The Better Leaders Better Schools Podcast with Daniel Bauer

    Kristen Horton began her career in education at Navajo Mountain Community School as a teacher in a multi-age classroom. Dr. Horton has a commitment to supporting students and teachers through collective educator agency and relational capacity. Dr. Horton currently serves as principal of Continental Colony Elementary School and founder of L.E.A.D.S. She understands support for teachers will sustain her "why" every day, to increase life chances for students.   Joseph Hyun started his educator journey at UCSD when he signed up to tutor local high school students and discovered his passion for teaching math and commitment to fighting for social justice. Today Joseph serves as the Head of Partner Success at TeachFX, where he supports teachers in increasing equitable opportunities for their students to participate and engage in learning.     Show Highlights   TeachFX brings significant shifts in leadership for professional learning and coaching. Leadership strategies to support student learning and teacher growth. Purpose-driven curricula to save time and address learning gaps.  The most important principle when designing curriculum. Tips to encourage diverse forms of dialogue that deepen understanding and promote active participation. Avoid ineffective PD sessions that lack teacher agency by encouraging professional learning. Support teachers in increasing equitable opportunities for student engagement and participation. Transferring ownership to students, using these tools.        "The scariest place to be in is the same place as last year, grow."  -Dr Horton   Get the episode transcript here! Dr Horton's Resources & Contact Info:   Twitter Instagram Facebook     Read my latest book! Learn why the ABCs of powerful professional development™ work – Grow your skills by integrating more Authenticity, Belonging, and Challenge into your life and leadership.   Read Mastermind: Unlocking Talent Within Every School Leader today! Apply to the Mastermind The mastermind is changing the landscape of professional development for school leaders.    100% of our members agree that the mastermind is the #1 way they grow their leadership skills.   Apply to the mastermind today!   How We Serve Leaders   The School Leadership Scorecard™ Identify your highest leverage areas for growth this year in 10 -minutes or less.    https://betterleadersbetterschools.com/scorecard   Month-to-Month Principal Checklist As a principal with so much to do, you might be thinking, where do I even start?   When you download The Principal Checklist you'll get 12-months of general tasks that every campus need to do Space to write your campus specific items. Space to reflect and not what worked as well as a space of what didn't work Go to https://betterleadersbetterschools.com/principal-checklist to download now.   Ruckus Maker Mindset Tool™ The "secret" to peak performance is ot complicated.  It's a plan on how to optimize the five fundamentals found in The Ruckus Maker Mindset Tool™. https://betterleadersbetterschools.com/mindset   The Positive Spotlight Tool™ Energy flows to where attention goes! If you want to get more of what you want, when you want it as a school leader I have a tool for you…   Download The Positive Spotlight Tool™ for free here: https://betterleadersbetterschools.com/positive   The Ruckus Maker 8-Step Goal Setting Tool™ Are you ready to accomplish more? With less effort and in less time? When you download The Ruckus Maker 8-Step Goal Setting Tool™  I'll send you the tool and a short 8-minute coaching video that shows you how to work smarter, not harder…and create more value for your school campus.   Download The Ruckus Maker 8-Step Goal Setting Tool™  for free at https://betterleadersbetterschools.com/goals SHOW SPONSORS:   TEACHFX How much student talk happened today? When classrooms come alive with conversation, learning improves, students feel a sense of belonging, and teachers feel inspired.    The TeachFX instructional coaching app gives teachers powerful insights into their student talk, student engagement, and classroom conversation.    With TeachFX, teachers see how much student talk happened, the moments of students sharing their brilliance, and the questions that got students talking.Learn how to pilot TeachFX with your teachers. Visit: teachfx.com/betterleaders     Quest Food Management Services   Quest Food Management Services provides high-quality, scratch-made food in K-12 schools and universities across the country, prioritizing the health and wellness of students and elevating the cafeteria dining experience.  Quest offers a full-service approach to their school partners, bringing 40 years of expertise through every stage of program development and nurturing a true sense of community through interactive events such as student food committees. For more information about Quest Food Management Services, www.questfms.com     IXL IXL is the most widely used online learning and teaching platform for K to 12. Over 1 million teachers use IXL in their classrooms every day for one reason: They love it. Visit IXL.com to lead your school towards data-driven excellence today.   Copyright © 2024 Twelve Practices LLC      

Sonya Thomlinson (Uchita) HHC, ERYT-500, C-IAYT was co-director and co-founder of Tandava Yoga and Trinity Yoga Centers in Kelowna and Vernon, British Columbia from 2003-2016.  An avid student of yoga and meditation since 1994, and teaching since 1998, Sonya leads trainings, retreats, workshops and classes throughout Western Canada and the US and works individually with those interested in dynamic health and healing. Jeff Thomlinson is formally the co-owner and director of Trinity Yoga Center, then Tandava Yoga in Kelowna, since 2003. Jeff began teaching yoga in 1991. For 10 years, he lived, studied and worked at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Stockbridge, MA, USA, the largest yoga teaching center in North America. This enabled him to study with international leaders in yoga and to assimilate leading teaching and practice techniques. Read the full bio on the show note page. Take a Breath Show Highlights: The story of starting Take a Breath Stress reduction for kids with yoga Get out of a stress response How breath practice calms our flight and fight response 100% of kids are stressed Don’t be a jerk … people can’t think or perform around you Rest before a test led to 20% increase in test scores The inherent stress beast Consequences of ignoring the stress epidemic BRAVE acronym Bring attention to stress so staff and students don’t feel alone in this Take a Breath Resources:   Take a Breath Website The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer   Join my hybrid group coaching & leadership development community Text BETTERMASTERMIND to 33444 Create winning cultures Focus on the essential Lead with courage & integrity    BECOME A PATRON OF THE SHOW FOR AS LITTLE AS $1/MONTH DID YOU LIKE THE SHOW?  iTunes SUBSCRIBE HERE! SHOW SOME LOVE: PLEASE LEAVE A 5-STAR RATING AND REVIEW Grab your FREE 15 Phrases of Effective School Leaders  Text PHRASES to 33444 or click the link above.   Website :: Facebook :: Insta :: Twitter :: LinkedIn   SHOW SPONSORS: SCHOOL SPIRIT VENDING Hassle-free, year-round fundraising for your school. With School Spirit Vending, we do all the work, you just cash the check Increase school spirit with custom stickers for your school and raise funds at the same time -no upfront costs, no volunteers, no selling Sick of the same old ways of raising money for your school? Let School Spirit Vending's hassle-free, year-round fundraising program supplement the other fundraisers you're already doing. SSV is also giving away the Top 10 School Fundraising Ideas for 2017. Download the guide here.     Copyright © 2017 Better Leaders Better Schools    

