The CharacterStrong Podcast (CharacterStrong)

Today, we are joined by Kat Pastor, the Executive Director of School Supports at CharacterStrong, and Cory Notestine, the Director of Continuous Improvement at CharacterStrong, from Washington D.C. to kick off National School Counseling Week. They discuss the past, present, and future of school counseling, as well as the changes that have taken place and what keeps them passionate about school counseling today.

Kat Pastor has passionately served as a student and educator advocate for over 20 years in the roles of coach, student council advisor, school counselor at the secondary level and financial aid counselor/coordinator of student employment and adjunct professor at the post-secondary level. Through Kat’s leadership, her school counseling department received both state and national recognition, including ASCA RAMP recognition in 2020. Kat has facilitated professional development with various state and national associations, along with individual schools and districts. Kat exudes a commitment to community, having served on numerous local, state and national associations, boards and committees. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, a Masters in Education in Student Affairs and School Counseling from Northern Arizona University. Kat was named the ASCA 2016 National School Counselor of the Year and Northern Arizona University’s President’s Alumni Awardee in 2021.

Cory Notestine spent the last 14 years working in rural and urban school settings across North Carolina and Colorado as a school counselor and district leader. Over the past 7 years he's led successful district-wide SEL curriculum adoption and implementation; redesigned and integrated MTSS teaming, protocols, and service delivery; and created a behavioral matrix that was student centered and restorative in nature. He is passionate about thoughtful and timely change management, the intersection of politics and education, and how to identify high leverage action items to increase successful implementation. Cory was named the 2015 national School Counselor of the Year.

Today we talk with CharacterStrong's Chief Development Officer Dr. Clay Cook about why Schools Struggle with Tier 3 Supports. He outlines 3 basic reasons that schools and districts encounter roadblocks as they implement Tier 3. Dr. Cook dives into solutions to help overcome them such as increasing educator confidence, shifting the internal locus of control, and quality professional development. He also shares about the importance of teams coming together to consistently providing proactive, preventative Tier 3 supports, and how being proactive can positively impact a school system.

Learn More:

• Register for our next Tier 3 Product Preview
• Get the latest updates about CharacterStrong's Tier 3 Solution
• Register for our FREE Webinar: Why Schools Struggle with Tier 3 Supports

Nikolete Nikravan went to UHCL, graduated with her BA in Math and her 7-12 Math Certification in May of 2019. She won New Teacher of The Year for Santa Fe High School last school year, and was featured on the news for delivering gift bags to all 97 of her students during covid/distance learning. Currently, Nikolete is a math teacher at Santa Fe HS, coaches girls basketball, and is in school to get her masters in Educational Leadership.

Today, our guest is Dr. Clay Cook, the Chief Development Officer at CharacterStrong. In this episode, we discuss CharacterStrong's new Tier 2 Solution, launching this spring. Dr. Cook shares his insights on the resources, tools, and interventions that come with CS Tier 2. He also talks about the included professional learning support that will help educators improve continuously over time. Additionally, Dr. Cook provides an overview of the small group skill-building curriculum and discusses its components.

To Learn More Visit: 

• CharacterStrong Tier 2 Solution: https://characterstrong.com/tier2/
• CharacterStrong Tier 2 Certification Training
• CharacterStrong MTSS Certification Training

As we celebrate #SELday 2024 we wanted to share an episode from Season 2 the Adult SEL Podcast where Dr. Clayton Cook lays out the Outside-In and an Inside-Out approach when it comes to adult social & emotional learning. He highlights the importance of leaders cultivating healthy work environments while also supporting all staff in order to help promote well-being, resilience, and engagement in their work. Dr. Cook also shares ways that systems often miss the mark when it comes to Adult SEL.

Learn More About CharacterStrong: 

• Download SEL Day Resources HERE
• Listen to Season 2 of the Adult SEL Podcast
• Visit the CharacterStrong Website
• Access FREE Curriculum Samples
• Attend our next live product preview

We talk to Matthew about how he got involved with his state school counselors association and the different ways that getting involved can impact us, the schools we serve, and the states where we live. He also talks about the importance of building connections, especially being in the role of school counselor.

Matthew McClain has been a school counselor in rural Northeast Colorado since 2005. He spent 10 years counseling at the 5th and 6th grade level, then spent 6 years at the high school level, and is currently at the elementary level (grades 1-5). Prior to school counseling, he was a reporting analyst and worked in the telecommunications field. He has also been the Executive Director for the Colorado School Counselor Association (CSCA) since November of 2017. He and his wife of 24 years have 3 beautiful children.

Matthew has been involved with the American School Counselor Association(ASCA) and CSCA since 2008 serving on various committees and roles including CSCA conference chair, CSCA Elementary VP, CSCA President, CSCA Public Relations Chair, ASCA conference selection committee, and ASCA State Bylaw Review committee chair. He has presented on various topics including getting involved in state school counselor associations, how to be situationally aware both personally and professionally,  how to be a leader, and leading social emotional groups. He is passionate about relationships, connections, school counselors, leadership,  and clinical school counselor supervision.

Ryan Healy who has taught for 13 years at Ridgeline Middle School in Yelm, WA. Ryan is the 2019 Capital Region ESD 113 Teacher of the Year and was a finalist for the 2019 Washington State Teacher of the Year. He was also honored with the Association of Washington Student Leaders Middle-Level Adviser of the Year Award in 2014. 

We talk with Ryan about the importance of being available for our students and he shares some intentional ways that we can make time for the students and staff at our schools.

John shares a powerful reminder of a teachers impact thru perseverance, a short reading from Jacob Riis, and he gives some encouragement as we live, teach & work during this season.

Molly A. Gosline, EdM, MA is the Coordinator of Social Emotional Learning at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Illinois where she works with academic divisions and teacher teams to develop instructional practices that integrate social emotional learning into their classrooms to support students' SEL growth. Ms. Gosline collaborates with SEL and school climate colleagues throughout the country, has presented at dozens of school climate & learning conferences and workshops and is the executive director of SEL4IL. Molly holds an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from the Lesley Graduate School of Arts & Sciences as well as an Ed.M. in Risk and Prevention within the Human Development & Psychology division from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Molly is currently a doctoral candidate in the Mid-Career Educational Leadership Program at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education where her research focuses on social emotional learning integration practices.

Today our guest is Dr. David Arencibia, Principal at Colleyville Middle School in Colleyville, TX. We talk with Dr. Arencibia about what it takes to build a strong, positive school culture, and how they have succeeded in doing so at Colleyville. He explains how they have prioritized their four core values: relationships, positivity, a growth mindset, and teamwork, and how they incorporate these values into everything they do. Dr. Arencibia also discusses how they maintain a positive culture and the importance of intentionally modeling these values and positive behaviors for staff and students every day.

Learn More: 

• 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 that prioritize high standards and positive culture. His school has been recognized as one of the Best Schools in Texas and the country by Newsweek and US News & World Report. David's leadership skills have accelerated the school's progress, making it a Nationally Recognized Model Campus, Texas School To Watch, and National PTA School of Excellence with more PTA members than students. He understands the importance of building strong teams with shared vision and values, resulting in high employee satisfaction and engagement. EducationWeek has featured David in articles on building a positive culture and teacher retention. He was named the 2022 Texas Secondary Principal of the Year and a finalist for National Secondary Principal of the Year in 2023. He was also a finalist for 2022 Texan of the Year by the Dallas Morning News. David is currently working with best-selling author Jimmy Casas on David’s book that will be released later this year.

Today our guest is Kelly Mountjoy, Professional School Counselor at Parkhill Junior High in Richardson ISD in TX. And Kelly is also the 2023 Lone Star School Counselor of the Year. We talk to Kelly about a collaborative system they have implemented to identify and support underrepresented student populations to take advanced level classes. Kelly explains the heart behind the program, some of the roadblocks that students were experiencing, and how they help to support students to overcome these roadblocks. She shares how this has impacted student confidence, and the culture across the district. Kelly also talks about how the program has increased advance class sign ups overall and advanced science class participation by 1800%.

Learn More About CharacterStrong: 

• Visit the CharacterStrong Website
• Access FREE Curriculum Samples
• Attend our next live product preview

Kelly Mountjoy is a school counselor at Parkhill Junior High in Richardson ISD. She has 20 years of experience in education, 10 of which have been spent as a school counselor. Inspired by her high school math teacher, Kelly attended Texas A&M University where she received her degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and a minor in Mathematics. Kelly began her teaching career at Parkhill Junior High as a mathematics teacher/coach and then taught mathematics at Berkner High School where she was also a softball coach and Bell Guard sponsor. In 2011, Kelly was awarded the Innovations in STEM Teaching Award from Texas Instruments Foundation. 

Passionate about helping students academically, socially and emotionally, Kelly attended Lamar University and received her master’s degree in School Counseling. Kelly returned to Parkhill Junior High where she has been a school counselor to 7th and 8th grade students for the past 10 years. She was named the Secondary School Counselor of the Year for Richardson ISD in 2022 and Texas School Counselor of the Year in 2023.

Kelly attended Kindergarten through high school in Richardson ISD schools. She has been married to her husband, Bart, for 11 years and they have four children together, Sloane (7), Reese (5), Bear (3), and Sawyer (1).

