Category Archives: podcast

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WEP 150: Top 20 Things I Have Learned Publishing 150 Podcast Episodes and Interviewing Amazing Educators From Around the Globe!

In this 150th Episode of The Wired Educator Podcast I share the Top Twenty Things I Have Learned Publishing 150 Podcast Episodes and Interviewing Amazing Educators!

I am so happy I started the Wired Educator Podcast, and it is amazing to me to see it now at 150 episodes. I have no intention of stopping now. In fact, I am looking to growing the podcast in new ways.

I am thankful that you listen to the show, level-up each week, and make a positive impact in the lives of students. You are awesome, and I am not embarrassed to tell you that every week.

I have learned a lot from publishing 150 episodes and interviewing educators from all over the world. I wanted to share a condensed list of what I feel my guests have in common, and what they do that makes them stand out.

As I share what I have learned, I’ll bet many will resonate with you. I’ll bet you see yourself in a lot of these amazing qualities. I believe this because you are taking time to level-up. There are many commonalities in success. Still, I hope there are many that challenge you to grow and improve as they did me.

It is my pleasure and honor to bring you the Wired Educator Podcast each week.

I wish you an amazing 2020 filled with love and laughter, peace and prosperity, & good health and happiness.

Happy New Year!

Kelly

Are you doing something great in education? Fill out this form! Are you #Wired2Teach? Are you doing something amazing in education? I want to know. I want to recognize listeners of the podcast and share it out to the world on www.WiredEducator.com, and I may even choose to interview you on the show. Check the show notes for a link to a form so you can submit your EDUawesomeness. Here is a link to the form: https://forms.gle/ovd1cZjd7YCx1Vyg7

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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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20 Resolutions I Want Every Educator & Administrator to Make in 2020

Educators are my favorite species. They not only work incredibly hard all hours of the day to make an impact in the lives of those they teach, they are also constantly working to improve themselves as well.

Each year I taught, I wanted to make my classroom, lessons, and engagement better. I was always trying to level-up. I still am. I made resolutions each school year and again at the start of the new year. I love those imaginary reset buttons! I shared my resolutions each year with my students and hung them on the classroom wall. Why? Because I knew my students would hold me accountable. And boy did they! I didn’t hit them all, but I hit more than I would have if I didn’t share them.

Below are 20 Resolutions I believe will help you and your school level-up and make an even greater impact.

Which of the following resolutions are you nailing? Scared of? Challenged by?

Here are 20 resolutions I believe every educator & administrator should make:

