The Empowering Teacher

If you were asked to close your eyes and describe an elementary classroom, what would you share? Typically, we describe what we can see, however, we know that a leadership environment entails so much more! Join Molly, Dr. Eve, and guest Kate Cisney, principal at Northwest Elementary School in Iowa as they explore practical ways to build a leadership-learning environment including, and beyond, the...

Change starts with me. It sounds simple, but it’s not always easy to step away from blaming others and, instead, look first to ourselves for solutions. Join Molly, Dr. Eve, and guests Ana Arias, Principal, and Gabby Trudeau, 3rd-Grade Teacher, from Fallbrook STEM Elementary, as they talk about practical ways to help students build their ability to adopt and live the Paradigm of Change.

Our hope for students is that they will lean into the 7 Habits to navigate the challenges and opportunities life has to offer, and bring their leadership and effectiveness into who they become. Join Molly, Dr. Eve, and guest Laura Smith, District Elementary School Lighthouse Coordinator and Leadership Instructional Coach, as they dig into the power behind teaching leadership and integrating it int...

We can see the genius of students so clearly, how can we help them see it too? Join Molly, Dr. Eve, and guest Emily Avila, Dual-Language Teacher at Maie Ellis Elementary School as they explore practical strategies that help students become able to see their own light and the impact it has on themselves and each other.

What happens when we model for students how we, too, are learners? Join Molly and special guest Muriel Summers, as they talk about the power of the Inside-Out Approach to learning and teaching.

On September 19, 2023, we’ll be releasing an Empowering Teacher Podcast for Early Learning educators, another for Elementary educators, and our third one for Secondary educators, our middle and high school teachers.

And just like that, the end of the year is here! It comes and goes in the blink of an eye, and if we are not careful we can miss out on an amazing opportunity to honor the pause and reflect on all that accompanied a year of learning. Join Molly, as she talks with Robin Becker, Coach and Consultant from Texas, who shares practical ways to lean into reflection and move us forward as we plan for the...

We can all relate to the butterflies in our belly, remembering to take a deep breath, and that feeling of just wanting it over when we lean into the courage it takes to hold a difficult conversation—whether with a student, a parent, or a colleague. Join Molly, as she talks with Stephanie Gow, Coach and Consultant from Texas, about how to create a 7 Habits toolkit to navigate difficult conversation...

Does it ever feel like all you do is set goals? You might have goal fatigue! If we want to go beyond setting goals and see goal achievement with excellence, we need a system or process that can help our students own it and crush it! Join Molly as she talks with Lesley Eason, Coach and Consultant from North Carolina, who walks us through a simple outline to begin this work.

Do you ever sit back and wonder what is going on in the brains of your students? Like, if I could just figure out the why, or see a little deeper, I might be able to figure out how to help them. You're not alone! Spend some quality time with Dr. Eve Miller, Cognitive Neuroscientist, as she talks with Molly about how to build a neuroscience toolkit that can help us understand and support our s...

Our students are like us. They can get overwhelmed and sometimes they carry some big emotions from the day before into a new morning. As teachers, what can we do in those moments? Join Molly and guests Toni White and Ashely Tucker as they share how leaders at Cuivre Park Elementary created and use a calming space for students to work through their emotions.

Achieving Lighthouse Certification is a whole-school accomplishment! It’s a process that involves every stakeholder—especially students. Imagine the impact if every student engaged in the process and understood what it means to actively achieve Lighthouse. Imagine if every student could articulate why they are a “beacon of hope.” Join Molly, as she talks with Lindy and Krista, two leaders at Belle...

Schools come in all different shapes and sizes, and that is absolutely wonderful! It’s what personalizes the work we do to meet the needs of each of our communities. Listen in, as Susanna Hobrath, Leader in Me Coach and Consultant, shares how we can personalize our Lighthouse Teams to fit our school’s needs, while staying true to the foundational components of shared leadership.

Do you ever feel like you’re carrying all the responsibility for student learning and school culture? Learn how one school let students take the lead. Molly is joined by La Paloma Elementary School Principal,  Claudia De Leon, and Coordinator, Kayla Cavanaugh.

How do you invite students to lead—we mean, really lead? Join Molly as she talks with Kristan Riedinger, Principal at Vickery Creek Elementary in Georgia, about how one school learned to honor the pause, and watched as students solved real problems with terrific results.

Have you ever sat through a day of professional development and thought to yourself, how in the world does this connect to me and my students? You may not be alone! Listen in, as Jerry Lee, Principal at Woodlawn Elementary School in Florida, shares with Molly how their school takes a Win-Win approach to professional development.

Did you know that a leadership environment can begin teaching students without even cracking open a book? Join Molly, as she talks with Sharla Austin, Leader in Me Coach and Consultant, about how to intentionally create a leadership environment, where even the walls teach lessons that reveal students’ worth and potential.

When students and staff know they are loved, school culture is strengthened and everyone is better equipped to deal with the day-to-day challenges that may come our way. Listen in, as Connie West, Leader in Me Coach and Consultant, shares how we can get intentional about culture with Emotional Bank Accounts.

You know that feeling when you look at your students and are just mesmerized by their potential? We know these students are going to change the world! We see it—how do we help them see it? Join Molly as she talks with Jenna Tate, Leader in Me Coach and Consultant about how we can communicate the worth and potential to students so clearly that they see it in themselves.

Have you ever listened to a podcast and thought, “I bet students could do that”? They can! Listen in as Lisa, 4th Grade Teacher at Sycamore Springs Elementary, and Kyleigh, Sycamore student and fellow podcaster, share with Molly how they found their voice with their very own student-led podcast.

When you are asked to “teach students to lead” what do you think of? Join Molly, as she talks with Vi Vuong and Jorge Parra from Solano Elementary, LAUSD East in Los Angeles. Together, they’ll break it down to the specifics about how we begin empowering our students by intentionally teaching them to lead.

What single concept is responsible for more life-changing moments for teachers and greater empowerment in a school and classroom? What is the most powerful part of the Leader in Me process? Join Molly, as she talks about the power of paradigms with New York Times best-selling author and President of FranklinCovey Education, Sean Covey. 

We want the best for our students. When we integrate Leader in Me into our professional development we can better support our students as they grow into the leaders we know they can be. Join Molly as she connects with Jorge Parra, Principal at Solano Avenue Elementary School in LAUSD-East, about intentional and organic ways to weave Leader in Me into everything we do. 

We can choose to see leadership as a position made for a few, or we can choose to see leadership as a shared role—it’s up to us! Join host Molly, as she connects with Matt Smith, Superintendent of the Des Moines Independent Community School District to explore the impact shared leadership can play in our schools.

How do we wholeheartedly embrace the possibilities of the new school year when we know that things can change at the drop of a hat? Listen in, as Leader in Me Global Ambassador Muriel Summers shares her wisdom, experience, and honor for all of the powerful teachers who are heading into another year of impacting young lives.