Episoder

  • Correction: A previous version of this episode referred to Molly McGowan Gorsuch as Rhodes Branding's Marketing Strategy Director. Molly is actually Rhodes' Director of Client Engagement.

    Online communities matter—but how can you make your school district’s online spaces shine just as brightly as your physical ones? In this episode of SchoolCEO Podcast, we dig into how to optimize your online communities to make sure that they’re just as incredible as your schools are in real life. We also hear some lessons from industry experts Rhodes Branding as well as advice on how not to make your online communities feel like negative spaces.

    Featured in this Episode: Molly McGowan Gorsuch and Ginny Kowalski of Rhodes Branding, Pat Flynn, and SchoolCEO Magazine Editor Melissa Hite.

    Follow SchoolCEO on LinkedIn or X/Twitter @school_ceo. 

    Subscribe to SchoolCEO at SchoolCEO.com for research, stories, and strategies for leading your schools. And if you have a story you’d like to share, email us at [email protected].

    Learn more about SchoolCEO and all of our resources on our About page. SchoolCEO is powered by Apptegy, the maker of the leading K-12 communications and brand management platform.

     

  • Experiential marketing started with flash mobs and has since become the cutting edge of advertising. Live branded events that are interactive, multi-sensory and emotionally resonant have a much greater pull on audiences than other forms of marketing. That’s why it’s so important K-12 leaders think about how they can adapt experiential marketing tactics for their own use.

    In this episode, we’ll share what experiential marketing is exactly, why it’s so effective, and ways schools can use it to improve their brands.

    Featured in this episode are Layne Braunstein, William D. Parker, Zhecho Dobrev and Sherese Nix.

    Max Lenderman is the author of Experience the Message: How Experiential Marketing is Changing the Brand World.

    Listen to William D. Parker’s podcast, Principal Matters on Apple Podcasts.

    Zhecho Dobrev is the author of The Big Miss: How Organizations Overlook the Value of Emotions.

    Visit SchoolCEO’s website for more information about our research

    A Seat at the Table

    and

    Layers of Leadership

    .

    Follow SchoolCEO on LinkedIn or X/Twitter @school_ceo. 

    Subscribe to SchoolCEO at SchoolCEO.com for research, stories, and strategies for leading your schools. And if you have a story you’d like to share, email us at [email protected].

    Learn more about SchoolCEO and all of our resources on our About page. SchoolCEO is powered by Apptegy, the maker of the leading K-12 communications and brand management platform.

     

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  • Organizational culture has become a buzzword like AI, NFT or Bitcoin—everyone is talking about it but very few people know how it actually works. In this episode, we explain what organizational culture really is, and how it shapes the success of individual employees and your company as a whole.

    We’ll take a look at real world examples of excellent organizational culture at work, hear expert opinions on the science of employee motivation, how to shape a strong company culture and actionable steps you can take to start transforming yours.

    Featured in this episode are Neel Doshi, Margaret Heffernan, Dr. Curtis Jones and Karen Borchert.

    Visit SchoolCEO’s website for more information about our research What Do Millennial Teachers Want and 2023 Teacher Satisfaction Survey.

    To read more of Neel Doshi’s research on the science of motivation, visit https://www.factor.ai/about and read his book, “Primed to Perform: How to Build the Highest Performing Cultures Through the Science of Total Motivation.”

    Read Margaret Heffernan’s book, “Beyond Measure: The Big Impact of Small Changes.”

    To learn about Alpaca’s work to change school culture and measure how teachers and staff experience it, check out https://www.alpacapacks.com/.

    Toyota/NUUMI story excerpts taken from This American Life episode 561.

    Follow SchoolCEO on LinkedIn or X/Twitter @school_ceo. 

    Subscribe to SchoolCEO at SchoolCEO.com for research, stories, and strategies for leading your schools. And if you have a story you’d like to share, email us at [email protected].

    Learn more about SchoolCEO and all of our resources on our About page. SchoolCEO is powered by Apptegy, the maker of the leading K-12 communications and brand management platform.

     

  • How does effective communication shape your schools? What are the best practices to keep your community informed & to allow them to know that you’re listening to their concerns? Schools communicate all the time which means families are inundated with information, but schools need to listen to know what’s actually important to their families.

    In this episode, we’ll explore exactly how to engage with effective communication and the importance of listening to your community. Listen to hear from experts who provide insights into communication strategies, how to listen to your community, and the tools to shape a community's perceptions and expectations of a school.

