Episodes
July 16, 2022
200. Celebrating 200 Episodes with Sarah Johnson
In this week’s episode, we flip the script! Sarah Johnson is hosting the Aspire to Lead Podcast to celebrate the 200th episode and to learn about the exciting news of Joshua’s new educational role! Thank you to all of the loy...
July 11, 2022
199. Deconstructing Depth of Knowledge: Featuring Erik Francis
This week’s guest, Erik Francis, shares how depth of knowledge and questioning is the missing link in education. Join us as we break down the stages of depth of knowledge and how you can incorporate multiple strategies into y...
July 1, 2022
198. Frequently Asked Questions about Assessment: Featuring Tom Schimmer
This week’s guest, Tom Schimmer, dives into the frequent struggles and misperceptions of assessment practices. Tom provides excellent strategies to help provide feedback to your students and how to complete this important str...
June 25, 2022
197. The Design Thinking, Entrepreneurial, Visionary Planning Leader: Featuring Dr. Michael Nagler
This week’s guest, Dr. Michael Nagler, shares how he uses the motto “Think Differently” to shift his district into a problem solving and innovative group of educators, which prepare the students to be successful in their unkn...
June 18, 2022
196. The Personal Playlist of Mentorship: Featuring Noa Daniel
This week’s guest, Noah Daniel, shares how in her leadership journey, she needed mentors to provide guidance, wisdom, and inspiration to build beyond her position and explore new opportunities. In this episode, we discuss: TE...
June 12, 2022
195. We All Need to Play Right Now: Featuring BreAnn Fennell
This week’s guest, BreAnn Fennell, shares how play in the classroom can address the physical and emotional development of our students, while increasing engagement. In this episode, we discuss: The benefit of being an Ambassa...
June 6, 2022
194. Evolving with Gratitude: Featuring Lainie Rowell
Research proves that by intentionally practicing gratitude, we can dramatically improve our disposition, bringing us more joy and better health. Consistently and intentionally practicing gratitude can also lead to better rela...
May 30, 2022
193. We Teach to Inspire: Featuring Kyle Krueger and Wilkie Law
In this week’s episode, Kyle Krueger and Wilkie Law, share their struggles as a teacher and how providing their authentic self to their students allowed them to gain deeper relationships, model failure, and enhance creativity...
May 22, 2022
192. Aiming High to Increase Learning Gains: Featuring Evan Robb
Skillful leadership is critical as schools return to a new normalcy. Improving students’ learning and addressing the challenges many learners experienced due to recent learning interruptions are top priorities for all school ...
May 15, 2022
191. In the Face of Trauma: Featuring Leslie Stamper
In this week’s episode, my amazing wife, Leslie Stamper, offers trauma-informed strategies to help teachers identify and respond to student triggers, anxiety, and emotional dysregulation. In this episode, we discuss: Tools in...
May 8, 2022
190. The Reading Teacher’s Playbook: Featuring Eva Mireles
In this week’s episode, Eva Mireles offers coaching strategies to help teachers perfect their craft and see new ways to approach teaching reading concepts that fits their personal teaching style. In this episode, we discuss: ...
May 1, 2022
189. Infusing Creativity to Enhance Engagement: Featuring Nick Moskaluk
In this week’s episode, Nick Moskaluk offers educators strategies to enhance the inclusion of creativity into your lessons to enhance student engagement. In this episode, we discuss: Including Social and Cultural Responsive T...
April 23, 2022
188. Teach Your Class Off: Featuring CJ Reynolds
In today’s educational climate of budget shortages, rigid testing standards, and diminishing autonomy in the classroom, how can teachers bring creativity and passion back into their work? In this week’s episode, CJ Reynolds o...
April 17, 2022
187. Wisdom and Productivity: Featuring Dr. Efrain Martinez
This week’s guest, Dr. Efrain Martinez, shares his story of trauma and how it shaped him as a leader, impacted his productivity, and pushed him to focus on his mental health. In this episode, we also discuss: Using Emotional ...
April 9, 2022
186. Discipline Win: Featuring Dr. Andy Jacks
Why did we become school leaders and teachers? To educate, uplift, and inspire all students. So when things go wrong, why do schools seem to use exclusion as a first reaction, especially for kids that need to be in class the ...
April 5, 2022
Aspire to Lead Course Launch with the Teach Better Team
Aspire to Lead with Empathy, Creativity, and Passion I have a new book study course available for Aspire to Lead FREE on www.teachbetteracademy.com ! I had the wonderful opportunity to speak with Jeff Gargas, the COO of the T...
April 3, 2022
185. Moving Beyond for Multilingual Learners: Featuring Carly Spina
This week’s guest, Carly Spina, shares how, when it comes to serving our multilingual learners, there are countless ways for us to serve their needs and strengthen our school practices. In this episode, we also discuss: Break...
March 27, 2022
184. Foundation of Skills: Featuring Matt Dunbar
This week’s guest, Matt Dunbar, shares how developing the foundational and essential skills of our students is important for their future success in our local communities. In this episode, we also discuss: Relationships and C...
March 19, 2022
Aspire Mailbag: How to Finish Strong and Stay Motivated
In this 25th Aspire Mailbag episode, Jeff Gargas and I answer questions on different leadership topics provided by the listeners. Please join us for this episode as we answer questions on first year teachers, finding motivati...
March 12, 2022
183. Balancing Life as a Leader: Featuring Sarah Johnson
Is balancing the many things you are in charge of in your life too much? This week’s guest, Sarah Johnson, shares how a shift in her career forced her to learn how to lead without a title, balance multiple jobs, and explore h...
March 8, 2022
182. Personalizing Student Support Through Mastery Learning: Featuring Rae Hughart
This week’s guest, Rae Hughart, shares how she used mastery learning in her classroom, the creation of Dailey Drop In, and how she is providing teacher support as a member of the teach better team. In this episode, we also di...
Feb. 27, 2022
181. The Curation of Exploration: Featuring Evin Schwartz
What strategies do you use in the classroom to instill and enhance exploration on new subjects and real world connections? This week’s guest, Evin Schwartz, shares how his experience overseas led him to creating a business fo...
Feb. 19, 2022
180. Changing the Way We View Assessment: Featuring Natalie Vardabasso
How will we prepare young people to thrive in this uncertain future? This week’s guest, Natalie Vardabasso, shares how educators can use assessment, equity practices and social emotional strategies to enhance student experien...
Feb. 12, 2022
179. Transforming Learning with Technology: Featuring Debbie Tannenbaum
How are you using technology tools to empower students and give them ownership of their learning? This week’s guest, Debbie Tannenbaum, shares how educators can use technology tools to not only grow student achievement, but t...