Leaning into Leadership

Jen Rafferty is an educator, author, and international public speaker, who started as a middle school music teacher for 15 years in Central New York. She is known for bringing her energy, humor and expertise in her presentations while inspiring educators to stay connected to their "why." Jen is a certified Emotional Intelligence Practitioner and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology.

Since its inception, the Empowered Educator has reached teachers and school leaders all over the world. Jen has been featured in Authority Magazine, Medium, Thrive Global, Voyage MIA, and was on the TEDx stage with her talk, Generational Change begins with Empowered Teachers. She is also the host of the podcast Take Notes with Jen Rafferty which is rated in the top 3% of podcasts globally.

Jen's insatiable curiosity continues to make the Empowered Educator programs relevant and reflective of the most up-to-date research in mindset, leadership, and cognitive neuroscience. She is committed to inspiring teachers and school leaders to discover their voice and maintain a healthy longevity throughout their careers.

Here is the YouTube short on Jen's TedX Talk - and the full link

Connect with Jen: Website, FB: @empowerededucatorfacultyroom, YouTube: @empowerededucator and Twitter, TikTok, & Instagram @jenrafferty_ 

Email/contact info: [email protected]

Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here

Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas

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Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here

Professional learning for leaders doesn’t have to be a mystery. As leaders there are times when learning alongside your staff is very important. You have to know what is expected of them and what strategies and processes should be evident in the classroom. However, we often overlook professional learning specifically for leaders designed to help them be…BETTER LEADERS. This is what we do at Road to Awesome. Working with leadership teams to be their most effective and efficient, one on one coaching for leaders, collaborative leader cohorts, or specific and job-embedded supports each have their own specific processes. I want to work with you to support YOU, your TEAM, or your district on growing leaders to their peak level of performance.

Robert Jordan is the CEO of InterimExecs, which matches top executives with companies around the world. Based on research with thousands of leaders and companies, he and Olivia Wagner wrote Right Leader Right Time: Discover Your Leadership Style for a Winning Career and Company, and have launched the FABS Leadership Assessment, a free assessment at RightLeader.com designed to help leaders and organizations perform better. Jordan also authored How They Did It: Billion Dollar Insights from the Heart of America, and helped publish Start With No, Jim Camp’s bestseller on negotiation.

Check out the FABS Assessment here

Check out the book, Right Leader, Right Time here

Find Robert on Social Media: Twitter YouTube LinkedIn

Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here

Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas

Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter

Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here

Professional learning for leaders doesn’t have to be a mystery. As leaders there are times when learning alongside your staff is very important. You have to know what is expected of them and what strategies and processes should be evident in the classroom. However, we often overlook professional learning specifically for leaders designed to help them be…BETTER LEADERS. This is what we do at Road to Awesome. Working with leadership teams to be their most effective and efficient, one on one coaching for leaders, collaborative leader cohorts, or specific and job-embedded supports each have their own specific processes. I want to work with you to support YOU, your TEAM, or your district on growing leaders to their peak level of performance.

Let's reflect on 2022, our goals, our successes, and our short comings. Great leaders are the ones who are willing to be open and transparent about their work. Great leaders are the ones who are aware of their failures and look at failure as an opportunity to learn and grow. As my friend Wade Stanford shared this week, "It is nearly impossible for you to have your best idea the first time you think about something. The most likely way to uncover important insights is to frequently revisit a problem. The longer you're in the game, the more ideas bubble up to the surface. Time unlocks insights."

Today's episode has me sharing my goals from 2022 and sharing both the successes and the areas where I missed the mark. As well, I'm sharing my 2023 goals, reflecting on my #oneword for 2022 (which was #impact) and unveiling the word for 2023.

Here is the link to Jon Acuff's podcast and specifically the episode I referenced today

Here is the link to this week's blog post: Putting 2022 in the Books

Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here

Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas

Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter

Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here

Professional learning for leaders doesn’t have to be a mystery. As leaders there are times when learning alongside your staff is very important. You have to know what is expected of them and what strategies and processes should be evident in the classroom. However, we often overlook professional learning specifically for leaders designed to help them be…BETTER LEADERS. This is what we do at Road to Awesome. Working with leadership teams to be their most effective and efficient, one on one coaching for leaders, collaborative leader cohorts, or specific and job-embedded supports each have their own specific processes. I want to work with you to support YOU, your TEAM, or your district on growing leaders to their peak level of performance.

