Right from the start, Naomi Toland shares how she is finding balance in her life and an educator/parent/leader who helped that balance. Toland also shares more about her first year in education and what advice she would have appreciated earlier on.

Who is a teacher that has inspired you and why?

Who is an administrator that has inspired you and why?

What advice would you give your first-year teacher self?

Links:

Empathetic Educators Live Q&A with George Couros - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJhYfPxu2ok

Empathetic Educators on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCv6tX_ugENm0xVZDj-oEFAg

Naomi Toland Website - https://www.createeducate.com/

Naomi Toland on Twitter - twitter.com/@naomi_toland

Naomi Toland on Instagram - instagram.com/@naomi.m.t

Quote:

"Be kind...be kind to each other and be kind to yourself ."

This episode shares an inspiring conversation with Steve Bollar, author of the Stand Tall Leadership! George Couros and Steve Bollar talk about the powerful impact of all teachers and reflect on Bollar’s past as an art teacher and how he ended up in a leadership position. Bollar also explains the two types of school culture that can impact the school climate - behavioral culture and operational culture. Towards the end, Bollar shares his powerful ideas on integrity and what that looks like in a position of leadership. Watch this episode to be left inspired by the answers Bollar shares in response to Couros’ questions and thoughts.

Three Main Points:

From art teacher to admin

Behavioral culture and operational culture and in the middle is the climate (how people feel on a regular basis)

Integrity - 4 points

Links:

Stand Tall Steve - https://www.standtallsteve.com/

Stand Tall Leadership on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Stand-Tall-Leadership-Differently-Successfully-ebook/dp/B086Q7BG28

Steve Bollar on Twitter - https://twitter.com/StandTallSteve?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Quotes:

"In between the behavioral culture and the operational culture is the climate..."

"...the goal is to make sure that the behavioral culture and the operational culture are in alignment with what you respect and value..."

"Are your values consistent?" - George Couros

"The number one thing for leaders to do is to maintain a high level of integrity."

"My definition of integrity is a set of beliefs, values, and actions that others can depend on."

"...when you stick by what you say, that means something..."

"When you stand TALL you don't think small."

Please share your thoughts with us on Twitter or Instagram at #InnovatorsMindset.

More at georgecouros.ca

George Couros on Twitter: https://twitter.com/gcouros

George Couros on Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

George Couros on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/

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

For the full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

The Innovator's Mindset:https://www.amazon.com/Innovators-Mindset-Empower-Learning-Creativity/dp/0986155497/ref=zg_bs_69830_7?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=ARY8KZTA242NVFMHF9X0

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/Innovate-Inside-Box-Empowering-Innovators/dp/1948334127/ref=zg_bs_69830_12?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=75E0ZS6R2J330FAM9Y0A

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

Dr. Brandon Beck joins George Couros on another episode of Three Questions on Educators that Inspire. Some very thought-provoking ideas are discussed including this one: "When we base things just on the textbook, we are not honoring the kid's curiosity.” Hear what led up to this idea and how Dr. Brandon Beck answers the following questions:

Who is a teacher that has inspired you and why?

Who is an administrator that has inspired you and why?

What advice would you give your first-year teacher self?

Links:

Michelle Grier - https://twitter.com/roosprincipal4?lang=en

Unlocking Unlimited Potential (book on Amazon) - https://www.amazon.com/Unlocking-Unlimited-Potential-Brandon-Beck/dp/1777473284/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Please share your thoughts with us on Twitter or Instagram at #InnovatorsMindset.

