Advertise on podcast: The Authority Podcast — Expert Insights and Fresh Ideas for Education Leaders

Ross talks with Jeff Meade, Founding Director of Entrepreneurship at Paul Quinn College, about the "Every Quinnite Is an Entrepreneur" program — an initiative that requires every student to launch a real revenue-generating business before graduation. The conversation covers venture-based learning, why entrepreneurial thinking prepares students for an uncertain future of work, and how Paul Quinn is building a model that could help small colleges become more sustainable. Jeff Meade is the Founding Director of Entrepreneurship at Paul Quinn College. With over 20 years of experience growing companies and advising businesses, Jeff has scaled marketing agencies to multimillion-dollar revenues and built client-side programs featured in Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Entrepreneur Magazine. He is now pioneering venture-based learning — a model that equips students with an entrepreneurial mindset, creativity, and real-world experience to thrive as founders, innovators, and intrapreneurs in any field. In this episode, we discuss: What "Every Quinnite Is an Entrepreneur" means and why every student must launch a real business before graduating Venture-based learning — experiential learning with real stakes, where students actually get customers, generate revenue, and run businesses Why the future workforce demands entrepreneurial thinkers — and why rote skills alone no longer suffice How entrepreneurial skills transfer to corporate, nonprofit, and any organizational role The case for college as a place of exposure and exploration — and why it's a lot to ask a 17-year-old to know what they want to do Aligning K–12, higher education, and workforce development around career readiness What students learn about themselves when they have to start a business — motivation, group dynamics, and accountability Pattern recognition, diagnosing problems, and leading by influence rather than title Paul Quinn's corporate work college model — where students both start businesses and hold internships simultaneously A long-term vision for small colleges: owning businesses, creating new revenue streams, and building a sustainable model beyond tuition dependence Learn more about Paul Quinn College's entrepreneurship program: https://paulquinn.edu/entrepreneurship Connect with Jeff Meade: https://jeff-meade.com About today's guest Jeff Meade is the Founding Director of Entrepreneurship at Paul Quinn College, where he leads the "Every Quinnite Is an Entrepreneur" program. The initiative ensures every student launches a venture before graduation, making entrepreneurship a core life skill rather than an extracurricular option. With over 20 years of experience growing companies and advising businesses, Jeff has scaled agencies to multimillion-dollar revenues and built client-side marketing programs that gained national recognition. His work has been featured in Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Entrepreneur Magazine. A graduate of Babson College, the number one school of entrepreneurship in the world, Jeff is pioneering venture-based learning — a model that equips students with an entrepreneurial mindset, creativity, and real-world experience. Connect with Jeff at jeff-meade.com or on LinkedIn. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K–12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn. Learn more about today's sponsor, Playworks:We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play. If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time.  These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation.

Ross talks with returning guest Mitch Weathers and Dr. Sarah Oberle about their new book, Executive Functions for Every K–3 Classroom: Promoting Self-Regulation for a Strong Start, published by Corwin. The conversation explores how core executive functions — working memory, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility — develop in young children and how K–3 teachers can reduce cognitive load through intentional routines, environment design, and instruction that helps students self-regulate and succeed. In this episode, we discuss: What led from the first book (Grades 3–12) to a K–3 edition, and why primary teachers were asking for it The three core executive functions: working memory, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility — and what they look like in early elementary classrooms How working memory capacity and cognitive load affect young students' ability to attend, follow directions, and learn The "Betty and the Bats" example — unpacking the hidden cognitive demands of a seemingly simple first-grade writing task How to reduce extraneous cognitive load through visual environment, acoustic environment, and purposeful classroom routines Why a noisy classroom isn't always a productive classroom — and how to make noise purposeful Building students' self-awareness of their own attention and self-regulation How understanding executive functions becomes an intuitive lens for teachers — not another thing on their plate Making the case for resistant educators: why every teacher, not just specialists, should understand executive functions The unique role of primary teachers in laying the cognitive foundation for all future learning Get the book, Executive Functions for Every K–3 Classroom, from Corwin or at https://organizedbinder.com/books Learn more about Organized Binder: https://organizedbinder.com Listen to Ross's previous episode with Mitch, Executive Functions for Every Classroom: https://authoritypodcast.net/episodes/executive-functions-for-every-classroom-with-mitch-weathers About today's guests Mitch Weathers is a teacher and founder of Organized Binder, Inc. He became an exceptional educator because he once struggled as a student. Recognizing the importance of laying a foundation for learning, he created Organized Binder — a research-backed system that empowers teachers to explicitly teach executive functioning skills without sacrificing instructional time. Mitch is the author of Executive Functions for Every Classroom: Creating Safe and Predictable Learning Environments (Grades 3–12) and co-author of Executive Functions for Every K–3 Classroom: Promoting Self-Regulation for a Strong Start, both published by Corwin. Together with the Organized Binder team, he works with K–12 schools and colleges in the US and internationally. Connect with Mitch at organizedbinder.com or on LinkedIn. Dr. Sarah Oberle is an educator, author, speaker, and professional learning designer with 18 years of experience as a primary classroom teacher. She holds a doctorate in educational leadership with a specialization in cognitive science. Her work centers on helping educators understand how learning happens and how that understanding shapes daily instructional decisions. Sarah designs and facilitates evidence-informed professional learning for teachers and school leaders, both in person and virtually. She works with national and international organizations to ensure professional learning is research-informed, practical, and responsive to the realities of teaching. Her work focuses on attention, memory, and executive functions, with an emphasis on pedagogy rather than programs. Connect with Sarah at sarahoberle.com or on LinkedIn. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K–12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn. Learn more about today's sponsor, Playworks:We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play. If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time.  These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation.

