The Out of the Trenches Podcast

Josh See is a former teacher, academic advisor, and principal of 13 years. With the average cost of college more than six figures, he has set out to show families how to save tens of thousands of dollars in future college costs by starting college early, in high school. He has helped over 3,000 families create their own college-in-high-school strategy using resources readily available to them, suc...

Glenn Forbes is a school principal and school improvement coach in Queensland, Australia. Forbes has been an educator since 2000 moving from classroom teaching to principalship over the span of his career. His principal experience ranges from small, one-teacher rural schools through to leading large, diverse and complex metropolitan schools. Glenn’s strong belief in cultivating collective teacher...

Return guest Dr. Chad M.V. Dumas is a Solution Tree PLC at Work®, RTI at Work®, Assessment, and Priority Schools associate and international consultant, presenter and award-winning researcher whose primary focus is collaborating to develop capacity for continuous improvement. Having been a successful teacher, principal, central office administrator, professional developer and consultant in a varie...

Jeff Linden brings energy, real-world experience, and actionable strategies that can inspire educational leaders at all levels. Whether discussing school improvement, leadership development, or the challenges facing modern educators, his insights are engaging and impactful. From experiences working in a variety of school settings such as small rural schools, urban districts, and suburban schools,...

Michelle Seijas, Ed. D. is a Latina leader on a mission to honor the generations before her and to liberate the generations to come. Her passions and values led her to begin her career as a bilingual education teacher. Over her 15 years in K-12 schools, she was an instructional coach, elementary school vice principal, district coordinator, and high school principal. Eventually, she moved into the...

Dr. Clay Cook is the Chief Development Officer at CharacterStrong and is an implementation scientist, psychologist, and former paraprofessional and middle school math teacher. He has spent the past 15 years working in partnership with school systems across the country to support the implementation of effective practices that promote better and more equitable outcomes for students. He has been a pr...

Mr. Todd Bloomer, with 29 years in public education and 18 in administration, recently retired from a high school principal leading a campus of over 2,500 students. His extensive experience across middle and high school levels, talent for building positive campus cultures, and exceptional hiring practices set him apart. As an author and coach, he offers valuable insights on educational leadership...

Dr. Nancy Parkes is an educational consultant and lecturer. Much of her work is focused on helping Jewish educators and directors integrate social, emotional, and spiritual learning in their settings. Several of her articles on the topic have appeared in Jewishphilanthropy and she is currently working on an SESL book and toolkit for Jewish educators. Nancy is a lecturer at the Jewish Theological S...

Richard Bernato, Ed. D. enters his fifty-third year in schooling, that spans higher education, research, in doctoral and graduate levels like Stony Brook, St. John’s University, Molloy University, and CUNY Queens College, many K-12 leadership roles, and consulting with and presenting to many school districts. His interests include catalyzing interactive and research-based effective curricula that...

Matthew Rhoads, EdD, is an expert and innovator in educational technology and instructional strategy integration within online, blended, and traditional in-person classroom settings. With a special education background, Dr. Rhoads co-taught for many years at the high school level in the areas of English, mathematics, and social sciences. He continues to co-teach regularly while coaching teachers a...

Walter Cullin Jr. is a dedicated educator, higher education administrator, consultant, and podcast host with a diverse background spanning healthcare administration, teaching, coaching, and leadership roles such as dean and associate principal. He holds a B.S. in Healthcare Administration, an M.A. in Urban Education, and an M.S. in Educational Leadership. Walter champions intrinsic motivation, acc...

Dr. Cecelia Gillam is a native of New Orleans who has earned a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Southeastern Louisiana University of Hammond. Dr. Gillam has been a Science teacher for nineteen years. She has helped write science district curriculum and assessments for Environmental Science. She is an advocate for the National Equity Project by being selected as a board member for the Black...

As president of Kelly® Education, Nicola Soares believes that education is the bedrock of a thriving society and that the talented people who work in our schools, colleges, and universities are crucial to powering the future of learning and unlocking student potential. Nicola has successfully led the expansion of Kelly Education from providing substitute teachers in K-12 schools across the U.S., t...

