Roll Call Podcast

RC006 School's Out! Supporting LGBTQ2+ Students in Our Schools

Mike Richard is a Sexual Health Educator and Literacy Mentor for the province of New Brunswick. He is highly recognized throughout New Brunswick for his work in helping to rewrite the provincial curriculum in health. Mike earned his undergraduate degree from St. Thomas University and recently received his Master's degree in Education from the University of New Brunswick.

Mike joins us today to discuss the importance of accepting and supporting LGBTQ2+ students in our schools and classrooms. He discusses the most common challenges many day schools and boarding schools face throughout Canada and the US with helping sexual minorities feel safe, respected and included in the school setting. We discuss how kindness and education can be the first step toward achieving acceptance and inclusion and the importance of educating parents and students on the school's inclusion policies and action plans. We also discuss how educational institutions should address concerns related to bathroom and shower facilities, sports and physical education as well as living quarters for students in boarding schools.

"Give them an arena to speak. Give them an arena to tell you what they want and what they are looking for." - Mike Richard

This week on the Roll Call Podcast:

• The greatest challenge many schools face when creating a safe and respected education environment for LGBTQ2+ students
• The balancing act between acknowledging prejudices in our schools and enforcing inclusion policies
• Getting clear on your inclusion policies and action steps
• Why kindness and education is the first step toward acceptance and inclusion
• The importance of educating parents as well as students on your inclusion policies and guidelines
• Understanding the LGBTQ2+ acronym and the terminology to avoid
• How to create a classroom environment rooted in acceptance, understanding, and inclusion
• How to have hard conversations with students about their sexual identity and how they want to be identified
• The importance of modeling acceptance in the classroom
• The number of students that identify themselves as a sexual minority
• Universal strategies schools can use to create a more inclusive environment
• Using fluid dorms and bathroom facilities in boarding schools
• Addressing sports and physical education concerns for transgender students
• Determining whether to tell other parents about a student's sexual identity in your school
• The future of gay/straight alliances and celebrating sexual minority days

This episode is sponsored by REACH Boarding

This episode is sponsored by REACH Boarding, an award-winning, feature-rich boarding school management tool used by over 400 schools in five continents to manage risk, increase efficiency, and improve communication in boarding school management.

To learn more about REACH Boarding, its features and integrations, visit www.reachboarding.com

Empowering the Future of Independent Education & Boarding School Management

Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of Roll Call with Brian Murray and Josh Simons, the show helping education professionals stay at the forefront of global education trends. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts and leave your honest review.

Don't forget to share your favorite episodes with your colleagues on social media to help us spread the word and help more education professionals stay at the forefront of independent education and boarding school management techniques to empower the future of the education environment.

RC005 Teach, Coach, Live: The Triple Threat in Boarding Schools

Dr. Greg Martin is a history teacher and Upper School Dean at Perkiomen School in Pennsburg, PA. He is a published author that has spent countless hours writing and advocating on the ideas of teaching, coaching, and living in boarding schools and the viability of this trifecta in today's modern teaching society. He earned his Ed.D. from Drexel University, a Bachelor's degree in Political Theory from Wheaton College, and a Master's degree in European History from Western Connecticut State University.

Dr. Greg joins us today to share how the teach, coach, live model works in the boarding school setting. We discuss the triple threat model and the current trends happening in day schools as well as boarding schools. We discuss the generational mindset shift currently happening in the boarding school setting and how it impacts the way schools are approaching staffing and teaching. We also discuss how the generational shift is impacting the relationships between students and teachers and the creative ways some boarding schools across the U.S. are approaching the triple threat model.

"The job market and the generations doing the work are experiencing something on the outside of education that is very different from what we're seeing in the boarding schools." - Dr. Greg Martin

This week on the Roll Call Podcast:

• Greg's experience as a student - and teacher - in boarding school
• The research he's conducted on the boarding school education model
• The challenges boarding schools face when balancing tradition with school growth and adopting change
• The difference between tradition and stability
• The generational mindset shift currently occurring in boarding schools and how it affects a school's approach to staffing and teaching
• How expectations for teaching faculty candidates have evolved over the last 30 years
• Why it's become more challenging for boarding school teachers to engage with students
• The benefits and drawbacks of embracing the "double threat" model
• Creative ways boarding schools across the United States are embracing the triple threat model - and finding success
• Greg's advice for hiring millennial teaching staff in 2021
• The viability of the three-role teaching model in today's teaching environment

Resources Mentioned:

• Preparing for Power: America's Elite Boarding Schools by Peter Cookson and Caroline Persell

This episode is sponsored by REACH Boarding

This episode is sponsored by REACH Boarding, an award-winning, feature-rich boarding school management tool used by over 400 schools in five continents to manage risk, increase efficiency, and improve communication in boarding school management.

