CharacterStrong co-founder Houston Kraft and Stanford Psychologist Dr. Jamil Zaki talk about practical insights and strategies to provide hope and empathy in this new school year. They discuss hopeful skepticism and meaningful ways to support students (and adults) as we start the first few weeks of school. 

Learn More About CharacterStrong: 

• Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples
• Attend our next live product preview
• Visit the CharacterStrong Website

Dr. Jamil Zaki is a professor of psychology at Stanford University and the director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience Lab. Using tools from psychology and neuroscience, he and his colleagues examine how empathy works and how people can learn to empathize more effectively. His writing on these topics has appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the New Yorker, and the Atlantic. He lives in San Francisco with his wife and their two daughters.

Today our guest is A.J. Howard the CEO and Co-Founder of Tracked Learning. We talk with A.J. about the importance of progress monitoring and data collection. A.J. highlights the common challenges special education teachers often face in collecting and tracking data while supporting students. He also shares how he helped develop a solution that addresses these challenges, ultimately giving teachers more time to focus on their students in the classroom

Learn More About CharacterStrong: 

• Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples
• Attend our next live product preview
• Visit the CharacterStrong Website

A.J.'s Bio: My name is A.J. Howard and I am co-founder and a ceo of Tracked Learning. I have worked in special education for over a decade and have two masters degrees and my national board certification. I live in northeast Washington with my wife and 3 kids. We love spending as much time together and. Wing outdoors as much as we can. With high caseloads and being the only sped teacher in my building while overseeing multiple programs, I was starting to burn out quick and it transferred to my home life, something I was not okay with. I needed better quality data and to stop reinventing the wheel weekly, monthly, quarterly. I started compiling information, way to assess, meeting with special education teachers across the globe, along with other things and team up with Jeremy Korthuis to build what is now Tracked Learning. A software program designed to help streamline the special education action process and get teachers the quality data that they need to make informed decisions to best support their students. It gives others and myself the time to be intentional and effective and also the head space to be fully present with my family at home.

Today our guest is Chad Elsberry, Assistant Director of the Iowa High School Athletic Association and & Co-Executive Director of the Iowa Association of Student Councils. We talk with Chad to about the crucial role of student leadership in high schools. Chad shares how fostering leadership skills in students today can shape their futures and impact the broader community. He highlights the significant influence that student councils have on the culture and climate of schools, enhancing the high school experience for everyone. Additionally, Chad emphasizes the need for school administrations to empower students intentionally to cultivate effective leadership.

Learn More About CharacterStrong: 

• Join us at the 2024 CharacterStrong National Conference
• Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples
• Attend our next live product preview
• Visit the CharacterStrong Website

Chad Elsberry, Iowa High School Athletic Association Assistant Director, has worked in sport administration and education fields for more than 25 years. Prior to his work with the IHSAA, he was an editor, writer, and photographer for several newspapers. He has also worked with students as an adjunct faculty member through Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC), teaching in the areas of business, marketing, and visual communications. As part of the IHSAA, he has presented at the NFHS National Conference on the issues of sportsmanship and leadership. He is a member of the National Association of Workshop Directors (NAWD) and has been trained in the Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) curriculum and Coaching Boys into Men (CBIM). Elsberry also serves as Co-Executive Director of the Iowa Association of Student Councils. Other areas of responsibility at the IHSAA include sponsorships, sport administration, technology, and student educational services. 

Today our guest is Dr. John Salovardos. Dr. Salovardos is the Director of Pupil Services in the Athol-Royalston Regional School District, in Athol-Royalston, Massachusetts. He has been working in special education in public schools for the past 23 years. We talk with Dr. Salovardos about ways that we can help all students feel connected at school, and how we can help students to thrive in our communities after high school.

John Salovardos Ed.D. is a Director of Pupil Services who has been working in special education in public schools for the past 23 years to develop programs and services in collaboration with organizational stakeholders. Prior to going into public education he worked in clinical inpatient psychiatric units for nearly 15 years and strives to work regionally on increasing awareness of mental health needs in the communities where he lives and works. Dr. Salovardos has engaged in considerable work in improving inclusion and co-teaching models in schools, developed a stand-alone alternative high school, and has been engaged in leadership research and consultation for more than ten years. As part of his community outreach, he has developed a trauma-informed regional curriculum pilot project for adolescents,. His professional mission is to utilize intent-based leadership practices to work with staff in collaborative teams and to challenge students to excel academically and emotionally by making sure that all students get what they need to succeed and are ready to become active community members once they leave the public school setting.

Today our guest is Phil Brown the lead trainer for High 5 Adventure Learning Center in Brattleboro, Vermont.

We talk to Phil about what Adventure Education is and how it is both novel and can involve some risk. He describes the experiential learning cycle and talks about the power of having a shared experience. Phil also gives practical ways we can use experiential learning strategies in our classrooms that can amplify learning for students.

Phil Brown, originally from England, joined the High 5 team in May 2015 having previously worked in Adventure and Outdoor education for 7 years. Phil brings high energy and devotion to the Adventure field and has presented at many national and international conferences on the subject of Adventure learning. He is also one of the co-authors of the book “Tinker: Building Purposeful Experiences from Classic Adventure Activities” and the producer/host of “Vertical Playpen” – the podcast all about Adventure and Experiential Education.

Today our guest is Kim Reykdal. We talk to Kim about the importance of having a whole child approach as we work to serve students and families. She talks about what she sees is missing from education, academic, career, and social emotional development, and how we can use data to help us close the gaps in those areas. Kim shares practical ways that we can better support all students, and gives ways that we can honor students as they take the next steps in their journeys after high school.

Kim Reykdal, M.Ed. is the Director of Graduation and Pathway Preparation at Washington’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).  In her current role she co-leads a statewide team to execute a recent policy change requiring every district to implement a comprehensive K-12 school counseling program aligned to the ASCA National Model.  In collaboration with Hatching Results, the Washington School Counselor Association (WSCA), Association of Wa School Principals (AWSP) and other state- and regional-level partners, Kim is helping facilitate systemic shifts to improve student support systems across Washington.  

