Brighter Together

Janet Courtney
  • 4.4(7개의 평가)
  • 교육
  • 매일 업데이트

Brighter Together with Janet L. Courtney is a podcast dedicated to real stories from the front lines of education leadership. Hosted by Janet L. Courtney, Founder and CEO of Lighthouse Therapy, the podcast highlights the voices of school leaders who are making a difference—sharing practical insights, creative solutions, and inspiring moments of growth.

  1. The 'It Factor' Rural Districts Use to Win Back Families - Scott Bolin

    2일 전

    The 'It Factor' Rural Districts Use to Win Back Families - Scott Bolin

    Scott Bolin, Director of Pupil Personnel at Garrett County Schools in Kentucky, reveals why rural districts are winning enrollment battles against homeschooling and online alternatives—not through flashy programs, but through genuine relationships and what he calls the intangible "it factor" that families can feel the moment they walk through the door. In this episode, Scott shares his 25-year journey from classroom teacher to district leader and explains how a small-town superintendent and leadership team prioritize people, soft skills, and emotional deposits with families to create school cultures that families choose—and choose again.

    30분
  2. The Fine Artist Who Became a SPED Director (And What He Missed) - Vincent Valerio

    6일 전

    The Fine Artist Who Became a SPED Director (And What He Missed) - Vincent Valerio

    Vincent Valerio's unconventional journey from fine artist to special education director reveals that expertise in serving children with disabilities flourishes in diverse backgrounds and real-world experience. At Portage County Board of Developmental Disabilities in Ohio, Vincent has built a county-wide collaboration model that provides free training, adaptive equipment, and transition programming to 11 public school districts—a level of integration that most county boards don't attempt. Discover how county-level flexibility and listening to community needs creates sustainable solutions that traditional educational credentials alone cannot.

    25분
  3. The Penny Strategy: How One Diocese Cut Parent Conflict 70% - Michael Juhas

    6월 30일

    The Penny Strategy: How One Diocese Cut Parent Conflict 70% - Michael Juhas

    Discover how Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee Superintendent Mike Juhas transformed parent-teacher relationships by building positive communication foundations before problems arise. Learn the "Pennies in the Bank" strategy that catches students being good, shifts conversations from defensive to collaborative, and creates partnership instead of conflict. In 11 years leading 3,300 students across 11 schools, Juhas has implemented a faith-centered framework rooted in Matthew 18:15 that reduces parent conflict by 70% while strengthening family engagement.

    28분
  4. The Job Guarantee Malcolm's Students Actually Get - Malcolm Pittman

    6월 25일

    The Job Guarantee Malcolm's Students Actually Get - Malcolm Pittman

    Marshall High School in Middletown, Ohio isn't a traditional school—it's a credit recovery program serving 410 students aged 15-22 who fell behind in traditional settings, many facing poverty, trauma, and attendance barriers. Malcolm Pittman, Student Success Coordinator, reveals how his team doesn't just help students graduate; they guarantee job placement, career certifications, or military service pathways before students leave the building. Discover how one Walmart cashier became a Miami University nursing student, and why relationships—not lectures—are the foundation of breaking generational poverty through education.

    27분
  5. What Michigan's Top SPED Director Knows About Student Dysregulation (That Most Districts Miss) - Dr. Precios Armstrong

    6월 18일

    What Michigan's Top SPED Director Knows About Student Dysregulation (That Most Districts Miss) - Dr. Precios Armstrong

    Precios Armstrong, Director of Special Education for a Michigan school district, unpacks the unprecedented wave of student dysregulation sweeping K-12 schools in her 26-year career—and reveals why most districts are adding new interventions instead of returning to foundational classroom management. Discover how COVID-era isolation disrupted critical developmental skills, why screen time is rewiring young brains, and the partnership model that actually moves the needle on behavior change.

    32분
  6. The 4-Day Week That Cut Teacher Absences From 32% to 8% - Dr. Eugene Blalock Jr.

    6월 16일

    The 4-Day Week That Cut Teacher Absences From 32% to 8% - Dr. Eugene Blalock Jr.

    Dr. Eugene Blalock Jr., superintendent of North College Hill City School District in Cincinnati, Ohio, implemented Ohio's first four-day blended learning week not to save money, but to address catastrophic teacher burnout and absenteeism that had reached 32-33% monthly—dropping to just 8-9% within three years. Discover how giving teachers a dedicated Monday for planning, preparation, and data-driven instruction transformed educator morale, student discipline, and career exploration while challenging the false narrative that one standardized test score defines school success.

    35분
  7. The Disability Question That's Reshaping Inclusive Schools - Cameron Lazar

    6월 11일

    The Disability Question That's Reshaping Inclusive Schools - Cameron Lazar

    Cameron Lazar, Coordinator of Special Education at Cuyahoga Falls City School District, reveals how one critical question changed everything: Why are certain student groups disproportionately identified with disabilities and disciplined at higher rates? Through a six-year equity initiative, Cuyahoga Falls shifted from deficit-based thinking to asset-based practices, proving that inclusive schools aren't just a nice idea—they're a strategic imperative that strengthens entire communities.

    24분
  8. How One Director Achieved 100% Graduation for Students with Disabilities - Ada Pineiro

    6월 9일

    How One Director Achieved 100% Graduation for Students with Disabilities - Ada Pineiro

    Ada Pineiro, Special Education Director at Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy, has built a program where 100% of special education students graduate with regular diplomas—a remarkable achievement in a high-poverty, high-crime community serving 90-95% African American students. In this episode, Ada reveals how intentional accessibility, community partnerships, and collaborative leadership created an environment where special education students succeed at the same rate as general education peers. Discover the concrete career pathways, parent engagement strategies, and team-based philosophy that transformed outcomes for students with disabilities.

    28분
모두 보기(240개)

평가 및 리뷰

4.4
최고 5점
7개의 평가

소개

Brighter Together with Janet L. Courtney is a podcast dedicated to real stories from the front lines of education leadership. Hosted by Janet L. Courtney, Founder and CEO of Lighthouse Therapy, the podcast highlights the voices of school leaders who are making a difference—sharing practical insights, creative solutions, and inspiring moments of growth.

정보

  • 제작진
    Janet Courtney
  • 방송 연도
    2025년 - 2026년
  • 에피소드
    240
  • 등급
    전체 연령 사용가