My guests today are Katie Novak and Ashley Marlow.

Katie, an internationally-renowned education consultant, graduate instructor at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, and the best-selling author of numerous books, returns to The Authority for the third time. Ashley is an elementary math coach, consultant, and director of operations for All Learners Network.

They co-authored the new book Universal Design for Learning in Mathematics Instruction, K-5.

This fun and timely discussion covers:

• Well…there’s a lot about bumper stickers (stay tuned)
• “Supplement not supplant”
• Math is one of the areas with the biggest hurdles to access and inclusion
• Algebra as the gatekeeper to future success
• What to make of the latest NAEP results
• Creating a math learning environment that sends the message that we are all capable mathematicians
• The problems with traditional math instruction
• What would a universally designed math class look like? How is it different from a traditional classroom?
• Importance of numeracy and keys to teaching it
• Dolly Parton
• Read the Edutopia article Making Math Accessible for All Students.

Find Universal Design for Learning in Mathematics Instruction, K-5 from CAST Publishing or wherever you get your books.

About today’s guests

Katie Novak, Ed.D. is an internationally renowned education consultant, a graduate instructor at the University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School of Education, and the best-selling author of 14 books on inclusive practices, with over 250K books sold worldwide. Katie designs and presents workshops both nationally and internationally focusing on the implementation of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), inclusive practices, and universally designed leadership. Connect on LinkedIn or her website.

Ashley Marlow, MSEd, is an elementary math coach, a consultant, and the director of operations for All Learners Network. She has 13 years of experience in teaching and coaching and is passionate about supporting teachers of experience in creating equitable learning opportunities in math. Ashley plans professional learning opportunities focusing on instructional routines in mathematics that support belonging, engagement, and access to rigorous grade-level content for all students. Connect on LinkedIn.

About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on LinkedIn or Bluesky.

I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt

For our next "Best Of" episode, I'm excited to republish my conversation with Mitch Weathers, teacher and founder of Organized Binder, Inc. We talked about his book Executive Functions for Every Classroom: Creating Safe and Predictable Learning Environments Grades 3-12, published by Corwin.

Hear our conversation about:

• Defining executive functions and their importance
• Signs of executive dysfunction
• Justin Baeder, The Principal Center, says the book “makes the case for universal classroom routines that free up students' mental bandwidth to focus on learning.”
• Practical steps to create predictable learning environments — and why you should do it
• Patrice Bain writes that this statement stopped her in her tracks: “As teachers, if we are aware that our students are partially organized, and we do nothing about it, then we are complicit in their failure.”
• Goal-setting and accountability
• Getting families involved

Find Executive Functions for Every Classroom from Corwin or at http://organizedbinder.com/book

Listen to previous episodes of The Authority referenced in this conversation:

• Mapping Professional Practice with Justin Baeder and Heather Bell-Williams: https://bit.ly/3TaQsUN
• A Parent’s Guide to Powerful Teaching with Patrice Bain: https://bit.ly/47RKeOf

About today’s guest

Mitch Weathers is a teacher and founder of Organized Binder, Inc. Together with the Organized Binder team, Mitch works with K-12 schools and colleges in the US and internationally to equip students with executive functioning skills. When he is not working with schools, you can find him running trails training for his next ultramarathon. He and his wife, Amber, live in Northern California with their two daughters, Vivienne and Olive. Connect with Mitch @organizedbinder

About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on LinkedIn or Bluesky.

I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt

Sahil Bloom is an inspirational writer and content creator who reaches millions of people every week through his bi-weekly newsletter, “The Curiosity Chronicle,” and related social media content. Sahil is a successful entrepreneur, owner of SRB Holdings, and the managing partner of SRB Ventures, an early-stage investment fund.

His first book, The Five Types of Wealth: A Transformative Guide to Design Your Dream Life, is already a New York Times bestseller. Today it’s a pleasure to have him join The Authority.

We discuss:

• What curiosity is and isn’t
• Unexpected things Sahil has learned and what he’s changed his mind about
• Making the case that being curious about new ideas is an objective good
• What’s impressive and disappointing when meeting a new person
• Five types of wealth: Time, Social, Mental, Physical, Financial
• Prioritizing when there’s a conflict
• What fatherhood has taught Sahil about time
• What 80 and 90 year olds say about their lives
• The most compelling thing Sahil learned about learning

Get The Five Types of Wealth at https://a.co/d/fBZjUvv

Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn about all our shows.

About today’s guest

Sahil Bloom is an inspirational writer and content creator, captivating millions of people every week through his insights and bi-weekly newsletter, “The Curiosity Chronicle.” Sahil is a successful entrepreneur, owner of SRB Holdings, and the managing partner of SRB Ventures, an early-stage investment fund. Sahil graduated from Stanford University with an MA in public policy and a BA in economics and sociology. He was a four-year member on the Stanford Baseball Team. Connect with Sahil:

• www.sahilbloom.com
• https://x.com/sahilbloom
• https://www.instagram.com/sahilbloom
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/sahilbloom

About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on LinkedIn or Bluesky.