Erin Jones has been involved in and around schools for the past 26 years. She has taught in a variety of environments, from predominantly Black to predominantly White to some of the most diverse communities in the nation. Erin received an award as the Most Innovative Foreign Language Teacher in 2007, while teaching in Tacoma and was the Washington State Milken Educator of the Year in 2008, while teaching in Spokane. She received recognition at the White House in March of 2013 as a "Champion of Change” and was Washington State PTA’s “Outstanding Educator” in 2015. After serving as a classroom teacher and instructional coach, Erin worked as an executive for two State Superintendents. Erin left the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2012 to work in college-access at the school district level. She left her job to run as a candidate for State Superintendent and was the first Black woman to run for any state office in Washington state, a race she lost by a mere 1%. Erin has 3 adult children - a daughter who graduated from Central Washington University and works for the Equity in Education Coalition, a son who is a second-year graduate student at USC and one who attends college and coaches high school football and rugby with her husband of 27 years, James, who is a teacher and football coach in North Thurston School District.

Contact Info:

Email: [email protected]

Social Media: Instagram Facebook Twitter and LinkedIn

Erin's Ted Talks:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ7xY60a6z4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFc9axy2ktQ

Erin's book: Bridges to Heal Us

ROAD TO AWESOME COURSES ARE NOW LIVE (here's the link)

Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here

Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas

Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter

Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here

Professional learning for leaders doesn’t have to be a mystery. As leaders there are times when learning alongside your staff is very important. You have to know what is expected of them and what strategies and processes should be evident in the classroom. However, we often overlook professional learning specifically for leaders designed to help them be…BETTER LEADERS. This is what we do at Road to Awesome. Working with leadership teams to be their most effective and efficient, one on one coaching for leaders, collaborative leader cohorts, or specific and job-embedded supports each have their own specific processes. I want to work with you to support YOU, your TEAM, or your district on growing leaders to their peak level of performance.

Mike Alpert founded Peer Driven PD in 2019 with the goal of bringing streamlined, private sector solutions to public education. Mike’s corporate experience as a project analyst for an international renewable energy firm (Iberdrola Renewables) and as a financial services specialist (employee credit union of Intel and Microsoft) led him to realize the importance of education across all fields. Mike earned his MBA at Portland State University, with focused coursework in finance and innovation management, and took his expertise to the classroom and front office, where he worked over the next decade as a middle school humanities teacher before becoming a building administrator. Mike is a Crystal Apple Award Winning educator, and has worked in both small, rural districts and large, suburban districts in the Portland metro area, even serving overseas as a teacher and Central Administrator in Prague, Czech Republic. Mike is also a founding board member of Ex Novo Brewing Co, a benefit corporation donating all net proceeds to charitable organizations. On his “off days” (a little educator joke) you can find him training for his next half-marathon or at home with his wife and their son.

Email/contact info: [email protected]

Check out Peer Driver PD - https://peerdrivenpd.com/

Walk in Your Purpose: Five Mindsets to Level Up Your Leadership - a free eBook from Dr. Darrin Peppard - click here to download your free copy today

ROAD TO AWESOME COURSES ARE NOW LIVE (here's the link)

Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here

Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas

Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter

Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here

Professional learning for leaders doesn’t have to be a mystery. As leaders there are times when learning alongside your staff is very important. You have to know what is expected of them and what strategies and processes should be evident in the classroom. However, we often overlook professional learning specifically for leaders designed to help them be…BETTER LEADERS. This is what we do at Road to Awesome. Working with leadership teams to be their most effective and efficient, one on one coaching for leaders, collaborative leader cohorts, or specific and job-embedded supports each have their own specific processes. I want to work with you to support YOU, your TEAM, or your district on growing leaders to their peak level of performance.

Dr. Larry Dake has served in leadership positions for over 12 years as a curriculum coordinator, principal, and assistant superintendent.  He attended King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, PA, and Binghamton University, in Binghamton, NY. Beyond spending time with family, Larry is an avid fan of baseball history and spends way too much time looking up stats on baseball-reference.com. Professionally, Larry has served as a school leader for 13 years spanning three districts and roles as a curriculum coordinator, building principal, and Assistant Superintendent overseeing personnel, instruction, and finance. He also teaches in the Binghamton University Educational Leadership program and mentors prospective and early career administrators.

