TheSchoolHouse302 One Thing Series School Leadership Podcast

Unlocking Excellence: Read to Lead Better, Learn to Grow Faster These are two powerhouse books that capture the journey of leadership. These two books are distinctly different, but both reflect our focus on school leaders' need to Navigate the Seas of School Leadership. Joe recommends, Sea Stories: My Life in Special Operations, which is an autobiographical book by Admiral William H. McRaven, a retired Navy SEAL and former commander of the United States Special Operations Command. The book is a firsthand account of Admiral McRaven's remarkable military career, spanning from his childhood, the early days in training, to his experiences leading special operations missions. The narrative is filled with anecdotes and insights into the world of special operations, offering readers a glimpse into the challenges, triumphs, and lessons learned in high-stakes environments. It's an amazing exploration of leadership, resilience, and the values that underpin success in the most demanding situations. The book not only shares the author's personal journey but also imparts valuable leadership lessons that can be applied in various contexts, making it a great recommendation for school leaders who are navigating their own challenges. T.J. recommends, Working Backwards: Insights, Stories, and Secrets from Inside Amazon, a book written by Colin Bryar and Bill Carr, former executives at Amazon. The book provides a unique insider's perspective on Amazon's culture, leadership principles, and business strategies. In "Working Backwards," the authors share anecdotes and insights based on their experiences working with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. The book covers Amazon's customer-centric approach, decision-making processes, and the principles that have contributed to the company's success. It also offers valuable lessons for leaders and businesses seeking to adopt Amazon's innovative practices. What You’ll Learn in this Episode with Joe & T.J. Joe reveals that his mentor and friend, Dr. Steven Godowsky, originally shared this book with him knowing his interest in leadership perspectives from the military. Listen to Joe describe how Admiral McRaven structures the book to capture the intention of the reader. Joe also emphasizes how Sea Stories covers McRaven’s career. Too often leadership books don’t chronicle the journey of a leader and the many different leadership positions that an individual may hold. This book does! Who doesn’t want a look inside Amazon? Listen to T.J. describe why he likes this book and why he recommends it to school leaders. T.J. describes how these gentlemen detail their work within Amazon and the lessons that can be learned for leaders. You don’t want to miss how the authors describe working for Jeff Bezos. Let us know what you’re reading by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership newsletter every week by subscribing on the site. We can’t wait to hear from you. Joe & T.J.

About Donya Ball Dr. Donya Ball is a leader, author, and national keynote speaker. She currently serves as a superintendent of schools in California and, for over two decades, has been a change-maker in public education. Dr. Ball is a professor of both educational administration and teacher education. She is passionate about studying, writing, and speaking on overcoming leadership hardships. Her first book of the leadership series, Adjusting the Sails: Weathering the Storms of Administrative Leadership, was published in 2022. Her second book, Against the Wind: Leadership at 36,000 Feet will be released this January. What You’ll Find in this Episode with Donya Ball Donya starts with a story about her experiences working through various positions and the fact that we tend to talk a lot about “the stuff,” but there isn’t enough “real talk” in books. She wanted her work to get to the real talk. We call that “real talk for real leaders.” Listen to Donya’s thoughts on why we’re so reactionary in educational leadership. She has unique ideas about writing and conveying her message, particularly how she combines her love for reality TV and what needs to be in books for school leaders. One “sail” we talked about adjusting is the negative reviews in books. Joe tells the story of how TheSchoolHouse302 was born because it relates to Donya’s take about the need for “real talk.” One inspiration for her book is the need to discuss career rejection; it happens, but not enough of us are actually talking about it. Don’t miss her story about her dad who was born in Iran and how he had to establish a new life. We all need to become fighters! Donya talks about the need for branding…our perception of ourselves is not always in alignment with the public perception of us. Listen to her describe how branding is an obstacle and how we need to do an assessment of our social media accounts. What message are we sending to our school community? Donya says that we need to embrace the crises when they occur, not shield ourselves and others from them. Don’t miss her analogy for the three types of leadership strategies with social media. Dismissive Passive Engaged Donya tells us to follow Roni Habib at eqschools.com for inspiration and aspiration in the space of leadership and personal well-being. Great leaders ask this question daily: “Are my people taken care of?” This transcends resources, facilities, pay, etc. She wants to know if those she leads truly feel taken care of. Don’t miss what she says about “raw, authentic, heartfelt conversations.” Donya wants to master the art of patience. Joe says that TJ is not a person to ask for help in this area. She talked about growing as a leader and why it’s imperative to surround yourself with people who are different from you--political leaders, community leaders, thought leaders in various fields. She delivered a great call-to-action: We need to get outside of our comfort zones when it comes to bringing people into our circle. She recommends Blindspots: Hidden Biases of Good People for school leaders who want to uncover their own biases and move past them. Donya admits that she used to think about short-term results and getting quick wins on accountability metrics, but she’s shifting her thinking to more long-term approaches to teaching, learning, and leading that have a lasting impact on the world. Let us know if there’s a guest who you want us to have on the show by leaving a comment below or by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership content updates every week by subscribing on the site. We can’t wait to hear from you. Joe & T.J.

