Teaching Learning Leading K-12

Latest Episodes:

Steve Haberlin, PhD - Demystifying Meditation Practice for Educators - 779 Aug 22, 2025

Show notes

Steve Haberlin, PhD - Demystifying Meditation Practice for Educators. This is episode 779 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast.

Steve Haberlin, PhD, is an assistant professor of curriculum and instruction in the College of Community Innovation and Education at the University of Central Florida.

Dr. Haberlin’s research focuses on the implementation of mind-body practices, including mindfulness, meditation interventions to address mental health concerns in educational settings and help students unfold their potential.

His research involves studying the impact of brief meditation, including the use of technology-assisted devices, to improve focus and reduce stress and anxiety. A life-long meditator, with more than 25 years’ experience, his work involves facilitating meditation professional development training and workshops for faculty.

Dr. Haberlin is the author of Meditation in the College Classroom: A Pedagogical Tool to Help Students De-Stress, Focus, and Connect, Awakening to Educational Leadership: A Mindfulness-Based Approach to Supporting and Coaching Teachers, and Calming Student Stress: Mindfulness, Meditation, and Other Strategies to Reduce Anxiety and Enhance Learning in K-12 Classrooms, which was released earlier this year.

Our focus today is on Demystifying Meditation Practice for Educators.

So much to learn!

Thanks for listening!

Thanks for sharing!

Before you go...

Check out these workshops offered by Steve Haberlin. Click link

Mind-Body Practice Workshops for Teachers and Students
(De-stress, Focus, and Energize!)

Also, you could help support this podcast by Buying Me A Coffee. Not really buying me something to drink but clicking on the link on my home page at https://stevenmiletto.com for Buy Me a Coffee or by going to this link Buy Me a Coffee.

This would allow you to donate to help the show address the costs associated with producing the podcast from upgrading gear to the fees associated with producing the show. That would be cool. Thanks for thinking about it.

Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? Thank you!

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Connect & Learn More:

Don't forget to check out Steve's workshops:

Mind-Body Practice Workshops for Teachers and Students
(De-stress, Focus, and Energize!)

http://facebook.com/steve.haberlin/

steve.haberlin@ucf.edu

https://www.amazon.com/Calming-Student-Stress-Mindfulness-Meditation/dp/147587300X

https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781475873016/Calming-Student-Stress-Mindfulness-Meditation-and-Other-Strategies-to-Reduce-Anxiety-and-Enhance-Learning-in-K-12-Classrooms

https://TeachingLearningLeadingK12.podbean.com/e/steve-haberlin-calming-student-stress-mindfulness-meditation-and-other-strategies-to-reduce-anxiety-and-enhance-learning-in-k-12-classrooms-760/

Length - 47:52

Katherine Davis-Gibbon - Award Winning Children's Author & Publisher - Shares Her Latest Children's Book - Words: Growing a Child's Vocabulary & the Power of Words - 778 Aug 09, 2025

Show notes

Katherine Davis-Gibbon Shares Her Latest Children's Book - Words: Growing Children's Vocabulary & the Power of Words. This is episode 778 of Teaching Learning Leading k12, an audio podcast.

Katherine Davis-Gibbon is an award-winning children's book author, publisher, certified yoga and Pilates teacher, and mother of two. She founded Riverlet Press in 2021 to publish books that nurture children's inner lives. Her debut book, My Old Friend, then received critical acclaim and multiple literary awards, and her new book, Words, has been lauded by multiple editorial outlets, and received a Gold Book Award from Literary Titan and a Distinguished Favorite recognition from the Independent Press Awards. Before her writing career, Davis-Gibbon was a contemporary dancer and choreographer, performing nationwide and teaching Pilates and yoga to a wide range of clients, including Olympians and celebrities. She holds a B.A. in Dance from Scripps College and numerous certifications in Pilates and yoga.

Our focus today is Katherine’s book Words.

Great discussion!

Awesome book!

So much to learn!

Thanks for listening!

Thanks for sharing!

Before you go...

You could help support this podcast by Buying Me A Coffee. Not really buying me something to drink but clicking on the link on my home page at https://stevenmiletto.com for Buy Me a Coffee or by going to this link Buy Me a Coffee.

Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? Thank you!

You are AWESOME!

Connect & Learn More:

https://www.riverletpress.com

https://www.instagram.com/riverletpress

https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-davis-gibbon-32083323b/

https://x.com/RiverletPress

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100075626097180

Length - 50:22

Rae Hughart - Founder & CEO of Teachers Deserve It: Talking Teacher Burnout & the Need for Great Professional Development - 777 Aug 04, 2025

Show notes

Rae Hughart - Founder & CEO of Teachers Deserve It: Talking Teacher Burnout & the Need for Great Professional Development. This is episode 777 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast.

