The CharacterStrong Podcast

Shreeya Arora is a junior at the Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky. She believes in driving positive outcomes through technology. From increasing the efficiency of the response to natural disasters to developing a sustainable transportation service for new refugees at no cost, her love for computer science has allowed her to make a change in her community. Along with coding and...

CharacterStrong Co-Founders John Norlin & Houston Kraft have some fun and talk about the first thing that comes to mind on different School Culture & Climate topics. Topics: Back to School: Helping everyone feel welcome, School Dances, Back to School for Staff 

Jonathan Alsheimer is a teacher from "The" Fred Lynn Middle School, Speaker, and author of the upcoming book "Next Level Teaching" published by Dave Burgess Consulting - All about how teachers can make a profound impact on the culture and climate of their classroom and school! We talk about how making a difference at school starts in the classroom, three characteristics of a great teacher, and how...

Season 2 Kickoff Episode!! CharacterStrong Co-Founders John Norlin & Houston Kraft have some fun and talk about the first thing that comes to mind on different School Culture & Climate topics. Topics: Kindness Weeks, Back to School for Students

Evonya Cornelius is a speech language pathologist with over 25 years of experience in schools, hospitals, and rehab settings in the United States and the Caribbean. She is the product of the Monroe County Public School System in Rochester, NY. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Communication Disorders from Nazareth College of Rochester and Master's degree in education from Buffalo State College. Sh...

Katherine is the American School Counselor's Association 2016 National School Counselor of the Year. Katherine began serving as the Flagstaff High School (FHS) Counseling Department Chair in the 2008 and Student Government Advisor in 2012. Through a data-driven, comprehensive school counseling program, Katherine and her team have received both state and national recognition. Katherine joined the A...

Krista Gypton taught for 19 years and has received numerous awards for her teaching and student community service, including the 2008 Arizona Teacher of the Year Ambassador for Excellence. She is an emphatic believer in the power of service to others and has traveled as far as South Africa with students to give back. She has been a keynote speaker and trainer for the past 11 years, both nationally...

Robert Hand teaches at Mount Vernon High School. His subjects are Family and Consumer Sciences and Leadership. He is currently teaching Careers in Education - Recruiting Washington Teachers, Leadership, Nutrition, and Life After High School. Robert is the 2019 Washington State Teacher of the Year. We talk with Robert about the strategies that he uses to help keep the important things as priorities...

Jeff Baines' career in education has spanned nearly 30 years as a teacher, coach, athletic director, assistant principal and now he is entering his 1st year as principal of Burlington-Edison High School. Jeff has also served as a high school coach for football, baseball, fastpitch, softball, and track & field. He was named the Unsung Hero for the Sumner community in 2017 and the WA state AD of the...

Jared Smith is a student at Central Washington University and when he is not in class he is traveling around to speak on the importance of love. He also runs a company called Project Love People that is on a mission to remind the others that in the stress and hatred of the world what really matters is to GROW MINDS. HAVE FUN. and LOVE PEOPLE. We talk with Jared about what it means to Grow Minds, H...

Marla Mattenson is a relationship & intimacy expert specializing in coaching couples in business together with a desire to learn how to take their drive for success and growth mindset in business and apply it to invigorate their relationship. Over the course of her 25 year career, she's helped more than 12,000 couples including Academy Award winning actors, producers and directors, NBA players and...

Sally Rusk has taught middle school for 20 years. She's taught in the Edmonds, Bellingham, and most recently she spent 12 years as the activity coordinator at Inglewood Middle School in the Lake Washington School District. She was on the planning team for Timberline Middle School which opens in the Fall.  She was the 2018 Washington State Middle Level Advisor of the Year and teaches social and emo...

Thane Marcus Ringler is a former pro golfer turned speaker, author, coach, and entrepreneur living in Los Angeles, CA. After competing for nearly four years as a professional, he transitioned out of the world of golf into his new endeavors. In his current work, Thane's mission is to help others live and work better. He is passionate about speaking to the journey from the journey, and wants to empo...

Natalie Fikac is an educator with over 23 years of experience. Her educational experience began as an elementary school teacher, reading interventionist and dyslexia specialist, Professional School Counselor at both the elementary and secondary level, campus administrator and district level administrator. In her previous educational experience, she served as the Director of Guidance & Counseling i...

Ryan Healy who has taught for 13 years at Ridgeline Middle School in Yelm, WA. Ryan is the 2019 Capital Region ESD 113 Teacher of the Year and was a finalist for the 2019 Washington State Teacher of the Year. He was also honored with the Association of Washington Student Leaders Middle-Level Adviser of the Year Award in 2014.  We talk with Ryan about the importance of being available for our stude...

Paul has spent the last 23 years as a classroom teacher. The last 21 of those years have been spent at Monrovia High School in beautiful Southern California, mostly as a social science teacher. In 2008 he became the Renaissance Coordinator. In 2018 Paul became the school's first Climate & Culture Coordinator, with responsibilities of Renaissance Coordinator, Activities Director and Link Crew Coord...

As the professional development leader in Wyoming's largest high school, Amy Rose serves as an assistant principal willing to make changes and challenge the high school norm. Focused on literacy intervention, accountability, and graduation data, Amy has challenged Kelly Walsh High School to "do hard things." Recently, Amy has paired with Gear Up Wyoming to challenge leaders to think differently ab...

Marc Gallaway who is the Principal of Selah Middle School in Washington State and has been in the same district for 21 years. He was the 2018 Washington State Middle-Level Principal of the Year and is a force for change in his state and beyond.  We talk with Marc about the intentional things that his school is doing to help get new 6th grade students started academically and he talks about differe...

John & Houston have some fun and talk about the first thing that comes to mind on different School Culture & Climate topics.  Topic: Social Media

During her almost 40 years of working with student activities, Terry has coached a cheer team, advised NHS and student council, and served as an Activities Coordinator. She has been a co-director of a National Leadership Camp, a leadership consultant and curriculum coordinator for the Texas Association of Activities, and been presented with the Earl Reum award. She is currently vice-president of t...

CharacterStrong co-founders John & Houston have some fun and talk about the first thing that comes to mind on different School Culture & Climate topics.  Topics : Inclusion, favorite ideas to recognize people in unique ways,

We sit down with student leaders Jenna, Gibby, and Cheney, at the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals State Conference. They chat about student perspective on what should be focused on in education today, and also share what they are grateful for.

Coach Don Bartel has been a teacher and coach in Washington state for 22 years. He has coached and/or taught at the middle school, high school, and collegiate level.  He has served as a head coach at three different high schools for a combined 15 years; and has been the head football coach, leadership teacher, ASB advisor, and activities coordinator at Eastlake High School in Sammamish, Washington...

Roman is a HS ELA Teacher in Rockland, Ontario, Canada. An educator for 15 years, Roman is passionate about student success, school transformation and building HOPE in schools through authentic learning experiences. Husband, father to two beautiful daughters, educational leader Roman collaborates with educators from across the world to spread kindness, to build impact globally and to tear down the...

Alicia Jensen is the Principal at Ptarmigan Ridge Elementary in Orting WA. She was a cast member at Disney World in the college internship program and she also is an incredibly passionate administrator who is always looking for different ways to serve her students and staff. We talk with Alicia about the Staff Chips, a simple and creative tool that she uses to intentionally connect with her staff.