Schurtz and Ties: A podcast about education and culture

In Episode 142, Kasey and Brian sit down with Mr. Rupp, a high school English teacher and creator known for his sharp, funny, and thoughtful videos about rhetoric, fallacies, and how we think.The conversation moves from logical fallacies to grading, leadership, parent communication, and the complicated realities of teaching. Mr. Rupp breaks down ideas like the bike shed effect, the Nirvana fallacy, and hostile attribution bias, while pushing educators to think more clearly about the systems, assumptions, and reactions that shape our schools.This episode is funny, challenging, and deeply practical. It is a reminder that education does not need to be perfect to be good, but it does require us to keep thinking. Follow Mr. Rupp:YouTube — MR RUPP™️ TikTok — @hashtagjruppInstagram — @hashtagjrupp Find Schurtz & Ties:Schurtz & Ties Website Podcast Episodes Apple Podcasts Teach Better Podcast Network #SchurtzAndTies#EducationPodcast#TeacherLife#CriticalThinking#EducationLeadership

In Episode 141, Kasey and Brian sit down with John Dini, author of Hunting in a Farmer’s World, for a conversation about entrepreneurs, systems, leadership, education, and the students who do not always fit neatly into the routines of school.Together, they explore the difference between “hunters” and “farmers,” what happens when visionary people are placed inside highly managed systems, and how this applies to business owners, school leaders, teachers, and students. The conversation moves from entrepreneurship and exit planning to classroom routines, student autonomy, leadership vision, and the challenge of handing something you care deeply about over to someone else.This episode is about seeing people more clearly, leading with vision, and making space for the students and adults who may not be broken, but may simply be wired to hunt in a farmer’s world. Listen and learn more at http://www.schurtzandties.comHashtags:#SchurtzAndTies#EducationLeadership#StudentEngagement#LeadershipDevelopment

Why do smart leaders make things more complicated than they need to be?In Episode 140, Kasey and Brian sit down with Casey Watts, author of The Craft of Clarity, for a conversation about leadership, initiative fatigue, and the kind of clarity that goes beyond simply communicating more.Casey reminds us that hard work cannot overcome a lack of clarity. Sometimes the work that creates the most clarity is slower, more reflective, and more uncomfortable than simply adding another program, person, meeting, or initiative.The conversation explores why leaders often solve the wrong problem, why “simple” does not mean “easy,” and why action is sometimes what helps us gain the clarity we keep waiting for.A few big ideas from the episode:✅ We often complicate problems because we are replicating systems we grew up in.✅ Hard work matters, but it cannot replace clarity.✅ Leaders sometimes “idolize clarity” and wait too long to act.✅ Simple solutions often require deeper thinking, not less thinking.✅ Staff ownership begins by asking better questions and listening without defending.✅ Before launching the next thing, leaders should ask: Do we have to?And yes, there were technical difficulties. A frozen screen. A disappearing guest. Possibly a blown transformer. Maybe someone owes someone coffee. But somehow, the chaos made the clarity even better.This one is for teachers, leaders, instructional coaches, and anyone trying to make meaningful work feel less like “one more thing” and more like the right next thing.#SchurtzAndTies #Episode140 #CaseyWatts #TheCraftOfClarity #EducationalLeadership #InstructionalLeadership #SchoolLeadership #TeacherLeadership #ClarityInEducation #PLC #InstructionalCoaching #LeadershipDevelopment #SchoolImprovement #TeacherClarity #EducationPodcast #EduPodcast #LeadWithClarity #LessButBetter #NotMoreWorkMoreIntentionalWork

What happens when educational leadership starts looking more like social media performance than authentic service?In this episode of the Schurtz & Ties podcast, Kasey Schurtz and Brian T. Miller are joined once again by educator and consultant Jed Hafer for a candid, funny, and deeply honest conversation about the rise of the “celebrity principal.” Together, they wrestle with an important question:When does sharing great school leadership become more about the leader than the students?The conversation dives into:Greeting students at the doorFilming school interactions for social mediaRemoving students from classroomsDelayed Learning Opportunities (DLOs)Instructional leadership vs. performative leadershipWhy behavior should be taught like academicsThe danger of “easy answers” in school disciplineAuthenticity, vulnerability, and ego in leadershipWhy professional development still mattersThis episode is equal parts reflective, practical, and entertaining, with plenty of moments that educators will immediately recognize from their own schools.Whether you are a principal, teacher, instructional coach, or simply passionate about education, this conversation challenges us to think carefully about what truly helps students and staff grow.🎙️ Schurtz & Ties Podcastwww.schurtzandties.com📚 Learn more about behavior and instructional systems athttps://www.behavioralleadership.com/#education #schoolleadership #principal #teachers #behavior #classroommanagement #instructionalleadership #educationpodcast #edchat #teacherlife #schoolculture #leadership #DLO #studentbehavior #professionaldevelopment #SchurtzAndTies #ErvinEducation

Psychologist, researcher, and author known for her work on gender, social norms, and the myths that shape how we understand boys, girls, men, and women. In this conversation, Cordelia Fine joins Schurtz & Ties for a careful discussion about gender in schools, the assumptions educators make about boys and girls, and why treating students as individuals matters more than leaning on stereotypes. The conversation moves through classroom expectations, masculinity, boys and purpose, gender roles, economic shifts, and the tension between equality, identity, and opportunity. Rather than offering simple answers, this episode explores why some of education’s hardest questions often live in the gray. 🎙 Schurtz & Ties PodcastFollow the show for more conversations about education, culture, and learning.#SchurtzAndTies #EducationPodcast #CordeliaFine #SchoolCulture #TeachingAndLearning #EducationConversationWebsite: http://www.schurtzandties.com

Show NotesEducator, author, and speaker known for challenging traditional thinking about motivation, rewards, punishment, homework, grading, and the role of power in schools. In this conversation, Alfie Kohn pushes on some of education’s most familiar assumptions: why control often replaces trust, how compliance can diminish curiosity, why democratic classrooms matter, and what it means for educators to serve as a buffer between students and harmful systems. The discussion moves through parenting, classroom decision-making, school leadership, and the tension between doing what is expected and doing what is right for kids.Website:Alfie Kohnhttps://www.alfiekohn.orgListen to More Episodes🎙 Schurtz & Ties PodcastConnect With UsFollow the show for more conversations about education, culture, and learning.#SchurtzAndTies #EducationPodcast #AlfieKohn #Motivation #ClassroomCulture #SchoolLeadership #Curiosity #TeachingAndLearning

In this episode, we sit down with psychologist and writer Adam Mastroianni to explore why so much of what feels obviously true about people often turns out to be wrong.We talk about why people across generations believe society is in moral decline, even when evidence suggests otherwise, why schools often rely on interventions that sound right but fail in practice, and how human beings are wired to notice the negative more than the good.Adam shares why psychology still behaves more like an adolescent science than a settled one, why many educational instincts deserve more skepticism, and why students may be learning far more from what adults quietly model than from what adults intentionally teach.The conversation moves from awkward social experiments to school culture, from vandalized bathrooms to the scientific method, and eventually to a bigger question: why did it take humans so long to discover so many things we now cannot imagine living without?This is a conversation about human behavior, uncertainty, education, and the danger of mistaking confidence for understanding.Adam MastroianniPsychologist, writer, and researcher exploring how humans think, why we misread the world around us, and how many of our strongest intuitions fail when tested.Website:https://www.experimental-history.com/Listen to More Episodes🎙 Schurtz & Ties Podcasthttps://www.schurtzandties.comConnect With UsFollow the show for more conversations about education, culture, psychology, and learning.#SchurtzAndTies #EducationPodcast #Psychology #HumanBehavior #ExperimentalHistory #SchoolCulture #TeachingAndLearning #EducationalLeadership

