With Series Host, Sam Fritz, Director of Ed Tech and AI at Solution Tree...Live from the PLC Institute, where proven practice meets emerging trends!

Join Superintendent Eric Twadell and host Sam Fritz live from the PLC Institute in Sacramento, California, as they explore the transformative power of AI in education. Learn how teachers can save substantial time, streamline lesson planning, score student work, and provide actionable feedback, all while keeping students at the center of learning.

Eric shares practical strategies for integrating AI in schools, including prompt engineering, multimodal tools, and smart agents that handle repetitive tasks. Hear how districts are using AI to free up teacher time, enhance daily instruction, and empower educators to lead innovation rather than react to it.

Tune in to discover:

●      How AI can save teachers time and support daily tasks

●      Practical uses of AI for lesson planning, assessment, and personalized feedback

●      The evolving role of AI agents and tools in the classroom

●      Strategies for adopting AI confidently and effectively

Links: 

When time is tight, professional learning should be more than theory—it has to lead to action. That’s where our AI Assistants come in. Built for busy educators, these tools are your shortcut to clarity—turning new learning into next steps, fast. 

*Get started today: ai.solutiontree.com 

 *To learn more about the full slate of PLC at Work® Institutes
 and to register navigate to: www.solutiontree.com/Eventspodcast

In a new episode of RCG Founders – Education Leadership and Legacy, a miniseries within "Charting New Paths" podcast, Frances Shuster, co-founder of Results Coaching Global (RCG), joins host Prisma Lopez-Marin and co-host Kim Ennis, the company's General Manager for a conversation. 

Frances talks about the trajectory of how she was introduced to coaching through peer-to-peer coaching. She mentions, “people learn best by story and experience”, as she describes Leadership Coaching for High Performance. She’s looking forward to the future of RCG so that one day one of their visions is realized… that every principal has a coach. 

Tune in to discover:

●      Her journey stepping into the world of coaching 

●      How she collaborates with the other founders of RCG

●      The impact of Leadership Coaching for High Performance (LCHP).

In a new episode of RCG Founders – Education Leadership and Legacy, a miniseries within "Charting New Paths," Kathryn Kee, co-founder of Results Coaching Global (RCG), joins host Prisma Lopez-Marin and co-host Kim Ennis, the company's General Manager for a conversation. 

Kathy talks about her teaching days and the middle school principal who gave her the confidence and belief that she could be a better leader. This belief in her potential inspired her to step outside the classroom and pursue a new path. Later, she attended a conference about cognitive coaching which helped her transform districts for many years. 

Tune in to discover:

●      Her journey stepping into the world of coaching 

●      Kathy’s hope for educators who continue to achieve using RCG

●      How she collaborates with the other founds of RCG

About Kathryn Kee

Kathy is a founding partner of Results Coaching Global (RCG), and serves as a seminar instructor, mentor, and coach and directs the Accredited Coach Training Program. Her credentials range from teacher to assistant superintendent in districts from Louisiana, Missouri, and Oklahoma and since, 1978, in Texas. She also served as adjunct mentor for University of North Texas for new administrators coaching their new career beginnings. 

Kathy has authored numerous articles and was a co-author of Results Coaching: The New Essential for School Leaders. Other experiences and honors include: Past President and founder of the Texas Learning Forward; Past Present of Learning Forward; Recipient of Learning Forward’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

With Series Host, Sam Fritz, Director of Ed Tech and AI at Solution Tree...Live from the PLC Institute, where proven practice meets emerging trends!

Captured live at the PLC at Work® Institute in Tulsa, OK, this special podcast episode brings you timely and engaging conversations from the heart of one of education’s most trusted and transformative professional learning experiences. 

 In this episode, we’ll first explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is beginning to shape the educational landscape and how educators can build the confidence and skills to navigate these emerging tools. Learn about the various professional development and resources we have available to support educators in integrating AI in schools and districts.

 We’ll also highlight the enduring power of Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) at Work® as a proven framework for sustained success. One segment features powerful insights from keynote speakers on why PLCs remain as relevant today as ever, providing stability, clarity, and results in changing times. In another, you’ll hear real stories from educators who are experiencing real results from using PLC at Work® in their schools and communities. 

 This live recording captures the energy of the institute, promising fresh ideas, authentic voices, honest conversation, and inspiration for educators at every stage of their journey.

Links: 

When time is tight, professional learning should be more than theory—it has to lead to action. That’s where our AI Assistants come in. Built for busy educators, these tools are your shortcut to clarity—turning new learning into next steps, fast. 

*Get started today: ai.solutiontree.com 

For this podcast series, “From Foundation to Future: PLCs and AI in Education” we’ll be learning with our next guests at the PLC at Work® Institute in Sacramento, California on July 9–11, 2025. 