I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt

In this bonus episode, originally recorded for Transformative Principal, Jethro Jones speaks with Eric Sheninger and Nicki Slaugh about their book Personalize: Meeting the Needs of All Learners. Hear about:

• The power of Quest Academy
• Retain teachers, retain students - how to keep kids there.
• Free public school
• Teenagers weren’t engaged.
• PD time every Friday
• Mastery Minutes
• Beginning of day, tracker system.
• Choice, voice, tracker data.
• Curating evidence.
• Culture
• Self-pacing route vs. choice boards.
• Removed points, extra credit, percentages,
• Emerging, developing, mastering, extending
• Prove-its aligned to proficiency scales.
• Big shifts require big moves.
• At Quest, we want you to be proficient
• When you remove the traditional structures, you have to add
• The right way is your way, there is no best practice.
• Performance reviews, students meet with teachers one-on-one.
• Impersonal approaches to focusing on the “who”
• How can we do it effectively, and what does it look like?
• Evidence of effective vs. ineffective practices.
• Practice, practice, practice, prove.
• Maximizing the time we have with our students.
• How to be a transformative principal?
• Eric: Show people the value of what you are doing
• Nicki: Get rid of the energy vampires

Adam Barney is an Energy Coach who has helped hundreds of emerging and executive leaders unlock their goals, build vitality, and strengthen accountability for long-term transformation.

With over two decades of experience in leadership positions at companies like Microsoft, Digitas, and Akamai Technologies, Adam brings a wealth of knowledge to his coaching practice. He believes optimism and autonomy empower us to overcome challenges and seize opportunities with confidence and resilience.

Today, we discuss Adam’s new book Make Your Own Glass Half Full: The Path To Empowered Optimism and Autonomy.

The episode covers:

• The “why” and “why now” of making your own glass half full
• Energy givers and takers – the Colin Robinsons (energy vampires) in your life
• The dynamic duo of optimism and autonomy, and why they need each other
• Living in a world of external pressures and expectations
• Practical strategies leaders can use to manage their energy and maintain resilience in challenging times
• Aligning personal and professional goals to create lasting impact

Get Make Your Own Glass Half Full at https://linktr.ee/makeyourownglasshalffull

Connect with Adam:

• https://www.makeyourownglasshalffull.com
• https://www.adamwbarney.com
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamwbarney

Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn about all our shows.

About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on LinkedIn or Bluesky.

I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt

In this episode, simulcast on The Authority and Sideline Sessions, I speak with Matt Doherty, a nationally recognized motivational speaker, executive coach, and former head coach of the University of North Carolina men’s basketball team.

As a starter on the 1982 National Championship team at UNC, with his teammate Michael Jordan, Matt began his leadership journey under the legendary Dean Smith. He went on to be the head coach at Notre Dame and North Carolina, and in 2001 led the team to the ACC regular season championship. That year he was named the AP National Coach of the Year.

Doherty also served as head coach at FAU and SMU, in addition to working with ESPN, the Indiana Pacers, and the Atlantic 10 Conference.

Matt is author of Rebound: From Pain to Passion.

Hear about:

• Who Matt learned from, as he played for and worked for Hall of Fame coaches, played with HoF athletes, and coached many great athletes
• What he wishes he learned sooner
• His mission statement
• Leadership is a learned behavior
• Putting yourself in position to learn
• 6 principles of leadership
• Adversity: What went wrong? Why did this happen? How do you prepare for your next opportunity?
• Gaining perspective on the things outside your control
• Culture and culture-building

Find Rebound on Amazon or wherever you get your books.

Connect with Matt at https://dohertycoaching.com

About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on LinkedIn or Bluesky.

I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt

In this episode, one of our Best of 2024, internationally known authority on educational leadership Michael Fullan joins the show.

Michael’s work has influenced countless education leaders at all levels. The former Dean of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education and Professor Emeritus of the University of Toronto, he is co-leader of the New Pedagogies for Deep Learning global initiative, served as Premier Dalton’s Special Policy Adviser in Ontario from 2003-2013, and received the Order of Canada (OC) in December 2012.

Michael is the author of numerous books, including The Principal 2.0: Three Keys to Maximizing Impact (Jossey-Bass).

We talked about the following and more:

• The Principal 2.0 (2023) is 90% new material from The Principal (2014). We cover the events that caused Michael to undertake such a significant revisitation.
• The disruptions of the past few years are forcing change in schools – which can turn out for better or worse depending on the evolving role of the principal.
• What forces have traditionally boxed principals into a narrower role?
• Spirit Work
• Global evidence for these principles
• Systemness in Action
• Connected Autonomy
• The Drivers – system change from the bottom up
• Reasons for optimism about the future

Find The Principal 2.0 here: https://bit.ly/3TYJZx4

About today’s guest

Michael Fullan is an internationally known authority on educational leadership. Professor emeritus at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto, Fullan is Global Co-Director of New Pedagogies for Deep Learning. He is an adviser and consultant on major education reform initiatives around the world. His previous books include Change Leader, The Six Secrets of Change, and Leading in a Culture of Change. Learn more: https://michaelfullan.ca/

About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies. He is a leadership development and performance coach for professionals in a range of industries and consults with organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry to help communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Blueskyand LinkedIn

I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt

My guests today are Dr. Kathy Perez and Dr. Margaret Coughlan.

Kathy is a professor emerita at Saint Mary’s College of California. She has extensive teaching experience as a general and special educator, literacy and ESL coach, administrator, and curriculum- and staff-development coordinator. Margaret is a classroom teacher, district leader, researcher, and adjunct faculty at Saint Mary’s College of California. Her professional work includes teaching elementary students, teachers, and graduate school master level candidates.

We discuss their book The Emerging Teacher Leader: Six Dynamic Practices to Nurture Professional Growth and cover:

• What is a teacher leader — and what should it be? (positional/formal)
• Who initiates teacher leadership?
• The practices of a teacher leader
• Focusing on your purpose
• Growing as a teacher and leader
• Effecting change through collaboration
• Building and sustaining healthy relationships
• Taking care of yourself
• Cultivating a growth mindset

Find The Emerging Teacher Leader from Solution Tree or wherever you get your books.

About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies. He is a leadership development and performance coach for professionals in a range of industries and consults with organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry to help communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky and LinkedIn

I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt