The CharacterStrong Podcast

CharacterStrong co-founder Houston Kraft and Stanford Psychologist Dr. Jamil Zaki talk about practical insights and strategies to provide hope and empathy in this new school year. They discuss hopeful skepticism and meaningful ways to support students (and adults) as we start the first few weeks of school.

Learn More About CharacterStrong:

• Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples
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Dr. Jamil Zaki is a professor of psychology at Stanford University and the director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience Lab. Using tools from psychology and neuroscience, he and his colleagues examine how empathy works and how people can learn to empathize more effectively. His writing on these topics has appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the New Yorker, and the Atlantic. He lives in San Francisco with his wife and their two daughters.

Today our guest is A.J. Howard the CEO and Co-Founder of Tracked Learning. We talk with A.J. about the importance of progress monitoring and data collection. A.J. highlights the common challenges special education teachers often face in collecting and tracking data while supporting students. He also shares how he helped develop a solution that addresses these challenges, ultimately giving teachers more time to focus on their students in the classroom

Learn More About CharacterStrong:

• Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples
• Attend our next live product preview
• Visit the CharacterStrong Website

A.J.'s Bio: My name is A.J. Howard and I am co-founder and a ceo of Tracked Learning. I have worked in special education for over a decade and have two masters degrees and my national board certification. I live in northeast Washington with my wife and 3 kids. We love spending as much time together and. Wing outdoors as much as we can. With high caseloads and being the only sped teacher in my building while overseeing multiple programs, I was starting to burn out quick and it transferred to my home life, something I was not okay with. I needed better quality data and to stop reinventing the wheel weekly, monthly, quarterly. I started compiling information, way to assess, meeting with special education teachers across the globe, along with other things and team up with Jeremy Korthuis to build what is now Tracked Learning. A software program designed to help streamline the special education action process and get teachers the quality data that they need to make informed decisions to best support their students. It gives others and myself the time to be intentional and effective and also the head space to be fully present with my family at home.

Today our guest is Dr. Jim Van Allen, President of The Energy Bus for Schools

We talk to Dr. Van Allen about building a positive school culture. He talks about how culture isn't one thing, it's everything and it dictates all that schools want to accomplish. Dr. Van Allen reminds us that we need to focus on the roots of positive school culture as we work to serve students better, and talks about the relationship between school culture and data.

Learn More About CharacterStrong:

• Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples
• Attend our next live product preview
• Visit the CharacterStrong Website

Dr. Jim Van Allan is President of The Energy Bus for Schools. He runs The Energy Bus for Schools program which gives schools the blueprint and framework to create a positive school culture. He coaches school leaders and superintendents on mindset, teamwork, communication, and culture-building. Additionally, Jim speaks to schools and districts across the country with keynotes, trainings, workshops, and student assemblies. He is the co-author of the book, The Energy Bus for Schools, with Jon Gordon.

Jim is also a Professor of Communication Studies and Lead Speech Instructor with Keiser University, which is based in Florida. He teaches Public Speaking, Interpersonal Communication, and Business Communication.

Jim holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Relations from the University of Florida and a Master of Arts degree in Communication Studies from Florida Atlantic University.

He also earned his Ph.D in Education Leadership from Keiser University. Jim studied the impact of an early version of The Energy Bus for Schools program on a model school in Ohio. Much of his research centered around the impact of sustainable professional development for schools.

He lives in Palm City, Florida, with his wife and three children, Brady, Brenden, and Brinley.

Today our guest is Dr. Chris Clayton the Director of Education Services for the Educator Pipeline and Profession for the Pennsylvania State Education Association.

We talk to Dr. Clayton about the importance of developing and supporting a robust educator pipeline. He highlights several of the opportunities available for building pipelines and shares insights on the initiatives already underway in Pennsylvania. Dr. Clayton also details the ways they offer year-round support to new and aspiring teachers—professionally, financially, and in the classroom.

