Innovative Schools Podcast

In this episode, hosts Liz and Jordan talk with therapist and educator Tracie Berry-McGhee about the impact of social media on adolescents, particularly how it influences relationships, cyberbullying, and mental health. Tracie shares her work with the Sista Keeper Empowerment Center , explains her innovative Wellness Mobile , and introduces her self-esteem-building LOVE Principles . She emphasizes...

In this episode of the Innovative Schools Podcast, we sit down with Larry Thompson , creator of Responsibility-Centered Discipline (RCD) , to explore how educators can help students take ownership of their actions, develop self-control, and build the internal strength needed to succeed both in and out of the classroom. Learn why traditional discipline methods fall short and how shifting the focus...

In this special edition of the Innovative Schools Podcast , we're bringing you a dynamic session from the Innovative Schools Summit in New York ! This episode features the 50 in 50 Panel , where top educational leaders share 50 powerful strategies to foster a positive learning environment in your classroom. From engagement techniques to culture-building ideas , you'll walk away with practical insi...

In this episode of the Innovative Schools Podcast , host Jordan sits down with Dr. John Almarode, a professor at James Madison University and an expert in student engagement. We will dive into the critical distinctions between engagement and entertainment in the classroom, explore the levels of engagement, and discuss actionable strategies to ensure students are actively processing and retaining i...

In this episode of the Innovative Schools Podcast , hosts Jordan and Liz sit down with Jessica Sinarski, an expert in education and counseling, to discuss how movement in the classroom can minimize disruptive behavior and enhance learning. Jessica introduces the concept of proprioception—a hidden sense that affects body awareness and regulation—and explains how teachers can incorporate movement st...

Welcome to the first episode of the Innovative Schools podcast! In this episode, host Jordan sits down with Joseph Cope, a Responsibility Centered Discipline (RCD) master trainer, to discuss the challenges and rewards of working in Title 1 schools. They explore classroom management, self-control, and how educators can create a space for every student to succeed—even those who present challenges. J...

What Every Educator Needs to Know about the Brain   This week we are joined by Jessica Sinarksi, LPCMH, an author and thought leader in neuro-science who specializes in training educators about the brain and how to teach students of all ages how the brain works, and why it matters!   In this episode, Jessica explains how the brain functions and how to teach students to recognize when they are oper...

This week we speak with author and counselor Tracie Berry-McGhee about the work she does with the SistaKeeper Empowerment Program in St. Louis and discuss strategies educators can use to help girls in their schools improve their self-image and reduce relational aggression.

In this episode, we speak with author Robert Jackson and discuss his Gold Excel award-winning book, Becoming the Educator They Need: Strategies, Mindsets, and Beliefs for Supporting Male Black and Latino Students and preview his upcoming Pre-Conference Session for the August Innovative Schools Virtual Summit titled Sa lvaging Our Sons: Helping Educators Reach, Teach and Empower Young Men .   Rober...

With a majority of the nation’s schools being closed, teachers are facing a litany of challenges -- ranging from keeping students engaged in an online classroom, to monitoring student progress in a virtual setting, to handling the fact that not all students have the same access to technology. To learn more about how to overcome these challenges, I am joined by Dr. Marquita Blades. Dr. Blades is an...

On this episode, I speak with Mike Paget, M.Ed. about how classroom teachers can help students struggling with anxiety. We discuss Mike’s Top 3 Strategies for helping students with anxiety conditions, how to recognize signs of anxiety and strategies teachers can use to educate all students on how to manage their anxiety. We worked with Mike to create a free 90-minute online training titled Anxiety...

This week we speak with Kim Johancen, LPC about key warning signs that a student may be self-injuring, what a teacher should do if they discover that a student is self-injuring, key risk factors that increase a student’s likelihood of self-injuring and what school leaders can do to educate all students on mental health. Kim is a counselor who has worked for a number of years with students who self...