All Episodes
Episodes
Quit Day for Schools: Five Things We Need to Stop Doing
Quit Day usually earns a bad reputation, but I give it a standing ovation. Some things deserve a clean break. In schools, quitting the wrong habits clears space for excellence, respect, and joy. I want to talk about...
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The Elephant in the Room
There are moments in schools when everyone feels something heavy in the room, yet nobody names it. Picture a staff meeting where the energy feels off; you can cut the tension with a knife. People smile, nod, and take...
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Steve Spangler: The Engagement Effect
Every now and then, I meet someone who makes me sit up straight, lean in, and say, “Now this is the good stuff.” That is exactly what happened when I dug into Steve Spangler's work. Many of you know him as the Emmy...
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Top Ways that Schools Ruin Culture
Here is the truth: culture does not fall apart overnight. It happens slowly, often because of habits and systems that no one questions. When educators talk about low morale or burnout, they are usually seeing the...
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Top 10 Student Recognition Ideas That Are Not Cheesy
Hey gang, Stand Tall Steve here. Let’s be real for a minute. Educators want fresh ideas that work. Too often, we sit around in the staff lounge or in a team meeting brainstorming recognition activities, and the ideas...
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Culture Check: Is your Staff in Compliance or Commitment Mode?
I want to have an honest conversation with you about school culture. As educators and leaders, we all want thriving schools where staff and students feel engaged, valued, and inspired. But here is the reality: many...
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Back to School, Back to Culture
The start of a new school year brings a mix of emotions. Excitement. Nervousness. Exhaustion. That final bell of the previous year felt like a sprint across a finish line. Now we find ourselves gearing up once again....
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The Best Summertime Teaching Jobs: Earn Extra While Staying in Education
Summer is almost here, and if you are an educator, you already know what that means—two months of “rest” that somehow end up jam-packed with side gigs, house projects, and maybe some lesson planning you swore you...
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Just Do This...
I recently released my newest book, Just Do This… The message is clear. The mission is urgent. That is where this book comes in. It's a practical guide, structured into twelve chapters, each focusing on a specific...
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Staff Meetings SUCK and How to Make Them Better
Let’s be honest—staff meetings suck and often feel like a waste of time. They should bring people together, share valuable information, and improve the school. Instead, they drain energy, frustrate teachers, and make...
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Teacher Development Trends: What Teachers Really Want
Hey, gang! I am bringing you the real talk on professional development. Let’s be honest: when educators hear “professional development,” it doesn’t always spark excitement. Instead, we brace ourselves for long hours,...
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Top 10 Ways to Retain Great Educators: Building Thriving School Communities
As I walk through schools across our nation, I see an unsettling trend: talented educators leaving the profession. The problem isn't a lack of capable teachers—it's our struggle to retain them. Retaining great...
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