Episode Summary: This episode features Jon Schwabish, an economist and data visualization expert, who discusses how school administrators can use data visualization to better understand and communicate data to improve their schools.

Key Takeaways:

• Data visualization can help school administrators quickly understand their data and make better decisions. Visualizing data can reveal trends and patterns that might not be apparent from looking at raw data in spreadsheets.
• School administrators should use a variety of graph types to communicate data effectively. Different graphs are better suited for different types of data and audiences.
• Qualitative data, such as student stories and experiences, is just as important as quantitative data. Qualitative data can provide context and insights that numbers alone cannot.
• School administrators should have a clear goal in mind when visualizing data. What do they want their audience to learn or do with the information?

Actionable Steps:

• Start by identifying your audience and what they need from the data.
• Consider the platform where the data will be presented.
• Use clear and concise language to explain the data.
• Walk people through the data step by step, especially if they are not familiar with the graph type.
• Use visual elements, such as color, size, and position, to highlight important information.

Resources:

• Jon Schwabish's website: policyviz.com
• Jon Schwabish on social media: @JSchwabish
• Qualitative data analysis tools: Envivo, Dedoose, Atlas.ti

Call to Action:

• Take the time to create effective data visualizations.
• Use data to identify problems and solutions in your school.
• Communicate data clearly and effectively to all stakeholders.

In this episode of the PBL Simplified Podcast, host Ryan Steuer discusses the transformative power of Project Based Learning (PBL) in schools. He shares insights on how educators can empower themselves and their teams to create thriving educational environments. Through the success story of principal Cynthia Bruno, listeners learn about the impact of PBL on student engagement and achievement. Ryan emphasizes the importance of connecting with one's purpose, empowering teachers, and creating a positive school culture. He provides practical tips for job satisfaction and highlights the significance of daily practices and delegation in leadership.

Takeaways

• Transforming schools through project-based learning is possible.
  
  
• Leadership teams can create effective three-year plans for PBL.
  
  
• Cynthia Bruno's school improved from a D to an A in two years.
  
  
• Connecting with your purpose is essential for effective leadership.
  
  
• Empowering teachers fosters a positive PBL environment.
  
  
• Celebrating small wins increases job satisfaction.
  
  
• Creating moments of joy enhances the school culture.
  
  
• Daily practices can lead to greater fulfillment in your role.
  
  
• Delegation allows leaders to focus on strategic initiatives.
  
  
• Finding joy in learning is crucial for educators.

This episode of the PBL Simplified Podcast features guest Matt Taylor, who leads the Noble Story Group, a consulting firm that focuses on emotional intelligence-based leadership development in education and nonprofits.

Matt’s “Why”

He had an epiphany while observing both urban district schools and charter schools that they either had teachers with great technical and instructional skills, but unhappy students and teachers or they were happy places where students weren’t being challenged. He believes the “sweet spot” is a place where adults and kids feel connected and challenged. His executive coaching training grounded in emotional intelligence changed his life and gave him a framework to address his observations. He seeks to create the conditions for learning and thriving for individuals, teams, and learning communities.

The Value of Executive Coaching

• Executive coaching helps build competencies, not skills.
• It focuses on the “below the surface” aspects, like beliefs and mindsets, that affect competency.
• Coaching helps identify roadblocks that training alone can’t address, like being conflict-averse.
• Coaching helps leaders shift deep-seated habits based on core values.
• It empowers individuals to find their own solutions.
• It creates a ripple effect, enabling leaders to coach their teams.

Success Story: The Second-Year Principal

• A high-achieving assistant principal, promoted to principal, struggled with delegation.
• Coaching revealed her underlying beliefs: She felt the need to prove herself, to be liked, to not overburden others, and that this was what leadership entailed.
• This led to her disempowering her team and hindering their growth.
• By connecting her actions to her core value of developing people, she found the motivation to change.
• She learned to self-coach, interrupting her old patterns and reminding herself of her true goal.

The Five Square Method

• This coaching process is based on the four dimensions of emotional intelligence: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management.
• It emphasizes that 75% of leadership happens internally.
• Leaders must understand their own values, mindsets, and potential obstacles before engaging others.
• Social awareness, particularly empathy, is key to understanding others’ perspectives and choosing effective engagement strategies.
• A fifth square, “core values,” was added to highlight their importance in guiding leadership decisions.

The Importance of Listening

• Executive coaching involves the coach listening 70% of the time.
• This allows the person being coached to process information and find their own insights.

Expertise for School Leaders

• The most important expertise for school leaders is being the “learning leader.”
• This means embodying a growth mindset, fostering relational trust and belonging, and balancing challenge and care for adults as well as students.

