On The Way To School

Christopher S. Dennis
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Daily

🎙️ On the Way to School: Six Minutes to Elevate Your Educator’s Day 🎙️ Embark on a transformative journey with On the Way to School, the essential podcast for educators and school administrators seeking to enrich their mornings with impactful insights. Each concise six-minute episode delivers powerful tips and strategies to empower your educational leadership and classroom effectiveness. Hosted by Christopher S. Dennis, PhD. What You’ll Discover: - Conflict Resolution: Master techniques to navigate and resolve classroom and administrative disputes smoothly. - Leadership Skills: Develop and refine your leadership qualities to inspire and guide your team and students. - Social Justice in Education: Explore actionable strategies to foster an inclusive and equitable learning environment. - Growth Mindset: Cultivate a resilient and positive mindset that encourages both personal and professional development. - Daily Motivation: Receive daily doses of inspiration to keep you energized and focused throughout the school day. Why Listen? Designed for the modern educator, On the Way to School offers a quick, yet profound, daily ritual to enhance your teaching and administrative skills. Whether you’re commuting, preparing for the day, or enjoying a brief moment of quiet, our episodes are tailored to fit seamlessly into your busy schedule. Tune In: Available on all major podcast platforms. Subscribe now and make On the Way to School a part of your daily routine. Empower your mornings, transform your day, and inspire your students. --- Subscribe today to ensure you never miss an episode. Start your day with knowledge, insight, and a renewed sense of purpose. Let’s shape the future of education together, one morning at a time. #OnTheWayToSchool #EducatorTips #SchoolLeadership #ConflictResolution #EducationPodcast #TeacherMotivation #GrowthMindset #SocialJusticeInEducation #MorningInspiration #DailyEducator #TeacherLife #SchoolAdmin #ProfessionalDevelopment #TeacherSupport #EducationalLeadership #StartYourDayRight #PodcastForTeachers #EducationalInsights #InspiringEducators #TransformTeaching

  1. 14h ago

    Hot Start: Faith, Faculty, and the First Week Back

    Dr. Chris Dennis opens the episode with warm-weather updates and a heartfelt response to the devastating flooding in Nepal, noting how technology amplifies shared empathy. He reflects on a moving faculty and staff Eucharist that affirmed the school’s Episcopal identity and its quiet but powerful role in community life. The episode also celebrates the start of the school year—ninth-grade trips, chaperones, and the return of routines—while urging listeners to show appreciation and grace for educators as they head back into the classroom. It closes with a light, human moment about the heat and a cup of coffee before the host hits the road.

  2. 1d ago

    Belonging Before the Bell: Leading with Purpose

    When did you first feel like you belonged? That question changed the conversation for me. In today’s episode of On The Way To School, I’m reflecting on a question that came up during my recent Lonely Graduation book conversation on Martha’s Vineyard: When did you first realize you were special? For me, the answer came much later than I expected. It wasn’t until my 30s that I fully recognized my unique gifts and understood that I had a responsibility to steward them well. But then my fellow panelist Connie asked a different question: When did you first feel like you belonged? And that question opened up an entirely different conversation. Because knowing you’re special is personal. Belonging is relational. You can know your gifts, understand your purpose, and still find yourself in a community where you don’t feel seen, valued, or connected. So as we begin another school year, I’m asking educators and leaders to consider: Do you feel like you belong in your current role—not just on the org chart, but in the community? If the answer is no, don't ignore it. Belonging can be the difference between showing up from obligation and showing up with purpose. It can help us sustain ourselves when the work gets difficult and the cup starts to feel empty. And sometimes, finding belonging starts with one honest question. 🎙️ On The Way To School 🎧 Listen to the latest episode wherever you get your podcasts. #OnTheWayToSchool #LonelyGraduation #Belonging #SchoolLeadership #EducationLeadership #IndependentSchools #WorkplaceCulture #Leadership #Educators #Purpose #Community

  3. 2d ago

    When AI makes the work faster, are we still doing the thinking?

