Sharing the Good with Dr. Denise Ball

Dr. Denise Ball

Welcome to Sharing the Good with Dr. Denise Ball, a podcast celebrating the people, ideas, and practices that inspire us to lead with purpose and cultivate communities where others can thrive. Through authentic conversations with educators, school leaders, authors, researchers, and ministry leaders, Dr. Denise Ball explores topics including school culture, leadership, belonging, faith, innovation, teacher retention, professional learning, and the joy of the work. Whether you are leading a school, serving a parish, supporting educators, or simply seeking encouragement, each episode is designed to leave you with practical ideas, renewed hope, and a reminder that sharing the good can transform communities.

  1. 2d ago

    Episode 8 | Clarity and Consistency: Helping Middle School Students Know What Success Looks Like

    Episode 8 | Clarity and Consistency: Helping Middle School Students Know What Success Looks Like The Middle School Culture Blueprint: Reflections from the Field What if one of the greatest gifts we can give middle school students is helping them understand what is expected, what success looks like, and where to turn when they need support? In Episode 8 of The Middle School Culture Blueprint: Reflections from the Field, Dr. Denise Ball welcomes Laura MacDonald, Vice President of Content and Program Development for the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA), for an inspiring conversation on the importance of clarity and consistency in creating positive middle school cultures. Middle school students navigate multiple classrooms, different teachers, and changing expectations during an already complex season of development. How can school teams reduce unnecessary confusion while still celebrating the creativity, personality, and expertise of individual teachers? Together, we explore: The importance of shared expectations and consistent routines across middle school classrooms.How clarity can strengthen student confidence, independence, and readiness to learn.Why coherence does not mean conformity, and how thoughtful structures can create room for teacher creativity.The value of common language and clear communication with students and families.How viewing the school day through a student's eyes can reveal opportunities to simplify and strengthen the learning experience.Practical ways middle school teams can create the conditions for students and teachers to thrive.This episode highlights one of the four pillars of The Middle School Culture Blueprint: Clarity, alongside Belonging, Coherence, and Formation. Dr. Denise Ball and Dr. LaTonya White are developing The Middle School Culture Blueprint, which will be published this spring with NCEA, connecting research with the experiences and insights of educators serving middle school communities across the nation. A heartfelt thank you to Laura MacDonald for sharing her time, leadership, and commitment to Catholic education! Please feel welcome to join the conversation as we continue learning from one another and sharing the good happening in our schools. Your words and actions matter. We can do so much more together! #TheMiddleSchoolCultureBlueprint #SharingTheGood #CatholicEducation #MiddleSchoolEducation #SchoolCulture #EducationalLeadership #Clarity #NCEA

    Episode 8 | Clarity and Consistency: Helping Middle School Students Know What Success Looks Like

  2. 4d ago

    Episode 7 | Culture by Design, Not by Default | Dr. Anita Harkins-Mehsling

    With 36 years of experience in education, Dr. Harkins-Mehsling shares thoughtful reflections on intentional leadership, collective efficacy, courageous conversations, and protecting the dignity of every person in the school community. Throughout this inspiring conversation, we explore: Why listening, including welcoming constructive feedback, is essential to building trust. The courage required to enter difficult conversations with grace and intention. How our words, including sarcasm, can impact middle school students who come to us for both learning and formation. The importance of collective efficacy and consistently asking, "Is this what is right for the students?" Why meaningful school improvement begins with preparation, reflection, and honest conversations. How sometimes the greatest gift a school leader can offer is simply being present, listening, and acknowledging. One particularly inspiring story highlights a school community where teachers, recognizing that many of their students and families spoke Spanish, invited parents to tutor the faculty after school so they could strengthen their own communication skills. What an extraordinary example of humility, partnership, and collective commitment to students! This conversation reminds us that culture is not built through one program or initiative. It is cultivated through the words, actions, decisions, and relationships we choose to reinforce every day. Episode 7 is part of The Middle School Culture Blueprint: Reflections from the Field, a podcast series supporting the forthcoming manuscript by Dr. Denise Ball and Dr. LaTonya White in collaboration with the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA). Join the conversation on Sharing the Good with Dr. Denise Ball as educators and leaders from across the nation share their experiences, research, and wisdom for the good of the profession. Our words and actions matter. We can do so much more together! www.youtube.com/@SharingTheGoodwithDrDeniseBall #TheMiddleSchoolCultureBlueprint #SharingTheGood #CatholicEducation #SchoolCulture #EducationalLeadership #BelongingByDesign #CollectiveEfficacy

    Episode 7 | Culture by Design, Not by Default | Dr. Anita Harkins-Mehsling

  3. Oct 8

    Episode 6 | Belonging by Design: Helping Middle School Students Feel Seen, Known, and Needed re: The Middle School Culture Blueprint: Reflections from the Field