What happens when behavioral leadership is not treated as a program, but as part of a school’s culture?In this special Schurtz & Ties Presents conversation, Kasey Schurtz joins Tony DeRose on Collab Lab Live for a deep discussion about what behavioral leadership looks like inside a junior high school, why secondary educators sometimes hesitate to embrace it, and why simple practices like noticing often do the heaviest instructional lifting.Built around ideas from Ervin Educational Consulting, this conversation also points listeners toward the broader work behind Behavioral Leadership.https://www.behavioralleadership.com/ Kasey shares his journey from teaching in Ohio, serving in a bilingual school in Chile, working in an alternative school in Wyoming, and now leading instructional work in a junior high where teachers are turning behavioral leadership into shared staff practice.The conversation explores how noticing creates clarity, how clear expectations protect relationships, and why the best classrooms often look like students taking ownership while teachers are free to teach.Also in this episode:Why substitute teachers need behavioral leadership language tooHow schools can build culture through simple shared practicesWhy secondary teachers often resist behavior systems and why they may already need exactly this workHow clarity and relationship-building happen through noticingWhy teaching behavior protects teachers from becoming therapists, enforcers, and constant correctorsHow strong classroom culture gives students ownership of space, routines, and expectationsA strong discussion for anyone thinking about behavior, instruction, culture, and what it means to let teachers teach.🎧 Schurtz & TiesEducation. Culture. Thoughtful conversations that stay with you.🌐 schurtzandties.com

In Episode 140 of Schurtz & Ties, we welcome back literacy expert Mary Jo Fresch to talk about what teachers really need to understand about reading, vocabulary, and language.Mary Jo has spent decades helping educators make sense of the English language and build the background knowledge needed to confidently teach literacy. In this conversation, we explore the realities of the Science of Reading, the role of phonics across all subjects, and how teachers in any content area can support students as readers and writers.We also dive into how vocabulary, word origins, and language structures help students move from simply memorizing information to actually building memories and understanding that last.Along the way we talk about:• Why every teacher is a teacher of reading• How understanding word structure and etymology strengthens vocabulary instruction• The difference between memorizing words and building memories with language• Why nonfiction text structure matters for student comprehension• How administrators can better support literacy instruction in their schools• Whether texting, emojis, and digital communication are changing how students read and writeMary Jo also shares practical strategies teachers can use immediately to help students break down complex words, understand content-area vocabulary, and become more confident readers.This episode is packed with insights for teachers, school leaders, and anyone interested in how students learn to read, write, and understand language.GuestMary Jo FreschLiteracy educator, author, and speaker focused on helping teachers build deep knowledge of the English language and effective literacy instruction.Website:https://maryjofresch.comListen to More Episodes🎙 Schurtz & Ties Podcasthttps://www.schurtzandties.comConnect With UsFollow the show for more conversations about education, culture, and learning.#SchurtzAndTies #EducationPodcast #Literacy #ScienceOfReading #TeacherLearning #ReadingInstruction #TeacherDevelopment #PodcastForTeachers

What if uncertainty isn’t weakness—but the doorway to deeper thinking?In this episode of Schurtz & Ties, we sit down with journalist and author Maggie Jackson, whose books Uncertain: The Wisdom and Wonder of Being Unsure and Distracted: Reclaiming Our Focus in a World of Lost Attention challenge some of our deepest assumptions about attention, expertise, and learning.Schools often reward speed, correctness, and certainty. But Maggie argues that the ability to pause, question, and remain open may be the very thing that allows us to think clearly, connect with others, and grow.We explore why focus is not simply the elimination of distraction, but the gateway to thinking. Maggie explains how attention works—not as a fixed trait, but as a skill that can be strengthened through practice. We also examine how uncertainty, when used intentionally, becomes a powerful tool for perspective-taking, empathy, and adaptive expertise.This conversation challenges the instinct to label students as motivated or unmotivated, capable or incapable. Instead, it invites us to stay open long enough to understand what’s really happening when students lose access to thinking—and what educators can do to restore it.As Maggie explains, uncertainty creates space. And in that space, new thinking becomes possible.Uncertainty isn’t the absence of knowledge. It’s the beginning of wisdom in motion.Uncertain: The Wisdom and Wonder of Being UnsureDistracted: Reclaiming Our Focus in a World of Lost AttentionWhy focus is a skill that can be strengthenedHow uncertainty improves thinking and decision-makingThe difference between routine expertise and adaptive expertiseWhy labeling students creates false certaintyHow uncertainty promotes empathy and perspective-takingHow educators can protect students’ access to thinkingWebsite: https://www.maggie-jackson.comBooks available wherever books are soldBooks by Maggie JacksonIn This Episode, We DiscussLearn Morehttp://www.schurtzandties.com

Teachers carry more than lesson plans.They carry the knowledge that one moment—one decision, one sentence, one misunderstood action—can change everything.They carry the quiet awareness that the work they love can also make them vulnerable.In Part 2 of this special two-episode series on the unseen burdens teachers carry, we speak with educator and former principal Toby Price, whose career was abruptly ended after reading a children’s book to students.No parents complained.No students were harmed.But within hours, he was suspended. Days later, he was terminated.Toby’s story is not just about a book.It is about fear.Fear of making a mistake.Fear of being misunderstood.Fear that the trust once placed in educators is no longer guaranteed.As Toby explains, this fear doesn’t just affect one teacher. It shapes the decisions educators make every day—what they say, what they teach, and how willing they are to take the risks necessary to truly reach students. And yet, even after losing his position, Toby remains clear about one thing:If given the chance again, he would still choose to do what he believed was right for students.Because teaching has never been about safety.It has always been about courage.This conversation explores the emotional and professional reality of what it means to teach in a time when educators must navigate not only the needs of students—but the fear of consequences beyond their control.This is Part 2 of a special two-episode release exploring the burdens teachers carry that the world rarely sees.Listen now:👉 https://www.schurtzandties.com#teachers #education #teacherlife #educators #teachertruth #classroomreality #educationpodcast #teacherburnout #schurtzandties

Teachers carry more than lesson plans.They carry fear that isn’t theirs.They carry responsibility no one trained them for.They carry the weight of holding stability when everything else feels uncertain.In this first episode of a two-part series on the unseen burdens teachers carry, we speak with Minnesota educator and Teacher of the Year finalist Sean Padden about what happens when national politics enters school hallways.Sean describes a reality many Americans never see:Students afraid to come to school.Attendance dropping dramatically.Teachers delivering food and printed lessons to homes.And classrooms becoming the place where students process fear, trauma, and uncertainty.As Sean explains, when fear enters a community, it doesn’t stay outside. It enters the classroom, and educators are left to help students carry it while still trying to teach reading, writing, and arithmetic.This conversation is not about politics.It is about responsibility.It is about what happens when teachers are asked, once again, to hold together the lives of students in circumstances far beyond instruction.And it is about a truth every educator understands:We cannot surrender the classroom.This is Part 1 of a special two-episode release exploring the burdens teachers carry that the world rarely sees.Listen now:👉 https://www.schurtzandties.com#teachers #education #teacherlife #educators #schoolculture #teachertruth #classroomreality #educationpodcast #teacherburnout #schurtzandties

