Sharing the Good with Dr. Denise Ball

Episode 6 | Belonging by Design: Helping Middle School Students Feel Seen, Known, and Needed

The Middle School Culture Blueprint: Reflections from the Field

Featuring members of the Holy Redeemer Catholic School community in Kensington, Maryland.

What does it take to create a middle school culture where every student feels seen, known, valued, and needed?

In this episode, I welcome an inspiring team from Holy Redeemer Catholic School in Kensington, Maryland, Archdiocese of Washington:

Tommy Corrigan, Principal.

Jeanne Donatelli, Assistant Principal,

Ted Scott, Middle School Teacher, and Danielle Trotta,

Middle School Teacher. Together, we explore how intentional routines, meaningful traditions, clear expectations, and a shared commitment to Catholic identity create a school community where belonging thrives.

Drawing on the Thriving with Social Purpose model and research by Ford and Smith, Dr. Ball shares the importance of helping students recognize that they have a meaningful role, or a "job," within their school community. Ted and Danielle bring this concept to life through examples of the many opportunities Holy Redeemer students have to contribute, serve, and take responsibility.

Tommy and Jeanne remind us that prayer is woven throughout the school day, providing a foundation of faith that the entire community can lean on.

This conversation is a beautiful reminder that positive school culture does not happen by accident. It is cultivated with intention, consistency, and a commitment to helping every student know that their presence matters.

Episode 6 is part of The Middle School Culture Blueprint: Reflections from the Field, a podcast series supporting the forthcoming manuscript by Dr. Denise Ball and Dr. LaTonya White, in collaboration with the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA).

Join us as we continue learning from educators and school leaders across the nation who are generously sharing their wisdom for the good of the profession. Our words and actions matter.

Thank you for joining the conversation and for sharing the good!

Watch here: https://youtu.be/_H9MV2gpTOE, or listen wherever you enjoy your favorite podcasts.

#TheMiddleSchoolCultureBlueprint #SharingTheGood #CatholicEducation #SchoolCulture #StudentBelonging #MiddleSchoolLeadership

Thankful Thursday! There is SO much good happening in our Catholic schools, and what a privilege it is to share it!

Episode 5 of The Middle School Culture Blueprint: Reflections from the Field features an inspiring conversation with three wonderful educators from School of the Incarnation in the Archdiocese of Baltimore Catholic Schools.

Dr. Nancy Baker, Ed.D reminds us that school leaders must intentionally support balance and renewal for their faculty and staff. Christine Hinton underscores the importance of establishing and maintaining TRUST among our teams, and George Milan, a veteran middle school teacher, reminds us of the incredible power of HUMOR in the classroom. I LOVE this!

Even the most prepared school teams will encounter unexpected challenges throughout the year. Protecting our JOY is essential!

Our educators are highly educated professionals who have chosen to serve in Catholic education. We need to SEE them, RESPECT them, SUPPORT them, and THANK them. A huge shout-out to Nancy, Christine, and George for generously sharing their wisdom, experiences, and reflections from the field. What an inspiring conversation!

As Dr. LaTonya Rayford White and I continue our work on The Middle School Culture Blueprint with the National Catholic Educational Association (Official) (NCEA), I am increasingly grateful for the educators and leaders who are helping us share the good for the benefit of our profession.

Let's continue creating school cultures where educators and students thrive!

Join the Conversation

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What happens when middle school teachers stop functioning as separate classrooms and begin thinking and working as one team?

In Episode 4 of The Middle School Culture Blueprint: Reflections from the Field, Dr. Denise Ball welcomes Mary Peters, a veteran middle school educator at St. Anne Catholic Grade School in the Archdiocese of Detroit, for a practical conversation about collaboration, consistency, and building a strong middle school team.

Mary shares several practices her team is using to strengthen the student and teacher experience. One especially powerful example is a common middle school assessment template built around the Claim, Evidence, Reasoning (CER) format. By using a shared approach across content areas, teachers provide students with greater consistency while still maintaining the uniqueness of their individual disciplines and classrooms.

Mary also shares how her middle school team is meeting monthly as a professional learning community, with the development of a shared middle school vision at the center of their work.

