Outliers in Education from CEE

Is your school board in disarray? Tensions boiling over? Factions forming? Superintendent ready to jump ship? School boards across the country face unique sets of challenges daily. But one policy-based model known as Coherent Governance® maps out what its founder believes to be, "... the most 'user-friendly' system in the world for effective board governance."

Discover the power of Coherent Governance® ...

What if quality education was accessible for every child, regardless of their socioeconomic background or race? Buckle up as we explore this intriguing question with Reid Saaris, the force behind the nonprofit Equal Opportunity Schools. With Reid’s unique insights, we illuminate the dark corners of educational inequality and the persistent underinvestment in students of diverse backgrounds, setting the stage for a compelling conver...

We know more about the inner workings of the human brain than ever before, but is our educational system taking advantage of what we've learned? Cognitive behavioral researcher Dr. CK Bray joins us on the podcast today to explore the intricate relationship between neuroscience, education, and culture. Dr. Bray shares insightful perspectives on the pressing need for change in our educational practices, emphasizing the importanc...

In just two short years it is projected that 25 percent of all students in American schools will be English Language Learners (ELL). Are our schools prepared for that? Seasoned educator Andrea Bitner helps us understand the explosion in ELL students and how our school systems can best handle this change.

Bitner, an educator for 23 years, fills us in on the unique challenges of teachers and schools as they prepare to cater...

A pioneer in Early Learning in Washington State, Ferndale School District Superintendent Kristi Dominguez believes passionately that all children have the capacity to thrive in education, they simply don't all have the same opportunities to do so, and that those years before kindergarten are among our best opportunities to begin addressing those inequities.

"When you teach to the heart of a child, their mind will...

Dr. Tinisha Parker, as Executive Director for Student Services for Gwinnett County Public Schools in Georgia, is responsible for the wellbeing of more than 180,000 students. Imagine the challenges she faces in supporting the social, emotional, and academic needs of all students. Dr. Parker tells us how she approaches this complex and very personal professional work.

"Outliers in Education" is a project of CEE, The Center f...

Maria Barrera read an article in the New York Times about rising suicide rates among eight-year-olds and found her life path permanently altered. This Stanford-educated mechanical engineer caught the wave of new tech sweeping through education and began developing a system in which every child has access to the wellness support they need when they need it.

Today, as CEO of Clayful Health, Barrerra has rolled out a school-...

Superintendent Eric Sobotta of the Reardan-Edwall School District in Washington State was moved to tears when he saw the film, "LISTEN" by Erahm Christopher, so much so that he flew Christopher into his district all the way from Montreal not once, but four times. The goal was to begin employing the power of listening across his district and to help his staff, building leaders, teachers and even the community understand wh...

Lifelong newspaperman Rufus Woods provides a uniquely positive perspective on the pathways to a better educational system. Woods has been passionate about education his entire career and he has seen the good and the bad. Through the mental discipline of appreciative inquiry, Woods  has developed a slate of positive and inspiring ideas on how to improve our current systems. Overarching philosophies like replacing "problem menta...

Coach Jim Johnson rose into the national spotlight back in 2006 when he allowed Jason "J-Mac" McElwain, a young high school basketball student-manager on the autism spectrum, to suit up and get in the game. What happened next is the stuff of legend. Today, Coach Johnson is a nationally recognized expert on teamwork and leadership, a sought after motivational speaker and author of the book, "A Coach and a Miracle.&quo...

Former long-time superintendent Nick Brossoit's advice is crystal clear - start with an unwavering love for and commitment to kids, and everything else will fall into place. In this deeply moving and insight-filled episode, we spend time with Nick as he stares down the end of his life and reflects back on his 33 years in education. 

In 2020, Nick was diagnosed with terminal cancer and at the time of this recording, ha...

Something remarkable happened at Freeman High School last fall when a group of students, having decided they were truly being listened to and in a safe environment, opened up the floodgates and let their voices be heard. The catharsis that resulted is a symptom of a growing trend toward elevating student voice in our schools. In this episode, we hear from Freeman School District Superintendent Randy Russell and two of his students ...

Superintendent Michelle Whitney of the Pasco School District in Washington attributes her rise to leadership to "the gifts of strangers," mentors along the way who amplified her talents and breathed the confidence into her that she needed to continue. That's what she strives to do for her own staff and students today, leading with vulnerability from a place, "where life experience and professional experience col...

Dr. Darrin Peppard calls himself a "recovering" high school principal. Today, he leverages his 25 years in education to elevate voices and promote positivity through his books, podcasts, speaking engagements and his Road To Awesome network. In this episode, we drill down on ways to transform and energize school cultures and the real impacts that can have on learning and leadership.

LINKS from Darrin Peppard:
...

Award-winning filmmaker Erahm Christopher wants to hear from students and argues that the more carefully we listen to them and to one another, the better our chances of transforming education into a more compassionate, productive and effective institution.

Christopher has produced and directed more than 20 films, taking on subjects such as  bullying, substance abuse, school violence, disabilities and mental health as part...

Boise State University Professor Emerita, author and long-time educator Kathleen Budge finds parallels in her work and the findings of The Outliers Study that help define a roadmap for improvement in schools faced with large populations of students from low-income settings. Poverty and performance are not tied together and the keys to ensuring that lie in the culture of the schools serving impoverished students.

"Outliers in Ed...

Craig Randall, author of "Trust-Based Observations", unpacks the many ways that trust underpins a positive school culture. The presence of strong relational trust emerged as one of the central findings in "The Outliers Study" from CEE, as a common denominators among schools that outperform the rest. Randall helps us understand how and why to establish and maintain trust throughout our schools and communities. Yo...

Longtime educator, author, speaker and leadership coach Pete Hall stresses the importance of a "reflective practice" for educators. He outlines a  four-step process of self-reflection and shows how, when combined with some authentic self-care,  it can build capacity in educators at every level.
 
 Check out all his works HERE and look for his latest book,  "Always Strive to Be a Better You: How Ordinary Peopl...

Nothing gets Freeman, WA, Superintendent Randy Russell down. On this episode, Russell helps us look on the bright side after what has been, for many educators, a very tough school year. A celebrated speaker, consultant and author, Russell is deeply committed to developing future leaders in education. You can find his book, "The 3 Ships: Relationships, Leadership and Partnerships" on Amazon or check out is many trainings a...