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Leadership & School Culture

Saturday Stories Leadership Kit: Read Lots of Books — The Story That Changed It

Episode Summary In this Saturday Stories episode, I continue the Leadership Kit focus on imagination with the skill Read Lots of Books. Through the story The Story That Changed It, I explore how a student who wasn’t even looking for a book discovers one that gives him a completely different way to think about a

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What I’m Taking Back from the PLC at Work Institute in Las Vegas

Episode Summary In this episode, I take a step back after the PLC at Work Institute in Las Vegas to reflect on what I’m actually bringing home with me. Attending a conference is one thing, but I believe the real value comes when the notes become action and the inspiration becomes implementation. As I look

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Saturday Stories: Leadership Kit — Think Differently and Be Creative: The Unusual Idea

Episode Summary In this Saturday Stories episode, I introduce a brand-new Leadership Kit value: Imagination. Leadership isn’t always about having the quickest answer or solving the biggest problem. Sometimes leadership begins when someone is willing to imagine a possibility that nobody else has thought about yet. I share The Unusual Idea, where a group of

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Eric Twadell: Beyond PLC Lite — Digging Deeper Into the Three Big Ideas of a PLC at Work

Episode Summary In this episode, I reflect on Eric Twadell’s presentation about moving beyond “PLC Lite” from a national education conference in Las Vegas. His message challenged educators to recognize the difference between talking about improvement and truly committing to the work required for improvement. Eric pushed schools to examine whether their collaborative teams are

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Anthony Muhammad: Transforming School Culture 2.0 — Why Culture Is Important Today, Tomorrow, and Forever

Episode Summary In this episode, I reflect on Anthony Muhammad’s presentation, Transforming School Culture 2.0, from a national education conference in Las Vegas. His message reinforced one of the strongest themes from the entire conference: school culture influences nearly everything that happens inside a building. Anthony challenged educators to look beyond slogans, programs, and mission

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Saturday Stories: Leadership Kit — Help Your Family

Episode Summary In this week’s Saturday Stories episode, we continue exploring the Leadership Kit value of helping others by focusing on one of the most important places leadership begins—at home. Through the story Before He Asked, students discover that leadership isn’t always about big moments. Sometimes it simply means noticing when someone needs help and

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Maria Nelson: Belief Equals Action — Every Teacher, Every Team, Every Student

Episode Summary In this episode, I reflect on Maria Nelson’s inspiring presentation from a national education conference in Las Vegas and the powerful connection between belief and action. While many educators say they believe every student can succeed, Maria challenged us to examine whether our daily actions truly reflect those beliefs. Throughout her presentation, Maria

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Jason Hillman: The Impact of School Culture — We Have to Get It Right

Episode Summary In this episode, I reflect on Jason Hillman’s presentation from a national education conference in Las Vegas and the powerful reminder that school culture influences nearly everything that happens inside a school. While curriculum, instruction, and assessment all matter, culture often determines how effectively those pieces come together to support students. Jason challenged

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Regina Stephens Owens: The WHY Effect 2.0 — Intentional Systems Produce Inspirational Cultures

Episode Summary In this episode, I reflect on one of the conference presenters who impacted me the most: Regina Stephens Owens. Before she ever stepped onto the stage, she demonstrated the very message she would later teach. Through genuine conversations, authentic interest in people, and intentional relationship-building, she modeled the kind of school culture she

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Why This Conference Mattered: Reflections from a National Education Conference in Las Vegas

Episode Summary In this episode, I reflect on attending a national education conference in Las Vegas as part of a Winnebago Public Schools team helping lead our professional learning community process. As a first-year teacher in a new district, being selected for this opportunity meant a great deal to me. It represented an investment in

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