🖊 The Ruckus Report Quick take: What if the most powerful classrooms in American history operated under segregation? Dr. Karida L. Brown reframes our understanding of Black education during Jim Crow and offers a compelling vision for nurturing students through ecosystems of care. 🤝 Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Dr. Karida L. Brown is an NAACP Image Award-winning author, professor at Emory University, and public intellectual. Known for her groundbreaking research on systemic racism and Black life, she's the author of six books, including The Battle for the Black Mind. 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules 🧠 Key Insight #1: Schools aren't neutral. And pretending they are is dangerous. What's broken: The myth that schools can be politically or culturally neutral. The shift: Acknowledge that education operates within a social context — and choose to humanize, not homogenize. Impact: Creates space for students' full identities and lived experiences to be seen, respected, and affirmed. 🧠 Key Insight #2: Teaching was once a radical act of love. And it can be again. What's broken: Emphasis on compliance, test prep, and disconnected pedagogy. The shift: Look to the Black teachers of the Jim Crow era, who taught with deep care and high expectations. Impact: Reignites student pride, dignity, and purpose — and helps staff reclaim meaning in their work. 🧠 Key Insight #3: The hidden curriculum still shapes student success. What's broken: Assuming equity exists because students share a classroom. The shift: Recognize and dismantle invisible systems of advantage and disadvantage. Impact: Equips students from all backgrounds to navigate — and transform — institutional structures. 💬 Quotable Ruckus "Walk these halls like somebody fought like hell for you to be here." — Dr. Karida Brown 📈 Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Ask your staff, "What invisible messages does our campus send?" This Month: Create space for student or staff storytelling to elevate empathy and insight This Semester: Rethink your discipline or feedback systems through a lens of equity and care Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript here. 🔗 Follow Dr. Karida Brown: Website: https://www.karida.io/ Books: Link, *The Battle for the Black Mind.* Socials: LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Do School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🖊 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter: ruckusmakers.news 🗞 Read Ruckus Makers on Substack: ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club: ruckusmakers.club 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind: Apply Now Today's RUCKUS cast in Partnership with: ODP SOLUTIONS: Looking to create the kind of campus experience students never forget? ODP Business Solutions® transforms ordinary spaces into extraordinary learning environments. 🔍 Visit odpbusiness.com/education and let's Do School Different. IXL: Over 1 million teachers rely on IXL because it is empowering, it helps them make better decisions with reliable data, and it adapts instruction based on student performance. 🔍 Get started today at ixl.com/leaders PLAYPIPER: This episode of Better Leaders Better Schools is brought to you by Play Piper. At Piper, we believe STEM doesn't have to feel out of reach. Too many kids love gaming but give up on science and engineering because school doesn't spark their interest. That's where Piper comes in - hands-on STEM kits designed to turn curiosity into confidence and keep the pipeline of future innovators flowing strong. 🔍 Learn more at PlayPiper.com.  

📣 The Ruckus Report Quick take: Most leaders ask the wrong question. They obsess over what to do next instead of who they're becoming. In this episode, Dr. Chad Dumas unpacks how self-awareness, non-verbal cues, and intentional presence shape your entire school culture before a single decision is made. 🎓 Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Dr. Chad Dumas is an international consultant, author, and award-winning researcher who helps educators build capacity for self, team, and system improvement. A former teacher, principal, and central office administrator, he's the author of Let's Put the C in PLC, An Action Guide to Put the C in PLC, and The Teacher Team Leader Handbook. 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules In this episode, Danny Bauer and Dr. Chad Dumas dive deep into the inner work required to lead effectively. They challenge the surface-level "what do I do?" mentality and replace it with a leadership identity rooted in humility, empathy, and self-awareness. 🧠 Key Insight #1: Start with Who, Not What What's broken: Leaders jump straight to tactics — constantly asking, "What do I do?" The shift: Begin with who you are as a person and a leader. Your mindset, humility, and assumptions shape every result that follows. Impact: When leaders ground their actions in identity, they build trust, clarity, and authentic connection across their schools. 🧠 Key Insight #2: Leadership Speaks Before You Do What's broken: Non-verbal cues are ignored — rushed meetings, shallow breathing, and reactive tones quietly erode safety and collaboration. The shift: Master the pause, breathe deeply, and use intentional body language that communicates calm, curiosity, and respect. Impact: The culture shifts from tense to trusting. People start showing up with ideas because they feel seen and safe. 🧠 Key Insight #3: Conflict Is a Catalyst — Not a Threat What's broken: Leaders avoid hard conversations, turning tension into silence or resentment. The shift: Reframe conflict as a space for growth. Separate the person from the problem, focus on shared goals, and invite multiple perspectives. Impact: Teams move from defensiveness to collaboration. The best ideas emerge, and relationships deepen through honest dialogue. 💬 Quotable Ruckus "It's not about the do. It's about the who. Who you are as a person and as a leader — that's where everything starts." — Dr. Chad Dumas 📈 Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Before your next meeting, take one deep breath and pause before you speak. Notice how it changes the tone. This Month: Identify one assumption you hold about your staff that might not serve you. Replace it with the belief that they're doing their best. This Semester: Build time for reflection into your team meetings. Make space for silence, processing, and joy. 🔗 Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript here 🔗 Follow Dr. Chad Dumas: Website, YouTube, Twitter/X, Facebook, LinkedIn 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🎯 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey: 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work: ruckusmakers.news 🗞 Read Ruckus Maker Media — Premium leadership insights, AI prompts, and new books before the bookshelf: ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Private network + workshops, The Automatic School tools, AI Prompt Library, and more: ruckusmakers.club 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind — Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven Ruckus Maker Flywheel to transform your campus: betterleadersbetterschools.com/mastermind 🔍 Today's RUCKUScast in Partnership with: ODP Business Solutions® — Transform ordinary spaces into extraordinary learning environments. 🔍 Learn more: odpbusiness.com/education IXL — Empower teachers with adaptive instruction and data that drive results. 🔍 Learn more: ixl.com/leaders Play Piper — Hands-on STEM kits that turn curiosity into engineering confidence. 🔍 Learn more: playpiper.com Twelve Practices LLC © 2025 | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?  

🧨 The Ruckus Report Quick take: What if everything you believed about math education was wrong? In this episode, Ted Dintersmith, bestselling author of Aftermath and What School Could Be, pulls back the curtain on how math has been weaponized — and how school leaders can transform learning by teaching the math that actually matters. 🎓 Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Ted Dintersmith is a bestselling author, education advocate, and former venture capitalist who believes traditional math education has failed our students. In Aftermath, he unveils the life-changing, real-world math skills students deserve to learn. 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules 🎯 Key Insight #1: Real Math Skills Are Ignored in School What's broken: We spend billions teaching rote math no adult uses. The shift: Teach students estimation, decision-making, game theory, and data literacy. Impact: Students gain tools to make sense of the world — and avoid being replaced by AI. 🎯 Key Insight #2: Standardized Testing Drives Irrelevance What's broken: Tests reward regurgitation over reasoning. The shift: Focus on deep thinking and real-life application instead of the "one right answer." Impact: Students build critical thinking and communication skills that machines can't replicate. 🎯 Key Insight #3: Career-Based Learning Isn't "Less Than" What's broken: Schools track kids into college or label them "less than" if they pursue trades. The shift: Elevate career-based learning, internships, and real-world skills for all students. Impact: Confidence, agency, and community impact — plus real jobs post-graduation. 💬 Quotable Ruckus "The math that really matters in life does not have one right answer." – Ted Dintersmith 🚀 Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Audit your math curriculum. Are you teaching skills students will actually use? This Month: Host a screening of Multiple Choice and start a community conversation on real-world learning. This Semester: Design or pilot a learning experience rooted in data literacy, estimation, or decision-making. 🔗 Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript here 🔗 Follow Ted: teddintersmith.com 🎬 multiplechoicefilm.com 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Do School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 4 Ways to Do School Different 📬 Newsletter — Do School Different 3x/week: ruckusmakers.news 📖 Substack — Exclusive content, AI prompts, and book sneak peeks: ruckusmakers.media 💥 The Club — Network, AI tools, and workshops: ruckusmakers.club 🧨 The Mastermind — Coaching and the Ruckus Maker Flywheel: Apply Now Every tool, community, and coaching program we offer is built to help visionary school leaders play the new game — one where leadership is creative, tech-enabled, and unapologetically student-centered. The podcast is your starting point. The movement is just getting started. 🎙 Today's RUCKUS cast in Partnership With: ODP Business Solutions® Looking to create the kind of campus experience students never forget? ODP Business Solutions® transforms ordinary spaces into extraordinary learning environments. 🔍 Learn more: odpbusiness.com/education IXL Over 1 million teachers rely on IXL because it is empowering, helps them make better decisions with reliable data, and adapts instruction based on student performance. 🔍 Get started: ixl.com/leaders PLAY PIPER Kids love gaming and computers, but are disengaged from math and science at school. Play Piper changes that with hands-on STEM kits and a coding curriculum. 🔍 Learn more: playpiper.com Twelve Practices LLC © 2025 | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?  

