Educators Among Us

As educators, we have learned that appreciation for our efforts is not always instant, and it's not always visible.  Our students, our parents, even our leaders may never know the hard work we put in, the sacrifices we make, and the love we pour into our profession and our people.  But we know, and we know that our sacrifice is our own reward.   In this episode of the Educators  Among Us Podcast,...

Expectations shape everything, from how we see the day ahead to how we lead and build trust. We all carry expectations into our work, our relationships, and our daily routines, but too often they're unspoken, unrealistic, or undefined. When that happens, conflict thrives and trust erodes. This episode explores why clear expectations are essential for healthy school culture and meaningful relations...

We, as teachers, are expected to know everything.  Of course, that is impossible and unrealistic.  Try as we might, the best we can do is to ask better questions.  Asking better questions of ourselves is the only way we can get the answers we need to continue to improve.  Perhaps we are truly at our best when we realize we don't know it all.   In this episode of the Educators Among Us podcast, hos...

Timing is the secret sauce of nearly every story of success, and we can improve ours. Do you ever feel like you're out of sync—rushing through lessons, reacting instead of responding, or missing the moments that matter most? Knowing when to act is just as important as what to do. But how do you master that sense of timing when every day feels unpredictable? In this episode of the Educators Among U...

What is the future of education?  Certainly,  it includes Artificial Intelligence, and that is a new phenomenon to be sure.  But the future still includes parents, motivation, kids who need support and encouragement and motivation, leaders who aspire to higher levels of organizational success, and clear communication across all facets.  All of these things matter, perhaps now more than ever. In th...

Challenges help us to grow.  As in baseball, we have to keep "getting in the box" and taking that swing.  Let's ensure that when we do, we "swing like we mean it".  Purposefully, with focus, intention, hope, confidence, and resolute commitment.  There's nothing wrong with a swing and a miss, as long as you keep swinging. In this episode of the Educators Among Us podcast, host Scott Barron, Chief R...

Schools are a culture and a community.  Families are coming together in pursuit of excellence in education.  The buildings are a function of that work.  How can we create buildings that inspire each other?  How can we make our buildings more a part of our plan, and less about walls and square footage and classrooms? In this episode of the Educators Among Us podcast, host Scott Barron, Chief Reinve...

If you've ever found yourself lost, then you know how it feels to be found.  To realize that you are loved and welcome to come inside.  That's the power of an unlocked door.  It helps others to know that you care about them and want to welcome them in.  Often, especially as educators, we are mandated to lock our doors.  But leaving them unlocked can give hope, especially to the lost.   In this epi...

Almost by definition, doing the hard things is not easy.  It's a choice.  When you do hard things, you make yourself better. You show others what you're willing to do in pursuit of excellence.  And you make a difference that needs to be made, even when others are not as willing to try.  All of these things are key in the role of educators, and for the educational leaders who blaze the path toward...

Mixing families into the emotional ecosystem of a school yields predictable struggle.  Schools, like families, are places where learning, growth, failure, creativity, and maturity occur.  Schools are difficult by design!  They contain all of the ideal ingredients needed for adversity, rumbling, and strife. It's no wonder they, like family, are messy at best.   In this episode of the Educators Amon...

Life is a quest in pain.  It is an unavoidable journey, and it is inevitable. But how we respond to pain is elective.  Suffering is a choice.  When we go through the pain of learning, we can grow in ways we had never thought possible before.  As an educator, that growth allows us to teach what we've learned and to share the pain with others as they seek to grow in the same way that we have.   In t...

Life is impossible without placing our faith and trust in people, in principles, in practices, in possibilities, in plausibility, and in promises.  The things we would hold onto the most are the things that require faith to let go.  Faith is personal. However, the discipline of faith is very public and shows others a glimpse into our character.   In this episode of the Educators Among Us podcast,...

What is Collective Impact?  It's a term used to describe aligning community efforts around shared educational goals.  It means that teachers who work together, lifting each other up, and focus on common outcomes of excellence in education can make the strongest impact on others.   Transparency, shared accountability and collaboration are things we can strive for on our own, but can be exponentiall...