In this episode the Leading Better and Growing Faster podcast for school leaders, Joe and T.J. tackle strategies for building an environment where teachers want to work and want to stay. As our good friend, Principal EL, always says, “trying to find, hire, and retain teachers is like the hunger games.” There is definitely a shortage of qualified teachers, so it is imperative that we hang onto the ones we have. To do so, every school leader must actively work to create an environment where teachers thrive. We recommend a multifaceted approach: First and foremost, celebrating and praising the dedication and hard work of educators is paramount. Recognize their achievements, both big and small, not only to boost morale but also to reaffirm their value in the school community. Secondly, finding more time for teachers to engage in professional development, collaboration, and self-care is crucial. We know it’s difficult, but school leaders must uncover ways to reduce the unnecessary administrative burden placed on staff, prioritizing time for their growth and renewal. Lastly, creating leadership opportunities within the school empowers teachers to take ownership of their roles, fostering a sense of purpose and investment in their work. This three-pronged approach is grounded in celebration, time management, and leadership cultivation. In the episode, T.J. digs into one the communication feedback models that we work with school districts on, including Specific Praise. The challenge is that managers believe they do this, but most workers disagree. Joe doubles down on the need for the 3Rs: Recuperate, Rejuvenate, and Regroup. Leaders often mistake downtime as wasted time, a major mistake. We suggest finding time for staff to achieve the 3Rs at work and beyond. The key is to communicate the goal and intended usage of the time provided for them. Lastly, don’t forget to lift your influential teachers. They can galvanize school culture, but they should be developed as well. Do not leave their growth to chance. Find ways to give them leadership experiences and avenues to grow as a leader. Achieve the aforementioned strategies and you will be well on your way to developing the school culture where teachers thrive. Let us know if there’s a topic you want us to cover by leaving a comment below or by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership content updates every week by subscribing on the site. We can’t wait to hear from you. Joe & T.J.

Joe and T.J. Recommend that School Leaders Read The Song of Significance and Retention for A Change It’s no mystery that we are big fans of Seth Godin, especially T.J., but there is a good reason for that in terms of learning to lead better and grow faster. In many ways, Godin challenges conventional wisdom, but yet remains practical in his advice. His insights are unique, and school leaders can benefit from his work. Here’s what you’ll learn from this podcast: Find your unique voice as a school leader to help develop the school environment that empowers teachers and students. There is no greater superpower than authenticity. Schools are not only a part of the community; in many respects they are a community within themselves. Godin writes about tribes and groups that join together to unlock potential. Schools are a natural place for this work. It requires a skilled leader to create the right conditions, though. Lastly, Godin talks about generosity. Tune in to find more. We always feel a little odd showcasing our own work. However, Retention for A Change (RFAC) is packed with great strategies, from practitioners for practitioners. Learn how to Motivate, Inspire, and Energize your team. Uncover key ways to onboard and support your new hires. The real work starts when the hiring is done. Lastly, schools are in a constant state of transition. We would love for things to slow down and for the waters settle, but we don’t see that happening any time soon. RFAC recognizes that reality in education and provides school leaders with real tools to navigate the daily grindl. Let us know what you’re reading by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership newsletter every week by subscribing on the site. We can’t wait to hear from you. Joe & T.J.

