Brighter Together

In this episode of Brighter Together, I sit down with William C. Chilman, the dedicated superintendent of Harbor Beach Community Schools in Michigan. Bill shares his inspiring journey in education, highlighting how he successfully built an impressive $1 million endowment without traditional fundraising approaches. We delve into the importance of community involvement, the innovative foundations he...

Episode Description What if the biggest barrier to transforming your district isn't budget constraints or technology—but a willingness to demand more? In this powerful episode, we sit down with PJ Caposey, Superintendent of Oregon Community Unit School District 220, who shares how he's leading his community from complacency to excellence, even while navigating impossible financial pressures and th...

What if your superintendent could name every kindergartner in the district? What if teacher retention wasn't a crisis, but a culture? In this episode, we meet a leader who challenges everything we think we know about school administration—by rolling up his sleeves and leading from the front lines. Guest Introduction Alex Moore is the Superintendent of Montmorency Communities Consolidated School Di...

You think you know who your struggling readers are—but what if your best readers are hiding the biggest gaps? In this episode, we uncover a counterintuitive challenge that affects far too many classrooms: how exceptionally strong readers can inadvertently mask critical comprehension gaps, while other students find alternative pathways to success that schools rarely recognize or cultivate. **Richar...

The One Thing Alternative Schools Know About Burned-Out Teachers **Are your best teachers leaving because they're emotionally drained? What if the secret to preventing educator burnout lies in a fundamental shift in how we interpret student behavior?** In this episode, we discover why alternative schools are keeping their teachers engaged and effective—even with the most challenging students—by un...

In this episode of Brighter Together, I sit down with Cindy Felkins, the Director of Student Support Services at Bleckley County Schools in Georgia. With nearly 30 years in education, Cindy shares her insights on creating effective special education systems that truly support teachers rather than overwhelm them. We discuss the importance of hands-on experience, the value of growing your own educat...

In this episode of Brighter Together, I sit down with Michelle Stewart, the superintendent and principal of Happy Valley Elementary School District in Santa Cruz, California. With just 105 students, Happy Valley has achieved remarkable success, consistently ranking in the top 1% of schools in California. Michelle shares her journey through education, from teaching to administration, and discusses...

Teacher burnout is real, but what if the solution isn't working harder—it's building a culture where educators feel genuinely supported? In this episode, we sit down with Jessie Thomas, Special Education Supervisor at Lancaster City Schools, to explore how a fundamental mindset shift transformed retention and created an environment where teachers don't just survive, they thrive. Guest Introduction...

How Alaska's Most Remote District Delivers Therapy 28,000 Square Miles Away Imagine being responsible for the special education services of 400 students spread across six remote Alaskan communities—with no speech therapists, occupational therapists, or specialized providers within driving distance. This isn't a hypothetical challenge; it's the daily reality for Alaska Gateway School District. In t...

The Classroom Visit That Changed How I Lead: Leonard's 10-Year Wake-Up Call **When was the last time you taught a full lesson to a room of 25 students?** If you're an administrator, that honest answer might be uncomfortable—and that discomfort is exactly why you need to hear this episode. Leonard Martinez's transformative classroom visit didn't just remind him what teaching feels like; it fundamen...

The Job Security Play Most Districts Miss (And It's Federally Protected) Episode Description **Here's the surprising truth that could transform your district's approach to school psychology staffing: there's a federally mandated, federally funded position that comes with ironclad job security—yet most districts aren't leveraging it strategically.** In this eye-opening episode, we explore why the s...

What Warren City Found When They Stopped Forcing Kids Into Programs **What happens when a school district puts humanity first—and abandons the one-size-fits-all approach to special education?** In this episode, we sit down with Patricia Dreher, Executive Director of Special Education for Warren City School District, to explore how one district is transforming outcomes by recognizing that *the labe...

Episode Description How One Georgia District Cut Student Suicides by Building Trauma Systems (Not Programs) **When a rural Georgia school district faced a crisis, they didn't just add another mental health program—they transformed their entire approach to supporting traumatized students. Here's what happened.** Student suicide rates continue to climb, and rural school districts face the added burd...

In this episode of Brighter Together, I sit down with Mary Vandermolen, the superintendent of North Star Montessori Academy in Marquette, Michigan. With over 41 years in education, Mary shares her unique approach to leadership and the one question she poses to every staff member: "How can we better support our students?" We explore the significance of creating a nurturing environment that values e...

In this episode of Brighter Together, I sit down with Dr. Robert Langman, the superintendent of Darien School District 61. We tackle a crucial topic: the importance of allowing students to experience failure as a part of their learning journey. Dr. Langman shares his extensive experience in education, emphasizing how fostering resilience and encouraging respectful disagreement can help shape our c...

Episode Description What do you do when your district has 1,200 fewer students than it did 25 years ago, but the same number of school buildings? For Lee Thennes, Superintendent of the Manitowoc School District, the answer meant making one of the toughest decisions a leader can face—closing buildings to preserve educational quality for the students who remain. In this candid conversation, Lee shar...

The Students Nobody Expected to Thrive (And Why Virtual Changed Everything) What if the students struggling most in traditional classrooms are actually thriving in a completely different learning environment? In this eye-opening episode, we discover how virtual learning has become an unexpected game-changer for students with special needs—not because of technology, but because of what it removes f...

What if the missing piece to dramatically reducing dropout rates wasn't a new curriculum or more funding—but a fundamental reimagining of what school looks like? In this transformative episode, we sit down with Jill Hudgel, Senior Director of Special Education at Buckeye Community School District, to uncover how her team cut dropout rates in half by removing the barriers that keep at-risk students...

The simple shift that transforms special education meetings from confrontational to collaborative. When Derek Eccles transitioned from the classroom to Special Education Director at Filer School District, he quickly realized that one of the most powerful tools in his leadership toolkit had nothing to do with policy or procedure—it was about where he chose to sit. In this episode, Derek shares how...

Episode Description What if the education your students receive Monday through Friday is actually undermining what you're teaching them on Sunday? For Christian educators, this sobering reality has become impossible to ignore—40% of Christian high school graduates abandon their faith in college, and Lesley Russell discovered the shocking reason why. In this transformative episode, Lesley shares th...

What if one powerful question could transform how you lead and support students with special needs? In this compelling episode, Mark Pfaff, Director of Special Education at Tehama County Office of Education, reveals the transformative leadership insight that reshaped his entire approach to serving students in rural California. Join us as Mark shares his remarkable journey through special education...

You invest thousands in professional development, but your teachers still struggle. Here's why it's probably not the training that's failing—it's what happens after. Schools pour resources into supporting their special education teachers, yet many initiatives fade away within weeks. In this episode, we uncover the critical gap between implementing support systems and actually monitoring whether th...

In this episode of Brighter Together, I sit down with Dr. Jibby Brown, the special education supervisor for grades four through eight at Winton Woods City School District in Cincinnati, Ohio. Dr. Brown shares her inspiring journey in special education, emphasizing the importance of closing learning gaps and the collaborative approach needed to support both students and teachers. We discuss the cha...

In this episode of Brighter Together, I sit down with Kristin Davis, a special education coordinator from Newnan, Georgia, to discuss transformative approaches to IEP meetings. Kristin shares her philosophy of prioritizing parent engagement and collaboration, emphasizing the importance of starting meetings by celebrating students' strengths rather than focusing solely on challenges. We explore how...

Opening Hook What if your school district could create meaningful employment opportunities for students with disabilities—without a massive budget or years of planning? In this episode, discover how Avon Grove School District went from zero community partnerships to 30 thriving job sites, and learn what's possible when special education leadership combines vision with practical action. Guest Intro...