In this episode of the Resilient Schools podcast, 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 in classrooms and 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.

Welcome to our National Literacy Month series of podcasts, presented in partnership between the Be Podcast Network and Reading Is Fundamental (RIF).

In this episode, Jethro welcomes Dr. Karen Dudek-Brannan, host of the De Facto Leaders podcast. They discuss the role of related service providers in literacy, avoiding black-and-white thinking in educational interventions, and the multifaceted nature of vocabulary and comprehension in literacy development. Dr. Dudek-Brannan emphasizes the importance of structured service delivery planning and shares insights from her research on vocabulary, syntax, and their impacts on reading and writing comprehension.

• Getting everyone on the same page from different service providers.
• We’re not ignoring your discipline!
• Service delivery planning vs. lesson planning.
• Having a lot of experiences is what kids need to build vocabulary
• Need to have about 90-95% of vocabulary
• Phonics are essential, but if you don’t give them that explicit instruction, it becomes very difficult.
• Biologically primary and biologically secondary - we are wired to speak
• Fluency is one way to measure automaticity.
• Syntax Queen - metacognition and vocabulary.
• Content and structure.
• Sentence Structure

About Dr. Karen Dudek-Brannan

Dr. Karen Dudek-Brannan is the founder and owner/operator of Dr. Karen, LLC, a company focused on empowering therapists and educators to design interventions that support language, literacy, and executive functioning. She has a doctorate in Special Education and Director of Special Education and Assistive Technology credentials from Illinois State University, as well as a master’s and bachelor’s from Illinois State University in speech-language pathology. She spent 14 years in the school systems and has held various roles in leadership and higher education teaching and mentoring clinicians. She is the host of the De Facto Leaders podcast, where she shares evidence-based practices, her own experiences, and guest interviews on topics relating to education and healthcare reform. She currently holds a management role with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

In this episode, Jethro Jones sits down with Jessica Taylor, the Trauma Informed Specialist at an alternative school in Nashville, Tennessee.

They discuss Jessica's role, her daily check-ins with students, the significance of building trust, and the impact of creating personal connections.

Jessica also shares her experiences at conferences and offers advice for those interested in trauma-informed practices.

00:00 Introduction

00:37 Jessica Taylor's Role and Responsibilities

00:59 Building Trust and Personal Connections

04:38 Importance of Trauma-Informed Practices

06:12 Validation and Co-Regulation

07:57 Advice for Practitioners

15:36 Closing Thoughts

In this episode, Jethro Jones talks with Dr. Chad Higgins, Executive Director of ESSDACK, during the Bridging to Resilience Conference.

They discuss the various initiatives of ESSDACK, particularly focusing on resilience and trauma-informed practices in education. They explore the importance of these initiatives, the challenges faced, and the potential for growth and impact in schools and communities.

00:00 Welcome to the Resilient Schools Podcast

00:18 ESSDACK Initiatives and Resources

01:31 Importance of Resilience Work

02:25 Growth Areas and Challenges

07:03 Future Insights and Hopes

In this episode, guest host Ross Romano speaks with education entrepreneur Priten Shah about teacher burnout, why it’s an important topic for resilient schools, and whether AI is currently making it better or worse.

Priten is the founder of Pedagogy.Cloud, an educational consulting firm that supports educators in K-12 schools, higher education, and the nonprofit sector adapt to the increasing capabilities of AI. He is also the author of AI & The Future of Education: Teaching in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (Jossey-Bass, 2023).

Hear about:

● Priten’s Ed Week op-ed: “I Was an AI Optimist. Now I’m Worried It’s Making Teacher Burnout Worse.”

● Priten saw potential for AI tools to reduce teachers’ workload — here’s what he anticipated

● What is the “So that…” of AI in schools? (In other words, AI saves teachers time on X so that they can do Y.)

● What is the current reality of AI in schools?

● What teachers need the most help with and how schools are currently supporting it

● To allow time for AI training, what can be replaced?

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 Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn

In this episode of Resilient Schools, recorded at the Bridging to Resilience Conference, Jethro Jones speaks with Ivory Boyce from the Flint Hills Job Corps Center. Ivory shares her journey, education, and passion for helping students.

They discuss the range of services Job Corps offers to young adults, the importance of understanding individual backgrounds and needs, and insights gained from the conference. The conversation highlights the significance of proactive support and empathy in educational settings.

00:00 Introduction to Resilient Schools Podcast

00:14 Meet Ivory Boyce

00:52 Ivory's Educational Background

01:50 Job Corps Services and Support

03:09 Purpose of Attending the Conference

05:21 Conference Insights and Takeaways

07:19 Final Thoughts and Action Steps

10:32 Importance of Understanding Context

13:47 How to Get Involved with Job Corps

In this episode, Jethro interviews Sydney Perkins, a kindergarten teacher. She shares her insights and experiences from attending the Bridging to Resilience Conference. She discusses the importance of social-emotional learning, personal well-being, and the significance of building strong relationships with students. Sydney emphasizes practical strategies like tapping, breathing exercises, and movement to support her young students' emotional and educational needs.

00:00 Introduction

00:24 Joining the Conference

00:52 Initial Understanding

01:18 Key Takeaways

01:54 Application in Classroom

02:58 Tapping Technique

04:25 Balancing Academics and Social Skills

05:23 Building Relationships

08:34 Insights on Discipline

09:11 Advice for Teachers

10:32 Actionable Steps Post-Conference

13:37 Closing Thoughts

In this episode, guest host Ross Romano talks with Jen Perry, Senior Manager of Learning Design and Whole Learner at Edmentum.

Jen helps us identify the types and indicators of trauma present in many school districts, the causes of chronic absenteeism as well as the ongoing trends, the risk factors for disengagement, how to integrate educator and student engagement, and more.

00:00 Introduction

00:53 Defining Resilient Schools

01:32 What 'Resilience' Means

03:44 Trauma and Adaptability

06:15 Indicators of Trauma

09:59 Attendance as an Indicator

23:49 Behavior and Connection

16:36 COVID-19 Impact on Attendance

25:01 Chronic Absenteeism

30:16 Creating Meaningful Engagement

35:16 Example from Rochester City School

39:22 Importance of Career-Connected Learning

41:58 AI and Education

46:16 The Whole Learner Framework

Related Resources:

• Read Jen’s District Administration article, Connectedness is key: 3 ways to reverse chronic absenteeism
• Learn more about Edmentum: https://www.edmentum.com

About the guest

Jen Perry is Senior Manager of Learning Design and Whole Learner at Edmentum. Jen has worked over 30+ years with youth in educational and community settings. As a teacher, administrator, and trainer, her passion has been to help educators develop an understanding of the importance of social-emotional learning and build trauma-informed responses and systems. This work has included supporting youth, administrators, and schools in understanding behavior and implementing transformational change through strength-based approaches. Connect on LinkedIn

About the host

Ross Romano is 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. He has spent over a decade helping dozens of founders, C-level executives, and authors develop and distribute compelling thought leadership through a variety of media channels. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn