EP12 - Speak So Others Understand: Why Educational Jargon Needs Clarity

Have you ever shared your school vision with a team—only to find that it didn’t take root the way you hoped? You outlined your philosophy, your preferred teaching approaches, even your core values… but nothing seemed to change. The problem might not be resistance—it might be unclear language.

In this episode of Empowering the Educator Within, Christina Shala explores why educational jargon—terms like “student-centered,” “innovative,” or “life-long learning”—can lead to misalignment when left undefined. From staff meetings to professional development sessions, we unpack how unspoken assumptions can leave even the best ideas lost in translation.

You’ll also hear how clearly defining your terminology is key when designing school-wide educational frameworks and individualized teacher planners. If you’re looking for tools to guide this work, check out Christina’s book and companion workbook, Empowering the Educator Within: A Guide to Enabling Yourself and Those You Serve—a practical resource designed to help educators turn vision into action.

🔗 Read the article that inspired this episode: The Importance of Defining Educational Jargon

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