• Unity Over Division: How This Virginia Principal Merged Two Schools Into One

    , ,
    • How did one school principal help to merge two rival schools into one?
    • How can we build positive school culture during times of change and transition?
    • How can we translate our school mission and values into meaningful daily practices?

    About This Guest, Derek Cantrell

    Derek is the principal of Alleghany High School and was named 2026 Outstanding High School Principal of Virginia.

    He is the author of Better Together: Building One School, One Culture, and One Community from Two Rivals, sharing lessons learned from leading a successful school consolidation while building a unified culture focused on relationships, student success, and community.

    Derek is a frequent presenter on school culture, leadership, and practical applications of AI in education, helping school leaders create systems that put people first while improving outcomes for students and staff.

    Timestamps from This Episode

    • 1:45 – The story of the merger in Better Together
    • 5:08 – Honoring the traditions of both schools
    • 8:33 – Including student voice during the transition
    • 12:48 – Biggest lessons learned from the merger
    • 14:47 – Retaining teachers, logistical challenges
    • 16:57 – Improving attendance and engagement post-merger
    • 22:36 – Reinforcing school values on a daily basis
    • 24:00 – Using AI tools to improve lessons
    • 28:00 – Using AI to improve efficiency as a school administrator
    • 31:59 – One hope for the coming school year
    • 33:14 – How and where to connect with Derek online

    Connect with Derek Cantrell on LinkedIn and on X @derekcatch19.

    Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse – retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library.

  • Unlock Student Motivation and Build Resilience with Stephen de Groot

    Unlock Student Motivation and Build Resilience with Stephen de Groot
    • How do needs, values, goals, and strengths reframe how we motivate and engage learners?
    • What are the things that actually drain motivation for students in the classroom and at home?
    • How can teachers build better Regulation, Resources, and Relationships for students in their classrooms?

    About This Guest, Stephen de Groot

    Stephen has spent his career focused on one central idea: helping people get to better. As president and co-founder of Brivia, he has worked with more than 300 organizations across 12 countries and presented to more than 50,000 people worldwide. 

    His experience spans an unusually wide range of environments, from working with at-risk youth, gang members, and correctional institutions to coaching CEOs, military leaders, and professionals in sectors such as mining, healthcare, law, and business.

    A former adjunct professor of human behaviour theory, de Groot is the author of Getting to Better: A New Model for Elevating Human Potential at Work and in Life,  which reached the Top 3 on Amazon Canada’s Hot New Releases in Business Leadership, as well as the Top 100 in Interpersonal Relations, Leadership, and Management.

    Connect with Stephen De Groot

    • on LinkedIn, 
    • on Instagram @StephendeGrootOfficial, and
    • at his website, gettingtobetter.com.

    Timestamps from This Episode

    • 1:47 – How Getting to Better connects with the classroom
    • 2:51 – How the Core 4 Dimensions motivate learners
    • 4:52 – Universal truths about human motivation
    • 8:01 – Educators need to feel safe, significant, and situated
    • 10:06 – What drains student motivation
    • 13:01 – How to build greater resilience in students
    • 15:37 – How to manage stress as an educator
    • 17:21 – A helpful daily practice for principals
    • 18:48 – How and where to connect with Stephen online

    Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse – retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library.

  • Curiosity is Everything: Set Up Direct Instruction with Micro-Inquiry (Olivia Odileke)

    Curiosity is Everything: Set Up Direct Instruction with Micro-Inquiry (Olivia Odileke)
    ,
    • Why is curiosity foundational to everything that happens in the classroom?
    • How can simple micro-inquiry tasks at the beginning of a lesson set up direct instruction to follow?
    • How can teachers use AI as a collaborative thought partner to amplify student thinking?

    About This Guest, Olivia Odileke

    Olivia is an educator, author, instructional technology leader, and founder of Kampus Insights CC, where she helps schools design engaging, curiosity-driven learning experiences. With over 15 years of experience in Title I schools, she has trained thousands of educators and is passionate about helping teachers spark student thinking before delivering content. Olivia is also the creator of the Spark Curiosity EDU experience, a movement designed to help educators rediscover wonder, joy, and purpose in teaching and learning.