Learn More About CharacterStrong:

• Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples
• Attend our next live product preview
• Visit the CharacterStrong Website

In addition to his work with CharacterStrong as a Presenter and Consultant, Dr. Christopher M. Clayton serves as the Director of Education Services for the Educator Pipeline and Profession for the Pennsylvania State Education Association. In this role with PSEA, he is responsible for providing support to over 178,000 educator members on issues involving teacher certification, student achievement, pedagogical best practices and research in teaching and learning and directs the Student PSEA Aspiring Educator Program, serves as the State Coordinator for the Pennsylvania Educators Rising (high school students) Program, and coordinates PSEA's New & Early Career Educator Platform.

He earned a Ph.D. in Language and Literacy Education and an Ed. S. Degree in Education Leadership, Administration, & Policy at The University of Georgia along with a Master's Degree in Curriculum & Instruction from Regis University in Denver, CO. He is a National Board-Certified Teacher (2008, renewed in 2018) who was named the Washington Puyallup Valley Teacher of the Year in 2011 prior to starting with PSEA where he served as a high school English and International Baccalaureate Theory of Knowledge teacher and coach for over ten years in Southern California and Washington state before becoming a district administrator and Director of Curriculum & Instruction in a large metro-Atlanta school district with 138 schools and over 100,000 students. He moved to Hershey to begin his role with PSEA in 2014 and happily resides there with his wife, two daughters, son, and granddaughter.

Today our guest is Karissa Bachman, 3rd grade teacher at Maple Lawn Elementary, in the Sumner Bonney-Lake School District. We talk to Karissa about creative strategies that enhance student learning and engagement in the classroom. She shares a variety of practical approaches, including setting up a "relaxation station" to help students manage stress and stay focused, incorporating students into classroom management roles, and using effective behavior management tools to maintain a positive and productive learning environment.

Learn More About CharacterStrong:

• Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples
• Attend our next live product preview
• Visit the CharacterStrong Website

Karissa Bachman is going into her seventh year of teaching 3rd grade. Currently, she works at Maple Lawn Elementary in the Sumner Bonney-Lake school district, having spent 2 years in the Issaquah school district before returning to the school district she grew up in. She received her bachelor's degree from Washington State University, in Elementary Education with an endorsement in English Language Learners. Her first year teaching was spent at a Title 1 school, and after that year she felt inspired to learn more about how to support her students' emotional and behavioral needs. She went back to school and received her master's from Bellarmine University in Trauma Informed Practices. This program has shifted Karissa's perspective and helps her better meet her student's emotional needs, which in turn has allowed her to more effectively meet her students' academic needs.

Today our guest is Lemar Wilson, Educational Leader at Uplifting Minds Enterprise. We talk to Lemar about the importance of fostering a culture of mindfulness and intentionality before engaging with technology. He highlights the significant influence phones can have on our lives and shares strategies he has used to help students rethink their relationship with technology and focus on personal growth. Lemar shares that by reframing how they engage with their devices, we can help students to develop healthier habits and a more balanced approach to digital consumption.

Learn More About CharacterStrong:

• Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples
• Attend our next live product preview
• Visit the CharacterStrong Website

Growing up in Queens, NY with six siblings in a single-parent home, Lemar Wilson learned to be a vocal speaker early in life. Despite his passion for the music industry, it became apparent to him that God had other plans. After losing his best friend to cancer and witnessing his childhood friends make various bad life choices, he developed a love for empowering people to become the best version of themselves.

Lemar obtained a degree in Criminal Justice and Business Management and worked in Customer Service and Sales in Corporate America for over 15 years. He welcomed the opportunity to serve the public positively and realized he wanted to be part of the solution rather than the problem. As a result, he began speaking to the youth to uplift, motivate, and promote healthy lifestyle changes. He has created numerous videos on social media and has made guest appearances on numerous podcasts. He reaches out to the public not only through social media but also in schools and corporate events.

Through successful mentoring, Lemar has educated, uplifted, and motivated students and adults to reach their full potential through personal development. His personal, professional, and educational background gives him the skills to not only be a great salesperson but to also motivate people from all walks of life. Lemar offers guidance to build up confidence, promote awareness, and motivate. He provides consulting services for current and past students on mental health, personal growth, and relationship development. He has the keys to living a fulfilled life, both professionally and personally.

