Hello everyone! Leadership is challenging. Everyone has an opinion and many think they can do it better than whoever is currently in a leadership role. In a way, it's just like what teachers face in many circles of the public. 

Regardless, leadership is essential to any healthy organization. It can make or break the focus of a campus, at times, and it can be the change agent many teachers and families need. 

But what makes a good leader? What are pitfalls to avoid and perspectives to shift? More importantly, what does it take to be a leader that supports students and staff and also create a highly effective learning environment? 

To answer these questions and whole lot more, we have brought on Rhonda Roos, author of The Deliberate and Courages Principal. 

Rhonda is an educational speaker who coaches principals, district leaders, and administrative teams in the complex and ever-challenging work of leading schools. She is a former director of middle schools in New Albany, Indiana, where she led curricular improvement, aligning those efforts with the district's progress in becoming a professional learning community. 

Rhonda serves on the leadership team of the Indiana Principal Leadership Institute and is a regular keynote speaker. Her honors include the 2009 Indiana Middle School Principal of the Year, the 2011 Solution Tree Redefining Excellence District Award, and the 2015 Indiana University Southeast Educator of the Year. 

Hello everyone! The world of education is changing. Teachers are leaving. Administrators are retiring. Politicians are running on entire campaigns centered around the "failing public school system" and being supported by parents who are frustrated their kids can't read—or worse—are being convinced to believe radical ideas. 

Of course, this sounds like the sky is falling... but is it? Is all of the above black and white, or is their nuance to the complex problems surrounding education in America? 

To unpack a lot of these topics and present solutions and visions for the future, I have brought on the wonderful and thoughtful Will Reusch. 

Will is a thinker, educator, and someone who finds meaning in modeling how to think, learn, and question some of the biggest ideas out there. Listen to our full hour long discussion about education, where we fail, why it's so hard to change, and how to bridge gaps so that we can move forward. 

Be sure to check out Will's newest project, Patterdox. He has a Masterclass this Saturday at 9am PST. 

@willreusch

@Patterdox

Hello everyone! In this episode of Teach Me, Teacher, host Jacob Chastain sits down with the brilliant Elliot Seif, author of the groundbreaking book Teaching for Lifelong Learning: How to Prepare Students for a Changing World.

Join Jacob and Elliot as they delve into the essential strategies for fostering curiosity, independence, and a growth mindset in students. Elliot shares insights from his book, offering practical methods to enhance instruction, assessment, and curriculum design.

Discover the transformative power of a four-phase instructional framework, and learn how diagnostic, formative, and summative assessments work together to cultivate lifelong learners. Elliot unpacks the importance of selecting or crafting curricula that prioritize adaptability and critical thinking, equipping students to navigate the complexities of our ever-changing world.

From elementary to high school classrooms, this episode is packed with real-world examples and actionable advice to inspire educators at every level. Tune in and learn how to empower your students not just for academic success, but for a lifetime of meaningful learning and growth.

The pressure on school leaders to effectively navigate change, implement new programs, and keep teachers motivated can be intense. Solution Tree has the tools you need to rise to any challenge.

Our curated library of resources features new titles like The Emerging Teacher Leader, a guide to equip new leaders, Groups at Work to foster productive teamwork, and Implement with IMPACT to ensure initiatives hit the mark. Titles like Grading Reform That Lasts and Competency-Based Education Ignited offer methods to address critical school issues while Navigating the Unexpected provides essential strategies for facing unforeseen challenges.

Be sure to stream Passion and Persistence, a motivational video designed to inspire a collaborative team environment in your school or district.

Elevate your leadership skills and discover how these powerful resources can help you lead with confidence at SolutionTree.com/LeadershipResources

Hello everyone! In this episode of Teach Me, Teacher, host Jacob Chastain sits down with the brilliant Elliot Seif, author of the groundbreaking book Teaching for Lifelong Learning: How to Prepare Students for a Changing World.

Join Jacob and Elliot as they delve into the essential strategies for fostering curiosity, independence, and a growth mindset in students. Elliot shares insights from his book, offering practical methods to enhance instruction, assessment, and curriculum design.

Discover the transformative power of a four-phase instructional framework, and learn how diagnostic, formative, and summative assessments work together to cultivate lifelong learners. Elliot unpacks the importance of selecting or crafting curricula that prioritize adaptability and critical thinking, equipping students to navigate the complexities of our ever-changing world.

