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
For Ethan Zohn, winning CBS's SURVIVOR: Africa was the springboard to an exceptional young life of entrepreneurship, social purpose and advocacy. It was also the prelude to an incredible story, one of perseverance, accomplishment, and enduring spirit in the face of once unthinkable challenges. By sharing that story, Ethan inspires countless others around the globe. His message for young people, academia and the corporate community alike emphasizes character, resiliency, service, kindness and turning challenges into strengths. A fit, active, 35-year-old former professional soccer player who had traveled the world on behalf of the international health community through his foundation, Grassroot Soccer, Ethan became an unlikely face of cancer. Diagnosed not once but twice with CD20+ Hodgkin's Lymphoma in the span of several years, Ethan endured years of aggressive treatment, including two stem cell transplants. Never losing optimism, spirit, or humor despite extraordinary rigors and setbacks, Ethan used his journey and considerable platform to connect with others – young adults in particular – and offer much-needed inspiration, advice, and comfort. As demonstrated by his charitable work with various global and domestic health and wellness organizations, and community involvement, Ethan believes that a better and healthier world can be achieved by living with strong values. His inspiration to help heal the world stems from being taught at an early age the importance of kindness, community and a connection to social goodness. Ethan is a recognizable face that delivers deeply felt, meaningful lessons on character, kindess, personal strength, and giving back, all which he developed long before his battles with cancer. With his remarkable combination of humor and honesty, Ethan offers keynotes that inspire others to answer life's opportunities with strength and the conviction to never let a crisis to go to waste. Programs & Speaking Topics: Cancer Mental Health/Anxiety Sport for Social Good Motivation & Inspiration Service Learning Character Development Social Entrepreneurship Jewish Leadership and Values Preservation of Israel HIV/AIDS. We talk about how crises are also opportunities to do important things, how making a difference can start with something simple, and how character is the ultimate survival tool.
Allyson Apsey has been an educator for over twenty years; a school leader for fifteen of those years. She is so proud of her school district and the Zeeland, MI community, and she loves being the principal of Quincy Elementary. She is the author of a blog called Serendipity in Education, and of the book The Path to Serendipity and the picture book The Princes of Serendip. Her third book was released in May of 2019 and is called Through the Lens of Serendipity: Helping Others Discover the Best in Themselves. She also loves speaking to passionate groups of educators as everyone works to be happy and effective people for the benefit of everyone. She is married to Jim and has two amazing sons with him, Laine and Tyson.
Dr. Andy Jacks has a passion for the success of every single child ensuing that school is a place filled with meaningful relationships and support for even the most at-risk students. Andy is the principal of the award-winning Ashland Elementary School in Northern Virginia where they have skyrocketed student achievement and created a unique school culture that even brought the U.S. Secretary of Education there for a tour. Andy also serves on the Autism Society of Northern Virginia Board of Directors and is an NAESP Fellow leading the Center for Innovative Leadership. Andy and his school have received various local and national recognition including Nationally Distinguished Principal, Virginia Principal of the Year, School Bell Award, State Excellence Award, and Business Partnership of the Year. Connect with him at andyjacks.co or on Twitter @_AndyJacks.
We talk about some of the moves that skyrocketed student achievement at Ashland Elementary, how he is leading with the Center for Innovative Leadership, and the important role that educators have + the responsibility that comes with that.
Shreeya Arora is a junior at the Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky. She believes in driving positive outcomes through technology. From increasing the efficiency of the response to natural disasters to developing a sustainable transportation service for new refugees at no cost, her love for computer science has allowed her to make a change in her community. Along with coding and graphic design, civic engagement is also important to Shreeya as it allows her to learn more about the communities she serves.
We talk with Shreeya about the awesome ways that she is using technology to change the world, and her involvement in the #Digital4Good conference which is focused on empowering positive tech and media use. You can check out #Digital4Good live from Facebook HQ on 9.16.19 at icanhelpdeletenegativity.org
CharacterStrong Co-Founders John Norlin & Houston Kraft have some fun and talk about the first thing that comes to mind on different School Culture & Climate topics.
Topics: Back to School: Helping everyone feel welcome, School Dances, Back to School for Staff
Jonathan Alsheimer is a teacher from "The" Fred Lynn Middle School, Speaker, and author of the upcoming book "Next Level Teaching" published by Dave Burgess Consulting - All about how teachers can make a profound impact on the culture and climate of their classroom and school!
We talk about how making a difference at school starts in the classroom, three characteristics of a great teacher, and how we can re-engage the fire and passion for education.
Season 2 Kickoff Episode!! CharacterStrong Co-Founders John Norlin & Houston Kraft have some fun and talk about the first thing that comes to mind on different School Culture & Climate topics.
Topics: Kindness Weeks, Back to School for Students
Evonya Cornelius is a speech language pathologist with over 25 years of experience in schools, hospitals, and rehab settings in the United States and the Caribbean. She is the product of the Monroe County Public School System in Rochester, NY. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Communication Disorders from Nazareth College of Rochester and Master's degree in education from Buffalo State College. She owned and operated Manner of Speaking consulting services in Southeast Florida for 12 years. Her intention is fixed on bringing an awareness of the effects of cultural bias to educators, in order to improve outcomes for all students. From New York to California, her message is a call for us all to focus on cultivating competence, compassion and connection.
We talk with Evonya about the importance of empathy, some perspective shifts that can change how we approach meetings, and how language impacts our relationships with students and their families.
Katherine is the American School Counselor's Association 2016 National School Counselor of the Year. Katherine began serving as the Flagstaff High School (FHS) Counseling Department Chair in the 2008 and Student Government Advisor in 2012. Through a data-driven, comprehensive school counseling program, Katherine and her team have received both state and national recognition. Katherine joined the American School Counselors Association (ASCA) board of directors in 2017 and is an adjunct faculty member at Northern Arizona University's College of Education where she teaches the next generation of school counselors.
We talk with Katherine about the important role that school counselors have in our schools, and she shares some ways school counselors can be used more effectively.
Krista Gypton taught for 19 years and has received numerous awards for her teaching and student community service, including the 2008 Arizona Teacher of the Year Ambassador for Excellence. She is an emphatic believer in the power of service to others and has traveled as far as South Africa with students to give back. She has been a keynote speaker and trainer for the past 11 years, both nationally and internationally. Krista is the new CharacterStrong School Implementation Specialist.
We talk with Krista about her new role at CharacterStrong, the most important thing that schools can do to improve its school culture & climate, and she shares some advice for brand new teachers.
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