Explore every episode of the podcast Coaching the Whole Educator
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| #204: Nobody Asked You to Be the Sheriff: How Aspiring Leaders Get Trapped by Other People’s Expectations | 12 oct. 2026 | 00:33:25 | |
What happens when a new school leader tries so hard to meet everyone’s expectations that they stop leading like themselves? In this episode of Coaching the Whole Educator, Becca Silver talks with Joshua Stamper, author of Aspire to Lead and host of the Aspire to Lead podcast, about perseverance, adversity, and the quiet ways aspiring leaders slip into compliance while trying to prove they belong. Josh shares his unexpected path from art teacher to athletic coach, Dean of Students, and assistant principal for nearly a decade, and now speaker, author, and leadership consultant. He opens up about his first months as Dean of Students, when staff and families expected him to be “the sheriff.” He tried to fill that role, and discipline referrals climbed every month. Then he made a shift: he got clear on his own values, rebuilt the campus approach to student behavior around teaching skills instead of punishment, and watched both the data and the culture turn around. Becca and Josh also dig into:
This episode is for teachers considering an administrative path, assistant principals eyeing the next role, instructional coaches, and any educator who leads with or without a title. About the guest: Joshua Stamper is a former art teacher, coach, Dean of Students, and assistant principal who now speaks, writes, and coaches educators nationwide. He is the author of Aspire to Lead and The Language of Behavior, hosts three podcasts, and leads the Aspire to Lead cohort for aspiring school leaders. Connect with Joshua: https://joshstamper.com | Instagram and X: @joshua__stamper Explore Becca’s book: The Resistance Solution: https://amzn.to/4pRCaa5 Lead your own book study with the Book Study Facilitator Training: https://www.thewholeeducator.com/book-study-facilitator-training Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #203: The "Always Be Coaching" Mindset with Chrissy Beltran | 08 oct. 2026 | 00:24:33 | |
Ever leave a coaching conversation feeling great about the advice you gave, only to come back a week later and find nothing has changed? You're not alone, and it's probably not the teacher's fault. In this episode, Becca sits down with her friend and colleague coaching master Chrissy Beltran, known to many as Buzzing with Ms. B, to unpack why coaching conversations so often go nowhere. Chrissy shares why coaches feel pressure to have all the answers, how teachers often ask for help in the only way they know how (a complaint), and the simple mindset shift that keeps every interaction moving toward real partnership. In this episode, you'll learn:
Timestamps:
About Chrissy Beltran: Resources mentioned:
Connect with Becca: Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #202: The Eye Roll You Can't Stop Thinking About [Resistance Solution Session] | 04 oct. 2026 | 00:06:39 | |
The strategy everyone nodded along to in August? It's thriving in one classroom and missing in action next door. And that eye roll from the back of the room is still living rent-free in your head. In this first episode of Solution Sessions, a new weekly segment of Coaching the Whole Educator, Becca reads the opening pages of The Resistance Solution and names what most leaders feel but rarely say out loud: the emotional whiplash of thinking a teacher is on board, then walking into their classroom and finding nothing has changed. When that happens, most of us reach for one of two explanations. Either some people just don't want to change, or we need more accountability. Both are understandable. Neither gets you very far. Becca offers a different read: the eye roll, the polite nod, and the strategy that never shows up aren't verdicts on the teacher or on you. They're information. In this episode:
Your challenge: Pick one classroom where the training isn't showing up yet. Before restating the expectation, ask, "What's getting in the way right now?" Then listen. Wondering what resistance is costing your school? Take the free What Is Resistance Costing You? quiz and get next steps matched to where you are: https://www.thewholeeducator.com/resistance-quiz Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #201: Your Staff's Hidden Superpowers: Building a Neuroinclusive Workplace Without Lowering Expectations | 28 sept. 2026 | 00:24:57 | |
What if the colleague you've been describing as "quirky" is the most underused talent in your building? In this episode of Coaching the Whole Educator, Becca Silver sits down with Justin Permenter of NDI Institute to talk about building workplaces where neurodivergent educators, coaches, and leaders can perform, contribute, and lead without lowering expectations. Roughly one in five people is neurodivergent, including people with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and dyspraxia. Yet most schools and organizations are built for neurotypical ways of working by default. Students get IEPs and 504 plans. Adults get a workplace that expects everyone to sit at the same table, the same way, on the same timeline. Justin shares his journey from the classroom in Kansas City to international education in Qatar and his work with Franklin Covey's Leader in Me, plus the story of Omar, a 16-year-old autistic intern who outperformed full-time staff at the Waldorf Astoria within three weeks. Becca opens up about her own ADHD diagnosis and the moment she started seeing it as a strength instead of a deficit. You'll learn:
Perfect for instructional coaches, principals, district leaders, and anyone who leads adults in schools. Website: www.ndiinstitute.com Webinar on October 6th: https://www.ndiinstitute.com/webinar Free C.L.E.A.R. Framework: https://www.ndiinstitute.com/download The Resistance Solution: Why Educators Resist and What They Need Instead: amzn.to/4pRCaa5 Resistance Solution Book Study Facilitator Training: https://www.thewholeeducator.com/book-study-facilitator-training
Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #200: Will Drivers: The Motivations Behind Every Conversation | 20 sept. 2026 | 00:24:19 | |
Ever notice how the same piece of feedback lands beautifully with one person on your team and completely bombs with another? Robyn Jackson is back, and this time we're digging into Will Drivers, her framework for the four things that motivate every human being: mastery, purpose, belonging, and autonomy. Here's the twist. Each driver comes with its own core question running in the background of someone's mind: how, why, who, and what. Once you know someone's dominant driver, you stop guessing why they're not responding to your coaching and start speaking a language they can actually hear. We get into:
This one will have you diagnosing your own driver, your partner's, and probably three people on your leadership team before the episode is even over. 📖 The Resistance Solution: amzn.to/4pRCaa5 Book Study Facilitator Training: www.thewholeeducator.com/book-study-facilitator-training About Robyn Jackson: Robyn R. Jackson is the founder of Mindsteps and the creator of the Buildership framework. She's spent years helping leaders move from compliance-driven management to real ownership, and her Will Drivers work grew out of motivation research she originally applied to students before realizing it works just as well on adults. Connect with Robyn: 100PercentPrincipal.com — free weekly newsletter with practical tools for the challenges you're actually facing. Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #199: Stop Waiting for PD: How Self Mentorship Builds Ruckus Maker Principals | 07 sept. 2026 | 00:34:01 | |
**Join the Resistance Solution Facebook Community** https://www.facebook.com/share/g/19TRR5VfpX/ Danny Bauer of Better Leaders Better Schools joins Becca Silver to unpack self mentorship, why traditional PD falls short, and how to become a ruckus maker. Most professional development follows the same script: someone else decides what educators need to learn, when they need to learn it, and how. Danny Bauer, founder of Better Leaders Better Schools and creator of the Ruckus Maker movement, calls this "permission-based development," and he thinks it is holding school leaders back. In this episode, Becca Silver talks with Danny about self mentorship: a radical ownership model where school leaders define their own growth instead of waiting for central office to approve it. Danny shares real stories of principals who used self mentorship to build "sticky core values," eliminate outdated practices like midterms and finals, and protect their own boundaries without sacrificing results. He and Becca also dig into an uncomfortable pattern Danny has seen again and again: leaders who win Principal of the Year and then get placed on an improvement plan for doing the very work that made them stand out. If you have ever sensed something was off in how your school or district operates but could not quite name it, this conversation gives you language and a starting question to explore it. What You'll Learn
**Join the Resistance Solution Facebook Community** https://www.facebook.com/share/g/19TRR5VfpX/ 📖 The Resistance Solution: amzn.to/4pRCaa5 Guest Bio
Timestamps
Resources Mentioned
Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #198: What Great Lesson Planning Teaches Us About Great Coaching (with Lori Cohen) | 23 août 2026 | 00:34:01 | |
In this episode, Becca sits down with instructional coaching and lesson planning expert Lori Cohen (co-author of The PD Book) to talk about her new book, The Science of Lesson Planning, and what transformative lesson design can teach coaches and school leaders about building psychological safety in schools. They dig into psychological safety, the difference between coaching and "coaxing," and why celebration and reflection only work when they happen together. In this episode:
📖 The Resistance Solution: amzn.to/4pRCaa5 Book Study Facilitator Training: www.thewholeeducator.com/book-study-facilitator-training About Lori Cohen: Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #197: Why Being Clear Can Feel Hard (with Jennifer Abrams): Do “Hard” Conversations Actually Have to Be Hard? | 02 août 2026 | 00:47:14 | |
In this episode, Becca sits down with Jennifer Abrams, author of five books on adult-to-adult communication in schools including Having Hard Conversations and Stretching Your Learning Edges, for a conversation on hard conversations, school culture, and adult development in education. Topics covered in this episode:
Guest: Jennifer Abrams, adult communication and school culture expert, jenniferabrams.com | LinkedIn | jennifer@jenniferabrams.com Grab your copy of 📖 The Resistance Solution Book Study Facilitator Training: www.thewholeeducator.com/book-study-facilitator-training Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #196: The "We vs. Me" Test: Why the Same Staff Meeting Energizes Some Teachers and Drains Others (with Dr. Sheldon Eakins) | 18 juil. 2026 | 00:23:19 | |
What if the pushback you're getting from teachers isn't about the initiative at all, but about a hidden cultural mismatch in how your school defines belonging? In this episode of Coaching the Whole Educator, Becca Silver sits down with Dr. Sheldon Eakins, author of Meaningful Classroom Management, What Are You Bringing to the Potluck?, and Leading Equity, to explore a dimension of belonging that rarely gets airtime in school leadership conversations: individualism versus collectivism. Dr. Eakins explains why American schools are built around individualist norms (GPAs, valedictorians, teacher of the month, "stay in your classroom") while many students and staff come from collectivist backgrounds where success is defined by "we," not "me." When leaders don't recognize this mismatch, the result looks like resistance, disengagement, and retention problems. In this episode, you'll learn:
This conversation is essential listening for instructional coaches, principals, and district leaders working on teacher retention, staff culture, psychological safety, and buy-in for change initiatives. Grab your copy of 📖 The Resistance Solution Book Study Facilitator Training: www.thewholeeducator.com/book-study-facilitator-training Connect with Dr. Sheldon Eakins: Twitter: @sheldoneakins Website: purposeful247.com Books: Amazon Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #195: The Resistance Tax: The Hidden Costs of Misunderstood Resistance | 11 juil. 2026 | 00:10:16 | |
In this episode of Coaching the Whole Educator, Becca Silver explores the hidden costs schools and districts pay when resistance is misunderstood. She calls it the resistance tax: the quiet drain on resources, relationships, and results that happens when leaders respond to resistance with pressure, compliance, or more accountability instead of understanding what is driving it. Becca breaks down five major forms of the resistance tax: • The turnover tax She also shares why resistance should be treated as information, not defiance, and how educational leaders can begin identifying where their organization may be paying more than they realize. The episode also introduces The Resistance Solution and the Resistance Solution Book Study Facilitator Training, a train-the-trainer experience designed to help schools and districts build the internal capacity to diagnose resistance, strengthen ownership, and lead sustainable change. If your organization is struggling with teacher turnover, initiative fatigue, low buy-in, inconsistent implementation, or stalled change efforts, this episode will help you see the true cost of resistance in a new way. [Book Study Facilitator Training] www.thewholeeducator.com/book-study-facilitator-training Grab your copy of 📖 The Resistance Solution Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #194: Stop Assuming Great Teachers Make Great Mentors | 14 juin 2026 | 00:27:05 | |
What if one of the biggest missing pieces in teacher retention is how we support mentor teachers? In this episode, Becca talks with John Pascarella, professor of clinical education at USC and Chief Academic Officer of the USC Race and Equity Center, about why mentor teachers are often asked to support new teachers without the training, role clarity, compensation, or coaching they actually need. They unpack why being a great teacher does not automatically make someone a great mentor, how mentoring adults requires a different skill set, and why schools need to stop treating mentorship like informal volunteer work. This conversation is for instructional coaches, school leaders, district leaders, and teacher leaders who want to strengthen new teacher support, improve teacher retention, and build more effective mentoring systems in schools. John's Info: Faculty profile | CCTE Policy Brief (free download, includes my brief on mentor teachers) | Learning Policy Institute (Stanford University) Grab your copy of 📖 The Resistance Solution Access the FREE book resources here. Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #193: When High Expectations Meet Resistance: What Should Leaders Actually Do? | 08 juin 2026 | 00:24:35 | |
In this episode of Coaching the Whole Educator, Becca Silver talks with Principal Kafele about what happens when high expectations meet resistance in schools and how leaders can respond without slipping into compliance-driven leadership. Together, they explore how school leaders can create a true culture of high expectations, not by demanding instant transformation, but by helping educators experience steady, measurable growth. Principal Kafele shares why leaders must connect expectations to a larger purpose, build authentic relationships with staff, and understand what is beneath the pushback before deciding how to respond. This conversation digs into the difference between teacher resistance, overwhelm, and low expectations, and why leaders cannot diagnose those differences without ongoing trust, coaching, and collaboration. Becca and Principal Kafele also discuss the role of leadership identity, including how the way leaders see themselves shapes how they respond to hesitation, pushback, and resistance. Listeners will walk away with practical insight into how to:
