The Out of the Trenches Podcast

Episode #195: Jen Schwanke

Jen Schwanke has been an educator for 24 years, teaching or leading at all levels. She is the author of three ASCD books, including the just-released, "The Teacher's Principal: How School Leaders Can Support and Motivate Their Teachers." She has written and presented for multiple state and local education organizations, and has provided professional development to various districts in the areas of school climate, personnel, and instructional leadership. She is an instructor in educational administration at Miami University and is a doctoral candidate at The Ohio State University. She currently serves as a Deputy Superintendent in Ohio.

More information can be found on her website: www.jenschwanke.com and on Twitter @jenschwanke

Episode #194: Sheka Houston & Tammy Taylor

Dr. Sheka Houston and Principal Tammy Taylor are best-selling contributing authors of "Women Who Lead in Education Featuring School Principals", Volume 3, 2nd edition. They are also co-founders of Create and Educate, LLC an education and literary firm that offers resources to schools to include, professional development and a catalog of culturally relevant book titles for school-age children from independent authors. The school leaders have 40 years of experience in education between the two of them with experience in charter school start-ups, as well as, instituting AVID and Leader in Me as school initiatives. In addition, the duo, were the recipients of the South Carolina Palmetto Silver Award for academic growth, moved two and three report card levels in one year, won the Palmetto State Arts Education Steam School of Excellence Award, and Teacher of the year.

After experiencing tremendous academic growth, NWEA conducted a case study that is featured on their website. Most recently Dr. Houston and Principal Taylor have a new book they are promoting, "It Doesn’t have to be Lonely at the Top: The Power of Collaboration in Leadership", that outlines their story of resiliency in their leadership journey. Their weekly Facebook Live Series, The R.E.A.L.L Academy outlines training from their framework.

They also host The Collaborative, the first Tuesday of each month bringing educators, parents, community members and authors together to solve problems in education.

Find Sheka & Tammy at https://www.createandeducate.solutions/ can connect on FB, YouTube @shekahoustin & LinkedIn; Tammy can be found on LinkedIn & Twitter

Episode #193: Vicki Weber

Vicky Weber is a musician and an elementary educator with a love for children’s literature. As a Puerto Rican author of Taíno descent, she strives to create picture books that are fun, engaging, and educational. All her current titles are based on her background in music education or her heritage. Though she's no longer in the classroom, she's one of the coaches at At Home Author where she teaches others how to become successfully published too.

Find Vicki online: https://www.athomeauthor.com/ www.trunckupbooks.com

https://www.facebook.com/TrunkUpBooks

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJf4v7TsaDU01SCYvSHfiDg

https://www.instagram.com/vickyweberbooks/

Episode #192: Jen Schwester

Jen Schwester, aka Jennyzenyoga, has been providing yoga services and trainings to many underserved populations for over four years, including special needs adults, senior citizens, first responders, and her high school French classes. Jennifer brings her 24 years experience as a French teacher to the mat. She has been practicing yoga for the past 8 years and expanded her practice by becoming a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200).

Jennifer is currently completing the next 300 hours of Yoga Teacher Training with My Vinyasa Practice in Austin, Texas to become a RYT-500. She is also an Instructor for Yoga For First Responders and a Teacher for the Veterans Yoga Project. She has presented Mindfulness, Meditation, Chair Yoga, and SEL workshops for various school districts as well as many state, regional, and national language teacher associations as well as half and full-day workshops for school districts and CEU classes for NJ EMT providers. When Jennifer is not at high school or on her mat and offering Yoga Classes, she is walking her dogs in the fresh air and at the beach!

Follow Jen online on Twitter: @JenniferSchwes2 IG: @jennyplage

FB: jennyzenyoga Website: www.jennyzenyoga.com

Episode #191: Jeannie Moravits Smith

Jeannie Morivtz Smith is the founder of Dynamism Leadership, formerly HR-Rx, a Leadership Mindset and Organization Development Consulting firm established in 2005. Prior to becoming CEO, she held Executive Leadership roles at a variety of organizations. Now with over three decades of personal and professional experience, Jeannie has helped thousands of leaders learn how to take charge of the catabolic thoughts and feelings that control their mindset and replace them with anabolic energy. Jeannie holds certifications in Leadership Coaching, Energy Leadership, & Human Management, as well as a Master of Science degree in Human Resources. Jeannie's clients state that she has helped them enhance their relationships, both personally and professionally, with themselves and others to enhance connection, attract & retain top talent, and make massive profits.

