The Better Leaders Better Schools Podcast | The #1 Downloaded School Leadership Show

A Chicano educator from Los Angeles has spent nearly 20 years building the infrastructure that schools won't — the kind that catches students before they fall through the cracks. Hector Flores is the CEO of the Latino Film Institute, home to the Youth Cinema Project, a filmmaking mentorship program now operating in 21 California school districts across 61 classrooms. YCP brings professional filmmakers into English classes to guide students from concept to screen over a full school year. The results — in test scores, reclassification rates, graduation, and lives redirected — are impossible to ignore. Find ALIFI at latinofilm.org. Arts integration in schools has been underfunded, undervalued, and cut first for decades. This episode is the case against that pattern — told through data, two schools that are outperforming their affluent neighbors, and a story about a kid living in a motel who just won Best High School Actor. 🧠 What You'll Learn How the Youth Cinema Project uses filmmaking to drive measurable academic gains in English, writing, and student engagement.. Why arts integration consistently outperforms traditional instruction in Title I schools — and two real examples that prove it. What "redefining success" actually looks like inside a classroom — not the bumper sticker version. How high expectations plus creative purpose pulls students away from the wrong path. The three guiding principles Hector would use to build his dream school from scratch. 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules 🎯 Key Insight #1: Student Engagement in Schools Requires Creation, Not Consumption What's broken: Schools treat students as passive recipients of content — sit down, absorb, test, repeat. The shift: When students become creators — directing, writing, acting, producing — they develop ownership over their learning that no worksheet can replicate. Impact: More than 78% of YCP students report feeling confident using their voice in the classroom, and teachers are seeing measurable jumps in writing skills within a single semester. 🎯 Key Insight #2: Arts Integration Drives Academic Outcomes in Title I Schools What's broken: Arts programs get cut first in under-resourced schools precisely where student engagement is most at risk. The shift: Schools that fold the arts into core content — not as an elective, but as the engine — are consistently outperforming even the most well-funded campuses nearby. Impact: One Title I high school in the LA area, where every elective is arts-based and integration into core content is a priority, is outperforming the most affluent school in its community on graduation rates and college entry. 🎯 Key Insight #3: Redefining Success Unlocks Student Potential That Test Scores Miss What's broken: Success is defined by what's measurable — test scores, failure rates, attendance — which leaves purpose, confidence, and trajectory entirely off the ledger. The shift: Anchoring success to where students actually are — their identity, their interests, their community — gives them a reason to show up that compliance-based schooling never will. Impact: A senior at a continuation high school, living in a motel with his family, went from headed toward street life to winning Best High School Actor and asking his mom about college careers in film. 🎙️ HECTOR FLORES QUOTES FROM THE RUCKUS-CAST "We firmly believe that students need to be creators and not just consumers." — Hector Flores "Access is everything. When we can bring quality program and meet them where they are — that reinforce that investment in time, talent, treasure leads to impact." — Hector Flores "We need to redefine what success looks like. It's not a new conversation, but if we can anchor it where our students are, then they're going to show up." — Hector Flores "It only takes one person to lead a difference. Had I not walked up to mom, you would not have heard this story." — Hector Flores "Art isn't extra — it's actually essential. It physically shapes the brain, strengthening learning, memory, and executive function." — Hector Flores "Take the first step. If your intentions are aligned with the goals and the purpose — take the first step. You're going to find a way." — Hector Flores "We're stepping into a very traditional system and shaking it up. Anyone can lead a difference." — Hector Flores 🧗‍♂️ Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement? Start here: Tomorrow: Email your arts department lead and ask them to walk you through one specific student outcome — academic or otherwise — that happened because of their program this year. This Month: Identify one core content class in your building where arts integration could be piloted next semester and schedule a 30-minute conversation with that teacher about what it would take. This Semester: Build a formal pathway for at least one arts-based program to present student work publicly — film screening, performance, exhibition — so that student creation has an audience and a finish line. ⌚️ Episode Timestamps 00:00 - Student finds purpose through filmmaking 03:08 - Hector introduces the Latino Film Institute 07:17 - What access and high expectations actually produce 10:10 - Youth Cinema Project explained 13:19 - Academic results from arts integration 19:35 - Why arts get cut — and why that's wrong 21:44 - Two schools proving arts integration works 26:15 - Identity, culture, and who this work is for 34:10 - Marquee message: take the first step 37:52 - Dream school: three guiding principles 41:50 - One thing every Ruckus Maker should remember 🔗 Connect With Hector Flores 👩🏻‍💻 Hector Flores Website LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/latinofilminstitute/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latinofilminstitute_/ 🎧 Listen & Subscribe Listen to Better Leaders Better Schools on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube or wherever you get your podcasts. If today's episode moved you, leave a review — it helps more Ruckus Makers find the show. 🧔🏻‍♂️ Your Self-Mentorship Guide Meet Digital Danny — your self-mentorship guide. Always available, never forgets, and evolves with you. 👉 Think through your next leadership move at myprincipalcoach.com 🤝 Today's Ruckus-cast Partners ODP Business Solutions has been equipping schools for 30 years — and their edge isn't just competitive pricing, it's access to negotiated cooperative contracts that maximize every dollar you spend. They helped the Baldwin school district transform their entire campus while staying under budget by combining smart design with smarter purchasing, from essential supplies to cutting-edge tech to flexible furniture. One supplier, simplified ordering, full compliance. 🔍 Visit ODPbusiness.com/education to learn more. Frontline Education's 2026 K12 Lens report found that districts with structured, automated professional growth are nearly twice as likely to report easier hiring compared to those without it. If you're building a campus where great educators want to stay, the data on what actually drives retention is all in one place. 🔍 Download the full report at FrontlineEducation.com/leaders IXL takes the guesswork out of lesson planning — ready-made plans aligned to your textbooks and state standards so teachers spend less time preparing and more time teaching. Principals who want their teachers working smarter, not harder, start here. 🔍 Visit IXL.com/leaders to get started today. META DESCRIPTION: Arts integration in schools is changing student trajectories — here's how one program does it across 21 California districts and what principals can learn from it.  

The man who co-created category design — the strategic framework behind companies like Salesforce, HubSpot, and Drift — has a blunt message for principals: your recruiting ads are announcing that nobody wants to work at your school. Christopher Lochhead is co-author of Play Bigger, Niche Down, and Category Pirates, the wildly popular business newsletter read by some of the sharpest operators in tech and venture. His latest book, Creator Capitalist, makes the case that the creator economy isn't a trend — it's the future of every career, including the ones you're trying to build on your campus. Most principals spend their careers trying to fix a reputation problem they don't realize they have. This conversation with Christopher Lochhead lands like a two-by-four: your school's reputation is built entirely by what people say when you're not in the room, and most of the signals you're sending are saying the opposite of what you intend. The connection between category design, teacher recruitment, AI in education, and what it means to do school different turns out to be a single through-line — and it starts with the courage to be different. 🤩 What You'll Learn Why "we need teachers" recruiting ads tell candidates your school is a bad place to work — and what to say instead How category design thinking applies directly to school leader reputation and teacher retention Why AI makes memorization-focused schools obsolete — and what replaces it The difference between being an entertainer in the classroom and creating scaffolding for student legendary How to build the kind of school halo that outlasts every teacher who passes through your doors 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules ✅ Key Insight #1: Your Recruiting Language Is Telling Candidates to Stay Away What's broken: Most schools post "we need teachers" ads with lists of open positions, believing they're being transparent about opportunities. The shift: What gets said in a communication and what doesn't get said are both heard — and the unspoken message of a vacancy list is that nobody wants to work there. Impact: Principals who reframe recruiting around what makes their campus different and what problems they exist to solve go from struggling to fill positions to having more applicants than openings. ✅ Key Insight #2: Reputation Capital Is Everything — Principals Are Building It Whether They Know It or Not What's broken: Educators treat reputation as a soft, unmeasurable byproduct of doing good work rather than as a strategic asset they actively shape. The shift: Reputation is simply what gets said about you when you're not around — and the most effective principals build schools where being hired there carries a career-long halo, the way working at Nvidia does in Silicon Valley. Impact: A school with a strong reputation halo attracts better teachers, retains them longer, and becomes the kind of place parents, students, and staff are proud to talk about. ✅ Key Insight #3: AI Doesn't Threaten Good Teaching — It Exposes Bad Teaching What's broken: Schools are treating AI as a threat to academic integrity while continuing to optimize for test scores and the memorization of existing knowledge. The shift: AI makes existing knowledge close to free, which means the real skill is no longer knowing things — it's learning how to think, create, and build with AI as a tool. Impact: Principals who lead schools where students learn how to learn and create with AI will produce graduates who can find or make a place in the world; those who don't will produce graduates who can't. 🎙️ CHRISTOPHER LOCHHEAD QUOTES FROM THE RUCKUSCAST "The people who make the biggest difference, by definition, are different. Because if you're the same, you fit in. And when you're the same, you don't stand out. And as a result of not standing out, you don't make much of a difference." — Christopher Lochhead "When you put an ad out there that says we need teachers, and here's a list of 200 job openings or whatever it is, what's the unspoken? The unspoken is nobody wants to work here." — Christopher Lochhead "If I'm an educator, I want my school to equal working at Nvidia. Because if somebody qualifies to get into my school, when they go forward in their life and they say, I was a teacher at X, everybody goes, oh, wow, that's a great school. That's a halo." — Christopher Lochhead "AI makes the availability of existing knowledge closer and closer to free every day. And many people in the education business thought they were in the business of imparting knowledge. Well, not so much anymore." — Christopher Lochhead "I want to teach young people to learn from AI and to create and build things on their own with AI. Just like when the pen was invented, we learned to create things with the pen. This is the new pen." — Christopher Lochhead "People don't go to school to see Professor Danny or Teacher Danny perform. They go to school for themselves. So the real question is, what do we need to create for them — for the students to be legendary?" — Christopher Lochhead "You are more legendary than you know. The vast majority of people, including insanely successful people, undervalue the value of their value." — Christopher Lochhead 🧗‍♂️ Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement? Start here: Tomorrow: Audit your school's current job posting or recruiting language and identify the unspoken message it sends to candidates. This Month: Define in one clear sentence the specific problem your school exists to solve and what makes your campus different — then rewrite your recruiting materials around that answer. This Semester: Build a school halo by systematically collecting and sharing teacher success stories that make the experience of working at your campus feel like a career credential, not just a job. ⌚️ Episode Timestamps 00:00 - Different people make the biggest difference 02:42 - What's the real job of the education system 08:02 - The human animal doesn't train its young to succeed 13:32 - Why we're wired to fit in — and what it costs 15:20 - How to be the teacher nobody forgets 18:45 - The unsaid message in your recruiting ads 24:33 - Teaching kids their life is theirs to design 29:53 - School is not a performance — it's a scaffold 31:31 - The unrideable bicycle and unleashing creativity 44:11 - AI makes existing knowledge close to free 47:48 - 1,400 transcripts, 30 minutes, Digital Danny's flywheel 58:52 - One message for every school marquee in the world 🔗 Connect With Christopher Lochhead 👩🏻‍💻 Website: https://lochhead.com/, [https://www.categorypirates.news/,](https://www.categorypirates.news/) https://categorypirates.com/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christopherlochhead 📕 Books: Creator Capitalist: Discover Your Superpower, Design Your Dream Career, & Get Paid To Be You, https://categorypirates.com/pages/creator-capitalist The Existing Market Trap: (a Primer) Escaping The 13 Deadly Sins that Destroy Companies, Careers and Portfolios Play Bigger: How Pirates, Dreamers, and Innovators Create and Dominate Markets 🎧 Listen & Subscribe Listen to Better Leaders Better Schools on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube or wherever you get your podcasts. If today's episode moved you, leave a review — it helps more Ruckus Makers find the show. 🧔🏻‍♂️Your Selfmentorship Guide Meet Digital Danny — your Selfmentorship guide. Always available, never forgets, and evolves with you. Think through your next leadership move at myprincipalcoach.com 🤝 Today's Ruckuscast Partners ODP Business Solutions has been a trusted partner for schools for 30 years — and they're not just a vendor, they're a strategic partner in transformation. Want to turn a tired computer lab into a STEAM innovation center? Need to keep eight schools stocked, spotless, and compliant through cooperative contracts? They handle it all from a single supplier so you can stop juggling and start leading. Visit ODPbusiness.com/education to learn more. Frontline Education's 2026 K12 Lens Report is built for exactly the kind of decisions Ruckus Makers face right now — staffing, student support, operations — and it's grounded in insights from over 1,000 school leaders across the country. Know where pressure is building and where smart districts are getting ahead. Get your full report at FrontlineEducation.com/leaders IXL gives classroom teachers an adaptive platform that makes differentiated instruction manageable, while giving school leaders dashboard-level visibility into student progress and growth — customizable down to the individual student. Make data-informed decisions that actually move the needle. Get started at IXL.com/leaders META DESCRIPTION: Category design legend Christopher Lochhead tells principals why their recruiting ads repel teachers — and how AI is making memorization-obsessed schools obsolete.  

Ten years of school leadership podcasting reveals one consistent truth: most principals are doing it alone when they don't have to. In this special anniversary episode, Danny Bauer sits down with co-host Dan Watt to trace the arc from isolated AP to category-defining podcast host — and what he's learned coaching hundreds of school leaders along the way. Dan Watt is a school principal, leadership coach, and Mastermind coach for Better Leaders Better Schools, based in northern British Columbia, Canada. He joined the Ruckus Maker community as a member before stepping into a coaching role, and now co-writes the weekly Ruckus Makers newsletter. He brings a practitioner's lens to every conversation — someone still in the building, still doing the work. Find him through the Ruckus Makers community at ruckusmakers.news. ☑️ What You'll Learn Why Danny started the podcast and what leadership gap drove the decision How the Ruckus Maker Mastermind was built to fill a void no one else in education had addressed The mindset shift that separates thriving principals from burned-out ones What patterns Danny sees repeatedly in the leaders he coaches today Where the Ruckus Maker brand is heading — and why it's bigger than school leadership 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules 🧰 Key Insight #1: Working More Hours Is Not a Leadership Strategy What's broken: Districts treat effort and visibility as the measure of a leader's worth — the longer you're on campus, the more you're seen as committed. The shift: Value created and culture built are the real metrics — not hours logged or sleeves rolled up. Impact: Mastermind member Justin stopped seeing more hours as the solution to feeling overwhelmed, found his North Star, and called it transformative. 🧰 Key Insight #2: Isolation Is a Choice, Not a Condition What's broken: Most school leaders wait for the district to provide mentorship, community, or coaching — and the district almost never delivers. The shift: Choosing yourself means actively seeking a community, a coach, and the tools to grow on a weekly basis — not waiting for permission. Impact: When Danny built the Mastermind in 2016, he introduced peer coaching to an industry that had nothing like it; leaders who join stop leading alone. 🧰 Key Insight #3: You Become What You Think About What's broken: Leaders absorb a deficit mindset — kids are broken post-COVID, resources are disappearing, the system is against them — and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. The shift: The Beautiful Constraint mindset asks: given this reality, what needs to be true to accomplish what we want? Impact: Principals who reframe obstacles as constraints to work within — rather than walls to hide behind — lead higher-engagement campuses regardless of what the district hands them. 🗣️ DANNY BAUER QUOTES FROM THE RUCKUS-CAST "The strangest secret is we become what we think about." — Danny Bauer "I no longer see putting in more hours as a solution to this feeling. I very much feel like I'm failing forward with this approach, but I feel like I've found a North Star." — Danny Bauer (quoting Mastermind member Justin) "You can work in isolation and get bumps and bruises and learn from sparring in real life — or you could join a community and hear about everybody else's war wounds and scars, and learn from that without having to go through it yourself." — Danny Bauer "I don't want it to be like a cult of personality. I have an expiration date. And also, I'm only one guy with one perspective, and it's not always the best." — Danny BaueR "Every school leader that wants to grow and meet their potential should join our Mastermind. If you don't want to do that, don't join." — Danny Bauer 🧗‍♂️ Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement? Start here: Tomorrow: Identify one place you're measuring your leadership worth in hours instead of value — and write down what the actual result looks like instead. This Month: Audit your professional development diet: if a conference once a year is your only growth structure, find one weekly or monthly touchpoint — a book, a community, a coach — and commit to it. This Semester: Build or join a peer learning structure where you're both giving and receiving feedback on real leadership challenges, not just sitting in a room listening to a presenter. ⌚️ Episode Timestamps 00:00 - Why Danny started the podcast 10 years ago 04:35 - Danny's early leadership gaps as an AP 08:49 - The public feedback mistake and what it cost 13:38 - Why principals always learn even off the hot seat 20:12 - What were the real stakes 10 years ago 29:54 - How the Mastermind started from a void in education 34:11 - Justin's email: stop measuring worth in hours 40:46 - The Beautiful Constraint mindset for today's climate 48:56 - How Danny lives "you're worth it" daily 55:32 - Where the Ruckus Maker brand is going next 🎧 Listen & Subscribe Listen to Better Leaders Better Schools on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube or wherever you get your podcasts. If today's episode moved you, leave a review — it helps more Ruckus Makers find the show. 🧔🏻‍♂️ Your Self-Mentorship Guide Meet Digital Danny — your self-mentorship guide. Always available, never forgets, and evolves with you. Think through your next leadership move at myprincipalcoach.com. 🤝 Today's Ruckus-Cast Partners ODP Business Solutions has been a trusted partner for schools for 30 years — helping districts move from whiteboards to smart boards, static classrooms to collaboration zones, and single-vendor chaos to streamlined cooperative contract ordering. If you're trying to design a learning environment students actually want to show up to, 🔍 visit ODPbusiness.com/education. Frontline Education's 2026 K12 Lens Report found that districts using software to automate professional growth are nearly twice as likely to report easier hiring than those that don't. If staffing and retention are keeping you up at night, 🔍 Download the full report at frontlineeducation.com/leaders — it shows exactly what high performing districts are doing differently. IXL's diagnostic identifies every student's knowledge gaps and delivers a personalized growth plan — so teachers stop guessing and start teaching to what students actually need. Close the gaps, accelerate learning, and 🔍 Get started today at ixl.com/leaders. META DESCRIPTION: 10 years of school leadership coaching distilled into one conversation. What Danny Bauer learned building the top 1% podcast for principals who do school different.  

