Heath Morrison is the CEO of Teachers of Tomorrow, a very important and vital organization that is fortunate to be led by someone with vast experience who cares deeply about students and teachers. Heath and Jeff delve into the relevant and critical topic of teacher shortages—what is and what is to come. Their discussion analyzed the current status and conditions impacting the problem and delves into brainstorming future solutions. Every educational leader should listen to this!

PJ Caposey is impressive! He is an award winning and working superintendent. His story of overcoming personal challenges is motivating, and he also supports leaders across the country as he coaches and speaks to the themes he has written about in his several published books. He and Jeff delve into 'Cracking the Coaching Code', one of his books and Time Management issues, which he has also written about. PJ and Jeff get along GREAT- enjoy their conversation!

Margaret Wheatley is a deep thinker and clearly has an incredible background working with leaders around the world. She has written extensively on education and leadership, and her work is personal and pushes others to take a close look at themselves. The conversation between Jeff and Margaret was different than other Leader Chats, in a good way. Enjoy this discussion as they talk about her book, Who Do We Choose To Be: Facing Reality, Claiming Leadership, & Restoring Sanity.

David Esmie is not an educator by trade. Rather, guided by his own experiences in the finance industry, he has chosen to dedicate himself to influencing typically underrepresented youth to pursue careers in finance. He and Jeff are friends, and our listeners will appreciate them comparing notes and talking strategy on how David is impacting future financiers.

Imagine an educational leader who has empathy for the challenges faced in the classroom, one who is able to create systems focused on the learner and the teacher. Also, think of a leader who embraces innovation and is able to create a culture that finds a balance of autonomy and fidelity for the organization. This person is Devin Vodicka! In this Leader Chat, he and Jeff engage in a conversation about what ‘Leaner Centered Leadership’ really is and why it’s needed.

AJ Crabill has been on a Leader Chat before, but based on the quality of our last conversation with him, and his new book, we simply had to have him back. AJ’s understanding of school board governance is beyond reproach. His new book, ‘Great on Their Behalf’, is a must read for any school or district leader. School boards have the potential to focus their efforts on students, and if they shed the temptation to focus on adult issues, great things can happen.

Anne Erwin and Jeff clearly go way back. She was a principal working with him when he was a superintendent in Oregon. Ann joined us because she is not an ordinarily principal. She turned around the high school in a very unique way, and leaned on a community process and bold vision that did in fact come to fruition. Anne is brutally honest, focused, and passionate about what schools, communities, and especially students are capable of. Enjoy!

We were so thankful Jimmy Casas was able to join us in person for this Leader Chat. Jimmy and his work supporting leaders is extremely unique. His advice specific to culture is not just philosophical, it’s pragmatic. He provides leaders with protocols and processes. This Leader Chat is informative, but also inspiring. You will love Jimmy Casas!

Mike Rutherford supports teachers and leaders all over the country. His philosophy supports the art, creativity, and capacity of educators. As you listen to this Leader Chat, you will notice that Mike has his finger on the pulse of what was, is, and will be in schools. His perspective and advice for leaders is something we recommend you listen carefully to.

We are big fans of Dr Tim Elmore. This is his second Leader Chat. Last time we discussed his impressive book, Eight Paradoxes of Great Leadership. We invited him back to talk through his newest book, A New Kind of Diversity. His research and insights are invaluable for us as leaders. Here, he and Jeff talk through strategies on how to recognize the challenges of generational diversity in the workplace and leverage them into opportunities. It’s an awesome discussion. 

What is one of the key ingredients for the health of any organization that starts with a ’T’? Likely you guessed it- its TRUST. In a school district, how is trust established between superintendents and principals? That’s what we asked Dr. Justin Benna, a professor in North Dakota who has studied and written on this very topic. Lean in, listen and enjoy!

If one is truly a ‘student of the game’ when it comes to studying and developing their own leadership skills, they likely have read John C. Maxwell’s work. If not, they should. John C. Maxwell is known as the #1 leadership author in the world. In this inspirational Leader Chat, he shares his wisdom, passion, and empathy with us. He is in our corner, and we are thrilled to be working with and learning from him. We can’t wait for him to join us in person during our Leadership Circle Summit in October!

Universal Design for Learning, (UDL) can sometimes be misunderstood or potentially overwhelm teachers and leaders. Not if they listen to or read the work of Katie Novak. She is a teacher at heart and has rich leadership experience. She makes UDL pragmatic and accessible. This Leader Chat episode is incredible!