  1. Subscribe to an Educational Podcast: Podcasts are booming and for good reason! They are a fantastic way to learn and level-up. They are fun to listen to, too! Podcasts are the ONLY form of social media that are safe to consume while driving. You can make your commute fun and learn ways to make a difference in students’ lives. There are lots of great educational podcasts out there. I recommend my podcast, The Wired Educator Podcast where I interview amazing educators from around the world. You will love it.
  2. Give Better Feedback to Students: As educators and leaders, we need to closely re-evaluate every opportunity we have to connect with students. One that is surprisingly overlooked is the feedback we give on projects, presentations and assignments. We need to give more meaningful and valuable feedback. The best feedback is face-to-face communication so there are no misunderstandings, hurt feelings, and where questions can be asked. Our primary purpose with the feedback should be, “How do I want the student to feel after receiving this feedback?” Some teachers struggle with this approach. They see themselves as grade-givers rather than student-growers. Re-evaluate the feedback you give. Perhaps you are knocking it out of the park. Perhaps you need to hit reset and redesign what you hope to gain. The same is true of administrators and evaluations of teachers. Great feedback seeks: growth, understanding, and an opportunity to connect.
  3. Help to Build a Positive School Culture: Your words and actions contribute to the culture of your building and school district. You are a leader and influencer even if you don’t think you are. You are. Are your words and actions improving the culture of your school district? Are you waiting for someone else to fix the problems? Are you better at pointing out the problems or leading solutions? It starts with you. Don’t wait for someone else. Start.
  4. Make Your Class Open 24 Hours a Day from Anywhere in the World: Turn your class in to a 7-Eleven. Use Google Classroom or other Learning Management Systems to help students who are absent, traveling, or need to see things for a second or third time. Kids can learn anytime from anywhere. They can even do work on snow days.
  5. Build a New Community in Your School: Look at the students in your school. Which groups of students don’t have a place to share their talents and feel like a contributor? Find them and build that community. You don’t need to be the expert. Just identify what is missing, talk to your administrator, throw a poster on the wall, make an announcement and get going. Maybe it is a group of video gamers, lego builders, robot drivers, or a book or food club. Ask your students and help them feel a contributor to their school.
  6. Add a Portion of Challenge Based Learning to Your Year: Call it what you want, Project Based Learning, SOLE, Problem Based Learning or CBL, but add a little to your school year. Students need to be making and thinking and collaborating and solving. Check out startSOLE or Apple’s Challenge Based Learning: A Classroom Guide. You don’t need to change everything, just add a little. It goes a long way. You will love it, and it is the future.
  7. Collaborate with Your Colleagues to Build Dynamic Lessons and Units: Work with the other teachers in your building to collaborate on lesson plans to increase engagement and design interdisciplinary thematic units. It’s fun for you and the students. The most memorable lessons I ever experienced were working with my colleagues. You can even plan remotely using PlanBook.com, Apple Numbers or Google Sheets.
  8. Take Less Home: Living in constant overwhelm and frustration is not normal nor admirable. Everyone is busy. Teaching is fun and noble. It’s time to get efficient, take less home, and have more pride and joy being a teacher. Design a curriculum plan for your class and change just a small percentage each year rather than constantly trying to redo everything. Take less work home. Really. What are you taking home anyway? What are you trying to assess and measure?Try to do more in class with the students in the form of labs, workshops, presentations and SOLE projects and less 19th century grading of tests and quizzes.
  9. Rethink Homework: “But students need the practice!” Really? I’m not telling you not to give homework, but I am asking you to rethink what you are sending home. Check out the book Ditch That Homework by Alice Keeler and Matt Miller for ideas. Talk with fellow teachers and admins. Rethink homework. Please.
  10. Use Technology to Create!  Technology does not need to be used the majority of the time. What a misconception, but when it is used, it should be used to create content, and only briefly to consume. Examine how you are using tech in your classroom. Don’t use devices as electronic babysitters having students research for the majority of a period on their own. Have multiple students work on one device.  Offer your students amazing ways to create and publish what they know. Create digital textbooks, videos, presentations, animations, and more! Get going. If your students are mostly on websites clicking answers, well… you’re using it poorly.
  11. Start a Blog, Podcast or YouTube Channel: Take all of the great things you and your students are doing and share them with the world on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, a blog, YouTube or write a book. Everyone benefits. Start this, this year! I highly encourage you to start a blog, podcast, or YouTube Channel.
  12. Attend a Conference: It is always awesome to get out of your classroom and learn something new, get inspired, and apply it. I recommend returning and giving a presentation to your building and maybe even your board. If you don’t return and apply it, then maybe you should let someone else go in your place. Apply. Heck, don’t just attend one! You should Apply to Speak at a Conference: Share what you know! Don’t have anything special enough to share? Then it’s time to level-up and get after it. I’m serious.
  13. Nominate a Colleague: Yes, find someone in your district you admire and nominate them for some recognition. Why? Because they deserve it, and when one educator is looked upon positively, all educators are looked upon positively.
  14. Collaborate with a Colleague: Open the door to your classroom both figuratively and literally and find ways to collaborate with other teachers. I suggest creating an interdisciplinary thematic unit with a culminating activity with other teachers at your grade level. It’s fun, memorable, and good for students.
  15. Lead: Rather than complain about something you don’t like, create a solution and begin implementing it. That’s called leading. We are all educational leaders. Need help? Read my book Along Came a Leader, or one of my favorites, Start. Right. Now.
  16. Start a YouTube Channel for Your Classroom: Hey, it’s all about video. I found myself watching someone cook a fish dinner the other day on Facebook. I watched the whole thing. I don’t like to cook, and I hate fish. My point is… video done well can be engaging, and your class could be open to students 24/7. Do this now.
  17. Get Connected with Other Educators: Build Your Personal Learning Network (PLN) either online by using Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or reach out to educators in your building, district, or state. Share what you know. Learn from them. Show other educators how to do this.
  18. Publish Student Work: Find unique and powerful ways to share and publish the work your students do in your classroom. Give them authentic audiences and genuine purposes to create. Build a website, start a podcast, host a “fair”, publish them on a blog, YouTube, or SeeSaw. Have them create digital books as published authors using Book Creator or Apple’s Pages. Publish their work.
  19. Contact Every Family You Teach: Seriously, forget the email. Pick up the phone or send a postcard home to every family you teach. Find something positive to say about every student and offer them a personal challenge in your class. Let them know you care about them. When you do have to contact home for something less than positive it will be easier because you have already talked with them about something positive.
  20. Read an Educational Book: There are so many great educational books out there that will change your career. Grab one and see what a difference it makes. Looking for suggestions? Try Tom Murray’s new book, Personal and Authentic: Designing Learning Experiences that Impact a Lifetime. It is awesome!  Tom is an amazing educational speaker and you will love his book. Also check out my podcast for links to fantastic educational books mentioned by my guests.

