Podcast
The Elemental Educator Podcast
Hosted by Tyler Comeau · EN
The Elemental Educator Podcast, hosted by Tyler Comeau, is where leaders, thinkers, and changemakers come to break from outdated systems, reimagine learning at its core, and lead with both conviction and grounded clarity. This isn’t about following best practices. It’s about building better ones. Decide with fire. Stand on earth.
15episodes
Episodes
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How to Find Yourself When Success Leaves You Empty | The Power of Subtraction with Scott Lackey
5d ago01:05:55Tap to summarizeIn this episode of The Elemental Educator Podcast, host Tyler Comeau sits down with veteran, ironman finisher, and best-selling author Scott to dissect the ultimate paradox of achievement: why reaching your highest external goals can actually hide your deepest internal wounds. Scott shares his raw journey from chasing "scoreboard moments"—like completing an grueling 140.6-mile Ironman or engineering patented inventions—to losing everything in a life-altering "lightning strike" event that forced him to look inward. The breakthrough moment happens when Scott pulls back the curtain on the grueling reality of his 11-month Ironman training and a bloody country-road bike wreck that radically shifted his perspective on pain. Instead of offering sugar-coated internet solutions or a generic seven-step formula for happiness, this conversation provides a data-driven, deeply moving masterclass on navigating what Scott calls the "fiery middle"—the uncomfortable space where you are too far from where you started to turn back, yet too far from your destination to see the way forward. If you are currently feeling numb, stuck on a treadmill of endless production, or struggling to find your true center mass, Scott’s framework will teach you exactly how to stop running, face your past, and embrace the beautiful reality of sacrificing who you thought you had to be. 🧠 Contrarian Insight (Our Distorted Reality)Most self-help gurus tell you that if people don't recognize your value, you simply need to work harder until they do. This episode completely flips the script. Scott argues that chasing external validation is a trap, and that true success is entirely non-transactional. If you are hanging trophies on your wall to convince other people who you are, you are operating out of emptiness. True alignment means becoming completely self-sufficient and realizing that "success teaches you nothing, while failure gives you everything you need to move forward." 🔄 Watch NextMaximize your leadership journey by diving into our dedicated growth playlist:https://elementaleducatorpodcast.transistor.fm/👥 Guest Connections & ResourcesScott's Best-Selling Book: Wake Up to Die Again🎙️ Host Connection Block (Tyler Comeau)For Speaking and Consulting Inquiries: Email: info@tylercomeau.caFor Podcast Guest Inquiries: Email: tyler@elementaleducator.comWebsite: https://tylercomeau.caInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/elemental_educatorFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555973948902&mibextid=JRoKGiYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ElementalEducatorPodcast Platform: https://elementaleducatorpodcast.transistor.fm/Book: https://www.routledge.com/The-Elemental-Leader-Unlocking-Your-Potential-Through-Values-Perseverance-Adaptability-and-Innovation/Comeau/p/book/9781041006084LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-comeau-961a49310/⏱️ Timestamps 0:00 - The Paradox of Achievement & Scoreboard Moments1:54 - Reaching Internal Fulfillment Through Subtraction3:16 - High School Lightning Strikes & Choosing the Army5:16 - Finding Clarity in the Quiet Absence of Noise7:25 - Entering the Four Elemental Segments8:00 - Grounded Moments: What Iron Man Taught Scott About Sacrifice11:48 - Dissecting True Self-Correction vs. Outward Identity14:38 - Behind the Bestselling Book: Wake Up to Die Again18:05 - Game: Principle or Preference Rapid Fire21:10 - Redefining Success: Why Accolades Are Garbage25:01 - Headwinds & Tailwinds: The Reality of the Hardest Day26:30 - The 64-Mile Bike Crash & Pushing Through Stitches29:26 - Rejecting Broken Promises & Choosing Yourself31:48 - Flipping the Script on Pain, Vulnerability, and Worth35:54 - Navigating the Fiery Middle Without Giving Up38:40 - The Cost of Creation: Overcoming the Internal Critic43:30 - Warning Signs of Disconnection & Clearing the Office Walls46:55 - Tyler’s Counter-Perspective on Trophies vs. Memories49:15 - How to Guard Your Nuance: Who Are Your Medals For?50:35 - Spark or Burn: The Road to Security Without Applause51:40 - Lessons From the Atlanta Airport Security Line56:10 - When Did We Stop Noticing Each Other?57:40 - Elemental Game: Final Answer58:50 - The Intimate Dedication to Family1:01:35 - Answering the Leadership Vault Question1:02:40 - Question Left for the Next Podcast Guest💬 Community QuestionQUESTION - What is the one non-essential habit, belief, or metric you need to subtract from your life this week to get closer to who you actually are? Drop your perspective in the comments below!⚖️ Affiliate DisclaimerThis video is not sponsored. Some links in this description may be affiliate links, meaning that if you choose to make a purchase, the channel will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting The Elemental Educator network!🎧
