Are you attending What’s Right in Education? Listen as Dr. Janet Pilcher previews Studer Education’s thirteenth annual K12 leadership conference, where leaders will gather to share impact stories and demonstrate how they apply the Nine Principles® Framework daily. Even if you're not able to attend, she invites you to continue tuning in each week as we highlight the stories of superintendents and executive leaders who are dedicated to creating great places to work, learn, and succeed.

Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, What it Takes to Be a Level 10 Leader, What's Right in Education Playlist on YouTube

To build excitement for the upcoming What's Right in Education conference in Colorado, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Superintendent Mike Crawford from nearby Mapleton Public Schools to talk about his continuous improvement journey. Listen as he shares how he maintains strong relationships with the school board, promotes collaboration among staff, and regularly engages in the rounding process.

Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Retain Employees in Education Using Leadership Rounding, Create Connections Through Rounding, Rounding for Success: A Superintendent’s Journey from Skepticism to Impact

WRiE Information & Registration: Don’t miss our annual K12 leadership conference,What's Right in Education. Join us October 22nd-24th in Westminster, Colorado to expand your network with fellow high performers who are committed to solving shared problems of practice. Visit studereducation.com/wrie to register!

Developing skilled leaders is a top priority at Manitou Springs School District 14. Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she speaks with Superintendent Sean Dorsey about his dedication to building a robust leadership pipeline. Listen as he shares how his partnership with Studer Education empowers him to provide this development and achieve performance excellence within the district.

This episode addresses questions such as:

• What is the importance of building both leadership capacity and leadership density within an organization?
• How does building a district scorecard create a sense of urgency for improvement?
• How can rounding be used to achieve various outcomes?

Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Hiring the Right Principal, Sand Creek Zone-School District 49 Sets the Standard in Employee Engagement, Measuring Progress and Fostering Excellence: The Power of Scorecards

WRiE Information & Registration: Don’t miss Superintendent Sean Dorsey and many more educational leaders speaking at our annual event, What's Right in Education. Join us October 22nd-24th and learn to Hardwire Excellence in Education. Visit studereducation.com/wrie to see the full speaker agenda and register before seats sell out.

What's a better mindset than "failing fast and failing often"? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she explores how reframing this phrase with positive language shifts the focus from failure to growth—exactly where it belongs in education.

Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Why I dislike the phrase "Fail Fast, Fail Often," Continuous Improvement: Adjusting Through Disruption, How One School District Hardwired Continuous Improvement Practices to Change their Culture and Adjust through Disruption

WRiE Information & Registration: Engage with your colleagues and learn to Hardwire Excellence in Education at our annual K-12 leadership event, What's Right in Education. Visit studereducation.com/wrie to see the full speaker agenda and register. Seats are filling up quickly for this October event!

Hardwiring systems is non-negotiable. If we want to take calculated risks, we need stable foundations and reliable processes to weather disruptions. Listen as Dr. Janet Pilcher defines what it means to hardwire excellence in education and how this approach builds trust with employees, empowering them to feel deeply connected to their work and confident to innovate.

Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, The Maturity Model: Phases of Improvement in Organizational Excellence, What it Takes to Be a Level 10 Leader, Story Behind the Story: Hardwiring Excellence in Education

WRiE Information & Registration: Engage with your colleagues and learn to Hardwire Excellence in Education at our annual K-12 leadership event, What's Right in Education. Visit studereducation.com/wrie to see the full speaker agenda and register. Seats are filling up quickly for this October event!

What would a school look like if all faculty and support staff regularly met to discuss student successes and challenges? It would look exactly like Mountainside Success Academy in El Dorado County Office of Education. Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she interviews Principal Maria Osborne and Instructional Strategist Sharon Shipley about their approach and experiences in leading and teaching students in alternative education. Listen to hear how they regularly meet with students to provide personalized support and integrate trauma-informed practices to address the unique needs of their students.

Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Excellence in Operations, Leverage Input to Spark and Sustain Change, Educational Perspectives from California

WRiE Information & Registration: Engage with your colleagues and learn to Hardwire Excellence in Education at our annual K-12 leadership event, What's Right in Education. Visit studereducation.com/wrie to see the full speaker agenda and register. Seats are filling up quickly for this October event!