Susy is an Oregon gal, born and bred. After her schooling at the University of Oregon and Linfield University, she was hired at McMinnville High School (her alma mater) in 2012 and began advising the ASB Leadership program in 2014; her position at MHS is now split between ASB and 9th/10th grade AVID. Susy was recognized as McMinnville's Outstanding Teacher of the Year in 2017. Outside of school, Susy is also one of the Administration & Programming Directors for the Oregon Association of Student Councils. Through OASC, she has served as a board member for six years and a high school camp director for three. Susy also serves as a McMinnville TEDx speaker coach, on the Linfield University Education Consortium Board, and as a team member for the R. Stuart & Co. Winery. When she's not immersed in school and OASC, you can find her backpacking or hiking off grid, tending to her home jungle, or reading and writing with a cup of coffee in hand.

Connect with Susy: Twitter & Instagram: @missayles
Email: ssayles@msd.k12.or.us

Dr. Bikowsky is a Child & Adolescent Clinical Therapist and an Educational Staff Associate Certified School Counselor with a Ph.D. in Educational Counseling/Psychology. Bella has diverse experience in the education and mental health fields spanning 20 years. Over her career, Bella has gained clinical experience working in long-term residential treatment centers as well as at Seattle Children’s Hospital in their inpatient psychiatric unit. Additionally, Bella has been a school counselor in the Seattle Public Schools as well as a Counselor and Behavior Specialist in the Edmonds School District. Bella is also a part of Brooks Powers Group, an Educational and Psychological Assessment team in the Seattle area as well as Sound Supports, an educational consulting company focused on building systems through a 3-tired model—Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS). Bella has extensive knowledge working with school teams and districts in helping to create systemic change using the Multi-Tiered Systems approach capitalizing on evidenced-based interventions such as Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports, Trauma-Informed and Culturally Responsive Practices, Mental Health integration into the school systems, and Function-Based Assessments and interventions.

Today our guest is Melissa Rosario, Elementary Specialist at CharacterStrong.

We talk to Melissa about ways that we can provide continuous, ongoing, and effective support for new teachers. Melissa highlights the concerning statistics regarding new teachers and the decline of teachers in schools today. She explains the 5 phases of first-year teachers and how we can use them to design support programs. Melissa suggests several intentional ways to support new teachers, including creating programs and partnerships, giving them a head start on the year, welcoming them into the school, and providing guidance as they set up their first classroom. Additionally, Melissa emphasizes the positive impact of mentorship from a veteran teacher can have during the first year of teaching.

Learn More: 

• Visit the CharacterStrong Website

Today our guest is Jason Thompson, a school counselor and school counseling coordinator. He also serves as an adjunct professor for several local universities and won the “Adjunct of the Year” award in 2019. We talk with Jason about how schools can collaborate with their communities to better serve students while also recognizing the work school counselors do as they connect students and families to different community resources. He also shares specific ways his school has utilized data and intentionally built in community circle time to support the whole child and check in with students.

Learn More:

• Join us for a live preview of the new CharacterStrong Tier 3 Solution
• Get FREE School Counseling Week Resources
• Visit the CharacterStrong Website

We talk with Luis about the key to helping students move forward, the model that they have built on the Changemaker Campus, and he shares ways that we can intentionally put a focus on empathy & love.

Luis Alberto Perales, M.S., is a native son of the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. He is the son of an immigrant mother and an 5th generation Tejano father. A transplant to Tucson, AZ and the Sonoran Desert, Luis has spent over two decades in the Old Pueblo. He is the official Spokesman for the K20 Changemaker Campus, CEO for the Institute for Transformative Education, and lead consultant for ZenCons Transformational Consulting. For the past twenty years he has directed his energies to the support, development, and transformation of people, places and institutions. His expertise has led him to train and lead individuals, groups, and organizations wanting to develop their innovative mindset, increase their reach, and maximize their impact. Luis lives with his wife, 16-year-old son, and two 12-year-old twin sons in Tucson.

Robert Hand teaches at Mount Vernon High School. His subjects are Family and Consumer Sciences and Leadership. He is currently teaching Careers in Education - Recruiting Washington Teachers, Leadership, Nutrition, and Life After High School. Robert is the 2019 Washington State Teacher of the Year.

We talk with Robert about the strategies that he uses to help keep the important things as priorities in his life, and how that starts with looking at how he spends his time. 

Today our guest is Dr. Lori Lynass, Director of Tier 2 and Tier 3 at CharacterStrong. We talk with Dr. Lynass the impact of student behavior on educator burnout and possible solutions. She gives a current statistic that shows that teachers have the highest burnout rate among professionals right now. Dr. Lynass explains that student misbehavior often indicates they are deregulated, and emphasizes that connection is a crucial tool to meet students' needs. She also suggests some strategies educators can use to give students a break, pointing out that educators, too, also sometimes need step back and take a quick break.

Click to download the Student behavior checklist: characterstrong.com/studentbehaviorchecklist

Learn More About CharacterStrong: 

• Access FREE Curriculum Samples
• Attend our next live product preview
• Visit the CharacterStrong Website

We talk with Ryan about how students respond to failure, how social media effects how we deal with failure, the importance of modeling and teaching failure, and how we can help and support students when they experience failure.

Ryan Healy who has taught for 13 years at Ridgeline Middle School in Yelm, WA. Ryan is the 2019 Capital Region ESD 113 Teacher of the Year and was a finalist for the 2019 Washington State Teacher of the Year. He was also honored with the Association of Washington Student Leaders Middle-Level Adviser of the Year Award in 2014. 

Lisa Schroeder has taught for 17 years, cross circularly, and has received various honors, and educational awards for her teaching, leadership, community service and program development. Lisa is the recipient of The Student Leadership Advisor of the year for the state of Arizona in 2015, The National Young Leaders Congressional Youth Leadership Council Selection, and Who's Who Among National Educators. She has been a keynote speaker for educational leadership workshops at district, state and national leadership conference events. She has been a mentor teacher for the past 10 years. Lisa is passionate about investing in building our future through making impactful student and community connections.

Molly Winters Diallo has spent the last 23 years in education, a career that has spanned three different schools. She currently teaches at Alonzo and Tracy Mourning Senior High in Miami, Florida. Molly serves as department chair for social sciences and her subjects include AP Human Geography, AP Psychology, and Honors U.S. History. She is also part of the school's Social Emotional Learning leadership team. In 2019, Molly was named Teacher of the Year for Miami-Dade County Public Schools and a top-five finalist for Florida Teacher of the Year. Molly and two of her seniors were recently awarded a $1,000 grant from CharacterStrong to implement a program that will bring students from different backgrounds together for monthly luncheons.

Today our guest is Dwight Carter the Director of Student Support Systems at Eastland-Fairfield Career & Technical Schools. We talk to Dwight about the importance of knowing and operating within your character strengths. He shares about the need to understanding the strengths that we bring to the table and talks about a free tool that we can use to help us to aware of our own strengths. Dwight also shares how knowing the strengths of the people on our teams can help us get un-stuck.

• To learn more about the work of Jack Slavinski visit: https://jackslavinski.com/
• To take the free VIA Survey of Character Strengths click here: https://www.viacharacter.org/

Dwight Carter is an award-winning education leader from Central OH. He has served as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal and is currently the Director of Student Support Systems for the Eastland-Fairfield Career and Technical School District. He is the co-author of What’s In Your Space? Five Steps to Better School and Classroom Design (Corwin, 2016), Leading Schools in Disruptive Times: How to Survive Hyper-change (Corwin 2017/2021); and a contributing author to Because of a Teacher: Stories of the Past to Inspire the Future of Education written and curated by George Couros. His first solo book, Be GREAT: Five Principles to Improve School Culture from the Inside Out, was published recently (IMPress, 2022). 

Today, we welcome Elizabeth Congdon-McGee, the 2021 Alaska School Counselor of the Year and a professional school counselor for the Anchorage School District. Elizabeth talks about how she and the principal of her school have collaborated, and how investing in relationships and using data has made a difference in their work.

She also provides insight into how school counselors can advocate for their work by intentionally sharing their story with different groups in the community. Elizabeth also offers advice on how to get more involved on a local and state level.

Elizabeth Congdon-McGee was the 2021 Alaska School Counselor of the year. Elizabeth Congdon-McGee is a professional school counselor for the Anchorage School District with over 20 years of experience in education and counseling. Mrs. McGee began her career as a clinical therapist working with young children and at-risk youth, as well as a classroom teacher. Currently, she is a professional school counselor at Whaley K-12 School. She has presented at many statewide conferences and participated in many workgroups to enhance the profession and increase awareness of the role of a school counselor. She has recently moved her presentations to outside of Alaska-NWPBIS Conference and Washington School Counselor Conference. She will be presenting at the Nevada School Counselor Conference in March 2023.

Elizabeth has enjoyed being the President of the Alaska School Counselor Association (AkSCA) from 2015-2016, Chair of AkSCA Membership Committee 2015-2021 and currently chairs the AkSCA Advocacy and Public Policy Committee-2015--present a NEA-AK Delegate for many years, and the Anchorage Education Association school counselor committee chair.

Dr. Christopher M. Clayton serves as a Director of Education Services for the Pennsylvania State Education Association. He is responsible for providing support to over 180,000 educator members on issues involving assessment, teacher certification, student achievement, pedagogical best practices, and research in teaching and learning. He earned a Ph.D. in Language and Literacy Education and Ed. S. in Education Leadership, Administration, & Policy at The University of Georgia along with a Master's Degree in Curriculum & Instruction from Regis University in Denver, CO.  He is a National Board Certified Teacher (2008, 2018) who, prior to starting with PSEA, served as a high school English and I.B. Theory of Knowledge teacher and coach for over ten years in Southern California and Washington state before becoming a district administrator and Director of Curriculum & Instruction in a large metro-Atlanta school district with 138 schools and over 100,000 students. He moved to Hershey to begin his role with PSEA in 2014 and happily resides there with his wife, two daughters (20 & 25), son (12), and granddaughter (7).

