Being a successful school leader requires more than managing schedules and programs; it requires self-awareness, intentionality, and the ability to inspire your staff and students. In this episode, I share insights from my experience working with school leaders to reveal the habits, mindsets, and strategies that distinguish those who thrive from those who struggle. I explore the differences between leaders who lead from fear, self-doubt, or reactivity, and those who operate with clarity, confid

How do you teach first graders to write about reading without overwhelming them? In this first episode of my Writing About Reading Series, I'm sharing one of my classroom routines for teaching students to identify the main characters in a story. This simple strategy naturally blends reading and writing together, helping students strengthen comprehension while building confidence as young writers. You'll hear how I introduce the routine, why I don't ask students to write too much too soon, and

High school chemistry teacher Tara Altherr joins the podcast to explain how she's helping students use AI as a thinking partner instead of a shortcut. From classroom assignments that encourage students to challenge AI's responses to practical strategies for maintaining authentic learning, Tara offers a thoughtful perspective on what responsible AI integration can look like today. Whether you're AI-curious or already experimenting with tools like ChatGPT and Gemini, this conversation will leave

Sound Like Learning - FAAF 268 In this 268th episode, I share my reflections from July 13-17,, 2026. Check out the WHOLE SPOTIFY PLAYLIST I put together with all the listens mentioned below: >>> https://bit.ly/E268FreshAirAtFivePlaylist <<< 13th: The 10 Minute Teacher Podcast E943 “Habits of Hope to Help Educators with Dr. Julia Garcia” 14th: The EdTech Throwdown E218 “12 Months of Impact-The Ultimate Student Engagement Roadmap” 15th: The Easy EdTech Podcast E379 “Mixing and Matching EdTech To

Get ready to get deep into the realm of Special Education. As a general ed teacher, I've had a love-hate relationship with how best to work with special education students and the teachers who support them. While I understand the necessity, the implementation in a general education classroom often felt awkward and overwhelming. I'm sure I'm not alone in this. I'm also sure our special education teachers have similar grievances when dealing with general ed teachers. So I decided to do a deep div

Leadership isn't about getting people to comply; it's about inspiring them into action. In this special episode, I introduce The Empowered Principal Academy (EPA), my newest and most comprehensive leadership development program designed to help school leaders master the art of coaching, mentoring, and instructional leadership. I share why coaching is the missing leadership skill that most principals were never taught, yet one that has the power to transform school culture, empower educators, an