The Out of the Trenches Podcast

Episode # 389: Glenn Forbes & Jenni Donohoo

Glenn Forbes is a school principal and school improvement coach in Queensland, Australia. Forbes has been an educator since 2000 moving from classroom teaching to principalship over the span of his career. His principal experience ranges from small, one-teacher rural schools through to leading large, diverse and complex metropolitan schools.

Glenn’s strong belief in cultivating collective teacher efficacy and establishing a culture of high expectations has resulted in marked improvement in various schools. Glenn is a member of the Queensland Association of State School Principals (QASSP). He chairs the curriculum subcommittee and serves as president of the Ipswich Branch. He has been the recipient of the QASSP Travelling Scholars grant which he used to further his knowledge of collective teacher efficacy construct.

His schools have been recognized at the Showcase Awards for Excellence in schools for Excellence in Parent and Community Engagement and Excellence in Early & Primary Years Education. Glenn has presented at the World Education Summit with Jenni Donohoo and has been a keynote speaker at several conferences. Several of Glenn’s articles have been published in The Queensland Principal journal. Glenn has been a member of the Menzies School Leadership Incubator Advisory Board which has been tasked with building a pipeline of school leaders equipped to lead and grow collective efficacy.

Jenni Donohoo, PhD, is a professional learning facilitator, author, and researcher. Jenni has been an educator for more than twenty-five years, with experience in elementary, secondary, and postsecondary settings. She has multiyear partnerships with numerous organizations and government agencies where she works alongside system and school leaders supporting high-quality professional learning designed to improve outcomes for all students. Her areas of focus include collective teacher efficacy, collaborative inquiry, and metacognition. Jenni is a five-time best-selling author and her books have been translated into several languages.

As the director of the Jenni Donohoo Center for Collective Efficacy, she has been recognized internationally as an educational thought leader. Jenni has been a keynote speaker at conferences including WorldEduLead, Raising Student Achievement, Annual Visible Learning, Corwin’s Women in Education, and the LEAP Conference in Australia.

Find them online Glenn: https://glennforbes.com.au/

Jenni: https://www.jennidonohoo.com

Episode # 388: Chad Dumas

Return guest Dr. Chad M.V. Dumas is a Solution Tree PLC at Work®, RTI at Work®, Assessment, and Priority Schools associate and international consultant, presenter and award-winning researcher whose primary focus is collaborating to develop capacity for continuous improvement. Having been a successful teacher, principal, central office administrator, professional developer and consultant in a variety of school districts, he brings his passion, expertise, and skills to his writing and speaking as he engages participants in meaningful and practical learning. In his Amazon best-selling books, Let’s Put the C in PLC, An Action Guide to Put the C in PLC, and The Teacher Team Leader Handbook, Chad offers readers and audiences educational research, engaging stories, hands-on tools, and useful knowledge and skills they can implement immediately. The results of Chad’s work speak for themselves. One district was identified as “Persistently Lowest Achieving” upon his arrival, and within a few years multiple schools were recognized as National PLC Models for improving student learning. Chad has served on and led accreditation visits for Cognia around the United States and world, presented nationally and internationally, and collaborated with school boards, intermediate service agencies, state departments of education, and professional associations. Find

Chad on his website: https://www.nextlearningsolutions.com/

X, FB, LinkedIn @chaddumas His books have free reproducibles

Episode #387: Jeff Linden

Jeff Linden brings energy, real-world experience, and actionable strategies that can inspire educational leaders at all levels. Whether discussing school improvement, leadership development, or the challenges facing modern educators, his insights are engaging and impactful. From experiences working in a variety of school settings such as small rural schools, urban districts, and suburban schools, he's found one universal truth: everyone in education is working toward the same goal to help students learn and grow. And while the challenges may differ depending on the setting, the single most important thing you can do as an educational leader, no matter where you are, is to build a culture of collaboration.

