Leaders Coaching Leaders
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For current and aspiring education leaders, this podcast covers evidence-based approaches for tackling immediate needs to impact student learning. Every week Peter DeWitt and our guests get together to share ideas, put research into practice, discuss what's working and what's not in equity, SEL, burnout, learning recovery, and much more to help you ensure every student is learning not by chance, but by design.
Available episodes
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Nov 6, 2023
The Age of Identity: Who Do Our Kids Think They Are? with Dennis Shirley and Andrew Hargreaves
A perfect storm is upon us and educators are in the middle of it. Identity issues often incite and divide us, but they are actually our way out of the storm. This is what this episode’s guests, Andrew Hargreaves and Dennis Shirley, posit. In their latest book, The Age of Identity, they seek to shed light on this topic to help educators make meaning of this highly complicated issue. They demonstrate how to be vulnerable, ask questions, and interrogate our own thinking to better prepare young people for a future where they can learn to live together and help others belong.
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Oct 30, 2023
Leading for All with Jennifer Spencer-iiams
Too many schools still rely on deeply ingrained, segregated practices that fail to serve all students. Author of the book Leading for All and district leader Jennifer Spencer-iiams would like to change this. In this episode she shares lessons learned from spending nearly a decade building a school district where all students are served in their neighborhood school and in classrooms with their general education peers. Hear how to get better academic outcomes for all students, not just those identified with disabilities, by promoting self-efficacy, improving social and emotional health, and consistently implementing research-based instructional strategies.
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Oct 23, 2023
How to Deepen Collaboration with Your Teams with Mike Nelson
One does not often pair unreasonable and irrational with care and hospitality, but superstar superintendent Mike Nelson does. As he sees it, to get at the kind of collaboration most school leaders crave requires them go far deeper into human relations than usual. In this episode, he defines what he calls human interconnectedness and provides specific examples of what it looks like and how to get there. Topics include how to make your staff feel seen and heard every day, the benefits of taking the time to build strong connections and tips for fully immersing yourself in the daily experiences of those you lead.
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Oct 16, 2023
Happy Kids Don't Punch You in the Face with Ben Springer
When there’s a nuclear meltdown happening with a student in your school, you don’t have a second to think. Author and consultant Ben Springer, shares the framework from his bestselling book Happy Kids Don’t Punch You in the Face, to discuss what to do in the heat of the moment, and how you can decrease the chances of incidents happening in the first place. His approach is a field-tested, integrating principles of behavioral intervention with the best practices of positive psychology—a fresh, effective response that respects the tough realities facing today’s educators.
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Oct 9, 2023
The Rise and Fall of Balanced Literacy with Pamela Snow
On this episode, Pamela Snow, renowned speech-language pathologist and psychologist, gives an incisive analysis of how good people all over the world came to eschew the science of what works for reading instruction. She makes a compelling case for viewing school as a public health intervention, making it of the utmost importance that we get our teaching practices right. The bottom line is that while how we feel as educators matters, efficacy matters even more—and the two don’t have to be in competition. If you are looking for points to persuade educators to abandon low-value practices and to champion the right to literacy for all, you will find it in Pamela’s knowledge and wisdom.
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Oct 2, 2023
Your First 90 Days as a School Leader with Daniel Bauer
Have you ever started your school year as a principal feeling overwhelmed and pulled in a million directions? It’s a common experience and one not addressed explicitly in a many training programs. This episode’s guest, Daniel Bauer, is on to talk about a practical solution: creating the perfect principal entry plan. You will hear him discuss his framework that promises big payoffs for just a few hours of focused work. If you believe crystal clear clarity on your goals is the most efficient way to support your team and sustain continuous improvement, hit play.
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Sep 25, 2023
Serving Educational Equity with Sonya Murray and Gwendolyn Turner
Planning for equitable accelerated learning is analogous to preparing a meal. Similar to a chef selecting the menu, gathering ingredients, and planning the occasion, educators choose aligned curricula to prioritize learning to help students internalize instruction. Straight from their new book Serving Educational Equity, Sonya Murray and Gwendolyn Turner share with listeners how to distinguish acceleration from remediation, establish effective foundational instruction, expand student engagement for all students, and use student excellence as the driver for full equity.
