Episode 133 - Better Educators Ask Better Questions: A Conversation with David Arrell
Release Date: 10/27/2025
Educators Among Us
Winter. It sometimes seems that it will never end. When everything feels cold and gray, it’s easy to assume nothing is growing. But what if the season that feels the hardest is actually the one building the strongest roots? In this episode of Educators Among Us, host Scott Barron, Chief Reinvention Officer with School Growth, reflects on seasons, both literal and personal, and especially about Winter and how we must grow through them. Even the most committed educators find themselves walking through the hardest and longest “winters”. But it’s part of the journey, and there...
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Great work can be overlooked. But it’s never taken for granted. When someone slows down, pays attention, and looks closely, true craftsmanship always reveals itself. The same is true in education. Excellence shows up in the details, the discipline, and the pride taken in doing the work well. People notice, and your best effort matters. In this episode of Educators Among Us, host Scott Barron, Chief Reinvention Officer with School Growth, challenges educators to rethink how they view value, mastery, and their role in the work of shaping lives. He encourages educators to always do...
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Most of us want to grow. We want to get better at what we do, lead well, and make a difference. But growth doesn’t just show up on its own. It shows up when we’re willing to slow down, be honest with ourselves, and take responsibility for the things we can actually control. At the end of the day, real progress starts with one simple question: Am I willing to work on me? In this episode of Educators Among Us, host Scott Barron, Chief Reinvention Officer with School Growth, highlights self-mastery and why the most effective educators don’t wait for someone else to push their growth...
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There is a season for everything. Christmas time can be frenzied, hurried and chaotic. But it can, and should, be a season of Reflection, Rest and Renewal. Especially at the end of a year, and at halftime of the school year, we need this season to prepare for what’s next, to pause, to breathe, and to take an honest look at where we’ve been and where we’re headed. In this episode of Educators Among Us, host Scott Barron, Chief Reinvention Officer with School Growth, is joined by his wife Tammy Barron, President at School Growth. They discuss why it...
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What are we working on? And what have we left behind? Plans that stalled, perhaps? Commitments that faded? Goals that started strong and slowly slipped into the background? When we look back, do we see those “Coulda Woulda Shoulda” moments? Credibility requires us to finish what we started, even if it’s not convenient. In this episode of Educators Among Us, host Scott Barron, Chief Reinvention Officer with School Growth, talks about the difference between those who struggle and those who make meaningful progress due to the habit of finishing. Scott explores how...
info_outlineThe greatest educators know that learning isn’t about delivering information; it’s about sparking discovery. When we ask the right questions, we don’t just fill minds, we awaken them.
In this episode, Scott Barron, Chief Reinvention Officer with School Growth, welcomes longtime friend and education leader David Arrell, Assistant Director with the Ohio Christian Education Network/Center for Christian Virtue. Together, they discuss how the expansion of school choice is reshaping education and how the best leaders cultivate environments that nurture curiosity, community, and courage.
They talk about the importance of returning to fundamentals and guiding students to think critically. It is true that education thrives when curiosity is encouraged and leadership is intentional. When teachers, parents, and communities learn to ask better questions and inspire students to do the same, schools become catalysts for lasting change.
Takeaways
-Real transformation in education begins with leadership, not policy.
-Curiosity drives learning more effectively than memorization.
-Schools can model stability and purpose for families and communities.
-Teaching how to think builds confidence and independence.
-Leadership development requires humility, courage, and vision.
-Asking the right questions builds stronger classrooms and cultures.
-Reflection fuels growth for both teachers and students.
-Great schools are built by leaders who inspire other leaders.
Chapters
00:50 – Introduction
04:46 – Dave’s path into teaching
10:11 – Leadership and school choice
13:22 – Family values and success
17:47 – Back to basics in learning
20:44 – Power of questions and curiosity
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