• 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

• on X and Instagram @DrJamesLane, 
• on LinkedIn, 
• at universityinstructors.com, and 
• at leadingwithlaserfocus.com.

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.