Rae Hughart is the CEO & Founder of Teachers Deserve It, a TEDx speaker, and an award-winning educator dedicated to transforming the teaching profession. With a background in middle-level math education, Rae has pioneered innovative models like the Teach Further Model and co-authored influential books such as Teachers Deserve It and Teach Better. Through her work, she empowers educators with sustainable strategies that promote professional success and personal well-being, aiming to create a system where teachers can thrive.

Our focus today is Rae's organization Teachers Deserve It, teacher burnout, and the need for great professional learning.

Awesome conversation!

So much to think about!

Thanks for listening!

Thanks for sharing!

Before you go...

Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? Thank you!

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Connect & Learn More:

https://teachersdeserveit.com/

rae@teachersdeserveit.com

https://open.spotify.com/show/1ZDo7psMhu9TTomUBKxVvO

https://teachersdeserveit.com/podcast/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rae-hughart/

https://x.com/RaeHughart

https://www.instagram.com/teachersdeserveit/

https://www.facebook.com/people/Teachers-Deserve-It/61568079585675/

https://www.amazon.com/Teachers-Deserve-What-Deserve-Dont-ebook/dp/B08DKDHNYF?ref_=ast_author_dp

https://www.amazon.com/Teach-Better-Chad-Ostrowski-ebook/dp/B07Y5RZ5RX?ref_=ast_author_dp

https://youtu.be/OLzaa7Hv3mo?feature=shared

Length - 33:56

Durga Suresh-Menon, PhD - Head of School: New England Innovation Academy - 776 Jul 31, 2025

Show notes

Durga Suresh-Menon, PhD - Head of School: New England Innovation Academy. This is episode 776 of Teaching Learning Leading, K12, an audio podcast.

Durga Suresh-Menon, Ph.D., is Head of School at New England Innovation Academy.

An energizing, dynamic and growth-minded educator with a record of inclusive leadership and passionate storytelling, Dr. Suresh-Menon joins NEIA with over two decades of collaborative higher-education experience, academic program development and a unique understanding of what makes students successful. She has a rich background in higher education, leadership, curriculum development, and academic excellence.

Before joining NEIA, she served as Dean of the School of Computing and Data Science and Dean of Graduate Education at Wentworth Institute of Technology, as well as an Associate Professor, where she led efforts to implement progressive learning strategies and interdisciplinary curriculum that promoted innovation and global awareness.

She is recognized for her work fostering a culture of growth, development and innovation, ensuring that a STEAM curriculum remains aligned with the ever-evolving technological landscape and industry demands.

Fluent in multiple languages, Dr. Suresh-Menon loves to connect with tech-minded students and parents from all backgrounds and brings a global perspective and collaborative spirit to NEIA’s academic community.

What an awesome conversation!

So much to think about!

Thanks for listening!

Thanks for sharing!

Before you go...

Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? Thank you!

You are AWESOME!

Connect and Learn More:

https://neiacademy.org/

durga.suresh-menon@neiacademy.org

https://www.instagram.com/hello.neia/?hl=en

https://www.linkedin.com/in/durga-suresh-menon/

Length - 37:41

Laura Levine - President & CEO - JumpStart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy - 775 Jul 22, 2025

Show notes

Laura Levine - President & CEO - JumpStart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy. This is episode 775 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast.

Laura Levine has devoted her career to helping people of all ages better understand financial services through marketing and outreach, communications, and most recently, through education. In 2004, she became executive director of the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy, a Washington DC-based nonprofit organization committed to “financial smarts for students,” and was named President and CEO in 2011.

Since taking over at Jump$tart, Laura has continued to raise awareness about the importance of financial literacy and the need for effective financial education. Under her leadership, Jump$tart launched the Jump$tart National Educator Conference, Jump$tart Financial Foundations for Educators and J$FFE Online, Project Groundswell/Check Your School and the Jump$tart Teen Teach-In, as well as the coalition’s social media efforts. Laura guided the expansion of Financial Literacy for Youth Month to the broader Financial Literacy Month (sometimes called National Financial Capability Month) observed today. While growing the coalition at both the state and national levels, she led the enhancement of legacy programs including the Jump$tart Clearinghouse and National Standards for Personal Financial Education.

