Episodes

A fast-track colleague is elbowing their way up the professional ladder in your organization by faking reports. Your boss asks you to lie to a stakeholder. The team leader is a serial sexual harasser. What should you do? Nobody prepared you for this part of professional life. You face a gut-wrenching choice: "go along to get along" or risk negatively impacting your career by speaking up for what you know is right. In this week’s episode, Richard Shell shares his value model and how this structur...

Aspire to Lead with Empathy, Creativity, and Passion With the upcoming launch of my new book, Aspire to Lead, Sarah Johnson joins me to share about her author contribution on leadership identity. In this Episode, we discuss: Finding Your Identity in Your Leadership Role Rediscovering and Refining Who We Are as a Leader Focusing on Our Strengths https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09D4NR5MV/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B09D4NR5MV&linkCode=as2&tag=aspirewebsite-20&l...

Lack of mentorship and coaching is a leading reason for leader attrition in education, but it doesn’t have to be this way. If it’s true that "Everyone wins when the leader gets better," then your community is counting on you to prioritize your own professional growth. In this week’s episode, Danny Bauer shares the Mastermind model and how this structure has created extensive growth in each participant. In this episode, we also discuss: School District Lack of Development Fish Bowl Structure Com...

Aspire to Lead with Empathy, Creativity, and Passion With an exciting announcement coming September 7th, Nathan Maynard joins me to share about his author contribution in my upcoming book, Aspire to Lead. In this Episode, we discuss: Empathy as a Leadership Strength Acknowledging and Owning Mistakes The Restorative Discipline Group About Nathan Maynard: Nathan is a youth advocate, educational leader, and change maker. He is the co-author of Washington Post bestselling and award-winning Hacki...

The world has and continues to change in ways that are difficult to predict. Regardless of the forces at hand, educators and leaders play a pivotal role in preparing students for success now and in the future. In this week’s episode, Eric Sheninger makes the compelling case that the best way to do this is to create a disruptive thinking culture in the classroom and beyond. In this episode, we also discuss: Characteristics of a Disruptive Leader Future Ready Skills for Students Classroom Practic...

Aspire to Lead with Empathy, Creativity, and Passion With an exciting announcement coming September 7th, Latrese Younger joins me to share about her author contribution in my upcoming book, Aspire to Lead. In this Episode, we discuss: Finding your voice as a new leader Being authentic Understanding your values About Latrese Younger: Latrese D. Younger has over thirteen years of education experience across several different school districts. She began her journey as an English Language Arts ...

What leadership qualities are the most important qualities to possess? This week’s guest, Kelly Croy, shares his six primary elements of leadership to guide you to personal and professional success. In this episode, we also discuss: Anxiety as a superpower Attitude is everything Creating vs Consuming The Wired Educator Podcast And his books, Unthink Before Bed and Along Came a Leader About Kelly Croy: Kelly Croy is the author of Along Came a Leader, and host of The Wired Educator Podcast. He ...

What is the best way to prepare our students for future ready careers and enhance their essential skills? This week’s guests, Zach Rondot and Grayson McKinney, share the importance of providing students with real world problems, providing outside experts, and letting them explore unique and creative solutions. In this episode, we also discuss: Misconceptions of Project Based Learning Gathering experts outside of the school Assessing projects and providing feedback And their new book, The Expert...

Why is it important for schools to develop many leaders? This week’s guest, Chris Legleiter, shares how he continues to build leadership capacity in his staff and build up their strengths. In this episode, we also discuss: The main focus of the upcoming school year Prioritizing areas we can control Increasing Student leadership Mentorship Practices About Chris Legleiter: Chris currently serves as a Middle School Principal at Leawood Middle School of the Blue Valley School District. The distric...

What does it mean to be equitable or inclusive in your school? This week’s guest, Traci Browder, shares powerful stories, actionable steps, and practices to ensure students have the same resources to be successful. In this episode, we also discuss: Why “just a teacher” is a lie Influence outside of the classroom INTELLIGOGY the Podcast And Traci’s new book from DBC inc.! About Traci Browder: Traci Browder is a trailblazer in education inspiring & mentoring teachers & changing the lives of chil...

In your lesson plans, outside of the content in the curriculum, what skills do you teach your students? This week’s guest, Dennis Mathew, shares how he goes beyond the curriculum to share essential life skills, such as conflict resolution simulations and social skills practice activities. In this episode, we also discuss: Leading with the “1” Social emotional learning tactics Equity in public schools And his new book, “How Grizzly Found Gratitude”! About Dennis Mathew: Dennis is an elementary ...

