Six Brands Every Catholic School Leader Should Study Host: John Mihalyo  Every day, families walk through your doors already trained by six companies to expect something incredible, and they don't even realize it.In this episode, John looks at Apple, Amazon, Nike, Southwest, Disney, and Chick-fil-A, six brands that have earned a level of trust and loyalty most organizations only dream of, and asks the question every Catholic school leader should be asking: what would it look like if we did the same thing our way, rooted in our mission and our faith? From Apple's gift for building anticipation to Amazon's obsession with removing friction, from Nike's unmistakable identity to Southwest's 47 years of profitability built on culture, from Disney's intentional design of every single detail to Chick-fil-A's hospitality that never apologizes for what it stands for, each company has something to teach us. John breaks down what each one does well and what the Catholic school version of that could actually look like in your building this year. The bigger point, though, is that recruitment and culture were never just one person's job. Your front desk, your cleaning team, your teachers at pickup, all of them are shaping the experience a family remembers. John leaves you with one challenge: pick the thing from this episode that made you a little uncomfortable, and change it this month. LINKS AND RESOURCESConnect with John Mihalyo! If you want help turning any of these ideas into something real for your school, reach out at elementaryadvancement.com If this episode got you thinking, send it to another Catholic school leader who could use a fresh way of looking at their building this week.

A lecturer challenges students to beat his investment performance by 20% for a shot at $10,000, then explains how he studies real-world signals and AI-era investment opportunities.

Everyone says one of the most effective ways to teach new content is by using explicit instruction. But fewer teachers than you might think can deliver an effective explicit instruction lesson. Dr. Tavernetti wrote Teach FAST to help remedy that situation and help guide teachers to more effective explicit instruction lesson. In this episode Gene lists and explains the differences between this book and other books on explicit instruction. Andrew Bixler, a friend and colleague of Gene Tavernetti, turns the tables and interviews Gene about his book Teach FAST: Focused Adaptable Structured Teaching. Get Teach FAST here.

Real innovation begins when teachers and students stop just talking and start doing. Don Wettrick (STARTedUP Foundation) reveals how entrepreneurial thinking, AI, and real-world problem-solving are transforming high schools—and why most educators are just scratching the surface. In this candid conversation, Don shares why he stepped down from his CEO role to focus on inspiring teachers and students directly. He explains how the quality of student pitches has evolved—and how AI tools can both hype mediocrity and push talented students to even greater heights. Discover how students who once pitched imaginary ideas are now solving real problems, building companies, and even getting accepted into Y Combinator, all before graduation. You'll uncover:  - Why the best entrepreneurs are the ones who embrace rejection and keep trying  - How to differentiate between being busy and truly productive as a founder or educator  - The importance of storytelling in building momentum and community  - How grassroots movements and local partnerships accelerate change  - Why teacher support and school culture are critical to nurturing innovative habits This episode dives deep into the challenges and opportunities of modern education—showing that the future belongs to those willing to disrupt the factory model. Whether you're a teacher, school leader, parent, or student, you’ll learn practical ways to foster entrepreneurial spirit that prepares youth for careers as problem solvers, creators, and leaders. Don Wettrick is an education innovator and founder of the Started Up Foundation, known for creating high-impact programs that encourage students to see challenges as opportunities. His work has transformed classrooms nationwide, empowering young entrepreneurs to think bigger and act faster. Perfect for educators hungry to reimagine their classrooms, entrepreneurs seeking fresh talent, or anyone passionate about how real change happens—from the ground up. Listen now and discover how to turn social media sparks, startup challenges, and even AI hype into powerful opportunities for growth and impact. Will you lead the next wave of educational innovation? Tune in to find out.

What does it take to make assessments more accessible, inclusive, and fair? In this episode, CAST speaks with Carnegie Learning about their journey to embedding accessibility and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) into assessment design. Together, they explore how a partnership centered on learner variability has transformed product development, strengthened access for all learners, and helped reimagine what equitable assessment can look like. Transcript Resources Carnegie Learning  Upgrade Platform  CarnegieLearningWeb/UpGrade on GitHub @carnegielearning on Instagram Carnegie Learning on LinkedIn  @carnegie.learning on TikTok Carnegie Learning on YouTube @carnegielearn on X