    Today on On The Way To School, I’m talking about one of the biggest tensions I’m noticing as educators and leaders increasingly use AI: The output can move faster than our thinking. AI can help us research, organize, synthesize, build presentations, and get to a finished product in minutes. That productivity is real. But sometimes the time we save is actually thinking time—the time we need to wrestle with an idea, develop an argument, notice nuance, and actually know what we’re putting in front of other people. I experienced this myself recently. AI helped me organize something I was working on, but when I got into the meeting, I had to reorient myself to the structure and argument. I knew the content—but I hadn't necessarily built it in the same way I would have if I had done every step myself. So maybe the question isn't whether we should use AI. It's whether we're using it in a way that preserves our own command of the work. Sometimes the best AI workflow is: Use it. Step away. Think. Come back. Edit. Simplify. Own it. And please—if AI gives you 30 slides when you needed 10, don't blame the AI. 😂 🎙️ On The Way To School 🎧 Listen to the latest episode wherever you get your podcasts. #OnTheWayToSchool #AIinEducation #ArtificialIntelligence #EducationLeadership #SchoolLeadership #EdTech #AIforEducators #IndependentSchools #Leadership #FutureOfEducation

  4. 3d ago

    Leading Through the Storm: School Governance in Contentious Times

    When leadership gets thorny, go back to the policy. In today’s episode of On The Way to School, I’m talking about an increasingly important reality for school leaders: sometimes the hardest leadership moments are the ones you never planned for. Unplanned head-of-school transitions. Student incidents. Enrollment challenges. Family demands. Community pressure. When the temperature rises, it can be tempting to become defensive, avoid the conflict, or simply hope the situation blows over. But strong leadership requires something else: Be policy-focused. Be clear. Communicate. Document. Families deserve to be heard—even when the answer is no. And leaders have to be able to disagree, decline requests, and make difficult decisions without compromising their own dignity or the dignity of others. You may not be able to control how people respond to a decision. You can control whether your process is thoughtful, consistent, documented, and aligned with the policies and responsibilities entrusted to you. Because what feels resolved today can resurface six weeks from now in a very different form. As we head into the new school year, it’s time to stop basking in the summer glow and get focused. 🎙️ On The Way to School 🎧 Listen to today’s episode wherever you get your podcasts. #OnTheWayToSchool #SchoolLeadership #IndependentSchools #HeadOfSchool #EducationLeadership #SchoolGovernance #Leadership #IndependentSchoolLeadership #EducationalLeadership #NonprofitLeadership

  5. 4d ago

    Healthy Boards, Healthy Schools: Back-to-School Governance Tips

    Healthy Boards. Healthy Schools. We’re back. 🎙️ After a brief summer pause—and a great book conversation on Martha’s Vineyard—On The Way to School is back in gear. In today’s episode, I’m digging into one of the most consequential relationships in independent schools: the board–head partnership. Recent stories about schools facing serious fiduciary challenges, trustees being named in litigation, and the growing focus on supporting new heads of school all point to the same reality: Healthy schools require healthy boards. So what does a healthy board actually look like? 🔹 Trustees who understand their fiduciary responsibilities 🔹 Committees working toward meaningful goals—not simply giving reports 🔹 Board members who understand the bylaws and their role 🔹 A culture where governance is bigger than personalities and individual agendas 🔹 Regular opportunities to assess whether trustees feel informed, engaged, and effectively utilized 🔹 A strong, trusting partnership between the board and head of school And if you're thinking about serving on a school board, don't underestimate what you bring to the table. Retired educators, business leaders, community members, and parents can all bring valuable expertise and perspective to the fiduciary work of sustaining a school. The forecast is clear: healthy boards are healthy schools. 🎙️ Listen to the latest episode of On The Way to School wherever you get your podcasts. #OnTheWayToSchool #SchoolGovernance #IndependentSchools #BoardGovernance #BoardLeadership #HeadOfSchool #EducationLeadership #IndependentSchoolLeadership #NonprofitGovernance #SchoolBoards