There are very few topics in education as relevant today as Social and Emotional Health, for students and adults. There is also not any organization as knowledgeable on this topic as the Collaborative for Social and Emotional Learning. The CEO of CASEL, Dr. Aaliyah Samuel, joined us in this Leader Chat. It was a phenomenal and enlightening discussion.

As educational leaders, we all want and need to find peace and satisfaction within the context of the challenging times and work we are experiencing. It’s easier said than done. Kim Strobel provides some insightful and pragmatic advice to us, helping us to keep our head up and moving forward.

In this episode, Jeff engages with Dr. Roger Cleveland about the importance and challenge of embracing cultural proficiency as educators. It’s a political topic, but as you listen, maybe they uncover why it does not have to be. If we have strategies to meet the needs of students, with the awareness that kids come from different backgrounds, experiences, and skill sets and it’s our job to love and teach them all.

If you are an educator, a leader in schools or in districts at any level, this is a must listen. Anthony Muhammad and Luis Cruz brought so much practical and powerful advice that it was actually hard for me to get Jeff to stop talking with them. These authors are not just researchers- they are practitioners who have been on the front lines. They get it!

This is the second part of a two-part series. This week, Pamela Swanson had her board president, Ken Ciancio, join us. Jeff was so excited to compare and contrast what Pam had to say in episode one with what Ken might bring to light in our second chat. Bottom line, Ken and Pam are two peas in a pod- they are a team and their mutual respect for each other and their roles shines through. If only all superintendent and board relationships were this strong.

Everyone who pays any attention to schools or politics knows, the dynamics of a school board can have positive or negative effects on the schools and communities they serve. We have had other Leader Chats on this topic, but Pamela Swanson, superintendent of Westminster Schools in Colorado, ‘schooled us’ in this Leader Chat. Her humility and compassion are obvious. Clearly, she understands quality governance, but she also describes the art of working with her board as united front. This Leader Chat is awesome!

Why would a K-12 educational leader listen to a Harvard Business School Professor who specializes in sales and marketing? Well, as Jeff often points out, smart leaders learn from others who are in different lanes and industries. When you listen to Frank Cespedes, you will see the leadership correlation between business and sales with education. Frank’s latest book identifies several trends and solutions that translate to leading in fast changing environments. You will love it!

Educators need to hear from leaders who have spent time in education, and in the private sector. Tim Nolan is one of these people. We are thankful we had the opportunity to pick Tim's brain. His perspective is clear and extremely pragmatic. Leaders, take note and consider how Tim's perspective can impact your day-to-day work life.

This conversation was fun and enlightening! I know Jeff pretty well, and it was obvious to me that he was giddy talking with Janet Godwin, the CEO of ACT, in this Leader Chat episode. Janet’s perspective may surprise you. Her view on the need for change in education and how we consider assessment results was refreshing. As the producer of the show, I try to ensure we keep our shows under a certain length of time. This was a difficult conversation to halt. These two passionate, educational leaders could have talked for days.

If you were to close your eyes and imagine an educational leader 100% committed to serving students, educators, and her community. . . . this leader also possesses a peaceful passion for student success amidst even the most challenging times in education . . . You may not have known it, but you are thinking of Diane Starkovich. Her leadership story is pretty awesome, but hearing her talk with Jeff about leadership and love for her work is inspirational.

It makes sense that when new challenges in schools arise, so would innovative models and solutions. In an earlier Leader Chat with Richard Ingersoll regarding teacher shortages, he mentioned ‘Teacher-Powered Schools’. After some research, we invited Amy Junge and Wendy Salcedo-Fierro to talk with us. While we all think of the traditional principal leading and managing the school, there are new ways emerging. We hope you enjoy learning about this model as much as we did.

Listening to Jeff talk with Kwame Johnson is a treat. Kwame has an inspiring story, and his passion for the importance of our youth being mentored and having reliable relationships is a gift. Kwame has leveraged his own experience into what is now his life’s work, and the difference he is making is incredible. Leaders will love Kwame simply because he is forward thinking and reminds us all to simply lead aligned to our ‘WHY’.

Have you ever heard the phrase - “hope is not a strategy”? What if it is?  This conversation between Jeff and Casey Gwinn, a coauthor of Hope Rising, How the Science of Hope can Change your Life will likely impact your perspective about what hope actually is, and the power it can play in lives if understood and embraced. As you are about to hear, this is great stuff.

