Charting New Paths in PreK-12 Education

Solution Tree
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If you’ve ever wondered what makes good schools great or how struggling schools overcome seemingly insurmountable barriers, this podcast is for you. If you’ve ever wanted to get a peek between the lines with some of your favorite Solution Tree authors, you’ve come to the right place. Curious about what new developments are in the works at Solution Tree? Stay tuned! Success stories, author interviews, school funding strategies, and cool tools for your educator toolbox are waiting for you in this podcast designed with educators’ most pressing needs in mind.

  1. From Foundation to Future: PLCs and AI in Education…Live with Luis Cruz!

    DEC 5

    From Foundation to Future: PLCs and AI in Education…Live with Luis Cruz!

    Join host Sam Fritz live from the PLC at Work® Institute in Seattle, Washington, for an energizing conversation with Dr. Luis F. Cruz–nationally recognized presenter, coach, thought leader, and author with more than 30 years in education. Together, they unpack what makes the PLC at Work® process powerful, how schools can start strong, and why learning alongside other practitioners sparks meaningful change. Tune in to discover: The importance of guiding coalitions and teacher collaboration in defining high levels of learningPLC as a process–learning from mistakes, resetting, and continually improving practice.Shifting mindsets around emerging bilingual learners and taking collective action that leads to results Links:   To learn more about the full slate of PLC at Work® Institutes  and to register navigate to: www.solutiontree.com/Eventspodcast

    25 min
  2. From Foundation to Future: PLCs and AI in Education... Live with Chief Academic Officer - Micah Studer!

    NOV 20

    From Foundation to Future: PLCs and AI in Education... Live with Chief Academic Officer - Micah Studer!

    Join Dr. Micah Studer and host Sam Fritz live from the PLC Institute in Sacramento, California, as they explore how to simplify the PLC process, engage staff, and keep students at the forefront. Learn practical strategies for building staff buy-in, focusing on essential standards, and taking one step at a time to ensure all students can learn. Tune in to discover how to: Find common goals with shared vocabularyCreate meaningful shared experiences with other educators at PLC eventsLead with the four critical questions of a PLCTake action when students don’t meet learning goals Links:   To learn more about the full slate of PLC at Work® Institutes  and to register navigate to: www.solutiontree.com/Eventspodcast

    29 min
  3. From Foundation to Future: PLCs and AI in Education... Live with Regina Stephens Owens!

    SEP 29

    From Foundation to Future: PLCs and AI in Education... Live with Regina Stephens Owens!

    Join keynote speaker Regina Stephens Owens and host Sam Fritz—live from the PLC Institute in Sacramento, California! Together, Regina and Sam unpack the power of Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) and why investing in people is the key to better teaching and learning. Discover what to expect at a PLC at Work® Institute, how to turn insights into action back at school, and why culture, clarity, and collaboration matter most. Hear how PLCs create space for educators to grow together so students can thrive. Tune in to discover: How to get the most out of a PLC InstituteThe 4 key teams that drive the PLC processSimple ways to keep the PLC work people-centeredHow to apply what you learn back at school Links:   To learn more about the full slate of PLC at Work® Institutes  and to register navigate to: www.solutiontree.com/Eventspodcast

    26 min
  4. From Foundation to Future: PLCs and AI in Education... Live with Eric Twadell!

    AUG 13

    From Foundation to Future: PLCs and AI in Education... Live with Eric Twadell!

    With Series Host, Sam Fritz, Director of Ed Tech and AI at Solution Tree...Live from the PLC Institute, where proven practice meets emerging trends! Join Superintendent Eric Twadell and host Sam Fritz live from the PLC at Work® Institute in Sacramento, California, as they explore the transformative power of AI in education. Learn how teachers can save substantial time, streamline lesson planning, score student work, and provide actionable feedback, all while keeping students at the center of learning. Eric shares practical strategies for integrating AI in schools, including prompt engineering, multimodal tools, and smart agents that handle repetitive tasks. Hear how districts are using AI to free up teacher time, enhance daily instruction, and empower educators to lead innovation rather than react to it. Tune in to discover: ●      How AI can save teachers time and support daily tasks ●      Practical uses of AI for lesson planning, assessment, and personalized feedback ●      The evolving role of AI agents and tools in the classroom ●      Strategies for adopting AI confidently and effectively Links:  When time is tight, professional learning should be more than theory—it has to lead to action. That’s where our AI Assistants come in. Built for busy educators, these tools are your shortcut to clarity—turning new learning into next steps, fast.  *Get started today: ai.solutiontree.com   *To learn more about the full slate of PLC at Work® Institutes  and to register navigate to: www.solutiontree.com/Eventspodcast

    31 min
  5. Holistic Navigation System: A Conversation with Frances Shuster

    JUN 26

    Holistic Navigation System: A Conversation with Frances Shuster

    In a new episode of RCG Founders – Education Leadership and Legacy, a miniseries within "Charting New Paths" podcast, Frances Shuster, co-founder of Results Coaching Global (RCG), joins host Prisma Lopez-Marin and co-host Kim Ennis, the company's General Manager for a conversation.  Frances talks about the trajectory of how she was introduced to coaching through peer-to-peer coaching. She mentions, “people learn best by story and experience”, as she describes Leadership Coaching for High Performance. She’s looking forward to the future of RCG so that one day one of their visions is realized… that every principal has a coach.  Tune in to discover: ●      Her journey stepping into the world of coaching  ●      How she collaborates with the other founders of RCG ●      The impact of Leadership Coaching for High Performance (LCHP).