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How to Scale AI in Schools Without Overwhelming Your Staff | Dr Tom D’Amico
2w ago00:49:16Tap to summarizeLearn how to successfully lead massive AI implementation in education while protecting staff well-being and maintaining data privacy in this exclusive interview with veteran school district leader Dr. Tom D’Amico. In this episode of the Elemental Educator podcast, host Tyler Comeau sits down with Dr. Tom D'Amico, the recently retired Director of Education for the Ottawa Catholic School Board. Tom successfully scaled artificial intelligence across an entire school district, but his core thesis challenges the entire EdTech industry: change management is a human leadership problem, not a software problem. Throughout this masterclass on educational leadership, Tom breaks down how to navigate the rise of "shadow AI" in K-12 systems, resolve internal friction between IT departments and teaching staff, and establish clear guiding principles that protect student data privacy without stifling rapid innovation. Drawing from his unique background transitioning from a Master of Physical Education and NHL off-ice official into a national voice for educational technology, Tom brings a refreshingly practical coaching mindset to institutional change. He shares the sobering professional failure early in his career that solidified his value-based framework, why mandatory district-wide training sessions rarely build authentic capacity, and his exact three-step playbook for school principals to roll out AI literacy starting tomorrow. Whether you are a superintendent, principal, or forward-thinking educator, this conversation provides the blueprint for building an innovative school culture where human relationships always take precedence over technology. Connect with Dr. Tom D'AmicoWebsite/Consulting: Contact via Tyler Comeau speaker inquiries.🔗 Connect with Tyler Comeau (Host)For Speaking and Consulting Inquiries:Email: info@tylercomeau.caWebsite: https://tylercomeau.caFor Podcast Guest Inquiries:Email: tyler@elementaleducator.comPodcast: https://elementaleducatorpodcast.transistor.fm/Social Media & Video Content:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elemental_educatorFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555973948902&mibextid=JRoKGiYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ElementalEducatorLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-comeau-961a49310/Grab Tyler’s Book, "The Elemental Leader":Book Link: https://www.routledge.com/The-Elemental-Leader-Unlocking-Your-Potential-Through-Values-Perseverance-Adaptability-and-Innovation/Comeau/p/book/9781041006084Timecodes0:00 - Leadership over tools in change management 1:06 - Introducing Dr. Tom D'Amico 2:05 - Operationalizing "Use the group to change the group" 4:08 - The real meaning of delegation and trust 5:21 - From physical education to EdTech leader 7:23 - The summer schedule choice: Spanish or programming? 9:53 - Game: Principle or Preference 11:33 - The balance of data privacy standards vs. shadow AI 13:26 - The Ottawa checklist model for trust and innovation 16:21 - A career-defining failure: The online calculus course 17:42 - Establishing the "Why" behind district AI implementation 21:52 - Hot Seat: High-profile data breach protocol 23:39 - Hot Seat: Navigating staff anxiety and tech pushback 24:41 - Hot Seat: Handling a principal moving too fast 25:48 - Hot Seat: Overcoming a split senior leadership team 28:07 - Game: Flip the Script on AI replacing leaders 31:48 - Preventing emotional exhaustion through coherence 33:17 - How to spark ripples of change at scale 35:12 - Setting up monthly interdepartmental leadership monitoring 36:31 - The single biggest EdTech mistake senior leaders make 37:12 - 3 practical actions to build AI literacy tomorrow 39:46 - Launching a consulting company after retirement 42:28 - Game: Final Answer (Why culture always wins) 45:21 - Bringing authentic student voice and agency to the table 46:36 - The grade 12 physical education teacher who sparked a legacy
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The Invisible 'Oxygen' Every Successful Team Needs (with Corrine Thorsteinson)
4w ago01:04:49Tap to summarizeMost leaders wait for the perfect conditions to lead, but true impact happens when you learn to thrive in the cracks of the sidewalk.Episode Summary: In this deep dive, leadership consultant and retired Associate Superintendent Corrine Thorsteinson reveals why trust is the "oxygen" of any successful organization. Drawing from over three decades in the education sector, Corrine breaks down the four dimensions of trust—care, reliability, sincerity, and competence—and explains why "care" is the ultimate trump card in leadership.We explore her "Dandelion Metaphor" for resilience, the courage required to "run toward the fire" of difficult conversations, and her radical approach to building leadership cultures that include everyone from caretakers to division office staff. Whether you are a new principal or a seasoned executive, this episode provides a masterclass on navigating "headwinds," repairing broken trust, and the vital importance of daily reflective practice.Watch Next: The Elemental Educator Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/@ElementalEducatorConnect with Corrine Thorsteinson:Website: https://agiliteams.caLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corrine-thorsteinson-398615118/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agiliteams/Books: https://www.amazon.ca/stores/Corrine-Thorsteinson/author/B0GHSWJM8REmail: corrine@agiliteams.caConnect with Tyler Comeau (Host):Get the Book (The Elemental Leader): https://www.routledge.com/The-Elemental-Leader-Unlocking-Your-Potential-Through-Values-Perseverance-Adaptability-and-Innovation/Comeau/p/book/9781041006084Website: https://tylercomeau.caPodcast: https://elementaleducatorpodcast.transistor.fm/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ElementalEducatorLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-comeau-961a49310/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elemental_educatorFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555973948902&mibextid=JRoKGiSpeaking & Consulting: info@tylercomeau.caPodcast Guest Inquiries: tyler@elementaleducator.comTimestamps: 0:00 – The hardest part of leadership: Doing what’s right. 5:32 – "Trust Yourself": The journey to believing your intuition. 7:42 – The Dandelion Metaphor: Leading wherever you are planted. 13:53 – Trust as Oxygen: What happens when it’s pulled from the room. 17:03 – The 4 Dimensions of Trust: Care, Reliability, Sincerity, and Competence. 20:30 – Modeling Leadership: Building capacity in the small moments. 24:44 – Headwinds vs. Tailwinds: Leaving a 27-year career for a new challenge. 31:44 – The Hot Seat: Rapid-fire leadership scenarios. 42:04 – Building a Leadership Culture: Why leadership is for everyone. 54:14 – The Cat on the Woodpile: Why you can’t unsee a problem. 57:24 – Pause, Reflect, Lead: The power of daily reflection guides.
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Successful But Not Healthy: The Hidden Cost of Leadership No One Talks About
May 401:01:56Tap to summarizeLearn how high-achieving leaders burn out and how to rebuild your identity, health, and purpose beyond success in this powerful leadership conversation.In this conversation, Tyler Comeau sits down with Howard Stribbell, global educator and leadership expert, to unpack the hidden cost of success and why so many high performers feel empty despite achieving more than they ever imagined. After building and scaling international schools across Asia, Howard shares how chasing achievement led to burnout, identity loss, and a breaking point that forced him to rethink everything. Together, they explore the internal pressure leaders carry, the fear of never being “enough,” and how performance-driven identities slowly disconnect us from who we actually are. This episode dives deep into leadership, mental health, and the uncomfortable truth that many leaders are succeeding externally while struggling internally.If you’ve ever felt like success isn’t delivering what it promised, this conversation will challenge how you define leadership and what it really means to live well while leading others.Key Takeaways Why success without self-awareness leads to burnout and identity loss The hidden pressure high-performing leaders carry every day How the “never enough” mindset drives overwork and dissatisfaction What happens when leaders prioritize performance over well-being How to rebuild your identity beyond titles, roles, and achievements The difference between being successful and actually being healthyA Moment That Might Shift Your PerspectiveHoward shares a hard truth:Many leaders learn how to be successful… but never learn how to be healthy.That gap quietly destroys careers, relationships, and personal