🧰 The Ruckus Report Quick take: This episode is a masterclass in what happens when a teacher stops delivering lessons — and starts creating life-changing experiences. 🙋‍♂️ Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Jesus Huerta is an educator and innovation coach who transforms classrooms into launchpads for curiosity, creativity, and future careers. From 3D printing to robotics, his work centers on one mission: give students access, spark possibility, and let them build what's next. 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules In this episode, Jesus Huerta challenges traditional education paradigms: 🎯 Key Insight #1: Engagement Comes from Compliance What's broken: "Sit down, listen, and learn" instruction that assumes students will care. The shift: Design experiences students want to engage in through hands-on learning and real-world tools. Impact: Students move from passive to fully alive — creating, building, and owning their learning. 🎯 Key Insight #2: Teach the Same Lesson Every Year What's broken: Repeating "greatest hits" lessons while the world (and kids) evolve rapidly. The shift: Use the engineering design process to constantly iterate, improve, and adapt instruction. Impact: Lessons stay fresh, relevant, and aligned with how students actually experience the world. 🎯 Key Insight #3: Technology is Extra (or Too Hard) What's broken: Fear, overwhelm, or waiting for the "perfect time" to try something new. The shift: Start small, pick one tool, and adopt a "Why not today?" mindset. Impact: Teachers build confidence, students gain exposure, and classrooms transform over time — not overnight. 🎙️ Quotable Ruckus "If I'm bored teaching the lesson, the kids are definitely bored learning it." – Jesus Huerta 🏋️‍♂️ Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Pick ONE new tool or strategy — even Play-Doh counts — and try it with your students This Month: Redesign one existing lesson using the engineering design process (build → test → improve) This Semester: Create at least one "can't miss" learning experience that students will talk about years later 🔗 Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript here 👩🏻‍💻 Follow Jesus Huerta: Website: https://mrhuertasclass.weebly.com/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesus-huerta-750375141 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Four Ways We Can Help You on Your Do School Different Journey 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — An opportunity to Do School Different 3x a week. Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work: https://ruckusmakers.news 🗞 Read Ruckus Maker Media — Exclusive content on Substack. Premium leadership insights, AI prompts and custom GPTs, new books before the bookshelf. https://ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Our private network + workshops, The Automatic School tools, AI Prompt Library, and more: https://ruckusmakers.club 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind — Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven leadership system (The Ruckus Maker Flywheel) to help you transform your campus: https://betterleadersbetterschools.com/mastermind Every tool, community, and coaching program we offer is built to help visionary school leaders play the new game — one where leadership is creative, tech-enabled, and unapologetically student-centered. 🎙 The podcast is your starting point. The movement is just getting started. 🤝 Today's RUCKUScast in Partnership with: ODP Business Solutions®: Looking to create the kind of campus experience students never forget? ODP Business Solutions® transforms ordinary spaces into extraordinary learning environments. 🔍 Learn more: https://odpbusiness.com/education IXL: Over 1 million teachers rely on IXL because it is empowering, it helps them make better decisions with reliable data, and it adapts instruction based on student performance. 🔍 Learn more: https://ixl.com/leaders Frontline Education: 1,000+ school leaders just weighed in on staffing, absenteeism, AI, and funding shifts. The 2026 K-12 Lens Survey Report gives you a national view of where the pressure is — and where momentum is building. 🔍 Learn more: https://frontlineeducation.com/leaders Twelve Practices LLC © 2026 | Create a Campus Experience Worth Showing Up For  

📋 The Ruckus Report Quick take: Most principals accept their school building as a fixed constraint. Anne Seeley proves it's actually your most under-utilized leadership tool — and you don't need a construction budget to start. 🎓 Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Anne Seeley, a Senior Associate Project Manager, NCARB, LEED, AP, AIA is an accomplished architect with a distinct blend of expertise. For over 20 years, she has focused on educational architecture, creating everything from visionary master plans and engaging student Centers to complex campus renovations. Anne doesn't just design buildings; she creates thoughtful environments that reflect the goals and ideas of the people she works with. Anne's commitment to improving the user experience makes her a leading figure in educational design. 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules In this episode, Anne Seeley challenges how school leaders think about physical space: 🧰 Key Insight #1: Space is named, not designed for purpose What's broken: Rooms are labeled — classroom, corridor, cafeteria — and that label locks in every expectation about how the space gets used. The shift: Name the activity, not the room. A "peer-to-peer instruction zone" unlocks possibilities a "hallway" never will. Impact: Ravenscroft School opened a reimagined student center and students claimed full ownership within the first week — filling it from 7am to 7pm daily. 🧰 Key Insight #2: Bus riders get the back door What's broken: Car drop-off gets the front entrance. Students who ride the bus — often from lower-income households — enter through a secondary, less welcoming entry. The shift: Hilltop Needmore Road Elementary redesigned both entries with equal prominence, a canopy, and a shared convergence point so every student arrives feeling welcomed. Impact: Equity gets built into the physical infrastructure of the school day — not just the curriculum. 🧰 Key Insight #3: Underused spaces sit idle most of the day What's broken: A school stage gets used once or twice daily for music and theater, then goes dark. The shift: Design the stage with a folding wall so it opens to the cafeteria for dining, closes for performances, and opens the back side to the corridor as a teaching space and after-care zone. Impact: A single space now serves three distinct functions across the full school day instead of one. 🎙️ Quotable Ruckus "Rather than giving a name to something — this is a classroom, this is a corridor — what if the space is a space for engagement? – Anne Seeley What if it's a zone for peer-to-peer instruction? When you start naming the activity, it breaks down our association of what the space looks like and starts to give us opportunities to reimagine it." – Anne Seeley 🧩 Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Walk your building and identify one underused or unnamed space — a wide corridor, an empty stage, a forgotten corner — and ask: what activity could happen here? This Month: Remove or repurpose a row of unused lockers in one hallway and add a marker board and two chairs to create a visible collaboration moment. This Semester: Convene students and staff to co-design one shared space on your campus — name the activity, not the room, and give students the ability to reserve and own it. 🔗 Connect & Continue 👩🏻‍💻 Follow Anne Seeley: Website: Littleonline.com | Blog | LinkedIn | Instagram | Vimeo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-seeley 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Four Ways We Can Help You on Your Do School Different Journey 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — An opportunity to Do School Different 3x a week. Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work: https://ruckusmakers.news 🗞 Read Ruckus Maker Media — Exclusive content on Substack. Premium leadership insights, AI prompts and custom GPTs, new books before the bookshelf. https://ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Our private network + workshops, The Automatic School tools, AI Prompt Library, and more: https://ruckusmakers.club 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind — Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven leadership system (The Ruckus Maker Flywheel) to help you transform your campus: https://betterleadersbetterschools.com/mastermind 🤝 Today's RUCKUScast in Partnership with: ODP Business Solutions®: Looking to create the kind of campus experience students never forget? ODP Business Solutions® transforms ordinary spaces into extraordinary learning environments. 🔍 Learn more: odpbusiness.com/education IXL: Over 1 million teachers rely on IXL because it empowers better decisions with reliable data and adapts instruction based on student performance. 🔍 Learn more: ixl.com/leaders Frontline Education: Strong school culture doesn't happen by accident — it's built through meaningful support and growth. Frontline Education's 2026 K-12 Lens Report shows how districts are connecting professional development to stronger staffing outcomes. 🔍 Get the full report: frontlineeducation.com/leaders Twelve Practices LLC © 2026 | Create a Campus Experience Worth Showing Up For  

Principal leadership development is broken — 3 out of 4 school leaders have no coach, no mentor, no one to think it through with. Principal coaching and self-mentorship are the difference between leaders who wait for answers and leaders who generate their own. Corey, a Chicago principal, logged 910 conversations with Digital Danny over one school year — not for generic advice, but to think through the hardest decisions he faced: a staff situation, a career crossroads, a coaching conversation he needed to get right. He called it "almost like your self mentor." That's the category. That's what this is. This sprint on April 30 gives you one hour to experience the framework, watch a live Digital Danny session, and work through something real you're carrying right now. $100 gets you in — and that includes 30 days of Digital Danny access. Register for the sprint here: https://ruckusmakers.news/sprint  ⌚️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - 3 out of 4 principals lead without a mentor 00:46 - Corey's first Digital Danny conversation 01:38 - The basketball coach situation and the shift 02:25 - Corey's career question and interview prep 03:13 - Digital Danny retrains — Corey accelerates 04:14 - What self-mentorship actually means 05:12 - The Self-Mentorship Sprint: April 30 details

📋 The Ruckus Report Quick take: Schools didn't gradually adopt tech — they surrendered to it. This episode is a wake-up call for leaders ready to reclaim learning, relationships, and childhood from screens. 🎓Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Emily Cherkin, M.Ed., The Screentime Consultant, is leading the fight for a Tech-IntentionalTM childhood. Emily works with schools, families, policymakers, and advocacy organizations to ensure the future of education prioritizes skills, safety, and relationships over screens, EdTech, and A.I. Emily is an author, speaker, consultant, and associate professor of public policy at the University of Washington. She is also co-chair of Fairplay's Screens in Schools Action Network and the lead plaintiff in a class action lawsuit against one of the largest EdTech companies in the world. Emily is also the creator of the UnPlug EdTech Toolkit. 🌱 Breaking Down the Old Rules In this episode, Emily Cherkin challenges traditional education paradigms: 🧰 Key Insight #1: EdTech = Innovation What's broken: Schools assume more devices = better learning. The shift: Question the role of Tech through a child development lens. Impact: Leaders prioritize cognition, focus, and real engagement over screen time. 🧰 Key Insight #2: Convenience Over Relationships What's broken: Grade portals, emails, and AI replace human conversations. The shift: Bring back friction — phone calls, dialogue, real connection. Impact: Stronger trust with families and deeper student-teacher relationships. 🧰 Key Insight #3: Teach Tech Early and Often What's broken: Giving young kids constant access to devices in the name of "preparation." The shift: Later is better. Less is more. Skills before screens.. Impact: Students build communication, resilience, and critical thinking first. 🗣️ Quotable Ruckus "If Tech is doing the thinking, your students aren't!" – Emily Cherkin 🧩 Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Audit one tech tool on your campus — ask: Is it effective, safe, and necessary? This Month: Reintroduce one human-centered practice (phone calls, in-person feedback, discussion-based learning) This Semester: Build a campus-wide "tech intentional" philosophy rooted in relationships and skill development 🔗 Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript here 👩🏻‍💻 Follow Emily Cherkin: 💻 Website: https://thescreentimeconsultant.com 😎 The Unplug EdTech ToolKit https://thescreentimeconsultant.com/resources/unplug-edtech-toolkit 🤝 Emily speaking to UK Parliament: https://firstfish.substack.com/p/testimony-to-uk-parliament?r=250yb9 📕 Book: https://www.amazon.com/Screentime- Solution-Judgment-Free-Becoming- Tech-Intentional/dp/B0CB9JS5KB Instagram: @thescreentimeconsultant LinkedIn: @emily-cherkin Facebook: @thescreentimeconsultant Youtube: @thescreentimeconsultantllc6072 BlueSky: @emilycherkin.bsky.social First Fish Chronicles: Unplug EdTech, Save Democracy http://firstfish.substack.com 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Four Ways We Can Help You on Your Do School Different Journey 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — An opportunity to Do School Different 3x a week. Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work: https://ruckusmakers.news 🗞 Read Ruckus Maker Media — Exclusive content on Substack. Premium leadership insights, AI prompts and custom GPTs, new books before the bookshelf. https://ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Our private network + workshops, The Automatic School tools, AI Prompt Library, and more: https://ruckusmakers.club 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind — Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven leadership system (The Ruckus Maker Flywheel) to help you transform your campus: https://betterleadersbetterschools.com/mastermind ✅  Every tool, community, and coaching program we offer is built to help visionary school leaders play the new game — one where leadership is creative, tech-enabled, and unapologetically student-centered. The podcast is your starting point. The movement is just getting started. 🎙️ Today's RUCKUScast in Partnership with: ODP Business Solutions®: Looking to create the kind of campus experience students never forget? ODP Business Solutions® transforms ordinary spaces into extraordinary learning environments. 🔍 Learn more: https://odpbusiness.com/education IXL: Over 1 million teachers rely on IXL because it is empowering, it helps them make better decisions with reliable data, and it adapts instruction based on student performance. 🔍 Learn more: https://ixl.com/leaders Frontline Education: 1,000+ school leaders just weighed in on staffing, absenteeism, AI, and funding shifts. The 2026 K-12 Lens Survey Report gives you a national view of where the pressure is — and where momentum is building. 🔍 Learn more: https://frontlineeducation.com/leaders Twelve Practices LLC © 2026 | Create a Campus Experience Worth Showing Up For  

📋 The Ruckus Report Quick take: Most systems are designed to control people, not empower them.This episode shows what happens when a leader flips that script — and trusts the people closest to students to lead. 🙋‍♂️ Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Dr. Lindsay Whorton is president of The Holdsworth Center, a nonprofit building stronger leaders for public schools. She's the author of A New School Leadership Architecture, a bold blueprint for redesigning leadership roles so educators are supported, developed, and able to help students thrive. ⚒ Breaking Down the Old Rules In this episode, Dr. Lindsay Whorton challenges traditional education paradigms: 🧩 Key Insight #1: Stop Hoarding Power at the Top What's broken: Central office controls decisions, budgets, and strategy. The shift: Push power, money, and responsibility to campuses. Impact: Faster decisions, stronger ownership, and leadership at every level. 🧩  Key Insight #2: Collaboration Isn't a Meeting What's broken: PLCs and meetings that waste time and kill momentum. The shift: Create space for real-time, problem-solving collaboration between educators. Impact: Teachers stop retreating and start growing together. 🧩 Key Insight #3: Scarcity Is a Leadership Trap What's broken: Leaders fixate on what they don't have (budget, staff, time). The shift: Reframe constraints into creative opportunities using available resources. Impact: Innovation increases, victim thinking decreases, and results improve. 💬 Quotable Ruckus "You're not punishing anyone but your students if you stay stuck in scarcity." – Dr. Lindsay Whorton 🧗‍♂️ Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Ask your team: "What decisions are we holding at the top that should live closer to students?" This Month: Redesign one meeting into real collaboration — focused on solving a live student problem This Semester: Pilot a shared leadership model that gives teachers real authority, time, and responsibility 🔗 Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript ****here 👩🏻‍💻 Follow Dr. Lindsay Whorton: Website: https://holdsworthcenter.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsay-whorton-9685aa26/ Holdsworth Center on X: https://x.com/HoldsworthCentr Holdsworth Center on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HoldsworthCenter/ Holdsworth Center on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holdsworthcenter/ 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Four Ways We Can Help You on Your Do School Different Journey 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — An opportunity to Do School Different 3x a week. Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work: https://ruckusmakers.news 🗞 Read Ruckus Maker Media — Exclusive content on Substack. Premium leadership insights, AI prompts and custom GPTs, new books before the bookshelf. https://ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Our private network + workshops, The Automatic School tools, AI Prompt Library, and more: https://ruckusmakers.club 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind — Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven leadership system (The Ruckus Maker Flywheel) to help you transform your campus: https://betterleadersbetterschools.com/mastermind 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If you're waiting for more resources, more clarity, or more permission… you'll be waiting forever. The leaders changing schools right now aren't waiting. They're redistributing power, building leaders, and creating campuses worth showing up for. 🤝 Today's RUCKUScast in Partnership with: ODP Business Solutions®: Looking to create the kind of campus experience students never forget? ODP Business Solutions® transforms ordinary spaces into extraordinary learning environments. 🔍 Learn more: https://odpbusiness.com/education IXL: Over 1 million teachers rely on IXL because it is empowering, it helps them make better decisions with reliable data, and it adapts instruction based on student performance. 🔍 Learn more: https://ixl.com/leaders Frontline Education: 1,000+ school leaders just weighed in on staffing, absenteeism, AI, and funding shifts. The 2026 K-12 Lens Survey Report gives you a national view of where the pressure is — and where momentum is building. 🔍 Learn more: https://frontlineeducation.com/leaders © 2026 Twelve Practices LLC | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?  

🎯 The Ruckus Report Quick take: You can't force engagement — but you can design for success. Tommy Floyd breaks down how one meaningful win can transform disconnected students into confident, motivated learners. 🎓 Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Tommy Floyd originally became involved in NASP® in 2003, while serving as a high school principal and NASP® coach. Several of the first NASP® state champions were on the Somerset High School team that Tommy coached. He has seen, first-hand, how the program positively impacts students, parents, and teachers. He has seen NASP® promote constructive teacher/student relationships, academic motivation and the promotion of students becoming involved with their school – many for the first time. 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules In this episode, Tommy Floyd challenges traditional education paradigms: 😎 Key Insight #1: You Can't Force Engagement What's broken: Schools rely on surveys, incentives, and interventions to "drive" engagement. The shift: Create authentic success experiences first. Impact: Students become intrinsically motivated and eager to participate. 📌 Key Insight #2: The "Invisible Middle" Doesn't Need More Programs What's broken: Schools focus only on high achievers or behaviour problems. The shift: Design opportunities for the disengaged majority to feel capable and connected. Impact: 68% of students report feeling more connected to school. 🧰 Key Insight #3: Motivation Comes After Success (Not Before) What's broken: Expecting students to care before they've experienced competence. The shift: Give students a win → build confidence → unlock effort. Impact: 34% of students say they work harder in class after experiencing success. 🎙️ Quotable Ruckus "Every child needs success. What are you doing?" – Tommy Floyd 🧗‍♂️ Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Identify 5 "invisible middle" students and ask: where can they experience a quick win? This Month: Launch or pilot one new opportunity (club, program, experience) designed for belonging — not performance This Semester: Build a system where every student experiences success in at least one meaningful domain on campus 🔗 Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript here 👩🏻‍💻 Follow Tommy Floyd: Website: https://www.naspschools.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/naspschools/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ArcheryintheSchools/videos 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — An opportunity to Do School Different 3x a week. Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work: ruckusmakers.news 🗞 Read Ruckus Maker Media — Exclusive content on Substack. Premium leadership insights, AI prompts and custom gpts, new books before the bookshelf. ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Our private network + workshops, The Automatic School tools, AI Prompt Library, and more: ruckusmakers.club 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind — Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven leadership system (The Ruckus Maker Flywheel) to help you transform your campus: Apply Now 🎙 Today's RUCKUS cast in Partnership With: ODP Business Solutions® For over 30 years, ODP Business Solutions® has helped schools transform from whiteboards to smartboards. Why? Because when you get the right tools, everyone wins. 🔍 Visit odpbusiness.com/education to revolutionize your school's learning spaces. IXL Over 1 million teachers rely on IXL because it is empowering, it helps them make better decisions with reliable data, and it adapts instruction based on student performance. 🔍 Get started today at ixl.com/leaders Frontline Education: 1,000+ school leaders just weighed in on staffing, absenteeism, AI, and funding shifts. The 2026 K-12 Lens Survey Report gives you a national view of where the pressure is — and where momentum is building. 🔍 Learn more: https://frontlineeducation.com/leaders © 2026 Twelve Practices LLC | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?  

📕 The Ruckus Report Quick take: Most strategic plans fail for one simple reason — leaders try to sell a vision the community didn't help create. Drew Howick and Dr. Jeffrey Axelbank reveal how the Future Search process flips that script by putting the whole community in the room to design the future together. 🫂 Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Makers Drew Howick is the founder of Howick Associates, a highly regarded consulting firm based in Madison Wis, and is well regarded as a trusted advisor and collaborative partner to hundreds of schools districts, most of which are in Wisconsin. He is the author of the book, The New Compleat Facilitator: A Handbook for Facilitators. Dr. Jeffrey Axelbank is a psychologist and consultant based in Highland Park, NJ.  His consulting work focuses on strategic engagement - getting everyone pulling in the same direction. He is particularly passionate about whole-system interventions such as Future Search, to help diverse stakeholders in organizations and communities discover common ground in their vision of their shared future. 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules In this episode, Drew Howick and Dr. Jeffrey Axelbank challenge traditional education paradigms: 🧰 Key Insight #1: Stop "Selling" Strategic Plans What's broken: District leaders build a strategic plan internally, then try to convince the community to support it. The shift: Bring 60–160 diverse stakeholders together to co-create the vision. Impact: When people help build the future, they defend it, support it, and help implement it. 🎯  Key Insight #2: Replace Hub-and-Spoke Engagement What's broken: Schools collect feedback separately through surveys, focus groups, and stakeholder meetings. The shift: Put parents, teachers, students, business leaders, clergy, nonprofits, and civic leaders in the same room so they talk to each other. Impact: Silos disappear, polarization drops, and the community discovers real common ground. 🧨  Key Insight #3: Make Strategic Planning an Event, Not a Process What's broken: Two years of scattered meetings that lead to a plan nobody owns. The shift: A 12-hour Future Search event across three sessions where stakeholders explore the past, analyze the present, and design the future together. Impact: Stronger trust, better ideas, unexpected partnerships, and a plan the community actually wants to execute. 🎙️ Quotable Ruckus "Strong schools require strong community partnerships — and those partnerships don't just happen. Someone has to start the conversation." – Drew Howick "When people help create the vision for the future, they don't fight the plan — they help build it." – Dr. Jeffrey Axelbank 🔗 Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript here 👩🏻‍💻 Follow Drew Howick: Website: *www.howickassociates.com,* AASA JSP Comm'ty Engage using Future Search.pdf 👩🏻‍💻 Follow Dr. Jeffrey Axelbank: website: https://axelbankconsulting.com/ The website of the Future Search Network: https://futuresearch.net/ Amazon page for the book, Future Search: Getting The Whole System in the Room for Vision, Commitment, and Action: https://a.co/d/0dMt4o3p The article can be found on the web here: https://www.aasa.org/resources/resource/community-engagement-using-future-search-a-systematic-evaluation-of-the-wisconsin-experience 🧗‍♂️ Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Ask three stakeholder groups (students, teachers, and parents) one simple question: What are you glad, sad, and mad about in our school system? This Month: Map the full ecosystem of your school community — businesses, nonprofits, faith groups, civic leaders — and identify who's missing from your conversations. This Semester: Host a community vision event that brings diverse voices together to define what success for students actually looks like. 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — An opportunity to Do School Different 3x a week. Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work https://ruckusmakers.news/subscribe 🗞 Read Ruckus Maker Media — Exclusive content on Substack. Premium leadership insights, AI prompts and custom gpts, new books before the bookshelf.https://ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Our private network + workshops, The Automatic School tools, AI Prompt Library, and more: https://members.ruckusmakers.club/plans/1428145?bundle_token=e8203ab7f9df767a6cf6b98e18a4ff0d&utm_source=manual 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind — Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven leadership system (The Ruckus Maker Flywheel) to help you transform your campus: https://www.betterleadersbetterschools.com/mastermind-application 🎙 Today's RUCKUS cast in Partnership With: ODP Business Solutions® For over 30 years, ODP Business Solutions® has helped schools transform from whiteboards to smart-boards. Why? Because when you get the right tools, everyone wins. 🔍 Visit odpbusiness.com/education to revolutionize your school's learning spaces. IXL Over 1 million teachers rely on IXL because it is empowering, it helps them make better decisions with reliable data, and it adapts instruction based on student performance. 🔍 Get started today at ixl.com/leaders Frontline Education: 1,000+ school leaders just weighed in on staffing, absenteeism, AI, and funding shifts. The 2026 K-12 Lens Survey Report gives you a national view of where the pressure is — and where momentum is building. 🔍 Learn more: https://frontlineeducation.com/leaders © 2026 Twelve Practices LLC | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?  

