The Innovator’s Mindset Podcast

What does it take to transform a school district from one of the lowest graduation rates in a state to one of the highest in the nation?

In this episode, George Couros sits down with Rick Surrency, elected superintendent of Florida's Putnam County School District and author of Trust Me: The Leadership Playbook Behind the Largest Graduation Rate Turnaround in America. Rick shares the remarkable story of how his district increased its graduation rate from 54.9% to 96.6% through a relentless focus on trust, relationships, instructional improvement, teacher support, and creating meaningful opportunities for students.

The conversation explores why trust is more than a leadership buzzword, how career-focused programs can transform student engagement, the importance of supporting teachers through mentorship, and why high expectations and innovation can thrive in any community, regardless of size or socioeconomic status.

Rick's story is a powerful reminder that meaningful change is possible when leaders consistently invest in people, build credibility through action, and create systems that help every student succeed.

Questions for Reflection and Conversation:

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Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/

Should the goal of school be joy or purpose?

In this episode, I riff on an idea that has been bouncing around in my head: we've become increasingly focused on creating joyful experiences for students, but joy and purpose aren't the same thing.

School should absolutely be a place where students feel valued, connected, and excited to learn. But when we believe every learning experience should feel like Disney World, we risk overlooking an important truth: some of the most meaningful learning is difficult.

Purpose often requires struggle. It involves frustration, persistence, failure, and growth. The satisfaction comes not from avoiding the challenge, but from knowing why the challenge matters.

I also connect this idea to AI and academic dishonesty. We often criticize students for using AI to shortcut their work, but many of us looked up answers in the back of the math textbook when we were in school. The tool has changed, but the behavior hasn't.

The bigger question is why people feel the need to cheat in the first place.

When learning feels like nothing more than checking a box for graduation, it's easy to look for shortcuts. When students understand the purpose of the work, they're much more likely to embrace the challenge rather than avoid it.

This episode isn't a finished argument.

It's me thinking out loud, connecting ideas, and inviting the conversation. I'd love to hear where you agree, where you disagree, and how this resonates with your own experiences.

Questions for discussion:

If this conversation sparked a thought, challenged your thinking, or made you see the issue differently, I'd love to hear from you. Please share your perspective in the comments. I'm genuinely interested in where this idea can be strengthened, challenged, or expanded.

___________

👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on social media using #InnovatorsMindset

🌐 More at: https://georgecouros.com

🎙 Full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

Follow George Couros:

X: https://x.com/gcouros

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519

📚 Books by George Couros:

Forward, Together:

https://a.co/d/99RGvl3

The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

What Makes a Great Principal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334739?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

Because of a Teacher: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Because of a Teacher 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833450X?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/

What does it take to bring two rival school communities together and build something new?

In this episode of The Innovator’s Mindset Podcast, George Couros speaks with Derek Cantrell, Virginia’s High School Principal of the Year, about leading one of the most challenging changes a school leader can face: merging two longtime rivals into one school, one culture, and one community.

Derek shares how he helped lead the consolidation of Covington High School and Allegheny High School during and after COVID-19. Rather than waiting for change to happen and reacting to it, he entered the work with an intentional culture and communication roadmap focused on the questions that matter most: What are people excited about? What are they concerned about? And how can leaders address those concerns before the first day?

The conversation explores why culture is built long before people enter a new building. Derek discusses the importance of preserving traditions from both communities, involving students and families in the process, and even treating the selection of coaching staff as a critical opportunity to bring people together.

Derek and George also explore a powerful leadership idea: change is easier to navigate when we initiate it rather than simply letting it happen to us.

That same proactive mindset now shapes Derek’s approach to artificial intelligence. Guided by a philosophy of “people over paperwork,” he shares how he is using AI to reduce administrative burdens and create more time for what matters most: being present in classrooms, supporting teachers, and connecting with students.

From AI-supported teacher observations and data analysis to new tools for tracking graduation requirements, Derek offers practical examples of how school leaders can use technology not to replace the human side of leadership, but to create more time for it.

This conversation is about more than merging two schools. It is about how leaders build trust, create culture, honor the past, and proactively shape the future.

