Brighter Together

Teacher burnout is real, but what if the solution isn't working harder—it's building a culture where educators feel genuinely supported? In this episode, we sit down with Jessie Thomas, Special Education Supervisor at Lancaster City Schools, to explore how a fundamental mindset shift transformed retention and created an environment where teachers don't just survive, they thrive.

Guest Introduction

Jessie Thomas brings years of frontline teaching experience and proven leadership to her role as Special Education Supervisor at Lancaster City Schools. As someone who has navigated the unique challenges of special education while building meaningful relationships with students and staff, Jessie understands what it takes to create sustainable systems that actually work for people—not just on paper.

What You'll Learn

This episode dives deep into Lancaster's innovative approach to addressing the teacher retention crisis. You'll discover how reframing education as a *lifestyle* rather than a career changes everything—from onboarding practices to how we recognize teacher humanity. We'll explore practical strategies for supporting new educators, creating spaces where teachers feel valued beyond their job descriptions, and—most importantly—unlocking the hidden potential in every student by celebrating strengths that fall outside traditional academic metrics.

If you're grappling with turnover, staff morale, or wondering how to build a team that genuinely wants to show up, this conversation is for you.

Key Takeaways

- **Reframe the narrative:** Positioning education as a lifestyle creates buy-in and resilience that a traditional career mindset cannot

- **Support the whole person:** Teachers who feel seen and valued—bad hair days and all—are more committed and effective

- **Embrace continuous learning:** New educators who approach their role as "sponges" absorb wisdom from colleagues, students, and experience itself

- **Unlock student genius beyond academics:** When we create opportunities for students to showcase strengths outside traditional categories, we help them discover who they really are

- **Build on solid foundations:** A strong, understanding team isn't a luxury—it's the foundation that allows leaders and teachers to grow

Notable Quotes

*"Education is hard. It is a lifestyle, I say. It is not a career. It is a lifestyle."*

*"You just want to support people and make people feel seen and valued. Because sometimes, yes, exactly, you're exactly right. We're still people and we still don't get good sleep and wake up and have bad hair days. It makes jobs hard sometimes."*

*"I think my most valuable bit of advice was to be a sponge. I absorbed everything that I could. I learned from the kids. I learned from my teachers. I learned from my peers."*

*"There are so many cool things that kids can do and skills that they possess that don't fall in those categories. So giving them those opportunities to share their genius is really powerful and really helps our kiddos struggle to find who they are."*

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**Ready to transform your approach to teacher retention and student support?** Listen now to hear Jessie's inspiring story and actionable insights from Lancaster City Schools. Subscribe so you never miss an episode—because great leadership starts with great conversations.

How Alaska's Most Remote District Delivers Therapy 28,000 Square Miles Away

Imagine being responsible for the special education services of 400 students spread across six remote Alaskan communities—with no speech therapists, occupational therapists, or specialized providers within driving distance. This isn't a hypothetical challenge; it's the daily reality for Alaska Gateway School District. In this episode, discover how one dedicated special education director is leveraging innovation, collaboration, and unwavering commitment to ensure every student receives the support they deserve.

Meet Your Guest

**Ann Hilburn** serves as Director for Special Education at Alaska Gateway School District, where she oversees special education services across one of Alaska's most geographically expansive regions. With deep expertise in rural education delivery, culturally responsive practices, and innovative service models, Ann shares invaluable insights into solving the unique challenges facing remote school districts.

What You'll Learn

This episode tackles one of education's most compelling logistical and cultural puzzles: How do you deliver specialized services across 28,000 square miles while honoring Native languages, traditions, and community autonomy? You'll discover practical solutions including:

- How tele-therapy is transforming access to speech and language services in remote Alaska

- Creative staffing and retention strategies for extreme climates and isolated locations

- Building culturally responsive special education programs that respect indigenous languages and traditions

- Innovative collaboration models, including CTE consortiums that extend beyond traditional district boundaries

- The mindset that drives educators to go above and beyond legal requirements

Key Takeaways

✓ **Telehealth is essential, not optional** – Alaska Gateway uses tele-therapy for all speech services, making specialized care possible where providers simply don't exist

✓ **Culture and compliance can coexist** – Effective special education in Native communities requires intentional respect for language preservation and traditional practices alongside legal accountability

✓ **Collaboration solves resource scarcity** – Strategic partnerships with neighboring districts create career and technical education opportunities that individual districts cannot provide alone