More at georgecouros.ca

George Couros on Twitter: https://twitter.com/gcouros

George Couros on Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

George Couros on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/

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

For the full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

The Innovator's Mindset:https://www.amazon.com/Innovators-Mindset-Empower-Learning-Creativity/dp/0986155497/ref=zg_bs_69830_7?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=ARY8KZTA242NVFMHF9X0

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/Innovate-Inside-Box-Empowering-Innovators/dp/1948334127/ref=zg_bs_69830_12?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=75E0ZS6R2J330FAM9Y0A

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

Amber Teamann is an amazing educator and a very close friend of George Couros. Right away, Amber hits viewers and listeners with a few of her “Amberisms” that work to inspire and provoke thought. The two talk in-depth about being thoughtful of the roles of teachers and how that impacts the relationships that are built at a school site. Amber shares a few of the jokes that George’s daughter, Kallea, absolutely loves! Amber also reflects on her first year as a principal and school leader. Very openly, Amber shares some of the feedback that she got from her staff during her first year as an administrator. Amber also gets very real about the struggles and what she did to be there and be present and to ultimately be what her staff needed.

Three Main Points:

Learning from and connecting with others that have skills in different areas.

The values that we share.

Being the reason incredible things happen with our students.

Links:

Amber Teamann Blog (The First Year) - https://technicallyteamann.com/category/thefirstyear/

4 Guiding Questions for Your IT Department - https://georgecouros.ca/blog/archives/3702

Quotes:

“I have got to surround myself with people who are smarter than me but also people who are smarter ‘differently’ than me.” -Amber Teamann

“It is always going to be different any time you have a leadership change; what is important is maintaining the things that have been held up as values.” - Amber Teamann

“My role and goal is to be the people who are giving them the tools or the resources to make incredible things happen with their students.” - Amber Teamann

“If it doesn’t work within the system, then we need to change the system.” -George Couros

Please share your thoughts with us on Twitter or Instagram at #InnovatorsMindset.

More at georgecouros.ca

George Couros on Twitter: https://twitter.com/gcouros

George Couros on Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

George Couros on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/

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

For the full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

The Innovator's Mindset:https://www.amazon.com/Innovators-Mindset-Empower-Learning-Creativity/dp/0986155497/ref=zg_bs_69830_7?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=ARY8KZTA242NVFMHF9X0

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/Innovate-Inside-Box-Empowering-Innovators/dp/1948334127/ref=zg_bs_69830_12?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=75E0ZS6R2J330FAM9Y0A

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

“When students are positioned to experience, discuss, and analyze their experiences as learners, thinkers, and stakeholders in the school, change happens from the inside out.” - Dr. Mary Hemphill-Joseph

Right away, this episode kicks off with George playing DJ using Dr. Mary Hemphill-Joseph’s theme song! Dr. Mary Hemphill-Joseph reflects on an educator that taught about the power of kindness and integrity. She also reflects on administrators and advice that she would have appreciated earlier on in her career as she answers these questions:

Who is a teacher that has inspired you and why?

Who is an administrator that has inspired you and why?

What advice would you give your first-year teacher self?

This episode is a great reminder that people may forget our words or what we teach, but they will never forget how we made them feel!

Please share your thoughts with us on Twitter or Instagram at #InnovatorsMindset.

More at georgecouros.ca

George Couros on Twitter: https://twitter.com/gcouros

George Couros on Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

George Couros on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/

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

For the full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

The Innovator's Mindset:https://www.amazon.com/Innovators-Mindset-Empower-Learning-Creativity/dp/0986155497/ref=zg_bs_69830_7?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=ARY8KZTA242NVFMHF9X0

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/Innovate-Inside-Box-Empowering-Innovators/dp/1948334127/ref=zg_bs_69830_12?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=75E0ZS6R2J330FAM9Y0A

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

We have had so many great guests on the #InnovatorsMindset podcast in January and we wanted to capture some of the highlights from what they shared. Enjoy the highlights of the month from an awesome group of educators!

Timecodes:

00:00 Intro from George Couros

00:55 Intro Music

01:04 Stephanie Rothstein

04:00 Dr. Brandon Beck

06:55 Dr. Katie Novak

10:35 Dwight Carter

11:32 Dave Burgess

13:37 Annick Rauch

15:27 Closing

Highlight Descriptions -

Stephanie Rothstein:

Stephanie Rothstein talks about using the True Colors Survey to put a purpose to the opening activities that we do with our learners. Rothstein talks about how she uses the data from the True Colors Survey to build groups in her classroom and how to connect it to the curriculum in your classroom.