In 2008, Laura was appointed to the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Literacy by President George W. Bush and chaired the Council’s Youth Committee. She is currently a member of the Experian Consumer Council, the Forbes Nonprofit Council, CNBC Financial Wellness Council, the Community Advisory Forum for Fifth Third Bank, and has held many voluntary appointments, including having served on the Parent Cabinet for DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson. Laura speaks and writes on financial literacy topics, especially guidance for parents and family members, and the important role that classroom-based financial education can have in advancing financial equity and inclusion. Laura began her career in credit unions and was a credentialed, Capitol Hill correspondent before moving into the securities industry. She served as Director of Editorial Services for the National Association of Securities Dealers (now FINRA) and, later, as Director of Education and Information for the NASD Office of Individual Investor Services. From 1999-2004, Laura was Director of the NASDAQ Educational Foundation. A native of Los Angeles, Laura holds a degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Southern California. She does not consider herself a financial expert, but rather, a staunch advocate for financial education and information and – she hopes – she has raised a financially literate son.

Our focus today is the need for financial education, the impact of financial education, and mobilizing passionate advocates nationwide.

Awesome conversation!

So much to learn!

So much to do!

Thanks for listening!

Thanks for sharing!

Before you go...

Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? Thank you!

You are AWESOME!

Connect & Learn More:

laura.levine@jumpstart.org

https://www.jumpstart.org

https://x.com/JumpStart1995/

https://www.facebook.com/Jumpstart1995/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/jumpstart1995/

Length - 47:22

Jason McKenna - How A.I. and Robotics are Changing STEM Education - 774 Jul 18, 2025

Show notes

Jason McKenna - How A.I. and Robotics are Changing STEM Education. This is episode 774 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast.

Jason McKenna is V.P. of Global Educational Strategy for VEX Robotics and author of “What STEM Can Do for Your Classroom: Improving Student Problem Solving, Collaboration, and Engagement, Grade K-6.” His work specializes in curriculum development, global educational strategy, and engaging with educators and policymakers worldwide.

Our focus today is "How A.I. and Robotics are Changing STEM Education."

So much to think about.

So much to learn.

Thanks for listening!

Thanks for sharing!

Before you go...

Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? Thank you!

You are AWESOME!

Connect & Learn More:

https://www.vexrobotics.com

https://twitter.com/MckennaJ72

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-mckenna/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1954631456/ref=jmckenna

Length - 44:47

Hosho McCreesh - Psalms from the Badlands: 150 Psalms or Haiku Style Poems about the American Southwest - 773 Jul 14, 2025

Show notes

Hosho McCreesh - Psalms from the Badlands: 150 Psalms or Haiku Style Poems about the American Southwest. This is episode 773 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast.

Hosho McCreesh is currently writing & painting in the gypsum & caliche badlands of the

American Southwest. His work has appeared widely in print, audio, & online.

Our focus today is his work…. Psalms from the Badlands.

Awesome writing!

Excellent conversation!

So much to learn and think about.

Thanks for listening!

Thanks for sharing!

Before you go...

Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? Thank you!

You are AWESOME!

Connect & Learn More:

hosho-mccreesh.squarespace.com/

https://x.com/HoshoMcCreesh

https://www.instagram.com/hoshomcc/

Length - 43:32

Annie Kessler - City Year New York and Student Success Coaches - 772 Jul 11, 2025

Show notes

Annie Kessler - City Year New York and Student Success Coaches. This is episode 772 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast.

Annie Kessler is a dedicated leader committed to advancing educational equity. She started her career in education as a City Year New York AmeriCorps Member, serving in a 5th grade classroom at PS48X in the South Bronx after receiving a Bachelor of Arts in English at Loyola College in Baltimore, Maryland. Annie’s experiences as an AmeriCorps Member were transformative in her career journey and led her to become a Program Manager and then Director at City Year New York.

A little about … City Year New York:

City Year New York AmeriCorps members a.k.a Student Success Coaches (SSCs) serve full-time in 17 New York City public schools, reaching more than 7,000 students each day. (They are basically an army of 20-somethings who come into community schools and serve as teacher helpers/caring adults.)

Our focus today is …. New York City will need to hire almost 4,000 more educators to meet new classroom size requirements. Where will new teachers come from?

Awesome conversation!

Great focus!

Thanks for listening!

Thanks for sharing!

Before you go...

Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? Thank you!

You are AWESOME!

Connect & Learn More:

https://www.cityyear.org/

https://x.com/cityyear/

https://www.instagram.com/cityyear/

https://www.youtube.com/user/cityyear

https://www.linkedin.com/company/city-year/

https://www.facebook.com/cityyear/

Length - 32:56

Lee Matthew Goldberg - Miles in Time - Book 1: Solve the Mystery, Save the Future - 771 Jul 07, 2025

Show notes

Lee Matthew Goldberg- Miles in Time - Book 1: Solve the Mystery, Save the Future. This is episode 771 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast.

