The Making Schools Work Podcast

Does AI Rot Your Brain? (And Other End-of-Year Questions)

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2382375/fan_mail/new] As another incredible season comes to a close, hosts Daniel Rock and Erin Anderson Williams sit down for a candid look at the major themes, tensions and breakthrough moments shaping our classrooms today.  In this wrap-up episode, the team dives deep into how schools are redefining student data, shifting the conversation around classroom engagement and navigating the rapidly evolving world of AI in education. From powerful school success stories to personal reflections, this episode is packed with honest, practical insights to carry into the summer and preparation for the upcoming school year.  Key Takeaways From This Episode * Data as an Informant, Not an Enemy: Hear how pacesetter principals are moving away from data meetings rooted in "blame, shame and anxiety" and instead empowering students to completely own and monitor their own academic growth.  * Compliance vs. Investment: Why true classroom engagement is much deeper than students simply sitting quietly or complying with instructions. The hosts break down how to spark genuine student curiosity and long-term investment in learning.  * The Calculator Analogy for AI: Does AI rot your brain? Erin and Daniel share a refreshing perspective, framing AI literacy not as a shortcut, but as a foundational tool that handles initial calculations so students can focus on deeper, high-level critical thinking.  * The Power of Transferable Skills: At the core of all school improvement is teaching kids how to think actively, analyze perspectives and master metacognition—skills that prepare them for workforce pipelines and for life.  Resources & Links Mentioned * Join Us This Summer: Explore the specialized tracks, learning communities, and immersive tours featured in this episode at sreb.org/conference [https://www.sreb.org/conference]. * Connect with SREB: Learn more about our school improvement frameworks and coaching support at sreb.org/school-improvement [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.sreb.org/school-improvement]. The Southern Regional Education Board is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works with states and schools to improve education at every level, from early childhood through doctoral education and the workforce.  Follow Us on Social: * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/SREBSchoolImprovement/] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/srebeducation/] * X [https://x.com/srebeducation]

The GPA Myth: Reframing Education as a Solution, Not a Problem

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2382375/fan_mail/new] Student engagement is at an all-time low, while student anxiety and behavioral challenges are at an all-time high. How do we turn the tide? Mark Perna, a public speaker, best-selling author and founder of TFS Results, joins Daniel Rock and Chris Bailey to offer a game-changing framework: competitive advantage.  By moving beyond a singular focus on high academic grades, Perna outlines how schools can blend robust academics with technical competencies and professional life skills to get every student—from the 4.0 high-flyer to the struggling 1.5 student—fully locked into their learning journey. Key Takeaways * The Three Pillars of Competitive Advantage: Discover the modern definition of a well-rounded education: robust academic knowledge, technical competencies and professional life skills working in perfect concert. * The Solution vs. The Problem: Why straight-A students inherently view education as their solution, while lower-achieving students see it as their problem—and how to bridge that massive engagement gap. * The 2.5 C-Student Paradigm: The eye-opening statistical reality of why close to 100% of major business leaders and CEOs would eagerly hire a 2.5 GPA student who possesses exceptional professional life skills over a high-achieving student without them. * Overtly Teaching Professional Skills: SREB’s Chris Bailey shares insight from aerospace giant Boeing on why workers are never fired for a lack of hard technical skills, but rather for a lack of professional skills. * The AI Tripwire in Workforce Funnels: A critical warning for business and school leaders regarding the fourth industrial revolution and how the blind elimination of entry-level jobs via AI is destroying the talent funnel. * Skills-First Hiring: Navigating the rapid global shift away from degree-based hiring frameworks toward a skills-first employment ecosystem. Resources Mentioned * Answering Why: Answering Why: Unleashing Passion, Purpose and Performance in Younger Generations by Mark Perna. * The Perna Syndicate: Host of the global education and workforce development podcast. * Mark Perna's Official Website: markcperna.com [https://www.markcperna.com]. The Southern Regional Education Board is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works with states and schools to improve education at every level, from early childhood through doctoral education and the workforce.  Follow Us on Social: * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/SREBSchoolImprovement/] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/srebeducation/] * X [https://x.com/srebeducation]

Neuroscience in the Classroom: How Aptitude Testing Creates Better Career Exploration