🎯 The Ruckus Report Quick take: What if the most disruptive thing you could do as a school leader isn't another program — but rethinking when school starts? In this candid and funny conversation, Danny Bauer and Mitch Weathers dig into how protecting sleep actually protects learning, how parent boundaries preserve teacher sanity, and why even job postings reveal whether we're truly Doing School Different or just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. 🤝 Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Mitch Weathers is a veteran educator, author, and founder of Organized Binder, a system that helps schools build executive functioning and academic success for every student. He's spent decades teaching and coaching educators on how structure, sleep, and small shifts create massive change. Mitch is known for turning everyday challenges — like communication overload or bell schedules — into opportunities for innovation and calm confidence in the classroom. 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules In this episode, Danny and Mitch challenge the old-school thinking that keeps leaders exhausted, students disengaged, and parents emailing at 2 am. 💡 Key Insight #1: The Sleep Revolution Starts at School What's broken: Early start times and late-night device use rob students (and teachers) of rest, and learning suffers. The shift: Ruckus Makers reimagine schedules to protect sleep, boost attention, and honor the science of rest. Impact: Districts that start high school later see stronger academic outcomes, better moods, and fewer discipline issues. 💡 Key Insight #2: Boundaries Are the New Professional Development What's broken: Teachers feel pressured to respond instantly to parent emails — even the ones that hit inboxes at 2 am. The shift: Clear, community-wide communication norms create psychological safety for staff and preserve trust with families. Impact: When schools set and model boundaries, teachers stay longer, burnout decreases, and parent relationships improve. 💡 Key Insight #3: Hiring Isn't HR — It's Leadership Marketing What's broken: Bland job postings and checkbox hiring processes repel the best talent. The shift: Treat every open position like a story about your culture — highlight your vision, values, and what makes your campus unmissable. Impact: Schools that "market their mission" attract stronger candidates, reduce vacancies, and build a team aligned with their purpose. 💬 Quotable Ruckus "If the most disruptive thing you do this year is let your students (and teachers) sleep — you're already Doing School Different." — Mitch Weathers 🧩 Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to turn these insights into action? Start here: Tomorrow: Ask your leadership team, "What's one low-effort way we could protect rest for students and staff?" This Month: Draft and publish clear communication norms between teachers and families. This Semester: Reevaluate your bell schedule and hiring language. Does it reflect a traditional system — or a Do School Different mindset? 💌 Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript here 🔗 Join us on the Adorable Red Hats show.  Write an email to hello@adorableredhats.com with your pitch. Learn more at adorableredhats.com. 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a movement of bold, creative leaders reimagining what's possible. 🧠 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey: 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — Tools, mindset shifts, and leadership strategies that actually work: ruckusmakers.news 🗞 Read Ruckus Maker Media — Exclusive essays, AI prompts, and early book access: ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Our private network, workshops, and leadership tools: ruckusmakers.club 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind — Weekly coaching and peer mentorship for visionary leaders: betterleadersbetterschools.com/mastermind 🎙 Today's RUCKUS cast in Partnership With: ODP Business Solutions® Looking to create the kind of campus experience students never forget? ODP Business Solutions® transforms ordinary spaces into extraordinary learning environments. Visit odpbusiness.com/education and let's Do School Different. Play Piper Kids love gaming and tech — but often disengage from math and science at school. Play Piper changes that with hands-on STEM kits and a coding curriculum. Learn more at playpiper.com. IXL Over 1 million teachers rely on IXL because it empowers them to make better decisions with reliable data and adapts instruction based on student performance. Get started today at ixl.com/leaders. Twelve Practices LLC © 2025 | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?  

🎯 The Ruckus Report Quick take: Most principals fear AI. Ruckus Makers see it as fuel for innovation. In this solo episode, Danny shares 3 foundational AI principles that will redefine school leadership in 2025 — showing you how to trade fear for leverage and ideas for bold action. **You can unlock all 10 AI principles here.** 👋 Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Danny Bauer helps Ruckus Makers Do School Different — reimagining education within traditional systems to create campus experiences worth showing up for. He's written multiple bestselling books and hosts the Better Leaders Better Schools RuckusCast, the most downloaded school leadership podcast in the world, ranking in the top 1% of all podcasts globally. 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules In this episode, Danny challenges traditional education paradigms and reveals how courageous leaders can use AI to future-proof their campuses: 📌 Key Insight #1: There Are Two Sides to Every Coin What's broken: Many school leaders see AI as a threat — banning tools and retreating to old habits out of fear. The shift: Courageous Ruckus Makers choose to reframe fear as curiosity. They see AI not as cheating, but as a way to create leverage and deeper learning. Impact: Schools that embrace this mindset are equipping students for a future where AI fluency isn't optional — it's essential for employment and innovation. 📌 Key Insight #2: Your #1 Job Is to Transfer Belief What's broken: Traditional leadership focuses on control and compliance instead of cultivating confidence. The shift: Ruckus Makers inspire belief — helping staff and students see that they can solve hard problems and do extraordinary work. Impact: Teams move from hesitant to high-performing, creating schools filled with energy, innovation, and ownership. 📌 Key Insight #3: Ideas Are Great — But Action Wins What's broken: School leaders get stuck in meetings, policies, and analysis — mistaking discussion for progress. The shift: Ruckus Makers act first, learn fast, and iterate forward. They understand that bold experiments beat perfect plans. Impact: Leaders who move from inspiration to implementation transform ideas into tangible outcomes for students and staff. 💬 Quotable Ruckus "Ideas are great, but not the greatest. Action is the only thing greater than an idea." – Danny Bauer 📈 Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Identify one "fear coin" moment on your campus. Flip it — and turn fear into a chance for curiosity or innovation. This Month: Transfer belief. Tell three staff members specifically what you see in them that they don't yet see in themselves. This Semester: Choose one bold experiment that uses AI to free up your team's time and amplify student engagement — then share the results with your district. 🔗 Connect & Continue 🔓 Unlock all 10 principles + the AI demo + tools here. 🎯 Get the full episode transcript: here 🔗 Follow Danny: Website, LinkedIn 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Here Are Four Ways We Can Help You on Your Do School Different Journey 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work: ruckusmakers.news 🗞 Read Ruckus Maker Media — Premium leadership insights, AI prompts, and new books before the bookshelf: ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Private network, AI Prompt Library, and workshops that make school leadership easier: ruckusmakers.club 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind — Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and the Ruckus Maker Flywheel leadership system: Apply Now 🎙 Today's RUCKUS cast in Partnership With: ODP Business Solutions®: Looking to create the kind of campus experience students never forget? ODP Business Solutions® transforms ordinary spaces into extraordinary learning environments. 🔍 Visit odpbusiness.com/education and let's Do School Different. IXL: Over 1 million teachers rely on IXL because it helps them make better decisions with reliable data and adapt instruction based on student performance. 🔍 Get started today at ixl.com/leaders PLAY PIPER: Kids love gaming and computers, but are disengaged from Math and Science at school. Play Piper changes that with hands-on STEM kits and coding curriculum. 🔍 Learn more at playpiper.com. Twelve Practices LLC © 2025 | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?  