Find Jeannie online: https://sociatap.com/JeannieSmithHRRx - all her social links and visit her website: www.dynamismleadership.com

Episode #190: Peter Docker

Peter Docker is a keynote speaker and facilitator who presents around the world to inspire people to lead from the jumpseat. He worked alongside Simon Sinek for more than 7 years, co-authoring the book Find Your Why, and now draws on his 25 years of experience in the Royal Air Force to help organizations around the world build capacity for leadership. Peter teaches people how to navigate the challenge of leadership. His latest book, Leading from the Jumpseat, delivers the message that leadership is about lifting people up and giving them the space they need so that, when the time is right, they can take the lead. Formerly a founding Igniter at Simon Sinek Inc., Peter draws on his career in the Royal Air Force, and over 14 years spent partnering with businesses around the world, to inspire others to Lead from the Jumpseat.

Visit his website, www.LeadingFromTheJumpseat.com and Follow Peter on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter @PeterDocker

Episode #189: Dan Edwards

Dan Edwards is an Education and Business speaker, UNConferencer, Consultant and Writer. He has worked in education for many years and have held leadership roles in both the secondary and primary sectors. Most recently, holding the role of Principal for five years at a large inner-city primary school until finally moving into Executive leadership. Throughout his journey of leading change, he has amplified the need for staff development, care, and well-being for all to achieve and sustain positive organizational culture. Coupled with the need to ensure consultation runs through the heart of any organization - giving everyone a voice. With extensive senior leadership experience in business, education and industry, he works with organizations that want to do things differently. In addition to his work as an independent consultant, he is a regular columnist for a number of publications sharing my views and guidance on leadership, organizational culture and creativity and he's currently writing his first book to be published internationally in November 2022.

Find Dan on Twitter: @danedwards_77   IG: @im_danedwards                        LinkedIn also Visit his website: www.imdanedwards.com

Episode #188: Dr. Levatta Levels

Dr. Levels has served many professional and civic organizations, including Delegate to the Texas Democratic Convention representing Senate District 23, DeSoto Chamber of Commerce Board, Leadership Southwest Board, Big Brothers Big Sisters Southern Region Board, University of North Texas Exes Board, and the University of North Texas Advisory Council. She is active with the Texas Association of School Administrators, National Council of Negro Women, Parent Teacher Association, UNT Trailblazers, Texas Counseling Association, Texas Association of Black School Educators, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, and the Zeta Eta Alumnae Association. Dr. Levels earned an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Texas A&M University-Commerce. She earned both her Bachelor of Science and Master of Education with a focus on Education Administration from the University of North Texas and completed the Superintendent Certification program with the University of Houston-Victoria. She is most proud of her two children Leah and Lofton and granddaughter London.

Find Dr. Levels online: Higher Levels Educational Group https://thehigherlevels.com/

Facebook @Higher Levels Educational WebChat

Twitter @3lllevels

Episode #187: Dr. Chris Jones

Chris Jones has been an educator in Massachusetts for 22 years. He is in his 15th year as a building administrator. He is a teacher centered Principal and passionate about continuous improvement and the idea that success is not a destination, but a process. Chris is active on Twitter, vlogs about continuous improvement on a weekly basis, and hosts his own podcast called SEEing to Lead as a way to amplify teacher’s voices in an effort to improve education as a whole promoting his “just cause”: improving the educational experience for as many people as possible by being purposeful, acting with integrity, and building character. He is currently the Principal of Whitman-Hanson Regional High School in Whitman, Massachusetts.

Follow Chris on Twitter & IG @drcsjones and listen to his podcast SEEing to Lead: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ggQyKZrXSOoiQ3TH6WCBq

Episode #186: Gopi Schomaker

Mother Gopi Gita guides parents in leadership to empower their child’s social environments. Her clients’ grown children lead teams across the US. As vice principal of a private school, and educational consultant for an international society, she mentors thousands of parents, educators and children using classic bhakti principles from the east. Her new book "Leadership Parenting: Empower your Child’s Social Success" launched June 30.

Find Gopi online by visiting her website: https://www.gopigita.com/parent

FB: https://www.facebook.com/gopigita7/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/mothergopigita/

She has a YouTube channel with dramas: https://gopigita.com/drama