Derek’s book, Better Together: Building One School, One Culture, and One Community from Two Rivals, shares the full consolidation story along with practical lessons and culture systems school leaders can apply in their own communities.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GQMYVJ5R?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback

Questions for Discussion:

How can leaders address people’s concerns about change before those concerns become barriers to moving forward?

What does it look like to honor the past while intentionally creating a new shared culture?

Where could AI reduce paperwork in your role and create more time for people, presence, and relationships?

Are you currently initiating change, or waiting for change to happen to you?

___________

👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on social media using #InnovatorsMindset

🌐 More at: https://georgecouros.com

🎙 Full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

Follow George Couros:

X: https://x.com/gcouros

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519

📚 Books by George Couros:

Forward, Together:

https://a.co/d/99RGvl3

The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

What Makes a Great Principal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334739?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

Because of a Teacher: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Because of a Teacher 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833450X?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/

Technology has never been the goal. People always have been.

In this episode, I revisit a blog post I originally wrote in 2018, years before AI became part of nearly every conversation in education. While the technology has changed dramatically, I believe the questions we should ask have remained remarkably consistent.

Rather than debating whether technology or AI is "good" or "bad," I focus on three questions that can guide better decisions in classrooms, schools, and organizations:

Technology accelerates whatever already exists. It can strengthen relationships or weaken them. It can deepen learning or simply make old practices faster.

The real question isn't whether we should use technology. It's whether we're using it in ways that make us more human.

I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments:

Read the original blog post here:

If you enjoyed this conversation, please like the video, subscribe to the channel, and share it with someone passionate about meaningful learning, leadership, and innovation.

___________

👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on social media using #InnovatorsMindset

🌐 More at: https://georgecouros.com

🎙 Full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

Follow George Couros:

X: https://x.com/gcouros

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519

📚 Books by George Couros:

Forward, Together:

https://a.co/d/99RGvl3

The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

What Makes a Great Principal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334739?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

Because of a Teacher: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Because of a Teacher 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833450X?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/

What does effective technology leadership look like in K-12 education, especially at a time when schools face growing concerns about screen time, AI, online testing, and student technology use?

In this episode of The Innovator’s Mindset Podcast, George Couros speaks with Dr. Karla Burkholder, Deputy Executive Director of Texas Educational Technology Leaders (TETL), about why purposeful technology use matters more than blanket restrictions or unlimited access.

Dr. Burkholder shares how her classroom experience shaped her approach to technology leadership, from understanding why a one-minute login delay can create chaos in a classroom of first graders to recognizing that reliable systems, meaningful professional learning, and ongoing teacher support are essential.

The conversation also explores the growing backlash against screen time and educational technology, including the influence of narratives that do not always reflect how technology is actually used in schools. George and Dr. Burkholder discuss the tension between efforts to limit student technology use and state requirements for online testing, as well as the need for education leaders to better communicate the difference between passive screen time and purposeful learning with technology.

As Texas approaches another legislative session, Dr. Burkholder explains how TETL is working to advocate for a more accurate understanding of K-12 technology use. The discussion highlights why technology leaders must do more than manage devices and systems. They must lead through change, remain calm during uncertainty, think strategically, advocate for educators and students, and tell the story of what responsible technology use actually looks like in schools.

Topics include:

• Why classroom experience is a powerful foundation for technology leadership

George also challenges listeners to identify their three biggest takeaways from the conversation as a way to synthesize and retain their learning.

___________

👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on social media using #InnovatorsMindset

🌐 More at: https://georgecouros.com

🎙 Full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

Follow George Couros:

X: https://x.com/gcouros

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519

📚 Books by George Couros:

Forward, Together:

https://a.co/d/99RGvl3

The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

What Makes a Great Principal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334739?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

Because of a Teacher: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Because of a Teacher 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833450X?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/

What keeps people moving when the journey gets hard?

In this episode of The Innovator's Mindset Podcast, George Couros reflects on a powerful video shared by Jay Shetty that captures marathon runners from above. Looking at the race from a distance, it becomes clear that every runner has a story. Every person cheering from the sidelines has a story as well. We rarely know what someone is carrying, yet we all have the opportunity to encourage one another.

