De Facto Leaders

Many of my listeners don’t know this, but I went to a private Catholic school until 8th grade before transitioning to a public high school. I had what I like to call “Catholic school RtI”, where I got extra reading help with Sister Marie (and it paid off!).I’ve focused a lot of my content on issues impacting the public schools, so when I connected with Tom Conroy, a Catholic school principal, I thought he’d bring an interesting perspective to the show; especially because I know that many of my listeners may be working with students who attend private schools. Tom Conroy is currently the principal of Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School in Verona, NJ. He retired from public school after 30 years and dove into the world of Catholic Education. Tom has held both teaching and administrative positions on the elementary, middle, high school, and district levels. Tom served for eight years on the New Jersey Principal and Supervisor Association/Foundation for Education Administration (NJPSA/FEA) Leadership Academy Development and Presentation Teams. Tom completed both his undergraduate and graduate work at Montclair State University.We start out by discussing some differences in private vs. public education; but transition to talking about topics that will be useful regardless of what K-12 setting you’re in. In this episode, we discuss:✅Do private schools have more resources and support than public schools? ✅Why a school curriculum should be a living document and tool for communication (and not a scripted program).✅How to reform curriculum in a way that builds a culture of autonomy and how to create alignment across grade levels, buildings, and disciplines (including related service providers).✅The inner workings of successful professional learning communities (and why they help eliminate unproductive staff meetings).✅How to maintain a high level of rigor in standards and assessment protocols, without “teaching to the test” and overemphasizing standardized tools. In this episode, I mentioned the Time Tracking Journal, a strategy for improving time-management, future planning, and executive functioning during daily tasks like academic assignments or daily routines. You can learn more about the Time Tracking Journal here (https://drkarendudekbrannan.com/timejournal). You can connect with Tom on LinkedIn here(https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-conroy-0ab187b0/), or connect with him on the My Lady of the Lake website here (https://myoll.org/faculty-and-staff).  Learn more about today's sponsors, Playworks, IXL and Renaissance:Learn more about Renaissance:As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time. These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation. We’re also thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

If kids haven’t developed certain academic skills by a certain age, their ability to advance in their education diminishes. This means the opportunities they have in adulthood decreases. As I’ve been talking with different curriculum experts and school leaders, many of them have shared that closing academic skill gaps is an important part of addressing equity issues. Kids need to learn the skills that will enable them to advance in their education because it can substantially expand their career options in the future. I wanted to dive into this topic a bit further, so that’s why I invited Dr. Joseph Williams, III to episode 128 of the De Facto Leaders podcast. Dr. Joseph Williams III is a dedicated and accomplished school leader, currently serving as the principal of Franklin High School in Seattle, Washington. With over 25 years of experience in PreK-12 education, he has made a significant impact in various roles throughout his career. Dr. Williams began his journey in education as a special education and social studies teacher, gaining valuable insights and honing his teaching skills for a decade. His passion for helping students with diverse needs led him to pursue leadership positions. Over the course of 13 years, he served as an assistant principal and principal, bringing his expertise and dedication to elementary and secondary schools.As an African American school leader, Dr. Williams is deeply passionate about equity and access in K-12 education. Dr. Williams understands firsthand the importance of turnaround school leadership and the transformative power of K-12 education to ensure that no student's race, identity, gender, economic status, or zip code limits their potential.  Growing up as the second oldest among six siblings, Dr. Williams experienced the challenges of relying on public assistance in Kansas City, Missouri. This background has fueled his unwavering belief that all children, regardless of their socioeconomic background, deserve a quality education and the opportunity to build fulfilling lives.His personal journey is a testament to the belief that every child can achieve academic success and lead extraordinary lives.In this interview, he shares how having positive role models in the early years has shaped the trajectory of his life, and how he’s used it in his work in inner city schools.We also discuss the importance of closing academic gaps in the early elementary years, and why this has such a huge impact on equity and access to education in the later years.Dr. Williams has an amazing story and I’m so excited to share this conversation with you.In this episode, I mentioned the Time Tracking Journal, a strategy for improving