In this powerful episode, Dustin sits down with Sean Covey, President of FranklinCovey Education, for a candid conversation about why so many schools today feel overwhelmed, overcommitted, and stuck in the whirlwind of competing priorities. Drawing from decades of global experience, and fresh insights from recent district visits, Sean describes what educators are experiencing firsthand: growing student needs, teacher burnout, increasing complexity, and constant pressure to improve everything at once.

Tune in for practical insights and mindset shifts school and district leaders can use tomorrow, a roadmap for moving from overwhelmed and overcommitted to focused, empowered, and ready for meaningful change.

Read Sean’s article Overwhelmed and Overcommitted: Why Schools Underperform and Struggle to Improve:

https://www.leaderinme.org/blog/overwhelmed-and-overcommitted/

Host: Dustin Odham

Guest: Sean Covey

Timestamps:

(00:00 - 00:14) Beyond academics

(00:14 - 00:51) Show open

(00:51 - 01:18) The focus problem

(01:18 - 01:37) Welcome and setup

(01:37 - 02:39) Why Leader in Me

(26:37 - 27:13) What gives hope now

(27:13 - 27:56) Students leading the way

(27:56 - 28:50) Focus on the good

(28:50 - 29:24) Principles work everywhere

(29:24 - 29:52) Leader in Me Unplugged

(29:52 - 31:04) Lessons at home

(31:50 - 32:20) Love of the arts

(32:55 - 33:24) Thanks and vision

(33:24 - 34:10) Close and call to action