Stay ConnectedThe CharacterStrong Podcast: Weekly conversations for anyone in education.
CharacterStrong provides an evidence-based, multi-tiered solution to support whole child success. Curricula and trainings that improve behavior, increase safety, and support mental health.
For more information visit our website: characterstrong.com
Today our guest is Dr. Chris Clayton the Director of Education Services for the Educator Pipeline and Profession for the Pennsylvania State Education Association.
We talk to Dr. Clayton about the importance of developing and supporting a robust educator pipeline. He highlights several of the opportunities available for building pipelines and shares insights on the initiatives already underway in Pennsylvania. Dr. Clayton also details the ways they offer year-round support to new and aspiring teachers—professionally, financially, and in the classroom.
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In addition to his work with CharacterStrong as a Presenter and Consultant, Dr. Christopher M. Clayton serves as the Director of Education Services for the Educator Pipeline and Profession for the Pennsylvania State Education Association. In this role with PSEA, he is responsible for providing support to over 178,000 educator members on issues involving teacher certification, student achievement, pedagogical best practices and research in teaching and learning and directs the Student PSEA Aspiring Educator Program, serves as the State Coordinator for the Pennsylvania Educators Rising (high school students) Program, and coordinates PSEA's New & Early Career Educator Platform.
He earned a Ph.D. in Language and Literacy Education and an Ed. S. Degree in Education Leadership, Administration, & Policy at The University of Georgia along with a Master's Degree in Curriculum & Instruction from Regis University in Denver, CO. He is a National Board-Certified Teacher (2008, renewed in 2018) who was named the Washington Puyallup Valley Teacher of the Year in 2011 prior to starting with PSEA where he served as a high school English and International Baccalaureate Theory of Knowledge teacher and coach for over ten years in Southern California and Washington state before becoming a district administrator and Director of Curriculum & Instruction in a large metro-Atlanta school district with 138 schools and over 100,000 students. He moved to Hershey to begin his role with PSEA in 2014 and happily resides there with his wife, two daughters, son, and granddaughter.
Today our guest is Karissa Bachman, 3rd grade teacher at Maple Lawn Elementary, in the Sumner Bonney-Lake School District. We talk to Karissa about creative strategies that enhance student learning and engagement in the classroom. She shares a variety of practical approaches, including setting up a "relaxation station" to help students manage stress and stay focused, incorporating students into classroom management roles, and using effective behavior management tools to maintain a positive and productive learning environment.
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Karissa Bachman is going into her seventh year of teaching 3rd grade. Currently, she works at Maple Lawn Elementary in the Sumner Bonney-Lake school district, having spent 2 years in the Issaquah school district before returning to the school district she grew up in. She received her bachelor's degree from Washington State University, in Elementary Education with an endorsement in English Language Learners. Her first year teaching was spent at a Title 1 school, and after that year she felt inspired to learn more about how to support her students' emotional and behavioral needs. She went back to school and received her master's from Bellarmine University in Trauma Informed Practices. This program has shifted Karissa's perspective and helps her better meet her student's emotional needs, which in turn has allowed her to more effectively meet her students' academic needs.
Today our guest is Lemar Wilson, Educational Leader at Uplifting Minds Enterprise. We talk to Lemar about the importance of fostering a culture of mindfulness and intentionality before engaging with technology. He highlights the significant influence phones can have on our lives and shares strategies he has used to help students rethink their relationship with technology and focus on personal growth. Lemar shares that by reframing how they engage with their devices, we can help students to develop healthier habits and a more balanced approach to digital consumption.
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Growing up in Queens, NY with six siblings in a single-parent home, Lemar Wilson learned to be a vocal speaker early in life. Despite his passion for the music industry, it became apparent to him that God had other plans. After losing his best friend to cancer and witnessing his childhood friends make various bad life choices, he developed a love for empowering people to become the best version of themselves.
