Schoolutions: Curious Educators. Evidence-Based Strategies. Classrooms Where Every Child Thrives.

Olivia Wahl
  • 4.7 (46)
  • Education
  • Updated Biweekly

Do you need innovative strategies to strengthen your school culture and spark student growth? This podcast is your go-to resource for coaches, teachers, administrators, and families seeking to create dynamic and engaging learning environments. In each episode, you'll discover how to unite educators and caregivers to support students, tackle common classroom challenges, and cultivate an atmosphere where every learner can thrive. With over 25 years of experience as a teacher and coach, host Olivia Wahl curates episodes with insights from more than 150 expert interviews, offering practical tips that bridge the gap between school and home. Tune in every Monday and Friday for actionable strategies and inspirational stories that can transform your approach and make a real impact on learning.Start with a fan-favorite episode today (S5E1: Inside the Secret Moves of Expert Teachers with John Hattie) and take the first step towards transforming your educational environment!

  1. 3h ago

    The Think Tank Protocol: A 15-Minute Framework for Solving School Problems Together

    Can a teacher name a real problem in a room that includes the person who evaluates them? Jenn David-Lang of ⁨@themainideaeducation⁩ breaks down why that question determines whether school leadership actually builds teacher support or just performs it. In part two of this S6E1 Schoolutions conversation, Jenn walks us through her 15-minute consultancy protocol, a structure built for instructional coaching, teacher coaching, and peer-driven professional learning. She explains why mixing supervisors and supervisees kills psychological safety, and why mentor teachers and new teachers need rooms built specifically for coaching strategies that don't carry evaluation risk. Jenn also unpacks the research behind student motivation and adult motivation alike: competence, autonomy, and relatedness. She connects that directly to classroom engagement, student engagement, and why low engagement in a staff meeting looks the same as low engagement in a classroom. You'll learn about: ➡️Why instructional leadership requires protecting time for reflection, not just scheduling more meetings ➡️How a 48-hour communication norm changed one school's school culture and stopped gossip before it spread ➡️Why active learning for adults follows the same rules as active learning for students ➡️What separates effective teaching habits from performative teaching tips that don't stick 💫Check out part one and more resources from Jenn:  ⭐To learn more about Jenn's Masterminds: https://www.themainidea.net/school-leadership-mastermind/ ⭐To learn about Jenn's subscription with book summaries: https://www.themainidea.net/ ⭐To listen to Jenn's podcast: https://www.themainidea.net/podcasts/ ⭐To develop the habit of professional reading, see Jenn's latest published article: https://www.ascd.org/blogs/yes-principals-can-make-time-to-read Chapters 0:00 – Cold open: would you admit a problem in front of your evaluator? 1:00 – Welcome back and today's focus: peer-driven leadership 2:00 – The consultancy protocol, step by step 4:00 – Who belongs in the room (and who doesn't) 6:00 – The three drivers of real motivation: competence, autonomy, relatedness 8:00 – Why concrete ideas beat theory every time 9:00 – Evidence begets confidence 10:00 – Parallel practice across every level of a school system 11:00 – Building a reflection habit that actually sticks 12:00 – The 48-hour rule and what one leader discovered on her own 14:00 – Closing thoughts and what's next this season Schoolutions is the podcast for educators and caregivers who are ready to grow alongside their children. Each episode delivers research-backed strategies rooted in the five practices of expert teachers from my upcoming book: Forever Getting Better: 5 Essential Practices for Reclaiming Teacher Expertise, so every student finds their spark and receives the support they need to thrive.  I hope to have the book in  your hands by June of 2027. If this conversation has you thinking about how to build a peer-driven culture in your own school or district, let's get in touch. You can find me on my website. Click on the Coaching & Consulting tab to begin our thought partnership. Next Week: You're going to hear from 17 teachers who were attending the Civics for Colorado Summer Institute. They all answer the question: What is it like to teach civics and history at the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence? It's a two-part conversation about the challenges teachers face and hopes for the future of civics instruction. Make sure not to miss it.  #Schoolutions #SchoolutionsPodcast #ForeverGettingBetter #5PracticesOfExpertTeachers #CuriosityDriven #EvidenceBasedClassroomReadyStrategies #OliviaWahlCoachingConsulting  #SchoolLeadership #InstructionalCoaching #TeacherSupport #ProfessionalLearning #SchoolCulture #EducationPodcast #TeacherCoaching #PrincipalLife #InstructionalLeadership #StudentEngagement #EffectiveTeaching #NewTeachers #MentorTeachers #EducationLeadership #WholeChildEducation #EquityInEducation #ParentInvolvement #JennDavidLang #TheMainIdea When teachers, coaches, administrators, and families grow together, schools change. Students get engaged, get support, and get the chance to thrive.