Launching a Vision

• Connect the vision to your core values.
• Make it a shared vision by listening to and incorporating your team’s aspirations.
• View implementing the vision as adaptive change, involving the people affected in the solution.
• Focus on the common ground of shared values and goals.

Opportunities in the Future of Education

• Shift from short-term fixes to long-term strategies that address teacher and leader retention.
• Prioritize creating a supportive and challenging learning community for adults.
• Recognize the contagious nature of emotions: Adults’ engagement in learning will inspire students.

Parting Advice

• This work is a marathon, not a sprint: Take care of yourselves and each other.
• Build a strong team that provides both support and challenge.
• Maintain hope and belief in your collective ability to overcome challenges.

Call to Action

• Don’t go it alone. Seek support through coaching or masterminds.

Resources

• Website: NobleStoryGroup.com
• LinkedIn: Matt Taylor, Noble Story Group
• Free Resource: EI Mindset Self Assessment
• Book: The Noble School Leader

This episode focuses on practical ways administrators can address teacher burnout and reignite their passion for teaching. Burnout is characterized by a disconnect from the joy of teaching, often stemming from a lack of autonomy and meaningful teaching opportunities. Project Based learning (PBL) is presented as a way to combat teacher burnout by fostering a student-centered approach that can revitalize teachers' love of teaching. This episode emphasizes that while quick fixes like hot chocolate and meditation can help, it's important to address the root causes of burnout.

Three Key Ways to Reignite Teachers' Love of Teaching:

• Autonomy and Creativity: Teachers need the freedom to design meaningful and engaging projects that are tailored to their students' needs.
• • Following a rigid scope and sequence can stifle creativity and excitement.
  • PBL provides opportunities for both teachers and learners to have autonomy.
• Building Relationships: Focus on both student-teacher and teacher-teacher connections.
• • Teachers want to connect with their students on a personal level beyond just the curriculum.
  • Creating opportunities for teachers to collaborate and connect with their peers is crucial.
• Relevance and Purpose: Teachers need to feel that their work is meaningful and connected to real-world problems.
• • PBL can provide this sense of relevance and purpose.
  • When students are engaged, teachers are also more likely to be engaged and feel fulfilled.

Practical Steps Administrators Can Take Immediately:

• Start with small wins.
• • Redesign faculty meetings to be more collaborative and to celebrate successes.
  • Use faculty meetings to build relationships between teachers.
  • We offer a free resource for how to redo your faculty meeting on our website, magnifypbl.com.
• Empower student voice.
• • Encourage teachers to give students voice and choice in their learning.
  • Consider starting a student voice group to gather feedback.
• Identify what "fills the bucket" for teachers: Find out what activities or actions bring joy to individual teachers and implement them.
• • It may vary by grade level or content area.
  • Something as simple as a positive note can mean a lot to teachers.
• Encourage teachers to try new student-centered strategies: Provide opportunities for teachers to share what they have tried.
• • Create a culture of collaboration and shared learning.
• Build a positive culture in the school to reduce teacher turnover.
• • When teachers are excited to be there, it creates a positive current.

Call to Action:

• Challenge teachers to reflect on one small change they can make to bring joy back into their teaching.
• Recognize that joy is an important part of the educational process, along with standardized tests and learning outcomes.

Additional Resources Mentioned:

• Binge PBL for Administrators Podcast
• Magnify Learning Website (magnifypbl.com) for a free resource on how to redo your faculty meeting
• pblpress.com for books to help with project-based learning
• Design Days where you can visit a PBL model site and create a three-year implementation plan
• Episode 158: No More Teacher Turnover

Next Episode:

• Features a leadership guest, Matthew Taylor, a coach for principals and administrators in Washington DC.

In this episode, Ryan Steuer interviews leadership coach Marianne Renner about her new book, Self Talk: 10 Stories You Tell Yourself That Hold You Back. They discuss the importance of self-talk in leadership, the impact of personal narratives on emotional well-being, and practical strategies for transforming negative self-talk into empowering narratives. Marianne shares her personal journey of overcoming depression and addiction, emphasizing the power of mindset and emotional awareness in achieving personal and professional growth. The conversation highlights the significance of vulnerability in leadership and the ongoing nature of self-improvement.

Takeaways

• Self-talk is a universal experience for everyone.
  
  
• Changing self-talk can lead to significant personal transformation.
  
  
• Leaders should embrace vulnerability to connect with others.
  
  
• The SEER process helps in reframing negative narratives.
  
  
• Emotional awareness is crucial for effective leadership.
  
  
• Practicing self-talk is similar to developing a workout routine.
  
  
• Vulnerability can enhance leadership effectiveness.
  
  
• Every situation presents a choice in how we respond.
  