    Featured in this episode are Jeff Horton, Lesley Bruinton, Greg Turchetta, and others.

    Follow SchoolCEO on LinkedIn or X/Twitter @school_ceo. 

    Subscribe to SchoolCEO at SchoolCEO.com for research, stories, and strategies for leading your schools. And if you have a story you’d like to share, email us at [email protected].

    Learn more about SchoolCEO and all of our resources on our About page. SchoolCEO is powered by Apptegy, the maker of the leading K-12 communications and brand management platform.

     

  • What is marketing? How can you take the best marketing ideas from the private sector and implement them in your schools? Marketing has evolved over time to become more brand & identity focused. Having a strong set of values & consistent core messaging is the pathway to developing a strong marketing strategy.

    In this episode, we’ll explore exactly how marketing has changed and what you can do to strengthen your school’s identity. Listen to hear from experts who provide insights into marketing, branding, positioning, and storytelling to shape a community's perceptions and expectations of a school.

    Featured in this episode are Jack Trout, Dr. Carmen Simon, Dr. Jonah Berger, Neal Foard, and others.

    Follow SchoolCEO on LinkedIn or X/Twitter @school_ceo. 

    Subscribe to SchoolCEO at SchoolCEO.com for research, stories, and strategies for leading your schools. And if you have a story you’d like to share, email us at [email protected].

    Learn more about SchoolCEO and all of our resources on our About page. SchoolCEO is powered by Apptegy, the maker of the leading K-12 communications and brand management platform.

     

  • Every great school district’s heart lies in its identity What is the identity of your district? What is it known for? What is uniquely true about your schools? Your district’s identity is made up of its values, strengths, and culture. These, along with your community’s direct interactions with your district, ultimately shape your community’s perception and reputation of your brand. School marketing begins and ends with establishing a brand that is true to itself and delivers a consistent experience to students, parents, teachers, staff, administrators, and the larger community.

    In this episode, you’ll be reminded why your district’s brand should be of paramount importance to you as a school leader. Listen to hear from experts who provide insights into branding, positioning, marketing, and storytelling to shape community perceptions and expectations of a school.

    Featured in this episode are Laura Ries, Dr. Julie Sweetland, Dr. Pete Hannigan, Dr. Jonah Berger, Karen Eber, Neal Foard, and others.

    Follow SchoolCEO on LinkedIn or X/Twitter @school_ceo. 

    Subscribe to SchoolCEO at SchoolCEO.com for research, stories, and strategies for leading your schools. And if you have a story you’d like to share, email us at [email protected].

    Learn more about SchoolCEO and all of our resources on our About page. SchoolCEO is powered by Apptegy, the maker of the leading K-12 communications and brand management platform.

     

  • School marketing has gone from a rarity to a necessity for public schools. From public opinion to family engagement, capturing and keeping the attention of your school community is a must to leading and running a successful school district.

    In each episode of Season 3, SchoolCEO explores some of the most important and foundational concepts to change how others think and feel about your schools. We talk to experts, share stories along the way, and equip you with a framework that can help you build a strong, thriving identity for your district. Welcome to Season 3!

    In this introductory episode, you’ll get a taste for how season 3 is different from our past seasons. You’ll also get a sneak peek into how storytelling can transform a community and how you can learn as much from another industry about your job as you can from within K-12.

    Featured in this episode are Michael C. Bush, Neel Doshi, Margaret Heffernen, and Joe Sanfelippo,

    Follow SchoolCEO on LinkedIn or X/Twitter @school_ceo. 

    Subscribe to SchoolCEO at SchoolCEO.com for research, stories, and strategies for leading your schools. And if you have a story you’d like to share, email us at [email protected].

    Learn more about SchoolCEO and all of our resources on our About page. SchoolCEO is powered by Apptegy, the maker of the leading K-12 communications and brand management platform.

     

  • In Season 2 of the SchoolCEO podcast we have had some of the brightest school leaders tell us about their work, inspiration, and strategies. Along the way, experts in influence, storytelling, culture building, hiring, and more from outside of K-12 have joined in to share additional perspectives.

    We’ve curated some of the very best comments and insights on how to build a high performing culture, the best way to reach your community, working with and across different generations, becoming a great leader, and how to hire teachers and staff. These insightful segments come from some of the most popular and most shared episodes.