In this episode the Leading Better and Growing Faster podcast for school leaders, Joe and T.J. tackle strategies for building an environment where teachers want to work and want to stay. As our good friend, Principal EL, always says, “trying to find, hire, and retain teachers is like the hunger games.” There is definitely a shortage of qualified teachers, so it is imperative that we hang onto the ones we have. To do so, every school leader must actively work to create an environment where teachers thrive. We recommend a multifaceted approach: First and foremost, celebrating and praising the dedication and hard work of educators is paramount. Recognize their achievements, both big and small, not only to boost morale but also to reaffirm their value in the school community. Secondly, finding more time for teachers to engage in professional development, collaboration, and self-care is crucial. We know it’s difficult, but school leaders must uncover ways to reduce the unnecessary administrative burden placed on staff, prioritizing time for their growth and renewal. Lastly, creating leadership opportunities within the school empowers teachers to take ownership of their roles, fostering a sense of purpose and investment in their work. This three-pronged approach is grounded in celebration, time management, and leadership cultivation. In the episode, T.J. digs into one the communication feedback models that we work with school districts on, including Specific Praise. The challenge is that managers believe they do this, but most workers disagree. Joe doubles down on the need for the 3Rs: Recuperate, Rejuvenate, and Regroup. Leaders often mistake downtime as wasted time, a major mistake. We suggest finding time for staff to achieve the 3Rs at work and beyond. The key is to communicate the goal and intended usage of the time provided for them. Lastly, don’t forget to lift your influential teachers. They can galvanize school culture, but they should be developed as well. Do not leave their growth to chance. Find ways to give them leadership experiences and avenues to grow as a leader. Achieve the aforementioned strategies and you will be well on your way to developing the school culture where teachers thrive. Let us know if there’s a topic you want us to cover by leaving a comment below or by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership content updates every week by subscribing on the site. We can’t wait to hear from you. Joe & T.J.

In this podcast, we are completely focused on successfully implementing and managing the multiple initiatives that can be found in every school system. What you’ll find in this episode: Despite the enormous amount of various initiatives in schools, maintain a mindset that sees how they all fit into the system versus it being “one more thing.” Zoom out to gain a greater perspective so you can successfully organize the initiatives and work into buckets. Very often the area of focus may gel nicely with work already being done. As a school leader, be sure to include teacher voice and their perspective. They will point out obstacles and roadblocks that will save an enormous amount of time. Let teacher leaders run with the work, but don’t leave them out to dry. Providing ongoing leadership development and capacity building is key. Lastly, do an inventory of all the programs and initiatives. Sometimes the work overlaps with other efforts and either something can be eliminated or coupled. Let us know if there’s a topic you want us to cover in our short Leading Better & Growing Faster episodes by leaving a comment below or by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership content updates every week by subscribing on the site. We can’t wait to hear from you. Joe & T.J.

Leading Better and Growing Faster with Joe & TJ: Guest Debbie Silver Talks about Inspiring Educators to Enjoy the Job They Once Loved About Debbie Silver Dr. Debbie Silver is a former Louisiana Teacher of the Year, a best-selling author, and a highly sought-after speaker. She has presented to educators, administrators, parents, and students in 49 states, Europe, Asia, Africa, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and the Middle East. Her best-selling books include Drumming to the Beat of Different Marchers, Teaching Kids to Thrive, and the recently updated and revised Fall Down 7 Times Get Up 8, and Deliberate Optimism: Still Reclaiming the Joy in Education. Debbie’s high-energy sessions address both the art and heart of teaching. Audiences delight in hearing this 30-year veteran teacher whose presentations are described as “where learning collides with laughter.” What You’ll Find in this Episode with Debbie Silver Debbie starts off with the fact that her book Deliberate Optimism focuses on leadership, specifically teacher leaders. Dr. Silver talks about the need for teachers to have more time without students so they can break the stagnation and build a relationship culture. Don’t miss what she says about optimism and “what matters.” Debbie talks about incremental steps rather than massive changes. We need to balance the art and the heart of teaching. She reminds us to look for glimmers, not triggers. She dives into the idea of failing better and building our collective efficacy. She talks about teaching educators to vent properly and not pull the profession down. Don’t miss what she says about new teachers not having more than 4 hours of teaching a day so that they can spend more time observing master teachers. T.J. asks Debbie about modeling. Don’t miss her response and her call for unity. Her insight about teacher training and isolation is thought provoking. What we expect from teachers, specifically new teachers, is impossible and unlike any other profession. Joe mentions the potential that PLC have to support teacher capacity and growth. Listen to what she says they cannot be. Her ingredients for leadership success are straightforward: common vision, shared value system, mutual respect, and optimism. Debbie brings up Brene Brown, Rick Wormli, Association of Middle Level Educators, and other resources that you’ll want to check out. The one thing people should do more regularly is to give others the benefit of the doubt. She reminds us that adults want to be treated like adults. Dr. Silver ends with wanting to learn more about how to use Artificial Intelligence. Our riff on Chat GPT is great. Let us know if there’s a guest who you want us to have on the show by leaving a comment below or by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership content updates every week by subscribing on the site. We can’t wait to hear from you. Joe & T.J.

