Coaching the Whole Educator

Send us Fan Mail We’ve been taught that good listeners don’t interrupt—but what if the right kind of interrupting is exactly what great leaders do? Have you ever walked away from a conversation thinking, “That should’ve gone better” ?  You said the words. They said the words. But something still missed the mark. Here’s the truth: It’s not what you said. It’s what you didn’t hear. In this episode,...

Send us Fan Mail Saying you always have a Growth Mindset? That’s not how it works. Your mindset shifts depending on the situation. You might embrace challenges at work—but shut down when it comes to personal goals. Mindsets aren’t one-size-fits-all; they show up differently in different areas of your life. We love to act like Growth Mindset is an all-or-nothing badge of honor. But the truth is you...

Send us Fan Mail Feeling burnt out? You’re not alone. You’re trying to lead, support, coach, and hold it all together—but it’s starting to show. That quiet dread. The blurred lines between work and, well, everything else. Here’s the thing: burnout doesn’t mean you’re broken. It means the system you’re operating in needs an upgrade. What if the problem isn’t how much you’re doing... but what you be...

Send us Fan Mail If your school avoids hard conversations, you don’t have belonging. You have politeness. We confuse being nice with building belonging. But “nice” often means silence, avoidance, and surface-level smiles. Comfort isn’t the same as safety. Harvard researcher Amy Edmondson coined the term psychological safety —the ability to speak up, take risks, and be vulnerable without fear. In “...

Send us Fan Mail Casey Watts has spent over 20 years in education, and she’s got a sharp diagnosis: too many schools are stuck in quiet chaos —lots of strategies, zero clarity, and a fast track to burnout. Enter the Clarity Cycle , a six-step game plan to cut through the fog: focus, cast vision, gain insight, provide feedback, celebrate systematically, and sustain. Simple? Yes. Easy? Not so much....

Send us Fan Mail Ready to diagnose the biggest mindset gap on your team? Take the free Catalyst Mindsets Quiz ** HERE **!   Most schools say they want teachers who take initiative. But here’s the kicker—they’re still running a compliance culture that trains teachers to wait for permission. If you’ve ever wondered why schools feel stuck in resistance and disengagement, this is why .  In this episod...

Send us Fan Mail Rolling out a new curriculum? Brace yourself—resistance, frustration, and missteps are inevitable… unless you do it right. Join Sean Lindsey and me as we break down what it really takes to get teachers, students, and families on board—without wasted effort or top-down mandates that fall flat. We’re talking about: The #1 mistake leaders make when choosing a curriculum – Teachers an...

Send us Fan Mail We aren't here for wishful thinking—we stand for hope as action. Hope-centered leadership isn’t about toxic positivity; it’s about setting bold goals, creating real pathways, and owning the work. Inspired by Dr. Shane Lopez’s research, we fuse agency, optimism, and accountability into an Ownership Mindset that fuels change. Without hope, schools spiral into stagnation and bur...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Kim Richardson and I discuss building leadership identity with intention. We look at people-centered leadership backed by the 24 character strengths —like love of learning, empathy, and bravery—not as soft skills, but as essential tools for leaders who actually want to make an impact. Ethical leadership isn’t a suggestion; it’s a requirement . Richardson lays it out—bravery, h...

Send us Fan Mail Becca and Dr. Chris Jones cohost another episode where they explore how imposter syndrome affects everyone, especially our high-achieving coaches and leaders. Everyone experiences imposter syndrome, no matter their experience level. Here are the highlights: Different Reactions to Imposter Syndrome People either overcompensate or underfunction when faced with imposter syndrome. Str...

Send us Fan Mail Are you ready to lead with real impact? In their new book, "Coaching Education Leaders," Michelle Jarney, Michael Kim, and Nancy Gutierrez get real about their Facilitative Competency-Based Coaching (FCB) approach—a method designed to push school leaders out of their comfort zones and into real transformation. Their message? If coaching isn’t making people uncomfortable,...

Send us Fan Mail Ready to diagnose the biggest mindset gap on your team? Take the free Catalyst Mindsets Quiz ** HERE **!   Growth mindset? Oversold. It’s not the magic bullet schools think it is. Telling teachers and students to “just believe in improvement” without addressing what’s blocking them is like throwing seeds on dry, compacted soil and expecting a lush garden—without loosening the grou...

