The CharacterStrong Podcast

Today our guests are Kate Nichols, and Jill Gleason, School Counselor & Intervention Director at Beaver Valley Elementary in Brush, Colorado. We talk to Kate and Jill about ways that they integrate their current PBIS system at Beaver Valley Elementary with curriculum like CharacterStrong. They share about the PBIS matrix that they use for their school and share how they are combining it with the traits “Be Well”, “Be Strong”, and “Be Kind” from the PurposeFull People curriculum along with other elements like morning meetings. Kate and Jill also talk about how they intentionally take the time to pre-correct expectations are as they interact in the different spaces of the school and how this can work for students of any age. Learn More About CharacterStrong:  Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples Attend our next live product preview Visit the CharacterStrong Website   Bio: Hi! We are Kate Nichols and Jill Gleason. Combined we have worked in education for forty years, with thirty-four of those years at our current school, Beaver Valley Elementary. Kate has taught 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, Intervention and is currently the school counselor. Jill was a third grade teacher for twenty years, has been an interventionist, and is currently the intervention director.

Today our guest is Dr. Cynthia “Mama J” Johnson - Educator Consultant, Author, and speaker with a message of HOPE. We talk to Dr. Johnson about the vital role of school, family, and community partnerships in education. She emphasizes the need for a new approach to transform our education system from a "village of despair" to a "village of hope." She shares that by fostering intentional partnerships among schools, families, and communities, we can build stronger relationships and create positive change. Dr. Johnson, affectionately known as Mama J, also highlights the importance of involving families in the educational process to improve student outcomes. Learn More About CharacterStrong:  Join us at the 2024 CharacterStrong National Conference Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples Attend our next live product preview Visit the CharacterStrong Website Dr. Cynthia "Mama J" Johnson is an educator, speaker, consultant, and author. She began her educational journey in 1987, working in K-12 schools in rural, suburban, and urban environments as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal, professional development coordinator, adjunct professor, director of alternative education, and executive director (until June 2024).  Since 1993, Mama J has served as an educational consultant, working with districts across the county.  Her research and work focuses on school connectedness and belongingness, reaching and teaching diverse student populations, effectively educating students who live in poverty, school-family-community partnerships; and disrupting, interrupting, and dismantling barriers to changing student outcomes for marginalized, underserved, and underrepresented youth. Mama J keeps it real, tells it like it is, and lets her light shine wherever she goes.  

Today our guest is John Nwosu, School Counselor in Cobb County Schools, Founder of Think DIF, LLC and the 2024 Georgia School Counselor of the Year. John emphasizes the importance of inspiring students, helping them connect with their environment, and leveraging available resources and relationships to support their success. He describes how he achieves this through a comprehensive school counseling program and by utilizing data to serve students and families effectively. John also highlights the significance of fostering connections and understanding the motivations that drive students as they come to school. Learn More About CharacterStrong:  Join us at the 2024 CharacterStrong National Conference Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples Attend our next live product preview Visit the CharacterStrong Website

Today our guest is Debbie Beagle, Assistant Principal of Summer School & Director of Student Activities at Vernon Hills High School. We talk with Debbie and explore a few methods for fostering a positive campus culture. Debbie shares the innovative idea of "Bring Your Child or Parent to Work Day," explaining how this simple initiative and others like it can help to transform a school into a community that everyone loves. She discusses how this engaging event has helped students and staff at Vernon Hills connect on a personal level, see each other as individuals, and build stronger, more meaningful relationships, ultimately enhancing the overall campus culture. Learn More About CharacterStrong:  Join us at the 2024 CharacterStrong National Conference Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples Attend our next live product preview Visit the CharacterStrong Website Debbie has over twenty five years experience as a classroom teacher, club advisor, coach and administrator. She has worked with students in grades 9-12 and has taught at the university level. She is described by her colleagues as having a deep understanding of school culture and her greatest attribute is her ability to build strong relationships on campus leading to engaged students and staff. Debbie holds a BS in Mathematics Education, a Masters in Computer Science, as well as Masters and Doctorate degrees in Educational Leadership. Debbie has awards and distinctions from Illinois Directors of Student Activities, Lake County Regional Office of Education, Illinois Chapter/National School Public Relations Assoc., Community HS District 128, and the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association.

Today our guest is Chad Elsberry, Assistant Director of the Iowa High School Athletic Association and & Co-Executive Director of the Iowa Association of Student Councils. We talk with Chad to about the crucial role of student leadership in high schools. Chad shares how fostering leadership skills in students today can shape their futures and impact the broader community. He highlights the significant influence that student councils have on the culture and climate of schools, enhancing the high school experience for everyone. Additionally, Chad emphasizes the need for school administrations to empower students intentionally to cultivate effective leadership. Learn More About CharacterStrong:  Join us at the 2024 CharacterStrong National Conference Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples Attend our next live product preview Visit the CharacterStrong Website Chad Elsberry, Iowa High School Athletic Association Assistant Director, has worked in sport administration and education fields for more than 25 years. Prior to his work with the IHSAA, he was an editor, writer, and photographer for several newspapers. He has also worked with students as an adjunct faculty member through Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC), teaching in the areas of business, marketing, and visual communications. As part of the IHSAA, he has presented at the NFHS National Conference on the issues of sportsmanship and leadership. He is a member of the National Association of Workshop Directors (NAWD) and has been trained in the Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) curriculum and Coaching Boys into Men (CBIM). Elsberry also serves as Co-Executive Director of the Iowa Association of Student Councils. Other areas of responsibility at the IHSAA include sponsorships, sport administration, technology, and student educational services.   