🧰 The Ruckus Report Quick take: This episode flips the script on school culture and student motivation. Adrian Ireland shows why most engagement issues aren't about effort — they're about environment — and what to do instead. 🫂 Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Adrian Ireland is an international educator, systems thinker, and author who reimagines the architecture of learning by challenging traditional, standardized education models. With experience leading across Asia and Europe, he champions learner-centered approaches that elevate curiosity, individuality, and creativity. 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules 😎 Key Insight #1: Schools don't have effort problems — they have architecture problems What's broken: We blame students and teachers for being unmotivated. The shift: Redesign the system so motivation is the natural outcome, not a constant battle. Impact: Transforms passive learners into engaged problem-solvers without more effort. 📌 Key Insight #2: Culture isn't spoken into existence — it's built by design What's broken: Leaders treat culture like a vibe or vision statement. The shift: Treat culture as the emergent result of your systems, structures, and incentives. Impact: A culture of belonging and excellence that sustains itself beyond PD days and posters. 🧰 Key Insight #3: Startup Week proves a different architecture delivers better results What's broken: End-of-year burnout and throwaway lessons. The shift: Reclaim that time with a high-agency, high-authenticity program rooted in design thinking. Impact: Students work harder, retain more, and surprise themselves — even in the last week of school. 💬 Quotable Ruckus "Culture is really system architecture in disguise." – Adrian Ireland 🧗‍♂️ Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Audit your current systems. Where are students swimming upstream? This Month: Start planning a low-stakes sandbox where your staff can test new structures. This Semester: Launch a Startup Week-style program to unlock student agency and authentic learning. 🔗 Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript here 👩🏻‍💻  Follow Adrian Ireland: Website: https://designingdifferent.carrd.co/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/adrian-ireland-413191278 📕 Book: Designing different 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — An opportunity to Do School Different 3x a week. Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work: ruckusmakers.news 🗞 Read Ruckus Maker Media — Exclusive content on Substack. Premium leadership insights, AI prompts and custom GPTs, new books before the bookshelf. ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Our private network + workshops, The Automatic School tools, AI Prompt Library, and more: ruckusmakers.club 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind — Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven leadership system (The Ruckus Maker Flywheel) to help you transform your campus: Apply Now 🎙 Today's RUCKUS cast in Partnership With: Play Piper Every student starts with curiosity — Piper keeps it alive. Our hands-on STEM kits turn gaming passion into real engineering skills. 🔍 Spark confidence in your students at playpiper.com/ruckus. ODP Business Solutions® Still scrambling for supplies like it's 1999? ODP streamlines everything from pencils to projectors so you can focus on what matters — making an impact. 🔍 Visit odpbusiness.com/education to learn more. IXL If you could differentiate instruction in 20 minutes or less, would you do it? Over 1 million teachers use IXL to make data-informed instruction effortless. 🔍 Start today at ixl.com/leaders. © 2026 Twelve Practices LLC | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?  

📕 The Ruckus Report Quick take: Danny tells the brutal story of a "worst first day of school ever" moment — when half the students had no schedules — and uses it to make the case for a 90-day entry plan that builds trust fast, reduces stress, and keeps your campus from spiralling into avoidable chaos. 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules In this episode, Danny challenges the "vibes-only leadership" approach and lays out why leaders need a real plan — what you're doing, why you're doing it, and how you'll execute — especially in the first 90 days. 🧨 Key Insight #1 — The real "first day" starts months earlier What's broken: Treating the first day of school like a one-day event you can "wing." The shift: Build and execute a time-based entry plan with clear milestones and check-ins. Impact: Fewer fires, fewer surprises, and a campus experience worth showing up for. — starting day one. 📌 Key Insight #2 — Chaos is often a systems failure, not a people problem What's broken: Blaming individuals when a breakdown happens (or silently absorbing it alone). The shift: Own the outcome, stabilize the system, then fix the root cause with a plan you can communicate. Impact: Faster recovery when things go wrong — and fewer repeat disasters. 🎯 Key Insight #3 — Close the "Belief Gap" at 3 levels What's broken: Strategy that sounds good but doesn't create confidence. The shift: Close belief gaps for: You (internal confidence), Your team (shared belief + clarity), Stakeholders (parents/ board/ community buy-in). Impact: More trust, more autonomy, and more momentum — because people believe the plan is real. 🎙️ Quotable Ruckus "As school leaders, we make a promise to our community — and it's important that you deliver on that promise, especially in the first 90 days." — Danny Bauer. 🧩 Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Identify the one predictable breakdown that could derail your next "first day" (schedules, transportation, staffing, supervision, etc.) and write the prevent-it list. This Month: Draft a 90-day entry plan with milestone check-ins (what success looks like by week 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12). This Semester: Share the plan in a format your team can repeat back — then measure whether belief is rising across you/team/stakeholders. 🔗 Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript here 👉Apply to The Entry Plan Intensive: https://entryplanintensive.com/ Applications close March 20th at 11:59:59 pm ET. 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey: 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — An opportunity to Do School Different 3x a week. Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work: https://ruckusmakers.news/subscribe 🗞 Read Ruckus Maker Media — Exclusive content on Substack. Premium leadership insights, AI prompts and custom gpts, new books before the bookshelf: https://ruckusmakers.media/ 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Our private network + workshops, The Automatic School tools, AI Prompt Library, and more: https://ruckusmakers.club/join 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind — Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven leadership system (The Ruckus Maker Flywheel) to help you transform your campus: https://betterleadersbetterschools.com/mastermind 🎙 Today's RUCKUS cast in Partnership With: ODP Business Solutions® For over 30 years, ODP Business Solutions® has helped schools transform from whiteboards to smartboards. Why? Because when you get the right tools, everyone wins. 🔍 Visit odpbusiness.com/education to revolutionize your school's learning spaces. IXL Over 1 million teachers rely on IXL because it is empowering, it helps them make better decisions with reliable data, and it adapts instruction based on student performance. 🔍 Get started today at ixl.com/leaders PLAY PIPER This episode is brought to you by Play Piper. At Piper, we believe STEM doesn't have to feel out of reach. Too many kids love gaming but give up on science and engineering because school doesn't spark their interest. That's where Piper comes in - They have hands-on STEM kits designed to turn curiosity into confidence and keep the pipeline of future innovators flowing strong. 🔍 Learn more at playpiper.com/ruckus © 2026 Twelve Practices LLC | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?  

🧨 The Ruckus Report Quick take: Most leaders say they want innovation… then rebuild the same dusty campus experience with newer paint. Will Campbell shows what happens when you press reset, redesign the human experience of school, and trust students to build the culture while teachers get time to grow inside the workday. Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Will Campbell is redefining what's possible with modern education. As the Founding Head of Franklin School in Jersey City, named the The Most Innovative School in the World by T4 Education, Will has built a learning ecosystem that fuses timeless educational wisdom with breakthrough innovation. His work challenges the traditional playbook, empowering students and educators to think boldly, act with purpose, and lead with vision. 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules In this episode, Will Campbell challenges traditional education paradigms: 🧰 Key Insight #1: Building from scratch isn't freedom, It's leadership under uncertainty What's broken: Leaders wait for the perfect plan, perfect clarity, perfect conditions… and then wonder why nothing changes. The shift: Get comfortable "building the bridge while you're walking on it," with feedback loops, iteration, and a team that can handle a little wobble. Impact: Faster learning, better decisions, and a school design that improves because it's alive — not because it's locked in. 🧠 Key Insight #2: Student voice isn't a survey. It's shared ownership of culture What's broken: Adults control the experience, then blame kids for not buying in. The shift: Trust students to lead earlier — then coach them with guardrails: "Not everything can be a yes, but everything doesn't have to be a no." Impact: Students build real leadership skill through reps, culture becomes self-sustaining, and the building stops depending on one adult to hold it all together. 🧰 Key Insight #3: Partnerships beat "exposure." Bring the real world into the building What's broken: Schools talk internships and career pathways, but keep professionals at arm's length — so students stay stuck in fantasies and assumptions. The shift: Build partnerships that put experts in front of students now (micro-courses, real conversations, real constraints, real options). Impact: Students pivot earlier, choose pathways with eyes open, and develop the confidence that comes from proximity to real work. 🎙️ Quotable Ruckus "Not everything can be a yes, but everything doesn't have to be a no." – Will Campbell 🧗‍♂️ Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Pick one decision you're still hoarding "because it's faster." Give it away — with clear guardrails — and let someone lead. This Month: Create one student-led culture move (advisory, house system, rituals, onboarding, peer mentorship). Make it real. Make it visible. This Semester: Build a partnership pipeline: 10 professionals, 10 micro-sessions, 10 career reality checks — inside your building, not just on a poster. 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey: 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — An opportunity to Do School Different 3x a week. Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work: https://ruckusmakers.news/subscribe 🗞 Read Ruckus Maker Media — Exclusive content on Substack. Premium leadership insights, AI prompts and custom gpts, new books before the bookshelf: https://ruckusmakers.media/ 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Our private network + workshops, The Automatic School tools, AI Prompt Library, and more: https://ruckusmakers.club/join 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind — Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven leadership system (The Ruckus Maker Flywheel) to help you transform your campus: https://betterleadersbetterschools.com/mastermind 🎙 Today's RUCKUS cast in Partnership With: ODP Business Solutions® For over 30 years, ODP Business Solutions® has helped schools transform from whiteboards to smartboards. Why? Because when you get the right tools, everyone wins. 🔍 Visit odpbusiness.com/education to revolutionize your school's learning spaces. IXL Over 1 million teachers rely on IXL because it is empowering, it helps them make better decisions with reliable data, and it adapts instruction based on student performance. 🔍 Get started today at ixl.com/leaders PLAY PIPER This episode is brought to you by Play Piper. At Piper, we believe STEM doesn't have to feel out of reach. Too many kids love gaming but give up on science and engineering because school doesn't spark their interest. That's where Piper comes in - They have hands-on STEM kits designed to turn curiosity into confidence and keep the pipeline of future innovators flowing strong. 🔍 Learn more at playpiper.com/ruckus © 2026 Twelve Practices LLC | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?  

🎯 The Ruckus Report Quick take: Kim Strobel's been attacked for teaching differently — and still chose joy. In this episode, she shows school leaders how happiness isn't fluff — it's the foundation. Learn how to fight for your fire, rewire your brain, and lead a school worth showing up for. 🎓 Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Kim Strobel is a former teacher and administrator turned global speaker, author, and happiness coach. After battling a debilitating panic disorder, she transformed her pain into purpose — helping educators reclaim joy, build resilience, and spark cultures of well-being in their schools. She's the author of Teach Happy: Small Steps to Big Joy and speaks on stages around the world, including events for the FBI and thousands of educators each year. 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules 🧨 Key Insight #1: You have to play it safe to survive school culture What's broken: Educators who do school different often get bullied or iced out. The shift: Kim modeled courage by refusing to dim her light — and found her people. Impact: Students got more than standards — they got voice, agency, and purpose through passion-driven projects like dog adoption campaigns. 🧰 Key Insight #2: Productivity means grinding, not growing What's broken: School leaders wear burnout as a badge and equate rest with weakness. The shift: Kim reframes happiness as a performance strategy, not a luxury. Impact: When teachers practice happiness habits, productivity rises 31% and engagement 10x. 🚀 Key Insight #3: You can't lead culture — you're not responsible for staff happiness What's broken: Leaders think culture is out of their hands. The shift: Kim teaches that school-wide joy starts with modeling and micro-habits. Impact: Schools that bake happiness into the fabric see better retention, morale, and results. 💬 Quotable Ruckus "If your classroom doesn't have joy, curiosity, or risk, then what exactly are you preparing kids for?" – Kim Strobel 📈 Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Ask yourself and your staff: Are we choosing activities that drain us — or fuel us? This Month: Lead by example — commit to one daily happiness habit (movement, gratitude, meditation, social connection, or kindness) This Semester: Create a culture audit. Identify one system or meeting that could be redesigned for joy, not just compliance 🔗 Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript here 👩🏻‍💻 Follow Kim Strobel: Website: http://www.strobeleducation.com, https://strobeleducation.com/teach-happy/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-strobel/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimstrobeljoy/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1798779396858380 Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/she-finds-joy/id1487739752 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey: 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — An opportunity to Do School Different 3x a week. Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work: https://ruckusmakers.news/subscribe 🗞 Read Ruckus Maker Media — Exclusive content on Substack. Premium leadership insights, AI prompts and custom gpts, new books before the bookshelf: https://ruckusmakers.media/ 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Our private network + workshops, The Automatic School tools, AI Prompt Library, and more: https://ruckusmakers.club/join 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind — Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven leadership system (The Ruckus Maker Flywheel) to help you transform your campus: https://betterleadersbetterschools.com/mastermind 🎙 Today's RUCKUS cast in Partnership With: ODP Business Solutions® For over 30 years, ODP Business Solutions® has helped schools transform from whiteboards to smartboards. Why? Because when you get the right tools, everyone wins. 🔍 Visit odpbusiness.com/education to revolutionize your school's learning spaces. IXL Over 1 million teachers rely on IXL because it is empowering, it helps them make better decisions with reliable data, and it adapts instruction based on student performance. 🔍 Get started today at ixl.com/leaders PLAY PIPER This episode is brought to you by Play Piper. At Piper, we believe STEM doesn't have to feel out of reach. Too many kids love gaming but give up on science and engineering because school doesn't spark their interest. That's where Piper comes in - They have hands-on STEM kits designed to turn curiosity into confidence and keep the pipeline of future innovators flowing strong. 🔍 Learn more at playpiper.com/ruckus © 2026 Twelve Practices LLC | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?  

📣 The Ruckus Report Quick take: What if the cure for disengagement isn't better apps, but real tools in real hands? In this episode, Kris Rockwell challenges the one-way screen model that dominates modern classrooms — and makes a powerful case for hands-on learning that sparks joy, confidence, and curiosity. 🤝 Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Kris Rockwell works at the intersection of venture capital, technology, and non-profit initiatives. After spending over fifteen years in the eLearning field, he went on to lead the S. Kent Rockwell Foundation, supporting initiatives in conservation, entrepreneurship, and addiction recovery. He currently serves as Head of Product Development at Play Piper Inc. an edtech company based in San Francisco, the founder of AoS Ventures, a Pittsburgh-based venture capital group, and the co-founder of Praxis Science, a company that focuses on blockchain applications for decentralized science. 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules In this episode, Kris Rockwell challenges traditional education paradigms: 🧠 Key Insight #1: The Tyranny of the One-Way Screen What's broken: One-way screens that keep kids passive and addicted. The shift: From screen consumption to hands-on creation and feedback loops. Impact: Students build confidence and competence through real-world tinkering and tech. 🧰 Key Insight #2: Tools Aren't Enough Without Freedom to Try What's broken: Classrooms full of unused tech due to lack of support or fear. The shift: Providing kids with approachable tools, open-ended projects, and the psychological safety to fail forward. Impact: One student went from bullied and silent to proudly presenting her own 3D-printed dragon — and finding her voice. 🚀 Key Insight #3: Preparing Kids for the Jobs That Don't Exist Yet What's broken: Teaching only for predictable answers and standardized tests. The shift: Making infotech and digital literacy foundational, just like math. Impact: Students learn coding, robotics, and cybersecurity by building their own devices — laying the groundwork for creative, tech-enabled futures. 💬 Quotable Ruckus "Confidence doesn't come from clicking — it comes from building." – Kris Rockwell 🧗‍♂️ Your Do School Different Challenge 👉 Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Ask one student what they'd build if they could learn anything. Then listen. This Month: Introduce one hands-on STEM project that doesn't require a final grade. This Semester: Reframe screen time — swap passive clicks for real-world tinkering. 🔗 Connect & Continue 📌 Get the full episode transcript here 👩🏻‍💻  Follow Kris Rockwell: Website: www.playpiper.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/krisrockwell Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StartWithPiper X: https://x.com/StartWithPiper Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startwithpiper YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PlayPiperLLC TikTok: @play.piper 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey: 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work: https://ruckusmakers.news 🗞 Read Ruckus Maker Media — Premium insights and early book drops: https://ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Private network, AI Prompt Library, and more: https://ruckusmakers.club/join 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind — Coaching + The Ruckus Maker Flywheel: https://betterleadersbetterschools.com/mastermind 🎙 Today's RUCKUS cast in Partnership With: ODP Business Solutions® For over 30 years, ODP Business Solutions® has helped schools transform from whiteboards to smartboards. Why? Because when you get the right tools, everyone wins. 🔍 Visit odpbusiness.com/education to revolutionize your school's learning spaces. IXL Over 1 million teachers rely on IXL because it is empowering, it helps them make better decisions with reliable data, and it adapts instruction based on student performance. 🔍 Get started today at ixl.com/leaders PLAY PIPER This episode is brought to you by Play Piper. At Piper, we believe STEM doesn't have to feel out of reach. Too many kids love gaming but give up on science and engineering because school doesn't spark their interest. That's where Piper comes in - They have hands-on STEM kits designed to turn curiosity into confidence and keep the pipeline of future innovators flowing strong. 🔍 Learn more at playpiper.com/ruckus © 2026 Twelve Practices LLC | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?  

📣 The Ruckus Report Quick take: What if the best learning doesn't happen in a classroom? Dr. Annalies Corbin shares 5 proven strategies to design schools that actually connect learning to real life. 🎓 Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Dr. Annalies Corbin is the Founder & CEO of the PAST Foundation, a trailblazing organization transforming education for the 21st century. A relentless innovator, Dr. Corbin has been reshaping how we connect learning to life for the past 25 years, bridging the gap between scientific research, real-world problem-solving, and classroom experiences. 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules In this episode, Dr. Corbin challenges traditional education paradigms: 🎯 Key Insight #1: Student Agency What's broken: Teacher-centered control that strips students of voice and choice. The shift: Design learning environments that start with student agency. Impact: Students become self-directed, engaged, and deeply invested in their learning journey. 🎯 Key Insight #2: Cultural Relevancy What's broken: Curriculum that doesn't reflect students' identities or lived experiences. The shift: Make learning culturally relevant so students see themselves in the material. Impact: Increased connection, confidence, and comprehension. 🎯 Key Insight #3: Mastery over Time What's broken: Time-based pacing guides and one-size-fits-all assessments. The shift: Competency-based learning that honors student readiness. Impact: Deeper understanding and real application beyond test scores. 🎯 Key Insight #4: Transdisciplinary Learning What's broken: Artificial silos separating math, science, English, and real life. The shift: Learning that blends disciplines around authentic context and problems. Impact: Greater engagement and relevance across all content areas. 🎯 Key Insight #5: Problem-Based Learning What's broken: Projects done "for the grade" rather than solving something real. The shift: Start with real-world problems and design learning around solving them. Impact: Students learn how to think critically and contribute meaningfully to their communities. 💬 Quotable Ruckus "Say Yes! Too many great ideas die before they start because we begin with all the reasons why not." ** — Dr. Annalies Corbin** 📈 Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Ask your students what they want to learn this week — and act on one idea. This Month: Audit your lessons for cultural relevancy. Where are students missing? This Semester: Launch one real-world, problem-based project that connects to your local community. 🔗 Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript here 👩🏻‍💻  Follow Dr. Annalies Corbin: Website: https://www.pastfoundation.org/annalies-corbin pastfoundation.org/hackingschool | pastfoundation.org/learning-unboxed \ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annalies-corbin-4016121 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey: 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work: ruckusmakers.news 🗞️ Read Ruckus Maker Media — Premium Substack content, AI prompts, book previews: ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Private network, workshops, The Automatic School toolkit, and more: ruckusmakers.club 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind — Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven leadership system: Apply Now 🎙 Today's RUCKUS cast in Partnership With: ODP Business Solutions® For over 30 years, ODP Business Solutions® has helped schools transform from whiteboards to smartboards. Why? Because when you get the right tools, everyone wins. 🔍 Visit odpbusiness.com/education to revolutionize your school's learning spaces. IXL Over 1 million teachers rely on IXL because it is empowering, it helps them make better decisions with reliable data, and it adapts instruction based on student performance. 🔍 Get started today at ixl.com/leaders PLAY PIPER This episode is brought to you by Play Piper. At Piper, we believe STEM doesn't have to feel out of reach. Too many kids love gaming but give up on science and engineering because school doesn't spark their interest. That's where Piper comes in - They have hands-on STEM kits designed to turn curiosity into confidence and keep the pipeline of future innovators flowing strong. 🔍 Learn more at playpiper.com/ruckus © 2026 Twelve Practices LLC | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?  

