Mentoring Moments: Empowering Leaders to Mentor our Future

Dr. Rob Wottawa

The Mentoring Moments podcast with Dr. Rob Wottawa unpacks the mentoring stories, strategies, and ideas within the educational setting. Guests include, teachers, principals, directors, authors, podcasters, superintendents and many more. The goal is to inspire others to mentor our future together. Go be someones Mentoring Moment! Visit www.RobWottawa.com

  1. 6d ago

    Mentoring Moments with Rob Wottawa - Reflection Episode 5

    Send us Fan Mail Episode Summary In this solo reflection episode, Dr. Rob Wottawa looks back on conversations with four incredible leaders: Dr. Mary Hemphill, Andrew Marotta, Megan Diede, and Dr. Jason Stanton. He explores what connects them — the power of presence, the courage to be curious, and the thread of human-centered leadership that runs through all of them. Rob shares his own reflections on what it means to be present, why curiosity is essential for growth, and how relationships matter more than anything else. He also answers his own RW Rapid Fire questions and reflects on the mentors who have shaped him — including Red Owl and Deb Winter. Key Takeaways Presence starts with curiosity — when we stop being curious, we stop growing.Remove the barriers — put your phone away and be fully present with your people.Facts tell, stories sell — lead with stories, not just data.Relationships matter more than anything — not curriculum, not rubrics, not data.Be the person you would want to follow — authenticity starts with presence.Data-informed, not data-driven — there is always a story behind the numbers.Keep knocking on the door — even when others resist growth, keep leading with positivity.Memorable Quotes "A beginner's mindset brings you back and says, 'The thing that anchored me to the work may have shifted and changed. But the reason why I show up now should be more deeply evolved.'" — Dr. Mary Hemphill"If you had to watch yourself on camera, do you look happy? Do you look energized?" — Andrew Marotta"The most powerful instruction does not come from a script — it comes from intentional design." — Megan Diede"If somebody says, 'I know that you are busy,' that means you are putting on busy vibes. Slow down." — Dr. Jason Stanton"You can put a good person with good intentions in a bad system, and the system is going to win every time." — Dr. Mary Hemphill"Data-informed, not data-driven — there is a story behind the data." — Red Owl Hashtags #MentoringMoments #MentoringMap #SoloEpisode #Reflection #HumanCenteredLeadership #RelationshipsMatter #Mentorship Subscribe & Follow If this conversation meant something to you, hit follow on Apple Podcasts, Amazon, or Spotify and view on YouTube. It takes five seconds, but it’s how other educators find conversations like this one—and it tells the algorithm that mentorship matters. Also, visit my website so I can feature your questions! https://robwottawa.com/podcast Listen & Subscribe: 🎧 Buzzsprout   |   🍎 Apple Podcasts    |   🎵 Spotify   |   ...

  2. Sep 21

    Mentoring Moments Anniversery Episode with Drs. Jason Stanton and Rob Wottawa

    Send us Fan Mail Episode Summary For our one-year anniversary episode, we flipped the script! Dr. Jason Stanton takes over as host and interviews Dr. Rob Wottawa about the past year of Mentoring Moments — the guests, the lessons, and the journey. Rob reflects on what he has learned from 15+ guests, the power of relationships, and the importance of walking slowly through the crowd. He also shares insights from his upcoming book, Mentoring Moments: Empowering Leaders to Mentor Our Future, and discusses the difference between mentoring and coaching. If you have ever wondered what it is like to be on the other side of the microphone — or if you are curious about the heart behind this podcast — this episode is for you. Key Takeaways Relationships matter more than anything — not curriculum, not data, not rubrics.Walk slowly through the crowd — take the time to build connections.Mentoring vs. Coaching — Mentoring is about helping people become their best selves; coaching is about helping them improve for the organization.First-year teachers need small wins — not just survival strategies.Multi-tiered mentoring — new leaders need both internal and external mentors.The "purple folder" — keep receipts of your impact for the hard days.Common sense is not that common — write down what you know.Memorable Quotes "The first year is not about surviving — it is about finding the small wins.""Walk slowly through the crowd. Take the time. A leader's job is not to have all the answers, but to help others find their own." — Deb Winter"If somebody says, 'I know that you are busy,' that means you are putting on busy vibes. Slow down.""Mentorship is not about having all the answers — it is about listening and being present." — Ellen O'Neill"People over paper." — Todd Bloomer"Leadership is about getting to know and loving the people you work with." — Brenden Cusack About Dr. Rob Wottawa's Upcoming Book Rob's book, Mentoring Moments: Empowering Leaders to Mentor Our Future, is expected to be released in early 2027. It covers mentoring teachers and leaders, the cycle of leadership development, and practical strategies for building a culture of mentorship in schools. Hashtags #MentoringMoments #MentoringMap #AnniversaryEpisode #JasonStanton #Mentorship #Leadership #RelationshipsMatter Now, go and be someone's mentoring moment.  Subscribe & Follow If this conversation meant something to you, hit follow on Apple Podcasts, Amazon, or Spotify and view on YouTube. It takes five seconds, but it’s how other educators find conversations like this one—and it tells the algorithm that mentorship matters. Also, visit my website so I can feature your questions! https://robwottawa.com/podcast Listen & Subscribe: 🎧 Buzzsprout   |   🍎 Apple Podcasts    |   🎵 Spotify   |   ...