This episode is especially valuable for principals, assistant principals, instructional coaches, district leaders, and school leadership teams who are navigating resistance to change, supporting adult learning, and working to build cultures of growth, accountability, and meaningful progress. [BOOK] Grab There Resistance Solution: Why Educator Resist and What They Need Instead HERE! Grab your copy of 📖 The Resistance Solution Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #192: The Resistance Solution in Action: An Instructional Leader's Perspective | 07 juin 2026 | 00:40:55 | |
What does The Resistance Solution actually look like in a real school? In this episode, Chrystin Sheffield shares how the book transformed the way she leads. She talks about how it helped her: • Stop taking teacher resistance personally and start diagnosing what's really driving it • Navigate difficult conversations with less frustration and more confidence • Give walkthrough feedback that feels meaningful instead of repetitive • Build trust more intentionally instead of simply hoping relationships develop • Create accountability without creating defensiveness • Understand why teachers say "I don't have time" and how to respond in a way that actually helps • Move beyond surface-level coaching conversations to uncover root causes One of my favorite moments was hearing Chrystin say that before reading the book, she often felt like she should have all the answers as a leader. What she discovered instead was that the most powerful thing she could do wasn't solve the problem for people. It was understand the unmet need underneath the resistance. This conversation is about what happened when the ideas in the book were applied in a real school by a real leader facing real challenges. If you're a principal, assistant principal, coach, or district leader who has ever wondered why feedback isn't sticking, coaching conversations aren't leading to change, or teachers seem resistant despite your best efforts, I think you'll see yourself in this conversation. Grab your copy of 📖 The Resistance Solution Access the FREE book resources here. (And you can find it at all major book outlets) Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #191: How to Collect Data on Teacher Well Being | 31 mai 2026 | 00:23:18 | |
In this episode, Becca sits down with Jessica Werner, founder of North Shore Learning, to unpack a hard truth in schools: many leaders believe they understand staff well-being, but are relying on assumptions instead of real data. Together, they explore how well-being, retention, and leadership decisions are deeply connected and why anecdotal signals like “people seem happy” or “no one is in crisis” are not enough to guide action. Jessica shares how collecting simple, meaningful data can help leaders identify what is actually impacting teacher satisfaction, workload, and long-term retention. The conversation highlights how proactive support, rather than reactive responses, can reduce burnout and turnover while strengthening school culture. They also discuss how schools with stronger retention intentionally pair every new initiative with a support plan, recognizing that added expectations without support erode well-being over time. In this episode: • Why leaders often misread staff well-being without data The core message: well-being is not a single program or strategy. It is a set of conditions that can be measured, supported, and strengthened when leaders shift from assumptions to data-informed action. Learn more about Jessica & Northshore Learning at northshorelearning.org, the place where school support meets real classroom impact. Grab your copy of 📖 The Resistance Solution Access the FREE book resources here. [FREE WEBINAR] Breaking Through Resistance: Contact us for the recording Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #190.5: "The Resistance Solution": A CELEBRATION! | 26 mai 2026 | 00:26:35 | |
Okay y’all… this episode is basically what happens when two people who are deeply obsessed with leadership, resistance, ownership, and human behavior finally hit “record.” 😂 Becca sits down with leadership expert Casey Watts to celebrate the release of The Resistance Solution… but the conversation quickly turns into a deep, real-time exploration of what actually causes resistance in schools and why so many leadership strategies fall apart after the initial excitement fades. What makes this episode different is that Becca doesn’t just explain the ideas from the book. She tells the story of how the work evolved over years of coaching, research, frustration, trial and error, and eventually discovering the five Catalyst Mindsets™. The episode also dives deeply into ownership mindset, why buy-in is not the end goal, and the missing piece most schools overlook: agency. There’s also a powerful conversation about language and why phrases like “resistant teachers” quietly shape the way leaders interact with people. Becca and Casey unpack why resistance is not a personality trait, but a temporary human experience tied to unmet needs. If you’ve ever thought: 📘 The Resistance Solution gives instructional coaches and school leaders practical tools, diagnostic frameworks, coaching processes, and human-centered strategies for navigating resistance without relying on pressure, compliance, or generic one-size-fits-all solutions. Grab your copy of 📖 The Resistance Solution [FREE WEBINAR] Breaking Through Resistance: Contact Us for the recording Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #190: The 5 Powerful Coaching Practices (and a surprising secret to success) | 24 mai 2026 | 00:31:01 | |
[FREE] Find Your Resistance Type Quiz: Find out the type of resistance you are navigating In this episode of Coaching the Whole Educator, Becca sits down with Jason Adair from the Southern Regional Education Board to explore what actually makes instructional coaching effective in schools. Together, they unpack SREB’s new Powerful Coaching Practices framework and discuss why so many coaching initiatives fail to create lasting instructional change. This conversation dives into instructional coaching strategies, teacher feedback, coaching cycles, relationship-based leadership, professional learning, and implementation challenges in K-12 schools. Becca and Jason discuss the importance of trust, goal-setting, observation and feedback, instructional leadership, and why coaching must move beyond compliance-based approaches to create real teacher growth and student learning outcomes. They also tackle common coaching mistakes, including “facili-manipulation,” surface-level feedback, unclear goals, and the breakdown of coaching due to lack of time, competing priorities, and weak systems. The episode offers practical insight for instructional coaches, principals, district leaders, and anyone focused on improving teacher development and school improvement efforts. Key topics include:
If you’re a school leader, instructional coach, or educator trying to improve follow-through, teacher engagement, and instructional practice, this episode offers practical frameworks and real-world coaching insights you can immediately apply in schools. Links from the episode: SREB Summer Conference (Coaching Community) Powerful instructional Practices [FREE WEBINAR] Breaking Through Resistance: Contact us for the recording
Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #189: Inside the Lived Experiences of Black Women Instructional Coaches | 17 mai 2026 | 00:25:36 | |
Discover a conversation unlike any you’ve heard before as Dr. Courtney Tate joins Becca Silver to shine a spotlight on the real challenges and triumphs experienced by Black women in instructional coaching. This episode pulls back the curtain on the unseen emotional workload, the navigation of daily microaggressions, and the relentless pursuit of recognition faced by these dedicated professionals. Dr. Tate brings her research and personal journey front and center, revealing strategies for building support systems, dismantling stereotypes, and ensuring visibility and respect within educational spaces. You will walk away with fresh insight, vivid stories, and clear guidance, straight from the source, on how schools can foster true inclusion and leadership for Black women coaches.