time-management, future planning, and executive functioning during daily tasks like academic assignments or daily routines. You can learn more about the Time Tracking Journal here: https://drkarendudekbrannan.com/timejournal). You can connect with Dr. Joseph Williams, III on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjwilliamsiii/ ), and you can get more information about his book “Mama put us first” here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/everyone-has-book-within-them-joseph-williams-iii-ed-d-/ Listen to his podcast, the My K-12 Career Show here on the Elevating K-12 Education newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/elevating-k12-education-6940938756417863680/ Learn more about today's sponsors, Playworks, IXL and Renaissance:Learn more about Renaissance:As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time. These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation. We’re also thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

I’m excited to share episode 127 of De Facto Leaders about a common debate for therapists and teachers:“Is it worth it to get a doctorate?”In this wide-ranging conversation with my colleague Dr. Christy Borders, we discuss ways to build language skills in students with hearing loss, as well as how to decide if it's time to take the leap and get your doctorate. The backstory of this conversation is that I recorded it back when I didn’t have a podcast thinking, “Maybe one day I’ll launch a podcast and be able to use this as an episode”. That’s exactly what I did! Since I’ve been getting so many comments and questions lately from people wondering if a doctorate is the right choice for them, I wanted to share it on the show!The first part of the conversation, Dr. Borders shares the first stage of her career as a teacher for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing population; and why she decided it was time to take the leap to higher ed, even though she loved her job. We get into the discussion about making the decision to get a doctorate in the second half of the conversation. Here’s the run-down of what we cover in this conversation:When you listen to this interview, you'll learn: ✅How the Deaf and Hard of Hearing population learns to read, write, and speak. ✅The impact of waiting until 6-12 months to get a hearing aid/cochlear implant. ✅How to know if you should get a doctorate,  plus survival tips if you do take the leap.✅How to get funding for a doctoral degree. ✅The difference between an EdD and a PhD. ✅What many people don’t know about research and scientists in the field of special education (and why this is actually good news). ✅The best way to start an IEP meeting (especially if you have a strained relationship with the parents).In this episode, I mentioned the School of Clinical Leadership, my course that helps school clinicians take the executive functioning lead in their building. To learn more about the program, go to drkarendudekbrannan.com/clinicalleadership (http://drkarendudekbrannan.com/clinicalleadership) Learn more about today's sponsors, Playworks, IXL and Renaissance:Learn more about Renaissance:As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time. These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation. We’re also thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Many clinicians start their careers feeling unprepared to navigate the job market. In a lot of professional groups, I’ve noticed a skepticism towards contract companies, recruiters, and staffing agencies simply because many people working in school settings don’t know who they can trust.If you’ve ever had a recruiter awkwardly slide into your DMs or advertise in your online group without permission, you might be feeling some of that skepticism yourself. There is an art and a science to navigating career placements, job searching, and working with recruiters and staffing agencies. Having this skill set can be a game changer when it comes to finding fulfilling work. Recruiters can be a huge asset if you know how to work with them and if you can spot a good one. That’s why I invited Ryan Cleaveland to episode 126 of the De Facto Leaders podcast to give you a peek behind the curtain of staffing and recruiting. Ryan is the CEO of Spotter Staffing (https://www.spotterstaffing.com/), a company that helps connect schools with highly qualified therapists and special education teachers. After over two decades in corporate staffing across multiple industries, he started Spotter Staffing with his best friend, Ryan Allen, COO. They wanted to provide staffing for an ethical and selfless industry, so that’s what inspired them to focus on connecting special education professionals with school districts. In this conversation, we discuss:✅How does staffing and recruiting work? What are the different types of contracts and employment options? ✅How can you tell if you’re working with a qualified recruiter, and how do you advocate for yourself during the hiring process? ✅What are the benefits of working with a recruiter who has also been a therapist? Are there benefits to working with a recruiter or job coach who doesn’t have a clinical background?✅How to avoid “the grass is greener” thinking when approaching your career; and how to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of being an employee vs a contractor vs self-employed.In this episode, I mentioned the School of Clinical Leadership, my course that helps school clinicians take the executive functioning lead in their building. To learn more about the program, go to drkarendudekbrannan.com/clinicalleadershipYou can learn more about Spotter Staffing at: https://www.spotterstaffing.com/Connect with Ryan on LinkedIn here (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-cleaveland-2aa5a87/) or on Twitter @ryan_cleaveland (https://twitter.com/Ryan_Cleaveland). Learn more about today's sponsors, Playworks, IXL and Renaissance:Learn more about Renaissance:As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time. These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation. We’re also thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

