Best Jenn David Lang Podcasts (2024)

1
Leadership Lessons with Thomas Murray 33:14

10d ago33:14

33:14

In this episode, Gary sits down with Thomas C. Murray. Tom serves as the Director of Innovation for Future Ready Schools® and is the author of Learning Transformed and Personal and Authentic, among others. Gary and Tom dive into creating a desired workplace and school culture and how the mindset and actions of the adults in the building are impacti…

1
S7 E6 We Can’t Yoga Our Way Out of This 34:38

23d ago34:38

34:38

In this episode, we're shining a light on a pressing issue in the educational landscape: teacher burnout and attrition. With schools across the nation feeling the impact, we turn to expert Chase Mielke, author of Illuminate the Way: The School Leader’s Guide to Addressing and Preventing Teacher Burnout (ASCD, 2023), for insights and solutions. If y…

1
109 S7 E5 "Diversity is being invited to the party, inclusion is being asked to dance.” 35:02

25d ago35:02

35:02

DEI feels like it’s becoming the (a) third rail in K-12 education. The quote in the title is from Verna Myers, VP of inclusion strategy at Netflix, and is included in Ruchika Tulshyan’s book Inclusion on Purpose: An Intersectional Approach to Creating a Culture of Belonging at Work. In this episode, Jenn and I have a real and practical conversation…

1
108 S7 E4 We've had something wrong in education – it's not the GPA or the test scores. 34:35

2M ago34:35

34:35

Many of us as educators have assumed that the kids with strong grades and strong test scores were set up for success. Isn't that what we were supposed to work toward in schools? Dr. Borba has interviewed scores of students and has found that these 2 areas – grades and test scores – are not the markers of success today in the 21st century. Instead, …

1
107 S7 E3 Find and Tap Your Hidden Potential 34:13

2M ago34:13

34:13

Everyone has hidden potential for growth and achievement, but standard approaches to studying, practicing, coaching, and organizing education often leave this potential untapped. The practices of high-achieving individuals (and a high-achieving school system) reveal the surprising skills, scaffolds,and systems that unlock potential. Even better, an…

1
106 S7 E2 Educators of color are leaving schools: What can leaders do differently to support them to stay? 41:02

3M ago41:02

41:02

In this conversation between Dr. Andrea Terrero Gabbadon and Jenn, we talked about the reasons educators of color are leaving: working conditions and leadership behaviors. The good news is that school and district leaders can actually do something about this, and Dr. Gabbadon walks you through how. She shares 6 principles, backed by research, that …

1
105 S7 E1 Forget Hiring; Let’s Try to Keep the Teachers We Have 37:48

3M ago37:48

37:48

In this episode, I talk with Becky Gerdes and Ryan Siegle about their book Six Steps Toward Teacher Retention and a Long-Lasting Legacy. We focus mainly on their Six Steps to Maximize Your Leadership Impact and Improve Teacher Retention: Step One: Lead Authentically Step Two: Build Teacher Self-Efficacy Step Three: Foster Collective Efficacy Among …

1
S6 E10 Listen To Your Inner Canary 32:11

4M ago32:11

32:11

In this episode, Jenn and I talk about Sharone Bar-David’s book Trust Your Canary: Every Leader's Guide to Taming Workplace Incivility. Bar-David provides some simple strategies for helping leaders see incivility (even when it’s hard to recognize) plus a whole toolkit of easy-to-implement ways to address it (so you can stop doubting yourself when i…

1
S6 E9 An Entrepreneur Helps Mike Out 36:31

4M ago36:31

36:31

Sometimes in education it helps to hear from our end users. In this episode I interview fellow Coke Scholar Raleigh Dewan (‘19). Raleigh is a 23-year-old entrepreneur and business owner (https://steadispoon.com/ and https://sistershaq.com/) from Austin, Texas. Raleigh and I talk about his experiences in K-12 and higher ed. and the advice that he ha…

1
S6 E8 How healthy is your organization? 35:30

5M ago35:30

35:30

More than anything, organizations should strive for organizational health. In this episode, Jenn David-Lang and I talk about Patrick Lencioni’s 2012 book The Advantage Why Organizational Health Trumps Everything Else in Business. This book clearly and powerfully explains what your organization needs to do to become healthy: 1) Build a cohesive lead…

1
S6 E7 A.I. in K-12, Part 1 41:37

5M ago41:37

41:37

In the field of education, we have no choice, AI is here to stay. So, listen to this whimsical conversation with Technology Coach, Jason Strzalkowski, whose enthusiasm for all-things-AI-in-schools is infectious! Yes, we share ideas to spice up teaching to make learning more engaging, accessible, and equitable. But we know our listeners are busy edu…