🎯 The Ruckus Report Quick take: What if you could deliver six weeks of learning in a single hour? Simon Strong did exactly that — and the results are challenging everything we think we know about teaching, memory, and curriculum. 🤝 Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Simon Strong is the founder of Download Learning, a UK-based company partnering with schools and organizations to dramatically accelerate learning by sequencing information to align with how the brain actually works. 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules 🧠 Key Insight #1: Speed doesn't kill learning — distraction does. What's broken: Slow, disjointed lessons overloaded with irrelevant detail. The shift: Simon's team scripts, edits, and delivers content at 220 words per minute —nearly double classroom pace — to keep attention and trigger retention. Impact: Students retain foundational knowledge more effectively, especially those with ADHD or learning differences. 🧠 Key Insight #2: One hour, one-half term (seriously). What's broken: Teachers covering complex topics in 6-week units with minimal retention. The shift: A single high-impact video lesson designed to fire synapses in precise time intervals. Impact: One hour of Simon's approach produced equivalent learning outcomes to an entire half term of traditional instruction. Add teacher support, and outcomes doubled. 🧠 Key Insight #3: Flipping modes ≠ mastery. What's broken: Constantly switching between direct instruction, stories, and activities in class. The shift: Presenting one "mode" at a time to avoid cognitive overload. Impact: Improved comprehension, less classroom disruption, and deeper long-term understanding. 💬 Quotable Ruckus "Education doesn't build character—it reveals it. Our job is to help students discover who they are and become the best version of themselves." – Simon Strong 🚀 Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? **Start here**: Tomorrow: Audit your next lesson for unnecessary mode-switching. Stick with one mode longer. This Month: Try introducing a complex topic through a story, not a slide deck. This Semester: Partner with a colleague to design a one-hour "burst" lesson using Simon's three-mode model. 🔗 Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript here. 🔗 Learn more about Simon's work: https://downloadlearning.co.uk 🌐 Website 🔗 LinkedIn 📄 Peer-Reviewed Research 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Do School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey: 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter – Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work (3x a week). 🗞 Read Ruckus Makers – Exclusive content on Substack featuring leadership insights, AI prompts, and new books before the bookshelf. 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club – Our private network + workshops, The Automatic School tools, and AI Prompt Library. 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind – Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven Ruckus Maker Flywheel™. Every tool, community, and coaching program we offer is built to help visionary school leaders play the new game — one where leadership is creative, tech-enabled, and unapologetically student-centered. The podcast is your starting point. The movement is just getting started. 🎙 Today's RUCKUScast in Partnership With: ODP Business Solutions® Looking to create the kind of campus experience students never forget? ODP Business Solutions® transforms ordinary spaces into extraordinary learning environments. 🔍 Learn more: odpbusiness.com/education IXL Over 1 million teachers rely on IXL because it empowers educators with real-time data and adaptive instruction. 🔍 Learn more: ixl.com/leaders PLAY PIPER Play Piper bridges gaming and STEM with hands-on kits that turn curiosity into confidence—and students into makers. 🔍 Learn more: playpiper.com Twelve Practices LLC © 2025 | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?  

🎯 The Ruckus Report Quick take: What happens when two rival schools — with decades of "us vs. them" history — are forced to become one? Derek Cantrell didn't just merge Alleghany and Covington into a single high school. He built a "Better Together" culture while weaving in AI tools that are reshaping instruction and leadership. This episode is a blueprint for rethinking school culture in the age of disruption. 🤝 Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Derek Cantrell is the principal of Alleghany High School, where he led the merger of two rival schools into one unified community through a "Better Together" culture. Alongside culture-building, he integrates AI-driven tools like custom chatbots and Julius AI to streamline leadership tasks and improve instruction. Derek is redefining school leadership by honoring tradition while embracing innovation. 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules In this episode, Derek Cantrell challenges traditional education paradigms: 🧠 Key Insight #1: Culture eats consolidation for breakfast. What's broken: Forced mergers often leave communities divided, with morale and identity lost. The shift: Derek built a roadmap of intentional relationship-building — open houses, student forums, teacher mingles, and community events like cornhole nights and bonfires. Impact: Instead of resentment, Alleghany High became a place where rival traditions fused into a proud new identity. 🧠 Key Insight #2: Data disaggregation doesn't have to take weeks. What's broken: Teachers drowning in endless spreadsheets and meetings just to analyze test scores. The shift: Julius AI and custom chatbots cut through the noise, turning state test data into actionable two-page reports per strand. Impact: Teachers save time, get clarity, and can focus on engaging instruction — not manual number-crunching. 🧠 Key Insight #3: AI can make learning more relevant — and fun. What's broken: Lesson plans that feel stuck in the past, disconnected from students' real-world experiences. The shift: Teachers plug lessons into Derek's bots to generate hooks, engagement strategies, and real-world applications. Impact: Students see math, science, and core subjects through a lens that matters to them, boosting both interest and outcomes. Quotable Ruckus "Culture doesn't happen by accident. Lead it, shape it, and live it every day."                   – Derek Cantrell 📌 Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Ask students and staff one simple question: What excites you, and what concerns you? Use the answers to guide your next decision. This Month: Build a small win — repaint lockers, host a community night, or launch a mini-podcast — and celebrate it loudly. This Semester: Experiment with AI tools (like Julius or a custom GPT) to cut down on data drudgery and make lessons more engaging. Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript here 🔗 Follow Derek Cantrell: Website: https://www.ahps.k12.va.us/ Twitter/ X: X/Twitter LinkedIn: LinkedIn Email: Email 📣 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey: 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work — delivered 3x/week. → ruckusmakers.news 🗞 Read Ruckus Makers on Substack Premium leadership insights, AI prompts & GPTs, early access to new books. → ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join the Ruckus Maker Club Private network + workshops, AI Prompt Library, and more. → ruckusmakers.club 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind Weekly coaching + peer mentorship using the Ruckus Maker Flywheel. → betterleadersbetterschools.com/mastermind-application 🎙 Today's RUCKUS cast in Partnership With: ODP Business Solutions®  Looking to create the kind of campus experience students never forget? ODP Business Solutions® transforms ordinary spaces into extraordinary learning environments. Visit odpbusiness.com/education and let's Do School Different. IXL Over 1 million teachers rely on IXL because it is empowering, it helps them make better decisions with reliable data, and it adapts instruction based on student performance. Get started today at ixl.com/leaders  PLAY PIPER Kids love gaming and computers, but are disengaged from Math and Science at school. Play Piper changes that with hands-on STEM kits and a coding curriculum. Learn more at playpiper.com Twelve Practices LLC © 2025 | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?  

