Wisdom and Productivity: The Podcast of An Imperfect Educator

Elijah Carbajal is a Title 1 Reading Interventionist, author, and podcaster in Albuquerque, NM.

Todd Whitaker is one of the nation's leading authorities on staff motivation, teacher leadership, and principal effectiveness.

Phil Jackson is one of the most successful coaches in the history of the NBA, having won a total of 11 championship rings with two different teams, the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers. In this book, Jackson shares his unique coaching philosophy and the lessons he learned throughout his career.

Lesson 1: Build a Strong Team Culture

Lesson 2: Embrace Adversity

Lesson 3: Focus on the Journey, Not Just the Destination

Lesson 4: Practice Mindfulness

Lesson 5: Develop a Growth Mindset

Lesson 6: Foster a Sense of Purpose

Lesson 7: Value Diversity

Lesson 8: Build Trust

Lesson 9: Emphasize Teamwork

Lesson 10: Strive for Balance

Brian Martin (@bmartinreal) is a Teacher and the host of the Teaching Champions Podcast https://tinyurl.com/TeachingChampionsPodcast

Joe Ignace is the host of The Knowledge Gap Podcast where he shares about the knowledge gap between what you learn in school and what you need to know in order to have success in your twenties. https://joeignace.com/

Dr Carmen Ayala served as Illinois State Superintendent of Education from 2019 to 2023 leading us through the pandemic. She was the first woman and the first person of color to serve in that position. Prior to that, she served as a superintendent of Berwyn North School District, Assistant Sup in Plainfield and Aurora East districts, and as a classroom teacher in Aurora and in Chicago Public Schools. I had the fortune to meet her when she was a superintendent in Berwyn 98, where she opened her doors to me when I was pursuing my superintendent endorsement. I was able to see her live in action and knew right away she was someone to learn from. Her guidance and wisdom, especially an hour long meeting she dedicated to my learning, is something I will forever be grateful for. Carmen, thank you for making a difference in me!

What to Expect During COVID: A Reflection on the 1 Lesson Learned |Wisdom & Productivity| #TeachBetter #TBPodcaster | Full Episode: https://youtu.be/rt3Nt2jsZQE

I'd like to share with you a personal reflection on what I thought and learned during my experience with COVID-19.

Before we get started, let me clarify —DIOS Mío:  that I am not a medical doctor and cannot provide medical recommendations. I am an education doctor, and I aim to provide quality content for the viewers and listeners of this show.  —- SO…. here’s about the 1 lesson learned

Part 1: The Journey Begins I was going about my daily life as a school principal when suddenly, I became ill. I drove home and focused on getting better. The pain I was experiencing was a combination of existing PTSD and COVID. I felt like a lifeless form, like a Tube Man in front of an empty store, and Chulu was even laughing.

Feeling migraines with body aches with a feeling of depression is no joke. It was at that moment that I realized the actual value of life. The medication I was given was the same as the one Magic Johnson took when he was diagnosed with AIDS. I spent two days in bed, convalescing, and I had two dreams I'll never forget.

Part 2: The Dreams The first dream was simple; I was floating in the water, with no sound, but I could see my reflection.

The second dream was visiting someone I used to date in 3rd grade. I was greeted by her mother, who told me that her daughter was waiting for me in the backyard. Her daughter told me she could not do what she was passionate about at work, and I suggested that she bring her passion to her.

Since I was brought there to support her, I told her, "Remember when I used to say I wanted to be a priest? Well, now I dress all in black because I like that part of being a priest. And I give speeches every day to my students, parents, and faculty about doing good." I woke up after this dream feeling refreshed and with a newfound appreciation for life.

Part 3: The Lesson Learned

Like in therapy, recovery results from COVID-19 depend on your active commitment to participate in the exercises and treatments provided. This lesson applies to recovering from COVID and improving in any aspect of our lives.

I asked myself, "How seriously do I take my health now that I know what it feels like not to have control over it?"

And this led me to reflect on the discipline of Michael Jordan, as described in Phil Jackson's book "Eleven Rings."

Jordan changed his body from a skinny kid to a muscled player and from a baseball player to a basketball player's body. He took his passion seriously, and this is a lesson we can all learn from.

The lesson I learned from my experience with COVID is that recovering only works if you do the job. Whether in therapy, improving our health, or pursuing our passions, we must be actively committed to the process of doing good things, because when we do, good things will happen, and we will see the desired results.

Thank you for joining me today on this reflective journey. Peace and calm

Dr Matthew B. Courtney is a Policy Advisor in Kentucky. He shares on educational research and data use; and most importantly, through his work, he helps kids.  -Who is Dr. Matthew B. Courtney  - Like in Back to the Future | -On Books  -On Impostor Syndrome  -On Productivity, Orchids, and on How to Think about the Dissertation  -On Tech for Learning, Blogging, Planning Cycles, & ChatGPT

Interviewing Dr Susana Held (@HeldSchlPsych) |Wisdom & Productivity| #TeachBetter #TBPodcaster

Dr Susana Held is a bilingual school psychologist who works as a Dean of Students at Leyden High School District 212. An advocate, a lifelong learner, a world adventurer, a lover of books, and a photography enthusiast

- [ ] Who is Dr. Susana Held (@HeldSchlPsych)?  - [ ] Professional Trajectory  - [ ] On Restorative Practices  - [ ] Like in Back to the Future  - [ ] On Books  - [ ] Biggest Influences  - [ ] On Impostor Syndrome  - [ ] On Productivity

Interviewing Dawn M. Harris (@DHarrisEdS)? |Wisdom & Productivity| #TeachBetter #TBPodcaster |

-Who is Dawn Harris?

-Like in Back to the Future

-On Books

-On Anti-Racism

-On Addressing Impostor Syndrome

-On Productivity