The Better Leaders Better Schools Podcast | The #1 Downloaded School Leadership Show

TeachFX uses machine learning to superpower teachers’ work by providing them with automated feedback on the discussions that are happening in their classrooms.   TeachFX was founded by Jamie Poskin, a former English and math teacher, tech entrepreneur, experimental theater director, and a recent graduate of Stanford’s MBA and MA in Education programs.    Jamie Poskin Show Highlights

• The origin story of TeachFX
• Jamie was never observed (EVER) in a classroom
• How TeachFX provides automated feedback on the discussions happening in classrooms
• People drive products; people should drive schools too
• Maybe you should apply “Experimental theater” to school leadership
• How TeachFX helps teachers reflect 
• "Being Men and Women for Others” type of leadership
• How do you facilitate learning as a leader?
• What Jamie has learned from bad hires
• Use micro-projects to hire staff
• Design questions that don’t have right answers

  Jamie Poskin Resources   TeachFX website   Jamie on LinkedIn   Email Jamie   The Elementary Forms of Religious Life by Emile Durkheim   I Am Thou by Martin Buber     Show Some Love

• BECOME A PATRON OF THE SHOW FOR AS LITTLE AS $1/MONTH
• DID YOU LIKE THE SHOW?  iTunes SUBSCRIBE HERE!
• LEAVE A 5-STAR RATING AND REVIEW

  Join my hybrid group coaching & leadership development community   Text BETTERMASTERMIND to 33444   Grab your FREE 15 Phrases of Effective School Leaders   Text PHRASES to 33444 or click the link above. Website :: Facebook :: Insta :: Twitter :: LinkedIn SHOW SPONSORS: SCHOOL SPIRIT VENDING •Hassle-free, year-round fundraising for your school. With School Spirit Vending, we do all the work, you just cash the check •Increase school spirit with custom stickers for your school and raise funds at the same time -no upfront costs, no volunteers, no selling •Sick of the same old ways of raising money for your school? Let School Spirit Vending's hassle-free, year-round fundraising program supplement the other fundraisers you're already doing. •SSV is also giving away the Top 10 School Fundraising Ideas for 2018. Download the guide here.   Copyright © 2018 Better Leaders Better Schools

Over the past 35 years I have been a teacher, teacher educator, program designer, educational administrator, educational consultant, and psychotherapist. I currently combine my skills as an educator and psychotherapist to offer teachers and administrators support in making sense of the emotional and relational data that floods their classrooms. I have written a book about this work called The Feeling of Teaching: Using Emotions and Relationships to Transform the Classroom. I am in the process of figuring out how to make this kind of support -- direct, experiential support that helps teachers develop their Social-Emotional Competence -- a norm in the field of education.   Betsy Burris Show Highlights

• How people work together to make change happen
• Rethinking behavior, emotions, and interpretations as data
• Betsy’s teacher support groups 
• Are you doing damage or supporting?
• The “why” behind her work supporting teachers
• A “holding” environment and why you need it in your school
• Teachers deserve supervision (but that’s not the definition you think)
• How support groups eliminate blind spots

  Betsy Burris Resources   The Feeling of Teaching    Betsy’s Website   Show Some Love

• BECOME A PATRON OF THE SHOW FOR AS LITTLE AS $1/MONTH
• DID YOU LIKE THE SHOW?  iTunes SUBSCRIBE HERE!
• LEAVE A 5-STAR RATING AND REVIEW

  Join my hybrid group coaching & leadership development community   Text BETTERMASTERMIND to 33444   Grab your FREE 15 Phrases of Effective School Leaders   Text PHRASES to 33444 or click the link above. Website :: Facebook :: Insta :: Twitter :: LinkedIn   SHOW SPONSORS: SCHOOL SPIRIT VENDING •Hassle-free, year-round fundraising for your school. With School Spirit Vending, we do all the work, you just cash the check •Increase school spirit with custom stickers for your school and raise funds at the same time -no upfront costs, no volunteers, no selling •Sick of the same old ways of raising money for your school? Let School Spirit Vending's hassle-free, year-round fundraising program supplement the other fundraisers you're already doing. •SSV is also giving away the Top 10 School Fundraising Ideas for 2018. Download the guide here.

