.

Watching the construction happening around my school provided me with an insightful moment - in order to build something new, the old must often be demolished and removed. We, for the most part, are the same way. In our efforts to grow into someone better, how often do we fail because we are afraid to let go of those tainted foundations? To compensate we build facades and then question why they crumble under pressure. Are you willing to do the work that is needed to become the person you want to be?

.

Inspired by a post from Vernon Wright, this episode examines the difference between EduCelebrities and EduHeroes. While there may exist some overlap between the two, there are some clear distinctions which distinguish one from the other.

Do you know an EduHero who should be celebrated? Fill out this form (you should also share it with others so that they can too!) and I will be sure to show them some appreciation.

EduHero Nomination Form: https://bit.ly/EduHeroNominee

In this episode, I chat with Dana Goodier, who has 23 years of experience in education. She has taught World Languages and English and has worked at the middle and elementary school level as an administrator. Dana completed her doctorate degree (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership in early 2020. She often speaks at conferences, providing educators with techniques to minimize off-task behavior and to increase time on task. She also writes blogs for the Teach Better Team and is the author of Out of the Trenches: Stories of Resilient Educators, published by Road to Awesome, LLC. She is the host of the “Out of the Trenches” podcast, which features educators who share their stories of resiliency. 

During our conversation, we focused on leadership and school culture in a post-pandemic world. Dana pointed out that administrators shouldn’t just focus on those for whom they are responsible for evaluating but should strive to create opportunities for building individual relationships with all staff members. She acknowledges that school leaders often become so consumed that this seemingly simple task is often forgotten but she also suggests that building those very relationships can not only help to diminish the issues they are addressing but that it also paves the way for building even stronger relationships. It’s cyclical. 

Ready to hear some more? Let’s go!

Follow her on Twitter @danagoodier and visit her website at: www.danagoodier.com

Nearly a year ago I announced that I was transitioning not only to a new school but to a new grade level. After spending nearly a decade leading schools at the elementary level, I opted to accept an invitation to become a high school administrator. This episode offers an insight into five fresh perspectives that I was able to achieve by shifting roles and stepping out of my comfort zone.

.

Teacher appreciation week is traditionally a time dedicated to honoring the teachers in our lives and those impacting not only their fields but also the communities in which they serve. This episode is an open letter to those educators who need a word of encouragement, of inspiration, of gratitude. Thank you for all that you do.

In this episode, I chat with Maxwell Roach, the Founder of JonAyves Learning Club, a forward-thinking tutoring service that teaches children concepts such as long division as early as the age of 3. Max has traveled a diverse career trajectory, spanning the child care, music, food, technology, and education sectors. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto and is certified as a Professional in Human Resources (PHRi). This has opened doors to an eclectic and wide range of opportunities, including performing as a musician, sharing stages with Beyoncé and the Rolling Stones, leading a multi-centre child care organization as CEO, and working as an Operations Director and Consultant for e-commerce tech companies globally. Maxwell is a serial entrepreneur who values the need to "fill the industry gaps" by way of disruption and modern solutions.

During our conversation, we explored several topics including how the term tutor often has a negative connotation and that shifting semantics to personalized learning instructor adequately captures the work of this role. In fact, Maxwell points out that algorithms exist to personalize experiences across most social media platforms and we should investigate replicating similar experiences within our classrooms. We talked about the seemingly ironic push for increased SEL in our classroom noting that teachers are often not adequately prepared or trained to handle these sensitive mental health approaches resulting in increased stress which we attempt to address with … you guessed it … SEL approaches. We closed out the discussion with the proposition that education shouldn’t be about competition but instead should be focused on collaboration. How do we lower our defense mechanisms and develop solutions in a system that is often unfair and punishes deviations from the norm?

Ready to hear more from this dynamic educator? Let’s go!

Website - https://www.jonayves.com

Books - https://www.jonayves.com/shop

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/@JonAyvesLearningClub

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/@JonAyvesTV

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/AJsHouseKids

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/JonAyvesTV

Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxwellroach

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@AJsHouseKidsY

outube - https://www.youtube.com/@JonAyvesTV

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@AJsHouseKids

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@JonAyvesTV

When was the last time that you allowed yourself to experience joy? When was the last time you truly celebrated an accomplishment? If you are struggling to recall that moment, you are not alone. We have been primed to consistently pursue whatever we define as success without acknowledging that this pursuit is futile in that success is a series of small wins that may never truly end. Thus our efforts to obtain this goal will only result in the production of additional milestones hence the term "hedonic treadmill."

Recognizing the toll that this takes on our mental health, I wanted to share that this is something with which I struggle and implore listeners to find ways to both pursue their goals while also being intention about stepping off the treadmill to enjoy that which they have accomplished.