“People thrive when others believe in them”

Mike Kleba has tried to leave education a few times, including runs as an actor, director, and even leading a tech company.

But the draw to make an impact has brought him back to the classroom each time.

In an environment where teachers are constantly leaving the classroom, Mike discusses the reason he’s bucking this trend and the power of believing in your people.

Mike also shares:

• What is guaranteed to make you well up with tears

Mike Kleba is an international speaker, author, artist, and entrepreneur, Mike has been a public high school English and theatre teacher for 25 years. He serves as co-host of the NYEdTech Meetup and sits on the SXSW EDU Advisory Board. Mike is the co-author of Otherful, an earnest and irreverent book about how to lead through others

• Links to additional resources

• Otherful.com

“I student taught in Harlem, so I felt like I could handle anything. What I didn’t realize was how much good leadership matters.”

Katie Niemczyk started questioning her decision to be a teacher very early in her teaching career, and it wasn’t because of the students, her team, or even the pay.

Rather, it was because of leadership.

In this episode, Katie shares her own experience in education, including expectations as a teacher with student discipline, why a mandate of planning with other teachers impeded her impact, and what can happen inside the mind of a teacher when school leaders don’t actually listen.

Katie also discusses:

• The toxic culture of education

Katie Niemczyk is a freelance writer and former English teacher who lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two children. She has a BA in English from Wake Forest University and a Master’s of Education from Teachers College, Columbia University.

Episode Links:

• Katie\'s LinkedIn Profile

What can be done about your current or future unfilled math teacher vacancy?

In this episode, Dr. Kevin Berkopes, Co-Founder and CEO of XR Technologies, discusses the seemingly insurmountable task of finding and keeping quality math teachers and the balance between providing what is needed for a new teacher to be successful and not overwhelming them.

Kevin also shares:

• How a curriculum can actually fulfill an immediate vacancy and serve as a long-term solution for talent

Kevin’s role as CEO allows him to lead a diverse team toward a vision based on his higher education and professional career in STEM-focused teaching, as well as his doctorate in Mathematics, which focuses on complex systems and machine learning. As an entrepreneur, Kevin has unapologetically pursued the disruption of the entire ecosystem for mathematics education in the US and beyond.

Episode links:

• Kevin\'s Twitter Profile

How does Austin Independent School District intentionally plan for and sustain programs to ensure the well being of each of Austin ISD\'s 10,000+ employees?

In this episode, Brandi Hosack, Interim Human Capital Officer for Austin ISD, discusses the enormous pressures that are placed on educators and why we have to be intentional about building a great culture.

Brandi also shares:

• What teachers are looking for more than compensation

Brandi Hosack leads the Office of Human Capital for Austin ISD, which encompasses Human Capital Systems and Employee Development & Sustainability. The Human Capital team supports the recruitment, development and retention of high-quality, equity-focused, diverse teachers and staff to meet the needs of all students. In addition, Human Capital develops programs and initiatives to ensure the well being of each of Austin ISD\'s 10,000+ employees.

Episode Links:

• Brandi Twitter Account

“People don’t leave their jobs, they leave their managers” is a popular phrase in the business world, but does it have any relevancy in education?

In this episode, Cara Holt, former educator and current Manager of Sales Communication and Training at BrainPOP, shares a story about the reasons she and 7 of her colleagues all left their school at the same time (hint: it’s about school leadership).

Cara also shares her thoughts on her identity as a teacher, the reality of WFH, and the power of trust in the employee experience.

Episode Links:

• Cara\'s LinkedIn page

What would cause an award-winning teacher with less than 10 years experience teaching to walk away from the classroom?

Emily Garlock was a special education teacher and received recognition as her district’s Outstanding First Year Teacher. Later she was named the Council for Exceptional Children Special Education Teacher of the Year in Indiana.

The year after receiving the Teacher of the Year award, she left the classroom after suffering from teacher burnout and exhaustion.

In this episode, Emily shares her own mental health struggles as a teacher, how selling raffle tickets impacted her teaching career, and the one question that could have made a huge impact on her own employee experience.

Links:

• Emily\'s LinkedIn Profile

44% of new teachers leave within their first five years, so how has Henry County Schools been addressing this problem to stay far above the national average?

In this episode, Jolie Harding and Amy Spicer, Executive Directors of HR at Henry County Schools, share details about their three-year onboarding program, including the many supports provided during this time.

They also discuss:

• What to look for when finding and supporting leaders

How is school leadership (or any type of leadership) a team sport?

You have to create the team to help achieve the shared vision you created. It’s not about compliance. It’s about ownership by empowering people to see their gifts, leverage those gifts, and celebrate their successes.

Mr. Pennington also shares the importance of relationships in the employee experience, what Gandhi had to say about followers, and the power of empowering teachers.

How do emergencies affect the employee experience in education?

Dr. Hicks, Superintendent of Northeastern Wayne Schools, shares his experiences planning for the possibility of an active shooter, taking care of yourself after a traumatic event, and a resource you need to start using right now.

Dr Hicks also shares:

• How trauma heals differently than broken bones

Episode links:

• Stop the Bleed

So what exactly is the Employee Experience, and how does it affect educators?

In this episode, Jason Cochran, Employee Experience expert, speaker, and top podcast host:

• defines and describes the employee experience

Jason also describes his 4 Principles of Connection framework as a model for providing a great Employee Experience to your people.

Episode links:

• Jason Cochran LinkedIn