[FREE RESOURCE] Find Your Resistance Type Quiz: Find out the type of resistance you are navigating (previously called The Resistance Audit) Grab the RESISTANCE PLAYBOOK for only $7 HERE. [FREE WEBINAR] Breaking Through Resistance: Contact us for the recording Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #188: The Coaching Mistake We Make When Teachers Are Exhausted | 10 mai 2026 | 00:05:09 | |
In this episode of Resistance Chronicles, Becca Silver unpacks a coaching mistake many instructional coaches and school leaders make at the end of the school year: trying to solve exhausted teachers instead of helping them feel understood first. When teachers are overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and running on fumes, even well-intentioned coaching strategies can accidentally create more frustration. Too often, leaders hear exhaustion and immediately jump into problem-solving, advice, or pushing for solutions. But exhausted educators usually do not need someone to fix them first. They need someone to slow down long enough to truly hear them. In this short episode, Becca shares a practical communication strategy called Looping for Understanding, a research-backed approach that helps educators feel seen, heard, and less emotionally alone during high-stress moments. She explains how this simple shift can reduce defensiveness, strengthen trust, and create more productive coaching conversations during one of the hardest stretches of the school year. If your teachers are tired, emotionally maxed out, or struggling to stay engaged right now, this episode will give you one concrete strategy you can use immediately. Perfect for instructional coaches, principals, assistant principals, and school leaders supporting exhausted educators at the end of the year. Breaking Through Resistance webinar: Contact us for the recording Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #187: Why Change Feels Scary: Naming the Real Fears | 03 mai 2026 | 00:28:41 | |
Change isn’t something school leaders do on the side. It is the work. In this episode, former principal and author Richard Gerver joins Becca to dig into why adults in schools resist change even though change and learning go hand in hand. They talk about why veteran teachers often push back the most, how forcing change shuts down curiosity and buy in, and what it looks like to respect lived experience while still moving forward. You’ll walk away with a fresh perspective on resistance and one simple, practical step you can use tomorrow to lead healthier, more human centered change in your school. Stay in touch with Richard through his website! [FREE RESOURCE] Resistance Diagnostic Assessment: Identify the root cause(s) of the resistance you are navigating (previously called The Resistance Audit) Grab the RESISTANCE PLAYBOOK for only $7 HERE. Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #186: [Resistance Chronicles] Ownership Mindset | 26 avr. 2026 | 00:06:56 | |
Resistance Chronicles, Part 5: Ownership Mindset™ [FREE] Find Your Resistance Type Quiz: Find out the type of resistance you are navigating (previously called The Resistance Audit) In the final episode of The Resistance Chronicles, Becca Silver explores the Ownership Mindset and the form of resistance that often sounds like disengagement but is rooted in belief. It can sound like: These statements are not always negativity. They often reflect a belief about influence. When educators do not believe their actions will make a difference, ownership erodes and resistance shows up as minimal effort, surface compliance, waiting, or cynicism. In this episode, Becca explains how ownership is not about controlling everything. It is about believing there is still something within one’s sphere of influence. She outlines how leaders can shift conversations from blame to agency by identifying controllable variables, testing small changes, and making impact visible over time. Because ownership is not a personality trait. It is shaped by the environment leaders create. When initiative is ignored, overruled, or disconnected from results, ownership shrinks. When influence is acknowledged and reinforced, ownership grows. In this episode: • What resistance sounds like when the Ownership Mindset™ is unsupported [FREE RESOURCE] Resistance Diagnostic Assessment: Identify the root cause(s) of the resistance you are navigating (previously called The Resistance Audit) [FREE] Catalyst Mindset Overview Graphic [Printable] Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #185: Decision Making Magic: Using Intuition to Make Clearer, Faster Leadership Decisions | 19 avr. 2026 | 00:25:42 | |
[FREE RESOURCE] Resistance Diagnostic Assessment: Identify the root cause(s) of the resistance you are navigating (previously called The Resistance Audit) Are you an instructional coach or principal navigating endless data, tough decisions, and nonstop demands? In this can’t-miss episode, visionary school leader David Richards reveals why intuition is your greatest untapped superpower, and how mastering it can transform your leadership, simplify your daily choices, and reignite your passion for impact. Walk away with actionable strategies to trust yourself, tune into what really matters, and discover how to blend data with gut instincts for smarter, faster, more fulfilling decisions. Listen now to unlock a hidden edge that will make your work (and life) easier and better than ever! Grab the RESISTANCE PLAYBOOK for only $7 HERE. Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #184: [Resistance Chronicles] Growth Mindset | 12 avr. 2026 | 00:06:13 | |
Resistance Chronicles, Part 4: Growth Mindset [FREE] Catalyst Mindset Overview Graphic [Printable] In this episode, Becca Silver explores how resistance shows up when the belief “I can improve” feels unsupported. Growth requires effort, feedback, and struggle. When those experiences feel risky or tied to judgment, educators naturally protect themselves. This form of resistance is often quiet and easy to misread. It can sound like: “I’m good where I am.” This is not laziness. It is self-protection. When effort feels like weakness, mistakes feel like exposure, and feedback feels evaluative, people stay with what feels safe even if it is not producing results. In this episode, Becca unpacks the Growth Mindset™ lens of resistance and helps leaders recognize when hesitation is really about how struggle is being interpreted. She also shares practical ways to reframe effort, normalize iteration, and create environments where learning feels developmental rather than performative. In this episode: • What resistance looks and sounds like when growth does not feel safe [FREE RESOURCE] Resistance Diagnostic Assessment: Identify the root cause(s) of the resistance you are navigating (previously called The Resistance Audit) [FREE] Catalyst Mindset Overview Graphic [Printable] Resources Mentioned: Find both at 👉 thewholeeducator.com Because resistance isn’t something to fight. Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #183: A Debate: Is Setting Team Norms Effective? | 05 avr. 2026 | 00:39:53 | |
