Episodes

April 21, 2023

The Millennial Principal: Engaging an entire school community through…

Episode #83 is up! Check it out!!! Special Guest Dr. Brandon Ross, High School Principal in South Carolina, joins Matt to talk about his experiences and role as a first year building principal, his 5 cornerstones for success, and the …

Episode page
April 7, 2023

What’s in a relationship? Taking a restorative approach in schools

Episode #82 is up! Check it out!!! Special Guest Dr. Aundrea Smiley, Owner/Operator of Valor & Grace Literacy Cove, adjunct professor and district literacy coach, joins Matt to discuss what restorative justice should look like in schools, and...

Episode page
March 24, 2023

A Gentleman's Quest

Episode #81 is up! Check it out!!! Special Guest Tavis Myrick, Executive Director of the Gentlemen’s Quest of Tampa Inc., joins Matt to discuss the importance of mentoring programs and the impact they have on our students. Connect with Mr. …

Episode page
March 10, 2023

Student Policy

Episode #80 is up! Check it out!!! Special Guests Dr. Lacey Seaton and Dr. Jon Becker, Professors of Educational Leadership at Virginia Commonwealth University, joins Matt to discuss the ways schools and districts can engage students in policy...

Episode page
Feb. 24, 2023

Awesome Sauce: Teaching Hybrid

Episode #79 is up! Check it out!!! Special Guest Alfonso Mendoza, Instructional Technologist, Host of ‘My EdTech Life,’ & Google Innovator, joins Matt to discuss hybrid teaching, and the most effective ways to accomplish it. You can connect...

Episode page
Feb. 10, 2023

Modernizing Math Instruction

Episode #78 is up! Check it out!!! Special Guest Dr. DeAnna Moreau, Curriculum Specialist for Elementary Mathematics in Chesterfield County Public Schools (VA), joins Matt to discuss strategies for making math instruction more relevant to students....

Episode page
Jan. 27, 2023

Raising the Bar of Leadership

Episode #77 is up! Check it out!!! Special Guest Dr. Andrae Townsel, Superintendent of Calvert County Public Schools (MD), joins Matt to discuss his journey through education as a student-athlete, teacher, building administrator, and district leader....

Episode page
Jan. 13, 2023

How Recess and Movement can Support SEL

Episode #76 is up! Check it out!!! Special Guest Pamela Gunther, CEO & Founder of Fit & Fun Playscapes, joins Matt to discuss the relationship between active movement and social emotional learning. Additionally, Pamela offers tips on...

Episode page
Dec. 30, 2022

Hacking Assessment

Episode #75 is up! Check it out!!! Special Guest Starr Sackstein, Chief Operating Officer of Mastery Portfolio, joins Matt to discuss how traditional grading practices overlook many learners, and ways educators can shift towards an asset-based model...

Episode page
Dec. 16, 2022

Academic Freedom in K-12: Reality or Myth?

Episode #74 is up! Check it out!!! Special Guest Dr. Robert Canida II, Vice President for Inclusive Excellence at the University of Lynchburg, joins Matt to discuss the systemic barriers preventing academic freedom, and the pros and cons to both...

Episode page
Dec. 2, 2022

Leadership Development: Myths and Realities

Episode #73 is up! Check it out!!! Special Guest Dr. Leslie Hazle Bussey, CEO/Executive Director, GLISI (Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement), joins Matt to discuss what makes leadership development ‘effective,’ the most pressing...

Episode page
Nov. 18, 2022

Teaming for Well-Being - A Whole New Type Of Leadership

Episode #72 is up! Check it out!!! Special Guest Jen Baldwin, Coordinator of Social-Emotional-Behavioral Supports & Family Engagement for T/TAC at VT, joins Matt to discuss the influx of mental health concerns schools are seeing due to the...

Episode page
Nov. 4, 2022

Going Gradeless

Episode #71 is up! Check it out!!! Special Guest David Frangiosa, Science teacher and Co-Author of Going Gradeless: Shifting the Focus to Student Learning, joins Matt to discuss how educators can remove the negative stigmas of grading and still...

Episode page
Oct. 21, 2022

Do You Have Meeting Goals?

Episode #70 is up! Check it out!!! Special Guest Dr. Thomas Van Soelen, President of Van Soelen & Associates, joins Matt to discuss why schools chronically experience poorly-facilitated meetings, and shares strategies to effectively and...

Episode page
Oct. 7, 2022

Recruiting & Retaining Black Male Educators

Episode #69 is up! Check it out!!! Special Guest Dr. Harold McCray, Elementary Principal in Metro DC, joins Matt to discuss the issues many black male educators face in the profession, and shares advice on recruiting and retaining them in …

Episode page
Sept. 23, 2022

Motivating 21st Century Learners!

Episode #68 is up! Check it out!!! Special Guest Ryan James, middle school teacher, and Milken Award Winner (VA '17), joins Matt to share his strategies on building positive relationships with students, setting goals for improvement, and...

Episode page
Sept. 9, 2022

Teachers of Promise

Episode #67 is up! Check it out!!! Special Guest Wade Whitehead, Executive Director of the Teachers of Promise Institute, and classroom teacher, joins Matt to discuss the cornerstones of effective classroom practices, and shares his amazing...

Episode page
Aug. 26, 2022

Supporting Principals in the Wake of the Pandemic

Episode #66 is up! Check it out!!! Special Guest Lindsay Prendergast, Leadership Coach, NWEA & former High School Principal, joins Matt to share the major issues facing current school and district leaders. Additionally, Lindsay shares advice on...

Episode page
Aug. 12, 2022

See Myself: The Importance of Diverse Literature

Episode #65 is up! Check it out!!! Special Guest Yaritza Villalba, Educator Innovation Lead at Flipgrid, joins Matt to discuss the importance of culturally relevant resources being embedded in daily instruction, and share the impact on student...

Episode page
July 29, 2022

I Choose to Stay

Episode #64 is up! Check it out!!! I Choose To Stay Special Guest Dr. Salome Thomas-EL, K-8 Principal, author, and national speaker, joins Matt to share his inspirational message and story behind why ‘he chose to stay’ in education....

Episode page
July 15, 2022

Is Financial Literacy Working?

Episode #63 is up! Check it out!!! Is Financial Literacy Working? Special Guest Dr. Michael Thomas, Professor at the University of Georgia & Accredited Financial Counselor, joins Matt to share how we should conceptualize financial literacy, and...

Episode page
July 1, 2022

Transforming Learning with Technology

Episode #62 is up! Transforming Learning with Technology Special Guest Ms. Debbie Tannenbaum, school technology specialist, joins Matt to share ways technology and associated routines can be used to promote student engagement in the classroom....

Episode page
June 17, 2022

Social Emotional Learning

Episode #61 is up! Check it out!!! Special Guest Ms. Krista Leh, Founder of Resonance Educational Consulting, joins Matt to discuss the misconceptions regarding SEL, and how it should be addressed and implemented with fidelity. You can connect...

Episode page
June 3, 2022

Transforming Systems through Equity, Inclusion & Belonging

Episode #60 is up! Check it out!!! Transforming Systems through Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Special Guest Dr. Nikole Hollins-Sims, Educational Consultant, Special Assistant to the Secretary of Education in Pennsylvania, & 2021 PA School...

Episode page