Episodes
April 4, 2021
141. Will I Be Enough?: Featuring Dr. Basil Marin
Based on your past educational struggles, have you ever asked yourself, “Will I be enough in this leadership position?”. This week’s guests, Dr. Basil Marin, explains how his struggles in school created doubt about the impact...
March 27, 2021
140. The Teachers of OZ: Featuring Dr. Nathan Lang-Raad
When someone comes to you with a problem, do you immediately try to solve the issue? This week’s guests, Dr. Nathan Lang-Raad, explains how leaders need to use a coaching model of questions to find the best solutions and teac...
March 20, 2021
139. If the Dance Floor is Empty, Change the Song: Featuring Dr. Joe Clark
Have you ever been on the dance floor at a party or a wedding and when the DJ changes the song, everyone either runs on or off the dance floor? This week’s guests, Dr. Joe Clark, explains why leadership is similar to being a ...
March 14, 2021
138. All Means All: Featuring Zandra Jo Galvan
When you add resources or programs to your campus or district, how do you decide what students receive these new opportunities? This week’s guests, Zandra Jo Galvan, shares how when presented an opportunity to add multiple re...
March 6, 2021
137. Grit, Growth Mindset, and Grace: Featuring Jamie Peden and Kelly Starnes
In your district or on your campus, how are you identifying and supporting the social emotional needs of your students, staff, and parents? As many of you know, I believe, as a leader, we must focus on all aspects of a person...
March 1, 2021
Aspire Mailbag: Staff Retention with Hedreich Nichols
In the 19th Aspire Mailbag episode, Hedreich Nichols, Jeff Gargas, and I answer questions on different leadership topics provided by the listeners. Please join us for this episode as we answer questions and discuss how to ret...
Feb. 27, 2021
136. The 3 Ships: Relationships, Leadership and Partnerships: Featuring Randy Russell
Regardless of which direction it's headed, a ship encounters different weather patterns during its voyage: smooth sailing, the doldrums, and storms. Like a ship, life is unpredictable and ever-changing. The Captain needs to b...
Feb. 19, 2021
135. Characteristics of Deliberate Homework: Featuring Dr. Erik Youngman
In your school or district, how is homework utilized and graded? Has your philosophy of homework changed during the pandemic and online learning? Today's guest, Dr. Erik Youngman, discusses the role of homework and shares str...
Feb. 14, 2021
134. Social Emotional Learning for Adults: Featuring Tre Gammage
When you think of Social Emotional Learning (SEL), do you think about the procedures, curriculum, and skills needed for students? What about the adults in the building? How are they supported through your Social Emotional Lea...
Feb. 11, 2021
133. Trust-Based Observations: Featuring Craig Randall
As a teacher, have you ever received feedback from an administrator who only was in your classroom once, twice, maybe three times a year? And if you are the administrator, did you feel the time in the teacher’s class was enou...
Feb. 5, 2021
Aspire Mailbag: New Leadership Mistakes with Todd Nesloney
In this 18th Aspire Mailbag episode, Todd Nesloney, Jeff Gargas, and I answer questions on different leadership topics provided by the listeners. Please join us for this episode as we answer questions and discuss common mista...
Jan. 25, 2021
132. Principal Ed Survival Guide: Featuring Dr. Rachael George
As an administrator, there are days that can feel lonely and overwhelming, especially when you are new in the position. This week’s guest, Rachel George, shares her administrative struggles and humorous experiences to explain...
Jan. 21, 2021
Bonus Episode with Jeffrey Prickett, Brittany Rincon, Robert Breyer and Deanna Lough
I had the amazing opportunity to moderate during the Teach Better 12 Hour Live Event with four amazing educators and podcasters. In this bonus episode, Jeffrey Prickett, Brittany Rincon, Robert Breyer, Deanna Lough, and I dis...
Jan. 17, 2021
131. Small Bites of Equity Strategies: Featuring Hedreich Nichols
In a time where current events have created strong emotions, how are we able to have conversations about racism, equity, and injustice? This week’s guest, Hedreich Nichols, shares strategies she uses to facilitate difficult c...
Jan. 14, 2021
Bonus Episode: SEL Strategies with Hans Appel and Tre Gammage
I had the amazing opportunity to moderate during the Teach Better 12 Hour Live Event with two amazing educators. In this bonus episode, Hans Appel, Tre Gammage, and I discuss how to incorporate Social Emotional Learning (SEL)...
Jan. 9, 2021
130. Teaching in a Virtual World: Featuring CJ Reynolds
With the new experience of teaching virtually, many educators are struggling to teach in this new setting. What is the measure of success for teachers and students? What should our goal be as we teach online? This week’s gues...
Dec. 30, 2020
Aspire to RISE: Featuring Andrew Stanton
With the battle of teaching students from a variety of learning environments, our schools are challenged with uncovering and solving many community challenges at the same time. In today’s episode featuring Andrew Stanton, Sar...
Dec. 19, 2020
129. Esports Education Playbook: Featuring Jesse Lubinsky
As our educational setting has shifted dramatically in a short period of time, the teaching strategies and educational tools needed to be successful have pushed educators to discover new ways to provide information and collab...
Dec. 16, 2020
Aspire Mailbag: Coaching the Coaches with Brittany Rincon
In this 17th 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 and discuss how to coach the coaches, es...
Dec. 12, 2020
128. The Emotional Intelligent Leader: Featuring Dr. Adam Saenz
As educators, we know what an IQ is but what is an EQ? This week’s guests, Dr. Adam Saenz shares the critical value of practicing Social Emotional Learning skills in the classroom, for both students and faculty, to decrease n...
Dec. 5, 2020
127. The Principal Leadership Lab: Featuring Adam DeWitt and Dr. Jeffry Prickett
Although my two guests have been in education and known each other since the mid 1990’s, this year has been the most challenging in their careers. This week’s guests, Adam Dewitt and Dr. Jeffry Prickett share how during this ...