David Geurin Joins FocusED to Discuss What It Means to Be Future Driven…and More 

This is Season 4, Episode 4 of FocusED, and it features our guest, David Geurin. It was originally recorded live for a studio audience in Delaware, and provided as a professional development experience in collaboration with the Delaware Department of Education, the Delaware Academy for School Leadership, and The School House 302. Don’t miss what David says about being a Future Driven educator…and so much more.

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David Geurin Brings Tons of Experience to FocusED Listeners

Dr. David Geurin is serving in his first year as superintendent of schools for the Fair Play R-II school district. Previously, he was the principal at Bolivar High School for 14 wonderful years. Under his leadership, BHS developed many innovative programs and the school was honored as a National Blue Ribbon School and Missouri Gold Star School.

Dr. Geurin is the author of Future Driven: Will Your Students Thrive in An Unpredictable World? He’s passionate about developing leadership, school culture, and authentic learning experiences. Most of all, he’s devoted to creating better future stories for all students.

In 2017, Dr. Geurin was named Digital Principal of the Year by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. He has shared his keynotes and workshops from China to the Bahamas and the U.S.

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FocusED Show Notes with David Geurin 

David talked about being future-driven and not just “polishing the past,” which he defined as doing what we’ve always done just a little better. The future should be altogether different. 

Joe asks an important question about balancing the standards while being innovative and meeting students where they are!

David talked about shifting students’ mindsets from getting through school to what they can get from school. 

It was awesome to hear David bring up work-based learning. That was a treat for both Joe and T.J. in terms of pathways and vocational/technical programming. 

Dr. Geurin talked about his 14 years as a principal and his transition to the superintendent. His excitement about leading a district is contagious. 

David talked about using Twitter to connect as well as his state and national associations. Get involved, get active! 

David reads more literature from outside of education than he does within the field. 

David talked about John Maxwell, Todd Whitaker, Carol Dweck, Simon Sinek, and Adam Grant. 

He talked about Culture Code by Dan Coyle as a very influential book. 

David talked about the need for more support and resources for rural educators.  

Don’t miss what he says that he learned from George Couros and AJ Bianco. 

David wants to see more science opportunities and more outdoor experiences for students. 

We end with a discussion of intentional practices for inclusion in schools. 

David Geurin Quotes From FocusED 

We’re not just preparing students for jobs that don’t exist yet, but we have to consider that we’re preparing them to be neighbors and friends of the future as well. ~ David Geurin 

We have to encourage an entrepreneurial mindset in the students. ~ David Geurin 

I don’t want to be the same today in my thinking as I was in the past. ~ David Geurin 

Morgane Michael Joins FocusED to Discuss the Need for Teachers to Go From Burnt Out to Fired Up…and More 

This is Season 4, Episode 3 of FocusED, and it features our guest, Morgane Michael. It was originally recorded live for a studio audience in Delaware, provided as a professional development experience in collaboration with the Delaware Department of Education, the Delaware Academy for School Leadership, and The School House 302. Don’t miss what Morgane says about getting teachers From Burnt Out to Fired Up…and so much more.

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Morgane Michael Brings Tons of Experience to FocusED Listeners

Morgane Michael is the author of From Burnt Out to Fired Up. She has been an elementary school educator with the Greater Victoria School District in British Columbia, Canada, since 2008. Michael is a passionate advocate for social-emotional learning, kindness education, and educator well-being, and she leads professional development initiatives aligned with those efforts throughout her province.

Michael pursued her interest in developing positive school culture by carrying out kindness and self-compassion practices, promoting effective social collaboration, nurturing creativity, and building self-efficacy that is responsive to students’ needs. She established a culture of high expectations by launching her podcast, KindSight 101, in 2018. She has interviewed some of the world’s biggest names in education on the topics of kindness, well-being, self-compassion, and the promotion of positive school culture. 

Morgane Michael is also the creator and founder of the Small Act Big Impact 21-Day Kindness Challenge, which seeks to promote and cultivate safe and supportive school culture. She shares insights from her podcast and lesson ideas on her blog, Small Act, Big Impact.

Morgane Michael received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Victoria, British Columbia, and is currently completing a master’s degree in educational leadership. She lives with her family in Victoria, British Columbia.