  3. Sep 14

    Mentoring Moments with Megan Deide

    Send us Fan Mail Episode Summary What if the most powerful instructional strategies aren't about adding more to your plate — but about designing learning that students actually want to experience? Megan Diede — an innovative instructional leader with over 15 years of classroom experience — joins Rob to talk about practical, powerful instruction that sparks curiosity and deepens understanding. From her "1% shift" strategy to designing professional development that actually works, Megan shares hard-won wisdom for teachers and leaders alike. Plus, she answers the RW Rapid Fire and reveals the mentor who shaped her journey. Key Takeaways 1% Shifts — Try one new thing. Tell someone. Do it. Close the loop.Plan Experiences, Not Activities — Activities are task completion; experiences are learning.Clarity Before Creativity — Creativity needs a place to land. Start with clarity.PD Must Be Differentiated — One-size-fits-all PD fits nobody.Small Changes, Big Impact — You don't need to overhaul everything. Just shift one thing.Memorable Quotes "We need to provide students with multiple pathways of learning to the same destination.""Tell someone you're going to try something new, do it, then close the loop.""The most powerful instruction doesn't come from a script — it comes from intentional design.""A one-size PD fits nobody.""Clarity before creativity — when you have clarity, creativity has a place to land." Connect with Megan Diede Website: https://integratedk12.com/Socials: Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok (@MeganDiede)Podcast / Organization: Within Our RanksHashtags #MentoringMoments #MentoringMap #IntentionalDesign #InstructionalLeadership #MeganDiede #IntegratED #TeacherMentorship Subscribe & Follow If this conversation meant something to you, hit follow on Apple Podcasts, Amazon, or Spotify and view on YouTube. It takes five seconds, but it’s how other educators find conversations like this one—and it tells the algorithm that mentorship matters. Also, visit my website so I can feature your questions! https://robwottawa.com/podcast Listen & Subscribe: 🎧 Buzzsprout   |   🍎 Apple Podcasts    |   🎵 Spotify   |   ...

  4. Sep 7

    Mentoring Moments with Andrew Marotta

    Send us Fan Mail Episode Summary What happens when a school leader transforms a high school's graduation rate from the low 60s to the mid-upper 80s — while officiating Division I college basketball on the side? Andrew Marotta joins Rob to talk about surviving and thriving in school leadership, the power of relationships, and how to lead under pressure. From building trust with staff to using storytelling as a leadership tool, Andrew shares practical wisdom from his 20+ years as a principal and his time on the basketball court. He also previews his latest book, The Magic Acronyms, Formulas, and Impactful Stories of Leadership, and answers the RW Rapid Fire. Key Takeaways Relationships first — People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.Enjoy the journey — If you had to watch yourself on camera, do you look happy and energized?Do what you say you're going to do — Follow-through builds trust.Tell stories, not just facts — Stories sell. Facts tell.Be intentional — Every decision has an impact. Lead with purpose.Memorable Quotes "You gotta care about people. You gotta know something about the people you're working with.""Facts tell. Stories sell.""Don't count the days — make the days count.""The best leaders don't just survive and thrive — they are extremely intentional about everything they do to make a positive impact on other people.""If you're not telling your story, who is?""You can teach strategy. You can't teach desire." Connect with Andrew Marotta Website: andrewmarotta.comSocials: Instagram, X (Twitter), TikTok, LinkedIn, FacebookBlog: Weekly inspiration every MondayLatest Book: The Magic Acronyms, Formulas, and Impactful Stories of LeadershipHashtags #MentoringMoments #MentoringMap #SurvivingAndThriving #AndrewMarotta #SchoolLeadership #Storytelling #RelationshipsMatter Subscribe & Follow If this conversation meant something to you, hit follow on Apple Podcasts, Amazon, or Spotify and view on YouTube. It takes five seconds, but it’s how other educators find conversations like this one—and it tells the algorithm that mentorship matters. Also, visit my website so I can feature your questions! https://robwottawa.com/podcast Listen & Subscribe: 🎧 Buzzsprout   |   🍎 Apple Podcasts    |   🎵 Spotify   |   ...

  5. Aug 31

    Mentoring Moments with Dr. Mary Hemphill

    Send us Fan Mail Episode Summary What if the most powerful leaders aren’t the ones with all the answers, but the ones who ask the right questions? Dr. Mary Hemphill joins Rob to talk about human-centered leadership, staying authentic in complexity, and why intellectual humility is the new confidence. With over 20 years of experience spanning education, corporate leadership, and entrepreneurship, Mary shares her frameworks for scaling bold ideas, building psychological safety, and leading through change. She also previews her upcoming book, Future-Proof, and answers the RW Rapid Fire. Key Takeaways Beginner’s mindset — Go back to curiosity when you feel lost in leadership.Mentorship vs. Coaching — Mentors guide; coaches walk with you through the mess.Intellectual humility — The most advanced form of confidence is saying, "I don't know, let's explore."Psychological safety — The most limitless leaders create safety for others.Future-proofing — Leadership is shifting from a knowledge-based to a skill-based economy.Memorable Quotes "If you can't recognize yourself at the end of this career, then what is this work for?""A beginner's mindset brings you back and says, 'The thing that anchored me to the work may have shifted and changed. But the reason why I show up now should be more deeply evolved.'""I don't coach individuals as human doings. I coach them as human beings.""If you're not at the table, you're on the menu.""You can put a good person with good intentions in a bad system, and the system is going to win every time.""The most limitless leaders aren't the ones who know everything — they're the ones who create psychological safety for others." Connect with Dr. Mary Hemphill LinkedIn: Dr. Mary HemphillSocials: @TheLimitlessLadyWebsite: thelimitlessleader.comUpcoming Book: Future-Proof (Fall 2026) Hashtags #MentoringMoments #MentoringMap #HumanCenteredLeadership #LimitlessLeader #FutureProof #PsychologicalSafety #Mentorship Subscribe & Follow If this conversation meant something to you, hit follow on Apple Podcasts, Amazon, or Spotify and view on YouTube. It takes five seconds, but it’s how other educators find conversations like this one—and it tells the algorithm that mentorship matters. Also, visit my website so I can feature your questions! https://robwottawa.com/podcast Listen & Subscribe: 🎧 Buzzsprout   |   🍎 Apple Podcasts    |   🎵 Spotify   |   ...