Quick take: What happens when a leader ditches ego, prioritizes relationships, and treats students like real-world innovators? Jeremy Quals proves you can turn around struggling schools and create one of the most exciting entrepreneurial programs in the country. 🤝 Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Dr. Jeremy Qualls is the Executive Director of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center (EIC) and College, Career, and Technical Education (CCTE) with Williamson County Schools. A former coach, principal, and district athletic director, he now leads some of the most innovative programs in Tennessee, blending entrepreneurship, career readiness, and creative learning opportunities that make school worth showing up for. 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules In this episode, Jeremy challenges traditional education paradigms: 🧠 Key Insight #1: Leadership isn't about ego — it's about relationships. What's broken: Leaders who default to punishment and blame. The shift: Building trust first, simplifying discipline to "Be responsible, be respectful, be ready." Impact: Transformed a school with 1,000+ discipline referrals into one with just 52 — and skyrocketed student growth. 🧠 Key Insight #2: Students need relevance, not busywork. What's broken: 42 definitions on a worksheet and other meaningless tasks. The shift: Replace rote work with entrepreneurial problem-solving, empathy-driven projects, and micro-internships. Impact: Students who once checked out now show up excited, engaged, and prepared for life beyond school. 🧠 Key Insight #3: Create spaces worth showing up for. What's broken: Schools that look the same as the 1950s— rows, lectures, and compliance. The shift: Entrepreneurial labs with open design, mentorship networks, and student-led startups. Impact: The Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center grew from 70 students to 280 with a 500+ waitlist — and is producing teen founders winning national competitions. Quotable Ruckus "Fail forward and fail often." – Jeremy Quals 📌 Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Swap one rote assignment for a real-world problem or entrepreneurial- style task. This Month: Map student relationships — find the "safety valves" so every kid has a trusted adult. This Semester: Audit your schoolwork and culture. Cut the irrelevant busywork, build in creative challenges, and create spaces students want to be in. 🔗 Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript: [Link] 🔗 Follow Dr. Jeremy Qualls: https://wcssportsconference.com/ Email: jq14@hotmail.com LinkedIn: LinkedIn Twitter: @wcsCCTE on X X: @wcsEIC on X 📣 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about "doing school better." It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey: 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work — delivered 3x/week. → ruckusmakers.news 🗞 Read Ruckus Makers on Substack Premium leadership insights, AI prompts & GPTs, early access to new books. → ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join the Ruckus Maker Club Private network + workshops, AI Prompt Library, and more. → ruckusmakers.club 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind Weekly coaching + peer mentorship using the Ruckus Maker Flywheel. → betterleadersbetterschools.com/mastermind-application 🎙 Today's RUCKUS cast in Partnership With: IXL Over 1 million teachers rely on IXL because it is empowering, it helps them make better decisions with reliable data, and it adapts instruction based on student performance. 🔍 Get started today at ixl.com/leaders. ODP For over 30 years, ODP Business Solutions® has helped schools transform from whiteboards to smartboards. Why? Because when you get the right tools, everyone wins. 🔍 Visit odpbusiness.com/education to revolutionize your school's learning spaces  

The Ruckus Report. Quick take: What if the secret to becoming a more effective school leader was … leaving school? Joe Clausi, known as the Traveling Principal, shares how stepping out of the building helped him step into his purpose. Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Joe Clausi, aka The Traveling Principal, is reimagining what it means to lead schools by exploring the world — and himself — one passport stamp at a time. Breaking Down the Old Rules 🔨 Key Insight #1: Curiosity makes you a better principal What's broken: The traditional career path says school leaders should settle down and play it safe. The shift: Joe's curiosity drove him to explore 39 countries — and that curiosity now shapes how he leads schools. Impact: He's more reflective, empathetic, and able to connect with people across backgrounds. Key Insight #2: Leadership doesn't happen in isolation What's broken: Most principals grind through the work without personal growth. The shift: Joe intentionally seeks people, places, and moments that challenge his worldview. Impact: Each trip adds to his toolkit as a leader — and inspires his team to grow too. Key Insight #3: Adventure is a mindset, not a plane ticket What's broken: PD is treated like a checklist, not a life-changing experience. The shift: Joe shows how you can bring the spirit of exploration to your daily leadership. Impact: His story proves that reimagining school starts with reimagining yourself. Quotable Ruckus "I needed to lose who I thought I was … to find who I really am." – Joe Clausi Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Walk your campus with a traveler's eyes — what would surprise or inspire a visitor? This Month: Schedule time outside the school walls to connect with something that sparks wonder. This Semester: Share one leadership lesson from your own journey with your staff — and invite theirs. Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript: https://ruckusmakers.notion.site/Joe-the-Traveling-Principal-Joins-Danny-and-Mitch-211229bf615380ecbf96c2c10f48c1f9?source=copy_link 🔗 Follow Joe Clausi: https://travelprincipal.com 💪 Apply to the mastermind: https://www.betterleadersbetterschools.com/mastermind-application/ Do you Subscribe to the Ruckus Maker Newsletter? Do School Different 3x a Week. Join for FREE here → ruckusmakers.news/subscribe Today's RUCKUScast in Partnership with: For over 30 years, ODP Business Solutions® has helped schools transform from whiteboards to smartboards. Why? Because when you get the right tools, everyone wins. Visit odpbusiness.com/education to revolutionize your school's learning spaces. Over 1 million teachers rely on IXL because it is empowering, it helps them make better decisions with reliable data, and it adapts instruction based on student performance. Get started today at ixl.com/leaders  

The Ruckus Report Quick take: If you're facing pushback on your bold school vision, this episode is your playbook for flipping critics into raving fans. Learn how one principal shifted the narrative — and built massive community support in the process. Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Dr. Christopher Jones is a high school principal, leadership author, and host of the Seeing to Lead podcast. He helps educators shift from surviving to thriving by encouraging reflection, connection, and vision — even in the most resistant environments. Breaking Down the Old Rules 🔨 Key Insight #1 What's broken: Too many leaders are paralyzed by fear of resistance — especially from staff or community stakeholders. The shift: Chris started by listening deeply and showing people how they could lead without a title. Impact: Staff ownership grew, and culture shifted — not because mandates were handed down, but because people bought in. Key Insight #2 What's broken: Traditional admin mindsets treat critics as threats rather than assets. The shift: Chris chose curiosity over combat, asking questions like: "What do you want to see happen?" Impact: Open conversations turned former critics into trusted allies who now champion his leadership publicly. Key Insight #3 What's broken: Schools often ignore how powerful public perception is in building momentum. The shift: Chris proactively told positive stories and empowered his community to tell them too. Impact: The narrative shifted from doubt to celebration — with the superintendent, school board, and staff all on board. Quotable Ruckus "Your loudest critics might just be your most loyal supporters — if you give them the chance to lead." – Dr. Christopher Jones Your Do School Different Challenge Tomorrow: Ask one critic what success would look like in their eyes. Listen without defense. This Month: Invite that person into a decision-making process — not to agree with you, but to shape the future together. This Semester: Create a system where feedback becomes fuel, not friction. Turn your toughest room into your greatest asset. Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript here. 🔗 His Books: 📘 SEEing to Lead 📗 Isabella and the Storm 📕 Isabella's Unexpected Gift 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter – 3x/week leadership mindset shifts and tools that work: ruckusmakers.news 🗞 Read Ruckus Makers – Premium content on Substack with early access to new books, AI prompts, and more: ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club – Private community, The Automatic School™ tools, and more: ruckusmakers.club 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind – Weekly coaching + The Ruckus Maker Flywheel leadership system: Apply Now ❤️ Today's show is sponsored by: For over 30 years, ODP Business Solutions® has helped schools transform from whiteboards to smartboards. Why? Because when you get the right tools, everyone wins. Visit odpbusiness.com/education to revolutionize your school's learning spaces. Over 1 million teachers rely on IXL because it is empowering, it helps them make better decisions with reliable data, and it adapts instruction based on student performance. Get started today at ixl.com/leaders  