Our goal with our leader chats is to provide our educational leaders with pragmatic input, advice, and direction that adds to their skillset and perspective. It’s fair to say that we nailed it with this episode due to the work of David Noble and Carol Kauffman. Their book, Real Time Leadership is one we highly suggest you look into right away. When you listen to their wise advice, likely you will understand why. One thing that is great about this discussion, is that their leadership expertise in fact does not only pertain to education. Jeff always aims to make sure our content is well-rounded, so as leaders, we are always trying to look beyond our field to learn and grow.   By the way, I am Kris Richard, the producer of this show. If you like our Leader Chats, please rate us or leave a comment. We always appreciate listener feedback and would love to hear from you.

I am Kris Richard, producer of our Leader Chat. I am not a traditional educator, so as I listen to our guests and Jeff talk, I always learn something new. This discussion with Todd Whitaker is DENSE. Clearly School Change is a topic unto itself, but the art and strategy of LEADING it is different. Jeff and Todd were like peas in a pod and could have gone on forever. Blame me or thank me, but I finally had to push them to end the discussion- otherwise, they may have talked all day. You are going to love this episode.

Educational leaders should not ONLY listen to and learn from educators. Districts and schools may be complicated places, but there are also other organizations that are committed to serving our youth that do incredible work. Case in point . . . this week Jeff talks with Jim Clark, the CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. They serve 5,100 centers/locations impacting 4.6 million students! Yeah, you read that right. A massive undertaking and leadership responsibility. You can’t listen to this and NOT learn something about strategy, navigating the complexity of the current times, and servant leadership.

If you have not experienced or heard of our current challenges related to our teacher force, you are either lucky or not paying attention. It’s a significant challenge now and promises to be only more so in the future. In this Leader Chat Jeff engages Dr. Ingersoll who is a leading expert on America’s elementary and secondary teaching force, and a professor in education and sociology at the University of Pennsylvania. Likely, we could not have found a better leader to talk with on this subject. The good news is that leaders can make a difference dealing with this challenge as Ingersoll points out.   We know we have avid and first-time listeners. If you are either and have not rated us or left comments for us, PLEASE do so. We want to know what you think! Listen, learn and enjoy!

One thing that is so cool about our Leader Chats is the diversity of those we talk with. We are so fortunate to have access to great leaders that we can all learn from. Jon Hage, CEO of Charter Schools USA, joined us to discuss their vision, hopes, and challenges and all that they have learned along the way. As you will notice, Jon is passionate about the mission of impacting the lives of kids, and his leadership insights can help all of us learn and grow.   If you want to be our favorite listener, let us know what you think about our overall Leader Chat show, rate us and leave your comments on your podcast provider. What you think really matters to us! For now, enjoy!

Educational leaders should be in-tune with educational trends . . .  what has happened, what is current, and most importantly- what is around the bend. The dilemma for leaders is time. The lives of educational leaders are so busy, it makes paying attention to educational trends difficult. Kevin Hogan can help. Tracking innovative ideas and trends in education is what Hogan does, and in this Leader Chat, he and Jeff discuss what leaders should or could be paying attention to right now. We hope you listen to and learn from this podcast.

Have you heard of the Seven Mindsets? Jeff Waller’s work spearheaded the movement. It’s been spreading throughout the country for several years, and it has never been more relevant than now. His book, Ridiculously Amazing Schools, builds on everything that he and his team have learned about what leadership characteristics are needed for schools to be amazing. As ‘the Jeffs’ talk, you will be touched and intrigued. Check it out . . . you will see I am not wrong.

Welcome to part two of our chat with Jeff Duncan Andrade. If you have not listened to part one, we invite you to do so. You will thank us later. Jeff’s perspective on equity and his passion for serving all students is powerful. Leaders, and educators, we hope you enjoy!

Mike Schmoker has a way of cutting to the heart of the truth and simultaneously inspiring educators to dream of what’s possible. The fact is, educators can easily get distracted. Schmoker reminds us that if we stay focused on what we already know works, incredible things can happen for students. If you are in any way responsible for leading schools, this is a must listen.

We are so lucky we were able to recruit Dr. Stephen Peters to talk with us. When we did, we had no idea he was a movie star, or at least close to one having been a leader on the documentary ‘American High School.’ Stephen is a wise leader with a rich background as a school and district leader. He and Jeff discuss the need for some future changes and most importantly, what leaders can do to drive the change.

AJ Crabill is likely one of the most knowledgeable leaders on School Board Governance you can find. As you will hear Jeff and AJ discuss, governance is often messy work, but it does not have to be with the right guidance and support. AJ and Jeff unpack what they notice in terms of current trends and spend time talking about what leaders can do to help guide the process relative to what is best for students, schools, and communities. Very relevant stuff!

What a treat. Jeff Duncan-Andrade is a passionate educator, man, and father. He has dedicated himself to serving his community and driving change to a system that, as he describes, is not designed to support all students. The focus and perspective of equity he describes and lives by are clear, and his convictions, regardless of one’s perspective, should be listened to. Jeff and Jeff’s conversation was so good, we had to split this into two parts. We are proud to present “Part 1” of this discussion to you now.

Shane Safir is one of the authors of the very popular book Street Data: A Next-Generation Model for Equity, Pedagogy, and School Transformation. One of our Leadership Circle members recommended to Jeff we feature this inspirational conversation, and we are so glad we did. Street Data is different than so many educational texts and dives into the heart of how we envision and determine what success can look like for students. Any educational leader will learn from this conversation between Jeff and Shane.

There is no doubt about it. Bill Dagett is a DEEEEP thinker and is an expert in pushing us to be the same. He and Jeff lean in on the topic of pursuing a new narrative and model in education to serve students in the future. Bill breaks down elements of our current challenges and fortunately provides some advice on how we can move forward. As one behind the camera, I could tell Jeff and Bill could have talked for hours if we had let them.

Our worries about teacher shortage and a lack of motivation for young professionals to seek a career in teaching are real and it’s shared. In this Leader Chat, Jeff talks with Dr. Denise Spangler, Dean of the College of Education at the University of Georgia. She has led at UGA for many years, and her lens into this problem and the potential for future opportunities for change is something we should all pay attention to. 

If you have been an educator any time within the last twenty years, and don’t know who Dr. Doug Fisher is, what rock have you been hiding under? All kidding aside, Doug Fisher is known as an expert in a number of things . . . . literacy, professional learning communities, but today he and Jeff chat about Leadership Credibility. Doug wrote Leader Credibility: the essential traits of those who engage, inspire and transform- which is exactly why we invited him to talk with us. EXTREMELY RELEVANT CONTENT!

If you listen to this, you will learn that Deborah Delisle is an amazing leader. As the president and chief executive officer of All4Ed, past CEO of ASCD, and was the U.S. assistant secretary of elementary and secondary education, she provides insights and wise advice from a leadership perspective. Deb and Jeff try to focus on the topics of innovation, underserved students, and working in teams, but they go even deeper than planned. This is an honest and heartfelt conversation, and we are so thankful for this Leader Chat.

Those who have been in education for some time and have paid attention know Robert Marzano is a rock star! His expertise runs deep in many areas, and in this Leader Chat, we were thrilled to pick his brain on leading and implementing proficiency-based systems in schools and districts. We are so lucky to have such an esteemed lineup of guests, and Dr. Marzano only adds to the esteem of our show. As an educational leader, if you are not impressed with this, then maybe you are impossible to impress. (That's a joke). Enjoy!

As the past superintendent of Hillsborough County Public Schools and New York State Education Commissioner, MaryEllen Elia knows what she is talking about. Jeff recruited her to this Leader Chat to discuss strategies on setting up district systems aligned to the needs of students, something MaryEllen is passionate about. This conversation is relevant to education leaders regardless of the size, location, or demographics of their system, a relevant topic indeed.

Well, Joshua Starr and Jeff clearly have a lot in common and are past friends. They are both experienced school district leaders and passionate about the moral imperative and strategy of leading with an equity mindset. Joshua is clear, honest, and able to describe the challenge and nuance of leading during challenging times. Jeff loved his book, Equity-Based Leadership, and after hearing this discussion, you will likely want to read it as well.

The original plan was for Jeff to talk with Nora Gordon and Carrie Conaway, authors of Common Sense Evidence: The Education Leader's Guide to Using Data and Research. However, Carrie had a health-related issue, so it was just Nora and Jeff. Nonetheless, they had a super interesting discussion. Jeff loved the way these two professors have created a pragmatic guide for busy educational leaders to analyze data to make wise decisions and create a legitimate narrative. You are going to like this one.

As Jeff says, “Dr. Tim Elmore ALWAYS delivers”. Watching or listening to this Leader Chat, you will see that Tim and Jeff have a rapport. What you will also notice is that Tim’s new research and book, The Eight Paradoxes of Great Leadership, is a must-have for leaders in any industry, especially education. Tim- the Founder and CEO of Growing Leaders- has contributed to our Leadership Circle several times. His book, The Pandemic Population, was a hit amongst our members. This focus on leaders takes the relevance of his perspective to a new level for us.