Have you gotten your copy of the RESISTANCE PLAYBOOK yet? Get it for only $7 HERE. Rather than offering a tidy answer, this conversation lives in the gray. Becca and Mia explore why norms are so commonly used in schools, why they often fail to change behavior, and under what conditions they can support trust, psychological safety, and productive collaboration. The discussion challenges traditional, compliance-driven approaches to norms and asks deeper questions about what sits underneath behaviors like disengagement, side conversations, and surface-level agreement. Together, they examine the difference between norms rooted in control versus those grounded in connection, shared values, and ownership. You’ll hear practical examples of when norms fall flat, when they work, and how leaders unintentionally undermine them by treating norms as static rules instead of living agreements. The episode also introduces a provocative reframe: using the Catalyst Mindsets™ to think about norms as a way to proactively address unmet needs and resistance rather than policing behavior. This episode is for coaches and leaders who are ready to question long-standing practices, sit with ambiguity, and design learning spaces that prioritize trust, belonging, and meaningful engagement over compliance. You can connect with Mia through her website! [FREE RESOURCE] Resistance Diagnostic Assessment: Identify the root cause(s) of the resistance you are navigating (previously called The Resistance Audit) Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #182: [Resistance Chronicles] Success Mindset | 29 mars 2026 | 00:05:43 | |
What if resistance isn’t defiance… but doubt? In Part 3 of The Resistance Chronicles, Becca Silver unpacks the Success Mindset and the powerful role of self-efficacy. When educators aren’t sure they can succeed, resistance shows up , not as rebellion, but as hesitation: •“I’m not sure that will work.” This episode reframes resistance as a signal of low confidence, not low commitment. Becca shares how leaders and coaches can build belief through evidence, small wins, and targeted support, instead of pressure. You’ll learn:
Resources [FREE] Catalyst Mindset Overview Graphic [Printable] [FREE RESOURCE] Resistance Diagnostic Assessment: Identify the root cause(s) of the resistance you are navigating (previously called The Resistance Audit) Next up: what resistance looks like when people don’t feel safe to grow. Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #181: Stop Calling It Collaboration When It’s Just Compliance: How Leaders Can Tell the Difference Between Real and Fake Collaboration | 22 mars 2026 | 00:30:16 | |
Be sure to grab your copy of the RESISTANCE PLAYBOOK is now available! It's only $7 HERE. In this episode of Coaching the Whole Educator, Becca Silver sits down with Kurtis Hewson, co founder of Jigsaw Learning, to break down what truly drives authentic collaboration in schools. Kurtis explains why many teams think they are “collaborating” when they are actually stuck in compliance based routines that drain energy and limit impact. He shares how real collaboration begins with co created clarity. Teams need a shared understanding of why they meet, how they meet, and what success looks like. Kurtis introduces the Collaborative Response Framework, a research informed, four layer model that helps schools organize people, strengthen problem solving, and respond to student needs with intention. He describes how leaders can shift from “set it and forget it” structures to predictable, purposeful collaboration that continues even when the leader leaves the room. The conversation highlights practical strategies for building norms, addressing dominant voices, creating psychological safety, and preventing teams from falling into the agreement pit. This episode is filled with actionable insights for instructional coaches, school leaders, and educators who want to move beyond surface level collaboration and build teams that think together, problem solve together, and take ownership together. Listeners will walk away with clear steps to strengthen team culture, increase collective efficacy, and support meaningful change in their schools. [FREE RESOURCE] Resistance Diagnostic Assessment: Identify the root cause(s) of the resistance you are navigating (previously called The Resistance Audit) Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #180: [Resistance Chronicles] Belonging Mindset | 15 mars 2026 | 00:06:02 | |
Resistance Chronicles, Part 2: Belonging Mindset™ In this episode, I explore belonging as one of the most overlooked drivers of resistance in schools. Resistance does not always show up as pushback. It often appears as silence, surface-level agreement, avoidance, or polite compliance. These behaviors frequently signal uncertainty about relational safety. When educators are not sure they will still be respected, supported, or valued if they disagree or struggle, they protect themselves by staying quiet. This episode covers: • What resistance looks and sounds like when belonging feels uncertain The core idea: resistance tied to belonging is rarely loud. It is quiet, protective, and easy to misread without a relational lens. Resources Mentioned Both available at 👉 thewholeeducator.com Next up: what resistance sounds like when people aren’t sure they can succeed. Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #179: When Your Questions Have an Agenda: Unpacking the Subtle Ways Control Sneaks into Coaching | 08 mars 2026 | 00:28:49 | |
The RESISTANCE PLAYBOOK is now available! Grab it for only $7 HERE. In this episode of Coaching the Whole Educator, Becca Silver talks with instructional leader and writer Lauren Kaufman about how authentic questioning and a true coaching mindset drive meaningful growth for educators. With twenty years of experience across teaching, coaching, and district leadership, Lauren explains why effective coaching begins with curiosity, psychological safety, and open dialogue rather than hidden agendas or fix-it strategies. Lauren breaks down the difference between authentic questions and leading or agenda-driven questions, sharing the three simple questions she uses to build trust, uncover real needs, and support teacher reflection. She and Becca also explore how judgment shows up in coaching conversations, how to recognize it in the moment, and how to reset back into curiosity when a conversation starts to feel rushed or directed. This episode is a must-listen for instructional coaches, school leaders, teacher leaders, and professional learning facilitators who want to strengthen relationships, foster teacher agency, and use questioning as a powerful tool for growth. Find out more about Lauren's resources on her website. Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #178: [Resistance Chronicles] Value Mindset | 01 mars 2026 | 00:07:57 | |
In this first episode of The Resistance Chronicles, Becca Silver challenges one of the most common leadership mistakes we make: treating resistance as a compliance problem instead of a diagnostic opportunity. In this episode, she focuses specifically on the value mindset, unpacking what’s really happening when someone says, “This just feels like more work.” Instead of pushing harder for buy-in, she walks leaders and coaches through how to pause, diagnose, and connect the work to what actually matters to the person in front of them. Because resistance decreases when value increases. This episode is practical, mindset-shifting, and immediately usable, especially for instructional coaches, teacher leaders, and school administrators navigating change fatigue.
If you’ve ever felt stuck pushing an initiative that people aren’t buying into, this episode will help you stop fighting resistance, and start understanding it. Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #177: How to Read a Room and Adjust PD in Real Time | 22 févr. 2026 | 00:29:57 | |
The RESISTANCE PLAYBOOK was just released! Grab it for only $7 HERE. In this episode of Coaching the Whole Educator, Becca sits down with Lindsay Deacon, veteran instructional coach and author of The EduCoach Survival Guide. Lindsay brings more than a decade of experience supporting teachers, coaches, and leaders across districts, and she joins the show to unpack one of the most essential skills in coaching and professional learning: how to read a room and adjust in real time. Together, Becca and Lindsay explore practical strategies for recognizing disengagement, understanding group dynamics, and creating meaningful connection that leads to true adult learning. Lindsay shares actionable tools instructional coaches can use to scan the room, interpret body language, identify root causes of disengagement, and build psychological safety. She also explains how to respond when a single participant is checked out versus when an entire group loses energy, and she offers insight into managing resistance, emotional states, and value mindset during PD sessions. Listeners will learn how to warm up a room, increase relevance, shift the energy of disengaged groups, and stay grounded in authenticity while leading professional development. This episode is packed with tips instructional coaches can use immediately to strengthen facilitation skills, boost engagement in workshops, and make coaching conversations more effective. If you are an instructional coach, school leader, or anyone responsible for leading adult learning, this conversation will help you read the room with confidence, support your participants with intention, and keep your sessions human centered and impactful. Learn more about The Educoach Survival Guide on Lindsay's website! Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #176: When Consistency Backfires: The Leadership Tension No One Talks About | 15 févr. 2026 | 00:15:44 | |
The RESISTANCE PLAYBOOK was just released! Grab it for only $7 HERE. Here’s a leadership question that sounds simple…but isn’t: Chris and I dig into one of leadership’s quieter paradoxes: the pull to be steady and responsive at the same time. We talk about why consistency matters: trust, clarity, accountability all depend on it. And we name the shadow side too: when consistency turns into rigid sameness, it can actually work against the very people we’re trying to support. Chris makes a compelling case for predictability, especially in complex systems where people need clear expectations to do good work. I come at it from a coaching lens: values should be consistent, yes, but approaches often need to flex. That flexibility can reduce decision fatigue and help leaders meet teachers where they actually are, not where we wish they’d be. We also take a hard look at coaching protocols and structures. The invitation in this episode is simple but not easy: use tools wisely, stay anchored in your values, and don’t outsource your leadership to a checklist. If you’ve ever wrestled with how to lead with both decisiveness and responsiveness, this conversation will meet you right in the middle. *Sign up for our newsletter HERE* The RESISTANCE PLAYBOOK was just released! Grab it for only $7 HERE. Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #175: If One More Person Says “Self-Care,” I Might Scream: Why Educators Are Burning Out | 08 févr. 2026 | 00:28:00 | |
In this powerful episode of Coaching the Whole Educator, Becca Silver sits down with Dr. Naomi Hall, former educator, burnout expert, and co-founder of the Thrive Conference, to unpack why burnout is skyrocketing in schools and what leaders can actually do to support overwhelmed teachers. Dr. Hall brings nearly two decades of experience as a teacher and administrator, along with her real-world journey through burnout and recovery. Together, Becca and Naomi break down the root causes of educator burnout, including lack of boundaries, toxic school cultures, and the system-wide habit of focusing on curriculum over human beings. They discuss why traditional “self care” advice often backfires, what required care really looks like, and how teachers can build sustainable habits using science-backed strategies. Listeners will learn:
This episode is a must-listen for instructional coaches, school leaders, and anyone committed to supporting teacher wellbeing, improving school culture, and fostering human-centered leadership. For more on Dr. Naomi Hall and the free Thrive Conference, visit NRHDynamic.com or follow her at @naomihallfiteducator. Download the FFIRE Your Complaints Framework, here! Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #174: Is a Little Resistance Actually Healthy? | 01 févr. 2026 | 00:17:18 | |
🚨Don’t forget to register for the VATLL Power of Coaching Conference, February 3–4, 2026! 🚨 Let’s start with a question we don’t ask often enough: Chris and I push on a pretty common assumption in education; that resistance is something to manage, fix, or eliminate. I offer a reframe that’s shaped a lot of my own leadership: resistance is often a signal. Chris takes it deeper, looking at what pushback usually points to beneath the surface, missing clarity, insufficient support, a lack of trust, or not enough voice. And together we name a few uncomfortable truths: compliance isn’t the goal, “shoulds” shut people down, and curiosity beats control every time. Here’s the shift we’re inviting: instead of bracing against resistance, what if we listened to it? Because resistance can be a compass. It can point leaders toward more responsive, more human, and ultimately more effective ways of working. If you’ve ever felt stuck, frustrated, or worn down by pushback, this episode might change how you see it, and how you respond next time. 🚨Don’t forget to register for the VATLL Power of Coaching Conference, February 3–4, 2026! 🚨 Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #173: Short on Time? Skip the Observation, Not the Pre-Conference | 25 janv. 2026 | 00:14:28 | |
In this episode of Coaching the Whole Educator, Becca sits down again with veteran instructional coaching expert Steve Barkley to unpack one of the most overlooked but powerful parts of the coaching cycle: the pre-conference. Together, they break down why pre-conferences are essential for effective instructional coaching, teacher growth, and human-centered school leadership. Steve explains how pre-conferences create trust, increase teacher agency, and ensure coaching conversations feel relevant and meaningful. Instead of using coaching time for “I gotcha” observations, Steve shows how a strong pre-conference transforms the work into “I got you,” helping teachers reflect, self-identify needs, and experience immediate shifts in clarity and confidence. Listeners will learn:
This conversation gives coaches and school leaders practical, classroom-ready strategies for improving observations, strengthening post-conferences, and building a human-centered coaching culture where growth actually sticks. If you want to deepen your instructional coaching practice, increase teacher buy-in, and elevate the impact of every classroom visit, this episode is a must-listen. Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #172: Can Too Much Empathy Hinder Decisive Leadership? | 18 janv. 2026 | 00:18:19 | |
🚨Don’t forget to register for the VATLL Power of Coaching Conference, February 3–4, 2026! 🚨 Here’s a question I keep bumping into as a leader and a coach: In the first episode of our three-part series on coaching and leadership, Chris and I dig into one of leadership’s most uncomfortable tensions. I’ll say it plainly: empathy matters. A lot. And… sometimes leaders have to make decisions with incomplete buy-in, imperfect timing, and information others don’t have yet. Chris makes a strong case for empathy as the foundation, without it we miss what’s really going on for people. I push back from lived experience: if empathy runs the show unchecked, leaders can hesitate, over-process, and get stuck trying to keep everyone comfortable. This episode kicks off an honest, practical exploration of leadership as a paradox: heart and backbone. And the judgment to know which one the moment is asking for. 🚨Don’t forget to register for the VATLL Power of Coaching Conference, February 3–4, 2026! 🚨 Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #171: How AI Can Spark (Not Replace) Your Leadership | 11 janv. 2026 | 00:28:55 | |