✓ **Commitment transcends legal obligation** – The best special education leaders serve students because it's right, not just because it's required

✓ **Geography is a challenge, not an excuse** – With creativity and determination, even the most remote districts can deliver exceptional, equitable services

Notable Quotes

*"We're legally responsible for servicing these kids, but even if we weren't, we would service our students. You know, that's just what we do in education. We make sure the students are taken care of and that their needs are being met."*

*"In Alaska, we use tele-therapy for all of our speech services."*

*"Their language is important to them and we want to preserve that and their traditions and culture. That's important as well, and so we want to be respectful of that as we navigate into their communities to help with education of their students."*

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**Don't miss this inspiring conversation about rural resilience, educational equity, and the power of district-wide commitment.** Whether you lead a remote district or simply want to understand how educators solve impossible challenges, this episode will expand your perspective on what's possible.

**Listen now and subscribe to never miss an episode that matters to school leaders like you.**

The Classroom Visit That Changed How I Lead: Leonard's 10-Year Wake-Up Call

**When was the last time you taught a full lesson to a room of 25 students?** If you're an administrator, that honest answer might be uncomfortable—and that discomfort is exactly why you need to hear this episode. Leonard Martinez's transformative classroom visit didn't just remind him what teaching feels like; it fundamentally rewired how he leads.

About Our Guests

**Allison Smith** and **Leonard Martinez** are seasoned educational leaders who've spent years navigating the complex intersection of special education, parent advocacy, and school leadership. As co-hosts of the *Mosaic Days Educational Leadership Podcast* and independent consultants, Allison and Leonard bring real-world experience and hard-won wisdom to the challenges that keep administrators up at night. Allison specializes in collaborative partnerships and learning through her independent practice, while Leonard brings transformational insight through Grouchy Owl Consulting.

What You'll Learn

In this candid conversation, we explore three critical blind spots that undermine school leadership:

- **Why administrators lose touch with classroom reality**—and how that disconnection erodes your credibility with teachers

- **How to empower parents as confident advocates** rather than forcing them toward legal confrontation and external advocates

- **The art of depersonalizing conflict** so that frustrated parents and staff feel heard rather than judged

- **Practical strategies for restorative conversations** when relationships have been damaged

- **The urgent case for getting back in the classroom**—not as an evaluator, but as a learner

Key Takeaways

✓ **Administrators who haven't taught in 10, 15, or 20 years forget how genuinely difficult classroom management and differentiation really are.** One afternoon co-teaching shifts perspective instantly.

✓ **Parent frustration with special education processes stems from lack of knowledge and confidence, not defiance.** When we educate parents about IEP/504 meetings, we build collaborative partnerships instead of adversarial ones.

✓ **Frustrated staff and parents often aren't angry *at you*—they're angry at the *system*.** Separating personal defensiveness from systemic empathy is transformational.

✓ **Restorative approaches work.** Acknowledging disagreements, validating concerns, and clearly communicating next steps rebuild trust faster than defensiveness ever could.

✓ **Soft skills and conflict resolution aren't "soft"—they're the foundation of effective leadership.** Without them, even the best policies fail.

## Notable Quotes

> "We forget how difficult teaching really is if we're so far removed from the classroom. I would definitely encourage all administrators out there to get back in the classroom and see how difficult that was." — Leonard Martinez

> "Get back in there. Get your hands dirty with a lesson. Get to see what it's like to experience those teacher frustrations with classroom management or realizing this kid's being left behind while you've got to move forward for everyone else." — Leonard Martinez

> "How do we empower parents to have the knowledge of an IEP process so they can successfully and in a collaborative, positive manner advocate for their child?" — Allison Smith

> "When parents or staff are coming in frustrated, you have to take yourself back—it's often not personal to you. They're frustrated with the whole system." — Leonard Martinez

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**Ready to reconnect with your why?** Listen now to hear how one classroom visit became Leonard's wake-up call—and how you can lead with renewed empathy and authenticity. Whether you're struggling with parent relationships, staff morale, or your own disconnection from school life, this episode offers honest reflection and actionable strategies.

**Subscribe to the Mosaic Days Educational Leadership Podcast** and never miss insights that matter to school leaders who care.

The Job Security Play Most Districts Miss (And It's Federally Protected)

Episode Description

**Here's the surprising truth that could transform your district's approach to school psychology staffing: there's a federally mandated, federally funded position that comes with ironclad job security—yet most districts aren't leveraging it strategically.** In this eye-opening episode, we explore why the school psychology shortage is reaching a critical point and uncover the one staffing model that could ease the burden on your leadership team.