Larry is the author of two previous books, Crisis Management: Effective Leadership to Avoid Early Burnout and Identifying Small Habits: Left Unchecked by School Leaders, Small Faults Can Become Major Cracks. 

Social Media: Twitter at @larrydake and don't forget to check out #SAANYSCHAT

Walk in Your Purpose: Five Mindsets to Level Up Your Leadership - a free eBook from Dr. Darrin Peppard - click here to download your free copy today

ROAD TO AWESOME COURSES ARE NOW LIVE (here's the link)

Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here

Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas

Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter

Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here

Professional learning for leaders doesn’t have to be a mystery. As leaders there are times when learning alongside your staff is very important. You have to know what is expected of them and what strategies and processes should be evident in the classroom. However, we often overlook professional learning specifically for leaders designed to help them be…BETTER LEADERS. This is what we do at Road to Awesome. Working with leadership teams to be their most effective and efficient, one on one coaching for leaders, collaborative leader cohorts, or specific and job-embedded supports each have their own specific processes. I want to work with you to support YOU, your TEAM, or your district on growing leaders to their peak level of performance.

Rick Morton has been a Jostens representative in Tacoma, WA for the last 21 years. Rick grew up in San Diego and has been married to his High School sweetheart for 34 years. Rick has 3 adult children and 1 grandkid. His passion is to help every school he serves improve their environment with proven strategies and programs. Rick believes that Jostens Renaissance plays a significant role in helping schools go from good to great.  Rick says, "I am who I am today because of the heroes in my life that believed in me. Parents, Family, colleagues and especially Teachers! I stand everyday on the shoulders of giants!"

Email/contact info: 

[email protected]

Phone: 253-592-5977

Walk in Your Purpose: Five Mindsets to Level Up Your Leadership - a free eBook from Dr. Darrin Peppard - click here to download your free copy today

ROAD TO AWESOME COURSES ARE NOW LIVE (here's the link)

Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here

Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas

Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter

Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here

Professional learning for leaders doesn’t have to be a mystery. As leaders there are times when learning alongside your staff is very important. You have to know what is expected of them and what strategies and processes should be evident in the classroom. However, we often overlook professional learning specifically for leaders designed to help them be…BETTER LEADERS. This is what we do at Road to Awesome. Working with leadership teams to be their most effective and efficient, one on one coaching for leaders, collaborative leader cohorts, or specific and job-embedded supports each have their own specific processes. I want to work with you to support YOU, your TEAM, or your district on growing leaders to their peak level of performance.

Jonathan Alsheimer is the unorthodox, energetic, and entertaining middle school teacher who refuses to live a life of limitations. He currently teaches at the Chancellor Middle School in Spotsylvania County, VA. In addition to being a passionate educator, Jonathan is an international keynote speaker and the author of "NEXT LEVEL TEACHING," a #1 new release in education on Amazon in March of 2020.

Jonathan worked at the world-renowned Fred Lynn Middle School, which was featured in two documentaries, "Relentless" and "Relentless: Chasing Accreditation,” as the teacher who forged a partnership with UFC Fighter and light-weight contender Paul Felder to bring a message of never giving up, fighting for their education, and empowering the students to believe in themselves, all principles that Jonathan promotes in his classroom.

Jonathan Alsheimer also partnered with Fear the Fighter, MMA clothing brand to establish a stop-bullying campaign with "Relentless" Principal Hamish Brewer. Jonathan Alsheimer didn't stop there and established a relationship with Chris "Drama" Pfaff, MTV reality star and CEO of Young and Reckless to promote and build student leaders in his school.

As Jonathan always says, "Game-changing is not a cliche motto; it is a way of life... some talk about it while others live by it!

Check out Jonathan's book Next Level Teaching right here

“A Rae Of Hope”, named after Jonathan's mom who died of cancer, is a student led project making boxes of LOVE for Kids in Hospitals battling life-threatening illnesses.

To donate click the link here: https://square.link/u/YyIHelAX

Connect with Jonathan on social media:

Twitter: @mr_alsheimer

Instagram: @mr_alsheimer

ROAD TO AWESOME COURSES ARE NOW LIVE (here's the link)

Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here

Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas

Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter

Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here

Professional learning for leaders doesn’t have to be a mystery. As leaders there are times when learning alongside your staff is very important. You have to know what is expected of them and what strategies and processes should be evident in the classroom. However, we often overlook professional learning specifically for leaders designed to help them be…BETTER LEADERS. This is what we do at Road to Awesome. Working with leadership teams to be their most effective and efficient, one on one coaching for leaders, collaborative leader cohorts, or specific and job-embedded supports each have their own specific processes. I want to work with you to support YOU, your TEAM, or your district on growing leaders to their peak level of performance.