 *To learn more about the full slate of PLC at Work Institutes and to register navigate to: www.solutiontree.com/Eventspodcast

Melissa Fink, associate superintendent from Springdale School District in Arkansas, joins our host Prisma Lopez-Marin to discuss the district’s transformative journey through the PLC at Work® process. Melissa shares her experiences with Solution Tree and how her district created systemic change by implementing PLCs, resulting in measurable success in student achievement and school improvement.

Tune in to discover:

• How Melissa and her team used Solution Tree’s professional development to drive district-wide improvement, build common language among teachers, enhance teacher capacity, and boost student achievement
• Insights into the Collaborative Team Meetings (CTMs) matrix her team created and the steps they took to establish consistency across the district
• A breakdown of some of the district’s impressive outcomes
• Takeaways from the five schools selected for the PLC at Work Project through the Arkansas Department of Education, three Promising Practice schools and one Model PLC at Work® 
• The impact on student achievement, with examples of schools that improved their ESSA index grades and value-added growth scores
• The district’s next steps with the PLC at Work process to continue and sustain progress

To learn more about PLC at Work® in Arkansas navigate to our website: https://www.solutiontree.com/st-states/arkansas-plc

Join the podcast host Prisma Lopez-Marin as she speaks with best-selling authors Paula Maeker and Jacqueline Heller who share insights from their book Literacy in a PLC at Work®. Learn more about what inspired them to write this essential book, and its purpose in meeting the diverse needs of students and emphasizing the importance of supporting teachers. 

Tune in to hear their valuable insights into navigating literacy instruction within the framework of PLCs at Work, emphasizing collaborative efforts and collective responsibility to enhance student learning outcomes. They also provide practical guidance and actionable steps for educators to effectively implement these approaches in their own classrooms and schools.

Join the conversation to discover:

●      Strategies for advancing literacy instruction in grades K–6

●      Practical guidance on collaboration and collective responsibility in PLCs

●      Insights on measuring effectiveness and utilizing data to build impact

 
About Paula Maeker and Jacqueline Heller:
Paula Maeker is an educator, consultant, and advocate for learner-centered education. She has over twenty-four years’ experience as an elementary teacher, literacy specialist, instructional coach, Title 1 program coordinator, campus administrator, director of elementary literacy, and director of instructional design.

Jacqueline Heller focuses on building capacity and collective efficacy with teachers, to ensure all students learn at high levels. As a literacy teacher and coach at Mason Crest Elementary, she helped the school become the first National Model Professional Learning Community to receive the DuFour Award.

Order Your Copy Today! Literacy in a PLC at Work® Guiding Teams to Get Going and Get Better in Grades K–6 Reading

On this episode of RCG Founders – Education Leadership and Legacy, a miniseries within Charting New Paths, we chat with Vicky Dearing, one of the founders of Results Coaching Global. Vicky shares a wealth of insights on the impact of professional development, her journey towards education leadership, and her experience with Results Coaching Global.  

Vicky reflects on how she fell in love with teaching throughout the different grade levels, and how it opened many doors for her including her becoming a principal and coaching leader. 

Join the conversation to see:

●      What inspired the idea to create Results Coaching Global, and how Vicky was invited to join the founders

●      How RCG got its name and mission 

●      Vicky’s expertise and experience of being a principal and how it aids RCG today 

●      How RCG makes an impact on educators and leads schools 

 
About Vicky Dearing
Vicky Dearing, MC.C., is the Results Coaching Global Founder. She has spent her entire career in education. She has been a teacher, administrator, and principal, leading a school to a national blue ribbon school of success. She began working with coaching during her time as principal and stepped into leadership coaching when she joined her RCG colleagues. Vicky has been a co-author for both RCG books and has a master level of credentials with the international coaching federation, and is a lead instructor with Results Coaching Global Founder.

 
Links:

●      Learn more about Results Coaching Global with Vicky Dearing: https://resultscoachingglobal.com/our-team/ 

●      Follow Vicky Dearing on:
Twitter https://twitter.com/co244
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickydearing

In our last but certainly not the least episode of Reaching Summit, author and speaker Luis F. Cruz joins Prisma Lopez-Marin to discuss his excitement for the upcoming Summit on PLC at Work® and how he felt attending his very first summit. 

 Luis shares his growth from being a struggling middle school principal to teaching and leading over 5,000 educational leaders to success. 

 Tune in to discover: 

●      What attendees can expect from his closing keynote at The Summit on PLC at Work® 

●      Ways educators can respond to this resistance to the PLC process effectively 

●      How Luis balances change that enhances his leadership skills

#SolutionTree #education #K12 #teachers #PLC #schools #podcast

About the author 

Luis F. Cruz, PhD, is the former principal of Baldwin Park High School and Holland Middle School, located east of Los Angeles, California. He has been a teacher at the elementary level and administrator at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Dr. Cruz is an educational consultant who presents throughout the United States on PLCs, school culture, the role of school leadership teams, RTI, and the conditions needed for students and parents learning English as a second language to be academically successful. 

