Those who have been in education for some time and have paid attention know Robert Marzano is a rock star! His expertise runs deep in many areas, and in this Leader Chat, we were thrilled to pick his brain on leading and implementing proficiency-based systems in schools and districts. We are so lucky to have such an esteemed lineup of guests, and Dr. Marzano only adds to the esteem of our show….
Well, Joshua Starr and Jeff clearly have a lot in common and are past friends. They are both experienced school district leaders and passionate about the moral imperative and strategy of leading with an equity mindset. Joshua is clear, honest, and able to describe the challenge and nuance of leading during challenging times….
As Jeff says, “Dr. Tim Elmore ALWAYS delivers”. Watching or listening to this Leader Chat, you will see that Tim and Jeff have a rapport. What you will also notice is that Tim’s new research and book, The Eight Paradoxes of Great Leadership, is a must-have for leaders in any industry, especially education. Tim- the Founder and CEO of Growing Leaders- has contributed to our Leadership Circle several times. His book, The Pandemic Population, was a hit amongst our members. This focus on leaders takes the relevance of his perspective to a new level for us….
Leadership transitions are tricky, not just for the school community, but also emotionally for the leader. Stephen Murley is a well-known and respected superintendent, successfully leading three different districts. Due to health concerns, Steve just resigned from his superintendent post in Green Bay Wisconsin. Jeff, a long-time colleague with Stephen, wanted to pick Stephen’s brain and discuss the emotions behind his past and current leadership transitions. This is a very relevant discussion for all educational leaders to hear and we appreciate the candid and thoughtful advice Stephen discusses with us….
Daniel Pink was with us! Seriously, that Daniel Pink . . . the author of five New York Times bestsellers, including his latest, The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward. He has lots of fans, and clearly, Jeff is one of them. Jeff peppered Dan with questions about education and how leaders can learn from the “regret” research described in the book. Daniel is a wealth of information and is well-deserving of his stellar reputation….
For schools to truly be successful, we learn in this conversation that the district does in fact matter. Jeff talks with the well-known educational author and researcher, Karin Chenowith. Karin is writer-in-residence at The Education Trust. Her latest book, Districts that Succeed: Breaking the Correlation Between Race, Poverty, and Achievement is what grabbed Jeff’s attention. Listen to this two-part podcast….
If you track the ongoing weekly education articles that are published, you maybe know about the Marshall Memo. If not, you should. The Marshall Memo, published 50 times a year since 2003, is designed to keep principals, teachers, instructional coaches, and superintendents, well-informed on current research and best practices. In this Leader Chat Jeff talks with Kim Marshall, and as you will notice, they would ‘nerd-out’ on educational issues for hours if they were allowed. Clearly, Kim is well-informed and connected to ongoing research and trends in education….
Clearly, Jeff and our guest Steven Constantino, know each other from their superintendent days and can relate and empathize with educational leaders and their challenges. Steven has gone on to write and speak on a topic that has always been paramount but is likely more important now than ever . . . engaging families. His book, Engage Every Family, delves into the art and strategy, his five simple principles, of authentically caring and communicating with families….
Zillow is a great resource for buying a home, but Jeff and John Tanner discuss that there is a better way to determine the success of a school beyond the letter grade sometimes assigned to them. As Jeff talks with John, you will see that the concept of accountability is not the issue, but rather what schools are accountable to and how success is measured. Prepare yourself for a discussion that most educators will be able to relate to….
Educational leaders often have to juggle multiple roles such as serving as an educator, parent, leader, and politician. Easier said than done. How do you find balance? Kirsten Baesler, State Superintendent of North Dakota, teaches us that striking ‘balance’ may not be the right goal. Her extensive experience as a 24-year educator including being a vice-principal, library media specialist, classroom teacher, instructional assistant and nine years as a school board member make her extremely qualified to provide perspective. After five minutes of listening to Superintendent Baesler, you will be a fan….