Throughout the conversation, Mary reflects on the four interconnected pillars framing The Middle School Culture Blueprint: Belonging, Clarity, Coherence, and Formation. Her experience reinforces an important idea: positive school culture is not built through one program or initiative. It grows through intentional relationships, shared expectations, common practices, ongoing formation, and a team committed to serving students together.

The Middle School Culture Blueprint, co-authored by Dr. Denise Ball and Dr. LaTonya White, is forthcoming from the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA).

Enjoy this episode in video format by visiting https://youtu.be/G9EElZ4Zmps

When we train our eyes to see the good, amazing things happen!

This is what an educational community looks like.

What a gift to spend time in conversation with four university leaders who are deeply committed to the preparation, formation, and ongoing support of educators:

Dr. Michael O’Connor, from the Roche Center for Catholic Education at Boston College; Dr. Nicci Dowd, from Marymount University; Dr. Aliya Holmes, from St. John’s University; and Dr. Clara Hauth, from Marymount University.

Episode 3 of The Middle School Culture Blueprint: Reflections from the Field, “University Lens: Preparing and Supporting Middle School Educators,” was such an encouraging reminder of what is possible when leaders in higher education listen to the needs of teachers and school leaders and come together to ask, “How can we help?”

Their closing words to educators were worth carrying forward:

“You are not alone. Lean on Christ and those in your orbit.” — Dr. Michael O’Connor

“Design for possibilities, not limitations.” — Dr. Nicci Dowd

“Lean on God and community...see and use the small things.” — Dr. Aliya Holmes

“Give yourself grace, and ask questions...advocate for yourself and others.” — Dr. Clara Hauth

Dr. LaTonya White and I are so grateful to see The Middle School Culture Blueprint coming together as we prepare for its spring 2027 publication with NCEA. These Reflections from the Field continue to reinforce something important: when we hear the needs of educators and leaders step forward to share their wisdom, experience, research, and support, we strengthen the entire educational community.

Thank you, Michael, Nicci, Aliya, and Clara. The universities you serve are blessed to have you, and Catholic education is stronger because people like you continue to enter into the conversation.

Watch on Sharing the Good with Dr. Denise Ball: www.youtube.com/@SharingTheGoodwithDrDeniseBall

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We can do more when we learn, lead, and serve together!

Episode 2 | Why Professional Learning…Is it Important or Just One More Thing?

What makes professional learning worthy of a teacher’s time?

In Episode 2 of The Middle School Culture Blueprint: Reflections from the Field, I am joined by Lynsie Reavis, Director for Educational Programs for the Archdiocese of Washington, for a practical and encouraging conversation about professional learning, middle school culture, and honoring the realities of educators’ work.

Lynsie shares several important reminders for school and system leaders: focus deeply on one or two initiatives rather than continually adding more; empower “initiative ambassadors” who can share the impact of the work with colleagues; create time for middle school teams to develop shared language and consistent practices; and remember that relationships, collaboration, and reflection matter.

We also discuss brain-based teaching and learning, the importance of intentional instructional decisions, and one of Lynsie’s most important reminders for educators and leaders: “Always remember your why!”

This Reflections from the Field series was inspired by the work Dr. LaTonya White and I are doing on The Middle School Culture Blueprint (NCEA, 2027), bringing together the wisdom and experiences of teachers, school leaders, diocesan leaders, and university colleagues who are serving middle school communities every day.

I hope you will join the conversation and consider how professional learning can become less about “one more thing” and more about helping educators learn, collaborate, and thrive.

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We can do more for schools when we do it together!

Thank you for stopping in or listening to Sharing the Good with Dr. Denise Ball. I am honored to host amazing educators, school leaders, and those striving to make a difference in education.

When we train our eyes to see the good, amazing things happen!

It is easy to share the good...thank you for joining the conversation.

Denise

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Cultivating JOY Part I: Creating School Cultures Where Christ Is Magnified

What does it look like to intentionally cultivate a school culture where educators feel seen, supported, and called to thrive, and where Jesus Christ is magnified in the daily life of the community?

Recorded as part of Marymount University’s Cultivating JOY series, Dr. Denise Ball leads a conversation exploring a four-pillar framework for examining the cultures we create for students, educators, leaders, and families.

The virtual gathering welcomed registrants from more than 28 (arch)dioceses across 24 states, reminding us that while our schools and communities may be separated by miles, we share a common mission.

