The CharacterStrong Podcast

Jordan Osborn is in his 10th year of working in education. He started off as a social studies teacher in several different schools in Oregon where he also coached football and basketball. During his 10 years he has spent 7 years as an Athletic Director and 5 years as a vice principal most recently at Chiloquin Jr/Sr High School in Southern Oregon. Jordan is in his first year as Principal at Bonanz...

Brian Slater is an Assistant Principal at Fred Lynn Middle School. Brian believes in finding the good throughout the school! Finding the good, celebrating it, and sharing it with others sends a message of positivity and good vibes throughout the building and school community. He values each day, each moment and understands the importance of spreading love and kindness! School is and should be a pl...

As an educator for 19 years, Jen has enjoyed teaching in the classroom, as a gifted intervention specialist, and more recently as an instructional coach. Her recent Amazon #1 New Release, The Happy Teacher's Handbook, shares strategies for inspiring teachers to find a reason to stay and make their impact on the world, one class at a time. Jen's superpower is getting teachers to smile again. She br...

We talk with Bethany about the lack of belonging in our schools, ways that we can focus on this work, and she shares about the importance of growing a culture of empathy. Bethany has been an educator for 21 years and considers herself a teacher who has filled many roles. Her experience includes teaching grades one, two, and three, instructional coaching, literacy trainer for her district, assistan...

Wes Kanawyer is the Principal of Woodgate Intermediate School in Waco, TX. He has a passion for serving, developing and empowering educators to pursue their own growth as they seek to enrich and enhance the lives of their students. He believes that relationships with students, families and staff are the foundational component to every area of success. He has spent his career in service to students...

Jenny's from Madison, WI -- she played college hoops at Lake Forest and earned her doctorate at Loyola University in Chicago. Dr. Jenny Severson taught and led as a principal in Gurnee School District 56 before becoming an educational consultant. She works with schools, corporations and is trained in Brené Brown's Dare To Lead content and leadership work. Learn more about Jenny at JennySeverson.co...

Tyson Sturza resides in West Pasco with his wife JJ and their two year old son Will. His is currently the building principal at Mabton Jr/Sr High School. Before coming to Mabton Tyson was a math and leadership (CharacterStrong Curriculum) teacher at Connell High School.

Dr. Clay Cook holds the John and Nancy Peyton Endowed Chair in Child and Adolescent Wellbeing at the University of Minnesota and is a Professor of Educational Psychology in the College of Education and Human Development. He has extensive research and practical experiences involving the implementation of multi-tiered systems of support to promote children's social, emotional, and behavioral wellbei...

Ranesia Davenport Edwards has a track record of successful teaching experiences teaching struggling readers and is motivated to provide EVERY child with an exceptional education as a campus school administrator. Ranesia taught for 7 years, served as an Instructional Coach, and is currently in her 10th year in Administration in Katy ISD as an Assistant Principal. Ranesia's Top 5 Strengths are Achie...

Erin McCarthy is the 2020 Wisconsin Teacher of the Year. She teaches 8th grade social studies at Greendale Middle School in Greendale, Wisconsin. In her eight years teaching she has collaborated to create a welcoming environment where students turn up the volume on the untold stories of history. She believes all students can be curious, self-directed activists and influencers and that we need to a...

Houston Kraft is a professional speaker, leadership consultant, and kindness advocate who speaks to middle schools, high schools, colleges, and businesses nationally. He has spoken at over 500 events and counting. Student Body President in High School, Class President at Bowdoin College, Leadership Camp Staff for 12 years in Washington - he is a lifelong learner of character, culture, kindness, an...

Lindsay was a High School Social Studies Teacher for over 10 years. She passionately believes that building relationships with students is not only important to creating a strong classroom culture, but vital to student learning. She enjoys the behind the scenes work at CharacterStrong and focuses most of her time on the operations of the organization.

John Rodney graduated in 2004 from the University of Maine at Farmington with Bachelor of Science degrees in both English and Secondary Education. He began his career teaching at John Burroughs High School where he aided in the implementation of the College Preparatory English classes, working closely with Glendale Community College to ensure students were college ready in the area of English. For...

Naudia Bosch is the Activities Coordinator, ASB Advisor, and Leadership teacher at North Creek High School (NCHS). She started out as a Special Education teacher in 2005 and in 2012 she had the opportunity to step into student leadership as a co-Activities Coordinator and ASB Advisor at Inglemoor High School. Once she dipped her toes into student leadership, there was no going back. She taught bot...

Brandee Collins is a fourth-grade teacher at Lloyd R. Ferguson Elementary in League City, Texas. She is a wife, a mother, a 25-year veteran teacher, and enjoys reading and staying active.

Kevin Ozar was born and raised in the city of Detroit, a place he deeply loves. He graduated with degrees in History, English and Education from the University of Dayton and has a Masters in Teaching and Learning from Marygrove College. He has been in education for the last 23 years, has taught every grade from 6-12 in content ranging from Drama, AP literature, US History and pretty much everythin...

John and Houston celebrate national #SELday! They talk about what SEL is, how CharacterStrong's work is advancing SEL in schools & communities, and Houston shares a story of a district that has creatively implemented the CharacterStrong Curriculum and the impact that it has had.

CharacterStrong Co-Founders John and Houston talk about the changes in our world these last few weeks and they share about some resources & practical tools that can provide hope & inspiration: Virtual Assemblies, the CharacterStrong Virtual Tool Kit, the Whole Child Virtual Summit, and the Kindness Journal.

Lindsey graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University in 2013 with a degree in history and secondary education. She has a master's degree in educational leadership and has been working in education for 8 years. She has taught 8th-grade U.S. History for the past 5 years at Mayde Creek Junior High. In 2015, Lindsey was awarded Campus Teacher of the Year. Just recently, she became a Social Studie...

Christine Mazzi is a 16 year old Ugandan-American living in the Bay Area. She is the CEO and founder of The Woman of Color Project (ProjectWOC), an instagram based community organization that strives to inspire and empower young women and girls of color. When she is not Leading Project: WOC she loves to read YA novels, have light-hearted debates, spend time with her family, and rewatch Friends (or...

Dawn MacFarland has 20 years of service to military-connected students and families through DoDEA (Department of Defense Education Activity). She began her teaching career in Tucson, Arizona, and has since taught in London, England, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as well as Hanau and Stuttgart, Germany. Ms. MacFarland teaches language arts and humanities, and her lifelong commitment is dedicated to educati...

Aaron Hancock has been the Head Coach at Wyoming High School in Cincinnati, Ohio for the last eight seasons. He attended and played D3 football at The College of Mount Saint Joseph in Cincinnati. He has been a Physical Education Teacher at Wyoming High School for the last 19 years. The last four seasons his teams have gone 52-3 and has a career record of 85-14. In eight seasons as a HC, his progra...

Micah Mortensen has been in education for 17 years. He started as middle school history teacher, quickly moved into the assistant principal and then principal position in Vail School District in Tucson Arizona. Micah made it a goal to know every single student's name on campus and could be found outside interacting with the students more than behind the closed door of his office. He has been the S...

John Norlin is a Co-Founder of CharacterStrong, a Servant Leadership trainer, and motivational speaker. He was Advisor of the Year, taught 5 leadership classes per semester for 10 years at Sumner High, and was an Administrator for the Whole Child.

Antonio McLemore is a highly accomplished MBA graduate in Executive Leadership, who drives growth-oriented, Tacoma-based programs initiatives with a focus on community engagement, sustainable strategies, team building, and local/regional network development.   He's a hands-on self-starter who exhibits personal, professional, and academic experience as a dedicated trailblazer, public speaker, and d...