How can you create departments that people want to work in? Amy Andersen and Meghan McAndrews, both operational leaders in El Dorado County Office of Education, join Dr. Janet Pilcher to share about their improvement work in human resources and transportation. Listen and learn how they’ve successfully implemented rounding and targeted training to elevate workplace culture, boost retention, and streamline onboarding practices.

Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Connecting Operations to Student Success, Strong Teams Don't Happen by Chance

WRiE Information & Registration:
Engage with your colleagues and learn to Hardwire Excellence in Education at our annual K-12 leadership event, What's Right in Education. Visit studereducation.com/wrie to see the full speaker agenda and register. Seats are filling up quickly for this October event!

Throughout the summer, Dr. Janet Pilcher has had the privilege of interviewing exceptional leaders and teachers from educational organizations across the country. Join her as she reflects on how these individuals demonstrate a strong commitment to excellence through their relentless focus on continuous improvement. Listen as she highlights how prioritizing improvement over mere accountability lays the foundation for sustained success in education.

Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Preparing Students for Success from Kindergarten and Beyond, Recalibrate to an Improvement Lens, Raise the Bar with a Growth Mindset, Moving from Hope to Action, Classroom Improvement That Empowers Students

WRiE Information & Registration:
Engage with your peers and learn to Hardwire Excellence in Education at our annual K-12 leadership event, What's Right in Education. Visit studereducation.com/wrie to see the full speaker agenda and register. Seats are filling up quickly!

What can you achieve when you collaborate with students to identify their learning barriers and make a plan to overcome them? According to Kristen Anderson, Director of Instructional Development, and Cheyenne Roberts, Teaching and Learning Specialist, the answer is collective efficacy. Join Dr. Janet Pilcher along with Kristen and Cheyenne as they discuss Hemet Unified School District's classroom improvement journey. Listen as they share how a student-centered improvement framework is impacting  achievement in math and creating a collaborative culture.

Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Moving from Hope to Action, Continuous Improvement through Leadership

WRiE Information & Registration:
Engage with your peers and learn to Hardwire Excellence in Education at WRiE 2024: studereducation.com/wrie

As Dr. Christi Barrett from Hemet Unified School District reminds us in this episode, "Hope is not a plan." For meaningful improvement to occur, she emphasizes that leaders must use hope to fuel intentional actions. Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she engages with Christi to discuss Hemet's ongoing improvement journey, with a special focus on their recent classroom initiatives. Listen as Christi highlights the crucial role of building trust with all stakeholders and explains how, once trust is established, intentional actions are driving significant improvements in student learning across the district.

Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Continuous Improvement through Leadership, Simple Strategies for Classroom Improvement, Unrelenting Commitment to Improvement

WRiE Information & Registration:
Engage with your peers and learn to Hardwire Excellence in Education at WRIE 2024: studereducation.com/wrie

Creating a learning environment modeled on a healthy family unit might sound unconventional, but at Child Development Centers of Erie, Pennsylvania, it works. Join County Director Pam Sampsell and Lead Preschool Teacher Kaylee Kellerman as they share with Dr. Janet Pilcher their unique approach to help students ages 0-5 learn emotional self regulation. Listen as Pam and Kaylee share how classroom families and "wishing well" routines foster a sense of belonging and mutual respect so all kids in their care can thrive.

Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Innovation for the Whole Child, Preparing Students for Success from Kindergarten and Beyond

WRiE Information & Registration:
Engage with your peers and learn to hardwire Excellence in Education at WRIE 2024: studereducation.com/wrie

Can you believe we've reached episode 350? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher in celebrating this milestone as she expresses her heartfelt gratitude to you. Listen as she encourages you to recognize someone this week by handwriting a thank-you note. And be inspired as she shares her own note of appreciation for you.

Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Transform Culture with Reward and Recognition, The Power of Reward and Recognition, Creating a Culture of Recognition

WRiE Information & Registration:
Early bird registration and discounted pricing open now through July 31, 2024. studereducation.com/wrie

Good leaders listen humbly, and as Dr. Janet Pilcher often says, they pay ridiculous attention to details. Join Janet and Dr. Kraig Sproles, Superintendent of Bethel School District, as they explore the intersection of analytical and interpersonal approaches in their leadership practices. Listen as Kraig shares his candid thoughts on failing forward, all in service of getting better at getting better for the students his district serves.