In Episode 132, we are joined by Tracey Tokuhama-Espinosa, an internationally recognized researcher and author whose work sits at the intersection of mind, brain, and education science.This conversation explores what neuroscience actually tells us about learning — and just as importantly, what it doesn’t. We dig into how research is often misapplied in classrooms, how teacher actions shape learning environments in ways we don’t always see, and what it means to design instruction that honors both science and humanity.Rather than quick fixes or “brain-based” shortcuts, Tracey challenges educators to think more carefully about evidence, complexity, and the ethical responsibility of teaching.What mind, brain, and education science really is — and common misconceptionsHow teacher behaviors and classroom conditions influence learning at a neurological and human levelWhy oversimplifying neuroscience can actually harm instructionWhat K–12 educators can learn from research without losing professional judgmentHow clarity, culture, and cognition are inseparable in meaningful learningThis is a conversation for educators, leaders, and parents who want better questions, not buzzwords.Questions Kids Ask About Their BrainsCrossing Mind, Brain, and Education BoundariesFive Pillars of the Mind: Redesigning Education to Suit the Brain(Each offers a research-grounded, educator-respecting approach to applying science without reducing teaching to technique.)🎧 Schurtz & Ties Podcast: https://schurtzandties.com🎙️ Explore more episodes on education, culture, and learning.

A true barstool conversation with brewer Jeremiah JohnsonIn this episode, Kasey Schurtz and Brian T. Miller step outside the education silo and sit down with Jeremiah Johnson, founder and owner of Jeremiah Johnson Brewing Company. What starts as a light “barstool episode” quickly turns into a deeply relevant conversation about leadership, clarity, iteration, trust, and what it actually takes to build something that lasts.Jeremiah shares the story of rebranding an existing brewery under his own name, the risks that came with it, and the relentless attention to detail required to survive as a small, independent business. Along the way, the conversation draws powerful parallels to education—especially around innovation, curriculum decisions, collaboration, and knowing when to hold the line versus when to experiment.This episode isn’t about beer.It’s about craft, identity, and belief.In brewing, a single small mistake can ruin an entire batch. Jeremiah explains why quality demands precision—and why sometimes the hardest (but right) decision is to pour a batch out rather than let it damage trust.Teachers and leaders often hang onto “pet lessons” or practices because they love them, even when they aren’t serving students well. Quality requires the courage to let go.Jeremiah describes brewing 19 different versions of a hazy IPA before settling on the final recipe. The belief in the idea never wavered—but the process required constant adjustment.Trying something new doesn’t mean it works the first time. Belief plus iteration beats rigid loyalty to a first draft.When economic pressure hit the brewing industry, Jeremiah chose not to chase trends. Instead, he doubled down on what defined the brand: no-nonsense Montana beer.When scores dip or demographics shift, schools often search for the next new program. This episode challenges leaders to ask:What are we already good at—and how do we do that better?Jeremiah emphasizes that successful collaboration isn’t about buzzwords—it’s about real human connection, listening, and shared belief.Without trust, collaboration collapses into compliance.Jeremiah and the hosts discuss three qualities educators should nurture in students:Unwavering belief in eventual successClarity of directionRelentless work ethicTalent alone isn’t enough. Confidence and effort compound over time.This episode reframes encouragement. Pumping kids up isn’t false praise—it’s truthful belief, honest feedback, and meaningful connection.“I looked at your test scores. You’re too smart not to do better.”Those words changed Jeremiah’s trajectory—and they highlight the lasting power educators hold.Educators feeling pressure to “innovate” without losing their identitySchool leaders navigating tough decisionsTeachers wrestling with clarity vs creativityAnyone interested in entrepreneurship, craft, or human developmentThis episode is a reminder that good work—whether in classrooms or breweries—requires clarity, patience, belief, and connection.Sometimes the most meaningful insights come from outside your field.#schurtzandties #dogreatthings #keepknocking#educationpodcast #educationleadership#teachersofinstagram #schoolleadership#culturematters #leadershipmatters#entrepreneurship #craftandculture

🎙️ Episode 130: Barry SchwartzChoice, Structure, and the Cost of Getting Education WrongIn Episode 130 of Schurtz & Ties, we are joined by Barry Schwartz, renowned psychologist and author whose work has shaped how we think about motivation, choice, and meaning for decades.This conversation moves well beyond soundbites. We dig into why incentives often undermine learning, how too much choice fuels anxiety rather than freedom, and why structure is not the enemy of autonomy but its prerequisite. Barry challenges the assumption that motivation comes from rewards, arguing instead that learning must carry its own meaning if it’s going to last.Together, we explore:Why incentives in schools often function as band-aids rather than solutionsHow excessive choice erodes engagement and increases anxietyThe danger of mistaking “intrinsic motivation” for entertainmentWhy sustained attention is a muscle that must be built, not bypassedHow freedom without structure leads to intellectual anarchyWhy education is always values-driven, whether we admit it or notWhat happens when schools prioritize credentials over understandingWhy knowing the student matters more than perfect systemsBarry also reflects on parenting, higher education, burnout, privatization, and the growing suspicion embedded in modern institutions. The throughline is clear: education is about building people, not managing systems.This episode is for educators, parents, leaders, and anyone wrestling with the tension between structure and autonomy in a world that wants simple answers to complex problems.Listen now and join the conversation: https://www.schurtzandties.com#SchurtzAndTies #DoGreatThings #KeepKnocking #Education #Motivation #Engagement #Leadership #Learning #BarrySchwartz

Schurtz Short: What’s Our Guiding Light?In this Schurtz Short, Kasey Schurtz and Brian T. Miller wrestle with a deceptively simple question schools often rush past:What is our guiding light when we make decisions?As schools begin planning for the next year—staffing, policies, handbooks—this short conversation pushes beyond slogans and into something more concrete. If intellectual engagement is the non-negotiable task of schooling, what does that actually mean in practice? How do we avoid abstract vision statements that sound good but don’t guide real decisions?This episode explores:Why intellectual engagement isn’t optional—and isn’t the same as test scoresHow vague values create confusion instead of clarityThe difference between identifying who we are and jumping too quickly to systems and processesA powerful reflective question for staff: Based on what we see every day, what do we actually value?Short, honest, and grounded in real leadership tension, this Schurtz Short is for principals, instructional leaders, and teachers who want their decisions to be anchored in something real—not just well-intended language.Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast. And clarity keeps people in the thinking.www.schurtzhistory.com#dogreatthings #keepknocking

