The Table | The Deans' Roundtable Podcast Series

Bridget Johnson
  • 5.0 (2)
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Dive into the world of K-12 education leadership with The Table Podcast Series. Host Bridget Johnson, a veteran educator with 20+ years of experience, brings you insightful conversations on innovation and best practices in student life. Each episode features thought-provoking discussions with top educators, administrators, and industry experts. We tackle pressing challenges in modern education, from crisis management to building inclusive communities, offering strategies that shape the future of learning. Whether you're a seasoned administrator or an aspiring leader, you'll gain: -Practical advice for navigating complex educational environments -Innovative approaches to student life management -Insights on creating impactful, resilient learning spaces Join us as we explore cutting-edge ideas and time-tested wisdom to help you excel in your educational leadership journey. Subscribe now and transform your approach to K-12 education! #EducationLeadership #K12Innovation #StudentLife

  1. Sustainable School Leadership: Escape Heroic Mode with Kalimah Fergus Ayele

    4D AGO

    Sustainable School Leadership: Escape Heroic Mode with Kalimah Fergus Ayele

    Sustainable School Leadership: Escape Heroic Mode with Kalimah Fergus-Ayele Is your school running on systems — or running on you? If things stall the moment you're out of the building, this episode is essential listening. Host Bridget Johnson sits down with Kalimah Fergus Ayele, Author of Roundtrip Ticket Home, to tackle one of the most urgent challenges in school leadership: breaking free from the heroic leadership trap before burnout breaks you first. Kalimah brings her Leadership Infrastructure System (LIS) framework — rooted in design thinking — to show how schools can replace fragile, person-dependent operations with distributed structures that empower every team member. Together, Bridget and Kalimah explore practical tools including the TPR role audit, the RRS Framework (Reflect, Reset, Systemize), and the Japanese philosophy of Wabi-Sabi as a model for imperfect, courageous leadership innovation. In this episode, you'll learn: How to identify whether your school has a "single plane of failure" problem The step-by-step RRS friction audit you can apply immediately this week Why clarity around roles — not more effort — is the real antidote to leadership burnout How to introduce systemic change gradually without triggering team resistance What sustainable leadership actually looks, feels, and functions like day-to-day Featured Guest: Kalimah Fergus-Ayele is the Founder and CEO of Roundtrip Ticket Home, an organization that uses design thinking to help school leadership teams build sustainable infrastructure systems. A NAIS presenter and seasoned educational consultant, Kalimah helps leaders stop being the hero holding everything together — and start building schools that thrive without them. Visit the Deans' Roundtable: https://deansroundtable.org   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridget-johnson510/ Email: info@deansroundtable.org The Table Podcast Series: Where student life professionals connect, learn, share, and grow together.

    42 min
  2. Leading From the Middle: Navigate Up, Down & Across | Meredith Herrera

    FEB 23

    Leading From the Middle: Navigate Up, Down & Across | Meredith Herrera

    Leading From the Middle: Navigate Up, Down & Across | Meredith Herrera Are you the connective tissue of your school — leading in every direction at once, without the authority to match your responsibility? This episode is your roadmap. In Episode 46 of The Table Podcast Series, host Bridget Johnson is joined by Board-Certified executive coach Meredith Herrera for a deeply practical conversation on leading from the middle. Together they unpack how to navigate upward to senior leadership without losing your footing, manage and develop the teams beneath you without sacrificing trust, and build lateral influence across departments without positional power. Meredith also names what's rarely said out loud: the compounded burden that women, BIPOC, and neurodivergent leaders carry in middle management roles — and the unique strengths they bring. In this episode, you'll learn: How to make your proposals an "easy yes" for senior leadership by presenting strong process — not just perfect ideas Why middle leaders struggle at the handoff — and the relationship-building habits that prevent it How to shift from being liked to being trusted when leading your team, especially former peers The three grounding questions that help leaders focus on influence instead of control A practical power mapping activity to help you find your sphere of influence when you feel stuck Featured Guest: Meredith Herrera is a Board-Certified executive coach with nearly 20 years of senior leadership experience in schools and mission-driven organizations. She specializes in coaching historically marginalized leaders — including women, BIPOC, and neurodivergent leaders — through one-on-one coaching, group programs, and team consulting. Connect with her at MHerreraConsulting.com or on LinkedIn. Recommended Resources: MHerreraConsulting.com | LinkedIn: Meredith Herrera Visit the Deans' Roundtable: https://deansroundtable.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridget-johnson510/ Email: info@deansroundtable.org

    52 min
  3. Father Engagement in Schools: Beyond Sports with Kelin Mark Sr. & Bro. Thomas X-Williams

    FEB 16

    Father Engagement in Schools: Beyond Sports with Kelin Mark Sr. & Bro. Thomas X-Williams

