Episodes

Episode #37 is up! Community Engagement thru PLC's Special Guest Nathaniel Provencio, Associate Superintendent in Prince William Co. VA, joins Matt to give his tips on leading professional learning communities through community engagement. Connect...

Episode #36 is up! Support(ing) Students Affected by Trauma Special Guest Anthony Swann, 2021 Virginia Teacher of the Year, joins Matt to share his strategies for working with students affected by trauma. Connect with Anthony via email at...

Episode #35: “It’s not your content… it’s your character.” Special Guest Darrion Cockrell, 2021 Missouri Teacher of the Year, joins Matt to share his story of perseverance, and how it has guided him in becoming a teacher. Connect with DC …

Episode #34: According to the National Center for Culturally Responsive Educational Systems, cultural responsiveness is when one can learn from and relate to others within your own culture, as well as those from other cultures. Special Guest Dr. Carol...

Episode #33: Burnout is something that happens to a lot of educators in our profession. Many feel the burden of a variety of factors. Special guest, Amber Harper, joins Matt to discuss her own experiences with burnout, and how it …

Episode #32: Now more than ever, authentic literature is galvanizing school districts and officials to reflect on the text they are exposing students to in their classrooms. Special Guest Dr. Donyall Dickey, Chief Executive Officer and Lead...

Episode #31: Most students with an identified learning disability need some level of academic support in schools. The frequency of these supports, and the manner in which they are carried out can differ from student to student. In a classroom …

Episode #30: Stereotypes play a large impact in the ways educators interact with students in our schools. Challenging these preconceived notions is a critical step to providing inclusive spaces for all students to succeed. Special Guest Mirko...

Episode #29: Children learn best when they engage in experiences through trial and error. Play allows students to simulate discovery, problem-solving, creativity, and a host of other active learning skills. Special Guest Dr. Michael Hynes joins Matt...

Episode #28: When students are given autonomy to be creative, they develop more ownership of their learning. Special Guest Rachelle Dene Poth joins Matt to discuss the strategies she employs in her classroom, and offers advice to other educators...

Episode #27: Having positive staff members is critical to the success of every school and district. When teachers and corresponding staff are taken care of, student achievement improves. Special Guest Dr. Todd Whitaker joins Matt to discuss the...

Episode #26: Special Guest Dr. LaGarrett King joins Matt to discuss the 'history' behind Black History Month. Additionally, Dr. King offers advice on the ways educators can reflect on their practices and mindsets regarding this topic. Follow Dr....

Episode #25: In response to the overwhelming feedback about Episode #6 School Law: What all educators need to know to be safe & successful, Special Guest Dr. John Dayton joins Matt to discuss a variety of other school law topics …

Special Bonus Episode #24: Dr. Luvelle Brown, Superintendent of Ithaca City School District, joins Matt to discuss his book, Culture of Love: Cultivating a Positive and Transformational Organizational Culture. Additionally, Dr. Brown provides some...

Episode #23: Formative assessments help educators differentiate their instruction to meet the needs of their students. Special guest Ms. Allison Zmuda, Educational Consultant, joins Matt to share some of the most effective ways to engage and assess...

Episode #22: Our students constantly enter our schools with a host of things weighing them down. As educators, we must be mindful of these items, while allowing students to engage in dialogue that helps them process these emotions. Special guest …

Episode #21: As an administrator, we know one of our primary goals is to be the instructional leader within our school buildings. Unfortunately, the complexities of school management can get in the way of this function. Instructional coaches can...

Episode #20: Dr. Strayhorn’s pioneering research on college students’ sense of belonging has informed state policy reform, transformed campus/school practices, and advanced theory and intervention testing. Dr. Strayhorn joins Matt to discuss his...

Episode #19: Everyone is trying to wrap their minds around this shift from traditional ‘old-school’ teaching, to utilizing technology in embedded fashions. Special Guest Scott Kinney, President of K12 Education for Discovery Education, joins Matt to...

Special Bonus Episode #18: Professional Learning Networks are opportunities for educators to meet one another & share ideas. With the ever-changing needs of our students, communities, and instructional delivery methods, PLN's are great ways for...

Episode #17: According to John Hattie, collective teacher efficacy has the largest effect size on student achievement. Special guest Dr. Katie Novak, internationally renowned education consultant and practicing leader in education in Massachusetts,...

Episode #16: Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports promote strategies and mindsets that lead to positive behaviors in classrooms and schools. Special Guest Dr. Eva Allen, Learning Environment Specialist for Student Support Services with the...

Special Bonus Episode #15: Educators tend to put their students' needs above their own. However, we must all remember that we are no good to our students if we do not practice self-care. Special Guest Rebecca Day, CEO/Owner Health Solutions …

Episode #14: Equity is becoming the buzzword in education. While it should always be at the forefront for all educators, recent events have caused this work to grow exponentially. This has led many educators to reflect and ask themselves, how …