This episode answers questions such as:

• What's the difference between a strategic plan that sits on a shelf and a strategic plan that transforms the way you teach and reach your students?
• What role does humble listening play in the continuous improvement process?
• How does "failing forward" evolve from a challenge into a catalyst for growth?

Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Round for Employee Retention, Pause, Reflect, and Plan for Progress

WRiE Information & Registration:
Early bird registration and discounted pricing open now through July 31, 2024. studereducation.com/wrie

How do leaders stay true to their values during challenging times? And how do they respond to critical incidents and make tough decisions? Listen and learn as Dr. Janet Pilcher and Dr. Pat Greco continue part two of their reflective conversation from last week where they address these questions and underscore how developing their people is at the heart of everything they do.

Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Lean In, Stay Curious, and Other Leadership Lessons, Building the Leadership Muscle to Improve Hiring and Retention

WRiE Information & Registration:
Early bird registration and discounted pricing open now through July 31, 2024. studereducation.com/wrie

What is impactful leadership? According to Dr. Janet Pilcher and returning guest, Dr. Pat Greco, it's all about making a difference, having a clear purpose, and creating meaningful and positive experiences for those they lead and serve. Listen now to hear part one of Janet and Pat's conversation about their key learnings over the past year, what it means to be a level ten leader, and lessons from the classroom they'll never forget.

Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Building the Leadership Muscle to Improve Hiring and Retention, Getting Better at Getting Better, Leadership Development is a Lifeline

WRiE Information & Registration:
Early bird registration and discounted pricing open now through July 31, 2024. studereducation.com/wrie

Join Dr. Janet Pincher for a special conversation with Dr. Chris Hartley, Deputy Executive Director at the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence. Together they discuss the evolving educational priorities from both state and national perspectives. They also dig into California’s approach in building coherence around the services provided to all districts in California. Listen now to hear how Dr. Hartley says California is working to break down silos and showcase exemplar practices.

Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Service in the Relationship Business, Recalibrate to an Improvement Lens

WRiE Information & Registration:
Early bird registration and discounted pricing open now through July 31, 2024. studereducation.com/wrie

What's more important than accountability? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she interviews Superintendent Bradley Roberson from the Oxford School District, who emphasizes the importance of focusing on daily actions that truly make a difference. Listen as he highlights the significance of creating a workplace culture that celebrates innovation, recognizes small wins, and promotes trust.

This episode answers questions such as:

• What does it mean to shift from a lens of accountability to a lens of continuous improvement?
• How does focusing on actions rather than just goals help in achieving better outcomes?
• What are some ways building administrators use rounding to identify and solve school-wide problems?

Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Raise the Bar with a Growth Mindset, Cascading Scorecards to Achieve Continuous Improvement: The Oxford School District's Journey, Build a Culture of Improvement

What learning gains can students make when their teachers and leaders are practicing a growth mindset? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she interviews Principal Patches Calhoun and teacher Ms. LaTonya Smith from Della Davidson Elementary in Oxford, MS. Listen now to learn what it takes to create an inspiring workplace where mindset matters and students achieve phenomenal outcomes.

This episode addresses questions such as:

• How does creating a positive workplace culture enhance teacher motivation and increase student achievement?
• What specific actions do school leaders take to make teachers feel valued and supported?
• What challenges do classroom teachers face, and how can leaders help alleviate these challenges?

Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Building Trust with Teachers and Supporting Them, Align Behaviors with Goals and Values, Why Does Recognition Matter?

It may be the start of the summer, but it's prime planning time for educational leaders. Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she explores three ways to think about building inspiring workplaces for our staff and inspiring classrooms for our students for the upcoming school year. Listen now as she highlights how educators and leaders can create remarkable experiences for all students all the time.

This episode addresses questions such as:

• What are some key lessons in building inspiring schools and workplaces?
• How can we provide remarkable experiences for our students?

Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework,  Spur Success with Audacious Goals, The Value of Kindness, Creating the Momentum to Achieve Organizational Excellence in Education Systems

How can school districts effectively cascade and communicate strategic plans? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she interviews Superintendent Todd Antony and Principal Jared Schaffer from the School District of Onalaska to hear how they emphasize clarity and alignment so people at all levels can be highly engaged and connected to the work of continuous improvement. Listen now as they discuss the role of scorecards and short cycles of improvement in driving meaningful change in their district.