Jennifer Fraser obtained her PhD in Comparative Literature from the University of Toronto. A passionate educator for over twenty years, Jennifer's interests and publications revolve around transition, empathy and the harm done by educator bullying.   The last five years of research, writing and publishing have led Jennifer to recognize: We are in the midst of a scientific revolution, set in motion by fMRI and MRI technological advances, that allow us to non-invasively examine our brains and more importantly, the brains of children.    Jennifer Fraser is fascinated by the power of mindfulness and empathy---confirmed by neuroscientific research---to transform school leadership in the 21st century.   Jen Fraser Show Highlights

• What do you do when teachers bully students?
• School has gotten into a strange dynamic
• We need to flip the leadership model
• What happens when a kid’s brain is flooded with cortisol
• The Happiness Advantage
• Are you taking care of kids? That’s more important than your content!
• Empathy facilitation training
• Bullying neural pathways are a real problem
• "Be the teacher you needed as a kid" - Dr. Clark

  Jen Fraser Resources   Teaching Bullies   The Happiness Advantage   The Empathic Civilization   Spark   Email Jen   Pushing Boundaries Consulting   Show Some Love

• BECOME A PATRON OF THE SHOW FOR AS LITTLE AS $1/MONTH
• DID YOU LIKE THE SHOW?  iTunes SUBSCRIBE HERE!
• LEAVE A 5-STAR RATING AND REVIEW

  Join my hybrid group coaching & leadership development community   Text BETTERMASTERMIND to 33444   Grab your FREE 15 Phrases of Effective School Leaders   Text PHRASES to 33444 or click the link above. Website :: Facebook :: Insta :: Twitter :: LinkedIn   SHOW SPONSORS: SCHOOL SPIRIT VENDING •Hassle-free, year-round fundraising for your school. With School Spirit Vending, we do all the work, you just cash the check •Increase school spirit with custom stickers for your school and raise funds at the same time -no upfront costs, no volunteers, no selling •Sick of the same old ways of raising money for your school? Let School Spirit Vending's hassle-free, year-round fundraising program supplement the other fundraisers you're already doing. •SSV is also giving away the Top 10 School Fundraising Ideas for 2018. Download the guide here.

Mr. Michael Acomb is currently an elementary principal in the Solon City School District, located near Cleveland, Ohio. He proudly earned his undergraduate degree from John Carroll University where he played football and learned the importance of serving with and for others. He holds master’s degrees in special education and K-12 organizational leadership. Michael has been a thought leader in school administration with 14 years of experience at the middle and elementary levels. His leadership has earned the United States Department of Education National Blue Ribbon, and over time, his schools have earned numerous other national and state awards for consistent high performance in special education, value added growth, and overall student achievement. Mostly recently, the Solon City Schools were rated #1 in the country by NICHE for public school districts. Since 2002, Michael has spoken to audiences throughout the United States on numerous topics. His passion in developing leadership and school cultures that support excellence in teaching and learning has earned him a reputation as an exceptional leader and collaborator. He is recognized widely for his skill in directing comprehensive, systematic, and differentiated literacy efforts in the early childhood and middle grades. He is an expert in strategically leading teams of teachers in developing systems of common assessments that monitor student learning and guide instructional and organizational decisions. He relishes in solving problems and helping others through improvement. Michael is married to Lindsay. They have four school-aged children.   Mike Acomb Show Highlights:

• How education felt like “home” to Mike
• His passion to help students be happy, successful, confident, and have hope
• Mindset Mondays
• "Just Do It, Stick to It”
• How to build culture
• Leadership is hard
• The Principal life is one of conflict
• Listen, then coach to solutions
• Strategy to work with upset parents
• Do you paraphrase in conversations?
• Mike’s morning starts the previous day

    Mike Acomb Resources   Follow Mike on Twitter   Visible Learning   Above the Line   Show Some Love

• BECOME A PATRON OF THE SHOW FOR AS LITTLE AS $1/MONTH
• DID YOU LIKE THE SHOW?  iTunes SUBSCRIBE HERE!
• LEAVE A 5-STAR RATING AND REVIEW

  Join my hybrid group coaching & leadership development community   Text BETTERMASTERMIND to 33444   Grab your FREE 15 Phrases of Effective School Leaders    Text PHRASES to 33444 or click the link above.   Website :: Facebook :: Insta :: Twitter :: LinkedIn   SHOW SPONSORS: SCHOOL SPIRIT VENDING •Hassle-free, year-round fundraising for your school. With School Spirit Vending, we do all the work, you just cash the check •Increase school spirit with custom stickers for your school and raise funds at the same time -no upfront costs, no volunteers, no selling •Sick of the same old ways of raising money for your school? Let School Spirit Vending's hassle-free, year-round fundraising program supplement the other fundraisers you're already doing. •SSV is also giving away the Top 10 School Fundraising Ideas for 2018. Download the guide here.   Copyright © 2018 Better Leaders Better Schools

Dr. Randy Watson was named Kansas Commissioner of Education by the Kansas State Board of Education in November 2014 and assumed his role in July 2015.