Joining us is **Denise Rahe, a part-time school psychologist with Colorado River BOCES**, who brings decades of experience in special education assessment and a refreshingly candid perspective on what works—and what doesn't—in today's staffing landscape. Denise shares her journey from full-time burnout to a more sustainable part-time model, and reveals the hidden advantages (and trade-offs) that most district leaders don't realize exist.

### What You'll Learn:

**In this episode, you'll discover:**

- Why school psychology positions are federally protected and funded differently than other district roles—and how to use this to your advantage

- The critical staffing ratio that most districts aren't even close to meeting (and what it means for your students)

- How to structure part-time school psychology roles for maximum impact without sacrificing collaboration

- The real cost of losing institutional knowledge and day-to-day relationships with staff

- Practical insights into attracting and retaining school psychologists when salary isn't your strongest selling point

Key Takeaways:

✓ **Federal funding provides true job security**: School psychology positions are mandated and federally funded, insulating them from district budget cuts—a stability many educators crave.

✓ **The shortage is severe and growing**: With recommendations of one school psychologist per 500 students, most districts fall drastically short, creating unsustainable workloads.

✓ **Part-time flexibility has real appeal**: For experienced professionals, part-time arrangements can improve work-life balance and retention—but require thoughtful implementation.

✓ **Collaboration suffers in isolation**: Remote or part-time models create communication gaps that ripple through special education processes and staff relationships.

✓ **Job security may matter more than salary**: In a competitive market, the guarantee of federally-protected employment could be your strongest recruitment tool.

What Denise Has to Say:

*"There is job security is what I would say to somebody. Your job is federally mandated and paid for with federal money. So that's very different. It doesn't dip into the district's budget."*

*"We definitely need more people in the field. The recommendation is one in 500, which we're not even near that with our social workers, let alone us providing just the assessment piece."*

*"Not having that day-to-day contact with the staff, you miss out on some things. Sometimes things get lost in translation through emails, and like 10 emails down the road you finally get to where you think, 'Okay, we're both on the same page,' but things like that."*

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**If you're a superintendent, special education director, or district leader wrestling with staffing shortages, this conversation will challenge how you think about school psychology positions.** Denise's candid insights into the real benefits—and real challenges—of creative staffing models could be the strategic advantage your district needs.

**Don't miss this episode. Listen now and subscribe to stay ahead of the staffing solutions that matter most.**

What Warren City Found When They Stopped Forcing Kids Into Programs

**What happens when a school district puts humanity first—and abandons the one-size-fits-all approach to special education?** In this episode, we sit down with Patricia Dreher, Executive Director of Special Education for Warren City School District, to explore how one district is transforming outcomes by recognizing that *the label is not the student*. Discover the counterintuitive strategies that work when resources are tight but commitment runs deep.

About Our Guest

Patricia Dreher brings years of expertise in special education leadership to Warren City School District, where she navigates the complex challenge of serving increasingly diverse student needs with constrained resources. Her pragmatic yet compassionate approach to special education administration offers practical insights for leaders facing similar pressures.

What You'll Learn

In this candid conversation, you'll discover:

- **Why the traditional "one program fits all" model fails** students with complex needs—and what works better

- **The real staffing crisis** in special education and why it's getting worse, not better

- **How to maintain consistency** and quality across buildings when your team is stretched thin

- **The power of seeing the student beyond the diagnosis** and how it changes everything

- **Practical strategies** special education leaders can implement immediately, regardless of budget constraints

Key Takeaways

✓ **Invest in Kids, Win in Life** — When you prioritize individual student needs over program convenience, outcomes improve across the board

✓ **The Human Behind the Label** — Every student carries the weight of diagnostic labels; exceptional leaders help them rise above them

✓ **Resource Reality** — While unlimited funding would solve many problems, the districts that thrive are those who maximize impact with what they have

✓ **The Teacher Shortage is Real** — Recruiting and retaining special education talent requires more than good intentions; it requires strategic, systemic change

✓ **Consistency Requires Culture** — When teachers share a common mission centered on student dignity, implementation gaps shrink dramatically

Notable Quotes

> *"When you invest in the kids, you win."*

> *"There's a beautiful human being behind every single one of those labels."*

> *"The label is not the human being behind it. It's the human being that's there and we're trying to help them deal with the autism and the disability."*

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**Ready to transform how your district serves students with intensive needs?** Listen now to hear how Warren City is rewriting the special education playbook—and why Patricia Dreher's insights matter more than ever.

