The Authority Podcast — Expert Insights and Fresh Ideas for Education Leaders

Jeffrey Benson has more than 40 years of experience as a teacher, mentor, and school administrator, with a focus on supporting schools that can work for all students.

Today Jeffrey returns for his second episode of The Authority to discuss his latest book Hacking School Discipline Together, available from Times 10 Publications.

We discuss:

• This book follows up a previous Times 10 Publications bestseller, Hacking School Discipline. We talk about the significance of adding TOGETHER. 
• Outlining the roles of administrators, staff, and teachers in collaborative approaches to discipline. 
• Creating a culture of empathy and responsibility.
• Chronic structural flaws in routines and practices that make it harder for students to do the right thing.
• “Be More than a Hammer” — the importance of having a toolkit of responses
• Combining complexity with consistency
• “Leave No Staff Behind” (stories of buy-in)
• Prevent instead of intervene
• Addressing common criticisms of restorative justice
• We become accustomed to dysfunction — how to sustain the efforts and not revert to status quo

About the guest

Jeffrey Benson has more than 40 years of experience as a teacher, mentor, and school administrator, with a focus on supporting schools that can work for all students. His books include Improve Every Lesson Plan with SEL, Hanging In: Strategies for Working with the Students Who Challenge Us Most, and 10 Steps for Managing Change in Schools: How do we take initiatives from goals to actions? His website is JeffreyBenson.org. Connect on Twitter @jeffreybenson61

About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossromano 

I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt 

Learn more about today's sponsor, Playworks:

We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.

If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time. 

These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation. 

Today I'm pleased to share an episode from the Speaking and Communicating Podcast, part of the BE Podcast Network. Three times each week, host Roberta Ndela publishes a conversation with a leading professional from across the industry spectrum with practical advice to help you improve communication skills in all settings. Learn more about the show and subscribe here: https://sac.bepodcast.network

Episode Description:
How do you become a powerful public speaker?

Meet Barbara H. Smith!

Barbara is an Award Winning Celebrity Speaker, Trainer and Coach. She helps B2Bs take presentations from Boring to Bravo. She is also the TV Host of Empowering YOU!

The Barbara H. Smith training company helps CEO’s, managers, and entrepreneurs overcome the fear of public speaking, propelling them forward to confidently stand up, stand out, engage their audiences, and tell their stories to clients, prospects, and customers.

An author, international speaker, entrepreneur, coach, actor, and business strategist - her speaker development training events have expanded to include a TV show, The Empowering You Show which streams every week on the IBMTV network, POD.TV on Roku and broadcasts live and on demand to over 200 countries.

Her bestselling book titled "Speak, Coach, Train! Strategies to Discover Your Passion", is a self-help book that engages, inspires, and empowers readers to level up their careers and lives. With more than 20 years’ technology experience and training, her claim to fame is executive coaching, helping countless business leaders transform. Empowering others to level up their communications, presentations, and themselves.

Key Points:
- how to engage your audience
- overcoming fear and nerves before speaking
- what to do before the speaking event
- how to overcome stuttering
- pacing and other strategies to elevate your speaking
- how to redirect your message if the audience is not on board

...and so much more!

Learn more about today's sponsor, Playworks:

We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.

If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time. 

These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation. 

Dr. Karen Johannesen Brock has been an educator and educational consultant for more than three decades. She has assisted more than one hundred schools and districts with implementing instructional coaching and design as well as professional learning plans and school-improvement plans and has worked at the state, school, and district levels. 

Our conversation centers on her book Coaching for Multilingual Student Success: Intentional Practices to Accelerate Learning and Close Achievement Gaps.

We discuss:

• Understanding multilingual students in our schools
• The achievement gaps we’re working to close and the challenges in doing so
• How to build teachers’ confidence
• An asset-based approach
• Engaging parents in the learning process
• Leveraging instructional coaching to strengthen collective teacher efficacy
• Karen’s approach to instructional coaching
• Teacher-coach relationships
• 4 essential practices for teachers that accelerate learning for all students

Find the book Coaching for Multilingual Student Success from Solution Tree or wherever you get your books. 

About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossromano 

I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt 

Learn more about today's sponsor, Playworks:

We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.

If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time. 

These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation. 

Today we present a great conversation with returning guest Danny Bauer of Better Leaders Better Schools and Glenn Robbins, superintendent of Brigantine Public Schools in New Jersey. Danny and Glenn have co-authored the new book Calm in the Chaos, applying ancient Stoic wisdom to the demands of school leaders. 

