Leading Out The Woods

In this episode, Dr. Woods highlights a powerful shift for school leaders: learning to recognize and celebrate the small wins that fuel long-term success. Big transformations rarely happen overnight—but small, consistent victories build the momentum that drives lasting change. From a student reaching a behavior goal, to smoother transitions, to a teacher trying a new strategy, these wins create en...

Episode #123 is up!  Check it out!!! Invisible No More: The Truth About Rural Education Special Guest Dr. Jamon Flowers, Assistant Professor at the University of Georgia, joins Dr. Woods on episode #123 of Leading Out The Woods to discuss Invisible No More: The Truth About Rural Education. In this episode, they unpack the unique challenges and opportunities within rural schools, highlighting the i...

Throwback Thursday! Augmenting the Reality of Education Through Immersive Experiences featuring Dr. Alfonso Mendoza Originally Released On: 2-25-2022 This week, we’re revisiting one of our timeless episodes from Leading Out The Woods! In this episode: ✅ Dr. Mendoza shares why ARVR in Education helps increase student engagement and instruction. ✅ Dr. Mendoza discusses where he sees the future of...

Summer Leadership Recharge In this episode of Summer Leadership Recharge: Principal Edition, Dr. Woods sits down with Dr. Alex Carter, Vice President of Field Implementation at the Colorado Education Initiative, for an insightful conversation on the concept of the “Warm Demander.” Together, they unpack how school leaders can balance high expectations with genuine care, creating an environment wher...

Anchor Chat #21: The ‘Why’ Behind the Rules In this episode, Dr. Woods explores an essential yet often overlooked question in schools: Do students (and staff) truly understand the "why" behind the rules? Rules without context can feel restrictive—but when we explain the purpose behind them, we build trust, consistency, and a stronger school culture. Dr. Woods shares insights on how intentional com...

Summer Leadership Recharge In this episode of Summer Leadership Recharge: Principal Edition, Dr. Woods is joined by Dr. Shameka Gerald, Managing Director - 2Revolutions, to discuss "Leading Through Change: Managing Transitions & Challenges." This episode offers actionable strategies and reflective prompts to building principals to lead their teams through periods of uncertainty or change, whil...

Summer Leadership Recharge In this episode of Summer Leadership Recharge: Principal Edition, Dr. Woods is joined by Salome Thomas-El—principal, author, and nationally recognized speaker—to explore the power of meeting students’ individual needs to unlock their full potential. Titled after his new best seller, “Meet Their Needs And They’ll Succeed,” this conversation highlights practical leadership...

Episode #122 is up!  Check it out!!! Teacher Recruitment & Retention In this powerful episode, Dr. Lindsey Jensen joins Dr. Woods to discuss building pipelines to recruit and nurture teachers. Additionally, Dr. Jensen discusses ways to support new educators and advocate for policies to improve the profession.

Throwback Thursday! Teacher Efficacy: Reaching All Learners Originally Released On:11-6-2020 This week, we’re revisiting one of our timeless episodes from Leading Out The Woods! In this episode: ✅ Dr. Novak shares her work on implementing inclusive practices. ✅ Dr. Novak offers tips on creating collective efficacy in learning environments. Whether you’re hearing it for the first time or revisiti...

Summer Leadership Recharge In this episode, Dr. Woods is joined by Dr. Donetrus Hill to discuss Strategic Goal Setting for School Success, as part of our special Summer Leadership Recharge: Principal Edition series. Designed specifically for current and aspiring principals, this series offers practical strategies to help school leaders reflect, reset, and re-energize for the upcoming school year.

Throwback Thursday! The Language of Behavior featuring Joshua Stamper Originally Released On: 8-23-2024 This week, we’re revisiting one of our timeless episodes from Leading Out The Woods! In this episode: ✅ Joshua discusses his book, “Aspire to Lead: With Empathy, Creativity, and Passion.” ✅ Joshua shares different strategies for leading restorative practices and trauma informed professional de...

Summer Leadership Recharge: Principal Edition In this episode, Dr. Woods is joined by Dr. Burroughs to explore Creating Impactful Professional Development Plans, as part of our special Summer Leadership Recharge: Principal Edition 5 part series. Designed specifically for current and aspiring principals, this series offers practical strategies to help school leaders reflect, reset, and re-energize...

