Many of my colleagues working in the public sector are skeptical of companies selling products to school districts. I’ve felt some of this skepticism myself as I’ve seen certain approaches gain traction because they’re well-marketed (yet not evidence-based). So it’s understandable to me that people would question the motives of companies selling products; especially in the for-profit space.The elephant in the room, of course, is that Dr. Karen, LLC is a for-profit EdTech company. I’ve also spent a fair amount of time interacting with people who either work for larger EdTech or curriculum companies, or who have started one themselves.Most of them are therapists, administrators, or teachers who felt inspired to create something who are trying to make a living doing something that matters. This would describe many of the hosts on the Be Podcast Network, which is why I wanted to invite one of the network co-founders, Ross Romano, to De Facto Leaders to talk about his experiences coaching EdTech and education-related start-up founders. Ross Romano has worked with over 100 companies and nonprofit organizations in the education space and collaborated with countless schools, districts, and educators. Ross is founder and CEO of September Strategies, an award-winning consulting firm helping leaders and organizations connect vision to decision through coaching, strategic advisement, and marketing consulting. Ross is also co-founder of the BE Podcast Network, a media company producing 40+ series reaching more than 50,000 educators and parents every month. He is also Strategic Advisor for the American Consortium for Equity in Education and the Founding Program Chair of the Consortium’s Excellence in Equity Awards.Prior to starting September Strategies, Ross was Managing Director of MindRocket Media Group, a K-12 marketing firm. Previously, he was head of communications for ASCD, working closely with the organization’s authors, product developers, administrator members, constituent leaders, and advocacy teams on a diverse array of initiatives. Ross has created and/or hosted dozens of podcast series, written a number of white papers and ebooks, is a contributing editor to Educate AI Magazine, and has been a contributor to Entrepreneur, The Learning Counsel, edCircuit, Access & Equity PreK-12, and more.Ross serves on the advisory boards for Shenandoah University’s Transformative Leadership program and Morning Brew Learning. In 2023, he was listed as a Top 10 leadership coach of the year and was profiled by CIO Views as one of the visionary leaders transforming education.In this conversation, we discuss:✅Business advice that creates ethical dilemmas for companies selling products to school districts.✅Can companies stand for equity without sacrificing product quality and customer service? ✅Who is the true end-user when products are sold to schools?✅When a product isn’t resulting in increased student outcomes, is it really just about the quality of the product? ✅Who is making purchasing decisions for schools, and what matters to them? Learn more about the BE Podcast Network here: https://bepodcast.network/Listen to Ross on The Sideline Sessions Podcast here: https://ss.bepodcast.network/people/ross-romanoListen to Ross on The Authority Podcast here: https://authoritypodcast.net/Learn more about Ross’s coaching and media services for education-related companies here: https://www.septemberstrat.com/In this episode, I mention the School of Clinical Leadership, my program that helps related service providers develop a strategic plan for putting executive functioning support in place in collaboration with their school teams. You can learn more about that program here: https://drkarendudekbrannan.com/clinicalleadership

Today I’m happy to bring you an episode about youth coaching with George Andriopoulos. George has coached basketball and flag football and serves as Commissioner of Basketball for the Police Activity League.In his day job, George is a distinguished leader renowned for his transformative impact across management consulting, pharmaceutical, and non-profit sectors. He founded the boutique consulting firm Launchpad Five One Six, "The Launchcast" podcast, and has expanded into a virtual leadership coaching division.George has delivered keynote addresses globally and delivered in three TEDx talks. In 2022, he co-founded SPEAK, a global public speaking platform that amplifies voices worldwide through live events and streaming media.In this episode, we discuss:George’s lifelong interest in sports and how he got started with coachingWhat young athletes are looking for in a community sports programMemorable stories from coachingWhat he focuses on with supporting young athletesGrowth of flag footballBalancing business and involvement in other activitiesUsing earned perspective to benefit coachingConnect with George:https://www.instagram.com/launchpadceo http://www.linkedin.com/in/georgeandriopouloshttp://www.twitter.com/launchpadceohttps://www.tiktok.com/@launchpadceo https://georgeandriopoulos.com About the hostRoss Romano is co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and also hosts The Authority Podcast. He began his career in the pro sports industry before becoming a leading communications, marketing, and management expert working with education companies. He is founder and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn. Listen to The Authority: https://authoritypodcast.net. 

In this episode, host Gene Tavernetti sits down with Dr. Frank Rodriguez to discuss his extensive experience in the education sector and his focus on parent education. They delve into the nuances of post-pandemic education, the challenges faced by students and educators, and the importance of integrating technology intelligently in classrooms and at home. The conversation also highlights the development of parent education modules aimed at mitigating the negative impacts of screen time on children's development. Contact Dr. Rodriguez here.00:00 Introduction00:38 Guest Introduction03:14 Pandemic Response03:22 Parent Education12:21 Implementing Parent Modules28:44 Educator's Role in Technology Use35:22 Frank Has a Question for Gene40:18 Conclusion and Call to ActionBooks referenced in this podcast:Jonathan Haidt: The Anxious GenerationJohann Hari: Stolen Focus

Ways to connect with Danielle and Teaching Well…Get your free download 4 Simple Self-Care Solutions that Reduce Teacher Burnout & Increase Well-Being and Self-Care in Five Minutes a DaySign up for the Teaching Well Wish NewsletterCheck out the book The Path of the Mindful Teacher  Join me monthly at the live Teaching Well with Mindfulnesssessions. Ready to talk through your situation? Schedule a time to talk https://teachingwell.life/callOr contact Danielle directly at danielle@teachingwell.life

In this episode, Samantha C. Prestige talks to Josh Luebker, a fractional CFO and COO, about bridging the gap between project management and accounting in the construction industry. They explore how to help subcontractors find stability and growth through consistent processes, efficient project management, and effective communication. Josh shares his journey in the industry and offers practical advice for achieving a better work-life balance and long-term business success.