To learn more about REACH Boarding, its features and integrations, visit www.reachboarding.com

Empowering the Future of Independent Education & Boarding School Management

Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of Roll Call with Brian Murray and Josh Symonds, the show helping education professionals stay at the forefront of global education trends. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts and leave your honest review.

Don't forget to share your favorite episodes with your colleagues on social media to help us spread the word and help more education professionals stay at the forefront of independent education and boarding school management techniques to empower the future of the education environment.

RC004 Why did you do that? I don't know: The Teenage Brain and How to Work with It

Dr. Sohel Shivji is the school psychologist at the Foundations for the Future Charter Academy (FFCA). He is the owner of the Mind Over Matter Psychological Services Clinic and works as a Neurotherapist at Myosemmetries Calgary. Dr. Sohel holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Life Science, a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and a Masters and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology.

Dr. Sohel joins us today to discuss the teenage brain and how education professionals can work with it to improve their student's educational experience. He explains how the brain evolves as you age and why young adults make decisions based on emotions rather than reason. He shares the best ways to help teenagers rationalize their decisions and how their environment and situations can impact their decisions. He also discusses the different learning styles students adopt and why teachers should appeal to all three learning styles to ensure they are catering to every student's needs in the classroom.

"If you can help a student rationalize, you're strengthening their brain." - Dr. Sohel Shivji

This week on the Roll Call Podcast:

• How the teenage brain evolves over time
• Why teenagers respond and make decisions based on emotion instead of reason
• How to help teenagers rationalize their decisions
• How environmental and situational experiences impact the level of emotion and reason a teenager uses to make decisions
• The role that concussions play on a teen's brain development and behaviors
• The three different learning styles and why teachers should appeal to all of them
• How drugs and alcohol impact a teenager's brain development
• How the student's physical environment impacts their education
• Using Feng Shui techniques to create a warm, welcoming classroom or dorm room environment
• How parents and schools can work together to help students develop their rational-thinking skills
• How teenagers process cause and effect
• Why teens will often repeat bad behavior

Resources Mentioned:

• The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry by Jon Ronson

This episode is sponsored by REACH Boarding

This episode is sponsored by REACH Boarding, an award-winning, feature-rich boarding school management tool used by over 400 schools in five continents to manage risk, increase efficiency, and improve communication in boarding school management.

To learn more about REACH Boarding, its features and integrations, visit www.reachboarding.com

Empowering the Future of Independent Education & Boarding School Management

Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of Roll Call with Brian Murray and Josh Symonds, the show helping education professionals stay at the forefront of global education trends. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts and leave your honest review.

Don't forget to share your favorite episodes with your colleagues on social media to help us spread the word and help more education professionals stay at the forefront of independent education and boarding school management techniques to empower the future of the education environment.

RC003 Everyone Belongs: Safe Spaces are Needed in Schools and in Classrooms

Bharati Singh is a senior chemistry teacher and Principal Educator at Foundations for the Future Charter Academy (FFCA) as well as an Evaluator for the Permanent Certification for the Association of Independent Schools and Colleges in Alberta, Canada. She is the former Principal of Third Academy International and the former Associate Principal of the FFCA. The Foundations for the Future Charter Academy is ranked the highest academic achieving school in Calgary, Alberta.

Bharati joins us today to discuss the safety and care of students and teachers within the adverse educational environment. She discusses the diversity in demographics at FFCA and the unique benefits and challenges this diversity brings to ensuring a safe and welcoming environment for their students. She explains why it's crucial for students to feel safe in the learning environment and how it impacts the effectiveness of teaching and learning. She also explains how they measure the safety and care of their school and how they decide when to expel a student due to safety concerns.

"Learning is a very dynamic process. If you don't have students feeling safe, then they start worrying about their safety in school and they are not going to learn." - Bharati Singh

This week on the Roll Call Podcast:

• The diversity in demographics at the FFCA high school
• How providing a safe learning environment promotes higher academic achievement
• The programs that FFCA High School has developed to create a safe learning environment for their students
• How the FFCA is being intentional about connecting with their students
• What a "champion" is and how it impacts the student's educational experience
• The qualitative and quantitative data that the FFCA uses to measure the care and safety of their school
• Making the hard decision of expelling a student due to safety concerns
• The unique benefits and challenges that diverse cultures bring to building a welcoming community within the school environment
• The benefits of hiring staff from diverse cultural backgrounds
• How to create a safe, welcoming educational environment in your school

This episode is sponsored by REACH Boarding

This episode is sponsored by REACH Boarding, an award-winning, feature-rich boarding school management tool used by over 400 schools in five continents to manage risk, increase efficiency, and improve communication in boarding school management.