    Father Engagement in Schools: Beyond Sports with Kelin Mark Sr. & Bro. Thomas X-Williams Are fathers truly engaged in their children's education, or are they only showing up for sports? This groundbreaking conversation challenges school leaders to rethink father involvement and activate dads as powerful academic partners. Kelin Mark Sr., the first Black male principal in both Wayne Township School District and Park Tudor School, shares the personal experiences that led him to create the DADS program after discovering schools systematically overlooked him despite his active involvement in his son's life. Brother Thomas X-Williams, co-founder of Love and Light Ministry, Inc., reveals how father absence impacts student ambition, showing how young people shift from dreams of becoming physicists and astronauts to limiting themselves to athletics when meaningful dad engagement declines from elementary through high school. In this episode, you'll learn: Why schools default to calling mothers even when fathers are actively involved and available How one engaged father creates a ripple effect supporting not just their child but entire peer groups Practical strategies for creating welcoming school environments where fathers feel valued in academic spaces The connection between visible Black male presence in schools and strengthening the educator pipeline Why moving beyond mentorship programs to root-level father involvement transforms student outcomes Featured Guests: Kelin Mark Sr. is Middle School Director at Park Tudor School, recognized with the MG Raby Award for Equity and the Jefferson Award for Multiplying Good for his groundbreaking DADS program helping fathers take active roles in education. Bro. Thomas X-Williams is a national speaker, youth education advocate, and author of "Mountain Mover: The Impeccable Strength That Will Accompany Your Character," dedicated to empowering young Black males through character development and academic resilience. Recommended Resources: Mountain Mover: The Impeccable Strength That Will Accompany Your Character by Bro. Thomas X-Williams Love and Light Ministry, Inc. Visit the Deans' Roundtable: https://deansroundtable.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridget-johnson510/ Email: info@deansroundtable.org The Dean's Roundtable: Where student life professionals connect, learn, share, and grow together.

    53 min
  4. Creating NeuroWell School Cultures: Brain Science Strategies with Lisa Riegel

    FEB 9

    Creating NeuroWell School Cultures: Brain Science Strategies with Lisa Riegel

    Creating NeuroWell School Cultures: Brain Science Strategies with Lisa Riegel Are your discipline policies actually working against how students' brains learn? Educational neuroscience expert Lisa Riegel, Ed.D., reveals how understanding brain science can transform the way you approach student behavior, teacher burnout, and school culture. As author of NeuroWell and the newly released Aspirations to Operations, Lisa brings over 15 years of consulting experience helping schools move from reactive management to proactive, brain-friendly environments where both students and educators thrive. In this transformative conversation with host Bridget Johnson, Lisa introduces the NeuroWell culture framework—built on emotional safety, supportive power-sharing, and proactive teaching strategies. She explains why traditional approaches to discipline often fail students with challenging behaviors, how intellectual safety impacts learning for struggling students, and why differentiation remains more theory than practice in most classrooms. Drawing on neuroplasticity research, Lisa demonstrates how schools can create environments where failure becomes a celebrated learning tool, persistence develops through safe experimentation, and staff wellbeing connects directly to student outcomes. In this episode, you'll learn: How to establish emotional and intellectual safety using brain science principles that transform student engagement and reduce behavioral issues The three essential components of a NeuroWell culture and practical strategies to implement each pillar in your school or classroom Why focusing on people and relationships, not just policies and structure, is critical for addressing the teacher retention crisis How to leverage productive stress states (calm, alert, alarm, fear) to deepen learning without triggering student shutdown Concrete techniques for creating classrooms where mistakes drive learning, building students' capacity for persistence through challenges Featured Guest: Lisa Riegel is an educational neuroscience consultant and author who has taught at the secondary, post-secondary, and graduate levels, including principal licensure courses at Ohio State University. She specializes in helping schools develop "NeuroWell cultures" that apply brain science to create emotionally safe environments promoting staff and student wellbeing. Lisa's Books: NeuroWell and Aspirations to Operations by Lisa Riegel Visit the Deans' Roundtable: Website: https://deansroundtable.org  Student Life Assessment Program: https://deansroundtable.org/k-12-student-life-assessment-program-independent-school-evaluation/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridget-johnson510/ Email: info@deansroundtable.org The Table Podcast Series: Where K-12 educational leaders, student life professionals, and change makers connect to share insights, strategies, and evidence-based practices for building communities where everyone belongs.