🎙 The Ruckus Report Quick Take: What happens when a high school sophomore builds the tool he wishes his teacher had? You get Markify — a collaborative, accessible classroom platform now used by 20,000+ students. In this episode, Anthony Beckett shares how a missed note sparked a movement and what school leaders can learn from a student-led disruption. 👋 Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Anthony Beckett is the founder of Markify, an EdTech startup transforming classrooms into collaborative learning environments. After building the prototype while still in high school, Anthony scaled Markify to 1,500+ schools and continues to grow the company as a college student. He's presented at ISTE, FETC, and speaks nationally about accessibility, student agency, and rethinking how classrooms operate. 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules 🧠 Key Insight #1 — Make Classrooms More Accessible What's broken: Teachers lecture. Students copy notes. And if you miss it, you're out of luck. The shift: Markify puts the whiteboard on every student's desk — live, editable, and archived. Impact: All students — even those in the back row or with attention challenges — can review, interact, and participate at their own pace. 🧠 Key Insight #2 — Design for Collaboration Without Chaos What's broken: Classrooms are still built for compliance, not contribution. Group work is rare, and many tools are either clunky or chaotic. The shift: Markify allows controlled collaboration with real-time editing, permissions, and engagement features. Impact: Shy students speak up. Peer feedback flows. Classwide documents become shared artifacts — not worksheets in isolation. 🧠 Key Insight #3 — Fight Fire With Fire (Engagement > Distraction) What's broken: Schools treat phones and tech as threats instead of opportunities. The shift: Build experiences so engaging, students choose learning over scrolling. Impact: One student hid in the janitor's closet to avoid speaking in class — until Markify gave her a voice. Two weeks later, she was leading a group project. 💬 Quotable Ruckus "The real challenge isn't distraction — it's disinterest. If school isn't more engaging than TikTok, we've already lost." — Anthony Beckett 🎯 Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Ask students how they would redesign one traditional lesson. Try one of their suggestions. This Month: Pilot a collaborative tool like Markify in one unit or course. This Semester: Launch a student-led innovation — let learners solve a real campus problem with tech, process, or design. 🔗 Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript here 👩🏻‍💻 Follow Anthony Beckett: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beckett-anthony Markify LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/markifyapp Markify Twitter/X: https://x.com/markifytool Markify Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markifytool Markify YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@markifyexotek Markify Website: https://markifyapp.com 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Here Are Four Ways We Can Help You on Your Do School Different Journey 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work: ruckusmakers.news 🗞️ Read Ruckus Maker Media — Premium Substack content, AI prompts, book previews: ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Private network, workshops, The Automatic School toolkit, and more: ruckusmakers.club 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind — Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven leadership system: Apply Now 🎙 Today's RUCKUS cast in Partnership With: ODP Business Solutions® For over 30 years, ODP Business Solutions® has helped schools transform from whiteboards to smartboards. Why? Because when you get the right tools, everyone wins. 🔍 Visit odpbusiness.com/education to revolutionize your school's learning spaces. IXL Over 1 million teachers rely on IXL because it is empowering, it helps them make better decisions with reliable data, and it adapts instruction based on student performance. 🔍 Get started today at ixl.com/leaders PLAY PIPER This episode is brought to you by Play Piper. At Piper, we believe STEM doesn't have to feel out of reach. Too many kids love gaming but give up on science and engineering because school doesn't spark their interest. That's where Piper comes in - They have hands-on STEM kits designed to turn curiosity into confidence and keep the pipeline of future innovators flowing strong. 🔍 Learn more at playpiper.com/ruckus   © 2026 Twelve Practices LLC | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?  

🎯 The Ruckus Report Quick take: If you're leading from an empty tank, you're not leading at all. Joël McLean learned the hard way that transformational leadership starts within — and he built a roadmap any school leader can follow. 🎓 Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Joël McLean is a former principal turned certified leadership coach, committed to helping leaders at every level develop skills and confidence to thrive. With 27+ years in education and founder of Inspire Leadership Coaching, he's on a mission to spark transformation from the inside out. 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules In this episode, Joël McLean challenges traditional education paradigms: 🤯 Key Insight #1: Self-Leadership Over More Initiatives What's broken: More hours, more meetings, and more pressure are seen as the solution to underperformance. The shift: Joël argues that success starts with self-leadership and intentional reflection. Impact: Leaders who focus inward show up with clarity, energy, and stronger school-wide influence. 🤯Key Insight #2: Leadership Is Human, Not Just Measurable What's broken: Leadership is treated as purely results-driven, often ignoring the personal development of the leader. The shift: Joël reframes leadership as a human-centered, values-based journey. Impact: Schools thrive when principals build themselves first, then build others. 🤯 Key Insight #3: Cross-Discipline Growth Builds Better Leaders What's broken: Rigid leadership paths discourage creative growth and perspective-taking outside education. The shift: Joël models how borrowing from business, coaching, and mindfulness unlocks new leadership capacity. Impact: Innovative thinking and intentional design create empowered, future-ready campuses. 💬 Quotable Ruckus "If people are depending on me as a leader, then I need to make sure I'm at my best." – Joël McLean 🧗‍♂️ Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Block 15 minutes for uninterrupted reflection. Ask yourself: "Who do I want to be as a leader this week?" This Month: Write your own Leader's Code. Define your values, vision, and what success looks like for you. This Semester: Begin building systems to support adult learning and staff development aligned with your leadership code. 🔗 Connect & Continue 🌟 Get the full episode transcript here 👩🏻‍💻 Follow Joël McLean: My website: inspireleadership.ca Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inspirelifeleadershipcoaching Instagram: @inspireleadershipcoaching 📕 Buy Transcending Your Leadership here. 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — An opportunity to Do School Different 3x a week. Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work: https://ruckusmakers.news 🗳 Read Ruckus Maker Media — Exclusive content on Substack. Premium leadership insights, AI prompts and custom gpts, new books before the bookshelf. https://ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Our private network + workshops, The Automatic School tools, AI Prompt Library, and more: https://ruckusmakers.club 🫸 Apply to the Mastermind — Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven leadership system (The Ruckus Maker Flywheel) to help you transform your campus: https://betterleadersbetterschools.com/mastermind 🎙 Today's RUCKUS cast in Partnership With: ODP Business Solutions® Looking to create the kind of campus experience students never forget? ODP Business Solutions® transforms ordinary spaces into extraordinary learning environments. 🔍 Visit **odpbusiness.com/education** and let's Do School Different. IXL IXL takes the guesswork out of lesson planning for teachers. IXL's ready-made lesson plans are aligned to your textbooks and state standards, so teachers can turn to IXL for the exact content they need to help their students. 🔍 Get started today at ixl.com/leaders PLAY PIPER This episode of Better Leaders Better Schools is sponsored by Play Piper. Every student starts with curiosity - Piper keeps it alive. Our hands-on STEM kits turn gaming passion into real engineering skills. 🔍 Spark confidence in your students at https://www.playpiper.com/ruckus © 2026 Twelve Practices LLC | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?  

📣 The Ruckus Report Quick take: Ryan Hennessey didn't just walk away from teaching — he dropped the mic. In this episode, he reveals how to leave on your own terms, build brave spaces that spark curiosity, and model vulnerability without losing yourself in the process. 🎓 Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Ryan Hennessey is a former award-winning educator turned heart-led entrepreneur who refuses to accept "good enough." A science teacher by training and disruptor by design, he equips leaders to build spaces (and lives) that are brave, human, and wildly effective. Ryan believes in trading fear for courage, autopilot for true agency, and busy work for inspiring learning that sticks. 🔨  Breaking Down the Old Rules In this episode, Ryan Hennessey challenges traditional education paradigms: 🧠 Key Insight #1: From Compliance to Curiosity What's broken: Classrooms designed for control, not connection. The shift: Ditch the worksheet culture and build can't-miss learning experiences. Impact: Students re-engage, show up with energy, and begin asking better questions. 🧠 Key Insight #2: From Burnout to Wholeness What's broken: The myth that great teachers must sacrifice everything. The shift: Choose integrity and presence — even if it means leaving. Impact: Greater sustainability and joy for teachers, deeper impact on students. 🧠 Key Insight #3: From Fear to Vulnerability What's broken: Hyper-vigilant environments that punish risk-taking. The shift: Lead with humanity and model failure. Impact: Classrooms become brave spaces where trust, growth, and agency thrive. 🎙️ Quotable Ruckus "Find the courage to fail spectacularly today." – Ryan Hennessey 🧩 Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Ask yourself: Do students want to be in this space? Then do one thing to make the answer "yes." This Month: Build one immersive lesson that ditches the script and leans into curiosity. This Semester: Model vulnerability. Tell students when you're trying something new — and invite them to do the same. 🔗 Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript: Read here 👩🏻‍💻 Follow Ryan Hennessey: Website: www.ryan-hennessey.com/ Substack: Handle: @IAMRYANHENNESSEY  |                                                                   Link: substack.com/@iamryanhennessey Instagram: Handle: @IAMRYANHENNESSEY | Link: www.instagram.com/iamryanhennessey LinkedIn: Link: www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-hennessey 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey: 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — An opportunity to Do School Different 3x a week. Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work: ruckusmakers.news 🗞 Read Ruckus Maker Media — Exclusive content on Substack. Premium leadership insights, AI prompts and custom GPTs, new books before the bookshelf. ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Our private network + workshops, The Automatic School tools, AI Prompt Library, and more: ruckusmakers.club 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind — Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven leadership system (The Ruckus Maker Flywheel): Apply here 🎙 Today's RUCKUS cast in Partnership With: ODP Business Solutions® Looking to create the kind of campus experience students never forget? ODP Business Solutions® transforms ordinary spaces into extraordinary learning environments. 🔍 Visit **odpbusiness.com/education** and let's Do School Different. IXL IXL takes the guesswork out of lesson planning for teachers. IXL's ready-made lesson plans are aligned to your textbooks and state standards, so teachers can turn to IXL for the exact content they need to help their students. 🔍 Get started today at ixl.com/leaders PLAY PIPER This episode of Better Leaders Better Schools is sponsored by Play Piper. Every student starts with curiosity - Piper keeps it alive. Our hands-on STEM kits turn gaming passion into real engineering skills. 🔍 Spark confidence in your students at https://www.playpiper.com/ruckus © 2026 Twelve Practices LLC | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?  

😎 The Ruckus Report Quick take: Micah Ali dismantles outdated mindsets about urban education and shares how Compton Unified went from a district people had written off to one that's setting the pace for California. Learn what it takes to build trust, flip expectations, and drive equity by doing what's ethical. 🙌 Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Micah Ali is the longest-serving President in the history of the Compton Unified School District Board of Trustees. A lifelong Compton resident and education advocate, he has championed transformational change in public education, equity in opportunity, and investments that uplift Black and Brown communities in California and across the nation. 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules 🧠 Key Insight #1: Focus on Students, Not Adult Comfort What's broken: Urban education blamed for failing because of zip codes and funding gaps The shift: Real issue is adult comfort — not student success Impact: Compton Unified refocused priorities, bucked the failure narrative, and rebuilt community trust 🧠 Key Insight #2: From Expectations to Examples What's broken: Low expectations for Black and Brown communities The shift: Redefining students as examples, not expectations Impact: 90%+ student participation in STEAM, national recognition, and record-breaking graduation rates 🧠 Key Insight #3: Replace Equity Buzzwords with Ethics What's broken: DEI as a buzzword without substance The shift: Replace diversity and equity with ethics Impact: Every student gets what they need — not because it's politically correct, but because it's morally required 🗣 Quotable Ruckus "Compton is what the future looks like. And Compton students are not expectations, they are examples." — Micah Ali 🎒Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Audit one adult-centered practice and replace it with a student-focused one This Month: Reach out to one potential partner outside your zip code — think big (DLR, Apple, Zoom) This Semester: Launch one initiative that proves belief in students — housing, pathways, real opportunities 🔗 Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript here 👩🏻‍💻 Follow Micah Ali: https://www.compton.k12.ca.us/ https://www.dlrgroup.com/work/compton-high-school/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/micah-ali-54503823/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/compton-unified-school-district/posts/?feedView=all https://www.linkedin.com/company/dlrgroup/posts/?feedView=all 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey: 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — An opportunity to Do School Different 3x a week. Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work: https://ruckusmakers.news/subscribe 🗞 Read Ruckus Maker Media — Exclusive content on Substack. Premium leadership insights, AI prompts and custom gpts, new books before the bookshelf. https://ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Our private network + workshops, The Automatic School tools, AI Prompt Library, and more: https://ruckusmakers.club/join 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind — Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven leadership system (The Ruckus Maker Flywheel) to help you transform your campus: https://betterleadersbetterschools.com/mastermind 🎙 Today's RUCKUS cast in Partnership With: ODP Business Solutions® Looking to create the kind of campus experience students never forget? ODP Business Solutions® transforms ordinary spaces into extraordinary learning environments. 🔍 Visit odpbusiness.com/education and let's Do School Different. IXL Over 1 million teachers rely on IXL because it is empowering, it helps them make better decisions with reliable data, and it adapts instruction based on student performance. 🔍 Get started today at ixl.com/leaders PLAY PIPER Kids love gaming and computers, but are disengaged from Math and Science at school. Play Piper changes that with hands-on STEM kits and a coding curriculum. 🔍 Learn more at playpiper.com © 2026 Twelve Practices LLC | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?  

📣 The Ruckus Report Quick take: What if the key to student achievement wasn't curriculum coverage or test prep, but trust? Joe LaTorre's classroom proves that when you lead with relationships, kids show up, lean in, and thrive. 🤝 Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Joe LaTorre is a nationally recognized middle school teacher from Oceanside, NY. Known for building powerful classroom culture and eliminating discipline referrals, Joe helps students read 10–15 books a year, double the average. He's also the co-creator of the Bridges program, uniting students across racially and socioeconomically segregated communities. Joe is an award-winning educator, speaker, and proud Ruckus Maker. 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules 🧠 Key Insight #1: The Trust Shortcut What's broken: Prioritizing procedures and curriculum in week one. The shift: Start with community, vulnerability, and visible trust. Impact: Students buy in early, behavior issues drop to nearly zero, and academic outcomes skyrocket. 🧠 Key Insight #2: Coaching Over Commanding What's broken: Teachers as compliance officers. The shift: Teachers act as coaches, tailoring experiences to student needs. Impact: More student ownership, deeper engagement, and drastically reduced AI misuse. 🧠 Key Insight #3: Cross-District Segregation Busters What's broken: Racial and economic isolation between school communities. The shift: The Bridges program partners students across districts for shared learning and leadership. Impact: Authentic friendships, empathy, and real-world leadership skills built over years. 💬 Quotable Ruckus "Start with the stretching. Trust is the classroom version of that. If you build it first, you go farther." – Joe LaTorre 📈 Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Begin your class by explaining why today's learning matters — in their terms. This Month: Run a trust-building circle with authentic, scaffolded questions. This Semester: Pilot a cross-classroom or cross-campus exchange to build bridges. 🔗 Connect & Continue 🌟 Get the full episode transcript: Read it here 👩🏻‍💻 Follow Joe LaTorre: Links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2X7LDuBcPMw, Website: www.JosephLaTorre.com Instagram: @thejoelatorre Linktree: linktr.ee/TheJoeLaTorre 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey 📌 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — Get tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work 3x a week: ruckusmakers.news 🗖 Read Ruckus Maker Media — Exclusive content, AI prompts, new books before the bookshelf: ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Our private network, workshops, AI tools, and more: ruckusmakers.club 🧨 Apply to The Mastermind — Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven Ruckus Maker Flywheel: betterleadersbetterschools.com/mastermind 🎧 Today's RUCKUScast in Partnership With: ODP Business Solutions® Looking to create the kind of campus experience students never forget? ODP Business Solutions® transforms ordinary spaces into extraordinary learning environments. 🔍 Visit odpbusiness.com/education and let's Do School Different. IXL Over 1 million teachers rely on IXL because it is empowering, it helps them make better decisions with reliable data, and it adapts instruction based on student performance. 🔍 Get started today at ixl.com/leaders PLAY PIPER Kids love gaming and computers, but are disengaged from Math and Science at school. Play Piper changes that with hands-on STEM kits and a coding curriculum. 🔍 Learn more at playpiper.com © 2026 Twelve Practices LLC | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?  

📣 The Ruckus Report Quick take: When the system broke her heart, she built a new one. From a classroom with no chairs to a network of 1:1 micro schools, Lynna Martinez-Khalilian is rewriting the rules of what school can be. 🤝 Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Lynna Martinez-Khalilian is a former classroom teacher who experienced the limits of traditional schooling firsthand. Now a pioneer at Fusion Education Group, Lynna leads a nationwide network of one-to-one micro schools designed to prioritize student belonging, interest-driven learning, and flexible, personalized schedules. She's on a mission to put love at the center of school design — and create places where students thrive, not just survive. 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules 🎯 Key Insight #1: The Class Size Myth What's broken: Cramming 40 kids into a classroom and expecting personalization. The shift: A micro school model with 1:1 instruction and flexible pacing. Impact: Students are engaged, confident, and finally seen — teacher burnout drops dramatically. 🎯 Key Insight #2: Teaching Before Trust What's broken: Leading with content before connection. The shift: A learning philosophy built on love, motivation, then teaching. Impact: Relationships become the gateway to mastery and critical thinking. 🎯 Key Insight #3: Standardized Systems, One-Size-Fits-All Schedules What's broken: Age-based cohorts, rigid start times, and locked-in pacing. The shift: Flexible, personalized schedules based on student peak learning times and interest development. Impact: Students discover self-agency, intrinsic motivation, and joy in learning — and it sticks. 💬 Quotable Ruckus "Love, motivate, teach. That's the order — and that's the revolution." – Lynna Martinez Khalilian 🏋️ Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Ask your staff: what would it look like to lead with love in our classrooms? This Month: Audit your schedule for flexibility. Where can you give students more autonomy? This Semester: Pilot a mentorship-first initiative where teachers focus on connection before content. 🔗 Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript here 🔗 Follow Lynna Martinez Khalilian: Website: https://www.fusionacademy.com/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lynna-martinez-khalilian-413a2b75 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey: 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — 3x a week tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work: ruckusmakers.news 🗞 Read Ruckus Maker Media — Exclusive content on Substack. Leadership insights, AI tools, book previews: ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Private network + workshops, AI Prompt Library, The Automatic School tools: ruckusmakers.club 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind — Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven Ruckus Maker Flywheel: betterleadersbetterschools.com/mastermind 🎙 Today's RUCKUS cast in Partnership With: ODP Business Solutions® Looking to create the kind of campus experience students never forget? ODP Business Solutions® transforms ordinary spaces into extraordinary learning environments. 🔍 Visit odpbusiness.com/education and let's Do School Different. IXL Over 1 million teachers rely on IXL because it is empowering, it helps them make better decisions with reliable data, and it adapts instruction based on student performance. 🔍 Get started today at ixl.com/leaders PLAY PIPER Kids love gaming and computers, but are disengaged from Math and Science at school. Play Piper changes that with hands-on STEM kits and a coding curriculum. 🔍 Learn more at playpiper.com © 2026 Twelve Practices LLC | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?  

📣 The Ruckus Report Quick take: Jessica Levine restructured Wednesdays to unlock autonomy, connection, and deep learning in her sixth-grade science class. Joined by Mitch Weathers, this episode explores student voice, the power of routine, and why helping kids feel known is just as critical as teaching content. 🎓 Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Makers Jessica Levine is a sixth-grade science teacher who created "ABCDE Days" — a protocol born from pandemic chaos that now transforms how her students learn, reflect, and grow. Mitch Weathers is an educator, author, and systems guru who helps schools build executive function and organization into the DNA of instruction. He co-founded Organized Binder and co-authored a new book on self-regulation in early grades. 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules 🧠 Key Insight #1: School should center the whole child, not just content. What's broken: Treating academics and social-emotional learning as separate. The shift: Jessica's "B" day prompts students to reflect on how they're being — emotionally, socially, and mentally. Impact: Deeper student connection, emotional literacy, and trust in the classroom. 🧠 Key Insight #2: Systems aren't stifling — they're liberating. What's broken: Teachers winging it or relying on memory for every class routine. The shift: Mitch shows how naming and systematizing common tasks frees up energy for deeper learning. Impact: Students thrive with predictability, and teachers save time and sanity. 🧠 Key Insight #3: Every student deserves a caring adult connection on campus. What's broken: A shocking number of students report not feeling seen by a single adult. The shift: Simple routines like anonymous surveys and sticky-dot walls help identify who's floating through school unseen. Impact: Schools proactively create connections — and prevent isolation-driven behavior issues. 💬 Quotable Ruckus "I'm not teaching content anymore. I'm teaching kids how to learn — and how their brains work." – Jessica Levine 🏋️ Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Ask students one "B" question: How are you being? This Month: Add structure to one routine that currently drains your energy. This Semester: Run a campus-wide check — does every student have one trusted adult? 🔗 Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript here 🔗 Join us on the Adorable Red Hats show. 📧 Email [email protected] with your pitch. 👩🏻‍💻 Learn more at adorableredhats.com. 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — An opportunity to Do School Different 3x a week. Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work: https://ruckusmakers.news 🗖 Read Ruckus Maker Media — Exclusive content on Substack. Premium leadership insights, AI prompts and custom gpts, new books before the bookshelf: https://ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Our private network + workshops, The Automatic School tools, AI Prompt Library, and more: https://ruckusmakers.club 🤨 Apply to the Mastermind — Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven leadership system (The Ruckus Maker Flywheel) to help you transform your campus: https://betterleadersbetterschools.com/mastermind 🔍 Today's RUCKUScast in Partnership with: ODP Business Solutions® Looking to create the kind of campus experience students never forget? ODP Business Solutions® transforms ordinary spaces into extraordinary learning environments. 🔍 Learn more: odpbusiness.com/education IXL Over 1 million teachers rely on IXL because it is empowering, it helps them make better decisions with reliable data, and it adapts instruction based on student performance. 🔍 Learn more: ixl.com/leaders Play Piper Too many students love tech but don't see themselves as scientists or engineers. Play Piper's hands-on STEM kits and engaging curriculum changes that. 🔍 Learn more: playpiper.com © 2025 Twelve Practices LLC | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?  