I had the amazing opportunity to moderate a segment for the Teach Better Team on mental health and trauma informed practices. In this bonus episode, Maurice Martin and I discuss important strategies to use to enhance our emotional well-being, practice mindfulness, and overcome failure. About Maurice Martin: Maurice F Martin is a sought after speaker, counselor, certified life coach, and co-host of the TV show “Getting The Word Out”. He also works with schools and businesses to take their cultu...

If you have thought about becoming a campus or district leader, what are the next steps in the process to get to the next leadership level? This week’s guest, Robert Breyer, shares steps to gain additional and necessary experiences, finding the right coach, and excelling in the interview process. In this episode, we also discuss: Preparing and guiding aspiring leaders to successfully attain leadership positions. The importance of leadership coaching. Impactful leadership experiences for aspirin...

In this bonus episode, Michelle Papa shares her five top leadership books and the reasons she loves these amazing resources. In addition, we discuss her new promotion and the transition to the new school year. About Michelle Papa: Michelle Papa is an Assistant Principal at Jefferson Township High School in Oak Ridge, New Jersey. She is passionate about the amplification of student’s voices, healthy school culture, trauma-informed education, and equity for all students. She has presented worksho...

With the stress of your leadership role, how do you take care of your mental health? This week’s guest, Lindsay Titus, shares important steps to take to improve your mental well-being, decrease anxiety and combat stress. In this episode, we also discuss: Administrative Certification Program Behavior Management Strategies for Students Gratitude Reflections And Lindsay’s 30 day journal, “Define YOUniversity”! About Lindsay Titus: Lindsay Titus is a passionate and energetic educator! She uses her...

What role and impact does your school culture have within your building? This week’s guest, Darrin Peppard, shares how the culture created by the leaders in the building impacts every aspect of the school, which could lead down the road to awesome! In this episode, we discuss: The importance of knowing the logistical management and the instructional development Surprises as a Superintendent How to improve your leadership skills through coaching And Darrin’s new book, Road to Awesome! About Dar...

In this bonus episode, Dr. Jill Siler shares her five top leadership books and the reasons she loves these amazing resources. In addition, we discuss the latest book award she received and her new position. About Dr. Jill Siler: Dr. Jill Siler has been serving as the Superintendent of Gunter ISD, a growing school district an hour north of Dallas, since 2012. Jill grew up in Rochester & Buffalo, NY and completed her undergraduate work at the University of Pittsburgh where she was a collegiate sw...

How would you describe a productive and effective Professional Learning Community (PLC)? In my experience in multiple schools and districts, this model has looked drastically different in each setting. This week’s guest, Chad Dumas, shares a practical guide for leaders on how to collaborate and get sustained results for students. In this episode, we discuss: The Steps Needed to Get the Correct Leadership Experience for Aspiring Leaders Tips to Create Effective Meetings How to Increase Your Prof...

What if, in the world of education, grades did not exist? This week’s guest, Starr Sackstein, shares how she removed grades from her classroom, focused on critical feedback to her students, and incorporated social emotional and equity components to the assessment process. In this episode, we discuss: Systems of evidence mastery Changing the way we assess The stigma that is attached to grades And Starr’s new book, Assessing with Respect: Everyday Practices That Meet Students' Social and Emotiona...

Have you ever interviewed for a job and not received the promotion you were seeking? In today’s episode featuring Alex Valencic, Sarah Johnson and Joshua Stamper discuss the topics of working through the disappointment, establishing your relationship with your new supervisor, and the way to have transparent conversations about your goals. About Alex Valencic: Alex Valencic is an educator, former small business owner, Boy Scout, volunteer drug prevention specialist, unrepentant bibliophile, and ...

How do we together dismantle barriers that exclude, recognize past trauma, and identify resources for those in need? This week’s guest, Marisol Quevedo Rerucha, shares how implementing restorative practices changed student behaviors, connected the community and recognized each person. In this episode, we discuss: The importance of Morning Check Ins Restorative practices and circles Collective agreements And Marisol’s new book, Beyond the Surface of Restorative Practices About Marisol Quevedo R...

In this 21st Aspire Mailbag episode, Evan Robb, Jeff Gargas and I answer questions on different leadership topics provided by the listeners. Please join us for this episode as we answer questions on how to build an email to introduce yourself to a potential employer, ways to prepare yourself for a leadership position, summative evaluation feedback, and the latest news with the Teach Better Team! Featuring Evan Robb, Jeff Gargas, and Joshua Stamper About Evan Robb: Evan Robb is presently Princip...

With the drastic changes occurring in education, how do we propel students, staff and leaders to grow and explore in new ways? This week’s guest, Lainie Rowell, shares how providing opportunities of discovery and social emotional learning will enhance targeted change and innovative ideas for everyone in the organization. In this episode, we discuss: Learning to Listen instead of Acting like the Expert The importance of Spending Time in Reflection “Evolving Learner” And Lainie’s new podcast, “Le...