Cognia Leader Chat

Pearl is an inspirational leader in many respects. She is fearless, strategic, but ultimately empowered by doing what is best for those she serves. She has and continues to resist the trappings of politics and bureaucracy, and her story needs to be shared and heard by principals and district leaders. She and Jeff get real in this conversation, and we encourage all to learn via Pearl's story and su...

If you are interested in learning more and developing yourself as a leader and don’t know Craig Dowden, you must. His work and perspective are incredibly valuable and unique. Many writers, speakers, and consultants in the leadership space focus on systems and structures of productivity. Craig’s focus aligns squarely with the internal and behavioral health of leaders themselves. His research and ad...

We were drawn to Starr's book, 'From Teacher to Leader: Finding Your Way as a First-Time Leader Without Losing Your Mind'. This challenging transition, described in even the title, is more relevant today than it ever has been. Starr Sackstein offers her very honest and pragmatic reflections and advice in this engaging conversation.

For some leaders and educators, AI is exciting and full of potential. For others, it's scary and intimidating. This being the case, the best strategy is to tap the wisdom of someone like Pat Yongpradit, the Chief Academic Officer for Code.org and leader of TeachAI. Listeners of Leader Chat will appreciate his candor and balanced perspective. AI resources and influence will only continue to grow, s...

Heath Morrison is the CEO of Teachers of Tomorrow, a very important and vital organization that is fortunate to be led by someone with vast experience who cares deeply about students and teachers. Heath and Jeff delve into the relevant and critical topic of teacher shortages—what is and what is to come. Their discussion analyzed the current status and conditions impacting the problem and delves in...

PJ Caposey is impressive! He is an award winning and working superintendent. His story of overcoming personal challenges is motivating, and he also supports leaders across the country as he coaches and speaks to the themes he has written about in his several published books. He and Jeff delve into 'Cracking the Coaching Code', one of his books and Time Management issues, which he has also written...

Margaret Wheatley is a deep thinker and clearly has an incredible background working with leaders around the world. She has written extensively on education and leadership, and her work is personal and pushes others to take a close look at themselves. The conversation between Jeff and Margaret was different than other Leader Chats, in a good way. Enjoy this discussion as they talk about her book,...

David Esmie is not an educator by trade. Rather, guided by his own experiences in the finance industry, he has chosen to dedicate himself to influencing typically underrepresented youth to pursue careers in finance. He and Jeff are friends, and our listeners will appreciate them comparing notes and talking strategy on how David is impacting future financiers.

Imagine an educational leader who has empathy for the challenges faced in the classroom, one who is able to create systems focused on the learner and the teacher. Also, think of a leader who embraces innovation and is able to create a culture that finds a balance of autonomy and fidelity for the organization. This person is Devin Vodicka! In this Leader Chat, he and Jeff engage in a conversation a...

AJ Crabill has been on a Leader Chat before, but based on the quality of our last conversation with him, and his new book, we simply had to have him back. AJ’s understanding of school board governance is beyond reproach. His new book, ‘Great on Their Behalf’, is a must read for any school or district leader. School boards have the potential to focus their efforts on students, and if they shed the...

Anne Erwin and Jeff clearly go way back. She was a principal working with him when he was a superintendent in Oregon. Anne joined us because she was not an ordinary principal. She turned around the high school in a very unique way and leaned on a community process and bold vision that did in fact come to fruition. Anne is brutally honest, focused, and passionate about what schools, communities, an...

Mike Rutherford supports teachers and leaders all over the country. His philosophy supports the art, creativity, and capacity of educators. As you listen to this Leader Chat, you will notice that Mike has his finger on the pulse of what was, is, and will be in schools. His perspective and advice for leaders is something we recommend you listen carefully to.

We were so thankful Jimmy Casas was able to join us in person for this Leader Chat. Jimmy and his work supporting leaders is extremely unique. His advice specific to culture is not just philosophical, it’s pragmatic. He provides leaders with protocols and processes. This Leader Chat is informative, but also inspiring. You will love Jimmy Casas!

We are big fans of Dr Tim Elmore. This is his second Leader Chat. Last time we discussed his impressive book, Eight Paradoxes of Great Leadership. We invited him back to talk through his newest book, A New Kind of Diversity. His research and insights are invaluable for us as leaders. Here, he and Jeff talk through strategies on how to recognize the challenges of generational diversity in the workp...

What is one of the key ingredients for the health of any organization that starts with a ’T’? Likely you guessed it- its TRUST. In a school district, how is trust established between superintendents and principals? That’s what we asked Dr. Justin Benna, a professor in North Dakota who has studied and written on this very topic. Lean in, listen and enjoy!

If one is truly a ‘student of the game’ when it comes to studying and developing their own leadership skills, they likely have read John C. Maxwell’s work. If not, they should. John C. Maxwell is known as the #1 leadership author in the world. In this inspirational Leader Chat, he shares his wisdom, passion, and empathy with us. He is in our corner, and we are thrilled to be working with and learn...

Universal Design for Learning, (UDL) can sometimes be misunderstood or potentially overwhelm teachers and leaders. Not if they listen to or read the work of Katie Novak. She is a teacher at heart and has rich leadership experience. She makes UDL pragmatic and accessible. This Leader Chat episode is incredible!

There are very few topics in education as relevant today as Social and Emotional Health, for students and adults. There is also not any organization as knowledgeable on this topic as the Collaborative for Social and Emotional Learning. The CEO of CASEL, Dr. Aaliyah Samuel, joined us in this Leader Chat. It was a phenomenal and enlightening discussion.

As educational leaders, we all want and need to find peace and satisfaction within the context of the challenging times and work we are experiencing. It’s easier said than done. Kim Strobel provides some insightful and pragmatic advice to us, helping us to keep our head up and moving forward.

In this episode, Jeff engages with Dr. Roger Cleveland about the importance and challenge of embracing cultural proficiency as educators. It’s a political topic, but as you listen, maybe they uncover why it does not have to be. If we have strategies to meet the needs of students, with the awareness that kids come from different backgrounds, experiences, and skill sets and it’s our job to love and...

If you are an educator, a leader in schools or in districts at any level, this is a must listen. Anthony Muhammad and Luis Cruz brought so much practical and powerful advice that it was actually hard for me to get Jeff to stop talking with them. These authors are not just researchers- they are practitioners who have been on the front lines. They get it!

This is the second part of a two-part series. This week, Pamela Swanson had her board president, Ken Ciancio, join us. Jeff was so excited to compare and contrast what Pam had to say in episode one with what Ken might bring to light in our second chat. Bottom line, Ken and Pam are two peas in a pod- they are a team and their mutual respect for each other and their roles shines through. If only all...

Everyone who pays any attention to schools or politics knows, the dynamics of a school board can have positive or negative effects on the schools and communities they serve. We have had other Leader Chats on this topic, but Pamela Swanson, superintendent of Westminster Schools in Colorado, ‘schooled us’ in this Leader Chat. Her humility and compassion are obvious. Clearly, she understands quality...

Why would a K-12 educational leader listen to a Harvard Business School Professor who specializes in sales and marketing? Well, as Jeff often points out, smart leaders learn from others who are in different lanes and industries. When you listen to Frank Cespedes, you will see the leadership correlation between business and sales with education. Frank’s latest book identifies several trends and sol...

Educators need to hear from leaders who have spent time in education, and in the private sector. Tim Nolan is one of these people. We are thankful we had the opportunity to pick Tim's brain. His perspective is clear and extremely pragmatic. Leaders, take note and consider how Tim's perspective can impact your day-to-day work life.