The Good News, Brad News Podcast

Dr. Jeffry Prickett is a school leader, author of the forthcoming book, Becoming Principal, and the 2021 Illinois High School Principal of the Year. 

Jeff serves as principal of McHenry High School in McHenry, Illinois, USA. Jeff also has experience as an assistant principal, dean of students and classroom teacher. Jeff holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Judson University, a Master's Degree from Aurora University, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from National Louis University. 

In addition to his work as an educator, Jeff co-hosts The Principal Leadership Lab podcast with his longtime friend and colleague, Adam DeWitt, serves as the co-publications chair for the Illinois Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development (ILASCD), and the professional development chair for the Kishwaukee Region of the Illinois Principals Association (IPA).

Jeff lives in McHenry with his wife and kids and spends a lot of time writing, reading and following his beloved Chicago Cubs.

Connect with Jeff!

Twitter: @jdprickett

Alix Maffin-Pirie is an enthusiastic English Language Arts teacher in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. She is a proud firefighter's wife, rescue-dog mama, lover of the outdoors, board games, corny jokes, and a life long learner. 

Alix knew from a young age she wanted to be a teacher. Perhaps playing "classroom" in her basement was the first clue she'd found her calling! Alix attended the University of Guelph (English Literature and History) and Wilfrid Laurier University (Bachelor of Education).

Throughout her educational journey, Alix worked with and attended seminars regarding students with exceptionalities as she was (and still is) a student with an exceptionality herself. Alix understands that each learner is following their own path and that not every student learns the same way. 

Alix loves to read, travel, and learn. She strives to make school a place where creativity and inquiry are welcome and can really shine through.

Connect with Alix!

Twitter: @MsAlixMaffin

Chey Cheney is a middle school teacher with 20 years of experience, originally from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. He currently teaches Grade 8 in Toronto, Ontario and engages in coaching and leadership work with students in the school beyond instructional time. Passionate about ELA, Chey's teaching philosophy centers around student agency, student voice and a strong commitment to social justice. Chey is always looking for ways to embed technology in the natural flow of learning that ascends from consumer to engager and creator. With a vast athletic and coaching background, Chey aims to form a physical education and competitive sports culture dedicated to inclusion and entry points for all students.

Pawan (Pav) Wander is an middle school teacher with 15 years of experience hailing from Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada. Pav teaches in the same neighborhood where she grew up and went to school, and has thoroughly enjoyed working with students in such a familiar community. Pav loves to teach Science and Math, and combines the two subjects into Robotics, Engineering and Coding programs. She loves watching students, especially females, thrive in areas of STEM. Pav loves learning about new ways of reaching and engaging with students, especially through podcasting, audio and video editing. Fitness and athletics have always been important to Pav, and she endeavors to include as much physical activity in her day as possible!

Connect with Chey & Pav!

Twitter: @mrccheney | @PavWander

Shelley Moore, originally from Edmonton, Alberta and now based in Vancouver, British Columbia, is a highly sought after teacher, researcher, consultant and storyteller and she has worked with school districts and community organizations throughout both Canada and the United States. Her research and work has been featured at national and international conferences and is constructed based on theory and effective practices of inclusion, special education, curriculum and teacher professional development.

Her first book entitled One Without the Other was released in July 2016 to follow up her TEDx talk hosted in Langley, BC in January 2016. Shelley completed an undergraduate degree in Special Education at the University of Alberta, her Masters at Simon Fraser University, and is currently a SSHRC funded PhD candidate at the University of British Columbia. To learn more about Shelley’s research, take a look at her graduate profile.

Connect with Shelley!

Twitter: @tweetsomemoore

Kristin Wiens is an Inclusion Coach for the Sooke School District (#62) located on southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Her main focus is creating and facilitating professional learning opportunities for staff, including a year-long Education Assistant program. Kristin's illustrations support educational topics related to inclusion, self-regulation, mindfulness and more. She is passionate about inclusion, visual communication, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), Self-Reg, self-compassion and creativity. Kristin is also a speaker, book author and course designer with renowned Canadian singer, activist and children's champion, Raffi.