Walk into any school and you’ll find countless different types of work being done. Yes, teaching and learning are at the heart of what we do, but a great school culture, one where teaching and learning can thrive, is about so much more. Creating this kind of culture places a huge demand on countless people who are doing exciting work. But, at times, with all of the spinning plates, it can also be overwhelming. It’s easy to get caught up in the fast-paced, whirlwind of initiatives and responsibilities that can tax even the most formidable educator. The goal is to successfully lead initiatives, striving to achieve the goals of the school, yet without burnout looming. This requires the effective use of proven leadership strategies along with a collaborative approach, paving the way for successful implementation. That’s why we picked these two books as our recommendations for school leaders who want to implement initiatives well. They provide the tips, tools, and tricks for the necessary learning and insight to do just that. Joe and T.J. Recommend that School Leaders Read These Two Books These two books are powerful reads that can transform how you operate and manage initiatives in your schools. T.J. tell us that one major take away that we had from Right From the Start was to find bright spots. Jim Marshall tells us that school leaders often look for gaps to fill, but the bright spots show us the places that need replication. The bright spots are those areas that are working well and performing optimally. We often want to fix things, but it is within the bright spots where we identify what is working and potentially what can be reproduced elsewhere. Don’t miss what we say about the power of preplanning as well! In our recommendation that school leaders read Every Teacher a Leader we emphasize the need to build teacher leaders and to invest in the capacity to influence others. School administrators cannot do it all, and they certainly won’t do it well without the help of teachers. Schools are constantly implementing initiatives and that reality should prompt every school leader to embrace this mindset--the need for teacher leaders--and drive change through their development. The classroom is the most important space in a school, and at the end of the day, teachers need to be inspired and empowered to teach, learn, and lead. Our reading tip for this month is simple: find reading material and books that support the ancillary aspects of what you are trying to achieve. For example, if you are implementing restorative practices in your school, don’t only read books on that topic. Yes, it’s critical to become highly skilled in that space, and there are great books to help you on that journey, however, digging into Chip and Dan Heath’s book Switch, which covers the psychology of change, can prove to be invaluable. Pick something up that isn’t in the typical school leader’s library or playlist. Enjoy these books to lead better and grow faster as school leaders. We always appreciate a like, a follow, a comment, or a share. And, if you read our newest book, please rate it on Amazon. It helps. Let us know what you’re reading by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership newsletter every week by subscribing on the site. We can’t wait to hear from you. Joe & T.J.

About Miriam Plotinsky Miriam Plotinsky is an instructional specialist with Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland, where she has taught and led for more than 20 years. She is the author of Teach More, Hover Less, Lead Like a Teacher, and Writing Their Future Selves (W.W. Norton & Company). She is also a National Board–Certified Teacher and a certified administrator. What You’ll Find in this Educational Leadership Podcast Episode with Miriam Plotinsky Miriam says that her new book--Lead Like a Teacher--was pretty much an accident. She simply found that the schools with more teachers at the table had stronger cultures. She talked about teachers’ misconception of school leaders as well as school leaders’ misconception of teachers. She called this “the empathy gap.” Miriam points out that “if you don’t know the story, you’ll create one. And, it might be wrong.” Miriam acknowledges that we often learn from the models we have around us, which is only a good thing when the model is effective. Otherwise it works against us. Hear Miriam discuss why visibility is so critical for a school leader. Miriam gave us some insights into how the book unfolds, including what she calls “macro” and “micro” aspects of school leadership. She calls for more classroom visits. We couldn’t agree more. Don’t miss what she says about “Wait Time 1” and “Wait Time 2” as both teaching and leadership strategies. We can’t disagree with talking less to learn more. Miriam mentions Twitter as a place to go to find like-minded people and new ideas. She identifies some well known and not so well known resources that are valuable for all educators. She points to Teachers Going Gradeless as a cool organization. She also calls out Edutopia and ASCD as well as Solution Tree as great resources. Miriam uses the ten-minute reset each day to make sure that she does something that she loves. Tune into what she says about movement and breaks. She talks about being a “dabbler” in a bunch of things, and she wants to learn how to write more nonfiction. And, we all agreed to learn how to be more funny. Joe reflects on the need to get more people involved early in our process for any given initiative. Don’t miss what she used to think about those who wanted to go into administration and how her perspective has changed. Let us know if there’s a guest who you want us to have on the show by leaving a comment below or by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership content updates every week by subscribing on the site. We can’t wait to hear from you. Joe & T.J.

