Brighter Together

What happens when a school stops chasing trends—and starts building people instead?

In this episode of Brighter Together, Superintendent Josh Meyer shares how a small, high-performing district stays grounded in what works: strong teams, deep relationships, and intentional leadership.

From hiring the right people over perfect credentials to navigating AI without losing clarity, Josh offers a practical, refreshing perspective on leading schools in a fast-moving world.

If you are balancing innovation with stability, growth with culture, and pressure with purpose—this conversation will meet you where you are.

Because strong schools are not built by accident. They are built by teams who know exactly why they do what they do.

Jera Pieper, Director of Special Education at Franklin Jefferson County Special Education District, shares her journey from school psychologist to BCBA and now district leadership, emphasizing her passion for behavior support and systems-level impact. She explains how her co-op model serves 22 rural districts by pooling resources to deliver specialized services efficiently, while also navigating legal, operational, and staffing challenges. Jera highlights the importance of practical life skills, strong systems, and collaborative problem-solving to ensure student success—especially for those with the most intensive needs.

What if the most powerful strategy in education isn’t a program, but a mindset?

In this episode of Brighter Together, Alex Sharick, Director of Special Education at Plymouth Shiloh Local School District, shares what 30 years in education has taught him about leadership, relationships, and building systems that actually work for students.

From the life-changing impact of mentorship to the evolution of MTSS and behavior supports, Alex challenges a common assumption: that better outcomes come from doing more. Instead, he reveals how clarity, collaboration, and understanding the why behind student needs can transform an entire district.

In a time when educators are overwhelmed by initiatives, Alex brings the focus back to what matters most: every student experiencing success—every single day.

If you’re leading teams, supporting diverse learners, or trying to build a culture that sustains both students and staff, this conversation will meet you where you are—and challenge where you’re going.

What does it actually take to turn a struggling district into a place where educators want to stay—and students can thrive?

In this episode of Brighter Together, Superintendent Erika Bare shares how her district moved from nearly 25 percent staff turnover to building a stable, high-performing culture in just a few years.

But this isn’t a story about quick fixes.

It’s about intentional systems.

From rethinking hiring practices to redesigning onboarding, coaching, and staff support, Erika reveals how focusing on people—not just programs—created measurable change in both staff retention and student outcomes.

And at the center of it all is one overlooked leadership skill: communication.

Because the way adults talk—to students, to families, and to each other—shapes everything from behavior to burnout.

If you’re navigating staffing challenges, culture shifts, or trying to build a system that actually supports your people, this conversation offers a clear, practical path forward.

In this episode of Brighter Together, I sit down with Dr. Katie Lowry, the Director of Special Education at Lumpkin County School District, to discuss her transformative journey in leadership. Katie shares her insights on moving away from chasing awards and recognition to focusing on meaningful impact in the lives of her students and staff. We explore the importance of embracing one's unique gifts and building capacity in others, creating a stronger educational community. Katie's experiences highlight the often lonely path of leadership and the necessity of fostering authentic relationships to support both educators and families. Tune in for an inspiring conversation that emphasizes the true essence of leadership in education.

Episode Description

**Is your IEP process feeling like a burden—or serving as the powerful protection it was designed to be?** Most educators approach IEP meetings as another box to check, another form to complete. But what if we've been looking at this all wrong? In this eye-opening conversation, Julian Duffey, Special Education Director at Teton County School District 401, reveals how reframing IEPs as ongoing conversations and critical protections—not paperwork—can transform your school's approach to special education and, more importantly, the lives of students who need support.

About Our Guest

**Julian Duffey** serves as the Special Education Director for Teton County School District 401 in Driggs, Idaho. With deep expertise in special education policy, inclusive practices, and team-based decision making, Julian is passionate about helping educators understand that special education is fundamentally about relationship, communication, and meaningful protections for students and families.

What You'll Learn

This episode challenges conventional thinking about IEPs and special education processes. You'll discover how to:

- Reframe IEPs as protections and services rather than administrative paperwork

- Build truly accessible Tier 1 instruction that works for all learners

- Create collaborative team environments that honor parent partnerships

- Help students see their differences as part of what makes them unique, not as defining limitations

- Transform the IEP meeting from an intimidating bureaucratic process into a genuine conversation about student success

Key Takeaways

✓ **IEPs are protections, not paperwork.** When staff view IEP meetings as ongoing conversations focused on critical services and relational support, the entire process feels more meaningful and purposeful.

✓ **Accessibility starts with Tier 1 instruction.** Before referring students to special education, ask yourself: Is our core instruction truly accessible to English language learners, students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, and students with disabilities?

