Sandra O'Flaherty recently retired after 30 plus years. Inthis distinguished career she was an amazing LA teacher, a consultant in Technology and Behavior, an Assistant Principal, Vice Principal and Principal. All while simultaneously being a daughter, wife, mother (2 boys) and soon to begrandmother. We were honored that Sandra took some time to chat.

There is no course or special professional developmentsession telling you how to run a staff meeting. We all have sat in and been part of both positive and horrific ones. With Sandra we discuss the mistakes we made and what we have learned about the importance of running an effective staff meeting. Every leader is going to figure out what works bestfor them but we believe there are some nuggets of advice that can be gleaned from this episode.

Here are a few of those nuggets:

- Survey your staff about needs and their time commitments

- Be intentional about treating a one a month meeting as anopportunity.

- Decide what is critical information to pass on and todiscuss

- You don't want to meet for more than an hour

- This is the forum to communicate values and to behumble/vulnerable

- Use "we" as much as possible to promote"team".

After listening to this amazing episode, please let us knowwhat you think. You can find us on Spotify and Apple. Like, Follow, Subscribe. Please email us at [email protected]

In this episode, we sit down with Bruce Gillespie to reflect on aremarkable 40 year journey in education, one that began somewhat unexpectedly and grew into a career filled with lasting friendships, incredible experiences, and a deep commitment to students.

From teaching IB History and Theory of Knowledge to serving as a department head, Success Teacher, and Alberta Education contributor, Bruce embraced many roles throughout his career. He also spent nearly 40 years coaching soccer, earning three city championships along the way.

Bruce shares some unforgettable highlights, including international travel, a visit to the Soviet Union just before its collapse, a week at the United Nations, and the privilege of working with outstanding young people.

One of the most personal reflections Bruce shares is about being shamed by a teacher when he was a student.  While the experience was difficult, it ultimately became an important lesson in the kind of teacher he wanted to be. That experience shaped his commitment to treating students with empathy,dignity, and respect—and taught him firsthand the lasting impact educators can have on young people, both positively and negatively.

Join us as Bruce looks back on four decades in education, the lessons he has learned, and the people and experiences that made the journey so meaningful.

If you enjoy this episode please like, subscribe and share. We welcome all your comments and questions. If you would like to chat with either of us, please contact by emailing at: [email protected]

Please join Frank and I as we chat about a topic that is near and dear to us. The intentional act of consistent walkingaround and visiting classrooms has had profound benefits in the schools we got to lead.

We discuss this topic by answering the following questions:

1. What does this walking around look like for a leader? How many visits should I make? How long should I stay? 
2. Do I say anything when I get to each class? What do I say
3. What should I look for when I get to the class? Am I evaluating the teacher during these visits?
4. How do I build the habit of visiting classrooms each day?

We talk about our many years of experience and the type of impact a leader can have on building culture.

If you enjoy this episode please like, subscribe and share. We welcome all your comments and questions. If you would like to chat with either of us, please contact by emailing at: [email protected]

Please join Frank and I as we get to chat with Braden Pilon. Braden has completed two years of successful teaching and is going into Year 3. We dive into:

- Braden as a student

- Motivation to become a teacher

- Peaks and Valleys as a first-year teacher

- What he loves about being a teacher 

- What he learned and did better in year 2

- Advice to enjoy your job, students and life as a teacher

Braden is a reflective and super positive person and teacher. His enthusiasm is infectious and inspiring. 

Braden mentions some resources he has on social media:

Classonomy: https://classonomy.net

How to Thrive in Your First Years of Teaching waitlist: https://how-to-thrive-book.web.app/

If you enjoy this episode please like, subscribe and share. We welcome all your comments and questions. If you would like to chat with either of us, please contact by emailing at: [email protected]

Frank and Larry have an emotional conversation around supporting Principals around their work.  The conversation will be focused on the top 4 reasons that Principals burn out.  

Those include:

1. The Intensity of a principal’s responsibilities

2. The pressure of being accountable to stakeholders

3. The lack of resources

4. Emotional rollercoaster of the job and balancing life

If you enjoy this episode please follow, like, subscribe and share. We welcome all your comments and questions. If you would like to chat with either of us, please contact by emailing at: [email protected]

In this episode, Frank and Larry explore the important topic of teacher burnout and offer practical strategies and support to help educators navigate the challenges of the school year.

Starting the school year strong is important, but so is maintaining our energy, well-being, and passion for teaching throughout the year. Frank and Larry share helpful insights and practical suggestions designed to support teachers in managing the demands of their profession.

They also explored an Ontario-based study that identifies four key factors contributing to teacher burnout:

1. Disconnected Leadership

2. Workload and Complexity

3. Work-Life Balance

4. Lack of Respect and Recognition

Join Frank and Larry as they take a closer look at these challenges, share their experiences, and discuss ways educators and school leaders can work together to create healthier, more supportive school communities.

If you enjoy this episode please follow, like, subscribe and share. We welcome all your comments and questions. If you would like to chat with either of us, please contact by emailing at: [email protected]

Welcome to our very first episode! We're Frank Durante and Larry Tomiyama, and we're excited to have you join us as we begin this Podcast journey together.

Before we dive into future conversations about education, leadership, and the experiences that have shaped our careers, we wanted to start by introducing ourselves and sharing the story behind this podcast. Every journey has a beginning, and ours is rooted in a shared passion for education, a commitment to lifelong learning, and a belief that meaningful relationships and conversations have the power to inspire growth and positive change.  

In this first episode, you'll get to know us not just as educators, but as people. We set the groundwork of starting every episode with what we are grateful for.  We also share what we are excited for as we dive deep into a variety of educational topics.  

If you enjoy this episode please follow, like, subscribe and share. We welcome all your comments and questions. If you would like to chat with either of us, please contact by emailing at: [email protected]