Bonus: Are you doing something great in education? Fill out this form! Are you #Wired2Teach? Are you doing something amazing in education? I want to know. I want to recognize listeners of the podcast and share it out to the world on www.WiredEducator.com, and I may even choose to interview you on the show. Check the show notes for a link to a form so you can submit your EDUawesomeness. Here is a link to the form: https://forms.gle/ovd1cZjd7YCx1Vyg7

 

What did I miss? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

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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 149: Ignite Your S.H.I.N.E. an Interview with LaVonna Roth

An Interview with LaVonna Roth

In this episode of The Wired Educator Podcast, I interview LaVonna Roth. We talk about the neuroscience connected with teaching and learning. LaVonna shares her message of Ignite Your S.H.I.N.E. and it will seriously make a difference in how you teach and how your students learn.  She breaks down the Acronym of SHINE for us and so much more. This is a great interview. 

LaVonna Roth is the lead illuminator, creator and founder of Ignite Your S.H.I.N.E.®

Self. Heart. Inspire. Navigate. Exceptional. These words capture the path that LaVonna Roth uses to challenge others in discovering how to ignite the S.H.I.N.E. in their students, others and self.  LaVonna will push your thinking and personal reflection to challenge you to grow personally and professionally. Her mission is to help individuals discover who they are, what they can become, and to build self-motivation to see how far they can go. She will passionately stretch the status quo in education and invite you to join her so “shifts happen”. One way to be involved is through social media, using #igniteyourSHINE.

LaVonna has a deep passion in using brain research as a fundamental foundation to help students, educators, parents, and the community to honor and value each other so we unite and become unstoppable in what can be achieved. By using these fundamentals, she identifies how to reframe adversities and use those moments to become the exceptional person you really are. This enlightenment will occur throughout but be brought to light as she shares parts of her own personal story.

 As a highly energetic, dynamic and engaging FUNnote (keynote) speaker, learning specialist, author and consultant, LaVonna has a Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education, a Master’s in the Art of Teaching and a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership. She taught at the elementary and secondary levels and is the author of 8 books. She has presented in the U.S., Canada, Europe, South America and the Middle East on increasing engagement and the fun factor in learning.  She is the creator and founder of the Ignite Your S.H.I.N.E.® movement and framework, where every person is encouraged to use his or her skills, talents and gifts… to illuminate the world. Together, we got this!

Mentioned in this episode: 

LaVonna’s Books: She is the author of 8 book: Brain Powered Strategies for All Learners. (Affiliate link)

Visit LaVonna’s websites:

lavonna@igniteyourSHINE.com

Are you #Wired2Teach? Are you doing something amazing in education? I want to know. I want to recognize listeners of the podcast and share it out to the world on www.WiredEducator.com, and I may even choose to interview you on the show. Check the show notes for a link to a form so you can submit your EDUawesomeness. Here is a link to the form: https://forms.gle/ovd1cZjd7YCx1Vyg7

I participated in an amazing #AppleEDUchat this past Tue. Do you participate in educational twitter chats. They are awesome. #appleEDUchat is one of my favorites.  I will be hosting an Apple EDU chat this January on… leadership. It will be awesome. 

Many of you are purchasing gifts this time of year; I hope you will consider my book Along Came a Leader as a gift for yourself, a colleague, and administrator, and a family member this holiday season. It’s available on Amazon. It was a work of love. I am so proud of it. Level-up your leadership. Discover the 8 core attributes of leadership and how to put them work to impact lives and lead. We need leaders. If you’ve already read it, I hope you will leave a review. You can win a copy of my book ACAL. Just post a tweet, Facebook post, Instagram post as creative as you like that expresses the idea of “I love listening to WEP!” I will chose one in the next couple of weeks and contact you to send you a book. I just chose two winners for Shake up learning and Kids deserve it. Fun. 

