Schoolutions: Curious Educators. Evidence-Based Strategies. Classrooms Where Every Child Thrives.

This bonus episode emphasizes why educators need to go beyond passively accepting policies and instead become informed advocates. Learn how federal education policy directly impacts classrooms and why teacher leadership is essential for student engagement. Discover how to support students effectively by becoming an advocate. Want to become a powerful advocate for your students?  This episode revea...

🍎✨ Teachers, you've almost made it to summer break! 🌟 Instead of taking a podcast hiatus, I'm creating 20 mini episodes packed with actionable tasks to set you up for fall success, while still prioritizing your much-needed rest and rejuvenation.  Let's share our wisdom! What are your go-to end-of-year tasks that make September SO much smoother? From simple classroom prep like lab...

This episode shares how federal policies impact real students in classrooms, emphasizing educators' role in advocating for services. Learn why teachers have the power to advocate effectively for essential services by using evidence-based arguments about student well-being rather than political positioning, and the importance of support services. You'll leave the episode understanding why...

Learn about a school attendance reform that actually works! Discover strategies to combat chronic absenteeism and increase student engagement. In this bonus episode, I discuss my conversation with Naomi Tolentino Miranda from Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools , about transforming student attendance through compassion, not punishment. What You'll Learn:  ✅ Why punitive attendance policies ar...

Learn how this school district cut chronic absenteeism by 40% through community outreach and building connectedness. Find out the attendance solutions they implemented to make a positive impact on school attendance. In this powerful final episode, Naomi Tolentino Miranda, Coordinator of Student Support Programs with Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools , shares how to shift from punitive to proactiv...

In this bonus episode, I reflect on my conversation with journalist Tom Hayden about the PTA Equity Project (PEP) in Evanston, Illinois. This groundbreaking initiative pooled $650,000 from wealthy school PTAs to help underserved schools but revealed unexpected challenges in balancing equity with school autonomy. 🎓 What You'll Learn: ➡️Why good intentions don't guarantee good outcomes in...

In this eye-opening episode, I speak with Tom Hayden , an adjunct professor at Northwestern University School of Journalism , about the controversial PTA Equity Project (PEP) in Evanston, Illinois.  We dive deep into how this well-intentioned initiative pooled $650,000 from wealthy school PTAs to redistribute resources across the district, but is now burning through $50,000 annually without sustai...

Discover why learning through mistakes is the foundation of effective instructional coaching! In this bonus episode, I explore Jim Knight's seven essential success factors for instructional coaching and how they create conditions for both teachers and students to flourish. Learn how vulnerability powers growth, why partnership principles transform coaching relationships, and how addressing po...

Learn the 7 must-have factors for successful instructional coaching in this video featuring Jim Knight . From the Impact Cycle to the partnership approach, these tips will help you coach for success! Join me in this enlightening conversation with instructional coaching pioneer Jim Knight, founder of the Instructional Coaching Group. We explore his book, The Definitive Guide to Instructional Coachi...

Discover the science behind why belonging matters in education. Learn about inclusion strategies, diversity in schools, and how to boost student engagement. In this bonus episode, I explore the critical concept of belonging in education and why creating inclusive environments is essential for both students and educators.  Drawing from extensive research, I break down how genuine belonging signific...

In this powerful interview, Erica Meltzer from Chalkbeat discusses the Trump administration's controversial efforts to reinterpret Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and eliminate DEI programs in schools.  Learn how recent legal injunctions have temporarily blocked these attempts, why Title I funding for high-poverty schools hangs in the balance, and what this means for students and educators a...

Transform your classroom with real-world learning experiences that ignite student curiosity and foster deep learning. From one-on-one meetings to transferable skills, create a classroom community that students actually care about! In this bonus episode, I unpack the powerful second mantra from The Limitless Classroom by Julie Wright and James Goldberg : "Kids deserve the why and the how, not...

Discover why true educational transformation happens when we shift from content-centered to student-centered learning! In this insightful conversation, educators Julie Wright and James Goldberg share wisdom from their book The Limitless Classroom: Mantras to Deepen Learning . Learn how giving students time, purpose, and ownership develops genuine curiosity and transferable skills. Julie and James...

