Episodes

  • The Evolution of Trust-Based Observations with Craig Randall - Transformative Principal
    Jun 12 2025

    Today we're happy to bring you an episode from Transformative Principal.

    In this episode, Jethro D. Jones welcomes back Craig Randall to discuss the evolution of trust-based observations and its impact on improving teaching and learning. Craig shares insights from his podcast '20 Minutes of Teaching Brilliance (On the Road with Trust-Based Observations)' and delves into the challenges and strategies for writing and implementing effective educational practices.

    • Nerding about the writing process.
    • When the idea comes, you’ve got to take it.
    • How Trust-Based Observations has evolved.
    • You learn something new every single week.
    • Coaching model vs. Trust-Based Observations
    • We have blind spots, if we leave it to that model, we may not have the solution they need.
    • Cumulatively add the activities to the lesson to show the most learning.
    • Intensive training, really goes deep.
    • Don’t offer suggestions until the fourth visit because we haven’t built enough trust.
    • Asking permission to offer a suggestion.
    • Observation form available on the web site.
    • 9 areas of pedagogy hasn’t changed.
    • Relational trust hasn’t changed.
    • TBO is collective teacher efficacy in action
    • How we lower vulnerability to get people to take risks is by building trust.

    Craig’s podcast - 20 Minutes of Teaching Brilliance (On the Road with Trust-Based Observations)


    Craig was last on my podcast in 2021! Here’s his podcast episode. And someone even did a dissertation on TBO.


    About Craig Randall

    Craig Randall is developing relational trust between principals and teachers, leading to risk-taking and growth. Author of Trust-Based Observations

    Trust-Based Observations, a book about a transformative method of doing teacher observations. In a nutshell the book and model are designed to help show administrators how to build trusting differentiated relationships with each of their teachers such that teachers are willing to work through uncomfortable feelings of vulnerability and embrace taking big risks to grow their practice. The model also directly connects the observation process to annual action research goals and schoolwide professional development through the creation of professional development communities tied directly to TBO areas of pedagogy.


    We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL.


    IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

    • Simplify and streamline technology
    • Save teachers’ time
    • Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
    • Improve student performance on state assessments

    🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

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    33 mins
  • The Two-Hour Learning Model with McKenzie Price — Artificial Intelligence: Real Talk
    Jun 4 2025

    Today we're bringing you an episode from one of our newest series, Artificial Intelligence: Real Talk (AI with Eli). Host Eli Davis sits down with McKenzie Price, Stanford grad, mom of two, and co-founder of the Two Hour Learning platform. McKenzie shares her journey in transforming education through AI-driven, personalized learning, and discusses the impact of life skills, socioeconomic challenges, and innovative teaching methods. The conversation covers the future of education, the role of teachers, and how AI can help unlock every child’s potential.

    Subscribe to Artificial Intelligence: Real talk at https://avisionforlearning.com/


    We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL.


    IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

    • Simplify and streamline technology
    • Save teachers’ time
    • Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
    • Improve student performance on state assessments

    🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

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    31 mins
  • Three Factors that Led to the Mississippi Miracle in Child Literacy with Dr. Trish Stoll - Transformative Principal
    May 21 2025

    Today, we're excited to share an episode from the Transformative Principal podcast on the BE Podcast Network.

    We introduce you to Dr. Trish Stoll, a transformative leader who played a pivotal role in the Mississippi Miracle—a remarkable effort to improve child literacy rates in the state. Dr. Stoll will share her insights on how to empower teachers, build their capacity for literacy instruction, and create a culture of learning where all students can thrive. She'll discuss the importance of focusing on teacher capacity, providing ample training and support, and involving teachers in decision-making. Dr. Stoll will also share her thoughts on how principals can be transformative leaders by observing classrooms, learning from students, and creating a culture of continuous improvement. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in improving literacy outcomes for all students.

    • Mississippi Miracle
    • Prior initiatives
      • Barksdale Reading Academy
      • Reading Universe
      • Reading First - Literacy block was protected, pockets not the entire state
      • Literacy-Based Promotion Act - 3rd grade assessment
      • Mississippi Kindergarten Readiness
    • Focus on Teacher Capacity on Literacy
      • State literacy programs
      • 3 Consortiums throughout the state to help teachers learn more
      • AIM Pathways partnering with the state
      • Lots of training and support for all teachers.
      • If we focus on learning to read from Pre-K to second
    • Empowering Teachers
      • State literacy coaches were teachers
      • Teacher advisory committee - created by state Supt.
      • Teachers take ownership of their professional learning
      • TEDx talk for teachers
    • How to be a transformative principal? Go into classrooms observe what students are doing and be a learner. Even district personnel are learners too