We talk with Dr. Chris Clayton about how social emotional learning is not separate from academics. Learn how fostering a growth mindset can be integrated into the daily fabric of all academic content areas as a foundational element for all learning to occur.

Today our guest is Cara Newman a 4th grade educator in the Plainedge School District. We talk to Cara about how a simple yet powerful practice—having students set intentions throughout the day—can increase focus, presence, and ownership in the classroom. She explains how this strategy fosters student buy-in, supports self-regulation, and ultimately leads to meaningful returns in both behavior and learning.

Learn More About CharacterStrong: 

• Access FREE Tier 2 Curriculum Samples
• Request a Quote Today!
• Visit the CharacterStrong Website

Cara Newman is an educator with over 20 years of teaching experience. Outside of the classroom, she is a life coach and mind-body practitioner. She’s passionate about mindful and conscious teaching, empowering educators and students to create meaningful and balanced learning environments while cultivating creativity, connection, and presence.

We talk about the work that Vincent is doing specifically around historicizing conversations, he shares about the audit tool that he has created, and gives some first steps to get started in this work.

Vincent Perez currently leads Rethink Manhood, working with men and boys to deconstruct and counter, cultural narratives regarding what it means to be a "real" man. Vincent's practice is rooted in experiential education with a focus on culturally responsive pedagogy, trauma-informed systems, juvenile justice reform, ethnic studies, family engagement, near-peer mentorship and Latina bilingual leadership. He frequently speaks at schools, facilitates student programs and trains adult staff to better serve their students. As a 20+ year veteran in education, Vincent Perez aims to sustain the integrity, courage, and commitment of children, families, and service providers.

During her almost 40 years of working with student activities, Terry has coached a cheer team, advised NHS and student council, and served as an Activities Coordinator. She has been a co-director of a National Leadership Camp, a leadership consultant and curriculum coordinator for the Texas Association of Activities, and been presented with the Earl Reum award. She is currently vice-president of the National Association of Student Council Executive Directors and the Director of the Texas Association of Student Councils.

We talk with Terry about why it is important to invest time, energy, and resources into student councils/leadership & what schools can do successfully to create a great student council program.

Today our guests our Jennifer Klauss, Executive Director of Secondary Teaching & Learning and Derek O'Konek, Executive Director of Elementary Teaching & Learning both in the Richland School District. We talk to Jen & Derek about the CharacterStrong partnership that the Richland School District has as they support students. They highlight the successful implementation strategies observed, the deliberate construction of the program adoption process, and the lessons learned. Jen & Derek detail how they involved parents, teachers, administrators, and school board members in the process. They also describe the success of the coaching system that has been created to assist and support each of their 21 schools.

Learn more about how you can bring CharacterStrong to your district or school: 

• Access FREE Curriculum Samples
• Attend our next live product preview
• Visit the CharacterStrong Website

Today our guest is Dr. Christian D'Annibale - Principal at Pottstown High School. We talk to Dr. D'Annibale about how his school achieved a 60% reduction in suspensions and a 90% decrease in class skipping—not by changing disciplinary responses but by shifting the focus to students themselves. He shares how the creation of a student advisory council became the catalyst for meaningful change, empowering students to take the lead in improving school culture. Dr. D’Annibale also talks about the innovative strategies and creative solutions developed by this council, proving that when students are given a voice, they can drive extraordinary results.

Learn More About CharacterStrong: 

• Learn more about the NEW Tier 3 Solution
• Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples
• Attend our next live product preview
• Visit the CharacterStrong Website

Dr. Christian D’Annibale is in his third year as Principal of Pottstown High School in the Pottstown School District. He had previously led New Cumberland Middle School as the principal, was an assistant principal at Bermudian Springs Middle School and taught seventh-grade social studies at Mechanicsburg Middle School. Dr. D’Annibale attended Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania for his undergraduate studies and completed his doctorate in educational leadership at Shippensburg in August 2022. He and his family live in Pottstown, where they love the schools, the community and attending as many family-friendly events as possible.

We talk with Carla about how her district has put a focus on belonging, the importance if having these tough conversations, and some of the strategies and resources that have helped the staff in the Columbia district.

Carla London is originally from Columbia, MO, but moved often as a child and got to experience the excitement of such diverse places as New Orleans, LA; Dallas and El Paso, TX; and Stamford, CT. After beginning her career in education in north Georgia, she returned to Columbia where she was privileged to create the Aspiring Scholars program for At-Promise youth. In 2006, she followed her husband’s career back to Texas and spent 7 years in Round Rock, just outside of Austin, as both a classroom teacher and in educational leadership for a student body that included 1500 middle school students. In 2013, Carla returned to Columbia as the Supervisor of Student and Family Advocacy, for Columbia Public Schools. She was subsequently promoted to Director of Student Services, and is currently the Chief Equity Officer for CPS, where she wears many hats including supervising several district programs. Carla has a combined 16 years of experience in education, nine years as a Social Worker, including four years as an Emergency Room Medical S.W. at Children's Medical Center of Dallas, in Dallas, TX, and three years as a small business owner, Dallas, TX. Her passion is working with children, families, and staff to provide a safe, nurturing, and stimulating educational experience! She continues to advocate for ways to assist youth in acquiring the skills they need to be successful and reducing discipline disproportionality among minority youth.

Paul has spent the last 23 years as a classroom teacher. The last 21 of those years have been spent at Monrovia High School in beautiful Southern California, mostly as a social science teacher. In 2008 he became the Renaissance Coordinator. In 2018 Paul became the school's first Climate & Culture Coordinator, with responsibilities of Renaissance Coordinator, Activities Director and Link Crew Coordinator. In 2012 he was chosen as the Monrovia Unified Teacher of the Year. In 2013 Jostens Renaissance recognized Paul as a National Coordinator of the Year and last summer he was inducted into the Jostens Renaissance Hall of Fame.  Paul and his wife Lisa and I have 2 fantastic kids, Steven who just finished is junior year at Point Loma Nazarene University and Kaitlyn, who will be starting her freshman year at UC San Diego in September.

We talk with Paul about one unique and intentional way that they recognize seniors at Monrovia High School and he shares about Monrovia’s school-wide night of recognition and the impact that it has had in the lives of both students and teachers. 

As the recipient of Special Olympics Missouri’s 2018 School of Character Award of Merit, Odessa High School values kindness and meaningful inclusion. The school with just over 600 students is in a rural community approximately 30 miles east of Kansas City. Following a year of using Character Strong resources in their student-led lessons in freshman classes, the school is in its first year of school-wide implementation of the Character Strong Advisory Curriculum. The school’s student council is recognized as an Honor Council by the Missouri Association of Student Councils. The senior student council members featured on the podcast include President Keiton Johnson and Vice President Makenzie Lewis along with Tyler Hepworth and Lyndsey Roseler. Tyler and Lyndsey are a Special Olympics unified pair who recently represented Character Strong at the Inclusive Youth Leadership Summit held in Chicago. The school utilizes unified pairs to teach Character Strong lessons to freshman classes. The group is active on social media. Follow them @odessar7_stuco on Instagram and Twitter.

Fredricka Hunter has worked as an Elementary School Counselor for the last 6 years in Racine, WI. She is a woman with a heart of servanthood that stems from her love of Christ. She is the wife of her high school sweetheart of nearly 20 years; a mother to four daughters: two of whom she birthed and two whom were given to her as added blessings. She’s a Nana to five beautiful little people who she loves more than life itself. Although, she’s an educator by profession; it’s not just a career choice for her- she believes it’s her PURPOSE! It is her belief that she was called to serve children and families; although every day is different, she embraces every challenge and is the loudest cheerleader for every victory! Those sentiments aren’t only applicable to her students but towards their entire village: parents/guardians, teachers, administrators, social workers; anyone who is fundamentally essential to her students being their best self “Teamwork works make the Dreamwork!” is a saying that she quotes daily.

Fredricka’s greatest asset is her heart and the passion she has for children that oozes out during every interaction with her. She’s honest, thought provoking, challenging of others and herself. It is her fundamental belief that genuine relationships are the foundation upon which all SEL work must be built upon; the work isn’t easy but she believes it’s beyond WORTH IT!

Today our guests are Caroline Oleson the Tier 2 SEL and Intensive Support Team for the Madison Metropolitan SD and Kelly Nelson the SEL Tier 2 Elementary Teacher Leader for the Madison Metropolitan School District

We talk to Caroline & Kelly about their experience implementing CharacterStrong in their district. They share some implementation successes they have had, ways that CharacterStrong has helped to support the district, and lessons they have learned along the way. Caroline & Kelly also give some tips and strategies for others that implementing solutions in their school or district.

Learn More About CharacterStrong: 

• Access FREE Curriculum Samples
• Attend our next live product preview
• Visit the CharacterStrong Website

About Caroline: 
Hello, I'm Caroline Oleson, and with over twenty years in education, I've cultivated a deep commitment to the field. Earning dual master's degrees, one in education with certification in special education, and the other in school counseling, I've dedicated my career in the Madison Metropolitan School District to empowering teachers in the realms of behavior and social-emotional learning. Currently, I hold a pivotal role in supporting educators across both special and regular education. My specific areas of emphasis include Tier 2 SEL Systems of Support and Tier 3 interventions, including student-specific problem-solving, ensuring a comprehensive approach to student development. Fueled by a passion for creating supportive learning environments for both students and staff, I remain steadfast in my commitment to ongoing collaboration and professional growth in the areas I support and beyond.

About Kelly:
My name is Kelly Nelson, and I proudly serve as the SEL Tier 2 Elementary Teacher Leader for the Madison Metropolitan School District. My passion for children is the driving force behind my dedication to providing equitable and quality learning experiences for all students. In my role, I collaboratively support staff, working towards the development of systemic SEL practices that positively impact the district's culture. With a love for adventure and a knack for thriving in the face of challenges, I value teamwork and creativity in the educational journey. As an educator with over 17 years of experience, I bring a wealth of knowledge to the table. Holding a master's degree in education, a National Board's Certification, and having co-founded a children's museum, I am deeply committed to fostering engaging and innovative learning environments. My journey in education is marked by a profound love for lifelong learning, driven by compassion and determination.

Bryan Slater is an experienced classroom teacher and has spent the last 15 years teaching high school Social Studies in Tacoma, WA, Lagos, Nigeria, and Sumner, WA. He currently teaches IB 20th Century Topics and Theory of Knowledge to 9-12th graders at Sumner High School.

We talk with Bryan about the paradigm shift that he has had surrounding the strategy of, “ It's Your Character Not Mine.” He shares how it can change the way that we see fault, take responsibility, and respond better in different situations as we go through the day.

For the past 12 years, Michael Adams has been passionately serving youth in the K-12 setting as a School Counselor. Growing up on the Hopi reservation in Northern Arizona, Michael is driven to support Native/Indigenous populations through educational experiences. His youthful energy has been invited to speak all across the southwest to share messages of inspiration. Michael’s book “A Warrior’s Mindset” helps kids retrain their personal attitude for personal/social success.

Esteban Gast is Colombian, grew up in Puerto Rico and Illinois, and currently lives in LA. He toured as a comedian at the age of 23, taught creativity and design thinking at the college level, co-authored a book on creativity, and was President of a sustainability-focused institute in Panama. He is co-founder of Scriptd, a script database and story platform that elevates underrepresented creators. Most recently, he was the star of the tv show Jungletown, airing on VICELAND. He’s been profiled in WBEZ, Huffington Post, Hollywood Reporter, Brooklyn Magazine and others. With his background in comedy and his years in the classroom, Esteban is a gifted communicator who loves breaking down complex issues. He has spoken at middle schools, high schools, colleges, corporations, and conferences all over the world about the power of kindness, the importance of storytelling, and how to create a more connected and empathetic world.

Dr. Smith is the Director of Research at CharacterStrong. He has extensive experience providing mental health services to children and youth and has worked in schools as a school counselor, school social worker, and substance abuse counselor. Since receiving his PhD from the University of Washington he has spent over a decade translating research into effective Social Emotional Learning programs. Brian is an expert on all aspects of SEL, including program development, implementation support, assessment, and evaluation. Brian has provided presentations, trainings and keynotes to educators, researchers, and corporate audiences, co-authored book chapters and articles for both scientists and teachers and is an expert on applying science to promote social and emotional competence.

Youth motivational speaker Scott Backovich has dedicated his life to doing one thing: inspiring teens through speaking at their level. He’s been a featured speaker at conferences and schools across North America, appeared regularly on both television and radio as a teen help advocate, and established himself as a worldwide youth speaker that students can trust. His stories connect. His lessons inspire. Best of all — Scott’s advice sticks.

We talk to Scott about Ask to Give, a practical tool that can change the way we think about the way in which students are being reached.

Tyler Bastian is an educator, filmmaker, father and the founder of Roots Charter High School. Tyler loves to teach and has a passion for discovering and developing potential in everything around him. For four years Tyler taught Character Education at a local High School and believes positive character is the greatest indicator of success. In 2012 Tyler began to develop the concepts that have become Roots Charter High School. Roots Charter High School is Utah’s first farm-based charter high school. Roots works with students that come from risky environments, helping them find and reach their potential. Learn more at www.rootshigh.org.

Brian Slater is an Assistant Principal at Fred Lynn Middle School. Brian believes in finding the good throughout the school! Finding the good, celebrating it, and sharing it with others sends a message of positivity and good vibes throughout the building and school community. He values each day, each moment and understands the importance of spreading love and kindness! School is and should be a place of fun and laughter, where we should never take ourselves too seriously. Enjoy the moments, do something nice for someone, and always bring the daily good vibes.

Today our guests are Amber Benson & Ruby Voss, better know as BensonVoss. We talk to BensonVoss about the role that Positive Relationships & Data-Based Decisions play in Student Growth. They share how they work to build positive relationships from day one of the school year, and the positive impact that this has in their classroom. BensonVoss also talk about how they have intentionally done more with less and how they work for total participation with their students.

BensonVoss “is” the 2022 Association for Middle Level Education, National “Educator” of the Year. Amber and Ruby are a team of innovative, collaborative co-teachers who believe in data-driven instruction and a focus on developing and nurturing positive relationships with students and parents. These relationships are the foundation for successful teaching, learning, and support. They believe in a free-range classroom environment (aka LOUD) where students are encouraged to learn comfortably and to become part of their BensonVoss family. Amber and Ruby also believe in using Data @ the Door and Total Participation Techniques as their backbone for practice and data collection. They are active members of the VDOE Excellence in Co-teaching Initiative, contributed to the development of the VDOE Just-in-Time Quick Checks for Math 8, and they provide professional development at the local, regional, state, and national levels.  

Amber earned her B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Mary Washington in 2011.  She has spent 11 years in the classroom teaching Math 6-8, Algebra I and Geometry. Ruby earned a B.B.A. in Accounting from Texas A&M University in 1990, completed an alternative certification program for Special Education in 1993 and earned her M.S. in Special Education in 2010.

Ruby spent 8 years as a stay-at-home mom, 4 years as an educational consultant, and 17 years as an educator teaching Math 8, Algebra I and Geometry.

Today our guest is Kiley Luckett the District Mental Health Coordinator with Lawrence Public Schools in Lawrence Kansas. We talk to Kiley about how they have planned, selected, and implemented the CharacterStrong curriculum over this last year. She shares about what they did as a district to make initial & ongoing implementation successful with both staff and students. Kiley also talks about the importance that clarity, competency, and consistency has been in helping the schools across the district collectively serve students better.

Learn More About CharacterStrong: 

• Visit the CharacterStrong Website
• Access Curriculum Samples
• Attend a live product preview

Kiley Luckett is a dedicated social worker and mental health advocate with a proven track record in supporting students' well-being. With more than 10 years experience as a elementary school counselor, Kiley has recently transitioned into the role of District Mental Health Coordinator with Lawrence Public Schools in Lawrence Kansas. Kiley spearheads comprehensive mental health initiatives, acts as a community liaison, and works to enhance Social and Emotional Leaning district wide . She has a passion for fostering positive, inclusive, and connected environments within educational settings. Kiley holds a bachelor's and master's degree of Social Work from The University of Kansas, where she is also an adjunct lecturer. Her collaborative approach, empathy, and strategic mindset make her a valued team member in promoting mental health awareness and resilience throughout the district.

Today our guest is Dan Wolfe an Assistant Principal at Sunray Elementary. We talk to Dan about the importance of purpose and how being connected to our purpose is so needed today. He shares how finding our purpose isn’t a destination, it’s a journey and gives ways that we can help others put a focus on purpose in their own lives.

Dan Wolfe has served as an educator in Pasco County, Florida for more than 20 years. During this time, he has held roles as a teacher, instructional/district coach and administrator. He is currently an Assistant Principal at Sunray Elementary. He was selected as Pasco County’s District Teacher of the Year in 2011-2012 school year. He is a part of the district’s Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Committee that recently established Pre-K through Grade 12 SEL standards. For the past two years Dan has written a blog and recorded a podcast called Becoming The Change (formerly Our Moral Compass) which focuses on a different quote each day and how we can best apply it towards becoming the change through our own moral compass and the five areas in SEL.

David is the Principal of the Bolivar HS Liberators a Nat'l Blue Ribbon School in Bolivar Missouri. He is a Nat'l Digital Principal of the Year, a Speaker and Author of #FutureDriven - Will your students thrive in an unpredictable world?

We talk with David about how character is more important than compliance. So many schools are so focused on compliance, we want students to learn to do the right things, for the right reasons, not just because someone else told them to.

Michele Borba, Ed.D. is an internationally-recognized educator who has spoken to over one million parents and educators. She is recognized for her solution-based strategies on raising resilient kids, and has appeared over 150 times on the TODAY show and featured in New York Times, Washington Post, Time, and Dateline. Her 24 books are translated in 20 languages and her latest (March 2021) is Thrivers: The Surprising Reasons Why Some Kids Struggle and Others Shine. Web: micheleborba.com. Twitter @micheleborba. Instagram @drmicheleborba.

We celebrate our 200th episode! John and Houston look back at some good things in the midst of the hard over last 12 months, they look forward to what is needed in 2021 & share some hope.

Today our guest is Sonjanita Moore, a Secondary Specialist here at CharacterStrong. We talk with Sonjanita about the need for including student voice and student choice in our classrooms. She also shares how community agreements are one way that we can include students, and gives examples of impact that came from creating space for students to share.