🎯 The Ruckus Report Quick take: If you're still blocking ChatGPT, you're playing the wrong game. In this episode, William Grube of Groovy Education shows how to turn AI from a perceived threat into a daily teaching advantage — one that saves teachers time, levels up rigor, and makes cheating irrelevant. 🤝 Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker William Grube is the founder of Groovy Education, a consultancy and training firm that helps educators across 100+ schools and organizations integrate AI responsibly and effectively. His work is grounded in ethics, practical tools, and a passion for helping schools lead, not lag, in the AI revolution. 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules In this episode, William challenges traditional education paradigms and shows how Ruckus Makers can lead the shift: 🧠 Key Insight #1: Design for Trust, Not Policing What's broken: Schools are using surveillance software to "catch" students cheating with AI, treating tech as the enemy. The shift: Rebuild assessments around curiosity, context, and originality — like having students respond to local events or present their work live. Impact: Makes cheating pointless. Encourages deeper thinking. Promotes student ownership. 🧠 Key Insight #2: Differentiate Without Burnout What's broken: Teachers waste hours adapting lessons to meet different learning needs — often sacrificing quality for speed. The shift: Use AI to instantly align assignments to state standards, adjust for reading levels, and build accommodations (504/IEP). Impact: Teachers get time back. Students get work that actually fits. Everyone wins. 🧠 Key Insight #3: Teach Tech Like It's a Literacy — Because It Is What's broken: The only digital safety lesson most kids get is "don't be online too much." The shift: Teach AI & media literacy by exploring how algorithms shape thought, how to verify sources, and how to disagree respectfully. Impact: Students learn to think critically, not just click passively — which pays dividends in every subject and real life. 💬 Quotable Ruckus "Ignoring AI in schools today is like ignoring the internet in 1995." — William Grube 📌 Your Do School Different Challenge Start using AI to lead differently — not later: Tomorrow: Pick one assignment and make it AI-resistant. Add a personal, local, or in-class component students can't fake. This Month: Use AI to adapt a unit plan — align to standards, customize for reading levels, and build in scaffolded supports. This Semester: Pilot a student-facing AI/Media Literacy sequence. Let students analyze the algorithm and present real insights in a live class debate. 🔗 Connect & Continue 🎯 Transcript: [Link] 🔗 Learn more about Groovy Education: groovyeducation.com Email: william.grube@gruvyeducation.com Instagram: ****https://www.instagram.com/gruvyeducation/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-grube-16200a177/ X: https://x.com/gruvyeducation 📣 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, what are your students really learning? This isn't about "doing school better." It's about Doing School Different — and joining a bold movement of creative, visionary school leaders. 🧠 Four Ways to Do School Different With Us 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work — delivered 3x/week. → ruckusmakers.news 🗞 Read Ruckus Makers on Substack Premium leadership insights, AI prompts & GPTs, early access to new books. → ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join the Ruckus Maker Club Private network + workshops, AI Prompt Library, and more. → ruckusmakers.club 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind Weekly coaching + peer mentorship using the Ruckus Maker Flywheel. → betterleadersbetterschools.com/mastermind-application 🎙 Today's RUCKUScast in Partnership With: ODP Business Solutions Transform classrooms from whiteboard to WOW with flexible furniture, integrated tech, and sustainable tools — all from a compliant vendor. 🔍 Learn more: odpbusiness.com/education Ruckus Makers on Substack Get 90-second mindset shifts, custom GPTs, and content that punches above its weight. 🎁 Listeners get 50% off year one: ruckusmakers.media/awesome IXL Close knowledge gaps and tailor instruction with diagnostics and adaptive practice — built to serve every learner. 🔍 Learn more: ixl.com/leaders

In this special episode, Chief Ruckus Maker, Danny Bauer teaches the Principal Success Formula™. This episode is in-depth. Much deeper than a usual show. We recommend you listen to this one with a notebook, so you can follow along and do the work Danny had leaders do when he taught this live. The four parts of the Principal Success Formula™ are: LEVEL UP your mindset so that you are an even more magnetic, impactful, and effective leader … Learn how to use intentional design to create an even more welcoming and inclusive environment … Follow the "clues" left by remarkable leaders that you can use to create the school culture of your dreams! Absorb and practice the foundational actions that Ruckus Makers take to consistently create results you'll be proud of … And if you'd like to work with us to implement this framework consistently, we invite you to apply to the fourth cohort of The Principal Success Path™. We're getting started January 15. Apply today here: https://www.betterleadersbetterschools.com/principalsuccesspath/ Read my best-selling book! Learn why the ABCs of powerful professional development™ work – Grow your skills by integrating more Authenticity, Belonging, and Challenge into your life and leadership.   Read Mastermind: Unlocking Talent Within Every School Leader today! Apply to the Mastermind The mastermind is changing the landscape of professional development for school leaders.  100% of our members agree that the mastermind is the #1 way they grow their leadership skills. Apply to the mastermind today! SHOW SPONSORS: HARVARD GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION Transform how you lead to become a resilient and empowered change agent with Harvard's online Certificate in School Management and Leadership. Grow your professional network with a global cohort of fellow school leaders as you collaborate in case studies bridging the fields of education and business. Apply today at http://hgse.me/leader. TEACHFX Imagine providing feedback for every teacher, as often as they'd like, without relying on classroom observations. TeachFX is an app that supports both student learning and teacher learning. With instructional support at the push of a button, our app provides teachers with objective, personalized, non evaluative feedback about the teaching and learning happening in their classrooms. From student talk and teacher talk to insights into research-supported teaching practices like questioning technique, wait time, and more, TeachFX provides teachers with new insights into student engagement, academic dialogue, and equity of student voice. Learn more about TeachFX and find out how to get a free TeachFX account for one of your teachers. Visit TeachFX | BLBS   ORGANIZED BINDER Organized Binder is the missing piece in many classrooms. Many teachers are great with the main content of the lesson. Organized Binder helps with powerful introductions, savvy transitions, and memorable lesson closings. Your students will grow their executive functioning skills (and as a bonus), your teachers will become more organized too. Help your students and staff level up with Organized Binder. Copyright © 2023 Twelve Practices LLC