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Sep 18, 2023
Why Educational Strategies and Student Outcomes are Not in Sync with Lyle Kirtman
Research repeatedly shows that educators spend a lot of time doing activities that do not connect to student outcomes. Not on purpose, but in a world with so many distractions it becomes easy to lose the North Star. In this podcast, author and consultant Lyle Kirtman implores us to shed any projects or behaviors that do not align with our goals for student outcomes. In fact, he stresses that this is imperative if we want to stop the rapid rate of burnout that is impacting schools at all levels. Listeners will get tips on how to talk to data-averse teachers about data, use guiding questions to make decisions about what to do and what not to do, and how to skillfully push back against mandates that run counter to a school’s mission.
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Sep 11, 2023
Are Our Leaders Ready? with Tim Cusack and Vince Bustamante
Schools need leaders, but fewer and fewer are entering into the position. And far too few are thriving once they are in the role. Two reasons: a mismatch of expectations and a lack of clarity about what the job entails. These signal that it is time to take a hard look at how we prepare aspiring leaders. Tim Cusack and Bustamante have surveyed the landscape, and share their findings in their latest book, Leader Ready. They propose four pathways to get budding leaders to bloom, including standards-based support, guided practice with mentors and mastery experiences.
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Sep 4, 2023
Onboarding New Teachers
New teaching staff, whether novice or veteran, are a central part of a successful school year. So why is it that they are often greeted at the door of our school community with the autopilot vibe of a ticket taker at the movies? In their latest book Onboarding Teachers, Fisher, Frey, Shin and Biscocho change the rules of engagement, offering activities and practical strategies that focus leaders and coaches on critical aspects of success for that make-or-break first year.
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May 15, 2023
Even More Learning Made Visible with John Hattie
The one and only John Hattie joins LCL to share the sequel of his seminal book, Visible Learning. It is not merely an update on previous content, but a concerted effort to focus on what we don’t already know about, along with data that has changed. He also discusses the importance of paying attention to what teachers believe about learning, the need to highlight the many schools doing the work well and how to choose where to focus our limited time as educators. He reminds us that teachers and leaders have some of the highest coping strategies of any profession and that there is much to celebrate in all we do.
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May 8, 2023
Adaptive Challenges, Collective-Efficacy, Confirmation Bias and More with Jennie Donohoo and Steven Katz
Scheduling common planning times is not just about moving some pieces around on a chart. It is also about the educators who enter these spaces and the beliefs they carry with them. In this episode Donahoo and Katz help listeners see that many decisions have both a technical and adaptive aspect to them. They ask listeners to reflect on unhelpful stories, bogus barriers, overconfidence, and other behaviors that need interruption. They also implore leaders to get comfortable with discomfort because it is the only way to get good ideas to stick.
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May 1, 2023
Mastery Learning with Tom Guskey
Going deep into education research can feel daunting, but not when you’re listening to Tom Guskey. Sharing the highlights from his latest book, Implementing Mastery Learning, third edition, Guskey begins with a short history of mastery learning and ends with its continued relevance today. You will hear about formative assessment, effective correctives, high-quality enrichment, how to change mindsets, and much more. Rooted in a conviction that every students should have access to the tools of a scholar, Guskey reaffirms our belief that excellence for all is possible.
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Apr 24, 2023
So...How is Student Behavior Going? with Larry Thompson
How much training did you get on classroom management before you became a leader or teacher? The answer is probably: not much—and we are seeing the catastrophic results. Larry Thompson is on a mission to elevate this work, so it stands shoulder to shoulder with all we know about curriculum and instruction. He views poor behavior as a skill deficit that can be improved with strategic coaching. Thompson touches upon how to listen to what a child is actually saying when they are upset, “spot” them in ways that build their autonomy and agency and ultimately advance high-quality culture in your school.
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Apr 17, 2023
How To Get Your Next Initiative to Stick with James Marshall
Do you know how to identify the white space in your organization? No? Well not knowing could explain why some of your great ideas fail to gain traction. In this podcast, James Marshall discusses how school leaders can master successful implementation. Based on his new book Right From the Start, Marshall sets forth a pathway to get predictable results from your programming. From needs assessment straight through to evaluation, you’ll get user-friendly guidance on how to tackle this work with confidence.