fulfillment long before it shows up in performance.Chapter Markers00:00 The hidden cost of success and burnout 01:00 “I was successful, but not happy” 02:30 The fear of never being enough 04:00 Building a performance-based identity 06:30 When leadership success starts to collapse 09:00 The breaking point most leaders don’t talk about 12:00 Why leaders sacrifice health and relationships first 15:00 The moment work finally gets impacted 18:00 Rebuilding identity beyond achievement 22:00 Leadership, pressure, and internal struggles 26:00 What true success actually looks like 30:00 How to lead without losing yourself🔗 Connect with Tyler Comeau🌐 Website: https://tylercomeau.ca 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elemental_educator 🎙 Podcast: https://elementaleducatorpodcast.transistor.fm/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-comeau-961a49310/🎤 Connect with Howard Stribbell📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howardstribbell 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howardstribbell 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@howardstribbell 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@howardstribbell📘 Book: The Loneliest Seat: Truths About Authentic Leadership https://www.amazon.com/LONELIEST-SEAT-Truths-Authentic-Leadership-ebook/dp/B0D933W7TZ
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Leadership Under Pressure: How to Stop Drifting From Your Core Values with Jimmy Casas
Apr 2701:04:10Tap to summarizeLearn how to avoid leadership burnout and build a strong team culture by leading with trust, values, and clarity instead of trying to fix everything yourself. In this conversation, Tyler Comeau sits down with Jimmy Casas, educator, speaker, and author of Culturize, to break down one of the biggest leadership traps: the “fix-it” mindset. With over 30 years in education and decades as a school leader, Jimmy shares how leaders drift from what they know is right into reactive habits that slowly erode culture and trust. Together, they explore what it really means to lead at a high standard, how to recognize when you or your team have “lost your way,” and why trust is the foundation that determines whether your organization thrives or fractures. This episode moves through real leadership scenarios, practical coaching moments, and the internal mindset shifts required to lead under pressure, aligning directly with the Elemental Educator framework of returning to core values when things get hard. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, responsible for everything, or stuck carrying more than you should, this conversation will recalibrate how you lead. Key TakeawaysHow “fix-it mode” quietly destroys leadership effectiveness and team growthWhy leaders drift from their values and how to reset before culture suffersThe difference between coaching, delegating, and enabling underperformanceHow to identify early signs that a leader or team has lost alignmentA practical approach to handling conflict, resistance, and overwhelmWhy trust is the foundation of culture, performance, and long-term impact A Moment That Might Change How You Lead Jimmy challenges a common leadership rule: “Don’t come to me with a problem unless you have a solution.” His take flips it completely. If people already had the solution, they wouldn’t need you. That single shift turns leadership from control… into coaching. 🔗 Connect with Tyler Comeau 🌐 Website: https://tylercomeau.ca 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elemental_educator 🎙 Podcast: https://elementaleducatorpodcast.transistor.fm/ 📘 Book: https://www.routledge.com/The-Elemental-Leader-Unlocking-Your-Potential-Through-Values-Perseverance-Adaptability-and-Innovation/Comeau/p/book/9781041006084 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-comeau-961a49310/ 📩 Speaking & Consulting: info@tylercomeau.ca 🎤 Connect with Jimmy Casas 🌐 Website: https://www.jimmycasas.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/casas_jimmy/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmy-casas-bb863432/ ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGyi3yFrk09V0w9C18H8qWA Chapter Markers00:00 Episode trailer 00:45 Leadership drift: why we don’t do what we know is right 04:15 Signs a leader or team has lost alignment 06:45 The hidden danger of frustration in leadership 08:45 Fix-it mode vs building capacity in others 11:45 Coaching vs solving problems for your team 13:45 Jimmy Casas’ leadership background and credibility 14:45 “Not every problem is yours to fix” explained 17:45 Recovering from burnout and resetting as a leader 19:35 The interview chair mindset and self-reflection 21:15 Principles vs preferences in leadership decisions 23:25 When leaders feel pressure to carry everything 25:45 What “carry the banner” really means in culture 32:15 Early leadership lessons from a paper route 35:45 Real leadership scenarios: conflict, resistance, overwhelm 42:05 The moment Jimmy almost left leadership 48:35 What leaders get wrong about culture 52:45 Why people resist change (and how to fix it) 55:35 Why trust beats everything in leadership 58:15 Putting students first in real decisions 1:00:05 The turning point that reshaped Jimmy’s leadership
