The Out of the Trenches Podcast

Episode #96:Bobbie French

Bobbie has been an educator for over 24 years. She has been an elementary guidance counselor, elementary classroom teacher, special education coordinator, Title I Director, Preschool Director and Administrator. Her passion for making sure teachers have the professional learning community, appreciation, coaching and resources they need to be their BEST for kids EVERY day Many of these positions overlapped which happens when you work in smaller school districts. Bobbie believes in schools that focus on the whole child and creates an environment where all students feel they belong. Bobbie is also an avid photographer and loves to tell her school’s story.

Follow Bobbie on Twitter & IG @bobbiefrench and follow her FB page “Live, Learn, Lead”. Visit her website at: www.bobbiefrench.com

Episode #95: Megan Sweet & Susan Andrien

Megan Sweet is the Co-Host of The Awakening Educator, presenter, and speaker. She is quick on her feet, has an easy and compelling speaking style, and cares deeply about her subject matter. With more than 25 years of experience in education, and 15 years directly leading changes in schools, districts, and statewide in California, she knows that education is the most important lever we have for creating a more equitable society. She knows that the best way to realize true change is by supporting and empowering individuals to lead the changes they envision for their school communities. She is an expert in working with communities to design and lead transformation efforts, and I am deeply knowledgeable about all things education--from the classroom to the boardroom. I am an expert in leading community-driven education transformation in high-need schools and districts.

Susan Andrien, LMFT, is the Co-Host of The Awakening Educator, Behavioral Health Program Manager OUSD & Adjunct Faculty Holy Names University. She has 25 years of experience providing mental health services in communities heavily impacted by trauma. In addition to her role as Behavioral Health Program Manager for Oakland Unified School District.*read until here she is the co-Host of a twice a month podcast The Awakening Educator and Adjunct Faculty in the Counseling Psychology department at Holy Names University in Oakland.

Follow Megan & Susan online on Twitter: @Your 3 Eyes @your3eyes Facebook: @Your 3 Eyes (group page)

Episode #94: Tyson Gardin

Tyson Gardin is an elementary assistant principal in the Chester County School District in Chester, SC. He is passionate about making a positive impact on equity and excellence in our schools and encourages our students to make their own positive and lasting impact in our world.

Find Tyson online on Twitter: & FB @TysonGardin IG: @tyg1979 and read his Teach Better Team blog posts at www.teachbetterteam.com

Episode #93: Jami Fowler-White

Jami has served ten years as a classroom teacher, an Instructional Coach, and a Core Advocate with Achieve the Core . She currently mentors First-time and Renewal candidates for the National Board, and is a charter member of the National Board Network of Minoritized Educators. Jami currently serves as a principal in Shelby County Schools (TN). She is the author/coauthor of several books including, Educator Reflection Tips, Volume #1, The Skin You are In: Colorism in the Black Community, 2nd Edition, Edumatch’s Snapshot in Education 2020: Remote Learning Edition, and Educator Reflection Tips, Volume II: Refining Our Practice. Jami blogs at DigitalPD4You.com , has a bi-monthly leadership blog on Insight Advance , and writes a monthly blog entitled the Better Mindset at Teach Better. Follow Jami on Twitter @jjjj821 and visit her website: www.digitalPD4you.com email her at jwhile.nbcte@gmail.com

Episode #92: Alex T. Valencic

Alex Valencic is a professional educator, a former small business owner, avid reader and movies lover. He is also passionate about music and all fine arts. He absolutely loves teaching and seeing the light go on as an individual suddenly understands a new concept. He is also an avid volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America, Operation Snowball, Inc., and the Cebrin Goodman Teen Institute. After three years of substitute teaching and seven years of teaching fourth grade full-time, his current role is that of Curriculum Coordinator for 21st Century Learning with Freeport School District #145 in northwestern Illinois. He works with teachers on project-based learning, inquiry strategies, technology integration, and implementing the 4 Cs of 21st century learning: creativity, communication, critical thinking, and collaboration. Follow Alex @alextvalencic on all the social platforms and visit his blog & website: www.coordinatingthecentury.wordpress.com

