Category Archives: blog

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WEP 181: Trauma Informed and Restorative Practices, an Interview with Josh Stamper

An Interview with Josh Stamper

In this interview with Josh Stamper, Josh and I talk about trained trauma-informed practices as well as restorative practices. We also talked a great deal about student choice. I explore Josh’s work with The Teach Better Team, his Aspire Podcast, and leadership. You are going to love this episode.

Click this link to listen to my interview with Josh.

Joshua Stamper is a middle school Assistant Principal for a North Texas School District, where he’s had the amazing opportunity to work at four campuses in two districts as an art teacher, athletic coach, Dean of Students, and Assistant Principal. He is the host of The Aspire Leadership Podcast, a podcast designed to help others become better leaders. 

Joshua is married with five kids. Joshua and his wife, Leslie, became foster parents in 2011, and had the privilege of adopting three of their children from foster care. Joshua is trained in trauma-informed practices for meeting the emotional, social, and behavioral needs of children who have been through adverse childhood experiences, which Joshua also applies to his role as an administrator. 

In addition to his administrative position, Joshua is a podcaster, author, leadership coach, and education presenter.

Mentioned in this podcast: 

Order a copy of Kelly’s book: Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness

Complete this form if you would like to order a customized, signed copy of Kelly’s book: https://forms.gle/oq6iizcP2XoL6BQA7

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Follow Josh Stamper on:

Sign-up for Kelly’s newsletter here. Kelly Croy is an author, speaker, and educator. If you’d like to learn more about Kelly or invite him to your school or conference to speak please send him an email. • Listen to Kelly’s other podcast, The Future Focused Podcast, and subscribe to the more than 40 episodes to help you level-up your leadership and design a more dynamic life. • Subscribe to The Wired Educator Podcast with over 180 episodes of interviews and professional development. • Visit Kelly’s website at www.KellyCroy.com. • Looking for a dynamic speaker for your school’s opening day? • Consider Kelly Croy at www.KellyCroy.com • Order Kelly’s books, Along Came a Leader and Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness for your personal library. • Follow Kelly Croy on Facebook.  • Follow Kelly Croy on Twitter.  •  Follow Kelly Croy on Instagram 

 

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WEP 179: Balance With Blended Learning, an Interview with Catlin Tucker

An Interview with Catlin Tucker

In this episode of The Wired Educator Podcast, I interview Educator, International Trainer, Keynote Speaker & Bestselling Author, Catlin Tucker.

Catlin Tucker is amazing. We have a wonderful conversation about how to help teachers right now in education’s greatest challenge as educators face the multitude of remote, hybrid, and in-person instruction. Catlin offers genuine examples and help. This an extremely helpful interview for all educators right now feeling overwhelmed and frustrated.

Click here to listen to this interview.

Dr. Catlin Tucker is a bestselling author, international trainer, and keynote speaker. She was named Teacher of the Year in 2010 in Sonoma County, where she taught for 16 years. Catlin earned her doctorate in learning technologies at Pepperdine University. Currently, Catlin is working as a blended learning coach and education consultant. Catlin has written a series of bestselling books on blended learning, which include Balance With Blended Learning, Blended Learning In Action, Power Up Blended Learning, and Blended Learning In Grades 4-12. She is active on Twitter @Catlin_Tucker and writes an internationally ranked blog at CatlinTucker.com.

Mentioned in this Podcast: 

My new book: Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness, written and illustrated by Kelly Croy

Follow Catlin on Twitter: @Catlin_Tucker

Visit Catlin’s website: www.catlintucker.com

Check out Catlin’s online course: Blended and Online Learning Course

Catlin’s books: 

Balance with Blended Learning

Sign-up for Kelly’s newsletter here. Kelly Croy is an author, speaker, and educator. If you’d like to learn more about Kelly or invite him to your school or conference to speak please send him an email. • Listen to Kelly’s other podcast, The Future Focused Podcast, and subscribe to the more than 39 episodes to help you level-up your leadership and design a more dynamic life. • Subscribe to The Wired Educator Podcast with over 179 episodes of interviews and professional development. • Visit Kelly’s website at www.KellyCroy.com. • Looking for a dynamic speaker for your school’s opening day? • Consider Kelly Croy at www.KellyCroy.com • Order Kelly’s books, Along Came a Leader and Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness for your personal library. • Follow Kelly Croy on Facebook.  • Follow Kelly Croy on Twitter.  •  Follow Kelly Croy on Instagram 