  6. Aug 14

    Pause, Jot, Lead: How to Stay Present When Work Gets Personal

    Sometimes the most powerful response is no response at all. In this episode of On The Way to School, I’m talking about what happens when we’re triggered in difficult working relationships—and why we often need to process before we respond. A simple practice has stayed with me for years: write it down before you say it. Grab a notebook. A Post-it. A Google Doc. Write the sentence you want to say. Name what you’re feeling. Identify what you need. Then stay present. Not everything requires your commentary. Not every moment requires a reaction. And sometimes, reacting too quickly means giving away the very power we’re trying to protect. But those notes can also tell you something important. If the same frustrations keep showing up, with the same person or in the same dynamic, pay attention. There may be a deeper issue that needs to be addressed. Process first. Respond second. 🎙️ On The Way To School 🎧 Listen to the latest episode wherever you get your podcasts. And if you’re on Martha’s Vineyard next week, come join me on Tuesday, August 18, from 12–2:30 at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum for a conversation about Lonely Graduation: And the Journey After the Milestone. #OnTheWayToSchool #SchoolLeadership #Leadership #EducationLeadership #EmotionalIntelligence #Relationships #SelfLeadership #IndependentSchools #LonelyGraduation

  7. Aug 4

    Be a Tourist Again: Rediscovering Joy in Education

    Dr. Chris Dennis returns for season nine with reflections on stepping back, recalibrating, and reclaiming joy by becoming a "tourist" in your own life and school. He shares the importance of revisiting what originally inspired you and highlights the launch of Jabali Academy as a source of community inspiration. Tune in for a short, uplifting episode about renewing purpose, supporting new educational ventures, and embracing small practices that bring freshness back into daily work.

  8. Aug 3

    August Launch: Preparing Your School-Year Rhythm

    Dr. Chris Dennis walks through how school leaders can prepare in August to launch a steady school year: setting meeting cadences for direct reports, prioritizing classroom time (his goal is 25%), and staying present with faculty, students, and families. He shares practical tips—short classroom visits that aren’t evaluations, morning drop-off greetings, balancing teaching and advising, and building a consistent schedule that absorbs inevitable crises—so you start the year ready to lead.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

🎙️ On the Way to School: Six Minutes to Elevate Your Educator’s Day 🎙️ Embark on a transformative journey with On the Way to School, the essential podcast for educators and school administrators seeking to enrich their mornings with impactful insights. Each concise six-minute episode delivers powerful tips and strategies to empower your educational leadership and classroom effectiveness. Hosted by Christopher S. Dennis, PhD. What You’ll Discover: - Conflict Resolution: Master techniques to navigate and resolve classroom and administrative disputes smoothly. - Leadership Skills: Develop and refine your leadership qualities to inspire and guide your team and students. - Social Justice in Education: Explore actionable strategies to foster an inclusive and equitable learning environment. - Growth Mindset: Cultivate a resilient and positive mindset that encourages both personal and professional development. - Daily Motivation: Receive daily doses of inspiration to keep you energized and focused throughout the school day. Why Listen? Designed for the modern educator, On the Way to School offers a quick, yet profound, daily ritual to enhance your teaching and administrative skills. Whether you’re commuting, preparing for the day, or enjoying a brief moment of quiet, our episodes are tailored to fit seamlessly into your busy schedule. Tune In: Available on all major podcast platforms. Subscribe now and make On the Way to School a part of your daily routine. Empower your mornings, transform your day, and inspire your students. --- Subscribe today to ensure you never miss an episode. Start your day with knowledge, insight, and a renewed sense of purpose. Let’s shape the future of education together, one morning at a time. #OnTheWayToSchool #EducatorTips #SchoolLeadership #ConflictResolution #EducationPodcast #TeacherMotivation #GrowthMindset #SocialJusticeInEducation #MorningInspiration #DailyEducator #TeacherLife #SchoolAdmin #ProfessionalDevelopment #TeacherSupport #EducationalLeadership #StartYourDayRight #PodcastForTeachers #EducationalInsights #InspiringEducators #TransformTeaching

Information

  • Creator
    Christopher S. Dennis
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    220
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    On The Way To School