  2. 1d ago

    Thoughtful Thursday Research: What Motivates People to Learn?

    It's Thursday, and I'm starting a new series called Thoughtful Thursday. Each week I'll offer you one piece of research you can apply to your life or your classroom right away. This week's topic is motivation. I was in conversation with Jenn David-Lang of @themainideaeducation,  and she connected motivation to Richard Ryan and Edward Deci's Self-Determination Theory. It comes down to three factors. That reminded me of Daniel Pink's book Drive, which names three factors of its own for living a satisfied life. I lay them side by side here. Ryan, Deci, and Pink all point to autonomy first. Do you feel in control of the choices in your life? Are you driving your own path? Deci and Ryan call the second factor relatedness. Pink calls it purpose. Relatedness asks if you feel like you belong, if you're cared for, if you're part of a learning community. Purpose asks if you're doing something bigger than yourself, something that serves the world. The third factor is competence for Deci and Ryan, mastery for Pink. Competence asks if you feel capable and effective. Mastery asks what you're building, what you're creating to prove that growth. Lining these up side by side gives you a clearer map for motivating yourself and the people around you, whether that's students, staff, or your own team. New research drops every Thursday. If this conversation has you thinking about how to motivate your students (or yourself), let's get in touch. You can find me on my website. Click on the Coaching & Consulting tab to begin our thought partnership.  Chapters: 0:00 Introducing Thoughtful Thursday 0:12 Motivation, Jenn David-Lang, and self-determination theory 0:24 Autonomy: control over your choices 0:47 Relatedness and purpose: belonging versus serving something bigger 1:22 Competence and mastery: capability versus creation 1:52 See you next Thursday #ThoughtfulThursday #Schoolutions #SchoolutionsPodcast #ForeverGettingBetter #5PracticesOfExpertTeachers #CuriosityDriven #EvidenceBasedClassroomReadyStrategies #OliviaWahlCoachingConsulting  #TeacherTips #TeachingTips #InstructionalCoaching #TeacherCoaching When teachers, coaches, administrators, and families grow together, schools change. Students get engaged, get support, and get the chance to thrive.

  3. 2d ago ·  Bonus

    How Can You Build Your Influence As a Leader?

    In this clip from my conversation with Jenn David-Lang of  @themainideaeducation , she breaks down a shift that changes how new leaders solve problems. In her mastermind groups for aspiring leaders, someone always brings the same complaint early in the year: a teacher won't do what's being asked, and the instinct is to have the principal force it.  Jenn pushes back on that instinct. Real influence starts long before the issue comes up, built through credibility and trust with the people you lead. Then she names the one question that changes the whole conversation. Is this a skill problem, or is this a will problem? Too often, we jump straight to solutions before we understand what's actually driving the behavior.  Watch part one of our Schoolutions conversation for more on peer-driven leadership, teacher support, and what it actually takes to build trust as an instructional leader here. Chapters: 0:00 A common problem in aspiring leader groups 0:08 The gut reaction: just tell the principal 0:16 Why influence starts long before the issue 0:24 The real question: skill or will 0:31 Why we jump to solutions too fast 💫Check out the linked episode mentions and other resources here.   ⭐To learn more about Jenn's Masterminds: https://www.themainidea.net/school-leadership-mastermind/ ⭐To learn about Jenn's subscription with book summaries: https://www.themainidea.net/ ⭐To listen to Jenn's podcast: https://www.themainidea.net/podcasts/ ⭐To develop the habit of professional reading, see Jenn's latest published article: https://www.ascd.org/blogs/yes-principals-can-make-time-to-read Schoolutions is the podcast for educators and caregivers who are ready to grow alongside their children. Each episode delivers research-backed strategies rooted in the five practices of expert teachers from my upcoming book: Forever Getting Better: 5 Essential Practices for Reclaiming Teacher Expertise, so every student finds their spark and receives the support they need to thrive.  I hope to have the book in your hands by June of 2027.  If this conversation has you thinking about how to build a peer-driven culture in your own school or district, let's get in touch. You can find me on my website. Click on the Coaching & Consulting tab to begin our thought partnership. #Schoolutions #SchoolutionsPodcast #ForeverGettingBetter #5PracticesOfExpertTeachers #CuriosityDriven #EvidenceBasedClassroomReadyStrategies #OliviaWahlCoachingConsulting  #SchoolLeadership #InstructionalLeadership #SchoolLeadership #TeacherCoaching #MentorTeachers #NewTeachers #ProfessionalDevelopment #SchoolCulture #PrincipalStrategies #BuildingTrust #EducationLeadership #SchoolImprovement #TeacherSupport When teachers, coaches, administrators, and families grow together, schools change. Students get engaged, get support, and get the chance to thrive.