1
S6 E6 Let’s Get Math Instruction Right 47:32

6M ago47:32

47:32

In this episode, Jenn and I interview Peter Liljedahl, the author of Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics: 14 Teaching Practices for Enhancing Learning. As former math teachers, Jenn and I had a great time talking with Peter about concrete and actionable ways teachers can improve math instruction. The practices are simple, high impact, and a…

1
Incorporating Movement in Your Daily Life with Jenn David-Lang 27:12

7M ago27:12

27:12

In this episode, Gary and guest, Jenn David-Lang of TheMain Idea discuss the book Built to Move: The Ten Essential Habits to Help You Move Freely and Live Fully. Jenn discusses a few key ideas from this reading and how teachers, and all professionals, can adapt these concepts into their daily lives and get moving. Resources: The Main Idea Book reco…

1
S6 E5 Creating an Inclusive Environment for Students with Disabilities 29:30

7M ago29:30

29:30

The research is clear: to provide equitable learning opportunities for all, schools must actively include students with disabilities alongside their peers in general education settings.School leaders don’t need a degree in special education to lead their school toward more equitable and inclusive education for all, but they do need to watch, listen…

1
S6 E4 You're NOT Too Busy to Take Care of Yourself 57:59

8M ago57:59

57:59

Are you the type of leader who gets up at 4:00 AM to exercise before work? Then this episode is for you. Are you the type of leader who NEVER gets up at 4:00 AM to exercise before work? Then this episode is for you, too. Kelly and Juliet Starrett are highly regarded exercise and health gurus (they mention working with Barack Obama in the podcast!) …

1
S6 E3 Top Ten for New Principals 46:21

9M ago46:21

46:21

In this episode, Jenn interviews Mike about what new principals need to think about as they begin the new school year. Here is Mike's top ten list: Listen and Learn Communicate Effectively Lead by Example Stay Visible Manage Your Time Empower Your Teams Build Relationships Set Clear Goals Embrace Conflict Prioritize Self-Care If you would like us t…

1
S6 E2 Want impact? Expand your supervisory practices this year. 41:04

9M ago41:04

41:04

In this episode, Jenn has a lively conversation with Ann Mausbach and Kimberly Morrison about their book Differentiated Supervision: Growing Teachers and Getting Results and how much of an impact you can have as a school leader by EXPANDING your supervisory practices beyond the typical individual observation and feedback we all do. Instead, they su…

1
S6 E1 It’s Time to Find Joy 38:08

10M ago38:08

38:08

In this episode, Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea, and I interview Berit Gordon about her book The Joyful Teacher: Strategies for Becoming the Teacher Every Student Deserves. This was a fantastic conversation about teaching and learning and what leaders can do to support teachers. Learn more about Berit and her work at her website. As always, send …

1
AI Tools and ChatGPT with Dr. Dana Schon and Dr. Tom Truesdell 34:35

10M ago34:35

34:35

In this episode, Gary and guests discuss the evolution of artificial intelligence and its significance for education. Dr. Dana Schon, Professional Learning Director for School Administrators of Iowa explains AI capacities, concerns, and limitations with helpful tool implementations for educators and leaders. Dr. Tom Truesdell, Director of Student R…

1
Mini-sode 4: Supervising Teachers 23:07

10M ago23:07

23:07

In this fourth special episode, Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea, and I talk about resources to help school leaders with teacher supervision and evaluation. To support this work, Jenn has gathered her summaries three must-read books: Now We're Talking! 21 Days to High-Performance Instructional Leadership by Justin Baeder Rethinking Teacher Supervis…

1
S5 E10 Be An Instructional Change Agent 35:05

11M ago35:05

35:05

In this episode, Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea, interviews Adam Drummond about his book The Instructional Change Agent: Instructional Change Agent: 48 Ways to Be the Leader Your School Needs. Jenn has done a Main Idea summary of the book, and you can subscribe to The Main Idea at this link: https://www.themainidea.net/subscribe/ As always, send …

1
Mini-sode 3: Being Organized and Productive 35:51

12M ago35:51

35:51

In this third special episode, Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I talk about resources to help school leaders be more organized, productive, and effective. To support this work, Jenn has gathered her summaries four must-read books: The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business, by Charles Duhigg Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven W…

1
S5 E9 It’s All About Conversations 32:04

1y ago32:04

32:04

In this episode, Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea, and I interview Jim Knight about his book Better Conversations: Coaching Ourselves and Each Other to Be More Credible, Caring, and Connected. While our conversation was mainly about conversations, we did head off on some great tangents. Learn more about the Jim and his work at his website. Jenn has…

1
S5 E8 Why Educator Bandwidth Matters 33:12

1y ago33:12

33:12

In this episode, Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I interview Jane A. G. Kise and Ann Holm about their book Educator Bandwidth: How to Reclaim Your Energy, Passion, and Time. This was a compelling conversation with implications for professionals across our systems. To learn more about the authors and their work, please visit their page at ASCD.…

