Reimagine Schools

In this episode, award-winning principal Todd Nesloney talks about the power of connection on social media and reflects on the success of Kids Deserve It, the best-selling book with co-author Adam Welcome. He also discusses the importance of amplifying the voices of others and how his book, Stories From Webb, will forever be his proudest moment as an educator. Nesloney also looks ahead to his "dre...

In this episode, Dr. Joe Sanfelippo, Superintendent of the Fall Creek (WI) School District, shares his thoughts on Hacking Leadership and reflects on the #GoCrickets hashtag that has been a game-changer for school districts that have adopted social media for Branding, Telling Your School Story and Advancing the Use of Social Media for School Leaders. As an innovative school leader, Dr. Sanfelippo...

In this episode, Andrea Gribble, a social media specialist and founder of #SocialSchool4EDU, talks about her passion for helping schools celebrate their students in a safe and positive way with social media and offers tips on how you can “tell your school story” by creating a hashtag and branding your school district. Gribble also talks about social media’s big four platforms - Facebook, Twitter,...

In this episode, Dwight Carter, a former NASSP Digital Principal of the Year, shares insights on his book, Leading Schools in Disruptive Times: How To Survive Hyper-Change, and offers advice for working with “Generation Z” kids who need positive self-talk and crave a balance between technology opportunities and expanded face-to-face interaction to enhance social-emotional learning. He also provide...

In this episode, Ken Kay, CEO of EdLeader21, challenges school districts across the nation to develop a personalized Portrait of a Graduate that will serve as a collective vision that articulates a community of stakeholders for school transformation. Kay, co-author of The Leader’s Guide to 21st Century Education: 7 Steps for Schools and Districts, shares insights on the work of EdLeader21 and its...

In this episode, leadership expert Jimmy Casas discusses his new release, Stop Right Now - 39 Stops to Making Schools Better and reflects on his best-selling book, Culturize – Every Student. Every Day. Whatever It Takes, while offering insight on how school leaders can create student-centered schools by always putting kids first in the decision-making process. Casas also reflects on his experience...

In this episode, the Reimagine Schools Podcast joins forces with Jethro Jones, the founder/host of the popular Transformative Principal Podcast, to launch our very first simulcast. Named as a 2017 National Digital Principal of the Year, Jethro Jones is currently leading the design process to launch a new K-12 Magnet School within his school district located in Fairbanks, Alaska, and shares his vis...

In this episode, Joe Erpelding, Principal at the Design 39 Campus near San Diego, CA., shares insights on an innovative school model that is learner-centered with a Design Thinking approach that creates multiple pathways for kids to "build bridges" to their own future through collaboration, critical thinking and problem solving. This "student-powered school", uses its own unique language to "reima...

In this episode, Alyssa Gallagher, co-author of Design Thinking for School Leaders: Five Roles and Mindsets That Ignite Positive Change, describes Design Thinking as a "problem-solving process that can really help you reimagine what's possible for kids" while also inspiring educators to think intuitively and chase big, audacious dreams to improve our schools. Gallagher also talks about empathy for...

In this episode,  Innovation Specialist Don Wettrick shares insights from his nationally-recognized Innovation Class at Noblesville High School near Indianapolis, IN and reflects on why his students are "enterprising, creative and opportunity driven" as they learn real-world skills through the power of networking and open source learning. He also discusses his book, Pure Genius: Building a Culture...

In this episode, Brian Aspinall shares insights on his passion to empower educators to achieve more in the classroom using modern teaching tools and technology. He also discusses his two book projects, Code Breaker: Increase Creativity, Remix Assessment, and Develop a Class of Coder Ninjas from 2017 and his newest release, Block Breaker: Build Knowledge and Amplifying Student Voice that will be av...

In this episode, Tom Murray, Director of Innovation for Future Ready Schools (FRS), talks about efforts to maximize digital learning opportunities to help school districts move quickly toward preparing students for success in college, a career, and citizenship. The conversation includes information on the Future Ready Pledge for school district leaders and how resources such as the FRS Framework a...