🎥 Jay Shetty's video:

George also explores an insight shared by Canadian Olympian Sarah Wells, who notes that approximately 90 to 95 percent of marathon runners who start the race actually finish. While completing 26.2 miles is an incredible physical accomplishment, the deeper lesson is that people rarely finish alone. Community, encouragement, and shared purpose often make the difference between quitting and crossing the finish line.

🏃 Sarah Wells on marathon finishers:

The conversation then shifts to artificial intelligence and learning. George shares how he recently spent more than three hours designing a single slide for an upcoming keynote at the Miami-Dade School Principals Conference. Shortly afterward, he heard someone proudly explain that AI had generated an entire keynote presentation in just 30 seconds.

The question is not whether AI can save us time. It clearly can.

The real question is this: What do we lose when we no longer wrestle with ideas, revise our thinking, and intentionally create our own work? Often, the learning happens during the process, not simply in the finished product.

As George shares:

"Deep learning is crucial, but our human relationships are what will guarantee that schools remain relevant for much longer than we can imagine."

Whether we are running a marathon, leading a school, or designing meaningful learning experiences, lasting success is built on two foundations: strong relationships and thoughtful learning.

• Community helps people accomplish what they often could not achieve on their own. The finish line is rarely reached in isolation.

• AI can accelerate production, but we should be careful not to outsource the thinking that helps us grow as learners and leaders.

• Schools will continue to matter because they are built on human connection. Technology can support learning, but relationships give learning its purpose.

If this conversation challenged your thinking, please like the video, subscribe to the channel, and share it with someone who believes that innovation, leadership, and meaningful learning always begin with strong relationships.

___________

👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on social media using #InnovatorsMindset

🌐 More at: https://georgecouros.com

🎙 Full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

Follow George Couros:

X: https://x.com/gcouros

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519

📚 Books by George Couros:

Forward, Together:

https://a.co/d/99RGvl3

The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

What Makes a Great Principal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334739?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

Because of a Teacher: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Because of a Teacher 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833450X?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/

What happens when we put teaching and learning at the center of educational leadership?

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Dawn Bridges, Associate Director of Professional Learning for the Illinois Association for School Administrators (IASA), to talk about the upcoming IASA 62nd Annual Conference, taking place September 30–October 2 in Springfield.

Dawn and I talk about the conference, what school leaders can expect, and—more importantly—what makes a professional learning experience truly meaningful. We explore the idea that great leadership in education is grounded in doing everything we can to support teaching and learning in our classrooms. When leaders stay connected to the work of teaching and learning, they are better equipped to lead their schools.

That same philosophy is at the heart of how Dawn approaches professional learning. The experiences we create for educators should look a lot like the experiences we want for students: engaging, relevant, personalized, conversational, and grounded in learning with and from others.

With so many great things happening in Illinois schools, Dawn sees the conference as an opportunity for school leaders to learn from one another, personalize their experience around what they need, and have the kinds of conversations that can lead to new ideas and meaningful growth.

Ultimately, Dawn's goal is for people to leave the conference better than when they arrived—and excited to come back because the experience was that valuable.

We also talk about my upcoming keynote on October 1 and how the ideas behind the keynote connect to this larger conversation about leadership, learning, relationships, and moving education forward together.

Learn more about my keynote:

Learn more about Dr. Dawn Bridges:

Learn more about IASA Professional Learning:

Learn more about the IASA 62nd Annual Conference:

___________

👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on social media using #InnovatorsMindset

🌐 More at: https://georgecouros.com

🎙 Full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

Follow George Couros:

X: https://x.com/gcouros

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519

📚 Books by George Couros:

Forward, Together:

https://a.co/d/99RGvl3

The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

What Makes a Great Principal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334739?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

Because of a Teacher: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Because of a Teacher 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833450X?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/

Strong schools are built by recognizing strengths, not just fixing weaknesses.

In this episode, I explore why the way we develop educators ultimately shapes the experiences of every student they serve. Inspired by a recent ISTE presentation from Dr. Rachel Edoho-Eket on the importance of identifying and building student strengths, I ask a simple question:

What if we approached our staff the same way?

I share a story from The Innovator's Mindset about Ontario education headlines that focused almost entirely on declining math scores, while overlooking significant gains in literacy. Instead of only asking, "Why did math go down?" we should also have been asking, "What did we do so well in literacy, and how can we build on that success?"