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Why Indecision Is More Dangerous Than the Wrong Decision
Apr 2001:05:39Tap to summarizeKree Govender explains why indecision quietly destroys momentum, confidence, and growth, and how choosing wrong is often far more powerful than choosing nothing at all.Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, mindset, and high performance: https://www.youtube.com/@ElementalEducatorConnect with me: https://www.elementaleducator.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylercomeau/Ways to work with me: https://www.elementaleducator.comConnect with Kree Govender: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kree-govender-12b2651b/In this episode, Kree Govender breaks down one of the most overlooked performance killers: indecision. He explains why waiting for the perfect option often leads to stagnation, missed opportunities, and loss of confidence. The conversation explores how action creates clarity, why wrong decisions are rarely as costly as people think, and how high performers build momentum by committing, adjusting, and moving forward.If you’ve ever felt stuck between options, overthinking your next move, or waiting for certainty before acting, this episode will challenge that pattern and give you a different way to think about progress.If this episode challenged your thinking, don’t wait to feel ready. Make a decision and move.Question for you:Where in your life are you choosing indecision instead of action?Timestamps: 0:00 Trailer 2:10 Why indecision is more dangerous than the wrong decision 4:32 What fear is really doing behind hesitation 7:05 Why action creates clarity faster than thinking 10:18 The hidden cost of waiting too long 13:47 How high performers make decisions under pressure 17:22 When a wrong decision becomes the right move 21:05 Building momentum through imperfect action 25:40 Why confidence comes after commitment 29:15 The role of environment in decision-making 33:08 How to stop overthinking and start executing 37:12 A simple framework for making faster decisions 41:26 What to do when you feel stuck 45:03 Final thoughts on action vs hesitation
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How Donovan Bailey Became the Fastest Man in the World (Mindset, Discipline, Execution)
Apr 1300:53:04Tap to summarizeDonovan Bailey shares the mindset, discipline, sacrifice, and execution it took to go from unknown to becoming the fastest man in the world.Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, pressure, mindset, and high performance: https://www.youtube.com/@ElementalEducatorWatch This Next: https://www.youtube.com/@ElementalEducatorConnect with me:https://www.elementaleducator.commailto:tyler@elementaleducator.comWays to work with me:https://www.elementaleducator.comConnect with Donovan Bailey:https://www.instagram.com/theofficialdonovanbailey/https://www.youtube.com/@DonovanBaileyOfficialhttps://www.facebook.com/OfficialDonovanBaileyhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/donovan-bailey/mailto:office@donovanbailey.comResources mentioned in this episode:https://www.amazon.ca/Undisputed-Champions-Life-Donovan-Bailey/dp/1039005144In this episode, Donovan Bailey breaks down what actually separates people who act from people who wait. He talks about fear, procrastination, validation, discipline, staying in your lane, building the right environment, and why execution is what ultimately matters most. In the conversation, he says people often wait for permission, wait for the right time, and get distracted by noise instead of doing the work. He also shares the turning point after not being selected for the Commonwealth Games, leaving Canada to train, and deciding it was “do or die.” If this episode challenged you, don’t just think about it. Act on it. As Donovan puts it, if you are not achieving the goals you want to achieve today, what is your excuse? Question for you:What is one goal you know you need to stop waiting on and start executing today?Timestamps:0:00 What separates people who act from people who wait?2:20 What separates action-takers from people who never get there?3:46 Where do people hesitate most when chasing what they want?4:31 What are people really saying when they claim they are waiting for the right moment?5:48 Who is Donovan