From elementary to high school classrooms, this episode is packed with real-world examples and actionable advice to inspire educators at every level. Tune in and learn how to empower your students not just for academic success, but for a lifetime of meaningful learning and growth.

The pressure on school leaders to effectively navigate change, implement new programs, and keep teachers motivated can be intense. Solution Tree has the tools you need to rise to any challenge.

Our curated library of resources features new titles like The Emerging Teacher Leader, a guide to equip new leaders, Groups at Work to foster productive teamwork, and Implement with IMPACT to ensure initiatives hit the mark. Titles like Grading Reform That Lasts and Competency-Based Education Ignited offer methods to address critical school issues while Navigating the Unexpected provides essential strategies for facing unforeseen challenges.

Be sure to stream Passion and Persistence, a motivational video designed to inspire a collaborative team environment in your school or district.

Elevate your leadership skills and discover how these powerful resources can help you lead with confidence at SolutionTree.com/LeadershipResources

Hello everyone! Join us in this episode of Teach Me, Teacher as we delve into the core principles of professional learning communities (PLCs) with insights from the book “Simplifying the Journey: Six Steps to Schoolwide Collaboration, Consistency, and Clarity in a PLC at Work” by authors Bob Sonju, Maren Powers, and Sheline Miller.

If you missed part one, you can catch it here. 

Together, we explore the essential roles within PLCs, the transformative power of data-driven decision-making, and the indispensable nature of collaboration in fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Whether you’re a seasoned educator or just beginning your journey, this episode offers invaluable guidance for building a collaborative community dedicated to student success. Tune in to discover practical strategies for streamlining your school’s journey towards collaboration, consistency, and clarity.

The pressure on school leaders to effectively navigate change, implement new programs, and keep teachers motivated can be intense. Solution Tree has the tools you need to rise to any challenge.

Our curated library of resources features new titles like The Emerging Teacher Leader, a guide to equip new leaders, Groups at Work to foster productive teamwork, and Implement with IMPACT to ensure initiatives hit the mark. Titles like Grading Reform That Lasts and Competency-Based Education Ignited offer methods to address critical school issues while Navigating the Unexpected provides essential strategies for facing unforeseen challenges.

Be sure to stream Passion and Persistence, a motivational video designed to inspire a collaborative team environment in your school or district.

Elevate your leadership skills and discover how these powerful resources can help you lead with confidence at SolutionTree.com/LeadershipResources

Hello everyone! Join us in this episode of Teach Me, Teacher as we delve into the core principles of professional learning communities (PLCs) with insights from the book "Simplifying the Journey: Six Steps to Schoolwide Collaboration, Consistency, and Clarity in a PLC at Work" by authors Bob Sonju, Maren Powers, and Sheline Miller.

Together, we explore the essential roles within PLCs, the transformative power of data-driven decision-making, and the indispensable nature of collaboration in fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Whether you're a seasoned educator or just beginning your journey, this episode offers invaluable guidance for building a collaborative community dedicated to student success. Tune in to discover practical strategies for streamlining your school's journey towards collaboration, consistency, and clarity.

The pressure on school leaders to effectively navigate change, implement new programs, and keep teachers motivated can be intense. Solution Tree has the tools you need to rise to any challenge.

Our curated library of resources features new titles like The Emerging Teacher Leader, a guide to equip new leaders, Groups at Work to foster productive teamwork, and Implement with IMPACT to ensure initiatives hit the mark. Titles like Grading Reform That Lasts and Competency-Based Education Ignited offer methods to address critical school issues while Navigating the Unexpected provides essential strategies for facing unforeseen challenges.

Be sure to stream Passion and Persistence, a motivational video designed to inspire a collaborative team environment in your school or district.

Elevate your leadership skills and discover how these powerful resources can help you lead with confidence at SolutionTree.com/LeadershipResources

Hello everyone! Tune in to Teach Me, Teacher for a deep dive into strategies from Triage Your School on preventing teacher burnout.

If you miss part 1, click here. 

Author Christopher Jenson unpacks how traditional self-care approaches fall short and explores practical solutions rooted in healthcare practices. Discover how to effectively manage workload, share responsibilities, and establish emotional boundaries to reignite passion and resilience in teaching. Whether you’re an administrator or educator, this episode equips you with actionable steps to navigate challenges and foster a healthier school environment.

Join the conversation and reclaim joy in education.

Enjoy!

Transform learning in your school or district with PLC at Work® from Solution Tree. Our resources are designed to empower educators so all students learn at high levels.

