• The Better Leaders Better Schools Podcast with Daniel Bauer

  • By: Daniel Bauer
  • Podcast

The Better Leaders Better Schools Podcast with Daniel Bauer

By: Daniel Bauer
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  • Summary

  • The BETTER LEADERS BETTER SCHOOLS podcast is in the TOP 0.5% most downloaded shows of over 2 million podcasts across the world. The BLBS show was created for RUCKUS MAKERS in education -- those out-of-the-box school leaders making change happen. Launched in 2015, this category-defining podcast in educational leadership has helped over 1 MILLION leaders LEVEL UP. Each week host DANIEL BAUER has a conversation with a leadership expert and invites you to listen in. Turn your commute, chores, or workout into professional development and then GO MAKE A RUCKUS! BLBS is the #1 downloaded podcast for school leaders.
    © 2015 Better Leaders Better Schools
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Episodes
  • Dr. Derek Mitchell on Transforming Schools Through Authentic Connection and Community

    Dr. Derek Mitchell on Transforming Schools Through Authentic Connection and Community
    May 7 2025
    The Ruckus Report Quick take: When traditional approaches to school improvement aren't working, the answer may not be more control - but rather more connection. Dr. Mitchell reveals how transformative leadership starts with listening and building authentic relationships. Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Dr. Derek Mitchell serves as the CEO of Partners in School Innovation, working with schools that face long histories of chronic underperformance and serve predominantly high-poverty communities. His organization partners with schools to create lasting, meaningful change through innovative leadership approaches. Breaking Down the Old Rules 🔨 In this episode, Dr. Mitchell challenges traditional education paradigms: Key Insight #1 ● What's broken: The assumption that out-of-control schools need stricter discipline and tighter control ● The shift: Building authentic connections with students by listening and understanding their perspectives ● Impact: One principal transformed his challenging middle school by first meeting with 30 struggling students to truly hear their needs, leading to innovative solutions like stealth support systems for students in distress Key Insight #2 ● What's broken: Traditional professional development that's neither professional nor developmental ● The shift: Creating authentic learning communities that build relationships while focusing on growth ● Impact: Moving PLC meetings off-campus and sharing meals together led to vastly improved outcomes and stronger teacher collaboration Key Insight #3 ● What's broken: The "skill solution" approach to addressing performance issues ● The shift: Using the skill-will-way matrix to properly diagnose and address teacher performance challenges ● Impact: More effective interventions by matching solutions to the real root cause - whether it's skill, will, or way Quotable Ruckus "Working within the lines will only produce what's been produced in the past. If we're really talking about excellence for each and every child, mean every young person reaching their potential, we got to get beyond the lines." - Dr. Derek Mitchell Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: 1. Tomorrow: Color-code your calendar based on your top 3-4 strategic priorities to see how you're really spending your time 2. This Month: Move one regular meeting off-campus to build stronger relationships and more authentic dialogue 3. This Semester: Create a system to proactively schedule regular check-ins with your supervisor where you set the agenda and priorities Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript: here 🔗 Follow Dr Derek Mitchell: Linkedin, 💪 Join the Ruckus Maker Movement: Link Do you Subscribe to the Ruckus Maker Newsletter? Do School Different 3x a Week. Join for FREE here. Today's RUCKUScast in Partnership with: IXL: Meet your students where they are and take them where they need to go. Join over 1 million teachers who trust IXL to drive data-informed excellence in their classrooms. 🔍 Learn more here Expressability K12: Your inbox isn't a task manager. Your mind isn't for storing mundane processes. It's time to break free. With Expressability K12 Ruckus Makers can prioritize student success by offloading time sucking tasks. Visit Expressability K12 to learn how here ODP Business Solutions: STEAM programs failing before they start? Most schools botch STEAM implementation because they're missing 3 critical elements. Here's the wild part: it's not about fancy tech or massive budgets. ODP Business Solutions® has researched many successful programs to identify what actually works (and what's just burning cash).Learn the blueprint: here Twelve Practices LLC © 2025 | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?
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    48 mins
  • Mitch Weathers on Educational Trends and the Future of Teaching

