Episodes

In this 27th 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 sustaining staff happiness, creating leadership growth, gaining support of your Superintendent, and the latest news with the Teach Better Team! Featuring Jeff Gargas and Joshua Stamper Follow Jeff Gargas: Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeffgargas Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_jeffgargas/ Follow Joshua S...

In this week’s episode, Michael and Sam discuss how they changed the perception of a technology coach, pushed the scope of their impact on instruction, and differentiated their professional development to meet the needs of the teachers. In this episode, we discuss: Building relationships with their teachers and staff to serve effectively Expanding the role of technology in the classroom And the TCEA conference presentations! About Michael Vick: I have been an educator for 12 years. I’ve been a...

In this week’s episode, Ken Ehrmann shares how he rebuilt his classroom to empower every student with a student-centered learning experience, which changed the trajectory of each lesson. In this episode, we discuss: Changing the typical trajectory of a lesson where students experience phenomena first and learn concepts second Incorporating STEM concepts into the curriculum And his podcast PowerED UP Podcast About Ken Ehrmann: Ken Ehrmann is a Pennsylvania Department of Education 2019 Teacher ...

In this week’s episode, Lauren Kaufman shares how she created a mentorship program for her district and the immediate impact it made on the lives of the mentees and the mentors. In this episode, we discuss: Approaching Leadership Through a Coaching Lens The Power of Connecting with other Leaders And her book contributions! About Lauren Kaufman: Lauren Kaufman is the Director of Literacy K-12 for a school district in Long Island, New York. With over 17 years in education, she has served as an a...

In this new BONUS episode, we learn from Frederick’s story of failure as he missed opportunities to have a crucial conversation with a special education teacher. Join us as we work through the resolution and the lesson learned through this misstep. About Frederick Buskey: Frederick is the founder of Strategic Leadership Consulting, and the host of The Assistant Principal Podcast. He is passionate about improving life and leadership for school leaders by making complex ideas simple and building t...

In this week’s episode, Dana Goodier shares her story of being an elective teacher, identifying several areas of the school system that she wanted to improve, and becoming a building leader to develop solutions. In this episode, we discuss: Supporting new teachers in your building Being the Administrator that is there to support teachers throughout the year, not just on scheduled observations Her podcast and book Out of the Trenches About Dana Goodier: Dana Goodier has served as a World Langua...

In this week’s episode, Brandon Beck shares how he is unlocking his student’s potential by seeking new practices for his classroom, such as bringing in a service dog and mentorship program to his school. In this episode, we discuss: Finding joy in the journey Leaning into areas that we are passionate about to be the best leader possible His podcast and book Unlocking Unlimited Potential About Brandon Beck: Dr. Brandon Beck is an educator, speaker, coach, and author of "Unlocking Unlimited Pote...

In this new BONUS episode, we learn from Danny Bauer’s story of failure as he had a crucial conversation with a teacher but used several ineffective communication strategies in the meeting. Join us as we work through the resolution and the lesson learned through this misstep. About Danny Bauer: Daniel Bauer is an unorthodox Ruckus Maker who has mentored thousands of school leaders through his Better Leaders Better Schools blog, books, podcasts, and powerful coaching experiences. Mastermind: Unlo...

In this week’s episode, George Couros shares stories of his leadership journey, advises on how to serve as a young leader, and explains how creating content enhances the trajectory of those we serve. In this episode, we discuss: How change is an opportunity to do something amazing Anxiety as a strength not a weakness “Not paying for a course twice” as a leader About George Couros: My name is George Couros, and I am currently an Innovative Teaching, Learning, and Leadership Consultant and speak...

In this new BONUS episode, we learn from Michael Earnshaw’s story of failure as he assumed a teacher took care of an important Special Education task and realized the miscommunication. Join us as we work through the resolution and the lesson learned through this misstep. About Michael Earnshaw: Michael Earnshaw, The Punk Rock Principal, is helping to change the game of education. By implementing a mobile office, Mr. Earnshaw has been able to be “all in” working with students and staff. Mike buil...

In this week’s episode, Tisha Richmond shares her experience of losing joy as a teacher and how using gamification in her classroom increased her happiness, student motivation, and overall engagement. In this episode, we discuss: How to create the “Extreme Lesson Makeover” The origin story of Tisha’s podcast And her book, Making Learning Magical! About Tisha Richmond: Tisha is a district Student Engagement and Professional Development Specialist, international speaker, and author from Southern...

In this week’s episode, Frederick Buskey shares the trap that all new leaders get caught in and how to shift into an effective and strategic leader. In this episode, we discuss: The black hole that new leaders fall into A timeline of action steps for new leaders to improve their practices And The Assistant Principal Podcast! About Frederick Buskey: Frederick is the founder of Strategic Leadership Consulting, and the host of The Assistant Principal Podcast. He is passionate about improving life...