What we say matters.  Our words are important and when well-intended, they can make a tremendous difference to those who will listen.  But timing is also crucial. There is a time to provide an opinion, and a time to let it go.  Difficult moments, emotional days, and stressful situations may not be the best time to share our words of wisdom.  Weddings are one example. School days are sometimes thos...

Things happen.  School happens!  Changes will take place. Our path is a curvy one, with unending surprises.  We have choices to make. Because we are responsible for the outcome, no matter what caused the change. How we handle the unexpected is the most accurate revelation of our true character.   In this episode of the Educators Among Us podcast, host Scott Barron, Chief Reinvention Officer with S...

Being wrong happens to all of us, especially as we work towards excellence in education.  But are we always willing to hear "the truth"?  Can we handle the truth?  As educators, we must be skilled at giving and receiving feedback—even when it's hard. Because heeding advice is on the pathway to wisdom.   In this episode of the Educators Among Us podcast, host Scott Barron, Chief Reinvention Officer...

When we can trust each other as a team, everything improves.  Trust enables us to feel safe, to take risks and to solve issues.  Together.  Education, at it's best, is a model of teamwork, bringing exponential blessings when we are raised to the "Power of Us"   In this episode of the Educators Among Us podcast, host Scott Barron, Chief Reinvention Officer with School Growth, emphasizes the signifi...

  We typically can't see the roots of a living thing.  They are down deep. But we can see the effects.  Strong roots are vital to maturity in the development of our students thus giving them wings to soar.  If left unappreciated, and unsupported, those wings will atrophy.  This is a great responsibility. In this episode of the Educators Among Us podcast, host Scott Barron, Chief Reinvention Office...

We all face a daily dilemma.  What do I do now, and what do I do next? If you have too little time and too much to do, you're not alone, especially as an educator.  Discipline in choosing the most important tasks, even the hardest ones to do, is crucial to celebrating the victories you truly want to achieve.   The question then becomes, will we compromise simply because we don't feel like it? In t...

We all count things, don't we?  Memorable things that happen, milestones of significance. These things we do each day add up, and they make a difference.  For instance, here at Educators Fellowship, we just completed our 100th episode of the Educators Among Us Podcast! That's a milestone, and we thank you so much for your support.  But is the big number as important as each moment along the way?  ...

What is your intolerance for compromise? Said another way, when you've seemingly done your best, are you satisfied, even if your "best" didn't get the job done to expectations?  It's good to know your tolerance for compromise and your tolerance for failure. Where the rubber meets the road, we can't just talk about getting it done.  We've got to back it up!  When we set the bar for excellence high,...

Perspective is the "WD40 of Life.  It improves attitude, knocks down negativity, creates a spirit of gratitude, and can help to overcome burnout, especially in the lives of effective educators.  A joyful perspective can solve a lot of problems, and help you to succeed as you lead and work to educate others.   In this episode of the Educators Among Us podcast, host Scott Barron, Chief Reinvention O...

What do you want in life? What would it take to get it?  Rapport is one of the most important tools we have to help each other accomplish the things we are trying to do.  It enables teamwork and collaboration.  Where rapport needs to be developed, it requires trust.  So your first step, perhaps, is to trust first.  Because trusting others helps them to trust you.   In this episode of the Educators...

Two things we know:  One... we will all die. Two... if you are reading this, then it is safe to assume that we are very much alive.  We can act accordingly, planning and taking care of details.  We can also live with the end in mind, ensuring we make the very most of every moment we have on Earth.  It begs the question:  What will you do today that will be remembered? In this episode of the Educat...

Trust starts up. That means placing trust in your leaders. Supporting them, lifting them up. When trust starts with you and starts up, it benefits you, and the whole team. This is vital and is especially important to your impact as an educator.   In this episode of the Educators Among Us podcast, your host Scott Barron, Chief Reinvention Officer with School Growth, discusses the vital role of trus...