EdLeader

Recently as Dr. Rob Jackson dove headfirst into attempting to understand The Science of Reading, he found himself immersed in The Reading Wars with Whole Language or Balanced Literacy on one side and The Science of Reading on the other.  As he researched the divide between the two, he encountered a side skirmish and made himself a note to come back to it. Lost in the vitriol over phonics instruction was the respect given to or denied to fluency as a metric to pay attention to.

At a basic level, fluency is a reader's ability to read with speed, accuracy, and proper expression. If comprehending what they read is the goal, children must be able to read fluently. This is true in reading aloud and in reading silently. In many ways, fluency is the bridge between word recognition and reading comprehension.

Join Dr. Jackson as he attempts to peel apart the individual strands of reading comprehension and build our shared understanding of what EdLeaders need to know about learning to read.

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As an elementary teacher, elementary principal, and as a Superintendent, EdLeader podcast host Dr. Rob Jackson has watched the battle lines drawn and the theories, best practices, and curriculum shaming hurled back and forth in the "Reading Wars." Equating a war with the debate over the best way to teach children to read seems a bit excessive, but a quick glance over the blogs spewing nastiness about the thought-leaders on each side of the debate seems to give rise and credence to the name, "Reading Wars."

On one side is whole-language or balanced literacy, an offshoot of whole language. On the other side is the Science of Reading.

So...

There is a Reading War that has been going on for a really long time and the Science of Reading has taken the upper hand. 

But, what is the Science of Reading and what do EdLeaders need to know? Join Dr. Rob Jackson as he crosses the battlefield of the reading wars to share just what you need to know, whether you have a background in teaching children to read or not.

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In this final episode of the EdLeader special series "Leadership Lessons from the GOAT," LockedOn Blue Devils host and lifelong fan, JJ Jackson, joins his Dad one more time to wrap a special season and a special book, "Leading With the Heart" by the GOAT, Coach Mike Krzyzewski. After a recap of the season's final game, JJ and Dr. Jackson share a special story from courtside of another memorable NCAA National Tournament, one that did end with a National Championship.  Coach K's final leadership tenets are explored as he reminds us to "Stop the Success Express once in a while to enjoy the journey." Coach K's book and journey as a coach ends with the words, "Please, God, help me do my best, help me be myself, and help me lead with my heart."  May we all lead with our hearts.

In Part 2 of an incredible conversation with Stephanie Harvey and Annie Ward, co-authors of From Striving to Thriving and Intervention Reinvention, the rubber hits the road as Stephanie and Annie bring the research alive and give practical advice for making a difference for students. In the conversation in Part 1, they defined “reading volume” and discussed “tabling the labels” that become self-fulfilling prophecies for striving readers. Dr. Jackson highlights the book for its readability and for the depth of research presented in an easily readable format that underpins the work. If nothing else, when a superhero like Dav Pilkey, author of the Captain Underpants books, writes and illustrates the introduction, you know that you are in for fun.

EdLeaders are instructional leaders who are charged with making decisions daily about the teaching and learning taking place in classrooms, schools, and school districts. "Children learn to read by reading and need access to books they want to read; time to read; and loving, knowledgeable teachers who trust them as powerful learners and know how to build on their strengths. An affirming approach rooted in love yields powerful results and turns striving readers into thriving readers." - Stephanie Harvey and Annie Ward, co-authors of From Striving to Thriving and Intervention Reinvention.
 
Stephanie Harvey is co-author of numerous books for teachers, including Strategies that Work, and Inquiry Illuminated. Her many resources co-authored with Anne Goudvis include The Comprehension Toolkit series, Short Nonfiction for American History, and a wide range of classroom videos. An elementary and special education teacher for 18 years, Stephanie currently serves as a literacy consultant to schools and districts around the world. She specializes in comprehension, content literacy, inquiry-based learning, collaboration, striving learners, and the role of passion and wonder in teaching and learning. As a teacher first and foremost, Stephanie relishes learning and savors any time spent in classrooms working with kids.

Annie Ward is Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction for the Mamaroneck Public Schools in Westchester County, NY. Prior to that, she was a Local Instructional Superintendent for the New York City Department of Education, Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction for the Ridgewood, NJ, Public Schools, and a middle school English teacher. She is in this work every single day and offers practical insight into bringing to scale positive growth in literacy for every single student.

