Dr. Mario Acosta spent 20 years of his educational career as a teacher, instructional coach, assistant principal, academic director, and principal leading schools with diverse profiles.

He was named the 2022 Principal of the Year in the state of Texas while he was the principal at Westwood High School, a U.S. News & World Report top-50 campus and member of the High Reliability Schools (HRS) Network.

His latest book is The Schools Our Students Deserve: A Comprehensive Framework for Shaping Exceptional School Culture.

We discuss:

• What are the schools our students deserve? Are we asking this question enough?
• The current state of schools and identifying the gaps
• Outcomes students deserve…
• The values to center in a school’s culture
• Many schools saw temporary bursts of innovation after the pandemic, but struggled to sustain them. How can leaders build on the urgency of that moment and create lasting change?
• How does a leader take charge of the culture?
• Building support from the community
• Attracting high-quality educators and retaining them long-term

Get The Schools Our Students Deserve from Solution Tree. You can also learn more in this webinar: http://bit.ly/4fXCYWa

About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn

I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt

Ranan Lachman is a transformation expert with a BA in Computer Science and an MBA who has reinvented himself across radically different worlds — jet-fighter co-pilot, management consultant, Wall Street investment banker, and CEO of multiple technology companies.

He lives what he teaches, having relocated to four countries across four continents and even circled the globe for a year with his family while managing a startup.

Ranan is currently founder and CEO of Better Speech. We discuss his work with Better Speech and his book, Comfort Override: Future-Proof Your Life as AI Flips Your World.

Topics include:

• How AI can help schools address special education goals
• Principles for implementing AI responsibly in special education
• How can professionals proactively prepare for AI disruption in their industry?
• Daily practices to develop the adaptability “muscle”
• Evolving intentionally as an individual and an organization

Learn more about today’s guest:

• www.comfortoverride.com
• www.betterspeech.com

About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn

I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt

As a Walt Disney Imagineer, Brian helped create the stories and magic for some of the world’s most beloved attractions. Over the past 35 years, he has produced work for a who’s who list of corporations, as well as small entrepreneurial ventures.

Now, as a sought-after Innovation Consultant through his practice known as The Brainstorm Institute, he works with both large and small companies to help them gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

Currently, he is a full-time instructor at the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College, where he teaches a variety of courses related to themed entertainment, immersive design, event production, and advanced technologies.

His book is Creative Cross-Pollination: A Former Imagineer's Take on the Innovation Process.

We discuss:

• Brian’s background as a Walt Disney Imagineer and his work writing for some of the world’s most beloved theme parks — and how this work influenced his approach to education
• His definition of innovation
• The 4 techniques of Creative Cross-Pollination
• How educators can integrate this technique into their work
• Driving innovation and creativity in education
• Emerging trends in technology (AR/VR, Telematics, Military, etc.)...and how to cross-pollinate
• Brian’s take on the future of work

Order Creative Cross-Pollination: https://bit.ly/3LESDP0

Learn more about today’s guest:

• https://www.brainstorm-institute.com
• www.ensoeducation.com

About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn

I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt

James I. Bond is one of America’s leading behavioral management specialists. He joins the show to talk about his book Brain Glue, which was named a 2023 Best Business Book finalist by Publishers Weekly.

We discuss:

• How selling becomes much easier by making your ideas “sticky”
• The desire to connect with others and make your ideas connect
• The science of persuasion
• Understanding the way people learn about ideas
• The power of humor

About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn

I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt

Mitch Weathers is an educator, author of the bestselling book, Executive Functions for Every Classroom, and the founder of Organized Binder. He returns to the show to share tips for authors, especially how to launch and promote your book.

We talk about:

• Starting to plan for a book launch
• Knowing why you want to write
• It doesn’t matter how valuable your book is if nobody knows it exists
• The book as a marketing vessel: how does it open doors?
• Use your network to your advantage
• What makes promoting a book different from promoting your business?
• How to define success

Listen to my previous conversation with Mitch on episode 81 of The Authority, Executive Functions for Every Classroom with Mitch Weathers.

About today’s guest

Mitch Weathers is an educator, author of the #1 bestselling book, Executive Functions for Every Classroom, and the founder of Organized Binder. Organized Binder is an MTSS Tier 1 solution that exposes students to the executive functions that promote success. In a world where we must embrace technology, analog interaction and hands-on practice is more important than ever. Studentness, the habits of being a student, are critical in today’s educational landscape and Mitch is among those leading the charge.

About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn

I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt

Across two decades in education, Mia Hood has served in a variety of K-12 roles, including classroom teacher, instructional dean, and, most recently, regional director of literacy.