    Links to the full SchoolCEO Conversations Episodes:

    E65: Neel Doshi

    Spotify | Apple Podcasts

    E66: Jeff Mayo

    Spotify | Apple Podcasts

    E70: Jonah Berger

    Spotify | Apple Podcasts

    E72: Dr. Jeffrey Collier & Coty Kuchinsky

    Spotify | Apple Podcasts

    E73: Julie Lythcott-Haims

    Spotify | Apple Podcasts

    E76: Karen Eber

    Spotify | Apple Podcasts

    E77: Jennifer Hines

    Spotify | Apple Podcasts

    E78: Donald Killingbeck

    Spotify | Apple Podcasts

    E80: Aurora Meyer

    Spotify | Apple Podcasts

    E82: EDU Openings

    Spotify | Apple Podcasts

    E84: Melissa Thompson

    Spotify | Apple Podcasts

    E86: Michael C. Bush

    Spotify | Apple Podcasts

    E89: Debbie Critchfield

    Spotify | Apple Podcasts

    E90: Margaret Heffernan

    Spotify | Apple Podcasts

    E91: Dr. Joe Sanfelippo

    Spotify | Apple Podcasts

    E92: Andrew McPeak

    Spotify | Apple Podcasts

    E94: Kim Lear

    Spotify | Apple Podcasts

    E96: Paul Coakley

    Spotify | Apple Podcasts

    E97: Greg Turchetta

    Spotify | Apple Podcasts

    Follow SchoolCEO on LinkedIn or X/Twitter @school_ceo. 

    Subscribe to SchoolCEO at SchoolCEO.com for research, stories, and strategies for leading your schools. And if you have a story you’d like to share, email us at [email protected].

    Learn more about SchoolCEO and all of our resources on our About page. SchoolCEO is powered by Apptegy, the maker of the leading K-12 communications and brand management platform.

     

  • In this episode, Dr. Rafal-Baer discusses her work in addressing the gender gap in education leadership and various initiatives such as the Forum for Educational Leadership and Women Leading ED, a national network of women education leaders she founded. She also highlights the importance of supporting current and aspiring education leaders, providing comprehensive project management and implementation support, and creating a powerful network to promote gender equality at the top of education systems.

    You can learn more about the ILO Group and Dr. Rafal-Baer’s work at https://www.ilogroup.com/. You can learn more about Women Leading Ed at https://www.womenleadinged.org/. You can learn more about the Forum for Educational Leadership at https://www.tffel.com/.

    You can also follow Dr. Rafal-Baer on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @juliarafalbaer.

    Follow SchoolCEO on LinkedIn or X/Twitter @school_ceo. 

    Subscribe to SchoolCEO at SchoolCEO.com for research, stories, and strategies for leading your schools. And if you have a story you’d like to share, email us at [email protected].

    Learn more about SchoolCEO and all of our resources on our About page. SchoolCEO is powered by Apptegy, the maker of the leading K-12 communications and brand management platform.

     

  • In this episode of SchoolCEO Conversations, we speak with Greg Turchetta, the Senior Chief Communications Officer for the Richland Two School District in South Carolina. In this conversation, we discuss the importance of storytelling, how every school staff member can contribute to your district’s story, and the power of transparency in schools.

    Greg and his team are responsible for district-wide communication, marketing, media relations, and strategic partnership management for the 29,000 student school district. Before he began his K-12 career, Greg spent 4 years as Executive Director of Marketing and Media for Florida SouthWestern State College in Fort Myers, Florida were he executed a half million dollar brand campaign. Then, before even that, Greg had an award-winning 21-year television news career where he spent 12 of those years managing newsgathering efforts in some of the most prestigious newsrooms across the country including in Fort Myers, Atlanta, Orlando, Seattle, and Austin.

    Follow Richland Two School District at https://twitter.com/RichlandTwo and Greg Turchetta at https://twitter.com/NewsBoss

    Main Discussion Points:

    - How every school staff member can contribute to storytelling and branding [00:31:54]

    - Using social media and websites to share the "extraordinary" stories happening daily in schools that the public doesn't see [00:41:34]

    - De-escalation training for teachers as a teacher retention strategy to deal with difficult parent confrontations [00:51:23]

    - Creating an "environment that's more Ritz Carlton than it is DMV" for families [00:42:18]

    Quotes:

    “Our job is to move the needle and to move it fast, because honestly, in the education space, there's no time to waste.” [05:38]

    “Transparency has to be your calling card. You have to do it at all cost. You cannot no comment things. The public takes that as an implied guilt.” [13:20]

    “If parents are that fickle, that means we're doing a horrible job of proving the quality of what we do every day.” [41:37]

    “Deescalation training is probably one of the best things you can do for teachers right now to keep them in your building.” [51:30]

    “Urgency and quality. You have to use urgency to prove the quality of your district. You don't have time anymore.” [52:25]

    Follow SchoolCEO on LinkedIn or X/Twitter @school_ceo. 