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FocusED Show Notes with Morgane Michael

Morgane calls the times we’re in  “the merge lane back to normal.” 

Don’t miss what she says about expressing our full selves as educators. 

You want to hear what she says about teachers who have “a way of seeing us.” 

We were thrilled to find out what she learned from Tim Ferriss. 

Start building your “happiness jar” today. 

Morgane shared practical strategies for self-care and passion ignition, including the use of the following questions programmed in your phone three times a day: 

1. What am I feeling? 
2. Where am I feeling the stress in my body? 
3. What do I need to move forward? 

You have to listen to what she says about our 6 emotional needs. 

She talks about weaving other industries into our practice of learning so that we follow non-educator work. Seth Godin, Adam Grant, Brene Brown. 

What she says about deep work around our values is powerful. 

Morgane talks about Atomic Habits by James Clear. Without strong systems, it’s hard to get to point B. 

Julie Stern Joins FocusED to Discuss the Concept of Learning that Transfers…and More 

This is Season 4, Episode 2 of FocusED, and it features our guest, Julie Stern. It was originally recorded live for a studio audience in Delaware, provided as a professional development experience in collaboration with the Delaware Department of Education, the Delaware Academy for School Leadership, and The School House 302. Don’t miss what Julie says in this episode about learning that transfers…and so much more.

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Julie Stern Brings Tons of Experience to FocusED Listeners

Julie Stern has nearly two decades of experience facilitating adult learning and feels lucky to partner with educators to take their practice to the next level. 

She is passionate about synthesizing the best of education research into practical tools that support educators in breaking free from the industrial model of schooling and moving toward teaching and learning that promotes sustainability, equity, and well-being. 

She is a four-time, best-selling author of Learning that Transfers, Visible Learning for Social Studies, The On-Your-Feet-Guide to Learning Transfer, and Tools for Teaching Conceptual Understanding, Elementary, and Secondary. 

She is a certified trainer in Visible Learning Plus and Concept-Based Curriculum and Instruction. She is a James Madison Constitutional Fellow and taught social studies for many years in Washington, DC, and her native Louisiana. Julie moves internationally every few years with her husband, a US diplomat, and her two children.

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FocusED Show Notes with Julie Stern

Julie starts with a definition of “learning that transfers” — it’s not what we might think in terms of taking learning from short-term to long-term — but rather transferring learning from one situation to another in application. 

The vast majority of teachers already have the tools to plan for learning that transfers. ~ Julie Stern 

Don’t miss what she says about the first shift that we need to make and what needs to be at the heart of the lesson. 

You want to hear about what she says ISN’T transferable learning—isolated lessons that don’t apply to an additional situation. 

Julie talks about common errors that teachers make often without even thinking about them. 

There’s a big difference in the role that students and teachers take in classrooms where learning transfers. Students become pattern seekers. Teachers are no longer fact providers and sources of information. 

Julie talks about what it means to shift from subject matter to disciplinary literacy. 

Don’t miss what she says about content disciplines being a way to look at the world. 

Assessments are the floor, not the ceiling. Rote learning doesn’t work, even for standardized tests. ~ Julie Stern 

Go to LearningThatTransfers.com. Teachers, check out Chapter 8.

Check Out These Recommendations from Julie Stern: 

Brooke Castillo’s The Life School Podcast. 

Good Bye To Overwhelm 

The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday

Happy Days by Gabby Bernstein

Jessica Cabeen Joins FocusED to Discuss What It Means to Lead With Grace 

This is Season 4, Episode 1 of FocusED, and it features our guest, Jessica Cabeen. It was originally recorded live for a studio audience in Delaware, provided as a professional development experience in collaboration with the Delaware Department of Education, the Delaware Academy for School Leadership, and The School House 302. Don’t miss what Jessica says in this episode about leading with grace while maintaining high expectations…and so much more.

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Jessica Cabeen Brings Tons of Experience to FocusED Listeners

Jessica is the Principal of Alternative Educational Programs and Austin Online Academy in Austin Minnesota. Prior to that, she was the principal at Ellis Middle School as well as the “Happiest Place in Southeastern Minnesota,” the Woodson Kindergarten Center. She has been an assistant middle school principal, a special education assistant director, and a special education teacher. 