 
Books mentioned in this interview

Time for Change: Four Essential Skills for Transformational School and District Leaders

https://www.solutiontree.com/time-for-change.html 

 
Going to The Summit on PLC at Work®?

In addition to learning from presenters, you can test drive some of our digital tools at our ed tech booth. Learn more at https://www.solutiontree.com/digital-tools. 

In our third episode of Reaching Summit, author and educational coach Nicole S. Turner joins Prisma Lopez-Marin to discuss how educators can coach their collaborative teams, work with teachers one-on-one, and create a practical plan to use in the classroom. 

 Together, they’ll explore Nicole’s passion for instructional coaching, her many years of experience as a coach herself, and the strategies from her keynote on supporting instructional coaches and teachers. 

 Tune in to discover:

●      Her experience presenting and leading breakout sessions at The Summit on PLC at Work®. 

●      The misconceptions people may have about instructional coaching

●      Why instructional coaches can play a major role in teacher development 

#SolutionTree #education #K12 #teachers #PLC #schools #podcast

About the author 

Nicole S. Turner is an educational coach and author with over 17 years of K-12 classroom and leadership experience. She has worked with thousands of educators, instructional coaches, and administrators across the United States through conferences and custom professional development sessions. She specializes in helping educators master their roles through hands-on learning activities. 

Books mentioned in this interview

• Simply Instructional Coaching

https://www.solutiontree.com/simply-instructional-coaching.html 

•  Simply Instructional Coaching Planner

https://www.solutiontree.com/simply-instructional-coaching-planner.html 

 Going to The Summit on PLC at Work®?

In addition to learning from presenters, you can test drive some of our digital tools at our ed tech booth. Learn more at https://www.solutiontree.com/digital-tools. 

In our second episode of Reaching Summit, author and educational consultant Marcia L. Tate joins Prisma Lopez-Marin to talk about how she enjoys presenting and leading breakout sessions at The Summit on PLC at Work®. 

 The two will dive into Healthy Teachers, Happy Classrooms, Marcia’s popular book. The book provides 12 brain-based principles for avoiding teacher burnout and increasing teachers' health and wellness, which Marcia will discuss during her keynote address.

 Tune in to discover: 

●      What attendees can expect from the 2024 Summit and Marcia’s favorite moments

●      Why wellness and movement is so important for K-12 educators 

●      Her experience traveling and working with educators around the world 

#SolutionTree #education #K12 #teachers #PLC #schools #podcast

 
About the author
Marcia L. Tate, EdD, is the former executive director of professional development for the DeKalb County School System in Decatur, Georgia. During her thirty-year career with the district, she has been a classroom teacher, reading specialist, language arts coordinator, and staff development executive director. Marcia is currently an educational consultant and has taught over 500,000 administrators, teachers, parents, and business and community leaders throughout the world

 
The book mentioned in this interview

• Healthy Teachers, Happy Classrooms 

https://www.solutiontree.com/healthy-teachers-happy-classrooms.html 

 
Going to The Summit on PLC at Work®?
In addition to learning from presenters, you can test drive some of our digital tools at our ed tech booth. Learn more at https://www.solutiontree.com/digital-tools. 

“I go as a learner just as much as a teacher, and every year, I leave with brand new ideas!” — Mike Mattos

 In our first episode of Reaching Summit, internationally recognized author, presenter, and RTI at Work™ co-creator Mike Mattos shares his enthusiasm for The Summit on PLC at Work®, why high-performing professional learning communities lead to student achievement and much more.

Claim Your Seat... for The Summit on PLC at Work®: https://www.solutiontree.com/plc-at-work-summit.html

 
#education #K12 #teachers #PLC #schools

 
The books mentioned in this interview:

• Revisiting Professional Learning Communities at Work®, Second Edition: https://www.solutiontree.com/revisiting-professional-learning-communities-at-work.html 
• Taking Action: https://www.solutiontree.com/taking-action.html 
• Behavior Solutions: https://www.solutiontree.com/behavior-solutions.html 

 
Going to The Summit on PLC at Work®?
In addition to learning from presenters, you can test drive some of our digital tools at our ed tech booth. Learn more at https://www.solutiontree.com/digital-tools. 

Author and Licensed Master Social Worker, Barbara Boroson, joins Prisma Lopez-Marin to chat about her book The General Education Teacher’s Guide to Autism: Essential Answers to Key Questions, how she helps educators work effectively with students on the spectrum, and how she bridges the communication chasms between educators and families. Barbara takes us back to how she grew to have a dual perspective as an autism educator and parent of a child with autism. 