As the amazing poet, Maya Angelou, wrote, “The best part of life is not just surviving, but thriving, with passion and compassion and humor and style and generosity and kindness.” She must have been watching a teacher as she wrote this. 

EdLeaders are instructional leaders who are charged with making decisions daily about the teaching and learning taking place in classrooms, schools, and school districts. "Children learn to read by reading and need access to books they want to read; time to read; and loving, knowledgeable teachers who trust them as powerful learners and know how to build on their strengths. An affirming approach rooted in love yields powerful results and turns striving readers into thriving readers." - Stephanie Harvey and Annie Ward, co-authors of From Striving to Thriving and Intervention Reinvention.
 
Stephanie Harvey is co-author of numerous books for teachers, including Strategies that Work, and Inquiry Illuminated. Her many resources co-authored with Anne Goudvis include The Comprehension Toolkit series, Short Nonfiction for American History, and a wide range of classroom videos. An elementary and special education teacher for 18 years, Stephanie currently serves as a literacy consultant to schools and districts around the world. She specializes in comprehension, content literacy, inquiry-based learning, collaboration, striving learners, and the role of passion and wonder in teaching and learning. As a teacher first and foremost, Stephanie relishes learning and savors any time spent in classrooms working with kids.

Annie Ward is Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction for the Mamaroneck Public Schools in Westchester County, NY. Prior to that, she was a Local Instructional Superintendent for the New York City Department of Education, Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction for the Ridgewood, NJ, Public Schools, and a middle school English teacher. She is in this work every single day and offers practical insight into bringing to scale positive growth in literacy for every single student.

As the amazing poet, Maya Angelou, wrote, “The best part of life is not just surviving, but thriving, with passion and compassion and humor and style and generosity and kindness.” She must have been watching a teacher as she wrote this. 

On this brand-new EdLeader special series, Leadership Lessons from the G.O.A.T., Dr. Rob Jackson is joined by his son JJ Jackson, host of the Locked On Blue Devils podcast and the daily radio show SportsCall Auburn, as well as a Division 1 radio and television play-by-play announcer. Together, they delve into Coach K's book, Leading with the Heart, to share the leadership lessons of the basketball coach considered to be the G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time!)

In this episode, Dr. Jackson and JJ discuss Coach K's leadership in guiding the Blue Devils to his thirteenth Final Four. Following a tournament run through the West, a region the Blue Devils had never won on the way to a Final Four, facing college basketball's strongest defenses this year, Duke punched their ticket to New Orleans. Coach K said, "Game Day is not a time for long, drawn-out speeches. It is a time for interaction. Interacting with Coach K's writing and current season success, JJ and Dr. Jackson pull out leadership tenets ready for each of us to employ in our work. 

Coach K has served as the head men's basketball coach at Duke University since 1980, where he has led the Blue Devils to five NCAA Division I titles, 13 Final Fours, 15 ACC Men's Basketball Tournament championships, and 12 ACC regular-season titles. Coach K has also coached the US men's national basketball team to three gold medals and served as the head coach of the American team that won two FIBA World Cup gold medals. He is widely regarded as one of the best college basketball coaches of all time.

Children who were born during the years from 1901 to 1927 would become known as the Greatest Generation. Theirs was an era marked by war and economic depression. They would endure the Spanish Flu pandemic from 1918 to 1920 and yet through all of the challenges and adversity, they developed values of personal responsibility, duty, honor, and faith. These characteristics helped them to defeat Hitler, build the American economy, make incredible advances in science and implement visionary programs like Medicare. At every stage of their lives, they were part of historic challenges and achievements of a magnitude the world had never before witnessed.

The students in our schools today were born 100 years after the Greatest Generation and have arguably endured similar challenges. The Covid-19 pandemic, the War in Iraq, and the global ramifications of the current war in Ukraine have shaped their young lives just as they did their forebears a century ago. Are we witnessing the return of the greatest generation? Will the students of today lead us forward into a Golden Age?

As we begin to move through what we hope is the final stages of this pandemic, we have an incredible opportunity to ask ourselves, What have we learned? What is now possible? 