    Mitch Weathers on Educational Trends and the Future of Teaching
    Apr 30 2025
    The Ruckus Report Quick take: This experimental episode explores emerging educational trends with Mitch Weathers, diving into AI's impact on teaching, the evolution of education's purpose, and whether teaching remains a recommendable profession. Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Mitch became a gifted teacher because he was a mediocre student. Despite taking seven years to graduate college, he navigated the classroom with discomfort. This unique perspective fueled Mitch's teaching approach. Recognizing the importance of laying a foundation for learning, he created Organized Binder. This research-backed strategy empowers teachers to impart executive functioning skills efficiently, preserving valuable instructional time. By establishing a predictable routine, Organized Binder fosters safer learning spaces, shaping Mitch's journey from a struggling student to an innovative educator. Breaking Down the Old Rules 🔨 In this episode, Mitch Weathers challenges traditional education paradigms: Key Insight #1: AI's Impact on Education What's broken: The notion that AI will completely replace teachers within the next decade The shift: Reimagining education as developing transferable competencies rather than just delivering content Impact: Creating learning environments where teachers serve as guides and mentors while AI supports content delivery and practice Key Insight #2: Redefining Education's Purpose What's broken: Education systems focused primarily on knowledge transfer without clear career pathways The shift: Focusing on developing student agency and capacity for learning in new environments Impact: Preparing students for future careers that don't even exist yet through transferable skills Key Insight #3: The Teaching Profession's Future What's broken: The perception of teaching as financially unrewarding and morale-killing The shift: Recognizing teaching as a meaningful profession with immediate visible impact Impact: Creating school cultures where educators feel fulfilled beyond financial compensation Quotable Ruckus "When you boil down education to its raw elements, it's a messy human-to-human endeavor, which means relationships matter." – Mitch Weathers Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Ask yourself: "What are we teaching and why?" in light of AI advancements This Month: Identify transferable competencies your students need beyond content knowledge This Semester: Create a plan to balance technological integration while preserving meaningful human relationships Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript: [Link] 🔗 Follow Mitch Weathers:Twitter, Linkedin,Facebook &Organized Binder 💪 Join the Ruckus Maker Movement: The Ruckus Maker Club.club/join 📚 Read Mitch's Book: Executive Functions for Every Classroom Do you Subscribe to the Ruckus Maker Newsletter? Do School Different 3x a Week. Join for FREE here. Today's RUCKUScast in Partnership with: IXL: Meet your students where they are and take them where they need to go. Join over 1 million teachers who trust IXL to drive data-informed excellence in their classrooms. 🔍 Learn more here Expressability K12: Your inbox isn't a task manager. Your mind isn't for storing mundane processes. It's time to break free. With Expressability K12 Ruckus Makers can prioritize student success by offloading time sucking tasks. Visit Expressability K12 to learn how here ODP Business Solutions: Want to know why 67% of STEAM programs fail? Hint: It's not the budget. After researching many schools, ODP Business Solutions® uncovered three make-or-break factors that determine STEAM success. The best part? You probably already have what you need. See the research:here Twelve Practices LLC © 2025 | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?
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    53 mins
  • Reimagining School with WIN Time: Stephanie McConnell on Transforming Student Success

    Reimagining School with WIN Time: Stephanie McConnell on Transforming Student Success
    Apr 23 2025

    The Ruckus Report

    Quick take: The factory model of education is dead. This school leader transformed a failing campus into a Blue Ribbon award winner by reimagining intervention through WIN Time - and now she's showing thousands of leaders worldwide how to do the same.

    Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker

    Stephanie is a veteran school leader, author, and owner of Principal Principles. With 18 years as a principal and now serving as an assistant superintendent of schools she's passionate about leadership, student success, and innovative school solutions. She's also the creator of WIN Time, helping schools implement data-driven interventions. Connect with her at PrincipalPrinciples.net!

    Breaking Down the Old Rules 🔨

    In this episode, Stephanie McConnell challenges traditional education paradigms:

    Key Insight #1: Intervention Without Interruption

    • What's broken: The old pull-out model where students leave class for intervention and miss core instruction

    • The shift: WIN Time - built into the master schedule where every student gets intervention AND enrichment without missing anything

    • Impact: Transformed McConnell's school from an F-rated campus to a National Blue Ribbon Award winner in just two years

    Key Insight #2: Flexible Grouping Based on Real-Time Data

    • What's broken: Static intervention groups that trap students in remediation all year

    • The shift: Data-driven regrouping every 2-4 weeks based on student progress

    • Impact: Students can receive double-blocked reading intervention AND math enrichment based on individual needs

    Key Insight #3: Culture of Ownership > Compliance

    • What's broken: Teachers following prescribed programs without investment in outcomes

    • The shift: Challenging the "why" behind every practice and building true teacher ownership

    • Impact: Teachers shift from "I taught it" to "students learned it" mindset, driving real results

    Quotable Ruckus

    "Since the things that matter the most should never be at the mercy of the things that matter the least." – Stephanie McConnell

    Your Do School Different Challenge

    Ready to implement these ideas? Start here:

    1. Tomorrow: Ask yourself "why" about one existing intervention practice in your school

    2. This Month: Audit your master schedule to find where WIN Time could fit

    3. This Semester: Visit a school using WIN Time or bring Stephanie's framework to your team

    Connect & Continue

    • 🎯 Get the full episode transcript: [Link]

    • 🔗 Follow Stephanie McConnell: Instagram, Facebook

    • 💪 Join the Ruckus Maker Movement: Link

    • 📚 Join Stephanie's Leadership Group: Link

    Do you Subscribe to the Ruckus Maker Newsletter?

    Do School Different 3x a Week. Join for FREE here.

    Today's RUCKUScast in Partnership with:

    IXL: Meet your students where they are and take them where they need to go. Join over 1 million teachers who trust IXL to drive data-informed excellence in their classrooms. 🔍 Learn more here

    Expressability K12: Your inbox isn't a task manager. Your mind isn't for storing mundane processes. It's time to break free. With Expressability K12 Ruckus Makers can prioritize student success by offloading time sucking tasks. Visit Expressability K12 to learn how here

    ODP Business Solutions: "Our STEAM program is too complicated" = Code for "We're doing it wrong." Stop letting fear kill innovation. While some schools struggle with integrating STEAM, other leaders are using a 3-part framework to transform their programs. The secret? It's not what you think. Get the playbook here

    Twelve Practices LLC © 2025 | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?
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    31 mins

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