 Tune in to discover:

●      Her take on the neurodiversity movement and the increase in acceptance of autism 

●      Why it’s important to create a partnership between educators and parents

●      How she works with schools and general educators to ensure that everyone stays prepared for students on the autism spectrum 

●      The most common autism-related challenges that teachers encounter

 
Barbara Boroson has been an autism educator for more than 25 years. She is a keynote speaker nationwide at educational conferences, including NSBA (National School Boards Association), NAESP & NASSP (National Associations of Elementary/ Secondary Principals), ILA (International Literacy Association), and ASCD (Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development). Barbara provides professional development and consultative services to school districts, educators, and parents, helping to facilitate inclusion.
 
 Links: 

More about The General Education Teacher’s Guide to Autism...Order Today!  https://www.solutiontree.com/general-education-teachers-guide-to-autism.html


Click on the options below to listen or view the Charting New Paths in PreK-12 Education Podcast:
·       Listen to this interview and other episodes: https://www.solutiontree.com/podcast

·       View this interview and other episodes on the Solution Tree YouTube Channel : https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrodUG1VSGXCKMV0on23l1CLGt3DTGcsH

In today’s episode, Prisma Lopez-Marin welcomes guest cohost Kim Ennis, general manager of Results Coaching Global to join in a conversation with Results Coaching Global cofounder Karen Anderson. Karen takes us back to the beginnings of this organization that was founded on a mission to develop confident, competent, and courageous school leaders. 

Follow along on the journey from Karen’s first spark as a young educator to the glow of success as an award-winning administrator of professional development, to an idea that caught fire: dedicating her life to providing educators with the quality coaches they deserve. 

 Tune in to discover:

●      What inspired Karen and her colleagues to commit to coaching educators

●      Why dreaming big and doing the work matters

●      How RCG has adapted to meet educators’ changing needs 

●      What brought RCG and Solution Tree together

●      Why the future looks bright for RCG and the educators they serve

Karen Anderson served as a public school educator for more than 45 years. In addition to coaching, her expertise includes facilitating groups focused on working collaboratively to discover solutions and improve processes and delivery systems. Karen is a national trainer and former adjunct faculty member at Texas A&M University-Commerce. From 1996 to 2004, she fulfilled the position of executive director of the Texas Staff Development Council, and she is a recipient of their lifetime achievement award. 

Links:
*Learn more about Results Coaching Global: https://resultscoachingglobal.com/



Charting New Paths in PreK-12 Education:

• Solution Tree Podcast page: https://www.solutiontree.com/podcast 
• Solution Tree YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrodUG1VSGXCKMV0on23l1CLGt3DTGcsH 

Author Richard K. Cohen joins Prisma Lopez-Marin to talk about The Metacognitive Student: How to Teach Academic, Social, and Emotional Intelligence in Every Content Area (Solution Tree, 2021), a book he coauthored with Deanne Kildare Opatosky, James E. Savage, Susan Olsen Stevens, and Edward P. Darrah. A 2021 Foreword INDIES Gold Winner and 2022 IPPY Award Gold Winner, the book explores structured SELf-questioning, a simple, straightforward, and practical strategy that works in all classrooms  to support students academically, socially, and emotionally.

 Tune in to:

●      Understand the need for social-emotional learning that existed before the pandemic, the growing urgency for SEL in today’s classrooms, and how we can rise to the challenge

●      Explore the why and what of structured SELf-questioning

●      Learn about the work of Dr. Grant Wiggins and Dr. Maurice J. Elias and their impact on the authors’ structured SELf-questioning strategy

●      Discover how structured SELf-questioning can help teachers build partnerships with students to provide academic and social-emotional support

●      Get tips on how to best use this book as a tool to improve student learning from classroom to classroom and districtwide.

 
Richard K. Cohen is the assistant superintendent of the Metuchen School District in New Jersey and serves as co-adjunct faculty at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Before becoming assistant superintendent, Rick led as principal for Red Bank Primary School in Red Bank, New Jersey, and acted as founding director of a new bilingual school, Colegio Americano, in San Salvador, El Salvador. He has served as a leader of social-emotional learning (SEL) at the district, county, state, and national levels.

Links: 

*More about The Metacognitive Student... Order Today! https://www.solutiontree.com/metacognitive-student.html

*Bring Richard K. Cohen to your school: https://www.solutiontree.com/rick-cohen.html 

What was your experience with the sudden switch to remote learning when the pandemic hit? Did it feel like unchartered territory or familiar ground? Many teachers were caught off guard and unsure of how to navigate this new educational landscape in which technology was so essential to daily practice.

Today we are joined by bestselling author Dr. Catlin R. Tucker. In our conversation, she draws from both her classroom experience and her research on education technology to inspire us to think differently and be intentional with how we use technology to connect learners and give them more control over their learning experiences.