This week, I’m sharing an interview from another host on the BE podcast network because I think it’s something you’ll really enjoy. The episode is going live in the De Facto Leaders podcast feed. I’m pleased to bring you a conversation from The Authority Podcast here on the Be Podcast Network. You’ll hear from Principal Baruti Kafele, author of seven best-selling books, including The Equity & Social Justice Education 50.About Baruti KafeleOne of the most sought-after school leadership and classroom equity presenters in America, Principal Kafele is impacting America’s schools! He has delivered over 2500 conferences and program keynotes, professional development workshops, parenting seminars and student assemblies over his 35 years of public speaking. An expert in the area of “attitude transformation,” Principal Kafele is the leading authority on providing effective classroom and school leadership strategies toward closing what he coined, the "Attitude Gap.” He has authored twelve books, including seven ASCD best-sellers. The discussion includes:✅ Equity vs. Equality — the strategy vs. the goal and why it matters✅ Does my presence positively alter the trajectory of my students?✅ How do I ensure that no student is invisible in my classroom?✅Becoming credible to your students✅ “I want my readers to be comfortable with being uncomfortable and uncomfortable with being comfortable.”✅The Big 3: Individuality, Identity, and Voice. Why these are non-negotiables in every classroom.✅The leader’s role in making equity work resilientYou can learn more about Barute Kafele’s work on his website here. About The Authority Podcast"Interviews with people who know what they're talking about."On The Authority, leadership coach, storytelling strategist and edtech advisor Ross Romano interviews leading authors from the education world and beyond to draw out their invaluable insights on leadership, culture-building, transformation, and student & educator success. Join each week to hear ideas for addressing your current pain points, new perspectives from the authors you admire, and fresh takes from up-and-coming voices. Subscribe on your favorite platform: https://bit.ly/m/theauthoritypodcastBe sure to check out the BE podcast network for educators and aspiring leaders. If you’re looking for shows to inspire you to level up in your career or more effectively serve students, we’ve got you covered. Learn more about the BE podcast network at http://bepodcastnetwork.com/ Learn more about today's sponsors, Playworks, IXL and Renaissance:Learn more about Renaissance:As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time. These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation. We’re also thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

When I was younger I was fixated on clocks and the passage of time. It’s accurate to say it was an obsession of mine, to the point that it caused me large amounts of anxiety.It got difficult for me to tell when I was future-planning or when I was catastrophizing. On top of that, I had a constant need for sensory input. There are multiple childhood videos of me sitting on the floor, rocking back and forth. Then it was the rocking horse. Then the swing set. Then the end of my bed or a rocking chair. Always with music playing in the background. When I went away to college, I knew that the constant swinging and rocking would seem unusual, so I channeled that into activities I thought would seem more “normal”. For me, that was a lot of cardio. People used to ask me, “How do you motivate yourself to exercise so much?”. Really it was the only way I could function. Sitting still wasn’t an option.I’d been a swimmer up until then, and had dabbled in running. Since running is so accessible, it was a natural transition for me; which is why I got even more involved in endurance sports in my early twenties.  This led me to have an even deeper understanding of my obsession with time. When you’re on the road by yourself and you know you have 10 miles to go, you have to find a way to pass the time. When you’re pacing yourself, you have to think about how long something will take, how it feels in your body, what time means, and how it relates to distance and other activities that take the same length of time.When you’re all alone doing some repetitive and physically strenuous activity, it naturally creates the opportunity to engage in mental play, chunking the task in to smaller chunks, reframing it to make it seem less overwhelming, reminding yourself that you already did this before and survived, you’ll be able to do it again, and eventually this moment will have passed and you’ll be looking back on it (hopefully appreciating that you persisted).My time obsession partially stemmed from my realization that every moment is fleeting, which can evoke both feelings of relief (if it’s something you don’t like to do) or