Today our guest is Dr. David Arencibia the Principal at Colleyville Middle School in Grapevine-Colleyville ISD. Dr. Arencibia shares about his new book, “Foundations of an Elite Culture: Building Success with High Standards and a Positive Environment.” He shares how high standards and a positive culture are the two pillars of a healthy campus, and how these two pillars can help with staff burnout, hiring, and community both inside and outside of our buildings. He also talks about Colleyville Middle School being a CharacterStrong Showcase school and he highlights the great work that the team at Colleyville is doing as they serve students and families everyday. Learn More About CharacterStrong:  Join us at the 2024 CharacterStrong National Conference Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples Attend our next live product preview Visit the CharacterStrong Website   Dr. David Arencibia is a highly regarded educator with over two decades of experience as a school leader, dedicated to building cultures of success. David is a sought-after keynote speaker and the author of "Foundations of an Elite Culture," released in May of 2024 and held the #1 New Release position in its education category on Amazon. Notable accolades include being named the 2023 National Principal of the Year finalist, the 2022 Texas Secondary Principal of the Year, and the 2022 Texan of the Year finalist by the Dallas Morning News. David has met with the US Secretary of Education several times to help advance education in America. According to US News & World Report, David's school garnered recognition as one of the Best Schools in Texas and the country. Under his leadership, the school achieved significant milestones, earning designations such as a Nationally Recognized Model Campus, a Texas School To Watch, and a National PTA School of Excellence. Notably, during a recent school year, the school achieved 100% of students experiencing at least a year's academic growth. David and his team have fostered substantial community growth, boasting the highest school record numbers with more PTA members than students for five consecutive years. EducationWeek and NASSP’s Leadership Magazines have featured David and his school team for cultivating a positive culture with high standards and teacher retention. In "The Energy Bus for Schools," a new book by Jon Gordon and Dr. Jim Van Allan, David's school is highlighted as a premier institution embodying the desired attributes of a positive culture.

Today our guests are Ryan Breen, a sophomore at Chaminade High School and Adam Giardina, Guidance Counselor at Chaminade High School. We talk to Ryan & Adam about an article that Ryan wrote for the New York Post Scholars Contest that focuses on the mental health of of young men. Ryan shares why he wrote the article and the needs that he is seeing in the young men in his community. Adam shares about how they have started to implement CharacterStrong in this first year of adoption, and how it is helping the students at Chaminade focus on their mental health. Ryan & Adam also share a few tips for other schools & districts that are implementing CharacterStrong. To Read Ryan's NY Post Article Click Here Learn More About CharacterStrong:  Join us at the 2024 CharacterStrong National Conference Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples Attend our next live product preview Visit the CharacterStrong Website

Today our guest is Dr. Andre Stout, Principal at Truman Middle School in Tacoma, WA. We talk with Dr. Stout about building capacity rather than seeking buy-in to implement social & emotional learning with fidelity. He explains the distinction between capacity and buy-in, emphasizing the importance of staff truly possessing the capacity to effectively implement. Dr. Stout also shares how the use of student community circles has significantly improved the environment at Truman Middle School. These circles have fostered a sense of community and connection among students, contributing to the overall success at the school.   Learn More About CharacterStrong:  Join us at the 2024 CharacterStrong National Conference Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples Attend our next live product preview Visit the CharacterStrong Website   Dr. Andre Stout is the principal at Truman Middle School in Tacoma Washington. He has over 20 years of experience in education and the last 15 serving as an administrator.

Today our guest is Chris Young, Principal at North Country Union High School in Newport, Vermont. We talk with Chris about the innovative Community Development Days at North Country. These events provide students with a dedicated space to discuss and learn about crucial topics such as mental health, wellness, and bullying. Chris shares the journey of implementing these development days, explaining their significance and the positive impact they've had on the community. He also offers valuable tips on how they supported staff during the rollout and reminds us of the incredible potential of our students. Learn More About CharacterStrong:  Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples Attend our next live product preview Visit the CharacterStrong Website   Chris Young is the principal of North Country Union High School in Newport, Vermont. Chris is in his 5th year as principal there, which is also his alma mater, the school at which both of his parents taught for a combined 50 years, and the school from which both of his children graduated - Falcon Pride runs deep in Chris’ family! Chris began his service at North Country in the Fall of 2019, and just a few months later confronted the challenges of the pandemic and the task of keeping the school community together and healthy through remote and hybrid learning. Chris quickly understood that the pre-existing mental health needs of his students were only exacerbated by the pandemic, particularly those who have been traditionally marginalized. As a result of the growing need for mental health and wellness support, Chris built upon the Wellness Center Model that already existed at North Country, and expanded it into a universal level of support for all students. By elevating the advisory structure to a structured daily time period that specifically addressed mental health and wellness, and creating Community Development Days that provided extended learning time for topics such as suicide prevention, dating violence, and substance abuse prevention, Chris has helped to create spaces at North Country where all students can ask questions, build relationships with trusted peers and adults, and learn together what it means to be a healthy school community.

Today our guest is Marcy Carter the Middle School Dean of Students at Parchment Public Schools in Kalamazoo MI. We talk with Marcy the integration of PBIS and social emotional learning in a building. She emphasizes the necessity of combining both these elements and the significance of a PBIS matrix as a foundation. Marcy also highlights the importance of clarity in our roles and responsibilities as educators, as we help students understand expectations and responsibilities. Marcy also gives some practical tips for how others can effectively bring PBIS and social & emotional learning together. Learn More About CharacterStrong:  Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples Attend our next live product preview Visit the CharacterStrong Website