Leadership transitions are tricky, not just for the school community, but also emotionally for the leader. Stephen Murley is a well-known and respected superintendent, successfully leading three different districts. Due to health concerns, Steve just resigned from his superintendent post in Green Bay Wisconsin. Jeff, a long-time colleague with Stephen, wanted to pick Stephen’s brain and discuss the emotions behind his past and current leadership transitions. This is a very relevant discussion for all educational leaders to hear and we appreciate the candid and thoughtful advice Stephen discusses with us.

Daniel Pink was with us! Seriously, that Daniel Pink . . . the author of five New York Times bestsellers, including his latest, The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward. He has lots of fans, and clearly, Jeff is one of them. Jeff peppered Dan with questions about education and how leaders can learn from the “regret” research described in the book. Daniel is a wealth of information and is well-deserving of his stellar reputation. It was an absolute honor having him join us. You are going to LOVE this podcast!

In our last podcast with Karin Chenoweth discussing her new book, Districts That Succeed, Jeff simply was not able to squeeze his questions into just one sitting. Fortunately, she was gracious enough to come back for Part 2.

For schools to truly be successful, we learn in this conversation that the district does in fact matter. Jeff talks with the well-known educational author and researcher, Karin Chenowith. Karin is writer-in-residence at The Education Trust. Her latest book, Districts that Succeed: Breaking the Correlation Between Race, Poverty, and Achievement is what grabbed Jeff’s attention. In fact, this conversation is the first of a two-part Leader Chat. If you are an educational leader, responsible for supporting schools, these are must listens!

Schools communicating clearly with families and community is challenging, and yet so important. Educational leaders and teachers know the opportunity of improving our communication skills, but they don’t always know how to do it. Patricia Weinzapfel (wine + zap + ful) is an expert having served as a former television reporter who spends the last decade working with the Evansville Vanderburgh School Cooperation in Indiana. Here, she talks with Jeff about pragmatic and digestible ways educators can up their game in terms of communicating with those we serve.

Shannon Cox is a leader of leaders, and she also happens to be a Leadership Circle member. Shannon is the superintendent of the Montgomery County Educational Service Center in Ohio. Jeff teases her a bit about a recent nomination for a ‘Remarkable Woman’ award, but you will notice that she is remarkable. Shannon has been a TedTalk speaker and continues to think and lead in innovative ways. She talks with us about the importance of social-emotional support for students and educators, and her partnership with singer/songwriter Jewel is really cool.

If you track the ongoing weekly education articles that are published, you maybe know about the Marshall Memo. If not, you should. The Marshall Memo, published 50 times a year since 2003, is designed to keep principals, teachers, instructional coaches, and superintendents, well-informed on current research and best practices. In this Leader Chat Jeff talks with Kim Marshall, and as you will notice, they would ‘nerd-out’ on educational issues for hours if they were allowed. Clearly, Kim is well informed and connected to ongoing research and trends in education.

Clearly, Jeff and our guest Steven Constantino, know each other from their superintendent-days and can relate and empathize with educational leaders and their challenges. Steven has gone on to write and speak on a topic that has always been paramount but is likely more important now than ever . . . engaging families. His book, Engage Every Family, delves into the art and strategy, his five simple principles, of authentically caring and communicating with families.

Zillow is a great resource for buying a home, but Jeff and John Tanner discuss that there is a better way to determine the success of a school beyond the letter grade sometimes assigned to them. As Jeff talks with John, you will see that the concept of accountability is not the issue, but rather what schools are accountable to and how success is measured. Prepare yourself for a discussion that most educators will be able to relate to.

As Jeff describes it, Redefining Student Success is a beautifully dense book! We have been mining content and expertise to help leaders turn the COVID corner and focus on what is most important . . . supporting students and communities. As you will hear, authors Ken Kay and Suzie Boss, are laser-focused on providing a roadmap and examples for schools and districts to craft a portrait of a graduate and embed efforts and strategies directly tied to their ultimate goals. As you will notice, Jeff loved this book and his time with Ken and Suzie.

How can schools overcome the current challenges and use their opportunities to innovate? If anyone knows the answer to this question, it would be Tom Vander Ark. As the CEO of getting smart, he has visited thousands of schools and contributed to countless books, articles, blog posts, and podcasts on the topic of educational innovations.  He and Jeff explore the need for leaders to strategically shift their attention from political turmoil to innovative opportunities and systems for students. Prepare yourself for a fascinating conversation.