In this episode, Dr. Brad Gustafson, talks about his new book, Reclaiming Our Calling: Hold on to the Heart, Mind, and Hope of Education, and why it’s important to support educators who may be feeling tension and conflict within the daily pressures of education accountability. Embedded within the book, Dr. Gustafson says you will find several “hidden layers” that include a digital discussion guide...

In this episode, Dr. Yong Zhao, a leading voice in the globalization of education, talks about his new book, What Works May Hurt - Side Effects in Education, and why we must stop searching for the panacea to education reform. From his new book, Dr. Zhao says that policymakers often overprescribe solutions to fix education while underestimating the power of kids to create their own changes in a new...

In this episode, Dr. Todd Whitaker, one of the nation’s leading authorities on staff motivation, teacher leadership, and principal effectiveness, shares proven strategies that can be utilized to lead positive change within our schools. Among the topics discussed are how to influence others, the difference between climate and culture, and why modeling expectations is always better than correcting b...

In this episode, Baruti Kafele (Principal Kafele) shares his thoughts on school leadership and explains why the role of the school principal is often the most challenging and misunderstood position in education. Principal Kafele also shares his thoughts on creating a positive school culture, finding your own “Inner Circle” and discovering why closing the “Attitude Gap” is the key to putting kids o...

In this episode, Bob Lenz, Director of the Buck Institute for Education, provides a clear path to high quality project-based learning opportunities that focus on “success skills” and deeper learning outcomes for students at all grade levels. Lenz also offers insight from his book, Transforming Schools Using Project-Based Learning, Performance Assessment, and Common Core Standards and explains why...

In this episode, Dr. Robert Quinn, author of the best-selling book, Deep Change: Discovering the Leader Within, explains why most organizations have a resistance to change and how choosing the status quo is often the path of least resistance in organizations that value conformity and maintaining cultural norms. Instead, Quinn challenges those in leadership positions to find their own voice by exam...

In this episode, leadership expert Jim Kouzes shares insights on his best-selling book, The Leadership Challenge, and encourages leaders to be "forward-thinking" with the ability to anticipate future trends in both business and education. The Leadership Challenge, which includes the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership, has sold more than 2.5 million copies and is widely considered one of the to...

In this episode, best-selling author Alfie Kohn shares his research on education, human behavior and parenting and why we must challenge "traditionalism" with a more "progressive" model of education that eliminates letter grades, home work, standardized testing and an unhealthy focus on competition between students. Instead, Kohn advocates for a more "student-centered" approach in which cooperativ...

Join the conversation at www.facebook.com/groups/reimagineschools --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/greg-goins/support We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL. 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 ac...

In this episode, award-winning educator and author Kim Bearden talks about her new book, Talk to Me: Find the Right Words to Inspire, Encourage and Get Things Done, and reflects on the success of the Ron Clark Academy, a highly-acclaimed middle school and teacher training facility in Atlanta, GA that has hosted more than 50,000 educators from around the world. This revolutionary school model uses...

In this episode, Weston Kieschnick, one of the nation's leading experts on Blended Learning, shares insights from his best-selling book, Bold School: Old School Wisdom + New School Innovation = Blending Learning That Works. Wes also shares his thoughts on when to bring technology tools into the learning process and why the combination of great teaching and building relationships is the "secret sau...

In this episode, Marc Prensky, who coined the terms "Digital Native" and "Digital Immigrant”, shares new perspectives on how Empowerment Education and Real-World Learning could be the tipping point for reimagining our school systems. Prensky advocates for creating two separate tracks in education - an Academic Track and an Accomplishment Track - that can operate as two equal systems in a School-Wi...

In this episode, entrepreneur and education transformer Ted Fujimoto offers insights on how to create sustainable change in schools through the replication of deeper learning design models with an emphasis on technology integration and intrinsic motivation. Ted serves as the co-founder of the Right To Succeed Foundation, a non-profit organization, dedicated to transforming at least 6,000 public sc...