Clear is the NEW Confident with Casey Watts

Resistance Isn't the Enemy — Here's How to Work With It, Not Against It New staff. New initiatives. New curriculum. And right alongside all of it: resistance. Every school leader hits it heading into a new year — the question is what you do with it. In this episode, I sit down with Becca Silver, author of The Resistance Solution , who drops a line that reframes the whole conversation: &quo...

This week, you'll hear what reframing negative feedback actually looks like. I share a snippet from a real coaching call with a seasoned English teacher who's carried one critical note from a previous principal for ten years. Listen for the questions, the reflective stems, and the pauses — that silence is the reflection doing its work. New here? Start with last week's episode, " Y...

One critical comment. That's all it takes to overshadow everything else that went right. In this episode, we explore why negative feedback carries so much more weight than it deserves, what that habit costs us, and how to stop giving a single red mark so much power over how we see ourselves and our work. Based on the article Personifying the Red Mark , this conversation gets honest about what...

Do you struggle to make your message heard or gaining the confidence to state your message boldly? Former Hollywood actor and RADA teacher Dominic Colenso joins us to share the core ingredients of "cut-through," helping leaders and sales teams perform when it matters most. He reveals simple ways to distill your thinking and bring immediate clarity to your message, ensuring your leadershi...

Do you have a clear roadmap for your leadership journey? Julia Bialeski and I explore why every woman needs a personal career mission and vision to navigate the complexities of leadership. Join us to have a candid and clear conversation! Connect with Julia here: Julia Bialeski is a leadership practitioner, author, and speaker with more than 20 years of experience leading people and organizations t...

Are you avoiding the high-stakes discussions that your school community needs most? Join Tiffany Burns and Erika Bare as they share about their practical playbook for navigating tough conversations, de-escalating tension, and ensuring every interaction leads to a successful resolution. Gain the tools you need to overcome communication barriers and lead your team with greater confidence. Connect wi...

In this episode, Casey sits down with Kim Gameros — educator, author, and founder of SELebrate Good Times and Teaching Inside Out — to talk about reimagining how teachers grow, connect, and thrive. In this episode: How Kim's VIBEDU conference (Educators Defining Unity) throws out the slide decks and creates real, collaborative connection Why inclusion means making space for every voice — inclu...

I used to second-guess everything. Not just menial decisions like what to wear, but big, life-changing things—my ability to lead a workshop, write a book, or even be a good friend or mom. If you’ve ever found yourself questioning if you're experienced, qualified, or worthy of a new opportunity, you know how exhausting that self-doubt is. In this episode, I'm sharing the three powerful trut...

I'm sharing the honest story behind the rebrand — what the old name got right, what it missed, and why my audience is the reason everything is changing. Same mission. Bigger clarity. Your teams are itching for CLARITY!  That can be a complex thing to provide.  But I have a framework that guides you to do just that– gain and create clarity!  w ww.catchingupwithcasey.com/claritycycleframework  ...

You can feel the moment slipping. The room is distracted, disengaged, and nobody's saying why. In this episode, Casey shares the real story of the day she stopped her own training — and what happened when she said out loud what everyone was already thinking. What are you waiting for permission to say? Read about this episode here on Substack! Your teams are itching for CLARITY!  That can be a...

Sometimes we wait on permission to do something, say something, or BE something. The myth is that this permission comes from a title, certification, or degree. And this is where we're beginning as we dive into this first of two episodes! It's time for us to challenge the permission myth! Bring Casey to your next event to speak!  www.catchingupwithcasey.com/speaking   Subscribe to my newsle...

Are your team meetings driving real change, or just checking a box? Kurtis Hewson, co-founder of Jigsaw Learning dives into the strategies from his new book on Collaborative Team Meetings . Learn how to navigate the shift from traditional PLC and MTSS models to a more cohesive Collaborative Response that ensures every student succeeds. Connect with Kurtis! Kurtis Hewson is a highly sought-after ke...