🎯 The Ruckus Report Quick take: Most schools are drowning in Tier 2 and Tier 3 referrals. Mitch Weathers shows why fixing Tier 1 first is the only way out — and how to actually make it work. 🤝 Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Mitch Weathers is a veteran educator, author, and co-founder of Organized Binder. He's helped thousands of schools rethink their Tier 1 systems and center equity, consistency, and executive function in the classroom. Mitch has keynoted across the U.S. and even rocked turquoise jewelry markets in New Mexico (true story). 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules In this episode, Mitch challenges traditional education paradigms: 🧠 Key Insight #1: Tier 1 is the Foundation What's broken: Schools overload Tier 2 and Tier 3 while ignoring Tier 1. The shift: Design Tier 1 systems every teacher can implement with fidelity. Impact: Reduced referrals, increased student success, and less burnout. 🧠 Key Insight #2: PD That Actually Works What's broken: Professional learning feels irrelevant and impractical. The shift: Anchor PD in tools and mindsets that apply Monday morning. Impact: Teachers actually implement strategies — and want more. 🧠 Key Insight #3: Lead with Flow, Not Force What's broken: Leaders grip too tightly to plans and compliance. The shift: Lead with intentionality, flexibility, and flow. Impact: More trust, better culture, and stronger adult nervous systems. 💬 Quotable Ruckus "You can't Tier 2 your way out of a Tier 1 problem." — Mitch Weathers 📈 Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Audit one Tier 1 practice for clarity and consistency. This Month: Host a team conversation on the real purpose of PD. This Semester: Design Tier 1 initiatives that every teacher can do. 🔗 Connect & Continue 🌟 Get the full episode transcript here 🔗 Join us on the Adorable Red Hats show. 📧 Email [email protected] with your pitch. 👩🏻‍💻 Learn more at adorableredhats.com. 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey: 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — An opportunity to Do School Different 3x a week. Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work: https://ruckusmakers.news 🗖 Read Ruckus Maker Media — Exclusive content on Substack. Premium leadership insights, AI prompts and custom gpts, new books before the bookshelf: https://ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Our private network + workshops, The Automatic School tools, AI Prompt Library, and more: https://ruckusmakers.club 🤨 Apply to the Mastermind — Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven leadership system (The Ruckus Maker Flywheel) to help you transform your campus: https://betterleadersbetterschools.com/mastermind 🔍 Today's RUCKUScast in Partnership with: ODP Business Solutions® Looking to create the kind of campus experience students never forget? ODP Business Solutions® transforms ordinary spaces into extraordinary learning environments. 🔍 Learn more: odpbusiness.com/education IXL Over 1 million teachers rely on IXL because it is empowering, it helps them make better decisions with reliable data, and it adapts instruction based on student performance. 🔍 Learn more: ixl.com/leaders Play Piper Too many students love tech but don't see themselves as scientists or engineers. Play Piper's hands-on STEM kits and engaging curriculum changes that. 🔍 Learn more: playpiper.com © 2025 Twelve Practices LLC | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?  

🎯 The Ruckus Report Quick take: Dr. Brandi Kelly offers a refreshing reminder that hope isn't fluffy — it's foundational. In this episode, she unpacks how school leaders can reconnect with what matters most: the heartbeat of their schools. 🎓 Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Dr. Brandi Kelly is a seasoned educator with 20+ years of experience as a school social worker, principal, and superintendent. She's a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Maxwell Certified Coach who founded Spark HOPE Edu to help leaders cultivate schools where every person feels seen, heard, and valued. 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules In this episode, Dr. Brandi Kelly challenges traditional education paradigms: 🧠 Key Insight #1: Leadership by Compliance What's broken: Systems that reward rule-following over relationship-building. The shift: Leading with heart, humanity, and HOPE. Impact: Deeper connection, higher engagement, and campuses where people thrive. 🧠 Key Insight #2: Fixing Kids Instead of Finding Their Spark What's broken: Focusing on deficits and discipline. The shift: Believing in students before they believe in themselves. Impact: Students rediscover purpose, belonging, and personal power. 🧠 Key Insight #3: Leading Alone What's broken: Isolation at the top. The shift: Prioritizing coaching, community, and connection. Impact: Stronger, more supported leaders who build stronger teams. 💬 Quotable Ruckus "You matter. Your story matters. And there is greatness inside of you. So go shine your light in this world bright." – Dr. Brandi Kelly 🏋️ Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Ask one student or teacher what gives them hope. This Month: Reflect on your leadership through the lens of HOPE: Habits, Optimistic Outlook, Purpose, and Excellence. This Semester: Start your day with intention. Replace your to-do list with a "to-connect" list. 👩🏻‍💻 Connect & Continue 🌟 Get the full episode transcript here 🔗 Follow Dr. Brandi Kelly: Website: www.sparkhopeedu.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandi-kelly-ed-d-lcsw-05446aa7/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadwithhope.23/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LTW24?mibextid=LQQJ4d 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey: 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — An opportunity to Do School Different 3x a week. Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work: https://ruckusmakers.news 🗖 Read Ruckus Maker Media — Exclusive content on Substack. Premium leadership insights, AI prompts and custom gpts, new books before the bookshelf: https://ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Our private network + workshops, The Automatic School tools, AI Prompt Library, and more: https://ruckusmakers.club 🤨 Apply to the Mastermind — Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven leadership system (The Ruckus Maker Flywheel) to help you transform your campus: https://betterleadersbetterschools.com/mastermind 🤝 Today's RUCKUScast in Partnership with: ODP Business Solutions®: Looking to create the kind of campus experience students never forget? ODP Business Solutions® transforms ordinary spaces into extraordinary learning environments. 🔍 Learn more: odpbusiness.com/education IXL: Over 1 million teachers rely on IXL because it is empowering, it helps them make better decisions with reliable data, and it adapts instruction based on student performance. 🔍 Learn more: ixl.com/leaders Play Piper: Too many students love tech but don't see themselves as scientists or engineers. Play Piper's hands-on STEM kits and engaging curriculum changes that. 🔍 Learn more: playpiper.com © 2025 Twelve Practices LLC | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?  

🎯 The Ruckus Report Quick take: Traditional discipline assumes kids will reflect, reset, and return on their own. Charle Peck and Joshua Stamper expose the myth of self-regulation and offer a proven, trauma-informed framework that transforms behavior systems from reactive to relational. 🤝 Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Makers Charle Peck is a global keynote speaker and co-author of The Language of Behavior and Improving School Mental Health. Her experience as a high school teacher turned clinical therapist brings real-world insight and urgency to her work supporting educators. Joshua Stamper is an author, speaker, and former middle school administrator with a passion for trauma-informed education and leadership. He created Aspire to Lead to equip educators with practical, empathetic strategies that drive real change. As co-author of The Language of Behavior, Joshua helps schools implement transformative, relationship-centered approaches to discipline and student support. 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules In this episode, Charle Peck and Joshua Stamper challenge traditional education paradigms: 🧠 Key Insight #1: Discipline Isn't Magic What's broken: Detentions, ISS, and OSS assume kids will reflect and self-correct. The shift: Behavior is a language. Read it, respond to it, and teach skills in context. Impact: Reduced repeat referrals, improved student-teacher relationships. 🧠 Key Insight #2: The Push-In Model What's broken: Students lose learning time. Teachers lose momentum. Nothing changes. The shift: Admin, counselors, or coaches step in so teachers can connect 1:1 with students. Impact: Thousands of instructional minutes reclaimed. Increased student engagement and academic gains. 🧠 Key Insight #3: Relationship Action Teams (RATs) What's broken: Top-down initiatives die without real buy-in. The shift: A grassroots team pilots behavior strategies, tracks wins, and grows culture from within. Impact: Sustainable change. Staff ownership. A true transformation movement. 💬 Quotable Ruckus "Too often we forget that discipline really means to teach, not to punish." – Charle Peck "Connection before correction is the key." – Joshua Stamper 📈 Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Try a "sky signature" as a rapid reset strategy to shift classroom energy. This Month: Pilot the push-in model in one class. Reflect on what changes. This Semester: Launch a Relationship Action Team with 3-5 educators ready to lead from within. 🔗 Connect & Continue 🌟 Get the full episode transcript here 👩🏻‍💻 Follow Charle Peck: Website: https://www.thrivingeducator.org/speaking Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charlepeck1 Twitter X: https://twitter.com/CharlePeck LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlepeck/ Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-language-of-behavior/id1777075576 👩🏻‍💻 Follow Joshua Stamper: Website: www.joshstamper.com Twitter (X): @Joshua__Stamper (@Joshua__Stamper) Instagram: @Joshua__Stamper (@Joshua__Stamper) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-stamper/ Blue Sky: @joshuaStamper YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@joshuastamper Aspire to Lead Book: www.bit.ly/aspirelead 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — Do School Different 3x a week. Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work: ruckusmakers.news 🗳 Read Ruckus Maker Media — Premium leadership insights, AI prompts and custom GPTs, new books before the bookshelf. ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Our private network + workshops, The Automatic School tools, AI Prompt Library, and more: ruckusmakers.club 🫸 Apply to the Mastermind — Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven leadership system (The Ruckus Maker Flywheel) to help you transform your campus: Apply Now 🔍 Today's RUCKUScast in Partnership with: ODP Business Solutions®: Looking to create the kind of campus experience students never forget? ODP Business Solutions® transforms ordinary spaces into extraordinary learning environments. 🔍  Visit odpbusiness.com/education and let's Do School Different. IXL: Over 1 million teachers rely on IXL because it is empowering, it helps them make better decisions with reliable data, and it adapts instruction based on student performance. 🔍 Learn more: ixl.com/leaders. Play Piper: Too many students love tech but don't see themselves as scientists or engineers. Play Piper's hands-on STEM kits and engaging curriculum changes that. 🔍 Learn more: playpiper.com © 2025 Twelve Practices LLC | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?  

🎯 The Ruckus Report Quick take: What if connection — not curriculum — was the real driver of academic success? In this episode, Dr. Anne Paonessa reframes student disengagement as feedback, not failure, and reveals how connection fuels attendance, learning, and belonging on every campus. 🎓 Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Dr. Anne Paonessa is a former assistant superintendent, national speaker, and author of Essential Connection Skills. She helps school leaders build connected classrooms that combat disconnection, burnout, and disengagement by focusing on four essential domains of connection. 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules In this episode, Dr. Anne Paonessa challenges traditional education paradigms: 🧠 Key Insight #1 – Connection Over Compliance What's broken: Schools chase test scores while ignoring the human heartbeat of learning. The shift: Connection becomes the foundation — built through self-awareness, belonging, and relevance. Impact: Attendance rises, engagement doubles, and students actually want to be on campus. 🧠 Key Insight #2 – The Four Domains That Transform Culture What's broken: Kids sit isolated behind screens, while teachers chase compliance. The shift: Paonessa's "Four Domains of Connection" — to self, others, learning, and community — transform classrooms into thriving, relational ecosystems. Impact: Classrooms see fewer disruptions, stronger collaboration, and improved outcomes. 🧠 Key Insight #3 – Connection Is the Curriculum What's broken: Educators think connection is "extra." The shift: Connection isn't an add-on — it is instruction. Every reflection, conversation, and partnership becomes a lever for growth. Impact: High- performing schools prove that when people feel seen and valued, achievement follows naturally. 💬 Quotable Ruckus "Connection isn't something extra. It really is at the core of learning." — Dr. Anne Paonessa 📈 Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Build a reflective pause into one lesson — ask students what they're proud of learning. This Month: Partner with your team to identify one of Paonessa's four connection domains to strengthen on campus. This Semester: Host a "Connection Audit" with students and staff — gather stories, data, and wins to build momentum. 🔗 Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript here 🔗 Follow Dr. Anne Paonessa: Website: https://annepaonessa.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-paonessa-phd-77559292/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ConnectedClassrooms/ Book: Essential Connection Skills: Strategies for Integrating Social Connections into Core Content 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey: 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — 3x a week, tools and mindset shifts that actually work: ruckusmakers.news 🗞 Read Ruckus Maker Media — Exclusive content, AI prompts, and new books before the bookshelf: ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Our private network + workshops, The Automatic School tools, AI Prompt Library, and more: ruckusmakers.club 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind — Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven leadership system (The Ruckus Maker Flywheel): betterleadersbetterschools.com/mastermind 🎙 Today's RUCKUS cast in Partnership With: ODP Business Solutions® Looking to create the kind of campus experience students never forget? ODP Business Solutions® transforms ordinary spaces into extraordinary learning environments. 🔍 Visit odpbusiness.com/education and let's Do School Different. IXL Over 1 million teachers rely on IXL because it empowers them to make better decisions with reliable data and adapts instruction based on performance. 🔍 Get started today at ixl.com/leaders. PLAY PIPER Kids love gaming but disengage from Math and Science at school. Play Piper changes that with hands-on STEM kits and coding curriculum that spark curiosity and confidence. 🔍 Visit Play Piper © 2025 Twelve Practices LLC | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?  

🎯 The Ruckus Report Quick take: If you think skipping lunch and glorifying stress proves your worth as a school leader, this episode will hit different. Danny and Jethro rip the mask off martyrdom in education and offer a new, healthier way to lead. 🤝 Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Jethro Jones is a former principal and host of the Transformative Principal podcast. He's coached school leaders around the world and is passionate about rejecting outdated norms, rethinking leadership, and helping principals stop chasing busy and start leading with clarity. 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules In this episode, Jethro Jones challenges traditional education paradigms: 💡 Key Insight #1: The Myth of Busyness = Importance What's broken: Leaders believe being "too busy for lunch" proves dedication. The shift: Prioritize wellness and boundaries as leadership assets. Impact: Better energy, focus, and longevity in the role. 💡 Key Insight #2: Every Task Deserves an A+ Effort What's broken: Treating every job — no matter how meaningless — as mission-critical. The shift: Work smart, not sacred. Prioritize impact. Impact: Leaders reclaim time for what truly moves the needle. 💡 Key Insight #3: Stress as a Status Symbol What's broken: Believing chronic stress is just part of the job. The shift: Normalize recovery and intentional leadership. Impact: Principals feel more human — and more effective — again. 💬 Quotable Ruckus "Busyness is the choice of a hopeless mind." — Jethro Jones 📈 Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Block 30 minutes for lunch. No excuses. No interruptions. This Month: Audit your weekly tasks. Drop or delegate 3 things. This Semester: Redesign your calendar around what matters most. 🔗 Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript here 💪 Join the Ruckus Maker Movement: ruckusmakers.club/join 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey: 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work: https://ruckusmakers.news 📜 Read Ruckus Maker Media — Premium insights, AI prompts, and early book drops: https://ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Private network, AI tools, and workshops: https://ruckusmakers.club 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind — Our proven leadership system to transform your campus: https://betterleadersbetterschools.com/mastermind 🤝 Today's RUCKUScast in Partnership with: ODP Business Solutions® — Transform ordinary spaces into unforgettable learning environments. 🔍 Learn more: https://odpbusiness.com/education IXL — Adaptive instruction + data insights trusted by over 1 million teachers. 🔍 Learn more: https://ixl.com/leaders Play Piper — Hands-on STEM kits that turn gamers into future engineers. 🔍 Learn more: https://playpiper.com Twelve Practices LLC © 2025 | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?  

🎯 The Ruckus Report Quick take: Most schools are stuck in the past. But Anna Rita Pergolizzi-Wentworth is building a future-fluent model that fuses AI, global citizenship, and joy — and it's working. 🎓 Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Anna Rita Pergolizzi-Wentworth is Head of School at Pine Street School, a private International Baccalaureate school in Manhattan. A trilingual leader with global roots in Montessori and IB education, she's also the former Head of School at Battery Park Montessori and founding leader of Del Mar Academy in Costa Rica. 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules In this episode, Anna Rita challenges traditional education paradigms: 🧠 Key Insight #1: Balance Isn't Optional — It's the Blueprint What's broken: Prioritizing rigor and standards over student well-being. The shift: Designing school experiences that build cultural intelligence and center joy. Impact: Students thrive as whole humans — not just test takers — in multilingual, multicultural, AI-integrated environments. 🧠 Key Insight #2: Forget Fit, Design for Future Fluency What's broken: Matching kids to static school models rooted in alumni legacy and compliance. The shift: Creating agile, tech-empowered, globally connected schools that prepare for the unknown. Impact: Students design AI startups in middle school, build confidence through constant exposure, and graduate with real-world skills. 🧠 Key Insight #3: Teacher Happiness = Strategy, Not Perk What's broken: Under-appreciated staff, toxic culture, and reactive leadership. The shift: Intentionally recruiting joyful people, investing in appreciation, and building feedback loops that matter. Impact: Strong retention, deep belonging, and a campus culture where karaoke, dumplings, and the "Green Book" fuel morale. 💬 Quotable Ruckus "Raise thinkers, embrace humanity, and teach for tomorrow." — Anna Rita Pergolizzi-Wentworth 🧩 Your Do School Different Challenge         Ready to implement these ideas? start here: Tomorrow: Audit how you balance rigor with relationships — where are the gaps? This Month: Create one small moment of surprise and delight for your staff This Semester: Launch a student-led project that fuses creativity, technology, and cultural learning 🔗 Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript here 🔗 Follow Anna Rita Pergolizzi-Wentworth: Website: pinestreetschool.com Instagram: @greenivypss LinkedIn: Anna Rita Pergolizzi-Wentworth, 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 💡 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — 3x a week insights and tools that actually work: ruckusmakers.news 🗞 Read Ruckus Maker Media — Premium leadership content, AI prompts, and early book drops: ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Private network, workshops, tools, and more: ruckusmakers.club 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind — Coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven leadership system: Apply Now 🔍 Today's RUCKUScast in Partnership With: ODP Business Solutions® Looking to create the kind of campus experience students never forget? ODP Business Solutions® transforms ordinary spaces into extraordinary learning environments. 🔍 Visit odpbusiness.com/education and let's Do School Different. IXL Over 1 million teachers rely on IXL because it is empowering, it helps them make better decisions with reliable data, and it adapts instruction based on student performance. 🔍 Get started today at ixl.com/leaders PLAY PIPER Kids love gaming and computers, but are disengaged from Math and Science at school. Play Piper changes that with hands-on STEM kits and a coding curriculum. 🔍 Learn more at playpiper.com Twelve Practices LLC © 2025 | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?  

🖊 The Ruckus Report Quick take: What if the most powerful classrooms in American history operated under segregation? Dr. Karida L. Brown reframes our understanding of Black education during Jim Crow and offers a compelling vision for nurturing students through ecosystems of care. 🤝 Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Dr. Karida L. Brown is an NAACP Image Award-winning author, professor at Emory University, and public intellectual. Known for her groundbreaking research on systemic racism and Black life, she's the author of six books, including The Battle for the Black Mind. 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules 🧠 Key Insight #1: Schools aren't neutral. And pretending they are is dangerous. What's broken: The myth that schools can be politically or culturally neutral. The shift: Acknowledge that education operates within a social context — and choose to humanize, not homogenize. Impact: Creates space for students' full identities and lived experiences to be seen, respected, and affirmed. 🧠 Key Insight #2: Teaching was once a radical act of love. And it can be again. What's broken: Emphasis on compliance, test prep, and disconnected pedagogy. The shift: Look to the Black teachers of the Jim Crow era, who taught with deep care and high expectations. Impact: Reignites student pride, dignity, and purpose — and helps staff reclaim meaning in their work. 🧠 Key Insight #3: The hidden curriculum still shapes student success. What's broken: Assuming equity exists because students share a classroom. The shift: Recognize and dismantle invisible systems of advantage and disadvantage. Impact: Equips students from all backgrounds to navigate — and transform — institutional structures. 💬 Quotable Ruckus "Walk these halls like somebody fought like hell for you to be here." — Dr. Karida Brown 📈 Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Ask your staff, "What invisible messages does our campus send?" This Month: Create space for student or staff storytelling to elevate empathy and insight This Semester: Rethink your discipline or feedback systems through a lens of equity and care Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript here. 🔗 Follow Dr. Karida Brown: Website: https://www.karida.io/ Books: Link, *The Battle for the Black Mind.* Socials: LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Do School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🖊 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter: ruckusmakers.news 🗞 Read Ruckus Makers on Substack: ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club: ruckusmakers.club 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind: Apply Now Today's RUCKUS cast in Partnership with: ODP SOLUTIONS: Looking to create the kind of campus experience students never forget? ODP Business Solutions® transforms ordinary spaces into extraordinary learning environments. 🔍 Visit odpbusiness.com/education and let's Do School Different. IXL: Over 1 million teachers rely on IXL because it is empowering, it helps them make better decisions with reliable data, and it adapts instruction based on student performance. 🔍 Get started today at ixl.com/leaders PLAYPIPER: This episode of Better Leaders Better Schools is brought to you by Play Piper. At Piper, we believe STEM doesn't have to feel out of reach. Too many kids love gaming but give up on science and engineering because school doesn't spark their interest. That's where Piper comes in - hands-on STEM kits designed to turn curiosity into confidence and keep the pipeline of future innovators flowing strong. 🔍 Learn more at PlayPiper.com.  

