The Out of the Trenches Podcast

Episode # 379: Dr. Cecelia Gillam

Dr. Cecelia Gillam is a native of New Orleans who has earned a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Southeastern Louisiana University of Hammond. Dr. Gillam has been a Science teacher for nineteen years. She has helped write science district curriculum and assessments for Environmental Science. She is an advocate for the National Equity Project by being selected as a board member for the Black Teacher Project. She is an ambassador for Pear Deck and Edpuzzle.Dr. Gillam has earned the distinction of being an ISTE Certified Educator. She is a member of the inaugural group of Trendsetters for Vernier. She also serves as a coach for Screencastify. Her involvement in the EdTech world does not stop with her role as an ambassador and coach; she is also a Distinguished Modern Classroom Educator and Expert Mentor for Modern Classroom. Cecelia is a Teacher Leader Advisor in EdTech content for the Louisiana Department of Education. She serves as an ambassador for EcoRise. She has attended and presented at multiple national conferences including ISTE and NSTA to train teachers on how to incorporate EdTech tools in their classrooms. Cecelia created a step team to engage at-risk youth in a positive community service-based organization. She has published a motivational children’s book that can be found on Amazon. The book is Black Girl, Black Girl you are AMAZING!. She is a National Grand Prize Winner for the Shell Lab Grant and a recent recipient of the Shell Urban Educator Development award. Dr. Gillam comes with a wealth of knowledge that can benefit all science teachers across the nation. She has served as an Affinity Group Leader for the State of Louisiana with the goal of helping to retain and preserve new science teachers. Her knowledge and skill sets will be very beneficial for the science community.

Find Cecelia online on X,IG: @Cecelia21082  FB: @Ceceliagillam TikTok: @Cece210

Episode # 378: Nicola Soares

As president of Kelly® Education, Nicola Soares believes that education is the bedrock of a thriving society and that the talented people who work in our schools, colleges, and universities are crucial to powering the future of learning and unlocking student potential. Nicola has successfully led the expansion of Kelly Education from providing substitute teachers in K-12 schools across the U.S., to providing specialized talent solutions­––including adjuncts, paraprofessionals, tutors, therapists, and nurses­­––in academic settings from early childhood through higher education, making Kelly Education the nation’s largest and most trusted education talent solutions provider.She recently led the acquisition of the premier executive search agency, Greenwood/Asher & Associates. The firm’s reputation for inclusion and diversity in academic leadership placements in higher education is unrivaled.

A champion of women in the workforce, Nicola serves as the executive sponsor for the Kelly Leadership in Action program—which began with a focus on women, and is now dedicated to developing successful leaders of all genders in the global marketplace. She’s also the executive sponsor of the Kelly LatinX Affinity Group, an employee-led community focused on building a more inclusive workplace.

Find Nicola online:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolasoares/

https://twitter.com/NSoares_KellyEd

Episode # 377: Dr. Brandi Kelly

Repeat guest Dr. Brandi Kelly brings over 20 years of heart, hustle, and hands-on experience to the world of education. A licensed clinical social worker and Maxwell Certified Coach, she’s worn many hats — from school social worker to principal to superintendent. Along the way, she’s been honored with the NAESP Distinguished Elementary School Principal Award (2014) and Middle School Principal of the Year (2021). Dr. Kelly is proud to be part of inspiring networks like the Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA), Teach Better Network, Illinois Principals Association (IPA), and the Educational League of Illinois (ELI). She loves sparking change through speaking, writing, and hosting the Lead with HOPE podcast — where she shares real conversations about leadership, resilience, and growth. When she's not leading with hope, you’ll find Brandi spending time with her family, getting lost in a good book, or exploring new places.

Follow her journey at www.sparkhopeedu.com and on your favorite social media platforms @brandinashkelly or @leadwithhope

Episode # 376: Dr. Teresa Hill

Dr. Teresa Hill is a speaker, author, and leader whose work focuses on underserved communities and making the system work for every child. She is devoted to eliminating achievement gaps and ending what she terms “failure as a default”. Her motto is “All children can learn . . . Period.” Dr. Hill began her career teaching thirty-one kindergarten students in Peoria, IL, has served as a principal and assistant superintendent, and has served as Superintendent in South Holland, IL since 2012.

Find Dr. Hill online: @tdhilledd LinkedIn X, IG website: www.TDhilledd.com

Episode # 375: Peter Marshall

Peter Marshall has more than thirty-five years of experience as an educator. He has served as a teacher, school administrator, and system leader in Ontario, working in leadership and staff development as well as opening a new school. He currently serves as a Solution Tree Assessment Center Associate. Wrote Today’s Teachers, Tomorrow’s Leaders: A Guide to Identifying and Developing Future Administrators.