1
Championship Mindset with Matt McCarty 24:36

1y ago24:36

24:36

On this episode, Gary sits down with the 2022 AFCA NAIA National Coach of the Year and the Head Coach of the 2022 NAIA National Champion Raider football team, Matt McCarty. Matt reflects on his team’s successful season and the road to the championship. He’s cultivated a culture of excellence built on trust, mental conditioning, and discipline to do…

1
S5 E7 We Can’t Ignore Students’ Mental Health 38:58

1y ago38:58

38:58

In this episode, Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I interview Michael Hass and Amy Ardell about their book Supporting Student Mental Health: Essentials for Teachers. Specifically, we talked about the authors’ 4R framework of helpful skills to develop: relate, recognize, respond, and refer. Michael mentioned the suicide prevention resources at T…

1
The Future Leader with Jacob Morgan 26:09

1y ago26:09

26:09

In this episode, Leslie welcomes guest Jacob Morgan. Jacob is a best-selling author and one of the world’s leading authorities on leadership, the future of work, and employee experience. He is a highly sought-after keynote speaker and advisor who has worked with organizations such as Microsoft, Disney, Pepsi, Mastercard, and IBM. As a trained futur…

1
S5 E6 Strategies to Manage Conflict in Your School 31:52

1+ y ago31:52

31:52

In this episode, Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I interview Bill Sommers about his book Responding to Resistance: Thirty Strategies to Manage Conflict in Your School (An educational leadership guide to conflict management in the school community). Bill is a seasoned leader with a ton of experience and the sense of humor to match. This convers…

1
S5 E5 How Regret Can be a Good Thing 21:44

1+ y ago21:44

21:44

In this episode, Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I discuss Dan Pink’s book The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward. Dan Pink is one of my favorite authors, and I never miss an opportunity to talk about his work. This was a fantastic conversation on a topic that is so important to everyone’s mental health and well-being. Jenn…

1
How to Create Transformative Gatherings with Jenn David-Lang 29:47

1+ y ago29:47

29:47

“A gathering is a moment of time that has the potential to alter many other moments of time.” - Priya Parker, The Art of Gathering Jenn David-Lang returns to the podcast, and we’re discussing how to maximize the power and significance of meetings. When most of us plan staff agendas or lessons, we tend to focus more on the logistics (PPTs, refreshme…

1
S5 E4 Why do we still get grading so wrong? 30:36

1+ y ago30:36

30:36

In this episode, Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I interview Joe Feldman, the author of Grading for Equity: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How It Can Transform Schools and Classrooms. This was an amazing conversation on a topic that is so central to our work as educators. It’s amazing that we are still so tied to a system that was designed fo…

1
Impact Players with Liz Wiseman 38:57

1+ y ago38:57

38:57

In this episode, Gary talks with Liz Wiseman, author, researcher, and executive advisor who teaches leadership around the world. We discuss her New York Times best sellers Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter and The Multiplier Effect: Tapping the Genius Inside our Schools, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller, Rookie Smarts: Why L…

1
S5 E3 It’s Time for a PD PARTY. 30:50

1+ y ago30:50

30:50

In this episode, Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I interview Elena Aguilar about her new book with co-author Lori Cohen The PD Book: 7 Habits That Transform Professional Development. To learn more about Elena and her great work visit her website: https://brightmorningteam.com/. Jenn has done a Main Idea summary of the book, and If you would li…

1
Lead by Example with Dr. Omega Wilson 26:00

1+ y ago26:00

26:00

As a former educator and principal, Dr. Wilson has taken her years of experience and connections to gather accomplished leaders and practitioners into a community of coaching and support. Dr. Wilson is a certified coach, trainer and speaker on the John Maxwell Team. She is also the CEO and founder of Innovative Strategies Consulting located in Virg…

1
S5 E2 Trauma-Sensitive Leadership 38:20

1+ y ago38:20

38:20

In this episode, Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea flies solo to interview John Heller and Tom Hierck the authors of Trauma-Sensitive Leadership: Creating a Safe and Predictable School Environment. It was a great conversation, and I’m sad to have missed it live, but Jenn did a great job. Jenn has done a Main Idea summary of the book, and If you woul…

1
S5 E1 Gather Better 25:11

1+ y ago25:11

25:11

In this episode, Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I have a conversation about The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker. While not written explicitly for an education audience, the author lays out a fantastic framework for orchestrating any type of gathering. And we have lots of gatherings in education - everything from open houses to faculty meetin…

1
Lead From Where You Are with Joe Sanfelippo 13:19

1+ y ago13:19

13:19

In this episode, we welcome back Dr. Joe Sanfelippo, our Leadership in Education Conference keynote speaker. We discuss the upcoming conference and his energizing keynote and breakout session for educators. We also chat about why teachers feel overwhelmed and how we can create value for those around us by leading with intention, connection and dire…