In addition to previously supporting dual credit and secondary school counseling at OSPI, Kim’s 25+ years in education have also included serving as a high school teacher, high school counselor and career counselor, Reach Higher WA Steering Committee Member, Military Academy Selection Committee Board Member, School Board Director, and Chair of the WSCA Government Relations and Advocacy Committee. Through these roles, Kim has tirelessly advocated for students, school counseling and public education at the building, district, and state levels. Consequently, WSCA named Kim their 2014 Career Counselor of the Year and ASCA recognized her as a 2016 Finalist for National School Counselor of the Year. Kim is passionate about working collaboratively with district, regional and state-level partners to scale up standards- and evidence-based practices for school counseling.

Today our guest is Dr. Laura Owen. We talk to Dr. Owen about centering and celebrating student and family voices as we work to support them in their education. She shares some of the things that they have learned from listening to students, and how the pandemic has impacted them specifically when it comes to college enrollment. Dr. Owen highlights the need to include student voice as we plan, and build programs to support students in their post-secondary plans, and she shares the fast-growing impact that they are seeing in this work.

Dr. Laura Owen is the Executive Director for the Center for Equity and Postsecondary Attainment at San Diego State University. A prior urban school counselor and district counseling supervisor, she is a passionate advocate for closing college opportunity gaps. Her research focuses on evaluating the impact of interventions and programs designed to address the systems, structures and policies that drive equitable access to high quality postsecondary advising support. Laura has researched interventions targeting FAFSA completion, the high school to college transition, virtual advising, the use of technology in college counseling, and how students prefer to receive college and career information.

Follow Dr. Owen's work on Twitter - @sdsucepa

Website: https://education2.sdsu.edu/cepa

Today our guest is Allen Hill. We talk to Allen about the importance of advocating for the school counseling profession. He shares how we need to talk about what school counselors do and the impact that school counselors can have in the lives of students and families. Allen also talks about how school counselors are needed more than ever and gives examples of how we can support students in real, practical ways.

Allen Hill has served as a school counselor in urban and rural settings since receiving a master’s degree from Northern Arizona University-Yuma in 2002. Allen has been active on the Arizona School Counselor Association governing board since 2004 in roles including President, Secondary Vice President, and Advocacy Chair. He is currently serving as Indiana School Counselor Association Executive Director; he has been in this position since 2016. Allen is an active volunteer with the American Red Cross where he works in the Service to Armed Forces division as a trainer and facilitator for Reconnection Workshops.

Today we talk to CharacterStrong co-founder Houston Kraft about practicing gratitude. He shares how when it comes to gratitude, constraint increases creativity, specificity drives significance, and absence amplifies. Houston also shares some words of gratitude to all of those in education that are serving students and families every day.

Click here to access a sample of CharacterStrong Tier 2 Solution: http://tier2samples.com/

Today our guest is Megan Gruis the Executive Director of Customized Implementation Supports (CIS) at CharacterStrong.

We talk to Megan what Tier 2 is, how it differs from Tier 1 and Tier 3 supports, and why Tier 2 solutions are needed now more than ever in our schools today. She talks about some of the roadblocks that come when implementing Tier 2, and Meagan shares an overview of CharacterStrong’s new Tier 2 Solution.

Today our guest is Patrice Davis. We talk to Patrice about the ASCA National Model and how school counselors are implementing it impact the students and families in our communities. She shares how the ASCA model helps give school counselors a framework to set up their programs and make sure that they are data driven. Patrice also talks about when the model is implemented well it’s not about just showing what has been done, but the data helps show the difference that has been made in the lives of students.

Patrice Davis is a native Mobilian, and she is a 1989 honors graduate of Baker High School. She attended the University of South Alabama, where she graduated in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education with a concentration in Language Arts. She furthered her studies at the University of South Alabama where she graduated in 1995 with a Master of Education degree in Secondary Education with a concentration in Language Arts. In 1996, she received certification in school counseling from the University of South Alabama; and in 1999, she received certification in administration/supervision from Alabama State University. In 1998, she graduated from the University of South Alabama with her Educational Specialist degree as an Instructional Specialist in Secondary Language Arts.

In addition to these educational achievements, Patrice is a 2005 graduate of the Principals’ Academy, and she is also a 2007 graduate of the University of Alabama Superintendents’ Academy. During her thirty-year career in the Baldwin County Public School System, Patrice has served as an English teacher at Fairhope High School; a counselor at Bay Minette Middle School; an assistant principal and principal at Bay Minette Middle School; and as the Intervention Supervisor in Central Office. She currently serves as the Prevention and Support Services Coordinator, whereby she supervises the school counselors, school social workers, the transition liaison coach, the general education homebound teachers, the Section 504 Resource Counselor, and the on campus suspension aides. In addition, she serves as the Section 504 Compliance Coordinator and the Homebound Services Coordinator for the district, as well as the administrator for the At-Risk Budget.

Patrice lends her time to several civic and community organizations in Baldwin County. She is a member of the Board of Directors for Baldwin County’s Child Advocacy Center, and she is a member of the Baldwin County Underage Drinking Task Force. She also serves on the Baldwin County Community Alliance, of which she is one of the charter members. She is a former Chairman of the Board of Directors for the United Way of Baldwin County, and she is also a past President for the Board of Directors for the Snook Youth Club of Foley. Patrice is currently the President-Elect for the Alabama School Counselor Association. In previous years, she has also served as the Counselor Supervisor Vice President for the Alabama School Counselor Association.

Today our guests are Brent Jurgensen and Tom Grogan.We talk to Brent and Tom about the importance of virtues and how virtues are our values in action. They share about the busyness of family life today and how we need to provide tools for both families and educators to focus on supporting students on who they want to be and what is most important to them. Brent and Tom also share why it is necessary to give students opportunities to think about, reflect on, and apply virtues in their lives.

Brent Jurgensen is a 24-year veteran in the world of education and coaching. He is a graduate of the University of Wyoming and Chadron State University. Brent was named the James Madison Fellow for the state of Wyoming in 2012. Named Coach of the Year for the State of Wyoming twice, contributed to 13 state championship teams, coached 24 individual state champions, and seven state record holders in track and field. He has also created an ethics and leadership curriculum, ventured into business ownership, and works in sports broadcasting. 

Brent lives in Casper, Wyoming with his wife, Heather, and his children, Royce and Piper, while the eldest, Paisley, continues her education in St. George, Utah. He lives for his family, fishing adventures, guitar, travel, reading history, baseball, and ultimately, the pursuit of live music. You can connect with Brent on Twitter at @bjurgens23.

