De Facto Leaders

If you’ve ever thought about leaving the school systems, you may have wondered what options you have as far as jobs go.Maybe you feel burnt out, or maybe you just want a change and don’t want to walk away from education completely. I understand this dilemma on a deep level, so that’s why I invited Aimee Davis to the De Facto Leaders podcast to talk about how she used her teaching and improv skills to find a fulfilling job outside the school systems.  Aimee Davis is the Senior Director of the Learning Center at the Field Museum in Chicago. Aimee Davis spent 10 years as a middle school social studies, reading, and language arts teacher before leaving the classroom in 2013 to pursue a career in informal science education. At the Museum of Science and Industry, she developed a suite of inquiry-based floor programs and trained teams of facilitators to deliver daily science programming. She joined The Field Museum in 2015 as the Volunteer and Public Learning Experiences Administrator. In this role, Aimee managed the Grainger Science Hub and associated cart programming, the Discovery Squad and Crown Family PlayLab adult volunteers, and the Teen Volunteer program. In 2019, Aimee became the Director of the Learning Center and in 2022, the Senior Director. In this role Aimee oversees the six divisions in the Field's Learning Center which include the museum's offerings for teachers, students, families, community groups, teens, and every day visitors. Aimee trained and taught at The Second City, has a Non-profit Leadership Certificate from Northwestern Kellogg, a M.A. in Education Administration from Saint Xavier University and a B.S. in Elementary Education from Illinois State University.In this episode, we talk about:✅How to find a job that aligns with your passion and skills outside the school systems.✅How learning improv can make you a better teacher, leader, and communicator (even if you’re not in to theater).✅How museums are leveraging youth programs to enhance real-world, hands-on learning and embracing the benefits of technology.You can connect with Aimee on LinkedIn here, and find more information about the Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois 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.

Many people who are involved in K-12 education want to be “student-centered”, but what if that’s not the most effective place for leaders to put their efforts?I wanted to discuss this topic with Dr. Chris Jones, who shares why school leaders can create a bigger impact by supporting teachers and those working directly with students. Dr. Chris Jones has been an educator in Massachusetts for 22 years. His experience in the classroom ranged from 8th - 11th grade working in an urban setting. A portion of this was spent opening a high school division for an expanding charter school. He has just finished his 14th year as a building administrator. Chris is also the Vice President of the Massachusetts State Administrators Association (MSAA). True to his "why" of improving the educational experience for as many people as possible, he is currently the Principal of Whitman-Hanson Regional High School in Whitman, Massachusetts. He is the author of SEEing to Lead, a book that provides strategies for how modern leaders can and must support, engage, and empower their teachers to elevate student success. Chris vlogs weekly about continuous improvement and is also the host of the podcast SEEing to Lead as a way to amplify teachers’ voices in an effort to improve education as a whole. His overarching goal is to positively model continuous improvement in all facets of life by being purposeful, acting with integrity, and building character.Chris is passionate about continuous improvement and the idea that success is not a destination, but a process. Chris is a teacher centered principal and his beliefs around the importance of a positive work environment, continuous growth, and a healthy family work-life integration can be seen in the presentations and workshops he has given for the Massachusetts School Administrators Association (MSAA), Massachusetts Computer Using Educators (MassCUE), Massachusetts Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development (MASCD), the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP); and his participation in the Better Leaders Better Schools Mastermind group.A finalist for the Massachusetts School Administrators Association’s Principal of the Year award and named the 2022 Massachusetts School Counselors Associaltion’s (MASCA) Administrator of the Year, Chris is described by his past Superintendent as being “...wholly invested in the success of the school…a creative problem-solver who is able to deliberate yet be decisive, be creative yet accountable…calm and clear-headed even under the most trying of times…has built a strong collaborative and collegial school culture…he is a positive influence on teachers, teaching, and learning.”Chris’ education includes a BA from Bridgewater State University, an MA from Salem State University, and a Doctorate from Northeastern University. He currently resides in Southeastern Massachusetts with his wife, Mary (Bella) and two boys, Tommy and Scotty.In this episode, we cover a wide range of topics relating to how leaders can better empower their staff, including:✅What it means to be “teacher-centered”, and why being “student-centered” isn’t always the most effective way to run a school.✅Are constraints a bad thing? Or can they lead to more creativity? How can school leaders guide their staff without micromanaging them?✅Should school administrators ask for feedback during evaluations? What questions should they be asking to understand how they can empower staff. You can connect with Dr. Jones on LinkedIn here, and on Twitter here, and on Instagram here.  You can learn more about his book and podcast at: https://drcsjones.blog/seeing-to-lead-podcast/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.