In this "Best Of," we revisit my conversation with Sahil Bloom about his first book, The Five Types of Wealth: A Transformative Guide to Design Your Dream Life, a New York Times bestseller.  We talk about: What curiosity is and isn’tMaking the case that being curious about new ideas is an objective goodWhat’s impressive and disappointing when meeting a new personFive types of wealth: Time, Social, Mental, Physical, FinancialPrioritizing when there’s a conflictWhat 80 and 90 year olds say about their livesThe most compelling thing Sahil learned about learningAbout today’s guest Sahil Bloom is an inspirational writer and content creator, captivating millions of people every week through his insights and bi-weekly newsletter, “The Curiosity Chronicle.” Sahil is a successful entrepreneur, owner of SRB Holdings, and the managing partner of SRB Ventures, an early-stage investment fund. Sahil graduated from Stanford University with an MA in public policy and a BA in economics and sociology. He was a four-year member on the Stanford Baseball Team. Connect with Sahil: www.sahilbloom.comhttps://x.com/sahilbloomhttps://www.instagram.com/sahilbloom https://www.linkedin.com/in/sahilbloom About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on LinkedIn or Bluesky.  I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt  Learn more about today's sponsor, Playworks:We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play. If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time.  These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation.

Priten Soundar-Shah is CEO of Pedagogy.Cloud, which provides innovative technology solutions to help educators navigate global challenges in a rapidly evolving world, as well as founder of the civics education nonprofit United 4 Social Change. He also hosts the podcast Margin of Thought here on the Be Podcast Network.  In this episode, we discuss: The guiding principles of engaging with AI. Why engage at all?Risks if schools go all in on AI — or if they don’t Other emerging technologies to look out forWhat drives ethical decision-makingDo we have to compromise between innovation and responsibility or can we have it all?Keys to making policies clear, consistent, and school-wideListen to Priten’s podcast, Margin of Thought, on the Be Podcast Network: https://listen.priten.org  Listen to my previous episode with Priten, on this book AI and the Future of Education.  About today’s guest Priten Shah, M. ED and B.A, Harvard, is the CEO of Pedagogy.Cloud, which provides innovative technology solutions to help educators navigate global challenges in a rapidly evolving world. Priten is also the founder of United 4 Social Change, a civics education nonprofit that focuses on helping teachers integrate interdisciplinary education into their curricula through animated videos, lesson plans, and innovative classroom activities. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn   Learn more about today's sponsor, Playworks:We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play. If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time.  These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation.

In today's "Best Of," we're going all the way back to episode 9 of The Authority with Dr. Carey Borkoski. We talked about her book Dancing with Discomfort: A framework for noticing, naming, and navigating our in-between moments.  You'll hear about: The importance of transitions in creating an interesting, fulfilling lifeHow to navigate unanticipated personal or professional transitionsNavigating the transition into an administrator roleAddressing the discomfort of giving or receiving feedbackGetting over imposter syndromeAbout today’s guest Dr. Carey Borkoski is an Associate Professor and Research Fellow in the School of Education at Loyola University - Maryland, and a Lead Coach in the Johns Hopkins University School of Education. Her research focuses on the role of building community and cultivating belonging in student and faculty successes. She also writes and speaks on strategies and technology tools that contribute to building a sense of community in our learning spaces. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn  I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt  Learn more about today's sponsor, Playworks:We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play. If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time.  These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation.

