gcLi Leadership Podcast

We'd like to highlight a known struggle for many, many students and adults that can upend your well-laid plans and diminish individual student learning for about one in every six of your students. And that is the topic of mental health and addiction. Our guest today is Stuyvie Coleman, whose inspiring story and courageous leadership may serve as a bridge for you to talk about mental health an...

Lorraine Connell   has worked in education for over 20 years and learned that the way many schools teach leadership is not necessarily serving students. She left the classroom to bridge a gap she feels is missing in schools by starting Peers Not Fears . She works with teachers, parents, and students about many of the themes that are near and dear to the gcLi . She's on a mission to change tha...

Today we're joined by Valerie Lohr from St. Mary's Hall in San Antonio, Texas. She's the Director of Student Wellbeing  and Performance and the women's field hockey and lacrosse coach. Berdie and Valerie discuss perspective setting for both teachers and students, understanding individuals are more than one thing, they're complex and multi faceted. Valerie takes us through...

Hear from the three new scholars from the 2023 gcLi Leadership Lab, all former Lab participants. Kenny Chilton, '22 Lab ,  St. Andrews Episcopal School ,  Jennifer Guarnaccia '21 Lab,   Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School and Jean Plum, '21 Lab from University School of Milwaukee . There are nerves the night before the Lab begins, imposter syndrome  and being frontline leadership educ...

Berdy and faculty member and researcher Mike Pardee download and reflect upon the experiences of the 19th Leadership Lab . Mike's years of research and first-hand experience inspire his exploration of both the theoretical and practical applications of leadership training and character development at the gcLi Leadership Lab. Mike  teaches 9th and 10th grade English and serves as an Advisor at...

Kenny Chilton is a third grade teacher, soon to heading the capstone program for fifth graders at St. Andrews Episcopal School in Austin, Texas. He attended the Gardner Carney Leadership Lab in '22 and returns this year as one of the Lab's three scholars. We're going to look at his own leadership pedagogy and what he hopes to bring to the Leadership Lab this summer. Kenny Chilton Li...

Berdy and Mike Pardee, gcLi Faculty and researcher, sat down to reflect on the 19th Leadership Lab from Colorado Springs. Mike Pardee LinkedIn Support the show gcLi  Web Site             gcLi  Linkedin           gcLi  Facebook           gcLi  Twitter

Today's guests are perennial fan favorites, we have our fearless leader, Executive Director of the gcLi , Jeremy LaCasse and faculty member Rishi Raghunathan to talk about identity and leadership.  If you haven't already done so, please check out Jeremy's vulnerable and insightful blog post entitled, A White Cisgendered Heterosexual Male Talking About Diversity, Equity, Inclusion An...

Our guest today is very special to me, he's an attorney by day and a Holocaust Historian by night.  He speaks to groups about digging into family history though storytelling as a means of forging identity and self awareness, he's also my husband! Chris is on the Alabama Holocaust Education Center 's Board and serves as a volunteer on their speakers bureau. Chris Berdy Linkedin Suppo...

With the Leadership Lab right around the corner, we thought it'd be fun to recap the heart of the gcLi, which of course is the Lab experience.  Jeremy LaCasse ,  the Executive Director of the gcLi is here to talk with us. The Lab is in it's 19th year and takes place June 16 - 22, 2023 in Colorado Springs Jeremy's LinkedIn Support the show gcLi  Web Site             gcLi  Linkedin  ...

Craig Ough is an expert in all things experiential and outdoor education.  As the days get longer and warmer, we thought it might be a good idea to think about taking classes outside or retooling your lesson plans in an experiential manner. Craig was a '18 Leadership Lab graduate and a  '22 gcLi Leadership Lab Scholar.  He's currently Math Teacher and Social Curriculum Department Ch...

When Amy Spencer attended the gcLi Leadership Lab she says, "I had the misconception that leadership was a capital L Leadership, that people had to have designated roles to really be effective leaders and I think that's one of the greatest takeaways that I had with the gcLi is being able to reframe the concept of leadership.  And so this lower case l leadership for me has really allowed...

The Independent Schools Association of the Central States ( ISACS ) serves more than 240 member schools, offering accreditation services, professional development, and opportunities for networking in thirteen states. Our mission is to lead schools in providing exemplary education. We are committed to fostering and furthering equitable, affirming, safe and just environments for schools and in the I...

Gwynedd Mercy High School doubles down on mission to teach leadership. Listen in to hear from teachers and students on how gcLi has helped change school culture and student leadership.  Support the show gcLi  Web Site             gcLi  Linkedin           gcLi  Facebook           gcLi  Twitter

Deb Borden is a gcLi Leadership Lab graduate. She  joined PAIS in February 2021 after extensive experience in independent schools as a Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School teacher of math and science, Middle School Director, Associate Head of School, and Director of Service Learning. Throughout her career, she was also involved in diversity work, professional development, performing arts,...

It's all about looking forward, that's what we're doing at the gcLi.  In this episode, our host, Katherine Berdy, discusses resolutions? Intentions? Another day? Whatever you do, I hope you keep the 3Cs in mind: Connection, Competence, and Confidence. The 3Cs for Berdy:  CONNECTION:  I want to connect more with you. Please email me if you or someone you know would like to be a guest...

Mark Martin returned home to Alabama after nearly 15 years away to launch Build UP , as an innovative early-college workforce development high school program that comprehensively addresses poverty and urban blight. He most recently graduated Harvard’s Doctor of Education Leadership program where he worked with Jobs For the Future (JFF) and the Alabama State Department of Education on education-to-...

He is the Founder of Jodi’s Climb for Hope which has raised $900,000 for MS and breast cancer research by getting over 300 climbers safely to the summits on four continents.  He is currently the Director of Mission or RIND Snacks, author of “ Carrying a Flag From Pain to Passion ” a #1 Hot New Release on Amazon, and Co-host of the podcast " It's the Climb ."  Andy's also got a...

Dr. Catherine Steiner-Adair is the Institute Scholar at the Gardner Carney Leadership Institute.  An award-winning author, The Big Disconnect: Protecting Childhood and Family Relationships in the Digital Age she is an internationally recognized clinical psychologist, school consultant, speaker and author. Dr. Steiner-Adair has guided independent and public schools on topics such as strengthening c...

Kenny Chilton is a third grade teacher at St. Andrew's Episcopal school in Austin, Texas and a 2002 gcLi Leadership Lab graduate. Kenny says, "for nearly a decade I have served children in engaging classrooms, on chaotic playgrounds, on terrifying stages, and in tender conversations on quiet benches. I aspire to recognize the inherent goodness in every student, see and value their unique...

Today's guest is no stranger to the Pedagogy of Leadership® . In fact, I call him our-in house Heifetz scholar and he's my go-to whenever I need a quick reminder to "Rock on" or some nuanced brainstorming on a tough topic. In fact, it was in a quick call about the work he does as our resident researcher that we decided to let on in our conversation about Paradoxes in leadership...

Bobby Pollicino is the Head of Upper School at Bullis School in Potomac, MD. He has served as a school administrator for over 15 years, also in dean of students and assistant principal roles. He has taught high school courses in science, leadership, and public speaking while also serving as a varsity assistant soccer coach and varsity head lacrosse coach.  Bobby’s academic leadership career is gro...

Rishi is Faculty at the gcLi   Head of Upper School, Wellington School , Columbus, OH.  Rishi's idea of leadership is summed up in this quote by Dr. Joanne Ciulla, “Leadership is not a person or a position. It is a complex moral relationship between people, based on trust, obligation, commitment, emotion, and a shared vision of the good.” Rishi's LinkedIn gcLi Facebook       gcLi Linkedi...

Natalie Simms is Fifth Grade Teacher, Girls On The Run coach, Leadership Enrichment program teacher, Lower School tutor at Brownell Talbot School in Omaha, Nebraska.  She's an innovative educator focused on educating the whole child and passionate about igniting a love of learning in students and providing opportunities to develop leadership skills within a diverse setting. Natalie is also th...

On This episode, Berdy and Jeremy LaCasse, Executive Director of the gcLi   and Berdy, gcLi Faculty and host of this podcast,  have a fascinating conversation with John Gulla interview the Executive Director of the Edward E. Ford Foundation . The Foundation  seeks to improve secondary education by supporting U.S. independent schools and encouraging promising practices. John Gulla became the Execut...