Evolving with Gratitude

If you are looking for a master class in authenticity and making the invisible, visible, look no further! Jerry Almendarez is an inclusive, listening leader, who continuously shares the brilliance of learners of all ages. Transcript available at LainieRowell.com About Our Guest: Jerry Almendarez’ career in education spans 28 years and includes experience as a classroom teacher, assistant principal, and principal.  As the Superintendent of Schools for the Santa Ana Unified School District, he is responsible for leading the 11th largest school district in the State, with 56 schools and programs, approximately 5,000 employees, and an expense budget of $890.6 million.  In 2019, Jerry Almendarez was named a 2019 Ted-Ed Innovative Educator and in 2020 was named CALSA Region 6 Superintendent of the Year. Website: sausd.us Twitter: @JerryAlmendarez Instagram: @JerryAlmendarez About Lainie: Lainie Rowell is an educator, international consultant, podcaster, and TEDx speaker. She is the lead author of Evolving Learner and a contributing author of Because of a Teacher. Her latest book, Evolving with Gratitude, was just released. An experienced teacher and district leader, her expertise includes learner-driven design, community building, online/blended learning, and professional learning. Learn more at linktr.ee/lainierowell. Twitter - @LainieRowell  Instagram - @LainieRowell Evolving with Gratitude, the book, is now available! Purchase here!  You can also get bulk orders for your staff (10 copies or more) at a discounted price! Just fill out the form linked below and someone will get back to you ASAP! bit.ly/ewgbulkdiscount

Get ready for heartfelt stories, empowering strategies, and the joyful attitude of Robert Dunlop! He inspires us to S.T.R.I.V.E for happiness in all aspects of our lives. This episode will nurture your heart and your mind! Transcript available here. About Our Guest: Robert Dunlop is a teacher, speaker and author who has a passion for helping other educators love their careers. His work with thousands of teachers, principals and support staff has given him insight into the importance of happiness in education. He believes that all students deserve to be surrounded by educators who are passionate and love coming to school each day. To help make this a reality, he has made it his mission to help educators make happiness and well-being a priority. Recently, he published STRIVE for Happiness in Education and speaks regularly to spread his message. Website: motivatedu.com Twitter: @robdunlopEDU Instagram: @robdunlopedu About Lainie: Lainie Rowell is an educator, international consultant, podcaster, and TEDx speaker. She is the lead author of Evolving Learner and a contributing author of Because of a Teacher. Her latest book, Evolving with Gratitude, was just released. An experienced teacher and district leader, her expertise includes learner-driven design, community building, online/blended learning, and professional learning. Learn more at linktr.ee/lainierowell. Twitter - @LainieRowell  Instagram - @LainieRowell Evolving with Gratitude, the book, is now available! Purchase here!  You can also get bulk orders for your staff (10 copies or more) at a discounted price! Just fill out the form linked below and someone will get back to you ASAP! bit.ly/ewgbulkdiscount

Welcome to the Evolving with Gratitude Podcast. I’m your host Lainie Rowell and I’m thankful you are here!  In this podcast, we're exploring the incredible power of gratitude in improving our well-being, nurturing relationships, and making our world a better place. And those ideas are the foundation of this podcast. We will: discover ways to continuously improve ourselves and boost overall well-being, helping us lead fuller, more satisfying lives. delve into how gratitude can enhance our relationships and create a profound sense of belonging, fostering happiness and deeper connections in all communities. uncover how gratitude can ignite a spark that inspires all of us to make the world a better place through acts of kindness and compassion. These episodes will feature a blend of solo explorations and engaging conversations. We'll share practical gratitude practices that you can start using immediately, and we'll bring you heartfelt stories from individuals across various walks of life who demonstrate the transformative power of authentic gratitude in their interactions with the world. If you are looking to enrich your life, #EvolvingWithGratitude is here to spread joy and empower us to flourish.  Join us as we have the conversations about improving well-being, nurturing relationships, and making the world a better place—one thankful moment at a time.

