The Authority Podcast — Expert Insights and Fresh Ideas for Education Leaders

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Are you looking for proven ideas to increase your influence, hire and develop an excellent staff, build a stronger culture, lead meaningful change, and form a strong foundation for learning and leadership success? This is the podcast for you. Whether you're a leader to seeks to refine your command of core educational strategies, learn new management techniques from those who have used them at some of the world's largest corporations, gain fresh perspectives on personal development or student success from practitioners across fields, or a little bit of everything, you'll find powerful content on The Authority. Join leadership coach, storytelling strategist, and edtech advisor Ross Romano as he interviews the prominent education authors you already admire, up-and-coming voices, and experts from the worlds of business, personal development, and beyond — including Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Amazon bestsellers — to take a deep dive into their wealth of practical insights.

  1. 4D AGO

    Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools with Emily Kircher-Morris and Amanda Morin

    This week I welcome Amanda Morin and Emily Kircher-Morris to the show.  Amanda is a neurodivergent neurodiversity activist, an award-winning author, early childhood specialist, certified teacher, and nationally known speaker, deeply committed to fostering accessible and inclusive environments for neurodivergent individuals. Emily has dedicated her career to transforming how we understand and support neurodivergent minds. As a licensed professional counselor, educator, and thought leader, she brings a unique blend of clinical expertise and lived experience to her work with neurodivergent individuals. Their book is Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools: Transforming Practices So All Students Feel Accepted & Supported. Hear about: What does neurodiversity-affirming mean?Neurodiverse vs. neurodivergentHow many students are neurodivergent? What are most typical diagnoses?Sensory needs and behaviors educators may observeHow students often hide their neurodivergent traitsHow a school can prepare - staffing, training, etc.Neurodiversity-affirming communication (The Double Empathy Problem)Get Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools wherever you get your books. Connect with our guests: https://www.neurodiversityaffirmingschools.comhttps://neurodiversitypodcast.com/speakinghttps://www.amandamorin.com/speakinghttps://www.amandamorin.com/coachinghttps://neurodiversity.university 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

    57 min

  2. APR 2

    AI with Intention featuring Tony Frontier

    Today’s guest, Tony Frontier, is an award-winning educator who works with teachers and school leaders nationally and internationally to help them prioritize efforts to improve student learning. He’s the author or co-author of several books, including Teaching with Clarity and Five Levers to Improve Learning. We discuss his latest, AI with Intention: Principles and Action Steps for Teachers and School Leaders (ASCD). 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?Guiding principles for educational leaders 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  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

    55 min
  3. Every Student Deserves a Gifted Education with Brian Butler

    MAR 25

    Every Student Deserves a Gifted Education with Brian Butler

    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 episode, we discuss two of his books, Every Student Deserves a Gifted Education and Limitless Future. We talk 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 InspirationPersistence, curiosity, communication, flexible thinking Brian’s podcast, “A Conversation with Brian”About today’s guest 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. Brian has advised thousands of schools across the United States, Australia, and Canada. As a former school-based educator and principal, Brian worked with countless parents and parent groups, supporting and guiding them in their essential role in nurturing their children’s growth and potential. He emphasized the importance of leveraging the unique strengths and insights that each family contributed. Brian’s goal is to help parents recognize that they hold the key to their children’s success and development, which drove him throughout his career to create a collaborative and empowering environment so every child could flourish. Brian has enjoyed diverse career experiences, including being a professional basketball player in the European League. He holds a bachelor’s degree in speech communications from The George Washington University, a teacher’s certification in physical education, and a master’s degree in school counseling from George Mason University. With an administrative endorsement from the University of Virginia, Brian is known for his ability to drive positive change. To learn more or contact Brian, visit www.brianbutler.info  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

    1 hr
  4. Best of The Authority: Engaging Parents and Families in Grading Reforms with Thomas Guskey

    MAR 20 · BONUS

    Best of The Authority: Engaging Parents and Families in Grading Reforms with Thomas Guskey

    We're pleased this week to highlight another "Best of The Authority" episode. This one is my conversation with Dr. Thomas Guskey, Professor Emeritus in the College of Education at the University of Kentucky. He is known throughout the world for his work on student assessment, grading and reporting, professional learning, and educational research.  He's the author/editor of thirty books, including the one we discussed for this episode: Engaging Parents and Families in Grading Reforms. We talked about: Defining the purpose of grading“Is my purpose as a teacher to select talent or develop talent?”The state of grading practices in US schoolsCommunicating grading — what families want to knowWhat do families oppose?What leaders get wrong about the change processExamples of successful grading reform in school districtsFind Engaging Parents and Families in Grading Reforms from Corwin or wherever you get your books. Learn more at www.tguskey.com.  About today’s guest Thomas R. Guskey, PhD, is Professor Emeritus in the College of Education at the University of Kentucky. A graduate of the University of Chicago’s renowned Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistical Analysis (MESA) program, he began his career in education as a middle school teacher, served as an administrator in the Chicago Public Schools, and was the first Director of the Center for the Improvement of Teaching and Learning, a national educational research center. Dr. Guskey served on the Policy Research Team of the National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future, and on the task force to develop the National Standards for Professional Development. He was named a Fellow in the American Educational Research Association and was awarded the Association’s prestigious Relating Research to Practice Award. He is author/editor of thirty books and over three hundred published articles and book chapters on educational assessment, program evaluation, and grading and reporting. He may be contacted by email at guskey@uky.edu, Twitter at @tguskey, or at www.tguskey.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

    55 min
  5. You're a Teacher Now! What's Next? with Alex Kajitani and Tom Hierck

    MAR 18

    You're a Teacher Now! What's Next? with Alex Kajitani and Tom Hierck

    Today I welcome Alex Kajitani and Tom Hierck to the show. Alex and Tom are both award-winning educators and bestselling authors, and together they’ve written their latest title You’re a Teacher Now! What’s Next? We talk about: “What have I got myself into?” The question all new teachers ask.Why is this the book for right now?What Alex and Tom would change about the typical experience for new teachersClassroom management, relationship building, effective instruction, self-care — where to start?The different people to build relationships withWhat it takes to feel and be effective at instruction and classroom management“Do nows” for early career teachersWhat veteran teachers and administrators can learn from the bookWhat about administrators?Making teachers want to be and stay teachersFind the free Teacher Success Video Series: https://alexkajitani.com/education-writing/youre-a-teacher-now Find You’re a Teacher Now! What’s Next? from Solution Tree or wherever you get your books.  About the guests Alex Kajitani is the 2009 California Teacher of the Year, and a Top-4 Finalist for National Teacher of the Year. He is the author of several books, including Owning It, which was named “Recommended Reading” by the U.S. Department of Education. A highly sought-after education speaker, Alex is known around the world as “The Rappin’ Mathematician.” He has a popular TED Talk, and was honored at The White House. He was also featured on The CBS Evening News, where Katie Couric exclaimed, “I LOVE that guy!” (and you will too!). For more, visit https://AlexKajitani.com  Tom Hierck is an acclaimed educator, best-selling author, and a compelling presenter, infusing his message of hope with strategies culled from a career that has spanned all grade levels and many roles in public education. He was recently named as one of the world's Top-10 Global Gurus for Education, and his belief that “every student is a success story waiting to be told” has led him to work with teachers and administrators across the globe to create positive school cultures and build effective relationships that facilitate learning for all students. He is the author of 25 books, including the acclaimed "Trauma-Sensitive Instruction." For more, visit www.TomHierck.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

    47 min
  6. Artificial Intelligence: Real Talk - Navigating AI Bias and Access with Dr. Marlena Ward Dodds

    MAR 13 · BONUS

    Artificial Intelligence: Real Talk - Navigating AI Bias and Access with Dr. Marlena Ward Dodds