    40 min
  5. Parent Feedback Strategies: Building Trust & Retention with Ryan Ermeling

    FEB 2

    Parent Feedback Strategies: Building Trust & Retention with Ryan Ermeling

    Parent Feedback Strategies: Building Trust & Retention with Ryan Ermeling Is parent feedback triggering more anxiety than insight at your school? You're not alone. In this essential conversation, Ryan Ermeling, founder of ParentPulse, reveals why traditional approaches to parent feedback create more problems than they solve—and what to do instead. After working with nearly 300 private and independent schools, Ryan has identified patterns that transform family engagement from reactive crisis management into proactive community building. He introduces the Listen-Engage-Act framework, explains why continuous feedback outperforms annual surveys, and shares how small, responsive actions build exponential trust with families. With school choice reshaping parent expectations and retention becoming increasingly critical, this episode delivers practical systems for turning feedback into your school's competitive advantage. In this episode, you'll learn: How to overcome "Post-Traumatic Feedback Disorder" that prevents authentic parent engagement Why systematic feedback loops create healthier school cultures than ad-hoc approaches Strategic methods for responding to anonymous feedback while maintaining dialogue How continuous feedback systems naturally support re-enrollment and retention goals The connection between feeling heard and psychological safety in school communities Featured Guest: Ryan Ermeling is the founder of ParentPulse and a recognized leader in K-12 parent engagement strategies. Since 2022, he has partnered with nearly 300 private and independent schools to revolutionize feedback systems, helping educational leaders transform parent relationships from adversarial to collaborative partnerships. Recommended Resources: ParentPulse feedback systems and school engagement tools Visit the Deans' Roundtable: https://deansroundtable.org Student Life Assessment Program: https://deansroundtable.org/k-12-student-life-assessment-program-independent-school-evaluation/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridget-johnson510/ Email: info@deansroundtable.org The Table Podcast Series: Where student life professionals connect, learn, share, and grow together.

    31 min
  6. Athletic Identity Beyond the Game: Supporting Student-Athletes' Character Development

    JAN 19

    Athletic Identity Beyond the Game: Supporting Student-Athletes' Character Development

    Athletic Identity Beyond the Game: Supporting Student-Athletes' Character Development What happens when the jersey comes off? For most student-athletes, the answer reveals a dangerous truth: their identity is so exclusively tied to sport that retirement feels like death. Casey Johnson and Michael Willett both experienced career-ending injuries in Division I football, discovering their self-worth was entirely dependent on athletic performance. Now they lead organizations transforming how we measure athlete potential and redefine what "more than an athlete" actually means in practice, not just empty rhetoric. This conversation challenges the assumption that athletic identity simply needs support—it needs complete redefinition. Casey founded GYMNAZE to develop athletes holistically through mindset, character, and sports-intelligence assessments—measuring the traits traditional statistics miss. Michael created WalkOn Nation after earning his scholarship and winning championships at UCF, teaching over 5,000 athletes that they're enhanced, not defined, by sport. Together, they reveal why the emotional roller coaster of competitive sports affects everything from classroom performance to mental health, and why educators must understand the multifaceted challenges student-athletes navigate daily. In this episode, you'll learn: Why career-ending injuries expose the vulnerability of one-dimensional athletic identity and how to prevent identity foreclosure before crisis hits Practical assessment tools for measuring coachability, resilience, and sports IQ through GYMNAZE's holistic platform—the character traits that determine long-term success How to support students through the performance-based highs and lows that dramatically affect their classroom presence, eating habits, and mental health Evidence-based strategies for integrating character development into athletic programs while maintaining competitive excellence The reframe that transforms athletic retirement from "death" to rebirth: understanding who you are and what impact you're leaving behind Featured Guests: Casey Johnson is Founder and CEO of GYMNAZE, a sports technology platform developing athletes through mindset, character, and sports-intelligence assessments. A former WalkOn who earned a scholarship and became a two-year starter at Norfolk State with a Psychology degree and 14 years in IT recruiting, Casey helps athletes discover who they are beyond performance. Michael Willett is Founder and CEO of WalkOn Nation, redefining athletic identity after his University of Central Florida career (2013-2017) ended with injury. Having served over 5,000 student-athletes and staff, he teaches that athletes are enhanced, not defined, by their sport and helps them understand who they are and what impact they're leaving behind. Recommended Resources: GYMNAZE platform for mindset, character, and sports-intelligence assessments WalkOn Nation programs for athletic identity development Character development frameworks for integrating athletics with student life programming Visit the Deans' Roundtable: Website: https://deansroundtable.org Student Life Assessment Program: https://deansroundtable.org/k-12-student-life-assessment-program-independent-school-evaluation/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridget-johnson510/ Email: info@deansroundtable.org The Table Podcast Series: Where student life professionals connect, learn, share, and grow together—building communities where everyone belongs.

