The Crisis in Education Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Most conversations about student behavior stay at the surface—focusing on what students are doing without fully understanding why it’s happening or how to change it in a meaningful way. That approach leads to frustration, inconsistency, and outcomes that don’t hold up over time. In this episode of Crisis in Education , Dr. Paul “Paulie” Gavoni sits down with Dr. Clay Cook of Chara...

Send us Fan Mail We keep asking teachers to do more. More instruction. More behavior management. More emotional support. And then we act surprised when they burn out. In this episode, Dr. Paulie sits down with Wynette A. Richardson —speaker, award-winning professor, author, and Teacher’s Champion —to unpack a hard truth: Teachers aren’t failing. They’re operating in systems that were never designe...

Send us Fan Mail Let’s just say it. Most evaluation systems don’t improve performance. They document it… sometimes poorly… and often too late to matter. In this episode, we take a hard look at a system that educators and leaders have been told to trust—annual evaluations, long observations, delayed feedback—and ask a simple question: If this actually worked, wouldn’t we see better outcomes by now?...

Send us Fan Mail What does it take for behavior analysts to make a real impact in classrooms—not just on paper, but in the day-to-day reality teachers face? In this episode, Dr. Paulie sits down with Neelima Duncan , CEO of Blue Sky Behavior Therapy , an organization that provides clinical services and partners directly with schools to support educators and students. The conversation grew out of a...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful episode of the Crisis in Education Podcast , Dr. Paul “Paulie” Gavoni sits down with Bonnie and Thomas Liotta , founders of Creating Champions For Life , for an unfiltered conversation about behavior, safety, and the cost of getting it wrong. The discussion centers on a reality educators and parents can no longer ignore: when systems rely on reactive, punishment-b...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Crisis in Education podcast, Dr. Paul “Paulie” Gavoni sits down with Michael Waller , an attorney and Executive Director of Georgia Appleseed , to talk about the real work of keeping students safe, supported, and out of the criminal justice system. Drawing from legal, educational, and behavioral science perspectives, they unpack how poverty, exclusionary dis...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr. Paul “Paulie” Gavoni sits down with Mike Caldwell , founder of LinkedLeaders , a national platform dedicated to accelerating the growth and effectiveness of K–12 school leaders. With a shared passion for bringing out the best in people through leadership and behavioral science, Paulie and Mike explore what it really takes to build schools where leadership is i...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr. Paulie welcomes back Dr. Greg Rockhold , a seasoned educator and leader with nearly 30 years of experience and service, including on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Known for his thought-provoking LinkedIn posts, Dr. Rockhold joins to discuss one of his most pressing concerns: the lack of preparation first-yea...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Heart & Science of Leadership Podcast , Dr. Paulie Gavoni sits down with veteran educator Dr. Michael L. Cubbin for a spirited debate on classroom leadership. The conversation was sparked by Cubbin’s critique of Paulie’s article on establishing expectations during the first week of school, and by his own provocative piece, “ Don’t Grade Student Work On-T...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr. Paul “Paulie” Gavoni sits down with Dr. Rick Surrency , Superintendent of Putnam County Schools in Florida, to explore how one of the lowest-performing districts in the state transformed into a model of success. When Dr. Surrency took office in 2016, Putnam County Schools faced daunting challenges: a graduation rate under 55%, multiple failing schools, and a c...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Crisis in Education Podcast , Dr. Paul "Paulie" Gavoni sits down with three-time District Teacher of the Year finalist, Tana Stanley, to explore a critical and often overlooked element of classroom success—student voice. They dig into how giving students opportunities to provide feedback through structured surveys can foster engagement, build psych...

Send us Fan Mail In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Paulie sits down with Dr. Keith Storey —Professor Emeritus, BCBA-D, and lifelong educator—to explore how PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) isn’t just for schools. They break down how the same strategies that support students in classrooms can be used to empower people with disabilities as they transition into adult life an...

Send us Fan Mail We all talk about feedback—but what if the real key to teacher growth is the trust behind it? In this episode of the Crisis in Education podcast, Dr. Paulie sits down with Craig Randall , former principal, counselor, and author of Trust-Based Observations , to challenge the compliance-heavy approach to teacher evaluations. Craig makes a compelling case: Feedback matters . But unle...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr. Paulie sits down once again with Andrew Kieta , Executive Director of Morningside Academy , to unpack what might just be one of education’s best-kept secrets. They dive into the practical magic behind Morningside’s model—one rooted in precision teaching, fluency-based instruction, and the science of human behavior. From guaranteeing students double their expec...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr. Paulie Gavoni sits down with veteran superintendent Dr. Don Haddad of St. Vrain Valley School District to explore one of the most hotly debated educational shifts in recent years—the 4-day school week. With over 17 years of experience leading one of Colorado’s largest districts, Dr. Haddad brings deep insight into the logistical, academic, and behavioral impli...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr. Paulie sits down with Nicola Soares , President of Kelly Education, to tackle one of the most urgent issues in education today: the staffing and workforce crisis. With over 20 years of experience spanning product development, policy reform, and leadership across major organizations like NBC Universal and McGraw-Hill, Nicola brings a powerful, pragmatic perspec...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Crisis in Education Podcast , Dr. Paul "Paulie" Gavoni sits down with Missouri middle school teacher and author Philip Wire to unpack a provocative and timely topic: Are schools getting trauma-informed education right—or missing the mark entirely? Inspired by Philip’s bold book, " Trauma-Informed Tragedy: How Schools Got Trauma Part Right and...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful episode of the Crisis in Education Podcast , Dr. Paulie welcomes Emil Majetich, a doctoral candidate in early childhood special education, licensed behavior analyst, university instructor, and 25-year fire service veteran. Emil shares his remarkable journey from fire lieutenant and paramedic to behavior analyst, emphasizing the transferable skills and values that...

Send us Fan Mail Join Dr. Paulie as he explores value-based care in education with Leila Farshchian MA, BCBA , leader of ABA Toolbox —an award-winning platform advancing science-driven, learner-centered interventions for individuals with autism and disabilities. The conversation explores how integrating behavior analytic principles with compassion and creativity can significantly enhance outcomes...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Crisis in Education , Dr. Paulie sits down with educator and leader Jamia Green to discuss the challenges and opportunities in supporting deaf students. With experience as a teacher of the deaf, a STEM technology educator, a principal, and now a state-level leader in Hawaii, Jamia brings a wealth of knowledge on how to create inclusive and effective learning env...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Crisis in Education Podcast , host Dr. Paulie welcomes his good friend and former colleague, Pierre Louis . As a long-time leader and one of the founders of Ovation Behavior Group , Pierre brings deep insights into the intersection of behavior science, leadership, and education. Dr. Paulie and Pierre discuss: ✅ How behavior science drives effective leadersh...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Description: In this episode of The Crisis in Education Podcast , Dr. Paulie sits down with behavior analyst and education expert Steve Ward to discuss practical strategies for supporting teachers and students—especially those with special needs—while highlighting lessons that apply to all classrooms. They dive into the critical role of assent and assent withdrawal , explo...

Send us Fan Mail In this eye-opening episode of Crisis in Education , Dr. Paulie sits down with Dr. Greg Rockhold to explore a bold and urgent topic: the growing teacher turnover crisis and its potential implications for national security. Drawing from decades of experience in education and leadership, Dr. Rockhold offers a compelling analysis of how the exodus of teachers from the profession thre...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Christopher Hull sits down with Dr. Paulie to share his journey from the classroom to becoming a leader in educational innovation. As a former teacher, Christopher understands the challenges educators face every day and uses that experience to drive meaningful change in K-12 education. Together, he and Dr. Paulie dive into what it takes to empower teachers, improv...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Crisis in Education podcast, Dr. Paulie sits down with Dr. Skip Wilhoit to dive into a critical yet often overlooked aspect of educational success—measuring and incorporating school climate into the overall school grade. Together, they explore why a supportive, positive climate is essential for both students and educators, the ways in which it impacts academ...