Our conversation covers:

• Summary of ancient Stoic wisdom and philosophy
• The Obstacle is the Way - Ryan Holiday
• Why the authors applied this philosophy to school leadership
• Modern chaos in schools
• School leaders’ stress levels are high. What is stillness in the chaos?
• Four virtues: Wisdom, Temperance, Courage, and Justice
• Equanimity is the outcome — calmness of mind and soul

Find the book on Amazon.

About today’s guests

Daniel Bauer is host of the Better Leaders Better Schools podcast, ranked in the TOP 0.5% of 3 million global podcasts, and author of books including Mastermind: Unlocking Talent Within Every School Leader, co-published by Corwin and the National School Superintendents Association (AASA). Subscribe to Better Leaders, Better Schools on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Glenn Robbins is the proud Superintendent of the Brigantine Public School District in Brigantine, New Jersey. He has been awarded numerous administrative national and state recognitions including the National Exemplar of Education Award, Northeast Innovative Superintendent Award, NJ Visionary Superintendent Award, Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools Member, NASSP Digital Principal of the Year, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Winner, and SETDA Student Voice Award Winner. Glenn is passionate about helping school leaders create schools where every student and educator can have the opportunity to succeed to their utmost potential in a VUCA world.

About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossromano 

I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt 

Learn more about today's sponsor, Playworks:

We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.

If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time. 

These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation. 

There’s clear research demonstrating that professionals who are mentored out-earn and outperform those who are not. They also have greater satisfaction and lower rates of burnout. However, only a little over one-third of professionals have a mentor. I spoke with Andy Lopata about this valuable topic. 

Andy is a specialist speaker on professional relationships, mentoring, networking and social media strategy. He has worked in the field of networking and professional relationships for 25 years, working with global giants such as Paypal, GSK, AstraZeneca, HSBC, the BBC, and more, as well as with leading universities.

He has written or co-authored six books on networking and professional relationships, with his sixth book, The Financial Times Guide to Mentoring, co-authored with Ruth Gotian, being published in Spring 2024. 

Our conversation covers:

• Defining mentorship
• Mentors tell, coaches ask
• Benefits to the mentee and why not everyone is aware of them
• How to find a mentor and what to expect
• Benefits to mentors and organizations
• How to be a better mentor and mentee
• Why do these programs often fail?
• Learn about the book: http://mentoring-guide.com 
• Take the quiz: http://ftmentoring.scoreapp.com 
• Learn more about Andy: http://linktr.ee/andylopata 

About today’s guest

Andy Lopata is a firm believer that professional relationships underpin our success in our business, our roles and our careers. The right relationships with the right people can lead to new business opportunities, investment, collaborative working, innovation and career progress. We just need to be comfortable approaching those relationships strategically, without making people feel ‘networked’ by us.

Andy has worked in the field of networking and professional relationships for 25 years, working with global giants such as Paypal, GSK, AstraZeneca, Wella, HSBC, Wembley Stadium, the BBC, the Prime Minister’s Office of the UAE and many more in that time. He has worked with leading universities including NYU, Duke University and Oxford University’s Said Business School.

A regular blogger for Psychology Today, Andy has been quoted in The Sunday Times, The Financial Times and The Guardian as well as many other national and regional newspapers and magazines worldwide. Connect with him on social media:

• twitter.com/andylopata 
• linkedin.com/in/networkingstrategy

About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossromano 

I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt 

Learn more about today's sponsor, Playworks:

We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.

If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time. 

These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation. 

For this episode, it was a pleasure to speak with Ari Gerzon-Kessler about the critical topic of authentic family engagement. 

Ari leads the Family Partnerships department for the Boulder Valley School District (CO) and is an educational consultant working with schools and districts committed to forging stronger school-family partnerships.

He’s author of On The Same Team: Bringing Educators & Underrepresented Families Together, which was just named the Independent Publishers Book Award 2024 IPPY Gold Medal for the best education book

The conversation covers:

• Do educators and parents feel like we’re on the same team?
• Defining what we mean by “underrepresented families”
• The difference between “family involvement” and authentic partnerships
• 4 Pillars of Authentic Partnerships 
• How to design Families and Educators Together Teams (FETs)
• The goals of FETs and the problems they prevent
• Capacity-building for educators
• Learn about Ari’s book and get free reproducibles here: https://www.solutiontree.com/on-the-same-team.html
• Access Ari''s free resources HERE. 
• Learn more about bridging the gap between educators and families on Ari's webpage. 
• Read Ari’s recent articles on Edutopia: https://www.edutopia.org/article/parent-teacher-conference-tips 

About today’s guest

Ari Gerzon-Kessler is author of On The Same Team: Bringing Educators & Underrepresented Families Together, which won the Independent Publishers Book Award 2024 IPPY Gold Medal for the best education book.  He leads the Family Partnerships department for the Boulder Valley School District (CO) and is a speaker, trainer, and coach working with schools and districts committed to forging stronger school-family partnerships.