About Jim Marshall Jim Marshall’s life-long work lies at the intersection of people and the organizations in which they work—and optimizing the synergy that fertile convergence holds. A Professor of Educational Leadership at San Diego State University, his scholarship, teaching, and consulting combine our understanding of human performance and organization development to assess strengths, devise strategy, and improve even the most vexing of challenges. With over 200 publications to his credit, Marshall’s scholarship encompasses a diverse range of works that include empirical research, program evaluation efforts, and policy development. His evaluation endeavors are particularly significant and include more than 250 individual studies of funded projects and program investments totaling over $120 million dollars. He serves as a thought partner to leaders seeking to hasten the collective impact of their organization’s investments. From assessing strengths and needs to conceptualizing strategy and program initiatives and then measuring return on investment, Marshall’s unique approach relies on a proven mix of assessment and evaluation, appreciative inquiry, and empathic understanding that predictably yields quantifiable results. His book, Right from the Start: The Essential Guide to Implementing School Initiatives, summarizes lessons learned through evaluation of hundreds of programs in both the public and private sectors. What You’ll Find in this Educational Leadership Podcast Episode with Jim Marshall Jim starts with his experience as the evaluator of initiatives and projects, which led him to write the book. He has been able to reflect on what school leaders could do differently at the start of initiatives, which would make all the difference in the long run. Jim calls for careful and thoughtful planning for initiatives so that when we get to the implementation phase we end up with a more predictable result. Joe asks about the balance between whether the initiative itself is the problem or the people who execute it. Don’t miss what Jim says about how people interface with the initiative. You want to hear what Jim says about his motivation equation: motivation = value * convince. He gives credit to Vroom through his expectancy theory. Jim argues that a “program” is like the tip of an iceberg while an “initiative” should be able to get to the deeper parts of the iceberg. Jim recommends that we start by looking for bright spots in our work. He calls it “appreciative inquiry.” We typically look for things to fix, and that’s not always the best way to evaluate what works and what doesn’t. Jim wants to know why there’s not more knowledge and shared best practices among schools and outside organizations. Don’t miss what he says about dissemination of best practices. He talks about his continued strategy for growth. He runs through the use of performance engineering. Jim used to think of evaluation as “gap analysis,” now he looks for strengths first. Jim ends by saying that this work doesn’t have to be complicated. We couldn’t agree more! Let us know if there’s a guest who you want us to have on the show by leaving a comment below or by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership content updates every week by subscribing on the site. We can’t wait to hear from you. Joe & T.J.

Joe and T.J. Recommend that School Leaders Read In Search of Deeper Learning and Fearless Schools What you’ll discover in this episode of Leading Better & Growing Faster w/ Joe & T.J. We recommend In Search of Deeper Learning for school leaders. We also recommend Fearless Schools for school leaders. Why in the world is Joe wearing a NASA Jacket? There is “deeper learning at the margins and why the periphery is more important than the core.” This is an excellent example of how this book pushes the boundaries. The key tenets of a learning culture. Evidence of learning. What does it look like in classrooms? Trust is imperative for psychological safety. Focus on learning at every level within the hierarchy of schooling. Each episode, Joe and T.J. leave a tip to lead better and grow faster. This month’s reading tip is to read these books with your team! Don’t miss what Joe says about it. Developing a learning culture requires time and effort, but the dividends are incredible. How does your culture stack up? Let us know what you’re reading by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership newsletter every week by subscribing on the site. We can’t wait to hear from you. Joe & T.J.

