Leading Out The Woods

Episode #54 is up! Check it out!!! Special Guest Phil Echols, Sr. Administrator of Title I Programs (Wake County Public School System), joins Matt to discuss the importance of collaboration and team approaches to identifying & addressing challenges within school systems & organizations. Connect with Phil via Twitter @PhilEchols, & his website www. PhilEchols.com

Episode #53 is up! Check it out!!! Special Guest Alfonso Mendoza, Instructional Technologist, Host of ‘My EdTech Life,’ & Google Innovator, joins Matt to discuss how Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) can be used to enhance learning inside & outside of the classroom. You can connect with Fonz via Twitter @myedtechlife or his website at https://www.myedtech.life

Episode #52 is up! Check it out!!! Special Guest Dr. Lindsay Lyons, Educational Justice Coach & Founder of Time for Teachership joins Matt to discuss what it means to put ‘social justice’ in action, and make this work sustainable to initiate positive changes in schools and communities. Connect with Dr. Lyons via Twitter @lindsayblyons, Instagram @lindsaybethlyons & her website www.lindsaybethlyons...

Episode #51 is up! Check it out!!! Special Guest Charles Williams, Principal and co-host of “Inside the Principal's Office,” joins Matt to discuss the way he has led his staff through the pandemic, and other times of unexpected crises. You can connect with Charles via Twitter @_cwconsulting or his website at https://www.cwconsultingservice.com/ Additionally, check out his book, “Inside the Princip...

Episode #50 is up! Check it out!!! Special Guest George Couros, Education Consultant and author of “ The Innovator’s Mindset” and “ Innovate Inside the Box” joins Matt to share strategies on promoting innovation and creativity with educators and students. Connect with George via Twitter @gcouros & his website https://georgecouros.ca/blog/

Episode #49 is up! Poet Maya Angelou once said, “Forgive yourself for not knowing what you didn’t know before you learned it.” For many embarking to be a classroom teacher, completing their internships is pivotal for giving them ‘first-hand’ experience in the day-to-day role of having their own class. Special Guest Jeff Davis, Director of Clinical Practice & Partnerships at UVA School of Education...

Episode #48 is up! The Science of Happiness & Wellbeing for Educators Special Guest Kim Strobel, Happiness Coach and Education Consultant joins Matt to discuss why this topic is so important in education. Additionally, Kim discusses happiness, research and strategies to improve educators well-being. Connect with Kim via Twitter @strobeled & her website https://strobeleducation.com

Episode #47 is up! Check it out!!! While women make up a majority of K-12 educators, there is a substantial gap when it comes to female representation in building and district leadership positions. Special Guest Dr. Stephanie Burroughs, Researcher and Education Leader, a co-creator of the #WomenEDLeaders Twitter Chat, joins Matt to discuss that disparity. Additionally, Dr. Burroughs shares some st...

Episode #46 is up! Check it out!!! Special Guest Dr. Marcus Belin, 2021 NASSP Digital Principal of the Year, joins Matt to discuss the art of delegation, and how it is an essential concept of leadership. Additionally, Dr. Belin shares some strategies with listeners on how he incorporates this philosophy in his leadership practices. Connect with Dr. Belin via Twitter @MarcusJBelin & https://www.drm...

Episode #45 is up! Check it out!!! Special Guest Eric Sheninger, Associate Partner with the International Center for Leadership in Education (ICLE), joins Matt to discuss ways to leverage technology and social media in school leadership. Additionally, Eric shares some of the strategies he used while serving as an award-winning Principal at New Milford High School. You can connect with Eric via Twi...

Episode #44 is up! Check it out!!! Learning from Mistakes & Failure in the Classroom Special Guest Dr. Julie Warner, National & International Education Consultant and Author, joins Matt to talk about her recent book, “Failure Before Success: Teachers Describe What They Learned from Mistakes.” Dr. Warner shares the inspiration for the book, and why mistakes and failures in our field should be used...

Episode #43 is up! Special Guest Abigail French, U.S. History teacher and instructional coach, joins Matt to discuss learning in the age of Coronavirus, but also in a broader sense. Abby will speak about the gains when it comes to involving students as partners in their own learning, as well as some of the trials. You can connect with Abby on Twitter @awfrench1

Episode #42 is up! We Should Not Be Unicorns in Education Special Guest Dr. Basil Marin, High School Assistant Principal in Metro-Atlanta, joins Matt to talk about the importance of bridging the GAP for all students to access an equitable high quality education. A student’s educational experience should not be determined by their zip code or socioeconomic status. Connect with Dr. Marin via Twitter...