In this episode, Dr. Woods reflects on a common leadership dilemma: knowing the difference between a good idea and a true priority. With so many initiatives, programs, and “must-dos” in education, it’s easy to get overwhelmed or lose focus. Dr. Woods breaks down how leaders and educators can filter the noise, align their work with meaningful goals, and stay grounded in what really matters for stud...

Throwback Thursday! Student Content Creator featuring Rachelle Dene Poth Originally Released On: 3-12-2021 This week, we’re revisiting one of our timeless episodes from Leading Out The Woods! In this episode: ✅ Rachelle shares her thoughts on students having input on the content they create in classrooms. ✅ Rachelle discusses the paradigm shift from teachers being the “gatekeepers” of knowledge...

Throwback Thursday! Mindfulness Awareness for Educators featuring Danielle Nuhfer Originally Released On: 5-31-2024 This week, we’re revisiting one of our timeless episodes from Leading Out The Woods! In this episode: ✅ Danielle shares her three tips for bringing mindfulness awareness into the classroom for educators. ✅ Danielle discusses her book, “ The Path of the Mindful Teacher.”Whether you’...

Episode #121 is up!  Check it out!!! Beyond Self-Care Sunday In this episode, Dr. Woods is joined by school psychologist, author, and founder of Thriving School Collective—Dr. Rebecca Branstetter—for a deep and refreshing conversation around educator wellness. Together, they move beyond surface-level “self-care” slogans and dive into what it really means to create sustainable habits that support m...

Throwback Thursday! Title: Support(ing) Students Affected by Trauma featuring Anthony Swann Originally Released On: 7-2-2021 This week, we’re revisiting one of our timeless episodes from Leading Out The Woods! In this episode: ✅ Anthony shares how he supports students in his classroom related to his personal experiences with trauma. ✅ Anthony gives strategies that could benefit other educators w...

Throwback Thursday! Diversity as Value-Added featuring Dr. Leighangela Brady Originally Released On: 9-8-2023 This week, we’re revisiting one of our timeless episodes from Leading Out The Woods! In this episode: ✅ Dr. Brady shares the work her team is doing in National School District to develop exceptionally prepared learners. ✅ Dr. Brady gives tips on engaging all stakeholders in meaningful pl...

Anchor Chat #19: Dangerous Assumptions In this episode, Dr. Woods discusses why dangerous assumptions lead to confusion, frustration, and missed opportunities. In this quick episode, he shares why it's essential to build context, check for understanding, and offer shared reference points—whether you're teaching a lesson, leading a meeting, or calling home. 

Throwback Thursday!  Title: Leveraging Leadership featuring Dr. Robert Thornell Originally Released On: 5-20-2022 This week, we’re revisiting one of our timeless episodes from Leading Out The Woods! In this episode: ✅ Dr. Thornell shares the five distinct activities he believes all principals should exhibit.  ✅ Dr. Thornell advocates for principals to “tell the story” about their school to gener...

In this powerful episode, Dr. Alex Chisholm joins Dr. Woods to share his journey from working in K12 schools to becoming a leader in higher education. He reflects on lessons learned, unexpected challenges, and the transferable skills that helped him thrive in a new educational space.

Throwback Thursday! Leading Through Crisis featuring Charles Williams Originally Released On: 1-28-2022 This week, we’re revisiting one of our timeless episodes from Leading Out The Woods! In this episode: ✅ Charles discusses the way he led his staff through the COVID pandemic. ✅ Charles shares his philosophy of S.M.A.R.T. that he implements during crises. Whether you’re hearing it for the first...

Throwback Thursday! Learning from Mistakes & Failure in the Classroom featuring Dr. Julie Warner This week, we’re revisiting one of our timeless episodes from Leading Out The Woods! In this episode: ✅ Dr. Warner discusses why she believes self-reflecting on mistakes and failure in your instructional practice is vital for improving your teaching. ✅ Dr. Warner shares ​​several examples from he...

Anchor Chat #18: School Etiquette In this episode, Dr. Woods explores how strong school etiquette lays the foundation for respectful learning environments. Drawing from key themes in his book Leading Out The Woods: Nurturing School Etiquette for Success, he unpacks the importance of self-reflection, clear expectations, and understanding student needs when implementing discipline.

Throwback Thursday! The Importance of Play featuring Dr, Michael Hynes Originally Released On: 3-6-2021 This week, we’re revisiting one of our timeless episodes from Leading Out The Woods! In this episode: ✅ Dr. Hynes discusses why the concept of “play” is a foundational learning theme for children. ✅ Dr. Hynes shares how he empowers educators to actively think about and consider play-based inst...