About Jennifer Abrams Formerly a high school English teacher and a new teacher coach in Palo Alto Unified School District (Palo Alto, CA, USA), Jennifer Abrams is currently a communications consultant and author who works with educators and others on leadership development at all levels, effective collaboration skills, having hard conversations and creating identity safe workplaces. Jennifer’s publications include Having Hard Conversations, The Multigenerational Workplace: Communicate, Collaborate & Create Community, Hard Conversations Unpacked: the Whos, Whens and What Ifs, and Swimming in the Deep End: Four Foundational Skills for Leading Successful School Initiatives. Her newest book, and the focus of this episode, is Stretching Your Learning Edges: Growing (Up) at Work. Jennifer shares her work in other mediums as a featured columnist on growth and change for Learning Forward’s The Learning Professional journal as well as contributing to The International Educator (TIE) focusing her writing on adult development and collaboration skills. Jennifer has been invited to keynote, facilitate and coach at schools and conferences worldwide and is honored to have been named one of the “18 Women All K-12 Educators Should Know,” by Education Week’s ‘Finding Common Ground’’ blog. More about Jennifer’s work can be found at her website, www.jenniferabrams.com. and on Twitter @jenniferabrams. What You’ll Find in this Podcast Episode with Jennifer Abrams Jennifer starts with the fact that “we speak to” being lifelong learners, but are we really living up to that? What if we developed ourselves in ways that allowed us to respond rather than react? Listen to what she says about the typical response to feedback. Joe asked why we have such trouble with a learning culture. Jennifer’s response is profound--time, being “done” as a learner, school leaders assuming that the adult is already good enough. You have to hear what she says about the difference between how teachers are given prep periods but not reflection periods. T.J. asked about why educators often become defensive when given feedback or asked to make a change. Jennifer puts it simply: the system is not designed that way. We don’t have the apprenticeship-style learning that would induct us into the profession as a learner. Jennifer talks about resiliency as working on our own emotional and psychological hygiene. Don’t miss what she says about Pigpen and how people can bring in a lot of dust. Education is complex. Listen to what she says about shifting from “teacher of record” to “a space of learning” and how it can have a huge void. You want to know how to use the tool she describes to get people to check their energy when we start a meeting. Jennifer follows Shane Parrish at Farnam Street. She also studies Jennifer Garvey Berger, Cultivating Leadership for adult learners. Pay attention to her leadership check-in questions that gauge relationship health, but can work well with a team. Jennifer wants to learn how to cook better. She wants to feel free to fail. Powerful statement. Three things to do to learn and grow as a leader: Find a conference and attend as a learner. Find a conference and apply to co-present with someone. If you’re interested in someone’s work, find them. Reach out to them. Jennifer reveals that she has a cognitive crush on Peter Block, author of The Answer to How is Yes. Lastly, Jennifer reminds us that you can get things done. Just go forth and do it. Let us know if there’s a guest who you want us to have on the show by leaving a comment below or by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership content updates every week by subscribing on the site. We can’t wait to hear from you. Joe & T.J.

Joe and T.J. Recommend that School Leaders Read Harvard Business Review’s On Mental Toughness and Success Through A Positive Mental Attitude In this episode, you’ll hear key points made by both T.J. and Joe about two books every school leader should read to mind your mental map to the future. T.J. immediately underscores that On Mental Toughness has a bonus article with Martin Seligman. Dr. Martin E.P. Seligman is the Director of the University of Pennsylvania Positive Psychology Center. You also don’t want to miss the critical points he makes on mental toughness and the value of perseverance. Joe shares one of his favorite books because of the power of the success principles featured in it, Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude. Spend a life pursuing them and you will grow as a person and a leader. Each episode, Joe and T.J. leave a tip to lead better and grow faster. This month’s reading tip is to build in time to reflect on what you’ve read. This is easy to do but so often we just move on without reflecting on how we might apply the information in the books we read. Knowledge without application serves no one and won’t make you any better than you were before you started reading. Let us know what you’re reading by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership newsletter every week by subscribing on the site. We can’t wait to hear from you. Joe & T.J. TheSchoolHouse302.com