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Apr 10, 2023
Making Black Success Predictable with Joseph Johnson
Joseph Johnson, an expert in urban education reform, shares what leaders in high performing urban schools do differently. He skillfully articulates that great achievement with these students is not an anomaly and, in fact, reliably occurs when certain pieces are in place. This includes making students and families feel valuable, focusing on mastery, ensuring culturally responsive teaching, progress monitoring and so much more. Johnson calls on listeners to reject the status quo that keeps so many students stuck. Instead, he shows how we can look to models of excellence for the strategies that actually work to help urban students thrive.
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Apr 3, 2023
Leading While Female with Trudy Arriaga, Stacie Stanley and Delores Lindsey
If we look at the data, we can safely say women are doing the work of classroom teaching while disproportionately, men are making administrative and leadership decisions. On this episode, three school leaders discuss how to start breaking down barriers and leading the way for future generations of women leaders. This includes finding the right mentors, identifying the differences in the superintendency versus the instructional track and embracing traditionally “female traits” in leadership roles. This open and honest conversation will point all listeners towards a more inclusive leadership environment.
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Mar 27, 2023
A Brain Friendly Chat with David Sousa and Carol Ann Tomlinson
In this episode, world renown neuroscientist David Sousa and differentiated instruction expert Carol Ann Tomlinson discuss matters of the brain and its connection to effective instructional strategies. Listeners will hear why cooperation, engagement and belonging are precursors to achievement and what they can start to do about it. They will also get some updated definition of terms in desperate need tweaking. Whether you think you know a lot about learning and the brain, or are just getting started, this episode will help you walk away with some new tools to improve practice.
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Mar 20, 2023
Restoring Humanity Through Personalized Learning with Paul France
“If it’s not sustainable, then it’s not best practice.” This quote speaks to Paul France’s commitment to honor both teachers and students. In this episode, France provides a clear yet nuanced understanding of personalized learning. He explains how personalized learning is different from other adjacent concepts such as differentiated instruction and individualized learning plans. He advocates for a process that respects teacher knowledge and time, the optimal learning environment for students and the need for all to have a voice.
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Mar 13, 2023
How to Realistically Retain Your Joy with Debbie Silver
School leaders and teachers have really been through it the last few years. Remaining optimistic can be quite a challenge under such circumstances. Enter Debbie Silver—speaker, author, humorist—to shed light on how to stay positive in 2023 and beyond. She shares four strategies from her new edition of Deliberate Optimism including getting accurate data and remembering how to focus what you can control. Always rooted in pragmatism and realism, Silver discusses how educators can get their power back and reclaim the joy in education.
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Nov 7, 2022
More Courageous Leadership with Mike Soules
This episode’s guest is not a school leader, but as President of Corwin Publishing, Mike Soules knows a thing or two about staying buoyant in troubled waters. Like leaders everywhere, he was tasked with steadying the company during Covid and its aftermath. He discusses what he learned about leadership during times of crisis, holding true to your values even when external pressures are high and spearheading innovative approaches to common challenges. He also shares an exciting new development that underscores Corwin’s commitment to using high quality research to support educators’ professional development needs.
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Oct 31, 2022
7 Mindshifts for Tackling Old Problems in Education with Connie Hamilton, Joseph Jones and T.J. Vari
Poor achievement scores, teacher turnover, funding shortfalls and political pressures. These are just a few issues that have dogged the education profession for years; they seem intractable. But this session’s guests disagree. They believe we need a few mindshifts to spark our collective efficacy for tackling these problems. They also believe certain leadership behaviors which emerged to help manage the Covid crisis are valuable to retain and apply to these perennial problems in education. They discuss how different mindshifts are suited to particular challenges, offer leaders a way to reignite their passion for finding solutions to tough issues and frameworks for processing old problems in new ways.