Lemar obtained a degree in Criminal Justice and Business Management and worked in Customer Service and Sales in Corporate America for over 15 years. He welcomed the opportunity to serve the public positively and realized he wanted to be part of the solution rather than the problem. As a result, he began speaking to the youth to uplift, motivate, and promote healthy lifestyle changes. He has created numerous videos on social media and has made guest appearances on numerous podcasts. He reaches out to the public not only through social media but also in schools and corporate events.
Through successful mentoring, Lemar has educated, uplifted, and motivated students and adults to reach their full potential through personal development. His personal, professional, and educational background gives him the skills to not only be a great salesperson but to also motivate people from all walks of life. Lemar offers guidance to build up confidence, promote awareness, and motivate. He provides consulting services for current and past students on mental health, personal growth, and relationship development. He has the keys to living a fulfilled life, both professionally and personally.
Today our guests are Kate Nichols, and Jill Gleason, School Counselor & Intervention Director at Beaver Valley Elementary in Brush, Colorado. We talk to Kate and Jill about ways that they integrate their current PBIS system at Beaver Valley Elementary with curriculum like CharacterStrong. They share about the PBIS matrix that they use for their school and share how they are combining it with the traits "Be Well", "Be Strong", and "Be Kind" from the PurposeFull People curriculum along with other elements like morning meetings. Kate and Jill also talk about how they intentionally take the time to pre-correct expectations are as they interact in the different spaces of the school and how this can work for students of any age.
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Bio: Hi! We are Kate Nichols and Jill Gleason. Combined we have worked in education for forty years, with thirty-four of those years at our current school, Beaver Valley Elementary. Kate has taught 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, Intervention and is currently the school counselor. Jill was a third grade teacher for twenty years, has been an interventionist, and is currently the intervention director.
Today our guest is Dr. Cynthia "Mama J" Johnson - Educator Consultant, Author, and speaker with a message of HOPE. We talk to Dr. Johnson about the vital role of school, family, and community partnerships in education. She emphasizes the need for a new approach to transform our education system from a "village of despair" to a "village of hope." She shares that by fostering intentional partnerships among schools, families, and communities, we can build stronger relationships and create positive change. Dr. Johnson, affectionately known as Mama J, also highlights the importance of involving families in the educational process to improve student outcomes.
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Dr. Cynthia "Mama J" Johnson is an educator, speaker, consultant, and author. She began her educational journey in 1987, working in K-12 schools in rural, suburban, and urban environments as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal, professional development coordinator, adjunct professor, director of alternative education, and executive director (until June 2024). Since 1993, Mama J has served as an educational consultant, working with districts across the county. Her research and work focuses on school connectedness and belongingness, reaching and teaching diverse student populations, effectively educating students who live in poverty, school-family-community partnerships; and disrupting, interrupting, and dismantling barriers to changing student outcomes for marginalized, underserved, and underrepresented youth. Mama J keeps it real, tells it like it is, and lets her light shine wherever she goes.
Today our guest is John Nwosu, School Counselor in Cobb County Schools, Founder of Think DIF, LLC and the 2024 Georgia School Counselor of the Year. John emphasizes the importance of inspiring students, helping them connect with their environment, and leveraging available resources and relationships to support their success. He describes how he achieves this through a comprehensive school counseling program and by utilizing data to serve students and families effectively. John also highlights the significance of fostering connections and understanding the motivations that drive students as they come to school.
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Today our guest is Debbie Beagle, Assistant Principal of Summer School & Director of Student Activities at Vernon Hills High School. We talk with Debbie and explore a few methods for fostering a positive campus culture. Debbie shares the innovative idea of "Bring Your Child or Parent to Work Day," explaining how this simple initiative and others like it can help to transform a school into a community that everyone loves. She discusses how this engaging event has helped students and staff at Vernon Hills connect on a personal level, see each other as individuals, and build stronger, more meaningful relationships, ultimately enhancing the overall campus culture.