 

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WEP 177: Changing Hearts, Minds, and Lives, an Interview with Traci Browder

Traci Browder is a Brilliant Educator, Podcast and Speaker

In this episode of The Wired Educator Podcast, I interview Traci Browder. Traci is an amazing educator that can help all of us make the greatest impact on students’ lives through the challenges of teaching in a pandemic. She is an expert in remote instruction, creating and curating incredibly helpful content for teachers in this time of need. She was named teacher of the year her first year teaching, and once again in another district. She hosts the amazing Intelligogy Podcast. She leads important chats and discussions ranging from leadership, instruction, curriculum, and race. She produces content for educators six days a week. In short, Traci is amazing, and I am so proud to share her with you in this episode. She has helped me so much personally and professionally. This is a powerful episode. You will leave feeling awesome about yourself, your impact, and you will have a guide of where you need to go. I love this episode and you will too.

Click here to listen to our interview.

Traci Browder is a trailblazer in education inspiring and mentoring teachers and changing the lives of children for more than 16 years.  She was Teacher of the Year her very first year of teaching and was chosen as Teacher of the Year a few years later in her current district.

Mentoring new teachers, helps them understand the importance of building and sustaining relationships critical for student success. Veteran teachers who are perpetual learners also find Browder to be a vital asset while in pursuit of refining their craft.

Browder is known best for her innovative, out of the box teaching style with a mixture of Montessori, gifted/talented, and special services all rolled into one classroom environment.

Establishing a family in her classroom is the pillar of her classroom success and has been well-received by parents.  She finds focusing on social and emotional needs in the beginning and throughout the school year creates a safe and trusting environment.  Students feel comfortable and soon become eager to take risks.  She teaches children not just academics, she teaches them how to be successful and contributing members of society.

Her classroom is a live learning lab in which teachers in her school district have come to observe her unique style of teaching as well as teachers on her campus.  She has created a professional learning community in which all teachers on her grade level now go in and out of each other’s classrooms – with their students in tow.  Teachers teach side by side or are observing and dialoguing in real-time. This powerful method of sharing students and best practices is transforming the classroom experience for the students and teachers at her school.

Technology has been a central point of connecting her classroom to parents.  She initiated working closely with district tech support to use Twitter, a private YouTube channel, and a blog before they were commonplace in her district.  Through this partnership, parent consent forms were designed with approval from the district’s technology department.

The initiatives were so successful that she was invited to design a course to present at her school district’s curriculum conference under Alan November’s technology strand.  Mr. November invited her on stage after she initiated a conversation with him on a break during his speaking engagement to share what she had done during the school year and he told everyone this would be the session not to miss!

Browder possesses a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from Dallas Baptist University and is a former reading specialist and instructional coach.  She has served as part of curriculum writing teams in each of the three districts in which she has worked.    She’s written ELA, Social Studies, and Math curriculum and has served on multiple textbook adoption committees.  Browder has a long list of trainings and professional development in each school district in which she’s worked.

Traci Browder is many things to many people.  Wife to her best friend, Quinton.  Mom to her amazing sons, Donovan & Quinton.  She enjoys reading, writing, painting, and spending time with her family.