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Oct 24, 2022
The 10th Anniversary of Putting FACES on the Data with Lyn Sharratt
Education luminary Lyn Sharratt shares updates on her seminal book with Michael Fullan, Putting FACES on the Data. Data and accountability are important to a school’s success. Yet as important as numbers and targets are, without the “why”, meaning is lost. Reminding ourselves of the children in front of this data is key to improving instruction. Listen as Lyn shares the origins of this practice, strategic moves that make everyone a leader of learning, and the infrastructure she has built— including an online suite of classes—to help educators do this life-changing work.
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Oct 17, 2022
So You Think You Want to Write a Book…
There is a question that Peter Dewitt gets often: How do I go about getting a book published? In fact, he’s heard it so much, that we decided to pull back the curtains on this process for interested listeners. Tanya Ghans, Corwin acquisitions editor and Morgan Fox, Corwin marketing manager, share some tips for getting a book proposal noticed. You will hear about how to know if you have a viable idea, what marketing looks like in the 21st century, dealing with rejection and more.* *
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Oct 11, 2022
Transforming Schools for Multilingual Learners with Debbie Zacarian
*In this episode, Debbie Zacarian shares updates in the world of educating multilingual learners. This research includes a more nuanced understanding of the socicultural underpinnings of language development, a shift from deficit to asset-based models that affirm the value of multilingualism, a greater appreciation of the importance of both culturally responsive instruction and more. Debbie proposes a thorough revision to address all these developments that keeps the needs of multilingual students front and center.*
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Oct 3, 2022
How Welcoming is Your School? A Frank Discussion About Recruiting and Retaining People of Color with Howard Fields and Darryl Diggs
Retention is crucial for school sustainability. The historical knowledge and experience that longtime staff members have is often unparalleled. Therefore, the high turnover rate we are seeing today, and frankly always for some schools, is nothing less than devastating for school communities. When we add on to that retaining teachers of color, the effects are multiplied. This episode’s guests, Darryl Diggs and Howard Fields, speak candidly about the conditions in many schools that make some black and brown staff members feel unwelcome. They ask leaders to consider whether they are asking some groups of people to leave too much of themselves at the classroom door or signaling that certain perspectives are unwelcome. In other words, does a leader’s school culture and environment truly align with their diversity goals. They also urge leaders to get think outside of the box regarding recruitment efforts: flipped job fairs, apps that link applicants and organizations via phones, the best…
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Sep 26, 2022
“We are not all the same!” How to Differentiate Supervision with Ann Mausbach and Kim Morrison
Many teachers recoil at term “supervision.” Who can blame them. So often it is something done to teachers with a tenuous connection to their unique, professional needs. Authors Ann Mausbach and Kim Morrison are on a mission to fix that. In this episode, they remind leaders that teachers need differentiation as much as students do; there is no one size fits all approach. They also know that this can be a tricky task for busy administrators, so they share their framework to help leaders conceptualize and execute high quality supervision across the school year, including co-constructing look fors, layering feedback, gathering relevant data and incorporating findings seamlessly into professional development. With their method of differentiated supervision, teachers will be a lot happier when leaders and coaches walk into their classrooms because they know the focus will be all about support.
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Sep 19, 2022
Teacher Retention: Who’s Abandoning Whom? with Michael Fullan and Joanna Rizzotto
In a follow up to their widely popular Edweek article, the luminary Michael Fullan and seasoned practitioner Joanna Rizzotto discuss the roots of our teacher retention problem—the system of schooling itself. They contend that we need to shift to a humanity-based model where schools and communities can experience greater local autonomy and improve practices from the bottom up. One of the first steps is to have the more centralized figures connect with the people on the ground; the educators, parents, and students who see it all first. Such interactions would truly show teachers and other community members their value and give district leaders the data they need to make the most effective, holistic decisions. As Fullan and Rizzotto see it, teachers—especially those that stick around—have never left their calling, they have just abandoned an outmoded structure that too often isn’t nimble or responsive enough changing times.
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Jul 4, 2022
Leader Credibility with Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey, and Cathy Lassiter
When we see a great leader in action, it can seem like magic. But thankfully it’s not. In fact, there is a science behind the people we trust and want to follow. It is the science of credibility. In this session you will hear about the five essential traits of leaders who inspire and influence others. You can begin to reflect on your own practice and discover intentional moves that transform schools into vibrant spaces of learning and innovation.