Dr. Brandon Beck:

Dr. Brandon Beck and George Couros talk about what it means to have a growth mindset and how to go beyond simply having a growth mindset to believing that we can cultivate abilities and give learners an opportunity to explore their interests as we include social-emotional learning into our day.

Dr. Katie Novak:

Dr. Katie Novak shares the three core principles of UDL as she discusses the strategies and how those strategies have evolved:

-engagement

-representation

-action & expression

Dr. Novak talks about designing a collection of resources for any type of learning environment - hybrid, face to face, virtual...

Dwight Carter:

In the episode of Three Questions on Educators that Inspire, Dwight Carter gives the important reminder to “chill out.” Hear how he reflects on his first year teaching and shares an important reminder that we can all benefit from hearing over and over!

Dave Burgess:

Dave Burgess talks about what he shares with his potential authors and discusses how writers do not need to go “over the top.” Instead of being formal and serious, Burgess shares the advice that authors should take the best content from their speaking and their writing to share their legacy!

Annick Rauch:

Reflecting on the very first blog post that Annick Rauch wrote, George Couros pulls up a quote from her very first blog post and asks how her thinking has shifted. Rauch talks about how her thoughts on blogging and her blogging process have evolved.

George Couros and Annick Rauch have known each other for years! Annick recently wrote a blog post about the struggles that teachers are facing and she reflects on the long-term impact that our current situation will have on educators. Both laugh as they look back at each other’s blog posts and reflect on their ideas from then and consider how their ideas have grown. George even reads a piece of Annick’s first blog post aloud and finds one particular piece very funny! After the two have some great laughs, Annick shares how she is being innovative within her new-found constraints. Listen to the end to hear Annick talk about three pieces of advice and hear George’s commentary on each piece. This energetic podcast episode gives some great tips for blogging and being innovative in education.

Links

Annick Rauch Blog - http://www.annickrauch.ca/

Finding Joy Amidst the Struggle (Blog Pos by Annick Rauch) - http://www.annickrauch.ca/2020/11/29/finding-joy-amidst-the-struggles/

Will we Though (Blog Post by Annick Rauch) - http://www.annickrauch.ca/2020/11/11/will-we-though/

Breaks are Good (Blog Post by George Couros) - https://georgecouros.ca/blog/archives/9030

3 Ideas for Taking Care of Yourself (Blog Post by George Couros) - https://georgecouros.ca/blog/archives/tag/personal-health

10 Tips for New Teachers (Blog Post and Podcast by George Couros) - https://georgecouros.ca/blog/archives/11794

Creating Hope and Joy for Learners – A Conversation with Dean Shareski (Blog Post by George Couros) - https://georgecouros.ca/blog/archives/12035

Me, in my educational nutshell - http://www.annickrauch.ca/2016/09/18/me-in-my-educational-nutshell/

Balance vs. Meaning #IMMOOC - http://www.annickrauch.ca/2017/02/28/balance-vs-meaning-immooc/

Good Enough is Enough (Blog Post) - http://www.annickrauch.ca/2020/05/19/good-enough-is-enough/

The Road Right in Front of You (Blog Post by George Couros) - https://georgecouros.ca/blog/archives/tag/learning-from-running

Annick Rauch Twitter - https://twitter.com/annickrauch?lang=en

Annick Rauch Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/annickrauch/?hl=en

Three Main Points

What is the long-term impact that this situation will have on us and our learners?

How are we being innovative in our current situation and how are our solutions new and better under these circumstances?

How is what we are going through right now going to help us be appreciative in the future?

Please share your thoughts with us on Twitter or Instagram at #InnovatorsMindset.

More at georgecouros.ca

George Couros on Twitter: https://twitter.com/gcouros

George Couros on Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

George Couros on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/

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

For the full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

The Innovator's Mindset:https://www.amazon.com/Innovators-Mindset-Empower-Learning-Creativity/dp/0986155497/ref=zg_bs_69830_7?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=ARY8KZTA242NVFMHF9X0

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/Innovate-Inside-Box-Empowering-Innovators/dp/1948334127/ref=zg_bs_69830_12?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=75E0ZS6R2J330FAM9Y0A

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

George and Katie discuss three questions that can benefit all educators - no matter where you are in your career:

Who is a teacher that has inspired you?