  4. 3d ago

    Try it Tuesday Teacher Move: Keep Your Lesson Relevant

    It's Tuesday, and I'm starting a new weekly series called Try It Tuesday. Each week, I'll give you one teacher move that has a real, measurable impact on student success and student engagement. This week's tip comes from a moment with Cris Tovani, and it's about relevance. We were standing in a high school classroom together, and the teacher couldn't quite explain why the content mattered to her students. Cris said one thing: Google it. So we did. We searched why kids still need to learn this specific topic, and Google gave us real, usable answers. If you try this and the search comes up empty, that's your signal to reframe the lesson before you teach it. Relevance alone isn't enough, though. Expert teachers go one step further and connect the learning to meaning because students engage more deeply when they understand why a lesson matters to them personally. This is a fast, practical instructional strategy you can use in lesson planning this week, whether you're a new teacher building your toolkit or a veteran teacher refreshing your approach. Kids show up differently when the work feels relevant. New tip every Tuesday. If this conversation has you thinking about how to make learning more relevant and meaningful for your students, let's get in touch. You can find me on my website. Click on the Coaching & Consulting tab to begin our thought partnership. Chapters: 0:00 Introducing Try It Tuesday 0:08 This week's tip: relevance 0:15 The Cris Tovani story: just Google it 0:33 What to do if the search doesn't help 0:44 Relevance versus meaning 0:54 See you next Tuesday #Schoolutions #SchoolutionsPodcast #ForeverGettingBetter #5PracticesOfExpertTeachers #CuriosityDriven #EvidenceBasedClassroomReadyStrategies #OliviaWahlCoachingConsulting  #TeacherTips #TeachingTips #InstructionalCoaching #TeacherCoaching  When teachers, coaches, administrators, and families grow together, schools change. Students get engaged, get support, and get the chance to thrive.

  5. 4d ago

    What Does Peer-Driven Leadership Look and Feel Like in Schools?