Mentioned in this Podcast: 
Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness, written and illustrated by Kelly Croy

Traci Browder’s Blog & Website: https://tracibrowder.com/Traci Browder’s Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/intelligogy/id1493409417
Intelligogy The Podcast
An exciting weekly format giving listeners content ranging from COVID-19
considerations, remote learning, anti-racism, self care, deep thinking and
exploration, celebrating students, connecting with my own children, and
creativity and innovation in teaching. In partnership with VoicEd Radio.Antiracism Series – #LeadLAP Chat
https://leadlikeapirate.net/blog/page/2/https://leadlikeapirate.net/blog/

NBC Operation Teacher Relief
https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/teacher-hopes-youtube-lessons-help-others-if-class-time-is-lost-over-coronavirus/2327512/?_osource=db_npd_nbc_kxas_eml_shrTexans Giving Back Documentary

https://twitter.com/castleviewatx/status/1250545088524148741?s=21

Fostering my son’s giftedness and servant’s heart
Teen Makes Wishes Come True for Family Who Lost Father
<https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/teen-makes-wishes-come-true-for-family-who-lost-father/2274161/>

Hurricane Harvey Christmas Buddy
Mansfield boy collecting donations for Hurricane Harvey victims | FOX 4
News Dallas-Fort Worth
<https://www.fox4news.com/news/mansfield-boy-collecting-donations-for-hurricane-harvey-victims>

MISD Link
https://www.facebook.com/285747135552/posts/10162977280985553?vh=e&d=n&sfns=moSchool Rubric
Write articles for School Rubric on current topics, passions and best
practices in education.https://www.schoolrubric.com/its-ok-to-not-be-ok/

Sign-up for Kelly’s newsletter here. Kelly Croy is an author, speaker, and educator. If you’d like to learn more about Kelly or invite him to your school or conference to speak please send him an email. • Listen to Kelly’s other podcast, The Future Focused Podcast and subscribe to the more than 39 episodes to help you level-up your leadership and design a more dynamic life. • Subscribe to The Wired Educator Podcast with over 177 episodes of interviews and professional development. • Visit Kelly’s website at www.KellyCroy.com. • Looking for a dynamic speaker for your school’s opening day? • Consider Kelly Croy at www.KellyCroy.com • Order Kelly’s books, Along Came a Leader and Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness for your personal library. • Follow Kelly Croy on Facebook.  • Follow Kelly Croy on Twitter.  •  Follow Kelly Croy on Instagram 

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WEP 174: Serendipity, An Interview with Allyson Apsey

In this 174th episode of The Wired Educator Podcast, I interview an amazing educational leader, author of four best selling educational books, and difference-maker, Allyson Apsey.

Allyson Apsey is passionate about students and staff and leads others through their strengths. In her role as an elementary principal, she tries to be transparent, vulnerable, and supportive. She is an author, national speaker, and mom to two boys.

Click here to listen to the podcast.

Despite the fact that she never wanted to set foot in a school again after high school graduation, there is nowhere else she’d rather spend her days than in classrooms. In fact, she doesn’t even have a chair at her desk because she is moving around the school all day long. The challenges and delights of being a principal fill her days with joy. She enjoys nothing more than helping others be the very best they can be.

She is so proud of her school district and the Zeeland, MI community, and she loves being the principal of Quincy Elementary. She cannot imagine a more dedicated, passionate, and skilled group of teachers. They elicit wonder, excitement and a love for learning in their students. 

Recognizing the significant impact trauma has had on many of our students, staff, and families, Allyson became a Certified Trauma Practitioner in Education. The support students affected by trauma need are beneficial to all students because they are grounded in a foundational core of strong, positive relationships based on trust.

She is honored to serve on the Executive Board of Directors for MEMSPA (Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association) as State and Federal Relations Co-coordinator. 

Allyson writes on a blog called Serendipity in Education and has authored several books—The Path to Serendipity, Through the Lens of Serendipity: Helping Others Discover the Best in Themselves, the picture book The Princes of Serendip, and a middle-grade chapter book called The Serendipity Journal. She also loves speaking to passionate groups of educators as everyone works to be happy and effective people for the benefit of everyone.

She is married to Jim and has two amazing sons with him, Laine and Tyson.

She is blessed.

Mentioned in this Podcast: 

Allyson’s website: allysonapsey.com

Allyson’s books: You can find all of her books at this link.

Here’s a link to my new children’s book, it’s the perfect back-to-school bedtime book:

Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness

Have a great school year. Please subscribe to my newsletter and podcast.

