In this episode of The Principal’s Handbook, we explore the five key practices that build confident, effective school leadership. You’ll learn how shifting your identity, leading without needing approval, and focusing on what truly matters can transform how you show up each day. We also dive into the importance of managing your thoughts and staying committed to growth, even when leadership feels challenging. If you’ve been second-guessing yourself or feeling overwhelmed, this episode will give you a clear framework to lead with more confidence and clarity. Find out your confidence score with the FREE Confidence Scorecard for Principals.Get The Confident Principal Reset: A 14 Day Action Plan for PrincipalsGet free resources at principalfreebies.com. 

In this episode of Why Distance Learning, your hosts talk with Jered Borup — professor at George Mason University, co-creator of the Academic Communities of Engagement framework, and one of the most-cited researchers in K-12 online learning — about why student engagement isn't a property of the student or a skill the teacher unlocks, and why most online programs are leaving the work undone. Borup's framework distinguishes the course community (teachers, designers, mentors) from the personal community (parents, family, on-site adults) and argues engagement is what those two produce together. The assumption on the table: that "more parental involvement" is what fixes online learning — when in fact, untrained involvement, his research shows, can hurt about as often as it helps.Together, the hosts and Jered explore the ACE framework's two communities, the on-site mentor model from Mountain Heights Academy and Michigan's mentor mandate, what it actually takes to teach a student how to learn online, the equity gap in who gets meaningful support, and where parents fit (and don't). Along the way: the Michigan administrator who tapped someone on the shoulder and said "you're now Sally's mentor," the parent with only a high-school diploma who turned out to be one of the 12 most successful mentors in the study, and the parent who confessed to Jered that she does her kid's online discussion-board posts because they're "busy work."This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation.Key TopicsThe Academic Communities of Engagement (ACE) frameworkCourse community vs. personal communityOn-site mentors as the missing link in K-12 online learningMichigan's mentor mandate — and why fidelity varies by schoolWhy "improved" parental engagement matters more than "more"Designing parent support: a trickle of just-in-time tips, not a classThe equity gap in self-regulation and "how to learn online"Links & ResourcesJered Borup's site: https://sites.google.com/site/jeredborup/ACE Framework on EdTech Books: https://edtechbooks.org/encyclopedia/academic_communities_of_engagement_ace_frameworkAcademic Communities of Engagement (Borup, Graham et al., ETR&D, 2020): https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11423-020-09744-xBehind the Screen: Exploring Parental Roles in K-12 Online Education (Sandberg & Borup, Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 2025): https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15391523.2024.2447729Parental Support Challenges for K-12 Student Online Engagement (Sandberg, Borup et al., Distance Education, 2024): https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01587919.2024.2397481Michigan Virtual — Why Mentors Matter: A Conversation with Jered Borup: https://michiganvirtual.org/blog/why-mentors-matter-a-conversation-with-jered-borup/K–12 Blended Teaching (open-source book series): https://edtechbooks.org/k12blended_seriesBobbi Sandberg episode (Why Distance Learning): [LINK — add when published]Guest Bio: Jered BorupJered Borup is a professor in the Division of Learning Technologies at George Mason University and co-coordinator of the Learning Technologies in Schools graduate program. His research, grounded in six years of junior-high history teaching, focuses on K-12 online and blended learning: the support communities that surround a learner, the parental role in online education, and how generative AI can extend personalized support to historically underserved students. He earned his Ph.D. in Instructional Psychology and Technology from Brigham Young University and has been recognized as one of the top 2% most-cited researchers in his field.About the HostsSeth Fleischauer is the founder of Banyan Global Learning and host of Why Distance Learning. Through Banyan, he designs live virtual programs that connect K-12 classrooms to global peers and expert facilitators — building the kind of structured, human-centered distance learning the podcast explores. See https://banyangloballearning.com/Allyson Mitchell works with CILC, the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration, to help educators implement high-quality live virtual learning experiences across grade levels. Discover more at CILC.org.

In this episode, host Dr. Erin Bailey welcomes Maya Lê, creator of MaiStoryBook, in celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Maya shares her personal journey as a half-Vietnamese, half-Filipino creator who grew up with little cultural representation in children's books, and how that experience shaped her mission to ensure every child can see themselves — and others — in the stories they read.About Maya Lê:Maya Lê is the Creator of MaiStoryBook, a platform dedicated to sharing diverse and inclusive educational resources with families and educators.  Passionate about equality and diversity in children’s literature, she inspires a new generation of readers through her interactive read aloud YouTube videos, reviews of children’s books on Instagram, book-inspired crafts, and curated book lists. Episode Links:Instagram: @maistorybooklibrarySubstack: MaiStoryBookYouTube: MaiStoryBookTpT Craft Templates: MaiStoryBookReading Is Fundamental's AAPI Calendar: Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month Calendar | RIF.orgRIF's AAPI Collection: May is Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month Collection | RIF.orgHow We Say I Love You: How We Say I Love You | RIF.org

What skills are necessary for Founders in order to scale their startups?Meet Andrew Poles!Andrew returns to our show to share additional skills that Founders need in order to run thriving businesses.As a Founder and CEO Performance Coach, his mission is not just about scaling your business, but scaling YOU!In this powerful episode, we dive deep into the communication skills every manager needs to effectively lead teams, build trust, resolve conflict, and inspire high performance.Whether you’re a new manager, seasoned executive, entrepreneur, or aspiring leader, this conversation explores the real-world communication challenges leaders face daily — and how mastering people skills can dramatically improve workplace culture, employee engagement, and organizational success.Listen as Andrew shares:- Why communication is the foundation of effective leadership- Common communication mistakes managers make- How poor communication damages team morale and productivity- The importance of active listening in leadership- How emotional intelligence improves management effectiveness- The difference between managing people and leading people- Communication strategies that create stronger workplace relationships...and so much more!Connect with Andrew:Website: https://andrewpoles.comListen to the Podcast, subscribe, leave a rating and a review:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/3-key-leadership-skills-for-founders-w-andrew-poles/id1614151066?i=1000769475400Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7ojziuW0HZwvmIscy6pux8?si=_JcFqOXMTdmFiqyqwtN77gYouTube: https://youtu.be/lIETDiRHjmQ

In this episode of The Smarter Campus Podcast, Zach sits down with Tawnya Means, founding partner of Inspire Higher Ed, for a conversation about one of the biggest shifts happening across campuses: moving from talking about AI to actually using it. As institutions navigate uncertainty, Tawnya offers a practical and human-centered perspective on what meaningful adoption really looks like.The discussion explores the psychological barriers that often slow progress—fear of complexity, pressure to be an expert, and the frustration of early failures. Tawnya argues that AI adoption doesn’t begin with mastering the technology. It starts with curiosity, experimentation, and creating communities where educators feel safe sharing both wins and setbacks.The episode also highlights an important balance: embracing AI while preserving what should remain deeply human. Through practical examples and institutional insights, Tawnya makes the case that the future isn’t about replacing people—it’s about creating more space for human connection, creativity, and impact.