Get ready to be filled with joy, hope, and inspiration as you listen to highlights of Season 1 of the pod! There are so many takeaways from these #EvolvingWithGratitude guests! The hardest part of producing this episode was picking just one highlight per episode! I hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed putting this together.   PS- My hubby, Lawrence, decided to join in the fun so there is a cameo of him as he introduces one of the highlights! About Lainie: Lainie Rowell is an educator, international consultant, podcaster, and TEDx speaker. She is the lead author of Evolving Learner and a contributing author of Because of a Teacher. Her latest book, Evolving with Gratitude, was just released. An experienced teacher and district leader, her expertise includes learner-driven design, community building, online/blended learning, and professional learning. Learn more at linktr.ee/lainierowell. Twitter - @LainieRowell  Instagram - @LainieRowell Evolving with Gratitude, the book, is now available! Purchase here!  You can also get bulk orders for your staff (10 copies or more) at a discounted price! Just fill out the form linked below and someone will get back to you ASAP! bit.ly/ewgbulkdiscount

Prepare to be delighted by an amazing human, Allyson Apsey! She shares her philosophy of life with hope and how her new role (which could be described as detective meets Iron Chef) is bringing energy, light, and focus to wherever she goes. Transcript available here. About Our Guest: Allyson Apsey has been an award-winning school leader for nearly 20 years, leading all levels from elementary to High School. She is a best-selling author of several books—including Leading the Whole Teacher and The Path to Serendipity. Website: allysonapsey.com Twitter: @AllysonApsey Instagram: @AllysonApsey About Lainie: Lainie Rowell is an educator, international consultant, podcaster, and TEDx speaker. She is the lead author of Evolving Learner and a contributing author of Because of a Teacher. Her latest book, Evolving with Gratitude, was just released. An experienced teacher and district leader, her expertise includes learner-driven design, community building, online/blended learning, and professional learning. Learn more at linktr.ee/lainierowell. Twitter - @LainieRowell  Instagram - @LainieRowell Evolving with Gratitude, the book, is now available! Purchase here!  You can also get bulk orders for your staff (10 copies or more) at a discounted price! Just fill out the form linked below and someone will get back to you ASAP! bit.ly/ewgbulkdiscount

Don't listen to this episode before bed because Josh Tovar will have you fired up and you'll never fall asleep! Instead, queue this episode up for a trip to the gym, some serious housecleaning, or wherever you need a boost in energy! With his signature passion and joy, Josh explains how he honors his past and empowers our future.  Transcript available here. About Our Guest: Josh Tovar is Principal at Memorial Pathway Academy in Garland ISD Texas. He is also the proud son of Jesus & Virginia Tovar who immigrated from Cd. Juarez, Mexico in the late 1970's. He is his parents' American Dream. Josh shares, "I am a former high school at risk student who faced and created adversity for myself yet my life changed when I decided to join the USMC."  He has been an educator for 30+ years at all levels from elementary to teaching at the university level.  He is also honored to share space with Dean Packard and Chris Starczewski on Unlock the Middle.  Twitter: @MPA_GOJAGUARS Instagram: @mpajaguars About Lainie: Lainie Rowell is an educator, international consultant, podcaster, and TEDx speaker. She is the lead author of Evolving Learner and a contributing author of Because of a Teacher. Her latest book, Evolving with Gratitude, was just released. An experienced teacher and district leader, her expertise includes learner-driven design, community building, online/blended learning, and professional learning. Learn more at linktr.ee/lainierowell. Twitter - @LainieRowell  Instagram - @LainieRowell Evolving with Gratitude, the book, is now available! Purchase here!  You can also get bulk orders for your staff (10 copies or more) at a discounted price! Just fill out the form linked below and someone will get back to you ASAP! bit.ly/ewgbulkdiscount

It is a difficult needle to thread finding the perfect balance of neuroscience and instructional practices, but Allison Posey does this masterfully! With a deep understanding of the science of the brain as well as full appreciation for the art of learning, Allison helps us value our variability and the beautiful possibilities in our learning communities.  Transcript available here. About Our Guest: Allison Posey is a learning and brain expert, story teller, inclusive teaching expert, scientist and artist. She also loves nature and sunsets and being mom to two grown kiddos. Website: allisonposey.com Twitter: @AllisonAposey Books: Engage the Brain: How to Design for Learning That Taps into the Power of Emotion and Unlearning: Changing Your Beliefs and Your Classroom with UDL Video: "The Science of Love" - Modern Love - Voices on the Green The Article We Co-Wrote: The Scientific Case for Cultivating Grateful Learning Communities About Lainie: Lainie Rowell is an educator, international consultant, podcaster, and TEDx speaker. She is the lead author of Evolving Learner and a contributing author of Because of a Teacher. Her latest book, Evolving with Gratitude, was just released. An experienced teacher and district leader, her expertise includes learner-driven design, community building, online/blended learning, and professional learning. Learn more at linktr.ee/lainierowell. Twitter - @LainieRowell  Instagram - @LainieRowell Evolving with Gratitude, the book, is now available! Purchase here!  You can also get bulk orders for your staff (10 copies or more) at a discounted price! Just fill out the form linked below and someone will get back to you ASAP! bit.ly/ewgbulkdiscount

