In this episode of the Innovative Schools Podcast, Jordan and Will sit down with Principal Baruti Kafele—educator, author of 14 books, and national education leader—to discuss the journey from classroom teacher to principal to renowned speaker. With over 35 years in education and more than 3,000 presentations, Principal Kafele shares his philosophy of self-reflection, attitude, and leadership. From starting as a fifth-grade teacher in Brooklyn to transforming schools as a principal to launching the AP & New Principals Academy, he emphasizes being "comfortable with being uncomfortable" as the foundation of growth.🔑 Key Takeaways✔️ Attitude before achievement: Changing student and staff mindsets creates conditions where achievement follows naturally.✔️ Leadership is visible everywhere: The culture, cleanliness, energy, and interactions in a school all reflect its leadership.✔️ Self-reflection is non-negotiable: Educators must analyze their own "game film" daily to improve incrementally.✔️ Instructional leadership matters most: Principals can’t hide behind paperwork—coaching teachers is the core of school leadership.✔️ Never stop growing: Comfort halts progress; discomfort sparks innovation and impact.✔️ Legacy of influence: Great leaders create schools where students and teachers believe in themselves and each other.💬 Memorable Quotes🗣️ "If I can change the attitude, the achievement will take care of itself."🗣️ "Leadership is everything that happens in a school—even the graffiti in the bathroom."🗣️ "Be comfortable with being uncomfortable, and uncomfortable with being comfortable."🗣️ "Your leadership is the number one determinant of the success or failure of your school."🗣️ "When I visit a school, I want to see the leadership without seeing the leader."🗣️ "Bring your best self every time—you never know when your opportunity will knock."🧠 Strategies You’ll LearnThe Mirror MethodDaily self-reflection: What went well? What didn’t?Brutal honesty in self-assessment.Write goals and adjustments for tomorrow.Preserve longevity through intentional self-care.Closing the Attitude GapDefine it for students: will to achieve vs. lack of will.Define it for staff: educators striving to be excellent vs. those who don’t.Shift attitudes first—achievement will follow.Instructional Leadership in ActionBe in classrooms consistently, not just during evaluations.Coach teachers like athletes are coached—daily, consistently, relentlessly.Remember: observation ≠ coaching.Building Visible LeadershipGreet every student at the door.Launch each day with a morning message.Ensure custodial, front office, and culture details align with high expectations.Creating Discomfort for GrowthPush beyond familiar routines.Model vulnerability and willingness to stretch.Encourage staff to embrace challenges and risk-taking.👁️‍🗨️Additional PracticesDaily Journaling: Write reflections and goals tied to your mirror practice.Principal Walkthroughs: Roam the building intentionally, noticing culture cues.Staff Buy-In: Anchor staff meetings around attitude, self-reflection, and growth.Mentorship for Leaders: Participate in or create accountability partnerships for principals and APs.Community Connection: Anchor school culture in authentic relationships with students and families.Leadership Mindset: Remember—leadership is not a title, it’s a mindset shown in every detail of a school.📚 Resources and Links🔗 Principal Baruti Kafele’s website: https://principalkafele.com/🔗 AP & New Principals Academy: https://www.youtube.com/c/VirtualAPLeadershipAcademy🔗 Principal Baruti Kafele Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/principalkafele/?hl=en❤️ Love This Episode?✅ Share it with a fellow educator!⭐ Rate & Review to help more teachers find this show💬 Join the Conversation on social media or in your next staff meeting!💡 Innovative Schools Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/innovativeschoolspodcast/💡Listen on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/innovative-schools-podcast/id1502414943💡Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Lbw553jnDXuG08IZ43Kb5💡Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@innovativeschoolspodcast

