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Are you in the trenches as an educator? You're not
alone. Hear from those who have been in the trenches and managed to come out intact. Hear their stories!
Are you in the trenches as an educator? You're not
alone. Hear from those who have been in the trenches and managed to come out intact. Hear their stories!
Episodes

Wednesday Jul 23, 2025
Episode #364: Jennifer Ozgur
Wednesday Jul 23, 2025
Wednesday Jul 23, 2025
Jennifer Ozgur is an Organizational Development & Change Management Consultant, Professional Development Designer & Facilitator, Appreciative Inquiry Practitioner, Certified Trauma-Informed & Brain-Based Coach, Parenting Programming Creator, Columnist and Author. Jennifer has combined her years of classroom experience with evidence-based practices to create informational and transformational experiences that uplift and inspire any workplace culture. From crafting a collective vision, celebrating core values and strengths, to co-creating a dynamic inclusive plan everyone can embrace, your team will be energized around a shared purpose that achieves sustainable results.
In 2000, After completing her BSED, Jennifer began her career as a middle and high school English teacher for the Pennsylvania public school system. While in the classroom, she built positive relationships with her students so that they might be challenged and feel supported.
In 2022, Due to heavy interest in her strengths-based design and facilitation skills, Jennifer stepped away from the classroom for 2 years to pursue consulting with corporations and larger educational organizations like the Southern Oregon Education Service District, the Arizona Bureau of Indian Education. She teaches senior English.
Find Jennifer online: jennfer@jenformation.com She's not much on social media but you can DM her on FB. She's re-launching Trail of Conversations private group on FB.

Thursday Jul 17, 2025
Episode #363: Dr. Jen Mott
Thursday Jul 17, 2025
Thursday Jul 17, 2025
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

Monday Jul 14, 2025
Episode #369: Dr. Joshua Ray
Monday Jul 14, 2025
Monday Jul 14, 2025
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

Wednesday Jul 09, 2025
Episode #362: Dr. Craig Hane
Wednesday Jul 09, 2025
Wednesday Jul 09, 2025
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.

Wednesday Jul 02, 2025
Episode #361: Priscila Prestes
Wednesday Jul 02, 2025
Wednesday Jul 02, 2025
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

Wednesday Jun 25, 2025
Episode #360: Dr. Cynthia Rapaido
Wednesday Jun 25, 2025
Wednesday Jun 25, 2025
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.

Wednesday Jun 18, 2025
Episode #359: Sarah Wysocki
Wednesday Jun 18, 2025
Wednesday Jun 18, 2025
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

Thursday Jun 12, 2025
Episode # 358: Dr. Chris Jochum
Thursday Jun 12, 2025
Thursday Jun 12, 2025
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

Wednesday Jun 04, 2025
Episode #357: Alyssa Gallagher
Wednesday Jun 04, 2025
Wednesday Jun 04, 2025
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

Wednesday May 28, 2025
Episode # 356: Roni Habib
Wednesday May 28, 2025
Wednesday May 28, 2025
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
