Building a Community of Belonging in Schools: Insights from Dr. Chad Lang

Finishing Strong Navigating the May Slide in Leadership

Are you and your staff just "crawling to the finish line"? 🏃‍♂️ The "May Slide" can drain the energy out of even the best school cultures. Discover how to stay present, celebrate the journey, and finish the year with purpose. EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode of Control+Shift+Lead, hosts Adam Busch and Jim Wichman host a leadership roundtable with Dr. Jeremy Braden and Dr. Jill Urich. We tackle the unique challenges of the end-of-year season in education. We explore the "Control" and "Shift" segments of leadership, focusing on what to stop doing right now to reduce noise for your staff and how to move from simple reflection into intentional design for the next school year. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN * Why "counting down" to summer can be a leadership mistake. * The "Restaurant Analogy" and its impact on student learning. * How to get out of the "data mud" using AI and trend analysis. * Moving from a "gotcha" mentality to a growth-oriented school culture. WHAT PROBLEMS THIS EPISODE SOLVES * Feeling drained and "spent" during the end-of-year rush. * Struggling to turn end-of-year reflections into actionable change. * Managing staff anxiety as the school year closes. * Avoiding the "May Slide" in leadership visibility. ABOUT THE PODCAST Control+Shift+Lead features Adam Busch (AWB Education, ForwardEd Network) and Jim Wichman (Inspired Edification, ForwardEd Network). The show is dedicated to helping educational leaders move from survival mode into intentional design through systems thinking and innovation. CALL TO ACTION If this helped you rethink your May strategy, please subscribe and share this with a fellow educator!

Building a Community of Belonging in Schools: Insights from Dr. Chad Lang

𝗜𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹'𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝘆? ⚾️ Dr. Chad Lang joins us to explain why "tightening the strike zone" on assessment is the only way to prepare students for a globalized world where competency is king. In this episode of Control+Shift+Lead, hosts Jim Wichman and Adam Busch talk with Dr. Chad Lang about the intersection of leadership, assessment, and the "real world." Dr. Lang shares a powerful analogy comparing Major League Baseball umpires to classroom teachers, showing how evolution—not just change—leads to better outcomes for kids.If you’ve ever struggled to lead your staff through grading reform or wondered how to align your school's systems with the modern economy, this conversation provides the roadmap. 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗬𝗢𝗨’𝗟𝗟 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗡 • How to use the "Umpire Analogy" to simplify assessment reform. • Why the "real world" argument actually supports standards-based practices. • How professional development acts as the catalyst for tightening the "strike zone". • The importance of "aiming small" to communicate student evidence clearly. 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗕𝗟𝗘𝗠𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗘𝗣𝗜𝗦𝗢𝗗𝗘 𝗦𝗢𝗟𝗩𝗘𝗦 • Struggling to answer parents/staff who say grading reform is "too soft." • Trying to modernize assessment without overwhelming your teachers. • Bridge the gap between "school work" and "global competency." Connect with our Guest! https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-lang-ed-d-3864173a/ https://recalibrateedservices.com/ 𝙰̲𝙱̲𝙾̲𝚄̲𝚃̲ ̲𝚃̲𝙷̲𝙴̲ ̲𝙿̲𝙾̲𝙳̲𝙲̲𝙰̲𝚂̲𝚃̲ Control+Shift+Lead is the premier podcast for school leaders and innovators. Hosted by Adam Busch (AWB Education/ForwardEd) and Jim Wichman (Inspired Edification), we explore the shifts in thinking required to lead today’s schools.

