Host: John Mihalyo | Guest: Tom Conroy, Principal, Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School, Verona, NJTom Conroy spent over 20 years as a public school principal before stepping into Catholic school leadership at Our Lady of the Lake in Verona, New Jersey. He will be the first to tell you that nothing fully prepared him for what he walked into — and that it has been the best chapter of his career.In this episode, Tom and John get honest about what that transition really looks like. The surprises, the myths, and the mindset shifts that nobody hands you in a manual on day one. From the financial realities that catch almost every new Catholic school leader off guard, to leading with your faith out front for the first time, to figuring out why recruitment and advancement are so much more than you expected — this conversation covers a lot of ground.Tom also talks about burnout, why asking for help is not a weakness, and what it actually feels like to be part of a Catholic school community after years of wondering what all the fuss was about.If you are heading into your first year leading a Catholic school, just survived your first year, or are thinking about making the jump from public school — this one is for you.LINKS AND RESOURCESWork with John elementaryadvancement.com

Deep in the heart of a small Louisiana town sits a building that simply doesn't look like it belongs—a striking, century-old structure with sharp peaks and dark, gothic arches looming right over the courthouse square. They call it the Hanging Jail, a place built around a massive central spiral staircase that holds secrets most people only dare to whisper about. From the legendary, tragic events of 1928 to the chilling generations of jailers' families who lived directly alongside the cells, this isn't just an empty historic site; it's a living archive of intense emotion, unexplainable footsteps, and lingering echoes. If you have ever wanted to step right out of your ordinary routine and experience the heavy, gripping energy of the mid-Atlantic's dark history up close, you might want to stand at the bottom of that staircase—just promise us one thing when you get there: don't look up.

In this episode, host Gene Tavernetti speaks with Sean Morrissey, a fifth-grade teacher and former school psychologist, about his structured, research-based approach to vocabulary instruction. Sean shares his four-part daily lesson framework — retrieval practice, explicit instruction, fluency passages, and independent practice — explaining how pairing words, embedding spelling, and using morphology helps students deeply map new vocabulary into long-term memory. The conversation also explores how teachers can use sophisticated language naturally throughout the day to expand student word knowledge beyond formal lessons. Sean closes with practical advice for getting started, including small steps like teaching word pairs, studying common prefixes and roots, and using video reflection to continuously improve instruction.About Sean Morrisey:Sean Morrisey has quickly earned a well-deserved following for his work on effective vocabulary instruction. He is the creator of the Word Mapping Project and author of the Word Mapping curriculum. In this episode, we explore the nuts and bolts of vocabulary instruction, including how to build durable word knowledge, the role of morphology, and how vocabulary instruction supports broader literacy development. Sean shares the strategies he uses to strengthen students’ vocabulary, reading comprehension and fluency.X/Twitter: (1) Sean Morrisey (@smorrisey) / XBluesky: Sean Morrisey (@smorrisey.bsky.social) — BlueskyYouTube Channel: Word Mapping Project OverviewWebsite: http://wordmappingproject.comSubstack: https://seanmorrisey.substack.com/Resources mentioned:Neil Ramsden Mini Matrix-Maker Home PageBringing Words to Life: Robust Vocabulary Instruction

What does it actually mean to use AI responsibly in education? In this episode, host Matthew sits down with educator, author, and automation advocate Jethro Jones to explore the difference between AI that builds you up versus AI that holds you back. Jethro introduces the concept of cognitive equity — using AI to expand what you're capable of — versus cognitive debt — using it to skip the learning that matters. They dive deep into practical frameworks for deciding what to automate, why students aren't really "cheating" with AI (and what we should do about it instead), and what truly meaningful learning looks like. Whether you're a teacher, administrator, or lifelong learner, this conversation will challenge how you think about school, work, and what it means to actually grow.0:00 — Welcome & Podcast Origin Story: Matthew introduces the show and welcomes returning guest Jethro Jones, who's been helping get this podcast off the ground.1:22 — Cognitive Equity vs. Cognitive Debt: Jethro introduces his core framework: AI that expands your abilities creates cognitive equity; AI that circumvents real learning creates cognitive debt.3:12 — Automating the Menial: Real-World Examples: Jethro shares how he built an automatic attendance tool for a driving school — and why the meaning behind a task determines whether it should be automated.6:22 — How to Decide What to Automate: Three frameworks: automate what you procrastinate on, automate what you've already systematized, and reconsider even automating gratitude.17:41 — Teaching Kids to Value Their Work: Matthew asks the big question: if adults can decide what's valuable, how do we help kids do the same?17:44 — Why School Compliance Kills Learning: Jethro argues that school systems have optimized for compliance, not learning — and AI just makes that problem impossible to ignore.19:38 — What Meaningful Learning Looks Like: Jethro clarifies: learning has never been the focus of school — but it should be. He shares three ways to make assignments actually matter.33:53 — Just-in-Time Learning: Why grade-level scope and sequences may be doing more harm than good — and how kids learn best when they need the knowledge most.35:07 — Monday Morning Takeaway: Jethro leaves teachers and administrators with one concrete, actionable thing to do this week.Guest: Jethro Jones — educator, author, and automation advocate. Find him at @JethroJones on all social platforms and at his new web site Optimization Doc.Host: Matthew — AI & Emerging Technology Consultant, Central Pennsylvania.

In this episode of The Principal’s Handbook, we dive into the mindset patterns and leadership habits that lead to principal burnout. I walk through the story of a burned-out assistant principal and break down the hidden patterns that keep school leaders overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, and constantly reacting. You’ll learn how thoughts create emotions and actions through the TEA Cycle, and how shifting your mindset can help you lead more sustainably. We also talk about boundaries, perfectionism, urgency, and over-responsibility—and why burnout doesn’t go away on its own. If you’ve been feeling exhausted, disconnected, or like leadership is becoming unsustainable, this episode will help you start identifying the root causes and resetting the way you lead.Get the Burnout Toolkit HERE. Get the free Confidence Scorecard HERE to discover your current confidence level as a school leader.