    Episode 6 | Belonging by Design: Helping Middle School Students Feel Seen, Known, and Needed The Middle School Culture Blueprint: Reflections from the Field Featuring members of the Holy Redeemer Catholic School community in Kensington, Maryland. What does it take to create a middle school culture where every student feels seen, known, valued, and needed? In this episode, I welcome an inspiring team from Holy Redeemer Catholic School in Kensington, Maryland, Archdiocese of Washington: Tommy Corrigan, Principal. Jeanne Donatelli, Assistant Principal, Ted Scott, Middle School Teacher, and Danielle Trotta, Middle School Teacher. Together, we explore how intentional routines, meaningful traditions, clear expectations, and a shared commitment to Catholic identity create a school community where belonging thrives. Drawing on the Thriving with Social Purpose model and research by Ford and Smith, Dr. Ball shares the importance of helping students recognize that they have a meaningful role, or a "job," within their school community. Ted and Danielle bring this concept to life through examples of the many opportunities Holy Redeemer students have to contribute, serve, and take responsibility. Tommy and Jeanne remind us that prayer is woven throughout the school day, providing a foundation of faith that the entire community can lean on. This conversation is a beautiful reminder that positive school culture does not happen by accident. It is cultivated with intention, consistency, and a commitment to helping every student know that their presence matters. Episode 6 is part of The Middle School Culture Blueprint: Reflections from the Field, a podcast series supporting the forthcoming manuscript by Dr. Denise Ball and Dr. LaTonya White, in collaboration with the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA). Join us as we continue learning from educators and school leaders across the nation who are generously sharing their wisdom for the good of the profession. Our words and actions matter. Thank you for joining the conversation and for sharing the good! Watch here: https://youtu.be/_H9MV2gpTOE, or listen wherever you enjoy your favorite podcasts. #TheMiddleSchoolCultureBlueprint #SharingTheGood #CatholicEducation #SchoolCulture #StudentBelonging #MiddleSchoolLeadership

    Episode 6 | Belonging by Design: Helping Middle School Students Feel Seen, Known, and Needed re: The Middle School Culture Blueprint: Reflections from the Field

  4. Oct 1

    Episode 5 | Joy, Formation, and Purpose: Sustaining Middle School Teachers for the Long Run

    Thankful Thursday! There is SO much good happening in our Catholic schools, and what a privilege it is to share it! Episode 5 of The Middle School Culture Blueprint: Reflections from the Field features an inspiring conversation with three wonderful educators from School of the Incarnation in the Archdiocese of Baltimore Catholic Schools. Dr. Nancy Baker, Ed.D reminds us that school leaders must intentionally support balance and renewal for their faculty and staff. Christine Hinton underscores the importance of establishing and maintaining TRUST among our teams, and George Milan, a veteran middle school teacher, reminds us of the incredible power of HUMOR in the classroom. I LOVE this! Even the most prepared school teams will encounter unexpected challenges throughout the year. Protecting our JOY is essential! Our educators are highly educated professionals who have chosen to serve in Catholic education. We need to SEE them, RESPECT them, SUPPORT them, and THANK them. A huge shout-out to Nancy, Christine, and George for generously sharing their wisdom, experiences, and reflections from the field. What an inspiring conversation! As Dr. LaTonya Rayford White and I continue our work on The Middle School Culture Blueprint with the National Catholic Educational Association (Official) (NCEA), I am increasingly grateful for the educators and leaders who are helping us share the good for the benefit of our profession. Let's continue creating school cultures where educators and students thrive! Join the Conversation https://youtu.be/N9Po-gp0co0 Enjoy wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.

    Episode 5 | Joy, Formation, and Purpose: Sustaining Middle School Teachers for the Long Run

  5. Sep 30

    Episode 4 | Middle School Culture Blueprint | Reflections | Middle School Team as the Engine

    What happens when middle school teachers stop functioning as separate classrooms and begin thinking and working as one team? In Episode 4 of The Middle School Culture Blueprint: Reflections from the Field, Dr. Denise Ball welcomes Mary Peters, a veteran middle school educator at St. Anne Catholic Grade School in the Archdiocese of Detroit, for a practical conversation about collaboration, consistency, and building a strong middle school team. Mary shares several practices her team is using to strengthen the student and teacher experience. One especially powerful example is a common middle school assessment template built around the Claim, Evidence, Reasoning (CER) format. By using a shared approach across content areas, teachers provide students with greater consistency while still maintaining the uniqueness of their individual disciplines and classrooms. Mary also shares how her middle school team is meeting monthly as a professional learning community, with the development of a shared middle school vision at the center of their work. Throughout the conversation, Mary reflects on the four interconnected pillars framing The Middle School Culture Blueprint: Belonging, Clarity, Coherence, and Formation. Her experience reinforces an important idea: positive school culture is not built through one program or initiative. It grows through intentional relationships, shared expectations, common practices, ongoing formation, and a team committed to serving students together. The Middle School Culture Blueprint, co-authored by Dr. Denise Ball and Dr. LaTonya White, is forthcoming from the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA). Enjoy this episode in video format by visiting https://youtu.be/G9EElZ4Zmps When we train our eyes to see the good, amazing things happen!