Today our guest is Christi Sturgeon a School Counselor at Broken Arrow High School and is Oklahoma School Counselor of the Year for 2021-22. We talk to Christi about how important it is to find our purpose and how we can stretch ourselves and model that for students. She shares 7 things that we can do to help students focus on looking forward, and some of the ways that this can have an impact.

Christi graduated from Oklahoma Baptist University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology followed by a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. She is currently both a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Certified School Counselor.  She started her career in community mental health working at the former Shadow Mountain Hospital as the Assistant Director of Therapeutic Foster Care Services, but quickly learned that the way to really impact children and families early on was by working in the school setting.  Christi is currently serving as a School Counselor in Broken Arrow Public Schools and is in her 25th year.  She was the Lead Elementary Counselor In Broken Arrow prior to moving to the high school and has been recognized by the Oklahoma School Counselor Association as the Emerging Leader Grant Winner (2018) and the Oklahoma School Counselor of the Year for 2021-22.  Christi is passionate about serving her students and helping them prepare for the next stage of life.  She is a strong advocate for school counseling best practice not only in her district but across the state as well through her service on the former Superintendent’s Counselor Advisory Council and now as Treasurer and President-Elect of the Oklahoma School Counselor Association.  When she isn’t busy with work, you can find her teaching Sunday School or attending band contests as a proud former Broken Arrow Pride Band Mom!

Katherine is the American School Counselor’s Association 2016 National School Counselor of the Year. Katherine began serving as the Flagstaff High School (FHS) Counseling Department Chair in the 2008 and Student Government Advisor in 2012. Through a data-driven, comprehensive school counseling program, Katherine and her team have received both state and national recognition. Katherine joined the American School Counselors Association (ASCA) board of directors in 2017 and is an adjunct faculty member at Northern Arizona University’s College of Education where she teaches the next generation of school counselors.

We talk with Katherine about the important role that school counselors have in our schools, and she shares some ways school counselors can be used more effectively.

Today our guest is Lisa Koenecke. We talk to Lisa about how safety includes both physical and psychological safe spaces. Lisa reminds us that we can each make a difference in the lives of students by being intentional and planning ahead. Lisa also shares how this doesn’t have to take a lot of time, and how sometimes all it takes is looking at education thru a new lens.

As an experienced and energetic Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) professional speaker and facilitator, Lisa specializes in counteracting unconscious bias and LGBTQ+ inclusion in business. Her impact is amplified through strengthening each person’s allyship. With a demonstrated history of working in secondary education and a passion toward community and social services, she is an expert in counseling, crisis intervention, educational leadership, and program development.

Dr. William Rhodes is the founding Principal of Robert & Felice Bryant Elementary School in the Katy Independent School District located outside of Houston, in Katy, Texas. Dr. Rhodes has served as a Principal in both a well-established school and a first-year school; both requiring the development and fostering of school culture. Dr. Rhodes has experience in various levels of public education ranging from Georgia to California to Texas as a Substitute, K-8 Teacher, Assistant Principal, District Human Resource Coordinator, and Principal. Through his experience working with educators he believes campus culture is a determining factor in teacher retention, parent engagement, and student success. Dr. Rhodes is a graduate of Berry College in Rome, GA with a B.S. in Middle Grades Education and the University of Houston- Clear Lake with an M.S. in Educational Management and Ed.D. in Educational Leadership.

Mrs. Penny Flores has worked in education for 15 years as an elementary teacher and school counselor. She is currently the school counselor at Bryant Elementary. She is a graduate of University of Houston-Victoria with a B.S. in Interdisciplinary studies as well as a M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction, Reading, and School Counseline. She is an Advanced Trauma-Informed Certified Counselor. She is currently pursuing her Ed. D. in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on the impact of SEL. She is happily married and the mother of three wonderful daughters at very different stages of life: a twenty-year old sophmore in college, a fifteen-year old learning to drive, and an eight-year old in second grade.

CharacterStrong Co-Founder John Norlin shares an experience from a past training, and talks about why we can't wait to infuse social & emotional learning and character development into the daily fabric of our schools.

We sit down with student leaders Jenna, Gibby, and Cheney, at the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals State Conference. They chat about student perspective on what should be focused on in education today, and also share what they are grateful for.

Today our guest is Robert Mueller, Middle School Assistant Principal at Platte County R3 Schools. Robert shares his unique approach to implementing CharacterStrong at his school by personally leading an advisory class as an administrator. He highlights how this hands-on strategy fostered meaningful connections with staff and students, setting the stage for a successful second year of implementation. Robert also discusses his commitment to supporting his team by co-teaching lessons every Tuesday, offering valuable insights into creating a culture of collaboration and growth.

Learn More About CharacterStrong: 

• Learn more about the NEW Tier 3 Solution
• Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples
• Attend our next live product preview
• Visit the CharacterStrong Website

Josh Godinez is a high school counselor at Centennial High School in Corona, California. He also serves as the Board Chair for the California Association of School Counselors (CASC) and was named the 2019 California School Counselor of the Year. Josh supported the development of a data informed program for a new high school in Fontana, California, where he served as head counselor prior to his current assignment. He also has served on the California Safe, Healthy, Responsive Schools Pilot & Network Design team member, the California State Superintendent of Public Instruction’s Data Transition Team, California Department of Education’s Mental Health Coalition Meeting, and the CASC Policy, Advocacy, and Legislation Committee. He is a champion of advocacy and the advancement of school counseling. Prior to school counseling, Josh was a high school social studies teacher for nine years, a Beginning Teacher Support mentor, and served as an adjunct professor in the Teacher Education Department at Claremont Graduate University.

We talk to Phil about what Adventure Education is and how it is both novel and can involve some risk. He describes the experiential learning cycle and talks about the power of having a shared experience. Phil also gives practical ways we can use experiential learning strategies in our classrooms that can amplify learning for students.

Phil Brown, originally from England, joined the High 5 team in May 2015 having previously worked in Adventure and Outdoor education for 7 years. Phil brings high energy and devotion to the Adventure field and has presented at many national and international conferences on the subject of Adventure learning. He is also one of the co-authors of the book “Tinker: Building Purposeful Experiences from Classic Adventure Activities” and the producer/host of “Vertical Playpen” – the podcast all about Adventure and Experiential Education.

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

Coach Don Bartel has been a teacher and coach in Washington state for 22 years. He has coached and/or taught at the middle school, high school, and collegiate level.  He has served as a head coach at three different high schools for a combined 15 years; and has been the head football coach, leadership teacher, ASB advisor, and activities coordinator at Eastlake High School in Sammamish, Washington for the past six years.

We talk with Coach Bartel about how their school branding campaign, “Wolf Strong, Pack Strong” has patiently come about and gives some practical tips on how they have kept the campaign fresh for the students and staff at Eastlake. 

Today our guest is Colton Moore an amazing intern on our Secondary team! We talk with Colton about the importance gratitude and well-being. Colton shares how CharacterStrong integrates gratitude into lessons and highlights the impact of being specific when expressing appreciation. He also discusses how embracing constraints can spark creativity. Together, Colton and Houston walk us through some engaging gratitude activities that can help us all explore thankfulness in fun, innovative ways.

Learn More About CharacterStrong: 

• Learn more about the NEW Tier 3 Solution
• Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples
• Attend our next live product preview
• Visit the CharacterStrong Website

Today our guest is Dr. Clay Cook, the Chief development Officer at CharacterStrong. We talk to Clay about the importance of connectedness when it comes to Chronic Absenteeism. He first asks the question “What happens when people don’t feel connected?” and shares about the SERVE model that helps educators intentionally connect at school. Dr. Cook also shares 3 ways that we can help students build value and purpose at school and ultimately be more connected: Promote positive educator-student relationships, Community-building relational activities, and School-wide opportunities that help students feel connected to school.

Click to download the Problem-Solving Blueprint for Chronic Absenteeism: characterstrong.com/chronicabsenteeism

Learn More About CharacterStrong: 

• Access FREE Curriculum Samples
• Attend our next live product preview
• Visit the CharacterStrong Website

Learn More About CharacterStrong: 

• Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples
• Attend our next live product preview
• Visit the CharacterStrong Website

Today our guest is Dr. John Salovardos. Dr. Salovardos is the Director of Pupil Services in the Athol-Royalston Regional School District, in Athol-Royalston, Massachusetts. He has been working in special education in public schools for the past 23 years. We talk with Dr. Salovardos about ways that we can help all students feel connected at school, and how we can help students to thrive in our communities after high school.

John Salovardos Ed.D. is a Director of Pupil Services who has been working in special education in public schools for the past 23 years to develop programs and services in collaboration with organizational stakeholders. Prior to going into public education he worked in clinical inpatient psychiatric units for nearly 15 years and strives to work regionally on increasing awareness of mental health needs in the communities where he lives and works. Dr. Salovardos has engaged in considerable work in improving inclusion and co-teaching models in schools, developed a stand-alone alternative high school, and has been engaged in leadership research and consultation for more than ten years. As part of his community outreach, he has developed a trauma-informed regional curriculum pilot project for adolescents,. His professional mission is to utilize intent-based leadership practices to work with staff in collaborative teams and to challenge students to excel academically and emotionally by making sure that all students get what they need to succeed and are ready to become active community members once they leave the public school setting.

Today our guest is Cory Notestine the Executive Director of Student Success and Wellness for Colorado Springs School District 11. We talk to Cory about a concept known as rapid innovation cycles, which contribute to educational progress while fighting a failure-to-launch mentality.

