The Out of the Trenches Podcast

Episode #363: Dr. Jen Mott

Dr. Jen Mott is a school administrator at one of the largest middle schools in Ohio and a professor at Xavier University in the Educational Administration Graduate program. Outside of serving the students and staff there, she is a professional juggler, stilt-walker, balloon artist and fire performer who merges her passions for entertainment + education through keynote speaking for schools and organizations. Her TEDx Talk on “Juggling Career & Passion” gives more context about this journey. Dr. Mott is also the author of two books. One is a nonfiction book based on her dissertation research on teacher perseverance called "Teacherverance" which encourages teachers and school leaders by capturing reasons for why teachers stay in such a challenging profession. The other book is a picture book companion called "Why Teaching?" created to inspire students who might still want to be teachers and teachers at any point in their career.

Find Jen online: www.drjenmott.com IG/FB: @jenmott

Episode #362a: Dr. Joshua Ray

Special Episode: Finding Your Balance for School Leaders 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.

Find Joshua online: IG @joshray_consulting, X @joshray711, LinkedIn @joshuaray Reach him via Solution Tree website: https://www.solutiontree.com/our-solutions/plc-at-work

Episode #362: Dr. Craig Hane

Dr. Craig Hane, also known as Dr. Del, is a math educator and innovator dedicated to transforming how math is taught and learned. With a Ph.D. in Algebraic Number Theory and decades of teaching and business experience, Dr. Del empowers students and professionals alike by demystifying math using modern tools like scientific calculators and Wolfram Alpha. His mission is to break down math barriers and inspire listeners to "invest in yourself" for a brighter future.

 Find Craig online: 

https://craighane.com/   https://www.facebook.com/TriadMath    https://x.com/TriadMath   https://www.youtube.com/@triadmath1     https://www.instagram.com/triadmathinc/   https://triadmathinc.com/tmt/   This link invites listeners to explore the Triad Math Tribe (TMT), a community dedicated to empowering individuals with practical math skills, wisdom, and tools for leading optimal lives. Membership is just $30/month, but the first month is entirely free, allowing listeners to experience the benefits risk-free. Members gain access to innovative math education resources, personal growth tools, and a supportive network focused on collaboration and lifelong learning.

Episode #361: Priscila Prestes

Priscila Prestes is a Brazilian teacher with 15 years of experience at all levels and grades. She graduated in Pedagogy at the Federal University of Paraná and moved to the United States in 2015 to teach DLI Portuguese. She taught first grade for 5 years. She is starting her fifth year this fall as a Middle School DLI teacher and she loves it. She has presented at several Education and Language Conferences because she loves sharing what she has learned. She is currently trying to find a balance between full-time work, family, and finishing her MA in Portuguese Pedagogy at BYU.

Find Priscila online via her website: http://sites.google.com/alpinedistrict.org/pprestes/about-me

Episode #360: Dr. Cynthia Rapaido

Dr. Cynthia Rapaido, a highly accomplished educator, holds an Ed.D. in International and Multicultural Education and an M.A. in Educational Administration from the University of San Francisco. She earned her B.S. in Applied Arts and Sciences Biology from San Diego State University. With over 30 years of experience in K–12 education, she has served as a high school principal, assistant principal, and teacher, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the educational landscape across various schools and districts in California. Find Cynthia online: https://www.amazon.com/Step-Your-School-Leadership-Game/dp/B0D6HLQZ2B

(her book) LinkedIn ‪@CynthiaRapaido‬ reach out to her if you’d want coaching virtually. See her @NAASP- Seattle mid July.

Episode #359: Sarah Wysocki

Sarah Wysocki is a longtime educator, child advocate, author, and mom, living in Annandale, Virginia. She is a lifelong learner who has a Bachelor of Science in health psychology, a master's in teaching, and a post-graduate certificate in TESOL. Sarah is driven to support the growth and development of the whole child, with a special interest in social and emotional well-being. When she's not busy sparking the love of learning in her students, she can be found volunteering in her neighborhood or out on the pickleball courts building friendship and community.

Find Sarah online: X: sarahwysocki10 , LinkedIn @sarahwysicki

Edutopia: https://www.edutopia.org/profile/sarah-wysocki

Episode # 358: Dr. Chris Jochum

Christopher J. Jochum, Ph.D. currently serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Teacher Education at Fort Hays State University (FHSU) where he leads a large teacher preparation program, serving on-campus and virtual students across the country. Jochum’s previous professional appointments include the University of Nebraska at Kearney as an Associate Professor of Foreign Language Education and Spanish, the University of Central Missouri as an Assistant Professor of Secondary Education, Salina High School South (Kansas) as a secondary Spanish teacher and Chair of the World Languages Department and Kearney Public Schools (Nebraska) as a K-12 English as a Second Language teacher.

Dr. Jochum is the author of “The Department Chair: A Practical Guide to Effective Leadership” (Rowman & Littlefield) and serves as the Co-Chair of the Advisory Board for the Academic Chairpersons Conference, where he is also one of the facilitators for the New Chair Alliance. Chris was recently elected as a Commissioner for the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP) and was one of the founding Directors of The National Center for Clinical Practice in Educator Preparation.

Find Chris online: https://cjleadership.com/ links from there to podcast, LinkedIn, Tik Tok

Episode #357: Alyssa Gallagher

Alyssa Gallagher is the Head of BTS Spark, America (West & Central), Speaker & Facilitator in Leadership Development, Multipliers, Design Thinking and co-author of MESSY Leadership. She is a passionate and experienced education leader, author, speaker, and consultant. She has over 20 years of leadership experience in various educational settings, from district administration to non-profit management. She is currently the Head of BTS Spark, America (West/Central), a global education non-profit that empowers educators to transform their schools and communities. Alyssa's mission is to unleash the intelligence and potential of everyone on her team and in her network.

She is a certified Multiplier practitioner and collaborator, as well as a co-author of two books on design thinking for school leaders and educators and a book on embracing the messiness of leadership. She designs and delivers engaging and impactful learning experiences that help leaders and educators foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and well-being. She is also a sought-after speaker and facilitator who shares her insights and best practices on leadership, learning, and change.

Find Alyssa online: BTS Spark & @LinkedIn www.btsspark.org

They share a lot of free resources via website

Episode # 356: Roni Habib

Roni Habib author of Happy & Resilient: The Complete Guide to Joyful Teaching, Learning & Living. He is an expert in helping leaders, educators, and parents become happier, more resilient, more connected to their purpose, and more playful. The founder of EQ Schools, he leads workshops and speaks in organizations nationally and abroad.

Follow Roni on FB, X, IG, Bluesky @roninhabib

Episode #355: Matt Sherrill

Matt Sherrill is a Regional Educational Technology Coordinator for the Learning Technology Center, serving Illinois’ East Central region. Always an early adopter, Matt is passionate about utilizing technology to drive impactful learning and supporting fellow educators as they grow fluent in new tech. An educator with 15 years of classroom experience, Matt previously worked as an ELA teacher and department chair in McLean County Unit 5 schools. Matt also holds a Master’s Degree in Teaching and Learning and a Technology Specialist endorsement on his Illinois Professional Educator License. In addition to his classroom work, Matt has served on his district’s AI Advisory Team where he developed and delivered AI-focused professional development to the district’s staff. He has also shared his insights as a guest speaker on AI literacy for Illinois State University’s pre-service teachers.

Find Matt online: on LinkedIn or use the website www.LTCIllinios.org & email him.