📣 The Ruckus Report Quick take: Most leaders ask the wrong question. They obsess over what to do next instead of who they're becoming. In this episode, Dr. Chad Dumas unpacks how self-awareness, non-verbal cues, and intentional presence shape your entire school culture before a single decision is made. 🎓 Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Dr. Chad Dumas is an international consultant, author, and award-winning researcher who helps educators build capacity for self, team, and system improvement. A former teacher, principal, and central office administrator, he's the author of Let's Put the C in PLC, An Action Guide to Put the C in PLC, and The Teacher Team Leader Handbook. 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules In this episode, Danny Bauer and Dr. Chad Dumas dive deep into the inner work required to lead effectively. They challenge the surface-level "what do I do?" mentality and replace it with a leadership identity rooted in humility, empathy, and self-awareness. 🧠 Key Insight #1: Start with Who, Not What What's broken: Leaders jump straight to tactics — constantly asking, "What do I do?" The shift: Begin with who you are as a person and a leader. Your mindset, humility, and assumptions shape every result that follows. Impact: When leaders ground their actions in identity, they build trust, clarity, and authentic connection across their schools. 🧠 Key Insight #2: Leadership Speaks Before You Do What's broken: Non-verbal cues are ignored — rushed meetings, shallow breathing, and reactive tones quietly erode safety and collaboration. The shift: Master the pause, breathe deeply, and use intentional body language that communicates calm, curiosity, and respect. Impact: The culture shifts from tense to trusting. People start showing up with ideas because they feel seen and safe. 🧠 Key Insight #3: Conflict Is a Catalyst — Not a Threat What's broken: Leaders avoid hard conversations, turning tension into silence or resentment. The shift: Reframe conflict as a space for growth. Separate the person from the problem, focus on shared goals, and invite multiple perspectives. Impact: Teams move from defensiveness to collaboration. The best ideas emerge, and relationships deepen through honest dialogue. 💬 Quotable Ruckus "It's not about the do. It's about the who. Who you are as a person and as a leader — that's where everything starts." — Dr. Chad Dumas 📈 Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Before your next meeting, take one deep breath and pause before you speak. Notice how it changes the tone. This Month: Identify one assumption you hold about your staff that might not serve you. Replace it with the belief that they're doing their best. This Semester: Build time for reflection into your team meetings. Make space for silence, processing, and joy. 🔗 Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript here 🔗 Follow Dr. Chad Dumas: Website, YouTube, Twitter/X, Facebook, LinkedIn 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🎯 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey: 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work: ruckusmakers.news 🗞 Read Ruckus Maker Media — Premium leadership insights, AI prompts, and new books before the bookshelf: ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Private network + workshops, The Automatic School tools, AI Prompt Library, and more: ruckusmakers.club 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind — Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven Ruckus Maker Flywheel to transform your campus: betterleadersbetterschools.com/mastermind 🔍 Today's RUCKUScast in Partnership with: ODP Business Solutions® — Transform ordinary spaces into extraordinary learning environments. 🔍 Learn more: odpbusiness.com/education IXL — Empower teachers with adaptive instruction and data that drive results. 🔍 Learn more: ixl.com/leaders Play Piper — Hands-on STEM kits that turn curiosity into engineering confidence. 🔍 Learn more: playpiper.com Twelve Practices LLC © 2025 | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?  

🧨 The Ruckus Report Quick take: What if everything you believed about math education was wrong? In this episode, Ted Dintersmith, bestselling author of Aftermath and What School Could Be, pulls back the curtain on how math has been weaponized — and how school leaders can transform learning by teaching the math that actually matters. 🎓 Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Ted Dintersmith is a bestselling author, education advocate, and former venture capitalist who believes traditional math education has failed our students. In Aftermath, he unveils the life-changing, real-world math skills students deserve to learn. 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules 🎯 Key Insight #1: Real Math Skills Are Ignored in School What's broken: We spend billions teaching rote math no adult uses. The shift: Teach students estimation, decision-making, game theory, and data literacy. Impact: Students gain tools to make sense of the world — and avoid being replaced by AI. 🎯 Key Insight #2: Standardized Testing Drives Irrelevance What's broken: Tests reward regurgitation over reasoning. The shift: Focus on deep thinking and real-life application instead of the "one right answer." Impact: Students build critical thinking and communication skills that machines can't replicate. 🎯 Key Insight #3: Career-Based Learning Isn't "Less Than" What's broken: Schools track kids into college or label them "less than" if they pursue trades. The shift: Elevate career-based learning, internships, and real-world skills for all students. Impact: Confidence, agency, and community impact — plus real jobs post-graduation. 💬 Quotable Ruckus "The math that really matters in life does not have one right answer." – Ted Dintersmith 🚀 Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Audit your math curriculum. Are you teaching skills students will actually use? This Month: Host a screening of Multiple Choice and start a community conversation on real-world learning. This Semester: Design or pilot a learning experience rooted in data literacy, estimation, or decision-making. 🔗 Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript here 🔗 Follow Ted: teddintersmith.com 🎬 multiplechoicefilm.com 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Do School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 4 Ways to Do School Different 📬 Newsletter — Do School Different 3x/week: ruckusmakers.news 📖 Substack — Exclusive content, AI prompts, and book sneak peeks: ruckusmakers.media 💥 The Club — Network, AI tools, and workshops: ruckusmakers.club 🧨 The Mastermind — Coaching and the Ruckus Maker Flywheel: Apply Now Every tool, community, and coaching program we offer is built to help visionary school leaders play the new game — one where leadership is creative, tech-enabled, and unapologetically student-centered. The podcast is your starting point. The movement is just getting started. 🎙 Today's RUCKUS cast in Partnership With: ODP Business Solutions® Looking to create the kind of campus experience students never forget? ODP Business Solutions® transforms ordinary spaces into extraordinary learning environments. 🔍 Learn more: odpbusiness.com/education IXL Over 1 million teachers rely on IXL because it is empowering, helps them make better decisions with reliable data, and adapts instruction based on student performance. 🔍 Get started: ixl.com/leaders PLAY PIPER Kids love gaming and computers, but are disengaged from math and science at school. Play Piper changes that with hands-on STEM kits and a coding curriculum. 🔍 Learn more: playpiper.com Twelve Practices LLC © 2025 | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?  

🎯 The Ruckus Report Quick take: What if the most disruptive thing you could do as a school leader isn't another program — but rethinking when school starts? In this candid and funny conversation, Danny Bauer and Mitch Weathers dig into how protecting sleep actually protects learning, how parent boundaries preserve teacher sanity, and why even job postings reveal whether we're truly Doing School Different or just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. 🤝 Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Mitch Weathers is a veteran educator, author, and founder of Organized Binder, a system that helps schools build executive functioning and academic success for every student. He's spent decades teaching and coaching educators on how structure, sleep, and small shifts create massive change. Mitch is known for turning everyday challenges — like communication overload or bell schedules — into opportunities for innovation and calm confidence in the classroom. 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules In this episode, Danny and Mitch challenge the old-school thinking that keeps leaders exhausted, students disengaged, and parents emailing at 2 am. 💡 Key Insight #1: The Sleep Revolution Starts at School What's broken: Early start times and late-night device use rob students (and teachers) of rest, and learning suffers. The shift: Ruckus Makers reimagine schedules to protect sleep, boost attention, and honor the science of rest. Impact: Districts that start high school later see stronger academic outcomes, better moods, and fewer discipline issues. 💡 Key Insight #2: Boundaries Are the New Professional Development What's broken: Teachers feel pressured to respond instantly to parent emails — even the ones that hit inboxes at 2 am. The shift: Clear, community-wide communication norms create psychological safety for staff and preserve trust with families. Impact: When schools set and model boundaries, teachers stay longer, burnout decreases, and parent relationships improve. 💡 Key Insight #3: Hiring Isn't HR — It's Leadership Marketing What's broken: Bland job postings and checkbox hiring processes repel the best talent. The shift: Treat every open position like a story about your culture — highlight your vision, values, and what makes your campus unmissable. Impact: Schools that "market their mission" attract stronger candidates, reduce vacancies, and build a team aligned with their purpose. 💬 Quotable Ruckus "If the most disruptive thing you do this year is let your students (and teachers) sleep — you're already Doing School Different." — Mitch Weathers 🧩 Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to turn these insights into action? Start here: Tomorrow: Ask your leadership team, "What's one low-effort way we could protect rest for students and staff?" This Month: Draft and publish clear communication norms between teachers and families. This Semester: Reevaluate your bell schedule and hiring language. Does it reflect a traditional system — or a Do School Different mindset? 💌 Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript here 🔗 Join us on the Adorable Red Hats show.  Write an email to [email protected] with your pitch. Learn more at adorableredhats.com. 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a movement of bold, creative leaders reimagining what's possible. 🧠 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey: 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — Tools, mindset shifts, and leadership strategies that actually work: ruckusmakers.news 🗞 Read Ruckus Maker Media — Exclusive essays, AI prompts, and early book access: ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Our private network, workshops, and leadership tools: ruckusmakers.club 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind — Weekly coaching and peer mentorship for visionary leaders: betterleadersbetterschools.com/mastermind 🎙 Today's RUCKUS cast in Partnership With: ODP Business Solutions® Looking to create the kind of campus experience students never forget? ODP Business Solutions® transforms ordinary spaces into extraordinary learning environments. Visit odpbusiness.com/education and let's Do School Different. Play Piper Kids love gaming and tech — but often disengage from math and science at school. Play Piper changes that with hands-on STEM kits and a coding curriculum. Learn more at playpiper.com. IXL Over 1 million teachers rely on IXL because it empowers them to make better decisions with reliable data and adapts instruction based on student performance. Get started today at ixl.com/leaders. Twelve Practices LLC © 2025 | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?  

🎯 The Ruckus Report Quick take: Most principals fear AI. Ruckus Makers see it as fuel for innovation. In this solo episode, Danny shares 3 foundational AI principles that will redefine school leadership in 2025 — showing you how to trade fear for leverage and ideas for bold action. **You can unlock all 10 AI principles here.** 👋 Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Danny Bauer helps Ruckus Makers Do School Different — reimagining education within traditional systems to create campus experiences worth showing up for. He's written multiple bestselling books and hosts the Better Leaders Better Schools RuckusCast, the most downloaded school leadership podcast in the world, ranking in the top 1% of all podcasts globally. 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules In this episode, Danny challenges traditional education paradigms and reveals how courageous leaders can use AI to future-proof their campuses: 📌 Key Insight #1: There Are Two Sides to Every Coin What's broken: Many school leaders see AI as a threat — banning tools and retreating to old habits out of fear. The shift: Courageous Ruckus Makers choose to reframe fear as curiosity. They see AI not as cheating, but as a way to create leverage and deeper learning. Impact: Schools that embrace this mindset are equipping students for a future where AI fluency isn't optional — it's essential for employment and innovation. 📌 Key Insight #2: Your #1 Job Is to Transfer Belief What's broken: Traditional leadership focuses on control and compliance instead of cultivating confidence. The shift: Ruckus Makers inspire belief — helping staff and students see that they can solve hard problems and do extraordinary work. Impact: Teams move from hesitant to high-performing, creating schools filled with energy, innovation, and ownership. 📌 Key Insight #3: Ideas Are Great — But Action Wins What's broken: School leaders get stuck in meetings, policies, and analysis — mistaking discussion for progress. The shift: Ruckus Makers act first, learn fast, and iterate forward. They understand that bold experiments beat perfect plans. Impact: Leaders who move from inspiration to implementation transform ideas into tangible outcomes for students and staff. 💬 Quotable Ruckus "Ideas are great, but not the greatest. Action is the only thing greater than an idea." – Danny Bauer 📈 Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Identify one "fear coin" moment on your campus. Flip it — and turn fear into a chance for curiosity or innovation. This Month: Transfer belief. Tell three staff members specifically what you see in them that they don't yet see in themselves. This Semester: Choose one bold experiment that uses AI to free up your team's time and amplify student engagement — then share the results with your district. 🔗 Connect & Continue 🔓 Unlock all 10 principles + the AI demo + tools here. 🎯 Get the full episode transcript: here 🔗 Follow Danny: Website, LinkedIn 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Here Are Four Ways We Can Help You on Your Do School Different Journey 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work: ruckusmakers.news 🗞 Read Ruckus Maker Media — Premium leadership insights, AI prompts, and new books before the bookshelf: ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Private network, AI Prompt Library, and workshops that make school leadership easier: ruckusmakers.club 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind — Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and the Ruckus Maker Flywheel leadership system: Apply Now 🎙 Today's RUCKUS cast in Partnership With: ODP Business Solutions®: Looking to create the kind of campus experience students never forget? ODP Business Solutions® transforms ordinary spaces into extraordinary learning environments. 🔍 Visit odpbusiness.com/education and let's Do School Different. IXL: Over 1 million teachers rely on IXL because it helps them make better decisions with reliable data and adapt instruction based on student performance. 🔍 Get started today at ixl.com/leaders PLAY PIPER: Kids love gaming and computers, but are disengaged from Math and Science at school. Play Piper changes that with hands-on STEM kits and coding curriculum. 🔍 Learn more at playpiper.com. Twelve Practices LLC © 2025 | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?  

🎯 The Ruckus Report Quick take: What if you could deliver six weeks of learning in a single hour? Simon Strong did exactly that — and the results are challenging everything we think we know about teaching, memory, and curriculum. 🤝 Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Simon Strong is the founder of Download Learning, a UK-based company partnering with schools and organizations to dramatically accelerate learning by sequencing information to align with how the brain actually works. 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules 🧠 Key Insight #1: Speed doesn't kill learning — distraction does. What's broken: Slow, disjointed lessons overloaded with irrelevant detail. The shift: Simon's team scripts, edits, and delivers content at 220 words per minute —nearly double classroom pace — to keep attention and trigger retention. Impact: Students retain foundational knowledge more effectively, especially those with ADHD or learning differences. 🧠 Key Insight #2: One hour, one-half term (seriously). What's broken: Teachers covering complex topics in 6-week units with minimal retention. The shift: A single high-impact video lesson designed to fire synapses in precise time intervals. Impact: One hour of Simon's approach produced equivalent learning outcomes to an entire half term of traditional instruction. Add teacher support, and outcomes doubled. 🧠 Key Insight #3: Flipping modes ≠ mastery. What's broken: Constantly switching between direct instruction, stories, and activities in class. The shift: Presenting one "mode" at a time to avoid cognitive overload. Impact: Improved comprehension, less classroom disruption, and deeper long-term understanding. 💬 Quotable Ruckus "Education doesn't build character—it reveals it. Our job is to help students discover who they are and become the best version of themselves." – Simon Strong 🚀 Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? **Start here**: Tomorrow: Audit your next lesson for unnecessary mode-switching. Stick with one mode longer. This Month: Try introducing a complex topic through a story, not a slide deck. This Semester: Partner with a colleague to design a one-hour "burst" lesson using Simon's three-mode model. 🔗 Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript here. 🔗 Learn more about Simon's work: https://downloadlearning.co.uk 🌐 Website 🔗 LinkedIn 📄 Peer-Reviewed Research 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Do School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey: 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter – Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work (3x a week). 🗞 Read Ruckus Makers – Exclusive content on Substack featuring leadership insights, AI prompts, and new books before the bookshelf. 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club – Our private network + workshops, The Automatic School tools, and AI Prompt Library. 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind – Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven Ruckus Maker Flywheel™. Every tool, community, and coaching program we offer is built to help visionary school leaders play the new game — one where leadership is creative, tech-enabled, and unapologetically student-centered. The podcast is your starting point. The movement is just getting started. 🎙 Today's RUCKUScast in Partnership With: ODP Business Solutions® Looking to create the kind of campus experience students never forget? ODP Business Solutions® transforms ordinary spaces into extraordinary learning environments. 🔍 Learn more: odpbusiness.com/education IXL Over 1 million teachers rely on IXL because it empowers educators with real-time data and adaptive instruction. 🔍 Learn more: ixl.com/leaders PLAY PIPER Play Piper bridges gaming and STEM with hands-on kits that turn curiosity into confidence—and students into makers. 🔍 Learn more: playpiper.com Twelve Practices LLC © 2025 | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?  

🎯 The Ruckus Report Quick take: What happens when two rival schools — with decades of "us vs. them" history — are forced to become one? Derek Cantrell didn't just merge Alleghany and Covington into a single high school. He built a "Better Together" culture while weaving in AI tools that are reshaping instruction and leadership. This episode is a blueprint for rethinking school culture in the age of disruption. 🤝 Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Derek Cantrell is the principal of Alleghany High School, where he led the merger of two rival schools into one unified community through a "Better Together" culture. Alongside culture-building, he integrates AI-driven tools like custom chatbots and Julius AI to streamline leadership tasks and improve instruction. Derek is redefining school leadership by honoring tradition while embracing innovation. 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules In this episode, Derek Cantrell challenges traditional education paradigms: 🧠 Key Insight #1: Culture eats consolidation for breakfast. What's broken: Forced mergers often leave communities divided, with morale and identity lost. The shift: Derek built a roadmap of intentional relationship-building — open houses, student forums, teacher mingles, and community events like cornhole nights and bonfires. Impact: Instead of resentment, Alleghany High became a place where rival traditions fused into a proud new identity. 🧠 Key Insight #2: Data disaggregation doesn't have to take weeks. What's broken: Teachers drowning in endless spreadsheets and meetings just to analyze test scores. The shift: Julius AI and custom chatbots cut through the noise, turning state test data into actionable two-page reports per strand. Impact: Teachers save time, get clarity, and can focus on engaging instruction — not manual number-crunching. 🧠 Key Insight #3: AI can make learning more relevant — and fun. What's broken: Lesson plans that feel stuck in the past, disconnected from students' real-world experiences. The shift: Teachers plug lessons into Derek's bots to generate hooks, engagement strategies, and real-world applications. Impact: Students see math, science, and core subjects through a lens that matters to them, boosting both interest and outcomes. Quotable Ruckus "Culture doesn't happen by accident. Lead it, shape it, and live it every day."                   – Derek Cantrell 📌 Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Ask students and staff one simple question: What excites you, and what concerns you? Use the answers to guide your next decision. This Month: Build a small win — repaint lockers, host a community night, or launch a mini-podcast — and celebrate it loudly. This Semester: Experiment with AI tools (like Julius or a custom GPT) to cut down on data drudgery and make lessons more engaging. Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript here 🔗 Follow Derek Cantrell: Website: https://www.ahps.k12.va.us/ Twitter/ X: X/Twitter LinkedIn: LinkedIn Email: Email 📣 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey: 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work — delivered 3x/week. → ruckusmakers.news 🗞 Read Ruckus Makers on Substack Premium leadership insights, AI prompts & GPTs, early access to new books. → ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join the Ruckus Maker Club Private network + workshops, AI Prompt Library, and more. → ruckusmakers.club 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind Weekly coaching + peer mentorship using the Ruckus Maker Flywheel. → betterleadersbetterschools.com/mastermind-application 🎙 Today's RUCKUS cast in Partnership With: ODP Business Solutions®  Looking to create the kind of campus experience students never forget? ODP Business Solutions® transforms ordinary spaces into extraordinary learning environments. Visit odpbusiness.com/education and let's Do School Different. IXL Over 1 million teachers rely on IXL because it is empowering, it helps them make better decisions with reliable data, and it adapts instruction based on student performance. Get started today at ixl.com/leaders  PLAY PIPER Kids love gaming and computers, but are disengaged from Math and Science at school. Play Piper changes that with hands-on STEM kits and a coding curriculum. Learn more at playpiper.com Twelve Practices LLC © 2025 | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?  

Quick take: What happens when a leader ditches ego, prioritizes relationships, and treats students like real-world innovators? Jeremy Quals proves you can turn around struggling schools and create one of the most exciting entrepreneurial programs in the country. 🤝 Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Dr. Jeremy Qualls is the Executive Director of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center (EIC) and College, Career, and Technical Education (CCTE) with Williamson County Schools. A former coach, principal, and district athletic director, he now leads some of the most innovative programs in Tennessee, blending entrepreneurship, career readiness, and creative learning opportunities that make school worth showing up for. 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules In this episode, Jeremy challenges traditional education paradigms: 🧠 Key Insight #1: Leadership isn't about ego — it's about relationships. What's broken: Leaders who default to punishment and blame. The shift: Building trust first, simplifying discipline to "Be responsible, be respectful, be ready." Impact: Transformed a school with 1,000+ discipline referrals into one with just 52 — and skyrocketed student growth. 🧠 Key Insight #2: Students need relevance, not busywork. What's broken: 42 definitions on a worksheet and other meaningless tasks. The shift: Replace rote work with entrepreneurial problem-solving, empathy-driven projects, and micro-internships. Impact: Students who once checked out now show up excited, engaged, and prepared for life beyond school. 🧠 Key Insight #3: Create spaces worth showing up for. What's broken: Schools that look the same as the 1950s— rows, lectures, and compliance. The shift: Entrepreneurial labs with open design, mentorship networks, and student-led startups. Impact: The Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center grew from 70 students to 280 with a 500+ waitlist — and is producing teen founders winning national competitions. Quotable Ruckus "Fail forward and fail often." – Jeremy Quals 📌 Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Swap one rote assignment for a real-world problem or entrepreneurial- style task. This Month: Map student relationships — find the "safety valves" so every kid has a trusted adult. This Semester: Audit your schoolwork and culture. Cut the irrelevant busywork, build in creative challenges, and create spaces students want to be in. 🔗 Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript: [Link] 🔗 Follow Dr. Jeremy Qualls: https://wcssportsconference.com/ Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: LinkedIn Twitter: @wcsCCTE on X X: @wcsEIC on X 📣 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about "doing school better." It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey: 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work — delivered 3x/week. → ruckusmakers.news 🗞 Read Ruckus Makers on Substack Premium leadership insights, AI prompts & GPTs, early access to new books. → ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join the Ruckus Maker Club Private network + workshops, AI Prompt Library, and more. → ruckusmakers.club 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind Weekly coaching + peer mentorship using the Ruckus Maker Flywheel. → betterleadersbetterschools.com/mastermind-application 🎙 Today's RUCKUS cast in Partnership With: IXL Over 1 million teachers rely on IXL because it is empowering, it helps them make better decisions with reliable data, and it adapts instruction based on student performance. 🔍 Get started today at ixl.com/leaders. ODP For over 30 years, ODP Business Solutions® has helped schools transform from whiteboards to smartboards. Why? Because when you get the right tools, everyone wins. 🔍 Visit odpbusiness.com/education to revolutionize your school's learning spaces  

The Ruckus Report. Quick take: What if the secret to becoming a more effective school leader was … leaving school? Joe Clausi, known as the Traveling Principal, shares how stepping out of the building helped him step into his purpose. Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Joe Clausi, aka The Traveling Principal, is reimagining what it means to lead schools by exploring the world — and himself — one passport stamp at a time. Breaking Down the Old Rules 🔨 Key Insight #1: Curiosity makes you a better principal What's broken: The traditional career path says school leaders should settle down and play it safe. The shift: Joe's curiosity drove him to explore 39 countries — and that curiosity now shapes how he leads schools. Impact: He's more reflective, empathetic, and able to connect with people across backgrounds. Key Insight #2: Leadership doesn't happen in isolation What's broken: Most principals grind through the work without personal growth. The shift: Joe intentionally seeks people, places, and moments that challenge his worldview. Impact: Each trip adds to his toolkit as a leader — and inspires his team to grow too. Key Insight #3: Adventure is a mindset, not a plane ticket What's broken: PD is treated like a checklist, not a life-changing experience. The shift: Joe shows how you can bring the spirit of exploration to your daily leadership. Impact: His story proves that reimagining school starts with reimagining yourself. Quotable Ruckus "I needed to lose who I thought I was … to find who I really am." – Joe Clausi Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Walk your campus with a traveler's eyes — what would surprise or inspire a visitor? This Month: Schedule time outside the school walls to connect with something that sparks wonder. This Semester: Share one leadership lesson from your own journey with your staff — and invite theirs. Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript: https://ruckusmakers.notion.site/Joe-the-Traveling-Principal-Joins-Danny-and-Mitch-211229bf615380ecbf96c2c10f48c1f9?source=copy_link 🔗 Follow Joe Clausi: https://travelprincipal.com 💪 Apply to the mastermind: https://www.betterleadersbetterschools.com/mastermind-application/ Do you Subscribe to the Ruckus Maker Newsletter? Do School Different 3x a Week. Join for FREE here → ruckusmakers.news/subscribe Today's RUCKUScast in Partnership with: For over 30 years, ODP Business Solutions® has helped schools transform from whiteboards to smartboards. Why? Because when you get the right tools, everyone wins. Visit odpbusiness.com/education to revolutionize your school's learning spaces. Over 1 million teachers rely on IXL because it is empowering, it helps them make better decisions with reliable data, and it adapts instruction based on student performance. Get started today at ixl.com/leaders  

The Ruckus Report Quick take: If you're facing pushback on your bold school vision, this episode is your playbook for flipping critics into raving fans. Learn how one principal shifted the narrative — and built massive community support in the process. Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Dr. Christopher Jones is a high school principal, leadership author, and host of the Seeing to Lead podcast. He helps educators shift from surviving to thriving by encouraging reflection, connection, and vision — even in the most resistant environments. Breaking Down the Old Rules 🔨 Key Insight #1 What's broken: Too many leaders are paralyzed by fear of resistance — especially from staff or community stakeholders. The shift: Chris started by listening deeply and showing people how they could lead without a title. Impact: Staff ownership grew, and culture shifted — not because mandates were handed down, but because people bought in. Key Insight #2 What's broken: Traditional admin mindsets treat critics as threats rather than assets. The shift: Chris chose curiosity over combat, asking questions like: "What do you want to see happen?" Impact: Open conversations turned former critics into trusted allies who now champion his leadership publicly. Key Insight #3 What's broken: Schools often ignore how powerful public perception is in building momentum. The shift: Chris proactively told positive stories and empowered his community to tell them too. Impact: The narrative shifted from doubt to celebration — with the superintendent, school board, and staff all on board. Quotable Ruckus "Your loudest critics might just be your most loyal supporters — if you give them the chance to lead." – Dr. Christopher Jones Your Do School Different Challenge Tomorrow: Ask one critic what success would look like in their eyes. Listen without defense. This Month: Invite that person into a decision-making process — not to agree with you, but to shape the future together. This Semester: Create a system where feedback becomes fuel, not friction. Turn your toughest room into your greatest asset. Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript here. 🔗 His Books: 📘 SEEing to Lead 📗 Isabella and the Storm 📕 Isabella's Unexpected Gift 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter – 3x/week leadership mindset shifts and tools that work: ruckusmakers.news 🗞 Read Ruckus Makers – Premium content on Substack with early access to new books, AI prompts, and more: ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club – Private community, The Automatic School™ tools, and more: ruckusmakers.club 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind – Weekly coaching + The Ruckus Maker Flywheel leadership system: Apply Now ❤️ Today's show is sponsored by: For over 30 years, ODP Business Solutions® has helped schools transform from whiteboards to smartboards. Why? Because when you get the right tools, everyone wins. Visit odpbusiness.com/education to revolutionize your school's learning spaces. Over 1 million teachers rely on IXL because it is empowering, it helps them make better decisions with reliable data, and it adapts instruction based on student performance. Get started today at ixl.com/leaders  

What started as a frustrating Sunday afternoon mistake in a tiny Chicago apartment turned into a million-download podcast that changed everything. Join 5,000+ Ruckus Makers who want to Do School Different 👉 https://ruckusmakers.news/subscribe Ten years ago, I almost quit before I even started. I lost my first interview recording and nearly gave up on the whole podcasting dream. Instead, I chose myself and launched anyway. Now the Better Leaders Better Schools podcast ranks in the top 0.5% worldwide. Here are the 10 game-changing lessons I've learned from a decade of creating, serving school leaders, and building something that matters. TIMESTAMPS 00:01 - The story begins: September 2nd, 2015 01:52 - The lost recording disaster that almost ended it all 03:48 - Choose yourself: The moment everything changed 06:31 - Lesson 1: Most overnight successes take 10+ years 07:24 - Lesson 2: Be an original (Purple Cow principle) 08:20 - Lesson 3: Fire yourself to scale 09:09 - Lesson 4: The one question that changes everything 10:01 - Lesson 5: Look for leverage in everything you do 11:07 - Lesson 6: Take action, then improve 11:53 - Lesson 7: Fear vs Adventure - you choose 12:38 - Lesson 8: Choose your pain - discipline or regret 13:10 - Lesson 9: Success won't make you happy 15:04 - Lesson 10: Love is the center of everything WHENEVER YOU ARE READY … HERE ARE 3 WAYS TO CONTINUE YOUR DO SCHOOL DIFFERENT JOURNEY: 🗞️ Read Ruckus Makers — Exclusive content on Substack. Premium leadership insights, AI prompts and custom gpts, new books before the bookshelf. https://ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Our private network + workshops, The Automatic School tools, AI Prompt Library, and more: https://ruckusmakers.club/join 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind — Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven leadership system (The Ruckus Maker Flywheel) to help you transform your campus: https://betterleadersbetterschools.com/mastermind

🎯 The Ruckus Report Quick take: If you're still blocking ChatGPT, you're playing the wrong game. In this episode, William Grube of Groovy Education shows how to turn AI from a perceived threat into a daily teaching advantage — one that saves teachers time, levels up rigor, and makes cheating irrelevant. 🤝 Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker William Grube is the founder of Groovy Education, a consultancy and training firm that helps educators across 100+ schools and organizations integrate AI responsibly and effectively. His work is grounded in ethics, practical tools, and a passion for helping schools lead, not lag, in the AI revolution. 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules In this episode, William challenges traditional education paradigms and shows how Ruckus Makers can lead the shift: 🧠 Key Insight #1: Design for Trust, Not Policing What's broken: Schools are using surveillance software to "catch" students cheating with AI, treating tech as the enemy. The shift: Rebuild assessments around curiosity, context, and originality — like having students respond to local events or present their work live. Impact: Makes cheating pointless. Encourages deeper thinking. Promotes student ownership. 🧠 Key Insight #2: Differentiate Without Burnout What's broken: Teachers waste hours adapting lessons to meet different learning needs — often sacrificing quality for speed. The shift: Use AI to instantly align assignments to state standards, adjust for reading levels, and build accommodations (504/IEP). Impact: Teachers get time back. Students get work that actually fits. Everyone wins. 🧠 Key Insight #3: Teach Tech Like It's a Literacy — Because It Is What's broken: The only digital safety lesson most kids get is "don't be online too much." The shift: Teach AI & media literacy by exploring how algorithms shape thought, how to verify sources, and how to disagree respectfully. Impact: Students learn to think critically, not just click passively — which pays dividends in every subject and real life. 💬 Quotable Ruckus "Ignoring AI in schools today is like ignoring the internet in 1995." — William Grube 📌 Your Do School Different Challenge Start using AI to lead differently — not later: Tomorrow: Pick one assignment and make it AI-resistant. Add a personal, local, or in-class component students can't fake. This Month: Use AI to adapt a unit plan — align to standards, customize for reading levels, and build in scaffolded supports. This Semester: Pilot a student-facing AI/Media Literacy sequence. Let students analyze the algorithm and present real insights in a live class debate. 🔗 Connect & Continue 🎯 Transcript: [Link] 🔗 Learn more about Groovy Education: groovyeducation.com Email: [email protected] Instagram: ****https://www.instagram.com/gruvyeducation/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-grube-16200a177/ X: https://x.com/gruvyeducation 📣 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, what are your students really learning? This isn't about "doing school better." It's about Doing School Different — and joining a bold movement of creative, visionary school leaders. 🧠 Four Ways to Do School Different With Us 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work — delivered 3x/week. → ruckusmakers.news 🗞 Read Ruckus Makers on Substack Premium leadership insights, AI prompts & GPTs, early access to new books. → ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join the Ruckus Maker Club Private network + workshops, AI Prompt Library, and more. → ruckusmakers.club 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind Weekly coaching + peer mentorship using the Ruckus Maker Flywheel. → betterleadersbetterschools.com/mastermind-application 🎙 Today's RUCKUScast in Partnership With: ODP Business Solutions Transform classrooms from whiteboard to WOW with flexible furniture, integrated tech, and sustainable tools — all from a compliant vendor. 🔍 Learn more: odpbusiness.com/education Ruckus Makers on Substack Get 90-second mindset shifts, custom GPTs, and content that punches above its weight. 🎁 Listeners get 50% off year one: ruckusmakers.media/awesome IXL Close knowledge gaps and tailor instruction with diagnostics and adaptive practice — built to serve every learner. 🔍 Learn more: ixl.com/leaders

_*]:min-w-0 !gap-3.5"> The Ruckus Report Quick take: From pushing a broom to leading the boardroom — Dr. Chris Jackson's journey from custodian to principal at his own alma mater proves that grit, humility, and authentic community connection matter more than pedigree when transforming schools. Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Chris Jackson rose from custodian to administrator in his hometown of San Bernardino, fueled by hard work, family, and perseverance. A husband, father, and lifelong learner, he overcame personal loss and humble beginnings to inspire others. Raised by his grandmother after being born to teen parents, Chris worked his way through every level of education — from custodian to teacher, coach, instructional coach, athletic director, and eventually principal of Cajon High School, where he met his wife as a 15-year-old student. Author of "From Broom to Boardroom," Chris's journey proves that with grit, purpose, and love, anyone can rise, no matter where they start. Breaking Down the Old Rules 🔨 In this episode, Dr. Chris Jackson challenges traditional education paradigms: Key Insight #1: Every Job on Campus Matters Equally What's broken: Creating hierarchies that separate administrators from the real work of schools, losing connection with staff and community The shift: Leading with servant leadership — picking up trash during lunch, building relationships with custodians, and blurring the lines between "management" and service Impact: Instant credibility with all stakeholder groups and authentic empathy that comes from walking in everyone's shoes Key Insight #2: Bloom Where You're Planted First What's broken: Always looking for the next promotion instead of excelling in your current role and building relationships where you are The shift: Do your best work in whatever sphere of influence you have, ask questions, and let opportunities find you through positive relationships Impact: Chris went from custodian on Wednesday to teaching his own class on Monday — but only because he had built trust and demonstrated excellence where he was Key Insight #3: Community Connection Beats Credentials Every Time What's broken: Leading schools as an outsider who doesn't understand the community's needs, values, and challenges The shift: Live in, understand, and serve your community in their image — being able to say "I'm your neighbor" during difficult conversations Impact: When parents challenge decisions, Chris can respond: "I live two blocks from you, I went to school here, my parents went here" — eliminating the "you don't understand" barrier Quotable Ruckus "No job is more important than any other job on the campus. Everybody's job matters. Everybody's little zone of what we do is a valuable contribution to what we're trying to achieve." – Dr. Chris Jackson Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Put on a metaphorical "straw hat" — spend time doing work typically done by support staff to build authentic relationships and understanding This Month: Identify one person in your orbit whose expertise you can learn from, regardless of their title or position — ask them questions about their work and challenges This Semester: Audit your community connections — are you living, shopping, and engaging where you serve? Find three ways to deepen your roots in your school community Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript: [Link] 🔗 Follow Dr. Chris Jackson: @DocJMedia on Twitter/X 📖 Website: DocJMedia.com 📚 Get "From Broom to Boardroom": Available wherever books are sold 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — An opportunity to Do School Different 3x a week. Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work: ruckusmakers.news 🗞️ Read Ruckus Makers — Exclusive content on Substack. Premium leadership insights, AI prompts and custom gpts, new books before the bookshelf. ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Our private network + workshops, The Automatic School tools, AI Prompt Library, and more: https://ruckusmakers.club/join 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind — Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven leadership system (The Ruckus Maker Flywheel) to help you transform your campus: Apply Now Every tool, community, and coaching program we offer is built to help visionary school leaders play the new game — one where leadership is creative, tech-enabled, and unapologetically student-centered. 🎙️ The podcast is your starting point. The movement is just getting started. Today's RUCKUScast in Partnership with: ODP Business Solutions Looking to create the kind of campus experience students never forget? ODP Business Solutions transforms ordinary spaces into extraordinary learning environments. 🔍 Learn more: ODPbusiness.com/education The Ruckus Maker Mastermind Traditional professional development is broken. Instead of top-down lectures, get weekly coaching and peer mentorship that helps you solve your number one challenge every single week. 🔍 Learn more: betterleadersbetterschools.com/apply IXL If you could differentiate instruction in 20 minutes or less, would you do it for all your students? Over 1 million teachers use IXL because it empowers them to use effective data-informed instruction. 🔍 Learn more: ixl.com/leaders Twelve Practices LLC © 2025 | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?  

The Ruckus Report Quick take: Two beards, two red hats, one mission to blow up education's broken boundaries. Mitch Weathers reveals why saying "no" to district busywork and "yes" to what actually moves the needle isn't rebellion — it's leadership. Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Mitch became a gifted teacher because he was a mediocre student. Mitch rarely felt comfortable in the classroom. In fact, it took him 7 years to graduate from college. Choosing to become a teacher, Mitch was fortunate enough to experience school as if it was happening all around him. He was unsure how to jump into his learning with confidence. There is a loneliness to experiencing your education as a passive object as opposed to an active subject. From the moment he entered the classroom, Mitch relied on his personal experiences as a learner. He recognized that what we teach—the content or curriculum—is secondary. We must first lay the foundation for learning before we can get to teaching. Mitch designed Organized Binder to empower teachers with a simple but research-backed strategy to teach students executive functioning skills while protecting the time needed for content instruction. The secret is found in establishing a predictable learning routine that serves to foster safer learning spaces. When students get practice with executive functions by virtue, we set them up for success. Learn more in his recent book Executive Functions for Every Classroom. Breaking Down the Old Rules 🔨 In this episode, Mitch Weathers challenges traditional education paradigms: Key Insight #1: Boundaries Aren't Selfish — They're Strategic What's broken: Leaders burning out because they accept every task as sacred, even when it doesn't serve students The shift: Ask the hard question: "If I can't draw a clear line between this work and student success, why am I doing it?" Impact: Time and energy get redirected to what actually matters — classroom visits, relationship building, and real leadership Key Insight #2: Homework Is Often Educational Theater What's broken: Teachers spending hours collecting, grading, and returning homework that creates inequality and rarely informs instruction The shift: Replace homework with in-class learning logs where students reflect on understanding in real-time Impact: Sustainable formative assessment that gives teachers authentic insight into every student's learning Key Insight #3: Don't Feed the Emotional Monster What's broken: Educators taking student outbursts personally and escalating conflicts into power struggles The shift: Deflect emotional assaults with calm agreement: "You might be right" strips the drama from disruption Impact: Classroom management issues disappear when adults stop being more entertaining than the lesson Quotable Ruckus "If I can't draw a very clear line between what I'm doing as a teacher and improving student success, then I'm not going to do it. I just started throwing things out." – Mitch Weathers Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Identify one "urgent" district task and ask: "Has anyone ever followed up on this or used it to guide actual school operations?" This Month: Replace one homework assignment with in-class learning logs where students reflect on their understanding This Semester: Practice emotional deflection — when someone tries to trigger you, respond with calm curiosity instead of defensiveness Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript: [Link] 🔗 Follow Mitch Weathers: LinkedIn 📖 Get his book: Executive Functions for Every Classroom 🎙️ More Red Hat Rebellion: adorableredhats.com 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — An opportunity to Do School Different 3x a week. Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work: ruckusmakers.news 🗞️ Read Ruckus Makers — Exclusive content on Substack. Premium leadership insights, AI prompts and custom gpts, new books before the bookshelf. ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Our private network + workshops, The Automatic School tools, AI Prompt Library, and more: ruckusmakers.club 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind — Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven leadership system (The Ruckus Maker Flywheel) to help you transform your campus: Apply Now Every tool, community, and coaching program we offer is built to help visionary school leaders play the new game — one where leadership is creative, tech-enabled, and unapologetically student-centered. 🎙️ The podcast is your starting point. The movement is just getting started. 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: ixl.com/leaders The Ruckus Maker Club Community beats compliance every single time. The Ruckus Maker Club is your on demand network of bold school leaders designing the future of education. Join today for $100 a month and get coaching on demand courses, AI prompts and custom GPTs and all our automatic school frameworks and tools within our private digital community. 🔍 Learn more: here ODP Business Solutions "Our STEAM program is too complicated" = Code for "We're doing it wrong." Stop letting fear kill innovation. Some leaders are transforming STEAM with a three-part framework that'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?