In this episode, Joe and T.J. explore what it really means to mind your mental map. Our minds can be very scary places if we are not careful. School leaders must remain in a productive space in order to lead effectively, but the thread of events throughout the day and week can take their toll. This is why school leaders must do the following: Flip Your Thinking Don’t Jump to Judge Adapt, Don’t Adopt Key Points from Joe & T.J. T.J. starts the conversation on the crucial importance of being aware of the potential of living in Groundhog Day--experiencing the same set of events over-and-over. Joe double downs on some ChatGPT, unfinished learning, school climate, an increase in student discipline, the teacher shortage, ESSER funds running out, and how we frame all of these circumstances in our minds is critical. Yes they are problems, but where are the possibilities? We are firm believers that with the right approach, no problem is unsolvable. Take control of your thinking and flip it. Listen to T.J. talk about Tim Ferris and how he approaches an issue. Innovation and analysis--think with your team. Don’t jump to judge--so easy to judge others by their actions and not intentions. Adapt, don’t adopt--put an issue on its side. Perceptual illusion--what don’t you see? Let us know a topic that you want us to cover by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership newsletter every week by subscribing on the site. Like, follow, share, comment--we appreciate it! We can’t wait to hear from you. Joe & T.J.

About Nancy and Elizabeth Jorgensen Elizabeth Jorgensen has been published in many popular journals, including the English Journal, Edutopia, Teachers & Writers Magazine, and many, many more. Her book on process-based assessment, Hacking Student Learning Habits, was published by Times 10 Publications in 2022, and her most recent book was released in October 2022, Gwen Jorgensen: USA’s First Olympic Gold Medal Triathlete, which is our focus today, along with her co-author and mother, Nancy. She has presented nationally and is an award-winning writer and teacher and sought-after speaker. Nancy Jorgensen was a high school choir director for many years, she is the co-author of two music education books, Things They Never Taught You in Choral Methods and From the Trenches: Real Insights from Real Choral Educators. She is also the author of several essays and an Olympic blog, published in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Very impressive teachers and family! What You’ll Find in this Podcast Episode with Nancy and Elizabeth Jorgensen Listen to this incredible story of mother and daughter working in the same school and how Nancy (mom) was publishing articles and other work, and how she went to Elizabeth (an English teacher) to help with editing. Then, Elizabeth asked her to return the favor. They’ve been writing together ever since. Nancy explains why candor was critical with her children. There’s no time to slow down to “be nice.” Don’t miss what Elizabeth and Nancy say about ideation and staying on task, including the kind of feedback they want and expect from each other. We really liked the concept of the “beta-readers” to help with polishing work before publication. They get very granular about their writing and editing process. It’s fascinating to hear how they can often lose track of who wrote the initial piece. The research behind why they wrote Gwen Jorgensen: USA's First Olympic Gold Medal Triathlete is fascinating. Their discovery: there aren’t books available for young people about female athletes. One powerful theme in the book comes from how Gwen listened to a track coach even though she didn’t consider herself a runner. Nancy and Elizabeth emphasized the power of listening and embracing what others see in us, even if we don’t see it in ourselves. Elizabeth talked about the essence of feedback and how Gwen refined her skills to grow into an Olympic Gold medalist. Don’t miss how school leaders can use these lessons in each and every classroom. The point about strength-identification is a powerful takeaway. Elizabeth’s answer on the power of reflection and the activity of having students write letters is something every teacher can do. What Nancy says about student leadership in the choir classroom is profound. We were not surprised to learn that both of them follow Gwen as a positive force in their lives. In fact, they have to follow her on social media because she’s so busy. The way that Elizabeth uses social media to praise and celebrate the people she follows is an awesome strategy. The goals that Gwen makes public about her olympic training is both vulnerable for her and inspirational for the rest of us. Elizabeth talks about the need for sleep. You need the Oura ring! Nancy talked about sticking to a schedule as a superpower. Nancy wants to learn how to run and do a 5K with Gwen. Liz suggested that hiring a coach is a game changer! Elizabeth talked about her desire to be more patient, compassionate, and kind. Especially in her response and delivery to others. Nancy used to think that she had an obligation to certain groups but now gives herself the freedom to say no. Let us know if there’s a guest who you want us to have on the show by leaving a comment below or by contacting us at contact@theschoolhouse302.com. And don’t miss our leadership content updates every week by subscribing on the site. We can’t wait to hear from you. Joe & T.J.