    About Trish Stoll

    Dr. Trish Stoll is a dedicated and experienced educator who currently serves as the ELA Curriculum Specialist for the Gulfport School District in Gulfport, Mississippi. With over two decades of experience in the field of education, Dr. Stoll has held various roles including general education teacher, Visual Arts Instructor, Literacy Coach, and Instructional Coach. Her passion for implementing best practices in literacy education has made her a valuable asset in improving literacy for students in Mississippi and beyond. Dr. Stoll's commitment to continuous learning, research, and collaboration with other literacy professionals across the nation ensures that students receive the most effective literacy instruction possible. Holding an Ed. D in Educational Leadership, a Specialist Degree in Instructional Leadership, a Master of Science, and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, Dr. Stoll has a strong educational background that informs her work in the field. Furthermore, Dr. Trish Stoll is a Middle and Early Childhood Art National Board Certified Teacher, showcasing her expertise and dedication to the field of education. With her wealth of experience and qualifications, Dr. Stoll continues to make a significant impact on the literacy education landscape, striving to enhance learning outcomes for students and promote excellence in education.


    We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL.


    IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

    • Simplify and streamline technology
    • Save teachers’ time
    • Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
    • Improve student performance on state assessments

    🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

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    26 mins
  • Teacher by Teacher with John King — The Authority Podcast
    May 15 2025

    Today we're pleased to share a special episode from The Authority Podcast, with Dr. John B. King, Jr., the 10th U.S. Secretary of Education.


    John is currently the chancellor of the State University of New York (SUNY), the nation’s largest comprehensive system of public higher education. Over the course of his career in public education, he has been a high school social studies teacher, a middle school principal, the first African American and Puerto Rican to serve as New York State Education Commissioner, a college professor, and the president and CEO of the Education Trust.


    His new book is called Teacher By Teacher: The People Who Change Our Lives.


    John and Ross discuss:

    • John’s inspiring story
    • Teachers who treat students as worthy of respect
    • The teachers who made an impact and why they still stand out today
    • What we miss when schools are discouraged from supporting and developing the whole person
    • The meaning of public education – why it’s critical and what we miss when it’s not supported
    • The public education discourse - what’s missing or what we get wrong
    • Rigor and joy are not mutually exclusive
    • Going on “offense” to create relevance in school and address chronic absenteeism
    • Reasons for hope in education

    You can find Teacher by Teacher wherever you get your books.


    About today’s guest

    John B. King Jr. served in President Barack Obama’s cabinet as the tenth U.S. Secretary of Education. Over the course of his extensive and influential career in public education, he has been a high school social studies teacher, a middle school principal, the first African American and Puerto Rican to serve as New York State Education Commissioner, a college professor, and the president and CEO of the Education Trust, a national education civil rights organization. King is currently the chancellor of the State University of New York (SUNY), the nation’s largest comprehensive system of public higher education. Both of King’s parents were career New York City public school educators. He lives in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife, an education researcher and former teacher, and his two daughters.


    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

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    45 mins
  • Artificial Intelligence: Real Talk - Navigating AI Bias and Access with Dr. Marlena Ward Dodds
    Mar 12 2025

    Today we're excited to introduce our newest podcast here on the Be Podcast Network, Artificial Intelligence: Real Talk hosted by Eli Marshall Davis. Eli is an Interventionist at Hemphill Elementary in Birmingham, AL, where he sits on the leadership team and chairs the MTSS/Problem Solving Team committee. He is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of South Carolina, focusing on Teaching and Learning, with research interests in social justice, epigenetics, and the transformative potential of AI in education.

    In this episode, host Eli welcomes his longtime friend Dr. Marlena Ward Dodds. They explore artificial intelligence, particularly its impact on education and inclusivity, the challenges of online learning, and the digital divide. Dr. Dodds shares her insights and experiences with AI, both in higher education and in the broader context of learning and development. They also discuss the ethical implications and biases in AI, emphasizing the importance of critical thinking and equitable access to technology.

    Listen to Artificial Intelligence: Real Talk about subscribe here: https://avisionforlearning.com


    We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL.


    IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

    • Simplify and streamline technology
    • Save teachers’ time
    • Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
    • Improve student performance on state assessments

    🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

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    42 mins
  • Making the Science of Reading Stick with Dr. Jocelyn Washburn — Transformative Principal
    Feb 27 2025

    To celebrate EduTalk Radio joining the Be Podcast Network, we're sharing episodes from other network shows. Today is a conversation from Transformative Principal, between host Jethro Jones and Dr. Jocelyn Washburn, an associate director of the Center for Research on Learning at the University of Kansas.

