just in education. The demands placed on school leaders are intense, pervasive, and seemingly never-ending.
But these demands can take their toll on even the most capable and impactful leaders.
In this episode, Trevor Goertzen shares how his internal burnout and stress led to him stepping away from the principalship and the important advice he would share with his younger self. Trevor also shares:
- The lonely nature of the principal position
- The many negative internal thoughts that almost led to the worst possible outcome
- How a text message changed his life forever
Trevor Goertzen is a veteran teacher, building administrator, adjunct professor, and currently serving schools through esports. As a teacher, Trevor taught and coached at the middle school and high school level, earned his National Board Certification, and served on district-level committees. Moving into administration, Trevor served as a middle school Assistant Principal before stepping into the Principalship. Trevor served as the Kansas Principals Association President-Elect, the National Association of Secondary School Principals - Kansas Representative, and was named the 2021 NASSP Digital Principal of the Year. Additionally, Trevor is an adjunct professor for Harding University in the Education Department. Trevor is married to Stephanie and together they have three children.
Episode links:
- Trevor's LinkedIn Account
- Trevor's Twitter Account
- Trevor's Website
- Email Trevor
“If not you’re not careful, if you’re not intentional, if you don’t have intention, then by default things will put you in tension."
Juan Alvarado has experience leading tens of thousands of soldiers in high-stakes situations. He’s now applying his own experiences to help school leaders be more intentional and purposeful about the employee experience.
In this episode, Juan shares:
- The power of communication vs complacency
- Where to start to increase teacher retention
- There difference between wellness and wellbeing
- His philosophy of connection before correction
Guest Bio - As an expert in Leadership and a Certified Clifton Strengths Coach, Juan is a widely regarded United States Army War Vet who has trained teams of tens of thousands of soldiers in high-stakes situations and has helped School Districts increase team efficiency and strengthen communication. He helps individual leaders and their teams overcome complacency, and prevent burnout in the workplace. Being featured on FOX, NBC, and CBS has helped Juan lead the charge in creating Strength-Based leaders and teams, giving rise to the culture at work for over 1500 School Administrators.
Links to additional resources
- Website: weraizethebar.com
- Instagram: RaizeTheBarCEO
- Facebook: RaizeTheBarLLC
- LinkedIn: RTB-Juan
“I think the teacher shortage is a symptom of a bigger issue...”
As a top education podcast host and coach, Jethro Jones knows firsthand how difficult it is to be a school leader and a teacher.
In this episode, Jethro shares practical advice to improve the employee experience in education, including the first step you need to take to improve your school culture and how to make teacher evaluations more than just a hoop to jump through.
Jethro also shares:
- Onboarding tips to help you keep your new hires
- The two questions you need to stop asking your teachers (and the questions you should ask instead)
- Why aligning your teacher observations to your vision transforms the entire teacher evaluation process.
Jethro Jones is a former nationally-recognized principal and host of several podcasts around education: Transformative Principal, Cybertraps, and My Bonus Money. He is also the author of the books How to be a Transformative Principal and SchoolX: How principals can design a transformative school experience for students, teachers, parents – and themselves! Jethro currently consults schools and districts on redesign efforts that don't seem like another program. Jethro has worked as a principal at all K-12 levels, including a prison school, a district coach, distance learning team lead, and English teacher, and currently works as a Partner at Education Elements, a premier consulting company.
Links to additional resources
- @jethrojones everywhere on social media
- Jethrojones.com
“If we improve our employee experience throughout our district, we'll see better gains in the retention efforts.”
As Milwaukee Public School’s Senior Director of Talent Management, Michael Harris helps ensure all 150+ of his schools are properly staffed with licensed teachers and support staff.
New-hire onboarding is the key to retaining new staff, but how can he reach his goal of 85% retention when they are currently at 45%?
On this episode, Michael will share why new-hire onboarding processes during their first 100 days are critical to retain new staff and how a new guide is empowering all leaders to improve the onboarding of new hires. Michael also shares:
- How they collect new-hire input during the first 100 days
- The balance between streamlining the onboarding process with individual school and teacher needs
- And the key to unlocking powerful and positive relationships with students and parents.
Michael Harris is the Senior Director of Talent Management at Milwaukee Public Schools. He is an educational leader engaged in the work to recruit high-quality talent to urban school districts to ensure all students have equal access and opportunity with licensed teachers and support staff. He has served as a teacher, school administrator, principal coach, and currently serves as the Senior Director of Talent Management in Milwaukee Public Schools.