    Today I'm thrilled 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

    41 min
  7. Revolving Literacy with Lorraine Radice

    MAR 11

    Revolving Literacy with Lorraine Radice

    It’s a pleasure to welcome Dr. Lorraine Radice back to the show. Lorraine is an Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction in a public school district in New York and an Associate Assistant Professor at Hofstra University. Prior to her current role, she was a preK-12 Director of Literacy.  Lorraine’s book, Leading A Culture of Reading, was a 2023 GOLD Winner for Education in the Foreword INDIES Book of the Year awards.  Her new book is Revolving Literacy: How to Connect Relevance and Future-Ready Skills to Secondary English Instruction. We talk about: What revolving literacy means“Newfound literacies”Future-ready skills for grades 6-12Future-ready goals and how they relate to goals of the revolving literacy frameworkDefining engagement and relevanceStudent agencyTeaching students to be readers, writers and researchersFind Revolving Literacy from Solution Tree or wherever you get your books. Learn more at www.lorrainemradice.com  Listen to my previous episode with Lorraine (episode 118) 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

    44 min
  8. Science of Learning and Data-Driven Instruction with Kimberly Berens and Michael Mercanti-Anthony

    MAR 4

    Science of Learning and Data-Driven Instruction with Kimberly Berens and Michael Mercanti-Anthony

    Popular guest Dr. Kimberly Nix Berens returns to the show. She’s a scientist-educator, Founder of Fit Learning, and author of Blind Spots: Why students fail and the science that can save them. We’re also joined by Dr. Michael-Joseph Mercanti-Anthony, principal of Antonia Pantoja Preparatory Academy, a public school for students in grades 6-12 in the southwest Bronx.   We talk about: Defining the science of learning, and which students and subjects it applies toHow instruction designed from the science of learning improves educational outcomesCauses of skepticism (earned and unearned) and how to combat itWhy are schools resistant to implementing science-driven instruction?The difference between "evidence-based" and "data-driven” instruction Why "data-driven" instruction is essential for improving learning outcomes with individual studentsBuilding school-wide capacity: buy-in and trainingCertainty with approach vs. certainty in the linearity, outcomesListen to my previous conversation with Kimberly Berens about her book, Blind Spots: https://bit.ly/486xHpY  Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn more about the Be Podcast Network for educators. About today’s guests Kimberly Nix Berens, Ph.D., is a scientist-educator and Founder of Fit Learning. She co-created a powerful system of instruction based in behavioral science and the Technology of Teaching, which has transformed the learning abilities of thousands of children worldwide, including those who are struggling, average, gifted, or learning disabled. For more than 20 years, her system of instruction has produced one year’s worth of academic growth in only 40 hours of training. Her learning programs effectively target such essential areas as early learning skills, basic classroom readiness, phonemic awareness, reading fluency, comprehension, inferential language, basic and advanced mathematics, logical problem solving, grammar, and expressive writing. Learn more at http://www.drkimberlyberens.com  Dr. Michael-Joseph Mercanti-Anthony is the principal of Antonia Pantoja Preparatory Academy, a public school for students in grades 6-12 in the southwest Bronx. He is also an elected member of the Greenwich, CT Board of Education, where he served as chair of the 2024 researchEd Greenwich conference.  He taught high school social studies and English for ten years before becoming an administrator. His writings have appeared in Edutopia, Educational Leadership, and the Hechinger Report. Learn more at http://mjma.info  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

    1 hr
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Are you looking for proven ideas to increase your influence, hire and develop an excellent staff, build a stronger culture, lead meaningful change, and form a strong foundation for learning and leadership success? This is the podcast for you. Whether you're a leader to seeks to refine your command of core educational strategies, learn new management techniques from those who have used them at some of the world's largest corporations, gain fresh perspectives on personal development or student success from practitioners across fields, or a little bit of everything, you'll find powerful content on The Authority. Join leadership coach, storytelling strategist, and edtech advisor Ross Romano as he interviews the prominent education authors you already admire, up-and-coming voices, and experts from the worlds of business, personal development, and beyond — including Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Amazon bestsellers — to take a deep dive into their wealth of practical insights.

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