🎙️ Schurtz & Ties Dr. Douglas Fuchs on Inclusion, IDEA, and the Limits of the General ClassroomIn this episode of Schurtz & Ties, Kasey Schurtz sits down with Dr. Douglas Fuchs, one of the most influential scholars in special education, to explore one of the most pressing and emotionally charged questions in schools today:When is inclusion truly least restrictive—and when does it stop being instructionally responsible?Drawing on decades of research, classroom experience, and policy work, Dr. Fuchs helps unpack how good intentions around inclusion can drift into oversimplification, and why the IDEA framework was never designed to mean “general education at all costs.”This is a conversation about instructional limits, professional honesty, and what students with disabilities actually need to learn—not just belong.Inclusion as a moral imperative vs. an instructional decisionWhy Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) is often misunderstoodThe difference between abolitionist and conservationist views of special educationWhat IDEA actually says about placement and accommodationWhy co-teaching often fails students with serious learning difficultiesThe limits of general education classrooms—even with strong teachersRTI / MTSS as an attempt to rethink general education structureWhat intensive, individualized instruction really requiresWhy expertise—not titles—matters most in special educationThe difference between enabling a disability and building independenceWhat schools feel like when they get this rightMuch of the episode centers on the reality that learning problems are instructional problems, and that students with significant needs require teachers who can adapt instruction through data, not just provide accommodations .Dr. Douglas Fuchs is a Professor Emeritus of Special Education at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College, where he has spent decades shaping the national conversation around learning disabilities, inclusion, and instructional design.His work has been foundational in areas including:Learning Disabilities researchData-Based Individualization (DBI)Instructional decision-makingRTI / MTSS frameworksSpecial education policy interpretationDr. Fuchs is known for bridging research, classroom reality, and federal law, often challenging schools to confront uncomfortable truths about capacity, expertise, and limits.Vanderbilt Peabody Faculty Biohttps://peabody.vanderbilt.edu/bio/douglas-fuchs/Vanderbilt IRIS Center (Instructional Research & Practice)https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/Research on Data-Based Individualization (DBI)https://intensiveintervention.org/Publications and Research Profilehttps://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Douglas+Fuchs+special+educationThis episode is not about being “for” or “against” inclusion.It’s about being honest.Honest about what classrooms can sustain.Honest about what students need to learn.Honest about the difference between placement and instruction.As Dr. Fuchs reminds us, belonging without learning is not equity, and inclusion that ignores instructional reality ultimately fails the very students it aims to protect.🎙️ Schurtz & TiesThoughtful conversations at the intersection of teaching, learning, and leadership.🌐 https://www.schurtzandties.com

What if the key to better classrooms isn’t more compliance—but more fire?In this episode of Schurtz & Ties, Kasey Schurtz and Brian T. Miller sit down with Coach Tony Holler—creator of the Feed the Cats philosophy, longtime chemistry teacher, and nationally recognized coach—to explore what schools can learn from athletics, competition, and joy.Tony brings decades of experience from both the classroom and the track to challenge some of education’s most common assumptions: bell-to-bell instruction, endurance over intensity, and the idea that struggle means failure. Instead, he makes a compelling case that learning, like speed, grows slowly, and that classrooms should be places where students (and teachers) want to show up.This conversation ranges from feral cats and redwood trees to standardized testing, teacher burnout, and why “happy teachers—not perfect teachers—change lives.” Along the way, Tony shares practical, unapologetic ideas for building culture, feeding curiosity, and making learning the best part of a student’s day 🐱 Feed the Cats: Why competitive, fast-twitch learners need a different approach—and how schools often miss them🌲 “Speed grows like trees”: Why real growth is slow, incremental, and worth measuring🎯 Record, Rank, Publish: What classrooms can learn from performance-based coaching🧑‍🏫 Never bell-to-bell: Purposeful teaching vs. robotic instruction❤️ Front-loading empathy and building classrooms that are safe for risk🔥 Lighting a fire instead of “filling a pail”😌 Why teacher joy, efficiency, and boundaries matter more than martyrdom🌱 Culture as something that must be taught, not assumedTony Holler is a retired chemistry teacher, veteran track coach, and the creator of the Feed the Cats training philosophy—a speed-first, motivation-driven approach now used by coaches and educators across the country. He has spoken in over 30 states and internationally, coaching coaches while continuing to advocate for joyful, human-centered teaching.Tony is passionate about helping educators:Build culture intentionallyGamify improvement without shameReach students who don’t fit the traditional “good student” moldRediscover why teaching can (and should) be funInstagram / Facebook / YouTube: Coach Tony HollerTwitter (X): @PNTrackFeed the Cats philosophy: Search Feed the CatsVisit schurtzandties.com for:🎧 Full episodes and show notes✍️ Essays, resources, and reflections on engagement and leadership📚 Tools for teachers, coaches, and administrators🎙️ Information on past and upcoming guests🧠 Key Topics & Takeaways👤 About Our Guest: Tony Holler🔗 Connect with Tony Holler🌐 More from Schurtz & Ties

In this episode of Schurtz & Ties, Kasey Schurtz and Brian Miller welcome back therapist, former educator, and author Charle Peck, LCSW, M.Ed. for a candid conversation about student anxiety, adult stress, and the communication breakdowns happening in schools right now.Together, they unpack why anxiety is genuinely increasing—not just being labeled more often—how social media, rapid societal change, and outdated systems are colliding in classrooms, and why many conflicts stem from students and adults speaking different emotional languages. Charle challenges common narratives around “coddling,” reframes ego and accountability, and offers practical, non-hokey strategies educators can use immediately to regulate classrooms without sacrificing expectations.This episode is honest, grounded, and hopeful—focused on helping adults lead with clarity, compassion, and courage in a complex moment for education.👉 Learn more about Charle’s work at https://www.thrivingeducator.org/📘 Explore her book on behavior, communication, and emotional regulation (linked below).Guest:Charle Peck, LCSW, M.Ed.Therapist, former teacher, consultant, and authorWebsite: https://www.thrivingeducator.org/Charle Peck returns to Schurtz & Ties for a wide-ranging conversation on anxiety, behavior, and communication in today’s schools. Drawing on her experience working with both students and adults, Charle helps educators rethink what’s really happening beneath challenging behavior—and why many well-intended efforts around SEL have left teachers feeling unsupported and frustrated.Rather than offering buzzwords or quick fixes, Charle focuses on nervous systems, communication mismatches, and the adult work required to lead effectively in classrooms and schools today.Are kids really more anxious—or are we just talking about it more?Charle explains why the rise in anxiety is real, pointing to smartphones, COVID, social media, and generational disconnection.Students have the language—but not always the skillsKids may be able to name feelings, but often haven’t been taught how to communicate those feelings in ways adults can hear and respond to productively.Why “coddling” is the wrong conversationThe problem isn’t empathy—it’s skipping discomfort, risk-taking, and skill-building while leaving adults unprepared to coach students through hard moments.The adult gap in SELSchools taught social-emotional skills to students without teaching them to the adults expected to model, respond, and regulate in real time.Ego, fear, and parent conflictMany tense parent conversations are rooted in fear—not defiance. Leaders can’t fix ego, but they can lower the temperature and keep the focus on the child.Empathy and accountabilityCompassion doesn’t mean lowered expectations. Clear boundaries, calm repetition, and simple language matter more than perfect phrasing.Practical classroom strategies that don’t feel “hokey”Charle shares simple, playful movement strategies and “rapid resets” that help regulate energy without singling out students or disrupting instruction.Behavior is communicationKids aren’t trying to “get at” adults—they’re signaling unmet needs, skill gaps, or dysregulated nervous systems.Anxiety grows when systems don’t adapt as fast as society doesAdults often feel threatened when students gain emotional language they themselves were never taughtYou can’t change someone else’s ego—but you can lead calmly around itPlayfulness and movement are underused tools in behavior supportTeaching is serious work—but it doesn’t have to feel heavy all the time📘 Charle Peck’s Book(Charle’s book on behavior, communication, and emotional regulation—referenced throughout the episode—is available via her website.)🔗 https://www.thrivingeducator.org/