_*]:min-w-0 !gap-3.5">   The Ruckus Report Quick take: The most dangerous myth in school leadership is that problems will eventually stop. Jennifer Schwanke reveals how embracing challenges and shifting from "trustworthy" to "trust willing" transforms toxic school cultures into thriving communities. Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Jennifer Schwanke, Ed.D., brings nearly three decades of experience to the field of education, having served as both a teacher and leader across all levels. She is a published author with ASCD, including four current books and a forthcoming fifth title, "Trusted: Trust Pillars, Trust Killers, and the Secret to Successful Schools," expected in the summer of 2025. In addition to her books, Jennifer has contributed hundreds of articles to numerous educational publications. She is actively involved in professional development, offering her expertise to school districts in areas such as school climate, personnel management, and instructional leadership. She is also a frequent presenter at major educational conferences, including those hosted by ASCD, NAESP, NASSP, AASA, and various state and national organizations. Jennifer shares her insights as the co-host of the widely listened-to "Principal Matters" podcast and as an instructor in educational administration at The Ohio State University. Currently, Dr. Schwanke serves as a Deputy Superintendent in Ohio. Breaking Down the Old Rules 🔨 In this episode, Jennifer Schwanke challenges traditional education paradigms: Key Insight #1: Problems Are Life, Not Obstacles What's broken: Leaders waiting for a stress-free summit where all problems disappear The shift: Embrace problems as opportunities to do meaningful work and stay sharp Impact: Leaders stop burning out waiting for calm seas and start building resilience through challenge Key Insight #2: Trust Willing vs. Trustworthy Leadership What's broken: Focusing only on being trustworthy while micromanaging and speaking in deficit language about staff and students The shift: Become "trust willing" by believing in your people, letting them do their trained work, and focusing on your zone of influence Impact: Collective efficacy emerges as teams believe their daily work actually matters and makes a difference Key Insight #3: Lead Around the 2% What's broken: Spending 98% of energy on the 2% of toxic people who will never change The shift: Set clear boundaries professionally, then invest energy in the majority who want to do good work Impact: The 98% gain respect and momentum while toxic behaviors lose their power to derail the mission Quotable Ruckus "When you run out of problems, you're dead. You want problems to come because you want to solve them, because not only does that keep you alive and sharp, but it allows you to do the good you want in the world." – Jennifer Schwanke Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Identify one "emergency" you're treating that could benefit from a 24-48 hour pause This Month: Practice "trust willing" leadership by letting one capable team member handle something you usually micromanage This Semester: Conduct your own "proflection" — identify which trust pillars you're building vs. trust killers you need to eliminate Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript: here 🔗 Follow Jennifer Schwanke: LinkedIn | Instagram 📚 Jennifer's Books: You're the Principal! Now What? | The Principal Reboot | The Teacher's Principal | The Principal's Guide to Conflict Management 🎙️ Co-host of Principal Matters Podcast 💥 Join the Ruckus Maker Movement: https://ruckusmakers.club/join 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — An opportunity to Do School Different 3x a week. Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work: ruckusmakers.news 🗞️ Read Ruckus Makers — Exclusive content on Substack. Premium leadership insights, AI prompts and custom gpts, new books before the bookshelf. ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Our private network + workshops, The Automatic School tools, AI Prompt Library, and more: ruckusmakers.club 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind — Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven leadership system (The Ruckus Maker Flywheel) to help you transform your campus: Apply Now Every tool, community, and coaching program we offer is built to help visionary school leaders play the new game — one where leadership is creative, tech-enabled, and unapologetically student-centered. 🎙️ The podcast is your starting point. The movement is just getting started. 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 The Ruckus Maker Club Community beats compliance every single time. The Ruckus Maker Club is your on demand network of bold school leaders designing the future of education. Join today for $100 a month and get coaching on demand courses, AI prompts and custom GPTs and all our automatic school frameworks and tools within our private digital community. 🔍 Learn more: here ODP Business Solutions "Our STEAM program is too complicated" = Code for "We're doing it wrong." Stop letting fear kill innovation. Some leaders are transforming STEAM with a three-part framework that'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?  

  The Ruckus Report Quick take: Student voice isn't just nice to have—it's the missing ingredient in creating schools worth showing up for. Casey Wright proves that when you design with students instead of around them, everything from panini lines to classroom layouts becomes a catalyst for engagement. Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Casey Wright has served as an educational leader in Illinois high school districts for 30 years. He began his career teaching social studies at Rolling Meadows High School while coaching girls track and boys basketball. After spending 12 years at Highland Park High School as an administrator, Casey is currently an Associate Principal at Glenbrook South High School in Glenview, Illinois. With a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction from National-Louis University and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Casey is also a member of the Illinois Association of School Business Officials. Breaking Down the Old Rules 🔨 In this episode, Casey Wright challenges traditional education paradigms: Key Insight #1: Students Are Your Best Design Consultants What's broken: Adults making assumptions about what students want and need in their learning environment The shift: Regularly convening student committees to provide direct input on everything from food service to classroom furniture Impact: Higher engagement, better attendance, and solutions that actually work (like shawarma bowls and flexible seating options) Key Insight #2: Physical Space Shapes Learning Dynamics What's broken: Static "lion cage" classrooms with bolted-down furniture that prioritize institutional control over collaborative learning The shift: Flexible, mobile furniture and no permanent "front" of the room, allowing fluid movement and dynamic instruction Impact: Teachers become facilitators instead of dispensers, students collaborate naturally, and learning becomes interactive Key Insight #3: Mentorship Multiplies Leadership Impact What's broken: Leaders trying to figure everything out alone without seeking wisdom from experienced mentors The shift: Building long-term mentoring relationships that focus on caring for people first, competence second Impact: Sustained leadership growth, authentic connections with students and staff, and career-long learning partnerships Quotable Ruckus "Students don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." – Casey Wright Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Walk through your building and count how many spaces were designed with student input versus adult assumptions This Month: Convene a student advisory committee to get feedback on one specific aspect of your school experience (food, spaces, policies) This Semester: Pilot flexible learning spaces in 2-3 classrooms, involving both teachers and students in the design process Connect & Continue 🔗 Follow Casey Wright: Casey is an Associate Principal at Glenbrook South High School in Glenview, Illinois 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — An opportunity to Do School Different 3x a week. Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work: here 🗞️ Read Ruckus Makers — Exclusive content on Substack. Premium leadership insights, AI prompts and custom GPTs, new books before the bookshelf. ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Our private network + workshops, The Automatic School tools, AI Prompt Library, and more: https://ruckusmakers.club/join 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind — Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven leadership system (The Ruckus Maker Flywheel) to help you transform your campus: Apply Now Every tool, community, and coaching program we offer is built to help visionary school leaders play the new game — one where leadership is creative, tech-enabled, and unapologetically student-centered. 🎙️ The podcast is your starting point. The movement is just getting started. Today's RUCKUScast in Partnership with: ODP Business Solutions Transforming learning environments isn't just about new furniture—it's about reimagining what's possible when students actually want to show up. For 30 years, ODP has helped schools create spaces that inspire collaboration and innovation. 🔍 Learn more: here IXL Stop accepting "I taught it, they should have learned it." IXL's adaptive platform identifies knowledge gaps and personalizes instruction so every student actually masters the material. Join over 1 million teachers who use data to drive real learning. 🔍 Learn more: here Twelve Practices LLC © 2025 | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?

Most principals feel like they're doing everything right — but something still feels wrong. That's not a personal failure. It's proof you're playing someone else's game. In this episode, Danny Bauer invites school leaders to stop following broken rules and start authoring their own. Breaking Down the Old Rules 🔨 Key Insight #1 What's broken: School leaders can't name the rules of the game they're playing. The shift: Define success on your own terms — and write your own rules. Impact: Clarity, confidence, and control over what truly matters. Key Insight #2 What's broken: Leaders fill their calendars with others' priorities. The shift: Use intentional scheduling to create space for high-value work. Impact: More energy, focus, and results that actually move the needle. Key Insight #3 What's broken: Traditional PD ignores the emotional, practical, and systemic traps leaders face. The shift: Join a community-led, mentor-supported journey to reclaim your leadership. Impact: Massive mindset shifts and sustainable campus-wide results — all in just 8 weeks. Quotable Ruckus "If you can't name the rules of the leadership game you're playing, you're playing someone else's." – Danny Bauer Your Do School Different Challenge Tomorrow: Ask yourself: What rules am I currently playing by that I didn't write? This Week: Join Play Your Game and take back control of your leadership — from the inside out. Send an email to [email protected] SUBJECT: PLAY YOUR GAME 1 BODY: "I'm in!" Once I get that email, I will share the entire program details. If you decide this program is a great fit for you, you'll then register. Play Your Game 1 begins August 14.

_*]:min-w-0 !gap-3.5">   The Ruckus Report Quick take: When 21 kids are on your roster but only 3 show up on time, you don't quit — you reinvent how learning works. Rob Barnett's journey from near-burnout to building a model that reaches 100,000+ educators proves that ditching whole-class instruction might be the best thing you can do for student achievement. Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Rob Barnett is co-founder of the Modern Classrooms Project, which has empowered over 100,000 educators across 180+ countries to meet every learner's needs. A former public school math teacher who nearly quit during his first year, Rob transformed his frustration with traditional whole-class instruction into a revolutionary approach that made him fall in love with teaching again. Author of "Meet Every Learner's Needs: Redesigning Instruction so All Learners Can Succeed," Rob developed the free InstaleEson AI tool that helps teachers create blended, self-paced, mastery-based lessons in minutes. He believes every day, in every classroom, every learner should be appropriately challenged and supported. Breaking Down the Old Rules 🔨 In this episode, Rob Barnett challenges traditional education paradigms: Key Insight #1: One-Size-Fits-All Teaching Sets Everyone Up to Fail What's broken: Standing at the board delivering the same lesson to students with vastly different needs, attendance patterns, and readiness levels The shift: Record simple instructional videos (even using basic tools like Skype) and spend class time working one-on-one and in small groups with students Impact: Teachers can finally meet diverse learner needs while building authentic relationships — the foundation of real learning Key Insight #2: Mastery Must Come Before Moving On What's broken: Rushing students through content because "we've got to get through the curriculum," leaving gaps in understanding that compound over time The shift: Require true understanding of lesson one before advancing to lesson two, giving students the time they need to achieve real mastery Impact: Students build confidence and self-esteem when they experience genuine understanding, creating a virtuous cycle of success Key Insight #3: Good Learning Is Loud and Collaborative What's broken: Controlling every moment from the front of the room, mistaking silence and compliance for engagement and learning The shift: Create a "college library" environment where students work at different paces, collaborate in groups, and engage in meaningful discussions Impact: The best classroom management strategy becomes keeping every student appropriately challenged and supported — misbehavior disappears when kids can succeed Quotable Ruckus "I became a teacher because I wanted to work closely with young people. I wanted to get to know them, I wanted to teach them things so they actually understood and help them develop their own self confidence and self esteem." – Rob Barnett Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Have one teacher try the InstaleEson AI tool to create a single blended lesson — start small, experiment with one topic This Month: Visit learn.modernclassrooms.org and explore the free training resources to understand the full framework for self-paced, mastery-based instruction This Semester: Pilot the Modern Classroom approach in 2-3 classrooms, focusing on recording simple instructional videos and shifting class time to individual and small-group work Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript: [Link] 🔗 Follow Rob Barnett: Linkedin 🏫 Modern Classrooms Project: Modern Classroom 📱 Follow on Instagram: Instagram 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — An opportunity to Do School Different 3x a week. Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work: ruckusmakers.news 🗞️ Read Ruckus Makers — Exclusive content on Substack. Premium leadership insights, AI prompts and custom gpts, new books before the bookshelf. ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Our private network + workshops, The Automatic School tools, AI Prompt Library, and more: https://ruckusmakers.club/join 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind — Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven leadership system (The Ruckus Maker Flywheel) to help you transform your campus: Apply Now Every tool, community, and coaching program we offer is built to help visionary school leaders play the new game — one where leadership is creative, tech-enabled, and unapologetically student-centered. 🎙️ The podcast is your starting point. The movement is just getting started. Today's RUCKUScast in Partnership with: ODP Business Solutions Looking to create the kind of campus experience students never forget? ODP Business Solutions transforms ordinary spaces into extraordinary learning environments. 🔍 Learn more: ODPbusiness.com/education The Ruckus Maker Mastermind Traditional professional development is broken. Instead of top-down lectures, get weekly coaching and peer mentorship that helps you solve your number one challenge every single week. 🔍 Learn more: here IXL If you could differentiate instruction in 20 minutes or less, would you do it for all your students? Over 1 million teachers use IXL because it empowers them to use effective data-informed instruction. 🔍 Learn more: ixl.com/leaders Twelve Practices LLC © 2025 | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?

_*]:min-w-0 !gap-3.5">   The Ruckus Report Quick take: Most school leaders are waiting for someone else's permission to create the change they know their students need. Will Parker destroys that myth and reveals the #1 barrier standing between you and transformational leadership — yourself. Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker William D. Parker is the founder of Principal Matters, LLC—an educator, author, speaker, and executive coach who leverages his expertise in school culture, leadership, and communication to equip educators with strategies for motivating students, inspiring teachers, and reaching communities. He is also the host of Principal Matters: The School Leader's Podcast, with more than 1.5 million downloads to date. Will supports schools around the world through professional development and leadership coaching. He frequently presents at K–12 events, education conferences, leadership team training, and graduate classes on effective practices, organizational management, and improved school communication. An Oklahoma educator since 1993, Will was named South Intermediate High School Teacher of the Year for Broken Arrow Public Schools in 1998. He became an assistant principal in 2004 and was named Oklahoma Assistant Principal of the Year by the National Association of Secondary Principals in 2012. As a principal of a Title I school, he helped lead initiatives in collaboration, remediation, and mentoring that significantly improved student achievement. For six years, Will served as executive director of the Oklahoma Association of Secondary School Principals and the Oklahoma Middle Level Education Association. Find out more about his leadership academies, masterminds, executive coaching, books, and keynote presentations at williamdparker.com. Will's new book: Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? And other books: Pause. Breath. Flourish., Messaging Matters., and Principal Matters. Breaking Down the Old Rules 🔨 In this episode, William D. Parker challenges traditional education paradigms: Key Insight #1: Stop Creating Imaginary Rules That Don't Exist What's broken: Leaders inventing barriers and constraints that exist only in their own minds, like the college student who created rules for a ropes course challenge that didn't exist The shift: Question every "rule" you think is stopping you and ask which barriers are real versus imaginary Impact: When you eliminate self-imposed limitations, you unlock possibilities you never knew existed and can tackle challenges with creative solutions Key Insight #2: Survival Mode Kills Vision and Growth What's broken: Leaders getting trapped in day-to-day survival thinking instead of setting goals and dreaming about the future The shift: Build regular reflection cycles asking: What milestones have I hit? What challenges did I overcome? What successes did I experience? What do I want to experience next? Impact: Clarity gives you permission to take action — when you know where you want to go, you can start moving toward it Key Insight #3: Binary Thinking Limits Your Options What's broken: Approaching decisions as either/or choices instead of exploring multiple pathways and creative alternatives The shift: Always create A, B, and C options (good, better, best) whether you're handling student discipline, master scheduling, or hiring decisions Impact: Options create ownership and empower others while opening doors to solutions you never considered Quotable Ruckus "When you are considering the thing you really want to accomplish, the improvements that you really want to see, the kind of growth that you really want to experience... whose permission are you waiting for? Because a lot of times the person's permission they're waiting for is their own." – William D. Parker Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Make a list of the barriers you think are stopping you from creating the change you want to see — circle the ones that might be imaginary This Month: Schedule weekly reflection time using Will's questions: What challenges did I overcome? What successes did I experience? What lessons did I learn? What do I want to experience next? This Semester: For your next major decision, create three pathway options (A, B, C) instead of thinking in binary terms — then involve your team in choosing the best path forward Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript: here 🔗 Follow William D. Parker: Linkedin 📚 Get Will's new book: Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? And Other books: Pause. Breath. Flourish. Messaging Matters. Principal Matters. 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — An opportunity to Do School Different 3x a week. Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work:  here 🗞️ Read Ruckus Makers — Exclusive content on Substack. Premium leadership insights, AI prompts and custom gpts, new books before the bookshelf.  here 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Our private network + workshops, The Automatic School tools, AI Prompt Library, and more: The Ruckus Maker 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind — Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven leadership system (The Ruckus Maker Flywheel) to help you transform your campus: Apply Now Every tool, community, and coaching program we offer is built to help visionary school leaders play the new game — one where leadership is creative, tech-enabled, and unapologetically student-centered. 🎙️ The podcast is your starting point. The movement is just getting started. 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. 🔍 Learn more: here ODP Business Solutions "Our STEAM program is too complicated" = Code for "We're doing it wrong." Stop letting fear kill innovation. Some leaders are transforming STEAM with a three-part framework that'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?  

  Jethro Jones on Breaking the Robot Principal Playbook The Ruckus Report Quick take: Most school leaders are trained to lead like emotionless robots. But students aren't spreadsheets and staff don't need a boss with a checklist — they need a human being. Time to reject the premise that logic alone should run our schools. Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Jethro Jones, 2017 NASSP Digital Principal of the Year, is a former principal from Fairbanks, Alaska, and the host of Transformative Principal, where he interviews leaders from around the world who are reimagining K-12 education. He's the founder of the Transformative Leadership Summit and author of SchoolX: How principals can design a transformative school experience for students, teachers, parents – and themselves! Breaking Down the Old Rules 🔨 In this episode, Jethro Jones challenges traditional education paradigms: Key Insight #1: Emotions Are Your Leadership Superpower What's broken: The robot principal mentality that emotions should be locked out of work The shift: Embrace emotional intelligence as the very thing that makes leadership work — connection Impact: Leaders build authentic relationships instead of being terminators hunting for data points Key Insight #2: From Sage on Stage to Compass Among Us What's broken: Teachers controlling every learning moment as the "sage on the stage" The shift: Become a "compass among us" — pointing to true north while students navigate their own path Impact: Students take ownership of learning while teachers focus on what computers can't do: the human connection Key Insight #3: Discipline Matrices Are BS What's broken: One-size-fits-all discipline charts that treat every situation identically The shift: Use the smallest possible intervention that changes behavior — sometimes just a look Impact: Fewer office referrals, more authentic relationships, and students who actually learn from mistakes Quotable Ruckus "If AI can crushed everything else, what's left is our emotions and our spirituality and the metaphysical stuff that makes us different than computers." – Jethro Jones Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Check in with someone by asking "How are you?" instead of "How did your students do on that assessment?" This Month: Replace one discipline matrix consequence with a restorative conversation This Semester: Audit your teaching staff — how many are still stuck in "sage on the stage" mode? Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript: [Link] 🔗 Follow Jethro Jones: LinkedIn | Twitter/X 💪 Join the Ruckus Maker Movement: ruckusmakers.club/join Do you Subscribe to the Ruckus Maker Newsletter? Do School Different 3x a Week. ✉ Join for FREE: ruckusmakers.news/subscribe 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — An opportunity to Do School Different 3x a week. Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work: ruckusmakers.news 🗞️ Read Ruckus Makers — Exclusive content on Substack. Premium leadership insights, AI prompts and custom gpts, new books before the bookshelf. ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Our private network + workshops, The Automatic School tools, AI Prompt Library, and more: ruckusmakers.club 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind — Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven leadership system (The Ruckus Maker Flywheel) to help you transform your campus: Apply Now Every tool, community, and coaching program we offer is built to help visionary school leaders play the new game — one where leadership is creative, tech-enabled, and unapologetically student-centered. 🎙️ The podcast is your starting point. The movement is just getting started. 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: ixl.com/leaders 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. 🔍 Learn more: expressability.com/ruckus ODP Business Solutions "Our STEAM program is too complicated" = Code for "We're doing it wrong." Stop letting fear kill innovation. Some leaders are transforming STEAM with a three-part framework that'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?

The Ruckus Report Quick take: The biggest legal risk most districts face isn't a headline-grabbing lawsuit — it's the hidden gap between the accommodations they promise and the ones students actually receive. Sam Feeney built a tool that collapses this compliance gap to 10 seconds and a single click. Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Sam Feeney has been an educator for twenty-five years as an English teacher, counselor, administrator, and consultant. He created Accommodate in response to his professional observations and his personal experience as a father. Sam and the team at Accommodate provide classroom supports for students with all kinds of learning needs so every teacher can maintain instructional integrity. In his spare time, Sam enjoys reading and collaborating with others to build something new. Sam, his wife, and his five children live in suburban Denver, where they enjoy sports and the outdoors. And—no—he doesn't ski. Breaking Down the Old Rules 🔨 In this episode, Sam Feeney challenges traditional education paradigms: Key Insight #1: Need Equals Permission What's broken: Waiting for perfect credentials or expertise before tackling problems you see The shift: Recognition of a need is your permission to solve it — start with passion, build expertise along the way Impact: Innovation happens when educators stop waiting for someone else to fix what's broken Key Insight #2: Hidden Non-Compliance Is Everywhere What's broken: Beautifully written IEPs, 504s, and ELL plans that vanish under the weight of crowded classrooms and overworked teachers The shift: Technology that transforms any lesson into student-specific accommodations at the push of a button Impact: Students get the support they're legally entitled to, teachers avoid guilt and burnout, districts avoid million-dollar settlements Key Insight #3: Time Is the Ultimate Gift What's broken: Teachers spending hours trying to accommodate across three different areas of expertise (special ed, ELL, gifted) The shift: 10-second accommodations that give teachers back their most precious resource Impact: Instructional integrity becomes sustainable, not just aspirational Quotable Ruckus "Need equals permission. If you see a need, that's your permission to go tackle it." – Sam Feeney Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Audit one accommodation plan — is it actually happening in the classroom, or just living on paper? This Month: Calculate the true cost of hidden non-compliance on your campus (teacher burnout, potential lawsuits, student outcomes) This Semester: Invest in tools that give your teachers back time while ensuring every student gets what they're legally entitled to Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript: [Link] 🔗 Follow Sam Feeney: LinkedIn 🌐 Learn more about Accommodate: accommodate.live 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — An opportunity to Do School Different 3x a week. Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work: ruckusmakers.news 🗞️ Read Ruckus Makers — Exclusive content on Substack. Premium leadership insights, AI prompts and custom gpts, new books before the bookshelf. ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Our private network + workshops, The Automatic School tools, AI Prompt Library, and more: ruckusmakers.club 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind — Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven leadership system (The Ruckus Maker Flywheel) to help you transform your campus: Apply Now Every tool, community, and coaching program we offer is built to help visionary school leaders play the new game — one where leadership is creative, tech-enabled, and unapologetically student-centered. 🎙️ The podcast is your starting point. The movement is just getting started. 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: ixl.com/leaders 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. 🔍 Learn more: k12ability.com ODP Business Solutions Stop letting compliance paperwork kill innovation. Some leaders are transforming special education support with technology that turns accommodation promises into reality. 🔍 Learn more: odpbusiness.com/education Twelve Practices LLC © 2025 | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?