For principals, summer learning is more than just a reading list assigned to students. The summer break can offer more time for educators to learn and grow in their own practice. In this episode, we sit down with Chicago principal Dr. Efraín Martínez to share summer learning best practices. We discuss:

• Strategies for students vs. strategies for you

Dr. Efraín Martínez is the proud principal at Orozco Academy since 2015. Before beginning his principalship journey, Dr. Martínez worked as a Teacher Assistant of Spanish at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), as a 5th grade teacher at Rufino Tamayo Charter School, and an office manager at Rush University Medical Hospital, UIC, and at Northwestern University School of Medicine. Thanks to an opportunity with the Chicago Teaching Fellows, he became a certified Spanish teacher and taught at four schools in CPS. After two years as an assistant principal in both the south and north sides of the city, Dr. Martínez was fortunate to be unanimously elected to the most coveted principal spot in the area.

In the midst of an ongoing pandemic, students across the country will still be taking standardized tests and assessments. Arkansas educator Bethany Hill joins us to share thoughts on testing during a pandemic, and how principals can respond to the challenges it presents.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The role of assessments and testing

How to make the best of it

Bethany Hill is a teacher who is currently serving as an administrator. During her 23 years in education, she taught kindergarten, first, second, and third grades. She was a curriculum/academic coach for 3 years, an assistant principal in an K-4 building for 5 years, a principal in a P-4 building for 5 years, and is currently serving as an assistant principal in a P-4 building. All of her service has been in the Cabot School District in Cabot, Arkansas. 

More often than not, what's working at your school depends on who's working there. Finding—and keeping—staff that have a positive impact is an essential part of every school's success.

In this episode, we're joined by Texas principal Porsha Dudley to discuss:

• Finding the best candidates

Porsha Dudley is principal of Arizona Fleming Elementary school in Houston, Texas and has been an educator for the past 16 years. Connect with her on Twitter @PorshaDudley1.

It's that time of year ... job hunting season. With the help of Zandra Jo Galván, a Superintendent from California, we get you geared up and fired up as you set your sights on the future.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Applying for the job

Zandra Jo Galván is superintendent of the Greenfield Union School District in California, and has worked in public education for the past 27 years. Connect with her on Twitter (@zjgalvan), Instagram (@zangalvan), Facebook, and LinkedIn.