    Subscribe to SchoolCEO at SchoolCEO.com for research, stories, and strategies for leading your schools. And if you have a story you’d like to share, email us at [email protected].

    Learn more about SchoolCEO and all of our resources on our About page. SchoolCEO is powered by Apptegy, the maker of the leading K-12 communications and brand management platform.

     

  • In this episode of SchoolCEO Conversations, we speak with Dr. Paul Coakley, the Superintendent of Multnomah ESD in Oregon. Dr. Coakley has spent a lifetime as an educator and as a school administrator. He shares how he united a community to pass the first successful bond in nearly two decades. He also shares his insights on the importance of leaving a legacy, building a personal brand, and knowing when to transition in your career.

    Dr. Coakley discusses topics such as: how to brand yourself effectively to gain community trust, when the right time to pass on the leadership baton is, the importance of knowing your “WHY” as a leader, and so much more.

    Dr. Paul Coakley has over 20 years of experience in education as a teacher, principal, human resources director, and superintendent and is currently the Superintendent of the Multnomah Education Service District (ESD) in Oregon. Dr. Coakley holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership and recently published his memoir, "A Reason for Every Season: Memoirs of a Black Superintendent” which we discuss in this episode.

    You can pick up your copy of “A Reason for Every Season: Memoirs of a Black Superintendent” from Amazon or Barnes & Noble

    Main Discussion Points:

    Shifting Your Why Over Time (04:43)

    Building Relationships to Lead an Organization (21:11)

    Making Difficult Decisions as a Leader (29:46)

    When to Transition in Your Career (40:40)

    Advice for Superintendents Feeling Isolated (53:53)

    Key Quotes:

    “One of the most important things for all school leaders and educators in general is to know your why and to understand what it is.” (02:44)

    “If we are constantly working and we don’t make time for ourselves, we actually are less effective than when we’re rested.” (26:06)

    “One of the things that I always say is the way you measure a healthy culture is: it’s how long does it take for a group of people to stop talking about a problem and start addressing it?” (48:05)

    Follow SchoolCEO on LinkedIn or X/Twitter @school_ceo. 

    Subscribe to SchoolCEO at SchoolCEO.com for research, stories, and strategies for leading your schools. And if you have a story you’d like to share, email us at [email protected].

    Learn more about SchoolCEO and all of our resources on our About page. SchoolCEO is powered by Apptegy, the maker of the leading K-12 communications and brand management platform.

     

  • In this episode of SchoolCEO Conversations we speak with Julie Sweetland, a sociolinguist and senior advisor at the Frameworks Institute. She shares how leaders and advocates can use strategic framing and communications to have more productive conversations around complex issues. You’ll learn practical strategies for framing issues, understanding different audiences and viewpoints, avoiding common communications pitfalls, and making conversations with your community more constructive.

    Julie Sweetland, Ph.D. (@jsw33ts) serves as a senior advisor at the FrameWorks Institute, a nonprofit organization that studies how issues are framed in public conversations and how that impacts outcomes. She has over a decade of experience in education as a teacher, instructional designer and teacher educator focused on issues of language, race, learning and professional development. Julie holds an MA and PhD in Linguistics from Stanford University.

    FrameWorks has a number of valuable, actionable resources on their website including these:

    Framing 101Changing the Narrative on Public EducationReframing Family, School, and Community EngagementReframing the Education Conversation through a Core Story ApproachTalking Teachers and Teachers’ Unions

    Main Discussion Points:
    - What framing is and why it’s important for driving productive public conversations (07:00)
    - Common barriers to communication (e.g. not understanding your audience’s assumptions) (11:15)
    - Strategies for overcoming polarization and partisanship (18:15)
    - Don’t remind people of misconceptions or problems you want them to forget (25:50)
    - Using the “bridge and pivot” technique to redirect conversations (31:10)
    - Core framing narratives: individualism, fatalism and otherism (35:45)
    - Why crisis framing rarely motivates action and change (40:10)
    - Leading with solutions vs introducing problems first (43:47)
    - Using stories to illustrate systems, not just individuals (hero vs landscape framing) (48:44)

    Key Quotes:
    “Framing is about making intentional choices about how ideas are presented.” (7:31)
    “Never remind someone of something you want them to forget.” (25:47)
    “Crisis framing is not helpful unless it is an action you need somebody to take right that moment, and they only need to do it, like one time.” (39:29)
    “People do not generalize from that hero to the support systems around us.” (on hero framing stories) (50:35)

    Follow SchoolCEO on LinkedIn or X/Twitter @school_ceo. 

    Subscribe to SchoolCEO at SchoolCEO.com for research, stories, and strategies for leading your schools. And if you have a story you’d like to share, email us at [email protected].

    Learn more about SchoolCEO and all of our resources on our About page. SchoolCEO is powered by Apptegy, the maker of the leading K-12 communications and brand management platform.

     

  • Generational researcher Kim Lear re-joins SchoolCEO on the podcast to discuss how you can better understand and communicate with the different generations that make up your school community—from students to teachers to parents to members within the community.. Learn about the key events and cultural shifts that have shaped each generation along with their communication preferences.

    Join this conversation and learn about:

    - Understanding the societal events and cultural moods that shape each generation’s values and perspectives (00:06:21)

    - How baby boomers are aging differently with more vibrancy, energy and tech adoption (00:11:44)

    - The rise of skepticism and desire for transparency among Gen X (00:14:39)

    - How overwhelmed and anxious millennial parents feel about “doing what’s right” for their kids (00:18:23)

    - Communication preferences for reaching different generations (00:27:55)

    - Delivering feedback that motivates (instead of paralyzes) (00:42:00)

    - Being clear about desired outcomes when gathering input to avoid mismatched expectations (00:35:11)

    - Fostering mentor relationships by spotting potential and proving yourself as a mentee (00:46:57)

    - And so much more

    About Kim Lear:

    Kim Lear is a writer and researcher who explores how emerging trends impact the future of our workforce and marketplace. She is known for her ability to use a mix of data, storytelling, humor, and actionable takeaways to discuss the trends that most impact the bottom line of organizations. Previously, Kim was the content director at a research firm dedicated to generational and Millennials trends. Her undergrad research is around Baby Boomers and longevity. Her post-grad work is around Millennials and social media networks.

    Kim has written whitepapers on the topics of generational wealth transfer in the finance sector, retirement trends in the hospitality industry, and Gen Z’s impact on higher education.

    A researcher to the very core, Kim employs eye-opening statistics to accentuate her points and mixes them with stories and case studies to make her message come alive. She is a sought-after expert and has been featured on NPR as well as national publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Huffington Post, USA Today, TIME Magazine and more. Kim is currently in her fifth year of a longitudinal study on leadership.

    You can follow Kim Lear on X/Twitter @KimLear or subscribe to her exceptional newsletter "Kids These Days."

    Follow SchoolCEO on LinkedIn or X/Twitter @school_ceo. 

    Subscribe to SchoolCEO at SchoolCEO.com for research, stories, and strategies for leading your schools. And if you have a story you’d like to share, email us at [email protected].

    Learn more about SchoolCEO and all of our resources on our About page. SchoolCEO is powered by Apptegy, the maker of the leading K-12 communications and brand management platform.

     

  • Dr. Pete Hannigan, Superintendent of Hawthorn School District 73, and Samantha Cook, Communications Director, discuss generational differences in the workplace, effective communication strategies to engage their community, and the importance of strong school culture. Join a light-hearted conversation with practical suggestions about bridging generational divides, leveraging social media, and creating a positive school experience.

    Follow Hawthorn 73 at https://twitter.com/District_73 and Dr. Hannigan at https://twitter.com/petehannigan

    And be sure to check out the latest Hannigan's Shenanigan video here.

    About Dr. Peter Hannigan

    Dr. Peter Hannigan is an accomplished educational leader with a strong commitment to ensuring quality education for all. He holds a Doctorate in Educational Administration, an Educational Specialist degree, and a Master of Science in Education, all from Northern Illinois University. He began his career as an elementary school teacher, and his passion for education led him to assume various leadership roles.

    Dr. Hannigan's administrative experience includes serving as the Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources in the Schaumburg Consolidated Community School District 54. In this role, he oversaw a district with 15,000 students and 28 schools. Prior to that, he held principal positions at schools ranging from kindergarten through eighth grade.