Instructional coach, author, and PD presenter Katie Kinder joins Will and Liz to unpack the phrase “digital heroin”—how excessive screen time can dysregulate kids, erode attention, and crowd out real-world learning. Katie argues for balance: leverage powerful tools like AI with clear boundaries, then deliberately pivot to paper-and-pen, dialogue, and play. She shares classroom moves and home routines that rebuild focus, language, and social skills.🔑 Key Takeaways✔️ Balance over ban: Tech and AI are valuable when used with intent, not as default entertainment or digital worksheets.✔️ Explain the “why”: Students comply more when they understand how devices affect learning and why boundaries exist.✔️ Paper boosts retention: Handwriting notes/assignments tends to support long-term memory better than typing on devices.✔️ Teach talk, not just tasks: Structured dialogue (e.g., Socratic seminar) grows executive function, empathy, and academic language.✔️ Start early at home: Simple routines—like three tech-free family meals per week—can meaningfully support developing brains.✔️ Model digital citizenship: Have students compare sources, spot bias, and understand online permanence/consequences.✔️ Support “baby teachers”: New educators need concrete procedures and engaging plans to avoid relying on screens.💬 Memorable Quotes🗣️ “Our kids are growing up in a digital playground—and no one’s on recess duty.”🗣️ “Putting a worksheet on an iPad isn’t innovative—it’s still a worksheet.”🗣️ “If you’re getting dumber in my presence, how could I sleep at night?”🗣️ “Teach kids to say, ‘I respectfully disagree—and here’s why.’”🗣️ “We’re not anti-tech—we’re pro-intentionality.”🧠 Strategies You’ll LearnBoundaries with a WhyBegin the year by annotating short, age-appropriate articles on attention, screens, and learning.Post a one-pager: “Phones away because…” (attention, memory, community).Socratic Seminar, ScaffoldedPrework: students draft level-3/4 questions.In-room norms: “I respectfully disagree…,” “I insist that you go first.”Participation target: each student contributes 3 times; the teacher tracks with a simple checklist.Speed Discussions (3-minute rounds)Pairs rotate; handshakes, eye contact, and academic stems are required.Gradually lengthen time and complexity.Paper-First for Core ThinkingNotes, outlines, and draft writing by hand; devices for research, drafting, and collaboration afterward.Purposeful AI UseTeacher prep: Use tools (e.g., Slides add-ons, quiz generators) to save time.Student use: brainstorm, outline, and compare AI outputs—then verify sources and revise.Hands-On AlternativesMath on sidewalk chalk, physical puzzles in primary grades, gallery walks, manipulatives, and making.Phone-Free RoutinesClear signals (e.g., “bell-to-bell phone park”), visible storage, and consistent follow-through.👁️‍🗨️ Additional PracticesConversation Starters Jar (home or advisory): quick prompts to build language and reflection during tech-free meals or circles.Bias Detective mini-lesson: bring two short articles with opposite claims; have students investigate author, funding, and intent.Online Footprint Case Studies: analyze real examples of posts that resurfaced and discuss “future-proof” posting habits.Detox Moments: plan micro-breaks—2–3 minutes of movement, breathing, or peer talk between device tasks.Parent Communication: share a one-page guide: “3 Family Habits to Balance Tech This Month” (meals, bedtime charging station, weekend outdoor challenge).Staff PD Sprint: 30-minute share-out of one AI tool that saved planning time + one low-tech engagement move that same week.📚 Resources and Links🔗 Katie Kinder Website: https://katie-kinder.com/🔗 Katie Kinder Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/untoldteachingtruths/?hl=en❤️ Love This Episode?✅ Share it with a fellow educator!⭐ Rate & Review to help more teachers find this show💬 Join the Conversation on social media or in your next staff meeting!💡 Innovative Schools Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/innovativeschoolspodcast/💡 Listen on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/innovative-schools-podcast/id1502414943💡 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Lbw553jnDXuG08IZ43Kb5💡 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@innovativeschoolspodcast

Hosts Will and Jordan talk with Ernesto Mejia (CoolSpeak) about moving from family involvement to true engagement. Ernesto shares why relationships—not just meetings—unlock student success, how to remove barriers for busy or multilingual families, and practical, low-cost ways schools can make engagement fun, inclusive and sustainable across all grade levels.🔑 Key Takeaways✔️ Involvement ≠ Engagement: Attendance is not the goal—relationship-building is.✔️ Lead with positives: Routine positive phone calls build trust for tougher conversations later.✔️ Meet families where they are: Consider work schedules, language, tech comfort, and transportation.✔️ If it could be an email, it’s not engagement: Use meetings for interaction, not one-way info dumps.✔️ The “Golden Triangle”: Students + caregivers + school staff working together multiplies impact.✔️ Hybrid wins: Pair short videos/virtual touchpoints with purposeful in-person experiences.✔️ Talk like humans: Replace acronyms with needs-based titles (e.g., “How to Pay for College” vs. “FAFSA Night”).✔️ Iterate boldly: Try, learn, and improve—stop doing the same meeting and expecting new results.💬 Memorable Quotes🗣️“If it could have been an email, it’s not family engagement.”🗣️“Don’t ask of families without giving first.”