The High Performing Educator Podcast

Michelle is an Ontario Certified Teacher and holds a B.Sc. from McMaster in Biology, a B.Ed. from the University Of Ontario Institute Of Technology and an M.A. in Leadership from Royal Roads University. As a high school teacher, she realized that many of the essential skills to thrive as a young adult were being squeezed out by hard curriculum, leaving students feeling stressed, rushed, without di...

Andy   Speers  is an intermediate teacher at Elora Public School.  He has been teaching for 17 years and is passionate about experiential learning and giving students valuable lessons surrounding leadership and inclusion.   He currently runs a sledge hockey and wheelchair basketball program along with heading Empowerment Day for the Upper Grand District School Board.   ----------   Want to join th...

Brent Mattix is the current activities director for Roseville High School, in Roseville, California.  He had the honor of attending Roseville High School as a student (Class of 1992).  His two sons are graduates of RHS and his daughter is a junior.  Brent Mattix began coaching in 1994 and has coached over 50 teams, from varsity football to t-ball.  He has coached football, wrestling, water polo, s...

Jerell Maneja is an Activities Director for Milpitas High School. Since stepping into this role two years ago, Jerell is working to redefine the role of ASB Student Government for his campus.   His students have dramatically improved the school climate by establishing a clear and unifying vision and adopting an objective-based framework used at tech companies like Google and Intel known as OKRs.  ...

Lisa Nichols was born in Daly City, CA and moved to Fresno at the age of three. She graduated from Hoover High School in 1991. Lisa is the first in her family to receive a college degree. She received her Bachelor of Arts and Master's Degree in Social Work from California State University of Fresno (CSUF). She continued pursing her education and received a second Master's Degree in Education and a...

Debbie Hawkins is the Campus Culture Director at Sunnyside High School in Fresno Unified, but grew up in the south valley and is a first-generation college graduate who after attending Fresno State made her home in the greater Fresno Area.  Debbie is the wife to Jimmy and the mother to Jonah and Noah. Family is a defining factor in Debbie's life and thus she reduced her teaching load to part-time...

Kevin Fochs is the Executive Director of the Alaska FFA. Kevin spent 32 years in the classroom and is an award-winning agriculture educator and FFA advisor. Kevin specializes in leadership development of youth and educating them about the opportunities and importance of agriculture. He is responsible for the oversight and management of the Alaska FFA Association and the Alaska FFA Foundation. Terr...

Terresa Amidei has been an educator for 23 years.  She grew up in North Pole, Alaska and is currently the Activities Director for Desert Ridge Academy, a public middle school in Southern California.  She cares about student voice and advocacy and works to be sure every student on campus is seen, heard, loved, and valued.  She says teaching is exhausting, but so, so worth it.  The work all educator...

Arielle has worked with youth her entire professional career.  Whether in summer camps, high schools, and hospitals, Arielle has committed her life to becoming a source of hope and support for young people.   ----------   Want to join the High Performing Educator Network: www.highperformingeducator.com   More information on Sam:  www.samdemma.com

Derek Hill is the Director of New York FFA and a staff member of the Agricultural Education and Outreach program at Cornell University. Derek specializes in youth leadership development and is responsible for the oversight and management of the New York Association of FFA. Derek is an award-winning educator with over 15 years of experience working with students and educators at varying levels. ---...

Entrepreneur and Educator Christina Raso shares her journey in education from new teacher to special education consultant to most recently Experiential Learning Consultant for Sudbury Catholic Schools. The past academic year was most memorable for Christina as she temporarily returned to the classroom to support the teacher shortage. In her teaching time, she entered her class and St. David Elemen...

Kelly Karius is an award winning Social Worker, Mediator and Author who is committed to her mission of improving the lives she is able to affect. Her books include "This is Out of Control! A Practical Guide to Managing Life's Conflicts", "The Brief Book of Bullying", "Burgerslinger", and "No Such Thing as a Bully; Shred the Label, Save a Child." Kelly is well versed in First Nations issues in Cana...