Bailey beyond the medals?6:51 When did passion, hard work, and sacrifice become real for Donovan?8:03 Where do people misunderstand what it takes to protect a dream?8:43 Who tried to limit Donovan, and how did he respond?9:53 Principle or preference: talent, sacrifice, confidence, discipline, and pressure11:45 What is the difference between discipline and motivation?13:23 When did Donovan decide he was done waiting his turn?15:26 What did that experience teach him about control and external factors?16:17 Why did outside noise stop mattering?16:33 Guessing Donovan’s first job19:05 What did being a camp counselor teach him about leadership and discipline?21:25 Hot seat: what do you do after rejection or setbacks?22:49 What do you do when an environment limits your growth?23:33 What did not being selected feel like?24:31 Was there ever doubt?25:14 What did it feel like once he knew he belonged?26:07 What mistake in Rome taught Donovan to stay in his lane?27:45 What does staying in your lane look like in organizations?29:18 What surprising conversations has he had with CEOs?31:07 How do you know when it is time to simplify?32:15 Flip the script: today is day one35:18 How did Donovan try to shift the mindset of Canadian sport?36:42 Who was Canada being too nice to?39:06 What does a winning system actually look like?40:09 Quick tips: the first step toward any goal41:00 What should people stop doing immediately?41:54 How do elite performers handle setbacks?42:28 What separates the top 1% from everyone else?43:33 What does “it takes a village” really mean?46:00 Final answer: which trait wins in the end?47:29 Why does execution beat everything else?48:25 Why is constant growth non-negotiable?49:35 What is a need Donovan still has in life?51:13 What question does Donovan want to leave for the next guest?51:47 Where can people connect with Donovan
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Is Inclusion Just Better Exclusion? (What Most Schools Get Wrong) | Dr. Shelley Moore
Mar 3001:01:25Tap to summarizeIn this episode of The Elemental Educator, Dr. Shelley Moore dismantles one of the most dangerous assumptions in education:If a student is struggling, something must be wrong with the student.What if that assumption is the problem?Shelley is an inclusive education researcher, consultant, and global speaker who has spent her career helping schools rethink how learning actually works.This conversation will challenge how you think about inclusion, special education, and what it really means for students to succeed.The shift is simple, but powerful:You can’t change students. But you can absolutely change conditions.What You’ll Learn In This Episode• Why most “inclusive” classrooms are still excluding students• The difference between access, placement, and true belonging• Why education systems default to blaming students• How changing conditions unlocks student success• What teachers were never trained to do in diverse classrooms• Why IEPs should function like “seed packets” instead of deficit reports• How to design lessons that include all learners without adding workload• Why inclusion benefits every student, not just those with identified needsIf you lead, teach, or influence learning environments, this episode will fundamentally shift how you approach your work.Connect With MeWebsitehttps://www.elementaleducator.comIf this episode challenged your thinking, explore more conversations designed to help leaders rethink systems, not just students.Connect With Dr. Shelley MooreWebsitewww.drshelleymoore.comConsultingwww.outsidepinconsulting.comYouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@FiveMooreMinutesInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/drshelleymoore/Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/drshelleymoore/Chapter Markers00:00 Introduction Trailer02:30 When did Shelley realize the problem wasn’t her?04:45 What would she say to her younger self in that moment?06:30 At what point do we stop blaming students for struggling?08:30 What if the system around students is the real issue?12:00 Why should IEPs never be deficit-based?13:00 Why is lowering expectations the wrong move?14:00 Does inclusion actually benefit high-achieving students?16:30 What does real inclusion look like in a complex classroom?20:30 Why weren’t teachers trained for today’s classrooms?26:30 What are simple changes that reduce barriers immediately?30:00 Why can’t we lead from a state of triage?33:00 What’s the most important question every teacher should ask?49:00 Why is “what’s the goal?” the most powerful shift in teaching?55:00 Why does dignity matter more than courage in leadership?55:40 What does it really mean to dismantle special education?57:20 How should schools prepare students for an AI future?