🗣️“Once we become professionals at failing, we’ll become excellent at succeeding.”🗣️“The Golden Triangle—students, families, and schools—raises the odds of success.”🧠 Strategies You’ll LearnDesign for engagement: Turn info into activities (e.g., app sign-up stations, bingo cards that require conversations, quick wins families complete on-site).Make it positive & predictable: Schedule “good news” calls/texts every 4–8 weeks per student.Reframe events: Rename with outcomes families actually want (“Paying for College,” “Launch Your Trade Career,” “Math Night: Parent–Student Challenges”).Use hybrid formats: 2–3 minute explainer videos or student-made TikToks/podcasts for info; in-person for relationship building.Activate internal talent: Students as media teams; staff who excel at MC’ing, Canva, or social lead segments.Culturally responsive touches: Bilingual messaging, name pronunciation, student/family voice at the mic.👁️‍🗨️ Additional PracticesFamily History Quiz: Send home 5–7 prompts (e.g., “What were you like at my age?”) to deepen connection and surface college/career insights.Golden Triangle Nights: Plan events that include students, caregivers, and multiple school roles (e.g., bonfire/info night, club fair + mini-workshops).Earned Incentives (no extra budget): Priority access to giveaways (backpacks, supplies) for families who volunteer or attend 2–3 events.Two-Solutions Rule: When a barrier arises (“Families aren’t coming”), require two tested solutions before the next meeting.Show Up First: Short personalized video/text to caregivers (or quick sideline/church/park hello) before asking them to come to you.Rename & Clarify: Ban unexplained acronyms on flyers; add “What you’ll get” bullets to every invite.Short, Shareable Media: Weekly 60–120 sec student-hosted update or 10-minute podcast for caregivers’ commutes.Positive Mail Drop: Occasional postcard home celebrating a specific behavior or contribution.On-Ramp Stations: At events, set up guided stations (log into the app, send a test message, complete one career/FAFSA step).Feedback that Works: Replace broad surveys with 3-question, QR-based pulse checks at the door and exit.📚 Resources and Links🔗 CoolSpeak: https://coolspeak.com/youth-motivational-speakers/ernesto-mejia/🔗 Ernesto Mejia’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ernmejia/?hl=en🔗 Check out Ernesto at the next Innovative Schools Summit: https://innovativeschoolssummit.com/san-antonio❤️ Love This Episode?✅ Share it with a fellow educator!⭐ Rate & Review to help more teachers find this show💬 Join the Conversation on social media or in your next staff meeting!💡 Innovative Schools Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/innovativeschoolspodcast/💡 Listen on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/innovative-schools-podcast/id1502414943💡 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Lbw553jnDXuG08IZ43Kb5💡 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@innovativeschoolspodcast

In this episode of the Innovative Schools Podcast, Jordan and Liz sit down with Dr. Tracey Severns to explore the power of joy, humor, and high expectations in education. Broadcasting from Las Vegas at the Innovative Schools Summit, the conversation blends heartfelt storytelling with practical strategies—unpacking how laughter, connection, and the Warm Demander approach can transform classrooms and leadership spaces alike.🔑 Key Takeaways✔️ Joy is Essential, Not Optional: Joy and humor help create memorable learning moments and build stronger relationships.✔️ Warm Demander Pedagogy: High expectations combined with genuine care help students rise to their full potential.✔️ The Power of Perspective: Shifting from a witch hunt to a treasure hunt mentality fosters positivity and resilience.✔️ Productive Struggle Matters: Students need room to fail, persevere, and celebrate real accomplishments.✔️ Use Humor Wisely: Humor should build up, never tear down—keep it inclusive and appropriate for the audience.💬 Memorable Quotes🗣️ “Every day you leave a mark. Is it a scar or a smile?”🗣️ “Joy is essential, not optional.”🗣️ “We can do serious work without taking ourselves so seriously.”🗣️ “High expectations are the greatest compliment you can give anyone.” 🗣️ “Every day, you decide whether to go on a witch hunt or a treasure hunt.”🧠 Strategies You’ll LearnWarm Demander in Action: How to combine caring relationships with academic rigor.Bringing Humor Into Lessons: From student greeters to fun assessments, discover simple ways to add joy.Handling Struggling Students: Using inquiry and encouragement to keep expectations high while offering support.Shaping School Narratives: Encouraging staff to share success stories to cultivate a positive culture.Balancing Humor & Sensitivity: Understanding humor boundaries to keep classrooms safe and welcoming.