    The episode covers:

    • SIM is an approach to instruction that focuses on teaching students strategies for learning. In short, SIM emphasizes HOW to learn.
    • Learning strategies (explicit instruction) and content enhancement (teacher guided learning) strategies, Cue, Do, Review
    • SIM is designed for teachers in middle and high school
    • SIM Paraphrasing activity
    • Center for Research on Learning
    • Pretest and make commitments to learn.
    • Success formula =
    • If you figure out what works for you, what strategies will help you perform it, that will make it effective for life.
    • Strategic is about having strategies
    • Why hasn’t anyone taught me “like this” before
    • Learning strategies vs. Cue, do, review
    • Research-based information
    • Concerns about science of reading approaches
    • Review process - reviewed against a long list of components (do those specific components have research showing they work.)
    • Teacher not being able to teach something even though they have experience showing that it works.
    • Adapting evidence-based practices based on student data.
    • iSTAR Adaptive intervention based on SIM writing strategies.
    • Learn how write complete sentences and effective purposeful paragraphs.
    • Many different types of gaps and writing that has happened.
    • Human-delivered instruction but with dashboards for families, teachers, students, and administrators with AI to support
    • Interest-inventory
    • Authentic Audience - writing with purpose routine, built into iStar.
    • How to be a transformative principal? Learn alongside your teachers.

    We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL.


    IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

    • Simplify and streamline technology
    • Save teachers’ time
    • Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
    • Improve student performance on state assessments

    🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

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    41 mins
  • Hats, Tats, and UDL with Bryan Dean — Transformative Principal
    Feb 20 2025

    To celebrate EduTalk Radio joining the Be Podcast Network, we're sharing episodes from other network shows. Today is a conversation from Transformative Principal, between host Jethro Jones and guest Bryan Dean. Bryan is CAST's Innovation Specialist. Bryan has been working with hard-to-reach students with emotional impairments, conduct disorder, behavioral difficulties, and low interest for more than 20 years.

    The conversation covers:

    • Giving UDL away for free
    • Building products through grants
    • People think UDL is static, but it isn’t.
    • Identity is important.
    • UDL is human centric, not student centric.
    • How UDL invites students to take ownership of their learning experiences.
    • Do you feel behind?
    • “What if I could have gone through school feeling unencumbered?”
    • Expert Learners vs. executive functioning
    • Bounded autonomy.
    • Assumptions about student learning.
    • Joy Zabala - You can’t boil the ocean
    • UDL Con is an Experience
    • AI, Accessibility,
    • UDL Guidelines 3.0
    • UDL Con - where the guidelines will be released.
    • CAST.org - check out the projects and resources.
    • How to be a transformative principal? Ghostwalks - walk with nobody there in your school. What is being said by what is on the walls and in the classroom.



    We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL.


    IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

    • Simplify and streamline technology
    • Save teachers’ time
    • Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
    • Improve student performance on state assessments

    🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

    Show more Show less
    43 mins
  • UDL Now! with Katie Novak — The Authority Podcast
    Feb 13 2025

    To celebrate Education Talk Radio's addition to the Be Podcast Network, we're sharing some episodes focused on access and opportunity from our other shows. Today's episode, from The Authority, is one of our popular conversations from the past year, between Katie Novak and host Ross Romano.

    Dr. Katie Novak is an internationally-renowned education consultant, a graduate instructor at the University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School of Education, and the best-selling author of 14 books on inclusive practices, with over 250K books sold worldwide. This episode features a discussion about her book, UDL Now! (Third Edition): A Teacher’s Guide to Applying Universal Design for Learning in Today’s Classrooms.


    You'll hear about:

    • “If UDL is the answer, what is the question?”
    • Who should be doing UDL?
    • UDL is best practice: “Teachers are working too hard to not have a greater impact on learners.”
    • Understanding the similarities and differences between UDL and differentiated instruction (DI) — and why teachers should be doing both
    • Collective efficacy. “We can’t prevent all the challenges students will face, but we can help to alleviate them by designing a learning environment that leaves no room for failure.”
    • The three core beliefs of UDL: variability, firm goals, and expert learning
    • What is the right amount of student voice and choice?

    Find UDL Now! from CAST Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and on Katie’s website: https://www.novakeducation.com/udl-now


    About the guest

    Katie Novak, Ed.D. is an internationally renowned education consultant, a graduate instructor at the University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School of Education, and the best-selling author of 14 books on inclusive practices, with over 250K books sold worldwide. Katie designs and presents workshops both nationally and internationally focusing on the implementation of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), inclusive practices, and universally designed leadership. Connect on Twitter @KatieNovakUDL and 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 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


    We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL.


    IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

    • Simplify and streamline technology
    • Save teachers’ time
    • Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
    • Improve student performance on state assessments

    🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

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    50 mins