The School Leadership Show

In this episode of The School Leadership Show, I sit down with Dr. L. Oliver Robinson to discuss his two decades of leadership at Shenendehowa. Dr. Robinson shares his unique path from economics into the superintendency, explaining why he remains a lifelong learner within the craft of school administration.

We get into his approach to building resilient systems by institutionalizing change and his perspective on the K-12 journey as a 13-year odyssey. We also talk about prioritizing dialogue over debate, the importance of "slowing the game down" as a leader, and why public schools are vital to our democracy. Finally, he shares an unexpected insight from retirement about moving beyond the clock to embrace the significance of the moment.

If you have questions, feedback, or suggestions for future episodes, including great non-education books with lessons for school leaders you can email me at [email protected].

I would really appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It helps a lot. And if you found this episode helpful, please share it with your colleagues.

If you are interested in sponsoring the podcast, feel free to contact me directly at [email protected].

Stay connected with me here:

• Official Website: theschoolleadershipshow.org

• YouTube: youtube.com/@theschoolleadershipshow

• Facebook: facebook.com/theschoolleadershipshow

• Instagram: instagram.com/theschoolleadershipshow

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

00:40 Superintendent of the Year

01:33 Career Origin Story

05:00 Leading Without the Traditional Path

06:38 How Schooling Has Changed

10:28 Competency Based Learning

13:58 Evolving Programs Through Dialogue

15:26 Advice to New Leaders

20:53 Public Education Worries and Hope

24:57 Retirement Surprises and Farewell

What if the best self-care strategy for school leaders isn't another wellness activity, but learning how to lead from a more regulated place?

In this episode of The School Leadership Show, I sit down with Erica Ebert to move beyond the "yoga your way out of it" clichés and talk about what real self-care and regulated leadership look like in schools. Drawing on her 28 years of K-12 experience, Erica shares how mindfulness, self-awareness, and compassion can help leaders better understand themselves, their teams, and the cultures they create.

We also discuss why "regulated leaders regulate rooms," and why predictable, psychologically safe environments may be the most powerful form of care leaders can provide.

Consider this Erica's official audition as a future guest host. I'm excited to bring her into more conversations as we continue exploring what it means to do the work before the work.

Visit Erica's website: ericaebert.com

If you have questions, feedback, or suggestions for future episodes, including great non-education books with lessons for school leaders you can email me at [email protected].

I would really appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It helps a lot. And if you found this episode helpful, please share it with your colleagues.

If you are interested in sponsoring the podcast, feel free to contact me directly at [email protected].

Stay connected with me here:

• Official Website: theschoolleadershipshow.org

• YouTube: youtube.com/@theschoolleadershipshow

• Facebook: facebook.com/theschoolleadershipshow

• Instagram: instagram.com/theschoolleadershipshow

Chapters: 00:00 Welcome and Introductions

01:14 Erica's Path to Mindfulness

02:33 Mindfulness Basics for Leaders

05:45 Awareness and Compassion Wings

07:33 Feelings as Data

10:59 Why People Resist the Work

14:23 Safety Isn't Declared

16:29 Leading Systemwide Change

23:38 Self Care vs Strong Systems

26:38 Rapid Fire and Wrap Up

In this episode of The School Leadership Show, I interview acclaimed author and reading expert Timothy Shanahan. We delve into Timothy's new book, 'Leveled Reading, Leveled Lives' discussing the troubling stagnation in U.S. reading levels and how traditional approaches to reading instruction have failed over the decades. Timothy critiques the widespread but ineffective method of using leveled readers and advocates for teaching grade-level texts with appropriate support. The conversation covers historical and contemporary research, the evolution of instructional strategies, and practical advice for school administrators to help improve reading achievement across all grades. Learn more and visit Tim's website https://www.shanahanonliteracy.com/.

If you have questions, feedback, or suggestions for future episodes, including great non-education books with lessons for school leaders you can email me at [email protected].

I would really appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It helps a lot. And if you found this episode helpful, please share it with your colleagues.

If you are interested in sponsoring the podcast, feel free to contact me directly at [email protected].

Stay connected with me here:

• Official Website: theschoolleadershipshow.org
• YouTube: youtube.com/@theschoolleadershipshow
• Facebook: facebook.com/theschoolleadershipshow
• Instagram: instagram.com/theschoolleadershipshow

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

01:20 Discussing the New Book: Leveled Reading Leveled Lives

04:28 Historical Context of Reading Instruction

10:22 Challenges with Current Reading Instruction Methods

21:43 Proposed Solutions and Future Directions

25:25 Addressing Reading Challenges in Young Learners

26:32 The Importance of Fluency and Comprehension

30:33 Background Knowledge and Its Role in Reading

35:55 Effective Reading Instruction Strategies

39:52 Reflecting on Changes in Reading Education

In this episode of the School Leadership Show, I had the pleasure of interviewing Amanda Bickerstaff, co-founder and CEO of AI for Education. We delved into Amanda's rich background in education and her pioneering work with AI. Amanda shared her journey from teaching high school biology in New York City to founding AI for Education, a platform dedicated to promoting AI literacy among educators and students.

This conversation was recorded in partnership with NYSCOSS, as Amanda is a featured speaker at their pre-institute session before the Winter Institute conference in Albany. We discussed her upcoming pre-conference workshop at the NYSCOSS Winter Institute, focusing on the crucial roles of AI literacy, effective change management, and ensuring equitable access to AI tools in the education sector.

For more information about the NYSCOSS Winter Institute and the pre-institute session, visit: https://na.eventscloud.com/website/91519/education/

If you have questions, feedback, or suggestions for future episodes, including great non-education books with lessons for school leaders you can email me at [email protected].

I would really appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It helps a lot. And if you found this episode helpful, please share it with your colleagues.

If you are interested in sponsoring the podcast, feel free to contact me directly at [email protected].

Stay connected with me here:

• Official Website: theschoolleadershipshow.org
• YouTube: youtube.com/@theschoolleadershipshow
• Facebook: facebook.com/theschoolleadershipshow
• Instagram: instagram.com/theschoolleadershipshow

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

00:46 Amanda Bickerstaff's Background and Journey

03:15 Founding AI for Education

06:19 Early Work and Evolution

10:01 Challenges and Best Practices in AI Adoption

18:02 Equity and Access in AI

25:05 Future of EdTech and Practical Tips

32:14 Pre-conference workshop

In this episode, I, Mike Doughty facilitates a conversation with cabinet level leaders sponsored by the New York State Council of School Superintendents (NYSCOSS). The group talked about strategies for finding the joy in work, cultivating positive culture in the workplace, and striving for work-life balance. If you're a cabinet level leader in New York State and would like to join future conversation like this, please visit the NYSCOSS website at https://www.nyscoss.org/

Grab your coffee and join us as we hear from veteran and emerging leaders about sustaining the passion for this work and modeling healthy boundaries for the next generation of educators.

If you have questions, feedback, or suggestions for future episodes, including great non-education books with lessons for school leaders you can email me at [email protected].

I would really appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It helps a lot. And if you found this episode helpful, please share it with your colleagues.

If you are interested in sponsoring the podcast, feel free to contact me directly at [email protected].

Stay connected with me here:

• Official Website: theschoolleadershipshow.org
• YouTube: youtube.com/@theschoolleadershipshow
• Facebook: facebook.com/theschoolleadershipshow
• Instagram: instagram.com/theschoolleadershipshow

In this special episode from the NYSCATE Conference, I, Mike Doughty, and Christy Bezrutczyk discuss the influence of technology and AI on the developing student brain.

We examine recent findings in neuroscience, the impact of screen time and blue light on learning and behavior, and the evolving role of AI in education. Our conversation stresses the importance of balanced technology integration, human connection, and systemic changes needed to enhance educational outcomes.

Tune in to learn how we can leverage technology purposefully to support holistic student development.

If you have questions, feedback, or suggestions for future episodes, including great non-education books with lessons for school leaders you can email me at [email protected].

I would really appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It helps a lot. And if you found this episode helpful, please share it with your colleagues.

If you are interested in sponsoring the podcast, feel free to contact me directly at [email protected].

Stay connected with me here:

• Official Website: theschoolleadershipshow.org
• YouTube: youtube.com/@theschoolleadershipshow
• Facebook: facebook.com/theschoolleadershipshow
• Instagram: instagram.com/theschoolleadershipshow

I am excited to share a conversation I had recently with the New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA) on The President's Gavel podcast. This episode, based on a popular session from this year's Leadership in Education Event, explores media literacy and why it is arguably the most crucial skill set we need to teach students today.

Join us as we delve into the challenges of the modern information ecosystem and explore how educators can empower students to become savvy thinkers, rather than merely "endless scrollers".

Host: Ann Laszewski, Leadership Development Manager, NYSSBA

Guest: Dr. Mike Doughty, Assistant Superintendent, Northeastern Regional Information Center, Capital Region BOCES (Previously joined the podcast for Episode 39: What's So Scary About AI? in 2023).

Guest: Katherine Hamill, Director, Mid-Hudson Regional Information Center, Ulster BOCES

Want to learn more about today's topic? Additional resources can be found in the original show notes for this episode. https://soundcloud.com/thepresidentsgavel/empowering-critical-thinking-through-media-literacy

If you have questions, feedback, or suggestions for future episodes, including great non-education books with lessons for school leaders you can email me at [email protected].

I would really appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It helps a lot. And if you found this episode helpful, please share it with your colleagues.

If you are interested in sponsoring the podcast, feel free to contact me directly at [email protected].

Stay connected with me here:

• Official Website: theschoolleadershipshow.org

• YouTube: youtube.com/@theschoolleadershipshow

• Facebook: facebook.com/theschoolleadershipshow

• Instagram: instagram.com/theschoolleadershipshow

How important is it to stay in touch with pop culture as a school leader?

In this episode, I chat with Brooke Hammerling, the host of "Pop Culture Mondays… on Thursdays" podcast and the author of the widely read Pop Culture Mondays Newsletter. We dive into Brooke's unique journey from PR and communications to becoming a vital source of pop culture knowledge, especially for a gen Xer like me.

Brooke shares how staying current with the latest trends can help educators connect better with their students, and the challenges and benefits of balancing communication in today's fast-paced, digital world. We also discuss the resurgence of 90s culture, iconic school movies, and why media literacy is crucial for today's students.

If you have questions, feedback, or suggestions for future episodes, including great non-education books with lessons for school leaders you can email me at [email protected].

I would really appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It helps a lot. And if you found this episode helpful, please share it with your colleagues.

If you are interested in sponsoring the podcast, feel free to contact me directly at [email protected].

Stay connected with me here:

• Official Website: theschoolleadershipshow.org
• YouTube: youtube.com/@theschoolleadershipshow
• Facebook: facebook.com/theschoolleadershipshow
• Instagram: instagram.com/theschoolleadershipshow

Connect with Brooke Hammerling and explore her insights:

• Podcast: Pop Culture Mondays… on Thursdays
• Newsletter: popculturemondays.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/brooke

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

00:23 Brooke's Background and Podcast

02:22 The Pop Culture Mondays Newsletter

05:25 Impact of Pop Culture on Schools

07:54 Communication Challenges in Modern Education

28:51 The Impact of Misinformation in Schools

29:55 Pop Culture's Reflection on Education

34:18 Favorite School-Centric Movies

41:30 The '90s Revival

How does one navigate the journey from English teacher to Superintendent? In this episode, I sit down with the recently retired Marie Wiles in a unique in-person interview. We dive deep into her 36-year-long career, from early teaching days and curriculum development to her tenure in various leadership roles, including her time as a BOCES district superintendent. Marie shares her insights on the importance of instructional experience, the challenges of transitioning roles, the value of networks, and her unexpected journey into authoring a book, "Lessons from the Bard: What Shakespeare Can Teach Us about School District Leadership". This engaging episode unfolds Marie's remarkable experiences and her perspectives on the future of education amid financial uncertainties.

