Transformative Principal

Nadine Levitt Twitter is a Swiss-born German, Kiwi, US transplant, and founder of the music technology company, Wurrly, LLC. She began her career as a lawyer but after 6 years of practice, she began to pursue a career in music as a professional opera singer and songwriter. She has performed extensively all over the United States and the world, sharing the stage with David Foster, Andrea Boccelli, Kiri Te Kanawa, Roger Daltry, Christina Perri, and Steven Tyler to name a few. Passionate about music in schools she sits on the national board of Little Kids Rock, and in 2016 led the development of the music education platform WURRLYedu, which empowers student voices and makes it easy to bring a fun and effective music education to schools. Nadine is also an author of children’s books, including the My Mama Says book series, which teaches kids to identify, acknowledge and direct their emotions. PDReimagined.com Mary Ellen Imodino-Yang TEDX Talk Value Care package. Each month has a theme. Work in groups to come up

Thomas R. Hoerr, PhD retired after leading the New City School in St. Louis, Missouri for 34 years and is now the Emeritus Head of School. He is currently a Scholar In Residence at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and teaches in the Educational Leadership program, preparing prospective principals. He also led the ISACS New Heads Network and founded the Non-Profit Management Program at Washington University in St. Louis. Hoerr has written several books, and his newest, _Taking Social Emotional Learning Schoolwide: The Formative Five Success Skills for Students and Staff_, was published in December of 2019. He has written more than 150 articles, including “The Principal Connection” column in Educational Leadership Magazine from 2004 to 2017. He was previously on the Transformative Principal Podcast episode 224 where we talked about who you are is more important that what you know, and episode 225 where we talked about his book, The Formative Five. - Why does Empathy matter so much? - If there were more e

Dr. Sadin has served as a special education teacher, a gifted education teacher, and a building administrator.  Most recently she served as a director of special education.  Dr. Sadin has been vice-president of her local School Board and is recognized as a Master School Board Member. She has conducted research on the perceptions of teachers working to create trauma-informed classrooms.  Dr. Sadin is a published author and has produced numerous webinars on children with attachment trauma in schools. Currently, Dr. Sadin works a director of exceptional education and as an education consultant and developmental trauma expert providing professional development to school districts, municipal service providers and parents.  Nationally, Dr. Sadin is a highly sought-after keynote speaker and conference presenter. Her Trauma Guide Series of books are available on her website, www.traumasensitive.com. Building resilient students Hope - Start and end with the people. Over half of teachers are seeking to leave! We are d

Show notes In this episode, Ross Romano and I share our vision for the BE Podcast Network! We talk about: 1. Origins of the idea and formation 2. What to expect when we launch 3. Vision and values behind the network 4. Benefits to listeners 5. Benefits to creators 6. How to engage https://bepodcast.network Sponsors Transformative Principal Mastermind Lead a school everyone can be proud of. Being a principal is tough work. You’re pulled in all kinds of directions. You never have the time to do the work that really matters. Join me as I help school leaders find the time to do the work they became principals to do. I help you stop putting out fires and start leading. Learn more at https://transformativeprincipal.com Just Right Reader Just Right Reader Decodables are a great way to help your students learn how to read, with research-based strategies that are proven to be effective. Each grade level has over 100 books. Send books home in packs of ten, with video lessons accessible via QR codes on each book, with l

Ross Purdy Dean of Students at The Fay School in Houston. How can I best grab their hearts first? Want what’s best and care for them. 3rd year at Fay Being present asking questions, listening. Come in with a clean slate. I’m a goer and a a doer. Outdoor education program. With some students you have to earn the right to have their world opened up to you. 3.5 acres of forest that sits on the buffalo bayou. Start outdoor ed classes with team building. the power of the circle - inclusive Responsive classroom Everyone is seen. how to be a transformative principal? so easy to go down your checklist for the day and focus on your own stuff. Go out of your way to connect with kids. Take a time out from your personal agenda and be present Sponsors Transformative Principal Mastermind Lead a school everyone can be proud of. Being a principal is tough work. You’re pulled in all kinds of directions. You never have the time to do the work that really matters. Join me as I help school leaders find the time to do the work

Michael D. Toth is founder and CEO of Learning Sciences International and leads LSI’s Applied Research Center. He is also the author of the multi-award-winning book The Power of Student Teams with David Sousa; author of Who Moved My Standards; and co-author with Robert Marzano of The Essentials of a Standards-Driven Classroom, School Leadership for Results, and Teacher Evaluation that Makes a Difference. Michael gives public presentations and advises leaders on the most critical issues in K–12 education today, including equity and access, academic rigor, and student agency. As a thought leader, Michael has moderated high-level events such as roundtable discussions between some of the nation’s top superintendents on topics like reimagining schools of the future. How Florida’s Lowest Performing School Improved from an “F” to an “A” After Partnering with LSI External operator. Overcorrection is not helpful ensure student agency after a year, nothing but love. Building All students are capable of student agenc

Dr. Susie Wise is a design leader with experience in the education, tech, and the social sectors. She coaches leaders in equity design and innovation practices. She teaches at the d.school at Stanford. Previously she founded and directed the K12 Lab at the d.school and co-created Liberatory Design. She is the author of the book Designing for Belonging. She was a previous guest on Transformative Principal Episode 121 Where we talked about #shadowastudent and Episode 122 where we talked about the design thinking process. I credit much of the work I did to write my book SchoolX to that conversation with Susie. One of four books that kick of a news series for d.school. - Equity vs. Equality - Belonging is the feeling we are going for when we talk about equity. - Work that I was doing with School principals. - Design cultures with their school. - John Powell work around othering and belonging. - using design tools differently. - Contributing is a powerful way to get to belonging. - Flow is one of the moments of

Mark is the author of The Career Toolkit, Essential Skills for Success That No One Taught You. Educated at MIT, Mark has spent his career launching and fixing new ventures at startups, Fortune 500s, and academia. He’s developed new software languages, online marketplaces, new authentication systems, and tracked criminals and terrorists on the dark web. Mark helped create the Undergraduate Practice Opportunities Program, MIT’s “Career Success Accelerator”, where he’s taught for twenty years. Mark also serves on the boards of non-profits Techie Youth and Plant a Million Corals. Moving from linear to non-linear learning Nobody is going to open a flashcard app Jump to the chapter that matters most to you. We don’t do a good job in making content applicable to our students’ lives. Power of small group conversations. How to be a transformative principal? Engage your staff in peer learning techniques. Sponsors Transformative Principal Mastermind Lead a school everyone can be proud of. Being a principal is tough wo

Social media: The Be Podcast Network: Shows that help you be the change you want to see! Summer of Super Cool Surprises! I’m so excited to be talking to you again today. So far, this summer has been full of surprises, but I have something else for you today! I’m super excited to announce the Be Podcast Network. I’m expanding what I offer here at Transformative Principal to include more podcasts for more educators. You can learn more and sign up when it officially launches at bepodcast.network. Launch day is August 1st. I’ve still got a lot to do to make this launch happen. We’re starting with 7 great shows that you are going to love. Today, I’ll talk about a just a few of them. First of all, because this podcast is so successful, over a million downloads, longest running podcast for school leaders out there, many people are reaching out to me to interview them, and I just can’t possibly put them all on this show. They wouldn’t be released for years! Also, I really love podcasting. It’s so much fun, and I love

Dr Briony Scott is an Australian educator and columnist, and the Principal of Wenona in North Sydney, an independent K–12 girls school. Dr Scott has a Masters and Doctorate in Education from the University of Sydney; specialising in girls’ education, technology and pedagogy, motivational theory, and choice in education. Prior to Wenona, Dr Scott was Principal of Roseville College. She has worked as a systems analyst for Italian computer firm Olivetti and spent time volunteering as an Emergency Technician with the Wheaton Rescue Squad in Maryland, US. Dr Scott speaks regularly on educational and parenting issues at community forums and conferences. It’s really fascinating to think about leading a school that is focused on one thing, like all girls. How do you see your role differently because of the way your school is structured as an all-girls school? Gap of about 2 months pay in gender gap in pay You have to be aware of stereotypes. How women finally got into colleges for medicine You can’t be what you can’