This episode captures Part I of the conversation, including reflections on the intentional work of building healthy, joy-filled Catholic school cultures and the importance of creating environments where people can belong, grow, serve, and flourish.

The conversation continues on January 21, 2027, when Marymount University hosts Part II, an in-person book talk centered on Dr. Ball’s forthcoming Loyola Press book, The Four Pillars of JOY for Catholic Educators: A Pocket Retreat.

So much good is happening in Catholic education, and we can do more when we keep learning, reflecting, and walking alongside one another.

This podcast can be found on YouTube and anywhere you enjoy your favorite podcasts.

www.youtube.com/@SharingTheGoodwithDrDeniseBall

When we talk about Catholic education, school leadership, and positive school culture, there is an essential partnership I believe we need to discuss more: the pastor-principal relationship.

I have been blessed throughout my career to serve alongside amazing priests and to have mentors like Msgr. Chuck Kosanke in the Archdiocese of Detroit and Father John Williamson in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Their positive, collaborative approach to Catholic education helped shape my own lens on the importance of partnership, shared mission, and recognizing the gifts each person brings to the work.

What a JOY, then, to welcome Father Pawel Sass, M.A., S.T.L., Pastor of the Shrine of Saint Jude in Rockville, Maryland, Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, to my podcast for Episode 4 of the Joy in the Work series.

Pastors and principals have distinct roles, but they share an extraordinary mission. When their relationship is grounded in trust, communication, humility, prayer, mutual respect, and JOY, that partnership can help shape the culture experienced by teachers, students, and families throughout the entire school community.

St. Jude Regional Catholic School is blessed to have Father Pawel as a pastor, spiritual leader, and collaborator. I left our conversation inspired, and I believe taking a few minutes to listen to him is well worth the time.

What becomes possible in our Catholic schools when pastors and principals see their partnership not simply as a responsibility, but as a gift?

Join the conversation: https://youtu.be/BqIdg4uuwCU

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JOY IN THE WORK | Episode 3: Joy, Belonging, and the Power of Community

What a joy it was to welcome Dr. Joy Roberts to Sharing the Good with Dr. Denise Ball for a wonderful conversation about joy, belonging, relationships, and the power of community.

Joy is the co-founder and president of Friendzy.Co, an organization that partners with schools across the nation and across governance models to help create classroom and school cultures where students and educators experience a strong sense of belonging.

Joy reminded us that strong communities do not happen by accident. They are built through relationships and through the everyday ways we help people know they are seen, valued, and connected.

Our conversation explores what belonging can look and feel like for students AND the adults who serve them, why relationships matter to school culture, and how we can intentionally create communities where educators, students, and families can thrive.

I am grateful to Joy for generously sharing her wisdom, research, experiences, and JOY!

As I reflect on our conversation, this is the question I carry away to reflect on:

What if one of the greatest sources of joy in our work is knowing that we belong to something larger than ourselves?

I hope you will join the conversation.

Join the conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/OfkNJkom_rY

Or listen wherever you enjoy your favorite podcasts.

When we train our eyes to see the good, amazing things happen.

#SharingTheGood #JoyInTheWork #Belonging #SchoolCulture #SchoolLeadership #CatholicEducation #EducatorJoy #Community #Friendzy

Joy in the Work | Episode 2: Make Room for Joy

What happens when we create environments where people have permission to learn, take risks, make mistakes, and grow together?

In Episode 2 of Joy in the Work, Dr. Denise Ball welcomes Dr. Nicci Dowd for a thoughtful conversation about making room for joy in our classrooms, schools, and professional learning communities.

Nicci explores the importance of academic humility, creating safe spaces for collaboration and learning, and how Universal Design for Learning (UDL) has influenced the way she approaches both her courses at Marymount University and the professional learning she facilitates.

Denise and Nicci have the privilege of serving together on the Marymount University faculty, collaborating as adjunct consultants with ADAC, Inc., and beginning a second year of research with a wonderful team focused on school culture and developing practical tools to help school leaders create environments where educators can thrive.

One question to carry with you:

Are we creating environments where people feel safe enough to learn, make mistakes, and experience joy along the way?

Join the conversation on YouTube: [https://youtu.be/ZeFiwsHr9hg] or listen wherever you enjoy your favorite podcasts.