1
Every Child Every Day with Dr. Lisa Remy 28:03

1+ y ago28:03

28:03

Our guest, Dr. Lisa Remy, joins us as the most recently named Executive Director for School Administrators of Iowa. Prior to starting this new leadership role, she served as the Superintendent of the West Des Moines School District where she guided the school’s culture around the slogan: Every Child Every Day. We discuss leadership lessons that inc…

1
Hope is a Strategy with Noreen Bush 40:09

1+ y ago40:09

40:09

This episode welcomes the superintendent of the Cedar Rapids Community School District, the inspiring Noreen Bush. Noreen was named the 2021-2022 Iowa Superintendent of the Year and received the 2021 American Association of School Administrators Women in School Leadership Superintendent Award. Norene has dedicated nearly 30 years to public educatio…

1
Leadership as Influence with Roark Horn 30:45

2y ago30:45

30:45

In this episode, we welcome back Dr. Roark Horn to help celebrate his recent retirement from School Administrators of Iowa (SAI). He reflects on his robust experience in education, from educator to administrator, and eventually executive director of SAI. We talk about changes in education over the years, advocating for the profession, and leveragin…

1
Building Mental Health Support with Jessica Christensen 19:31

2y ago19:31

19:31

Guest, Jessica Christensen shares about her vital work as Director of Community Development and Training for Please Pass the Love and a regional trainer for MidAmerica Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network (MHTTC). She helps districts build better systems to support mental health needs and offers educators tangible skill training to supp…

1
S4 E9 Time to Run the Room 35:09

2y ago35:09

35:09

In this episode, Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I have a conversation with Tom Bennett about his book Running the Room: The Teacher's Guide to Behaviour. This discussion was a blast; I haven’t laughed that hard in a while. We get into all things behavior - philosophy and practice. Definitely check out Tom’s website to learn more about his wor…

1
S4 E8 Street Data - What is it and why does it matter? 28:05

2y ago28:05

28:05

In this episode, Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I discuss the book Street Data: A Next-Generation Model for Equity, Pedagogy, and School Transformation by Shane Safir and Jamila Dugan. We talk about what street data is and why we should care about it, equity traps and tropes, a new framework for approaching school improvement, changing pedago…

1
Mini-sode 2: Interpersonal Skills for School Leaders 19:21

2y ago19:21

19:21

In this second special and short episode, Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I discuss interpersonal skills for school leaders, the things they don’t teach you principal school, in the context of four must-read books that Jenn has summarized: The Listening Leader: Creating the Conditions for Equitable School Transformation by Shane Safir Thanks f…

1
Mini-sode 1: Leadership Resilience 18:37

2y ago18:37

18:37

In this special and short episode, Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I discuss leadership resilience in the context of three must-read books that Jenn has summarized and that we recorded podcasts about: From Burnt Out to Fired Up: Reigniting Your Passion for Teaching by Morgane Michael Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators by Ele…

1
S4 E7 Making Academic Conversations Matter 35:08

2y ago35:08

35:08

In this episode, Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I talk with Jeff Zwiers about his book Next Steps with Academic Conversations: New Ideas for Improving Learning Through Classroom Talk. We talked about the importance of teaching and supporting students to have better academic conversations with one another. We also get into strategies that teac…

1
Hope, Mattering and Moving Forward with Angela Maiers 19:04

2y ago19:04

19:04

We’re thrilled to welcome back leader, speaker and consultant Angela Maiers to the podcast. In this episode, she shares a sneak peek of her keynote for the NWC Trauma-Informed Conference this Spring. The education guru breaks down the three parts of her current mission: hope, mattering and moving forward. Whether or not you’re able to join us for t…

1
S4 E6 Burnout is real; here's how to beat it. 39:52

2y ago39:52

39:52

In this episode, Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I talk with Morgane Michael about her new book From Burnt Out to Fired Up: Reigniting Your Passion for Teaching. This was another one of those conversations that flew by. I feel like we could have talked for hours. We get into Morgane’s research-based approach to this important topic. She shares…

1
Building Atomic Habits with Jenn David-Lang 24:04

2y ago24:04

24:04

Do you have habits that you have wanted to start, or drop? Maybe you’ve had success initially, only to return to your old routines. From the Main Idea, Jenn David-Lang is back on the podcast to discuss the key takeaways of the New York Times bestseller Atomic Habits by James Clear. With Clear’s four simple laws of human behavior and concrete strate…

1
S4 E5 Candid and Compassionate Feedback 42:23

2y ago42:23

42:23

In this episode, Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I have a conversation with Joe Jones and T.J. Vari about their book Candid and Compassionate Feedback: Transforming Everyday Practice in Schools. We talk about how leaders can empower teachers and change culture with an approach to feedback that can be challenging for many leaders who have devel…

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