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Debbie has over twenty five years experience as a classroom teacher, club advisor, coach and administrator. She has worked with students in grades 9-12 and has taught at the university level. She is described by her colleagues as having a deep understanding of school culture and her greatest attribute is her ability to build strong relationships on campus leading to engaged students and staff. Debbie holds a BS in Mathematics Education, a Masters in Computer Science, as well as Masters and Doctorate degrees in Educational Leadership. Debbie has awards and distinctions from Illinois Directors of Student Activities, Lake County Regional Office of Education, Illinois Chapter/National School Public Relations Assoc., Community HS District 128, and the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association.
Today our guest is Chad Elsberry, Assistant Director of the Iowa High School Athletic Association and & Co-Executive Director of the Iowa Association of Student Councils. We talk with Chad to about the crucial role of student leadership in high schools. Chad shares how fostering leadership skills in students today can shape their futures and impact the broader community. He highlights the significant influence that student councils have on the culture and climate of schools, enhancing the high school experience for everyone. Additionally, Chad emphasizes the need for school administrations to empower students intentionally to cultivate effective leadership.
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Chad Elsberry, Iowa High School Athletic Association Assistant Director, has worked in sport administration and education fields for more than 25 years. Prior to his work with the IHSAA, he was an editor, writer, and photographer for several newspapers. He has also worked with students as an adjunct faculty member through Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC), teaching in the areas of business, marketing, and visual communications. As part of the IHSAA, he has presented at the NFHS National Conference on the issues of sportsmanship and leadership. He is a member of the National Association of Workshop Directors (NAWD) and has been trained in the Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) curriculum and Coaching Boys into Men (CBIM). Elsberry also serves as Co-Executive Director of the Iowa Association of Student Councils. Other areas of responsibility at the IHSAA include sponsorships, sport administration, technology, and student educational services.
Today our guest is Dr. David Arencibia the Principal at Colleyville Middle School in Grapevine-Colleyville ISD. Dr. Arencibia shares about his new book, "Foundations of an Elite Culture: Building Success with High Standards and a Positive Environment." He shares how high standards and a positive culture are the two pillars of a healthy campus, and how these two pillars can help with staff burnout, hiring, and community both inside and outside of our buildings. He also talks about Colleyville Middle School being a CharacterStrong Showcase school and he highlights the great work that the team at Colleyville is doing as they serve students and families everyday.
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Dr. David Arencibia is a highly regarded educator with over two decades of experience as a school leader, dedicated to building cultures of success. David is a sought-after keynote speaker and the author of "Foundations of an Elite Culture," released in May of 2024 and held the #1 New Release position in its education category on Amazon. Notable accolades include being named the 2023 National Principal of the Year finalist, the 2022 Texas Secondary Principal of the Year, and the 2022 Texan of the Year finalist by the Dallas Morning News. David has met with the US Secretary of Education several times to help advance education in America.
According to US News & World Report, David's school garnered recognition as one of the Best Schools in Texas and the country. Under his leadership, the school achieved significant milestones, earning designations such as a Nationally Recognized Model Campus, a Texas School To Watch, and a National PTA School of Excellence. Notably, during a recent school year, the school achieved 100% of students experiencing at least a year's academic growth.
David and his team have fostered substantial community growth, boasting the highest school record numbers with more PTA members than students for five consecutive years. EducationWeek and NASSP's Leadership Magazines have featured David and his school team for cultivating a positive culture with high standards and teacher retention. In "The Energy Bus for Schools," a new book by Jon Gordon and Dr. Jim Van Allan, David's school is highlighted as a premier institution embodying the desired attributes of a positive culture.
Today our guests are Ryan Breen, a sophomore at Chaminade High School and Adam Giardina, Guidance Counselor at Chaminade High School. We talk to Ryan & Adam about an article that Ryan wrote for the New York Post Scholars Contest that focuses on the mental health of of young men. Ryan shares why he wrote the article and the needs that he is seeing in the young men in his community. Adam shares about how they have started to implement CharacterStrong in this first year of adoption, and how it is helping the students at Chaminade focus on their mental health. Ryan & Adam also share a few tips for other schools & districts that are implementing CharacterStrong.
To Read Ryan's NY Post Article Click Here
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