Teaching Learning Leading K-12

Samuel DePaul, PhD talks with me about his book Perspectives & Reflections for the Superintendent: What Can Be Learned From Experience? This is episode 502 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. Sam  DePaul, PhD  was a school district superintendent for thirty-one years leading five school districts, serving in three states; and he recently completed his sixth year as the executive director of the North GA RESA in Ellijay, GA, and retired effective June 1, 2022.  DePaul began his career as a biology and chemistry teacher, moved into building-level administration, and his first position as superintendent.  DePaul is and has been a member of AASA since 1988. DePaul’s education was all in the Pittsburgh, PA area where he and his wife were born and raised.  His B.S. degree was from Geneva College, his M.Ed. from Westminster College, and his Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh. DePaul and his wife Megan, reside in Carrabelle, FL; and they have a son, daughter-in-law, and two beautiful grandd

Dr. Sabrina J. Ellis talks with me about her book Wife Life: Securing Your Future. This is episode 501 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. After receiving the prestigious 2016 President Barack Obama’s Lifetime Achievement Award, Dr. Sabrina J. Ellis became the Chief Visionary Officer of Free to Thrive, which was developed to “challenge the leader within for positive transformations without.”   Free to Thrive focuses on guiding organizations through meaningful change for the greatest impact to employee satisfaction, improved leadership, better resource, and financial management, and heightened awareness for the best customer service.  As part of this initiative, she established the Recherché Mentoring Program to influence the lives of adolescent females to reach their potential through philosophical approaches to mental, physical, and spiritual change.  Dr. Ellis, the author of three books, is a proven organizational development and leadership transformation change agent for corporations and

Ed Davis Talks About Riding Freight Cars Across the US & Canada and his book - The Last Professional. This is episode 500 of the audio podcast Teaching Learning Leading K12. Ed Davis began his writing career over forty years ago, pausing in boxcars, under street lamps, and in hobo jungles to capture the beats and rhythms of the road as he caught freight trains and vagabonded around the Pacific Northwest and Canada.  As Ed illustrates in Forty Years from Boxcar to Book Launch - The Last Professional was born on the rails. His short stories have appeared in numerous literary journals. His novella, In All Things, and his collection of travel pieces, Road Stories, have both been Amazon Top Ten bestsellers.  Ed’s death row thriller, A Matter of Time, was written in real-time, twenty-four hours, as the last day of the hero’s life unfolds. His work has appeared in Gris-Gris, New English Review, and The Penman Review among others.   Ed and his wife Jan live in Northern California, not far from Jack London’s Be

Danielle Nuhfer - The Path of the Mindful Teacher: How to Choose Calm Over Chaos and Serenity Over Stress, One Step at a Time. This is episode 499 of Teaching Learning Leading K12. Danielle Nuhfer is a teacher wellness coach (and a fellow teacher!) and she helps time-crunched teachers find time for self-care. She works with teachers who love what they do (most of the time) but don’t love how they feel (some of the time): teachers who want to find balance in all areas of their lives without leaving a profession that they love. Her specialty is supporting teachers in building their resilience by saying “NO” to what isn’t working and saying “YES” to the real and achievable possibility of balance both inside and outside of the classroom. This is done without focusing on what’s wrong and instead focusing on what is, building on your unique lived experience, school situation, and personal needs. She teaches you how to fill your own self-care and teacher wellness buckets through a variety of different tools and te

  Stephen Furlich shares his book Sex Talk: How Biological Sex Influences Gender Communication Differences Throughout Life's Stages. This is Episode 498 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast.   Dr. Stephen Furlich is the author of a breakthrough book, Sex Talk: How Biological Sex Influences Gender Communication Differences Throughout Life’s Stages.  He has taught and researched communication at the university level for over 20 years. He has taught a variety of communication courses with the main focus of better understanding oneself and others. Often, his research projects and the courses that he taught, complemented each other and led into innovative directions.  Dr. Furlich has been an associate professor at Texas A & M University since 2018 and served as an assistant professor there for five years prior to that.  He has presented at many conferences, including: DFW Metroplex Linguistics Conference, Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education Conference, E-Learning Conference

