The CharacterStrong Podcast

Today our guest is Andrew Marotta is an author and presenter, and is the Director of Communications & Academic Services at Port Jervis Schools, NY. We talk with Andrew about the power of positive energy and how small, intentional actions shape how people feel in schools. He shares practical reminders like learning names, using names often, and being fully present in brief moments. Andrew also high...

Today our guest is Kait Ahlbrandt, school psychologist and Director of Customer Success at EmpowerU. We talk about why educator wellbeing is essential to student success and how adult regulation shapes classroom climate. Kate shares why intentional listening and making space for connection matter, especially when educators feel overwhelmed. She highlights the need for practical, realistic supports...

Learn More About CharacterStrong:   Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples Request a Quote Today! Learn more about CharacterStrong Implementation Support Visit the CharacterStrong Website

Learn More About CharacterStrong:   Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples Request a Quote Today! Learn more about CharacterStrong Implementation Support Visit the CharacterStrong Website

Learn More About CharacterStrong:   Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples Request a Quote Today! Learn more about CharacterStrong Implementation Support Visit the CharacterStrong Website

Learn More About CharacterStrong:   Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples Request a Quote Today! Learn more about CharacterStrong Implementation Support Visit the CharacterStrong Website

Learn More About CharacterStrong:   Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples Request a Quote Today! Learn more about CharacterStrong Implementation Support Visit the CharacterStrong Website

Learn More About CharacterStrong:   Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples Request a Quote Today! Learn more about CharacterStrong Implementation Support Visit the CharacterStrong Website

Today our guest is Chris Fore, Principal at Mojave High School, in Hesperia, CA . We talk with Chris about why it is important and how it is guiding his work everyday. He shares how creating high-accountability meetings with parents and teachers led to a nearly 60% reduction in failure rates. Chris also highlights the impact that "flipping the script" on parent communication has as he has celebrat...

Today our guests are Assistant Principal Crystal Keck & Humanities Instructional Coach Wendy Uzzle from Bowie High School in Austin, TX. We talk about the unique challenges and solutions for implementing CharacterStrong at the high school level. Crystal & Wendy share how they utilized a "soft launch" approach and adjusted their schedule from 3rd period to advisory based on honest student feedback....

Today our guest is Leandra Torra, Social Emotional Learning and Trauma Informed Care Manager at Jefferson County Public Schools. We talk with Leandra about an innovative approach to Tier 2 support that solves capacity issues by partnering elementary schools with neighboring high school student mentors. She shares how this student-led model helped younger students "graduate" from support groups whi...

On today's episode CharacterStrong Co-Founder John Norlin talks about the "Power of the Post-It Note," a simple strategy to build connection with students. He shares practical ways to use written notes for compliments, questions, or behavioral pre-corrections during class. He highlights how small, low-cost investments of time can leave a lasting legacy for students. Click here to subscribe to the...

Today our guests are Yvonne Culver, Director of School Counseling and Student Wellness, and Stephanie Hammond, Coordinator for School Counselors at Akron Public Schools. We talk about how they moved beyond "posters on the wall" by creating a district timeline that aligns life skills with academic pacing guides. They share how they engaged content teachers to build practical toolkits that integrate...

Today our guest is Krystal Colhoff - Director of MTSS at Austin ISD. Krystal shares how a large, urban district strengthened implementation not through top-down directives, but by elevating campus leaders and letting momentum build from the ground up. She explains how a "soft launch" created space for early adopters to innovate, how campus highlights sparked organic buy-in across 116 schools, and...

Today our guest is Michelle DePuy, Secondary Ed. Program Specialist at Redlands Unified School District. We talk to Michelle about how her district is strengthening Tier 2 systems by focusing on both mindset and skill-building with secondary counselors. She shares how creating small-group structures, using consistent data from youth-needs screeners, and providing real coaching on implementation fi...

Today our guests are Amy Fairchild & Crystal Hooper, District SEL Coaches in Tangipahoa Parish, LA. We talk to Amy and Crystal about how their district doubled Tier 1 usage in one year and what that growth has meant for students and staff. Amy and Crystal share practical ways they've woven daily character lessons and relational activities into the fabric of every classroom, how competition between...

Today our guest is Grant Wilson , Coordinator of Counseling Services at Plano ISD in Texas. We talk to Grant about how his district is creating consistency and connection through a districtwide character trait of the month tied directly to their community created Code of Civility. He shares how uniting teachers and counselors around shared themes, like kindness, empathy, and responsibility,  has r...

Today our guest is Dr. Ryan Sherman, Director of Wellness at Medway Public Schools in Medway, Massachusetts. We talk to Dr. Sherman about how his healthcare background is helping schools rethink what student wellness means, and how he is helping to modernize MTSS. He shares how Medway added a fourth tier of support that brings mental health care directly into schools through care coordination, in-...

Today our guest is Zac Bauermaster the Principal at Providence Elementary School in New Providence, PA. Zac went viral after a hallway video of his daily high fives and fist bumps reached millions, but what's even more powerful is the culture behind it. We talk to Zac about how he's creating a school where students and staff want to be, not have to be. He shares how simple daily rituals like "Fist...

Today our guest is Sara Nussman a School Counselor at Stoner-Thomas School. We talk to Sarah about how she adapts CharacterStrong lessons for students with cognitive and communicative deficits. She shares how nonverbal strategies like body language build relationships, and how visual trait boards, consistent routines, and monthly social narratives make abstract concepts like respect concrete and a...

Today our guest is Erica Fener-Sitkoff the Chief Clinical Officer at FullBloom. We talk to Erica talk about why student mental health belongs at the center of school success. She shares a practical frame for Tier 1–Tier 3 supports, why universal wellbeing skills (like gratitude, check-ins, and regulation) make Tier 2 and Tier 3 more effective, and how helping teachers, counselors, and staff, prote...

Today our guest is Meg Boyd the Principal at Edgewood Elementary. Meg shares how her school uses morning announcements to keep a daily focus on character in every classroom. From "Motivation Monday" to "Fun with Words Friday," each day carries a theme that unites students and staff while strengthening school culture. What began during COVID as simple voice-over slides has grown into a consistent,...

Season 8 kicks off with CharacterStrong co-founders John Norlin and Houston Kraft unpacking three challenges schools face: student mental health, rising behavior, and educator burnout. They explain why culture is "the plate," not another thing on it, and how adult behavior change drives schoolwide improvement. John and Houston also show how a cohesive MTSS ecosystem (Tier 1–3), paired with policy-...

Today our guest is Dr. Lori Lynass, Sr. Director of MTSS at CharacterStrong. We talk to Lori about how connection isn't "extra" or "soft"—it's a strategic, academic practice at the heart of effective Tier 1 work. She shares how simple strategies, like quick community-building circles, can be woven into the school day in just a few minutes and still have a lasting impact on belonging and engagement...

Today our guest is Dr. Darian Jones, Program Implementation Specialist at CharacterStrong. We talk to Dr. Jones on why belonging must be built into the systems of a school, not left to chance. He highlights how proactive and responsive practices, like structured greetings, advisory systems, and intentional transitions can help both students and adults reset, connect, and thrive. Through powerful s...