Summary

In this episode of Talk and Shop, Mike Randolph and Martin Aftuck interview Kacy Wolfe, the Assistant Principal of Aurelia M. Cole Academy. They discuss topics such as opening a new school, the importance of early childhood literacy, and professional development for teachers. Kacy shares her educational journey and her goals for the future. The conversation also touches on the excitement of high school football rivalries and the unique challenges and perks of a K-8 school.

Keywords

Talking Shop, educational leaders, opening a new school, early childhood literacy, professional development, educational journey, goals, high school football rivalries, K-8 school

Takeaways

• Opening a new school can be both exciting and exhausting, requiring last-minute adjustments and additional resources.
• Early childhood literacy is crucial, and educators should provide access to books and reading materials to promote literacy in the community.
• Teachers interested in administration should take on leadership opportunities on their campus and find a niche area to develop expertise.
• The K-8 school structure offers the opportunity to build strong relationships with students and engage in cross-grade mentorship.
• Professional development should focus on improving instructional practices and transitioning from behavioral engagement to cognitive and effective engagement.
• Title I status or socioeconomic background should not define a student's opportunities or abilities.
• The importance of early literacy is evident in later grades, and educators should prioritize building a strong foundation in literacy skills.
• The interview concludes with well wishes for upcoming football games and a reminder to support each other's schools.

Titles

• From Teacher to Administrator: Casey Wolf's Educational Journey
• Promoting Early Childhood Literacy and Providing Access to Books

Sound Bites

• "We're so excited to dive into what it looks like opening up a new school."
• "Bringing those books to them in their homes, in their communities to promote literacy."
• "We have our systems in place and we're tweaking those systems."

Chapters

02:21 Discussion about Rivalry Games

03:14 Kacy's Educational Journey

05:36 The Impact of Great Leaders

08:11 The Role of a Literacy Coach

09:24 Opening a New School: Challenges and Excitement

12:33 Transitioning from Teaching to Administration

14:43 Perks of a K-8 School Structure

17:28 Professional Development and School Vision

18:44 Current Focus of Professional Development

21:11 Five Year and Ten Year Goals