This episode dives straight into the conversation every educator and leader needs right now: How AI is reshaping coaching, leadership, and the way we build an Innovator’s Mindset in schools. Becca sits down with George Couros, world-recognized educator and author of The Innovator’s Mindset, to unpack how AI can support real human-centered leadership instead of replacing it. Together, they explore how AI can fuel curiosity, deepen critical thinking, and expand teacher and student agency when used with intention. You’ll hear George break down:
This conversation mixes practical AI strategies, mindset shifts, and real talk about the skills educators and students need in a world where information is easy... but wisdom isn’t. If you’re a coach, teacher leader, or administrator wanting to use AI without losing the human heart of your work, this episode is your new favorite. Check out more about what George is up to on his website! Start with connection, and everything gets easier from there! Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #170: The Leadership Support Gap | 04 janv. 2026 | 00:24:03 | |
Looking for inspiration and real talk you can actually use as a school leader? This episode brings you a powerful conversation between Becca and the vibrant duo behind The Principal Exchange, Andra and Sarah. Together, they explore the real challenges principals face every day. The isolation. The constant demands. The search for support that truly understands the weight of school leadership. You will hear the story of how Andra and Sarah built their platform from the ground up and how their resources and virtual events are creating an authentic community for leaders who often feel alone in the work. They talk openly about the shift from classroom to front office and what it feels like to be handed the keys without a roadmap. Their honesty shines a light on why it matters to connect with people who genuinely get the role and how practical solutions like candid conversations and time saving strategies can help leaders feel more supported and more effective. With insights on professional growth, simple actions you can put into motion right away, and an inside look at what is coming at the next Principal Exchange conference, this episode welcomes educators at every level. You will walk away encouraged, equipped, and reminded that you are not doing this work by yourself. Andra and Sarah are building something special, and their energy is all about helping school leaders meet their biggest challenges with confidence and community. 🔗Check out all of the resources available on The Principal Exchange. 🔗Register for the TPE Virtual Winter Conference where Becca is the featured keynote speaker! Use code: RESISTANCE for 10% off any ticket Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #169: Best of 2025 Series: I Stopped Trying to Convince Teachers...That’s When Everything Changed | 28 déc. 2025 | 00:42:35 | |
What if the resistance you’re seeing isn’t defiance—it’s a clue? In this episode, Dr. Donna Spangler shares the coaching breakthrough that changed everything: She stopped trying to convince teachers, and they started showing up with purpose, ownership, and even excitement. After going through The Resistance Remedy course, Donna realized she wasn’t dealing with a skill gap—she was missing the belief gap. Once she started listening for mindset signals like value, belonging, and ownership, her entire coaching approach shifted. Teachers moved from polite compliance to full engagement. They initiated change. They emailed saying they were excited to teach again. She stopped relying on instinct and started coaching with intention. That’s when everything changed. Donna’s biggest realization? Resistance isn’t a roadblock. It’s a message. And when you know how to listen for it, you don’t just coach better. You coach braver. Donna's Free Download: https://secure.smore.com/n/hbzyej Learn more about *The Resistance Remedy* On Demand Course (Grab it now to get the Bonus S.I.P. Implementation Planning Document) Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #168: Best of 2025 Series: The Art of Interrupting—How to Jump In Without Shutting Others Down | 21 déc. 2025 | 00:22:28 | |
We’ve been taught that good listeners don’t interrupt—but what if the right kind of interrupting is exactly what great leaders do? Have you ever walked away from a conversation thinking, “That should’ve gone better”? You said the words. They said the words. But something still missed the mark. Here’s the truth: It’s not what you said. It’s what you didn’t hear. In this episode, I sit down with listening expert Christine Miles, who challenges what you think it means to truly listen. Are you listening to reply—or listening to understand? We unpack:
If you want to lead better conversations, build stronger trust, and stop missing what matters—start here. 🎧 This episode is your next move https://bit.ly/3RBkWxr The Whole Educator is now booking —keynotes, PD, and our Human Centered Academy are all designed to turn resistance into real progress. Check out the options at https://bit.ly/WholeEdPrograms and let’s make next year the one where things finally shift. Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #167: Best of 2025 Series: Stop Curriculum Chaos: Getting Real Engagement | 14 déc. 2025 | 00:21:52 | |
Rolling out a new curriculum? Brace yourself—resistance, frustration, and missteps are inevitable… unless you do it right. Join Sean Lindsey and me as we break down what it really takes to get teachers, students, and families on board—without wasted effort or top-down mandates that fall flat. We’re talking about:
Don’t gamble with your rollout. Learn how to make it stick. [FREE] Catalyst Mindsets Quiz **HERE**! [FREE DOWNLOAD] Levels of Resistance [FREE RESOURCE] Podcast Playlists (Episodes that focus on Resistance to Change) Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #166: Best of 2025 Series: Why Being “Naturally Gifted” Can Backfire as a Coach | 07 déc. 2025 | 00:27:37 | |
The Ladder of Conscious Competence
🔗Take this quiz to help you understand which Catalyst Mindsets need support in those you coach or lead! Check out The Resistance Remedy! Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #165: Perfectionism's Impact on Resilience & Well-being | 30 nov. 2025 | 00:21:24 | |
Tune in for an engaging conversation with clinical psychologist Dr. Kate Lund as she joins host Becca Silver to explore perfectionism and resilience. This episode dives into how perfectionism can show up in the lives of coaches, leaders, and teachers, and why it often gets in the way of satisfaction and well-being. Dr. Lund explains the difference between perfectionism and healthy striving, sharing how the constant urge to get everything right can actually make growth and adaptability more difficult. Listeners will discover practical tools, including the relaxation response technique to calm the mind and the daily wins exercise to help shift focus to what is going well. Dr. Lund also offers a valuable tip for leaders: help your team begin the day by recognizing successes, not just areas for improvement. Whether you are a parent, teacher, or anyone looking for ways to handle life’s challenges, this episode is filled with useful advice and real-life examples. Check out The Principals Exchange Virtual Conference [January 28-29, 2026]! 🔗 Click HERE to learn more and register. Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #163: Coaching Through Student Learning Production Behaviors | 16 nov. 2025 | 00:29:21 | |
In this episode, Becca sits down with Steve Barkley, a pioneer in instructional coaching whose influence has shaped how educators think about growth, feedback, and collaboration. Together, they unpack what it really takes to create lasting change in classrooms; not through evaluation, but through curiosity and conversation. Steve shares his journey from being observed every day as a student teacher to becoming one of the most respected voices in peer coaching. Along the way, he reveals a mindset shift that changed everything: great coaching isn’t about watching teachers. It’s about watching students. You’ll hear how focusing on student actions opens new doors for learning, reflection, and impact. Becca and Steve explore how to: Packed with real-world insights and practical takeaways, this episode is a powerful reminder that when we focus on students first, everything else follows. Check out The Principals Exchange Virtual Conference [January 28-29, 2026]! 🔗 Click HERE to learn more and register. [Podcast Sponsor] Kind Cotton: Soft, sustainable apparel, where every purchase provides a book to a child. Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #161: Beyond Policies & Promises: How Real Leaders Create Conditions for Equity | 02 nov. 2025 | 00:23:26 | |
