Relationships

Sep

By Joe & T.J.

The Secrets to Developing Trust as a School Leader with Jen Schwanke

FocusED Show Notes with Jen Shwanke In this episode of FocusED, Dr. Jen Schwanke joins Joe and TJ from TheSchoolHouse302 to discuss her book, Trusted: Trust Pillars, Trust Killers, and the Secret to Successful Schools, sharing practical strategies on how school leaders can foster trust, manage conflict, and build collective efficacy. Jen explains that public trust in […]

Aug

By Joe & T.J.

Executive Functions for Every Classroom with Mitch Weathers and Sarah Oberle

FocusED Show Notes with Mitch Weathers and Sarah Oberle In this episode of FocusED, Mitch Weathers and Dr. Sarah Oberle discuss their book, Executive Functions for Every K-3 Classroom, and share practical insights on embedding executive function skills into everyday instruction to support learners of all ages. Sarah explains that executive functions are interrelated cognitive processes responsible […]

Aug

By Joe & T.J.

The 30-Day Leadership Challenge with Michelle Pourchot

FocusED Show Notes with Michelle Pourchot In this episode of FocusED, Michelle Pourchot shares practical leadership lessons from nearly three decades in education and discusses her book, The 30-Day Leadership Challenge. Michelle explains that effective leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about growing intentionally, building trust, and leading people with authenticity. Michelle says she wrote The […]

Jul

By Joe & T.J.

The CTE Experience with Troy Long

FocusED Show Notes with Troy Long In this episode of FocusED, Joe and T.J. interview Troy Long, author of The CTE Experience. Troy makes the case that CTE is not an alternative pathway—it’s one of the most powerful ways to prepare students for both college and careers. Drawing on more than two decades in education, he explains […]

Jun

By Joe & T.J.

The Negotiation Skills Every School Leader Needs with Scott Walker

FocusED Show Notes with Scott Walker In this episode of FocusED, Joe and T.J. interview Scott Walker, author of Order Out of Chaos. Scott shares powerful lessons from hostage negotiations that every leader can apply to difficult conversations, conflict, and high-pressure decision-making. Drawing from years of navigating life-or-death situations, Scott explains why chaos isn’t something to avoid—it’s […]

Jun

By Joe & T.J.

Learning to See What’s Holding You Back as a Leader with Marty Dubin

FocusED Show Notes with Marty Dubin Our guest for this episode of FocusED is Marty Dubin, author or Blindspotting: How to See What’s Holding You Back as a Leader. Marty explains that his book emerged from reflecting on a diverse career and realizing that much of leadership effectiveness comes down to self-awareness rather than technical skill. He shares […]