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Jun 27, 2022
Schools on the Move with Jay Westover and Chris Steinhauser
A coherent system has never been more important for schools. In fact, the best buffer against crisis, learning loss, and changing human resources is a school that has uniform systems, shared language, and a common vision. This net provides the structure for continuous learning at both the teacher and student level. If you are a district leader, the trick is to keep all the schools in focus and on the same page so that that the system moves like one organism. Our guests today will help clarify this complexity and map a path for keeping schools on the move.
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Jun 20, 2022
A Smarter Way to Discuss the Reading Wars with Kareem Weaver
Many educators are tired of the pendulum swinging so often when it comes to reading instruction. And while this fatigue is understandable, the low reading rates of so many children demand continued attention. In fact, many argue that it is the social justice issue of our time. Kareem Weaver would agree and has spent most of his career fighting for a student’s right to read. He has learned many lessons on how to cut through the polarization and grow a coalition of leaders who are fighting for the same cause. Find out Kareem’s groundbreaking insights on what he calls “full and complete reading”, leader development, the hidden chasm between educators and students, and steps to end the reading wars once and for all.
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Jun 13, 2022
Family Matters with Steve Constantino
Behind every great school are active and engaged families. Period. Yet it can be so easy for this to fall through the crack for busy leaders. Today’s bestselling author will break down why it’s important to prioritize engaging families, how engaging families has shifted in our current time, and give some practical tips that work quickly. He will convince you that developing relationship with families, especially those that appear disengaged or those who have been disenfranchised, is one of the most important things you can do as a school leader.
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Jun 6, 2022
How De-implementation Can Ease Overwork with Peter DeWitt
In this episode, Peter Dewitt discusses the concept of de-implementation and why it’s a term that should be on every leader’s mind. He sounds the alarm on what will continue to happen to our school communities if we don’t start easing the overwhelming workload for teachers and principals. With its origins in the medical field, Peter explains how de-implementation is also useful in the field of education for tackling the challenge of overwork. He will share the different forms it can take and when it makes sense to use a formalized process to lessen waste, increase results, and support major school improvement efforts.
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May 31, 2022
Dear School Leaders
Leaders today know that teacher voice matters, yet getting honest feedback can be elusive. In this episode, four veteran teachers discuss what is top of mind for them as they educate our students. Topics range from current ideas in math and ELA to how you can help keep heated political issues away from their classrooms. If you have ever wanted to be a fly on the wall and hear what your most respected and productive teachers have to say, this is the session for you.
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May 23, 2022
How to Help Leaders Stick Around
We all know the principal who has led their school for over a decade. How does that happen? What makes them feel like they can make a difference year after year. Our guests would say it is likely the kind of training and support they received before ever stepping into the role. This includes apprenticing expert leaders, engaging in relevant learning tasks, taking risks, and celebrating mastery to name a few. To nourish future leaders, and stem the growing tide of attrition, it’s all about setting them up for success in the first place.
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May 16, 2022
The Meeting You Need to Have
Collaborative does not always mean productive or responsive. Earmarking time in the day for educators to meet and discuss the needs of children is essential, but only if these meetings scale solutions and build teacher capacity. In this episode find out how you can efficiently respond to the needs of individual and small groups of students while building your school’s overall collective efficacy.
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May 9, 2022
Do You Really Understand Equity? with Dr. Tammy Campbell and Dr. Chaunte Garrett
Today, we hear the rallying cry for equity all around us. Education leaders champion its cause, but how seamlessly is the work folded into their everyday practice? Equity cannot stand alone or be part of a title given to some person working somewhere in the organization. For it to be realized, school and district leaders must see it as inseparable from other aspects of leadership and create systems that activate it in every classroom, for every student. In this episode, listen as two recognized superintendents share how they unpack and operationalize equity in their schools.
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May 2, 2022
Courageous Leadership with Michael Fullan, Mark Edwards, Marty Polio, and Joris Ray
Covid. Book bans. Polarizing legislation. The last few years have been relentless in their efforts to pull district leaders’ attentions away from the normal business of running schools. But some leaders have remained a true beacon of light, keeping everyone’s eye on what is best for students. They remind educators that it is not SEL, or academics, or inclusion, but all of the above if we want an effective response to current challenges; that courage is the trait that precedes all others when deciding how to respond in a crisis. Listen as four leaders from all over the country show how they use their “spirit” to stay focused, build belonging, and successfully lead their schools.