Teacher, coach, and family man, Tom Grogan’s passion for leadership and character development runs deep in every aspect of his life. Growing up in Wyoming, discipline and hard work formed his foundation. Whether it’s in the classroom, on the football field, or in everyday mentorship, Tom lives to teach young people about character education. In 2018, Tom received the Arch Coal Outstanding Teacher award. Shortly thereafter, he founded LIFT Wyoming, a non-profit organization promoting youth leadership throughout the state.   

Tom currently lives in Casper, Wyoming with his wife Sommer and their two children, Kellan and Elise. When his soul needs realignment, a fly rod and a mountain stream magically put his world in order. You can connect with Tom on Twitter at @coachgrogan52.

Webinar Link: 10 Powerful Moments To Get Right This School Year 

Today our guest is Brandon Bakke, the Director of Secondary Education at CharacterStrong. We talk to Brandon about how intentionally making defining moments can improve the climate in our schools. He gives some practical examples of everyday events that we can elevate as we interact with students and staff. Brandon also shares 3 strategies that we can put in practice as we begin to think in moments, and he shares one way that a specific yearly milestone can be turned into a more memorable moment.

Brandon Bakke is the Director of Secondary Education for CharacterStrong. Brandon has 27 years of experience serving in secondary education, a career that has spanned six different high schools in four different school districts in two different states. Brandon has been a high school administrator for 20 years, and his work building culture and climate in schools has been featured on the CharacterStrong podcast and blog, as well as in Washington Principal Magazine.

Today our guest is Dr. David Arencibia the Principal at Colleyville Middle School in Grapevine-Colleyville ISD. Dr. Arencibia shares about his new book, “Foundations of an Elite Culture: Building Success with High Standards and a Positive Environment.” He shares how high standards and a positive culture are the two pillars of a healthy campus, and how these two pillars can help with staff burnout, hiring, and community both inside and outside of our buildings. He also talks about Colleyville Middle School being a CharacterStrong Showcase school and he highlights the great work that the team at Colleyville is doing as they serve students and families everyday.

Learn More About CharacterStrong: 

• Join us at the 2024 CharacterStrong National Conference
• Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples
• Attend our next live product preview
• Visit the CharacterStrong Website

Dr. David Arencibia is a highly regarded educator with over two decades of experience as a school leader, dedicated to building cultures of success. David is a sought-after keynote speaker and the author of "Foundations of an Elite Culture," released in May of 2024 and held the #1 New Release position in its education category on Amazon. Notable accolades include being named the 2023 National Principal of the Year finalist, the 2022 Texas Secondary Principal of the Year, and the 2022 Texan of the Year finalist by the Dallas Morning News. David has met with the US Secretary of Education several times to help advance education in America.

According to US News & World Report, David's school garnered recognition as one of the Best Schools in Texas and the country. Under his leadership, the school achieved significant milestones, earning designations such as a Nationally Recognized Model Campus, a Texas School To Watch, and a National PTA School of Excellence. Notably, during a recent school year, the school achieved 100% of students experiencing at least a year's academic growth.

David and his team have fostered substantial community growth, boasting the highest school record numbers with more PTA members than students for five consecutive years. EducationWeek and NASSP’s Leadership Magazines have featured David and his school team for cultivating a positive culture with high standards and teacher retention. In "The Energy Bus for Schools," a new book by Jon Gordon and Dr. Jim Van Allan, David's school is highlighted as a premier institution embodying the desired attributes of a positive culture.

Today our guest is Felisha Santiago the Director of MTSS at CharacterStrong.

We talk to Felisha about how Environment is of the key ingredients of Tier 1 and how Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) can impact the way that students learn by establishing safe, predictable, routines. She also shares how educators bring PBIS it to life in classrooms, and what districts can to do to continue to support the work.

Felisha Santiago recently served in public education overseeing PBIS, Restorative Practices and Social Emotional Learning under the MTSS Framework as a District Climate and Culture Coordinator. Her 14 year expertise ranges from a district secretary, special education aide, teacher at all grade levels, site administrator designee, Department Lead, District Specialist and District Administrator. She led over 25 schools in her district to obtain state of CA PBIS recognition that ranged from Bronze to Platinum. She has a passion for rooting for the whole child work, training staff in effective practices and giving a voice back to our students.

Today our guest is Mike Nelson, Assistant Executive Director for Professional Learning at the Washington Association of School Administrators

We talk to Mike about WASA and the role that it plays in Washington in supporting Administrators. He shares the top 3 needs that his organization has heard loud and clear from educational leaders and talks about some ways leaders can help meet these needs.

Michael (Mike) Nelson began his career as an elementary school teacher before becoming an elementary school principal. During his time as the principal, his elementary school received a National Blue Ribbon by the U. S. Department of Education. As a district leader, he led learning initiatives in both the Federal Way and Enumclaw school districts in Washington state. In January 2007, he became the superintendent for the Enumclaw school district during which time he led several initiatives to improve the district’s cultural support and academic outcomes for Native students. In 2019, the Washington Association of School Administrators named him the Washington State Superintendent of the Year. Currently, he is the Assistant Executive Director for Professional Learning for the Washington Association of School Administrators.

Today our guest is Katherine Holden, Principal at Talent Middle School, in Talent, Oregon

We talk to Katherine about ways that we can create more safe and nurturing learning environments that are calm, comfortable, and predictable. She talks about how the unpredictability of the last few years has impacted students’ learning and how helping students establish routines and structure is so important, especially in this season.

Click here to learn more about the work Katherine is doing: https://www.smartedsystems.org/

Katherine Holden started teaching at Ashland High School in 2000 where she taught for ten years at the Wilderness Charter School, a school within AHS focused on sustainability, community, and project-based learning. She then moved to Ashland Middle School where she taught video productions for three years before becoming Associate Principal at AMS, a position that Kathrine held for seven years. In 2022 she was named the National Association of Principals National Assistant Principal of the Year.

Today our guest is Brian Miller, Principal at Chief Joseph Elementary in Great Falls Montana. We talk to Brian about his motto “Be the Story”, and how this can have a positive impact on people and the world around us. He also shares about ways they practice kindness with the staff and students at Chief Joseph Elementary by giving genuine, specific compliments.