Find Jeff online: Facebook: @PrincipalJL

X: @ThePrincipal_JL

Instagram: @principal_jl

Tik Tok: @principal_jl

Threads: @principal_jl

BlueSky: @principal_jl

Episode # 386: Dr. Michelle Seijas

Michelle Seijas, Ed.D. is a Latina leader on a mission to honor the generations before her and to liberate the generations to come. Her passions and values led her to begin her career as a bilingual education teacher. Over her 15 years in K-12 schools, she was an instructional coach, elementary school vice principal, district coordinator, and high school principal. Eventually, she moved into the non-profit world as the Founding Executive Director of the Surge Institute in Oakland. There, she established and led a team focused on developing Black and Latinx education leaders to create transformative change for the youth and communities they served. As a trauma-informed certified coach, experienced consultant, education leader, and former nonprofit executive, she has learned to be her authentic self in various contexts. She partners with leaders to grow their confidence, value their strengths, create a clear vision for their life and career, and learn practices to make leadership sustainable. Michelle has a special gift of facilitating engaging experiences for people to step into their power and identify how they will live and lead with purpose.

Find Michelle online: https://www.michelleseijas.com/

IG: @thrivingchingona LinkedIn @michelleseijasedd

She has a weekly newsletter w/ coaching tips- sign up on her website

Episode #385: Clay Cook

Dr. Clay Cook is the Chief Development Officer at CharacterStrong and is an implementation scientist, psychologist, and former paraprofessional and middle school math teacher. He has spent the past 15 years working in partnership with school systems across the country to support the implementation of effective practices that promote better and more equitable outcomes for students. He has been a professor and researcher at three universities (Louisiana State University, University of Washington and University of Minnesota) studying topics such as implementation of evidence-based practices, educator well-being and resilience, social-emotional learning, and youth mental health.

He has obtained over 20 million dollars in grant funding for his research and published over 100 peer-reviewed scientific articles. For his work, he has been invited to the White House and served on expert panels with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the US Department of Education.

Find Clay online: www.characterstrong.com

Episode # 384: Todd Bloomer

Mr. Todd Bloomer, with 29 years in public education and 18 in administration, recently retired from a high school principal leading a campus of over 2,500 students. His extensive experience across middle and high school levels, talent for building positive campus cultures, and exceptional hiring practices set him apart. As an author and coach, he offers valuable insights on educational leadership and effective communication. Mr. Bloomer's commitment to creating a supportive, family-like atmosphere ensures a dynamic and transformative coaching experience. Contact him using the form below for more information on his coaching services.

Find Todd online: #theblueprint, Todd Bloomer IG @todd_bloomer_ author Has been creating IG reels. X @bloomer LinkedIn @toddbloomer www.toddmbloomer.com

Episode # 383: Nancy Parkes

Dr. Nancy Parkes is an educational consultant and lecturer. Much of her work is focused on helping Jewish educators and directors integrate social, emotional, and spiritual learning in their settings. Several of her articles on the topic have appeared in Jewishphilanthropy and she is currently working on an SESL book and toolkit for Jewish educators. Nancy is a lecturer at the Jewish Theological Seminar and is currently teaching an online certificate program in Social, Emotional, and Spiritual Learning for Jewish educators. She is also a founding member of SESL4Jewished, which is a collaborative for promoting holistic growth for learners and educators in all Jewish settings. Nancy served as the Director of Congregational Learning at Temple Israel Center in White Plains for ten years, and is an outspoken advocate for the partnership between Rabbis and educators in bringing about innovation and change in the congregational (edit out flub) school setting. Nancy earned her doctorate in Education and her M.A. degree in Jewish Studies and Education in the William Davidson School of Education at JTS.

Find Nancy online: https://www.nancyparkesconsulting.com

Episode # 382: Rich Bernato

Richard Bernato, Ed.D. enters his fifty-third year in schooling, that spans higher education, research, in doctoral and graduate levels like Stony Brook, St. John’s University, Molloy University, and CUNY Queens College, many K-12 leadership roles, and consulting with and presenting to many school districts. His interests include catalyzing interactive and research-based effective curricula that are a result of futuring systems, planning, decision making, and high engagement of all stakeholders to ensure systemically healthy schooling and organizational practices. His latest book, Co-Creating the Future, a Simulation to Catalyze School Change (2024) Solution Tree, is a unique offering to those interested in innovative professional development principles and planning. His books, Futures-Based Change Leadership (2017), Planning as Futuring, Futuring as Planning, (2020) also capture those ideas. He is also co-author of The Collective Mindset (2022), blogs, podcasting and articles that are devoted to that vision. An expert on the uses of and how to design simulations for learning and organizational improvement Dr. Bernato, supports all efforts to reform schools for futures they have yet to consider and supports these through his efforts as Editor in Chief of the SCOPE Journal for Leadership and Instruction.