Lee Matthew Goldberg is the Anthony, Lefty, and Prix du Polar nominated author of fifteen novels including THE ANCESTOR and THE MENTOR, and THE GREAT GIMMELMANS along with his five-book DESIRE CARD series and the RUNAWAY TRAIN trilogy.

MILES IN TIME came out May 2025.

After graduating with an MFA from the New School, he’s been published in multiple languages and his writing has also appeared as a contributor in CrimeReads, Pipeline Artists, LitHub, Chicago Quarterly Review, Electric Literature, The Los Angeles Review of Books, The Jewish Book Council, The Millions, Vol. 1 Brooklyn, LitReactor, Mystery Tribune, The Nerd Daily, Monkeybicycle, Fiction Writers Review, Cagibi, Necessary Fiction, the anthology Dirty Boulevard, The Montreal Review, The Adirondack Review, The New Plains Review, Maudlin House and others.

His pilots and screenplays have been finalists in Script Pipeline, Book Pipeline, Stage 32, We Screenplay, the New York Screenplay, Screencraft, and the Hollywood Screenplay contests.

He is the publisher of Fringe Press, the co-curator of The Guerrilla Lit Reading Series and lives in New York City.

Our focus today is Lee’s latest book - Miles in Time, Book 1: Solve the Mystery, Save the Future

Cool read!

Great characters!

Awesome conversation!

Thanks for listening!

Thanks for sharing!

Before you go...

Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? Thank you!

You are AWESOME!

Connect & Learn More:

https://leematthewgoldberg.com/

https://wisewolfbooks.com/2025/03/miles-in-time-miles-in-time-book-1-by-lee-matthew-goldberg

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DXQQQT74?tag=w0a653-20&geniuslink=true

https://www.amazon.com/Time-Fixers-Travel-Mystery-Miles-ebook/dp/B0F643RXQ8?ref_=saga_dp_bnx_dsk_dp

https://www.instagram.com/leematthewgoldberg/

https://bsky.app/profile/leematthewgoldberg.bsky.social

https://www.tiktok.com/@leematthewgoldberg

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8001634.Lee_Matthew_Goldberg

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Lee-Matthew-Goldberg/author/B00RPF06TS?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1627313638&sr=8-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Length - 32:31

Joshua Ray - Finding Your Balance: Personal and Professional Wellness Strategies for Effective Educational Leadership - 770 Jul 01, 2025

Show notes

Joshua Ray - Finding Your Balance: Personal and Professional Wellness Strategies for Effective Educational Leadership. This is episode 770 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast.

Joshua Ray, EdD, is an educational speaker and author who has led the Professional Learning Communities (PLC) at Work® process at the elementary, secondary, and district level. He is passionate about building healthy school cultures, the work of collaborative teams, systems of support, and educator well-being.

As assistant superintendent, Dr. Ray helped schools collaboratively build district common assessments, unite around common expectations, and improve teaching and learning. He worked alongside principals and instructional coaches to make the PLC at Work process practical and meaningful.

Previously, Dr. Ray was principal at Greenwood High School and East Pointe Elementary School. Under his leadership, both campuses were selected by the Arkansas Department of Education to participate in the Arkansas PLC at Work project. Greenwood High School became a destination for schools and educators across the state looking to learn how to implement PLC work on a secondary campus. Similarly, East Pointe Elementary went from a “B” school to a distinguished Arkansas campus in the top 5% of performance and growth, resulting in nearly $150,000 of reward funding from the state of Arkansas and East Pointe being recognized as a “Leader in Me Lighthouse School.” Dr. Ray also serves as a member of Arkansas’s state guiding coalition focused on developing PLCs and serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Arkansas.

Dr. Ray was chosen to represent the University of Arkansas at the American Educational Research Association Conference as a David L. Clark scholar for his work on the wellness practices of educational leaders. He has published research on PLCs and educator well-being in Principal Magazine, The Standard, AllThingsPLC Magazine, and the Journal of Educational Administration.

Joshua holds a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Arkansas. He is a National Board-Certified Teacher and an Arkansas Master Principal graduate.

Our focus today is Josh’s latest book - Finding Your Balance: Personal and Professional Wellness Strategies for Effective Educational Leadership.

Great conversation!

Incredible focus.

Powerful book.

Thanks for listening!

Thanks for sharing!

Before you go...

Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? Thank you!

You are AWESOME!

Connect & Learn More:

jray711@gmail.com

https://x.com/JoshRay711

https://www.instagram.com/joshray_consulting/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-ray-259426161/

https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Your-Balance-Professional-Educational/dp/1962188795

Length - 01:02:03