Z-Rated Success: The Decision Lab for Education Leaders

AI is changing education, but many educators are still trying to figure out where to begin.

In this episode, Kimberly A. Freeman joins Z-Rated Success to discuss how educators can leverage AI without fear, reclaim time, and use technology in ways that support teaching and learning. Kimberly shares why AI literacy matters, especially for ESL and multilingual students, and why educators need clear systems instead of more overwhelm.

The...

Student leadership is more than a title. It is how students communicate, make decisions, handle conflict, build community, and grow under pressure.

In this conversation, Hanan Allen, MPA, Assistant Director of Student Activities at the University of Rochester, shares what she has learned from advising student organizations and supporting student leaders. She discusses the behind-the-scenes work of student activities, the importance ...

Today’s college students are carrying more than many education leaders realize.

In this episode of Z-Rated Success, Nick “The Zebra” Zizi sits down with Brittany Blackwell Broussard, Director of Culture and Climate and Psychology Instructor at Northwestern State University, to talk about culture, climate, belonging, empathy, and what it really means to help students feel safe, seen, supported, and valued.

Brittany s...

Community college is not the end of the road. For many students, it can be the beginning of a bigger academic journey.

In this episode of Z-Rated Success, Nick “The Zebra” Zizi sits down with Dr. Tiffany Paige, Director of the McNair Scholars Community College Program at Jackson State University, to talk about helping students move from simply trying to finish a semester to seeing themselves as scholars, researchers, and...

In this episode of Z-Rated Success: The Decision Lab for Education Leaders, Nick Zizi sits down with Brittany Jackson, Director of Orientation and New Student Programs at North Carolina A&T State University.

Brittany shares why orientation is not just a checklist or a schedule of events. It is often the first real experience students and families have with a campus community, and it can shape how they feel about belonging, safet...

In this episode of Z Rated Success, Nick “The Zebra” Zizi sits down with Bennie Williams for a powerful conversation about fear, opportunity, student success, and what it means to help students become comfortable being uncomfortable.

Bennie brings over 12 years of experience in higher education, student affairs, multicultural education, diversity, equity, and inclusion work, and now K–8 education as a third-grade E...

Students are carrying more than many people realize, and education leaders have an opportunity to help them feel seen, supported, and challenged to grow.

In this episode of Z-Rated Success, Nick Zizi sits down with Robert Johnson, Executive Director of the Agape Center for Human Dignity at Sacred Heart University, for a powerful conversation on student belonging, leadership, campus culture, and what students need right now.

Robert sh...

In this episode of Z-Rated Success: The Decision Lab for Education Leaders, Nick Zizi sits down with Dan La Bar, a seasoned K-12 public charter school leader, to explore how leadership decisions shape student outcomes.

Dan shares one of the most practical leadership lessons from his career: too fast, too slow. Move too fast, and you may leave out important voices, feedback loops, and stakeholders. Move too slow, and you may miss the...

In this episode of Z-Rated Success: The Decision Lab for Education Leaders, Nick Zizi sits down with Amanda Jeppesen, Student Employment Specialist in Career and Student Employment Services at Western Michigan University.

Amanda works closely with students, supervisors, and campus partners to help student employment become more than just a paycheck. In this conversation, she explains how on-campus jobs can become powerful real-world...

Dr. Angell Howard went from high school dropout to earning her doctorate. Now she helps education leaders and organizations navigate culture, leadership, and necessary change.

In this episode of Z-Rated Success: The Decision Lab for Education Leaders, Nick Zizi sits down with Dr. Angell Howard, Associate Director of Professional Development and Staff Recognition at Illinois State University and founder of Necessary Change Consulting...

#36 - How do you as an educator relate to your teenage students and form mutual respect?

Hunter Prinz has a national leadership role with the FCCLA, where he shines as the national president while allowing others to lead him. The Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America, or FCCLA, is the only student-led career and technical organization with family as its main focus. It has an underlying foundation of family Consumer Scienc...

#35 - Did you know that the first days of school set the tone for the rest of the school year? In today's episode, you will learn the ten big ideas from the First Days of School book by Harry and Rosemary Wong. I like to revisit the big ideas every year to help me better prepare for the new school year.  Whether you are on your first day or first month of school you can still use the ideas to put you in a better position to su...

#34 - Are you feeling overwhelmed? Burnout is real. In today's episode, Nick Zizi shares five powerful strategies that are easy to follow to help you crush burnout. Don't go another day without getting relief. You can beat this. Listen now. If you receive value, please consider subscribing and sharing.

Contact Nick:

Website: https://nickzizi.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nickzizi

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickzi...

#33- What's next for the Z-rated Success Podcast? We are approaching the one-year mark since we have launched our podcast. Listen to today's podcast to learn what the future holds and the bonus segment that has four keys needed to grow as a leader. These keys will help you to learn more so that you can grow more which will accelerate your success in whatever you do. 

If you receive value, please consider subscribing, sh...

#32 -Today on Z Rated Success, I share with you initiatives you can take on how to lead when your boss won't. In this episode, I help you recognize the importance of leading yourself first, define your job's expectations, and how you can use these concepts to develop influence without overstepping, all while keeping your motives aligned with the actions you want to represent.  

“Understand this, you are a problem solver&r...

#31- How much is your time really worth? In today's episode Nick Zizi, shares proven time management strategies to maximize your life by maximizing your time. Every second, every minute that goes by will never be replenished. Making your time count is making your life count.
Listen now.
If you receive value, please consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving a review.

Contact:
info@nickzizi.com
www.zratedsucce...

#30- What do stress, zebras, and teachers have in common?
It's not what you think.
Did you know that stress is the number one reason why teachers quit?
In episode #30, Nick Zizi shares how to cope with stress like a zebra. You will learn seven sure-fire ways to reduce and manage stress. Don't let another day go by letting stress take over your life.  If you receive value, consider subscribing and sharing with ...

Ep #29 - What strategies are you employing as an educator to meet your students’ needs? For your students to be successful, you have to engage different appropriate strategies that work for each of your students. 

Culturally responsive teaching is using the cultural knowledge, prior experience, and performance styles of diverse students to make learning more effective and appropriate. It is essentially teaching to and thr...

Ep #28 - Are you frustrated with the lack of parent involvement? In this episode, Nick Zizi shares five sure fire ways you can boost parent engagement. Studies show that students do better when parents are involved in their education.

Contact Nick:
www.zratedsuccess.com

Join our Facebook group for zebra educators  here: www.facebook.com/groups/zebraeducators
We lift as we climb. 

Learn more about Z-Ra...