Communities of Character Podcast

Communities of Character
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Education
  • Updated Monthly

Communities of Character is a leadership and character education podcast for educators, school leaders, parents, and community builders. Each episode features inspiring conversations with educators, researchers, counselors, authors, and community heroes who share practical insights on character development, student leadership, educational leadership, school culture, resilience, mental wellness, and self-development. If you enjoy educator podcasts, leadership podcasts, or podcasts for leaders, this show will inspire and equip you to lead with purpose.

  1. 3d ago

    Laura Casey: The Coach Behind "Coaches for Character"

    What if the most important thing a coach teaches has nothing to do with the scoreboard? In this special episode of Communities of Character, Jennifer Hogan turns the microphone toward her friend and co-host, Laura Casey, creator and leader of Coaches for Character. With their shared backgrounds in athletics, Jennifer and Laura explore the powerful role sports can play in developing character and shaping young people. Laura shares why coaches have such a unique opportunity to influence athletes, how character and performance work together, and why the most meaningful lessons often happen in the moments between the games. But this conversation goes beyond the work. Jennifer gets to know Laura in a different way, reflecting on the people who shaped her, the experiences that influenced her journey, and the legacy she hopes to leave with the coaches and athletes she serves. Because the best coaches don't just help athletes become better at a sport. They help young people see something in themselves they might not have seen otherwise. In Season 5, we're celebrating The Ones Who Made the Difference, and this time, we're celebrating one of our own. 🎧 Listen, reflect, and consider: Who helped you believe in yourself? And who might need you to be that person for them? RESOURCES from the episode: Vestavia Hills City Schools - https://vhcs.us/ Book: Primed to Compete, which builds on Marvin W. Berkowitz’s highly acclaimed PRIMED model of character education https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9781003485711/primed-compete-david-light-shields-marvin-berkowitz-pete-paciorek Article: “Samford Emphasizes Character Education as Foundation for Coaching Leadership” https://www.samford.edu/education/news/2026/Samford-Emphasizes-Character-Education-as-Foundation-for-Coaching-Leadership The Hope Institute - https://www.hopeinstitute.org/ Connect with Communities of Character Follow the conversation on Instagram at @coc.podcast and share this episode with an educator, coach, principal, counselor, or colleague who has made a difference in your life. Communities of Character is hosted by Jennifer Hogan and Laura Casey and explores the people, relationships, and everyday choices that shape character and culture in schools and communities. Because character isn't just what we teach. It's what people experience from us, and sometimes, it's the difference we make in someone else's life.

    Laura Casey: The Coach Behind "Coaches for Character"

  2. Sep 1

    What Happens When a Principal Believes in You? The Story Behind Alabama’s Teacher of the Year

    What happens when a principal recognizes something special in a teacher and then creates the space for that teacher’s influence to grow? In this episode of Communities of Character, we sit down with Katie Collins, the 2025-26 Alabama Teacher of the Year and 2026 National Teacher of the Year finalist, and her principal, Ami Weems. But this conversation isn't really about awards. It’s about relationships, influence, and character. Katie and Ami take us behind the recognition to talk about how their professional relationship began, what they saw in one another, and how they have each influenced each other's growth as educators and leaders. As you listen, you'll hear character revealed through the story, not as something that is simply taught, but as something demonstrated through honesty, respect, curiosity, care, integrity, perseverance, and love for people. You'll also hear an important reminder for anyone who works in education: sometimes our greatest influence comes from simply seeing someone, believing in them, and creating the conditions for them to use their gifts. In this episode, we explore: How Katie and Ami's relationship began and what they noticed about one another What Ami recognized in Katie before Katie fully recognized it in herself How being believed in can change the possibilities we see for ourselves The role a school leader plays in creating space for teachers to grow and lead How influence can move in both directions between a principal and teacher The character qualities that Katie and Ami see in one another What Alabama Teacher of the Year recognition meant to both of them The ordinary moments that can become defining moments in someone else's story How one person's influence can spread throughout an entire school What students learn by watching adults model healthy, respectful professional relationships How each of them has become a better educator and leader because of the other A Question to Consider: Who is someone who saw something in you before you could fully see it in yourself? And perhaps an even more important question: Who might need you to be that person for them this year? Because the people who make a difference aren't always trying to create a defining moment. Sometimes they're simply showing up with consistency, care, integrity, and belief, and those ordinary moments become part of someone else's story. RESOURCES from the episode: Bluff Park Elementary Website - https://bpes.hoovercityschools.net/ Bluff Park Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bluffparkelem/ Ron Clark Academy - https://www.ronclarkacademy.com/ Move Your Bus, by Ron Clark  The Essential 55, by Ron Clark  Driving Education podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/driving-education/id1849391426 Connect with Communities of Character Follow the conversation on Instagram at @coc.podcast and share this episode with an educator, coach, principal, counselor, or colleague who has made a difference in your life. Communities of Character is hosted by Jennifer Hogan and Laura Casey and explores the people, relationships, and everyday choices that shape character and culture in schools and communities. Because character isn't just what we teach. It's what people experience from us, and sometimes, it's the difference we make in someone else's life.