Sign-up for Kelly’s newsletter here. Kelly Croy is an author, speaker, and educator. If you’d like to learn more about Kelly or invite him to your school or conference to speak please send him an email. • Listen to Kelly’s other podcast, The Future Focused Podcast and subscribe. • Subscribe to The Wired Educator Podcast with over 174 episodes of interviews and professional development. • Visit Kelly’s website at www.KellyCroy.com. • Looking for a dynamic speaker for your school’s opening day? • Consider Kelly Croy at www.KellyCroy.com • Order Kelly’s book, Along Came a Leader for a school book study or your personal library. • Follow Kelly Croy on Facebook.  • Follow Kelly Croy on Twitter.  •  Follow Kelly Croy on Instagram 

 

 

 

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WEP 170 Teach Better with Jeff Gargas

Thanks for Leveling-Up and Making a Difference in the Lives of Students!

This episode of The Wired Educator Podcast is an awesome interview with Jeff Gargas.

Jeff Gargas is the COO and Co-founder of the Teach Better Team and co-author of Teach Better. He works with educators to increase student engagement and improve student success. He also offers 1-on-1 coaching for teachers who have a product or idea they want to share with others to better education.

Jeff Gargas is the COO and Co-founder of the Teach Better Team (Creators of www.teachbetter.com, The Grid Method, and Teach Further) and co-author of the book, Teach Better. He works with educators to increase student engagement and improve student success. He also offers 1-on-1 coaching for teachers who have a product or idea they want to share with others to better education.

Prior to co-founding Teach Better, Jeff was the owner of ENI Multimedia, an online marketing firm, where he worked with entrepreneurs and small businesses, assisting them with web design, social media, content marketing, and brand awareness.

Prior to all of this, Jeff was an adjunctive professor at Kent State University and spent 10+ years in the music industry. He has spoken at conferences around the country, and has successfully promoted more than 500 events and launched 7 businesses in a variety of industries.

Jeff is passionate about music and enjoys spending time with his family as often as possible.

Here is a direct link to this podcast: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/wirededucator/WEP_170_Teach_Better_with_Jeff_Gargas.mp3

Mentioned in this episode: 

StartSole.org

The Marshall Memo

The Future Focused Podcast

Interested in having Kelly work with your district remotely or in-person: www.KellyCroy.com

Jeff’s links:

Social Media Handles:

Sign-up for Kelly’s newsletter here. Kelly Croy is an author, speaker, and educator. If you’d like to learn more about Kelly or invite him to your school or conference to speak please send him an email. • Listen to Kelly’s other podcast, The Future Focused Podcast and subscribe. • Subscribe to The Wired Educator Podcast with over 169 episodes of interviews and professional development. • Visit Kelly’s website at www.KellyCroy.com. • Looking for a dynamic speaker for your school’s opening day? • Consider Kelly Croy at www.KellyCroy.com • Order Kelly’s book, Along Came a Leader for a school book study or your personal library. • Follow Kelly Croy on Facebook.  • Follow Kelly Croy on Twitter.  •  Follow Kelly Croy on Instagram 

 

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WEP 169: Education is Over, an Interview with Bill Rankin

In this episode of The Wired Educator Podcast, I interview Bill Rankin. He is an amazing educator, and someone I deeply respect and admire. Dr. Rankin was the worldwide Director of Learning at Apple from 2013 through 2016. He is an academic with more than 25 years of classroom experience, and interviews with Rankin have appeared in Wired, The Guardian, The Times of London, Businessweek. He has recently written a fascinating article titled Education is Over. You are going to love it!

Dr. William Rankin is a learning-experience and learning-frameworks designer and educational theorist who served as worldwide Director of Learning at Apple from 2013 through 2016. An academic with more than 25 years of classroom experience, Rankin helped design the world’s first smartphone-based one-to-one learning program for higher education, for which he was named Campus Technology magazine’s Innovator of the Year for mobile learning in 2008. In 2009, he was named an Apple Distinguished Educator, and in 2010, he began a three-year tenure on the US Board of Apple’s Distinguished Educators program.