Dr. John Bryant began his career in education serving for eight years as a high school English teacher. After four years as a High School Assistant Principal, he served for three years as an Elementary School Principal. Following six years in Central Services, he was named as the Superintendent of the Henderson County Public School system in December 2020. 

In the book "The Greatest Generation," American Journalist Tom Brokaw argues that the Greatest Generation's perseverance through difficult times is a testament to their extraordinary character. Their remarkable actions, during times of war and peace, ultimately made the United States a better place in which to live. As EdLeaders, we have the opportunity to equip and support our students as they prepare to lead us forward into what will be.

On this brand-new EdLeader special series, Leadership Lessons from the G.O.A.T., Dr. Rob Jackson is joined by his son JJ Jackson, host of the Locked On Blue Devils podcast and the daily radio show SportsCall Auburn, as well as a Division 1 radio and television play-by-play announcer. Together, they delve into Coach K's book, Leading with the Heart, to share the leadership lessons of the basketball coach considered to be the G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time!)

In this episode, Dr. Jackson and JJ discuss Coach K's encouragement for leaders to focus on the task at hand. With an update on Coach K's final season following the ACC Tournament, the lessons come alive in the context of the current season and flashbacks to the 1990 season where Duke lost in the championship game by the largest margin ever only to come back the next year to win the National Championship.

Coach K has served as the head men's basketball coach at Duke University since 1980, where he has led the Blue Devils to five NCAA Division I titles, 12 Final Fours, 15 ACC Men's Basketball Tournament championships, and 12 ACC regular-season titles. Coach K has also coached the US men's national basketball team to three gold medals and served as the head coach of the American team that won two FIBA World Cup gold medals. He is widely regarded as one of the best college basketball coaches of all time.

On this much-anticipated episode of the EdLeader podcast, Dr. Jackson is joined by Steve Pemberton, the author of the books “A Chance in the World” and “The Lighthouse Effect.” The first book, an autobiography, was made into a major motion picture, sharing the remarkable story of his life. The title of his book comes from a note left by a babysitter who wrote of him as a toddler: “This little boy doesn’t have a chance in the world.”

Soon after, at age 3, Pemberton was taken away from his mother, who was an alcoholic and placed with foster parents, who abused him for the next 13 years. That family trauma went back three generations. His mother was raised by an alcoholic father. His paternal grandmother died at 40 leaving 13 children orphans. No one knew what to do with his father so he was placed in a juvenile detention center. Steve was the third generation to be orphaned.

Mr. Pemberton defied the early prediction that he did not have a chance in the world. The native of New Bedford, Massachusetts went on to graduate from college, showed corporations how to diversify their workforces, broke the cycle of family trauma by raising three adult children with his wife of many years, and eventually authored the book that propelled him into national acclaim.

He is now a Best Selling Author, Philanthropist, Acclaimed Speaker, and Senior Level Executive. He achieved all this through the guidance of “lighthouses,” those people who stepped up and helped him despite what seemed as his poor prospects. He calls on each of us to be human lighthouses like those he introduces us to through his books. As he says, “Let your life be a lighthouse. There are so many lives out there that need the power and the gift of your example.”

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The role of a school counselor has evolved over time. From providing vocational guidance to some students in the early 1900's to providing more comprehensive, collaborative programs based on identified needs and inclusive of prevention and early intervention services for every student in career, academic, and social-emotional growth and skills, modern school counselors have important roles serving students and families as members of student support teams. On this latest episode of the EdLeader podcast, Dr. Jackson is joined by Brittany Norman, President of the North Carolina School Counselor Association, to discuss the comprehensive role of school counselors, including their important role as Purveyors of Hope.

Brittany Norman is a professional school counselor. She has spent the majority of her career serving military students and families in the Onslow County School System which is home to USMC Camp Lejeune. She has worked to provide students with the knowledge and skills to be healthy and successful in the 21st century. Brittany has served on the Board of Directors for the North Carolina School Counseling Association for several years and currently serves as President of the association. Brittany completed her M.S in Counselor Education as well as Master of School Administration at East Carolina University. She frequently presents on school counseling practice and leadership.

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