I also encourage you to follow me on Instagram @kcroy. I share lots of my work and creations.

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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 149 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 Leaderfor 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 148: Make Math Moments That Matter, An Interview with Kyle Pearce

An Interview with Kyle Pearce

In this episode of The Wired Educator Podcast, I interview Kyle Pearce about making math moments that matter. Kyle is an amazing resource and inspiration in education. This is an awesome interview for all educators because Kyle is so inspiring. Regardless of what you teach, I know Kyle has something for you to help you level up. Yes, he is that inspiring! This is a super-cool interview with a brilliant educational leader. You are going to love it.

Kyle Pearce is a former high school math teacher and now the K-12 Mathematics Consultant with the Greater Essex County District School Board, where he uncovers creative ways to spark curiosity and fuel sense making in mathematics. He is the co-host of the Making Math Moments That Matter Podcast [makemathmoments.com/podcast] and founder of the websites TapIntoTeenMinds.com and MathIsVisual.com.

Mentioned in this Episode: 

Kyle’s website: www.makemathmoments.com/podcast

Kyle’s other websites: TapIntoTeenMinds.com and MathIsVisual.com.

You can find Kyle on social media @MathletePearce.

One of Kyle’s choices for most influential book is How We Learn: The Surprising Truth About When, Where and Why it Happens (affiliate link) by Benedict Carey.

(affiliate link)

Check out the Teach Better Team Podcast and resources. I just enrolled in one of their courses; it’s awesome. The Teach Better Team is made up of Jeff Gargas, Chad Ostrowski, Rae Hughart, & Tiffany Ott. They are making an awesome impact in education.

Are you #Wired2Teach? Are you doing something amazing in education? I want to know. I want to recognize listeners of the podcast and share it out to the world on www.WiredEducator.com, and I may even choose to interview you on the show. Check the show notes for a link to a form so you can submit your EDUawesomeness. Here is a link to the form: https://forms.gle/ovd1cZjd7YCx1Vyg7

Thank you for taking time from your busy week to listen to the show, level up and make a difference in the lives of students. You are awesome. 

Many of you are purchasing Christmas presents this time of year; I also hope you will consider my book Along Came a Leader as a gift for yourself, a colleague, and administrator, and a family member this holiday season. It’s available on Amazon. It was a work of love. I am so proud of it. Level-up your leadership. Discover the 8 core attributes of leadership and how to put them work to impact lives and lead. We need leaders. If you’ve already read it, I hope you will leave a review. 

I also encourage you to follow me on Instagram between now and Christmas Day because I am sharing lots of my artwork. I am drawing a Santa Claus every day and posting the speed-painting video of me drawing it, which is so much fun to watch, alongside the art. You can only find it on my Instagram.

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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 148 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 Leaderfor 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 147: So You Want to Help the Underdog, An Interview with Mat Pullen

An Interview with Mat Pullen: Creator of The 'So You Want To...' eBook Series, Apple Distinguished Educator

In this episode, I interview Mat Pullen, an Apple Distinguished Educator from South Wales, and the creator of the popular ‘So You Want To…’ eBook Series. He will enchant you with his accent and blow you away with his brilliance of all things EDU. He is truly the embodiment of the everyone can create movement in education. I am excited to share my interview with Mat with you!

Mat is an Apple Distinguished Educator, Class of 2013 and is also a senior lecturer in Initial Teacher Education at the University if South Wales. A physical education teacher by trade, and now works closely with future teachers and established educators.

He is passionate about supporting those that education can sometimes leave behind, the ones that just need an alternative way to show what they are capable of accomplishing. 

Finding the true impact of technology back in 2010 with his students, Mat now looks for creativity and problem solving approaches to support his learners and to inspire other educators.

Mat is the author of a successful series of eBooks that are simple yet creative and helpful guides to show you how you can use tech in the classroom.  The ‘So You Want To…” series now has over 30 titles.  Mat is a public speaker, consultant and avid social media sharer, he has just completed his Masters in Innovative Learning with his final thesis on Sketchnoting and the impact on learners.


Mentioned in this episode: 

Mat’s free eBook series, ‘So You Want To…”: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book-series/so-you-want-to/id1417317481?mt=11

Mat’s favorite book: The End of Average by Todd Rose.

Another of Mat’s favorite reads: Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek

Follow Mat on Twitter.

Follow my Santa Every Until Christmas art on Instagram.