✓ **Parents are critical team members.** Special education intentionally shifts educational decision-making from individual parents to a team—which is why transparent communication and genuine partnership are non-negotiable.

✓ **Student identity matters.** There's a crucial role for all educators in ensuring students don't define themselves by their disability or service category. Help them understand their differences as something unique to navigate, not something that limits them.

✓ **Communication is everything.** The reason special education processes are "well telegraphed" is because they're consequential. Clarity, consistency, and transparency aren't bureaucratic overhead—they're ethical necessities.

## Notable Quotes

*"What we're really focusing on this year is a lot of tier one instruction. So there's a big difference like, this is our tier one instruction, but is it really accessible to our English language learners, our kids from low socioeconomic backgrounds, our special ed kids?"*

*"I really like to think of an IEP meeting and an IEP as really just a continuing conversation... we're providing a critical service. We're having this ongoing conversation how to best serve the student."*

*"Always make sure that the student isn't defining themselves by their difficulty... this is just something that makes you unique. And we're just going to navigate this and you're awesome."*

*"Special education does something rather poignant. It takes away a parent's educational decision making to a certain extent and replaces it with a team. Do not underestimate the power of the team and working with the parent is absolutely critical."*

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**Ready to transform how your school approaches special education?** Listen now to this conversation with Julian Duffey and discover how shifting your mindset about IEPs can create better outcomes for students and families. **Subscribe** to stay updated!

In this episode of Brighter Together, I sit down with Elizabeth Santer, Executive Director of Special Education Services at Wayne County RESA, to explore innovative strategies for addressing teacher shortages in Michigan's education system. Elizabeth shares insights on how partnerships with local universities and community organizations are creating pathways for aspiring educators, particularly in special education. We discuss the challenges of staffing in special education and highlight the importance of building sustainable support systems for schools. Tune in to learn how you can apply these partnership models in your own district to ensure every student receives the education they deserve. Join us as we uncover practical solutions and success stories that are making a difference in Wayne County and beyond.

Why 50% of Your Teachers Are Leaving (And How to Stop It)

**The teacher shortage is real—and it's happening faster than you think.** Half of all teachers leave the profession within their first five years, not because they're switching schools or subjects, but because they're abandoning education entirely. So what can leaders do to change this trajectory?

In this episode, we sit down with **Sean Cooper, Director of West Georgia GLRS (Georgia Learning Resource Systems)**, to explore the systemic factors driving teacher attrition and discover practical, proven strategies that actually work to keep your best educators in the classroom.

What You'll Learn:

Sean shares actionable insights on how to support early-career teachers through their critical first years, the power of "high-leverage practices" that have stood the test of time, and why building a culture of genuine support—not compliance—is your greatest retention tool. Whether you're leading special education, instructional coaching, or school improvement initiatives, this conversation will give you concrete ways to reverse the exodus of talented teachers.

Key Takeaways:

✓ **The real reason teachers leave:** It's not about pay or working conditions—it's isolation and lack of meaningful support in those crucial first five years

✓ **High-leverage practices work because they're time-tested:** These aren't trendy strategies; they're proven methods that veteran teachers have relied on for years

✓ **Support means stepping back from compliance:** When leaders focus on genuine help rather than paperwork and accountability measures, teachers feel empowered to ask for assistance

✓ **Permission to ask for help changes everything:** New teachers need explicit permission to reach out—this simple shift happens around October/November and transforms their entire experience

✓ **You don't have to know everything:** Effective leaders build networks of "really smart people" they can connect teachers with—it's about access, not expertise

Notable Quotes:

*"The statistics are that 50% of teachers in the first five years leave the profession. They don't change schools, they don't change subject areas, they sit there and go, 'I'm going into real estate, I'm going into banking.' Like they leave the profession."*

*"I'm not here to sign off on your TAPP certificate or fill out your TEEX report. I am truly here to help support you."*

*"All of a sudden this light bulb goes off in these teachers around end of October, November. And they start realizing, 'I can call you and this is okay. And that's why I'm here—to support you.'"*

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**Ready to learn how to build a support culture that keeps great teachers in your schools?** Listen now and subscribe for more conversations with K-12 leaders who are solving education's toughest challenges.

A Conversation with Lisa Guilbeau on Transforming Teacher Retention

**What if the answer to our nation's teacher shortage wasn't recruiting more teachers—but keeping the ones we have?** In this episode, we discover how one innovative program is cutting teacher turnover in half by wrapping new educators in a circle of support so comprehensive it transforms their entire career trajectory. Spoiler alert: it starts with believing in them from day one.

