In this deeply personal and often hilarious episode of the Innovative Schools Podcast, Kevin interviews Dr. Debbie Silver, a nationally celebrated educator, author, and speaker. From an accidental start in a rural Louisiana classroom with no curriculum or training, to shaping future teachers and leading national conversations on education, Debbie’s story is one of resilience, humor, and heart. Whether you're struggling to find your place or looking for renewed inspiration, this candid conversation is a reminder that every educator has a story—and every student deserves to be seen.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

✔️ Teaching isn't always planned—but it can be a calling - Debbie’s journey into education started with no intention or training, proving that connection often trumps credentials.
✔️ “You do you, Big!” - Authenticity matters. Every teacher has a unique style that can resonate with different students.
✔️ Grace and flexibility are critical - Education is serious work, but rigid systems and pacing guides often miss the mark. Reframing and resilience are essential tools.
✔️ Culture begins with the teacher - The classroom culture you create echoes in school-wide relationships, expectations, and student engagement.
✔️ Growth over grades - Debbie encourages formative data over summative punishment—meet students where they are and measure growth, not just scores.

💬 Memorable Quotes:

🗣️ “You saw me.” — Tara, Debbie’s former student and now a full colonel

🗣️ “I wasn’t a real teacher. I was a scared girl in a hot classroom full of crying first graders.”

🗣️ “Don’t worry about being me—worry about being the best version of you.”

🗣️ “The job is serious. But don’t take yourself too seriously.”

🗣️ “If you’re passionate about it, the kids will be too.”

👁️‍🗨️ Additional Practices:

• Pre-year letters to students: Personal notes that build empathy and connection
• Student surveys & learning inventories: Start the year by understanding how your students learn best
• Flexible rubrics: Let students choose how to demonstrate mastery
• Classroom check-ins: Make eye contact, greet students intentionally, and build trust daily
• Community building through storytelling: Use your own journey as a bridge to student engagement

📚 Resources & Links:

🔗 Dr. Debbie Silver website: https://debbiesilver.com/
🔗 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/innovative-schools-podcast/id1502414943
🔗 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Lbw553jnDXuG08IZ43Kb5?si=61c80af2fd07497d
🔗 Innovative Schools Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/innovativeschoolspodcast/
🔗 Check out our website: https://accutrain.com/

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⭐ Rate & Review to help more teachers find this show
💬 Join the Conversation on social media or in your next staff meeting

In this episode, hosts Liz and Jordan talk with therapist and educator Tracie Berry-McGhee about the impact of social media on adolescents, particularly how it influences relationships, cyberbullying, and mental health. Tracie shares her work with the Sista Keeper Empowerment Center, explains her innovative Wellness Mobile, and introduces her self-esteem-building LOVE Principles. She emphasizes the need for educators, families, and communities to create safe, empowering environments for young people navigating digital life.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

✔️ Social media is a double-edged sword: it connects but also fuels anxiety, comparison, and relational aggression.
✔️ Cyberbullying doesn't stop at the school doors—it follows students 24/7 and deeply impacts school culture.
✔️ Students are seeking connection, but many feel isolated even while surrounded by followers.
✔️ Middle schoolers are particularly vulnerable to social media's harms due to identity formation and impulsivity.
✔️ Educators can make a huge impact by creating safe spaces, paying attention to non-verbal cues, and encouraging emotional literacy.

💬 Memorable Quotes:

🗣️ “Followers, but no friends—that’s how many of our students feel.”
🗣️ “Your algorithm will find you if you’re being true to yourself.”
🗣️ “We compare ourselves to a highlight reel that isn’t even real.”
🗣️ “You must be a keeper to yourself first before you can be a Sista Keeper.”
🗣️ “Social media isn’t going anywhere. We have to teach kids how to use it as a tool—not be used by it.”

🧠 Strategies You’ll Learn:

The LOVE Principles: A practical framework for students, educators, and parents:

• L – Listen: Encourage mindfulness, quiet time, and tuning into inner thoughts and feelings.
• O – Observe: Look beyond words—watch non-verbal behavior and shifting moods.
• V – Validate: Use affirmations and let students know they are seen, heard, and valued.
• E – Empower: Promote self-worth by encouraging originality, not comparison.

