Schurtz and Ties: A podcast about education and culture
Inspired by the classroom, Kasey Schurtz and Brian T. Miller wrestle with how to become better teachers, leaders, and people.
Schurtz and Ties is sponsored by PeerDrivePD.com and is a proud member of the TeachBetter Podcast Network.
Recent Episodes
April 28, 2025
Ep. 105: How to "do Culture," change Culture, with Josh Tovar
When Josh Tovar prepares for the day, most everyone is still asleep. When he pulls into the parking lot, he enters a school packed full of cultures, differences, and diverse learning needs. He also has a school full of simila...
April 15, 2025
Ep. 104: April Engagement Madness with Jedd Hefer
March Madness may be over, but on the Schurtz and Ties show, the chaos continues! In this episode, Brian and Kasey invite Mr. Jedd Hefer back on to help them work through what impacts our classrooms and student behaviors the ...
April 10, 2025
Ep. 103: Stop Cancelling PD!
Time alone does not build culture. Cancelling PD does not support teachers. It may make teachers happy, but in the long run, canceling PD does not encourage teachers or ensure student success. In this episode, Brian and Kasey...
April 3, 2025
Ep. 102: Successfully navigating hard conversations, with Jennifer Abrams
Jennifer Abrams is an "international educational and communications consultant for public and independent schools, universities and non-profits," and in this episode, she brings profound wisdom, tangible strategies, and deep ...
March 19, 2025
Ep. 101: Instructional Leadership with Principal Kafele
There are few educational leaders like Principal Kafele. His wisdom, experience, insight, and strength are unmatched, and his message is on point. He recently published his new book, What Is My Value Instructionally to the Te...
March 13, 2025
Ep. 100: The boxes we carry
We've been together now for just under three years, and we are excited to celebrate this milestone with you! In this episode, Brian and Kasey spend a short time celebrating the moment but then spend the hour chatting about te...
March 7, 2025
Ep. 99: Design Thinking and "Feeling the toe pinch" with Julie Schell
Get your mind and pen ready! In this episode, Julie Schell takes us on a journey full of depth, purpose, and insight—walking us through how we think, encouraging us to feel the pinch of empathy, and clarifying the powers of p...
Feb. 25, 2025
Ep. 98: Teachers Deserve It, with Rae Hughart.
Educators are burning out. Quickly. But we don't have to! Nor do we have to overhaul our entire teaching practice. In fact, with a few minor changes, we can thrive! And so can our students. In this episode, Rae Hughart pulls ...
Feb. 20, 2025
Ep. 97: Ideas and Quotes worth (re)Considering
Did Maslow get it wrong? Does writing poetry make us brave? Are we needlessly nailing ourselves to the cross? Maybe. In this episode, Brian and Kasey discuss educational phrases and mindsets, work through a few powerful quote...
Feb. 13, 2025
Ep. 96: What we do when the lights go out, with Chris Gonsalvez
We don't have to travel far to find someone who is struggling. Be it a student, fellow teacher, neighbor, or friend, at some point, in some way, everyone will be asked to endure hard times. Often, we try and do it alone. In t...
Feb. 4, 2025
Ep. 95: Range of Knowledge and solving Impossible Problems
"No savant has ever changed the world," David Epstein writes in Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World. Generalists, however, have. And do. Yet, in our classrooms and schools - in our quest to raise children as...
Jan. 27, 2025
Ep. 94: We're in the dark ages of behavior management. Scott Ervin brings the light.
Scott Irvin is widely known as The Kid Whisperer, He is also the author of the Classroom Behavior Manual and strongly believes we are in the dark ages of behavior management. Fortunately, he has a plan. - Use your Argument S...
Dec. 20, 2024
Ep. 93: The Truth About Reading. An honest conversation.
The Truth About Reading is an "eye-opening documentary film from Emmy-winning director Nick Nanton" that attempts to reveal the truth about reading and the failure of public schools to teach it. In this episode, Brian and Kas...
Dec. 12, 2024
Ep 92: Smart Thinking, with Dr. Art Markman
Are our habits smart? Are they truly helpful? Are we acquiring high-quality knowledge or simple knowledge? And how do we know? Then, and most importantly, are we able to use it? The answers may not be as easy as we think. In ...
Dec. 3, 2024
Ep. 91: A Threat to the Model, with John Hattie
Few people have made a dent in the academic universe like John Hattie. In our brief conversation, it is easy to see why. In this episode, Kasey and Brian chat with John Hattie about sports, Visible Learning , what it means to...
Nov. 29, 2024
Ep 90: Overcoming Education: A conversation with Dr. Brad Gustafson
Dr. Brad Gustafson is a celebrated and award winning elementary principal, speaker, and author. He recently published his latest work, Overcoming Education: Complex Challenges, Difficult People, and the Art of Making a Differ...
Nov. 20, 2024
Ep. 89: Beware the wolves! A conversation with Amy Berry's Continuum of Engagement
Entertainment and manipulation, although low-hanging fruit that can easily change behaviors, are not true engagement. They're wolves. In this episode, using Amy Berry's Continuum of Engagement , Kasey and Brian work through t...
Nov. 8, 2024
Ep. 88: Ask questions. Listen well. Be interested. A conversation about Personal Engagement.
Before learners learn, they need to feel safe and sound. Before teachers teach, they need create a space that IS safe and sound. And we do so by building personal connections. - Enter with empathy. Say, "This isn't going to b...
Nov. 1, 2024
Ep. 87: Forget the students (not really), its all about the teachers! (no, really).
Being a teacher is unique. The struggles are real and the weight of responsibility overwhelming. Especially when tasked with doing "whatever it takes" for our students and schools. In this episode, Brian and Kasey discuss the...
Oct. 24, 2024
Ep. 86: "Who before the do." Intellectual Engagement with John Almarode
Grab your notes, sharpen you pen, and buckle up! In this episode, we take off quick and cover a TON of beautiful ground. John Almarode is an associate professor of education and the Executive Director of Teaching and Learning...
Oct. 17, 2024
Ep. 85: Be cautious, be free, be curious. The importance of Cultural Engagement
Cultural Engagement is essential to creating a safe and sound environment, and a safe and sound environment is essential to learning. In this episode, Kasey and Brian provide strategies for teachers and educational leaders th...
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