In this bonus episode, I discuss Dr. Haesun Moon 's revolutionary Dialogic Orientation Quadrant (DOQ) model for powerful team coaching.  Discover how this approach creates meaningful conversations by allowing participants to explore preferred futures, resourceful pasts, troubled pasts, and dreaded futures.  Learn practical strategies for implementing DOQ in both professional coaching settings...

In this transformative conversation, Dr. Haesun Moon reveals how her Dialogic Orientation Quadrant (DOQ) model can revolutionize difficult conversations in polarized environments. Learn how to navigate from troubled pasts and dreaded futures toward resourceful pasts and preferred futures.  Dr. Moon, a Harvard faculty member at the Institute of Coaching and a leading expert on evidence-based coachi...

Discover why children fear making mistakes and how to help them embrace setbacks and learn from them. Nurturing curious minds is essential for growth and development. In this powerful bonus episode, I delve deeper into my conversation with Lily Howard Scott, author of The Words That Shape Us. Discover how the language educators and caregivers use profoundly impacts children's emotional develo...

Discover the profound impact of language on children's development with educator and author Lily Howard Scott . In this insightful conversation, Lily reveals how the words we use with children become their inner voice, shaping their thinking patterns and sense of self. Learn practical strategies to help children develop self-trust, move beyond binary thinking, and embrace a "birder minds...

In this S4E30 bonus episode, I reflect on my conversation with Dr. Katy Anthes about her Forward Framework for moving from polarization to progress. Drawing from the classic book Difficult Conversations , I consider the gap between intentions and impact, explaining why we often misinterpret others' motives and how avoiding difficult conversations damages relationships. Learn practical strateg...

In this powerful conversation with former Colorado Commissioner of Education Dr. Katy Anthes , we explore her groundbreaking "Forward Framework" for navigating polarization and finding productive middle ground in education and beyond.  Dr. Anthes shares research-backed strategies to move from destructive conflict to productive disagreement, explaining why curiosity and humanity are essen...

Learn how Just-In-Time Scaffolding can support struggling math students in this video. Discover three effective ways to provide math intervention for students who need extra help in understanding mathematical concepts. In this S4E29 bonus episode, I unpack the critical differences between "just-in-time" and "just-in-case" scaffolding. Discover why timing is everything when supp...

Join me as I speak with Juliana Tapper, M.Ed, founder of CollaborateEd and author of Teaching 6-12 Math Intervention: A Practical Framework To Engage Students Who Struggle . Discover Juliana’s revolutionary B.R.E.A.K. it Math Intervention Framework™, designed specifically for students who have experienced math trauma or anxiety.  Juliana reveals why Algebra 1 is a critical gatekeeper for education...

Learn about the potential end of free school lunches and what could come next. Stay informed on Department of Education news and potential cuts. In this urgent S4E28 bonus episode, I examine how Republican budget proposals threaten universal free school meals for 12 million students nationwide. Based on senior Chalkbeat reporter Kalyn Belsha's investigative reporting, this episode breaks down...

Join me as I interview Chalkbeat senior national reporter Kalyn Belsha for an urgent update on the Trump administration's education cuts. This follow-up to Kalyn’s Episode 18 appearance covers the rapid dismantling of the Department of Education.  Discover which vital programs have been terminated, how research benefiting thousands of students has been abruptly halted, and what these cuts mea...

In this bonus episode I break down the groundbreaking "Forward Together" report from the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) shared by Sarah Sandelius and Kristen N. Briggs during their S4E27 Episode: How The Ability Challenge is Transforming Special Education . Discover the three essential mindsets and eight key practices that benefit not just the one in five students with...

Join me as I speak with Sarah Sandelius and Kristen N. Briggs from The Ability Challenge about revolutionizing special education through their groundbreaking THRIVE Framework. We need to shift from deficit-based thinking to presuming competence in all learners. You'll Learn: Why focusing on Tier 1 instruction is essential for ALL students How to move beyond compliance metrics to meaningful st...