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In this episode, we’re breaking down why some teachers stay on fire while others burnout, stall out, or check out—and it’s not about how hard they’re working.

Backed by Self-Determination Theory (Ryan & Deci, 2000), we’re unpacking how perceived value and accountability shape motivation—and what happens when one (or both) are missing.

You’ll learn the Value–Accountability Matrix—a practical tool that helps you:

• Spot the difference between thriving and surviving,
• Diagnose why effort isn’t turning into progress,
• And figure out exactly where to boost meaning or tighten expectations.

Reflection of the Week:
 “Which quadrant is each of my teachers operating in—and what do they need from me to move forward?”

Because effort alone doesn’t create progress.
Effort with value and accountability does.

Want even more insight into your coaching? Coaching isn't just about strategy—it’s about belief. Take the Catalyst Mindset Quiz and uncover which belief shift your team (or you) need next.

Curious how the other Catalyst Mindsets™ show up in your coaching?
You’ve explored the Value Mindset—now discover which ones are showing up strongest and which need more attention.

👉 Catalyst Mindsets™ Quiz: https://bit.ly/catalystmindsetquiz

[Research]: Self-Determination Theory and the Facilitation of Intrinsic Motivation,
Social Development, and Well-Being 

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We’ve been taught that good listeners don’t interrupt—but what if the right kind of interrupting is exactly what great leaders do?

Have you ever walked away from a conversation thinking, “That should’ve gone better”?
 You said the words. They said the words. But something still missed the mark.

Here’s the truth:
It’s not what you said. It’s what you didn’t hear.

In this episode, I sit down with listening expert Christine Miles, who challenges what you think it means to truly listen. Are you listening to reply—or listening to understand?

We unpack:

• Why most people retain only 17–25% of what’s said (yep, you read that right)
• How to shift from half-hearing to fully leading
• And the underrated art of interrupting to understand—not interrupting to tell

Christine shares powerful tools you can use right away:

•  The Flashlight Technique
•  Compass Questions
• The Listening Path

If you want to lead better conversations, build stronger trust, and stop missing what matters—start here.

The Whole Educator is now booking for the 2025–2026 school year—keynotes, PD, and our Human Centered Academy are all designed to turn resistance into real progress. Check out the options at https://bit.ly/WholeEdPrograms and let’s make next year the one where things finally shift.

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Saying you always have a Growth Mindset? That’s not how it works.

Your mindset shifts depending on the situation. You might embrace challenges at work—but shut down when it comes to personal goals. Mindsets aren’t one-size-fits-all; they show up differently in different areas of your life.

We love to act like Growth Mindset is an all-or-nothing badge of honor. But the truth is you can believe you can grow in one area—and feel completely stuck in another. That’s not a flaw. That’s being human.

Carol Dweck’s research makes it clear: mindsets are different in different contexts.

So the real question isn’t if you operate under a fixed mindset. It’s “Where does it show up?” And what that’s costing your impact.

Want to know what’s driving your coaching—and what might be holding it back?
Take the Catalyst Mindset™ Quiz and get clear on which mindset is leading the way.

👉  Catalyst Mindset™ Quiz: bit.ly/catalystmindsetquiz

Research:  Recognizing and Overcoming False Growth Mindset

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Feeling burnt out? You’re not alone.

You’re trying to lead, support, coach, and hold it all together—but it’s starting to show. That quiet dread. The blurred lines between work and, well, everything else.

Here’s the thing: burnout doesn’t mean you’re broken. It means the system you’re operating in needs an upgrade.

What if the problem isn’t how much you’re doing... but what you believe about what you have to do?

Listen to this episode with April Little. We’re talking burnout, boundaries, belief systems—and how to actually build something better.

We're booking for the 2025-2026 school year! Check out our programs and services (including keynotes, PD's and the Academy)!
 

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If your school avoids hard conversations, you don’t have belonging. You have politeness.

We confuse being nice with building belonging. But “nice” often means silence, avoidance, and surface-level smiles. Comfort isn’t the same as safety. Harvard researcher Amy Edmondson coined the term psychological safety—the ability to speak up, take risks, and be vulnerable without fear.

In “nice” cultures, people feel comfortable... but not safe. Real belonging requires vulnerability, not just harmony.

 Listen to this episode to find out how to move your culture from polite silence to real belonging—and why discomfort might be the missing piece.  

Want more on this?
 👉 Head to the blog: “The Culture of Niceness is Not Belonging” for a deeper dive and practical ways to shift your school culture. 

 👉 Want to know what’s really holding your team back?
Take the Catalyst Mindsets™ Quiz to uncover which mindset is missing—and what to do about it.
Because sometimes, the problem isn’t the people. It’s the mindset gap.

[Take the Quiz now]
 

Research: Psychological Safety Comes of Age: Observed Themes in an
Established Literature 

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Casey Watts has spent over 20 years in education, and she’s got a sharp diagnosis: too many schools are stuck in quiet chaos—lots of strategies, zero clarity, and a fast track to burnout.