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Nov 1, 2021
Leading 5 Generations in Your School With Mark White
For the first time in recent history, school leaders have five generations in their schools: Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z (entering as brand-new teachers), and Gen Alpha students. In this far-reaching episode, Peter DeWitt and Mark White discuss how schools can leverage new technology to reach their youngest teachers and students, how to retain and attract more Millennials and Gen Z teachers, and how to move from managing to coaching with all generations.
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Oct 25, 2021
Improving Leadership Team Habits With Anthony Kim
In schools, the logistics of how our teams work together are just as important as what we work together to do. In this super practical episode, organizational development expert Anthony Kim shares better habits for school leadership teams to adopt.
Anthony is the CEO of Education Elements and the author of The New Team Habits and The New School Rules.
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Oct 18, 2021
Empowering Women in School Leadership With Trudy Arriaga and Delores Lindsey
The stories we tell about school leadership are predominantly male - but that needs to change. In this important episode, authors Trudy Arriaga and Delores Lindsey share new stories about women in school leadership, and paint a picture of what gender equity actually looks like.
Trudy Arriaga and Delores Lindsay, along with Stacie Stanley, are the authors of Leading While Female: A Culturally Proficient Response for Gender Equity.
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Oct 11, 2021
Supporting Students in Poverty With Horacio Sanchez
Dr. Horacio Sanchez brings a wealth of expertise and knowledge to this deep dive into the effects of poverty on learning. Covering language development, empathy, behavior, and bias, this wide-ranging episode will center on what school leaders need to know to support students from impoverished situations.
Dr. Sanchez is the author of The Poverty Problem: How Education Can Promote Resilience and Counter Poverty's Impact on Brain Development and Functioning.
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Oct 4, 2021
Building Up Your Leadership Teams With Peter DeWitt
In this episode, host Peter DeWitt sits in the hot seat to talk about his new book, Collective Leader Efficacy. Much has been written about the power of teachers' collective efficacy to impact student learning - but Peter has found that collective efficacy can enhance the role of instructional leadership teams as well. In this episode, Peter shares the 8 drivers that instructional leadership teams can use to build their collective efficacy.
Learn more about Peter and sign up for his monthly newsletter at https://petermdewitt.com/.
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Sep 27, 2021
Leveling Up Your Leadership With Daniel Bauer
Daniel Bauer, self-proclaimed Ruckus Maker and host of the Better Leaders Better Schools podcast, is all about improving leadership development through masterminds: small groups of school leaders coming together to support each other and "level up" their leadership. Danny quotes Jim Rohn in saying that you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with, and argues that the best way to lead is from a place of authenticity, belonging, and challenge found in community.
Order Daniel's new book, Mastermind: Unlocking Talent Within Every School Leader here. Learn more about Daniel's work at https://betterleadersbetterschools.com/.
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Sep 20, 2021
Affirming Every Student's Humanity With Sharone Brinkley-Parker, Tracey Durant, Kandice Taylor, Lisa Williams, Kendra Johnson, and Johari Toe
To prioritize all students' dignity as humans sometimes requires us to step outside of our comfort zones. In order to achieve racial equity, we have to interrogate and dismantle the structures that currently maintain the inequitable status quo. This is messy, uncomfortable work - and yet it's entirely necessary to accomplishing our goals. In this episode, the six authors of Humanity Over Comfort share their thoughts on how we can all contribute to achieving equity.
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Sep 13, 2021
Establishing Better Mentoring Systems with Carol Radford
Author, speaker, and expert mentor Carol Radford shares her expertise on why mentoring continues to be an important element of any teacher's success - but especially for new teachers after COVID-19. Mentoring is key to raising teachers' self-efficacy, helping them improve, and building their confidence to lead to competence. Carol's work also centers the student as the focus of any mentoring conversation between leaders and teachers. This episode is a must-listen for leaders who want to build a better mentoring program in their schools!