Episode Links:
- Michael's LinkedIn Profile
- Email Michael
“We need to help teacher leaders prioritize what they are doing, because maybe what makes me frustrated gives another teacher life.”
Rebecca Carlisle was Gwinnett County Public Schools’ Teacher of the year and a finalist for the Georgia Teacher of the Year.
Instead of being in the classroom, she’s now pouring her energy and positivity into other teachers to help them stay happy in the classroom.
On this episode, Rebecca shares why you need to focus on elevating the voice of teachers if you want to retain more of your staff and why giving teachers more responsibility might be the key to unleashing the potential of your team. Rebecca also shares:
- How helping teachers gain confidence through up-skilling and feedback can be a key to increasing teacher retention
- The power of leadership modeling what is expected
- Why building bridges is critical to the work of the district
- and the best method to attract high achievers
Rebecca Carlisle is a mom of 2 boys and the wife to a captain in the fire department. In November 2019, she was named the 2020 Gwinnett County Public Schools Teacher of the Year and in May of 2021, a GA State TOTY Top 10 Finalist. Ms. Carlisle taught in a GCPS middle school and high school in her 12 years in the classroom where she founded the local school New Teacher program, helped develop the PLC culture, coached, developed the STEM internship program, and sponsored community service organizations all working to develop teachers and students as leaders. In June of 2022, the Georgia Teacher Burnout Report was released which she was a part of developing. In July of 2022, she began a new role at the District Office as the Assistant Director of Recruitment and Retention.
Episode notes:
- www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-carlisle-ed-s-1a84b842
- https://twitter.com/CarlisleGCPS
- GA Teacher Burnout Report
“People thrive when others believe in them”
Mike Kleba has tried to leave education a few times, including runs as an actor, director, and even leading a tech company.
But the draw to make an impact has brought him back to the classroom each time.
In an environment where teachers are constantly leaving the classroom, Mike discusses the reason he’s bucking this trend and the power of believing in your people.
Mike also shares:
- What is guaranteed to make you well up with tears
- A connection between staff and the dugout of a baseball team
- The impossibility of attending to your students AND demands by your administrator(s)
- What is at the heart of the future of happiness in our culture.
Mike Kleba is an international speaker, author, artist, and entrepreneur, Mike has been a public high school English and theatre teacher for 25 years. He serves as co-host of the NYEdTech Meetup and sits on the SXSW EDU Advisory Board. Mike is the co-author of Otherful, an earnest and irreverent book about how to lead through others
- Links to additional resources
- Otherful.com
- Mike's LinkedIn Page
“I student taught in Harlem, so I felt like I could handle anything. What I didn’t realize was how much good leadership matters.”
Katie Niemczyk started questioning her decision to be a teacher very early in her teaching career, and it wasn’t because of the students, her team, or even the pay.
Rather, it was because of leadership.
In this episode, Katie shares her own experience in education, including expectations as a teacher with student discipline, why a mandate of planning with other teachers impeded her impact, and what can happen inside the mind of a teacher when school leaders don’t actually listen.
Katie also discusses:
- The toxic culture of education
- How school leaders can support their teachers when in conversations with parents
- Why leaving seemed like the only realistic step she had left
- And a quote from Colon Powell that school leaders everywhere need to read
Katie Niemczyk is a freelance writer and former English teacher who lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two children. She has a BA in English from Wake Forest University and a Master’s of Education from Teachers College, Columbia University.
Episode Links:
- Katie's LinkedIn Profile
What can be done about your current or future unfilled math teacher vacancy?
In this episode, Dr. Kevin Berkopes, Co-Founder and CEO of XR Technologies, discusses the seemingly insurmountable task of finding and keeping quality math teachers and the balance between providing what is needed for a new teacher to be successful and not overwhelming them.
Kevin also shares:
- How a curriculum can actually fulfill an immediate vacancy and serve as a long-term solution for talent
- The connection between mundane teacher tasks and increasing job satisfaction
- And the impossible job that teachers are asked to do
Kevin’s role as CEO allows him to lead a diverse team toward a vision based on his higher education and professional career in STEM-focused teaching, as well as his doctorate in Mathematics, which focuses on complex systems and machine learning. As an entrepreneur, Kevin has unapologetically pursued the disruption of the entire ecosystem for mathematics education in the US and beyond.