Evidence-based practices and high-quality curriculum are important, but they aren’t the ONLY things school leaders need to think about. We can’t effectively serve students unless we understand their community, which means we have to think beyond the classroom or therapy room. That’s why I invited Edward Gordon, II, former principal and CEO of Gordon Leadership Academy, LLC to the De Facto Leaders podcast to talk about school turnaround and coaching within the education system. Edward W. Gordon, II is a native of Montclair, New Jersey. He is the proud father of Edward W. Gordon, III. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of South Carolina in 1998. Edward also earned a Master’s in Music Education from New Jersey City University in 2002, and a Master’s in Educational Leadership in 2003. He is a Certified Principal for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.Mr. Gordon has over 20 years of experience in education and has led staff and students from preschool through high school. He was one of three graduates of the PhillyPLUS School Turnaround Program, a selective residency program focused on serving underperforming schools.Edward hosts a weekly broadcast entitled The Principal’s Office where he highlights educational stakeholders who are making a difference in their lives, the lives of others and with others. He is the CEO of Gordon Leadership Academy, LLC, a company that coaches and mentors aspiring and current school leaders globally. His motto is, “If I can help somebody, then my living shall not be in vain.”In this conversation, we discuss: ✅What’s really behind school attendance issues, and what happens when the school vision doesn’t align with the student body and community.✅What’s the difference between coaching, mentoring, therapy, and consulting? How can people in education and healthcare both deliver and use these services to lead fulfilling careers? ✅Why and how educators, leaders, and therapists can form partnerships with local businesses and community organizations to better serve students. You can connect with Edward on LinkedIn here and on Facebook here. You can find The School Leader Reflective Journal on Amazon here. You can also find links to his other resources 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.

There’s a lot of talk about risk factors in education; but not as much focus on protective factors. That’s why I invited Dr. Mike Gaskell to episode 118 of De Facto Leaders to talk about the work he’s done helping students and staff build resilience in a way that’s feasible for busy educators. Dr. Michael Gaskell is an author, speaker and school principal in East Brunswick, NJ., following experience as a special educator and assistant principal in Paramus, NJ. He models the pursuit of lifelong learning as he serves to mentor new principals through the New Jersey Leaders to Leaders program. An NJPSA Stars recipient, he has been published in over 4 dozen articles in education journals and blogs, including ASCD Smartbrief, Tech & Learning, Education Post, eSchoolNews, NASSP, Edtech, currently writes a monthly column in ASCD Smartbrief, and has made the most-read section of ASCD Smartbrief numerous times. Mike presents at national conferences, including the Learning and the Brain conference, November 2021; FETC January 2022, and FETC, again in January 2023. He has been on numerous podcasts including Larry Ferlazzo’s Education Week Classroom Q&A. Mike has published three books: Radical Principals, Leading Schools Through Trauma and Microstrategy Magic. Dr. Gaskell works relentlessly to support instructional excellence and student success, for his school community, and most importantly, for the wellness and equity of all children. In this episode, we cover a wide range of topics, including:✅De-escalation strategies school staff can use for handling emails and social media posts; including Jay Baer’s “reply only twice” strategy.✅Three protective factors that increase post-traumatic growth.✅How to “stack” 1-minute interventions to improve resilience, behavior, and performance. ✅Simple but powerful ways to improve attention and engagement; including the “coffeehouse effect” and greeting students at the door. You can connect with Dr. Michael Gaskell on LinkedIn here, on Twitter here, and on Instagram here. His books include Radical Principals, Leading Schools through Trauma,  and MicroStrategy Magic: Confronting Classroom Challenges While Saving Time and Energy.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.

When the pandemic hit, many clinicians had to unexpectedly transition to online therapy, which raised a lot of concerns about treatment quality.Can you really provide high-quality services in an online format? Does it require the same skill sets as in-person therapy? Are there times when teletherapy provides functionality that doesn’t exist in-person? As the world has embraced telehealth as a viable option to increase access to services, these are all questions that come up for those of us delivery services. That’s why I invited Lynne Inabnitt to the show to talk about the ins and outs of teletherapy; and what clinicians need to consider when using this format. Lynne Inabnitt, M.A. CCC-SLP, is Senior Vice President of Clinical Success at Presence, a leading provider of remote evaluations and teletherapy for children with diverse needs. In this role, she oversees a team that supports relationships between Presence clinicians and school district partners by embedding clinically sound practices into service operations. Lynne served as a pediatric and school-based SLP for over 15 years, transitioning into the teletherapy space in 2015. Since then, she’s held leadership positions overseeing clinical operations and multidisciplinary teams as the Clinical Director of Quality, Outreach, & Learning for Presence and Co-Clinical Director for Global Teletherapy. Lynne was a previous recipient of the Leadership in Literacy Grant from the U.S. Department of Education awarded by the University of Cincinnati, is an ASHA certified and licensed SLP, and received a Bachelor's degree and Master of Arts in Speech Language Pathology from Miami University of Ohio.In this conversation, we discuss:✅What skills are needed to be a good teletherapist, and how should clinicians set themselves up for success from the start? ✅How teletherapy can provide opportunities for creativity, innovation, and customization that aren’t as easy to make using print materials.✅How therapists can leverage the power of networking and community to build skills and grow in their careers. You can learn more about professional development and career opportunities at Presence at https://presencelearning.com/. To learn more about the Kanga telehealth platform, visit: https://presencelearning.com/kanga-online-therapy-platform/You can connect with Lynne on LinkedIn 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.