Connect with Kristin!

Bonus Content

Lisa Cherry is an author and a leading international trainer and consultant, specialising in assisting those in Education, Social Care and Adoption and Fostering to understand trauma, recovery and resilience for vulnerable children, young people and their families. Lisa has over 30 years of experience in this field and combines academic knowledge and research with professional skills and personal experience.

Lisa’s MA research looked at the impact on education and employment for care experienced adults who experienced school exclusion as children in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Currently, Lisa is undertaking her DPhil studies at The University of Oxford in the Department of Education, asking the research question “How are care-experienced adults’ identities shaped by narratives of being excluded from school?”

Lisa's new book is Conversations that Make a Difference for Children and Young People: Relationship-Focused Practice from the Frontline (Routledge, May 20 2021).

Connect with Lisa!

Twitter: @_LisaCherry

Hans Appel is an educator, speaker, and writer deeply committed to inspiring the whole child.  He’s the author of Award Winning Culture: Building School-Wide Intentionality and Action Through Character, Excellence, and Community. Additionally, he’s the Director of Culture for the Teach Better Team, co-host of the Award Winning Culture podcast, and the Co-Creator of Award Winning Culture.

Jennifer Appel is an educator, coach, speaker, and writer.  She’s the Chief Heart Officer for the Teach Better Team, Co-host of the Award Winning Culture podcast, and the Co-Creator of Award Winning Culture.  She’s the author of a line of picture books focusing on Social Emotional Learning and Character Ed which includes, “Award Winning Dog and I’m WHO”, and soon to be author of the second book in the Award Winning Culture series.

Connect with Hans & Jen!

Twitter: @HansNAppel | @jennifermappel

Dr. Jeff Springer, an educator for 34 years, is the founder of the G.O.A.L. TEAM (Getting Others to Achieve Higher Levels). The G.O.A.L. TEAM, was created for helping high school students and young adults to maximize their personal leadership potential.

Jeff, a former Texas High School Head Football Coach and eleven-year veteran of the classroom, is also formerly the Principal at Magnolia High School (2002-2016). In 2013 Jeff was selected as the State of Texas TASSP State Principal of the year. 

Besides founding Spring Strategies LLC, Jeff currently serves part time as the Minister of Men at Wildwood UMC, and is also the founder of Suit Up Ministries, a nonprofit men’s ministry.

Jeff attended Abilene Christian University where he played on the 1977 National Championship Football team, received his Bachelor of Arts in Teaching from Sam Houston State University and obtained his Masters of Sports Administration from the United States Sports Academy. In the spring of 2020, Jeff completed his Doctorate in Education with an emphasis in Transformational Leadership from Concordia University.

Jeff is passionate about people and “play.” Developing others and helping them see their value and completeness is what drives Jeff in all his relationships. 

Jeff resides in Montgomery, Texas and has been married for 38 years. He has two children and two grandchildren.

Connect with Dr. Jeff!

Twitter: @cultivatingplay

Bonus Content

Hamish Brewer | Relentless: Changing Lives by Disrupting the Educational Norm

Janice Moyer is a coffee-drinking mom of four boys, teacher of elementary school, Big Fan of Little House, and wife of Bearded Husband. She is proficient at eating M&Ms in secret. Jan blogs about all of that and more at toughbananasblog.wordpress.com and you can follow her on Twitter @moyermama.

Connect with Jan!

Bonus Content

Brad Hughes is the host of The Good News, Brad News Podcast. Brad is an elementary school principal in Ontario, Canada, with 25 years’ experience in education. Prior to becoming a school leader, Brad taught for 16 years from Kindergarten to eighth grade, most recently teaching middle school Visual Arts, French and Special Education. Brad has an ongoing commitment to reframing the joys and challenges of school life through a Self-Reg lens. Brad is an optimist and recovering perfectionist, passionate about improving kids' lives by loving and supporting the adults that serve them.

Connect with Brad!

Bonus Content