  Kieran O'Mahony - The Brain-Based Classroom: Accessing Every Child's Potential Through Educational Neuroscience. This is episode 497 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. After a long career in education, Dr. Kieran O’Mahony consistently found himself questioning the status quo. While in the faculty room we spoke in forward-looking platitudes and used phrases like “equality of educational opportunity, but he realized that neither “equality” nor “opportunity” were associated with the education they were doling out. He couldn’t help but wonder why our school systems were driving our children into bleak futures? So, he decided to spend his career seeking the solution to one of the biggest problems we face today: how can we give every student an equal opportunity to love learning? That question led Kieran to develop the cognitive learning model taught in The Brain-Based Classroom and the Brain-Based Solutions training programs. Now, you can develop the same understanding of the brain, and use th

Laurel Schmidt talks about her novel How to Be Dead: A Love Story. This is episode 496 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. Laurel Schmidt is a lifelong educator (teacher, principal, district director), art lover, and writer. She's the author of a critically-acclaimed novel, How to Be Dead – A Love Story, and four non-fiction books on art, learning, and brain development.  She's a nationally recognized expert who has helped thousands of docents and museum educators master the art of leading dynamic inquiry-based conversations that have museum visitors and students longing for more.  Laurel also works with the education departments of numerous museums in Los Angeles and New York. She is a consultant to The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), and co-author of Contemporary Art Start: A Curriculum Guide to Contemporary Art and Culture, published by MOCA in 1985. It is the centerpiece of an inquiry-based art education program. She is a consultant to the Guggenheim Museum, The Met and MoMA in New Yo

N.L. Holmes talks about her latest in the Lord Hani series: Pilot Who Knows the Waters. This is episode 495 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. N.L. Holmes is a prolific novelist embarking on another significant career phase. Prior to taking up the power of writing and using this pen name, she was an accomplished archaeologist and teacher for 25 years. Early in her career she served as a nun for two decades. In between she was an artist and antiques dealer. Yes, she has lived an interesting life and the sum of her experiences informs and inspires her writings today.  Holmes, who earned her doctorate in Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology Studies from Bryn Mawr College despite an offer to attend Princeton, has excavated in Greece and Israel, and taught ancient history and humanities at Stockton University in N.J. and University of South Florida for many years. She also did archaeological artwork for excavations from Lebanon. With seven published novels, Holmes is the creator of The Lord Ha

  Nicole Asherah - A Life Cycle: A Guide to Healing and Rediscovering Yourself. This is episode 494 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. Nicole Asherah is an artist whose main mediums are poetry, film photography, and oil painting but she has a habit of dabbling in whatever sparks her creative juices. Switching between mediums of expression, Nicole tries to connect readers to intimate moments, feelings, and relationships experienced throughout life. She wants to break your heart with the raw emotion that her pieces evoke. She hopes you find joy in that heartbreak as she always does! Nicole has unique background of being raised by a psychologist, backpacking around more than 15 countries by herself, attending Roehampton University’s Creative Writing Poetry MFA, volunteering with SURJ and other grassroots organizations that have all synthesized to give her broad understanding of peoples individual struggles and how to capture them in art. Nicole loves to hear feedback and reactions so please fe

Bryan Dean: UDL Innovation Specialist with CAST. This is episode 493 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. CAST's mission is to transform education design and practice until learning has no limits. Located near Boston, CAST is a nonprofit education research and development organization that created the Universal Design for Learning framework and UDL Guidelines, now used the world over to make learning more inclusive. The acronym "CAST" derives from the original name of our organization, Center for Applied Special Technology. Now we're simply CAST. Our CAST of characters includes over 50 talented employees, including world-class educators, learning scientists, instructional designers, literacy experts, policy analysts, UX and graphic designers, software engineers, and a first-rate administrative and executive staff. CAST | Until learning has no limits® Today, I will be talking with Bryan Dean, UDL Innovation Specialist Bryan Dean is CAST’s Innovation Specialist. Bryan has been working with hard