Win a singed copy of Kids Deserve it! by Todd Nesloney and Adam Welcome by commenting on Adam’s photo in my Instagram feed. One winner will be chosen.

I am giving away a signed copy of Kasey Bell’s Shake Up Learning; just tweet “I love listening to The Wired Educator Podcast” and tag me, @wirededucator in your tweet. One winner will be chosen.

Are you doing something amazing in education? I want to know. I want to recognize listeners of the podcast in some special way on www.WiredEducator.com, and I my even choose to interview you on the show. Stay tuned.

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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 147 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 Leaderfor 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 146: Kids Deserve It! An Interview with Adam Welcome

Adam Welcome Author of Kids Deserve It! Run Like a Pirate! and Empower Our Girls!

In this episode of The Wired Educator Podcast, I interview Adam Welcome, the author of Kids Deserve It! Run Like a Pirate! and Empower Our Girls! Adam is a powerful writer, a gifted speaker and an impactful educator. He has been a teacher, a principal, vice principal, Director of Innovation and now he travels the world to speak and share his important message with educators and work with schools.

Adam has been an elementary school teacher, Elementary Principal, Director of Innovation for a district with 35,000 students and enjoys pushing the envelope to always do what’s best for kids!

Adam was Principal of the Year for his region, a 20 To Watch for the National School Board Association, guest blogger for EdWeek, NAESP magazine, and many other publications. Adam also consults and works with many education companies as a way to improve their product for others!

Adam is passionate about technology integration with all educators and a huge advocate of social media and connecting with other educators from across the country. Adam makes it clear that kids come first and has preached the message of Team Kid for many years.

He is also the co-founder of Kids Deserve It with Todd Nesloney and the author of Run Like a Pirate.

Adam has an amazing wife (Stacy) and two young children (Greta and Tilden) that keep life at home exciting and active. Adam also loves to run and has completed 23 marathons.

Mentioned in this podcast: 

Adam’s book: Kids Deserve it! Pushing Boundaries and Challenging Conventional Thinking!

Adam’s book: Run Like a Pirate! Push Yourself to Get More Out of Life!

Adam’s book: Empower Our Girls! Opening the Door for Girls to Achieve More!

One of Adam’s favorite reads: Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg

Another one of Adam’s favorite reads: Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin

Adam’s website: mradamwelcome.com

Follow Adam on Twitter, Instagram and Voxer at @mradamwelcome
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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 143 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 Leaderfor 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 145: Women in Leadership, An Interview with Dr. Courtney Orzel

An Interview with Superintendent, Dr. Courtney Orzel

In this 145th episode of the Wired Educator Podcast, I interview Dr. Courtney Orzel.

Courtney is an amazing educational leader and speaker. It was an honor to present at the same What Great Educators Do Differently Conference in Houston, Texas this past October. One of my favorite lines of the podcast is when Courtney tells me, “the most important job of a superintendent is to create spaces for people to do great things!” I love that, and all that she shares. This is an amazing episode that you will love, and one that I hope you will share and leave a review.

“The most important job of a superintendent is to create spaces for people to do great things!”  Dr. Courtney Orzel

Dr. Courtney Orzel is in her 6th year as a superintendent serving Lemont-Bromberek SD113A.   Prior to that she held positions as middle school principal, assistant principal, and teacher.  Dr. Orzel has been honored with recognition from the AASA as a finalist for the Women in Leadership Award in February of 2019, has helped lead the IASA SuperWomen initiative in support women in leadership, and has led numerous workshops, PD sessions, and podcasts. She has two children, Nolan and Elle, and in her free time serves as a Rotarian and teaches as an adjunct professor for aspiring principals and superintendents.

(affilate link)

Mentioned in this episode:

One of Courtney’s favorite & most inspirational reads: Courageous Leadership for Transforming Schools by Carolyn Shields (affiliate link)

Courtney’s Blog:  courtneyorzel.wordpress.com

SD113A Story:  https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Story.aspx?ItemId=12

You can leave a review for the Wired Educator Podcast here at this link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-wired-educator-podcast/id974270220

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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 143 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 144: Impossible to Possible, an Interview with Ray Zahab

Photo from Ray’s Instagram.

In this episode of the Wired Educator Podcast, I had the privilege to sit down in person with Ray Zahab after his keynote at the Leadership and Learning Academy 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. Ray is one of my heroes. I love how he connects with educators and students. You are going to love this episode. Than you for listening!