Find Peter online: www.petermarschallconsulting.com @petermarshall on Solution Tree

Episode # 374: Eugene Williams

Eugene Williams, Jr. received a B.A. in English from Emory University in 1991, and a M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from The University of Mary Washington in 2007. He is a writer, speaker, educator, and former child actor who has appeared on stage, screen, and television with such celebrities as Ray Charles, Pearl Bailey, and Stephanie Mills. In 1978, he became the first black child in a major, recurring role on the highly acclaimed CBS soap opera, "Search For Tomorrow". Eugene has authored six books including IT'S A READING THING... HELP YOUR CHILD UNDERSTAND, THE RAISIN-IN MILK SYNDROME, REFLECTIONS OF A CONFUSED MIDDLE CLASS BLACK YOUTH, and GROUNDED IN THE WORD. a SAT verbal prep guide based on the vocabulary found in the King James Version of the Bible. Eugene's books and opinions have been featured in JET, BLACK EXCELLENCE, The Washington Post and various national publications. He has also been a guest and contributor on NBC, CBS, CNN, and BET. Eugene spent 27 years as a public school educator. He has served as a teacher in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. He has been an assistant principal at both the middle and high school levels and, most recently, spent five years as a high school principal. Eugene lives in Virginia with his wife Jewel, a former elementary school principal. Their daughter, Paige is a professional artist and entrepreneur with a Master's Degree in Journalism from Georgetown University.

Find Eugene online: https://www.instagram.com/eugwilljr?igsh=NGVhN2U2NjQ0Yg==

https://www.linkedin.com/in/eugene-williams-jr-m-ed-34bb2375

https://www.tiktok.com/@ewill521?t=8kRVvKTzUEg&_r=1

https://www.eugenewilliamsjr.com/ 

Episode #373: Christine Zuppa

Christine is an experienced educator with a wide range of experience in both private and public school settings with a focus in special education. She is passionate about equipping educators with knowledge & confidence to create engaging & welcoming classrooms. She brings her conscientious & ambitious mindset to the Making The Grade team.

Find Christine online: Website: www.makingthegradeproject.com

Instagram/TikTok: @makingthegradeproject and IG: @executivefunctionfix LinkedIn @christinezuppa

Executive Function Info: www.Makingthegradeproject.com/executive-function-for-educators-start with the quiz to learn your learning style.

Episode # 372: Valcine Brown

Dr. Valcine Brown is a veteran teacher of high school English Language Arts serving in public education. Dr Brown holds a BA in English Literature, an MFA in Humanities: Creative Writing, an MFA in English Literature, and a PhD in Education: Curriculum and Instruction. Understanding the connection between literacy and economic prosperity, her passion is increasing literacy in adolescents, an often neglected topic. Dr. Brown was born and raised in So. California where she still resides.

Find her online: FB @valcinebrown  website: 

https://drvalcinebrown.live-website.com/

 

Episode #371: Dr. John Almarode

John is a Professor of Education in the College of Education at James Madison University. In 2015, John was awarded the inaugural Sarah Miller Luck Endowed Professorship. In 2021, John was honored with an Outstanding Faculty Award from the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia. Most recently, he was named a Madison Scholar in the College of Education and awarded the Madison Vision Teaching Award.

At James Madison University, he continues to work with pre service teachers and graduate students, as well as actively pursues his research interests including the science of learning and the design and measurement of classroom environments that promote the greatest gains in student learning. John works closely with John Hattie’s Visible Learning research, The Visible Learning® research base represents more than 2,103 meta-analyses comprising more than 132,000 studies involving more than 300 million students around the world. The Visible Learning research has identified more than 350 factors that influence student achievement.

Find John online: X, FB, website www.johnalmarode.com you can send him an email there. Look him up at JMU website.

Episode # 370: Jill Handley & Lara Donnelly

Jill Handley & Lara Donnelly are the authors of "What Can I Take Off Your Plate? A Structural—and Sustainable—Approach to Countering Teacher Burnout"

Lara Donnelly, EdD, is a veteran teacher and school counselor in Jefferson County Public Schools (Kentucky). She is an education consultant, speaker, and author supporting schools and administrators with burnout, family engagement, and multilingual learners with trauma and mental health concerns. Donnelly has been featured in podcasts, news articles, and televised interviews for her expertise in supporting mental health. In addition, she has presented at numerous national conferences, including ASCD, ESEA, and the Whole School REACH conference.

Jill Handley, EdD, is the assistant superintendent of multilingual learners in Jefferson County Public Schools (Kentucky). Prior to this role, she was the award-winning principal of Kenwood Elementary. During her 16-year tenure as principal, she led her school to be recognized for several achievements, including National School of Character, National Distinguished ESEA School, and the first Family Friendly Certified school in the state of Kentucky.