Carol is the author of two bestselling books for mentors and mentees: Mentoring in Action (for mentors) and The First Years Matter (for novice teachers). Her newest book, Teaching With Light, offers teachers 10 lessons for finding wisdom, balance, and inspiration.
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Sep 6, 2021
High Expectations and Authenticity With Debbie Silver
Power house speaker and author Debbie Silver joins Peter DeWitt to talk about the importance of reaching students with authenticity and empowering them with high expectations. Debbie is a well known speaker on resilience and cultivating intrinsic motivation - and never has there been a time when those are needed more! She shares how leaders can help to recognize the genius in all of their teachers and establish a learning culture of high expectations.
Her bestselling book, Fall Down 7 Times, Get Up 8 (2nd Edition), helps leaders and teachers cultivate a culture of high expectations and resilience in their schools.
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Aug 30, 2021
What Will You NOT Do This Year? With John Hattie
In our first episode of Season 2, John Hattie joins Peter DeWitt to talk about the benefits of de-implementation, or deciding what NOT to do in the 2021-2022 school year. After COVID-19 forced many school districts to simplify, the temptation is to pick up again with lots of new programs to combat "learning loss" and other initiatives. John argues that leaders and teachers must take a different approach - one focused on understanding each child's learning individually, looking at the evidence, and making adjustments from there.
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May 3, 2021
Accelerating Learning After COVID-19 with Doug Fisher and Nancy Frey
COVID-19 was the disruption none of us wanted or expected - but it happened. Now school leaders have a choice: Will you contribute to the negative narratives surrounding it, or rebound better than before? In this informative and practical episode, Peter talks with Doug Fisher and Nancy Frey about shifting the narrative from "learning loss" to "learning leaps." There are several ways to accelerate learning as we rebound:
* teacher clarity
* collective student efficacy
* reciprocal teaching
* paying attention to feedback from kids
* and so much more
It's time to celebrate all that we've learned and how far we've come as a community.
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Apr 27, 2021
The Game of Grading with Tom Guskey
Grading in the U.S. is typically a hodge podge amalgamation of many measurements: homework, quizzes, tests, projects, participation, and many other factors. Grading often becomes a game for many students, and some students simply refuse to play. But author Tom Guskey is hoping we can change our grading practices so that we (and students) no longer see grading as an end in itself, but instead as just a reflection of a moment in time. In this episode filled with personal stories and examples, Peter and Tom will discuss:
* the downfalls of percentage grading
* how grading is sometimes used as a punishment
* Tom's recommendations for better grading practices
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Apr 19, 2021
Engaging Kids in Learning Transfer with Julie Stern
Memorization is not enough; applying what you know to new and novel situations is a necessary skill for all students today. This skill is called learning transfer, and it's the topic of today's episode with author Julie Stern. Julie talks about the importance of how teaching conceptual understanding can be a powerful way to engage students not only in learning, but in processing their own experiences. Listen in to hear:
* practical examples of how to teach learning transfer
* how to transition from teaching to standards to teaching concepts
* how teaching concepts helps you teach standards more easily and efficiently
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Apr 12, 2021
Demystifying Collective Efficacy with Megan Tschannen-Moran and Jenni Donohoo
Collective efficacy has become a buzzword in recent years - with accompanying misunderstandings, misapplications, and criticisms. In this de-mystifying and debunking episode, Peter DeWitt talks with collective efficacy experts Megan Tschannen-Moran (author of Evocative Coaching) and Jenni Donohoo (author of Leading Collective Efficacy). The authors clarify that collective efficacy is about our collective beliefs in our own power to positively influence student learning. If a teacher (or leader) team has collective efficacy, then setbacks, challenges, and failures don't derail them. COVID-19 has actually provided a lot of opportunities for leaders and teachers to build collective efficacy throughout the school community. In this episode, you'll learn:
* The benefits and criticisms of collective efficacy
* The relationship between self-efficacy and collective efficacy
* The building blocks of collective efficacy
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Apr 5, 2021
The Imperative of SEL with John and Jessica Hannigan
John & Jessica Hannigan, authors of SEL From a Distance, speak from their own experience about how important social-emotional learning (SEL) is for students, teachers, and school leaders. SEL is not something that comes to any of us naturally; the skills to take care of ourselves must be taught explicitly. The authors share how to do that from a distance (i.e. online in virtual teaching), as well as in person. Full of personal stories, you will learn in this episode:
* how to teach kids SEL explicitly
* the importance of taking care of ourselves as educators
* how to build clarity and a common understanding of SEL
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Mar 29, 2021
The Right Drivers for Whole System Success with Michael Fullan
After publishing a 2011 paper on the four wrong drivers of school system reform, Michael Fullan sits down with Peter DeWitt to talk about the new right drivers that bring whole system success: wellbeing, social intelligence, equality investments, and systemness. School and system leaders can use these four drivers to focus on the right priorities as schools recover from COVID-19 and seek to accelerate learning again. Listen to hear:
* How we are democratizing leadership post-COVID
* Why having a mindset of systemness can help you "exploit upward, liberate downward, and lateralize everywhere"
* How "big spirit" can help leaders rise above hopelessness and lean into learned hopefulness.
