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

Dr. Jennifer Forristal, founder and CEO of The Umbrella Project, joins The Authority to discuss her book, The Umbrella Effect, available from Lioncrest Publishing. 

Ross and Jennifer discuss:

• In life, there’s a 100% chance of rain. How can kids proactively develop the skills to handle it?
• Learning to use our own umbrella: Working toward being able to share ours and asking others to share theirs
• Proactive skill-building pre-trauma vs. proactive post-trauma. What does it look like for kids who have already experienced significant trauma?
• Shift your focus from your child’s external achievements to meaningful social and emotional progress
• Authenticity, Cognitive Flexibility, Integrity, Realistic Optimism, and Self-Compassion
• Jennifer’s recommended books: Untangled by Lisa Damour, Radical Wholeness by Philip Shepherd and Jeff Brown

Learn more about The Umbrella Effect here: https://umbrellaproject.co/the-umbrella-effect-book/ 

Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators.

About our guests

Dr. Jen Forristal, BSc ND, is a Naturopathic Doctor with a primary focus in pediatric mental health and the founder and CEO of The Umbrella Project, a positive coping curriculum used internationally by thousands of parents, students, and educators. She has worked extensively

with schools, researchers, and organizations in protecting the long-term health and performance of children facing unique challenges.

Her work has been published in the Canadian Journal of School Psychology, and she was awarded the Health Promotion Canada Award for her contribution to child mental health. Dr. Jen lives in Ontario, Canada, with her husband, two teens, a toddler, and a sweet dog named

Mango.

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 and beyond clarify their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn. 

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. 

Justin Baeder is Director of The Principal Center, where he helps leaders in K-12 organizations build capacity for instructional leadership, and Heather Bell-Williams is an experienced teacher, school administrator and consultant, with over 30 years of expertise to bring to her role as Coach and Consultant. 

Baeder and Bell-Williams are co-authors of Mapping Professional Practice: How to Develop Instructional Frameworks to Support Teacher Growth (Solution Tree), the subject of today’s episode.

Justin, Heather, and Ross discuss:

• Articulating a vision for exemplary practice
• Put into action, instructional frameworks help teachers: locate their current level of fluency, focus on the key dimensions of professional judgment, and take their practice to the next level.
• What are instructional frameworks, and how do they compare to observation checklists and other types of look-fors and expectations?
• The distinction between the terms "fluency" and "performance." 
• The key dimensions of professional judgment
• Why it’s so important to establish shared expectations for practice and what's difficult about doing so.

Learn more about the book: https://www.principalcenter.com/mpp 

Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. 

Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators.

About today’s guests

Heather Bell-Williams is an experienced teacher, school administrator and consultant, with over 30 years of expertise to bring to her role as Coach and Consultant. Heather holds three bachelor’s degrees in arts and education from York University in Toronto and a Masters of Education in Leadership from the University of New Brunswick, as well as several additional qualifications, including Flourishing Coach certification.

Justin Baeder is Director of The Principal Center, where he helps leaders in K-12 organizations build capacity for instructional leadership. He's the author of Now We're Talking! 21 Days to High-Performance Instructional Leadership, also published by Solution Tree, and he's the founder of Repertoire, the professional writing app for instructional leaders. Follow him on Twitter @eduleadership

About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a 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 LinkedIn

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. 

Michelle Blanchet and Brian Deters are our guests on this episode, discussing their timely book Preventing Polarization: 50 Strategies for Teaching Kids About Empathy, Responsibility, and Political Responsibility. 

Ross, Michelle and Brian discuss:

●      “Social-emotional learning meets civic engagement” and how to teach it when even SEL is viewed as polarizing 

●      The meaning of empathy and how it fosters a productive dialogue 

●      Can we have empathy and still call out destructive attitudes?

●      How to equip students with strategies to question their world and their roles in it

●      Embrace Complexity: Stop oversimplifying difficult issues, and why we’re often incentivized to do the opposite 

●      Ditch the “good guy vs. bad guy” outlook

●      Strategies to promote consensus-building 

Preventing Polarization is available from Times 10 Publications. Learn more here: http://preventingpolarization.com  

Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators.

About our guests

Michelle Blanchet is an educational consultant that infuses startup strategies into professional learning so that teachers are empowered to bring changemaking, social innovation, and SDGs into their work. After teaching social studies in both the U.S. and Switzerland, she founded the Educators’ Lab, which supports teacher-driven solutions to educational challenges. She has worked with organizations like PBS Education and Ashoka, and occasionally blogs for Edutopia. A graduate of IE University in Madrid, she is a part of the Global Shaper Community of the World Economic Forum and has presented at numerous events, including SXSWedu and TEDxLausanne.

Brian Deters has been in education for over 28 years teaching social studies and coaching varsity soccer in the United States and Switzerland. Brian also is a co-host of the 4 A Better Tomorrow Podcast, a podcast series that connects his education experiences with his political ones, most notably his run in the 2018 election as a U.S. Congressional primary candidate from the 18th District of Illinois. Brian holds a Bachelor’s in Secondary Education from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign as well as a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Illinois State University where he also served as an adjunct professor working in the field with student teachers in 2018 and 2019. He currently teaches sociology and civics at Morton High School in Morton, IL.