Leading with Teachers Shifting the Culture of School Observations

Is your feedback building professional capacity or simply creating anxiety? In this episode of Control Shift Lead, hosts Jim Wichman and Adam Busch sit down with school administrator Kanika Dorsey to dismantle the "gotcha" culture of school observations.Kanika shares her powerful framework for moving toward non-evaluative feedback, emphasizing that the most impactful leadership happens when you leave the laptop at the door and pick up a sticky note. We discuss the "Control" of the feedback loop, the "Shift" toward high-frequency, low-stakes walkthroughs, and how to "Lead" by empowering teachers to facilitate their own instructional rounds.Whether you are a seasoned principal or an aspiring leader, this conversation offers a blueprint for building a culture of trust, focusing on "one or two things" for sustainable growth, and keeping student achievement at the heart of every classroom visit. Kanika also shares her deeply personal journey of resilience—from a single parent in the Bronx to a powerhouse instructional leader—reminding us why leading with heart is non-negotiable in K-12 education. This is a ForwardEd Network production. Connect With Our Guest & Hosts Kanika Dorsey: 1. Instagram: @kanikadorsey [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.instagram.com/kanikadorsey] Reach out to the Hosts: 1. Adam Busch: adam@awbeducation.org 2. Jim Wichman: inspirededification@gmail.com 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? 1. Subscribe: Never miss an insight. Hit the subscribe or follow button on your podcast app to automatically receive our next episode. 2. 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. 3. Explore the Network: This show is just one part of the ForwardEd Network family. Head over to our network page [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-edify-network-insights-for-every-education-stakeholder--6630377] to explore our full roster of interconnected podcasts, including CTRL Shift Lead, Vice Principal UnOfficed, From Carpool to College, and Your Morning Boost. 4. 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.

Be Where Your Feet Are: The Power of Presence

In the mid-winter stretch of the school year, it’s easy for leaders to feel the weight of "the woes"—that heavy, gray season where the list of tasks grows faster than the daylight. In this episode, 32-year veteran educator Bob Long joins us to discuss a simple but transformative leadership standard: being exactly where your feet are.Designed for school administrators and lead learners, this conversation explores how to balance the "business" of education with the human needs of our students and staff. We dive into the reality of "precipitating factors"—the invisible burdens our community carries—and why the most effective leadership move you can make today is simply catching someone doing something right. You'll walk away with a renewed perspective on presence and a reminder that you don't have to be a hero; you just have to be present. Subscribe for your weekly dose of leadership perspective and share this with a colleague who needs a mid-winter boost. 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? 1. Subscribe: Never miss an insight. Hit the subscribe or follow button on your podcast app to automatically receive our next episode. 2. 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. 3. Explore the Network: This show is just one part of the ForwardEd Network family. Head over to our network page [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-edify-network-insights-for-every-education-stakeholder--6630377] to explore our full roster of interconnected podcasts, including CTRL Shift Lead, Vice Principal UnOfficed, From Carpool to College, and Your Morning Boost. 4. 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.

From Points to Pointers: Shifting the Grading Paradigm

Welcome to the first show of 2026! We are kicking off the New Year with a "heavy hitter" in the world of education. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Matt Townsley, an Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Northern Iowa and the acclaimed author of Making Grades Matter.If you have ever felt that traditional grading systems—driven by points, percentages, and "extra credit Kleenex boxes"—don’t accurately reflect what your students actually know, this conversation is for you. Dr. Townsley challenges us to move from a culture of "earning" to a culture of "learning." Key Highlights: 1. The Power of Redos and Retakes: Why honoring different learning paces is essential for student success and how to implement a plan that avoids the "end-of-semester dump." 2. The 21-Point Inspection: A brilliant analogy for shifting grading from vague percentages to detailed, standard-based feedback. 3. Communication Over Compliance: How to move away from using grades as "carrots and sticks" and start using them as a clear map for student growth. 4. Practical Leadership: Tips for principals on how to affirm teachers who are already innovating in their assessment practices. Stop chasing points and start focusing on evidence of learning. Tune in to learn how to diagnose the "holes in the bucket" and provide meaningful interventions that truly help students master their goals. Connect with Dr. Matt Townsley: 1. University Profile: University of Northern Iowa Faculty [https://coe.uni.edu/llc/directory/matt-townsley-edd] 2. Book: Making Grades Matter [https://a.co/d/f0Y5pSJ] 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? 1. Subscribe: Never miss an insight. Hit the subscribe or follow button on your podcast app to automatically receive our next episode. 2. 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. 3. Explore the Network: This show is just one part of the ForwardEd Network family. Head over to our network page [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-edify-network-insights-for-every-education-stakeholder--6630377] to explore our full roster of interconnected podcasts, including CTRL Shift Lead, Vice Principal UnOfficed, From Carpool to College, and Your Morning Boost. 4. 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.