Lynda is a relational leader and teacher first who has over 20 years of experience in teaching and leadership positions with St. Albert Public School.  She joined Alberta Education in 2013; working in the areas of technology, curriculum and First Nations, Metis and Inuit education. Work-life aside she enjoys kayaking, hiking, cycling, golfing and lives in St. Albert with her 2 university-age child...

Tracy Lockwood is a certified K-12 PE Teacher and has over 25 years of experience as an educator and has taught K-12 students in Alberta, British Columbia, Abu Dhabi and Macau. She was employed as an Education Consultant for nearly 10 years where she facilitated hundreds of workshops for thousands of professionals at the local, provincial, national and international levels. Tracy is a Master Train...

Katrin Heim is an Innovation Coach with Buffalo Trail Public Schools. Her rural roots and years of teaching, primarily in division one have shaped her approach to teaching and leadership. Katrin believes that people (students, families, and communities), are at the heart of our work as educators.      ----------   Want to join the High Performing Educator Network: www.highperformingeducator.com  ...

Karen has worked in the education system for over 30 years. She began her career as a secondary school classroom teacher teaching multiple subjects. She continued her teaching career with the added responsibility of being a department head. With each new role and school, she developed a passion for helping students who face barriers to success. Her passion led her to the headship at an alternative...

Dr. Adam Browning has been an educator for 17 years. As a system-level leader, he is primarily responsible for curriculum and diversity supports for a school division of over 40 schools and approximately 9000 students.    He is a researcher in applied linguistics and an instructor at the University Lethbridge. Much of his research focused on early literacy and language skills and how students tran...

Lewis Keys is a Texas native that comes with over 10 years of experience working as a Youth Development Professional. He specializes in the areas of teen engagement, family enrichment, and activities programming. Now a resident of Sacramento, CA, he serves in a senior-level leadership position providing resources and programming to military families throughout the State of California. Lewis truly...

Ryan Laughlin is a proud Bluefield Bobcat from Prince Edward Island. Ryan is a veteran Physical Education and Leadership educator at Bluefield High School. Ryan prides himself on physical fitness, servant leadership, and teaching engaging lessons that serve to develop leadership skills. Today we are joined by the students in his two leadership classes. We ask them all the questions you'd be intere...

Michael Straile has been the Assistant Principal of Bonnyville Centralized High School since 2018.  Previously, Michael taught grades 7 & 8 at H.E. Bourgoin Middle School in Bonnyville.  His passions outside of teaching include acting and film.   ------- Want to join the High Performing Educator Network: www.highperformingeducator.com   More information on Sam:  www.samdemma.com

As a high school administrator, Mark Brown is passionate about helping educators and students live life as their best selves and challenges everyone to embrace the call of Choose To Be You.  Using his experience as a learner, an educator, and as someone who has spent the majority of his life chasing an image of someone and something other than his true, authentic self,  Mark delivers a message of...

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!  This past year has been amazing.  The conversations we've had sparked hundreds of ideas, new connections and conversations.  None of it would have been possible without you.   Season 2 will begin in September and until then, have an amazing overly deserved summer break! - Sam ---------- Want to join the High Performing Educator Network: www.highperformingeducator...

In line with the Basilian model of educating the whole person in mind, body, and soul, the Wellness Programme at St. Michael's College School (SMCS) plays an important role by supporting students' social and emotional needs inside and outside the classroom. The dedicated, full-time Student Wellness Officer, Liat Benzacar, holds a master's degree in social work and is registered with the Ontario Co...

Tina   McInenly  is a Cognitive Lead Teacher in Red Deer, Alberta. She works on a division team supporting teachers and students in creating inclusive communities for all students. She values collaboration, inclusivity and the courage it takes to be a learner. Through her story, she shares the foreshadowing of her path to her current role, long before she entered into the teaching profession.  Tin...

Doing whatever it takes. ----------   Want to join the High Performing Educator Network: www.highperformingeducator.com   More information on Sam:  www.samdemma.com