    39 min
  6. Activating Coaching: A Conversation with Kathy Kee

    JUN 26

    Activating Coaching: A Conversation with Kathy Kee

    In a new episode of RCG Founders – Education Leadership and Legacy, a miniseries within "Charting New Paths," Kathryn Kee, co-founder of Results Coaching Global (RCG), joins host Prisma Lopez-Marin and co-host Kim Ennis, the company's General Manager for a conversation.  Kathy talks about her teaching days and the middle school principal who gave her the confidence and belief that she could be a better leader. This belief in her potential inspired her to step outside the classroom and pursue a new path. Later, she attended a conference about cognitive coaching which helped her transform districts for many years.  Tune in to discover: ●      Her journey stepping into the world of coaching  ●      Kathy’s hope for educators who continue to achieve using RCG ●      How she collaborates with the other founds of RCG   About Kathryn Kee Kathy is a founding partner of Results Coaching Global (RCG), and serves as a seminar instructor, mentor, and coach and directs the Accredited Coach Training Program. Her credentials range from teacher to assistant superintendent in districts from Louisiana, Missouri, and Oklahoma and since, 1978, in Texas. She also served as adjunct mentor for University of North Texas for new administrators coaching their new career beginnings.  Kathy has authored numerous articles and was a co-author of Results Coaching: The New Essential for School Leaders. Other experiences and honors include: Past President and founder of the Texas Learning Forward; Past Present of Learning Forward; Recipient of Learning Forward’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

    59 min
  7. From Foundation to Future: PLCs and AI in Education... Live at Tulsa!

    JUN 17

    From Foundation to Future: PLCs and AI in Education... Live at Tulsa!

    With Series Host, Sam Fritz, Director of Ed Tech and AI at Solution Tree...Live from the PLC Institute, where proven practice meets emerging trends! Captured live at the PLC at Work® Institute in Tulsa, OK, this special podcast episode brings you timely and engaging conversations from the heart of one of education’s most trusted and transformative professional learning experiences.   In this episode, we’ll first explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is beginning to shape the educational landscape and how educators can build the confidence and skills to navigate these emerging tools. Learn about the various professional development and resources we have available to support educators in integrating AI in schools and districts.  We’ll also highlight the enduring power of Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) at Work® as a proven framework for sustained success. One segment features powerful insights from keynote speakers on why PLCs remain as relevant today as ever, providing stability, clarity, and results in changing times. In another, you’ll hear real stories from educators who are experiencing real results from using PLC at Work® in their schools and communities.   This live recording captures the energy of the institute, promising fresh ideas, authentic voices, honest conversation, and inspiration for educators at every stage of their journey. Links:  When time is tight, professional learning should be more than theory—it has to lead to action. That’s where our AI Assistants come in. Built for busy educators, these tools are your shortcut to clarity—turning new learning into next steps, fast.  *Get started today: ai.solutiontree.com  For this podcast series, “From Foundation to Future: PLCs and AI in Education” we’ll be learning with our next guests at the PLC at Work® Institute in Sacramento, California on July 9–11, 2025.   *To learn more about the full slate of PLC at Work Institutes and to register navigate to: www.solutiontree.com/Eventspodcast

    1h 2m
  8. Excellence in action with PLC at Work® : A Conversation with Associate Superintendent Melissa Fink

    12/03/2024

    Excellence in action with PLC at Work® : A Conversation with Associate Superintendent Melissa Fink

    Melissa Fink, associate superintendent from Springdale School District in Arkansas, joins our host Prisma Lopez-Marin to discuss the district’s transformative journey through the PLC at Work® process. Melissa shares her experiences with Solution Tree and how her district created systemic change by implementing PLCs, resulting in measurable success in student achievement and school improvement. Tune in to discover: How Melissa and her team used Solution Tree’s professional development to drive district-wide improvement, build common language among teachers, enhance teacher capacity, and boost student achievementInsights into the Collaborative Team Meetings (CTMs) matrix her team created and the steps they took to establish consistency across the districtA breakdown of some of the district’s impressive outcomesTakeaways from the five schools selected for the PLC at Work Project through the Arkansas Department of Education, three Promising Practice schools and one Model PLC at Work® The impact on student achievement, with examples of schools that improved their ESSA index grades and value-added growth scoresThe district’s next steps with the PLC at Work process to continue and sustain progress To learn more about PLC at Work® in Arkansas navigate to our website: https://www.solutiontree.com/st-states/arkansas-plc

    41 min
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If you’ve ever wondered what makes good schools great or how struggling schools overcome seemingly insurmountable barriers, this podcast is for you. If you’ve ever wanted to get a peek between the lines with some of your favorite Solution Tree authors, you’ve come to the right place. Curious about what new developments are in the works at Solution Tree? Stay tuned! Success stories, author interviews, school funding strategies, and cool tools for your educator toolbox are waiting for you in this podcast designed with educators’ most pressing needs in mind.

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