The Conference Room

22 Building Your School Culture

In this episode of The Conference Room podcast, we are thrilled to welcome Kelley Stein, an accomplished educational leader and the current Director of Academics for the West Baton Rouge Parish School System. Kelley brings a wealth of experience in building a strong, positive school culture and fostering productive relationships with students, staff, parents, and the broader community. During her tenure as principal, she has led her school to significant academic achievements, including substantial LEAP 2025 score growth and recognition as a Capturing Kid’s Hearts National Showcase School. In our conversation, we dive deep into key topics relevant to school leaders and educators, including how to cultivate a resilient school culture, the challenges and strategies for managing leadership transitions, and innovative ways to engage the community. With her extensive background in administration and her focus on creating collaborative environments, Kelley offers invaluable insights that can inspire school leaders at every level. Tune in for an engaging discussion that sheds light on leadership, communication, and school transformation.

21 Summer Strategies for Early Literacy Development

Welcome to the June edition of The Conference Room podcast, centered around "Early Literacy Matters: A Leader's Guide to Systematic Change." As the school year ends and summer begins, it’s crucial to implement strategies to keep children engaged in literacy activities. This episode focuses on: 1. Preparing for a Literacy-Rich Summer: * Encouraging participation in local library summer reading programs. * Organizing book swap events. * Helping students set personal reading goals. 2. Providing Resources for Families: * Sending home summer reading kits. * Providing lists of online resources, apps, and educational websites. * Hosting workshops or webinars for parents. 3. Setting Up for the Upcoming School Year: * Reflecting on the past year’s successes and challenges. * Planning literacy goals and initiatives. * Identifying professional development opportunities. * Preparing classrooms to support a literacy-rich environment. Join us as we celebrate the progress made during the school year and prepare for a summer full of literacy activities.

20 The Need For Reflection

Join hosts Herman and Jessica Brister in The Conference Room Podcast's latest episode! In this edition, the BASIC Solutions Team navigates the crucial task of reviewing and reflecting on the 1st semester. Explore with us as district, school, and teacher leaders dissect achievements, address challenges, and strategize for an empowered 2nd semester. Tune in for insightful discussions, practical tips, and the inspiration needed to propel educational excellence! 🌐📚 #Reflections #EveryLeaderNeedsACoach #TheresAlwaysASolution

19 Capitalizing on Athletics and Extra Curricular Activities in Schools

The Conference Room welcomes eight time champion Jeffery Jones to the podcast. He currently serves as an Assistant Principal, Athletic Director, and Head Coach at Madison Prep Academy, located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Many educators ponder the question of balancing academics and athletics (extra curricular activities). In this episode we tackle, the process of building a championship program, recruitment, and sustaining academic success while building an award winning program.

18 Assessing Teaching & Learning During Covid-19 Pt. 2

Chief Academic Officer, LaMont Cole enters The Conference Room to share his candid thoughts on the state of education during pandemic. Many educators have been forced to reimagine teaching and learning. In these episodes he talks about suspensions, emotional support, educators being part of the decision making process, student failures, among other topics and issues. Teachers, schools, and districts have faced unprecedented challenges as a result of the pandemic. One of the central challenges for educators has been the need to figure out how to meet the individual needs of students. Students have had dramatically different experiences during the pandemic making the need for academic and nonacademic interventions/support even greater this spring.