Send us Fan Mail Warren Buck, founder of Future Finders, transformed his life from a struggling student to a powerhouse principal. His journey proves that self-determination theory (SDT) isn't just theory—it's the fuel that drives real change. Competence, autonomy, and relatedness aren't optional; they're essential for thriving schools. Power Moves for School Leaders Buck deliv...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Becca Silver and Dr. Chris Jones shake up the coaching conversation by tackling a common trap: over-reliance on protocols. While structure and frameworks can be helpful, they break down why rigid scripts won’t make you a great coach—and might even hold you back. Chris and Becca debate: The Pros & Cons of Protocols – When they’re useful and when they become a c...

Send us Fan Mail ***Watch the full, unedited YouTube version here .*** What if your go-to PD moves are secretly keeping your teachers stuck?  Dr. Julie Slayton takes a bold stand against the outdated, ineffective professional development (PD) systems that dominate schools today. She calls out the traditional "one-size-fits-all" approach for what it is—a waste of time and money—and demand...

Send us Fan Mail ***Watch the full, unedited YouTube version here .*** Becca and Dr. Chris Jones co-host another episode where they discuss the challenges that come when instructional coaches and school leaders are "naturally gifted" in certain areas. Here are the highlights: The Ladder of Conscious Competence Four stages: Conscious/Unconscious Competence & Incompetence. This can exp...

Send us Fan Mail ***Watch the full, unedited YouTube version here .*** Are you struggling to make coaching more impactful in your school? In this engaging conversation, we welcome Jacy and Rita, two experts in coaching and school improvement, to explore how supporting coaches can lead to meaningful changes in education. They discuss the evolving role of coaching, emphasizing that it’s not just a f...

Send us Fan Mail ***Watch the full, unedited YouTube version here .*** This is the very first episode Dr. Chris Jones (Executive Director of VASCD ) and Becca are co-hosting informal, unplanned conversations where they share their experiences and, sometimes differing, opinions and challenge each other about all things instructional leadership and coaching. These co-hosted episodes aim to disrupt t...

Send us Fan Mail ***Watch the full, unedited YouTube version here .*** Do you feel drained and uninspired at work? Wish you and your team could tap into that feeling of energized accomplishment? This episode explores the Working Genius framework, a tool that reveals your natural strengths and what energizes you. Tami Shaw and I delve into my personal Working Genius profile, highlighting my strengt...

Send us Fan Mail ***Watch the full, unedited YouTube version here .*** Ever feel like your best-intentioned feedback falls flat? Or that some difficult conversations seem to escalate? It's time to rethink our approach. In this episode, we dig into the neuroscience of communication with the incredible Marcia Reynolds. She reveals how our brains respond to difficult conversations and how a coac...

Send us Fan Mail Your school's rewards system could be causing more harm than good. Let's talk about why it's time to look at intrinsic and extrinsic motivators and tap into your teachers' inner drive. Daniel Pink's “ Drive” revealed a truth about adult motivation and unveils what truly fuels our educators.  While we want our educators and students to be motivated intrinsi...

Send us Fan Mail ***Watch the full, unedited YouTube version here .*** Do you often grapple with the challenge of engaging teachers beyond mere compliance? Dr. Chris Jones, Executive Director of the Virginia ASCD, offers some powerful insight using the concept of a Continuum of Teacher Engagement. This framework highlights the importance of moving beyond buy-in to higher levels of ownership and co...

Send us Fan Mail ***Watch the full, unedited YouTube version here .*** Ever wonder how some schools just seem to have it all figured out? It’s not about special circumstances. It’s about the people – the teachers. And according to Dr. Shannon Lafargue, the key to unlocking their full potential lies in fostering a culture of collective teacher efficacy with a strong coaching growth culture. In this...

Send us Fan Mail This is part of our *BEST OF* Series, where we highlight the most downloaded episodes of all time. In this episode, Becca dives into an intriguing conversation with Chanavia Patterson, affectionately known as Principal Patterson, on the powerful concept of "listening for what's not being said" in school culture. Discover the secrets behind understanding underlying m...

Send us Fan Mail ***Watch the full, unedited YouTube version here .*** Do you know the difference between motivation and engagement? Dr. Jason Jones, author of the book "Activator," is on a mission to revolutionize leadership. He's all about applying the latest brain research to create more effective and engaging workplaces. Jones dives deep into the psychology of motivation and eng...