Coaching the Whole Educator

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we explore a fascinating research-based concept called neural entrainment. Think about those times when you're talking to a teacher and it feels like you're on completely different wavelengths. It's highly possible that neural entrainment isn't happening. By understanding how your brain waves work in neural entrainment, you can become a more eff...

Send us Fan Mail ***Watch the full, unedited YouTube version here .*** Ever felt like you're on a hamster wheel, running and running but never getting anywhere? It's time to hit the reset button. Penny Zenker, author of The Reset Mindset , is here to level up the growth mindset approach. It's time for a dynamic, flexible approach that can keep up with our ever-changing day to day in...

Send us Fan Mail Let's talk about change management. As educators, we know that change is a constant. But how can we effectively navigate it and ensure buy-in from our teams? That's where the ADKAR model comes in. It's a framework that helps organizations build momentum and sustain change. ADKAR can help you to drive successful change in your school. Join us as we talk through the A...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Becca and Gretchen Bridgers address the 4th and final phase of resistance in educators, requiring accountability. Becca and Gretchen walk you through specific things to say (and not to say) to help you navigate the hard conversations around keeping educators accountable. This must-hear discussion explains how to first build a trustworthy relationship to make educa...

Send us Fan Mail ***Watch the full, unedited YouTube version here .*** In this episode, Dr. Jacy Ippolito and I discuss a wide range of coaching topics! Here are the key points: Isolation of Coaches and Leaders: Many coaches and leaders feel isolated due to the lack of clear roles and a sense of needing to be the "hero." This isolation can hinder effectiveness. The Coaching Continuum: Th...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Becca and Mia discuss the third level of resistance:  when educators don't feel competent enough to implement the change. They discuss the varying reasons why the resistance happens on this level. In addition, they share strategies on how to build capacity in a building where teachers feel safe and confident to take risks and try new things (including new cha...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever found yourself caught in the whirlwind of conflict, feeling overwhelmed and unsure of how to navigate the turbulent waters? In this Research Rundown we review the complexities of conflict handling in educational settings. Research points out five primary approaches to conflict.  Listen in to find out your primary styles and to start to identify the main styles of you...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode Becca and Melissa (Mia) Pumo, coach of school leadership and instructional coaches, discuss the 2nd level of resistance: they resist change because they don't trust you. Remember- just because you consider yourself trustworthy, doesn't mean they trust you. Without trust, no amount of clarifying expectations and holding teachers accountable will help. A la...

Send us Fan Mail ***Watch the full, unedited YouTube version here .*** Ever feel overwhelmed by your coaching load? Feeling lost and unsure where to start? You're not alone. In this episode we chat with Jeff Bradbury and he gets it!  We discuss the importance of having a system in place to streamline your tasks and boost your coaching effectiveness. We highlight the challenges coaches face in...

Send us Fan Mail Becca and Mia Pumo kick off a 4 part series on how to address resistance utilizing a 4 part framework. In this episode, they dive into the first level of resistance: when educators resist because they don't understand why the change is happening.  Often, leaders are connected to why change is happening and it is assumed that teachers are connected to that why as well. Becca a...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I'm diving deep into the world of motivation theories. We'll explore Self-Determination Theory and Basic Desires Theory, two powerful frameworks introduces the concept of 16 fundamental desires that shape our actions. There are some unexpected motivations shared! Get ready to gain a deeper understanding of motivation and learn how to apply these theories...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever felt like someone was saying one thing, but their body was telling a completely different story? That’s the power of nonverbal communication. Veronica Love Olalla, CEO of Newfield Network, discusses what we intend to say and what our bodies actually broadcast. Our bodies are the front lines of communication. It's not just about what you say, but how you say it –...

Send us Fan Mail BEGINNING OF YEAR SPECIAL **25% Off Discount** " Breaking Through Resistance and Building Buy-In Can you believe it? One hundred episodes of in-depth knowledge on how best to reach YOUR teachers! This episode is a little different. We're taking a victory lap through some of MY favorite moments from the past hundred episodes. We're talking GROWTH MINDSET gold, the po...

Send us Fan Mail ***Watch the full, unedited YouTube version here .*** **Beginning of Year Special** Breaking Through Resistance and Building Buy In Reach out soon to get on our calendar! Feeling drained and overwhelmed by the stressful demands of coaching and leadership? You're not alone. Juggling endless demands, high-stakes expectations, and the well-being of your school community can be o...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Becca dives deep into the concept of learning mindsets. While growth mindset has been a popular focus, research shows that it's just one piece of a larger puzzle. To truly support teacher and student growth, instructional coaches and school leaders must consider four essential mindsets: belonging, growth mindset, self-efficacy, and value & purpose. The ep...

Send us Fan Mail ***Watch the full, unedited YouTube version here .*** We often grapple with balancing the demands of supporting teacher growth while navigating limited resources and competing priorities. In conversation with Linda Rhyne, we explore these challenges and introduce a comprehensive framework for assessing coaching practices. This framework examines four key areas: people, process, pr...

Send us Fan Mail Do you, as school leaders and instructional coaches, find yourselves struggling to bridge the gap between our well-intentioned educational goals and the realities of student learning and teacher development that hinder achieving those goals? This disconnect can stem from a clash between two different types of commitments: stated and competing commitments that impact our everyday s...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I share my favorite ways to kick off adult learning in my professional developments. Learn how to create opportunities for meaningful reflection and connection without cheesy, on-the-surface ice breakers. Look below for a FREE downloadable activity! [FREE DOWNLOAD] Human BINGO *FREE* Podcast PD (with topics such as Coaching Tools, Resistance to Change,  Beginning...

Send us Fan Mail ***Watch the full, unedited YouTube version here .*** As leaders, we are faced with problems the generations before us did not experience and we are joined again by Dr. Jody Carrington to explore the crucial role of human connection in our schools and how it impacts our educators.  They share why striving for a perfect work-life balance is a myth. ⁠ In schools, we often preach the...

Send us Fan Mail Feeling like a broken record? Your clients keep hitting the same wall, and you're not sure why? This episode will shed some light on those frustrating roadblocks. Science reveals there are two types of challenges: the straight forward kind (like how to load the dishwasher the "right" way) and those that require us to adapt to different sutations (like how to improve...

Send us Fan Mail ***Watch the full, unedited YouTube version here .*** School leaders and coaches are drowning in data. Yet, you play a crucial role in helping teachers leverage data to improve student learning. From test scores to attendance records, information floods in from various sources, often incompatible with each other. While all of this data is a powerful tool, teachers experiencing res...

Send us Fan Mail Let's talk about the concept of willpower, its limitations, and how to strengthen it. We begin by looking at how willpower is defined by researcher Kelly McGonigal. According to McGonigal, it's the ability to resist temptation and make choices that align with our long-term goals, even when faced with resistance. Interestingly, research shows willpower is a finite resourc...

Send us Fan Mail ***Watch the full, unedited YouTube version here .*** Does it ever feel like an uphill battle when you are asked to implement a new change in your building or district? In this episode, James Fester and Becca discuss the Change Adoption Curve and how to use it to navigate successful school improvement. The curve gives you the order in which teachers will adopt change: innovators (...

Send us Fan Mail As instructional coaches and school leaders, we sometimes struggle to understand why teachers resist change or exhibit unproductive behaviors. In this episode we explore the research behind Choice Theory! Developed by psychiatrist William Glasser, Choice Theory emphasizes that people's behavior is driven by their desire to fulfill five basic needs. These needs include: surviv...

Send us Fan Mail ***Watch the full, unedited YouTube version here .*** This podcast episode confronts the epidemic of isolation plaguing educators, instructional coaches and school leaders. Dr. Jody Carrington, a child psychologist turned best-selling author and public speaker, joins me with her sass and boldness to discuss the root cause of this isolation- a system that most times prioritizes col...