**Subscribe to stay updated on episodes featuring real solutions from real education leaders.**

Episode Description

How One Georgia District Cut Student Suicides by Building Trauma Systems (Not Programs)

**When a rural Georgia school district faced a crisis, they didn't just add another mental health program—they transformed their entire approach to supporting traumatized students. Here's what happened.**

Student suicide rates continue to climb, and rural school districts face the added burden of limited mental health resources and geographic isolation. But Liberty County Schools in Hinesville, Georgia discovered something powerful: sustainable change comes not from crisis interventions alone, but from building trauma-informed systems that reach students before they reach their breaking point.

In this episode, we sit down with **Melanieann Pass, Project Director of Trauma Informed Support Services** at Liberty County School District, to explore how her team systematically reduced student suicides by shifting from isolated programs to integrated, community-wide trauma systems. Melanie shares the concrete strategies that made the difference—including suicide prevention coalitions, data-driven student identification, trauma-focused clinical interventions, and solutions for the modern challenges of social media and post-pandemic isolation.

**What You'll Learn:**

- **Why programs fail but systems work:** The critical difference between adding mental health programs and building trauma-informed infrastructure across your entire district

- **The power of community partnerships:** How collaboration with SAMHSA and local partners through crisis intercept mapping created sustainable change

- **Data-driven identification:** A practical approach to identifying at-risk students through attendance patterns, counselor input, and behavioral data—not just test scores

- **Modern trauma drivers:** How social media, cyberbullying, and post-COVID isolation created a perfect storm—and what educators can actually do about it

- **Tier-based interventions:** A scalable model that moves beyond one-size-fits-all approaches to match student needs with appropriate interventions

- **Training that sticks:** How certification in trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy equipped clinicians to address root causes, not just symptoms

**Notable Quote:**

*"We try to really drive that data down by interviews, talking to their school counselors, looking at their attendance, looking at other data points to say, 'What students could benefit the most from a tier two intervention?'"* — Melanieann Pass

**Perfect For:**

- District leaders and administrators wrestling with mental health crises

- School counselors and social workers seeking evidence-based frameworks

- Those responsible for student safety and wellness in rural or under-resourced communities

- Anyone ready to move beyond crisis response to preventative systems

**Ready to discover how one district transformed student mental health outcomes?** Press play to hear Melanie's story and gain actionable strategies you can implement in your own school community.

**Don't miss this episode—listen now and subscribe for more insights on building healthier, more resilient schools.**

In this episode of Brighter Together, I sit down with Mary Vandermolen, the superintendent of North Star Montessori Academy in Marquette, Michigan. With over 41 years in education, Mary shares her unique approach to leadership and the one question she poses to every staff member: "How can we better support our students?" We explore the significance of creating a nurturing environment that values every role within the school community, from teachers to bus drivers. Mary discusses her commitment to continuous learning and the importance of fostering connections among staff, regardless of their experience levels. Join us for an insightful conversation about the transformative power of education and the shared mission of uplifting every student.

In this episode of Brighter Together, I sit down with Dr. Robert Langman, the superintendent of Darien School District 61. We tackle a crucial topic: the importance of allowing students to experience failure as a part of their learning journey. Dr. Langman shares his extensive experience in education, emphasizing how fostering resilience and encouraging respectful disagreement can help shape our children's character. We discuss the challenges faced by students today, especially in the wake of the pandemic, and how schools are adapting to support their social-emotional needs. Join us for an enlightening conversation that underscores the significance of embracing failure as a stepping stone to success in education and beyond.

Episode Description

What do you do when your district has 1,200 fewer students than it did 25 years ago, but the same number of school buildings? For Lee Thennes, Superintendent of the Manitowoc School District, the answer meant making one of the toughest decisions a leader can face—closing buildings to preserve educational quality for the students who remain. In this candid conversation, Lee shares the reasoning, resistance, and resilience required to navigate one of education's most emotionally charged challenges.

Meet Your Guest:

Lee Thennes is the Superintendent of Manitowoc School District, where he has led the district through significant demographic shifts and structural reorganization. His student-centered approach to decision-making has made him a thoughtful voice on the difficult trade-offs school leaders must navigate in an era of declining enrollment and aging infrastructure.