    Jenn David-Lang has spent over 20 years supporting school leaders, first through @themainideaeducation, her monthly education and leadership book summary service, and now through the peer-led Mastermind groups she facilitates for principals and aspiring leaders. In part one of this S6E1 Schoolutions conversation, Jenn and I break down what school leadership actually looks like when instructional leadership comes from the people already in the building instead of an outside consultant. Jenn explains why school improvement rarely comes from a single professional learning session and why school culture change depends on habitual, weekly learning: PLCs, instructional coaching, mentor teachers, and leaders who ask the same reflective questions after every walkthrough. She walks through her Mastermind model step by step: a live read, a structured discussion protocol. This is teacher coaching and school leadership support built as peer coaching, not top-down mandates. The conversation addresses two issues that come up constantly in schools: How to get staff to commit to things they're reluctant to do and managing interpersonal issues with grace. Jenn's answer starts with a question every instructional coach should ask before jumping to solutions: Is this a skill problem or a will problem? That distinction reshapes how principal strategies, teacher support, and difficult conversations get handled, and it applies just as directly to classroom behavior and student engagement, since the same skill-versus-will question shows up when a student seems to have low engagement or has checked out of active learning. Part two of this conversation with Jenn David-Lang (releasing on Friday) covers her think tank model in more depth and what it takes for leaders to practice instructional leadership in real time. Check out these resources from Jenn: ⭐To learn more about Jenn's Masterminds: https://www.themainidea.net/school-leadership-mastermind/ ⭐To learn about Jenn's subscription with book summaries: https://www.themainidea.net/ ⭐To listen to Jenn's podcast: https://www.themainidea.net/podcasts/ ⭐To develop the habit of professional reading, see Jenn's latest published article: https://www.ascd.org/blogs/yes-principals-can-make-time-to-read Chapters: 0:00 — Cold open: the smartest person in the building 1:00 — Meet Jenn David-Lang and the Schoolutions intro 2:00 — Jenn's path from teaching to leadership 3:00 — Why Jenn launched The Main Idea in 2007 5:00 — Why expertise has to come from within a school 7:00 — John Hattie, coaching, and being a "second set of eyes" 8:00 — What a mastermind group actually is 9:00 — Inside the hour: live reads, protocols, and think tank time 12:00 — Two problems that come up in every school 13:00 — How Jenn stays sharp as a facilitator 14:00 — Skill or will: solving the real problem, not the symptom 16:00 — The leadership skill Jenn is still working on 17:00 — The feedback move that builds trust fast 19:00 — Closing thoughts and where to find Jenn's work 20:00 — Olivia's takeaway and what's coming in Part 2 Schoolutions is the podcast for educators and caregivers who are ready to grow alongside their children. Each episode delivers research-backed strategies rooted in the five practices of expert teachers from my upcoming book: Forever Getting Better: 5 Essential Practices for Reclaiming Teacher Expertise, so every student finds their spark and receives the support they need to thrive.  I hope to have the book in your hands by June of 2027. If this conversation has you thinking about how to build a peer-driven culture in your own school or district, let's get in touch. You can find me on my website. Click on the Coaching & Consulting tab to begin our thought partnership. #Schoolutions #SchoolutionsPodcast #ForeverGettingBetter #5PracticesOfExpertTeachers #CuriosityDriven #EvidenceBasedClassroomReadyStrategies #OliviaWahlCoachingConsulting  #SchoolLeadership #InstructionalCoaching #TeacherSupport #ProfessionalLearning #SchoolCulture #EducationPodcast #TeacherCoaching #PrincipalLife #InstructionalLeadership #StudentEngagement #EffectiveTeaching #NewTeachers #MentorTeachers #EducationLeadership #WholeChildEducation #EquityInEducation #ParentInvolvement #JennDavidLang #TheMainIdea When teachers, coaches, administrators, and families grow together, schools change. Students get engaged, get support, and get the chance to thrive.

  6. 5d ago

    How to Build a Stronger School Community this September

    This September on Schoolutions, I'm bringing you three conversations that will change how you see leadership inside school buildings. 💫You'll hear from Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea about a peer-led leadership model where instructional leaders troubleshoot problems together and partner with each other from all over the world. It's a model built on instructional coaching, coaching strategies, and professional learning instead of top-down answers. 💫You'll hear from 17 teachers who attended the Civics for Colorado Summer Institute about what it's like to teach during the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the challenges they're facing and the hopes they're holding onto in their classrooms right now. 💫And you'll learn about the power of teacher mentoring from Jennifer Orr and her book, Letters to a New Teacher.  Jennifer explains why the best teaching happens in relationship and not in isolation, and what new teachers bring the moment they enter a learning community. 🎙️Part one drops Monday. 🎙️Part two drops Friday. 🎙️A 60-second highlight from each guest lands every Wednesday. Join the conversations this September and 🔔 subscribe so you don't miss a single episode. 🔗 Chapters: 0:00 September on Schoolutions: three conversations ahead 0:08 Peer-led leadership and global instructional coaching 0:22 17 teachers on the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence 0:38 Teacher mentoring and what new teachers bring to the room 0:50 Release schedule: Monday, Friday, and Wednesday highlights 🌿Ready to grow alongside your children? Book a coaching session with me here. We'll unlock the expert who is already within you and surround you with a community of educators committed to forever getting better through collective expertise:  #OliviaWahlCoachingConsulting #Schoolutions #SchoolutionsPodcast #ForeverGettingBetter #5PracticesOfExpertTeachers #CuriosityDriven #EvidenceBasedClassroomReadyStrategies   #InstructionalLeadership #SchoolLeadership #TeacherMentoring #NewTeachers #InstructionalCoaching #ProfessionalDevelopment #EducationLeadership #TeacherSupport #EmpoweredEducators #EffectiveTeaching #TeachingTips #StudentEngagement #StudentMotivation #SchoolCulture #SchoolImprovement #EducationPodcast #TeacherImpact #InspiredTeaching #MentorTeachers When teachers, coaches, administrators, and families grow together, schools change. Students get engaged, get support, and get the chance to thrive.