Today our guests are Kate Nichols, and Jill Gleason, School Counselor & Intervention Director at Beaver Valley Elementary in Brush, Colorado. We talk to Kate and Jill about ways that they integrate their current PBIS system at Beaver Valley Elementary with curriculum like CharacterStrong. They share about the PBIS matrix that they use for their school and share how they are combining it with the traits "Be Well", "Be Strong", and "Be Kind" from the PurposeFull People curriculum along with other elements like morning meetings. Kate and Jill also talk about how they intentionally take the time to pre-correct expectations are as they interact in the different spaces of the school and how this can work for students of any age.

Learn More About CharacterStrong:

• Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples
• Attend our next live product preview
• Visit the CharacterStrong Website

Bio: Hi! We are Kate Nichols and Jill Gleason. Combined we have worked in education for forty years, with thirty-four of those years at our current school, Beaver Valley Elementary. Kate has taught 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, Intervention and is currently the school counselor. Jill was a third grade teacher for twenty years, has been an interventionist, and is currently the intervention director.

Today our guest is Dr. Cynthia "Mama J" Johnson - Educator Consultant, Author, and speaker with a message of HOPE. We talk to Dr. Johnson about the vital role of school, family, and community partnerships in education. She emphasizes the need for a new approach to transform our education system from a "village of despair" to a "village of hope." She shares that by fostering intentional partnerships among schools, families, and communities, we can build stronger relationships and create positive change. Dr. Johnson, affectionately known as Mama J, also highlights the importance of involving families in the educational process to improve student outcomes.

Learn More About CharacterStrong:

• Join us at the 2024 CharacterStrong National Conference
• Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples
• Attend our next live product preview
• Visit the CharacterStrong Website

Dr. Cynthia "Mama J" Johnson is an educator, speaker, consultant, and author. She began her educational journey in 1987, working in K-12 schools in rural, suburban, and urban environments as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal, professional development coordinator, adjunct professor, director of alternative education, and executive director (until June 2024). Since 1993, Mama J has served as an educational consultant, working with districts across the county. Her research and work focuses on school connectedness and belongingness, reaching and teaching diverse student populations, effectively educating students who live in poverty, school-family-community partnerships; and disrupting, interrupting, and dismantling barriers to changing student outcomes for marginalized, underserved, and underrepresented youth. Mama J keeps it real, tells it like it is, and lets her light shine wherever she goes.

Today our guest is John Nwosu, School Counselor in Cobb County Schools, Founder of Think DIF, LLC and the 2024 Georgia School Counselor of the Year. John emphasizes the importance of inspiring students, helping them connect with their environment, and leveraging available resources and relationships to support their success. He describes how he achieves this through a comprehensive school counseling program and by utilizing data to serve students and families effectively. John also highlights the significance of fostering connections and understanding the motivations that drive students as they come to school.

Learn More About CharacterStrong:

• Join us at the 2024 CharacterStrong National Conference
• Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples
• Attend our next live product preview
• Visit the CharacterStrong Website

Today our guest is Debbie Beagle, Assistant Principal of Summer School & Director of Student Activities at Vernon Hills High School. We talk with Debbie and explore a few methods for fostering a positive campus culture. Debbie shares the innovative idea of "Bring Your Child or Parent to Work Day," explaining how this simple initiative and others like it can help to transform a school into a community that everyone loves. She discusses how this engaging event has helped students and staff at Vernon Hills connect on a personal level, see each other as individuals, and build stronger, more meaningful relationships, ultimately enhancing the overall campus culture.

Learn More About CharacterStrong:

• Join us at the 2024 CharacterStrong National Conference
• Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples
• Attend our next live product preview
• Visit the CharacterStrong Website

Debbie has over twenty five years experience as a classroom teacher, club advisor, coach and administrator. She has worked with students in grades 9-12 and has taught at the university level. She is described by her colleagues as having a deep understanding of school culture and her greatest attribute is her ability to build strong relationships on campus leading to engaged students and staff. Debbie holds a BS in Mathematics Education, a Masters in Computer Science, as well as Masters and Doctorate degrees in Educational Leadership. Debbie has awards and distinctions from Illinois Directors of Student Activities, Lake County Regional Office of Education, Illinois Chapter/National School Public Relations Assoc., Community HS District 128, and the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association.