What You'll Learn

In this episode, Lee breaks down the strategic thinking behind closing school buildings—and why it wasn't really about the buildings at all. You'll discover how he reframed a crisis of declining enrollment into an opportunity to strengthen what matters most: the people and programs that truly educate students. Perfect for superintendents, central office leaders, and board members facing similar challenges, this episode offers both the data-driven rationale and the human wisdom required to lead through controversy.

Key Takeaways

- Student outcomes matter more than facilities. The building itself doesn't educate children—the educators and support staff inside it do. Consolidation can preserve quality programming while eliminating inefficiency.

- Declining enrollment demands difficult decisions. When you have significantly fewer students but the same infrastructure costs, maintaining the status quo isn't sustainable. Leaders must be willing to make structural changes rather than slowly decline.

- Community resistance is inevitable—and that's okay. Emotional attachment to school buildings is real and valid, but it's different from what students actually need to thrive academically and socially.

- Lead with clarity about your "why." When you can articulate that every decision prioritizes student learning and opportunity, you give yourself and your community a north star during turbulent times.

- Leadership means you won't please everyone. The superintendent's role requires making decisions based on what's right for students, not on universal approval—and that's part of the job.

Notable Quotes

"I pick kids as an opportunity every time."

"Can you please tell me the last time you learned anything from a building?"

"We can't continue to operate the same way that we did 25 years ago when we have 1200 less kids."

"It was the people inside of that building who help educate her children and teach them the values and help them learn how to be responsible and respectful. That really made the difference. Not the fact that that building sat there in that particular spot."

"What I would say is to try to remember always why we're here, because you're not going to be able to please everyone in the role of superintendent or quite frankly, any leadership role."

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Ready to hear how one superintendent transformed crisis into opportunity? Listen now and discover the courage and clarity required to lead through change. **Subscribe** so you don't miss future conversations with education leaders who are making a real difference in their communities.

The Students Nobody Expected to Thrive (And Why Virtual Changed Everything)

What if the students struggling most in traditional classrooms are actually thriving in a completely different learning environment? In this eye-opening episode, we discover how virtual learning has become an unexpected game-changer for students with special needs—not because of technology, but because of what it removes from the equation. Join us as we explore the remarkable transformations happening at Great River Connections Academy and learn why the families making this commitment are witnessing their students truly blossom.

Meet Our Guest

Jennifer Geyer is the Director of Special Education at Great River Connections Academy, where she has pioneered approaches to virtual learning that go far beyond the "Zoom classrooms" many families remember from COVID-19. With deep expertise in special education and student-centered instruction, Jennifer shares how personalized virtual environments are helping students access support that traditional brick-and-mortar settings simply couldn't provide.

What You'll Learn

This episode challenges common misconceptions about virtual learning while revealing the specific conditions under which students with diverse needs thrive. You'll hear directly from an educator on the front lines about the human elements of teaching that technology can never replace, the family commitment required to succeed in virtual environments, and the remarkable outcomes when students finally get what they need to succeed.

Key Takeaways

✓ Virtual isn't "COVID learning" – Understanding the critical differences between emergency remote learning and intentionally designed virtual programs that serve students with special needs

✓ The power of removing barriers – How eliminating sensory overload, social pressure, and environmental stressors allows students to access their actual potential

✓ Human connection matters most – Why the relationship between educator and student—and the ability to read a child's needs in real time—remains irreplaceable, regardless of setting

✓ Family engagement transforms outcomes – The surprising ways virtual learning opens communication with families and creates space for honest, vulnerable conversations about student needs

✓ Students leaving special education – Real evidence that when the right support meets the right environment, students can overcome challenges previously thought permanent

Notable Quotes

"The individualized things that have to take place for students' needs to be met—that AI is not going to be able to capture—are the relationships with students and their individual needs in the moment. That is the human element of education that I don't think can ever be replaced."

"For the families who are committed to making this work and understanding that it isn't just a commitment on the student side, it's really a family commitment... they really get to see their students blossom."

"We have kids who aren't qualifying for special education anymore because they've gotten what they need. We removed all those extraneous things that were standing in their way in school, and they're thriving."

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Ready to hear about the students nobody expected to thrive? Listen now and discover how reimagining the learning environment—not the instruction—can unlock potential in your most struggling learners. Then subscribe to stay updated on episodes that challenge conventional wisdom in K-12 education.