Jessica was awarded the NAESP/VINCI Digital Leader of Early Learning Award in 2016; in 2017, she was named the Minnesota National Distinguished Principal; and in 2021, she was named DIVE Principal of the year.  

She is a NAESP Middle Level Fellow and a Future Ready Principal. Jessica is the author of Hacking Early Learning, Balance Like A Pirate, Unconventional Leadership, and Lead with Grace: Leaning into the Soft Skills of Leadership.  

But by far her favorite space is the one that involves being with her husband Rob, two sons Kenny and Isaiah, and of course the family dog-Herman. Jessica can be found on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @JessicaCabeen and on her website: jessicacabeen.com.

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FocusED Show Notes with Jessica Cabeen

Jessica talked about going from one level to another and learning how to communicate effectively. 

Don’t miss what she says about vulnerability. 

Jessica talked about letting go of the perception that you have to lead with perfection. Leaders need to celebrate errors…what she called normalizing errors. 

Jessica talked about balancing grace with high expectations, what it means to have a tough conversation with people who you care about. 

You’ll love what she says about setting up a crucial conversation. 

The sandwich setup makes it so that people get their carbs but they miss the protein…you’ll know what we mean when you listen to the show. 

Leading with grace is not always leading gracefully. Jessica talks about what leaders need as they grow and the skill of grace. 

Leaders need to practice self-regulation by checking their energy and attitude each day. Listen to what Jessica says about her “miracle morning.” 

Don’t miss what Jessica says about having an “open door policy.” 

Jessica wants to see the student voice elevated in schools—seen, heard, and valued in schools. 

Jessica talks about brain development research and resources. Check out The Power of the Adolescent Brain by Thomas Armstrong 

She mentions learning more about career pathways so that students can see themselves beyond schools. 

Book number five is on its way: Principal in Balance.

Quotes from Jessica Cabeen

Breathe, smile, take a break, and have a life. ~ Jessica Cabeen

No one needs to be May-tired in October. ~ Jessica Cabeen 

It’s not what you say but how you say it. ~ Jessica Cabeen

Value people before their positions. ~ Jessica Cabeen 

This is Season 3, Episode 14 of FocusED, and it features our guest, Joe Sanfelippo. It was originally recorded live for a studio audience in Delaware, provided as a professional development experience for Delaware teachers and leaders. Don’t miss what Dr. Sanfelippo says about what it means to lead from anywhere and how leaders build intention, connection, and direction in schools. 

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Joe Sanfelippo Brings Tons of Experience to FocusED Listeners

Dr. Joe Sanfelippo is the Superintendent of the Fall Creek School District in Fall Creek, WI. The Fall Creek School District was named an Innovative District in 2016 and 2017 by the International Center for Leadership in Education. Joe holds a BA in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from St. Norbert College, a MS in Educational Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a MS in Educational Leadership, and a PhD in Leadership, Learning, and Service from Cardinal Stritch University.  

Joe is also an adjunct professor in the Educational Leadership Department at Viterbo University. Joe has taught Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, and 5th Grade. He was a school counselor and high school coach prior to taking on an elementary principal position in 2005.  He has served as a principal in suburban and rural Wisconsin.  

Joe started the #1minwalk2work Leadership Challenge, and co-authored:

The Power of Branding-Telling Your School’s Story, 

Principal Professional Development: Leading Learning in a Digital Age, 

Hacking Leadership: 10 Ways Great Leaders Inspire Learning That Teachers, Students and Parents Love, 

and his new book is Lead From Where You Are: Building Intention, Connection, and Direction in Our Schools. 

He was selected as 1 of 117 Future Ready Superintendents in 2014 and 1 of 50 Superintendents as a Personalized Learning Leader in 2016 by the US Department of Education. He attended summits at the White House for both distinctions. Education Dive named Joe 1 of 5 K-12 administrators to watch in 2018 and their National Superintendent of the Year in 2019. 

He has been a featured speaker in multiple states in the areas of Advancing the Use of Social Media for School Leaders, Telling Your School Story, Creating a Culture of Yes, and Personalized Professional Growth for Staff.  

Go Crickets!!

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FocusED is your educational leadership podcast where our mission is to dissect a particular focus for teachers and school leaders so that you can learn to lead better and grow faster in your school or district with more knowledge, better understanding, and clear direction on what to do next.