Ray Zahab is a Canadian Adventurer, ultra distance runner and Founder of non-profit impossible2Possible. A recent recipient of the Meritorious Service Cross of Canada, Ray is an Explorer in Residence of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society, and Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. In 2015 Canadian Geographic recognized Ray as one of Canada’s Top Explorers. He has ran 14,000+km across the world’s deserts, and completed multiple unsupported expeditions in some of the coldest places on the planet.

Kelly Croy and Ray Zahab.

On November 1, 2006, former “pack a day smoker” turned ultra runner Ray Zahab and two friends, Charlie Engle and Kevin Lin, set out on an expedition to cross the Sahara Desert by foot. 111 days and 7,500 kms after leaving the coast of Senegal, Africa they completed their journey by stepping into the Red Sea.

The expedition had the trio running an average of 70kms a day without a single day of rest, for 111 days. National Geographic tracked the expedition by web, as well as the documentary film ‘Running The Sahara’, produced by Matt Damon and directed by Academy Award winner James Moll, was created in an effort to raise awareness for the drinking water crisis in North Africa. After witnessing and learning about the water crisis in North Africa, Ray decided to leverage his future adventures to help raise awareness and funding for causes, like this one, that he supports and believes in.

Ray founded impossible2Possible (i2P) (impossible2possible.com) an organization that aims to inspire and educate youth through adventure learning, inclusion and participation in expeditions. Youth Ambassadors are selected from around the world, and then participate, at no cost, in all aspects of the expedition, from logistics and running to creating educational content and team support.

Interviewing Ray Zahab.

Ray has also found the time to write two books about his life and adventures. Running for My Life published in 2007 and Ray’s second book, geared at youth readers, Running to Extremes, which recently became a National Best-Seller in Canada. He is currently writing his third book.

In addition to being an adventurer, youth advocate and runner, Ray speaks around the world at events such as TED, IOC World Conference, Idea City, The Economist World in 2010 and 2011, World Affairs Council, and numerous Apple Distinguished Educator events internationally, as well as numerous corporate events. He has been interviewed and appeared on several talk and news programs including CNNi, CNN, The Hour, CBC, CTV, BBC, Jay Leno, OLN and Discovery, and has connected his expeditions live, using satellite to both mainstream and social media. He has also appeared in print media globally, and has been interviewed on numerous popular podcasts. Ray was the host of Project Guatemala which aired on OLN, and co hosted-guided a few episodes of Finding Sarah on OWN.

Outside of his own organization Ray has volunteered as a board member, Ryan’s Well Foundation, volunteered as Athletic Ambassador of the ONExONE.org, and SpreadTheNet. He continues to volunteer with Run For Water, and various other initiatives. Ray received the ONExONE Difference Award in 2007, and the Torchbearers Award in 2010. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and Royal Canadian Geographical Society. In spring 2012, Ray was invited by H.E. Tsogtbaatar Damdin (Minister of Environment, Mongolia) to join their Internal Advisory Committee. In 2015 Canadian Geographic recognized Ray as one of Canada’s Top Explorers. In December 2015 Ray was presented with the Meritorious Service Cross of Canada by the Governor General of Canada. In 2018 Ray was named Explorer in Residence by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society.

He continues today with life as an adventurer and as a volunteer with impossible2Possible. ‘Running The Sahara’ would begin a lifelong journey of discovery. A journey of learning that some of the greatest barriers to achieving our goals are the ones we put upon ourselves. By breaking these down, Ray has learned that we are all capable of achieving truly extraordinary things…a message he continues to share with his two young daughters!

Mentioned in this podcast:

Ray’s TEDtalk
Ray’s website
Ray’s InstagramRay’s Foundation: Impossible to Possible
Ray’s book: Running for My Life
Ray’s book: Running to Extremes
Ray’s book: Just Deserts
• Kasey Bell’s Google Certification Online Courses for listeners of The Wired Educator Podcast! This course closes Dec 3, 2019.

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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 143 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 142: Free Audio Book of My “What Everyone Needs to Know About Bullying” Read by Me!

Free Audiobook of My "What Everyone Needs to Know About Bullying" Read by Me!

In this episode of the Wired Educator Podcast I read my eBook What Everyone Needs to Know About Bullying and make it an audible book, and more!  I wanted this to be available so students, parents, educators and anyone could listen to it on the bus, in the car, at lunch, on a walk, workout, or doing chores with their headphones on. This is deeply personal but can really save lives.What is your school district doing to educate students, staff, parents and the community about bullying?