Cory Notestine serves as the Executive Director of Student Success and Wellness for Colorado Springs School District 11 (D11) an urban district of 25,000 students. In this role, Cory has implemented and developed a district-wide Comprehensive Student Support Model that integrates SEL practices, Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), Restorative Practice with a focus on Trauma Responsive classrooms. Additionally, he oversees the work of School Nurses, Discipline and Attendance, Homebound and Extended Learning, Homeless Youth, MTSS, Counseling Services, and the development of a Community Based Health Center. Currently, he is serving as D11’s COVID Incident Commander and supporting the district’s response and services provided across the school community during these challenging times.    

Before his role with CSSD11, Cory served 7 years as a school counselor in both urban and rural settings in North Carolina and Colorado.  Through collaborative efforts and cooperative leadership, he developed two Recognized American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Model Programs that have led to increased student outcomes.     

His work with students has been honored by the North Carolina School Counselor Association, and the Colorado School Counselor Association, as Secondary School Counselor of the Year's in 2011 and 2013. The American School Counselor Association along with the White House recognized him as the 2015 National School Counselor of the Year.     

Cory has provided instruction and supervision as an Adjunct Instructor in the Counseling and Human Services Department at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs and Counselor Education at Adams State University and has received degrees from the University of Kentucky in Psychology and from Gonzaga University where he completed his Masters in School Counseling. Cory is the Past President of the Colorado School Counselor Association and served as the Chair of the Governing Board of Directors for the American School Counselor Association. His passion for creating systemic change and counselor advocacy continues to drive his work in the profession of school counseling and educational leadership.

Today our guest is Dr. Chris Clayton the Director of Education Services for the Educator Pipeline and Profession for the Pennsylvania State Education Association.

We talk to Dr. Clayton about the importance of developing and supporting a robust educator pipeline. He highlights several of the opportunities available for building pipelines and shares insights on the initiatives already underway in Pennsylvania. Dr. Clayton also details the ways they offer year-round support to new and aspiring teachers—professionally, financially, and in the classroom.

Learn More About CharacterStrong: 

• Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples
• Attend our next live product preview
• Visit the CharacterStrong Website

In addition to his work with CharacterStrong as a Presenter and Consultant, Dr. Christopher M. Clayton serves as the Director of Education Services for the Educator Pipeline and Profession for the Pennsylvania State Education Association.  In this role with PSEA, he is responsible for providing support to over 178,000 educator members on issues involving teacher certification, student achievement, pedagogical best practices and research in teaching and learning and directs the Student PSEA Aspiring Educator Program, serves as the State Coordinator for the Pennsylvania Educators Rising (high school students) Program, and coordinates PSEA’s New & Early Career Educator Platform.

He earned a Ph.D. in Language and Literacy Education and an Ed. S. Degree in Education Leadership, Administration, & Policy at The University of Georgia along with a Master's Degree in Curriculum & Instruction from Regis University in Denver, CO.  He is a National Board-Certified Teacher (2008, renewed in 2018) who was named the Washington Puyallup Valley Teacher of the Year in 2011 prior to starting with PSEA where he served as a high school English and International Baccalaureate Theory of Knowledge teacher and coach for over ten years in Southern California and Washington state before becoming a district administrator and Director of Curriculum & Instruction in a large metro-Atlanta school district with 138 schools and over 100,000 students.  He moved to Hershey to begin his role with PSEA in 2014 and happily resides there with his wife, two daughters, son, and granddaughter.

Jeff Gerber is a Leadership teacher and Student Council Advisor at Waterloo-Oxford District Secondary School, 5 minutes from his home in New Hamburg, Ontario, Canada. At Waterloo-Oxford he leads one of the largest and most impactful student leadership programs in the province of Ontario. He is passionate about servant leadership and character development and travels across North America speaking about Leadership, Love and Belonging. He was recognized as Advisor of the Year for the province of Ontario in 2013 and as a National Leader of Distinction by the Canadian Student Leadership Association in 2017. You can check out his TEDx talk on Belonging on Youtube and connect with him on social media @jeffgpresents

Today our guest is Antonio McMath, the Founder, T4E: Trans4ormed Extreme Leadership. We talked to Antonio about the B.E.S.T. model that T4E has created to help build up young men in our communities. He explained that the B.E.S.T. model stands for Build, Empower, Strengthen, and Transform, and it is designed to help young men understand what it means to be the best version of themselves. Antonio emphasized that the model starts with empowering young men to take care of themselves first, which is fundamental to their growth and development. When they learn to practice self-care, they can then extend that knowledge to their friends, which can lead to a ripple effect of transformation in the community.

Antonio is a Certified Life Coach, Youth and Young Adult Motivational Speaker based out of Tennessee. Antonio has been married to Evelyn for 24 years with two amazing sons Andrew and Aaron. His holistic approach brings clarity, direction, and positive support to youth and young adults. Antonio helps young people live their best life, by filling the gap between where they are now, and where they want to be. By identifying where growth is desired, setting goals, and objectives, focused action, goal achievement, and holding accountability, youth and young adults will reach their highest goals and dreams. Are you going through a stage in your life where you feel lost, confused, or conflicted? Do you feel like you're disconnected from the people around you, friends, or even with yourself? Are you feeling a lack of motivation or a lack and understanding of your true purpose? Do you yearn for friendships and relationships? Or do you just want to upgrade your life to the next level? Antonio is trained in helping young people find themselves, find direction, and true happiness in all aspects of their lives. We all have a light within us. You are already born with the qualities you will need to get everything you have ever wanted! Antonio helps his youth and young adult reach each milestone, one at a time. With an ultimate end goal of satisfaction and success. You will discover answers, find solutions, and create possibilities to move forward in the area you want coaching. You are whole, complete, and resourceful, and he coaches you knowing that!

We talk to Dr. McMillan about the importance of staying student centered and how based on student voice, they have modified a period each day to create space for student choice. He shares about the impact that asking for input from students and staff can have on in building culture, and gives practical ways that they intentionally invest in staff culture at Chapman.

Growing up in a home with parents who were educators, Dr. Andrew McMillan knew education was in his blood. Identifying education as his career path in third grade, Dr. McMillan is now an accomplished educator with seventeen years of experience including ten years of administrative experience in grades K-12. Known as a well-respected and collaborative team member, Dr. McMillan has a reputation for promoting fairness, integrity, and honesty, while maintaining a strong work ethic to motivate faculty, staff, and students to achieve their maximum potential within an ever-changing education environment.

Dr. McMillan’s core values are simple: love kids, be professional, and lead a school the community is proud of. Within those core values, Dr. McMillan fosters an environment at Chapman High School that supports the Profile of the SC Graduate, preparing students for life after high school in what he calls the 4 E’s: serving their community as an Entrepreneur, Enrolled in a two or four year college or technical program, Enlisted in military service, or graduating as an Employable adult in a competitive, 21st century global economy. Named an Emerging Leader by the SCASCD, Dr. McMillan was also selected as the 2019 Outstanding Principal of the Year by the South Carolina Art Education Association. A firm believer in the importance of academics, arts, and athletics, Dr. McMillan currently serves as the South Carolina High School League Class AAA President. Additionally, under his leadership, Chapman High School was named a 2020 National Blue Ribbon School, recognized as an Exemplary High Performing School.

Dr. McMillan and his wife, Dr. Shelly McMillan, have one son, Ellis, who is 3.

Christine Mazzi is a 16 year old Ugandan-American living in the Bay Area. She is the CEO and founder of The Woman of Color Project (ProjectWOC), an instagram based community organization that strives to inspire and empower young women and girls of color. When she is not Leading Project: WOC she loves to read YA novels, have light-hearted debates, spend time with her family, and rewatch Friends (or any Jubilee youtube video under the sun). Christina was recently named the 2020 MLK Student Humanitarian of the Year in her County and a #icanhelp 2019 Digital For Good Award Recipient. You can find out more at: https://instagram.com/projectwoc

CharacterStrong Co-Founder John Norlin reminds us that sometimes when things get difficult the first thing we can forget is our purpose, he talks about the difference between happiness and purpose, and he shares about the 4 different levels of happiness.

Robert Hand teaches at Mount Vernon High School. His subjects are Family and Consumer Sciences and Leadership. He is currently teaching Careers in Education - Recruiting Washington Teachers, Leadership, Nutrition, and Life After High School. Robert is the 2019 Washington State Teacher of the Year.

We are joined by John Burnett who explains whole child advocacy and creative steps he has taken to support the whole child. He shares how he created a social media poll to gather data and how he used the data to create a school-wide mental health fair that involved teachers, families, and other community partners. He walks through the steps he took to put the fair together and encourages school counselors to find simple, creative solutions to support students as you continue to plant seeds that will make a lifelong impact. 

Learn More:

• Join us for a live preview of the new CharacterStrong Tier 3 Solution
• Get FREE School Counseling Week Resources
• Visit the CharacterStrong Website

Sandi Pinner is a wife, mother of 4 boys, Nani of 2 and has been married to her husband for the past 26 years. Sandi has been in education since 1999 and currently is the Pre-K-12th Grade School Counselor in Chireno ISD a small 1A district in deep East Texas.

Today our guest is Marianne Matt (Mott), School Counselor, at Capital High, in the Madison Metropolitan School District

We talk to Marianne about the importance of building students up and helping them to see the strengths in their personal experiences. She shares how in order to shift student mindsets we need to have staff members who believe in students and are committed to help them connect their strengths to school.