Enter the Clarity Cycle, a six-step game plan to cut through the fog: focus, cast vision, gain insight, provide feedback, celebrate systematically, and sustain. Simple? Yes. Easy? Not so much.

Watts drives home two must-dos: Leaders need habits of clarity, and celebrations aren’t optional—they’re fuel. If schools want real engagement, they need real alignment. Otherwise, they’re just spinning their wheels.

 *Take the free Catalyst Mindsets Quiz.* 

Casey Watt's Info:

 All Things PLC Podcast Playlist

3 Reasons Teachers Keep Asking for More (and How To Solve It Without Spending a Dime!): A free webinar replay and resources!

LinkedIn |  Instagram  |  YouTube

Watch the unedited video version of the episode HERE on Youtube. 

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Ready to diagnose the biggest mindset gap on your team? Take the free Catalyst Mindsets Quiz **HERE**! 

Most schools say they want teachers who take initiative. But here’s the kicker—they’re still running a compliance culture that trains teachers to wait for permission. If you’ve ever wondered why schools feel stuck in resistance and disengagement, this is why. 

In this episode, we break down:

• Why compliance-driven leadership kills initiative (and what to do instead)
• The 3 essential elements of Ownership Mindset: Agency, Optimism, and Accountability
• The difference between constructive and destructive accountability—and why getting this wrong keeps schools spinning their wheels
• How accountability—when done right—builds self-regulation, not compliance 

If your accountability isn’t building ownership, it’s just compliance in disguise. 

Ready to diagnose the biggest mindset gap in your school? Take the free Catalyst Mindsets Quiz **HERE**!

Catalyst Mindset Overview: Ep. 122: Why Growth Mindset Isn't Enough

Research: Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation from a self-determination theory perspective: Definitions, theory, practices, and future directions

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Rolling out a new curriculum? Brace yourself—resistance, frustration, and missteps are inevitable… unless you do it right. Join Sean Lindsey and me as we break down what it really takes to get teachers, students, and families on board—without wasted effort or top-down mandates that fall flat.

We’re talking about:
The #1 mistake leaders make when choosing a curriculum – Teachers and students aren’t just checkboxes in your curriculum rollout. Use a rubric based on their actual needs—not just the shiniest new program. 

How to turn teachers into champions (not skeptics) – Training, time, and real support matter. Mass rollouts of a new curriculum to teachers without these? Recipe for disaster.

The secret to getting parents on your side before they push back – If parents don’t understand the “why,” they’ll resist the “what.” Learn how to engage them from the start.

How school leaders can do more than just cheerlead – Leaders who don’t get the curriculum can’t lead it. We’ll talk about how to remove barriers and create real instructional shifts.

Don’t gamble with your rollout—learn how to make it stick. 

Free Resources:

[FREE] Catalyst Mindsets Quiz **HERE**! 

[FREE DOWNLOAD] Levels of Resistance

[FREE RESOURCE] Podcast Playlists (Episodes that focus on Resistance to Change)

Sean Lindsey Info:

LinkedIn  |  Reading Horizons  |  The Reading League

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We aren't here for wishful thinking—we stand for hope as action. Hope-centered leadership isn’t about toxic positivity; it’s about setting bold goals, creating real pathways, and owning the work. Inspired by Dr. Shane Lopez’s research, we fuse agency, optimism, and accountability into an Ownership Mindset that fuels change. Without hope, schools spiral into stagnation and burnout. We’ll break down the three essential drivers of hope—and the strategic actions you can take to embed them in your school. Leaders who clarify the vision, help people see multiple pathways to get there and keep people moving forward, create schools where students and educators achieve their full capabilities. The data doesn’t lie—hope isn’t just nice; it’s necessary.

*Related Episode*

#122: Why Growth Mindset Isn't Enough: The Five Mindsets You Need to Drive Change

Research:

• Hope and School Leadership
• Instilling Hope in Students

Use this podcast for FREE PD! [PODCAST PLAYLISTS]

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Dr. Kim Richardson and I discuss building leadership identity with intention. We look at people-centered leadership backed by the 24 character strengths —like love of learning, empathy, and bravery—not as soft skills, but as essential tools for leaders who actually want to make an impact.

Ethical leadership isn’t a suggestion; it’s a requirement. Richardson lays it out—bravery, honesty, social intelligence, and self-regulation aren’t optional if you want to lead with integrity. If you’re not reflecting on your strengths, you’re leading blind. Join us to learn more about:

• Knowing your top strengths. If you can’t name them, you’re not using them.
• Using strengths to build your team, not just yourself. This isn’t solo work.
• Leading with integrity. Ethics matter.

Leadership isn’t about titles. It’s about action. 

Use this podcast for FREE PD! [PODCAST PLAYLISTS]

Ready to diagnose the biggest mindset gap on your team? Take the free Catalyst Mindsets Quiz **HERE**! 

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