As the state’s chief education officer, he provides leadership to the Kansas State Department of Education in carrying out the policies and programs prescribed by the State Board of Education to ensure the necessary oversight and support is provided to assist Kansas schools, educators and students in achieving their goals.

Dr. Watson began his education career in 1981 as a high school social studies teacher in Tescott, KS. He has served as a high school principal and provided classroom instruction at the university level.

Most recently, Dr. Watson served the community of McPherson for 22 years — working as an assistant superintendent from 1993-2005 and as superintendent from 2005-2015.

A native of Coffeyville Kansas, Dr. Watson attended Kansas State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in science in secondary administration, staff supervision and staff development, building level certification. Additionally, he received his doctorate of education in secondary administration, school law, curriculum development and instructional leadership, and district level certification.

The recipient of many awards, Dr. Watson was named an Alumni Fellow at Kansas State and in 2015, was honored by being named the Kansas Superintendent of the Year.

Throughout his career, Dr. Watson has been sought out by schools, districts, education organizations and others for his educational insights as well as his clear thinking around the issues and challenges facing policymakers, educators and students.

Dr. Randy Watson Show Highlights:

• How his grandma inspired him to pursue a career in education
• In leadership you never get great, you just keep improving
• Coaching high level teams to be a part of something bigger
• Leadership skills that carry over from classroom > building > district > the state level
• The question Dr. Watson asked before accepting the Commissioner position
• The new vision for education in Kansas
• What Dr. Watson learned interacting with statewide focus groups
• The inspiring story of the Kansas Redesign Project
• What educators and business people agree on concerning education
• Do you have an inspiring vision?
• How Dr. Watson transitioned to a trusting model of leadership
• You need someone to tell you the truth

“Today we are going to help students be more successful than they were yesterday”

-Dr. Randy Watson

Dr. Randy Watson Resources:

 

• Organizing Genius

• Leadership Step by Step

• Great at Work

• Learning Transformed

• Help for Billy

 

Dr. Randy Watson Contact Info

• Website
• Twitter
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Email

Podcast Upgrade

Download the Your Roadmap to the Moon here: betterleadersbetterschools.com/randy-watson

Show Some Love

• BECOME A PATRON OF THE SHOW FOR AS LITTLE AS $1/MONTH
• DID YOU LIKE THE SHOW?  iTunes SUBSCRIBE HERE!
• LEAVE A 5-STAR RATING AND REVIEW

 

Join my hybrid group coaching

& leadership development community

 

Text BETTERMASTERMIND to 33444

 

Grab your FREE 15 Phrases of Effective School Leaders

 

Text PHRASES to 33444 or click the link above.

 

Website :: Facebook :: Insta :: Twitter :: LinkedIn

 

SHOW SPONSORS:

SCHOOL SPIRIT VENDING

• Hassle-free, year-round fundraising for your school. With School Spirit Vending, we do all the work, you just cash the check
• Increase school spirit with custom stickers for your school and raise funds at the same time -no upfront costs, no volunteers, no selling
• Sick of the same old ways of raising money for your school? Let School Spirit Vending's hassle-free, year-round fundraising program supplement the other fundraisers you're already doing.
• SSV is also giving away the Top 10 School Fundraising Ideas for 2018. Download the guide here.

 

Copyright © 2018 Better Leaders Better Schools

Jennifer Casa-Todd is wife, mom, and a Teacher-Librarian at Cardinal Carter CHS in Aurora, a former Literacy Consultant for the York Catholic District School Board,  and the author of the book, Social LEADia. She also is a grad student, and a food-loving, book-loving Ukulele player-want-to-be. She loves to hang out with her family--playing cards or hiking, and enjoys curling, golfing, reading, and writing. She is passionate about showing teachers and students how they can use technology and social media to make the world a better place.   Jennifer Casa-Todd Show Highlights

• What inspired her to start playing Ukulele 
• How she improved listening skills (Their Point A to Their Point B)
• Digital Leadership
• The fear approach doesn’t work
• How are we helping kids in school with digital leadership?
• Do modern kids lack empathy?
• Power of optimism