In this conversation, Kasey and Brian sit down with Dr. Katie Lohmiller and Halley Gruber, co-founders of the Educational Access Group, to explore what it really means to build trauma-responsive, brain-based schools. They unpack how stress and adversity shape student behavior, why many traditional discipline systems miss the mark. Grounded in the work of Dr. Bruce D. Perry, the discussion highlights practical ways educators can support regulation, safety, and learning while creating sustainable systems that don’t burn out the adults doing the work. Takeaways-Regulation and felt safety are prerequisites for learning.-Brain state matters. Students can’t access higher-level thinking when they’re dysregulated.Trauma-responsive work must be systems-based, not a list of strategies or a compliance checklist.Adults need support too. Sustainable change protects educator capacity.Small, consistent shifts in environment, routines, and relationships can create big results.Effective school culture aligns brain science, behavior expectations, and instructional clarity.Keywordstrauma-informed education, brain-based learning, school behavior, Educational Access Group, neurosequential model in education, Bruce Perry, What Happened to You, student regulation, educator burnout, school leadership, classroom culture, discipline#schurtzandties #dogreatthings #keepknocking #DrKatieLohmiller #HalleyGruber #DrBrucePerry #BrucePerry @educational_access_group @brduncperhttps://educationalaccessgroup.org/

SummaryIn this conversation, Pete Hall discusses the importance of leadership in education, emphasizing the need for courage to both lead and be led. He shares insights on engaging with resistant individuals, the significance of reflective questioning, and the challenges of addressing behavioral issues in schools. The discussion also touches on the balance between systems and people, drawing parallels with successful sports franchises like Duke basketball. Hall advocates for a focus on raising good humans and the necessity of integrating social emotional learning into education. He highlights the importance of clear communication and decision-making processes in fostering a positive educational environment.TakeawaysLeadership is about people, not metrics.Courage is needed to both lead and be led.Engaging resistant individuals requires understanding their mindset.Reflective questions can drive growth and improvement.Addressing behavioral challenges requires clear expectations.Systems in education should support human development.Lessons from successful sports franchises can inform educational practices.Balancing systems and people is crucial for success.The purpose of education is to raise good humans.Clear communication is essential for effective leadership.Keywordseducation, leadership, instructional coaching, social emotional learning, teacher engagement, reflective questions, systems thinking, growth mindset, Duke basketball, courage#schurtz&ties #dogreatthings #keep knockinghttps://educationhall.com/

n this Christmas Special episode of Schurtz and Ties, hosts Kasey Schurtz and Brian T. Miller engage in a lively discussion with their friends and fellow educators, Matt and Eric. They reflect on their shared experiences in education, the importance of community, and the impact of having supportive colleagues. The conversation touches on the challenges and joys of teaching, the significance of maintaining a sense of humor, and the value of creating a positive school culture. The episode is filled with anecdotes, laughter, and insights into the world of education.Community is vital in education.Supportive colleagues make a difference.Humor enhances the teaching experience.Positive school culture is crucial.Shared experiences strengthen bonds.Education is both challenging and rewarding.Maintaining a sense of humor is important.Creating a supportive environment benefits everyone.Reflecting on past experiences offers valuable insights.Building relationships is key to success.#schurtz&ties #dogreatthings #keepknocking

American educators are in urgent need of meaningful behavioral support. Too often, punishment and consequences are conflated, while accountability gets lost in the noise. In this episode, Brian and Kasey unpack what accountability really means: doing what is reasonably expected and ensuring behaviors and expectations are met. They explore how true accountability places responsibility on both students and adults—requiring teachers to clearly teach, reteach, and support expectations. Grounded in grace, accountability neither ignores behavior nor excuses it, but recognizes our shared humanity and insists on growth, change, and support along the way.Visit our website at schurtzandties.comSocial Media:Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@SchurtzTies⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SchurtzTies⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Show Sponsors:Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TeachBetter.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠:“The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom.”We’d love to hear your thoughts or ideas for future episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#DoGreatThings | #KeepKnocking

In this Schurtz Short, Kasey Schurtz and Brian T. Miller unpack the difference between accountability, punishment, and consequences, and why conflating them creates confusion for both students and staff. They explore how clarity, consistency, and patience build a culture where accountability supports learning instead of shutting it down. The conversation highlights the importance of modeling expectations, partnering with families, and closing the loop so accountability leads to growth—not resentment.Social Media:Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠@SchurtzTies⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠SchurtzTies⁠⁠⁠Show Sponsors:Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TeachBetter.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠:“The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom.”We’d love to hear your thoughts or ideas for future episodes:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#DoGreatThings | #KeepKnocking

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. John Almarode, an internationally recognized expert in student engagement, visible learning, and the science of how the brain learns best. With years of research, countless publications, and extensive work alongside districts across the globe, John brings a grounded, evidence-based perspective to the challenges schools are facing today. Few people are more qualified—or more courageous—when it comes to asking the hard questions about teaching, learning, and what actually works.Together, we explore some pressing questions sitting at the center of today’s educational landscape:Are students truly further behind than ever before—or are we simply measuring the wrong things?How can educators provide students access to grade-level learning while simultaneously filling in the gaps that widened over the past several years?What does real scaffolding look like—not as hand-holding, but as intentional, temporary supports designed to help students reach higher levels of learning?John helps us cut through the noise with science, clarity, and a refreshing level of honesty.This episode challenges long-held assumptions, reframes the conversation around student ability, and calls for a more accurate, forward-thinking understanding of what it means to learn—and thrive—in today’s world.And how we can help them get there. Dr. John Almarode brings a rare combination of research expertise and real-world classroom experience. As a professor at James Madison University and the Sarah Miller Luck Endowed Professor of Education, he has spent his career studying how the brain learns, what truly drives student engagement, and how to translate the science of learning into practices that work for every student. Before entering higher education, John taught in public schools — grounding his research in the day-to-day realities teachers face.He is a bestselling author with Corwin, contributing to more than two dozen books on visible learning, assessment, clarity, and instructional design. His work with John Hattie, Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey, and others has positioned him as one of the leading voices on evidence-based teaching and the question every school is wrestling with: What actually works for learners today?John’s insights, publications, and ongoing work can be found at johnalmarode.com and through his extensive collection of books at Corwin Press.Social Media:Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@SchurtzTies⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠SchurtzTies⁠⁠⁠⁠Show Sponsors:Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TeachBetter.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠:“The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom.”We’d love to hear your thoughts or ideas for future episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#DoGreatThings | #KeepKnocking

Emotions are complex. For leaders, they’re even more so.Left unfiltered, they can become dangerous—for both the leader and the people they lead.Over-filtered, they create distance—leaders risk becoming hollow, disconnected versions of themselves.In this episode, with the wisdom and clarity of Jennifer Abrams, we explore a framework that helps leaders navigate that tension with intention. Together, we examine what it looks like to show up emotionally in ways that are authentic and responsible—ways that strengthen trust instead of eroding it, and offer humanity without causing harm.We wrestle with essential questions every leader must consider:Is the emotion I’m expressing professionally sound?Does it offer helpful context or does it risk becoming emotionally polluting?Is this emotion clarifying, grounding, or inadvertently damaging?This episode invites leaders to step into the complicated middle space—where emotion isn’t avoided or unleashed, but stewarded. Where humanity and leadership can coexist.Social Media:Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@SchurtzTies⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠SchurtzTies⁠⁠⁠⁠Show Sponsors:Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TeachBetter.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠:“The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom.”We’d love to hear your thoughts or ideas for future episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#DoGreatThings | #KeepKnocking

