Your Morning Boost - ForwardEd

The Weight of the Words Navigating Hard Conversations

In this episode, we pull back the curtain on the "invisible labor" of school life: the high-stakes conversations that keep us up at night. We explore the psychological difference between de-escalating a combative parent and stewarding a "blindsided" family through a difficult truth. We also dive into the "bravery gap" in our schools and how to bridge friction with colleagues and supervisors using strategic alignment and radical candor.Key Themes & Reflective Beats:Invisible Labor: The emotional and cognitive calories burned in the "work before the work."The Bravery Gap: Why withholding the truth from parents is a disservice, and how to deliver hard news with stewardship.Affective Labeling: Using neuroscience to lower the temperature in the room by simply naming the emotion.Ruinous Empathy: How being "too nice" to colleagues can lead to polite resentment and poor student outcomes.Strategic Alignment: Shifting from "complainer" to "partner" when speaking with school leadership.Notable Quotes:"The social mask is a way of staying safe, but the conversation is a way of being real." — David Whyte"Directness, in these moments, is a form of kindness. We don’t ‘sandwich’ the news. We state the truth clearly and early, and then we do the hardest thing of all: we wait."The Booster’s Deep Dive: Additional ReadingIf today’s episode resonated with you, these resources offer deeper frameworks for mastering the human side of school leadership and teaching.1. On Conflict & Communication"Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High" by Patterson, Grenny, McMillan, and Switzler.Why it matters: This is the gold standard for understanding how to create "Psychological Safety" in a room when emotions are running hot. It helps you stay focused on what you actually want for the relationship."Radical Candor: Be a xxx Boss Without Losing Your Humanity" by Kim Scott.Why it matters: Essential for the "Peer Bridge" segment. It teaches you how to challenge colleagues directly while showing you care personally—avoiding the trap of "Ruinous Empathy."2. On the Psychology of De-escalation"Affective Labeling: The Science of Naming to Tame" (Research by Matthew Lieberman, UCLA).Summary: Scientific backing for why saying "I can see you are frustrated" actually changes the chemistry of the brain, moving someone from "fight or flight" back into their rational mind."The Power of Presence" by Daniel Siegel.Why it matters: Great for the "Blindsided Parent" scenario. It focuses on how to be "present" with someone else's pain without trying to fix it or minimize it with phrases like "I know."3. On Educational Leadership & Role Strain"The Moral Imperative of School Leadership" by Michael Fullan.Why it matters: A look at the "Bravery Gap." Fullan discusses why school culture requires us to have these hard conversations for the sake of the children we serve.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/your-morning-boost-forwarded--6630377/support.Thank You for Listening!  This has been an episode from The FowardED Network—Where we are Advancing Voices and Shaping Education. We are dedicated to supporting everyone invested in K-12 success: teachers, leaders, parents, and community advocates.Want to keep the conversation going?Subscribe: Never miss an insight. Hit the subscribe or follow button on your podcast app to automatically receive our next episode.Share the Knowledge: If this episode provided value, please take a moment to rate and review us! Your five-star reviews help new teachers, parents, and leaders find our network.Explore the Network: This show is just one part of the ForwardEd Network family. Head over to our network page to explore our full roster of interconnected podcasts, including CTRL Shift Lead, Vice Principal UnOfficed, From Carpool to College, and Your Morning Boost.Connect with Us: Have a question or an idea for a future episode? Reach out to us at pillars.forwarded@gmail.com or find us on social media using the tag #theForwardEDnetwork.Ready for your next boost? Browse our catalog and discover your next great listen on The ForwardED Network.This episode includes AI-generated content.

Why Your Expertise Beats AI Efficiency This February

It’s mid-February, the "armpit of the year," and school leaders are feeling the grind. While AI tools promise a shortcut to efficiency, there is a growing tension between "using it because it’s there" and "using it because it’s better." In this episode, we explore why teacher expertise must remain at the center of the instructional craft, especially when the novelty of technology begins to wear off.This episode is for school administrators and instructional coaches who feel the pressure to "innovate" while trying to keep their staff afloat. We discuss the gray space of implementation science, the risk of "quiet failures" in automated instruction, and how to use technology to expand your thinking rather than outsource it.Check us out on YouTube as well!https://youtu.be/uUBfXYf38YECheck out our Sponsor - www.grundmeyerleadersearch.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/your-morning-boost-forwarded--6630377/support.Thank You for Listening!  This has been an episode from The FowardED Network—Where we are Advancing Voices and Shaping Education. We are dedicated to supporting everyone invested in K-12 success: teachers, leaders, parents, and community advocates.Want to keep the conversation going?Subscribe: Never miss an insight. Hit the subscribe or follow button on your podcast app to automatically receive our next episode.Share the Knowledge: If this episode provided value, please take a moment to rate and review us! Your five-star reviews help new teachers, parents, and leaders find our network.Explore the Network: This show is just one part of the ForwardEd Network family. Head over to our network page to explore our full roster of interconnected podcasts, including CTRL Shift Lead, Vice Principal UnOfficed, From Carpool to College, and Your Morning Boost.Connect with Us: Have a question or an idea for a future episode? Reach out to us at pillars.forwarded@gmail.com or find us on social media using the tag #theForwardEDnetwork.Ready for your next boost? Browse our catalog and discover your next great listen on The ForwardED Network.This episode includes AI-generated content.