  6. Aug 17

    Mentoring Moments with Rob Wottawa - Reflection Episode 4

    Send us Fan Mail Episode Summary In this solo reflection episode, Dr. Rob Wottawa looks back on conversations with three incredible educators: Julie Cooke, a first-year music teacher; Mary Esposito, a 34-year veteran and SAANYS Mentor Program Coordinator; and Dr. Ricky Papandrea, a district leader who builds systems to serve the whole child. Rob explores what connects these three perspectives — the thread of relationships, the power of being present, and the importance of walking slowly through the crowd. He also shares his own RW Rapid Fire answers, reflects on the mentor who shaped him, and offers a challenge for the upcoming school year. Key Takeaways Relationships matter more than anything — not curriculum, not data, not rubrics.First-year teachers need someone to lean on — the fear is real, but so is the support.New administrators are afraid of perception — they want to be recognized and are afraid of not knowing everything.Counselors are the heartbeat of a school — they build relationships with students.Do not smile until December is terrible advice — smile on day one.Walk slowly through the crowd — take the time to build relationships.Lead at home the way you lead at school — your family deserves your best self too. Memorable Quotes "On my hard days, I think about the good moments. One day at a time." — Julie Cooke"The most important thing is not leaving them by themselves. Do not be on an island." — Mary Esposito"A school truly prepares students for the future when it creates an atmosphere where kids are not afraid to fail." — Dr. Ricky Papandrea"Walk slowly through the crowd." — Deb Winter"Lead at home the way you lead at school." — Dr. Rob Wottawa Hashtags #MentoringMoments #MentoringMap #SoloEpisode #Reflection #RelationshipsMatter #Mentorship Subscribe & Follow If this conversation meant something to you, hit follow on Apple Podcasts, Amazon, or Spotify and view on YouTube. It takes five seconds, but it’s how other educators find conversations like this one—and it tells the algorithm that mentorship matters. Also, visit my website so I can feature your questions! https://robwottawa.com/podcast Listen & Subscribe: 🎧 Buzzsprout   |   🍎 Apple Podcasts    |   🎵 Spotify   |   ...

  7. Aug 3

    Mentoring Moments with Julie Cooke

    Send us Fan Mail Episode Summary What does it feel like to walk into your very own classroom for the first time? Julie Cooke — a first-year general music teacher in the Huntington School District — joins Rob to talk about the reality of teaching, the moments that make you feel lost, and the small wins that keep you going. From surviving the first parent email to putting on a winter concert and figuring out how to use the copier, Julie shares what no one prepares you for. They also discuss mentorship, why networking matters, and the mantra that got her through the hardest days: "One day at a time." If you're a new teacher — or you remember what it was like to be one — this episode is for you. Key Takeaways Network Early and Often: Build positive connections with colleagues, administrators, and mentors. You'll need them.Small Wins Matter: Celebrate the moments when students are excited to be in your classroom.One Day at a Time: You don't have to have it all figured out. Just keep showing up.Bring Your Best Self: You won't always be perfect, but you can always bring your best. Memorable Quotes "My first year of teaching has taught me that being a teacher is less about having all the answers and more about being your best self and bringing the best version of yourself to the classroom.""You're not always going to be perfect, but as long as you bring your best, at least you can know that you did.""Teachers who love teaching teach children who love learning." Connect with Julie Cooke 📧 Email: JMCooke426@gmail.com Subscribe & Follow If this conversation meant something to you, hit follow on Apple Podcasts, Amazon, or Spotify and view on YouTube. It takes five seconds, but it’s how other educators find conversations like this one—and it tells the algorithm that mentorship matters. Also, visit my website so I can feature your questions! https://robwottawa.com/podcast Listen & Subscribe: 🎧 Buzzsprout   |   🍎 Apple Podcasts    |   🎵 Spotify   |   ...

  8. Jul 6

    Mentoring Moments with Mary Esposito

    Send us Fan Mail What does it look like to mentor someone through every single grade level — from kindergarten to senior year? Mary Esposito — a 34-year veteran of education, 26 of those as a school administrator, and currently the SAANYS Mentor Program Coordinator for New York State — joins Rob to talk about mentoring across generations, why elementary and secondary leaders need each other, and what new administrators are most afraid of. From teaching high school world language to leading elementary schools as principal, Mary has done it all. Now she's dedicated to helping school leaders across New York navigate the waters of administration and become their best selves. Plus, she answers the RW Rapid Fire. Now, go and be someone's mentoring moment. 🗺️ Subscribe & Follow If this conversation meant something to you, hit follow on Apple Podcasts, Amazon, or Spotify and view on YouTube. It takes five seconds, but it’s how other educators find conversations like this one—and it tells the algorithm that mentorship matters. Also, visit my website so I can feature your questions! https://robwottawa.com/podcast Listen & Subscribe: 🎧 Buzzsprout   |   🍎 Apple Podcasts    |   🎵 Spotify   |   ...

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5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

The Mentoring Moments podcast with Dr. Rob Wottawa unpacks the mentoring stories, strategies, and ideas within the educational setting. Guests include, teachers, principals, directors, authors, podcasters, superintendents and many more. The goal is to inspire others to mentor our future together. Go be someones Mentoring Moment! Visit www.RobWottawa.com

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