Irmgarde Brown talks about her novel: Sister Jane. This is episode 492 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. Irmgarde Brown knows a good book when she sees one. For 28 years she had stacked shelves as a librarian. She also recognizes a good theatrical story, having written, produced, and acted in a one-woman play that toured for two years.  Now she has broken into book publishing with a character-driven, plot-twisting novel that examines how society reacts to people who make major life changes and discover their true talents later in life. It also explores whether we really believe in miracles or if social media, the government, community, and the news media would distort whatever the truth really is. A little bit about her book Sister Jane… All her life, Jane believes she is small-town ordinary. . . until she isn't. Some people brand her a witch, while others believe she has a demon. Her family thinks she's ready for the nursing home, and a down-and-out news reporter assumes she's a fake. But

Christine Marie Eberle discusses her latest book Finding God Abiding. This is episode 490 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. Christine Marie Eberle passionately connects spirituality, Scripture, and everyday life.  After the 2018 publication of her first book, Finding God in Ordinary Time, Christine concluded her 26-year career as a college campus minister to devote her time to writing, public speaking, and retreat facilitation.  In person and on the page, she resists pious platitudes while inviting us to encounter a God who has infinite compassion for people in pain. With a contemporary voice that is warm, accessible, and surprisingly funny, Christine offers spiritual nourishment to people skeptical or weary of religion, while still giving the faithful something to chew on. You can follow her at christine-marie-eberle.com.  Today, we will focus on her latest book Finding God Abiding.  Lots to learn. Thanks for listening. But wait... Could you do me a favor? Please go to my website at https

  Emily Amick - PowerMyLearning: Building Teacher & Family Capacity to Accelerate  Learning. This is episode 490 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. Emily Amick is an experienced teacher, coach, and professional developer. In her role as Managing Director of Programs at PowerMyLearning she leads the strategic planning and development of capacity-building programming for educators and families.  Emily is committed to advancing equitable educational outcomes by elevating family voice and helping teachers and leaders leverage the strengths of their students’ families. She has a BA in Mathematics from New York University and a Masters in Secondary Education from UNC Chapel Hill. She lives in Pittsburgh, PA with her husband and two teenaged children and enjoys reading fiction, petting dogs, and drinking coffee. Our focus today is talking about how PowerMyLearning helps both teachers and families to develop the capacity to accelerate learning. Thanks for listening! But wait... Could you do me

Roberta Seret - The Transylvanian Trilogy: Gift of Diamonds, Love Odyssey, and Treasure Seekers. This is episode 489 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. Roberta Seret holds a doctorate in Comparative Literature and Masters in French from New York University. She is President and Founder of the NGO at the United Nations, International Cinema Education, the Director of Advanced English and Film at the United Nations for the Hospitality Committee where she teaches English language, world affairs and film to diplomats, additionally she created and implemented at the United Nations, the International Film Festival for High School Students. More than 15,000 students from 100+ New York and Connecticut high schools have been invited free to this program. By using foreign film as the medium, she has created a multi-disciplinary curriculum to teach students about global events. She partners with the United Nations. Roberta is the author of the Transylvanian Trilogy: Gift of Diamonds, Love Odyssey, and

Colin Kersey: Swimming with the Angels. This is episode 488 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast.  Colin Kersey's writing combines hair-raising stories and vivid prose with colorful characters.  His first novel, Soul Catcher, was published by St. Martin’s Press. A former Washingtonian and self- described rainophobe, Colin now lives on a sunny island in Southern California where he is employed as Global PR Manager for a Japanese company.  He is a graduate of the University of Washington, Western Washington University, and the novel writing program at Stanford University. He is currently working on a third novel. His work has been mentioned or featured in select news media outlets, including Entertainment Weekly, Washington Post, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and Kirkus Reviews. About Swimming With The Angels: Gray Reynolds' world is violently upended when assassins wound him and kill everyone else aboard a speedboat. He then learns from his dying wife that she helped steal $100 million fr

