Building School Systems That Strengthen Connection, Culture, and Student Success - Brenda Ortiz McGrath
Release Date: 03/13/2026
Staff Chips: A Simple System for More Intentional Connections - John Norlin
The CharacterStrong Podcast
Today, host John Norlin shares a strategy called Staff Chips, a simple physical system that helps building administrators be more intentional about connecting with every member of their staff, not just the ones they naturally gravitate toward. He also explains why systems matter more than goals when it comes to relational work. Having the intention to connect more with staff is not enough. A concrete, repeatable process is what actually makes it happen consistently over time. In this conversation, John offers important reminders for educators and leaders: Every leader has staff they naturally...
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Deck of Destiny: A Two-Minute Strategy for Building Classroom Connection - John Norlin
The CharacterStrong Podcast
Today, host John Norlin shares a strategy called Deck of Destiny, a simple way to weave relationship-building into the daily fabric of the classroom without adding time to an already full schedule. Using a deck of cards connected to get-to-know questions, educators can create two-minute connection moments that are random, engaging, and easy to sustain. He also explains why the real barrier to relational work is rarely time and more often priority, and how reframing "I didn't have time" as "that wasn't a priority for me" changes the way educators think about what gets woven into the school day....
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How One Phone Call Home Can Change a Family's Experience of School - John Norlin
The CharacterStrong Podcast
Today, host John Norlin shares a strategy called the Kid in the Middle, a simple, low-burden approach to recognizing the students who rarely get attention in either direction. By calling home to compliment a family member on a positive trait their child brings to the classroom, educators can make an impact that lasts far longer than they might expect. He also explains why this matters most for the students who never cause problems and never stand out. For many of their families, a positive call from school may be the first one they have ever received across an entire K-12 experience. In this...
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EMR: A Simple Reflection Strategy for More Intentional Relationships - John Norlin
The CharacterStrong Podcast
Today, host John Norlin shares an evidence-based reflection strategy called EMR, developed by Dr. Clayton Cook. Using a simple roster exercise, educators categorize each student or staff member into one of three relationship phases: Establish, Maintain, or Restore, and then focus their energy where it is needed most. He also explains why this kind of intentional reflection matters. You cannot be all things to all people at once, but taking a few minutes to identify where each relationship stands gives educators a clear, actionable starting point for being more purposeful in the work they do...
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The Temperature Check: Three Questions That Help You Know How Students Are Really Doing - John Norlin
The CharacterStrong Podcast
Today, host John Norlin shares a practical classroom check-in strategy called the Temperature Check. Using three simple questions at the start of class, educators can get a quick read on how students are actually doing before instruction begins, and act on what they learn. He also explains why that information matters beyond academic readiness. Knowing where students are emotionally on any given day gives educators the opportunity to respond, connect, and support students in ways that going straight into content never allows. In this conversation, John offers important reminders for educators...
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True Story Friday: A Low-Burden Strategy for Building Classroom Connection - John Norlin
The CharacterStrong Podcast
Today, host John Norlin shares a simple weekly strategy for helping students get to know the adults in their school: True Story Friday. By taking two to five minutes at the end of Friday to share a personal story, educators give students something they often want but rarely get, a real look at who their teacher actually is. He also explains how a little preparation goes a long way, having stories ready in advance, offering students a choice of topics, and even letting a story carry over to the following week to build anticipation and connection over time. In this conversation, John offers...
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The Law of the Lid: Why the Energy in Your Room Starts with You - John Norlin
The CharacterStrong Podcast
Today, host John Norlin shares a leadership concept called The Law of the Lid, drawn from Dr. John Maxwell's work. The core idea is straightforward: as a leader, you cannot expect the people around you to bring more energy, effort, or authenticity to the room than you are willing to bring yourself. He also explains how this principle applies at every level of a school, from the classroom teacher setting the tone with students to the building administrator setting the tone with staff, and why the controllables like mood, preparation, and vulnerability are where leaders should focus first. In...
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The Student Becomes the Teacher: A Simple Strategy for Student Connection - John Norlin
The CharacterStrong Podcast
Today, host John Norlin shares a simple strategy for connecting with students, even thought who may have been hard to reach: The Student Becomes the Teacher. By asking students what they could teach you, educators can gain personal insight that opens the door to genuine connection, often in less than three minutes. He also explains how a small investment of time outside the classroom, looking up something a student cares about, can change the entire dynamic of a relationship, and why that kind of intentional move is not one more thing on the plate, it is the plate. In this conversation,...
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Lessons from the Bench: What Leaders Can Learn from Role Players - Brandon Bakke
The CharacterStrong Podcast
Today our guest is Brandon Bakke, assistant principal at Gig Harbor High School and author of Lessons from the Bench. Brandon shares the core ideas behind his new book, a nine-lesson framework for bench players and role players in any organization who want to understand how to contribute meaningfully to a team's success. He also explains why broadening the definition of success to include relationships, not just outcomes, gives role players a powerful and often overlooked way to contribute, and why leaders have a responsibility to explicitly connect every person's role to the larger...
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How to Build Relational Capacity with Staff and Students from Day One - Derrick Lawson
The CharacterStrong Podcast
Today our guest is Derrick Lawson, co-executive director of CATLL and CASCD and a former principal at all three school levels. Derrick shares practical strategies for building relational capacity with staff and students at the start of the school year, and why the first days of school should be spent on connection, not content. He also explains how school leaders can build staff capacity for relationship-building by modeling connection activities, creating shared resources, and embedding brief connection routines into every staff meeting throughout the year. In this conversation, Derrick...
info_outlineToday our guest is Brenda Ortiz McGrath, district administrator, school committee member, author, and founder of the family engagement platform CoreKind360. We discuss why student support and character development must move from being an occasional initiative to becoming part of a school’s foundation. Brenda shares how schools can embed life skills, relationship-building, and proactive student supports into daily instruction, leadership practices, and school culture.
She also explains why strong district leadership, clear messaging, and community partnerships are essential for building systems that strengthen connection, improve school culture, and support student success.
In this conversation, Brenda offers important reminders for educators and leaders working to build stronger school communities:
- Connection before correction builds trust and helps educators better understand the reason behind student behavior.
- Life skills and character development should be embedded into daily instruction and school culture, not isolated in a single period or program.
- District leadership and clear strategic planning are essential for making student support systems a true priority across schools.
- Schools must design systems that prevent disconnection, not just respond to problems after they occur.
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