Mentoring Moments: Empowering Leaders to Mentor our Future

Send us Fan Mail What does it look like to mentor someone through every single grade level — from kindergarten to senior year? Mary Esposito — a 34-year veteran of education, 26 of those as a school administrator, and currently the SAANYS Mentor Program Coordinator for New York State — joins Rob to talk about mentoring across generations, why elementary and secondary leaders need each other, and w...

Send us Fan Mail Former social studies teacher turned district leader Dr. Ricky Papandrea joins Rob to talk about building systems that serve the whole child — from AP access and concurrent enrollment to the bridge between academics and emotional support. Key Takeaways: Counselors are the heartbeat of a school Data should inform, not drive, decisions One-size-fits-all post-secondary planning is ou...

Send us Fan Mail What does leadership actually look like when you're not reading about it in a book? In this solo reflection episode, Dr. Rob Wottawa pulls back the curtain on conversations with four Long Island leaders: David Wicks, Dr. Teresa Grossane, Brendan Cusack, and Dom Armano. From the power of presence to building trust and capacity, Rob shares his biggest takeaways — including why...

Send us Fan Mail  What if the most important metric in a school isn't a test score, but the number of students who can't wait to walk through the doors each morning? Dom Armano, an elementary principal with nearly 20 years in education and a board member of the Long Island Coalition Against Bullying, believes leadership is built on relationships, belonging, and shared leadership. He shar...

Send us Fan Mail What does it mean to lead from the heart of a school community? Brenden Cusack, now Assistant Superintendent in Huntington, spent nine years as a high school principal who could be found at games, plays, and concerts—not just in the office. He shares how visible, approachable leadership builds trust, how restorative practices transform school culture, and what it takes to mentor t...

Send us Fan Mail What does it take to lead math education across multiple districts? Dr. Teresa Grossane, Director of Mathematics and Computer Science for Huntington Schools, shares her journey from classroom teacher to district leader. She reveals how to build academic courage in students, support teachers through curriculum change, and keep equity at the center of math instruction. A must-listen...

Send us Fan Mail  How does a physics teacher become the operational leader of a $100-million educational system? David Wicks, COO of Eastern Suffolk BOCES, shares his unique journey from the classroom to the executive suite, where he now translates strategy into action for 51 districts and 2,000 staff. He reveals how to operationalize equity, manage colossal risk, and mentor leaders at every level...

Send us Fan Mail  Back by popular demand — another solo episode! In this second reflection, Rob Wottawa gets honest about what he's learning from the incredible leaders joining him on Mentor Moments . From surprising takeaways and recurring themes to the questions listeners are asking, Rob unpacks it all with the same authenticity he asks of his guests. He also answers a fresh round of RW Rap...

Send us Fan Mail What does leadership look like when it's built from the art room? In this special episode, Rob sits down with Dan Brazil—his former colleague, a 19-year art teacher, and the 2023 Pillar of Community award winner. Dan shares how he’s led from within for years, from running the most popular club in school to taking 88 students on transformative museum trips. Now, as he looks to...

Send us Fan Mail How do you walk away from your dream job at the peak of your success? Todd Bloomer, former "neighborhood principal" and author of The Blueprint , did just that. He reveals why he left a school he loved to coach other principals, sharing how to avoid "administrative quicksand" and lead with joy. Get ready for a powerful conversation about legacy, satisfaction, a...

Send us Fan Mail How do you lead through a crisis you were never trained for? Retired Superintendent Debra Winter—facilitator of Long Island's only special education administrator collegial circle for 21 years—reveals how to turn bureaucratic chaos into clarity. She shares her "sanity check" strategies for IEP meetings, how to advocate without being pigeonholed, and whether she&apos...

Send us Fan Mail  How do you build a school culture where both students and teachers thrive? Dr. Jason Stanton, Director of Careers and Student Services, shares how his research on transformational leadership fuels real-world change. We dive into creating innovative CTE pathways, boosting collective teacher efficacy, and turning big ideas into actionable results. Get ready for a masterclass in lea...

Send us Fan Mail  In this special solo episode, host Dr. Rob Wottawa reflects on the powerful themes from his first four guests—Darrin Peppard, Lauren Kaufman, Ellen O'Neill, and Brandon Beck. He unpacks his "buffet" philosophy of lifelong learning, shares how to handle "warning bell" people, and flips the mic to answer his own RW Rapid Fire questions. It’s a personal look...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Rob Wottawa sits with newly retired elementary principal, literacy monster, and positive culture building friend Ellen O'Neill. We unpacked the transition to mentorship, the real world problems that a principal faces each day and how to address classroom managements as the level of influence. Of course we learn whether Ellen would rather mentor a principal who forgot it w...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Rob unpacks the idea of celebrating daily wins, looking in the mirror to question ourselves as leaders and teachers; and we all (including kids) need to move away from the fear of taking risks with Dr. Brandon Beck. Brandon is an author, motivational speaker, and leadership coach (https://brandonbeckedu.com/) and dove into how leadership over management, and how l...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Rob meets with Lauren Kaufman (https://laurenmkaufman.com/), leader and author of The Leader Inside. She shares how leaders can be the guiding light for many teachers and how Mentoring in the Middle can reignite veteran teachers to rekindle the love of teaching! If this conversation meant something to you, hit follow on Apple Podcasts , Amazon, or Spotify and view...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Rob Wottawa catches up with Dr. Darrin Peppard, author, publisher, motivational speaker, former superintedent, and a AWESOME dude who runs Road to Awesome! We unpack the work as district leaders and approach topics as a WONDER, and how to avoid those "warning bell" people! If this conversation meant something to you, hit follow on Apple Podcasts , Amazon, or Spotify...

Send us Fan Mail If this conversation meant something to you, hit follow on Apple Podcasts , Amazon, or Spotify and view on YouTube . It takes five seconds, but it’s how other educators find conversations like this one—and it tells the algorithm that mentorship matters. Also, visit my website so I can feature your questions! https://robwottawa.com/podcast Listen & Subscribe: 🎧 Buzzsprout    |...

Send us Fan Mail If this conversation meant something to you, hit follow on Apple Podcasts , Amazon, or Spotify and view on YouTube . It takes five seconds, but it’s how other educators find conversations like this one—and it tells the algorithm that mentorship matters. Also, visit my website so I can feature your questions! https://robwottawa.com/podcast Listen & Subscribe: 🎧 Buzzsprout    |...

Send us Fan Mail This is the first teaser of the launch of the Mentoring Moments Podcast If this conversation meant something to you, hit follow on Apple Podcasts , Amazon, or Spotify and view on YouTube . It takes five seconds, but it’s how other educators find conversations like this one—and it tells the algorithm that mentorship matters. Also, visit my website so I can feature your questions! h...