👁️‍🗨️ Additional Practices:

• Use restorative justice circles and safe group spaces for expression.
• Practice meditation, journaling, and affirmations in school settings.
• Monitor emotional shifts via body language and classroom behavior.
• Encourage positive use of social media (affirmation posts, reflection prompts, etc.).
• Promote digital literacy: understanding the emotional effects of algorithms and social comparison.

📚 Resources & Links:

🔗 Tracie’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theempowernista/
🔗 I Define Me website: https://www.idefinememovement.com/who-we-are
🔗 Meet JOY: https://www.idefinememovement.com/copy-of-idm-media
🔗 Book The IDM Wellness Mobile: https://www.idefinememovement.com/book-the-wellness-mobile

❤️ Love This Episode?

✅ Share it with a fellow educator!
⭐ Rate & review to help more teachers find this show
💬 Join the conversation on social media or in your next staff meeting

In this episode of the Innovative Schools Podcast, we sit down with Larry Thompson, creator of Responsibility-Centered Discipline (RCD), to explore how educators can help students take ownership of their actions, develop self-control, and build the internal strength needed to succeed both in and out of the classroom. Learn why traditional discipline methods fall short and how shifting the focus from compliance to coaching creates lasting change.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

✔️ What Responsibility-Centered Discipline (RCD) is and why it works
✔️ Why self-control is like a muscle—and how educators can “spot” students as they grow
✔️ The difference between controlling students and coaching them
✔️ How to create “mastery moments” that build student confidence
✔️ Why external rewards can hurt long-term growth
✔️ Practical strategies for turning tough moments into teachable ones

💬 Memorable Quotes:

🗣️ “Self-control is kind of like a muscle—and you can strengthen that in a person.” 
🗣️ “We want kids to feel strong when they meet a goal, not when they oppose authority.”
🗣️ “Relationships are built through proper spotting more than through fun games.”
🗣️ “Motivation is just a measurement of your self-control.”
🗣️ “You can only lift other people’s weight so long before you get sick of it.”

🧠 Strategies You’ll Learn:

• Framing expectations as skills instead of rules
• How to “spot” students like a coach during difficult moments
• The thumbs-up/thumbs-down check-in method to build student self-awareness
• Shifting classroom culture from compliance to collaboration
• Encouraging student self-reflection and honesty
• Coaching from a place of mastery instead of control

📚 Resources & Links:

🔗 Give 'Em Five – Official RCD Website
🔗 Subscribe to the Innovative Schools Podcast for more powerful conversations!

❤️ Love This Episode?

✅ Share it with a fellow educator!
⭐ Rate & review to help more teachers find this show
💬 Join the conversation on social media or in your next staff meeting

In this special edition of the Innovative Schools Podcast, we're bringing you a dynamic session from the Innovative Schools Summit in New York! This episode features the 50 in 50 Panel, where top educational leaders share 50 powerful strategies to foster a positive learning environment in your classroom. From engagement techniques to culture-building ideas, you'll walk away with practical insights you can use immediately.

Key Takeaways:
✔️ Strategies to Build a Positive Classroom Culture
✔️ Engagement Techniques that Go Beyond Entertainment
✔️ Ways to Empower Students and Teachers for Growth
✔️ Practical Tips for Encouraging Student Collaboration & Ownership

Featured Speakers:
🎤 Joseph Diaz – Founder of Mr. Math Education, focusing on improving math outcomes
🎤 Blake Clark – Superintendent & Executive Director, St. George, Utah
🎤 Katie Trowbridge – Retired Teacher, CEO & President of Curiosity to Create
🎤 Dr. Marquita Blades – Chief Empowerment Strategist at Powerful Teaching Strategies
🎤 Edward DeShazier – Executive Director of a K-8 School in Milwaukee

