LEADERSHIP MESSENGERS™ with Ovi Vasquez, Author & Keynote Speaker

Ep37 Jenn Sharek, Statewide Teacher of The Year Finalist: Leadership Development Podcast

• OVIDILIO VASQUEZ, Leadership Keynote Speaker | @OVinspires • Season 4 • Episode 7

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0:00 | 27:50

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 HOST: Ovi Vásquez is a nationally recognized bilingual leadership keynote speaker who inspires audiences at education conferences, corporate summits, and association events. A #1 Amazon bestselling author and TEDx speaker, Ovi draws upon his journey from working as a child farmworker in the sugarcane fields of rural Guatemala to working for some of Silicon Valley’s leading companies.

Through his story, he delivers a powerful message of resilience, leadership, and purpose. Speaking in English and Spanish, he specializes in youth leadership, first-generation student empowerment, and developing values-driven leaders across education, business, and communities. 

GUEST BIO: Jenn Sharek, 2025 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year finalist, kindergarten teacher with 20 years of experience, literacy leader, and President of the Board at Teach My Kid to Read. Jenn is an advocate for structured literacy and evidence-based instruction, working locally and nationally to strengthen early reading systems. She blends stewardship, integrity, and high expectations to build stronger readers and stronger futures.

Find our guest at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenn-s-a3b9a625a
Find our host at: https://www.ovinspires.com

Leadership Development Keywords: educational leadership, structured literacy, stewardship leadership, teacher development, early childhood leadership, accountability culture, psychological safety, evidence-based instruction, talent retention, values-driven leadership

Leadership Development Summary: In this episode, Jenn Sharek defines leadership as stewardship and influence used to uplift those without a voice. Drawing from her mother’s example, trusted educators, and her own transformation through structured literacy training, Jenn explains why courage, competence, and conviction drive real leadership. She challenges leaders to create safe spaces for truth, center decisions on children, and pursue excellence through reflection and growth.

10 Takeaways on Leadership Development
✅ Leadership is stewardship
✅ Courage sustains integrity
✅ Competence requires lifelong learning
✅ Conviction centers the mission
✅ Excellence demands hard conversations
✅ Reflection prevents burnout
✅ Recognition builds culture
✅ Feedback fuels growth
✅ Strong readers build strong futures
✅ Be the leader you want to see

5 Titles for Leadership Development
✅ Stewardship Over Status
✅ Stronger Readers, Stronger Leaders
✅ Courage, Competence, Conviction
✅ Excellence Requires Hard Conversations
✅ Lead With Integrity in the Classroom and Beyond

5 Sound Bites for Leadership Development
🗣 “Leadership means stewardship.”
🗣 “Courage is not always popular.”
🗣 “Excellence is the expectation.”
🗣 “Clap for others and clap for yourself.”
🗣 “Stronger futures begin with stronger readers.”

10 Chapters on Leadership Development
00:00 – Meet Jenn Sharek
01:35 – Leadership as Stewardship
02:54 – Role Models and Integrity
04:33 – Structured Literacy Transformation
06:44 – Family Influence
10:48 – Courage, Competence, Conviction
13:53 – Retaining High Performers
15:50 – Recognition and Culture
22:26 – Literacy Advocacy Work
27:02 – Final Leadership Message

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 Find our host at: https://www.ovinspires.com