Innovative Schools Podcast

The Innovative Schools Podcast features conversations with authors, consultants, thought leaders and practicing educators working to improve K-12 schools around the world. These conversations include discussions on student mental and behavioral health, classroom behavior, school climate & culture, innovative teaching methods, student safety and more. Each episode provides an opportunity for administrators, teachers, counselors, social workers and others to learn about new insights and strategies for reaching and teaching students.

Innovative Schools Podcast is a education podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 41 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Unknown Host hosts Innovative Schools Podcast, a education show with 41 episodes published.

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  Episode #4

  S4E4 - Laughter in the Lesson w/ Devin Siebold

  Sep 22, 202637 minS4

  Former teacher and comedian Devin Siebold explores how laughter can relieve stress, build community, and help students feel safe. Educators will learn practical ways to bring authentic humor into the classroom without needing to be a comedian. Key Takeaways • Laughter can communicate safety and help students lower their guard. • Humor gives educators and students a needed break from stress and uncertainty. • Small moments of laughter can strengthen classroom community and connection. Memorable Quotes • “These teachers just got to laugh.” • “Laughter is humans’ way of communicating safety to one another.” • “Why can’t we just have some of that, even just a little bit of it, in the classroom?” Strategies You’ll Learn • How to use humor to create a greater sense of safety in the classroom. • Ways to use laughter as a reset during stressful moments. • Suggestions for finding authentic humor in shared educational experiences without “punching down.” ➕ Additional Practices • Intentionally create small opportunities to laugh with students. • Find healthy sources of humor outside school to disconnect and recharge. • When sharing classroom humor, focus on relatable experiences rather than specific students, parents, or colleagues. Resources and Links • Devin Siebold’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/devinsiebold/?hl=en • A Teacher in the Wild by Devin Siebold: https://www.amazon.com/Teacher-Wild-Devin-Siebold/dp/0578260182 • Devin’s comedy tour for teachers: Bored Teachers Tour ❤️ Love This Episode? • Share it with a fellow educator! • Rate & Review to help more teachers find this show. • Follow and listen: Instagram | YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify Video Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 02:32 Devin’s Teaching Journey 07:56 From Teacher to Comedian 11:26 Why Teachers Need Laughter 14:24 Stress in Today’s Schools 17:49 Bringing Laughter Into the Classroom 23:59 Laughter, Safety & Connection 27:03 Finding Humor Without Punching Down 28:49 A Teacher in the Wild 34:00 Encouragement for Educators

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  Episode #3

  S4:E3 - How Serving your Community Serves your School w/ Dr. Tiffany Anderson

  Sep 8, 202654 minS4

  Dr. Tiffany Anderson shares how relationships, service, high expectations, and community connections can transform schools. She challenges educators to get beyond the walls of the school, understand the people they serve, and build systems that create lasting change. Key Takeaways Strong schools are built on trust and relationships . Challenges can be reframed as opportunities for change . Schools can become powerful centers of their communities . Lasting improvement requires systems, not temporary programs . Educators can accomplish more through connection and collaboration . Memorable Quotes ️“You can’t serve needs you don’t know.” ️“Programs come and go... but systems will remain.” ️“Listen to learn. Stop listening to respond.” ️“We are not in this alone.” ️“We are literally ambassadors of hope.” Strategies You’ll Learn How to identify what students and families truly need. Ways to build stronger connections with the community. How to break down silos across schools and teams. How to maintain high expectations while providing meaningful support. How networking can bring new ideas and solutions back to your school. ➕Additional Practices Conduct community listening tours. Build partnerships that address barriers outside the classroom. Invest intentionally in relationship-building among staff. Seek out educators and schools you can learn from. Practice “listening to learn” instead of listening to respond. Resources and Links Links to https://youthlight.com/browse.php?p=tiffany+anderson See more Tiffany on AccuEd.com : https://accued.com/programs/the_three_levers?category_id=104440 ❤️ Love This Episode? ✅ Share it with a fellow educator! ⭐ Rate & Review to help more teachers find this show Join the Conversation on social media or in your next staff meeting! Check out our Instagram! Listen on Apple Podcasts! Listen on Spotify! Watch it on YouTube!