Rev. Dr. Gordon Postill - Called: A Longshot's Story. This is episode 487 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. Rev. Dr. Gordon Postill is an author and retired minister who has helped thousands of people. He was ordained by the United Church of Canada in May 1980 and served congregations in Nova Scotia and Ontario before spending the last 24 years of his ministry providing spiritual care to hospice patients and their families in FL and MA. He retired in 2015 to care for his beloved, now late wife Robin who had become afflicted with early-onset Alzheimer’s. Postill holds a Bachelor of Arts from Laurentian University, Sudbury, a Master of Divinity from Emmanuel College, Toronto, and a Doctor of Ministry from Boston University. With his advanced clinical training, he became Board Certified by the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) and served four years as the APC State Representative of Massachusetts.  He has extensive expertise in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) and end-of-l

Donna Rhodes: How the Woman at the Well Became the Well Woman. This is episode 486 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. By the age of 28, Donna Rhodes was divorced three times and raising four kids in poverty. A high school dropout with a dark past and a cloudy future, she found her way through a life of suffering and challenges. This memoir is the story of an extraordinary woman, one who battled so many setbacks, from growing up in an abusive foster care household to surviving cancer, and from suffering a series of abusive relationships to being under the control of a cult. It is the poignant life story of a woman's desperate journey to find love. Inspired by the biblical account of the woman at the well, this book is a remarkable testament to God's faithfulness and the power of His redemption. For those who think their lives will never change and those who are afraid to hope again, this moving testimony is transformative. It’s a story of hope and perseverance.  Donna Rhodes is a trained spe

Dr. Susie Wise - Design for Belonging: How to Build Inclusion and Collaboration in Your Community. This is episode 485 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. Dr. Susie Wise is the founder and former director of the K12 Lab at the Stanford University d.school--also known as the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design and  co-created Liberatory Design.  Dr. 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 and coaches with the Mira Fellowship.  Susie coaches school leaders across the country to address their diversity, equity and inclusion issues. The tools that are being used to create change in schools can be applied to any organization.  Why does a sense of belonging matter? Because if we feel like an outsider it affects our school or work performance, and ultimately our physical and mental health. It can also lead to more dramatic consequences like a person b

John Willis: Sibme - Training From the Ground Up, Not From the Top Down. This is episode 484 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. John Willis is a veteran educator turned virtual coach. He has been in the education industry for 27-years. John served as a high school teacher for 17 years before becoming a district coach, then coordinator. Now, John is a consultant and master coach for Sibme, a professional learning and coaching platform.   As a learning and organizational development professional, John helps leaders and teams increase their ability to capture a more comprehensive view of what is happening in the organization and facilitate strategic interventions to move the organization forward. Through analysis of stakeholder competencies and context as well as organizational culture and conditions, John takes an integrative and collaborative approach to partner with organizational leaders to build capacity throughout the system. A little about Sibme… Sibme was founded by teachers who unders

Clayvon C. Harris talks with us about her book  SUB - Inside the Notorious School District of Philadelphia. This is episode 483 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. Writer and advocate for fair and equal education, Clayvon C. Harris earned an MFA in Cinema-TV/Screenwriting from the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts and a BA in English literature from Swarthmore College where students are taught they have the ability to change the world.  Harris lives and writes in the Philadelphia area where she specializes in messaging strategy, digital content creation and script development.  She is also a member of the Writers Guild of America.  Her first book is the award-winning collection of essays, Year of Trial, Year of Grace—A Catholic’s Search for Faith.  Clayvon left a career of writing for television behind and returned to Philadelphia where she planned to pursue a career in teaching. Easing in as a substitute, she was confronted by disruption and violence that undermin