Memorable Quotes:
🗣️ “Culture changes when we invite everyone’s voice to be heard.” – Blake Clark
🗣️ “Model high expectations for yourself before you set them for students.” – Joseph Diaz
🗣️ “Teach to the top, not the bottom. We can scaffold, but don’t hold back your highest achievers.” – Dr. Marquita Blades
🗣️ “If your teachers are happy, your students will be happy. Positive culture starts at the top.” – Edward DeShazier
🗣️ “Reward and praise heavily—kids work for you just like you work for your paycheck.” – Joseph Diaz

Strategies You’ll Learn:
✅ The "I Wonder" Wall – A place for students to anonymously ask questions
✅ Help Wanted Board – Encouraging peer-to-peer learning and collaboration
✅ Rainy Day Notes – A system for staff to uplift and encourage each other
✅ Vertical Learning with Non-Permanent Surfaces – Fostering a growth mindset in math
✅ Defend or Destroy – Teaching students to analyze both sides of an argument
✅ Student Masterclass – Let students take the lead in teaching concepts
✅ Secret Leader of the Week – Encouraging students to quietly uplift peers
✅ 3 Before Me Strategy – Teaching students to struggle productively before seeking help

…and 40+ more ideas to make your classroom a thriving learning environment! 🎉

Resources & Links:
🔗 Learn more about the Innovative Schools Summit: www.innovativeschoolssummit.com
🔗 Connect with our featured guests on social media (details in the show)
🔗 Subscribe to the podcast for more educator insights!

Love This Episode?
 📌 Share it with a fellow educator!
 🌟 Rate & review the podcast—it helps us reach more teachers like you!
 💡 Got feedback or an idea for a future episode? Let us know in the comments!

📢 Join us next time for more expert insights on transforming your classroom and empowering students! 🎙️

In this episode of the Innovative Schools Podcast, host Jordan sits down with Dr. John Almarode, a professor at James Madison University and an expert in student engagement. We will dive into the critical distinctions between engagement and entertainment in the classroom, explore the levels of engagement, and discuss actionable strategies to ensure students are actively processing and retaining information. Dr. Almarode also shares insights from his research on Visible Learning and the importance of making student thinking visible.

Key Topics Covered:

• The definition and importance of student engagement in the classroom
• How engagement differs from entertainment
• The common pitfalls educators fall into when trying to engage students
• The continuum of engagement: active disengagement, passive disengagement, passive engagement, and active engagement
• Strategies for making student learning visible
• How to assess and measure student engagement effectively
• The impact of different teaching methods on student retention and comprehension
• Practical ways educators can shift the cognitive load to students for deeper learning

Key Takeaways:

• Engagement is not a simple yes/no concept; it exists on a continuum.
• Entertainment can grab students' attention, but what happens after is what truly matters.
• Students learn best when they are actively processing, organizing, and integrating new information.
• Making student learning visible through writing, discussion, and reflection enhances retention and comprehension.
• Traditional lecture-based teaching has a low impact on learning, while active strategies like discussion and self-assessment have much higher effectiveness.

Resources Mentioned:

• Teacher Clarity (New Edition) by John Almarode (Available Now)
• How Learning Works Playbook by John Almarode
• How Feedback Works Playbook by John Almarode
• John Hattie's Visible Learning

Connect with Dr. John Almarode:

• Website: johnalmarode.com
• Facebook: John Almarode
• X (Twitter): @JTAlmarode

Call to Action:

• Reflect on engagement in your own classroom: What does it look like? How do you measure it?
• Try implementing one of the strategies discussed to make student thinking more visible.
• Share this episode with fellow educators who might benefit from a deeper understanding of engagement.
• Subscribe to the Innovative Schools Podcast and leave a review to help us reach more educators!

Stay Connected:

Follow Innovative Schools on https://www.instagram.com/innovativeschoolspodcast/

In this episode of the Innovative Schools Podcast, hosts Jordan and Liz sit down with Jessica Sinarski, an expert in education and counseling, to discuss how movement in the classroom can minimize disruptive behavior and enhance learning. Jessica introduces the concept of proprioception—a hidden sense that affects body awareness and regulation—and explains how teachers can incorporate movement strategies to support students, particularly those with sensory processing challenges or trauma histories.