In this new BONUS episode, we learn from Bryan Zwemke’s story of failure by not including his teachers in an important shift in procedure. Join me as I also share a similar mistake and how I worked through the misstep of not collaborating with my colleagues. About Bryan Zwemke: Bryan Zwemke is an Assistant Superintendent of Learning and Innovation in Illinois with 22 years of experience teaching and leadership in rural, suburban, and urban settings focused on student achievement and student enga...

In this week’s episode, Hunter Flesch shares his journey as a teacher, Masters student, and aspiring leader as he learns how to lead a building. In this episode, we discuss: Asking the correct questions as a new leader Finding ways to bring joy to teachers And his wonderful podcast, The Ed Essentials Podcast! About Hunter Flesch: Hunter Flesch is a current middle school teacher, mentor teacher, and host of “The Ed Essentials Podcast” where he gives teachers and leaders strategies that work! Hu...

In this week’s episode, Kim Gameroz breaks down the misconceptions of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and how to build a systematic approach to have the most impact with SEL. In this episode, we discuss: Creating a common language Making Morning Meetings meaningful And her upcoming book! About Kim Gameroz: Kim Gameroz is a change agent for schools and districts who seek to revolutionize classrooms by taking on a systematic approach to teaching social and emotional skills. For over 15 years, Ki...

I met my amazing guest at Teach Better 22 and we had a wonderful conversation, which I wanted to continue on the Aspire to Lead Podcast. In this week’s episode, Robert Dunlop shares his experiences on the pursuit of happiness and how a dark time in his life changed his perspective completely. In this episode, we discuss: Understanding and Learning from the Peaks and Valleys of our Professional Journey The Research on Happiness And his new book, STRIVE for Happiness in Education! About Robert D...

In this week’s episode, Bryan Zwemke shares how he started a new position this summer to serve his district in a new role. Regardless of your position, we all need support in our leadership journey and Bryan shares some wonderful strategies to connect and grow to gain leadership knowledge. In this episode, we discuss: The support and guidance needed to survive a new leadership position Personalized learning and the changes needed to enhance student soft skills And the Teach Better Administrator...

Today’s leaders face the challenge of leading five generations: Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and brand-new Generation Z teachers, along with Gen Alpha, today’s youngest students. In this week’s episode, Mark White, shares his research and experiences to address expectations implicit with leading each generation. In this episode, we discuss: Tactics for transitioning to 5-Gen Leadership and understanding distinct generations in teaching staff Advice for creating a welcoming environme...

In this week’s episode, Rose Griffen, shares her story of discovering a need with non- verbal autistic children and how she stepped up to create her own product to help support her students. In addition to the products she creates, Rose has become a huge resource in the special education space as she helps consult, speak, and teach about autism and communication skills. In this episode, we discuss: Strategies to enhance our communication Breaking down the misconceptions of Autism And her podcas...

After a fantastic weekend of learning and fun, I had to get one of my Teach Better Teammates on with me to recap this epic event. In this week’s bonus episode, Katie Miglin, provides some insight, behind the scenes stories, and additional information from the Teach Better 22 Conference! In this episode, we discuss: Key takeaways from Teach Better 22 Networking events and how to get connected And the 12 hour live show! About Katie Miglin: Katie Miglin was a former classroom teacher of 13 years ...

What do we do when we are at our breaking point and feel completely overwhelmed? For many, unfortunately, masking and ignoring the problems become the unhealthy solution. This week’s guest, Jeff Kubiak, is incredibly transparent and brave as he shares his battle with alcoholism, his focus on mental health, and how he is transforming his campus to focus on the social and emotional needs of his students and staff. In this episode, we discuss: Focusing on the Trauma of Staff and Students Equity Wa...

This week’s guest, Lindsay Lyons, shares how by including student voice and enhancing the curriculum to include opportunities to discuss important topics, the culture of the classroom increases equity and inclusiveness. In this episode, we discuss: Curriculum Design for Difficult Topics Student Partnership Opportunities And her podcast, Time for Teachership! About Lindsay Lyons: Lindsay Lyons (she/her) is an educational justice coach who works with teachers and school leaders to inspire educat...

This week’s guest, Jorge Valenzuela, shares his journey of how he was introduced to Emotional Intelligence in his personal life and how he used his action research to help districts implement sound SEL practices on their campuses. In this episode, we discuss: “Learning Walks” to Provide Feedback The Importance of Gathering Data for Action Research And his new podcast, SEL in Action Podcast! About Jorge Valenzuela: Jorge Valenzuela is an education coach, author, and advocate. He has years of ex...

This week’s guest, Kevin J. Butler, shares how he lost his passion to teach and how he transformed his teaching style to become more engaging. While teachers don’t train to be entertainers, teaching must capture students’ attention and at times entertain them. This doesn’t mean that every lesson has to be a Broadway musical number, but it does require educators to be intentional when engaging students in active learning. We discuss Kevin’s new book, Lights, Cameras, TEACH!, and how he brings the...