Educational leaders often have to juggle multiple roles such as serving as an educator, parent, leader, and politician. Easier said than done. How do you find balance? Kirsten Baesler, State Superintendent of North Dakota, teaches us that striking ‘balance’ may not be the right goal. Her extensive experience as a 24-year educator including being a vice-principal, library media specialist, classroom teacher, instructional assistant and nine years as a school board member make her extremely qualified to provide perspective. After five minutes of listening to Superintendent Baesler, you will be a fan.

Rob Neu has spent 27 years in public education and is the past superintendent of Oklahoma City and Federal Way Washington. During this Leader Chat, he and Jeff reflect on their past work and discuss the challenges educational leaders face today. Rob is refreshingly humble and honest. Listening to him discuss what he believes is the most important aspect to focus on is eye-opening.

If you follow education in any way, you know that school boards are often an important part of success and challenges school systems and communities navigate. Over time, school boards have become more political than ever. In this episode, Jeff talks with Dr. Andre` Harrison, Vice President of Accreditation Services here at Cognia. Andre has had a rich history as an educational leader including serving as a superintendent. Currently, he works with and trains school boards regarding role and policy development. As you will hear, he and Jeff discuss the ups, downs, and potential of district leaders working cohesively with boards of education.

In schools, who has the biggest impact on our students? Teachers do of course. Who better to share with the perspective, triumphs, and trials of teachers over the past couple of years than Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers. The AFT represents over 1.7 million educators and healthcare professionals! Here you will hear Jeff describe the importance of leaders listening to teachers and Randi does an outstanding job advocating for their needs.

Linda Darling-Hammond talks with us about reinventing schools, new design principles for schools, preparing teachers for deeper learning, and some overall advice she has for educational leaders.

Dr. Fullan elevates our understanding, truly setting a new bar, relative to the need for deep collaboration in our schools and communities.

In today’s political environment, there are topics that are understandably challenging to discuss in schools. How do educational leaders engage in and talk about sensitive issues and keep their community together and focused on the needs of students? We are so thankful to have had Beverly Daniel Tatum on our Leader Chat to provide perspective and advice. She has talked and written extensively on the topic, truly an expert.

Let’s face it, leading school systems is isolating work. The expectations are often unrealistic, and the conditions are clearly becoming more difficult over time. While leaders can’t often publicly state their state of mind or emotional state, take it from us- their lives, hearts and minds are strained. Something is different though about Mike Scott, superintendent of Hillsboro school district in the Portland metro area. Jeff has been so impressed with Mike over the years, especially his ability to stay grounded, calm and content. We believe leaders learn from other leaders. We all can take something away from listening to Mike’s open and honest perspective- truly a leader of integrity and strength.

Recognized as one of the nation’s premier Athletic Directors, Sandy Barbour enters her eighth year as the dynamic leader of the Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics program. With student success and comprehensive excellence as a steadfast focus, Barbour has helped Penn State to ascend and thrive as one of the nation’s most successful athletic departments.

Jeff and Andy discuss his book Five Paths of Student Engagement and Moving, A Memoir of Education and Social Mobility, and all the implications for educational leaders in today's world. This is a MUST listen.

This episode focuses on leadership, culture, and trust. Dr. Rose sits down with our CEO and President of Cognia, Dr. Mark Elgart. Mark has led our organization since 2002. Cognia now serves as the trusted partner with over 36,000 institutions in 85 countries to advance learning for 25 million students! Based on his vast experience, his insights on leadership and what are the most critical opportunities for school systems are insightful and clear.

Wait until you hear this Leader Chat. This conversation is as relevant as it gets for today’s educational leaders. This is the most polarizing time in our era and high conflict is seriously dominating our day-to-day narrative. Jeff is constantly looking for guests who can help with challenges the leaders we support are facing, and this podcast hits the nail on the head. Amanda’s Book, High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out is exactly what we need to read, or in this case hear about.

Phil Lanoue is an experienced leader with impressive and thoughtful insights into leadership. Dr. Lanoue is the 2015 American Association of School Administrators National Superintendent of the Year, and the co-author of three books: Developing the Organizational Culture of the Central Office, The Emerging Work of Today’s Superintendent, and Navigating the Unknown in Education.

Overcoming life’s hurdles is relative. If you are challenged leading during these difficult times, this is the Leader Chat for you. Damon West, who once served a sentence in a maximum-security prison, now is a professor, best-selling author, and coveted speaker, joins us. His energy is infectious. Disclaimer: the audio issues at the beginning of the recording do get resolved a few minutes in.