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2382375/fan_mail/new] What are you actually wired to do? Betsy Wills, co-founder of YouScience and author of Your Hidden Genius, joins Daniel Rock and Jason Adair to disrupt the traditional follow your dreams model of career counseling. In this episode, Wills breaks down why self-reported personality tests fall short, how unused biological aptitudes drive adult burnout and how educators can use performance-based data to uncover the unique treasure chest of talent in every single student.  Key Takeaways * Defining Aptitudes: Why aptitudes are objective, performance-based, unchanging biological traits rather than learned achievements or temporary interests.  * The Braided Rope Framework: Balancing personality, exposure-based interests and innate abilities to navigate a changing workforce.  * The Anatomy of Burnout: Why professional unrest is often caused by an unused aptitude and how avocations can restore career fulfillment.  * The "Slow Drip" vs. "Blender" Mind: Understanding how traits like idea rate dictate whether you belong in a courtroom, a creative studio or an operating room.  * The Danger of Mirror Tests: Why self-reported surveys like Myers-Briggs create a boomerang effect that fails to offer rigorous career direction.  * Democratizing Guidance: Shifting career exploration away from an expensive luxury to a standard tool accessible to all high school students.  Resources Mentioned * Your Hidden Genius: Your Hidden Genius: Leverage Your Natural Talents to Discover Your Career Pathway by Betsy Wills.  * YouScience Platform: Learn more at YouScience.com [https://www.youscience.com/]. The Southern Regional Education Board is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works with states and schools to improve education at every level, from early childhood through doctoral education and the workforce.  Follow Us on Social: * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/SREBSchoolImprovement/] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/srebeducation/] * X [https://x.com/srebeducation]

Stop Misdiagnosing Resistance: The 5 Catalyst Mindsets Every Instructional Coach Needs

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2382375/fan_mail/new] "Help me work with resistant teachers." It’s a major request for instructional coaches, but Becca Silver, founder of The Whole Educator, says it's often a misdiagnosis.  In this episode, Silver joins Daniel Rock and Jason Adair to explain why resistance isn't a personality trait—it's a human response to unmet needs. Discover how to move your staff past simple compliance and toward true ownership using the Catalyst Mindset framework.  Key Takeaways * Reframe the Resistance: Why we should stop labeling teachers as resistant and start supporting teachers experiencing resistance.  * The 5 Catalyst Mindsets: A deep dive into the five unmet needs (Value, Belonging, Success, Growth and Ownership) that are actually at the root of pushback.  * Fidelity vs. Integrity: Why the language we use to describe initiatives can either build trust or signal a lack of it.  * The Levels of Engagement: How to move staff along the continuum from sabotage and defiance to agency and ownership.  * The Culture of Niceness Blocker: Why valuing harmony over authenticity is actually a silent progress blocker for your school.  Resources Mentioned * The Resistance Solution: Why Educators Resist and What They Need Instead by Becca Silver.  * The Whole Educator: thewholeeducator.com [https://thewholeeducator.com/].  The Southern Regional Education Board is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works with states and schools to improve education at every level, from early childhood through doctoral education and the workforce.  Follow Us on Social: * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/SREBSchoolImprovement/] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/srebeducation/] * X [https://x.com/srebeducation]

The High-Growth Blueprint: 5 Years of Level 5 Excellence

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2382375/fan_mail/new] Bethany Wilson, principal of the #1 ranked middle school in Wilson County, Tennessee, joins the podcast to share the secrets behind five consecutive years of Level 5 TVAAS growth. From opening a new school just months before COVID to being named Tennessee's Principal of the Year, Wilson discusses the shift from doing to leading and how intentional culture-building turns data from a boogeyman into a life-changing tool for students.  Key Takeaways * Demystifying TVAAS: Understanding student growth as a statistical model for progress rather than a stressor for teachers.  * The AP Grind vs. Principal Leadership: Why leading a school requires building capacity and an attitude of "We Work" rather than "I Work." * Actionable Data: How to simplify complex statistical models into actionable, color-coded spreadsheets that teachers can actually use.  * Collective Teacher Efficacy: Why the best PLCs are based on trust, vulnerability and a shared drive of lesson designs.  * Normalizing Failure: Creating a culture where risk-taking is encouraged and growth mindsets are applied to both students and staff.  * The Power of Success Criteria: A three-year journey to move beyond simple learning objectives to authentic, student-centered criteria. The Southern Regional Education Board is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works with states and schools to improve education at every level, from early childhood through doctoral education and the workforce.  Follow Us on Social: * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/SREBSchoolImprovement/] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/srebeducation/] * X [https://x.com/srebeducation]