The same mindset applies to leadership.

This isn't about ignoring areas for growth. Every educator, every student, and every organization has room to improve. But when we begin with strengths, people feel seen, valued, and capable. Those strengths become the foundation for meaningful growth, rather than improvement feeling like a constant effort to fix what's broken.

When leaders intentionally build on their staff's strengths, those strengths ripple into classrooms, creating richer learning experiences and helping students discover and develop their unique gifts.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why strengths-based leadership leads to stronger schools

Special thanks to Dr. Rachel Edoho-Eket for the inspiration behind this conversation. Watch her video here:

I'd love to hear your thoughts:

If you enjoyed this conversation, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who believes great schools are built by developing great people.

Check out "The Innovator's Mindset" where I have an entire chapter on Strengths-Based Leadership: https://a.co/d/0de51Bia

Also, Innovate Inside the Box focuses on "5 Questions to Ask Your Students to Start the School Year":  https://a.co/d/0j8cFTHs

___________

👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on social media using #InnovatorsMindset

🌐 More at: https://georgecouros.com

🎙 Full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

Follow George Couros:

X: https://x.com/gcouros

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519

📚 Books by George Couros:

Forward, Together:

https://a.co/d/99RGvl3

The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

What Makes a Great Principal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334739?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

Because of a Teacher: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Because of a Teacher 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833450X?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/

What does it take to build a school culture where every student is challenged, valued, and inspired to reach their potential?

In this episode of The Innovator's Mindset Podcast, George Couros sits down with Anne Uberti, Superintendent of Newtown Public Schools, and Frank Purcaro, Assistant Superintendent, to discuss the vision behind the district's upcoming Convocation Day and the beliefs that shape their work with students and staff.

Together, they explore why meaningful learning often requires productive struggle, how educators can recognize the unique strengths of every learner, and why building a culture of high expectations starts with believing every student is capable of growth. The conversation also highlights Newtown's commitment to inquiry-based learning, Building Thinking Classrooms, and creating experiences that continue influencing educators long after a keynote ends.

Drawing connections to George's book Forward, Together, the discussion reinforces a simple but powerful idea: every student deserves to know they are good at something, even if they are not all good at the same thing. When schools embrace challenge, relationships, and community, they create environments where both students and educators can thrive.

Whether you're a teacher, principal, district leader, or anyone passionate about creating stronger school communities, this conversation offers practical insights into leadership, learning, and sustaining meaningful change.

___________

👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on social media using #InnovatorsMindset

🌐 More at: https://georgecouros.com

🎙 Full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

Follow George Couros:

X: https://x.com/gcouros

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519

📚 Books by George Couros:

Forward, Together:

https://a.co/d/99RGvl3

The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

What Makes a Great Principal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334739?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

Because of a Teacher: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Because of a Teacher 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833450X?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/

Great ideas are not always enough.

In this episode of The Innovator's Mindset, I explore why building rapport matters before we challenge people, push their thinking, or introduce new ideas.

I share a story from earlier in my career about someone who was truly ahead of their time. They had great ideas and saw possibilities that many others did not. But the way those ideas were communicated often felt condescending and dismissive. Instead of drawing people toward the ideas, the approach often pushed them away.

That experience taught me something I have carried throughout my career:

People want to know that if you are going to push them, you also have their back.

This matters in leadership, professional development, speaking, teaching, and almost any situation where we are asking people to consider something new.

Building rapport does not mean avoiding difficult conversations or lowering expectations. In fact, the opposite can be true. When people know that you care about them, respect their experience, and genuinely want them to succeed, you can often challenge them more.

But if we push before building trust, even a great idea can be dismissed because of how it was delivered.

Before asking people to move forward, we need to consider whether we have taken the time to connect with where they are right now.

___________

👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on social media using #InnovatorsMindset

🌐 More at: https://georgecouros.com

🎙 Full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

Follow George Couros:

X: https://x.com/gcouros

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519

📚 Books by George Couros:

Forward, Together:

https://a.co/d/99RGvl3

The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

What Makes a Great Principal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334739?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

Because of a Teacher: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Because of a Teacher 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833450X?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/