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Mar 22, 2021
Re-Engaging Multilingual Learners with Debbie Zacarian, Margarita Calderon, and Margo Gottlieb
After distance learning in 2020, schools have an opportunity to engage multilingual learners and their families in a whole new way - or maybe even for the first time. In this episode, Peter DeWitt talks with Debbie Zacarian, Margarita Calderon, and Margo Gottlieb, the authors of Beyond Crises, about how school leaders can reach this population of students and families. The authors share practical starting points and real stories from schools doing amazing work.
You'll hear:
* why starting with a strengths-based approach, rather than a deficit lens, is so crucial;
* how district leaders can make supporting multilingual learners a priority;
* how to give multilingual students agency.
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Mar 2, 2021
Season 1 Trailer: Dwight Carter on Maintaining a Positive School Climate
We live in an age of hyperchange - with disruptions piling on top of each other. In our first episode of Leaders Coaching Leaders, award-winning principal Dwight Carter shares how school leaders can maintain positivity in the midst of accelerating changes - and even learn to embrace them. Not all disruptions are negative - some are actually necessary for growth. In his new book, co-authored with Mark White, Leading Schools in Disruptive Times, 2nd edition, Dwight and Mark show leaders the Coping, Adjusting, Transforming (CAT) framework for responding to disruption.
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Mar 2, 2021
Leading SEL by Modeling It with James Bailey and Randy Weiner
School leaders often make decisions to help their students and staff - but when it comes to investing in themselves, they are notoriously negligent. This is a big mistake, as James Bailey and Randy Weiner, authors of The Daily SEL Leader, point out. Social-emotional learning is personal work, and school leaders have to be willing to engage in the work themselves before they can lead others in doing the work. In this episode, Peter DeWitt talks with the authors to learn:
* The unlikely aspects of SEL you might be neglecting
* How to approach SEL work with honesty and authenticity
* The cost of not embracing SEL for yourself and your school
Learn more at corwin.com/leaderscoachingleaders
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Mar 2, 2021
Navigating Resistance to Equity Work with Candace Raskin and Melissa Krull
In this episode, Peter talks with Candace Raskin and Melissa Krull, authors of Principal Leadership for Racial Equity: A Field Guide for Developing Racial Consciousness. They discuss why there is resistance to "doing what's right for students," and how school leaders can start to break down or go around that resistance. They stress the importance of developing our racial consciousness as leaders - especially as white leaders - before we can support teachers and students of color. Listen to learn:
* How we all are socialized to race, and how that socialization impacts our students
* What is the "white code"?
* How to navigate resistance to equity work
Learn more at corwin.com/leaderscoachingleaders
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Mar 2, 2021
Thriving Through Hyperchange with Dwight Carter
We live in an age of hyperchange - with disruptions piling on top of each other. In our first episode of Leaders Coaching Leaders, award-winning principal Dwight Carter shares how school leaders can maintain positivity in the midst of accelerating changes - and even learn to embrace them. Not all disruptions are negative - some are actually necessary for growth. In his new book, co-authored with Mark White, Leading Schools in Disruptive Times, 2nd edition, Dwight and Mark show leaders the Coping, Adjusting, Transforming (CAT) framework for responding to disruption.
Learn more at corwin.com/leaderscoachingleaders
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