“It’s exciting to think that we get to decide what technology looks like in the classroom,” Tucker says. “What I see is an opportunity to give teachers a mindset, skill set, and toolset that is flexible to use in a physical classroom, online, or in a hybrid setting.”

Tune in to:
● Explore the impact online learning has made on both teachers and students
● What makes her new book The Complete Guide to Blended Learning such a great resource for designing effective learning experiences
● Learn why teachers will never have to be afraid of technology replacing them in the classroom
● Discover fresh insights on using SEL skills to build community
● Gain sound strategies for teachers and leaders to implement blended learning in schools and districts


Catlin R. Tucker, EdD, is a best-selling author, keynote speaker, international trainer, and professor in the Master of Arts in Teaching program at Pepperdine University in California. She taught for 16 years in Sonoma County, California, where she was named Teacher of the Year in 2010.

Catlin has written several books on blended learning, including Blended Learning in Grades 4–12, Blended Learning in Action, Power Up Blended Learning, Balance with Blended Learning, and UDL and Blended Learning: Thriving in Flexible Learning Landscapes. In addition to authoring books, Catlin writes an internationally ranked blog and hosts a podcast called The Balance.

Links: 
*To learn more about Catlin Tucker: https://www.solutiontree.com/catlin-r-tucker.html 

*More about her book. Order today! https://www.solutiontree.com/complete-guide-to-blended-learning.html 

*Visit Catlin’s website: https://catlintucker.com/ 

*Twitter: @Catlin_Tucker
*LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-catlin-tucker-7033b531/ 
*Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catlintucker/?hl=en 
*YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/catlintucker 
*Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BalancewithBL/

A true innovator in education, Jorge Valenzuela sits down with us to talk about what it’s like to be an advocate for educators and students and being a part of action research in schools, helping to shape the future of effective instruction in a variety of ways. From research-based STEM strategies to lessons learned from his daily work in computer science to project-based learning strategies, and now, his current work in equity and social-emotional learning (SEL), Jorge draws from his life and teaching experiences to support educators in the vital work they do each day with students.  

 Listen as Jorge describes pivotal moments in his work and how his experience in the field inspired and informed his latest book, Raising Equity Through SEL. 

 Join the conversation to learn:

●      How to connect equity, emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and empathy among students and adults with curriculum and instruction that works for all learners

●      Insights for developing emotional-intelligence skills for adults and students

●      The work Jorge has done developing new frameworks and models to support educators through the International Society for Technology and Education (ISTE)

●      How equity, SEL, STEM, and computer science intersect

●      The true power of bridging his work with Solution Tree, professional learning communities, and ISTE

●      The importance of continuous improvement for all educators

 Jorge Valenzuela is an education coach, an author, a professor at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, and the lead coach at Lifelong Learning Defined. Awarded the Make It Happen Award by the International Society for Technology in 2021, Jorge has drawn from his action research methodology, helping school leaders and teachers reach their unique success paths to innovation in school leadership, tiered instruction, project-based learning, computer science and STEM education, and social-emotional learning across the curriculum. Additionally, he facilitates workshops throughout the country.

*To learn more about Jorge Valenzuela: https://www.solutiontree.com/presenters/jorge-valenzuela.html

*More about his book. Order today! https://www.solutiontree.com/raising-equity-through-sel.html

*Twitter: @JorgeDoesPBL

*LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jorgedoespbl/  

When you engage in acts of kindness and generosity, or even witness this in others, you get a physiological boost. Science proves it. This research inspires the work of educator, social-emotional learning expert and author of From Burnt Out to Fired Up, Morgane Michael. “Together we can bust this culture of anxiety and stress by being kind to one another,” she says. 

 In this podcast, Prisma Lopez-Marin talks with Morgane about life as a Kindergarten and first grade teacher in British Columbia and how this intersects with her Small Act, Big Impact 21-day kindness challenge. Morgane launched the Small Act, Big Impact project grassroots style, going into schools and facilitating projects with students and teachers. Get to know more about Morgane and her revolutionary work of making a big impact one small act at a time. 

 Tune in to:

●      Be inspired to build cultures of belonging and kindness in your own community

●      Get ideas of how to launch your own Small Act, Big Impact projects

●      Learn how to cultivate student empowerment 

●      Discover what it takes to start a movement–from strength within to inspiration and support from others

●      Hear about the many different ways burnout manifests and how to self-assess well being

●      Go behind the scenes of Morgane’s latest book From Burnt Out to Fired Up

Since 2008, Morgane Michael has been an elementary school educator with the Greater Victoria School District in British Columbia. She is a passionate advocate for social-emotional learning, kindness education, and educator well-being, and she leads professional development initiatives aligned with those efforts throughout her province.