Find Rich online:

https://www.facebook.com/richard.bernato.3

@richDis48 X,  Bluesky/LinkedIn

rbernato_simulation_educator (Instagram)

Rbernato@gmail.com    Richard.bernato@scopeonline.us

www.linkedin.com/in/richard-bernato-1658854

 https://www.solutiontree.com/richard-bernato.html

Episode # 381: Matt Rhoades & Belinda Karge

Matthew Rhoads, EdD, is an expert and innovator in educational technology and instructional strategy integration within online, blended, and traditional in-person classroom settings. With a special education background, Dr. Rhoads co-taught for many years at the high school level in the areas of English, mathematics, and social sciences. He continues to co-teach regularly while coaching teachers and presenting professional development.

As a practicing technology and instructional leader, trainer, integrationist, and coach in adult education, K–12, and higher education, he develops instructional integrations of edtech tools with research-based strategies to drive instruction. He is a coach and professional learning
specialist for new and experienced teachers within the consortium and at a local university. Dr. Rhoads is also a doctoral dissertation chair who coaches doctoral students to conduct their research, write, and defend their dissertations. Dr. Rhoads eight books focus on integrating instructional strategies with edtech and AI tools to amplify student learning within in-person, online, and blended learning classrooms. His latest books include Crush It From the Start: 50 Tips for New Teachers, Instruction Without Boundaries: Enhance Your Teaching Strategies With Technology Tools in Any Setting, Amplify Learning: A Global Collaborative series, and Navigating the Toggled Term: A Guide for K–12 Classroom and School Leaders. His blog on his website has 75+ posts on all things related to education, instruction, Special Education, and more. He also has his podcast, Navigating Education, which discusses all topics related to education and instruction.

Belinda Dunnick Karge (j) PhD, is a professor in the doctoral studies program at Concordia University Irvine and a professor emeritus at California State University, Fullerton. She taught both general education and special education and served in administrative roles in elementary and high school prior to teaching in higher education. Her interest in co-teaching began when she was originally in the classroom; she has co taught at several levels.

Belinda’s professional record demonstrates a consistent pattern of research publications; she has produced five textbooks, five curriculum texts, four book chapters, several educational tools, and more than 150 articles. Her latest book is Watch, Listen, Ask, Learn: How School Leaders Can Create an Inclusive Environment for Students With Disabilities. She has made numerous presentations to international, state, and local groups of school
district employees and has keynoted several conferences. She serves as a consultant for the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Overseas Schools and travels extensively around the world. Research-based instructional strategies, schoolwide change, co-teaching, and inclusive practices are a few areas she consults on.

Belinda received the Council for Exceptional Children’s Susan Phillips Gorin Award. She was also honored with the Council for Learning Disabilities’ Floyd G. Hudson Outstanding Service Award and the Association for Childhood Education International service award. Belinda’s PhD is in quantitative methods, special education, and educational psychology and her
master’s degree is in special education and reading. She received both from the University of California, Riverside.

Find them online:

 X, LinkedIn, IG, Bluesky, FB Contact Solution Tree for consulting opportunities

www.matthewrhoads.com, www.coteachingevolved.com 

Social Media

X - @mattrhoads1990 

Instagram/Threads - @DrRhoadsEdu

https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-rhoads-ed-d-95772120/

Bluesky - matthewrhoads.com

Belinda: Linkedin @BelindaKarge

Episode # 380: Walter Cullin

Walter Cullin Jr. is a dedicated educator, higher education administrator, consultant, and podcast host with a diverse background spanning healthcare administration, teaching, coaching, and leadership roles such as dean and associate principal. He holds a B.S. in Healthcare Administration, an M.A. in Urban Education, and an M.S. in Educational Leadership. Walter champions intrinsic motivation, accountability, and student empowerment through his motto: "Intrinsically motivated with no excuses." Passionate about building authentic educator-student relationships, Walter fosters inclusive learning environments and equips educators with strategies to connect meaningfully with students, particularly in urban education. His book, Intrinsically Motivated With No Excuses, inspires minority youth to develop self-confidence, self-awareness, and resilience.

Find Walter online: FB @instrinsticallymotivated @IG YouTube @whatsyourmotive