Interviews with Rankin have appeared in Wired, The Guardian, The Times of London, Businessweek, The New York Times and The Chronicle for Higher Education and at online sites including InsideHigherEd, Ars Technica, and Open Culture. Rankin has spoken at TEDxDubai and was a featured presenter at London’s Bett Show in 2018 and 2019. He has worked with schools, governments, and learning organizations in more than 30 countries to design, develop, and implement innovative learning and is an expert in mobile- and technology-enhanced learning and constructionism.

Mentioned in this episode: 

Bill’s article, “Education is Over.”

Willaim Rankin on TEDxDubai 2011

One of Bill’s choices for most influential book: End of Average by Todd Rose

Here is a link to this episode of The Wired Educator Podcast: http://traffic.libsyn.com/wirededucator/WEP_169_Education_is_Over_An_Interview_with_Bill_Rankin.mp3

Sign-up for Kelly’s newsletter here. Kelly Croy is an author, speaker, and educator. If you’d like to learn more about Kelly or invite him to your school or conference to speak please send him an email. • Listen to Kelly’s other podcast, The Future Focused Podcast and subscribe. • Subscribe to The Wired Educator Podcast with over 169 episodes of interviews and professional development. • Visit Kelly’s website at www.KellyCroy.com. • Looking for a dynamic speaker for your school’s opening day? • Consider Kelly Croy at www.KellyCroy.com • Order Kelly’s book, Along Came a Leader for a school book study or your personal library. • Follow Kelly Croy on Facebook.  • Follow Kelly Croy on Twitter.  •  Follow Kelly Croy on Instagram 

 

 

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Finding the Calm in the Chaos, Five Tips for Educators

A Guest Blog Post by Theresa Welch

Finding the Calm in the Chaos

My eight-year-old daughter asked me the other day, what “this” time is like in terms of other times in my life.  It was difficult to explain to her that it is unlike anything I’ve experienced in my lifetime or her grandparents have experienced in theirs.  These are truly new and can be for some, scary times.

Teachers are moving to remote or distance learning.  Parents are moving to work from home models.  Students are navigating a whole new world of learning without the proximity of their teachers and friends.  And all of us are coping with the physical separation from loved ones and friends.  It certainly makes for a stressful situation for all.

But we are teachers and we are flexible!  How many times have you had to pivot a lesson because it didn’t go as planned?  Well, think of this as the Guinness Book of World Records record holder for a pivot!  And here are some tips so help you handle that pivot like an NBA star:

1.) Set up hours.  We don’t teach twenty-four hours a day – why do we think that we need to be logged in/creating/doing for that amount of time?  Personally, I’m trying to create realistic hours and stick to them.  Once I clock out, I take walks with my family, crochet, or try to do something to help me recharge my batteries.  As the saying goes, “put on your oxygen mask first”.  If we don’t take care of ourselves, we risk burning out during this new endeavor.

2.) Be gentle with students, be gentle with yourself.  This is new to EVERYONE!  In my district, students and many teachers are learning a new platform during this chaotic time.  We are frantically trying to deploy devices and get everyone on board.  But, like I tell teachers – we are all in this together!  Be patient with students and their families who are just as worried as we are.  Be patient with colleagues that reach out to you for help.  And most of all, be patient with yourself.  This certainly isn’t where any of us planned to be in the school year, but we can’t change it, only deal with it.

3.) Enjoy the change of pace.  I don’t know if you’re like me, but I am usually rushing out the door after getting my daughter on the bus, coffee in my travel mug, and praying that there is no traffic!  All of a sudden, most of our commutes have been DRASTICALLY shortened.  Enjoy the coffee in a real mug!  Sit with your kids, dog, or even a good book at breakfast.  Maybe even use that extra time in the morning to get some exercise in (#wired2run anyone???)

4.) Enjoy the change of scenery.  In addition to having a change to the pace of our day, the scenery sure has changed too!  I never taught a library class looking out my front window as neighbors strolled by.  I never did a read aloud from my deck.  And I certainly never had the joy of my dog’s company as I taught.  Enjoy the fact that work truly has all the comforts of home for the time being!  