Links: 

More about Morgane: https://www.solutiontree.com/presenters/morgane-michael.html 

Visit Morgane’s website: https://smallactbigimpact21days.wordpress.com/ 

More about her book. Order today! https://www.solutiontree.com/from-burnt-out-to-fired-up.html 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MorganeMichael 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/morgane-michael-477623152/ 

Instagram: https://instagram.com/smallactbigimpact

Adlai E. Stevenson High School District 125 in Lincolnshire, Illinois, has achieved legendary status in the world of professional learning communities (PLCs). The PLC at Work process, implemented by thousands of educators around the globe, originated in this very high school. 

 Today, your host Prisma Lopez-Marin is joined by education leaders of Stevenson, past and present. Dr. Timothy D. Kanold is former superintendent of Stevenson and was among the teaching staff in 1983, when principal Dr. Richard DuFour was just beginning to formulate a plan for what would become PLC at Work. Adding to Tim’s humorous and poignant look back through time, current superintendent Dr. Eric Twadell shares what it was like to receive the torch and sustain the work that had transformed Stevenson into a National Blue Ribbon School, and Troy Gobble adds insight as current principal at Stevenson and a true PLC at Work leader. 

 Listen in as they reflect on their experience with Solution Tree, the impact of PLC at Work, and their success in becoming a Model PLC at Work school. This is your opportunity to hear firsthand what it takes to build and sustain a high-functioning PLC from key players in the school that started it all. It’s a conversation among true professionals, PLC experts, and long-time colleagues and friends. You won’t want to miss it!

 
Tune in to hear our guests reflect on

●      Their work with the original architects of PLC at Work, Dr. Richard DuFour and Dr. Robert Eaker

●      The obstacles Stevenson staff overcame to become a PLC (HINT: It wasn’t always pretty)

●      The origin and true meaning behind the three big ideas and four critical questions of a PLC at Work

●      The importance of consistently celebrating short-term wins, even as you work diligently toward long-term goals

●      How equity and access came into play as Stevenson ramped up their work as a PLC

●      The nuts and bolts behind transitioning mindsets from “only some students will learn at high levels” to “success for every student”

●      The beauty of building a school culture driven by a commitment to continuous improvement and positive change, no matter who is at the helm

●      How PLC not only transforms a school but the people who work within it and the communities they serve

 
*To learn more about Troy Gobble and book him for PD, visit: https://www.solutiontree.com/troy-gobble.html

*To learn more about Dr. Timothy D. Kanold and book him for PD, visit: https://www.solutiontree.com/timothy-d-kanold.html

*To learn more about Dr. Eric Twadell and book him for PD, visit: https://www.solutiontree.com/eric-twadell.html 

*To read the success story of Adlai E. Stevenson, visit: https://www.allthingsplc.info/evidence/details/id,695

*Subscribe to our podcast Charting New Paths in PreK-12 Education...on your favorite podcast app for free: https://www.solutiontree.com/podcast

Adlai E. Stevenson High School District 125 in Lincolnshire, Illinois, has achieved legendary status in the world of professional learning communities (PLCs). The PLC at Work process, implemented by thousands of educators around the globe, originated in this very high school. 

 Today, your host Prisma Lopez-Marin is joined by education leaders of Stevenson, past and present. Dr. Timothy D. Kanold is former superintendent of Stevenson and was among the teaching staff in 1983, when principal Dr. Richard DuFour was just beginning to formulate a plan for what would become PLC at Work. Adding to Tim’s humorous and poignant look back through time, current superintendent Dr. Eric Twadell shares what it was like to receive the torch and sustain the work that had transformed Stevenson into a National Blue Ribbon School, and Troy Gobble adds insight as current principal at Stevenson and a true PLC at Work leader. 

 Listen in as they reflect on their experience with Solution Tree, the impact of PLC at Work, and their success in becoming a Model PLC at Work school. This is your opportunity to hear firsthand what it takes to build and sustain a high-functioning PLC from key players in the school that started it all. It’s a conversation among true professionals, PLC experts, and long-time colleagues and friends. You won’t want to miss it!

 
Tune in to hear our guests reflect on

●      Their work with the original architects of PLC at Work, Dr. Richard DuFour and Dr. Robert Eaker

●      The obstacles Stevenson staff overcame to become a PLC (HINT: It wasn’t always pretty)

●      The origin and true meaning behind the three big ideas and four critical questions of a PLC at Work

●      The importance of consistently celebrating short-term wins, even as you work diligently toward long-term goals

●      How equity and access came into play as Stevenson ramped up their work as a PLC

●      The nuts and bolts behind transitioning mindsets from “only some students will learn at high levels” to “success for every student”

●      The beauty of building a school culture driven by a commitment to continuous improvement and positive change, no matter who is at the helm

●      How PLC not only transforms a school but the people who work within it and the communities they serve

 
*To learn more about Troy Gobble and book him for PD, visit: https://www.solutiontree.com/troy-gobble.html

*To learn more about Dr. Timothy D. Kanold and book him for PD, visit: https://www.solutiontree.com/timothy-d-kanold.html

*To learn more about Dr. Eric Twadell and book him for PD, visit: https://www.solutiontree.com/eric-twadell.html 

*To read the success story of Adlai E. Stevenson, visit: https://www.allthingsplc.info/evidence/details/id,695

*Subscribe to our podcast Charting New Paths in PreK-12 Education...on your favorite podcast app for free: https://www.solutiontree.com/podcast

Finally! Professional development created specifically for K-12 teachers by teachers. In today’s episode, we’ll explore the new online learning platform, Avanti. What makes it unique? Why is it so useful for busy classroom teachers? How can you get the most out of it? How much does it cost? Executive vice president of Solution Tree Cameron Rains joins us to reveal the exciting features that comprise the first-of-its kind tool that he helped to build. 

 Tune in to learn 

●      Why teachers are such superstars, and what role they played in developing Avanti

●      The input teachers across the country provided to help make Avanti so incredibly useful

●      The many features Avanti offers, including 250+ short videos featuring classroom strategies

●      How to create community using Avanti

●      What new features are coming soon in this ever-evolving online learning hub

 
Cameron Rains, EdD, led the development of Avanti. He is an executive vice president of Solution Tree, where he has also served as director of school improvement and vice president of strategic initiatives. Cameron has worked to develop new educational technology products and with schools, districts, and state education agencies to ensure that all students are learning at high levels.

*To learn more about AVANTI visit: https://www.my-avanti.com/

*Subscribe to Charting New Paths in PreK-12 Education...for free on your favorite podcast app: https://www.solutiontree.com/podcast

Author and education leader Kyle Palmer uses the mashup word "parentship" to bring clarity to the important work of creating partnerships with parents or adults who care for students. In this podcast, we go in depth with Kyle to uncover what this word really means to him, as well as his personal investment in leading Lewis and Clark Elementary in Liberty, Missouri, to become a Model PLC at Work school.

 Kyle takes us back to his early days of learning about the power of PLC at Work from Dr. Richard DuFour. He highlights what really drew him to this process of continuous school improvement and the amazing opportunities he's had to put his learning into action. In addition, Kyle delves into his new book, Parentships in a PLC at Work and some of the challenges it addresses from both the parent and educator perspective. For example, how can teachers and parents better understand the effort and hard work that goes into each distinct and complex role to better support one another in the common goal of helping children learn? We address issues like this and so much more in today's podcast.

 Tune in to learn more about: 

●      Meaningful ways to connect with family and build effective, sustainable “parentships”

●      How parentships can help schools get even more out of the PLC process

●      Practical steps to build a parentship success team (PST)

●      Implementing a system to benefit educators, students, and families

 
Kyle Palmer, EdD, is the award-winning former principal of Lewis and Clark Elementary in Liberty, Missouri. He is a passionate believer in the power of PLCs and uses his expertise to help schools build collaborative cultures to improve student learning. He is currently the executive director of human resources in the Center School District in Kansas City, Missouri.

*To learn more about Kyle Palmer: https://www.solutiontree.com/presenters/kyle-palmer.html

*More about his book. Order today! https://www.solutiontree.com/parentships-in-a-plc.html

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrKylePalmer

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kyle-palmer-3a402438

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kpalmer4


*Subscribe today to Charting New Paths in PreK-12 Education...for free on your favorite podcast app: https://www.solutiontree.com/podcast

In this episode we talk to a dream team of school leaders who worked together to make amazing things happen in a troubled district in Clute, Texas. Brazosport Independent School District is located about 50 miles south of Houston on the gulf coast. It serves eight different municipalities and students who come from diverse experiences and  backgrounds–from high poverty to highly affluent. As award-winning superintendent Danny Massey puts it, “Our school district really brings all of our communities together.”

 That’s why his first priority as superintendent several years ago was to transform BISD from a low-performing district to one in which students learn at high levels and staff work together in high-performing teams districtwide. How did he accomplish this? By working with long-time colleague, friend, and fellow believer in Professional Learning Communities at Work®, Clara Sale-Davis. Listen as Clara and Danny share their inspiring success story and reveal the power of working in “unity of purpose.” 