Currently, she designs curriculum for schools and nonprofits and teaches literacy and secondary education at the City University of New York and professional writing at New York University.

Mia joins the show to talk about her book, Pop Culture Literacies: Teaching Interpretation, Response, and Composition in a Digital World.

We discuss:

• Defining pop culture today
• How pop culture literacy and media literacy are similar and different
• Why teach pop culture literacy?
• When/how would a typical teacher incorporate lessons on pop culture literacy into their curriculum?
• What teachers should be learning from their students
• What worries and inspires Mia

Get Pop Culture Literacies from Routledge Eye on Education or wherever you get your books.

Connect with Mia:

• https://miahood.substack.com/
• linkedin.com/in/mia-hood-a309439a
• @miaelizabethhood on IG

About today’s guest

Mia Hood is the author of Pop Culture Literacies: Teaching Interpretation, Response, and Composition in a Digital World. Across two decades in education, she has served in a variety of K-12 roles, including classroom teacher, instructional dean, and, most recently, regional director of literacy. Currently, she designs curriculum for schools and nonprofits and teaches literacy and secondary education at the City University of New York and professional writing at New York University. Mia received her doctorate in Curriculum and Teaching from Teachers College, Columbia University, where she studied sociocultural and critical perspectives on literacy. She writes all about pop culture literacies in the newsletter Popstack.

About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn

I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt

Lacey Robinson is president and CEO of UnboundEd. A former teacher, principal, and professional development specialist who has focused on literacy, equity, and school leadership for more than 25 years, her life’s work aims to enable educators to disrupt systemic inequities in their school districts and classrooms.

She frequently serves as a featured keynote speaker, and her personal literacy journey is shared on Emily Hanford’s “Sold a Story” podcast. Today we’re discussing the science of reading:

• If we've known for decades about the science of reading, and its effectiveness as a model for literacy instruction, why have we deviated from it?
• Should schools of education change what they are teaching? Should K-12 be more directive toward teacher training programs?
• Why hasn't the science of reading been centered in teacher training?
• What specifically do students need from science-based reading instruction? What is the urgency?

Listen to my previous conversation with Lacey Robinson, about her book Justice Seekers, on episode 74 of The Authority. Learn more about UnboundEd and Lacey’s work at www.unbounded.org.

About today’s guest

Lacey Robinson is the president and CEO of UnboundEd, and the chair of the Board of CORE Learning. As CEO, Robinson sets the organization’s vision for transforming instruction for students at the margins. She is a former teacher, principal, and professional development specialist who has focused on literacy, equity, and school leadership for more than 25 years. Her life’s work aims to enable educators to disrupt systemic inequities in their school districts and classrooms. She led the merger of UnboundEd, Pivot Learning, and CORE Learning under the UnboundEd banner — creating the nation’s largest K–12 educator development organization focused on improving teaching and learning for underserved students.

Robinson is a leading national voice on disrupting the predictability of students’ educational outcomes, and was named to 2023’s Forbes 50 Over 50 list in recognition of her innovative leadership. She frequently serves as a keynote speaker and is featured on Emily Hanford’s 2022 “Sold a Story” podcast.

About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies. He is a leadership development and performance coach for professionals in a range of industries and consults with organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry to help communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano and LinkedIn

Dr. Rachel Edoho-Eket has earned a reputation as a strong instructional leader, passionate educational advocate, and dedicated mentor. As the Principal of a National Blue Ribbon school in Maryland, she is a lifelong learner who strives for excellence not only for herself, but also for everyone she serves.

Today, she joins the show to discuss Relational Intelligence: The Key Factor to Exceptional School Leadership.

We discuss:

• Relational Intelligence (RQ): the ability to build trust, communicate with empathy, and connect authentically
• How is RQ different from EQ?
• Why Trust is the first pillar
• Challenging the myth that leadership is about charisma or control
• Results: improved teacher retention, enhanced student outcomes, and increased community engagement.

Get Relational Intelligence on Amazon or wherever you get your books.

Our previous episode, with Jen Schwanke, also explored trust. Listen to it here: https://bit.ly/46pcCI5

About today’s guest

Dr. Rachel Edoho-Eket is a wife, mother, principal, author, and speaker. With decades as a teacher and leader in public education, she has earned the reputation as a strong instructional leader, passionate educational advocate, and dedicated mentor. As the Principal of a National Blue Ribbon school in Maryland, she is a lifelong learner who strives for excellence not only for herself, but also for everyone she serves. Currently, she is President of the Maryland Association of Elementary School Principals and is an ASCD facility member.

About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn

I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt