The Path Forward

Welcome back to The Path Forward! Today, Dr. Rick Fernandez is joined by John Brochu, Founder/CEO of PracticePlan. John digs into PracticePlan and how it can help districts gain extra revenue from those idle courts, fields, and gymnasiums that school districts already have. John shares the effectiveness of PracticePlan through a few successful stories and why he is doing the work he is today. You won’t want to miss out on this opportunity!

To learn more about PracticePlan check out their website: 

Thank you for watching. Please like, subscribe, and comment!

Host: Dr. Rick Fernandez 

Guest: John Brochu, Founder/CEO of PracticePlan

Time Stamps & Show Notes

(00:00 - 02:04) Introduction

(02:05 - 03:20) PracticePlan

(03:21 - 07:12) Moving Past the Field

(07:13 - 08:22) Looking at the Numbers

(08:23 - 10:36) The Approval Process

(10:37 - 13:09) Utilizing PracticePlan 

(13:10 - 14:54) Creative Ways Using PracticePlan

(14:55 - 18:08) Genesis of PracticePlan

(18:09 - 19:38) Implementation Timeline

(19:39 - 22:24) Helping Schools Marketing

(22:25 - 24:21) What is Your Why?

(24:22 - 26:42) Providing the Wins

(26:43 - 27:41) Contact PracticePlan

(27:42 - 29:10) Closing

Welcome back to The Path Forward! Today, Dr. Rick Fernandez is joined by Dr. Martha Salazar-Zamora. In this episode, we have a live audience as we dive deep into Dr. Salazar-Zamora’s recent experience of winning Superintendent of the Year, the reasons behind her career, and what she has planned next. Dr. Salazar-Zamora is the first woman in Texas to win Superintendent of the Year and wants to encourage women everywhere to achieve great things.

Thank you for watching. Please like, subscribe, and comment!

Host: Dr. Rick Fernandez 

Dr. Martha Salazar-Zamora - Superintendent Tomball ISD - AASA Winner

Time Stamps & Show Notes

(00:00 - 00:52) Introduction

(00:53 - 03:16) Why Work in Education?

(03:17 - 09:15) Past Accomplishments and Mindset

(09:16 - 12:38) Winning Superintendent of the Year

(12:39 - 19:05) Having Good Support

(19:06 - 23:20) Fast Ball Questions 

(23:21 - 26:10) Future Plans

(26:11 - 26:38) Closing

Welcome back to The Path Forward! Today, Dr. Rick Fernandez is joined by Edgewood ISD Superintendent Dr. Eduardo Hernandez. The conversation starts with some history on Edgewood ISD and how our guest began his tenure as superintendent, then moves on to current issues, his leadership style, and his support for women teachers and community leaders. If you’re trying to become a better leader, this is the episode for you.

Thank you for watching. Please like, subscribe, and comment!

Host: Dr. Rick Fernandez 

Guest: Dr. Eduardo Hernandez, Superintendent at Edgewood ISD

Time Stamps & Show Notes

(00:00 - 00:52) Introduction

(00:53 - 06:44) How a Teacher Changed our Guest's Life. 

(06:45 - 11:24) History of Edgewood

(11:25 - 22:21) Advice for New Superintendents

(22:22 - 31:03) How to Build and Influence a Community 

(31:04 - 37:03) Why Dr. Hernandez Loves to Serve 

(37:04 - 43:54) Avoiding Burnout

(43:55 - 47:38) Focusing on Student Careers 

(47:39 - 51:15) Teacher and Community Support at Edgewood ISD

(51:16 - 52:30) Closing Remarks

Welcome back to The Path Forward! Today, Rick talks with Jeff Pelzel, Director of Education Strategy at PowerSchool, about the power of leadership, innovation, and AI. The conversation starts with some background on Jeff and his time in California. Jeff explains the differences in the education system between California and Texas, and his transition to PowerSchool and the new exciting ways they are helping educators everywhere.

Thank you for watching. Please like, subscribe, and comment!