About Our Guest

Lisa Guilbeau serves as the TAP (Teacher Advancement Program) Director at the Central Savannah River Regional Education Service Agency (CSRA-RESA), where she leads initiatives designed to attract, develop, and retain exceptional educators. Drawing from her own experience as a classroom teacher who once questioned her calling, Lisa brings both expertise and profound empathy to her work supporting beginning teachers through their critical first years.

What You'll Learn

Discover why traditional teacher certification often fails our newest educators—and how the TAP program's innovative model of ongoing mentorship, peer collaboration, and systematic feedback is rewriting the retention story in Georgia and beyond. Through Lisa's passionate insights, you'll explore the spiritual calling at the heart of teaching, the real barriers beginning teachers face, and the practical systems that actually work to build confidence, competence, and commitment.

Key Takeaways

✓ **The Power of Genuine Circle Support**: Beginning teachers who receive continuous feedback and encouragement from multiple mentors experience dramatically higher retention rates and professional growth

✓ **Redefine Expertise**: You don't need to be a middle school math expert to teach middle school math—what matters is understanding teaching methodology and instructional strategies that work across content areas

✓ **The First-Year Crisis Is Real**: Many passionate educators want to quit within their first few years, not because they lack calling, but because they lack the right support system

✓ **Teaching as Sacred Work**: When we honor teaching as a fundamental human calling—one Jesus himself chose—we shift how we recruit, support, and retain educators

✓ **Systemic Solutions Over Individual Heroics**: The answer to teacher burnout isn't grit; it's building structures of accountability, mentorship, and community that sustain careers for decades

### Notable Quotes

*"If that is your heart, then you're gonna—we're gonna walk right beside you through this whole process. We're gonna help you, encourage you, we're gonna build the confidence that you need."*

*"They're basically getting this huge circle of support with ongoing feedback from so many people, which is another reason I love our TAP program because, traditionally, you don't get that full circle of support."*

*"I know the Lord called me there, but there were times when I wanted to give up."*

*"Out of all the professions that God chose for his own son, Jesus, teaching was the one... teaching was that primary purpose."*

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**Ready to transform teacher retention in your district?** Listen now to discover the actionable strategies Lisa Guilbeau and CSRA-RESA are using to cut turnover in half—and to be reminded why supporting our teachers is one of the most important investments we can make in our schools and communities.

**Subscribe to stay connected** with insights and conversations designed to help education leaders build stronger, more resilient schools.

Episode Description

What if the key to transforming your entire district culture came down to one simple leadership principle? In this episode, we sit down with Superintendent Chris Miesner from Sparta Community Unit School District 140 to uncover the game-changing approach that turned skeptical staff into passionate advocates for their students—and revealed what true buy-in actually looks like.

About Our Guest

Chris Miesner serves as Superintendent of Sparta Community Unit School District 140, where he has led transformational initiatives focused on instructional excellence, equitable support systems, and building a cohesive district identity. His leadership philosophy centers on empowering building principals and teachers to do their best work for students.

What You'll Learn

Discover how authentic leadership empowerment can cascade through your entire organization—from the superintendent's office to classroom teachers to students and families. Chris shares the specific mindset shift that unlocked unprecedented teacher engagement, how to unify diverse school communities with different resources and backgrounds, and the concrete strategies (like a phonics curriculum overhaul) that turned reading improvement from a goal into a reality.

Key Takeaways

✓ **The power of ownership**: When leaders communicate "It's your building. I'm here to support you," magic happens—and your teachers become your strongest advocates

✓ **Create unified purpose**: Transform mission statements from wall posters to lived values that drive every decision and interaction with students

✓ **Build resilience through support systems**: Students with comprehensive support at school and home achieve remarkable academic and personal growth

✓ **Instructional investments pay dividends**: Implementing evidence-based practices like structured phonics can dramatically shift student outcomes in just three years

✓ **Leadership visibility matters**: When teachers see their superintendent celebrating student growth and standing beside families, the entire culture shifts

What Stands Out

"Our mission statement is every student counts, every moment matters. My message to our staff is it can't just be words on paper. Every kid we see every single day, even if you don't have kids at home, you need to treat it like it's your own kid at home."

"I saw teachers talking to kids that weren't even in their class about how it's gonna be okay. We're gonna get this all figured out. It's just really cool to see everybody buy in and for the same reason."

"This year with our phonics curriculum we had kids graduate out of phonics and now they're reading to learn instead of learning to read."

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**Ready to transform your leadership approach and unlock genuine teacher buy-in?** Listen now to hear the full conversation with Chris Miesner, and subscribe so you never miss insights from education leaders who are making real change in their communities.