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Why Most Schools Fail to Improve Teaching (And What Actually Works) | Dr. Matthew Rhoads
Mar 1000:59:12Tap to summarizeMost schools try to improve teaching the wrong way.They rely on top-down professional development, one-off workshops, and “sit and get” training sessions that feel productive in the moment but rarely change classroom practice. In this episode of The Elemental Educator, Dr. Matthew Rhoads explains why those approaches fail and what actually helps professional learning spread through a school system.Dr. Rhoads is an instructional leader and education technology expert focused on AI integration, inclusive teaching, and helping educators improve student learning across TK-20 education. Together we unpack how coaching, diffusion of learning, and intentional leadership create the conditions for real instructional improvement.One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation is simple but powerful:Instructional improvement does not scale through mandates. It scales through relationships, coaching, and momentum.If you are a principal, district leader, instructional coach, or educator trying to improve teaching across your school or system, this conversation will challenge the way you think about professional learning.Inside this episode:• Why top-down professional development often fails• The biggest mistake leaders make when trying to improve teaching• Why one-off PD sessions rarely lead to lasting change• How instructional coaching spreads learning across schools• The difference between forcing adoption and building momentum• Why leaders must choose between being instructional leaders or managers• How AI and technology fit into modern instructional leadershipIf you care about improving teaching and learning in a way that actually sticks, this episode will give you a different lens for thinking about professional learning and leadership.Chapter Markers00:00 Why do most schools try to improve teaching the wrong way?01:37 What is the fastest way a leader can accidentally kill instructional improvement?02:01 Why is one-off “sit and get” PD the number one killer of professional learning?04:40 What role does instructional coaching actually play in improving teaching?12:15 How can leaders build momentum instead of forcing change?22:40 What does effective instructional coaching look like in practice?34:10 Are school leaders acting as instructional leaders or just managers?46:05 How does AI fit into instructional leadership and professional learning?58:30 What should school leaders focus on if they want real instructional improvement?Connect With Me Website https://www.elementaleducator.com If this episode sparked an idea or challenged how you think about leadership, visit the site and explore more conversations designed to help leaders make better decisions under pressure.Connect With Dr. Matthew RhoadsWebsitehttps://matthewrhoads.comLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-rhoads-ed-d-95772120/Instagramhttps://instagram.com/DrRhoadsEDUX / Twitterhttps://x.com/mattrhoads1990If this conversation helped you rethink professional learning, share it with another educator or school leader who cares about improving teaching and learning.Subscribe for more conversations about leadership, innovation, instructional improvement, and decision making in education.
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Why Leadership Feels So Hard (And Why That Means You’re Doing It Right) | Dr. Corey Steeve
Mar 201:02:42Tap to summarizeMost leaders secretly believe that if they were better, smarter, or more experienced, things would feel less complex.That belief is wrong.In this episode of The Elemental Educator, I sit down with Dr. Corey Steeves to confront one of the most damaging myths in leadership: that complexity is a signal you are failing. Instead, we argue that complexity is the job. The weight, the ambiguity, the competing priorities, and the pressure are not proof you are unqualified. They are proof you are leading.As Corey shares in the episode, many principals and high-stakes leaders feel isolated while navigating innovation, change, and uncertainty . We unpack how to reframe that isolation, how to build intentional networks of support, and why white-knuckling your way through leadership is not a badge of honor.If you remember one sentence from this conversation, remember this: you do not need to carry the load alone.Inside this episode:• Why strong leaders still feel overwhelmed• The myth that “good principals shouldn’t have challenges”• How to reframe complexity as opportunity• The danger of leading in isolation• A practical way to identify and strengthen your network of support• Why grace and reflection are leadership skills, not weaknessesThis conversation will help you stop interpreting pressure as personal deficiency and start seeing it as part of the leadership arena you were chosen to step into.00:00 What if complexity isn’t a sign you’re failing?03:56 Why do so many leaders believe they shouldn’t have this many challenges?05:45 What problem does this episode actually solve for principals?06:18 How do you tell the difference between a principle and a preference?12:30 What happens when leaders try to “white knuckle” complexity?20:45 Why does isolation make complexity feel heavier than it is?31:10 How can you intentionally reflect on your network of support?44:20 What would you tell your younger self about leading under pressure?52:40 How do you build innovation without doing it alone?59:03 Why can’t anyone prepare students or organizations for what’s next by themselves?01:02:00 What should leaders do next after hearing this conversation?Website: https://www.elementaleducator.comIf this episode sparked something for you, I’d love to hear from you. Visit the site, connect, and explore tools designed to help you make decisions you can explain, defend, and repeat under pressure.LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-corey-steeves-071894271?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_appLeadership Reflection Form:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1jGJLlSje2PFQj-bO9cPVeyMVzOb9TW1F3OA1z0u6VI4/edit?usp=drivesdkResource Document:https://drive.google.com/file/d/14imPwNJjCuHWLIrmOb-xcvox8f8sAAg-/view?usp=sharingIf this conversation helped you rethink leadership under pressure, leave a review and share it with another leader who needs to hear that complexity is not a verdict on their competence.Subscribe for more episodes focused on decision making under pressure, values-rooted leadership, and building resilient teams.
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