Tell about one administrator who impacted you.

Would advice would you give your first-year teacher self?

Hear how Katie answers these three questions and get even more fun banter in this short Innovator’s Mindset Podcast mini-series!

Links:

Music Link- https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music/track/perception

Please share your thoughts with us on Twitter or Instagram at #InnovatorsMindset.

More at georgecouros.ca

George Couros on Twitter: https://twitter.com/gcouros

George Couros on Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

George Couros on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/

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

For the full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

The Innovator's Mindset:https://www.amazon.com/Innovators-Mindset-Empower-Learning-Creativity/dp/0986155497/ref=zg_bs_69830_7?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=ARY8KZTA242NVFMHF9X0

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/Innovate-Inside-Box-Empowering-Innovators/dp/1948334127/ref=zg_bs_69830_12?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=75E0ZS6R2J330FAM9Y0A

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

George and Dave have worked together for years - the relationship that they have built could have gone very differently had certain events not fallen into place. George and Dave reminisce about their first time meeting and George reflects on the conversation they had and the actions taken that could have created a very different relationship between the two. As business partners, George and Dave also discuss how Dave came to found The Dave Burgess Consulting company. Throughout this podcast, the two talk about the beginning of the career and how they have gotten to where they are today. Dave closes with this advice: “Get connected!”

Links

Tim Ferris - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-o80C-DU5gE

Dave Burgess Consulting - https://www.daveburgessconsulting.com/

3 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Challenging Others - https://georgecouros.ca/blog/archives/8732

Seth Godin - https://seths.blog/2011/03/reject-the-tyranny-of-being-picked-pick-yourself/

George Couros (Change is an Opportunity) - https://georgecouros.ca/blog/archives/tag/change-is-an-opportunity-to-do-something-amazing

Three Main Points

Before challenging others, ask yourself are you willing to be challenged in the same way?

From failure should come growth.

Take a risk, don’t wait to be tapped on the shoulder.

Quotes

"Take the risk, don't wait to be tapped on the shoulder."

"Because of disruption, we saw that education can shift very quickly."

"Sometimes the best thing that can happen to you is being rejected from something."

"Be thoughtful of connecting yourself with people that will push you but also have your back."

Please share your thoughts with us on Twitter or Instagram at #InnovatorsMindset.

More at georgecouros.ca

George Couros on Twitter: https://twitter.com/gcouros

George Couros on Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

George Couros on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/

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

For the full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

The Innovator's Mindset:https://www.amazon.com/Innovators-Mindset-Empower-Learning-Creativity/dp/0986155497/ref=zg_bs_69830_7?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=ARY8KZTA242NVFMHF9X0

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/Innovate-Inside-Box-Empowering-Innovators/dp/1948334127/ref=zg_bs_69830_12?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=75E0ZS6R2J330FAM9Y0A

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

George and Dwight discuss three questions that can benefit all educators - no matter where you are in your career:

Who is a teacher that has inspired you?

Tell about one administrator who impacted you.

What advice would you give your first-year teacher self?

Hear how Dwight’s insights and explanations work to answer each of the three questions in this mini-series and get to know Dwight - as well as a bit about his family. Dwight also tells the story behind why he became an administrator as he shares his answers to each of these three questions.

Please share your thoughts with us on Twitter or Instagram at #InnovatorsMindset.

More at georgecouros.ca

George Couros on Twitter: https://twitter.com/gcouros

George Couros on Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

George Couros on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/

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

For the full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

The Innovator's Mindset:https://www.amazon.com/Innovators-Mindset-Empower-Learning-Creativity/dp/0986155497/ref=zg_bs_69830_7?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=ARY8KZTA242NVFMHF9X0

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/Innovate-Inside-Box-Empowering-Innovators/dp/1948334127/ref=zg_bs_69830_12?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=75E0ZS6R2J330FAM9Y0A

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