    As the Superintendent of Hawthorn School District 73, Dr. Hannigan is dedicated to the mission of 'Ensuring learning for all.' He leads a diverse student population of approximately 4,200 students across nine schools, providing equitable opportunities and a world-class, whole-child education. Hawthorn District 73 has earned recognition for its academic and extracurricular achievements, including National Blue Ribbon Awards and the 'Whole Child Award' from the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

    About Samantha Cook

    Samantha Cook is the Communications Specialist at Hawthorn School District, responsible for overseeing communications for all nine elementary schools within the district. She plays a vital role in supporting the District's mission through effective internal and external communications, including the creation of impactful videos for Hawthorn School District as a key component of her work. With a background as a former television reporter specializing in delivering stories on education, Samantha brings a wealth of media expertise to her current role. She holds a degree in communications from DePaul University.

    As a Communications Specialist, Samantha values families and believes in fostering a love for education. She is passionate about ensuring that Hawthorn students receive a quality education while forming meaningful, impactful relationships with the amazing teachers in the district.

    Samantha is a proud bilingual Black Latina. Her goals goals include showcasing students' achievements, celebrating the district's dedicated staff, and fostering a sense of community among parents and community members. With her dedication and creative communication skills, she plays a crucial role in making Hawthorn School District a welcoming and vibrant educational community.

    Follow SchoolCEO on LinkedIn or X/Twitter @school_ceo. 

    Subscribe to SchoolCEO at SchoolCEO.com for research, stories, and strategies for leading your schools. And if you have a story you’d like to share, email us at [email protected].

    Learn more about SchoolCEO and all of our resources on our About page. SchoolCEO is powered by Apptegy, the maker of the leading K-12 communications and brand management platform.

     

  • Andrew McPeak is a millennial speaker and Vice President of Content for Growing Leaders. His experiences as a researcher, speaker, and content designer have led him to become well versed in communicating to and about the next generation. In this conversation, he discusses Generation Z and how educators can better prepare their students for real life.

    As part of a mini-series on generations, Andrew explores how school leaders can think critically about what is best for students today and beyond their K-12 years. Andrew is the author of Ready for Real Life: Unpacking the Five Essential Soft Skills Great Leaders Instill in Their Students and the co-author of Generation Z: Unfiltered. Both books are practical and academic— or as he puts it “prac-ademic.”

    This episode is centered on students and yet still highlights an opportunity for school leaders to market their schools to their community from parents to businesses as they prepare students for the right soft skills to be successful in real life.

    Follow Andrew McPeak on X/Twitter here and learn more about him, his writing, and the Growing Leaders organization here:

    https://readyforreallifebook.com/

    https://growingleaders.com/

    https://www.andrewmcpeak.com/

    Follow SchoolCEO on LinkedIn or X/Twitter @school_ceo. 

    Subscribe to SchoolCEO at SchoolCEO.com for research, stories, and strategies for leading your schools. And if you have a story you’d like to share, email us at [email protected].

    Learn more about SchoolCEO and all of our resources on our About page. SchoolCEO is powered by Apptegy, the maker of the leading K-12 communications and brand management platform.

     

  • In this conversation with SchoolCEO, Dr. Sanfelippo discusses how he changed the narrative within his school district, keys to culture, and how to lead authentically.

    Dr. Joe Sanfelippo is a frequent keynote speaker at education conferences around the country because of his passion, energy, and experience. He spent the last 12 years as the Superintendent of the Fall Creek School District in Fall Creek, WI. The Fall Creek School District was named an Innovative District in 2016 and 2017 by the International Center for Leadership in Education.

    He co-authored The Power of Branding-Telling Your School's Story, Principal Professional Development: Leading Learning in a Digital Age and Hacking Leadership: 10 Ways Great Leaders Inspire Learning That Teachers, Students and Parents Love.

    As mentioned in the interview, you can watch Dr. Sanfelippo’s 1 Minute Walk to Work on YouTube.

    Dr. Sanfelippo was selected as 1 of 117 Future Ready Superintendents in 2014 and 1 of 50 Superintendents as a Personalized Learning Leader in 2016 by the US Department of Education. He attended summits at the White House for both distinctions. Education Dive named Joe 1 of 5 K-12 administrators to watch in 2018 and their National Superintendent of the Year in 2019. He has been a featured speaker in multiple states in the areas of Advancing the Use of Social Media for School Leaders, Telling Your School Story, Creating a Culture of Yes, and Personalized Professional Growth for Staff. Go Crickets!!

