Messy Business

Amber Quirk, our DuPage Regional Superintendent, spends time with us for an inside look at her role and the work the ROE does to support schools and communities. We dive into real-life leadership, finding balance and practical tips that educators and leaders can take with them.

We wrap things up with our Messy Business Fast 5 that gives us a chance to get to know Amber beyond her title.

We chat with Dr. Maribeth Rossini, pediatric neuropsychologist, about managing stress, strengthening families, and her work helping students with dyslexia. Learn more about Dr. Rossini's practice here.

Plus, we're excited to debut the Messy Business Fast Five, our new segment where we ask every guest five fun, thought-provoking questions.

We're laughing about our ADHD quirks and embracing one of our favorite phrases: process improvement. Instead of placing blame on a person when something doesn't go as planned, we ask, How can we improve the process? It's a mindset that keeps conversations productive, encourages continual growth, and helps us move forward together.

Transitions are part of life. We reflect on changes happening in their own lives and share five practical ways to pass the baton well. This conversation is full of reflection, encouragement and actionable ideas for anyone navigating a new beginning.

We are not good at everything. We’re owning our weaknesses, laughing at our preferences, and embracing the things we’d rather not do (or simply can’t). Because here’s the truth - we need each other. When you know your strengths and surround yourself with people who fill in the gaps, life just works better.

A mystery Amazon delivery, a first job story, and a nationwide educator network—this episode has it all with Dr. Matthew X. Joseph.

We explore the power of collaboration through real stories, honest moments, and a few laughs along the way.

The XFactor EDU network is inspiring community of educators committed to supporting one another and making a lasting difference. https://xfactoredu.org/

Heather Britton of the DuPage ROE joins us to break down the McKinney-Vento Act and what it requires of school districts.

This conversation offers clear, practical steps to ensure compliance with federal and state law — while keeping students and families at the center of the work.

The ultimate crossover event of the season!✨Unsupervised Leadership meets Messy Business in a fun and fabulous episode you didn’t know you needed. Dr. Courtney Orzel and Dr. Kate Koch bring the real talk, big laughs, and the kind of leadership lessons that only come from beautifully messy moments. You won’t want to miss this one!

Nicole Jorwic, an attorney and national policy expert advocates at the national level for people with disabilities and caregivers. Nicole breaks down key Medicaid issues, highlights bipartisan efforts creating real progress, and shares her unique experience working in Hollywood, including collaborating with writers from This Is Us to ensure authentic disability and caregiving representation. This episode offers hopeful insight into how policy and advocacy can drive meaningful change.

Multilingual education expert Carly Spina to explores her powerful new book, Igniting Real Change for Multilingual Learners: Equity and Advocacy in Action (2025). Carly brings experience as an EL teacher, bilingual classroom educator, and district-wide instructional coach to a conversation about equity, advocacy, and actionable strategies that go beyond theory to transform classrooms and systems.