    What Happens When a Principal Believes in You? The Story Behind Alabama’s Teacher of the Year

  3. Aug 1

    Season 5 Begins: The Ones Who Made the Difference

    Every educator can name someone who changed the course of their life. Maybe it was a teacher who believed in you before you believed in yourself. A coach who saw potential you couldn't yet see. A principal who trusted you with responsibility. Or a colleague who helped you through one difficult season. As Jennifer and Laura reflected on the conversations from Season 4, they realized something surprising: regardless of the guest or topic, nearly every leadership story eventually came back to a person. That's the heartbeat behind Season 5. Throughout this year, Communities of Character will explore the relationships that shape character, leadership, and culture, because behind every great educator is usually someone who quietly made the difference. In this episode: Looking back at the biggest lessons from Season 4 Why every leadership story begins with relationships How culture is built through everyday interactions The inspiration behind Season 5: The Ones Who Made the Difference A reflection to carry into a new school year Reflection Question Who made the biggest difference in your life, and how might you become that person for someone else this year? We'd love to hear your story. Share about the educator, coach, mentor, or leader who made a lasting difference in your life. Join the Conversation Follow us on Instagram: @coc.podcast Tag someone who helped shape your journey; we'd love to celebrate them with you.

    Season 5 Begins: The Ones Who Made the Difference

  4. Jul 15 ·  Bonus

    A Pause to Reflect on Character - Bonus Ep. #7 - July 2026

    As a new school year approaches, many educators are busy preparing classrooms, reviewing lesson plans, and checking off back-to-school to-do lists. But what if the most important preparation has nothing to do with curriculum? In this month's Character Conversation, Jennifer Hogan and Laura Casey reflect on the powerful stories shared by Jupie Lindley and Sue Grogan in the latest installment of our Voices from the Network summer series from the Hope Institute Network Summit. Together, they explore why students often remember how we made them feel long before they remember what we taught, and why school culture is built through ordinary, everyday interactions, not extraordinary moments. In this episode, you'll hear: Why relationships are the foundation of every strong school culture. The difference between preparing your classroom and preparing your presence. How consistency, not perfection, builds trust with students and colleagues. Why every educator, regardless of role or title, influences the culture of a school. A practical reflection challenge to help you prepare for the upcoming school year with greater intentionality. Whether you're a classroom teacher, principal, counselor, coach, office staff member, or anyone who serves students, this conversation will encourage you to think beyond the first day of school and focus on the culture you'll help create all year long. Reflection Question As you prepare for a new school year, ask yourself: "What will students consistently experience when they interact with me?" Because culture begins long before the first lesson is taught. If you missed June's Voices from the Network episode featuring Tom Lickona, Drayton Nabers, and Eric Mackey, be sure to go back and listen. It's the perfect companion to this month's conversation and continues the themes of character-centered leadership and culture-building. Listen to the Previous Episode:https://open.spotify.com/episode/0Nw7Nea053NpzCMyjzBXI1 Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode Hope Institute -  https://hopeinstitute.org Coach Michael Burt - https://www.coachburt.com/ National School of Character - https://character.org/programs/schools-of-character-intro/ Connect with Us Follow us on Instagram for leadership encouragement, episode highlights, and practical ideas for building cultures of character: @coc.podcast If this episode encouraged you, please follow the podcast, leave a rating and review, and share it with a colleague or friend. Every share helps more educators discover practical conversations about leadership, school culture, and character education. Because culture isn't built in one big moment - it's built one interaction, one relationship, and one decision at a time.

    A Pause to Reflect on Character - Bonus Ep. #7 - July 2026

  5. Jul 1

    How Great School Cultures Are Built | Conversations with Two Legendary Educators

    What does character education actually look like in practice? In this special compilation episode of Communities of Character, host Jennifer Hogan returns to the Hope Institute Network Summit to sit down with two educators whose careers demonstrate what it means to build culture through consistency. First, Jennifer talks with Jupie Lindley, who was longtime teacher at Cahaba Heights Elementary and recently retired after 44 years (!), about the everyday moments that shape students far beyond academics. Then Jennifer sits down with Sue Grogan, longtime principal of Shades Cahaba Elementary, Alabama's first National School of Character, to discuss what it takes to build a school culture that lasts. Together, these conversations explore: Why relationships are the foundation of character educationWhat students remember long after they leave our classroomsHow teachers and principals shape culture every dayWhy consistency matters more than perfectionLessons learned from decades of educational leadershipHow character becomes a lasting legacyIf last month's Voices from the Network episode explored why character-centered leadership matters, this episode explores what it looks like when educators faithfully live that mission every day. Whether you're a teacher, principal, instructional coach, counselor, or district leader, you'll leave encouraged to keep investing in the small moments that shape school culture over time. Resources from the Episode: Vestavia Hills Elementary Cahaba Heights - https://vhech.vhcs.us/ Vestavia Hills Elementary Cahaba Heights celebrates Ms. Lindley's retirement after 44 years of teaching: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16bKLzD6zn/ Shades Cahaba Elementary School: https://sces.homewood.k12.al.us/ Retired Principals Leave a Mark: Sue Grogan https://thehomewoodstar.com/schools/shades-cahaba/retired-principals-leave-a-mark/ Becoming a School of Character - https://character.org/programs/schools-of-character-intro/ Follow Communities of Character Instagram: @coc.podcastShare this episode with an educator who is committed to building a culture where every student can flourish."Culture isn't built in one extraordinary moment. It's built in ordinary moments repeated with extraordinary consistency." Music attribution: From the Ground Up Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: CWWY3ZRHKFDNWLIL Sugarcane Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: HRE24VRVJAUPWZXR

    How Great School Cultures Are Built | Conversations with Two Legendary Educators

  6. Jun 15 ·  Bonus

    A Pause to Reflect on Character - Bonus Ep. #6 - June 2026

    In this month’s Character Conversation, Jennifer Hogan and Laura Casey reflect on powerful themes from the recent Voices from the Network episode, recorded live at the Hope Institute Network Summit featuring Dr. Tom Lickona, Drayton Nabers, and Alabama State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey. This conversation explores why culture is rarely shaped in big, visible moments but instead through ordinary, repeated interactions over time. Jennifer and Laura unpack the idea that leadership is always teaching something, whether we realize it or not, and why modeling values matters far more than simply messaging them. You’ll hear reflections on: Why students experience culture long before they understand mission statements Dr. Eric Mackey’s reminder that “It’s not just teaching it. It’s demonstrating it.” Dr. Tom Lickona’s challenge to move beyond “posters on the wall” toward relationship-driven culture How consistency, not intensity, is what ultimately builds trust Why every educator shapes school culture, regardless of title or position A summer reflection challenge to help educators intentionally prepare for the next school year Whether you’re a principal, teacher, counselor, coach, or support staff member, this episode will encourage you to think deeply about the environment people consistently experience around you and the culture you are helping create every single day. Hope Institute -  https://hopeinstitute.org Dr. Tom Lickona - https://www.thomaslickona.com/ Coach Micheal Burt - https://www.coachburt.com/ Alabama State Department of Education - https://www.alabamaachieves.org/sboe/eric-g-mackey-ed-d/ Follow the podcast on Instagram for more conversations and leadership reflections: @coc.podcast If this episode encouraged you, share it with another educator or leader who is committed to building cultures of character in their community. Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode

    A Pause to Reflect on Character - Bonus Ep. #6 - June 2026

  7. Jun 1

    Voices of Character: Leadership Insights from the Hope Institute Network Summit

    What does it really take to build a culture of character and make it last? 🎯 In This Episode, You’ll Hear: In this special compilation episode of Communities of Character, we take you inside the Hope Institute Network Summit, where school and district leaders gathered to continue the work of character-centered leadership. Recorded live in a pop-up podcast studio, this episode features short, powerful conversations with three influential voices in education: Dr. Tom Lickona, a leading expert in character educationDrayton Nabers, respected leader and advocate for character-driven communitiesDr. Eric Mackey, Alabama State Superintendent of Education with a broad perspective on school cultureEach guest offers a unique lens on leadership, culture, and the role of character in today’s schools, while reinforcing a shared belief: Character isn’t an add-on. It’s the work. Whether you’re a principal, teacher leader, or district administrator, this episode will challenge you to think more deeply about what you’re modeling, what you’re prioritizing, and what will ultimately stick in your organization. Why character must be embedded—not added—in school cultureLeadership insights from local, district, and state perspectivesWhat it takes to sustain culture over timeHow leaders can model values in everyday decisionsWhy this work matters now more than ever💡 Key Takeaway Culture is not built in big moments, it’s shaped in consistent, intentional actions over time. 🔁 Reflection Question What is sticking in your leadership, and what are others learning from what you model? Follow along and join the conversation:📱 Instagram: @coc.podcast

    Voices of Character: Leadership Insights from the Hope Institute Network Summit

  8. May 15 ·  Bonus

    A Pause to Reflect on Character - Bonus Ep. #5 - May 2026

    What do we actually believe? In this month’s Character Conversation, Jennifer Hogan and Laura Casey reflect on their recent interview with Dr. Jimmy Shaw, former superintendent of Florence City Schools, and unpack one of the most important leadership questions schools and organizations can ask. This conversation explores the connection between clarity, culture, and character-centered leadership, and why meaningful culture work starts long before initiatives, programs, or expectations are introduced. Jennifer and Laura discuss: Why “clarity creates stability” in schools and organizationsHow shared values shape decision-making and relationshipsThe difference between posting values and actually living themWhy adult culture drives student cultureHow leaders build buy-in through relationships, consistency, and trustDr. Shaw’s powerful idea of building a “coalition of the willing”This episode is a reminder that culture is not built through slogans or branding, it’s built through consistent modeling, everyday interactions, and leaders who are willing to return to what matters most. If you’re leading a school, team, or organization and trying to strengthen culture in a meaningful way, this conversation will challenge you to reflect on what your community truly believes and whether those beliefs are visible in daily practice. 🎧 Listen, reflect, and share with another leader who’s doing this work. 📱 Follow the conversation on Instagram: @coc.podcast

    A Pause to Reflect on Character - Bonus Ep. #5 - May 2026
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Communities of Character is a leadership and character education podcast for educators, school leaders, parents, and community builders. Each episode features inspiring conversations with educators, researchers, counselors, authors, and community heroes who share practical insights on character development, student leadership, educational leadership, school culture, resilience, mental wellness, and self-development. If you enjoy educator podcasts, leadership podcasts, or podcasts for leaders, this show will inspire and equip you to lead with purpose.

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