    Joe holds a BA in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from St. Norbert College, a MS in Educational Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a MS in Educational Leadership, and a PhD in Leadership, Learning, and Service from Cardinal Stritch University. Joe is also an adjunct professor in the Educational Leadership Department at Viterbo University. Joe has taught Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, and 5th Grade. He was also a school counselor and high school coach prior to taking on an elementary principal position in 2005. He has served as a principal in suburban and rural Wisconsin.
    ---
    SchoolCEO Conversations is powered by Apptegy. Learn more about Apptegy's newest offering: Engage for school newsletters. SchoolCEO's own newsletter uses Engage and you can subscribe to bi-weekly emails here.

    Follow SchoolCEO on LinkedIn or X/Twitter @school_ceo. 

    Subscribe to SchoolCEO at SchoolCEO.com for research, stories, and strategies for leading your schools. And if you have a story you’d like to share, email us at [email protected].

    Learn more about SchoolCEO and all of our resources on our About page. SchoolCEO is powered by Apptegy, the maker of the leading K-12 communications and brand management platform.

     

  • Join one of the best episodes of Season 2 with author, CEO and TED speaker Margaret Heffernan.

    This episode can help any school leader that is looking to better drive change, build a stronger culture, and ultimately to build the best possible district and school.

    How small, frequent changes can be more effective for organizations than big, sudden transformationsThe importance of constructive conflict and different perspectives within collaborationsStrategies for open communication and honesty within organizationsThe value of social connections and relationships (social capital) in schools and businessesWhy efficiency can sometimes undermine effectiveness in complex human systemsPreparing students and organizations to be adaptable, resilient, and manage uncertainty

    Key Quotes & Timestamps

    "What truly changes organizations are small choices made by everyone." [00:04:04]

    "Collaboration often requires constructive conflict and debate to reach the best ideas." [00:07:21]

    "Taking 5 minutes to talk to somebody before or after a meeting can really help you get to know people in the round." [00:29:40]

    "The teacher or executive that takes a personal interest in somebody - it is probably the most potent tool they have." [00:40:11]

    Guest Bio:

    Dr. Margaret Heffernan produced programs for the BBC for 13 years. She then moved to the U.S. where she spearheaded multimedia productions for Intuit, The Learning Company and Standard & Poors. She was Chief Executive of InfoMation Corporation, ZineZone Corporation and then iCast Corporation, was named one of the “Top 25” by Streaming Media magazine and one of the “Top 100 Media Executives” by The Hollywood Reporter.

    The author of six books, Margaret’s third book, Willful Blindness : Why We Ignore the Obvious at our Peril was named one of the most important business books of the decade by the Financial Times. In 2015, she was awarded the Transmission Prize for A Bigger Prize: Why Competition isn’t Everything and How We Do Better, described as “meticulously researched…engagingly written…universally relevant and hard to fault.” Her TED talks have been seen by over 13 million people and in 2015 TED published Beyond Measure: The Big Impact of Small Changes.

    Her most recent book, Uncharted: How to map the future was published in 2020. It quickly became a bestseller and was nominated for the Financial Times Best Business Book award, was one of Bloomberg’s Best Books of 2021 and was chosen as the “Medium Best of the Best” business book. She is a Professor of Practice at the University of Bath, Lead Faculty for the Forward Institute’s Responsible Leadership Programme and, through Merryck & Co., mentors CEOs and senior executives of major global organizations. She chairs the board of DACS and is a parish councillor. Learn more about Margaret and her work at www.mheffernan.com

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    Subscribe to SchoolCEO at SchoolCEO.com for research, stories, and strategies for leading your schools. And if you have a story you’d like to share, email us at [email protected].

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  • Debbie Critchfield joins SchoolCEO and shares her experience in school communications and her current role as the Superintendent of Public Instruction in Idaho.

    If you’re an avid listener, you know that SchoolCEO so often goes deep into organizational culture and how you can craft effective communication that reaches your intended audience. This episode combines those two topics as we dive deeper into internal communication and explore:

    Internal communicationTactics and strategies for better internal communicationHow to work better with school boards and external partnersWhat superintendents can craft a better working relationship with their communication directorsHow communication directors should spend their time to become even more effective in their workAnd so much more.