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 and beyond clarify their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn. 

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 bringing you an episode with The Authority host Ross Romano on the other side of the microphone. He was recently interviewed on Higher Ed Storytelling University, right here on the Be Podcast Network. 

Hosted by video producer and storytelling coach John Azoni, Higher Ed Storytelling University provides quick-win practical advice schools can put to use in your marketing right away. The show's insights are relevant to marketers and leaders in higher ed, as well as K-12. 

Subscribe here:

Apple: https://apple.co/3BjBrGt

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/42MY2Xs

RSS: https://feeds.libsyn.com/411893/rss 

Episode Description:

Getting clear on your college’s messaging, telling your brand’s story, and should your college start a podcast? Why or why not, and what should you talk about if you do? These are all things we cover in this episode with Ross Romano of September Strategies.  

Links: 

-September Strategies-Connect with Ross on Linkedin

-Pricing for Video Storytelling Subscription: pricing.unveild.tv-Download "3 Absolutely Crucial Components Every Compelling College Student/Alumni Testimonial Needs"

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. 

Scott McLeod, Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Colorado - Denver, is the guest on this episode of The Authority. His book, co-authored with Jayson W. Richardson and Justin Bathon, is Leadership for Deeper Learning. It’s published by Routledge Eye on Education.

In the interview, Scott and Ross discuss:

●      The definition of “deeper learning.”

●      How Scott and his co-authors interviewed leaders at 30 different deeper learning schools in 2019 and 2020.

●      Do most leaders even think about being “innovative?” And if they do, how are they defining it?

●      What systemic or structural factors inhibit innovation?

●      Why conveying a compelling vision is critical to transformative leadership, from Walt Disney and Steve Jobs to innovative school leaders.

●      How much of innovative thinking is determined by leaders’ expectations for student success?

●      Do leaders need to set new expectations for teaching and learning — or, instead, do they need to avoid extinguishing the motivations and expectations teachers and students begin with?

●      What do leaders at innovative schools do that’s different from their counterparts at “traditional” schools?

●      Who is driving the innovation and transformation in schools?

Leadership for Deeper Learning is published by Routledge Eye on Education. Find it here: https://bit.ly/Leadership4DL

Learn more about Scott’s work on his website Dangerously Irrelevant: http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/

Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators.

About today’s guest

A Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Colorado Denver, Scott McLeod, J.D., Ph.D., is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading experts on P-12 school leadership, deeper learning, technology, and innovation. He is on a mission to make students’ day-to-day learning less boring and more meaningful and relevant. He is the Founding Director of the UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education (CASTLE), the only university center in the U.S. dedicated to the technology needs of school administrators, and is the co-creator of the wildly popular video series, Did You Know? (Shift Happens). He also is the co-creator of the 4 Shifts Protocol for lesson/unit redesign and the founder of both the annual Iowa 1:1 Institute and EdCampIowa.

Follow Scott on Twitter @mcleod or connect on LinkedIn. 

About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC, a 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

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. 

Key Takeaways:

• We need to recreate the structures to teach rather than just expecting it to happen.
• Leaders are facing a blank slate as they work to stretch people past their comfort zone because people have been out of their comfort zone for the last two years.
• Learning something on YouTube is going to teach you how to do it, but not understand how to apply it.
• We need to find ways to create and support teacher agency.
• It's essential to be aware of circumstances, surroundings, and how to apply the requisite skills to excel in a situation. 
• Moving people from motivation to commitment is the only way to make progress forward. 
• Education at any level has to go beyond a transactional experience by starting with what people are passionate about. 
• You can't be a coach and equipment manager at the same time. 
• You have to respect where people are to engage them in growth.
• Leadership isn't about implementing an agenda, but instead finding what the goals of those you serve are and then helping them achieve them.
• Stick to the A,B,Cs = Always Build Capacity
• It's about process/project not product.

Subscribe to SEEing to Lead:

• Subscribe on Apple
• Subscribe on Spotify

About the host:

Dr. Chris Jones has been an educator in Massachusetts for 22 years. He is currently Principal of Whitman-Hanson Regional High School in Whitman, Mass. and Vice President of the Massachusetts State Administrators Association (MSAA). Chris was named the 2022 Massachusetts School Counselors Associaltion’s (MASCA) Administrator of the Year and is a finalist for the Massachusetts School Administrators Association’s Principal of the Year award.

Reach on Twitter at @DrCSJones

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. 

Andrea DeWitt joins The Authority to discuss her new book, Name, Claim & Reframe: Your Path to a Well-Lived Life, which was named the Top Motivational Book of 2023 by NBC’s Today Show.

Ross and Andrea discuss:

• “This book is filled with inspiration and wisdom about how to take control of your life.” – Emily Giffin
• The importance of discovering your core values
• What happens when we’re triggered to react rather than respond in a heated moment?
• The process behind Name, Claim, and Reframe
• Overcoming the limiting beliefs we all carry inside
•  Becoming a Gentle Warrior
• Andrea’s experience as an elementary teacher and how it still serves her work
• The most surprising thing about her career

Name, Claim & Reframe is available wherever books are sold. Learn more on Andrea’s website:  https://www.andreadewittadvisors.com/my-book

Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators.

About our guest

Known for her infectious energy, Andrea Mein DeWitt is an author, speaker, and life coach who teaches  high-performing leaders to see and step into their authentic lives. She is the CEO of Andrea DeWitt  Advisors, where she coaches heart-centered working professionals. Andrea holds an M.Ed. in Reading  Leadership from the University of California, Berkeley, and is a Certified Professional Coach through The  Co-Active Training Institute and The International Coaching Federation. She lives in the San Francisco  Bay area with her husband and their beloved Labrador, Maggie. Learn more about Andrea on her  company website, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

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 and beyond clarify their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn.

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. 

In this episode, we're sharing an interview from The Cybertraps Podcast, available here on the Be Podcast Network. 

You'll hear from Gregg Behr, co-author of When You Wonder, You're Learning: Mister Rogers' Enduring Lessons for Raising Creative, Curious, Caring Kids. 

Some notes and resources from the episode:

• whenyouwonder.org
• Origin story - Gregg and philanthropy Grable Foundation
• Translating learning from the learning sciences
• Rogers took the tech of his day and asked how can I make this good
• Fred Rogers wanted to use the technology of his day to minister to kids.
• Eric Erickson - identity development
• How can people do things like what Fred was doing in his time?
• How do I make what is attractive to kids good and constructive?
• So many people who can and should carry the work of Fred forward. We’ve got to lift those examples up.
• The agony of creation.
• Fred bridged theory and practice in a powerful way.
• Curiosity, collaboration, creativity
• Parables of Peanuts
• Whole child plus learning sciences equals = The Fred Method

About The Cybertraps Podcast

On the Cybertraps Podcast, Frederick Lane and Jethro Jones explore the risks arising from the use and misuse of digital devices and electronic communication tools.

They interview experts in the fields of cybersafety, cybersecurity, privacy, parenting, and technology and share the wisdom of these experts with listeners.

Listen here: https://apple.co/3Ktn1Zx

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. 

AJ Crabill joins The Authority for a timely episode focused on school boards and district leadership. His book is Great on Their Behalf: Why School Boards Fail, How Yours Can Become Effective.

Ross and AJ discuss:

●      The purpose of the public education system

●      The non-negotiables of school boards

●      “Student outcomes don’t change until adult behaviors change”

●      The 3 ways board tend to fail

●      Mindset – the biggest mover of adult behavior

●      How time should be spent in the board room

●      Educators are the experts on curriculum and instruction

●      Defining school board accountability

●      Can board help with educator recruitment and retention challenges?

●      The most promising trend AJ has seen

Great on Their Behalf  is available on Amazon and at https://www.GreatOnTheirBehalf.com

Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators.

About our guest

AJ Crabill serves as Conservator at DeSoto ISD — where during his guidance, DeSoto improved from F ratings in academics, finance, and governance to B ratings — and as Governance Director at CGCS. He served as Deputy Commissioner at Texas’ Education Agency and Board Chair of Kansas City Public Schools. Connect with him on Twitter @ajcrabill7 or LinkedIn.

About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a 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 LinkedIn.

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. 

Daniel Bauer is the Chief Ruckus Maker at Better Leaders Better Schools (BLBS). On this episode, we talk about his book, Mastermind: Unlocking Talent Within Every School Leader, co-published by Corwin and the National School Superintendents Association (AASA).

Danny and Ross discuss:

●      Danny’s mission “to connect, grow, and mentor every school leader who wants to level up.”

●      What is a “ruckus maker” and why do they benefit from a mastermind community?

●      Is a school better off with an average leader, bad leader, or no leader?

●      The ABCs of powerful professional development – Authenticity, Belonging, Challenge

●      “Everyone wins when you get better.”

●      My school is better because I lead it; my students are at an advantage because I lead them.

●      Agreements vs. expectations

●      Why agreements are hard, but worth bringing to your school.

●      Danny’s book recommendations: Crazy Good by Steve Chandler, Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg

Use code “RUCKUS” to get 20% off the cover price and free shipping on Danny’s book, Mastermind. Find it here: https://bit.ly/3S5fVN4

Subscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators.

About today’s guest

As a chronically late student, Daniel Bauer once told his Chemistry teacher a fib about saving an entire girl scout troop from a burning building to get out of a tardy.

Daniel is not sure if it was the very made up story, the very real cookie he offered his teacher, or a combination of both that got him out of a detention that day …

That experience taught him it pays to develop your storytelling skills.

Daniel has been telling stories since then, most recently on the Better Leaders Better Schools podcast, ranked in the TOP 0.5% of 3 million global podcasts, and via his latest book, 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.

About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a 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 LinkedIn

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.