Episode #41 is up! Learning-Centered Instruction Special Guest Dr. Katie Martin, Chief Impact Officer at Learner-Centered Collaborative, joins Matt to discuss the impact learning-centered instruction can have on student outcomes, and offer strategies on how educators can do this in their classrooms. You can connect with Dr. Martin on Twitter @katiemartinedu Additionally, pick up her book, “Learner...

Episode #40 is up! Re-igniting Your S.H.I.N.E. Special Guest LaVonna Roth (Speaker, Author & Chief Illuminator) joins Matt to talk about her work: the Ignite Your S.H.I.N.E ® framework, where staff are inspired and students thrive through SEL and engaging instruction. Visit https://www.igniteyourshine.com or follow LaVonna Roth on Twitter @LaVonnaRoth

Episode #39 is up! Inside the Schoolhouse: What Great Principals Know and Do Special Guest Dr. John Gratto, Associate Professor at Virginia Tech & Author, joins Matt to discuss his new leadership book, and share tips with current and aspiring building administrators. You can pick up his new book titled, “Inside the Schoolhouse: What Great Principals Know and Do” at Barnes & Noble or on Amazon.

Episode #38: Leading thru the Pandemic Special Guest Beth Houf, Middle School Principal and Co-Author of Lead Like a PIRATE: Make School Amazing for Your Students and Staff, joins Matt to share how she has seen building-level leadership evolve over the last year in light of the pandemic. Connect with Beth on Twitter @BethHouf or via email at: bethhouf@gmail.com .

Episode #37 is up! Community Engagement thru PLC's Special Guest Nathaniel Provencio, Associate Superintendent in Prince William Co. VA, joins Matt to give his tips on leading professional learning communities through community engagement. Connect with Mr. Provencio on Twitter @ProvenPrincipal or his email at: ProvenPrincipal1@gmail.com . Also make sure to check out his new book: Community Connect...

Episode #36 is up! Support(ing) Students Affected by Trauma Special Guest Anthony Swann, 2021 Virginia Teacher of the Year, joins Matt to share his strategies for working with students affected by trauma. Connect with Anthony via email at 2021virginiateacheroftheyear@gmail.com

Episode #35: “It’s not your content… it’s your character.” Special Guest Darrion Cockrell, 2021 Missouri Teacher of the Year, joins Matt to share his story of perseverance, and how it has guided him in becoming a teacher. Connect with DC Facebook at Darrion DC Cockrell or on Twitter & Instagram at DarrionC20

Episode #34: According to the National Center for Culturally Responsive Educational Systems, cultural responsiveness is when one can learn from and relate to others within your own culture, as well as those from other cultures. Special Guest Dr. Carol Moye, joins Matt to discuss why there is a need for this in schools, and how it impacts student outcomes. Connect with Dr. Moye via email at cma1sts...

Episode #33: Burnout is something that happens to a lot of educators in our profession. Many feel the burden of a variety of factors. Special guest, Amber Harper, joins Matt to discuss her own experiences with burnout, and how it inspired her to create the Burned-In Teacher program to help other educators. Ms. Harper is also the founder of www.burnedinteacher.com , and author of Hacking Teacher Bu...

Episode #32: Now more than ever, authentic literature is galvanizing school districts and officials to reflect on the text they are exposing students to in their classrooms. Special Guest Dr. Donyall Dickey, Chief Executive Officer and Lead Consultant for Educational Epiphany, joins Matt to break down this topic and share strategies on incorporating inclusive text in your instruction. Connect with...

Episode #31: Most students with an identified learning disability need some level of academic support in schools. The frequency of these supports, and the manner in which they are carried out can differ from student to student. In a classroom with multiple accommodations being served at once, this can become difficult for teachers to do on a daily basis. Special Guest Dottie Brown, Superintendent...

Episode #30: Stereotypes play a large impact in the ways educators interact with students in our schools. Challenging these preconceived notions is a critical step to providing inclusive spaces for all students to succeed. Special Guest Mirko Chardin joins Matt to share his journey being one of these misidentified students, and how it has shaped his pedagogy and practice as an educator and leader....