Jessica shares practical ways educators can use movement to create a more focused and engaged classroom environment. From jumping challenges to the "Bubblegum Club," she provides simple yet effective strategies that can help students self-regulate and optimize their learning experience.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How movement impacts classroom behavior and student learning.
• The importance of proprioception and why it's a game changer in education.
• Common signs that students may need more proprioceptive input.
• Practical movement strategies teachers can easily integrate into their classrooms.
• The role of proprioception in self-regulation and emotional well-being.

Key Quotes:

• “Great teachers can create a space for students to regulate themselves and engage in learning.”
• “It’s not us against our students. We are on the same team, working to light up the learning brain.”
• “When kids’ needs are met, they are more able to learn. And when teachers’ needs are met, they are more able to teach.”

Resources & Links:

• Download Jessica’s Free Guide to Proprioception: www.BraveBrains.com/PROPE
• Learn more about Brave Brains, Jessica’s organization: www.jessicasinarski.com/bravebrains
• Check out Jessica’s book Light Up the Learning Brain: www.jessicasinarski.com/light
• Register for the Innovative Schools Summit in Orlando (March 20-23, 2025): www.innovativeschoolssummit.com/Orlando

Stay Connected:

• Follow Innovative Schools on www.instagram.com/innovativeschoolspodcast/

Welcome to the first episode of the Innovative Schools podcast! In this episode, host Jordan sits down with Joseph Cope, a Responsibility Centered Discipline (RCD) master trainer, to discuss the challenges and rewards of working in Title 1 schools. They explore classroom management, self-control, and how educators can create a space for every student to succeed—even those who present challenges.

Joseph shares his journey from elementary to middle school education, his experiences in Title 1 schools, and the lessons he learned along the way. He provides insight into how teachers can foster intrinsic motivation, set boundaries while maintaining student dignity, and manage their own emotional well-being to prevent burnout.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The reality of working in Title 1 schools and the unique challenges students face.
• Why traditional classroom management strategies may not always work—and what to do instead.
• How to create a space for students to choose self-regulation and self-control.
• The importance of maintaining student dignity while addressing behavioral issues.
• Strategies to prevent teacher burnout and sustain a fulfilling teaching career.

Key Quotes:

• “Great teachers can create a space for students to choose to change behavior for themselves.”
• “Self-control is like a muscle—you have to use it for it to grow.”
• “Sometimes, we have to save ourselves from ourselves by protecting our heart with a level of skill.”
  
  

Resources & Links:

• Learn more about Responsibility Centered Discipline: https://www.givemfive.com/
• Interested in bringing Joseph to your school for professional development? https://www.givemfive.com/contact/

Thank you for joining us for this episode! We look forward to continuing this conversation and learning together in future episodes of the Innovative Schools podcast.

What Every Educator Needs to Know about the Brain

This week we are joined by Jessica Sinarksi, LPCMH, an author and thought leader in neuro-science who specializes in training educators about the brain and how to teach students of all ages how the brain works, and why it matters!

In this episode, Jessica explains how the brain functions and how to teach students to recognize when they are operating out of “downstairs brain.” Jessica also shares strategies educators can use to teach students to calm themselves in stressful situations and how to navigate difficult moments with others so that they can ultimately succeed in the classroom and in life. 

Resources Mentioned in this Episode

https://bravebrains.com/resources/ (Free!)

https://www.rileythebrave.org

This week we speak with author and counselor Tracie Berry-McGhee about the work she does with the SistaKeeper Empowerment Program in St. Louis and discuss strategies educators can use to help girls in their schools improve their self-image and reduce relational aggression.

In this episode, we speak with author Robert Jackson and discuss his Gold Excel award-winning book, Becoming the Educator They Need: Strategies, Mindsets, and Beliefs for Supporting Male Black and Latino Students and preview his upcoming Pre-Conference Session for the August Innovative Schools Virtual Summit titled Salvaging Our Sons: Helping Educators Reach, Teach and Empower Young Men.

Robert will present both a Pre-Conference Session and Keynote during the August Innovative Schools Virtual Summit August 5-8. Learn more at www.InnovativeSchoolsSummit.com/Virtual