5.) Don’t forget to laugh.  I am a big fan of Jimmy Buffet and there is a line in one of his songs, “If we couldn’t laugh we would all go insane.”  If there was ever a time where this is applicable, this is it!  Enjoy a meme, an episode of your favorite sitcom, or a cheesy joke with a friend.  One from my son to get you started (full disclosure – 13-year-old boy joke): What is the German word for constipation? Far-from-poopen!

I know that the uncertainty of this time makes us all uneasy.  But I am a firm believer in trying to find the good in the situation.  Try to find those moments of calm or laughter as you go throughout your day.  And don’t forget that we are all in this together!

Be safe, be well, you’ve got this!

Theresa Welch

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WEP 167: Teach Better with The Grid Method, An Interview with Chad Ostrowski

An Interview with Chad Ostrowski

In this episode of The Wired Educator Podcast, I interview Chad Ostrowski. Chad is the co-author of an awesome new book titled Teach Better, he is the creator of an amazing system to help you become a better educator, called The Grid Method, and he is a member of the Teach Better Team, they create awesome resources for educators.  Chad and I really connect in this interview. It’s a lot of fun and it’s full of value. Buckle-up.

Chad was Former MS Science teacher in a high needs economically disadvantaged school district. He Developed and created The Grid Method to reach ALL of his students regardless of need. In 2015 Chad founded the Teach Better Team with Jeff Gargas and now works with school districts, schools, and teachers across the country to help them reach more students. As a published author, trainer, and keynote speaker he has helped schools improve student outcomes across the country.

Chad and I talk about:  Instruction, Assessment, Mastery Learning, Self-paced learning, student-centered learning, Classroom Management, Student-Ownership, and more! Mentioned in this episode: 

Send Kelly a 90-second voicemail. Ask a question, leave a comment, or answer these, “What struggles are you facing as an educator during remote learning? What solutions have you created? How will you celebrate and end your year remotely? To leave your voicemail, just click here: https://wirededucator.com/ask-kelly/

Order a copy of Chad’s awesome new book,Teach Better.

Visit Chad’s blog: www.teachbetter.com/blog

Check out his website full of amazing resources:  www.teachbetter.com

Listen to The Teach Better Talk – Podcast

Sign-up for Kelly’s newsletter here. Kelly Croy is an author, speaker, and educator. If you’d like to learn more about Kelly or invite him to your school or conference to speak please send him an email. • Listen to Kelly’s other podcast, The Future Focused Podcast and subscribe. • Subscribe to The Wired Educator Podcast with over 150 episodes of interviews and professional development. • Visit Kelly’s website at www.KellyCroy.com. • Looking for a dynamic speaker for your school’s opening day? • Consider Kelly Croy at www.KellyCroy.com • Order Kelly’s book, Along Came a Leader for a school book study or your personal library. • Follow Kelly Croy on Facebook.  • Follow Kelly Croy on Twitter.  •  Follow Kelly Croy on Instagram 

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WEP 166: Building A Culture of Leadership, An Interview with Pat Adkins

An Interview with Pat Adkins, Superintendent of Port Clinton City Schools

In this episode of The Wired Educator Podcast, I interview Pat Adkins, a veteran superintendent whose leadership, culture work, and views on education are sought out by educational leaders across the nation. Pat and I talk about leading a school district in a time of crisis, such as this pandemic, the importance of building a maintaining a dynamic culture and coaching others to become better leaders. This is a fun and worthy episode I know you will enjoy and benefit from. 

Pat Adkins is the Superintendent of the Port Clinton City Schools in Port Clinton, Ohio.  Port Clinton Schools have been recognized as a National Forum School to Watch and selected as a Model School by the International Center for Leadership.  Pat’s thirty years in education include roles as a high school teacher, director of technology, coach, building principal, and Superintendent. He has not only survived but has thrived as Superintendent in Port Clinton for 15 years. He is an adjunct professor for Ashland University where he teaches administrative leadership courses. Pat has spoken at schools and conferences across the country about building dynamic school culture and was a featured speaker at the What Great Educators Do Differently conference in Houston, Texas this past October.

