April 6, 2026

Courage as a Pre-Requisite: Empowerment & Collaboration in Middle Schools with Katie Powell - Ep 78

Courage as a Pre-Requisite: Empowerment & Collaboration in Middle Schools with Katie Powell - Ep 78
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How do we move from "working in silos" to a thriving, empowered school culture?
In this episode, we engage with Katie Powell, Director for Middle Level Programs for AMLE and author of Boredom Busters and Frustration Busters. Katie shares fascinating insights from AMLE’s research-evidenced best practices, specifically focusing on why leadership requires a blend of courage and collaboration.
In this episode, we discuss:
The link between staff empowerment and student success.
What "courageous leadership" looks like in a middle school setting.
Practical ways to bust frustration through better team dynamics.
Lessons learned from AMLE "Schools of Distinction."
About Our Guest: Katie Powell works closely with schools and districts through book studies, assessments, and professional development. Her work is dedicated to helping middle-grade educators create environments where both teachers and students can thrive.
Learn more about Katie Powell at http://teachbeyondthedesk.com

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Connect with Katie Powell
Email: kpowell@amle.org
X: @beyond_the_desk
LinkedIn: katiepowellbeyondthedesk/
Other: http://amle.org

Connect with Kurtis Hewson
Email: kurtis.hewson@jigsawlearning.ca
X: @hewsonk27
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hewsonk27
LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/kurtishewson
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#collaboration #norms #teamspirit #leadership #systems

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Music: “Culture of Collaboration” has been composed, recorded, and produced by Trent Ferguson for Building a Culture of Collaboration.

Images: Visuals included in this video not generated under agreement with Jigsaw Learning Inc. have been carefully selected under Creative Commons for their permissions.