The Out of the Trenches Podcast outofthetrenches

As a professional speaker, trainer, and author, Mr. Johnson, AKA “Coach Carlos,” is locally bred, but his work and research on culture and engagement have taken him nationally and internationally. “Coach Carlos” and his team of consultants have utilized his experience and research to successfully turn around three failing public schools and one private Christian academy. In addition, his training and strategies have helped to change school culture and increase parental engagement, student enrollment, and staff and student retention. His driving belief is: “After 20 years of research, all evidence confirms that a highly engaged school culture is the mother of High-performance!”
His transformational philosophy and practice have recently been published by Solution Tree entitled Power Engage-Seven Power Moves For Building Strong Relationships To Increase Engagement With Students And Parents System And Philosophy. His online/on-site system trains thousands of parents, students, and instructional teams each year on the psychology and practice of engagement.
Additionally, in response to young men’s worldwide academic and behavioral failure, he created the online tutoring, life skills, and coaching program for boys called Future Man Prep. “Coach Carlos’s” purpose of transforming institutions and individuals is obvious, and his passion is infectious when he speaks or trains.
Find Coach Carlos online: www.imageofsucess.com www.carlosjohnson.org FB: @coachcarlos

Ken Burrows is currently an English learner coordinator and owner of the business Rap Opera for Kids that uses Hip Hop and rap music to teach language arts skills using song lyrics. He taught as an English learner teacher in Virginia for 12 years, and through his experiences in the classroom, he developed several strategies and methods based on English language instruction research and best practices combined with rap music to develop the lessons and activities he shares with teachers through Rap Opera for Kids, helping them achieve high student engagement with cultural relevance.
Find Ken online: www.rapoperaforkids.com or @rapoperacentral on YouTube

Michael Beyer was an award-winning, National Board Certified K-12 teacher and principal. He transformed a school on the south side of Chicago, then led the merger of two schools, one being the wealthiest in Chicago and the other in the Cabrini Green housing development.
Since leaving education he has worked as real estate broker, Chief of Staff of an environmental nonprofit, and currently a change management consultant. Mike served overseas in the US Air Force and has received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, two master’s degrees in Art History and Education, and a doctorate in Education Leadership.
Mike is married to his wife of more than twenty years, with whom they have two children. Taught middle school self-contained 8 years, was an administrator PK-12 for close to 10 years. He still engages with educators through consulting. They reside in Oak Park, Illinois.
Mike be reached via LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/mmccbeyer Mike is available for consulting, coaching, and speaking engagements.

Matthew Ebert is a human-centered leader with 20+ years of experience in education, primarily focused on school leadership in urban settings. Matthew’s consulting is grounded in his experiences as a teacher, director of academic innovation, academy leader, and a decade of successful leadership as a public charter school principal. Throughout his leadership tenure, Matthew has developed teams that exceed expectations, consistently achieving strong results. He is committed to cultivating healthy work and learning environments in which individuals feel seen, heard, and valued. In addition to helping team members consistently attain their personal and professional goals, Matthew has facilitated dramatic and consistent growth in student achievement in both Baltimore and Boston, in metrics focused on academic achievement and school climate. Matthew’s leadership is based on the idea that we are all here to take care of one another.
Find Matthew online: Website: www.eberteducationalconsulting.com
Twitter (X): @eberteducation
Instagram: @eberteducationalconsulting
Facebook: @matthew ebert
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/matthewebert1982/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/ebert-educational-consulting

Katie Kinder, author of Untold Teaching Truths and Hallway Leadership, is a highly sought after professional learning facilitator; she has been an educator since 2006. She brings her message of hope, fun, and real strategies to educators all over the nation. She believes that life is fun, and learning should most definitely be fun. A teacher of the year, top five district finalist, Speaker, Author, Professional Development Leader, a Mom, a Wife, a Fierce Advocate for Education, Katie has learned a trick or two in the classroom, so come on in, and have some fun, and hook your students from day one!
Find Katie online: Katie Kinder – Education Consultant Sharing Untold Teaching Truths www.katie-kinder.com, @KatieKinder1 on X

Mark Alsip is a computer scientist and former fundamentalist Young Earth Creationist. Indoctrinated at the age of 6, conflicts soon arose over his love of science. Mark is alarmed at the intrusion of fundamentalism into all aspects of our society (especially government), believing it has led to book bans, science denial, anti-LGBTQ legislation, and denial of women's reproductive rights. His new book, "Journey to Reason" describes how he broke free from fundamentalism and offers a stark warning of its dangers to society. Mark also writes the long-running Bad Science Debunked blog (https://www.BadScienceDebunked.com), where he does lighthearted takedowns of urban legends, science denial, and the abundance of misinformation available on social media.
Find Mark online: www.alsip.net @MarkAlsup on FB