Jennifer Casa-Todd Resources   Jennifer on Twitter   Jennifer’s Book Social LEADia   Jennifer’s Blog   Eddie Vedder’s Into the Wild & Ukulele Songs   Leadership Step By Step   Never Split the Difference   Show Some Love

• BECOME A PATRON OF THE SHOW FOR AS LITTLE AS $1/MONTH
• DID YOU LIKE THE SHOW?  iTunes SUBSCRIBE HERE!
• LEAVE A 5-STAR RATING AND REVIEW

  Join my hybrid group coaching & leadership development community   Text BETTERMASTERMIND to 33444   Grab your FREE 15 Phrases of Effective School Leaders    Text PHRASES to 33444 or click the link above.   Website :: Facebook :: Insta :: Twitter :: LinkedIn   SHOW SPONSORS: SCHOOL SPIRIT VENDING •Hassle-free, year-round fundraising for your school. With School Spirit Vending, we do all the work, you just cash the check •Increase school spirit with custom stickers for your school and raise funds at the same time -no upfront costs, no volunteers, no selling •Sick of the same old ways of raising money for your school? Let School Spirit Vending's hassle-free, year-round fundraising program supplement the other fundraisers you're already doing. •SSV is also giving away the Top 10 School Fundraising Ideas for 2018. Download the guide here.

Superintendent Jay Eitner is a proud product of the New Jersey public schools. A graduate from Union High School in 1997, Jay attended The American University in Washington DC with a BA in interdisciplinary studies. He began his teaching career in Roselle, NJ teaching a variety of subjects, including social studies, computers, and literacy. Known for being ‘outside of the box’ and for strong technology infusion, Eitner strived to make a learning environment that was both student centered and data driven. Jay received his Masters Degree in 2004 and was hired to teach 8th grade social studies in the nationally recognized East Brunswick Public Schools. During his time in East Brunswick, Eitner has written and received over $140,000 in grants for his students. Grants ranged from podcasting equipment to creating a fully-interactive goldrush experience, where students dug for gold during their westward expansion unit. Jay obtained his supervisor, principal, and school administrator certificates from the NJPSA NJ-EXCEL program in 2009. Administratively, Eitner has served as a middle school Assistant Principal, a K-12 Supervisor, and has been a Superintendent of Schools in three districts. He was the 2015 educators choice pick for the national Superintendent of the Year for the BAMMY awards.    Jay’s blog can be found at http://www.JayEitner.com  and can be followed on Twitter under the name @Jay_Eitner. He also has published a series of Flash-Reads on Amazon and hosts a monthly podcast available on iTunes and Google Play.   Jay Eitner Show Highlights

• What informs Jay’s belief that all kids can succeed
• Build a PLN online
• How Jay leverages Twitter
• Lots of coffee will lead to the opportunity to build relationships with district level leaders
• Are you willing to compromise?
• Skills you need to jump from local school to district leadership
• Crockpot learning
• Secret to earning millions in grants

  Jay Eitner Resources   What They Don't Teach You in Schools of Education ...   Escaping the Dunk Tank   Jay on Twitter   Jay’s Blog   Show Some Love

• BECOME A PATRON OF THE SHOW FOR AS LITTLE AS $1/MONTH
• DID YOU LIKE THE SHOW?  iTunes SUBSCRIBE HERE!
• LEAVE A 5-STAR RATING AND REVIEW

  Join my hybrid group coaching & leadership development community   Text BETTERMASTERMIND to 33444   Grab your FREE 15 Phrases of Effective School Leaders    Text PHRASES to 33444 or click the link above.   Website :: Facebook :: Insta :: Twitter :: LinkedIn   SHOW SPONSORS: SCHOOL SPIRIT VENDING •Hassle-free, year-round fundraising for your school. With School Spirit Vending, we do all the work, you just cash the check •Increase school spirit with custom stickers for your school and raise funds at the same time -no upfront costs, no volunteers, no selling •Sick of the same old ways of raising money for your school? Let School Spirit Vending's hassle-free, year-round fundraising program supplement the other fundraisers you're already doing. •SSV is also giving away the Top 10 School Fundraising Ideas for 2018. Download the guide here.