Host: Dr. Rick Fernandez 

Guest: Jeff Pelzel, Director of Education Strategy at PowerSchool

Time Stamps & Show Notes

(00:00 - 01:14) Introduction

(01:15 - 05:11) Jeff’s Background

(05:12 - 08:16) How the California School System Works

(08:17 - 11:03) Jeff’s Experience as a Superintendent

(11:04 - 15:16) Why Move to the Private Sector 

(15:17 - 19:29) Getting Comfortable at Power School

(19:30 - 22:34) Misconceptions in the Provider Sector

(22:35 - 28:07) Future Plans and The Use of AI in PowerSchool

(28:08 - 30:00) Advice for Superintendents  

(30:01 - 33:30) Fun Rapid Fire Questions 

(33:31 - 35:08) Closing

Welcome back to The Path Forward! Today, we have another special episode shot at TASA 2024 Midwinter. Dr. Rick Fernandez is joined by Herbert O’Neil, Superintendent of Hempstead ISD. Herbert shares with us how Hempstead is a place for the community to grow and the vision he and the rest of the school district are using to guide students. He shares plans and implementations for Hempstead ISD. Rick and Herbert emphasize the importance of connecting and building relationships not only with the students but with the community as well. This is an exciting episode you won’t want to miss!

To learn more about Hempstead ISD visit https://www.hempsteadisd.org/page/aboutus

Thank you for watching. Please like, subscribe, and comment!

Host: Dr. Rick Fernandez 

Guest: Herbert O’Neil, Superintendent of Hempstead ISD

Time Stamps & Show Notes

(00:00 - 01:50) Introduction

(01:51 - 03:50) Home in Hempstead

(03:51 - 04:45) Building a Definitive Plan

(04:46 - 07:01) Driving the Community Towards Success

(07:02 - 09:05) Strategic Planning is Key

(09:06 - 11:09) Building Relationships with the Community

(11:10 -13:50) Thinking Through Important Decisions 

(13:51 - 15:00) Success Being an Expectation 

(15:01 - 16:30) Talent Acquisition and Retainment 

(16:31 - 17:22) Outro

Welcome back to The Path Forward! Today, we have a special episode shot at TASA 2024 Midwinter, where Dr. Rick Fernandez is joined by Dr. Carnelius D. Gilder, Superintendent of West Sabine ISD. Together, they put Tracy Spinner, Senior Account Executive at Daybreak Health, on the hot seat.

Tracy dives into mental health's role in attendance, academic performance, and more. She shares how Daybreak Health is working to assist districts in supporting their students' mental health journeys. Tracy even discusses Daybreak Health’s approach to helping smaller rural communities and their focus on matching students with therapists they feel safe with. This conversation is crucial today and should be heard, so don’t miss out on this episode!

Connect with Tracy by email at [email protected] or connect with her on LinkedIn by clicking this link https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracy-a-spinner-4a515926/ 

To learn more about Daybreak Health, follow this link to visit their website: https://www.daybreakhealth.com/ 

Thank you for watching. Please like, subscribe, and comment!

Host: Dr. Rick Fernandez 

Guests: Dr. Carnelius D. Gilder, Superintendent, West Sabine ISD

Tracy Spinner, Senior Account Executive, Daybreak Health

Time Stamps & Show Notes

(00:00 - 01:23) Introduction

(01:24 - 02:18) Daybreak Health

(02:19 - 04:07) A Sense of Urgency

(04:08 - 05:04) Serving Smaller Districts

(05:05 - 08:06) Innovative Scheduling Strategies

(08:07 - 10:15) Delicate Balancing Act

(10:16 - 13:32) Being Fiscally Intentional

(13:33 - 17:22) Advocating for Small Districts

(17:23 - 19:21) The Best Practices

(19:22 - 21:05) Marketing the Services

(21:06 - 23:30) A Partnership Approach

(23:31 - 27:00) Communicating with Districts

(27:01 - 27:57) Connect with Tracy and Dr. Gilder

(27:58 - 28:30) Closing

Welcome back to The Path Forward! Today, we have another special episode shot at TASA 2024 Midwinter. Dr. Rick Fernandez is joined by Bryan Taulton, Superintendent at Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD, and Craig Starcher, Principal Consultant at Frontline Advisory Group. They both share their experiences of relevant issues with bond acquisition and processes essential to acquiring a bond. Craig shares how Frontline Advisory guides schools and cities to prepare effectively for the bond process. They both share fascinating perspectives from inside the schools to the consultants. This is an exciting episode you won’t want to miss!

To learn more about Frontline Advisory Group visit https://frontlineadvisorygroup.com/

Thank you for watching. Please like, subscribe, and comment!