Brian T. Miller is the proud principal of Chief Joseph Elementary School located in Great Falls, Montana. He has been a principal and English teacher throughout the country as well as internationally. He is a blogger, writer, public speaker, and believer in the power and purpose of education. Samwise Gamgee is his hero. 

Today our guest is Julie Hinshaw, Director of Elementary Education at CharacterStrong

We talk to Julie about the new update to CharacterStrong’s PreK-5th Grade curriculum PurposeFull People and how it has been expanded to better meet the needs of elementary schools. She outlines the 5 different activities that make up a week in the curriculum and some of the creative additions that have been added to help build core skills in students.

Today our guest is Cory Notestine the Director of Continuous Improvement at CharacterStrong.

We talk to Cory about selecting effective MTSS practices and he shares 3 reasons that even really good interventions fail. He overviews recency bias, treating the symptom vs the root cause, and choosing interventions that aren’t well fitted for our environment. Cory also shares how readiness and buy-in are connected and how we may need to look at buy-in differently.

CharacterStrong Co-Founders John Norlin and Houston Kraft kick of season 5 talking about systems that we can put in place this year that will help us drive forward the impactful work of education. They talk about 3 goals: purpose for learning, engagement, & relationships, and give practical ways we can build systems that will help these goals come to life in our classrooms.

Today our guest is Dr. Sean Walker, Ex. Director of Secondary Schools and Leadership Development at Royse City ISD (Just outside Dallas TX). We talk to Sean about intentional ways we can empower our staff and students that can help them flourish. He shares how taking time to listen, getting feedback, and taking steps based on the feedback we receive can really impact the culture at our schools.

Sean Walker began his career in education as an ELAR teacher after earning his bachelor's degree from Texas Tech University in 2003. He taught at the high school level for 7 years. During his time as a teacher, Walker served as a teacher in 3 different Texas districts. Upon the completion of his master's degree in Educational Administration from Texas A&M-Commerce, Walker began his administrative career in 2010 as an assistant principal at McKinney North High School in the McKinney ISD. While at McKinney North High School, he earned his doctorate in Educational Leadership from Lamar University. 

After serving as an assistant principal for 5 years, Walker was hired as the principal of Royse City High School in the Royse City ISD in the spring of 2015. During his tenure at Royse City HS, the campus received several accolades and distinctions. These honors included Royse City HS being named a National Demonstration Campus in 2019, 2020, and 2021 for Capturing Kids' Hearts.

In 2020 the campus was also recognized as a Texas College & Career Readiness Schools designated campus.

In January of 2021 Walker was named the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals High School Principal of the Year. This award was in recognition of Walker's final year as campus principal at Royse City High School in 2020-2021.

Today our guest is Marianne Matt (Mott), School Counselor, at Capital High, in the Madison Metropolitan School District

We talk to Marianne about the importance of building students up and helping them to see the strengths in their personal experiences. She shares how in order to shift student mindsets we need to have staff members who believe in students and are committed to help them connect their strengths to school.

Marianne Matt is a high school counselor who works and resides in Madison, WI with her family. Marianne was named a finalist for National School Counselor of the Year 2022 by ASCA (American School Counselor Association). In her free time she enjoys gardening, camping, and generally getting outside and into nature.

CharacterStrong Co-Founder John Norlin shares 3 practical strategies that educators can use right now as we start off the school year. He shares how to intentionally implement the Temperature Check, the Student Becomes the Teacher, and True Story Friday with students.

Today our guests are Ryan Breen, a sophomore at Chaminade High School and Adam Giardina, Guidance Counselor at Chaminade High School. We talk to Ryan & Adam about an article that Ryan wrote for the New York Post Scholars Contest that focuses on the mental health of of young men. Ryan shares why he wrote the article and the needs that he is seeing in the young men in his community. Adam shares about how they have started to implement CharacterStrong in this first year of adoption, and how it is helping the students at Chaminade focus on their mental health. Ryan & Adam also share a few tips for other schools & districts that are implementing CharacterStrong.

To Read Ryan's NY Post Article Click Here

Learn More About CharacterStrong: 

• Join us at the 2024 CharacterStrong National Conference
• Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples
• Attend our next live product preview
• Visit the CharacterStrong Website

Today our guest is Adam Lane, Principal at Haines City HS, and the 2022 NASSP Florida Principal of the Year. We talk to Adam about how he has approached building awesome environments where students want to go to school and teachers want to come and teach. He also shares how he has shifted his mentality and created an alumni pipeline to help fill staffing needs.

Adam Lane has worked in K-12 public education since 1995. Fourteen of these years at the high school level, eight years at the middle school level and one year at the elementary level. In that time, he has held various positions, including, teacher, department head, athletic coach, athletic trainer, athletic director, assistant principal, International Baccalaureate coordinator and principal.

Currently, as principal at Haines City High School and Haines City International Baccalaureate, he serves a school with 3,000 students, 245 staff members and 6 assistant principals. The school includes an International Baccalaureate Program, a Junior Reserve Officer Training Core, The Environmental Agriculture & Technology Academy, The Academy of Media Production, The Academy of Children’s Educational Studies, The Visual Arts Pathway and The Performing Arts Pathway.

Over the last six years, discipline referrals have decreased by 40% and the graduation rate has increased by 21%. He believes the key to success is in utilizing decision making, relationship building and positive behavior to create an unforgettable experience, while improving staff effectiveness and raising student achievement!

Today our guest is CharacterStrong’s Chief Development Officer, Dr. Clayton Cook.

We talk to Clay about where Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) has come from, and why it is so important for students today. He also shares some of the roadblocks that get in the way of successful MTSS, why effective teaming is essential, and how CharacterStrong is supporting this work.

Today our guests are 5th Grade Teacher Julie Hannan, & Administrator Brett McDaniel from the Sumner-Bonney Lake School District.

We talk to Julie & Brett about the ways that they have worked to develop servant leaders in the 5th grade classes at their elementary school. Julie shares how from the beginning of the leadership program they have invited all of the 5th grade students to participate, and how this has changed the way that students think about what leadership is. As an administrator, Brett shares about the positive ways that this program has had an impact across all areas in the school.

