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
CharacterStrong Co-Founders Houston Kraft & John Norlin get together and talk about the concept of the Law of the Lid, they remind us that as leaders we set the tone, and share that this takes vulnerability & practice.
Bill studied biology and philosophy at The University of Notre Dame and earned his Masters in Teaching at The Evergreen State College. He worked in adolescent group homes for several years before becoming a high school science teacher in Tumwater, Washington. In 2005, Bill transitioned to administration, first as an Associate Principal at Oak Harbor High School and then as Principal at North Whidbey Middle School on Whidbey Island, Washington. Mr. Weinsheimer embraces the philosophy of servant leadership, and believes that his job is to take care of teachers so that they can take care of their students. An ideal vacation for Bill is to escape with his family on their sailboat and explore the islands of the Salish Sea. Studied biology and philosophy at University of Notre Dame Earned a Masters in Teaching from The Evergreen State College Studied school leadership and earned principal's certificate from Seattle Pacific University Taught high school sciences and a philosophy elective in Tumwater, WA (10 years) Worked as high school associate principal (7 years) and middle school principal (8 years) in Oak Harbor Public Schools
Russ started his math teaching career in 1988 after graduating from Colorado State University. While teaching kids math, Russ also coached ... cross country running, swimming, volleyball and track & field. After teaching kids for 16 years, he joined the administrative ranks and has been at it since. He retired from Colorado after 27 years in public education and moved back to the PNW where he was raised. Russ builds a positive school climate and culture by establishing trusting relationships with students and staff. Russ is in his fifth year as an assistant principal at North Whidbey Middle School. Russ will celebrate his 32nd wedding anniversary in August with his wife, Lisa. They have a daughter who is working the front lines as a nurse in Colorado Springs.
Andrea is a Seattle-area kindergarten teacher who keeps relationships and balance at the center of her practice. She believes, in order to show up and be the best teacher possible, you must intentionally work on the best version of yourself. Mindful check-ins with colleagues, intentional relationships with students, and a healthy life away from the classroom are all things that Andrea prioritizes as an educator.
Tamara Letter is a passionate educator with more than two decades of experience as an elementary teacher, differentiation specialist, technology integrator, and instructional coach. She received the 2018 R.E.B. Award for Teaching Excellence and is the author of A Passion for Kindness: Making the World a Better Place to Lead, Love, and Learn. You can connect with Tamara on her website at www.tamaraletter.com or on Twitter or Instagram (@tamaraletter)
As Co-Founder of Labhya Foundation, an India-based nonprofit, Richa's journey has revolved around the question, "What does it take to preserve empathy among children?" Richa has worked as an educator, volunteer, mentor & activist with children from at-risk, refugee & migrant communities across India. She has been a Teach For India fellow & a Teach For All Global Girls' Education fellow. At 21 years old, Richa founded Labhya with a vision to enable all children to become conscious decision makers. Labhya Foundation enables children from low socio-economic backgrounds with Social & Emotional skills. Today, her program impacts over 2 million children and 110,000 teachers in about 21,000 government schools of India, on a daily basis. Recently, she represented India at the 2019 G(irls)20 Summit Japan, where she helped draft a communiqué to be deliberated on by G20 leaders this year. Follow Richa's work on Twitter: @HappinessDelhi @SEL4India Article - https://www.thehindu.com/society/this-delhi-based-23-year-old-represented-india-at-girls20-japan/article28434791.ece
Leigh Kokenes is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist in Raleigh, North Carolina and works at an elementary and middle school in an urban school district. Her early career included work on a birth to age 3 early intervention team and later working with adults who are developmentally disabled. She then found her way to the field of School Psychology. Ms. Kokenes serves on her professional association's board (North Carolina School Psychology Association) to support advocacy for increased mental health services in schools, recruitment, and retention. In 2019 Ms. Kokenes was awarded the National School Psychologist of the Year award by NASP. She is a member of the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) and is currently a state liaison for the Government Professional Relations committee. Her goal is to provide comprehensive school psychological services within teams through social emotional learning, consultation to teachers and parents, assessment/evaluations, intervention teams, advocacy for students, and data analysis. Taking risks to support fragile humans in the world is important to Ms. Kokenes. In 2017 she was awarded the Practitioner of the Year by NC School Psychology Association and was awarded the School Psychologist of the Year for 2015-2016 by Wake County Public School System.
Amy Heimerl is a wife, mom, grandma, educator, gardener, aspiring artist & author, prayer warrior, worship leader and most importantly, daughter of God. Amy has been an educator for 26 years. Twenty-three of those years have been focused on working with students who have emotional and behavioral struggles and students who learn differently. From 1997-2004 she was a special education teacher at a juvenile correctional facility in Northern Wisconsin. From the moment she began teaching there, Amy knew it was part of her calling. After seven years, Amy made the very difficult decision to leave the youth prison so she could spend summers taking care of her own children. Amy was blessed with the opportunity to teach at her local high school as a special education teacher and employment coach. Amy was also blessed to get involved with Link Crew and as a coach for The Boomerang Project. After thirteen years in public education and her own children graduated, Amy felt the call to return to the youth prison and has been back since July 2017. Amy also is in the process of Reading for Orders in preparation for the priesthood in the Episcopal Church.
Sandi Pinner is a wife, mother of 4 boys, Nani of 2 and has been married to her husband for the past 26 years. Sandi has been in education since 1999 and currently is the Pre-K-12th Grade School Counselor in Chireno ISD a small 1A district in deep East Texas.
Jordan Osborn is in his 10th year of working in education. He started off as a social studies teacher in several different schools in Oregon where he also coached football and basketball. During his 10 years he has spent 7 years as an Athletic Director and 5 years as a vice principal most recently at Chiloquin Jr/Sr High School in Southern Oregon. Jordan is in his first year as Principal at Bonanza High School in South Central Oregon.
Brian Slater is an Assistant Principal at Fred Lynn Middle School. Brian believes in finding the good throughout the school! Finding the good, celebrating it, and sharing it with others sends a message of positivity and good vibes throughout the building and school community. He values each day, each moment and understands the importance of spreading love and kindness! School is and should be a place of fun and laughter, where we should never take ourselves too seriously. Enjoy the moments, do something nice for someone, and always bring the daily good vibes.
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