DA Podcasts

District Administration
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Superintendents, principals and other key figures in education share their experiences, strategies and forecasts for K12 public schools.

  1. May 18

    Asking Better Questions: Alena Zachery-Ross

    "People support what they help create," is one of Superintendent Alena Zachery-Ross's favorite leadership phrases. It's how she describes Ypsilanti Community Schools' efforts to elevate student voice and engage learners across grade levels in AI adoption and other new initiatives.

    25 min

  2. May 4

    "Built Differently": Bill Runey

    Superintendent Bill Runey shares how he reshaped leadership at the Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District—and how the relationships you invest in carry you through your hardest moments.

    20 min

  3. Mar 31

    Good Lesson: How to make the transition to head strategist

    Edward Aldarelli said the biggest transition he made when he moved up from principal to take the helm of Edison Township Public Schools was becoming the New Jersey's district "head visionary."

    31 min

  4. 10/20/2025

    Active Shooter: The 5 P's of School Safety in an Era of Increasing Violence

    In the wake of recent tragic school violence incidents in Colorado and Minnesota, K-12 administrators and district leaders face an urgent imperative: ensuring their emergency response plans and protocols are up to the task of protecting students and staff. This timely podcast revisits and expands upon critical school safety strategies from the “5 P’s” methodology (Planning, Process, Protocol, Practice, Prevention), a comprehensive framework for school safety preparedness that transforms theoretical safety plans into life-saving action. What You’ll Learn – The 5 P’s Framework: Planning: How to identify and prioritize vulnerabilities in your current safety infrastructure Process: Developing clear, actionable emergency procedures that work under pressure Protocol: Implementing effective lockdown plans and communication systems Practice: Conducting trauma-informed drills that build confidence without causing harm Prevention: Establishing proactive threat assessment and early intervention strategies When an emergency strikes, there is no time for confusion. The goal is to build muscle memory, so staff and students know exactly what to do without hesitation – from identifying vulnerabilities to implementing lockdown plans that actually work under pressure.    Podcast Guests  Ron Shaffer  Industry Solutions Leader, Education  Salto  r.shaffer@saltosystems.com

    20 min
  5. Planning with Purpose: Investing in the Future of Your Schools

    09/11/2025

    Planning with Purpose: Investing in the Future of Your Schools

    When it comes to creating safe, sustainable, and student-ready schools, capital planning is more than a financial task—it's a leadership priority.  In this podcast, experts in the field will explore why capital planning is foundational for K–12 success, especially as districts face aging infrastructure, evolving learning environments and the spaces that support them, and the need for more stakeholder support. Hear from experts as they explain how capital plans can secure investments from the community and create a culture of strategic thinking, and how district leaders can obtain accurate facilities data to make sound financial decisions—contributing to a healthy and well-maintained learning environment for students.    Key Takeaways  Why capital planning is more than just addressing the worst items first  The role capital planning has on stakeholder buy and investments  The ROI of well-executed capital plans  How to collect and manage accurate facilities data  How district leaders use facilities data to make financially feasible decisions on facilities maintenance and stewardship    Speakers Caroline Johnson Wade, Senior Director, Sales, Gordian  ca.johnson@gordian.com   Chad Hancock, Associate Director, Planning Services Department, Gordian  c.hancock@gordian.com     To learn more about Gordian's capital planning solutions for K-12, visit our website or contact us.

    38 min

  6. 05/09/2025

    The Brain State: 10 Essential Tier 1 Supports for Educators and Students

    The Brain State: 10 Essential Tier 1 Supports for Educators and Students District leaders who promote brain state model-based approaches, like Conscious Discipline and Applied Educational Neuroscience (AEN), in their schools equip educators with the knowledge to properly instill self-regulation and emotional resilience in students. Educators who understand their brain state - or how the brain functions - can teach behaviors as learnable skills to foster student wellness, while ensuring their own actions are preventative and adversity responsive. At Tippecanoe School Corporation (TSC), Conscious Discipline-Certified Instructors partner with in-district Neuro-Educators to provide PD districtwide for teachers to learn about the brain state through the TSC’s CDAT team, called the Brain Brigade. In this podcast, a TSC Neuro-Educator and partnered Conscious Discipline Certified Instructor will explore how the Conscious Discipline-informed Brain Brigade trains educators on using these skills districtwide, including a critical component of the TSC program, “10 Essential Tier 1 Brain-Aligned Practices.”  Key Takeaways:   District Perspective on Tier 1: What district leaders need to know about “10 Essential Tier 1 Brain-Aligned Practices” to enhance cognitive development, self-regulation and engagement in their schools  Promoting Brain Culture Districtwide: Conscious Discipline (CD) brain-based approach and implementation strategies help teachers embrace and understand the importance of self-regulation and Applied Educational Neuroscience  Family Engagement Strategies: Best practices on communicating with families to promote mental wellness at home and why this matters  Assess Your District Needs: How to identify if the integration of comprehensive Applied Education Neuroscience and CD practices are right for your district Speakers Katie Ahearn, Certified Instructor, Conscious Discipline Anne Marshall, Neuroscience Educator and Instructional Coach, Tippecanoe District For more information on how to receive Conscious Discipline's training and coaching tailored to your district's needs, contact our Partner Development team here.

    49 min

  7. 04/02/2025

    4 Ways to Support Students with Special Education Needs Digitally

    District leaders are under increasing pressure to support the individual needs of students with disabilities, who comprise approximately 15% of national public school enrollment. One way to help students with special needs is by providing a digital learning environment. One study* revealed that online learning has provided this population with added flexibility and convenience to manage and absorb information at their own pace, along with individualized learning opportunities that address their specific challenges. In this podcast, a digital learning expert with experience developing online, blended, and hybrid programs for special and gifted education students will provide school and district administrators with best practices to support students with special education needs in the digital learning environment. GUEST: Nikki Callaghan, Director of Exceptional Student Education, FlexPoint

    34 min

  8. 01/30/2025

    EPISODE 38: Why digital media literacy is a gift for students now, live from FETC

    Arming students with the skills to traverse the internet responsibly is education's latest challenge, says these two leaders live from the Future of Education Technology Conference.

    20 min
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About

Superintendents, principals and other key figures in education share their experiences, strategies and forecasts for K12 public schools.

Information

  • Creator
    District Administration
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    53
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    DA Podcasts

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