 
Tune in to learn: 

●      How Danny and Clara came to believe in PLC at Work as the best process for ensuring learning for all

●      The importance of the school board in the work of a PLC

●      The steps they took, first at the campus level and later districtwide, to implement PLC 

●      How they ultimately became a Model PLC at Work® district

●      Why they remain focused on staff and student wellness and social-emotional learning as core to their mission of improving children’s lives

●      Advice for applying to become a Model PLC at Work® school or district

*To request Clara Sale-Davis for PD: https://www.solutiontree.com/clara-sale-davis.html

*More about Brazosport Independent School District: https://www.allthingsplc.info/evidence/details/id,1762

*Subscribe today to Charting New Paths in PreK-12 Education...for free on your favorite podcast app: https://www.solutiontree.com/podcast

Those who teach diverse students know firsthand that there is a deep divide in education–an opportunity gap that many people talk about but few understand how to close. Lauryn Mascareñaz, author of Evident Equity: A Guide for Creating Systemwide Change in Schools, has seen this divide in her work as a classroom teacher and instructional coach in Denver, Colorado, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Her passion for equity and culturally responsive teaching led her to Learning for Justice (formerly Teaching Tolerance), a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center, where she served as a teaching and learning specialist. Her work continues as a consultant who helps educators break down barriers many students and faculty face daily simply because of their culture, beliefs, gender identity, or color of skin.

 Tune in to hear Lauryn address the difficult work of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) with honesty and candor. As the conversation unfolds, you’ll gain insights and inspiration you can take with you to disrupt systems of inequity in your own school. 

 
Join the conversation to learn:

●      The importance of building a coalition to support your work and how to do it 

●      Ways you can support both students and staff in showing up as their full, authentic selves each day

●      How our current education system was built on inequity, and how you can use that knowledge to create positive change

●      The powerful impact small shifts in practice can have on building an inclusive and culturally responsive environment

●      The difference between culture appreciation and culture appropriation

●      How to use Lauryn’s book, Evident Equity, as a tool to strengthen your DEI work


More about the book...Order Today: https://www.solutiontree.com/evident-equity.html

More about Lauryn: https://www.solutiontree.com/lauryn-mascarenaz.html

*Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurynmaria

*LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauryn-mascare%C3%B1az

Subscribe to Charting New Paths in PreK-12 Education...for free on your favorite podcast app: https://www.solutiontree.com/podcast

There’s a school in Louisville, Kentucky that rose from having the lowest mathematics proficiency out of 92 elementary schools in the state to earning national recognition and multiple awards, including Model PLC at Work® designation. How did this happen? In this conversation, Kenwood Elementary School Principal Jill Handley joins Solution Tree Associate Mona Toncheff to reveal key highlights of the journey. 

After Kenwood was selected as a pilot school to implement the Professional Learning Communities at Work® process, a solid relationship between Kenwood staff and their PLC coach Mona Toncheff began–along with some very heavy lifting and plenty of celebrated successes. Listen in as Mona and Jill talk about the hard work and amazing rewards teachers and students experienced during their three-year journey with Mona and beyond. The dedicated educators at Kenwood, led by their fearless principal Jill, moved mountains. And so can you. 

 Tune in to learn: 

●      How Mathematics at Work and PLC at Work helped Kenwood teachers grow and students succeed

●      The journey Kenwood teachers experienced to build efficacy and a collaborative culture

●      The difference from year 1 to year 3 in mathematics content knowledge among elementary teachers

●      The real impact strong mathematics content knowledge had on student success

●      How Kenwood’s culture and sense of belonging set them up for success when tackling the tough work of building their PLC and becoming experts in math content.

●      The beauty of a long-term commitment to professional development that offers process change, not programmed instructions

●      Advice for others seeking professional development in mathematics instruction or school improvement

*To request Mona Toncheff for PD: https://www.solutiontree.com/mona-toncheff.html

*More about Kenwood Elementary School: https://www.solutiontree.com/mathematics-at-work/success-stories/kenwood

*Subscribe today to Charting New Paths in PreK-12 Education...for free on your favorite podcast app: https://www.solutiontree.com/podcast

It’s the 10 million dollar question every teacher asks: How do I get my students to truly engage in their learning? According to author and education expert Katie White, student self-assessment is key to developing student agency. Katie has done a ton of thinking and writing on this subject and, in this podcast, she’ll reveal some truly valuable information you can use. 

 We’ll peek into Katie’s most recent book, Student Self-Assessment: Data Notebooks, Portfolios, and Other Tools to Advance Learning to get a glimpse of some innovative self-assessment strategies that can be used for every grade level. Plus, you’ll discover what in the world wrestling has to do with all this. 

Join us as we delve into: 

●      Why self-assessment is so essential to the cognitive development of the student

●      The multilayered value of students documenting their personal learning journey

●      Making classroom assignments and goal-setting more organic and relevant to student interests and their natural methods for accomplishing tasks

●      The relationship between self-assessment and safe spaces for learning

●      Intentionally building in time for students to make decisions about their learning and also to recover from mistakes

●      Why learning is better when it’s co-constructed and shared in partnership with students

Connecting back to evidence and digital literacy to maintain a healthy sense of self in the online world


More about the book...Order Today: https://www.solutiontree.com/student-self-assessment.html

To request Katie White for PD guidance: https://www.solutiontree.com/katie-white.html

Subscribe to Charting New Paths in PreK-12 Education...for free on your favorite podcast app: https://www.solutiontree.com/podcast