Developing the Leader Within with Christopher Grode School leaders can spend an entire day solving problems and still have little time for the leadership work they want to do. Mike Caldwell talks with Christopher Grode, Ph.D., about creating routines that make room for that work and finding people who can offer an honest outside perspective. Drawing on 19 years as an Illinois superintendent and his research with executive coaches, Chris describes how his view of leadership development changed. He shares his monthly "90 for 90" review, a five-minute morning journal, and the habit of revisiting earlier entries to see what mattered over time. They also discuss his "leadership gateway" of attitudes, behaviors, practices, identity, and purpose, along with the challenge of separating your identity from your job during retirement. Practical ideas from the conversation Track how much of your day goes to reacting and managing, then consider where you want to make more room for leading. Try "90 for 90": spend 90 minutes each month reviewing the next 90 days, including family time and personal commitments. Use a weekly review to see what got in the way and choose priorities for the week ahead. Keep a short morning journal: name three priorities, then return the next day to record what happened. Review past journal entries to put today's pressures in perspective and notice changes in your leadership. Find a coach, mentor, or trusted peer who can ask honest questions and help you examine your assumptions. About the guest Christopher Grode, Ph.D., is a retired Illinois superintendent who served in the role for 19 years. He also worked as a teacher, principal, and assistant superintendent for finance. His doctorate is in industrial-organizational psychology, and his dissertation examined executive coaching strategies for superintendents. He is the author of The Leader Within. Resources Christopher Grode on LinkedIn The Leader Within at Bloomsbury

Something terrible happened inside Comyn Hall. In 1904, Samuel McCue — three-term mayor of Charlottesville, lawyer, and pillar of the community — came home to find his wife Fannie where she shouldn't have been. By morning, she was dead in the bathtub, and Sam was the only suspect. A trial, a confession, and a hanging later, the question still lingers: did he act alone? And who — or what — stayed behind in the basement where Fannie's body was found? This is the story of Sam McCue.

Everyone in education is being asked what AI can do in the classroom. But before we ask what it can change, there’s another question: what can it actually see? In this episode, Peter Youngs of the University of Virginia and Adam Geller of Edthena discuss AI2S, a Gates Foundation-funded project exploring what AI can recognize in elementary math and reading lessons—and how that information could help teachers reflect on their practice. We explore what AI sees when it watches a classroom, what it can reveal, and where this technology may be headed.

Beyond Fundraising – Building a Stronger School Through Strategic Advancement w/ John Mihalyo What does it take to move your Catholic school from simply getting by to truly thriving? In this episode, Thomas talks with John Mihalyo of Elementary Advancement Solutions about why school advancement is about much more than fundraising events and annual appeals. John shares practical strategies for strengthening enrollment, retaining families, telling your school's story, and building lasting relationships with your community.  Through real examples of schools that have turned small successes into major accomplishments, they explore the importance of having a clear vision, communicating what makes your school unique, and creating momentum through intentional action. Whether your school is struggling to meet its budget or dreaming about its next big opportunity, this conversation challenges leaders to think about where they want their school to be in five years—and what they can do in the next 90 days to start making it happen. If you need help putting a plan together, please schedule a time to talk with us today. https://bit.ly/Build-IT-Better-Together To receive a copy of the Catholic School Excellence Toolkit - A Reflective Workbook for Visionary Catholic School Leaders,  click here. It is the companion to the podcast: In Search of Catholic School Excellence. John Mihalyo is the founder and CEO of Elementary Advancement Solutions, a consulting firm dedicated to helping Catholic and faith-based schools grow in enrollment, strengthen their leadership, and build thriving communities rooted in mission. With more than 20 years in school administration—including 15 years as a Catholic school principal—John brings a deep, practical understanding of what school leaders face every day. Since launching Elementary Advancement Solutions, John has partnered with schools in 18 states and across 3 countries. His clients have seen an average enrollment increase of 19.6% and more than $1 million in new advancement revenue. His work centers on simple, sustainable systems that move schools forward—without overwhelming their teams. https://elementaryadvancement.com/ The In Search of Catholic School Excellence Podcast is brought to you by I Love My Tech Team.  When technology doesn’t work, Catholic school leaders lose time, trust, and momentum. We partner with schools to restore reliable systems, empower teachers, and create the foundation for innovative learning centered on students. Lead Your School Into What’s Possible with I Love My Tech Team. Restoring What’s Broken. Advancing What’s Possible. Find out more at https://ilovemytechteam.com

Summary What happens when some of the best teachers in a district are invited to present at conferences across the country, but are never asked to share what they know in their own schools? In this solo episode, Gene Tavernetti reflects on the way classroom teachers with deep expertise in evidence-informed instruction can be sought out by educators elsewhere while their knowledge is overlooked or discouraged at home. Gene explores Tall Poppy Syndrome, the social cost of standing out, and why sending teachers to conferences with instructions to bring learning back is unlikely to produce meaningful schoolwide change without leadership and a culture that values internal expertise. He revisits the Starfish Story with a less comforting conclusion: if conference learning changes only one classroom, perhaps all we can say is, “It made a difference to that teacher.” Chapters 0:00 — The expertise schools overlook 2:00 — Tall Poppy Syndrome and the cost of standing out 5:00 — Why conference learning does not automatically spread 8:00 — The Starfish Story and a challenge for leaders Show Notes Gene Tavernetti reflects on teachers whose expertise is valued everywhere except at home. The episode asks school and district leaders whether they know where the expertise is in their own organization. A strong internal culture gives teachers meaningful opportunities to share and use what they know.