Ari has been an educator since 2000, having served as a principal and bilingual teacher. His leadership efforts to strengthen partnerships with underrepresented families and dismantle unjust practices was featured in Education Week in 2015. Ari regularly presents at national and international conferences on Families and Educators Together (FET) teams and other innovative family partnership best practices. He received his bachelor’s in African American Studies from Wesleyan University and a master’s in instruction and curriculum from the University of Colorado. Connect with him on LinkedIn. 

About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossromano 

I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt 

Learn more about today's sponsor, Playworks:

We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.

If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time. 

These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation. 

My guest, Chris Hood, is a keynote speaker who specializes in merging customer success with digital strategy. 

His background includes leading digital strategy at Google and innovating storytelling technologies at Fox and Disney. He offers a Fractional Chief Customer Officer practice to help organizations align closely with customer needs. 

Additionally, Chris influences the Gaming and AI sectors, hosts 'The Chris Hood Digital Show,' and educates students at Southern New Hampshire University.

He is author of Customer Transformation and Customer Transformation for Nonprofits.

We talk about:

• The foundational “why” of customer transformation
• Defining the stakeholder
• How organizations should connect with and understand stakeholders
• Communicating organizational mission and values
• The goal of stakeholder loyalty when there’s nothing to “sell”
• The heart of effective innovation
• Anticipating and adapting to the needs of tomorrow
• Learn about Customer Transformation at https://chrishood.com 

About today’s guest

Chris Hood, a keynote speaker, specializes in merging customer success with digital strategy. With over 35 years, he's a leader in fostering customer-centric cultures. The author of 'Customer Transformation,' Chris is recognized among the Top 30 Customer Experience Gurus in 2024. His background includes leading digital strategy at Google and innovating storytelling technologies at Fox & Disney. He offers a Fractional Chief Customer Officer practice to help organizations align closely with customer needs. Additionally, Chris influences the Gaming and AI sectors, hosts 'The Chris Hood Digital Show,' and educates students at SNHU on the fusion of business strategy and technology. Follow Chris on LinkedIn. 

About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossromano 

I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt 

Learn more about today's sponsor, Playworks:

We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.

If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time. 

These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation. 

Dr. Anthony Muhammad is an author and international thought leader who currently serves as the CEO of New Frontier 21 Consulting, a company dedicated to providing cutting-edge professional development to schools all over the world. 

He served as a practitioner for nearly twenty years, as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal, was named the Michigan Middle School Principal of the Year in 2005, and has been honored by the Global Gurus organization as one of the 30 Most Influential Educators in the world for the past four years. 

In this timely and urgent episode, we discuss his latest book, The Way Forward: PLC at Work® and the Bright Future of Education.

We talk about:

• The Big Idea in his new book
• Effects of COVID-19 on educators and students
• “I am concerned that this profession is losing its soul.”
• Will vs. skill
• How to make things better for educators
• How did we get here? The history and promise of public schooling
• Why right now is a unique window for innovation
• PLC at Work — Anthony’s journey with it, mentorship from Rick DuFour, and how to do it right
• His hope for the future of education

Find The Way Forward from Solution Tree or wherever you get your books. 

About today’s guest

Anthony S. Muhammad, Ph.D. is an author and international thought leader. He currently serves as the CEO of New Frontier 21 Consulting, a company dedicated to providing cutting-edge professional development to schools all over the world. He served as a practitioner for nearly twenty years. He served as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal. He was named the Michigan Middle School Principal of the Year in 2005. Dr. Muhammad has also been honored by the Global Gurus organization as one of the 30 Most Influential Educators in the world in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Dr. Muhammad is recognized as one of the field’s leading experts in the areas of school culture and Professional Learning Communities at Work (PLC). He also serves as an Associate Professor of School Leadership and Culture at Academica University of Applied Sciences in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Connect with him on Twitter and LinkedIn. 

About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossromano 

I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt 

Learn more about today's sponsor, Playworks:

We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.

If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time. 

These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation. 

Erin Diehl is a Business Improv Edutainer, Failfluencer, and Keynote Speaker. 