If you have questions, feedback, or suggestions for future episodes, including great non-education books with lessons for school leaders you can email me at [email protected].

I would really appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It helps a lot. And if you found this episode helpful, please share it with your colleagues.

If you are interested in sponsoring the podcast, feel free to contact me directly at [email protected].

Stay connected with me here:

• Official Website: theschoolleadershipshow.org
• YouTube: youtube.com/@theschoolleadershipshow
• Facebook: facebook.com/theschoolleadershipshow
• Instagram: instagram.com/theschoolleadershipshow

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Special Guest Announcement

00:49 Marie Wiles' Early Career in Education

01:46 Transition to Higher Education and Doctoral Studies

05:21 BOCES Experience and Leadership Roles

08:53 Personal Life and Career Moves

17:19 Balancing Lesson Plans and Student Interaction

19:51 The Dunning-Kruger Effect in Leadership

20:31 Challenges and Realities of Leadership Roles

23:23 Gender Disparity in Educational Leadership

25:49 Concerns for the Future of Education

28:48 Hope and Faith in Youth

31:46 Writing a Book: Lessons from Shakespeare

32:03 The Process of Writing and Publishing

37:26 Final Thoughts and Gratitude

Feeling overwhelmed by the complexities of leadership today? Tune in to learn how building your self-regulation can help you navigate dysregulated times and have more effective conversations. In this episode, my co-host Jenn David-Lang and I had the pleasure of speaking with the amazing Jennifer Abrams, whom I see as a guru of interpersonal relations in education. Jennifer, a full-time international consultant and author of impactful books like Having Hard Conversations and Stretching Your Learning Edge: Growing (up) at Work, joined us to explore the critical topic of self-regulation in dysregulated times.

We talked about living in a VUCA world, Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous, and how we need to build complexity fitness by developing our cognitive, emotional, and psychological skills. Jennifer shared that becoming more self-regulated involves building self-awareness, like cleaning up our emotional "dust". It turns out only about 10-15% of people are truly self-aware, and one way to improve is by bravely asking for 360 feedback from your team.

We also dove into practical skills for leaders navigating challenging moments, such as learning to suspend certainty that your way is the only way. Saying "Tell me more" instead of reacting can be incredibly powerful. For extroverts like me, focusing on listening instead of jumping in is key. I shared my favorite tactic when someone is stressed: asking, "How long do we have to make this decision?". This simple question helps shift from feeling "subject" to circumstances to viewing them more "objectively".

Jennifer left us with powerful parting advice: "Go have humane, growth-producing conversations. That's the goal.". Jennifer Abrams' Newsletter: jenniferabrams.com

If you have questions, feedback, or suggestions for future episodes—including great non-education books with lessons for school leaders—email us at [email protected]. Please consider leaving a rating and review on Spotify or iTunes to support the show. Every bit helps! And if you found this episode helpful, share it with your colleagues.

Interested in sponsoring the podcast? Contact Mike directly at [email protected]. To explore insightful summaries of top leadership books, connect with Jenn David-Lang at [email protected] or visit TheMainIdea.net.

Timestamp:

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

02:08 Understanding Dysregulation and Self-Regulation

07:08 Building Self-Awareness and Team Dynamics

24:00 Mentoring the Next Generation of Leaders

27:29 Balancing Personal and Professional Needs

37:17 Personal Insights and Fun Tangents