Dr. Dan Kreiness is an instructional leader, podcast host, author, and speaker who constantly searches for the most effective ways to advance education and produce high student achievement. Dr. Kreiness has worked in education for over 16 years as a school administrator, instructional coach, intervention specialist, and classroom teacher while working in districts in the New York City metro area in New York and Connecticut. Dr. Kreiness holds a doctorate degree in leadership and master’s degrees in adolescent education and educational leadership. His original research and dissertation is called “Transformational Leadership to Inspire Growth Mindset in Classroom Teachers.”

Dr. Kreiness hosts the popular Leader of Learning podcast which can be found on all podcast apps and music streaming services and was ranked #7 on Feedspot’s list of the Best 35 Educational Leadership Podcasts. He has also been a guest on several other podcasts. Dr. Kreiness is also a published author, having contributed chapters to 100 No-Nonsense Things that ALL Teachers Should STOP Doing, 100 No-Nonsense Things that ALL Teachers Should STOP Doing, 100 No-Nonsense Things that ALL Teachers Should STOP Doing, and Edumatch Snapshot in Education (2017) Volume 2: Professional Practice. He is currently under contract with Edumatch Publishing to publish a solo book.

Dr. Kreiness is emerging as an expert presenter at education conferences and trainings on topics including leadership, growth mindset, student engagement, various instructional technologies, and content creation and branding. Dr. Kreiness was named to the 2017 class of ASCD Emerging Leaders. He is also a Google Certified Educator, Microsoft Certified Educator, Nearpod PioNear, Flipgrid Ambassador, WeVideo Certified Educator, and Wakelet Ambassador. His specific educational interests include leadership, educational technology, and student engagement.

Social Media handles:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dr_kreiness

YouTube: https://youtube.com/drdankreiness

Instagram: https://instagram.com/dr_kreiness

Facebook: https://facebook.com/leaderoflearning

Email/contact info: [email protected]

ROAD TO AWESOME COURSES ARE NOW LIVE (here's the link)

Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here

Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas

Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter

Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here

Professional learning for leaders doesn’t have to be a mystery. As leaders there are times when learning alongside your staff is very important. You have to know what is expected of them and what strategies and processes should be evident in the classroom. However, we often overlook professional learning specifically for leaders designed to help them be…BETTER LEADERS. This is what we do at Road to Awesome. Working with leadership teams to be their most effective and efficient, one on one coaching for leaders, collaborative leader cohorts, or specific and job-embedded supports each have their own specific processes. I want to work with you to support YOU, your TEAM, or your district on growing leaders to their peak level of performance.

Texas-born & raised, Dr. Amy Mathews-Perez is currently in her 30th year of public education where she has served as a General Ed. Teacher, SLP, Diagnostician, SPED Supervisor, Principal, Assistant Principal and a Director of Special Education. Dr. Mathews-Perez has worked in the private sector as an Education Coordinator at a County JJAEP and in both home health & nursing home settings as an SLP. As a learner, she considers herself an “Experience Expert.” Amy lists passions as communication & laughter and using them to inspire & empower others. Life is short but our influence is never ending, so seek joy and create smiles through connecting, sharing, and highlighting the best in others.

Connect with Amy:

Social Media handles: AMP@drgrowtoknow (Twitter)

Email/contact info: [email protected] and [email protected]

ROAD TO AWESOME COURSES ARE NOW LIVE (here's the link)

Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here

Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas

Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter

Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here

Professional learning for leaders doesn’t have to be a mystery. As leaders there are times when learning alongside your staff is very important. You have to know what is expected of them and what strategies and processes should be evident in the classroom. However, we often overlook professional learning specifically for leaders designed to help them be…BETTER LEADERS. This is what we do at Road to Awesome. Working with leadership teams to be their most effective and efficient, one on one coaching for leaders, collaborative leader cohorts, or specific and job-embedded supports each have their own specific processes. I want to work with you to support YOU, your TEAM, or your district on growing leaders to their peak level of performance.