Episodes
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 ...
Nov. 25, 2020
Aspire to RISE: Featuring Brianna Zwiefelhofer
As we battle the trials of a pandemic, many leaders are asking one similar question. How do we create and maintain a positive school environment during a crisis? In today’s episode featuring Brianna Zwiefelhofer, Sarah Johnso...
Nov. 21, 2020
126. Pause. Breathe. Flourish: Featuring William D. Parker
In your current position, have you worked so hard for so long that you feel like you are going to crash and burn? This week, William D. Parker, shares how his first year as an Assistant Principal almost became his last. Willi...
Nov. 14, 2020
125. Increasing Equity Practices: Featuring Andre Daughty
In a previous Aspire episode, I had a wonderful conversation with Dr. Sheldon Eakins as we discussed the issues of racial justice, equity and implicit bias. After that conversation, I was convicted to assess not only my own p...
Nov. 7, 2020
124. Tools for Distance Education: Featuring Jake Miller
As the year has progressed, the educational landscape has changed dramatically during the school year. Districts throughout the country have multiple learning environments from distance learning, face to face or a hybrid syst...
Nov. 2, 2020
123. Assessing the Teacher Evaluation Process: Featuring Michael Earnshaw and Joshua Buckley
We are starting the season of teacher evaluations and there are many questions from the teacher and administrator perspectives. In this episode we are going to be answering many questions on this topic, such as: Have you ever...
Oct. 28, 2020
Aspire Mailbag: New Practices to Continue with Jeff Gargas and Joshua Stamper
In this 16th 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 preparing staff for changes,...
Oct. 23, 2020
122. Teachers on Fire: Featuring Tim Cavey
Have you ever interviewed for a job only to find you were not selected for the position? This experience can be extremely painful and defeating. This week’s guest, Tim Cavey, shares how he overcame the disappointment, changed...
Oct. 18, 2020
121. Growing Through Connection and Creation: Featuring Chey Cheney and Pawan (Pav) Wander
I want to kick this episode off with a statement and I want to see if you agree. As a leader, you can grow and learn from creating content. Now, initially, you may think that to create content we have to have all the answers...
Oct. 13, 2020
Aspire to RISE: Featuring Adam Cottos
It’s the chicken before the egg dilemma of career advancement. How does a person gain experience while not in the role they seek when aspiring up the proverbial career ladder? In today’s episode featuring Adam Cottos, we tack...
Oct. 9, 2020
120. Define Your Why: Featuring Barbara Bray
Today, I wanted to bring on someone to help us reflect and refocus on what is important in our profession. As we are being challenged each day, it is so vital that we discover our “why”. Why do we work with students and Why d...
Oct. 3, 2020
119. Prime to SHINE: Featuring LaVonna Roth
Have you ever learned what not to do as a leader by experiencing a toxic working environment or encountering constant negative communication? This week’s guest, LaVonne Roth, shares how her negative experience in the business...
Sept. 26, 2020
118. The Collaborative Classroom: Featuring Trevor Muir
In a recent study, 3000 employers were asked, what is the #1 skill they were seeking in their future employees? I know for myself, my mind went straight to hard work, content knowledge, and honesty, which are all important ch...