Marianne Matt is a high school counselor who works and resides in Madison, WI with her family. Marianne was named a finalist for National School Counselor of the Year 2022 by ASCA (American School Counselor Association). In her free time she enjoys gardening, camping, and generally getting outside and into nature.

Sarah Casper is a Consent Educator and the founder of Comprehensive Consent. Her mission is to help parents and teachers develop consent skills in their kids and teens in the present, so they’re prepared for their relationships in the future.With her background in psychology, mindfulness, and nine years of experience teaching social and coping skills to kids, Sarah pulls on evidence-based methods to teach kids, parents, and teachers the necessary skills for navigating body-boundaries and consent.

Rachael Kettner is a Nationally Board Certified Teacher and has been teaching middle school Science for the majority of her 19 years in public schools in Arizona, Idaho and Washington State. She currently teaches 7th and 8th grade Science at Selkirk Middle School just outside of Spokane, WA.

Dr. Shepard is the Superintendent of the Orting School District. She has been an educator for over 20 years. Dr. Shepard is also a recognized leader in education, presenting at national and state conferences, serving on state boards and committees, and teaching for the Educational Leadership program at Western Washington University.

We talk with Dr. Sheppard about the changes that they have made in her district to better align what they do with their overarching goal of preparing each student in the Orting School District for College, Careers, and Life.

Bryan Slater is an experienced classroom teacher and has spent the last 15 years teaching high school Social Studies in Tacoma, WA, Lagos, Nigeria, and Sumner, WA. He currently teaches IB 20th Century Topics and Theory of Knowledge to 9-12th graders at Sumner High School.

We talk with Bryan about how he uses a weekly temperature check to get a pulse on how his students are doing. Bryan shares how this low burden, high impact strategy has influenced his teaching practice and helped him connect relationally with his students while also infusing social emotional learning like empathy throughout his classes.

Today our guest is Ty Harris the Director of the Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Virginia Beach City Public Schools. We talk with Ty about the powerful ‘why’ behind his work and how his own high school experiences paved the way for what he does today. Ty shares insights on building a community of practice that fosters a genuine sense of belonging for students by amplifying their voices. He discusses how his team used survey data to identify student needs and, with intentionality, brought students into the conversation to create an environment where everyone feels they belong.

Learn More About CharacterStrong: 

• Learn more about the NEW Tier 3 Solution
• Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples
• Attend our next live product preview
• Visit the CharacterStrong Website

Ty Harris is the Director of the Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) for Virginia Beach City Public Schools. He leads the implementation of the school division’s educational equity plan, as well as efforts to increase cultural competencies for all stakeholders.

Harris has a passion for leveraging student voice and increasing awareness and understanding of neurodiversity. Harris started his education journey as a high school social studies teacher in Greenville County, South Carolina. He also taught in Fairfax County, Virginia, before taking a specialist position with the U.S. Department of Education (DoED). While with the DoED, Harris worked with magnet and charter schools, and helped implement the Promise Neighborhoods program under then President Barack Obama. This program is modeled after the Harlem Children’s Zone and seeks to end the cycle of poverty with schools as the focal point. After leaving the DoED, Harris moved into school administration where he spent five years as a middle school principal and two as a high school assistant principal.

Harris holds a bachelor’s degree from Clemson University, a master’s degree from George Mason University, an education specialist degree from Old Dominion University and an advanced certification for DEI from Cornell University.

As Co-Founder of Labhya Foundation, an India-based nonprofit, Richa's journey has revolved around the question, “What does it take to preserve empathy among children?” Richa has worked as an educator, volunteer, mentor & activist with children from at-risk, refugee & migrant communities across India. She has been a Teach For India fellow & a Teach For All Global Girls’ Education fellow. At 21 years old, Richa founded Labhya with a vision to enable all children to become conscious decision makers. Labhya Foundation enables children from low socio-economic backgrounds with Social & Emotional skills. Today, her program impacts over 2 million children and 110,000 teachers in about 21,000 government schools of India, on a daily basis. Recently, she represented India at the 2019 G(irls)20 Summit Japan, where she helped draft a communiqué to be deliberated on by G20 leaders this year.

Follow Richa's work on Twitter: @HappinessDelhi @SEL4India

Article - https://www.thehindu.com/society/this-delhi-based-23-year-old-represented-india-at-girls20-japan/article28434791.ece

Daphne uses books as though they are EpiPens and every student who walks into her room has a mouth full of shrimp. The more books she can get inside of a student the more apt they are to fight the apathetic trap that snares so many of their peers. Daphne  spent seventeen years teaching with class sets of Hatchet and Esperanza Rising until 2007 when a friend told her to read The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. 584 pages later she began teaching as though books save lives and has never wavered from her mission.

Today our guest is Dr. Julie Hartline, Associate Director of Professional Learning for Hatching Results and 2009 ASCA School Counselor of the Year.

We talk to Dr. Hartline about the impact that school counselors can have and the need for admin and staff to understand how school counselors can support staff and students. She also shares resources that can help bring more awareness and education when it comes to the important role that school counselors have in our schools.

Dr. Hartline became a teacher and then school counselor after discovering as a parole officer that over 85% of her caseload had not completed high school. Julie served as the Campbell High School counseling department chair for 14 years where her department became the first high school in Georgia to be designated as a Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) for having a comprehensive, data-driven school counseling program by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) in 2008. She served as the Cobb School Counselor Association President in 2009-2010 and was named the 2009 ASCA School Counselor of the Year. She earned her doctorate in Professional Counseling and Supervision in 2011.

In 2012, Julie transitioned to the Cobb County School District where she helped supervise K-12 school counselors for five years, serving as the 2014-2015 Georgia School Counselor Association President during that time. She became a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of North Florida in 2017 before joining Hatching Results in a more dedicated role as the Associate Director of Professional Learning. She is the co-author of The Use of Data in School Counseling, second edition.

CharacterStrong Co-Founders John Norlin and Houston Kraft kick of season 5 talking about systems that we can put in place this year that will help us drive forward the impactful work of education. They talk about 3 goals: purpose for learning, engagement, & relationships, and give practical ways we can build systems that will help these goals come to life in our classrooms.

Today our guest is Rachelle Finck a Director of School Support at CharacterStrong. We talk to Rachelle about the powerful connection between proactive school safety and a positive school culture, emphasizing how these two must work hand in hand. She highlights the critical role teachers play in fostering connection and belonging for every student, which not only enhances school safety but also boosts academic outcomes. Rachelle also share practical, actionable ways to equip educators to create meaningful connections in the classroom and nurture a safe, supportive environment for all.

Learn More About CharacterStrong: 

• Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples
• Attend our next live product preview
• Visit the CharacterStrong Website

Rick Hess is a resident scholar and the director of education policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, where he works on K–12 and higher education issues. He is the author of Education Week’s blog “Rick Hess Straight Up” and is a regular contributor to Forbes and The Hill. Since 2001, he has also served as an executive editor of Education Next. His books include Letters to a Young Education Reformer, Bush-Obama School Reform: Lessons Learned, and Cage-Busting Leadership. Rick has been published in scholarly outlets such as American Politics Quarterly and Social Science Quarterly, as well as popular outlets including National Affairs, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. He teaches or has taught at the University of Virginia, the University of Pennsylvania, Georgetown, Rice, Johns Hopkins, and Harvard University. Rick began his career as a high school social studies teacher. He holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in Government, as well as an Ed.M. in Teaching and Curriculum, from Harvard University.

In today's episode, CharacterStrong Co-Founder John Norlin discusses the 'Law of the Lid,' reminding us that we are all leaders with more influence than we often realize. He also offers three powerful insights for educators, providing practical reminders that can inspire and elevate our leadership in and out of the classroom.

Learn More About CharacterStrong: 

• Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples
• Learn more about the NEW Tier 3 Solution
• Attend our next live product preview
• Visit the CharacterStrong Website

David is the Principal of the Bolivar HS Liberators a Nat'l Blue Ribbon School in Bolivar Missouri. He is a Nat'l Digital Principal of the Year, a Speaker and Author of #FutureDriven - Will your students thrive in an unpredictable world?

We talk with David about the roles that non-academic factors play in the future success of students. Change is happening so fast in today’s world and it’s important to help students to be able to develop “human only factors”.

Antonio McLemore is a highly accomplished MBA graduate in Executive Leadership, who drives growth-oriented, Tacoma-based programs initiatives with a focus on community engagement, sustainable strategies, team building, and local/regional network development. 

He's a hands-on self-starter who exhibits personal, professional, and academic experience as a dedicated trailblazer, public speaker, and dedicated advocate toward creating positive change in the community. Antonio McLemore is the Male Involvement Program Manager, and he believes mentorship is the vehicle we use to introduce young men to an idea that’s greater than their realities or circumstances. Mentorship is also a vehicle MIP uses to prepare young Kings for the world in front of them. Antonio leads a team of four mentors that serve over a 100 students  weekly, throughout four campuses, and using outcome driven curriculum to empower, equip, and encourage young men to be agents of change in their homes, communities, and campuses. 

He served as an Youth Executive Director at a local non-profit for the six years before returning to complete his Master’s in Business Leadership. He serves as a sought-after motivational speaker, as well as an influential keynote speaker for character development, social and emotional learning, and professional development. His service in character development has allowed him to travel the world, places such as New York City, NY, Kolkata, India, and Los Angeles, CA to inspire youth people to discover their inner Greatness. He believes every person has a Genius, and this is why Antonio believes the student to Teacher/Mentor relationship serves a consequential role in cultivating the character that will sustain every student's Genius. Antonio is married to his beautiful wife, Katie, and Antonio has two sons, Israel and Legacy. 