Public education is living in a strange moment. Polls show trust and confidence in our K–12 system at an all-time low — a record 26% of Americans believe schools are headed in the right direction. And yet every day, inside classrooms across the country, teachers are pouring themselves into kids with everything they’ve got. In this episode, we sit inside that tension: why the public perception has dipped so sharply, what stories are being told about schools, and what realities are actually unfolding inside them.We also explore the deep and often unspoken ocean between people and curriculum. On one shore sits content: standards, pacing guides, expectations, academic rigor. On the other shore stand the humans: students carrying invisible weight, teachers navigating burnout, leaders trying to steer ships in choppy waters. Joined by Dr. Polikoff, a professor at the University of Southern California whose expertise includes K-12 education policy, curriculum, standards, accountability and survey research methods, we wrestle with the why behind the public’s dissatisfaction and, more importantly, what can be done. We discuss what schools can control, what they should rethink, and how leaders might rebuild trust through clarity, connection, and communication. If you’ve ever felt caught in the riptide between doing what the curriculum demands and what a student needs in that moment, or if you’ve wondered how we restore faith in public education, this conversation aims to offer both candor and hope.Social Media:Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠@SchurtzTies⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠SchurtzTies⁠⁠⁠Show Sponsors:Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TeachBetter.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠:“The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom.”We’d love to hear your thoughts or ideas for future episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#DoGreatThings | #KeepKnocking

Most of our go-to strategies work because—well—they work for most kids. But every educator knows the moment when a trusted approach suddenly falls flat. So what do we do when the strategy that helps 90% of students leaves the other 10% untouched?In this Schurtz Short, Brian and Kasey dive into that exact dilemma. In just twenty minutes, they unpack why even our most proven practices don’t work for everyone, explore how to rethink and modify support, and offer real, practical ways to reach the students who need us most.A quick hit. A big question. Tangible solutions. Just the way we like it.Social Media:Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠@SchurtzTies⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠SchurtzTies⁠⁠⁠Show Sponsors:Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TeachBetter.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠:“The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom.”We’d love to hear your thoughts or ideas for future episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#DoGreatThings | #KeepKnocking

In this follow-up conversation with international consultant and author Jennifer Abrams, we go deeper than strategies and surface-level “tips” for conflict resolution. This episode is about the inner work—the courage, humility, and self-awareness required to engage in the hard conversations we’d often rather avoid.Building on our earlier episode (Ep. 102, “Successfully Navigating Hard Conversations”), Jennifer pushes us to look inward before we look outward. Together, we explore:The role of identity—how culture, race, gender, and lived experience shape the way conflict shows upHonoring what’s in the room—the emotions, histories, and immediate needs we often rush pastDeveloping a language of empathy that allows us to stay grounded while still being honestThe discipline of making space for discomfortWhy “being professional” means tending to our inner being, not suppressing itThis is one of those episodes that refuses to stay abstract. Jennifer challenges us—as educators, leaders, and humans—to recognize our own triggers, interrogate our assumptions, and build the internal muscles required for meaningful dialogue.If you work with people (and yes, that’s all of us), this episode will stretch you in the best waySocial Media:Youtube: ⁠⁠@SchurtzTies⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠SchurtzTies⁠⁠Show Sponsors:Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with ⁠⁠⁠⁠TeachBetter.com⁠⁠⁠⁠:“The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom.”We’d love to hear your thoughts or ideas for future episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠#DoGreatThings | #KeepKnocking

Welcome to the first Schurtz Short — a behind-the-scenes look at how Brian and Kasey actually do the work. These mini episodes pull back the curtain on real-time problem solving, where ideas are messy, honest, and alive.In this short, the two tackle a familiar challenge: how to make professional development meaningful, efficient, and energizing for staff. No scripts. No perfect answers. Just two educators thinking out loud — pushing, questioning, and refining as they go.Because sometimes the best learning happens when you let people hear the struggle.

Is it a skill issue—or a will issue? And should we treat every behavior like it’s a skill that can be taught?In this episode, Brian and Kasey dive into the heart of classroom management and motivation—exploring why so many conflicts stem from responding too quickly, how pacing guides can get in the way of meaningful teaching, and whether reward charts actually help or just distract from the real work.Together, they unpack what it means to truly understand behavior, slow down our reactions, and respond in ways that make a lasting difference for kids.Social Media:Youtube: ⁠@SchurtzTies⁠Instagram: ⁠SchurtzTies⁠Show Sponsors:Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with ⁠⁠⁠TeachBetter.com⁠⁠⁠:“The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom.”We’d love to hear your thoughts or ideas for future episodes: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠#DoGreatThings | #KeepKnocking

In 1969, psychologist Philip Zimbardo left two identical cars in two very different neighborhoods—one in the Bronx, one in Palo Alto.Both looked abandoned. Within hours, one was destroyed. The other sat untouched—until Zimbardo himself broke a single window. Then, predictably, the destruction began there too.It became known as the Broken Window Theory—the idea that when we let small signs of disorder go unchecked, bigger problems follow. It’s a study that’s often been used to justify zero-tolerance approaches: punish every behavior, enforce every rule, no exceptions.But here’s where we push back.Because while Zimbardo’s study reminds us not to ignore the “broken windows” in our schools—the disrespect, the apathy, the small cracks in culture—it also reminds us that punishment alone doesn’t repair anything.This week on Schurtz and Ties, we talk about the real takeaway:Everything needs to be addressed, but not everything needs a consequence.We’ll explore how leaders and teachers can respond to “broken window behavior” without breaking people in the process—how to repair, not retaliate; how to build culture through accountability and care.We also share practical systems and strategies that help:What to do when small behaviors start to spread.How to balance grace and structure.How to create a culture where students and staff feel both safe and responsible.Because the goal isn’t control.It’s culture.And culture grows best when we address the cracks—before they spread—without shattering the glass.Social Media:Youtube: @SchurtzTiesInstagram: SchurtzTiesShow Sponsors:Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with ⁠⁠TeachBetter.com⁠⁠:“The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom.”We’d love to hear your thoughts or ideas for future episodes: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠#DoGreatThings | #KeepKnocking

Why does it sometimes feel like teachers and administrators are on opposite sides of the same mission? Why is there friction when we all want the same thing? To do what's best for kids - for people - and to do it well!Because we're human. Because we're complicated. In this episode, Brian and Kasey dig into the roots of that divide—the misunderstandings, pressures, and assumptions that quietly build walls between the front office and the classroom. Through honest conversation and personal stories, they explore what happens when both sides pause long enough to listen, assume good intent, and remember that everyone showed up for the same reason.Because when teachers and administrators work together, schools don’t just function better—they feel better.Show Sponsors:Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with ⁠TeachBetter.com⁠:“The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom.”We’d love to hear your thoughts or ideas for future episodes:📘 X: ⁠@SchurtzandTies⁠📧 ⁠[email protected]⁠#DoGreatThings | #KeepKnocking