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  Episode #2

  S4:E2 - Rethinking Productive Struggle w/ Dr. John Almarode

  Aug 25, 202647 minS4

  Jordan and Will sit down with Dr. John Almarode to explore the difference between challenge and true struggle. They discuss how educators can find the right level of difficulty, recognize when students are stuck, and respond without taking over the learning. Key Takeaways Challenge isn’t struggle: Challenge is difficult but manageable; struggle happens when existing skills and strategies no longer work. Don’t design for struggle: Aim for the right level of challenge instead. Response matters: What teachers and students do after struggle begins determines whether it becomes productive. Build better strugglers: Teach students strategies for getting themselves unstuck. Competence builds confidence: Success can prepare students to tackle harder tasks. Memorable Quotes ️“We want them to know what to do when they don’t know what to do.” ️“Competence leads to confidence, not the other way around.” ️“We should not plan for struggle. Instead, we should plan for the right level of challenge.” Strategies You’ll Learn Recognize the difference between challenge and struggle. Use prompts, cues, feedback, and scaffolding without taking over. Find the “Goldilocks” level of challenge. Build students’ metacognitive and self-regulation skills. Use previous success to build confidence for harder tasks. ➕ Additional Practices Make student thinking visible through discussion and formative assessment. Prompt students before providing answers. Adjust support without removing rigor. Explicitly teach strategies for getting unstuck. Reflect and adjust when multiple students struggle with the same task. Resources and Links Links to John Almarode’s books: https://youthlight.com/browse.php?p=John+Almarode ❤️ Love This Episode? ✅ Share it with a fellow educator! ⭐ Rate & Review to help more teachers find this show Join the Conversation on social media or in your next staff meeting! Check out our Instagram! Listen on Apple Podcasts! Listen on Spotify! Watch it on YouTube!

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  Episode #1

  S4:E1 - Setting the Right Tone w/ Gerry Brooks

  Aug 11, 202655 minS4

  Gerry Brooks joins the Innovative Schools Podcast to share practical ways educators and administrators can start the school year strong. From building relationships with colleagues and families to being a visible, supportive leader, Gerry explains how investing in people early can set the tone for the entire year. Key Takeaways Prioritize relationships during the first weeks of school. Make positive parent contact before problems arise. Remember that colleagues may be carrying challenges you can't see. Principals should be visible and present throughout the school. New leaders should listen and observe before making major changes. High staff turnover can be a sign of leadership problems. Support people publicly and address concerns privately. Memorable Quotes ️“This is the two weeks where I say worry about everybody else.” ️“A teacher will stay at a school without supportive parents if they have supportive administrators.” ️“Support them publicly and criticize privately.” ️“If you do it right, it’s the best career ever.” Strategies You’ll Learn How to build stronger staff relationships. Simple ways to create positive parent connections. How principals can support teachers during the first month. How new administrators can approach school culture and change. How to give feedback without damaging relationships. ➕ Additional Practices Spend 15 minutes a day making positive family contacts. Check in with people outside your normal circle. Ask families about students' interests and concerns. Celebrate progress beyond academics. Aim for more praise than criticism. Take time to know the people behind their job titles. Resources and Links Gerry Brooks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gerrybrooksprin/?hl=en Gerry Brooks Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/GerryBrooks ❤️ Love This Episode? ✅ Share it with a fellow educator! ⭐ Rate & Review to help more teachers find this show Join the Conversation on social media or in your next staff meeting! Check out our Instagram! Listen on Apple Podcasts! Listen on Spotify! Watch it on YouTube!

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  Episode #11

  S3:E11 - LIVE Season 3 Finale

  Jun 8, 202652 minS3

  <p>In this special live season finale of the Innovative Schools Podcast, Jordan brings together a panel of education experts—Katie Kinder, Kara Rigsby, Megan Diede, and Ernesto Mejia—to discuss how educators can make the most of their summer. Through stories, laughter, and practical advice, the panel explores the importance of rest, reflection, and renewal, while offering actionable ways to recharge both personally and professionally before the next school year begins.</p><p><b>🔑 Key Takeaways</b></p><p>✔️Summer should be viewed as a time of renewal, not just recovery.</p><p>✔️Rest is most effective when it is intentional...

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