Every month should be ‘Bullying Awareness Month’, and I wanted to create a free audio recording of my popular ebook resource for educators, parents and students to help out when  a bully steps into someone’s life, What Everyone Needs to Know About Bullying. So… that’s what I did! This episode of the Wired Educator Podcast is me reading my eBook. I wanted this to be available so students, parents, educators and anyone could listen to it on the bus, in the car, at lunch, on a walk, workout, or doing chores with their headphones on. This is deeply personal but can really save lives. Please listen and share this out. I will update this book annually, as I have done for the past few years with the latest information and help.

I have created a free resource you can download titled, What Everyone Needs to Know About Bullying. I hope you will share it with everyone you can. I believe it delivers a message that many need to hear and practice.

The bottom line is this: The opposite of bullying is leadership.

We need to teach and train students to be better leaders online and off. It’s that simple. Everyone talks about the importance of leadership, but few, very few, take the time to teach it.

Listen to this podcast. This is what I want everyone to know about bullying.

I am the proud voice talent for two Dave Burgess Consulting, Inc. books: Start Right Now by Todd Whitaker, Jeffrey Zoul, and Jimmy Casas, (affiliate link) and Learn Like a Pirate: Empower Your Students to Collaborate, Lead and Succeed by Paul Solarz. (affiliate link) You can listen to them for free with a free Audible trial here: Start your free Audible Book trial:

Mentioned in this podcast: 

Tom Murray has a brand new book out! Personal and Authentic: Designing Learning Experiences That Impact a Lifetime(Affiliate link)

As an educator, you have the power to leave a legacy by . . .

  • Making students’ learning experiences personal and authentic
  • Ensuring that the culture around you is personal and authentic
  • Developing and nurturing personal and authentic relationships
  • Being personal and authentic

In Personal & Authentic, Thomas C. Murray reveals the power of designing awe-inspiring experiences that are grounded in relationships and learner-centered by design. Inherently relevant and contextualized, it is this kind of learning that lasts a lifetime.

Be bold. Be fearless. Be proud. Be you.
Your story is not finished yet.

• Listen to Tom Murray’s Interview on The Wired Educator Podcast Episode 115

Thank you.

Kelly

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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 142 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 140: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Education: An Interview with Ken Shelton

An Interview with Ken Shelton

In this episode of The Wired Educator Podcast, I talk to educator, speaker and EDU consultant, Ken Shelton about Equity, Diversity & Inclusion in Education.

Ken currently holds an M.A. in Education with a specialization in Educational Technology as well as New Media Design and Production. He has worked as an Educator for over 14 years and most recently taught technology at the Middle School level. As a part of his active involvement within the Educational Technology community, Ken is an Apple Distinguished Educator and a Google Certified Innovator. Ken has worked extensively at the policy level and was named to the California State Superintendent of Public Instruction’s Education Technology Task Force. Ken regularly gives keynotes, presentations, and leads workshops, many of which are hands-on, covering a wide variety of Educational Technology, Career and Technical Education, Equity and Inclusion, Multimedia Literacy, Visual Storytelling, and Instructional Design topics. Ken is the ISTE Digital Equity PLN 2018 Excellence Award winner.

Ken has had the privilege to speak at many major conferences and events around the world as well as schools and school districts. He brings a worldly breadth of practical experience, knowledge, and perspective. Ken also had the privilege to speak at the TEDx Burnsville ED event, as well as CRESSTCon16 at UCLA in front of a predominantly Higher Ed audience. Both can be watched below. One of Ken’s recent talks was a keynote on equity, sustainability and access for the Iowa Technology and Education Connection conference which can be viewed here. Ken has also provided consulting support to many companies, school districts/systems Nationally and Internationally, as well as non-profits such as the California Emerging Technology Fund’s School2Home program which is designed to support closing the Achievement Gap and Digital Divide at low-performing California middle schools.

Mentioned in the episode:

Ken’s website: www.kennethshelton.net

Ken’s TedTalk: Using the Past to Explore How to Make Students Future Ready TEDxBurnsvilleED

Ken recommends: The 1619 Project via The New York Times

One of Ken’s favorite tech tools is FlipGrid

Ken’s choice for the most choice for most influential book: The Autobiography of Malcom X as told by Alex Haley

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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 135 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