Julie Hannan is a Washington State native who will begin her 19th year of teaching this fall. In this time, she has had the pleasure of teaching and learning alongside students from many countries, cultures, and backgrounds. Most of her experience has been in middle school, but Julie transitioned to upper elementary in 2018 and is loving it! Partnering with her administration, colleagues, and community to facilitate an environment of servant leadership and growing student leaders is her favorite part of the job!  Julie has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Law & Justice, a Master's Degree in Teaching, and has been National Board Certified since 2008.  She mentors new teachers, facilitates National Board Candidate cohorts, and has served in many leadership and coaching capacities.  In her spare time you will find Julie with her husband Dave and their 2 dogs, Kyle and Sage.

Brett McDaniel is entering his 24 year in education as the Vice Principal at Sumner Middle School in Sumner Wa. Brett has had a unique opportunity to have taught character education at all levels of education serving 17 years at the high school, 3 years at the Junior High and 3 years at the elementary. Throughout his career he has partnered to develop and hone in on building servant leadership programs within his schools to develop the whole child.

Today our guest is Jamie Brown, Assistant Principal at Bluffton High School in South Carolina. We talk to Jamie about the importance of blending SEL w/ Character Ed to build the Whole Teacher, so you can develop the Whole Child, and then in turn, partner with the Whole Community. He also shares ways that we can continue to remix the soundtrack of education by putting a focus on relationships.

A champion of Social-Emotional Learning & Character Education, Jamie's dedication to School Culture Revitalization and Whole Child Development supported NJ Public Education for 20 years as a teacher, PEER Leadership Coordinator and district administrator. He is an author with Road to Awesome Publishing, speaker, coach and promoter of empathy and inclusion among educators, students and the community. Jamie is the founder of Accept University, a presentation series promoting inclusion and empathy in schools, which earned a National Promising Practice from Character.org. Residing in the Hilton Head Island area, Jamie is the proud Assistant Principal at Bluffton High School, SC.

Today our guest is Justin Bradford, Superintendent, of Prescott School District in WA state. We talk to Justin about how he has used school wide assemblies to shape the culture and climate with students from Pk-12th grade. His motto of “We get what we honor” has created some big positive changes with students and staff. Justin also gives some helpful tips on how to communicate and lead staff through effective implementation of a school wide initiative.

Justin Bradford just finished his 32nd year in education. He started as an elementary teaching assistant in the Los Angeles Unified School District, then became a special education teacher, working primarily with students with emotional and behavioral disabilities and mental health challenges. Justin has taught general education classes and university classes, as well. He has worked in small, private schools and large, public schools in California and Washington and has also been a bus driver, a paraprofessional, a teacher, a dean, a behavior specialist, a special education director, a principal and a superintendent. Justin is currently the superintendent in Prescott, WA – a small, rural P-12 school in southeastern Washington, with about 250 students. He has a BA in Political Science, a specialist teaching certificate, a principal certificate and a Masters in Educational Leadership.

In this episode, CharacterStrong Co-Founder John Norlin shares 3 powerful stories from the work. Through these stories he reminds us of the importance of understanding the Law of the Lid, that there is always a reason for every behavior, and that even though this work is hard it is worth it. 

We talk to Dr. McMillan about the importance of staying student centered and how based on student voice, they have modified a period each day to create space for student choice. He shares about the impact that asking for input from students and staff can have on in building culture, and gives practical ways that they intentionally invest in staff culture at Chapman.

Growing up in a home with parents who were educators, Dr. Andrew McMillan knew education was in his blood. Identifying education as his career path in third grade, Dr. McMillan is now an accomplished educator with seventeen years of experience including ten years of administrative experience in grades K-12. Known as a well-respected and collaborative team member, Dr. McMillan has a reputation for promoting fairness, integrity, and honesty, while maintaining a strong work ethic to motivate faculty, staff, and students to achieve their maximum potential within an ever-changing education environment.

Dr. McMillan’s core values are simple: love kids, be professional, and lead a school the community is proud of. Within those core values, Dr. McMillan fosters an environment at Chapman High School that supports the Profile of the SC Graduate, preparing students for life after high school in what he calls the 4 E’s: serving their community as an Entrepreneur, Enrolled in a two or four year college or technical program, Enlisted in military service, or graduating as an Employable adult in a competitive, 21st century global economy. Named an Emerging Leader by the SCASCD, Dr. McMillan was also selected as the 2019 Outstanding Principal of the Year by the South Carolina Art Education Association. A firm believer in the importance of academics, arts, and athletics, Dr. McMillan currently serves as the South Carolina High School League Class AAA President. Additionally, under his leadership, Chapman High School was named a 2020 National Blue Ribbon School, recognized as an Exemplary High Performing School.

Dr. McMillan and his wife, Dr. Shelly McMillan, have one son, Ellis, who is 3.

Today our guest is Ryan Marshall, Lead Counselor, at South Salem High School, and the 2021 Oregon School Counselor of the Year. We talk to Ryan about the power of finding joy inside our work and he gives 3 steps to help us intentionally do this: 1. Knowing Thyself, 2. Building opportunities into our work schedule, and 3. Go and Do it.

Ryan Marshall just wrapped his 9th year as a school counselor, 7th at South Salem High School in Salem, Oregon where he’s served as the department lead. South is a three-time ASCA Ramp school and a home Ryan considers the kindest school in America. His focus areas are grief and loss counseling, crisis management, and suicide prevention and intervention. When he’s done finding joy on the job for the day, Ryan’s an avid sports fan - Go Ducks! - and loves hanging out with his wife and two daughters. He’s the 2021 Oregon School Counselor of the Year and is currently headed into a yearlong Sabbatical aimed at identifying ways to serve students and their families more effectively.

Today our guest is Dr. Julie Hartline, Associate Director of Professional Learning for Hatching Results and 2009 ASCA School Counselor of the Year.

We talk to Dr. Hartline about the impact that school counselors can have and the need for admin and staff to understand how school counselors can support staff and students. She also shares resources that can help bring more awareness and education when it comes to the important role that school counselors have in our schools.

