Charting New Paths in PreK-12 Education

In this episode we talk to a dream team of school leaders who worked together to make amazing things happen in a troubled district in Clute, Texas. Brazosport Independent School District is located about 50 miles south of Houston on the gulf coast. It serves eight different municipalities and students who come from diverse experiences and  backgrounds–from high poverty to highly affluent. As award...

Those who teach diverse students know firsthand that there is a deep divide in education–an opportunity gap that many people talk about but few understand how to close. Lauryn Mascareñaz , author of Evident Equity: A Guide for Creating Systemwide Change in Schools , has seen this divide in her work as a classroom teacher and instructional coach in Denver, Colorado, and the San Francisco Bay Area....

There’s a school in Louisville, Kentucky that rose from having the lowest mathematics proficiency out of 92 elementary schools in the state to earning national recognition and multiple awards, including Model PLC at Work® designation. How did this happen? In this conversation, Kenwood Elementary School Principal Jill Handley joins Solution Tree Associate Mona Toncheff to reveal key highlights of t...

It’s the 10 million dollar question every teacher asks: How do I get my students to truly engage in their learning? According to author and education expert Katie White , student self-assessment is key to developing student agency. Katie has done a ton of thinking and writing on this subject and, in this podcast, she’ll reveal some truly valuable information you can use.   We’ll peek into Katie’s...

A Conversation with Tongue River Elementary School (Part 2) You simply cannot become an effective professional learning community (PLC) without true collaboration that focuses on student learning and results (data rules!). This hard-won knowledge is what drives the servant leadership Principal Annie Griffin provides her staff at Tongue River Elementary, which recently received the distinction of M...

A Conversation with Tongue River Elementary School (Part 1) You simply cannot become an effective professional learning community (PLC) without true collaboration that focuses on student learning and results (data rules!). This hard-won knowledge is what drives the servant leadership Principal Annie Griffin provides her staff at Tongue River Elementary, which recently received the distinction of M...

This podcast just may topple everything you thought you knew about Depth of Knowledge or DOK. Join us on an exposé of this familiar phrase in education as author, educator, and international presenter Erik M. Francis opens up on his new book, Deconstructing Depth of Knowledge . Along the way, he sheds light on the true meaning of DOK and reveals how you can “tame this monster” to do what it is int...

Many teachers are simply and understandably burning out! The fire and passion that once sparked for teaching are simply becoming extinguished. In this episode, bestselling author Marcia L. Tate takes listeners on a journey through her latest book, Healthy Teachers, Happy Classrooms , which tackles this problem head-on.   Join us as we delve into authentic experiences that inspired Marcia’s work. W...

Professional Learning Communities at Work® is not a checklist. It is a way of being that permeates the daily practice of all stakeholders in a school community. The work is driven by a shared belief that all students can learn. All students deserve access to the resources necessary to achieve the highest level of success.   In this podcast, we talk with leaders from Lake County Schools in Tavares,...

Educator and author Zachary Wright experienced a pivotal moment as a teacher that opened his eyes to the injustices inherent in our education system. In this podcast episode, Wright speaks candidly about that experience and how it motivated him to self-reflect, deepen his knowledge of educational inequity, and become a fierce proponent of hyperlocal activism.  Join us as we explore the content of...

Educators everywhere can relate to this experience: The next shiny new initiative is announced and you scramble to adapt, only to be disappointed when the results don’t meet the promise. But what happens when you try a different approach?   In this episode, we speak with Greg Dufoe, superintendent of Adel Desoto Minburn Community Schools in Iowa; Kim Timmerman, principal of Adel Desoto Minburn Mid...

Listen in as Steve Gruenert and Todd Whitaker, best-selling authors of more than 50 well-known titles on education and leadership, discuss their new book Leveraging the Impact of Culture and Climate . The conversation will delve into the difference between culture and climate, and why educators need a solid understanding of both to engage in effective school improvement. We’ll also hear about the...

Welcome to a community like none other. Our new podcast, Charting New Paths in PreK–12 Education , is dedicated to hardworking education professionals like you . This two-part podcast shares solid advice from successful educators, as well as author interviews that will intrigue and enlighten. Each episode provides practical guidance and authentic, inspirational stories from practitioners in the fi...