Brian Butler is an educational consultant, speaker, author, and award-winning former principal who is passionate about nurturing collaborative school cultures that unlock every student’s unlimited potential. In this "Best Of," we revisit our conversation about Brian's books, Every Student Deserves a Gifted Education and Limitless Future. Hear about: Brian's inspiring storyWhat is a gifted education?The necessary mindset shift to plan a gifted education for every studentThe five shifts/elements to help create a schoolwide approach to nurturing each student’s unique strengths, passions, and talentsFallacy of Fixed Intelligence, Labels Be Gone, Obligation of Teams, Our Superpowers,  Resistance and InspirationLearn more about Brian: www.brianbutler.infoBrian’s podcast, “A Conversation with Brian" About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn  I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt  Learn more about today's sponsor, Playworks:We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play. If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time.  These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation.

In more than 40 years of teaching, Andee Nunn reached over 4,000 students juggling positions as a reading specialist, English teacher, and communications adjunct faculty.  She was named the 2008 Danbury (CT) Teacher of the Year, 2008 Connecticut State Semi-Finalist Teacher of the Year, and won the 2018 NAACP Excellence in Teaching award.  Her book is Magic in Room 216: How One Teacher Came of Age and Inspired the Next Generation. Tune into our conversation to hear about: What is the “magic?”The risks Andee took during her teaching careerThe students who taught her the mostHow she was able to get students to open upWhat was the catalyst that sparked Andee’s “metamorphosis?”Reflections on the current state of educationGet Andee’s book, Magic in Room 216.  About today’s guest Born in Brooklyn, New York and raised in Long Island, Andee Nunn’s imaginary teaching started at age 6 when she modeled her kindergarten teacher’s magical classroom. In her basement she lined up her dolls and play acting at her dream profession began. After high school, she earned her B.A in Speech Education, MS in Secondary Education from Queens College, NY. and later completed post graduate studies in Reading at Western CT State University. Andee earned certification as an Elementary Education Teacher, Reading Specialist grades K-12, as well as High School English Teacher grades 9-12. During her more than 40 years as an educator, she juggled positions as a Reading Specialist/Consultant, English Teacher, Director of IAP, The Individualized Achievement Program at Western for first generation college students and served as Adjunct Professor of Communications. Andee was named 2008 Danbury Teacher of the Year, 2008 Semi-Finalist CT. Teacher of the Year and was the 2018 recipient of the NAACP Excellence in Teaching Award. Now retired, she resides in Danbury CT where she raised two daughters and lives with her husband of 48 years. For the last few years, she has addressed high school and college aspiring educators as guest speaker. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn  I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt  Learn more about today's sponsor, Playworks:We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play. If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time.  These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation.

Nathaniel Provencio has worked in the public education field since 2001 as a classroom teacher, building administrator and associate superintendent. He is a speaker, school leadership coach, and author of Community Connections and Your PLC at Work®: A Guide to Engaging Families. We talk about: Why parent and family engagement are important to schools, and how it relates to PLCsHow the concepts of a PLC apply to family engagementIs connecting with families just code for more work for already overworked teachers? Engaging families who traditionally have barriers to engagementThe biggest ‘community connection fail’ Nathaniel has seen a school try, and how to do it betterGet Community Connections and Your PLC at Work from Solution Tree. Learn more about Nathaniel at his website provenprincipalllc.com  About today’s guest Nathaniel Provencio has worked in the public education field since 2001 as a classroom teacher, building administrator and associate superintendent . In 2010, he became the principal of Minnieville Elementary in Prince William County, Virginia. Under his leadership, Minnieville Elementary was recognized as a Virginia Distinguished Title 1 School, became a National Model Professional Learning Community and was the winner of the 2019 Richard DuFour PLC Award. Mr. Provencio has been honored as the 2017 Prince William County principal of the year, the 2017 Washington Post Principal of the Year and the 2019 Virginia National Distinguished Principal of the Year. Mr. Provencio is the author of Community Connections and Your PLC at Work, which focuses on how schools can utilize the professional learning community framework to enhance family and community engagement. Mr. Provencio graduated from the University of North Alabama in 2001 with a degree in education and has a master’s degree in education administration from George Mason University in which he was recognized as one of 50 all-time George Mason University Alumni. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn  I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt  Learn more about today's sponsor, Playworks:We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play. If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time.  These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation.