Dr. Hartline became a teacher and then school counselor after discovering as a parole officer that over 85% of her caseload had not completed high school. Julie served as the Campbell High School counseling department chair for 14 years where her department became the first high school in Georgia to be designated as a Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) for having a comprehensive, data-driven school counseling program by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) in 2008. She served as the Cobb School Counselor Association President in 2009-2010 and was named the 2009 ASCA School Counselor of the Year. She earned her doctorate in Professional Counseling and Supervision in 2011.

In 2012, Julie transitioned to the Cobb County School District where she helped supervise K-12 school counselors for five years, serving as the 2014-2015 Georgia School Counselor Association President during that time. She became a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of North Florida in 2017 before joining Hatching Results in a more dedicated role as the Associate Director of Professional Learning. She is the co-author of The Use of Data in School Counseling, second edition.

Today our guest is Dan Wolfe an Assistant Principal at Sunray Elementary. We talk to Dan about the importance of purpose and how being connected to our purpose is so needed today. He shares how finding our purpose isn’t a destination, it’s a journey and gives ways that we can help others put a focus on purpose in their own lives.

Dan Wolfe has served as an educator in Pasco County, Florida for more than 20 years. During this time, he has held roles as a teacher, instructional/district coach and administrator. He is currently an Assistant Principal at Sunray Elementary. He was selected as Pasco County’s District Teacher of the Year in 2011-2012 school year. He is a part of the district’s Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Committee that recently established Pre-K through Grade 12 SEL standards. For the past two years Dan has written a blog and recorded a podcast called Becoming The Change (formerly Our Moral Compass) which focuses on a different quote each day and how we can best apply it towards becoming the change through our own moral compass and the five areas in SEL.

Today our guest is Dr. Andre Stout, Principal at Truman Middle School in Tacoma, WA. We talk with Dr. Stout about building capacity rather than seeking buy-in to implement social & emotional learning with fidelity. He explains the distinction between capacity and buy-in, emphasizing the importance of staff truly possessing the capacity to effectively implement. Dr. Stout also shares how the use of student community circles has significantly improved the environment at Truman Middle School. These circles have fostered a sense of community and connection among students, contributing to the overall success at the school.

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Dr. Andre Stout is the principal at Truman Middle School in Tacoma Washington. He has over 20 years of experience in education and the last 15 serving as an administrator.

Today our guest is Becky Arway a School Counselor, STUCO Advisor, at Polo R-VII Schools We talk to Becky about the intentional partnership that she has together with her principal, and how this has led to some really creative outcomes that support students. She shares about the Book in a Bag resource library and the impact that this has had in their school and community.

Becky Arway has been a school counselor at Polo R-VII Schools in Polo, Missouri for the past twelve years. Through her work as a school counselor, Becky strives to be an advocate for all of her students, their families and support systems. Working in a rural school district has granted Becky many opportunities to connect with community resources in order to help meet the increasing needs within her school building. One of her most important relationships is the working relationship she has built with her elementary principal. Their brainstorming sessions have resulted in some amazing outcomes, one of their most favorite being the Book in a Bag resources. Becky has served on her regional school counseling association (Northwest Missouri School Counselor Association), her state level association (Missouri School Counselor Association) and is also a member of the American School Counseling Association. She serves on various local committees working to serve the student's and families of her school district. Becky and her husband have two children, who keep them on their toes, and two dogs!

CharacterStrong Co-Founder John Norlin shares an experience from a past training, and talks about why we can't wait to infuse social & emotional learning and character development into the daily fabric of our schools.

Today our guests are Angela Shanahan & Karen Devine, School Counselors in Chicago Public Schools. We talk about the impact that comprehensive, data-informed school counseling programs have with students at their schools and across the district. They also share what they have learned leading schools thru the Recognized ASCA Model Program process, and the impact and benefits of becoming RAMP recognized.

Angela Shanahan is a school counselor in a neighborhood high school in Chicago Public Schools (CPS) with experience at the middle school, high school and district level. It was during her CPS internship in 2011 that she was first introduced to the Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) application process, with the high school receiving the award. Then after transitioning to a middle school and getting a few years under her belt, she decided to RAMP again. Through these experiences, Angela was able to network with counselors from other schools and better understand the impact we can make at a district level. 

Angela has been an ASCA RAMP reviewer for over four years and works as a Co-RAMP Coordinator for Chicago Public Schools with Karen Devine. In their second year as coordinators, they streamlined the supports for schools in their RAMP pipeline. Angela is also an adjunct professor at her alma-mata, Loyola University Chicago, where she teaches Foundations of School Counseling to first year graduate students. During her spare time, she enjoys being active and spending time with her husband and three young children.

Today our guests are Angela Shanahan & Karen Devine, School Counselors in Chicago Public Schools. We talk about the impact that comprehensive, data-informed school counseling programs have with students at their schools and across the district. They also share what they have learned leading schools thru the Recognized ASCA Model Program process, and the impact and benefits of becoming RAMP recognized.

Karen Devine has been a passionate teacher, counselor, coach, and district leader in the Chicago Public Schools for 30 years. She leads with the mantra, “be gentle with your children, for they will teach their children”, which she has written on a cloth embroidered by her Grandmother. While working as a high school counselor in the second most-populated school in the district, Karen has been able to transform the school counseling program to provide equitable access for students with long-term, successful results.

In addition to being a practicing high school counselor, and leading her school through its fourth RAMP application, Karen also serves as the District’s Co-RAMP Coordinator with Angela Shanahan. Through innovative Tier 1, 2, and 3 practices, along with a cultivated resource guide, Karen has helped the District revitalize counseling programs at both the elementary and high school levels. Karen and Angela have presented about their work at the district, state, and national levels.

As a running coach and yoga instructor, Karen emphasizes the mind/body connection within her counseling philosophy. Through creative drills, movement, walk-and-talk, and art therapy, students learn to be a proactive partner in realizing their potential.

Today our guest is Petra Davis, Activities Director for Tesoro High school in Las Flores, CA. We talk to Petra about the lessons that she has learned going from being an advisor at a middle school to being at a high school, while also at the same time walking alongside students during COVID. Petra also shares some of the realities of where students are at today and the intentionality that is needed in project based learning to best serve

Petra Davis-Johnson, has been an educator for 31 years.  She taught middle school science for 29 years before moving into her current administrative position, serving as the Activities Director for Tesoro High school in Las Flores, CA for the past two years.   At the middle school level, Petra spent 23 years as the activities director for Las Flores Middle School.  Her middle school students fed into the same high school where she is now, providing both Petra and the students some familiarity as they embarked on their new high school adventure in the time of COVID.   During her transition from middle to high school, she was named the 2021 Warren E. Shull Middle Level Advisor of the year for her work in fostering student leadership development.

