Brighter Together

Scott Bolin, Director of Pupil Personnel at Garrett County Schools in Kentucky, reveals why rural districts are winning enrollment battles against homeschooling and online alternatives—not through flashy programs, but through genuine relationships and what he calls the intangible "it factor" that families can feel the moment they walk through the door. In this episode, Scott shares his 25-year jou...

Vincent Valerio's unconventional journey from fine artist to special education director reveals that expertise in serving children with disabilities flourishes in diverse backgrounds and real-world experience. At Portage County Board of Developmental Disabilities in Ohio, Vincent has built a county-wide collaboration model that provides free training, adaptive equipment, and transition programming...

Discover how Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee Superintendent Mike Juhas transformed parent-teacher relationships by building positive communication foundations before problems arise. Learn the "Pennies in the Bank" strategy that catches students being good, shifts conversations from defensive to collaborative, and creates partnership instead of conflict. In 11 years leading 3,300 students across 1...

Marshall High School in Middletown, Ohio isn't a traditional school—it's a credit recovery program serving 410 students aged 15-22 who fell behind in traditional settings, many facing poverty, trauma, and attendance barriers. Malcolm Pittman, Student Success Coordinator, reveals how his team doesn't just help students graduate; they guarantee job placement, career certifications, or military servi...

Precios Armstrong, Director of Special Education for a Michigan school district, unpacks the unprecedented wave of student dysregulation sweeping K-12 schools in her 26-year career—and reveals why most districts are adding new interventions instead of returning to foundational classroom management. Discover how COVID-era isolation disrupted critical developmental skills, why screen time is rewirin...

Dr. Eugene Blalock Jr., superintendent of North College Hill City School District in Cincinnati, Ohio, implemented Ohio's first four-day blended learning week not to save money, but to address catastrophic teacher burnout and absenteeism that had reached 32-33% monthly—dropping to just 8-9% within three years. Discover how giving teachers a dedicated Monday for planning, preparation, and data-driv...

Cameron Lazar, Coordinator of Special Education at Cuyahoga Falls City School District, reveals how one critical question changed everything: Why are certain student groups disproportionately identified with disabilities and disciplined at higher rates? Through a six-year equity initiative, Cuyahoga Falls shifted from deficit-based thinking to asset-based practices, proving that inclusive schools...

Ada Pineiro, Special Education Director at Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy, has built a program where 100% of special education students graduate with regular diplomas—a remarkable achievement in a high-poverty, high-crime community serving 90-95% African American students. In this episode, Ada reveals how intentional accessibility, community partnerships, and collaborative leadership creat...

When districts stop viewing each other as competitors and start pooling resources through an Educational Service Center, transformation happens—especially for students who've fallen through the cracks. Nancy Santilli and Kelly Moran from the Educational Service Center of the Western Reserve share how Gateway High School emerged from collaborative problem-solving, pairing rigorous academics with eq...

Many special education students graduate without a post-secondary career plan, leaving them unprepared for independence and employment. John Ischy, an intervention specialist at Switzerland of Ohio Local School District, shares how intentional transition planning, hands-on career exploration through the PAYS Lab, and virtual reality job simulation transform student outcomes—moving from "no plan" t...

Mary Masciovecchio, Director of Special Education at Berrien Springs Public Schools, reveals how a small Michigan district built and scaled exceptional specialty programs—from a 60-year-old Deaf and Hard of Hearing initiative to a unique preschool combining SLP and teacher expertise. Discover how managing 28 alternative education centers across Michigan while maintaining deep student impact requir...

In this episode of Brighter Together, I sit down with Sandy Morrill, the transition coordinator at Shelton School District in Connecticut. Sandy shares the inspiring journey of launching a unique thrift shop, The Thrifty Gale, that serves dual populations: students with special needs and fellow classmates seeking affordable clothing options. We explore how this initiative not only provides invalua...