Misconceptions about Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) are preventing its true, transformative power from taking hold in schools. Join Krista Leh, founder of Resonance Education, as she brings clarity to the four most common SEL myths. Discover how an intentional, explicit, and co-created approach to SEL integration can lead to routine value in your school community. Implement strategies for daily S...

If you're waiting for high-stakes test scores to measure success, you’ve already lost momentum. We discuss tracking leading indicators of implementation to maintain staff stamina long after the initial excitement wears off. Your teams are itching for CLARITY!  That can be a complex thing to provide.  But I have a framework that guides you to do just that– gain and create clarity!  ⁠⁠ www.catch...

Move past generic or deficit-focused feedback. This third part of the Leading Instructional Change series will be all about how to provide specific, positive, and growth-oriented feedback that immediately improves instructional practices related to the area of focus without burning out your best teachers. Your teams are itching for CLARITY!  That can be a complex thing to provide.  But I have a fr...

Stop fighting the 20% staff resistance. In this episode, we'll break down practical strategies like "Listening Tours" and the "Skill/Will matrix" to shift initiatives from leadership's project to the teachers' mission. Your teams are itching for CLARITY!  That can be a complex thing to provide.  But I have a framework that guides you to do just that– gain and create...

This is the first episode of the "Leading Instructional Change" series! In this first episode, we're gaining clarity on how to bridge the "knowing-doing" gap. The challenge is not knowing the focus.  Chances are, you know exactly what should be the focus for the campus.  But knowing ABOUT the focus is different than ensuring you have enough clarity to communicate this focus...

**Overlooked.** Why is small-group instruction prioritized in reading but often ignored in math? Join Marcy Bernethy, author of Small Groups Big Impact , as she shares her personal experience with math anxiety and reveals the powerful Guided Math framework. Learn exactly what Guided Math is, the benefits of using it for focused differentiation, and how to overcome the misconceptions that hold teac...

Is your professional learning truly serving your school leaders? Join Al Neppl as he shares how the School Administrators of Iowa designs their Annual Conference to tackle the most critical challenges facing today's principals: from fostering well-being and managing student behavior to leveraging AI ethically. Learn the strategies for structuring professional development that truly matters to...

Does it feel like there are never enough hours in the day to lead effectively? Barb Flowers, Founder of Barb Flowers Coaching and Consultant, will share practical, system-based strategies for time management. Learn the power of time blocking and weekly planning to move beyond constant crisis and reclaim control of your day. This episode provides the tools you need to create more time, reduce stres...

**Sustain.** Are you struggling to maintain energy and connection in your leadership role? Dr. Rachel Edoho-Eket, School Principal and President of MAESP will dive into the vital connection between relational intelligence and long-term educator and leader sustainability. She shares strategies for cultivating meaningful connections and a practical takeaway: the 100-day upward staff feedback survey...

Do you ever worry about hiring someone who is better at the job than you are? Join Kevin Stewart, VP of Innovative Schools Summits, as he talks about why that feeling needs to stop! He’ll share his best tips on how to build an awesome team by finding people who are smarter than you and letting them shine. Learn the simple secret to becoming a great leader by giving others credit for their wins. Ke...

Are your "quick syncs" turning into hour-long marathons? Do you leave meetings feeling drained instead of driven? In this episode, we dive deep into the essential skill of setting professional boundaries to reclaim your calendar and your energy. Whether you’re a team leader or an individual contributor, mastering these boundary-setting techniques will help you transform your workday from...

"Habit stacking"—a simple, powerful technique for building new routines. Come learn with Lindsay Deacon and I as we share our best tips, tricks, and hacks for seamlessly integrating positive habits into your daily life and work to experience consistent, (nearly) effortless success. Connect with Lindsay: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsaydeacon/ https://educoachsurvivalguide.com/ ____ Yo...

Join speaker Kim Strobel to dive into the essential topic of staff wellbeing, exploring the latest research on happiness and how it integrates with models of success in both work and personal life. Kim shares her pathway to understanding happiness and reveals practical habits that educators and leaders can adopt immediately to elevate their happiness levels. Discover how focusing on staff joy can...