Today our guest is Ashley Wright an Elementary School Counselor at Lucille J. Bradley Elementary, in Spring Texas. We talk to Ashley about school connectedness and the transformation that it can have in our schools when we all work together. Ashley talks about the importance of relationships and shares that even though we have differences when we come to the table with families it can have a huge impact in the lives of the students we serve.

Born and raised in Houston, TX, Ashley Wright went through undergraduate studies as an Education Major at Sam Houston State University as well graduate studies as a Professional School Counselor and Licensed Professional Counselor. She currently serves as an elementary school counselor in Conroe ISD at Lucille J. Bradley Elementary. She has been an educator for the past 13 years and a school counselor for the past 4 years. Ashley was recently awarded as a 2022 American School Counselor Association School Counselor of the Year Finalist. Ashley Wright teaches students to accept diversity, increase their self-esteem, build character, and maintain resilience. Ashley continues to implement a diverse comprehensive counseling program that is dedicated to meeting the needs of her students, staff, and the community. From weekly counseling lessons, student leadership opportunities, parent education shows, and student achievement awards, Ashley brings enthusiasm and campus engagement throughout the entire school year. As an advocate for the school counseling profession, Ashley has also presented several national webinars with the national WhyTry program and Region Education Centers with counseling program implementation ideas, tools, and strategies to increase student attendance and engagement, and school counselor self-care. Overall, Ashley continues to influence other professional school counselors in their role and strives to create change in our education system

We talk to Hillary about blended learning programs and how this hybrid classroom helps to meet the different needs of students. She talks about some of the struggles that students are facing in this season and gives a few ways that they are helping students re-engage in relationships. Hillary also shares how teachers are creatively using CharacterStrong lessons during shorter one-on-one check-ins with students.

Hilary Craw has been a school counselor with Redlands eAcademy in Redlands Unified School District for the past six and a half years. Before that, she worked as a school counselor for Redlands High school in Redlands Unified from 2008-2010, as an Admissions Counselor for University of Redlands from 2011-2013, and as the Hospital Outreach Manager for The Painted Turtle, a camp for kids with serious medical conditions, from 2013-2015. Through her work as a school counselor and also her volunteer work as a camp counselor with The Painted Turtle and Camp Good Grief, Hilary has cemented her belief that each child matters, is important and has the ability to contribute, no matter what challenges, setbacks, diagnoses, or struggles they face. But in order to do this, they need to be seen and heard by their peers and the important adults in their lives. She also believes wholeheartedly in the power of laughter and humor to heal and to connect with others. Hilary’s favorite day is when a student seeks her out to share a pun or a joke with her. In fact, Hilary means cheerful and she always tries to live up to that.

We talk to Allison about the different ways that she has been helping implement PurposeFull People with the students and staff at her school. She shares the practical ways that she has used the PurposeFull People posters, pictures, and character trait definitions to help create common language with students. Allison also shares how she has helped created space for students to have ongoing conversations about character.


After 14 years as a classroom teacher, Allison is a proud first year school counselor! She has had the honor to serve PreK through 3rd grade students across two campuses in Robinson, Texas just outside of Waco. Allison began her career in education in 2007 upon receiving a Bachelor's Degree from Baylor University. While she loved being a teacher, she always knew her heart was beyond the classroom. In 2018 Allison earned a Master's of Education in School Counseling from Tarleton State University, and in 2021, Allison joined the school counseling profession. It is her goal as a school counselor to see the good in every person and situation. Her hope for students and staff is to know their value by developing and facilitating positive relationships and experiences. Outside of school, Allison enjoys baking, traveling, and spending time outdoors with her husband of 10 years and their seven year old daughter.

We talk to Matthew about how he got involved with his state school counselors association and the different ways that getting involved can impact us, the schools we serve, and the states where we live. He also talks about the importance of building connections, especially being in the role of school counselor.

Matthew McClain has been a school counselor in rural Northeast Colorado since 2005. He spent 10 years counseling at the 5th and 6th grade level, then spent 6 years at the high school level, and is currently at the elementary level (grades 1-5). Prior to school counseling, he was a reporting analyst and worked in the telecommunications field. He has also been the Executive Director for the Colorado School Counselor Association (CSCA) since November of 2017. He and his wife of 24 years have 3 beautiful children.

Matthew has been involved with the American School Counselor Association(ASCA) and CSCA since 2008 serving on various committees and roles including CSCA conference chair, CSCA Elementary VP, CSCA President, CSCA Public Relations Chair, ASCA conference selection committee, and ASCA State Bylaw Review committee chair. He has presented on various topics including getting involved in state school counselor associations, how to be situationally aware both personally and professionally,  how to be a leader, and leading social emotional groups. He is passionate about relationships, connections, school counselors, leadership,  and clinical school counselor supervision.

We talk to Dr. Frasco about the importance of having all leaders understand the social and emotional needs of students. She shares about the need for leaders to have consistent conversations about a school’s core values, the need to intentionally teach them, and have them impact our small and big decisions. Dr. Frasco also reminds us that everyone has a story and as leaders, we need to take the time to listen.

Dr. Rena Frasco is in her 20th year with Morgan County School District Re-3 in northeastern Colorado. She currently serves as the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment. Dr. Frasco is very passionate about serving her rural, diverse community! She is married to a wonderful husband, Mark, and they have 2 beautiful daughters, Kristen and Leia.

Today our guest is Chris Young, Principal at North Country Union High School in Newport, Vermont. We talk with Chris about the innovative Community Development Days at North Country. These events provide students with a dedicated space to discuss and learn about crucial topics such as mental health, wellness, and bullying. Chris shares the journey of implementing these development days, explaining their significance and the positive impact they've had on the community. He also offers valuable tips on how they supported staff during the rollout and reminds us of the incredible potential of our students.

