How can districts reverse chronic absenteeism and gain a deeper understanding of why students don’t come to school? Can we measure how “connected” students are to their schools? How do we impact the level of connection they feel with potential mentors in their lives? I invited Jen Perry to episode 172 of the De Facto…
Tag: counseling
EP 171: Social-emotional learning for adults (featuring Crissy Mombela, Lisa Navarra, and Dr. Theresa Melito-Conners)
Most discussions around social-emotional learning are about helping kids stay regulated, healthy, and adjusted, but we can’t forget about the adults. Being in any type of role that involves caring for others can be incredibly dysregulating; whether you’re a K-12 professional or a parent. That’s why in this episode, I’m highlighting past interview clips with…
EP 170: Making intentional decisions and leaning on the expertise of your team (with Dr. Jen Schwanke)
As a school leader, when is it best to make “top-down” decisions, and when should you make it a collaborative process? How can you tell which stakeholder input to prioritize? What’s the best way to communicate with your staff in a way that feels transparent, but doesn’t burden them with too much information? How can…
EP 168: What do administrators need from school therapists and teachers? (featuring Eric Makelky, Jalita Johnson, and Jethro Jones)
Almost every school leader that I know has said they didn’t realize what they were getting themselves into when they started their first administrative position. In this episode, I wanted to share clips from past “De Facto Leaders” guests to showcase some of the challenges faced by school administrators (or those hoping to move into…
EP 163: Experiential learning and cultivating a passion for the outdoors (with Greg Morrissey)
Preparing young people for adulthood is all about providing them with the right blend of experiences; both in and outside of school. Building literacy, numeracy, and content knowledge will give students a foundation for success; but we need to pair that with real-world experiences where they can apply that knowledge in real time. When we…
BONUS: The Authority: Executive Functions for Every Classroom with Mitch Weathers
As a bonus episode today, we’re publishing a conversation from The Authority Podcast with guest Mitch Weathers, about his book Executive Functions for Every Classroom: Creating Safe and Predictable Learning Environments Grades 3-12. You’ll hear about the following and more: You can listen to the entire conversation here: About The Authority Podcast: Hosted by leadership…
EP 156: Using AI to write IEP goals and manage service plans (with Sean Klamm)
No one working in special ed has ever said, “I chose this career so I could do paperwork all evening and weekend.” Yet many realize after getting into the field that administrative demands can take away from time spent with students or collaborating with colleagues. That’s why I was so excited to connect with Sean…
EP 151: Does your SYSTEM support your policy and your curriculum? (with Jalita Johnson)
If we try to make schools in the US more like schools in other countries, will that result in more effective practices? Why do policies work in some districts, but not others? Many ideas sound good on paper; but the people working with students or leading schools are telling a different story. That’s why I…
SEEing to Lead: Seeing the whole staircase (with Dr. Karen Dudek-Brannan)
This week, I’m sharing an interview I did with another host on the BE podcast network because I think it’s something you’ll really enjoy. The episode is going live in the De Facto Leaders podcast feed. Dr. Chris Jones has been an educator in Massachusetts for 22 years. His experience in the classroom ranged from…
EP 150: Am I influencing or trying to control? Reframing advocacy and clinical leadership (with Candice Noss)
There’s a difference between influence and control. Whether we’re making suggestions to a coworker, asking a supervisor for support, setting expectations with kids, or interacting with someone in an online forum…we’re all attempting to create behavioral change. In “helping people” professions, it’s easy to get emotionally involved with our work. This makes it difficult to…