In the world of education, no matter how confident, competent or experienced you are – pressure is a part of every process.  How well you handle those challenges, changes, and problems will often determine how successful you are going be. Michael Licenblat is a resilience expert who teaches people how to thrive in high pressure environments by bouncing back from pressures, challenges and setbacks. Drawing on his background in Psychology, Shiatsu therapy, and over 25 years of Martial Arts experience, Michael has helped countless companies and schools become ‘pressure proof’ and learn how to bounce back from the setbacks and challenges so they can out perform their competition. In Michael’s high energy, interactive and very practical presentations, he demystifies what people need to do to become resilient to pressure in today’s business world, and keep a clear head when dealing with difficult, demanding and stressful situations – without burning yourself out. The Resilient Principal - how to perform at your be

Mr. Jorge Ruiz is the Head of School of the International School of Sosua. He has been in the field of education for 20+ years. Mr. Ruiz has been a teacher in the Primary, Secondary, and University levels; as well as an administrator for Primary and Secondary. Mr. Ruiz is an educational consultant, specialized in Project-Based Learning, Professional Learning Communities, and Shared Leadership. He received the National Merit Award for Contributions to Education of the Dominican Republic in 2018. Mr. Ruiz has also hosted and served on Cognia Engagement Reviews in several countries of Latin America. Northern area of Dominican Republic - North coast of expats Less than 250 students 27 nationalities Many different points of view. Accredited by US and DR Got rid of homework and semester exams Comparison with theater and sports - it’s about the practice Pandemic changed a lot of things, let’s make it for the better! Learning gaps always exist - good we’re talking more about SEL Rebuilding relationships - sports are

Last month I talked about the TBD framework for making career decisions, and as I teased at the end of that episode, I was evaluating a current opportunity for myself. Today, I’m going to walk you through my thought process using the TBD framework. First, a little review, because maybe you don’t listen to every single episode! Gasp! TBD stands for Tribe, Brand, and Domain. I learned about it because a friend shared this article on LinkedIn with me called "[[Tribe, Brand, Domain (TBD)–How to Think about Building Career]] (link) It is written by David Boyce. This strategy is effective in evaluating where you currently are in your career, and can also be used to evaluate a specific position. The tribe part refers to the people that you are working with. Who are you surrounded by. I had a job just after I graduated high school, and I did not like the people that I was around. The owner seemed super shady, I never trusted my paychecks. My coworkers were very negative and vulgar. I knew that I didn’t want to be aro

Dr. Kyle Palmer is Author of the new book Parentships in a PLC He is an HR Administrator in Kansas City in Central school district. Kyle was on Episode 79 of Transformative Principal. Parents are so important Teachers who are afraid to reach out to If parents truly understood teachers roles. Education triangle - teachers and parents working together with students. For 2 years, we’ve put up a giant wall and closed doors to parents. Parent engagement vs parent enragement We want parents to be a voice, not just have a voice. Norms around parent engagement Parentship success team Strategies: Schoolwide norms How to be a transformative Principal? It begins and ends with how you treat people. Sponsors Transformative Principal Mastermind Lead a school everyone can be proud of. Being a principal is tough work. You’re pulled in all kinds of directions. You never have the time to do the work that really matters. Join me as I help school leaders find the time to do the work they became principals to do. I help you st

Melissa Sherman grew up in rural Virginia playing in the woods and streams. Taught PK–7th grade in public and independent school in VA, AL, TN for 17 years before becoming a principal Was a title I reaching coach/interventionist for much of this time Now am a principal of a small independent PK–5th grade School, The Fay School in Houston We have chickens, a 3 acre forest and have kids spend lots of time outside Play in the woods and dig in the dirt for nature’s sake. Forest recess, incidents of injury are lower than regular recess Last child in the woods Give kids Free Forest Schools Obstacles to kids going outside. Raised bed gardens just take cinder blocks, dirt, and sunflower seeds. State parks have free or low-cost field trips Master gardener How Trust-based observations has helped Melissa. How to be a transformative principal? Go to recess and watch kids play! Sponsors Transformative Principal Mastermind Lead a school everyone can be proud of. Being a principal is tough work. You’re pulled in all kinds