    Debbie Critchfield was sworn in as Idaho’s Superintendent of Public Instruction on January 2, 2023. She previously served for seven years on the Idaho State Board of Education and was appointed to education task forces by Governors Brad Little and Butch Otter. Debbie served as an elected school board member in Cassia County for ten years and was on the executive committee of the Idaho School Boards Association. She is a former local library trustee and Oakley Valley Arts Council president. She worked as the public information officer for Cassia School District for nine years. Debbie and her husband Dave live in Oakley, where they raised their four children. They have three grandsons.

    Follow SchoolCEO on LinkedIn or X/Twitter @school_ceo. 

    Subscribe to SchoolCEO at SchoolCEO.com for research, stories, and strategies for leading your schools. And if you have a story you’d like to share, email us at [email protected].

    Learn more about SchoolCEO and all of our resources on our About page. SchoolCEO is powered by Apptegy, the maker of the leading K-12 communications and brand management platform.

     

  • In this episode of SchoolCEO Conversations, we speak with Scott Curran, an expert in impact storytelling. He discusses what impact storytelling is, how it can engage and inspire staff, bring communities together, and help nonprofits and schools alike achieve their missions. Listeners will learn practical frameworks for crafting stories and be inspired to craft their own stories.

    Join this conversation to learn more about:

    The power of storytelling to shape community and cultureDefining "impact storytelling" and how it differs from typical storytellingOvercoming common hesitations in identifying impact storiesUsing the "GPS framework" (Goal, Problem, Solution) to craft impact storiesUnderstanding benefits of impact storytelling: achieving "big, bold goals," navigating change and rallying to overcome challengesTelling impact stories as a leadership practice - lessons from working with presidents

    Scott counsels leaders of social enterprises in developing social impact strategies, growing organizational capacity, and creating projects, programs, and partnerships that achieve measurable results.

    Scott founded Beyond Advisers to work with social innovators, nonprofits, philanthropists, governments, and private sector leaders to design and build their organizations and initiatives for impact. He teaches and lectures on the role of lawyers in social innovation, advises law schools in developing social impact clinical practices, and consults with law firms to develop social impact practice groups. Crain’s Chicago Business called the class he teaches one of “the coolest classes for law students.”

    Prior to starting Beyond Advisers, Scott served as General Counsel for the Clinton Foundation. During a decade of service to the Clinton Foundation, Scott established, grew, and led the legal team that supported a global operating charity with over 2,000 staff and volunteers working in 36 countries on more than a dozen initiatives. Scott led the team of in-house professionals and outside firms that created the organizational and operational structures that supported the Clinton Foundation’s board, enterprise systems, and program teams during their most prolonged and intensive period of growth.

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    Subscribe to SchoolCEO at SchoolCEO.com for research, stories, and strategies for leading your schools. And if you have a story you’d like to share, email us at [email protected].

    Learn more about SchoolCEO and all of our resources on our About page. SchoolCEO is powered by Apptegy, the maker of the leading K-12 communications and brand management platform.

     

  • Tom Burton has been an educator for 35 years including as a superintendent and associate superintendent for a total of 8 years at Princeton City Schools in Ohio. In July 2023, he retired and shared his insights and expertise with SchoolCEO. Follow him on X/Twitter at @TBurton_Empower

    In addition to this episode, you can watch Tom Burton’s TEDx talks. Watch “Sometimes the Apple Bounces” about breaking the cycle of poverty and “Finding Resolutions: Questions the Answers” about developing the mindset to confront ourselves and make progress.

    - Leaders need to challenge the status quo and get comfortable with dissent and disagreement to spark new thinking. Ask "why" repeatedly to dig deeper.

    - Model the behaviors and mindsets you want to see. Consistency between beliefs and actions builds culture.

    - Stay positive and solution-focused. Don't let setbacks derail you. Reflect but don't dwell on mistakes.

    - Implement programs and changes systematically. Evaluate frequently and course correct.

    - Collaboration and transparency lead to better ideas and outcomes. Value all voices.

    - Gratitude and recognition motivate teams. Look for authentic ways to say thanks.

    Want more from SchoolCEO? Subscribe for free to our newsletter! We’ll send you ideas to get you thinking, resources you can use within your schools, and share original research that is published exclusively in SchoolCEO magazine.

    Follow SchoolCEO on LinkedIn or X/Twitter @school_ceo. 

    Subscribe to SchoolCEO at SchoolCEO.com for research, stories, and strategies for leading your schools. And if you have a story you’d like to share, email us at [email protected].

    Learn more about SchoolCEO and all of our resources on our About page. SchoolCEO is powered by Apptegy, the maker of the leading K-12 communications and brand management platform.