What happens when a school stops chasing trends—and starts building people instead? In this episode of Brighter Together, Superintendent Josh Meyer shares how a small, high-performing district stays grounded in what works: strong teams, deep relationships, and intentional leadership. From hiring the right people over perfect credentials to navigating AI without losing clarity, Josh offers a practi...

Jera Pieper, Director of Special Education at Franklin Jefferson County Special Education District, shares her journey from school psychologist to BCBA and now district leadership, emphasizing her passion for behavior support and systems-level impact. She explains how her co-op model serves 22 rural districts by pooling resources to deliver specialized services efficiently, while also navigating l...

What if the most powerful strategy in education isn’t a program, but a mindset? In this episode of Brighter Together, Alex Sharick, Director of Special Education at Plymouth Shiloh Local School District, shares what 30 years in education has taught him about leadership, relationships, and building systems that actually work for students. From the life-changing impact of mentorship to the evolution...

What does it actually take to turn a struggling district into a place where educators want to stay—and students can thrive? In this episode of Brighter Together, Superintendent Erika Bare shares how her district moved from nearly 25 percent staff turnover to building a stable, high-performing culture in just a few years. But this isn’t a story about quick fixes. It’s about intentional systems. Fro...

In this episode of Brighter Together, I sit down with Dr. Katie Lowry, the Director of Special Education at Lumpkin County School District, to discuss her transformative journey in leadership. Katie shares her insights on moving away from chasing awards and recognition to focusing on meaningful impact in the lives of her students and staff. We explore the importance of embracing one's unique gifts...

Episode Description **Is your IEP process feeling like a burden—or serving as the powerful protection it was designed to be?** Most educators approach IEP meetings as another box to check, another form to complete. But what if we've been looking at this all wrong? In this eye-opening conversation, Julian Duffey, Special Education Director at Teton County School District 401, reveals how reframing...

In this episode of Brighter Together, I sit down with Elizabeth Santer, Executive Director of Special Education Services at Wayne County RESA, to explore innovative strategies for addressing teacher shortages in Michigan's education system. Elizabeth shares insights on how partnerships with local universities and community organizations are creating pathways for aspiring educators, particularly in...

Why 50% of Your Teachers Are Leaving (And How to Stop It) **The teacher shortage is real—and it's happening faster than you think.** Half of all teachers leave the profession within their first five years, not because they're switching schools or subjects, but because they're abandoning education entirely. So what can leaders do to change this trajectory? In this episode, we sit down with **Sean C...

A Conversation with Lisa Guilbeau on Transforming Teacher Retention **What if the answer to our nation's teacher shortage wasn't recruiting more teachers—but keeping the ones we have?** In this episode, we discover how one innovative program is cutting teacher turnover in half by wrapping new educators in a circle of support so comprehensive it transforms their entire career trajectory. Spoiler al...

Episode Description What if the key to transforming your entire district culture came down to one simple leadership principle? In this episode, we sit down with Superintendent Chris Miesner from Sparta Community Unit School District 140 to uncover the game-changing approach that turned skeptical staff into passionate advocates for their students—and revealed what true buy-in actually looks like. A...

How Warren Local Serves Healthcare to 2,100 Students Without Referrals In rural Ohio, 42% of families live below the poverty line, transportation is a luxury many can't afford, and healthcare access feels impossible. But one small school district found a way to bring comprehensive care directly to students—without waiting for referrals or red tape. **Meet Ann Skufca**, Director of Student and Pare...

**Episode Description:** The corner office can be the loneliest place in a school building. Even the most gregarious, people-focused principal finds themselves eating lunch alone while teachers bond in the cafeteria—a painful reality that reveals a deeper truth about educational leadership. In this honest, thought-provoking episode, we sit down with **Greg McElwee, Senior Director at Northwest Geo...

In this episode of Brighter Together, I sit down with Chris Kamrath, the superintendent and principal of Plum City School District in Wisconsin, as he shares insights on the transformative power of knowing every student's name. Chris reflects on the unique advantages of small school environments, where personal connections enhance educational experiences and community engagement. He discusses his...