Those of us working in K-12 education interact with students and staff who have experienced trauma whether we’re aware of the specific events or not. A lot of people have heard the term “trauma-informed” care, but not everyone knows what it means or how to do it in practice.That’s why I wanted to invite Rachel Archambault to episode 115 of the De Facto Leaders podcast to talk about what trauma-informed care is and share how educators and therapists can put it into practice. Rachel Archambault, MA CCC-SLP is an SLP Program Specialist for Broward County Public Schools. After a traumatic event happened at her workplace on 2/14/18, she looked for ways to work with students (and herself) after trauma. She found trauma-informed care and has been presenting nationally to SLPs and other providers on how TIC can be used in their setting. She runs the Instagram account, @PTSD.SLP which discusses TIC from a speech lens.In this conversation, she shares:✅What exactly is trauma-informed care and how can those working in the schools provide a supportive environment for students? ✅What school leaders need to know about being trauma-informed (and why it’s not just about the students). ✅How to avoid re-traumatization, including the way you use language or other common triggers to be aware of.✅Mistakes people make (even though they’re well-intended) and how you can build trust with students and colleagues who have experienced trauma.You can connect with Rachel on her Instagram account here, her Facebook page here, and on LinkedIn here.  Her website (coming soon) is at ptsdslp.com.In this episode, I mentioned my free online training for K-12 therapists who want to offer social and academic support that’s evidence-based and neurodiversity-affirming. You can sign up for that free training 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.

A lot of professional development is still delivered in the lecture or workshop format, even though there’s evidence that this model doesn’t have a significant impact on student outcomes. So what do people working in K-12 education need to support students and have fulfilling careers? I started asking myself that question when I was working in the schools, and I stumbled upon the coaching industry. This led me to discover design-thinking, a process for solving problems and innovating; something I’d never heard of in my preservice training. Nowadays, people are more skeptical than ever about the scientific community. Many feel that the heavy focus on evidence-based practice ignores the human component that school professionals bring to the table. I see design-thinking as a way we can be evidence-based, innovative, and empathetic at the same time. That’s why I invited Dan Kelley from DPK Solutions to episode 114 to share how he uses design-thinking to coach school leaders.Daniel P. Kelley is the veteran principal of Smithfield High School in Smithfield, RI. He is an educator, instructional leader, and innovator. Dan served as president of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) during the 2017-2018 school year and was a member of the NASSP Board of Directors for five years. He has served as a high school assistant principal; a high school and middle school special education teacher; and a middle school math and science teacher. He was named the Rhode Island Secondary Principal of the Year in 2012.As a leader in education, Dan believes in challenging current instructional practices to provide creative and effective opportunities for students to learn, grow, and succeed. He is passionate about educational leadership that builds strong relationships with faculty and the community, utilizing social media to foster connections between educators, and establishing Personal Learning Networks for collaboration and professional development.In this episode Dan shares:✅Why your boss isn’t always the best person to coach you, and where you can go to get the support you need.  ✅How to use design-thinking to keep students engaged and provide real-life, project-based experiences that prepare them for adulthood.✅What school staff need in a coach (and why it’s different depending on your role and your career goals).You can connect with Dan on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dpk933/ on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/danielpkelley and on his website here: https://twitter.com/danielpkelleyIn this episode, I mentioned my free online training for K-12 therapists who want to offer social and academic support that’s evidence-based and neurodiversity-affirming. You can sign up for that free training here: https://drkarendudekbrannan.com/efleadership  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.