Why Behavior is Biology: A New Lens for School Leaders - Your Morning Boost

In this episode of Your Morning Boost, we sit down with Dr. Lisa Riegel, CEO of the Educational Partnerships Institute and author of NeuroWell, to bridge the gap between complex neuroscience and daily school life. If you’ve ever felt like your school’s culture initiatives are failing despite your best efforts, this conversation is for you.We dive into why traditional discipline often fails with today’s students and how school leaders can shift from viewing misbehavior as a character flaw to understanding it as a biological stress response. Dr. Riegel shares practical strategies for "regulating the adults" first and creating a sense of belonging that serves as the foundation for all learning. Learn how to lead the human system, not just the policy manual.Connect with Dr. Lisa Riegel:Websites: lisariegel.com | epinstitute.netLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lisariegelBook: Look for NeuroWell and Aspirations to Operations on AmazonListen, subscribe, and share to help us bring humanity back to leadership.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/your-morning-boost-forwarded--6630377/support.Thank You for Listening!  This has been an episode from The FowardED Network—Where we are Advancing Voices and Shaping Education. We are dedicated to supporting everyone invested in K-12 success: teachers, leaders, parents, and community advocates.Want to keep the conversation going?Subscribe: Never miss an insight. Hit the subscribe or follow button on your podcast app to automatically receive our next episode.Share the Knowledge: If this episode provided value, please take a moment to rate and review us! Your five-star reviews help new teachers, parents, and leaders find our network.Explore the Network: This show is just one part of the ForwardEd Network family. Head over to our network page to explore our full roster of interconnected podcasts, including CTRL Shift Lead, Vice Principal UnOfficed, From Carpool to College, and Your Morning Boost.Connect with Us: Have a question or an idea for a future episode? Reach out to us at pillars.forwarded@gmail.com or find us on social media using the tag #theForwardEDnetwork.Ready for your next boost? Browse our catalog and discover your next great listen on The ForwardED Network.This episode includes AI-generated content.

The Red Bench Strategy: Staying Visible While Leading Well - Your Morning Boost

The second semester is a sprint run at a marathon pace. For school leaders, it’s easy to let the "administrative quicksand" of paperwork and logistical reentry bury your primary goals. In this episode, Adam Busch welcomes back Todd Bloomer—former high school principal turned Director of School Leadership—to discuss the intentional moves necessary to keep your school proactive rather than reactive.This episode is for school administrators who feel the mid-winter fatigue and want to reconnect with their "why." Todd shares his "Red Bench" strategy for visibility, the "Bloomer Triangle of Success" for clear communication, and how to guard your time so you can walk alongside your teachers instead of just getting out of their way. You’ll gain a blueprint for resetting expectations with students, staff, and parents to finish the year strong.  Don’t let the second semester run you. Listen now and subscribe for your weekly leadership boost!Connect with Todd Bloomer:Website: toddmbloomer.comBook: The Blueprint for Success: How to Survive and Thrive as a School AdministratorSocials: @todd_bloomer_author (Instagram/TikTok) | @bloomer_sa (X)Listen, subscribe, and share to help another leader find their boost today!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/your-morning-boost-forwarded--6630377/support.Thank You for Listening!  This has been an episode from The FowardED Network—Where we are Advancing Voices and Shaping Education. We are dedicated to supporting everyone invested in K-12 success: teachers, leaders, parents, and community advocates.Want to keep the conversation going?Subscribe: Never miss an insight. Hit the subscribe or follow button on your podcast app to automatically receive our next episode.Share the Knowledge: If this episode provided value, please take a moment to rate and review us! Your five-star reviews help new teachers, parents, and leaders find our network.Explore the Network: This show is just one part of the ForwardEd Network family. Head over to our network page to explore our full roster of interconnected podcasts, including CTRL Shift Lead, Vice Principal UnOfficed, From Carpool to College, and Your Morning Boost.Connect with Us: Have a question or an idea for a future episode? Reach out to us at pillars.forwarded@gmail.com or find us on social media using the tag #theForwardEDnetwork.Ready for your next boost? Browse our catalog and discover your next great listen on The ForwardED Network.This episode includes AI-generated content.

Preparing for the Season of What’s Next - Your Morning Boost

As the New Year’s routines settle in, school leaders are entering the "long stretch" of January. This is the bridge period where next school year stops being a distant thought and starts becoming a series of real conversations. In this episode, we dive into the hiring season—not as a set of HR tasks, but as a deeply human process of transition and growth.This episode is for school administrators and leaders navigating the tension of spring planning. We address how to prepare your building’s culture for new faces, the vulnerability of updating a resume mid-career, and how to support colleagues who are looking toward a different horizon. Listen in to learn why the best recruitment tool you have is the staff already in your hallways and how to navigate the emotional ecosystems of school transitions.Take a breath and join us as we explore the architecture of community. Don't forget to like, follow, and subscribe!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/your-morning-boost-forwarded--6630377/support.Thank You for Listening!  This has been an episode from The FowardED Network—Where we are Advancing Voices and Shaping Education. We are dedicated to supporting everyone invested in K-12 success: teachers, leaders, parents, and community advocates.Want to keep the conversation going?Subscribe: Never miss an insight. Hit the subscribe or follow button on your podcast app to automatically receive our next episode.Share the Knowledge: If this episode provided value, please take a moment to rate and review us! Your five-star reviews help new teachers, parents, and leaders find our network.Explore the Network: This show is just one part of the ForwardEd Network family. Head over to our network page to explore our full roster of interconnected podcasts, including CTRL Shift Lead, Vice Principal UnOfficed, From Carpool to College, and Your Morning Boost.Connect with Us: Have a question or an idea for a future episode? Reach out to us at pillars.forwarded@gmail.com or find us on social media using the tag #theForwardEDnetwork.Ready for your next boost? Browse our catalog and discover your next great listen on The ForwardED Network.This episode includes AI-generated content.