In this inaugural Leader Chat, we are thrilled that the legend, Jon Gordon was able to join us. Dr. Jeff Rose talks with Jon about the challenge of leading with positivity during difficult times, Jon’s passion for supporting educators, and his upcoming visit to Atlanta. Jeff then goes on to describe the “why,” “what,” and ‘how” of our future Leader Chats.

We start this podcast with a big announcement. Exciting changes ahead! Then, best selling author and the master of motivation Jon Gordon talks with us about leading fueled by the power of positivity. 

Dr. Curtis Jones, Jr. 2019 National Superintendent of the Year! Dr. Jones, a passionate educator dedicated to developing students as scholars, leaders and good citizens, joined the Bibb County School District in April 2015. When he joined the district, Dr. Jones set one of his first long-term goals as raising the district’s graduation rate to 90 percent by 2025. The district has made great gains in improving its graduation rate, which was 58.9 per­cent in 2014 and rose to 76.1 percent in 2020. Under his leadership, the Bibb County School District has been cited for its work to advance the district and its students, simply too many to list!

Noelle Ellerson Ng joined AASA in 2007 as a policy analyst. As associate executive director, she directs the advocacy and governance efforts of AASA. In this role she spearheads the organization’s work with Congress and the U.S. Department of Education. Her team is responsible for representing the voice and priorities of the nation’s public school superintendents in all aspects of federal education policy and uses member networks, outreach, policy analysis, and surveys and research to advance their work. She is responsible for the organization’s governance work, including direct support and management for the executive committee and governing board, as well as our 49 chartered state affiliates.

Eric Lent is Chief Marketing Officer at World 50. Prior to World 50, Eric was the Senior Vice President, Upscale Brands at Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) where he was responsible for driving demand and achieving global growth objectives for a +$5 Bln business unit. Outside of work, Eric is an advisor to 48in48, an organization dedicated to building websites for nonprofits. Previously, he served as Board Chairman for the Towson University College of Business and Economics, where he received the Dean’s Recognition Award for his lifetime of career successes.

Dr. Tarece Johnson (goes by Dr. Tarece) is the first ever African American Female Board Member in Gwinnett County, GA. The first Black Board member was elected just two years ago. She earned a BA from La Universidad del Sagrado Corazón (Puerto Rico) and a MPA (Columbia University), a MBA (Emory University), and doctorate in education! She is an educational leader, entrepreneur, and teacher. She is a diversity, equity, inclusion, justice professional, advocate, activist, author, and an artist.

Dr. Nicole Holmes is the Chief Academic officer in Cherokee County Schools. Dr. Holmes, who has 22 years of educational experience including 14 years in leadership, earned her bachelor's degree in early childhood education from Spelman College followed by a master's degree in the field from Brenau University. She earned leadership and supervision certification from Jacksonville State University and her doctorate in teacher leadership from Walden University. After teaching in Atlanta and Cobb public schools, Dr. Holmes joined CCSD in 2002 as assistant principal of Bascomb Elementary School and continued in that role for three years.

Dr. Duke Bradley is the Deputy Superintendent/Chief of Schools for the Beauford County School District in South Carolina. Dr. Bradley holds a B.A. in English Literature from Morehouse College, M.A.T. from Brown University, a law degree from John Marshall Law School and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from The University of Southern Mississippi. He has also completed the Harvard University Graduate School of Education’s Leading Change in Education Systems Program of Study. Dr. Bradley was also the Principal of Banneker High School in Fulton County GA- a SPECTACULAR and INSPIRATIONAL story of the power of leadership and community.

Dr. Reva Cosby is the Superintendent of Trotwood-Madison City Schools in Ohio, and the past superintendent of Healthy City Schools, near Cincinnati. We know women are underrepresented in top school district leadership roles. We also know men and men AND women of color are unrepresented as well. As we celebrate Black History Month, Reva's perspective honors her own accomplishments and gives us all hope for the future.

Despite the well-known benefits, many leaders remain resistant to the whole idea of self-care. This resistance often stems from a feeling that self-care is a sign of weakness, a feeling that they just don’t have time, or just generally rolling their eyes at the entire concept. Based Palena's experience as a leadership coach, Dr. Neale offers several suggestions to help leaders see the benefits of self-care, as well as some concrete strategies to incorporate self-care practices into your daily routine

Ever worry about future superintendent candidates? Are your curious about how to attract great leaders to your district? Hank Harris, president of Human Capital Enterprises, has worked with thousands of superintendents and district leaders. His insights are extremely helpful, and we look forward to continuing our discussion.