Clementine Chamberlain is a graduate from Carmel High School in Carmel, CA and in her first year of college. She is a past president of Carmel High School’s This Club Saves Lives and the creator of Tampon Tuesday. Clementine was a 2019 #ICANHELP Digital4Good award winner for her creation of Tampon Tuesday // While Tampon Tuesday collected thousands of menstrual products for people in need, it brought education and awareness of Period Poverty to Carmel High School while normalize talking about periods.

Leigh Cambra is a teacher at Carmel High School in Carmel, CA. She has been an Activities Director, ASB advisor, Home Economics teacher, and now a Health teacher. With her students she created a service club, This Club Saves Lives, and grew it into a non-profit. The club acts on the passions of the students in the club while working closely with WE Schools and Thirst Project. Among other things, the club has collected toiletries, tampons, makes Valentines for the entire school, and spent 8 months raising money and hiking in supplies to families stranded when a bridge collapsed in Big Sur.

More information is available at www.thisclubsaveslives.org, www.tampontuesday.org, on Instagram @thisclubsaveslives, and on Twitter @thisclubsaves

In this episode, CharacterStrong Co-Founder John Norlin shares 3 powerful stories from the work. Through these stories he reminds us of the importance of understanding the Law of the Lid, that there is always a reason for every behavior, and that even though this work is hard it is worth it. 

Each day this week we are counting down the Top 5 episodes of 2020! 

#5: Season 2 Ep. 108 - We talk with Maddie Bogart about virtual student engagement, how she used one of her weekly meetings to focus on relationships, and she shares some of the creative ideas that she did with students.

Today our guest is Patrice Davis. We talk to Patrice about the ASCA National Model and how school counselors are implementing it impact the students and families in our communities. She shares how the ASCA model helps give school counselors a framework to set up their programs and make sure that they are data driven. Patrice also talks about when the model is implemented well it’s not about just showing what has been done, but the data helps show the difference that has been made in the lives of students.

Patrice Davis is a native Mobilian, and she is a 1989 honors graduate of Baker High School. She attended the University of South Alabama, where she graduated in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education with a concentration in Language Arts. She furthered her studies at the University of South Alabama where she graduated in 1995 with a Master of Education degree in Secondary Education with a concentration in Language Arts. In 1996, she received certification in school counseling from the University of South Alabama; and in 1999, she received certification in administration/supervision from Alabama State University. In 1998, she graduated from the University of South Alabama with her Educational Specialist degree as an Instructional Specialist in Secondary Language Arts.

In addition to these educational achievements, Patrice is a 2005 graduate of the Principals’ Academy, and she is also a 2007 graduate of the University of Alabama Superintendents’ Academy. During her thirty-year career in the Baldwin County Public School System, Patrice has served as an English teacher at Fairhope High School; a counselor at Bay Minette Middle School; an assistant principal and principal at Bay Minette Middle School; and as the Intervention Supervisor in Central Office. She currently serves as the Prevention and Support Services Coordinator, whereby she supervises the school counselors, school social workers, the transition liaison coach, the general education homebound teachers, the Section 504 Resource Counselor, and the on campus suspension aides. In addition, she serves as the Section 504 Compliance Coordinator and the Homebound Services Coordinator for the district, as well as the administrator for the At-Risk Budget.

Patrice lends her time to several civic and community organizations in Baldwin County. She is a member of the Board of Directors for Baldwin County’s Child Advocacy Center, and she is a member of the Baldwin County Underage Drinking Task Force. She also serves on the Baldwin County Community Alliance, of which she is one of the charter members. She is a former Chairman of the Board of Directors for the United Way of Baldwin County, and she is also a past President for the Board of Directors for the Snook Youth Club of Foley. Patrice is currently the President-Elect for the Alabama School Counselor Association. In previous years, she has also served as the Counselor Supervisor Vice President for the Alabama School Counselor Association.

James Woods has his masters in counseling, and is a registered yoga teacher. As president of FEEL FREE 2 FEEL FREE a health and wellness organization that provides programs and services for youth and adults who serve them, he, trains and holds workshops on self care, yoga, meditation, and mindfulness. Timmy Tut is the first book from James that fulfills his passion of sharing wellness tools through a literary experience to better serve the youth. James is also the founder of Million Man Meditation a wellness resource event featuring all Black men. Website: https://www.datyogadude.com

Today our guest is Brandon Bakke - Director of Secondary Education at CharacterStrong.

We talk to Brandon about ways that we can work to support principals not only during National Principal's Month but also throughout the year. Brandon emphasizes the impact of simple acts of gratitude, such as sending a quick note, compliment, or video. He also shares a really creative idea to help principals build relationships in a way that they might not normally have the opportunity to do. In addition, Brandon emphasizes the importance of simplicity and specificity in expressing gratitude towards others.

Learn More: 

• Visit the CharacterStrong Website

Today our guest is Alexis Goddard, School Counselor at Centennial High School in Corona, CA and the 2024 California School Counselor of the Year. We talk to Alexis about the importance of creating support for others everyday, both with students and staff. She talks about how impactful it is to check in with others and shares some systems that she has created to help do this. Alexis shares some of the ways that she helps students to handle stress, and also gives examples of how she intentionally works to build relationships with other staff members in her building.

Learn More About CharacterStrong: 

• Access FREE Curriculum Samples
• Attend our next live product preview
• Visit the CharacterStrong Website

Alexis Goddard, the 2024 California School Counselor of the Year, is recognized for her commitment to students and contributions to school counseling. She is a first-generation college graduate with an undergraduate degree from CSUF and a graduate degree from the University of La Verne. Alexis is a school counselor at Centennial High School in Corona, CA. She led the department in aligning with the ASCA National Model, resulting in the counseling program receiving Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) recognition, the second RAMP recognition she has contributed to in her career. Alexis's expertise extends across K-12 levels, with experience as an elementary, middle, and high school counselor. Alexis is passionate about supporting others both as a part-time Hatching Result professional learning specialist and as an intern site supervisor for nine years. Alexis helped shape school counseling policies in California as a Board Director for the California Association of School Counseling.

Tracy Kelly has ten years teaching Special Education in California. He has taught all grades K-12, as well as being a Lecturer, both Adjunct and Full Time, at University level. He taught those that were inspired to be General Education and Special Education Teachers. He earned an BA in Economics, MA in Special Education, and his Ed.D. in candidacy status in Educational Leadership. He has edited six books as he continues to write his dissertation on the self-efficacy of Special Education teachers. You can interact with Tracy on Twitter @tracyscottkelly.

Maren Kelly has been teaching Special Education for 14 years, 13 years in a moderate to severe environment from pre - k to 6th grade and 1 year as an RSP 8th grade teacher. She taught two years in a preschool Autism program then one Year in an Autism Specific class with k-5th grade. Maren had the pleasure of working with Dr. Ron Leaf who is the Director of Autism Partnership. She has earned a BA in Political Science/Pre-Law, and is finishing her Master’s with Arizona State University in Curriculum and Instruction emphasizing in Autism Spectrum Disorder. You can connect with Maren on Twitter @k_curiousg22m

Today, our guest is Morgan Larche, the Director of Unified Schools at Special Olympics Washington. We talk to Morgan about Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools and the incredible work that these schools do by focusing on three connected components: Unified sports, whole school engagement, and inclusive youth leadership. Morgan explains how these strategies are more of a mindset than a program, and how they bring together students with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities to help them see each other as equals, friends, and teammates. She also shares how students and schools can get involved with Special Olympics in their state, school, and community right now.

Morgan Larche graduated from Eastern Washington University with a BA in Therapeutic Recreation. She has worked in a variety of Parks and Recreation programs that provided inclusive and Special Olympics programs to people with intellectual and physical disabilities. In 2013 she was hired by Special Olympics Washington and currently serves as the Director of Unified Schools, where she supports and builds inclusive school communities through clubs, leadership, and sports.

We talk to Dr. Cook about ways that the pandemic has impacted students and how we can leverage the science around human behavior to help promote student success. He outlines effective methods of behavior change, and gives practical, low burden, high impact strategies that we can use right now as we serve students.

Tessa Mcilraith is the District Nurse for Burlington-Edison school district. She has been a nurse for 12 years, is going into her 6th year as a school nurse. Tessa serves as the Legislative Chair for the School Nurse Organization of Washington working on legislative advocacy, and is on the board for NW career and technical academy's nursing assistant program supporting the instructor. She also serves on the Burlington Healthy Community Coalition and Sedro-woolley R.I.S.E supporting healthy communities for youth. In edition Tessa has served in youth ministry for 11 years.

We are celebrating National School Counseling Week! We talk with Roberto about ways that he builds great relationships at Milwaukie HS, and the role that authenticity plays in those relationships. He also shares about the impact that student affinity groups have had and how they started them.

Roberto Aguilar is a proud, native eastern Oregonian, Latinx/Chicano, "Spanglish" bilingual, first-generation college graduate, and a school counselor for the past 20 years at Milwaukie HS located in southeast Portland, Oregon. Roberto has been recognized as the 2017 Oregon School Counselor Association school counselor of the year and was a national finalist for the 2019 American School Counselor Association school counselor of the year award. Roberto also serves as the current Oregon School Counselor Association President for the 2021-22 school year.