Supporting language and decoding are important pieces of helping kids grow up to be successful readers. But making it happen is way more complex than that. What happens when a child in 5th grade is reading at a first grade reading level? What if there are other barriers BESIDES just reading getting in the way; such as scheduling constraints, classroom management issues, or access to mentoring? What if kids don’t have access to books outside of school, and schools don’t have the funding to provide them with quality reading materials? I wanted to discuss these questions, and that’s why I invited educational consultant Cassandra Williams to episode 113 of the De Facto Leaders podcast. Cassandra Williams is a true innovator in the education field, having dedicated over 25 years of her life to revolutionizing existing systems and setting new standards of excellence. With a degree in Elementary Education from Southern Illinois University and a Master’s from California State University, she is also the founder of two successful elementary schools in Indianapolis. Her research has focused on coaching teachers to accelerate student achievement, often utilizing video and other technologies as learning tools. Her most recent passion is the Educational Innovation 360° e-Instructional Coaching System (click here to learn more: https://www.educationalinnovation360.com/), which she designed and developed in 2018.On this episode, we discuss:✅What are teachers struggling with when it comes to teaching reading? Do they always know where they need support? ✅How to make school libraries and district events more inclusive and culturally responsive.✅How can we make schools more inviting to parents so they can take an active role in their children’s education?✅Three essential components of effective professional development, and why many workshops only address ONE of these components.You can connect with Cassandra on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassandra-williams-777b7927/, on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/Edinnovation360, and on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/Educationalinnovation360/, on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/educationalinnovation360/You can learn more about her coaching and professional development for schools and individuals at https://www.educationalinnovation360.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: https://drkarendudekbrannan.com/efleadership 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 do you do if your school administrator doesn’t fully understand your role and your expertise?What if you have the information and knowledge they need to drive important decisions for your school? How can you get them to listen to your input? If you’re a therapist, educator, or aspiring school leader, these questions may have popped into your head from time to time. If that’s the case, it might feel like your boss (or maybe even your boss’s boss) has all the power. But what if that wasn’t the case? What if you could step into a leadership role NOW and be an advisor to those who are “technically” your superiors?This is called “leading up”. In episode 112 of the De Facto Leaders podcast, I invited Jethro Jones on to talk about how to be a leader, no matter your job title.Jethro Jones, is a national award-winning former school leader, podcaster, and author of the books "How to be a Transformative Principal" (click here to read more: https://www.amazon.com/How-Transformative-Principal-Jethro-Jones/dp/1915261090) and "SchoolX: How principals can design a transformative school experience for the people right in front of them! (click here to read more: https://www.amazon.com/SchoolX-principals-transformative-experience-themselves/dp/1913622118). He is also the founder of the BE Podcast Network (click here to learn more: https://bepodcast.network/ ), the best educational podcast network out there. Jethro currently consults school leaders on strategies to help them save time, lead more effectively, and overcome their own weaknesses. Jethro has worked as a principal at all K-12 levels, including a prison school, a district coach, distance learning team lead, and English teacher.In this conversation, he shares:✅How to “lead up” to your school administrator when they need your input on programming decisions (even if they don’t realize it yet). ✅How to “lead out” to other people on your team, even if they’re resistant to changing their practices.✅How to make a case to your school leader for more resources and support, even if it’s not in the budget.You can connect with Jethro Jones on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jethrojones/, and listen to the Transformative Principal Podcast or learn more about how to work with Jethro on his website here: https://www.jethrojones.com/ You can also learn more about the BE podcast network for aspiring school leaders here: https://bepodcast.network/You can take the quiz on how to level up in your career as an educator/leader here: https://moveup.transformativeprincipal.com/?utm_source=dflYou can listen to the School AI podcast where we discuss AI, interdisciplinary units, and executive functioning featuring Dr. Karen here: https://youtu.be/KqUzRRKQvO8In this episode, I mentioned my free online training for K-12 therapists who want to offer social and academic support that’s evidence-based and neurodiversity-affirming. You can sign up for that free training here: https://drkarendudekbrannan.com/efleadership 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.

“Behavior problems” are an external sign of what’s going on internally. In order to support kids who are being referred for behavioral concerns, we need to address these internal skills proactively. That’s why I invited consultant and educator Lisa Navarra to episode 111 of the De Facto Leaders podcast to talk about self-regulation.Lisa M. Navarra, M.S. in Special Education, SDA, award-winning educator and published author of children’s books, music, and teacher resources provides professional development and individual services teaching the “how to learn” skills for children who struggle learning and self-regulating. Lisa has been invited to speak at schools, libraries, and organizations where she has transformed resistant learners into students who learn the skills in how to focus and believe in themselves! Lisa’s dedication to supporting schools and families extends beyond her books and resources and includes her podcast, “Student Success Beyond Expectations” Podcast. Click here to learn more: https://childbehaviorconsulting.com/podcasts/In this interview, we discuss:✅Common misconceptions surrounding behavior problems and the role of internal regulation. ✅How to make sure kids get support across their day; including on the bus and in the hallways. ✅What to do when stimming is seen as a behavior problem, and how to help kids get sensory needs met and self-advocate. You can connect with Lisa on her website here: https://childbehaviorconsulting.com/Follow her on Instagram: http://@lisanavarraedu or onFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChildBehaviorConsultingYou can find her podcast here: https://childbehaviorconsulting.com/podcasts/ or listen to episodes on her Youtube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@childbehaviorconsulting1650  In this episode, I mentioned my Executive Functions Implementation Guide that shares how school therapists can lead their IEP teams in providing mental health, behavioral, and social skills support for K-12 kids. You can download this free resource here: https://drkarendudekbrannan.com/efschools 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.