In this powerful episode, Becca sits down with Dr. Ann Ishimaru and Dr. Decoteau Irby, authors of Doing the Work of Equity Leadership for Justice and Systems Change, to unpack what it really means to lead for equity in today’s schools. Together, they trace the evolution of equity leadership through four distinct phases: morning (where new roles and policies first take root), midday (when equity becomes embedded in systems), evening (as communities and intentional connections deepen), and night (when resistance and federal mandates challenge the work). The conversation gets real about what it takes to sustain momentum through each phase, using data with purpose, centering student and parent voices, and investing in professional learning that drives genuine change. Listeners will walk away with actionable strategies like applying targeted universalism, navigating relationships with challenging stakeholders, and creating school environments where adults learn and grow just as much as students do. Check out The Principals Exchange Virtual Conference [January 28-29, 2026]! 🔗 Click HERE to learn more and register. [Podcast Sponsor] Kind Cotton: Soft, sustainable apparel, where every purchase provides a book to a child. Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #162: Why Building Trust Might Not Be Working | 02 nov. 2025 | 00:06:30 | |
What separates schools that grow from those that stall? One word: trust. In this episode, Becca unpacks research showing that strong trust can double a school’s chance of improving student learning. She breaks down the four types of trust: integrity, intent, capabilities, and results and shares how leaders can pinpoint where trust is missing and rebuild it with purpose. Listen in for practical, research-backed strategies to strengthen relationships, improve coaching impact, and lead with confidence. Check out The Resistance Remedy! [Podcast Sponsor] Kind Cotton: Soft, sustainable apparel, where every purchase provides a book to a child. Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #160: How a One-Hour Intervention Shifted Outcomes for Years | 26 oct. 2025 | 00:06:01 | |
[Podcast Sponsor] Ever wonder how the smallest moments can spark the biggest shifts in learning and leadership? In this episode of Research Rundown, Becca reveals the science behind a simple one hour intervention that slashed achievement gaps and boosted happiness for years, all by strengthening students’ sense of belonging. Discover how tiny, everyday moments can ripple out to create lasting change, and learn the three essential ingredients every leader needs to build trust, safety, and connection. Don’t miss the secrets to turning resistance into momentum and making everyone feel like they truly belong. Tune in now and unlock the power of belonging!
Check out The Resistance Remedy! [Podcast Sponsor] Kind Cotton: Soft, sustainable apparel, where every purchase provides a book to a child. Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #159: Why Teachers Don’t Want to Use Data and What to Do About It | 19 oct. 2025 | 00:28:08 | |
How can schools and teams make data feel human and actually useful? In this episode, Becca talks with data culture expert Jessica Lane about approaches that move beyond dashboards and charts to create meaningful impact. Jessica shares practical ways to start small, focus on “tiny data,” and connect every action to real student outcomes. Through stories and actionable strategies, listeners will learn how to build trust, support teacher growth, and use data as a tool for continuous improvement rather than a source of stress. Whether your school is beginning its data journey or looking to strengthen existing practices, this conversation offers frameworks for fostering a positive data culture, encouraging reflection, and turning everyday classroom observations into actionable insights. This episode is perfect for coaches, instructional leaders, and educators who want data to work for people, not the other way around. [Podcast Sponsor] Kind Cotton: Soft, sustainable apparel, where every purchase provides a book to a child. Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #158: Why Ownership Requires Agency (And How to Build It) | 12 oct. 2025 | 00:05:54 | |
Discover how teacher agency really works. In this episode, Becca explores the research on teacher agency, showing it’s not simply a personal trait, but shaped by school leadership, collaboration, and trust. You’ll hear why true teacher ownership can’t be forced, and how creating the right conditions helps teachers grow, lead, and stay engaged. 📥 Download this FREE resource to help you spot and support both internal and external teacher agency. Listen in to see how small shifts in your school’s environment can make a big difference in supporting teachers’ sense of ownership and professional confidence. Check out The Resistance Remedy! [Podcast Sponsor] Kind Cotton: Soft, sustainable apparel, where every purchase provides a book to a child. Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #164: Why Your Teacher Support Needs a Tiered System | 08 oct. 2025 | 00:07:01 | |
Get ready for a smarter approach to professional learning! In this episode, Becca challenges coaches and school leaders to stop treating professional development like a one-size-fits-all event. Instead, she shares how to design support that truly matches the needs of your educators. Think of it through the MTSS lens: Every PD experience, from staff meetings to one-on-one coaching, should directly connect to your school’s priorities. Becca walks listeners through how to identify who needs what and when, leading to a more strategic coaching calendar and meaningful results. She also shares a preview of her upcoming virtual conference, where she’ll dig deeper into managing real change and making feedback stick. The message is clear: when leaders meet educators where they are, everyone moves forward, together. 🔗Check out the research mentioned in this episode: Multitiered Support Framework for Teachers' Classroom-Management Practices: Overview and Case Study of Building the Triangle for Teachers🔗Here is the link to sign up for the Principal Exchange virtual winter conference: https://educationtailored.com/TPE-Conference Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #157: How Gen Z is Misunderstood in the Workplace | 07 oct. 2025 | 00:33:44 | |
Get ready to see leadership and the next generation from a whole new angle. In this insightful episode, Becca sits down with author and leadership expert Tim Elmore to talk about what Gen Z is bringing to the workplace. Tim shares stories that challenge assumptions, clears up common misconceptions, and shows how Gen Z can help leaders grow sharper in their skills. You’ll hear why shortcuts sometimes represent a new kind of work ethic, how regular check-ins can strengthen team culture, and why curiosity often creates better results than frustration. Whether you work in education, coaching, or leadership, this conversation is full of practical ideas and fresh perspectives to help you adapt in a changing world. Tim also offers useful takeaways and a preview of his upcoming book The Future Begins with Z. Let's Stay Connected! | |||
| #156: Give Feedback So They Can Hear It | 28 sept. 2025 | 00:05:17 | |
Why does the same feedback spark growth in one teacher but shut down another? In this episode, Becca Silver unpacks the research on the “four ways of knowing” and how it shapes the way educators receive feedback. You’ll learn how to recognize these differences, adjust your coaching approach, and move past resistance with compassion and clarity. This conversation will help you shift feedback from frustration to connection, so real growth can take root. 🔗Discover the research behind how teachers truly hear feedback in Tell Me So I Can Hear You. Check out The Resistance Remedy to learn more tools (like the Ways of Knowing) to strategically break through resistance! Let's Stay Connected! | |||