Host: Dr. Rick Fernandez 

Guest: Bryan Taulton, Superintendent at Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD

Craig Starcher, Principal Consultant at Frontline Advisory Group

Time Stamps & Show Notes

(00:00 - 01:52) Introduction

(01:53 - 05:50) On-the-Ground Managers

(05:51 - 10:30) Out of Budget Projects

(10:31 - 11:40) Importance of Project Guidelines

(11:41 - 13:35) Acquiring Bonds and Consulting Companies

(13:36 - 17:38) Planning Ahead for Bond Acquisition

(17:39 - 20:50) Weather Stories

(20:51 - 21:33) Outro

Welcome back to The Path Forward! Today, we have a special episode recorded at TASA 2024 Midwinter, where John Vaglienty, Deputy Superintendent of Willis ISD, joins Dr. Rick Fernandez. Together, they put James Stoffer the CEO of Abre, on the hot seat. James shares the pathway that Abre took to become a successful data-driven business and how they are helping school districts along the same path today. Watch now to hear about the innovative system that Abre is using to help get education out of the responsive actions to data and learn more about their fully integrative system for students, teachers, and parents. You won’t want to miss out on this informative episode.

To learn more about Abre check out their website at https://abre.com/. To schedule a time to talk about investing in Abre’s services reach out to [email protected] to start the discussion today.

Thank you for watching. Please like, subscribe, and comment!

Host: Dr. Rick Fernandez 

Guests: John Vaglienty, Deputy Superintendent of Willis ISD

James Stoffer the CEO of Abre

Time Stamps & Show Notes

(00:00 - 01:23) Introduction

(01:24 - 03:22) Abre Helps Data Comes to Life

(03:23 - 09:54) Abre is Open to All Data

(09:55 - 15:12) Service More Than a Product

(15:13 - 19:19) The MTSS Problem

(19:20 - 30:27) Moving to Create Predictions

(30:28 - 36:35) Parents' Ability to Access Data

(36:36 - 41:10) Building Communication Channels

(41:11 - 44:36) Data Proving Impact 

(44:37 - 48:22) The Value of Abre

(48:23 - 49:00) Connect with Abre

(49:01 - 49:31) Closing

Welcome to another exciting episode of The Path Forward! Today, we bring you a special edition filmed at TASA 2024 Midwinter, featuring the dynamic conversation between Dr. Rick Fernandez and Devin Padavil, the accomplished superintendent of Georgetown ISD.

In this captivating and enlightening episode, Devin candidly shares insights into his distinctive leadership style and unwavering commitment to treating every student in Georgetown ISD as if they were part of his own family. Dr. Rick and Devin delve into the crucial discussion on the optimal student population for a school, emphasizing the importance of transcending mere numbers to truly 'know' each student, fostering genuine connections and meaningful relationships.

Thank you for watching. Please like, subscribe, and comment!

X: @DevinPadavil 

Host: Dr. Rick Fernandez 

Guests: Devin Padavil - Superintendent - Georgetown ISD

Welcome back to The Path Forward! Today, we have a special episode shot at TASA 2024 Midwinter, where Dr. Rick Fernandez is joined by Dr. Michael Cardona, Superintendent of San Marcos CISD. Together, they put John Brochu, Founder/CEO of PracticePlan, on the hot seat.

Hear how PracticePlan is helping school districts utilize their facilities by renting out on their one-of-a-kind platform. In this episode, John also shares the origins of PracticePlan and addresses the hard-hitting questions thrown at him by Dr. Cardona and Rick, including how to manage the applicants and how schools can pay for this service. You won’t want to miss out on learning about an innovative and fantastic product.

www.practiceplan.io LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook [email protected]

Thank you for watching. Please like, subscribe, and comment!

Host: Dr. Rick Fernandez 

Guests: Dr. Michael Cardona, Superintendent of San Marcos CISD

John Brochu, Founder/CEO of PracticePlan

Time Stamps & Show Notes

(00:00 - 01:04) Introduction

(01:05 - 05:06) From Sports Dad to Entrepreneur

(05:07 - 08:16) Streamlining the Process

(08:17 - 11:22) Pushback from School Districts

(11:23 - 13:35) Getting Set Up

(13:36 - 15:33) Success Stories

(15:34 - 16:26) Setting Up Liability

(16:27 - 20:43) Most Used Facilities

(20:44 - 22:26) Getting the Word Out

(22:27 - 23:24) Tightening the Approvals

(23:25 - 24:14) Granting Access to Kids

(24:15 - 25:50) Improving the Technology

(25:51 - 29:23) Looking at the Funding

(29:24 - 30:07) Connect with John

(30:08 - 30:44) Closing