Dr. Chad Dumas is a Solution Tree PLC at Work®, Assessment, and Priority Schools associate and international consultant, presenter, and award-winning researcher whose primary focus is collaborating to develop capacity for continuous improvement.  His latest book is The Teacher Team Leader Handbook: Simple Habits to Transform Collaboration in a PLC at Work®. We discuss: Foundations and actions of teacher team leadersHow important to establish the mission of the PLC?The book has Swiss Army Knife-like tools for leaders — you don’t use them all every time you pull out the knife, but you have what’s needed for the situationRole and responsibilities of the teacher team leaderThe assumptions a team leader must makeWho selects the leader?When it’s time to build capacity and when it’s time for a resetGet the book here: https://nextlearningsolutionspress.com/ttlh/ Hear my previous conversation with Chad on episode 132, Let’s Put the C in PLC with Chad Dumas. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn  I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt  Learn more about today's sponsor, Playworks:We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play. If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time.  These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation.

In this "Best Of" episode, I spoke with Tony Frontier about his book AI with Intention: Principles and Action Steps for Teachers and School Leaders (ASCD).  In one of our most popular conversations from last year, you'll hear about: On the topic of AI and education, what is important for educators to keep in mind about what has changed and what remains the same?Tony’s greatest fear and greatest hope about how AI will change educationEssential Question: How can teachers and students use AI tools to support intentional teaching and learning?Most important guiding principles that challenge teachers to think more clearly about what has changed and what is the sameEssential Question for Leaders: How can leaders build capacity to ensure AI tools are used to effectively support intentional teaching and learning?Read Tony’s Educational Leadership article, “Active Learning, Not Passive Compliance”Get the book AI with Intention from ASCD or wherever you get your books. About today’s guest Tony Frontier, PhD is an award-winning educator who works with teachers and school leaders nationally and internationally to help them prioritize efforts to improve student learning. With expertise in classroom assessment, student engagement, curriculum development, meaningful feedback, technology integration, and strategic planning, Frontier emphasizes a systems approach to empower leaders and teachers to serve others. As a former classroom teacher in Milwaukee Public Schools, an Associate High School Principal, the Director of Instruction for the Whitefish Bay School District, and a college professor who taught PhD candidates statistics, research, and learning theory, Frontier brings a wealth of experience as a classroom teacher, building administrator, central office administrator, and researcher to his workshops, writing, and research. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn  Learn more about today's sponsor, Playworks:We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play. If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time.  These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation.

In our latest "Best Of" episode, I'm bringing back my second conversation with Mark Miller. Each of my episodes with Mark is worth revisiting.  Mark is a Wall Street Journal and international best-selling author, communicator, and the former Vice President of High Performance Leadership at Chick-fil-A. Today, Mark serves as the Co-Founder of Lead Every Day, an extension of his life-inspired mission to encourage and equip leaders with the tools they need to be successful.  As an author, Mark has more than one million books in print in 25+ languages. His latest is Uncommon Greatness: Five Fundamentals to Transform Your Leadership. We discuss: Mark’s journey to leadership and how it influenced his understanding of uncommon vs. “common” greatnessReasons for the global leadership crisis33% of organizations believe there’s not sufficient leadership for today and 50% of leaders don’t believe their organization has enough emerging leaders for the needs of the future“How can I add the most value in this situation?”The Five Fundamentals: See the Future, Engage and Develop Others, Reinvent Continuously, Value Results and Relationships, Embody a Leader’s HeartBeing a leader people want to followSubscribe to The Authority to get more deep-dive interviews with education authors. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. Connect with our guest: Get Uncommon Greatness at https://www.leadeveryday.com or wherever you get your booksReach out to Mark directly at 678-612-8441Text UNCOMMON to 66866 for additional resourcesConnect on social media at https://www.linkedin.com/in/highperformanceleaders and @MarkMillerLeads About our guest Mark Miller is a Wall Street Journal and international best-selling author, communicator, and the former Vice President of High Performance Leadership at Chick-fil-A. Mark started his Chick-fil-A career working as an hourly team member in 1977. In 1978, he joined the corporate staff working in the warehouse and mailroom. During his tenure with Chick-fil-A, the company grew from seventy-five restaurants to over 2,700 locations with annual sales exceeding $19 billion. Today, Mark serves as the Co-Founder of Lead Every Day, an extension of his life-inspired mission to encourage and equip leaders with the tools they need to be successful. Mark began writing almost twenty years ago when he teamed up with Ken Blanchard, co-author of The One Minute Manager, to write The Secret: What Great Leaders Know and Do. With over one million books in print in more than twenty-five languages, his global impact continues to grow. For more information, please visit https://leadeveryday.com.  Learn more about today's sponsor, Playworks:We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play. If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time.  These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation.