    Episode 4 | Middle School Culture Blueprint | Reflections | Middle School Team as the Engine

  6. Sep 25

    Episode 3 | University Lens: Preparing and Supporting Middle School Educators

    This is what an educational community looks like. What a gift to spend time in conversation with four university leaders who are deeply committed to the preparation, formation, and ongoing support of educators: Dr. Michael O’Connor, from the Roche Center for Catholic Education at Boston College; Dr. Nicci Dowd, from Marymount University; Dr. Aliya Holmes, from St. John’s University; and Dr. Clara Hauth, from Marymount University. Episode 3 of The Middle School Culture Blueprint: Reflections from the Field, “University Lens: Preparing and Supporting Middle School Educators,” was such an encouraging reminder of what is possible when leaders in higher education listen to the needs of teachers and school leaders and come together to ask, “How can we help?” Their closing words to educators were worth carrying forward: “You are not alone. Lean on Christ and those in your orbit.” — Dr. Michael O’Connor “Design for possibilities, not limitations.” — Dr. Nicci Dowd “Lean on God and community...see and use the small things.” — Dr. Aliya Holmes “Give yourself grace, and ask questions...advocate for yourself and others.” — Dr. Clara Hauth Dr. LaTonya White and I are so grateful to see The Middle School Culture Blueprint coming together as we prepare for its spring 2027 publication with NCEA. These Reflections from the Field continue to reinforce something important: when we hear the needs of educators and leaders step forward to share their wisdom, experience, research, and support, we strengthen the entire educational community. Thank you, Michael, Nicci, Aliya, and Clara. The universities you serve are blessed to have you, and Catholic education is stronger because people like you continue to enter into the conversation. Watch on Sharing the Good with Dr. Denise Ball: www.youtube.com/@SharingTheGoodwithDrDeniseBall Or listen wherever you enjoy your favorite podcasts. We can do more when we learn, lead, and serve together!

    Episode 3 | University Lens: Preparing and Supporting Middle School Educators

  7. Sep 17

    The Middle School Culture Blueprint-Reflections from the Field | Episode 2 | Why Professional Learning…Is it Important or Just One More Thing? with Lynsie Reavis

    Episode 2 | Why Professional Learning…Is it Important or Just One More Thing? What makes professional learning worthy of a teacher’s time? In Episode 2 of The Middle School Culture Blueprint: Reflections from the Field, I am joined by Lynsie Reavis, Director for Educational Programs for the Archdiocese of Washington, for a practical and encouraging conversation about professional learning, middle school culture, and honoring the realities of educators’ work. Lynsie shares several important reminders for school and system leaders: focus deeply on one or two initiatives rather than continually adding more; empower “initiative ambassadors” who can share the impact of the work with colleagues; create time for middle school teams to develop shared language and consistent practices; and remember that relationships, collaboration, and reflection matter. We also discuss brain-based teaching and learning, the importance of intentional instructional decisions, and one of Lynsie’s most important reminders for educators and leaders: “Always remember your why!” This Reflections from the Field series was inspired by the work Dr. LaTonya White and I are doing on The Middle School Culture Blueprint (NCEA, 2027), bringing together the wisdom and experiences of teachers, school leaders, diocesan leaders, and university colleagues who are serving middle school communities every day. I hope you will join the conversation and consider how professional learning can become less about “one more thing” and more about helping educators learn, collaborate, and thrive. Watch, Listen, and Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@SharingTheGoodwithDrDeniseBall We can do more for schools when we do it together!

    The Middle School Culture Blueprint-Reflections from the Field | Episode 2 | Why Professional Learning…Is it Important or Just One More Thing? with Lynsie Reavis

  8. Sep 15

    Welcome Message!

    Thank you for stopping in or listening to Sharing the Good with Dr. Denise Ball. I am honored to host amazing educators, school leaders, and those striving to make a difference in education. When we train our eyes to see the good, amazing things happen! It is easy to share the good...thank you for joining the conversation. Denise Join the conversation LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/deniseballedu Instagram: deniseball_edu YouTube: www.youtube.com/@SharingTheGoodwithDrDeniseBall Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SharingTheGoodWithDrDeniseBall Blog: www.unlocktheteacher.org Sharing the Good is also available wherever podcasts are enjoyed!

    Welcome Message!
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About

Welcome to Sharing the Good with Dr. Denise Ball, a podcast celebrating the people, ideas, and practices that inspire us to lead with purpose and cultivate communities where others can thrive. Through authentic conversations with educators, school leaders, authors, researchers, and ministry leaders, Dr. Denise Ball explores topics including school culture, leadership, belonging, faith, innovation, teacher retention, professional learning, and the joy of the work. Whether you are leading a school, serving a parish, supporting educators, or simply seeking encouragement, each episode is designed to leave you with practical ideas, renewed hope, and a reminder that sharing the good can transform communities.

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