👁️‍🗨️ Additional PracticesStart with a Smile: Research shows smiling boosts mood for both teachers and students.Assign a “Greeter” Role: Let students start class with positivity and warmth.Celebrate Breakthroughs: Recognize progress, not just outcomes, to build confidence and perseverance.Lead with Laughter in Meetings: Encourage faculty to share positive or funny moments before diving into business.Model Resilience: Show students that productive struggle leads to growth and pride.📚 Resources and Links🔗 Check out Dr. Tracey Severns’ Book: https://www.amazon.com/Mistakes-Missteps-Missed-Opportunities-Severns/dp/1598502808🔗 Audio Version: https://www.audible.com/pd/Mistakes-Missteps-Missed-Opportunities-Audiobook/B0FHBK7WVD?qid=1756478962&sr=1-1&ref_pageloadid=not_applicable&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=M0PH8XC9NTE53575YJA8&plink=ZGZ0TrM2AwlmHlAy&pageLoadId=gYe3sGWNAVGuxQoP&creativeId=0d6f6720-f41c-457e-a42b-8c8dceb62f2c&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1❤️ Love This Episode?✅ Share it with a fellow educator!⭐ Rate & Review to help more teachers find this show💬 Join the Conversation on social media or in your next staff meeting!💡 Innovative Schools Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/innovativeschoolspodcast/💡Listen on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/innovative-schools-podcast/id1502414943💡Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Lbw553jnDXuG08IZ43Kb5💡Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@innovativeschoolspodcast

In this powerful and candid conversation recorded live at the Innovative Schools Summit in Nashville, Kevin sits down with principal-turned-speaker Gerry Brooks. Known for his viral humor and heartfelt wisdom, Gerry shares the turning points that shaped his 27-year journey from classroom teacher to national education influencer. He unpacks the core principles that drive great leadership, school culture, and staff retention—while offering practical advice for both teachers and administrators. Whether you’re leading a district or navigating the classroom, this episode will both challenge and inspire.🔑 Key Takeaways✔️ Leadership Begins with Influence: Gerry’s journey shows how one voice—starting with a class of 25—can scale to impact thousands. ✔️ Positive Culture is Intentional: Low staff turnover stems from a supportive, respectful environment—built with purpose. ✔️ Say “Yes” When You Can: A culture of support starts with a willingness to say yes when it matters most. ✔️ You’re Not the Expert at Everything: Great leaders hire to their weaknesses and embrace learning. ✔️ Teachers & Leaders Must Step Outside the Bubble: School-wide decisions can’t just serve one classroom—they must serve the big picture.💬 Memorable Quotes🗣️ “We don’t live in a box or a bubble—we live in a big picture.”🗣️ “You hire to your weaknesses. That’s how great leadership works.”🗣️ “When the day is done, turn the light switch off and go home.”🗣️ “What’s best for students is always what’s best for teachers.”🗣️ “Change your school, your grade level, or your mindset—just don’t stay stuck.”🧠 Strategies You’ll LearnHow to scale your leadership without losing your core valuesSimple ways to retain staff through positive climate and cultureLeading without ego: leveraging others’ strengths and owning your weaknessesHow to communicate with your team—even when you disagreeCreating school-wide policies that actually work for teachers👁️‍🗨️ Additional PracticesMentorship Matching: Pair staff based on complementary strengths and weaknesses.5–7 Year Refresh Rule: Encourage educators to switch grade levels or schools periodically to avoid burnout.Build “Yes” Culture: Empower school leaders to say yes when possible—especially when supporting staff wellness.Principal Visibility: Understand and support every department—reading, SPED, science—through active listening and training.Big Picture Decision-Making: Train staff to think beyond their classroom or department and see the school as a whole system.🎟️ Want More Gerry?Catch him live at the Innovative Schools Summit – San Antonio (December 3–6, 2025), alongside other powerhouse educators like Ron Clark, Michael Bonner, and John Almarode.📍 https://innovativeschoolssummit.com/registration/📚 Resources and Links🔗 Gerry Brooks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gerrybrooksprin/?hl=en❤️ Love This Episode?✅ Share it with a fellow educator!⭐ Rate & Review to help more teachers find this show💬 Join the Conversation on social media or in your next staff meeting!💡 Innovative Schools Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/innovativeschoolspodcast/💡 Listen on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/innovative-schools-podcast/id1502414943💡 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Lbw553jnDXuG08IZ43Kb5💡 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@innovativeschoolspodcast