Are you ready for Mo gratitude??? We Zoom in Mike Mohammad to explain the many ways he sees and hears from all of his learners so they feel known and valued. He builds relationships and activates learning in his science classroom! Shoutouts to two women supporting him through a difficult time in his life and to a special education teacher who helped Mike make physics accessible to ALL learners! Transcript available here. About Our Guest: Mike been a secondary science teacher for 22 years, 15 of those at Brookfield Central High School. At Central, he has taught General Science, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. In his classroom, he works to increase access, engagement, and expression for all learners by removing the barriers of legacy instructional practices. He is a Google Certified Teacher and Apple Educator and has been recognized by the Institute for Personalized Learning with their Trailblazer Award. He live in Brown Deer, WI with my wife. When not deep into his work, He is an avid movie buff and loves to cook. Blog: mophysicsmoproblems.blogspot.com Twitter: @Mo_physics About Lainie: Lainie Rowell is an educator, international consultant, podcaster, and TEDx speaker. She is the lead author of Evolving Learner and a contributing author of Because of a Teacher. Her latest book, Evolving with Gratitude, was just released. An experienced teacher and district leader, her expertise includes learner-driven design, community building, online/blended learning, and professional learning. Learn more at linktr.ee/lainierowell. Twitter - @LainieRowell  Instagram - @LainieRowell Evolving with Gratitude, the book, is now available! Purchase here!  You can also get bulk orders for your staff (10 copies or more) at a discounted price! Just fill out the form linked below and someone will get back to you ASAP! bit.ly/ewgbulkdiscount

It's time for an episode of Saved by the Beldin! Friends, Allie Beldin is a delightful educator and lifelong learner who is shining a spotlight on the greatness in kids, peers, and the world. Listen as Allie shares her ideas on gratitude in education as well as the thinking of her doctoral cohort members. A personal shoutout to her supportive husband, Daniel, a shoutout to the transformation leadership of Vicki Tarleton and lots of appreciation for the Augusta University doctoral program including Dr. Holt, Joann Denemark, Steve Jones, and Kimberly Gregory.  Transcript available here. About Our Guest: An instructional specialist for the Columbia County district passionate about teaching others how to implement instructional technology in the classroom to support teachers and students. Author of the educational technology blog, Saved By The Beldin, Allie Beldin is also currently a student in Augusta University’s Doctoral Program for Educational Innovation. Website: savedbythebeldinhome.wordpress.com Twitter: @alliebeldin Instagram: @savedbythebeldin About Lainie: Lainie Rowell is an educator, international consultant, podcaster, and TEDx speaker. She is the lead author of Evolving Learner and a contributing author of Because of a Teacher. Her latest book, Evolving with Gratitude, was just released. An experienced teacher and district leader, her expertise includes learner-driven design, community building, online/blended learning, and professional learning. Learn more at linktr.ee/lainierowell. Twitter - @LainieRowell Instagram - @LainieRowell Evolving with Gratitude, the book, is now available! Purchase here!  You can also get bulk orders for your staff (10 copies or more) at a discounted price! Just fill out the form linked below and someone will get back to you ASAP! bit.ly/ewgbulkdiscount

Brian Martin's appreciation of life is infectious! In this uplifting episode, Brian helps us unpack how gratitude can bring us into the present to notice all the good. Brian also shares his perspective on one of my favorite Brother David Steindl-Rast quotes, "if you learn to respond as if it were the first day of your life, and the very last day, then you will have spent this day very well."  Plus tons of shoutouts: Tim Ferriss, Sarah Silverman, Josh Tovar, Mrs. Vecchio, Amy (his amazing wife), and more!  Transcript available here. About Our Guest: Brian Martin has been teaching second grade for 20 years. He's a veteran and host of the Teaching Champions Podcast.  Twitter: @bmartinreal Instagram: @teachingchampionspodcast About Lainie: Lainie Rowell is an educator, international consultant, podcaster, and TEDx speaker. She is the lead author of Evolving Learner and a contributing author of Because of a Teacher. Her latest book, Evolving with Gratitude, was just released. An experienced teacher and district leader, her expertise includes learner-driven design, community building, online/blended learning, and professional learning. Learn more at linktr.ee/lainierowell. Twitter - @LainieRowell  Instagram - @LainieRowell Evolving with Gratitude, the book, is now available! Purchase here!  You can also get bulk orders for your staff (10 copies or more) at a discounted price! Just fill out the form linked below and someone will get back to you ASAP! bit.ly/ewgbulkdiscount