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23: The Good, the Bad & the Ugly of Testing

CheckBox Pro Series

Release Date: 03/17/2025

31: Lean Management for Dismissal show art 31: Lean Management for Dismissal

CheckBox Pro Series

In this episode, I sit down with Tyler Heath, Chief Operations Officer at Austin Achieve Public Schools, to discuss the importance of strong school operations and how he built an effective elementary school car rider dismissal process. Tyler shares insights into the operational challenges schools face, strategies for ensuring efficiency and safety, and key lessons for school leaders looking to refine their own dismissal systems. Key takeaways: A well-structured dismissal process enhances safety, efficiency, and overall school experience. Thoughtful planning and data-driven adjustments are...

info_outline 30: School Psychology, Simplified show art 30: School Psychology, Simplified

CheckBox Pro Series

In this episode, I sit down with ShaVanety Jones, an early career school psychologist, executive functioning coach, and founder of Academic Fusion LLC. With a unique background in psychology and theater, ShaVanety shares how she helps students—especially gifted learners—build confidence, develop essential life skills, and stay engaged through creative tools like improv and social-emotional storytelling. We unpack the multifaceted role of a school psychologist, why third and fourth grade are pivotal years for student development, and how simple acts like writing thank-you notes can teach...

info_outline 29: What's Saving My Life? show art 29: What's Saving My Life?

CheckBox Pro Series

In this episode, Missy Couch shares her personal reflections on the things that are saving her life, a concept inspired by Emily P. Freeman of The Next Right Thing and Kendra Adachi from The Lazy Genius. She discusses ten key elements that bring joy and connection to her life, including coffee, book clubs, Audible, soccer, and family traditions. Each topic highlights the importance of self-care, relationships, and finding joy in everyday activities. Key Takeaways:  Reflecting on what's saving your life can be enlightening. Joy can be found even in the small things, like a cup of coffee....

info_outline 28: Simplifying School Procurement show art 28: Simplifying School Procurement

CheckBox Pro Series

In this episode, I sit down with Daniel Casselli, President of BuyQ, to discuss how group purchasing can help schools—especially smaller charter and private schools—stretch their dollars, streamline operations, and build stronger procurement systems. Drawing from his background in education, edtech, and operations, Daniel offers a masterclass in purchasing strategy, explaining how schools can leverage collective buying power, avoid common pitfalls, and set up procurement systems that actually work. Whether you're new to procurement or trying to bring more strategy to your school’s...

info_outline 27: Coaching K-2 Teachers: How School Leaders Can Support Foundational Literacy show art 27: Coaching K-2 Teachers: How School Leaders Can Support Foundational Literacy

CheckBox Pro Series

In this episode, Markesha Tisby, M.Ed., returns to the Pro Series to dive deeper into how school and instructional leaders can support K-2 teachers in delivering high-quality foundational literacy instruction. Building on her first episode on phonics and early literacy, Markesha now shifts the spotlight to leadership—sharing practical ways administrators, coaches, and consultants can create the conditions for strong phonics instruction to thrive. Whether you're a school leader looking to sharpen your early literacy lens or a coach seeking more intentional ways to guide new teachers, this...

info_outline 26: Building Foundational Readers: Phonics, Confidence & K-2 Instruction show art 26: Building Foundational Readers: Phonics, Confidence & K-2 Instruction

CheckBox Pro Series

In this episode, I sit down with Markesha Tisby, M.Ed., founder and CEO of Tisby Educational Consulting, to explore the critical importance of K-2 instruction and how foundational literacy sets the stage for long-term academic success. A former early childhood teacher and coach, Markesha shares strategies for integrating phonics into all content areas and building joyful, rigorous instruction that supports young readers. Key Takeaways: Strong K-2 instruction lays the groundwork for a student’s future academic performance. Phonics instruction can and should be woven into all subjects—not...

info_outline 25: Understanding School Data for Stronger Boards show art 25: Understanding School Data for Stronger Boards

CheckBox Pro Series

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Henrietta Muñoz, CEO of the Texas A&M University-San Antonio Institute for School and Community Partnerships. With over 25 years of experience in nonprofit leadership and school-community partnerships, Dr. Muñoz shares why data is essential for school boards and how board members—especially those without an education background—can better understand and use school data to make informed decisions. We discuss the key data points school boards should review regularly, strategies for decoding complex data, and the importance of building trust between...

info_outline 24: Turning Data into Action show art 24: Turning Data into Action

CheckBox Pro Series

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Alicia Martin, CEO and founder of DWG Educate & Serve LLC, to discuss how school and district leaders can effectively use data to drive student success. Known as the "Data Diva Doc," Dr. Martin shares her expertise in data-driven instruction, assessment strategy, and leadership development. We explore her three-step framework—Discover, Work, and Grow—designed to help educators analyze data, implement targeted support, and monitor progress to ensure continuous improvement. Dr. Martin also provides practical tips on making data more accessible,...

info_outline 23: The Good, the Bad & the Ugly of Testing show art 23: The Good, the Bad & the Ugly of Testing

CheckBox Pro Series

James Aycock has supported students with disabilities in schools for close to two decades. It truly is his calling and boy am I thankful he is in that space. He shares with listeners the hard truth about tests but doesn’t leave us discouraged. He teaches us about the different types of assessments out there and how they are (or should) be used. He offers advice for parents on what to do when they suspect their student is struggling or needs more of a challenge, and the answer is not, “ambush the teacher during carpool.” LINKS: James wrote a piece for SCORE titled, “Teacher Voice: In...

info_outline 22: Leveraging AI in Schools show art 22: Leveraging AI in Schools

CheckBox Pro Series

In this episode, I sit down with Roger Campbell, award-winning speaker, AI strategist, and founder of Gemstack. Roger shares insights into how AI is transforming education, from streamlining administrative tasks to enhancing classroom learning. We discuss practical ways school leaders can integrate AI tools, debunk common misconceptions, and explore ethical considerations around data privacy. Key Takeaways: AI can reduce administrative burdens, freeing up educators to focus on students. Tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude can assist with tutoring, curriculum planning, and data analysis....

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James Aycock has supported students with disabilities in schools for close to two decades. It truly is his calling and boy am I thankful he is in that space. He shares with listeners the hard truth about tests but doesn’t leave us discouraged. He teaches us about the different types of assessments out there and how they are (or should) be used. He offers advice for parents on what to do when they suspect their student is struggling or needs more of a challenge, and the answer is not, “ambush the teacher during carpool.”

LINKS:

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