The Authority Podcast — Expert Insights and Fresh Ideas for Education Leaders Be Podcast Network

In this "Best Of" episode, we revisit our conversation with scientist-educator Dr. Kimberly Nix Berens. Kimberly is Founder of Fit Learning and author of Blind Spots: Why students fail and the science that can save them. 

We talk about:
We must know about and make an effort to truly see the blind spotsThe beliefs and traditions that shape education in the US create blind spots60% of students graduate below proficiency. But what does this statistic mean?Examples of blind spots in actionHow behavioral science supports effective teachingHow parents and educators can advocate for their childrenLearn more about the book Blind Spots at www.drkimberlyberens.com. Find it at bookshop.org, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. Learn about Fit Learning at www.fitlearning.com. 

About today’s guest
Kimberly Nix Berens, Ph.D., is a scientist-educator and Founder of Fit Learning. She co-created a powerful system of instruction based in behavioral science and the Technology of Teaching, which has transformed the learning abilities of thousands of children worldwide, including those who are struggling, average, gifted, or learning disabled. For more than 20 years, her system of instruction has produced one year’s worth of academic growth in only 40 hours of training. Her learning programs effectively target such essential areas as early learning skills, basic classroom readiness, phonemic awareness, reading fluency, comprehension, inferential language, basic and advanced mathematics, logical problem solving, grammar, and expressive writing. From her early beginnings in a broom closet at the University of Nevada – Reno, Dr. Berens has helped grow Fit Learning to an organization with more than 30 locations worldwide. 

About the host
Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and MyFlexLearning. 

IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you simplify and streamline technology, reliably meet Tier 1 standards, improve assessment performance, and more. Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.
MyFlexLearning is the scheduling platform that helps middle and high schools meet the individual needs of all students. Create and manage time for flex blocks, WIN time, activity periods, RTI, counselor and teacher appointments and much more. And with a built-in accountability tool and reporting features, solve your challenges around getting kids where they need to be and understanding how flex time is spent. Make your flex time work for you. Visit myflexlearning.com/BE to learn more and receive $500 off the first year. 

Randy Laist is Chair of the English Department at the University of Bridgeport in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He has taught in middle schools, high schools, and colleges, and his writing has appeared in The New York Times, Salon, and The Chronicle of Higher Education.

We discuss his book Rethinking Writing Instruction in the Age of AI.

The episode covers:
Coming up with a modern definition of writingThe fears around artificial intelligence and writingWhy it’s necessary to rethink writing Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Universal Design for WritingEngagement, Representation, Action and ExpressionRisks to considerWriting activities using AIFind Rethinking Writing Instruction in the Age of AI from CAST Publishing. 

About today’s guest
Randy Laist is Chair of the English Department at the University of Bridgeport in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He is the author of Rethinking Writing Instruction in the Age of AI, The Twin Towers in Film: A Cinematic History of the World Trade Center, Cinema of Simulation: Hyperreal Hollywood in the Long 1990s, and Technology and Postmodern Subjectivity in Don DeLillo's Novels. He has also edited volumes of essays on college movies, plant studies, Indiana Jones, retro-representations of the 1980s, and inclusive educational design. He lives in New Haven with his wife, two kids, and Sigmund the cat.

About the host
Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossromano 
I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt 

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and MyFlexLearning. 

IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you simplify and streamline technology, reliably meet Tier 1 standards, improve assessment performance, and more. Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.
MyFlexLearning is the scheduling platform that helps middle and high schools meet the individual needs of all students. Create and manage time for flex blocks, WIN time, activity periods, RTI, counselor and teacher appointments and much more. And with a built-in accountability tool and reporting features, solve your challenges around getting kids where they need to be and understanding how flex time is spent. Make your flex time work for you. Visit myflexlearning.com/BE to learn more and receive $500 off the first year. 

Jeffrey Benson has more than 40 years of experience as a teacher, mentor, and school administrator, with a focus on supporting schools that can work for all students.

Today Jeffrey returns for his second episode of The Authority to discuss his latest book Hacking School Discipline Together, available from Times 10 Publications.

We discuss:
This book follows up a previous Times 10 Publications bestseller, Hacking School Discipline. We talk about the significance of adding TOGETHER. Outlining the roles of administrators, staff, and teachers in collaborative approaches to discipline. Creating a culture of empathy and responsibility.Chronic structural flaws in routines and practices that make it harder for students to do the right thing.“Be More than a Hammer” — the importance of having a toolkit of responsesCombining complexity with consistency“Leave No Staff Behind” (stories of buy-in)Prevent instead of interveneAddressing common criticisms of restorative justiceWe become accustomed to dysfunction — how to sustain the efforts and not revert to status quoAbout the guest
Jeffrey Benson has more than 40 years of experience as a teacher, mentor, and school administrator, with a focus on supporting schools that can work for all students. His books include Improve Every Lesson Plan with SEL, Hanging In: Strategies for Working with the Students Who Challenge Us Most, and 10 Steps for Managing Change in Schools: How do we take initiatives from goals to actions? His website is JeffreyBenson.org. Connect on Twitter @jeffreybenson61

About the host
Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossromano 
I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt 

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and MyFlexLearning. 

IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you simplify and streamline technology, reliably meet Tier 1 standards, improve assessment performance, and more. Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.
MyFlexLearning is the scheduling platform that helps middle and high schools meet the individual needs of all students. Create and manage time for flex blocks, WIN time, activity periods, RTI, counselor and teacher appointments and much more. And with a built-in accountability tool and reporting features, solve your challenges around getting kids where they need to be and understanding how flex time is spent. Make your flex time work for you. Visit myflexlearning.com/BE to learn more and receive $500 off the first year. 

Today I'm pleased to share an episode from the Speaking and Communicating Podcast, part of the BE Podcast Network. Three times each week, host Roberta Ndela publishes a conversation with a leading professional from across the industry spectrum with practical advice to help you improve communication skills in all settings. Learn more about the show and subscribe here: https://sac.bepodcast.network
Episode Description:How do you become a powerful public speaker?
Meet Barbara H. Smith!
Barbara is an Award Winning Celebrity Speaker, Trainer and Coach. She helps B2Bs take presentations from Boring to Bravo. She is also the TV Host of Empowering YOU!
The Barbara H. Smith training company helps CEO’s, managers, and entrepreneurs overcome the fear of public speaking, propelling them forward to confidently stand up, stand out, engage their audiences, and tell their stories to clients, prospects, and customers.An author, international speaker, entrepreneur, coach, actor, and business strategist - her speaker development training events have expanded to include a TV show, The Empowering You Show which streams every week on the IBMTV network, POD.TV on Roku and broadcasts live and on demand to over 200 countries.
Her bestselling book titled "Speak, Coach, Train! Strategies to Discover Your Passion", is a self-help book that engages, inspires, and empowers readers to level up their careers and lives. With more than 20 years’ technology experience and training, her claim to fame is executive coaching, helping countless business leaders transform. Empowering others to level up their communications, presentations, and themselves.
Key Points:- how to engage your audience- overcoming fear and nerves before speaking- what to do before the speaking event- how to overcome stuttering- pacing and other strategies to elevate your speaking- how to redirect your message if the audience is not on board
...and so much more!

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and MyFlexLearning. 

IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you simplify and streamline technology, reliably meet Tier 1 standards, improve assessment performance, and more. Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.
MyFlexLearning is the scheduling platform that helps middle and high schools meet the individual needs of all students. Create and manage time for flex blocks, WIN time, activity periods, RTI, counselor and teacher appointments and much more. And with a built-in accountability tool and reporting features, solve your challenges around getting kids where they need to be and understanding how flex time is spent. Make your flex time work for you. Visit myflexlearning.com/BE to learn more and receive $500 off the first year. 

Dr. Karen Johannesen Brock has been an educator and educational consultant for more than three decades. She has assisted more than one hundred schools and districts with implementing instructional coaching and design as well as professional learning plans and school-improvement plans and has worked at the state, school, and district levels. 

Our conversation centers on her book Coaching for Multilingual Student Success: Intentional Practices to Accelerate Learning and Close Achievement Gaps.

We discuss:
Understanding multilingual students in our schoolsThe achievement gaps we’re working to close and the challenges in doing soHow to build teachers’ confidenceAn asset-based approachEngaging parents in the learning processLeveraging instructional coaching to strengthen collective teacher efficacyKaren’s approach to instructional coachingTeacher-coach relationships4 essential practices for teachers that accelerate learning for all studentsFind the book Coaching for Multilingual Student Success from Solution Tree or wherever you get your books. 

About the host
Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossromano 
I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt 

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and MyFlexLearning. 

IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you simplify and streamline technology, reliably meet Tier 1 standards, improve assessment performance, and more. Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.
MyFlexLearning is the scheduling platform that helps middle and high schools meet the individual needs of all students. Create and manage time for flex blocks, WIN time, activity periods, RTI, counselor and teacher appointments and much more. And with a built-in accountability tool and reporting features, solve your challenges around getting kids where they need to be and understanding how flex time is spent. Make your flex time work for you. Visit myflexlearning.com/BE to learn more and receive $500 off the first year. 

Today we present a great conversation with returning guest Danny Bauer of Better Leaders Better Schools and Glenn Robbins, superintendent of Brigantine Public Schools in New Jersey. Danny and Glenn have co-authored the new book Calm in the Chaos, applying ancient Stoic wisdom to the demands of school leaders. 

Our conversation covers:
Summary of ancient Stoic wisdom and philosophyThe Obstacle is the Way - Ryan HolidayWhy the authors applied this philosophy to school leadershipModern chaos in schoolsSchool leaders’ stress levels are high. What is stillness in the chaos?Four virtues: Wisdom, Temperance, Courage, and JusticeEquanimity is the outcome — calmness of mind and soulFind the book on Amazon.
About today’s guests
Daniel Bauer is host of the Better Leaders Better Schools podcast, ranked in the TOP 0.5% of 3 million global podcasts, and author of books including Mastermind: Unlocking Talent Within Every School Leader, co-published by Corwin and the National School Superintendents Association (AASA). Subscribe to Better Leaders, Better Schools on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Glenn Robbins is the proud Superintendent of the Brigantine Public School District in Brigantine, New Jersey. He has been awarded numerous administrative national and state recognitions including the National Exemplar of Education Award, Northeast Innovative Superintendent Award, NJ Visionary Superintendent Award, Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools Member, NASSP Digital Principal of the Year, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Winner, and SETDA Student Voice Award Winner. Glenn is passionate about helping school leaders create schools where every student and educator can have the opportunity to succeed to their utmost potential in a VUCA world.

About the host
Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossromano 

I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt 

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and MyFlexLearning. 

IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you simplify and streamline technology, reliably meet Tier 1 standards, improve assessment performance, and more. Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.
MyFlexLearning is the scheduling platform that helps middle and high schools meet the individual needs of all students. Create and manage time for flex blocks, WIN time, activity periods, RTI, counselor and teacher appointments and much more. And with a built-in accountability tool and reporting features, solve your challenges around getting kids where they need to be and understanding how flex time is spent. Make your flex time work for you. Visit myflexlearning.com/BE to learn more and receive $500 off the first year.