    52 min
  7. Building Trust & Strategic Thinking in School Leadership Teams | Susanne Carpenter

    JAN 12

    Building Trust & Strategic Thinking in School Leadership Teams | Susanne Carpenter

    Building Trust & Strategic Thinking in School Leadership Teams Are you leading alone, carrying the weight of decisions, culture, and vision without the team support you need? Most educational leaders struggle with trust issues they can barely name—but the impact shows up everywhere. Join leadership consultant Susanne Carpenter for an honest conversation about building the high-trust, strategically focused teams that transform schools. Susanne Carpenter is the founder and principal of Carpenter Leadership Consulting, specializing in executive coaching and high-performing team development. A Gallup Certified Strengths Coach and former Assistant Head of School at Walnut Hill School for the Arts, she brings extensive educational leadership experience to her work helping teams unlock strategic thinking and build trust-based cultures. In this episode, you'll learn how to recognize the hidden signs of low trust (including the dreaded "meeting after the meeting"), create psychological safety where teams disagree openly and productively, quiet organizational noise that blocks strategic clarity, develop leaders who ask powerful questions instead of needing all the answers, and apply the counterintuitive principle of "go slow to go fast" to accelerate team performance. Whether you're navigating your first leadership role or transforming an established team, Susanne offers practical frameworks grounded in real school leadership experience. Discover why trust isn't just a nice-to-have—it's the foundation that determines whether your team thrives or merely survives. Visit the Deans' Roundtable: https://deansroundtable.org Student Life Assessment Program: https://deansroundtable.org/k-12-student-life-assessment-program-independent-school-evaluation/ Connect with Bridget Johnson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridget-johnson510/ Email: info@deansroundtable.org The Table Podcast Series: Where student life professionals connect, learn, share, and grow together.

    55 min
  8. School Leadership Support: Building Communities of Practice That Prevent Burnout

    JAN 5

    School Leadership Support: Building Communities of Practice That Prevent Burnout

    School Leadership Support: Building Communities of Practice That Prevent Burnout School leaders today face unprecedented isolation while carrying immense emotional weight for their communities. The traditional professional development model isn't working—leaders need connection, reflection, and judgment-free spaces to grow. Join Bridget Johnson with Jennifer Dubey and Kyle Conley, co-founders of Building Leaders, for an essential conversation about transforming how we support school leaders. Drawing from their combined 45+ years of experience in education leadership and development, Jen and Kyle share the critical gap they've witnessed between the robust support systems for new teachers and the stark isolation faced by school leaders. This episode explores practical solutions through communities of practice, cross-context learning experiences, and collaborative professional development that actually meets leaders where they are. In this episode, you'll learn: Why traditional professional development often fails school leaders and what makes communities of practice different from conventional PD approaches How to create judgment-free spaces where leaders can practice new approaches, be vulnerable, and learn from failure without career consequences The transformative power of embedded school visits and learning from diverse educational contexts beyond your immediate environment Practical strategies for building sustainable leadership practices that prevent burnout while driving meaningful innovation in your school community How to access peer-driven collaborative learning experiences that provide both practical tools and emotional support for the leadership journey Featured Guests: Jennifer Dubey is a leadership coach and facilitator with over 20 years of experience helping educators reflect, grow, and lead with clarity and heart. Her journey from highly-supported teacher to isolated school leader drove her passion for creating the developmental spaces leaders desperately need. She has held learning spaces for school leaders at Teachers College, Achieve Miami, Teach For America, and within several school districts. Kyle Conley is an equity-centered systems leader with 25+ years of experience designing powerful adult learning environments. As a former principal who led a school turnaround, she experienced firsthand the isolation and under-preparation many leaders face. At Teach For All, she launched the Global Communities of Practice, connecting hundreds of school leaders worldwide for peer-driven improvement. Her focus remains on creating meaningful adult learning experiences with unwavering commitment to equity and access. Recommended Resources: Building Leaders: building-leaders.org Visit the Deans' Roundtable: https://deansroundtable.org  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridget-johnson510/ Email: bridget@deansroundtable.org Student Life Assessment Program: https://deansroundtable.org/k-12-student-life-assessment-program-independent-school-evaluation/  The Dean's Roundtable: Where student life professionals connect, learn, share, and grow together.

    50 min
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About

Dive into the world of K-12 education leadership with The Table Podcast Series. Host Bridget Johnson, a veteran educator with 20+ years of experience, brings you insightful conversations on innovation and best practices in student life. Each episode features thought-provoking discussions with top educators, administrators, and industry experts. We tackle pressing challenges in modern education, from crisis management to building inclusive communities, offering strategies that shape the future of learning. Whether you're a seasoned administrator or an aspiring leader, you'll gain: -Practical advice for navigating complex educational environments -Innovative approaches to student life management -Insights on creating impactful, resilient learning spaces Join us as we explore cutting-edge ideas and time-tested wisdom to help you excel in your educational leadership journey. Subscribe now and transform your approach to K-12 education! #EducationLeadership #K12Innovation #StudentLife

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