Christine Voigt is a secondary educator and award-winning author from Dallas, Texas. Her background is in English, geography, and life sciences and her specialty is infusing technology across the curriculum. She currently serves as the Director of Curriculum and Instructional Technology at Bishop Dunne Catholic School. She has been recognized at the state and national levels for her contribution to geographic education and has received multiple honors for the books Mapping Our World: GIS in Education and the Our World book series. She holds a Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership from Southern Methodist University and a Master of Science in Computer Education and Cognitive Systems from the University of North Texas.    Show Highlights Tech as a meaningful tool to authenticate personalized learning. Incorporating technology every day despite economical disadvantages and different experiences in the classroom.  Successful shift going paperless or implementing Teach FX with this approach.  A bottom up approach to prepare kids for the future with these tools. Tips to determine meaningful technology for your teachers and students.  Select technology as methodology and not hardware and software for instruction.  Assert an integrated approach to leadership to make radical changes.  A different approach to learning through typical constraints in education. "We didn't want technology to drive the curriculum. We wanted what was best to teach the kids. We wanted the curriculum to drive the technology. A lot of times people were like, 'We have to go and incorporate all this tech stuff', but it's not about the technology. It's about what is best for teaching and learning." -Christine Voigt Full Transcript Christine Voigt Transcript   Christine Voigt's Resources & Contact Info: Christine L Voigt: Books Twitter LinkedIn cvoigt@bdcs.org   Looking for more? Read The Better Leaders Better Schools Roadmap Join "The Mastermind" Read the latest on the blog   SHOW SPONSORS: HARVARD GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION Transform how you lead to become a resilient and empowered change agent with Harvard's online Certificate in School Management and Leadership. Grow your professional network with a global cohort of fellow school leaders as you collaborate in case studies bridging the fields of education and business. Apply today at http://hgse.me/leader.   TEACHFX School leaders know that productive student talk drives student learning, but the average teacher talks 75% of class time! TeachFX is changing that with a "Fitbit for teachers" that automatically measures student engagement and gives teachers feedback about what they could do differently.  Learn more about the TeachFX app and get a special 20% discount for your school or district by visiting teachfx.com/blbs.   ORGANIZED BINDER Organized Binder is the missing piece in many classrooms. Many teachers are great with the main content of the lesson. Organized Binder helps with powerful introductions, savvy transitions, and memorable lesson closings. Your students will grow their executive functioning skills (and as a bonus), your teachers will become more organized too. Help your students and staff level up with Organized Binder.   Copyright © 2021 Twelve Practices LLC

Hannah Beach is an award-winning educator, author, and keynote speaker. She was recognized by the Canadian Human Rights Commission in 2017 as one of five featured changemakers in Canada. She is the co-author of Reclaiming Our Students: Why Children Are More Anxious, Aggressive, and Shut Down Than Ever—And What We Can Do About It (released April 2020). Her best-selling I Can Dance book series—which supports the emotional health of children through movement, play, and expression—won the 2017 GOLD International Moonbeam Children's Book Award (Books with Music/Theatrical) and has been adopted by multiple English- and French-language school boards across Canada. Hannah received the City of Ottawa's annual Celebration of People Education Award, which recognized her contributions in developing innovative inclusive programs and resources. As the founder of celebrated experiential discovery programs at Dandelion Dance™ and Tournesol, Hannah has spent over 25 years developing and delivering programs for children and youth. She is a Neufeld course facilitator, delivers professional development services across the country, provides emotional health consulting to schools, and speaks at national and international conferences about the power of bringing more feeling and human connection into the classroom.   Show Highlights See the emotion behind every challenging behavior. RECLAIMING our STUDENTS - book and interactive videos. How to avoid influencing stuck roles or developing a negative identity. Journaling tips that leave room for the ugly and gratitude to emerge. Be in their eyes, call kids to who they are in the future. Powerfully grow goodness by feeling the knowledge. Teach the "oldest wisdom" to sense humanity. Lead students to build capacity to see their own gifts, beauty and human connection. "You don't change when you know something. I might know people are starving, in another part of the world, but I'm not going to do anything about it unless I feel something. We don't change when we know we change when we feel."    Full Transcript Hannah Beach Transcript   Hannah Beach's Resources & Contact Info: Twitter Facebook Reclaiming Our Students Reclaiming Our Students  Hannah Beach  Linkedin   Looking for more? Read The Better Leaders Better Schools Roadmap Join "The Mastermind" Read the latest on the blog   Show Sponsors HARVARD GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION Transform how you lead to become a resilient and empowered change agent with Harvard's online Certificate in School Management and Leadership. Grow your professional network with a global cohort of fellow school leaders as you collaborate in case studies bridging the fields of education and business. Apply today at http://hgse.me/leader. TEACHFX School leaders know that productive student talk drives student learning, but the average teacher talks 75% of class time! TeachFX is changing that with a "Fitbit for teachers" that automatically measures student engagement and gives teachers feedback about what they could do differently.  Learn more about the TeachFX app and get a special 20% discount for your school or district by visiting teachfx.com/blbs. ORGANIZED BINDER Organized Binder is the missing piece in many classrooms. Many teachers are great with the main content of the lesson. Organized Binder helps with powerful introductions, savvy transitions, and memorable lesson closings. Your students will grow their executive functioning skills (and as a bonus), your teachers will become more organized too. Help your students and staff level up with Organized Binder.   Copyright © 2021 Twelve Practices LLC

Siobhan Davenport is the President & CEO of Crittenton Services of Greater Washington (CSGW). CSGW works in conjunction with schools to close education and achievement gaps for teen girls to feel empowered through a whole-child, whole-community curriculum. In her previous role as Crittenton's Director of Strategic Partnerships, she built collaborations between schools, nonprofits, and corporations to better meet Crittenton girls' challenges and launched the Declare Equity for Girls: It's Time campaign. Siobhan is an inspiration– the daughter of teen parents who has defied every statistic and now leads a nonprofit empowering younger versions of herself. Additionally, Siobhan serves as a commissioner for the Maryland Governor's Commission on Service and Volunteerism and sits on the Advisory Council for Ascend at the Aspen Institute. Siobhan holds a master's degree in journalism from American University.    Show Highlights Understanding barriers that girls face and teaching action advocacy.  Creating safe space and suspending judgment as an intentional move as an organization. The key to building world class culture with one question. Reflection for leaders to help navigate and engage at school and at home. Serve the whole child by suspending judgment with specific staff training.  Evolution of a sacred sister circle-hood. "Meet girls where they are, but don't let them stay there."   "Let Teens Lead. As adults, we have wonderful experiences in our lives and we get to a point where we say, 'Do this, do that, do the other.' We forget that teens are the experts in their own lives. They come with so much experience and they know what they need, and we can be a support to them and get the services that they need."  - Siobhan Davenport   Full Transcript Siobhan Davenport Transcript   Siobhan Davenport's Resources & Contact Info: Crittenton Services of Greater Washington:  Twitter Instagram Linkedin   Looking for more? Read The Better Leaders Better Schools Roadmap Join "The Mastermind" Read the latest on the blog   Show Sponsors HARVARD GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION Transform how you lead to become a resilient and empowered change agent with Harvard's online Certificate in School Management and Leadership. Grow your professional network with a global cohort of fellow school leaders as you collaborate in case studies bridging the fields of education and business. Apply today at http://hgse.me/leader.   TEACHFX School leaders know that productive student talk drives student learning, but the average teacher talks 75% of class time! TeachFX is changing that with a "Fitbit for teachers" that automatically measures student engagement and gives teachers feedback about what they could do differently.  Learn more about the TeachFX app and get a special 20% discount for your school or district by visiting teachfx.com/blbs.   ORGANIZED BINDER Organized Binder is the missing piece in many classrooms. Many teachers are great with the main content of the lesson. Organized Binder helps with powerful introductions, savvy transitions, and memorable lesson closings. Your students will grow their executive functioning skills (and as a bonus), your teachers will become more organized too. Help your students and staff level up with Organized Binder.   Copyright © 2021 Twelve Practices LLC