Spike Cook, Ed.D., Principal, Lakeside Middle School, Millville, NJ. In addition to being a Principal, Dr. Cook published two books through Corwin Press (Connected Leadership: It’s Just a Click Away; Breaking Out of Isolation: Becoming a Connected School Leader). He is the co-host of the popular PrincipaPLN podcast and a regular on the Unlock the Middle Videocast. His blog, Insights Into Learning, was recognized as a finalist for Best Administrator Blog by the EduBlog Awards. Spike earned his Doctorate from Rowan University and is an Adjunct Faculty member in the Masters of School Administration Program He is featured in Twinkl’s 30 Education Influencers You Need to Follow and Klear’s Top Ten Middle School Influencers. Dr. Cook is also on the Education Advisory Board for Whole Health Ed. Connect with @drspikecook via Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram. Spike and Jethro discuss how to set goals as a school around test scores related to academics. Using surveys to assess culture. Climate da

Michelle Goldshlag is the Co-founder and CEO of Cultured Kids (CK), a nonprofit organization that believes a student’s sense of belonging is the primary catalyst for their success. In her six years at the helm, Cultured Kids has partnered with schools and community organizations in Northern VA and the Metro Boston area, as well as provide consulting services for international museums and global organizations like the Holistica Foundation in Brazil. Our after school Art & Storytelling Program curriculum was developed to increase sense of belonging for 4–6th graders. Strategic and focused progression of themes align with the book text and allow participants to easily create connections between them and book characters and one another. Themes: 1. Identity 2. Empathy 3. Belonging Art projects also scaffold along with the themes and the reading. Working from individual,  to small group, and finally large group projects. Our in person pilot showed a significant increase in student belonging at school and an al

I have several friends who are looking for new positions right now, and there is a lot that goes into making a decision like this. I’m dedicating this episode to my friends who are looking for something, so imagine that we are in a coffee shop and I’m having this conversation with you. If you do want to have this conversation, because, admittedly, it is easier to have over the phone with someone, or in person. I’m going to ask some questions in here, and when I do that, if you take the time to pause the podcast and actually answer the questions, it will be a valuable experience. Just saying them out loud while you’re driving or exercising will be valuable. Bonus points if you actually write out your answers. And, if you want to go through this with me, just give me a call. (801) 7-JETHRO. Seriously, that’s my phone number. You’re probably not going to take me up on that because you’ll think I’m too busy, or you don’t matter enough. That’s baloney! If you don’t call me, call someone else you trust! Before we g

Sara Sonnenschein is a principal in New Jersey for the past 8 years, and taught in the writing classrooms the previous 19 years. She writes a curriculum to help kids learn to write at Curriculumhq.com A day in the life of principal Sunshine - LinkedIn posts inspired by Akbar Cook. Forcing myself to write about them I help myself look for them. Lots of watching people do things the wrong way. Many negative experiences as a student. Big picture questions can be difficult. My legacy is that kids have fond memories of their school. The power of writing - writing gets them to own whatever subject they’re writing about. When kids have choice in what they’re writing about it changes their ownership of the content. How she teaches writing. How to be a transformative principal? be in classrooms on a daily basis. Passion to inspire and empower teachers to be the best they can be to transform how they’re teaching kids. Sponsors Transformative Principal Mastermind Lead a school everyone can be proud of. Being a princip

Dr. Chris Jones has been an educator in Massachusetts for 21 years.  He has just finished his 13th year as a building administrator.  True to his “why” of improving the educational experience for as many people as possible by being purposeful, acting with integrity, and building character, he is currently the Principal of Whitman-Hanson Regional High School in Whitman, Massachusetts. Chris is also an Massachusetts Influence 100 Fellow focused on improving diversity, equity, and inclusion in the educational setting and a Vice President of the Massachusetts School Administrators Association (MSAA). Chris is passionate about continuous improvement and the idea that success is not a destination, but a process.  Chris is a teacher centered Principal and his beliefs around the importance of a positive work environment, continuous growth, and a healthy family work life integration can be seen in the presentations/workshops he has given for the Massachusetts School Administrators Association (MSAA), Massachusetts Com