Repeat guest Dr. Brandi Kelly brings over 20 years of heart, hustle, and hands-on experience to the world of education. A licensed clinical social worker and Maxwell Certified Coach, she’s worn many hats — from school social worker to principal to superintendent. Along the way, she’s been honored with the NAESP Distinguished Elementary School Principal Award (2014) and Middle School Principal of t...

Dr. Teresa Hill is a speaker, author, and leader whose work focuses on underserved communities and making the system work for every child. She is devoted to eliminating achievement gaps and ending what she terms “failure as a default”. Her motto is “All children can learn . . . Period.” Dr. Hill began her career teaching thirty-one kindergarten students in Peoria, IL, has served as a principal and...

Peter Marshall has more than thirty-five years of experience as an educator. He has served as a teacher, school administrator, and system leader in Ontario, working in leadership and staff development as well as opening a new school. He currently serves as a Solution Tree Assessment Center Associate. Wrote Today’s Teachers, Tomorrow’s Leaders: A Guide to Identifying and Developing Future Administr...

Eugene Williams, Jr. received a B.A. in English from Emory University in 1991, and a M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from The University of Mary Washington in 2007. He is a writer, speaker, educator, and former child actor who has appeared on stage, screen, and television with such celebrities as Ray Charles, Pearl Bailey, and Stephanie Mills. In 1978, he became the first black child in a major, r...

Christine is an experienced educator with a wide range of experience in both private and public school settings with a focus in special education. She is passionate about equipping educators with knowledge & confidence to create engaging & welcoming classrooms. She brings her conscientious & ambitious mindset to the Making The Grade team. Find Christine online: Website: www.makingthegr...

Dr. Valcine Brown is a veteran teacher of high school English Language Arts serving in public education. Dr Brown holds a BA in English Literature, an MFA in Humanities: Creative Writing, an MFA in English Literature, and a PhD in Education: Curriculum and Instruction. Understanding the connection between literacy and economic prosperity, her passion is increasing literacy in adolescents, an often...

John is a Professor of Education in the College of Education at James Madison University. In 2015, John was awarded the inaugural Sarah Miller Luck Endowed Professorship. In 2021, John was honored with an Outstanding Faculty Award from the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia. Most recently, he was named a Madison Scholar in the College of Education and awarded the Madison Vision Teachin...

Jill Handley & Lara Donnelly are the authors of "What Can I Take Off Your Plate? A Structural—and Sustainable—Approach to Countering Teacher Burnout" Lara Donnelly, EdD, is a veteran teacher and school counselor in Jefferson County Public Schools (Kentucky). She is an education consultant, speaker, and author supporting schools and administrators with burnout, family engagement, and multilingu...

Casey Watts is the founder of Casey Watts Coaching & Consulting, LLC, and a Team Leadership Expert. She has over 20 years of experience in education as a classroom teacher, adjunct professor, academic coordinator, and district instructional specialist. She is passionate about empowering teams to move beyond silos and transform into cohesive, vision- driven powerhouses. Through strategic guidan...

Dr. John Chanaca is the founder of MJChanacapublishing LLC, a family-owned publishing company dedicated to creating heartwarming, educational stories that emphasize positive family values and parenting. He is the author of several children's books, including The Keymaker, Annie's Flutterflies, Color Your Own Story Books, and the Humor & Heart collection, which earned a Silver Medal in the Glob...

Jessica Haxhi has been the Supervisor of World Languages for New Haven Public Schools in Connecticut since 2013, overseeing 85 teachers of Arabic, ASL, Chinese, French, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Pashto, and Spanish. She also teaches one Japanese class at James Hillhouse High School. Jessica was President of ACTFL in 2021 and is a past President of the American Association of Teachers of Japanese....

As Lead Leader and Co-Founder of Jigsaw Learning, Kurtis has championed the call for collaborative structures in schools to ensure success for all students and enhance the collective efficacy of those dedicated educators working in classrooms. Kurtis works to establish responsive relationships with districts and system level leaders to design collaborative frameworks for educators and develop lead...