We have an abundant library of resources from bestsellers like Learning by Doing, which has seen over one million copies sold and provides a practical guide to establishing effective PLCs, to The Foundation for Change, Beyond PLCLite, The Way Forward, Training Teacher Leaders in a PLC at Work® and The 15-Day Challenge.

Looking to develop a PD workshop that allows your teams to witness the power of PLC through the eyes of a struggling student? Stream the video Through New Eyes, and experience one student’s journey through four years in a traditional school compared to four years in a PLC.

All these resources and more can be found at SolutionTree.com/PLCAtWorkResources.

Hello everyone! Tune in to Teach Me, Teacher for a deep dive into strategies from Triage Your School on preventing teacher burnout.

Author Christopher Jenson unpacks how traditional self-care approaches fall short and explores practical solutions rooted in healthcare practices. Discover how to effectively manage workload, share responsibilities, and establish emotional boundaries to reignite passion and resilience in teaching. Whether you're an administrator or educator, this episode equips you with actionable steps to navigate challenges and foster a healthier school environment.

Join the conversation and reclaim joy in education.

Enjoy!

Transform learning in your school or district with PLC at Work® from Solution Tree. Our resources are designed to empower educators so all students learn at high levels.

We have an abundant library of resources from bestsellers like Learning by Doing, which has seen over one million copies sold and provides a practical guide to establishing effective PLCs, to The Foundation for Change, Beyond PLCLite, The Way Forward, Training Teacher Leaders in a PLC at Work® and The 15-Day Challenge.

Looking to develop a PD workshop that allows your teams to witness the power of PLC through the eyes of a struggling student? Stream the video Through New Eyes, and experience one student’s journey through four years in a traditional school compared to four years in a PLC.

All these resources and more can be found at SolutionTree.com/PLCAtWorkResources.

Hello everyone! Welcome to Teach Me, Teacher. This episode is a version of one of my favorite keynotes I do. It's my favorite because it's filled with real world stories about my life and the teachers that saved me growing up. 

Now, I don't mean "saved" in the religious sense. I mean "saved" as in BEING THE DIFFERENCE. 

What did that look like to me? What did it sound like as I navigated growing up around drugs and violence? All of that and more in this talk.

If you want to see the digital presentation, click here to support the show.  

Transform learning in your school or district with PLC at Work® from Solution Tree. Our resources are designed to empower educators so all students learn at high levels.

We have an abundant library of resources from bestsellers like Learning by Doing, which has seen over one million copies sold and provides a practical guide to establishing effective PLCs, to The Foundation for Change, Beyond PLCLite, The Way Forward, Training Teacher Leaders in a PLC at Work® and The 15-Day Challenge.

Looking to develop a PD workshop that allows your teams to witness the power of PLC through the eyes of a struggling student? Stream the video Through New Eyes, and experience one student’s journey through four years in a traditional school compared to four years in a PLC.

All these resources and more can be found at SolutionTree.com/PLCAtWorkResources.

Hello everyone! Being in the teacher podcast space for over 8 years has shown me a lot about the state of education and how it has changed. Mainly, professional development is dying.

If you missed part 1 of this talk, find it here. 

Conferences are filled with sessions that appeal to ideology instead of quality pedagogy. District PD’s are all about how to log in to the latest tool and assign work to kids. Books are expensive and not worth reading when state laws restrict what resources teachers can use.

So, what’s the deal? Why is teaching PD in such a state of despair?

To think and talk through this (and maybe have some hope at the end of the tunnel), I brought on Pam Ochoa, my co-host on the Craft & Draft podcast. Pam is an Abydos Learning International Diamond level trainer and has trained teachers in the teaching of writing and reading for 26 years. She provides professional development for those who want to become more student centered in their instructional approach. She was an Instructional Coach where she worked with Jacob Chastain and collaborated on the Craft and Draft Notebook system.

Transform learning in your school or district with PLC at Work® from Solution Tree. Our resources are designed to empower educators so all students learn at high levels.

We have an abundant library of resources from bestsellers like Learning by Doing, which has seen over one million copies sold and provides a practical guide to establishing effective PLCs, to The Foundation for Change, Beyond PLCLite, The Way Forward, Training Teacher Leaders in a PLC at Work® and The 15-Day Challenge.

Looking to develop a PD workshop that allows your teams to witness the power of PLC through the eyes of a struggling student? Stream the video Through New Eyes, and experience one student’s journey through four years in a traditional school compared to four years in a PLC.

All these resources and more can be found at SolutionTree.com/PLCAtWorkResources.