Michelle Lenzen is a teacher, writer, and the founder of Humans at Heart. She runs an after school program at YES Prep Northside where she teaches high school students communication skills and creative problem solving. Through her company, Humans at Heart, Michelle uses  qualitative research and human-centered design to help brands connect with their audiences.    Michelle Lenzen Show Highlights

• Michelle switch from advertising to education
• How her teaching experience in Rio informed her instruction in Houston
• Human centered design
• What problems Michelle’s students wanted to solve
• Design thinking applied to a “Crappy” situation
• Qualitative research is the foundation of human centered design
• How to move from surveys to answers
• Are you using improv in your classroom or school?

  Michelle Lenzen Resources   Theater Games for the Classroom   Group Improvisation   Impov Games Michelle Suggests   Creative Confidence   Michelle’s website: Humans at the Heart   Email Michelle   Show Some Love

• BECOME A PATRON OF THE SHOW FOR AS LITTLE AS $1/MONTH
• DID YOU LIKE THE SHOW?  iTunes SUBSCRIBE HERE!
• LEAVE A 5-STAR RATING AND REVIEW

  Join my hybrid group coaching & leadership development community   Text BETTERMASTERMIND to 33444   Grab your FREE 15 Phrases of Effective School Leaders    Text PHRASES to 33444 or click the link above.   Website :: Facebook :: Insta :: Twitter :: LinkedIn     SHOW SPONSORS: SCHOOL SPIRIT VENDING •Hassle-free, year-round fundraising for your school. With School Spirit Vending, we do all the work, you just cash the check •Increase school spirit with custom stickers for your school and raise funds at the same time -no upfront costs, no volunteers, no selling •Sick of the same old ways of raising money for your school? Let School Spirit Vending's hassle-free, year-round fundraising program supplement the other fundraisers you're already doing. •SSV is also giving away the Top 10 School Fundraising Ideas for 2018. Download the guide here.

Did you know I have a new podcast out?

The School Leadership Series is daily, 5 minutes or less, and meant to be a quick encouragement.

On iTunes :https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/school-leadership-series-motivation-for-todays-educator/id1352995134?mt=2

Don Wettrick is the Innovation Coordinator at Noblesville High School, and is the author of "Pure Genius: Building a Culture of Innovation and Taking 20% Time to the Next Level." Wettrick has worked as a middle school and high school teacher; educational and innovation consultant; CEO, and podcast host. He is also the founder of StartEdUp, an organization dedicated to help transform the school culture toward innovation and enable student-led entrepreneurship.

 

Don has lectured across the US, Europe, South America and Africa about collaboration, social media use, and work environments that enable innovation. Through his travel, he has worked with hundreds of entrepreneurs from Silicon Valley to Ghana, and seeks to bring that entrepreneurial mindset into our classrooms. His podcast, StartEdUp, has featured some of the most successful entrepreneurs, authors, and thought leaders in the world- focusing on educational change. Most importantly Don works with educators, students, and entrepreneurs to bring innovation and collaborative skills into education.

Don Wettrick first appeared on the podcast back in Episode 017.

Don Wettrick Show Highlights:

• The origin story of StartEdUp
• Learning by doing
• Where is the economy going?
• There are a lot of kids that shouldn’t go to college
• It’s okay to admit when you don’t know
• Now is the time for you and your students
• The themes Don has learned from extremely successful entrepreneurs
• What can we start doing to change?

Don Wettrick Resources:

• Linchpin

Don Wettrick Contact Info

• Website
• Future Ready U
• Twitter

Podcast Upgrade

Download the Steps to Creating a Successful Innovation Day here: https://betterleadersbetterschools.com/don-wettrick

Show Some Love

• BECOME A PATRON OF THE SHOW FOR AS LITTLE AS $1/MONTH
• DID YOU LIKE THE SHOW?  iTunes SUBSCRIBE HERE!
• LEAVE A 5-STAR RATING AND REVIEW

 

Join my hybrid group coaching

& leadership development community

Text BETTERMASTERMIND to 33444

Grab your FREE 15 Phrases of Effective School Leaders

Text PHRASES to 33444 or click the link above.

Website :: Facebook :: Insta :: Twitter :: LinkedIn

 

SHOW SPONSORS:

SCHOOL SPIRIT VENDING

• Hassle-free, year-round fundraising for your school. With School Spirit Vending, we do all the work, you just cash the check
• Increase school spirit with custom stickers for your school and raise funds at the same time -no upfront costs, no volunteers, no selling
• Sick of the same old ways of raising money for your school? Let School Spirit Vending's hassle-free, year-round fundraising program supplement the other fundraisers you're already doing.
• SSV is also giving away the Top 10 School Fundraising Ideas for 2018. Download the guide here.