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Simple Systems, Lasting Impact: Character Through Daily Announcements - Meg Boyd

The CharacterStrong Podcast

Release Date: 09/12/2025

Top 6 of 2025: Relational Strategies That Strengthen Academics - Dr. Lori Lynass show art Top 6 of 2025: Relational Strategies That Strengthen Academics - Dr. Lori Lynass

The CharacterStrong Podcast

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Top 6 of 2025: The Power of Presence in a Rushed World - John Norlin show art Top 6 of 2025: The Power of Presence in a Rushed World - John Norlin

The CharacterStrong Podcast

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Top 6 of 2025: Don’t Forget These Learners: Practical Adaptations That Work - Sara Nussman show art Top 6 of 2025: Don’t Forget These Learners: Practical Adaptations That Work - Sara Nussman

The CharacterStrong Podcast

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Balancing High Accountability with High Support for Tier 2 & 3 Interventions - Chris Fore show art Balancing High Accountability with High Support for Tier 2 & 3 Interventions - Chris Fore

The CharacterStrong Podcast

Today our guest is Chris Fore, Principal at Mojave High School, in Hesperia, CA. We talk with Chris about why it is important and how it is guiding his work everyday. He shares how creating high-accountability meetings with parents and teachers led to a nearly 60% reduction in failure rates. Chris also highlights the impact that “flipping the script” on parent communication has as he has celebrated individual student wins with positive phone calls home. Learn More About CharacterStrong:  Access FREE Visit the   Chris Fore is the Principal at Mojave High School, a 2025...

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Practical Strategies for Building Teacher Buy-In at the Secondary Level - Crystal Keck & Wendy Uzzle show art Practical Strategies for Building Teacher Buy-In at the Secondary Level - Crystal Keck & Wendy Uzzle

The CharacterStrong Podcast

Today our guests are Assistant Principal Crystal Keck & Humanities Instructional Coach Wendy Uzzle from Bowie High School in Austin, TX. We talk about the unique challenges and solutions for implementing CharacterStrong at the high school level. Crystal & Wendy share how they utilized a "soft launch" approach and adjusted their schedule from 3rd period to advisory based on honest student feedback. They also highlight practical strategies for increasing teacher confidence, including creating a "one-stop shop" for materials and live demonstrations of the low-prep curriculum. Learn More...

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Increasing Attendance and Belonging by Flipping the Script on Student Support - Leandra Torra show art Increasing Attendance and Belonging by Flipping the Script on Student Support - Leandra Torra

The CharacterStrong Podcast

Today our guest is Leandra Torra, Social Emotional Learning and Trauma Informed Care Manager at Jefferson County Public Schools. We talk with Leandra about an innovative approach to Tier 2 support that solves capacity issues by partnering elementary schools with neighboring high school student mentors. She shares how this student-led model helped younger students “graduate” from support groups while significantly improving attendance and belonging. She highlights the necessity of a strong Tier 1 foundation and why leaders must prioritize connection before students are truly ready to learn....

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The Power of the Post-It Note: A Simple Connection Strategy - John Norlin show art The Power of the Post-It Note: A Simple Connection Strategy - John Norlin

The CharacterStrong Podcast

On today's episode CharacterStrong Co-Founder John Norlin talks about the “Power of the Post-It Note,” a simple strategy to build connection with students. He shares practical ways to use written notes for compliments, questions, or behavioral pre-corrections during class. He highlights how small, low-cost investments of time can leave a lasting legacy for students. to subscribe to the CS Weekly  Learn More About CharacterStrong:  Access FREE Visit the

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Creating a District Timeline That Aligns Character with Academic Content - Yvonne Culver & Stephanie Hammond show art Creating a District Timeline That Aligns Character with Academic Content - Yvonne Culver & Stephanie Hammond

The CharacterStrong Podcast

Today our guests are Yvonne Culver, Director of School Counseling and Student Wellness, and Stephanie Hammond, Coordinator for School Counselors at Akron Public Schools. We talk about how they moved beyond "posters on the wall" by creating a district timeline that aligns life skills with academic pacing guides. They share how they engaged content teachers to build practical toolkits that integrate character development into daily lessons without adding more work. They highlight the critical need for patience in implementation and how to use data for support rather than compliance. Learn More...

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Implementation That Sticks: Coaching, Champions, and Campus Voice - Krystal Colhoff show art Implementation That Sticks: Coaching, Champions, and Campus Voice - Krystal Colhoff

The CharacterStrong Podcast

Today our guest is Krystal Colhoff - Director of MTSS at Austin ISD. Krystal shares how a large, urban district strengthened implementation not through top-down directives, but by elevating campus leaders and letting momentum build from the ground up. She explains how a “soft launch” created space for early adopters to innovate, how campus highlights sparked organic buy-in across 116 schools, and how monthly champions meetings and usage data now guide coaching and support. Krystal also highlights early wins, from thousands of Tier 1 lessons delivered to faster, clearer Tier 2...

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Tier 2 in Action: Helping Counselors Build Skills, Systems, and Sustainable Support - Michelle DePuy show art Tier 2 in Action: Helping Counselors Build Skills, Systems, and Sustainable Support - Michelle DePuy

The CharacterStrong Podcast

Today our guest is Michelle DePuy, Secondary Ed. Program Specialist at Redlands Unified School District. We talk to Michelle about how her district is strengthening Tier 2 systems by focusing on both mindset and skill-building with secondary counselors. She shares how creating small-group structures, using consistent data from youth-needs screeners, and providing real coaching on implementation fidelity have helped staff move from uncertainty to confidence. Michelle also discusses early results: students gaining emotional-regulation skills, counselors feeling empowered to lead small groups,...

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Today our guest is Meg Boyd the Principal at Edgewood Elementary. Meg shares how her school uses morning announcements to keep a daily focus on character in every classroom. From “Motivation Monday” to “Fun with Words Friday,” each day carries a theme that unites students and staff while strengthening school culture. What began during COVID as simple voice-over slides has grown into a consistent, schoolwide practice that proves connection doesn’t have to be polished to be powerful. With student shout-outs, quotes, and simple reminders, these daily announcements have become a daily touchpoint for connection.


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Meg Boyd is in her 11th year as Principal at Edgewood Elementary in Greenfield, Wisconsin. Under her leadership, Edgewood has twice been recognized as a National School of Character, and has also been acknowledged for students' growth and closing achievement gaps. Meg works to ensure that all children have access to an education that opens doors for their futures. Believing in and nurturing children's character and competence is what makes that possible.