sadness (if it’s something you enjoy). I realized this from a young age. In episode 125 of the De Facto Leaders podcast, I share how I’ve used my fixation with time to reframe and persist through difficult tasks, how I’ve used it to manage anxiety, and how it’s informed the activities I choose as a sensory outlet.In this episode, I mentioned my Time Tracking Journal, which outlines a strategy that helps kids independently complete daily tasks like academic assignments, functional tasks, or classroom routines WITHOUT arguments and constant prompting. You can sign up for the Time Tracking Journal here. I also mentioned the School of Clinical Leadership, my program for related service providers who want to take a leadership role in implementing executive functioning support. You can learn more about the program here. Be sure to check out the BE podcast network for educators and aspiring leaders. If you’re looking for shows to inspire you to level up in your career or more effectively serve students, we’ve got you covered. Learn more about the BE podcast network at http://bepodcastnetwork.com/ Learn more about today's sponsors, Playworks, IXL and Renaissance:Learn more about Renaissance:As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time. These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation. We’re also thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

I have a love/hate relationship with meditation and mindfulness. I know I should do it. I even talk about why it’s beneficial. But I never want to do it…even though I feel better if I do. If that sounds familiar, you won’t want to miss episode 124 of the “De Facto Leaders” podcast.That’s why I invited Danny Bauer to talk about the impact mindfulness has had on him as a teacher, leader, and thought leader in the field of education. You’ll also appreciate this conversation if you tend to go full throttle at the beginning with big projects, but quit them because the initial pace was unsustainable (I know I’m personally guilty of this). Danny Bauer is a Principal Development and Retention Expert, a best-selling author, and Founder of Better Leaders, Better Schools, also known as the Chief Ruckus Maker. He’s the host of the Better Leaders Better Schools podcast, ranked in the TOP 0.5% of 3 million global podcasts. His latest book is “Mastermind: Unlocking Talent Within Every School Leader”, co-published by Corwin and the National School Superintendents Association (AASA). His mission is “to connect, grow, and mentor every school leader who wants to level up.”In this interview, we discuss:✅The “mastermind” concept, why it’s so powerful, and how it can bring a much-needed sense of belonging to professional development in education. ✅How he used meditation to decrease disciplinary write-ups, and other benefits to creative problem-solving. ✅Why planning in 90-day chunks is such a powerful way to reach long-term goals.✅How to use the 85% rule to show up as your best self for your students. To learn more about Danny’s work, connect with him at https://betterleadersbetterschools.comGet his latest book, “Build Leadership Momentum: How to Create the Perfect Principal Entry Plan” here: buildleadershipmomentum.com You can also connect with him on his social media accounts here:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danevanbauer?ref=bookmarksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/Dannyevanbauer/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamdannybauer/Medium: https://alienearbud.medium.com/In this episode, I mention the School of Clinical Leadership, my program for related service providers who want to take a leadership role in implementing executive functioning support. You can learn more about the program here.  Learn more about today's sponsors, Playworks, IXL and Renaissance:Learn more about Renaissance:As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time. These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation. We’re also thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Do flashcards help improve basic numeracy skills? Should we use calculators as a special education accommodation? How many years of math do we really need to take in high school? I invited math curriculum expert Jonathan Regino to episode 123 of the De Facto Leaders podcast to answer some of these questions. With the Science of Reading on the forefront in many districts, we’re starting to have a better understanding of the scope and sequence of English and Language Arts; but this doesn’t always translate over to math curriculum.Jonathan Regino is a highly accomplished educator with a diverse range of experiences in the field of education. Beginning as a middle school math and science teacher in Pennsylvania, he quickly established himself as a dedicated and passionate educator. Transitioning from the classroom, Jonathan became a Teaching and Learning Specialist at the Delaware County Intermediate Unit, providing invaluable support to educators and enhancing teaching practices throughout the County. As an Educational Consultant with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Special Education, he developed strategies for working with students with special needs within the math and STEM Classrooms. Jonathan's work as a curriculum developer at Age of Learning and as a facilitator and program manager for Code.org in Eastern PA showcased his commitment to innovative learning experiences and computer science education. His current role is Supervisor of Math at the Interboro School District in Pennsylvania.In this conversation, we discussed range of topics, including:✅Common “gatekeeper” skills for math that can predict as well as prevent success with more advanced math concepts. ✅The ins and outs of common math interventions and accommodations: Including when and how we should allow calculators or use math flashcards.