This episode addresses questions such as:

• What is the difference between having a strategic plan and operationalizing a strategic plan?
• What role do scorecards and short cycles of improvement play in the process of cascading a strategic plan from the district level to the school level?
• How does a strategic plan build clarity and alignment for employees and students?

Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Plan Strategically for Success, The Power of Collaboration in Strategic Planning, Plan and Execute for Organizational Excellence

What insights and lessons can be unpacked from the previous school year? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she interviews Dr. Charan Cline, Superintendent of Redmond School District, to hear how he utilizes reflective practice to identify both bright spots and challenges. Listen as Dr. Cline elaborates on how scorecard and survey results are an opportune moment for reflection before diving into decision-making. 

This episode addresses questions such as:

• How are scorecards and surveys useful in the reflection and planning process?
• How can leaders prioritize continuous learning and growth?
• How do rounding conversations clarify purpose and promote engagement within teams?

Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Pause, Reflect, and Plan for Progress, Moving from Reflection to Action

Purposefully pausing and reflecting paves the way for improvements and adjustments to be made in the upcoming school year. Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she interviews Dr. Kathy Oropallo, a Leader Coach at Studer Education, to hear how she coaches her partners to evaluate the effectiveness of past strategies, celebrate wins, and address challenges. Kathy explains how tools like leader rounding and plus delta capture real-time data and shares insights on how she coaches leaders to move from reflection to action.

This episode addresses questions such as:

• What are the most important steps of the reflection process?
• How can leaders evaluate the effectiveness of past strategies?
• How can the insights gained during the reflection process be translated into actionable steps to take?

Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Pause, Reflect, and Plan for Progress, Transform Communities by Transforming Schools, Make Way for Improvement

The end of the school year is packed with obligations and events, but making time to pause, reflect, and plan for the upcoming school year is essential for continued growth. Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she advises leaders to pause and reflect on organizational results and the alignment and consistency of leadership practices. Listen as Janet presents questions to guide leaders through this reflection, empowering them to plan for success in the year ahead.

This episode addresses questions such as:

• How does gaining feedback allow leaders to "get better at getting better"?
• What is the importance of pausing and reflecting before the planning process begins?
• How can leaders successfully measure that their priorities support the achievement of positive results, both organizationally and individually?

Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Reflect to Improve Your Leadership, Mindfulness and Reflection Practices for Leaders and Teams, The Power of Pause

Can effective leadership create ripple effects that extend beyond school walls? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she connects with Lisa Nellessen Savage of the Pensacola News Journal to highlight the impact of CivicCon on the Pensacola community, and continue listening as she interviews Dr. Angela Bush of Jefferson County Schools, a recent CivicCon presenter, to hear how she spearheaded school improvement efforts that became a catalyst for community transformation. Listen as Dr. Bush emphasizes two of the Nine Principles that have shaped her leadership and explains how the principles she hardwired at Erwin Middle School can be replicated in any school.

This episode addresses questions such as:

• What are the broader impacts of successful leadership within an organization or community?
• How can well developed systems and processes be hardwired into an organization?
• What does it look like in practice to develop leaders to develop people?

Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, From CSI to a Top 5 School: Erwin Middle, a Jefferson County Success Story, Watch CivicCon: Learn how to lead a school out of low performance with Angela Bush, Align Behaviors with Goals and Values

What strategies can leaders use to navigate resistance to change and encourage employee buy-in? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she engages in a conversation with Mrs. Aubree Short, Principal of Los Tules Middle School in Tulare, California, to hear how surveys and rounding have proven to be pivotal tools in her journey toward school improvement. Aubree explains how post-COVID data revealed a need for improvement in climate and culture for both students and teachers. Listen as she reveals how collaboration amongst high performing employees has transformed Los Tules from a trauma-informed school to a trauma-sensitive school through the implementation of the Ready to Learn program. 

This episode answers questions such as:

• How do data-driven insights transform school culture?
• What role do high-performing employees play in rolling out organizational changes?
• How can rounding with students and teachers be used to improve the change process?

Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Charting the Course: Leadership Strategies for Managing Change in Education, Coaching High Performers Through Resistance to Change, Fostering Resilient Learners