Learn More About CharacterStrong: 

• Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples
• Attend our next live product preview
• Visit the CharacterStrong Website

Chris Young is the principal of North Country Union High School in Newport, Vermont. Chris is in his 5th year as principal there, which is also his alma mater, the school at which both of his parents taught for a combined 50 years, and the school from which both of his children graduated - Falcon Pride runs deep in Chris’ family! Chris began his service at North Country in the Fall of 2019, and just a few months later confronted the challenges of the pandemic and the task of keeping the school community together and healthy through remote and hybrid learning. Chris quickly understood that the pre-existing mental health needs of his students were only exacerbated by the pandemic, particularly those who have been traditionally marginalized. As a result of the growing need for mental health and wellness support, Chris built upon the Wellness Center Model that already existed at North Country, and expanded it into a universal level of support for all students. By elevating the advisory structure to a structured daily time period that specifically addressed mental health and wellness, and creating Community Development Days that provided extended learning time for topics such as suicide prevention, dating violence, and substance abuse prevention, Chris has helped to create spaces at North Country where all students can ask questions, build relationships with trusted peers and adults, and learn together what it means to be a healthy school community.

Today our guest is Dr. John Hattie, the Director of the Melbourne Educational Research Institute at the University of Melbourne, Australia. Dr. Hattie is also the author of Visible Learning and Visible Learning for Teachers, the result of 15 years of research. On this episode we talk about 10 Steps To Develop Great Learners: Visible Learning For Parents, Dr. Hattie’s newest book that he wrote with his son Kyle. Dr. Hattie also shares some of the mindframes that can help all of us that work with students.

Professor John Hattie is a renowned researcher in education. His research interests include performance indicators, models of measurement and evaluation of teaching and learning. John Hattie became known to a wider public with the publication of his two books, Visible Learning and Visible Learning for Teachers, the result of 15 years of research. The books are a synthesis of more than 800 meta-studies covering more than 80 million students. The Visible Learning series has sold more than 1.5 million copies, and has been translated into 29 different languages. TES once called John “possibly the world’s most influential education academic.” He has been Director of the Melbourne Educational Research Institute at the University of Melbourne, Australia, since March 2011. Before, he was Project Director of asTTle and Professor of Education at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. He holds a PhD from the University of Toronto, Canada. You can find a full CV of Professor John Hattie (PDF) at the website of the University of Auckland. Kyle Hattie is a Year 6 Teacher working in a Primary School in the Northern Suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. Over his 10-year career, he has taught at many year levels, from Prep to Year 6 in both Australia and New Zealand. Kyle has held various leadership titles and has a passion for understanding how students become learners.

We talk to Phil about what Adventure Education is and how it is both novel and can involve some risk. He describes the experiential learning cycle and talks about the power of having a shared experience. Phil also gives practical ways we can use experiential learning strategies in our classrooms that can amplify learning for students.

Phil Brown, originally from England, joined the High 5 team in May 2015 having previously worked in Adventure and Outdoor education for 7 years. Phil brings high energy and devotion to the Adventure field and has presented at many national and international conferences on the subject of Adventure learning. He is also one of the co-authors of the book “Tinker: Building Purposeful Experiences from Classic Adventure Activities” and the producer/host of “Vertical Playpen” – the podcast all about Adventure and Experiential Education.

Today our guest is Cory Notestine the Executive Director of Student Success and Wellness for Colorado Springs School District 11. We talk to Cory about a concept known as rapid innovation cycles, which contribute to educational progress while fighting a failure-to-launch mentality.

Cory Notestine serves as the Executive Director of Student Success and Wellness for Colorado Springs School District 11 (D11) an urban district of 25,000 students. In this role, Cory has implemented and developed a district-wide Comprehensive Student Support Model that integrates SEL practices, Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), Restorative Practice with a focus on Trauma Responsive classrooms. Additionally, he oversees the work of School Nurses, Discipline and Attendance, Homebound and Extended Learning, Homeless Youth, MTSS, Counseling Services, and the development of a Community Based Health Center. Currently, he is serving as D11’s COVID Incident Commander and supporting the district’s response and services provided across the school community during these challenging times.    

Before his role with CSSD11, Cory served 7 years as a school counselor in both urban and rural settings in North Carolina and Colorado.  Through collaborative efforts and cooperative leadership, he developed two Recognized American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Model Programs that have led to increased student outcomes.     

His work with students has been honored by the North Carolina School Counselor Association, and the Colorado School Counselor Association, as Secondary School Counselor of the Year's in 2011 and 2013. The American School Counselor Association along with the White House recognized him as the 2015 National School Counselor of the Year.     

Cory has provided instruction and supervision as an Adjunct Instructor in the Counseling and Human Services Department at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs and Counselor Education at Adams State University and has received degrees from the University of Kentucky in Psychology and from Gonzaga University where he completed his Masters in School Counseling. Cory is the Past President of the Colorado School Counselor Association and served as the Chair of the Governing Board of Directors for the American School Counselor Association. His passion for creating systemic change and counselor advocacy continues to drive his work in the profession of school counseling and educational leadership.

Today our guest is Christi Sturgeon a School Counselor at Broken Arrow High School and is Oklahoma School Counselor of the Year for 2021-22. We talk to Christi about how important it is to find our purpose and how we can stretch ourselves and model that for students. She shares 7 things that we can do to help students focus on looking forward, and some of the ways that this can have an impact.

Christi graduated from Oklahoma Baptist University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology followed by a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. She is currently both a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Certified School Counselor.  She started her career in community mental health working at the former Shadow Mountain Hospital as the Assistant Director of Therapeutic Foster Care Services, but quickly learned that the way to really impact children and families early on was by working in the school setting.  Christi is currently serving as a School Counselor in Broken Arrow Public Schools and is in her 25th year.  She was the Lead Elementary Counselor In Broken Arrow prior to moving to the high school and has been recognized by the Oklahoma School Counselor Association as the Emerging Leader Grant Winner (2018) and the Oklahoma School Counselor of the Year for 2021-22.  Christi is passionate about serving her students and helping them prepare for the next stage of life.  She is a strong advocate for school counseling best practice not only in her district but across the state as well through her service on the former Superintendent’s Counselor Advisory Council and now as Treasurer and President-Elect of the Oklahoma School Counselor Association.  When she isn’t busy with work, you can find her teaching Sunday School or attending band contests as a proud former Broken Arrow Pride Band Mom!