Danny Steele worked for 31 years in education as a principal, assistant principal, teacher, coach, and assistant professor of Instructional Leadership.   In 2005, Steele was recognized as Alabama’s “Assistant Principal of the Year,” and in 2016, he was recognized  as Alabama’s “Secondary Principal of the Year.”   He has written six books including two with Todd Whitaker, has presented at numerous state and national conferences, and has spoken in school districts around the country.   His new book is The Instructional Leader in You: 10 Strategies for Every School Leader. We discuss: Instructional Leader: a necessary part of every principalship?What are the barriers to instructional leadership?Being strategic with delegationBeing curiousBeing visibleBeing About the CultureInterconnectedness of the strategiesGet Danny’s book from Routledge and learn more about his work here: www.leadershiplearningandculture.com  About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn  I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt  Learn more about today's sponsor, Playworks:We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play. If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time.  These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation.

Brig Leane, former principal of Fruita Middle School in Colorado, has over 25 years of experience in education. He has been an assistant principal and has taught at the middle and high school levels in inner-city, suburban, and rural schools in California and Colorado. In 2017 and again in 2018, Fruita Middle School made the Seattle-based GettingSmart.com’s list of 85 schools in the nation that other educators should visit. His latest book is The PLC Dashboard: Implementing, Leading, and Sustaining Your Professional Learning Community at Work. We discuss: How Brig developed the PLC DashboardWhat the dashboard is and what it doesWhat to say to a principal who has unsuccessfully tried the PLC process in the past and is not clear on what to do differently this timeHow does The PLC Dashboard lighten the load for an administrator?How a principal gains confidence to start and sustain the PLC process Get the PLC Dashboard from Solution Tree. Learn more about Brig’s work at www.BrigLeane.com  About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn  I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt  Learn more about today's sponsor, Playworks:We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play. If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time.  These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation.

In this episode of The Authority on the BE Podcast Network, I talk with National Center for Restorative Justice founder Nicholas Bradford about what restorative justice in schools really looks like beyond the buzzwords. We explore why suspensions fail to change student behavior, how restorative practices promote true accountability and community repair, and what it takes to implement these systems well. Nicholas outlines five core pillars of school‑based restorative justice, unpacks common misunderstandings among educators and the public, and shares practical guidance on language, expectations, contracts, and follow‑through. This conversation is essential listening for school and district leaders, teachers, counselors, and anyone interested in replacing zero‑tolerance discipline with relational approaches that improve school culture and student outcomes. Find A Real-World Guide to Restorative Justice in Schools wherever you get your books. Connect with Nicholas: https://www.nationalcenterforrestorativejustice.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/bradfordnicholas/ https://www.facebook.com/4RestorativeJustice About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn  I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt  Learn more about today's sponsor, Playworks:We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play. If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time.  These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation.

Bill Barnes is the superintendent for the Howard County Public School System in Maryland. Bill was a recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching and has served on the board of directors for the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics. Erin Lehmann, EdD, currently serves as an associate professor for the University of South Dakota. She is an author, leader, and facilitator, advocating for leading instructional improvement. Today, they join the show to talk about their book, Leading Educator Wellness: Six Critical Actions to Support All Staff.  Our discussion covers: The tangible challenges educator wellness is meant to address—attrition, shortages, effectiveness, and moreStarting with leader wellness firstMoving from self-care to systems-care SMART wellness goalsDemonstrating authentic commitment to wellness combined with high standards of excellencePractical actions leaders can take todayGet Leading Educator Wellness from Solution Tree.  About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn  I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt  Learn more about today's sponsor, Playworks:We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play. If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time.  These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation.