Kwame Sarfo Mensa: Building Identity-Affirming Classrooms That Humanize Learning

The Schoolhouse 302: Intentional Instructional Leadership with Dr. Joseph Jones and Dr. T.J. Vari

In this episode of the Innovating Education Podcast, Dr. Riley Williams talks with Dr. Joseph Jones and Dr. T.J. Vari—co‑founders of TheSchoolHouse302, about why meaningful school improvement requires working through conflict rather than avoiding it. The conversation examines their evolution from site leaders under No Child Left Behind to authors and coaches, and how that experience informed their approach to culture, feedback, and instructional leadership. Jones and Vari outline core ideas from their books, including Candid and Compassionate Feedback: Transforming Everyday Practice in Schools and their new title Time, Tools, and Tactics of Instructional Leadership: A Principal’s Guide to Leading Learning, with an emphasis on moving from “urgent management” to intentional leadership grounded in coaching and daily growth. They highlight why every principal benefits from having a coach, how the “law of the lid” applies to schools, and what it looks like to get 1 percent better each day in service of improved outcomes for students. Key takeaways: * An explanation of why a “culture of nice” and conflict avoidance undermines real change, and how candid, compassionate feedback can support both performance and trust. * Specific approaches for using time, tools, and coaching structures to shift leaders from constant crisis response to focused instructional leadership. * Considerations for superintendents and principal supervisors who want to invest in leadership capacity so school improvement efforts are sustainable and student-centered. Connect and resources: * Website: https://theschoolhouse302.com [https://theschoolhouse302.com] (includes FocusED podcast, book information, and coaching/booking details) * Book: Candid and Compassionate Feedback: Transforming Everyday Practice in Schools * Book: Time, Tools, and Tactics of Instructional Leadership: A Principal’s Guide to Leading Learning

Erin Thorkilsen: Humanizing Classroom Practice Through Learning Science

In this episode of the Innovating Education Podcast, we sit down with Erin Thorkilsen—educator, professor, and founder of Heart in Education, a professional development initiative focused on the human and relational dimensions of teaching. With over two decades of experience and deep grounding in learning science, Erin helps educators navigate complexity, strengthen classroom culture, and teach in ways that honor both student and teacher wellbeing. This conversation dives into the psychology of learning, emotional regulation, and what really happens in the brain when students—and adults—become dysregulated. Erin shares practical, emotionally grounded tools for designing learning experiences that honor curiosity, emotion, and multisensory engagement. She also reframes classroom management through a lens of compassion, co-regulation, and teacher self-awareness—moving beyond “fixing” behaviors toward supporting whole humans. Key takeaways from this episode: * Why emotion is the engine of learning—and how to design lessons that leverage attention, memory, movement, and joy. * How to shift from “rescue boat” to “lighthouse” when students experience big feelings. * Practical strategies for building regulation skills, both for students and for teachers in difficult moments. * How to support classroom management by meeting students’ needs for play, novelty, and connection—especially during tricky transitions. * Why letting go of outcome can open the door to presence, clarity, and stronger relationships. * A glimpse into Erin’s Refresh Your Toolkit workshop and her self-inquiry approach to helping educators move from stuckness to insight. Referenced frameworks & resources: * Dan Siegel’s Hand Model of the Brain * Shelburne Farms’ Cultivating Joy and Wonder * Blue School’s creative learning model * Heart in Education’s regulation and relational teaching toolkit Connect with Erin Thorkilsen: 🌐 Website: heartineducation.org [http://heartineducation.org] 📸 Instagram: @heartineducation

Kwame Sarfo Mensa: Building Identity-Affirming Classrooms That Humanize Learning

In this special Thanksgiving episode of the Innovating Education Podcast, Dr. Riley Williams talks with Kwame Sarfo Mensa—veteran educator, global consultant, and author of Learning to Relearn—about what it means for educators to “unlearn and relearn” in order to create more humanizing schools. The conversation examines how equity-centered, culturally affirming practice invites teachers and leaders to interrogate bias, reconsider school culture, and center identity, belonging, and trust in daily decisions. Key takeaways: * An explanation of why educators must continually “learn to relearn” and concrete strategies for interrupting bias through self-assessment, reflective practice, and intersectional empathy. * Specific approaches for culturally affirming and identity-affirming teaching, including pronunciation and use of students’ names, modeling cultural humility, and building classroom norms that validate multiple identities. * Considerations for school leaders and policymakers who seek to model inclusive leadership, strengthen student trust, and frame education as a collective, relational practice rather than a purely technical system. Connect with Kwame Sarfo Mensa: * Website: https://www.identitytalk4educators.com [https://www.identitytalk4educators.com ] * Email: kwame@identitytalk4educators.com [kwame@identitytalk4educators.com] * Podcast: Identity Talk 4 Educators LIVE

Steven Bollar (aka Stand Tall Steve) Breaks It Down: Just Do This

In this episode of the Innovating Education Podcast, Dr. Riley Williams talks with Steven Bollar—also known as Stand Tall Steve—an educator, former superintendent, author, and national speaker on school climate and culture. The conversation examines why many school improvement efforts stall when leaders pursue perfection over progress and how clearer decision-making and culture practices can make change more sustainable. Key takeaways: * An explanation of the five levels of decision-making and how leaders can use them to set expectations, communicate clearly, and reduce frustration in schools and districts. * Specific approaches for simplifying culture work, avoiding initiative fatigue, and using “reduce, not eliminate” as a realistic strategy for improving staff experience and student outcomes. * Considerations for using the ideas in Steve’s book Just Do This to prioritize practical actions over abstract theory when leading in complex systems. Connect and resources: * Website: https://www.standtallsteve.com [https://www.standtallsteve.com ] * Email: steven@standtallsteve.com [steven@standtallsteve.com] * Podcast: The School Climate & Culture Show – hosted by Stand Tall Steve, with Megan Diede. * Just Do This Boost Camp and related events: details available at https://www.standtallsteve.com [https://www.standtallsteve.com ]

The Grammar Guy Bob Safran: Grammar's Ties to Literacy & the Science of Reading

In this episode of the Innovating Education Podcast, Dr. Riley Williams talks with Bob Safran, an educator and developer of the EGUMPP grammar program, about the place of explicit grammar instruction in literacy education. The conversation reviews how policy shifts such as the 1985 NCTE resolution influenced classroom practice and considers arguments for reintroducing more structured grammar study. Key takeaways: * An overview of rationales for treating grammar as a foundational component of reading and writing, including implications for academic and workplace communication. * A description of how EGUMPP structures content into online modules focused on grammar, usage, mechanics, and punctuation, with self‑paced lessons and automated feedback. * Considerations for schools and systems weighing how to balance explicit grammar instruction with broader literacy goals and classroom time constraints. Where to connect: * EGUMPP – online grammar, usage, mechanics, and punctuation program developed by Bob Safran: https://egumpp.com [https://egumpp.com ] This episode features a founder discussing their own product; inclusion is for informational purposes and is not a paid promotion.