    Connect with Olivia

    • on LinkedIn, 
    • on X @KampusCoach,
    • on Instagram @fearless.educator, and
    • at her website, sparkcuriosityedu.com.

    Other Helpful Resources from Olivia

    Timestamps from This Episode

    • 0:00:00 – Olivia Odileke is an education author, speaker, and teacher trainer
    • 1:51 – Curiosity is NOT just an extra, it’s everything
    • 4:55 – Micro-inquiry tasks at the beginning of the lesson
    • 9:26 – The Spark Curiosity EDU “anti-conference” in Austin
    • 19:24 – The Spark Curiosity GPT Coach
    • 26:25 – What’s killing curiosity in our classrooms today
    • 29:29 – Olivia’s AI-generated music for educators
    • 34:20 – The AI tools she uses for her music
    • 37:11 – Unleashing Curiosity, Olivia’s most recent book
    • 41:39 – How and where to connect with Olivia online

    Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse – retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library.

  • Dr. Brad Johnson: Build Your RQ, Build Your Learning Community

    Dr. Brad Johnson: Build Your RQ, Build Your Learning Community
    • How can relational leadership transform your school community?
    • How can we encourage colleagues overwhelmed by fatigue, culture wars, or literacy battles?
    • As technology debates rage, where is the conversation going in K-12 education?

    About This Guest, Dr. Brad Johnson

    Dr. Johnson is an internationally recognized speaker, bestselling author, and one of the leading voices in relational leadership and educator wellness. A former teacher, principal, and professor, Brad has authored multiple books and works with schools around the world to help leaders build trust, strengthen culture, and create environments where both students and educators thrive.

    Connect with Dr. Brad Johnson

    • on Facebook and LinkedIn,
    • on X and Instagram @DrBradJohnson, and
    • at his website, doctorbradjohnson.com.

    Timestamps from This Episode

    • 0:00:00 – Dr. Brad Johnson is a renowned education author and speaker
    • 1:38 – The story in Coffee with the Custodian
    • 5:32 – Leadership principles that administrators struggle with
    • 7:38 – Relational leadership
    • 11:25 – A mistake that new administrators make sometimes
    • 14:13 – How to recognize character traits in students
    • 16:45 – Encouraging tired teachers
    • 20:39 – How to best leverage strengths of teachers
    • 22:40 – The technology debate raging in K-12 education
    • 27:22 – One thing that keeps Dr. Johnson’s fire burning
    • 29:51 – How and where to connect with Dr. Brad Johnson

    Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse – retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library.

  • 7 Steps to School Success with Former Superintendent of the Year, Dr. James Lane

    7 Steps to School Success with Former Superintendent of the Year, Dr. James Lane
    • What are the seven steps to school success?
    • What are the most common distractions school leaders face?
    • How can we build schools that give our graduates the kinds of skills that actually have career-ready value in tomorrow’s marketplace?

    About This Guest, Dr. James Lane

    James is Managing Director of K–16 at ETS, where he leads initiatives to strengthen connections between K–12, higher education, and the workforce. Previously, he served as CEO of PDK International and Educators Rising, Acting Assistant Secretary for the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education at the U.S. Department of Education, and Superintendent of Public Instruction in Virginia, where he was named 2017 Virginia Superintendent of the Year. A lifelong educator and musician, Dr. Lane is also a trumpet player and member of the Carolina Beach Music Hall of Fame.

    Connect with Dr. James Lane

    Timestamps from This Episode

    • 1:52 – The 7 steps to school success
    • 4:48 – Distractions for school leaders
    • 6:34 – Advice for future leaders
    • 8:47 – Grow your own – from students to district leaders
    • 11:53 – How to build trust in a new school community
    • 14:47 – Standardized testing and deeper learning
    • 17:47 – From worksheets to competencies
    • 20:34 – Career readiness for our graduates
    • 23:37 – Inclusive practices and potential for all learners
    • 27:14 – How and where to connect with Dr. James Lane online

    Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse – retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library.