Episode #91: Debbie Tannenbaum

Debbie Tannenbaum works as an Elementary School Technology Specialist in Fairfax County, VA. An educator with over twenty years of experience, Debbie Tannenbaum supports both staff and students to integrate technology tools into instruction through both co teaching sessions and weekly technology classes. Debbie emphasizes working collaboratively with other educators to use technology tools that amplify student learning and empower student voice. She also blogs and shares her thoughts and reflections regularly on her website: https://www.tannenbaumtech.com. In May 2021, her book, TRANSFORM: Techy Notes to Make Learning Sticky was published by Road to Awesome LLC. Follow her on Twitter and IG @Tannenbaumtech and subscribe to FB @Tannenbaumtech

Episode #90: Todd Nesloney

Todd Nesloney is the Director of Culture and Strategic Leadership for the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association (TEPSA). He was previously a Principal/Lead Learner at a PreK-5 school in Texas. He is an award winning author for his books "Kids Deserve It!", "Stories From Webb", "Sparks in the Dark", and his newest book "When Kids Lead" (June 2020). He has also published a children’s book, "Spruce & Lucy". Todd has been recognized by John C. Maxwell as a Top 10 Finalist for the 2018 Transformational Leadership Award, by the White House as a Connected Educator “Champion of Change”, the National School Board Association as one of the “20 to Watch” in Education, the Center for Digital Education as one of their “Top 40 Innovators in Education”, the BAMMYs as the “National Elementary Principal of the Year” and the “National Elementary Teacher of the Year”, and the Texas Computer Education Association as their “Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year”. Visit his website at www.ToddNesloney.com and follow Todd on most socials, he's on everything except Tiktoc @Techninjatodd

Episode #89: Debbie Silver

Dr. Debbie Silver is a brilliantly funny, beautifully insightful, and boldly authentic speaker, author, and educator based in Melissa, TX. She has dedicated her life to understanding learning and growth behavior and has become a world-renowned and empowering speaker. Debbie seeks to help teachers find the joy in the daily job of teaching so that children can embrace the satisfaction and pride of knowledge, growth, and self-worth. Debbie co-wrote the 2014 bestseller "Deliberate Optimism: Reclaiming the Joy in Education", which offers research-based strategies, practical examples, and thought-provoking scenarios to help recharge educators and schools. In her most recent best-selling book, “Fall down 7 times, get up 8: Teaching Kids to Thrive: Essential Skills for Success", she illustrates how SEL instruction can be woven into all subject areas at levels preK-12. Find Debbie on FB, LinkedIn, Twitter @Drdebbiesilver and visit her website: www.debbiesilver.com

Episode #88: Anna Voth

Anna Voth is an Experienced Curriculum and Instruction Specialist with a demonstrated history of working in the education management industry. Skilled in Gifted Education, Classroom Management, Lesson Planning, Instructional Design, Professional Development facilitator, Colorado Department of Education Trainer of Trainers, and Differentiated Instruction. Professional with a Master's degree focused in Educational Leadership and Administration from American College of Education. She currently serves as Gifted and Talented-Curriculum and Instruction Specialist, Student Success Department at Jefferson County (Jeffco) Public Schools, Colorado. Find Anna online on IG, FB, LinkedIn @AnnaVoth

Episode #87: Natalie Valencia

Nathalie Valencia was born in Bogota, Colombia. At age 16, she migrated with her mother to the US. She is currently a program Coordinator for the Coach and Mentoring Program at Denver Public Schools. Her journey working in education started when she was just 17 years old, when she started working as a Spanish and Statistics tutor, library clerk and research assistant while attending college full time. Upon graduation, she worked as a Student Affairs Officer at the Center for Women & Men at the University of California in Los Angeles. After moving to Colorado, she was accepted to be a Denver Teaching Fellow for Denver Public Schools and received her teaching licensure in Special Education. She also pursued a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Northern Colorado and a Project Management Certification Program from Cornell University. Her passion for education was ignited through the realization that it was thanks to education that she was able to forge a better quality of life and understood that many others could do the same; they just needed to know how. Connect with Natalie on LinkedIn and view her department's website: https://collegeandcareer.dpsk12.org/coach-mentoring/