Episode links:
- Kevin's Twitter Profile
- Kevin's LinkedIn Page
- XR Technologies Website
How does Austin Independent School District intentionally plan for and sustain programs to ensure the well being of each of Austin ISD's 10,000+ employees?
In this episode, Brandi Hosack, Interim Human Capital Officer for Austin ISD, discusses the enormous pressures that are placed on educators and why we have to be intentional about building a great culture.
Brandi also shares:
- What teachers are looking for more than compensation
- Why RAVE is all the rave
- And what we must do differently if we want to retain and sustain our educators.
Brandi Hosack leads the Office of Human Capital for Austin ISD, which encompasses Human Capital Systems and Employee Development & Sustainability. The Human Capital team supports the recruitment, development and retention of high-quality, equity-focused, diverse teachers and staff to meet the needs of all students. In addition, Human Capital develops programs and initiatives to ensure the well being of each of Austin ISD's 10,000+ employees.
Episode Links:
- Brandi Twitter Account
- Austin ISD's Human Capital Twitter Account
“People don’t leave their jobs, they leave their managers” is a popular phrase in the business world, but does it have any relevancy in education?
In this episode, Cara Holt, former educator and current Manager of Sales Communication and Training at BrainPOP, shares a story about the reasons she and 7 of her colleagues all left their school at the same time (hint: it’s about school leadership).
Cara also shares her thoughts on her identity as a teacher, the reality of WFH, and the power of trust in the employee experience.
Episode Links:
- Cara's LinkedIn page
- Cara's NWEA articles
- Is Recess a Right or a Privilege?
What would cause an award-winning teacher with less than 10 years experience teaching to walk away from the classroom?
Emily Garlock was a special education teacher and received recognition as her district’s Outstanding First Year Teacher. Later she was named the Council for Exceptional Children Special Education Teacher of the Year in Indiana.
The year after receiving the Teacher of the Year award, she left the classroom after suffering from teacher burnout and exhaustion.
In this episode, Emily shares her own mental health struggles as a teacher, how selling raffle tickets impacted her teaching career, and the one question that could have made a huge impact on her own employee experience.
Links:
- Emily's LinkedIn Profile
44% of new teachers leave within their first five years, so how has Henry County Schools been addressing this problem to stay far above the national average?
In this episode, Jolie Harding and Amy Spicer, Executive Directors of HR at Henry County Schools, share details about their three-year onboarding program, including the many supports provided during this time.
They also discuss:
- What to look for when finding and supporting leaders
- Their many efforts to recruit new staff
- How the employee experience can change the narrative in education.
How is school leadership (or any type of leadership) a team sport?
You have to create the team to help achieve the shared vision you created. It’s not about compliance. It’s about ownership by empowering people to see their gifts, leverage those gifts, and celebrate their successes.
Mr. Pennington also shares the importance of relationships in the employee experience, what Ghandi had to say about followers, and the power of empowering teachers.
How do emergencies affect the employee experience in education?
Dr. Hicks, Superintendent of Northeastern Wayne Schools, shares his experiences planning for the possibility of an active shooter, taking care of yourself after a traumatic event, and a resource you need to start using right now.
Dr Hicks also shares:
- How trauma heals differently than broken bones
- The power of 1:1 relationships
- The NASSP Principal Recovery Network
- A Guide to Recovery
Episode links:
- Stop the Bleed
- Principal Recovery Network
- The referenced Guide to Recovery is on the PRN website
- mhicks@nws.k12.in.us
So what exactly is the Employee Experience, and how does it affect educators?
In this episode, Jason Cochran, Employee Experience expert, speaker, and top podcast host:
- defines and describes the employee experience
- talks about why we need to start focusing on the adults first at school
- makes a great analogy to culture and losing weight.
Jason also describes his 4 Principles of Connection framework as a model for providing a great Employee Experience to your people.
Episode links:
- Jason Cochran LinkedIn
- JasonDCochran.com
- PrinciplesofConnection.com
The teacher retention podcast for school leaders. Educators stay in organizations when they feel heard, supported, and valued. In this podcast, you will learn how educational leaders prevent teacher burnout, improve the employee experience, and keep more teachers in their classrooms.