Education, like the NFL Combine, is flooded with data. Numbers, charts, metrics, and measures. And too often, we focus on the wrong ones.Somewhere along the way, our obsession with data turned into overcomplication—wasted time, poor decisions, and distraction from what matters most.Can your students think deeply?Can they communicate clearly?If so, they’ll be okay.It’s that simple.The same goes for us. Are you above or below the line of healthy, productive thinking? Call it what it is. Name it. That simple act gives you the power to pause—and to choose differently.In our effort to do what’s best for kids—and to be the best for those we serve—we often make things harder than they need to be. In this episode, Brian and Kasey remind us all that sometimes the best thing we can do is step back, simplify, and focus on what really matters.Because sometimes, what’s best for all… is keeping it simple.References:Above the Line Thinking — Brené BrownShow Sponsors:Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with TeachBetter.com:“The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom.”We’d love to hear your thoughts or ideas for future episodes:📘 X: @SchurtzandTies📧 [email protected]#DoGreatThings | #KeepKnocking

Sometimes, it’s not the big decisions that break a school’s culture — it’s the quiet ones. The rolled eyes in the hallway. The half-hearted “sure” in a staff meeting. The slow erosion that happens when we stop believing the best about each other.In this episode, we sit down with Darron Pepperd — educator, author, and founder of Road to Awesome — to talk about the subtle, often invisible ways school culture can start to slip.If you’ve ever wondered why morale feels low even when everyone “agrees” things are fine, this episode will feel uncomfortably familiar — and deeply hopeful.You can discover more or reach out to Darron at his website, where you can listen to his podcast, purchase his book, and learn more about the AWESOME things he and his team are doing. Show Sponsors: Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TeachBetter.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: "The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in the field toward creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom."Please reach out and let us know your thoughts or share a topic:X: @SchurtzandTiesGmail: [email protected]#DoGreatThings and #KeepKnocking

What can the rules of improv teach us about life and education? Tons. In this conversation with Bob Kulhan—improv veteran, executive educator, and founder of Business Improv—we take “Yes, and…” off the stage and into real life, where the stakes are higher and the lessons cut deeper. Bob shows how improv fuels trust, sparks creativity, and equips teachers and leaders to face the unexpected with courage and grace.Bob’s stories remind us that adaptability isn’t just a skill for the stage; it’s a way of living and leading. Whether in a classroom, a school, or at home, the mindset of improv invites us to listen, engage, and keep showing up—even when things don’t go as planned. This episode is as fun as it is practical, and it might just shift the way you see your work and your relationships.If you want to connect more with Bob Kulhan and his content, you can find him at the following:- businessimprov.com [email protected] - @BizImprovShow Sponsors: Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TeachBetter.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: "The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in the field toward creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom."Please reach out and let us know your thoughts or share a topic:X: @SchurtzandTiesGmail: [email protected]#DoGreatThings and #KeepKnocking

On April 20, 1999, Columbine shattered America’s sense of safety in schools. Since then, more than 400 school shootings have followed — each new number added to a grim tally, each headline fading too quickly.But behind every statistic is a story, a family, a wound that never fully heals.In this episode, we sit down with survivors of the Evergreen High School shooting — mother and son, Vivian and Keegan Cox. Together, we turn statistics back into tragedy: to remember, to listen, and to learn.Our conversation goes beyond the headlines. We talk about the quiet aftermath and the details that linger long after the cameras leave. We wrestle with warnings that went unheeded, celebrate the helpers who stepped in, and acknowledge the slow, complicated work of healing.Most of all, we ask: What can we do? How do we ensure these stories are not just tragedies of the past, but calls to action for the future?Thank you, Vivian and Keegan, for sharing your story — for speaking up and out, and for choosing courage, even when it sounds a lot like silence.*A gentle warning: This episode contains a difficult but important conversation about school shootings, loss, and healing. Please listen with care.Show Sponsors: Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TeachBetter.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: "The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in the field toward creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom."Please reach out and let us know your thoughts or share a topic:X: @SchurtzandTiesGmail: [email protected]#DoGreatThings and #KeepKnocking

Bullies get things done—but do they create lasting value? Most often, no. So why do they still attract followers? Because they often embody the Six Traits of Being Cool: extraverted, hedonistic, powerful, adventurous, open, and autonomous.In this episode, Kasey and Brian unpack these six traits—why they’re so attractive, how they can be both magnetic and destructive, and what we can do about it in our schools, our homes, and in our personal lives.References:- The 6-Traits of Being Cool - At the Table Podcast, "Stop Trying to be Cool"Show Sponsors: Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TeachBetter.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: "The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in the field toward creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom."Please reach out and let us know your thoughts or share a topic:X: @SchurtzandTiesGmail: [email protected]#DoGreatThings and #KeepKnocking

Today, we're honored to host a distinguished guest—someone who navigates the crossroads of leadership, culture, and transformation with both strategy and soul. Please welcome Sydney Jacques, a Next Level Leadership Strategist who knows that great cultures aren’t accidental—they’re built by design.With over 25 years of leadership experience and a background as a professional engineer turned keynote speaker, Sydne has partnered with more than 600 teams—across industries—to reduce turnover, build trust, and ignite alignment that actually lasts.But there’s one concept that keeps rising to the top when we talk shop: her signature Upper Arrow Growth Model™. Think of it as a guiding compass—pointing you upward toward engagement, intentional culture, and retention that doesn’t just stick—it thrives.In today’s conversation, we’re excited to explore with Sydne:What it means to lead with the “upper arrow” in mind—beyond reacting, and towards designing your culture with purpose.How shifting from reactive modes to intentional leadership can transform team morale, trust, and loyalty.Real stories from workplaces she’s helped boost—and how her frameworks turned disengaged teams into connected, committed powerhouses.You can discover more about Sydne Jacques on her website, or through her book, Build What Matters. As always, thank you for joining us! We are thrilled to have you on the show and look forward to any feedback you can provide. Show Sponsors: Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TeachBetter.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: "The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in the field toward creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom."Please reach out and let us know your thoughts or share a topic:X: @SchurtzandTiesGmail: [email protected]#DoGreatThings and #KeepKnocking

Bullies can get things done.But humble leaders? They’re the ones who inspire lasting change—and the ones we actually remember.In this conversation, John Dickson pulls us back to the heartbeat of life and leadership: humility. He’s not just speaking from theory, either. John’s a professional singer-songwriter, author of more than 20 books, a historian, speaker, and media presenter. He’s spent his life weaving words, music, and history into stories that shape how we see the world—and ourselves.This episode is an invitation to slow down, listen deeply, and consider how humility might just be the most powerful leadership tool we’ve been overlooking.Show Sponsors: Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TeachBetter.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: "The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in the field toward creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom."Please reach out and let us know your thoughts or share a topic:X: @SchurtzandTiesGmail: [email protected]#DoGreatThings and #KeepKnocking

Welcome to Season 4 of Schurtz and Ties! Each season, we’ve tried to dig a little deeper into the stories, voices, and questions that shape education, leadership, and life. And we are thrilled to get back after it again!Whether you’re a teacher in the classroom, a parent at home, or a leader guiding others, these stories are for you.Thank you for joining us!Show Sponsors: Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TeachBetter.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: "The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in the field toward creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom."Please reach out and let us know your thoughts or share a topic:X: @SchurtzandTiesGmail: [email protected]#DoGreatThings and #KeepKnocking

As Season 3 of Schurtz and Ties comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the powerful conversations, unexpected insights, and inspiring guests that have shaped this season. From bold truths about leadership to heartfelt stories from the frontlines of education, this finale is a celebration of the year. The growth, grit, and moments of humanity that keep us grounded and showing up, day after day.Join us as we look back on the highlights, share what we’ve learned, and celebrate all the men and women who have helped this show.Thank you for spending time with us this season! If you have any suggestions, encouragements, or thoughts, please do not hesitate to reach out! We'd love to hear from you: [email protected] Sponsors: Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TeachBetter.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: "The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in the field toward creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom."Please reach out and let us know your thoughts or share a topic:X: @SchurtzandTiesGmail: [email protected]#DoGreatThings and #KeepKnocking

If you want to talk about education and culture, the conversation must include Jimmy Casas. Mr Casas served twenty-two years as a school leader, is a best-selling author, speaker, leadership coach, and a state and national award-winning principal. And in this episode, he brings all of his wisdom and expertise in a way only Jimmy Casas can: directly, tangibly, and full of humanity. You can find more about Jimmy Casas and building culture at Jimmycasas.com and find his book Culturize: Every Student. Every Day. Whatever It Takes on Amazon. Show Sponsors: Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TeachBetter.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: "The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in the field toward creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom."Please reach out and let us know your thoughts or share a topic:X: @SchurtzandTiesGmail: [email protected]#DoGreatThings and #KeepKnocking

Spring is (mostly) here! Which means students and teachers need to get outside.This week, we head to Alberta, Canada to talk with outdoor enthusiast Court Rustemeyer about something every educator should hear: how just five minutes outside can transform a student’s day. From boosting focus to calming anxiety, Court shares the science and stories behind the outdoors as a classroom for holistic health. Whether it's a hike or a breath of fresh air between classes, this episode is a reminder that better learners start with better living—one step outside at a time. You can learn more about Court and his outdoor adventure ideas on his website, courtrustemeyer.com.Show Sponsors: Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TeachBetter.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: "The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in the field toward creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom."Please reach out and let us know your thoughts or share a topic:X: @SchurtzandTiesGmail: [email protected]#DoGreatThings and #KeepKnocking

Mr. Whitaker is a familiar voice in education. The author of bestsellers such as What Great Teachers Do Differently, What Great Principals Do Differently, and, most recently, How to Get All Teachers to Become Like the Best Teachers, Mr. Whitaker brings tangible systems and actions that can impact our classrooms and schools, today. And this episode is no different. From teaching the basics to ensuring the best teachers are doing the best work, Mr. Whitaker brings his wisdom, sense of humor, and expertise and packs it all into a fifty-minute conversation. And it is brilliant!You can find more resources from Todd Whitaker on his website, at toddwhitaker.com, follow him on X (@toddwhitaker), or send him an email at [email protected] Sponsors: Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TeachBetter.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: "The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in the field toward creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom."Please reach out and let us know your thoughts or share a topic:X: @SchurtzandTiesGmail: [email protected]#DoGreatThings and #KeepKnocking

When Josh Tovar prepares for the day, most everyone is still asleep. When he pulls into the parking lot, he enters a school packed full of cultures, differences, and diverse learning needs. He also has a school full of similarities: students and teachers who need to be seen.And he meets them all where they're at. In this episode, Mr Tovar brings his wisdom and experience into the discussion and shares with us how to connect with all students, support and encourage staff, and celebrate the best part of public education: the diversity of humanity. Josh Tovar is the principal at Memorial Pathway Academy in Garland ISD, Texas. He actively engages with students and the community through various social media platforms:​Twitter: @MPA_GOJAGUARSInstagram: @mpajaguarsTikTok: @mpajagsFacebook: MPA Jaguars​BabyBoomer.org+1IDCrawl+1He also shares insights on educational leadership through platforms like the Principal Project and has been featured on podcasts such as Leaning Into Leadership.Show Sponsors: Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TeachBetter.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: "The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in the field toward creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom."Please reach out and let us know your thoughts or share a topic:X: @SchurtzandTiesGmail: [email protected]#DoGreatThings and #KeepKnocking

March Madness may be over, but on the Schurtz and Ties show, the chaos continues! In this episode, Brian and Kasey invite Mr. Jedd Hefer back on to help them work through what impacts our classrooms and student behaviors the most. - Ep 81: "Stay a teacher." Wisdom on Behavior Engagement with Jedd Hefer- Ep. 94: We're in the dark ages of behavior management. Scott Ervin brings the light.You can discover more about Scott, Jeff, and all that they are doing at Ervin Educational Consulting.Show Sponsors: Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TeachBetter.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: "The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in the field toward creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom."Please reach out and let us know your thoughts or share a topic:X: @SchurtzandTiesGmail: [email protected]#DoGreatThings and #KeepKnocking

Time alone does not build culture. Cancelling PD does not support teachers. It may make teachers happy, but in the long run, canceling PD does not encourage teachers or ensure student success. In this episode, Brian and Kasey work through a set of criteria for purposeful professional development. Namely,Does it point us to better instruction?Does it move us closer to our school/district goals?Does it build community?If the answer is no, don't cancel PD! Make it better. Here's how:Dos and Don’ts:Celebrate publicly, rebuke privately. Work on a task together - don’t preach.Have accountability Reminders:Authenticity trumps PerfectionSay things that come true- that are true.Tell stories. Show Sponsors: Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TeachBetter.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: "The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in the field toward creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom."Please reach out and let us know your thoughts or share a topic:X: @SchurtzandTiesGmail: [email protected]#DoGreatThings and #KeepKnocking

Jennifer Abrams is an "international educational and communications consultant for public and independent schools, universities and non-profits," and in this episode, she brings profound wisdom, tangible strategies, and deep insight into how we can have hard conversations better. - Have you had a clarifying conversation?- Are you using power over another, or for another?- Do you want to be right? Or effective?- Are you suspending your certainty? - Do you have a SCARF mindset?- Are you clenching your butt cheeks?You can find out more on Jen Abram's website or read her work, here. Show Sponsors: Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TeachBetter.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: "The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in the field toward creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom."Please reach out and let us know your thoughts or share a topic:X: @SchurtzandTiesGmail: [email protected]#DoGreatThings and #KeepKnocking

There are few educational leaders like Principal Kafele. His wisdom, experience, insight, and strength are unmatched, and his message is on point. He recently published his new book, What Is My Value Instructionally to the Teachers I Supervise? In this episode, Mr. Kafele shares insights about the book, thoughts around the book, and practices that should permeate our schools, hallways, and classrooms. Topics including, but not limited to:- The importance of Principal Voice- Developing school culture through instruction, not discipline- The power of asking good questions- The role (and struggle) DEI and Equity within schoolsConnecting with Principal Kafele: You can purchase his new book on Amazon or one of his many others from his website, principalkafele.com.You can connect with Principal Kafele on a variety of platforms:Email: [email protected]: @APandNewPrincipalsAcademyX: https://x.com/principalkafeleShow Sponsors: Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TeachBetter.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: "The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in the field toward creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom."Please reach out and let us know your thoughts or share a topic:X: @SchurtzandTiesGmail: [email protected]#DoGreatThings and #KeepKnocking