Tony Thomas (Superintendent) and Amy Sipes, Director of Human Resources for Northmont City Schools in Ohio transparently discuss strategies and the ups/downs of supporting students by having them in face-to-face instruction with teachers.

Luvelle Brown is an experienced educator who has held positions as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, school CIO, and Superintendent of Schools. Currently, Dr. Brown is serving as the Superintendent of the Ithaca City School District (ICSD) in Ithaca, New York. During his tenure in Ithaca, the Ithaca City School District has experienced unprecedented levels of success. He is the author of Culture of Love: Cultivating a Positive and Transformational Organizational Culture

Kristin McKeown helps hard-working educators manage their stress, integrate mindfulness and meditation into their lives, and find the balance that allows them to be at their best. Kristin discusses with me her "why" and her methods to support dedicated teachers and leaders.

Glenn E. Singleton has devoted over thirty years to constructing racial equity worldwide and developing leaders to do the same. He is the author of Courageous Conversations About Race: A Field Guide for Achieving Equity in Schools (2006 & 2014), a protocol for sustained, deep dialog, and the creator Beyond Diversity, the curriculum that has taught hundreds of thousands of people how to use it. As President and Founder of Pacific Educational Group, Singleton has created an agency that has developed racially conscious leaders in a variety of sectors: education, government, business, law enforcement, and community organizing among them.

Have you faced challenges leading people of various ages and generations through the emotional challenges of our COVID pandemic? Has supporting your students been tough? The answers to these questions are obviously, YES. As leaders, you are learners! So, join us! Dr. Tim Elmore is passionate about understanding the emerging generation and helping adults teach them how to become leaders in their schools, communities and careers. His new book, 'The Pandemic Population' is so helpful for us as leaders know how to support our students.

Dr. Clayton Wilcox is a proven leader with a demonstrated record of accomplishment in the private and public sectors. He has served as a superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Washington County Public Schools, Pinellas County Schools, and East Baton Rouge Parish School System. In this Leader Chat, Clayton talks to us about his new book, A Crisis in Leadership. His honest insights are helpful for School District Leaders to hear.

School District Leaders know first hand that political conflict impacts their leadership and those they serve whether it be local, statewide, or at the national level.  I invite you to listen to these Leading Ed members to hear their thoughts, ideas, and questions.

Maureen Downey a longtime reporter for the AJC where she has written editorials and opinion pieces about local, state and federal education policy for more than 20 years. She joins me to discuss the significance of our current educational challenges. You can contact her at maureen.downey@ajc.com with questions, comments, or to submit a guest article.

Morcease Beasley, the superintendent of Clayton County Schools, shines as a leader of his schools and community during this time of need. His message inspires and gives us hope.

Dan Gordon, Senior Legal and Policy Advisor for Ed Council in Washington DC, joins me to talk about our future challenges and opportunities in schools due to our growing COVID pandemic.

Part 1. The decision to reopen schools is a complex and political lose-lose situation.

Imagine the weight on the shoulders of leaders, as they are forced to decide on closing down schools as we know it. The impact of doing for students and communities can easily be misunderstood. Brian Hightower, Superintendent of Cherokee County Schools, joins me as we discuss the critical factors that lead and guide such a difficult decisions.

Here I interview GA local, now the superintendent of Kent School District in WA . . . Dr. Calvin Watts

Ameera Joe, the Intersect Director for North Point Community Church in Alpharetta GA, joins us to talk about what is possible when schools and churches are willing to partner for the benefit of 'our' kids. 

Kevin Palau, President of the Luis Palau Association joins me to discuss the possibility and strategy to creating partnerships & relationships between schools and faith-based organizations.

Thanks to Titania Jordan, CMO/Chief Parent Officer for Bark, for her valuable insights (www.bark.us)

From a leadership perspective, time management is a tricky task. However, great leaders focus their efforts aligned to their priorities. 

Talking about leading culture in the school with a successful principal, Jerome Huff

For our 2nd Q&A episode, our audience asked some challenging and important questions. 

Taking about life, leadership, and learning with my Pop

Allison Townsend and I discuss considerations to honor and support our teachers

Allison and I discuss the importance of teachers and leaders working in a united fashion.

This episode is actually one of my favorites- for the true school and district leadership nerds. 

I make an important announcement about what is possible when leaders are supported in a collaborative model.

Jason and I discuss the fact that leadership is sometimes lonely. While this is and will always be the case, there are things to consider to navigate the isolation.