Pat serves as a mentor and coach to new Superintendents and school leaders and has been recognized for his work in creating an elite culture that invests in people over programs.  Pat also provides coaching and consulting to school districts, and individuals, seeking disciplined strategies to help them achieve an elite culture and get results. Pat has been recognized as Port Clinton’s Citizen of the Year and OMEA’s Outstanding Administrator of the Year. 

Great Educators Build Dynamic Cultures by Investing in People First!

~Pat Adkins

Learn how to build an elite culture by investing in people every day. Every school budgets for textbooks, online programs, and technology initiatives. Every calendar schedules time for professional development and data meetings.  However, the crucial interpersonal connections and bond-building are an afterthought for many. It is relationship building and intentional focus on the culture that drives the success of any district. You win with people when you put people first. Don’t let your culture be built by chance, learn how to build it day by day with intention. 

Mentioned in this episode:

Check out Pat’s blog, where he shares insight and culture, leadership and education: www.patadkins.com

Follow Pat on Twitter at @PCsupt

Focus 3: www.focus3.com

One of the most influential reads Pat shares is the book The Servant by James Hunter, and he is currently reading Live Your Excellence: Bring Your Best Self to School Every Day by Jimmy Casas.

Check out Kelly being interviewed on The Leader of Learning Podcast, episode 73: Authentic Innovation and Leadership, hosted by Dan Kreiness, that was just published.

Listen to Kelly being interviewed this past week on the Ashland University Professional Learning Podcast, Pandemic Response for Education Series

Sign-up for Kelly’s newsletter here. Kelly Croy is an author, speaker, and educator. If you’d like to learn more about Kelly or invite him to your school or conference to speak please send him an email. • Listen to Kelly’s other podcast, The Future Focused Podcast and subscribe. • Subscribe to The Wired Educator Podcast with over 150 episodes of interviews and professional development. • Visit Kelly’s website at www.KellyCroy.com. • Looking for a dynamic speaker for your school’s opening day? • Consider Kelly Croy at www.KellyCroy.com • Order Kelly’s book, Along Came a Leader for a school book study or your personal library. • Follow Kelly Croy on Facebook.  • Follow Kelly Croy on Twitter.  •  Follow Kelly Croy on Instagram 

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WEP 165: It’s Okay to Say They, an Interview with Christina Whittlesey

An Interview with Christina Whittlesey: Tips for Educator Allies of Transgender and Non-Binary Students

In this episode of The Wired Educator Podcast, I  interview Christy Whittlesey, author of the Dave Burgess Publishing book, It’s Ok to Say “They”: Tips for Educator Allies of Transgender and Non-Binary Students. This is a powerful conversation between two educators about doing whatever you can to teach, care and help every student.

What is a gender-friendly school? What changes should school districts make? What should school districts be thinking about and considering?

Christy Whittlesey, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) has been an educator in settings ranging from PreK-higher education for the past 17 years, and is currently a PreK-12 Fine and Performing Arts Administrator and a Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Arts Ambassador in Massachusetts. In addition to her work in the arts, Dr. Whittlesey regularly collaborates with school districts and organizations to update policy and lead professional development to create gender-friendly schools where all students can thrive, regardless of gender.

Christy received an undergraduate degree from Berklee College of Music (2004), a master’s degree in Music Education from Boston University (2009), and a Ph.D. with a focus on  Educational Research and Evaluation from the University of Massachusetts Lowell (2019), where she was awarded the Education Department’s “Outstanding Dissertation Award” for her work researching the educational experiences of transgender and non-binary students. She has presented her work at many national and international conferences, has co-authored work presented at the American Educational Research Association, and is a 2020 Boston Ed Talk Fellow.

Her book, It’s Ok to Say “They”: Tips for Educator Allies of Transgender and Non-Binary Students, is published by Dave Burgess Consulting, Inc., and is available online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Christy’s book: It’s Ok to Say “They”: Tips for Educator Allies of Transgender and Non-Binary Students, is published by Dave Burgess Consulting, Inc.

Christy’s Website: www.christywhittlesey.com

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