  7. Season 6 Trailer

    Forever Getting Better: Season 6 of Schoolutions

    Season 6 of the Schoolutions Podcast is here. This season leads up to the release of my book with Stenhouse Publishers, Forever Getting Better: 5 Essential Practices for Reclaiming Teacher Expertise, which I hope will be in your hands by June of 2027. This season follows teachers, coaches, and school leaders as they use the five essential practices from my book in real classrooms. Guests discuss learning in action, share ways to inspire students, and walk through methods to boost student participation and attention in class. Two episodes drop each week.  Part 1 drops Monday. Part 2 drops Friday. A quick-tip highlight reel from that week's guest drops every Wednesday. Follow Schoolutions Podcast for strategies you can use in class tomorrow. Chapters 0:00 Season 6 starts 0:18 The book behind this season: Forever Getting Better 0:38 What guests bring to each episode 0:50 Weekly release schedule 1:00 Who this season is built for #OliviaWahlCoachingConsulting #Schoolutions #SchoolutionsPodcast #ForeverGettingBetter #5PracticesOfExpertTeachers #CuriosityDriven #EvidenceBasedClassroomReadyStrategies  When teachers, coaches, administrators, and families grow together, schools change. Students get engaged, get support, and get the chance to thrive.

  8. Sep 9

    Behind the Scenes: Revising my Book Chapter by Chapter (Writing Wednesday)

    This is my last Writing Wednesday post for a while. Season six of Schoolutions starts next week, and Wednesdays are switching over to expert tips from that week's guest. Right now I'm in the final stretch of revising and editing my book, Forever Getting Better: 5 Essential Practices for Reclaiming Teacher Expertise. Going slow here is what lets me move fast later. I'm going chapter by chapter, checking that the language holds together and the structure stays consistent so the text feels accessible for every reader. This is the work behind education transformation before a single page reaches you. I'm aiming for the book to be in your hands by May or June next year. Thank you for following this writing journey with me all summer. Chapters: 0:00 — Last Writing Wednesday for a while 0:07 — Why: Season six starts next week, Wednesdays shift to guest tips 0:14 — The importance of going slow in final revisions 0:22 — Chapter by chapter check for language and structure 0:32 — Book release target: May or June next year 0:40 — Thank you for following the summer writing journey 🌿Ready to grow alongside your children? Book a coaching session with me here. We'll unlock the expert who is already within you and surround you with a community of educators committed to forever getting better through collective expertise. #OliviaWahlCoachingConsulting #Schoolutions #SchoolutionsPodcast #ForeverGettingBetter #5PracticesOfExpertTeachers #CuriosityDriven #EvidenceBasedClassroomReadyStrategies #WritingWednesday #BookWritingJourney #AuthorLife #EducationPodcast #WritingProcess #BehindTheBook #TeacherAuthor #EducationTransformation #SeasonSixLaunch  When teachers, coaches, administrators, and families grow together, schools change. Students get engaged, get support, and get the chance to thrive.

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Do you need innovative strategies to strengthen your school culture and spark student growth? This podcast is your go-to resource for coaches, teachers, administrators, and families seeking to create dynamic and engaging learning environments. In each episode, you'll discover how to unite educators and caregivers to support students, tackle common classroom challenges, and cultivate an atmosphere where every learner can thrive. With over 25 years of experience as a teacher and coach, host Olivia Wahl curates episodes with insights from more than 150 expert interviews, offering practical tips that bridge the gap between school and home. Tune in every Monday and Friday for actionable strategies and inspirational stories that can transform your approach and make a real impact on learning.Start with a fan-favorite episode today (S5E1: Inside the Secret Moves of Expert Teachers with John Hattie) and take the first step towards transforming your educational environment!

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