Diane Willis has worked diligently in education for 32 years, making a difference in the learning lives of students and teachers.  She is a veteran leader, serving 24 years in leadership roles in seven different elementary schools. Diane believes an instructional leader must be present during learning moments to help discover the next best answers.  She believes that professional development is within things done, said, discovered, or planned each day.    Show Highlights Tips to free yourself up to be available to be where it matters. TeachFX isn't "one more thing" it is a way to multiply yourself. Transfer ownership to your students to liberate learning. Offer high quality, personalized professional development on a daily basis. PD is every day with these little gems that you elect along the way. How to be present as a leader with the "next best answers" of the day. Tips and tricks to not miss moments to support your staff and share goals. Schedule the day out and share your improvement plan for optimal team effort.    "The thing is just be there in the moment and professional development is at any moment, any time, any day, a question, any activity, if you've got a focus on what matters most at your school, go out and look for that. Once you find it, celebrate it, talk about it, share it, and it will spread like wildfire." -Diane Willis     Full Transcript Diane Will Transcript   Diane Willis' Resources & Contact Info: LinkedIn Twitter   Looking for more? Read The Better Leaders Better Schools Roadmap Join "The Mastermind" Read the latest on the blog   SHOW SPONSORS: HARVARD GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION Transform how you lead to become a resilient and empowered change agent with Harvard's online Certificate in School Management and Leadership. Grow your professional network with a global cohort of fellow school leaders as you collaborate in case studies bridging the fields of education and business. Apply today at http://hgse.me/leader.   TEACHFX School leaders know that productive student talk drives student learning, but the average teacher talks 75% of class time! TeachFX is changing that with a "Fitbit for teachers" that automatically measures student engagement and gives teachers feedback about what they could do differently.  Learn more about the TeachFX app and get a special 20% discount for your school or district by visiting teachfx.com/blbs.   ORGANIZED BINDER Organized Binder is the missing piece in many classrooms. Many teachers are great with the main content of the lesson. Organized Binder helps with powerful introductions, savvy transitions, and memorable lesson closings. Your students will grow their executive functioning skills (and as a bonus), your teachers will become more organized too. Help your students and staff level up with Organized Binder. Copyright © 2021 Twelve Practices LLC

Sam was an English teacher, Academic Intervention Specialist, athletic coach, and School Counselor for 21 years and is currently serving as Chief Development Officer at SimpliCollege.com. He is the Author of Choose the Perfect College and Hire Education.  The father of five children, his family recently moved from the Philadelphia suburbs to Denver Metro.  Sam is the host of the Made to Thrive podcast and is writing Why Aren't Men Thriving?, which is due out in early 2022.   Show Highlights History proves Masterminds are transformational systems for achievement When culture and profession collide  The art of being an aggressive suggester Don't miss delivery points of SEL programs and make teachers a dirty pipe  Your leadership values serve McDonalds or Chick-fil-A  Create boundaries that allow people to stay in their lane and you to move faster in yours   A needed paradigm shift for the counselors Simpli College is a turn key,frictionless entry point into the college conversation for equity and access "Simpli College says your job as a counselor is to help people create a log-in and that's it. All of a sudden you think about the people who for a long time, unfortunately, school has been about access to school. Most of the school experience is given to those who know the system. Many of our families are first generation and have not had a welcoming school experience as parents. They're not going to pick up the phone and call the counselor and figure out when they can get in and talk about whether even college is a good idea for their kid." -Sam Feeney   Full Transcript Sam Feeney Transcript   Sam Feeney's Resources & Contact Info: Simpli College Choose the Perfect College Made to Thrive Podcast Linkedin simplicollege/ The Infinite Game LinkedIn   Looking for more? Read The Better Leaders Better Schools Roadmap Join "The Mastermind" Read the latest on the blog   SHOW SPONSORS: HARVARD GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION Transform how you lead to become a resilient and empowered change agent with Harvard's online Certificate in School Management and Leadership. Grow your professional network with a global cohort of fellow school leaders as you collaborate in case studies bridging the fields of education and business. Apply today at http://hgse.me/leader.   TEACHFX School leaders know that productive student talk drives student learning, but the average teacher talks 75% of class time! TeachFX is changing that with a "Fitbit for teachers" that automatically measures student engagement and gives teachers feedback about what they could do differently.  Learn more about the TeachFX app and get a special 20% discount for your school or district by visiting teachfx.com/blbs.   ORGANIZED BINDER Organized Binder is the missing piece in many classrooms. Many teachers are great with the main content of the lesson. Organized Binder helps with powerful introductions, savvy transitions, and memorable lesson closings. Your students will grow their executive functioning skills (and as a bonus), your teachers will become more organized too. Help your students and staff level up with Organized Binder.   Copyright © 2021 Twelve Practices LLC

Jeff Becker's an award-winning school counselor and teacher with a Master's in Secondary Counseling and a second degree in communications- so he's a boots-on-the-ground leader and entrepreneur. Jeff is also an adjunct professor at National University for their Master's program in Social and Emotional Learning. He's the founder of two revolutionary products that help principals to deliver much-needed SEL to their kids without taxing their teachers. And it looks like something from Netflix, so kids love it.   Show Highlights Solving the SEL need with 5 minute videos How to Multiply yourself  Build tension before you unpack solutions Resources to help students build self-discipline  What it's like to have a principal that trusts you Archaic communication promotes the thing you're going against As a school leader, you're the biggest bottleneck Avoid 60 plus hour work weeks for your best year ever   "The thing that keeps me up at night is all of these fires that we're constantly putting out as ed leaders. The more fires we're putting out and jumping around and being reactive, the less we're proactive about the skills that we're given to our children." -Jeff Becker    Full Transcript Jeff Becker Transcript   Jeff Becker's Resources & Contact Info: http://www.incontrolsel.com/danny  betterleadersbetterschools.com/challenge-july-2021 Twitter LinkedIn   Looking for more? Read The Better Leaders Better Schools Roadmap Join "The Mastermind" Read the latest on the blog   SHOW SPONSORS: HARVARD GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION Transform how you lead to become a resilient and empowered change agent with Harvard's online Certificate in School Management and Leadership. Grow your professional network with a global cohort of fellow school leaders as you collaborate in case studies bridging the fields of education and business. Apply today at http://hgse.me/leader.   TEACHFX School leaders know that productive student talk drives student learning, but the average teacher talks 75% of class time! TeachFX is changing that with a "Fitbit for teachers" that automatically measures student engagement and gives teachers feedback about what they could do differently.  Learn more about the TeachFX app and get a special 20% discount for your school or district by visiting teachfx.com/blbs.   ORGANIZED BINDER Organized Binder is the missing piece in many classrooms. Many teachers are great with the main content of the lesson. Organized Binder helps with powerful introductions, savvy transitions, and memorable lesson closings. Your students will grow their executive functioning skills (and as a bonus), your teachers will become more organized too. Help your students and staff level up with Organized Binder.   Copyright © 2021 Twelve Practices LLC