✅How to use the Concrete-Representational-Abstract model to teach numeracy and understanding of print symbols. ✅Just how often are teachers searching for supplemental math materials, and how is this impacting equity? You can connect with Jonathan on Twitter @jred530 and on LinkedIn here. Resources mentioned in this episode include his presentation:Creating Equitable Systems for the Struggling StudentThe Science of Math Implementation of K-12 State Standards for Math and ELAThe Opportunity Myth In this episode, I mention the School of Clinical Leadership, my program for related service providers who want to take a leadership role in implementing executive functioning support. You can learn more about the program here.  Learn more about today's sponsors, Playworks, IXL and Renaissance:Learn more about Renaissance:As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time. These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation. We’re also thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

What if young adults are still prompt-dependent when they go away to college? Or what if they and their parents aren’t aware of how much support they’re actually getting? On top of that, how can professionals navigate the complexity of supporting language and executive functioning (or knowing when to address which skills)? I invited Jill Fahy to episode 122 of the De Facto Leaders Podcast to answer some of these questions. Jill is a licensed speech-language pathologist and professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Eastern Illinois University. She is also the co-director of the Autism Center and Director of the Students with Autism Transitional Education Program, where she develops and delivers transitional programming in social skills and executive functions for college students. When Jill and I decided to record this conversation, we both agreed that one interview is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this topic. At the very least, we wanted to take a stab at illustrating the complexity of designing effective supports for students in both language and executive functioning. We also shared our frustration with common professional-development models, and why it’s so hard to get to actionable step-by-step plans in a typical seminar on this topic. In this conversation, we discuss:✅How can we tell if students need work on language or executive functioning? What if kids need support in both areas? ✅Why many young adults struggle to turn in assignments and manage their schedules, even if they’ve been given tools like checklists and planners. ✅Common executive functioning skills needed for independent problem-solving and goal-directed behavior; including ideational fluency and future thinking. ✅How to consider someone’s executive functioning profile (and use this to help them and their family get an accurate picture of how much support they’re really getting).You can connect with Jill via email at jkfahy@eiu.edu. You can read her article, Assessment of Executive Functions in School-Aged Children: Challenges and Solutions for the SLP from ASHA Perspectives here. You can learn more about the Students Transitional Education Program at Eastern Illinois University here and the Autism Center here. In this episode, I mention the School of Clinical Leadership, my program for related service providers who want to take a leadership role in implementing executive functioning support. You can learn more about the program here.  Learn more about today's sponsors, Playworks, IXL and Renaissance:Learn more about Renaissance:As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time. These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation. We’re also thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

In different discussion groups, I’ve heard the claim that up to 50% of people don’t have an inner voice.  Since much of my work has focused on metacognition and language, I wanted to devote an episode to discussing some common questions that come up regarding this topic. That’s why in episode 121 of the “De Facto Leaders” podcast, I discussed the following:✅Is internal language the best tool to use for reasoning and completing complex tasks?✅Are there times it makes sense to use LESS language for self-regulation and planning? ✅If someone doesn’t have an inner voice, should we help them build one? ✅How do we measure whether someone is engaging in self-talk?✅How many people use an inner monologue or dialogue, and how does this impact social interactions and problem-solving? ~Dr. KarenP.S. In this episode, I mention the School of Clinical Leadership, my program for related service providers who want to take a leadership role in implementing executive functioning support. I also give you strategies that support self-directed talk and visual working memory. You can learn more about the program here.  Learn more about today's sponsors, Playworks, IXL and Renaissance:Learn more about Renaissance:As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time. These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation. We’re also thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.