To learn more about REACH Boarding, its features and integrations, visit www.reachboarding.com

Empowering the Future of Independent Education & Boarding School Management

Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of Roll Call with Brian Murray and Josh Symonds, the show helping education professionals stay at the forefront of global education trends. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts and leave your honest review.

Don't forget to share your favorite episodes with your colleagues on social media to help us spread the word and help more education professionals stay at the forefront of independent education and boarding school management techniques to empower the future of the education environment.

RC002 Canaries in the Coal Mine: Finding Good Teachers

Kristopher Churchill is recognized as a thought-leader in Canadian independent school education. He is currently the Head of the Senior School at Trinity College School in Port Hope, Ontario. He is the Former Assistant Head of School at Albert College as well as a Dorm Parent, father, and husband. Kristopher has also served as a 'road warrior,' recruiting students to independent schools from around the world.

Kristopher joins us today to discuss the changing tides of hiring school staff. We discuss the challenges many independent schools face when hiring new teachers, the triple threat model, and what he believes we can expect over the next decade. He explains what motivates teachers to work in the boarding school setting and how boarding schools can attract great teachers. He also explains how schools can improve teacher well-being and professional development, its impact on their performance, and the strategies he uses when hiring new teaching staff.

"Despite the triple threat, the bottom line is you have to be an outstanding teacher. That's where things happen." - Kristopher Churchill

This week on the Roll Call Podcast:

• The challenges many independent schools currently face when hiring staff
• The teacher unemployment statistics and teacher surplus ratios across Canada
• What the Triple Threat Model is and what he believes we can expect over the next 10 years
• What motivates teachers to work in boarding schools
• How boarding schools can attract great teachers
• How schools can improve teacher well-being and professional development and how it impacts their classroom performance
• Balancing the workload and contributions of your teaching staff
• The challenges of shifting from teaching in charter schools to teach in the public school system
• Auditioning teachers during the interview process
• What could make an independent school a preferred employer for the future

This episode is sponsored by REACH Boarding

This episode is sponsored by REACH Boarding, an award-winning, feature-rich boarding school management tool used by over 400 schools in five continents to manage risk, increase efficiency, and improve communication in boarding school management.

To learn more about REACH Boarding, its features and integrations, visit www.reachboarding.com

Empowering the Future of Independent Education & Boarding School Management

Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of Roll Call with Brian Murray and Josh Symonds, the show helping education professionals stay at the forefront of global education trends. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts and leave your honest review.

Don't forget to share your favorite episodes with your colleagues on social media to help us spread the word and help more education professionals stay at the forefront of independent education and boarding school management techniques to empower the future of the education environment.

RC001 We should do a Podcast: The First One

Welcome to the first episode of Roll Call with Brian Murray and Josh Symonds, the podcast helping education professionals stay at the forefront of global trends in the independent education and boarding school environments. Brian Murray holds a degree in Liberal Arts with a focus on History and English from St. Thomas University and a Master's degree in Information Technology from Acadia University. Josh Symonds earned a Master's Degree in School Administration from Gonzaga University and currently holds an Educational Doctorate in Educational Leadership in International Contexts from Western University.

In today's episode, Brian and Josh share their background in education and what inspired them to work in the education environment. They share their values and perspective on the world of education and why they believe school faculty should focus on building relationships and connections with the students as well as foster their boundless potential. They also share why they decided to launch the Roll Call podcast and what you can expect to learn from each episode.

"Student potential is boundless." - Brian Murray

This week on the Roll Call Podcast:

• Brian's and Josh's personal and professional backgrounds in the education environment
• How they see the world of education and their educational values
• The importance of building relationships and connections in the education environment
• Why teachers need to convey the boundless potential of their students
• Why school faculty need to understand and nurture their own potential
• How staying focused on what's best for your students leads to better education decisions
• The importance of finding the right 'educational fit' for each student
• The difference between inclusive education systems and inclusive schools
• What to expect from each episode of Roll Call
• Why we decided to launch the Roll Call podcast

This episode is sponsored by REACH Boarding

This episode is sponsored by REACH Boarding, an award-winning, feature-rich boarding school management tool used by over 400 schools in five continents to manage risk, increase efficiency, and improve communication in boarding school management.

To learn more about REACH Boarding, its features and integrations, visit www.reachboarding.com

Empowering the Future of Independent Education & Boarding School Management

Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of Roll Call with Brian Murray and Josh Symonds, the show helping education professionals stay at the forefront of global education trends. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts and leave your honest review.

Don't forget to share your favorite episodes with your colleagues on social media to help us spread the word and help more education professionals stay at the forefront of independent education and boarding school management techniques to empower the future of the education environment.