  
• Self-talk can either empower or hinder our actions.
  
  
• Continuous self-improvement is a lifelong journey.
  

Resources and links:

mariannerenner.com

Get Marianne's book

In this episode of the PBL Simplified for Administrators podcast, host Ryan Steuer welcomes back Dr. Chad Dumas to discuss the importance of Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) in enhancing Project Based Learning (PBL) environments. They explore the mindset and culture necessary for effective PLCs, the role of teacher team leaders, and strategies for creating a collaborative and safe environment for educators. Dr. Dumas emphasizes the significance of adult learning and the need for a supportive culture to drive student success. The conversation also highlights success stories and practical advice for educators and leaders looking to implement or improve PLCs in their schools.

Takeaways

• PLCs should be viewed as a culture, not just meetings.
  
  
• Creating a psychologically safe environment is crucial for effective PLCs.
  
  
• Teacher team leaders play a vital role in building capacity within their teams.
  
  
• Mindsets and assumptions significantly impact leadership effectiveness.
  
  
• Conflict can be a positive force for growth in teams.
  
  
• Ongoing learning and reflection are essential for successful PLCs.
  
  
• Success stories demonstrate the effectiveness of PLCs in various school settings.
  
  
• Adult culture in schools directly influences student culture.
  
  
• Educators need clarity on what to guarantee every student learns.
  
  
• Collaboration among teachers leads to better outcomes for students.

Resources and links:

allthingsplc.info

The Teacher Team Leader Handbook Information

Get Chad's Book:

Amazon

Solution Tree

Book Resources

Key takeaways from this episode:

• Relationships are paramount in education: The strength of the relationship between teachers and students significantly impacts learning outcomes.
• Seeing each child: Educators should strive to understand and acknowledge each student's individual needs and experiences.
• The Importance of Nervous Systems: Educators should be aware of their own nervous system and how it impacts their students. They should also be mindful of their students' nervous systems and how they are responding.
• Attachment and Attunement: Attachment refers to the strength of the relationship between two people, often an adult and a child. Attunement refers to adults adjusting their nervous system to match that of the child.
• Child-Led Learning: Empowering students to take ownership of their learning is crucial, especially for neurodivergent learners.
• Practical Strategies for Leaders: Principals can support teachers by acknowledging their challenges, offering help, and promoting a positive school culture.
• Parent Perspectives: Parents of neurodivergent children want educators to understand their child's unique needs and collaborate with them to create a supportive learning environment.
• Embrace Curiosity and Grace: Educators should approach challenging situations with curiosity and give themselves and their students grace.

Call to Action: Be more curious in your interactions with students, teachers, and parents, especially those who present challenges.

Resources:

• Website: whatispbl.com
• Podcast: Complicated Kids Podcast

This episode focuses on the benefits of Project Based Learning (PBL) for K-12 students. It explores how PBL can enhance academic achievement, social-emotional learning (SEL), and future readiness.

Key Takeaways:

• PBL improves academic performance. Studies show that PBL can lead to significant gains in standardized test scores, AP exam scores, and literacy and numeracy skills.
• PBL supports social-emotional learning. PBL provides opportunities for students to develop self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.
• PBL prepares students for the future. PBL helps students develop 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, creativity, communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and inquiry, as well as career preparation skills.

Examples and Resources:

• Dixie Elementary: This school improved its state test score from a D to an A using PBL.
• Southport Elementary: This school, which already had an A, implemented PBL to improve employability skills for its high socioeconomic and ELL students. They then had the highest growth on their state standardized test in the entire state.
• Southside Elementary: This Title 1 elementary school also saw success with PBL.
• School Within a School: Ryan discusses a PBL program he started in a large middle school that led to increased attendance, decreased discipline issues, and improved academic outcomes for the participating students.
• The Lucas Foundation: This organization conducted randomized controlled trials in 2021 that demonstrated the positive impact of PBL on student learning.
• CASTLE (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning): This organization provides resources on SEL competencies.
• Book Recommendation: Ryan’s book, PBL Simplified, provides a framework for implementing PBL, including the six steps of PBL and strategies for grouping students.
• Book Recommendation: Life's a Project is another book that delves deeper into PBL implementation.

Call to Action:

• Communicate the Why: School administrators should articulate the benefits of PBL to teachers, parents, and students.
• Encourage Risk-Taking: Administrators should support teachers in trying new approaches and provide resources and support for their efforts.
• Celebrate Successes: Recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of teachers and students involved in PBL.

Next Episode:

• Topic: Neuroscience behind great learning, focusing on attunement and the importance of authentic PBL.

PBL Research: https://www.lucasedresearch.org/research/research-briefs/