She created improve it!: a unique professional development company that uses improvisational comedy and experiential learning to sharpen leaders and teams so they can thrive in ever-changing environments, and do it with a whole lot of laughs along the way. Having spoken on global stages with companies, including Amazon, LinkedIn, McKesson, and the Obama Foundation, Erin has an energy and message to share with the world that creates lasting ripple effects for change. 

Her book, I See You! A Leader’s Guide to Energizing Your Team Through Radical Empathy, is an Amazon bestseller and Top New Release. 

We discuss:

• What leaders are struggling with
• The book is for people – leaders and otherwise – who put others first. It is designed to make sure YOU are taken care of first
• Risk factors of putting others first
• What is radical empathy?
• Why humor is important
• The qualities of a leader who influences people
• Use your core values to attract and retain top talent
• Erin hosts The improve it! Podcast
• Free resource: https://mailchi.mp/learntoimproveit/book-club-checklist 

Learn more about Erin’s book, I See You!, and her work www.learntoimproveit.com and www.itserindiehl.com. 

About today’s guest

Erin “Big” Diehl is a Business Improv Edutainer, Failfluencer, and Keynote Speaker. Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin created improve it!: a unique professional development company that uses improvisational comedy and experiential learning to sharpen leaders and teams so they can thrive in ever-changing environments, and do it with a whole lot of laughs along the way.

Having spoken on global stages with companies, including Amazon, LinkedIn, McKesson, and the Obama Foundation, Erin has an energy and message to share with the world that creates lasting ripple effects for change. As a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program and member of The Chicago Innovation Awards Women’s Cohort, Erin is a living testament to the power of life-long learning, and how working to understand ourselves helps others to do so, too. Erin is the proud host of a Top 1% Global Podcast, The improve it! Podcast, which you can find anywhere you listen to pods! 

About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossromano 

I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt 

Learn more about today's sponsor, Playworks:

We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.

If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time. 

These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation. 

Today we're sharing an episode originally published on Transformative Principal. Over the course of 600 episodes, Jethro Jones has inspired principals and aspiring administrators to stop putting out fires and start leading. Listen and subscribe: https://transformativeprincipal.org

Show Notes:

• Emotional Connection - Research in MESSY started at the beginning of the pandemic. 
• There will always be the next crisis. 
• Leaders establishing themselves as larger than life.
• Authenticity - personal and professional are more blurred. 
• Presence triangle - think about the other person and how you’re delivering your message. Self-other-outside
• Taking a deep breath, thinking about the relationship, moving to the perspective of the other individual. 
• You matter, you’re not alone. Schools need you. 
• Coaching creates a confidential space. 
• Challenges: courage, empowering and coaching others, taken servant leadership too far, influence others to change their practice, lack of confidence, slowing down and not reacting all the time. 
• Pleaser and Martyr
• De-implementation
• Leaders get things done through influence.
• This is a Choose Your Own Adventure style of book. 
• Two voices in our heads - Judge and Pessimist

• Meaning Making: Create a shared vision and engage others by collaborating more effectively.

• Emotional Connection: Build deeper, more trusting relationships to give feedback and hold difficult conversations.

• Sensing the Future: Think creatively and tackle entrenched school improvement problems through experimentation and innovation.

• Seizing Momentum: Be proactive, gain control of how you prioritize your time, and embrace new ways of working.

• Your Presence: Build confidence by identifying the barriers that hold you back and learning how to overcome them.

About Alyssa Gallagher

Alyssa Gallagher is the author of the book Embracing MESSY Leadership: How the Experience of 20,000 School Leaders Can Transform You and Your School. She is also the Co-Head of BTS Spark, North America, for BTS Spark, a not-for profit practice focused on bringing executive level coaching to every school leader.  She has extensive experience leading schools and districts to revolutionize learning for students. Under Alyssa’s guidance Los Altos School District became a nationally recognized leader in education innovation with her work featured in Forbes, Wired, The Economist magazine and on CNN and CBS’ 60 Minutes.  After two decades working within k12 education, Alyssa led the global leadership practice for The Wiseman Group, co-designing executive development strategies to enable leaders to become better ‘multipliers’ of their people’s talent.  Alyssa has worked with a wide spectrum of leaders, ranging from early career professionals in her local school district to seasoned executives in Fortune 500 Companies.  Alyssa enjoys working with leaders to design strategies that leverage the capability, creativity and intelligence of everyone on their team. 

Learn more about today's sponsor, Playworks:

We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.

If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time. 

These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation.