Episodes

Wednesday Jan 08, 2025
Episode 107: Navigating Change and Being the First with Susana Córdova & Allen Smith
Wednesday Jan 08, 2025
Wednesday Jan 08, 2025
In this episode, Jeff dives into a dynamic conversation with Susanna Córdova, Colorado's first Latina Education Commissioner, and Allen Smith, Cognia's VP of Leadership Development. They discuss leadership, the significant changes in education post-COVID, the critical role of AI, and strategies to close educational inequities. Susana shares her inspiring career journey, her vision for the future of education, and actionable advice for leaders. Don't miss this insightful look into leading through change and making a lasting impact in education.

Wednesday Dec 18, 2024
Episode 106: Leadership Advocacy and Strategic Networks with Julia Rafal-Baer
Wednesday Dec 18, 2024
Wednesday Dec 18, 2024
In this week's episode, the incredible Dr. Julia Rafal-Baer talks with Jeff about the complexities of educational leadership, gender and racial disparities, and leveraging AI in education. Learn from her experiences and insights on sustaining effective leadership and creating impactful policy changes.

Wednesday Dec 11, 2024
Wednesday Dec 11, 2024
In this episode, Dr. Christina Grant, the new Executive Director at Harvard's CEPR, speaks with Jeff about bridging research and practice in education. Jeff and Christina discuss the complexities of modern educational leadership, the importance of data-driven decision-making, and the role of politics in education. You will gain insights into Dr. Grant's journey and her vision for using research to advance equity and academic progress. This episode offers valuable perspectives for educational leaders navigating today's challenging landscape.

Wednesday Dec 04, 2024
Navigating Controversy by Circling Up
Wednesday Dec 04, 2024
Wednesday Dec 04, 2024
In this week's episode, Jeff and Leader Chat producer Kris Richard discuss Cognia's upcoming Leadership Circle Summit in January 2025.
As a school leader, you have a pivotal role in shaping the educational outcomes of students across the country and directly influencing the quality of education within your community. However, even leaders need professional development opportunities occasionally to keep their “iron sharp.”
Join us for our 3rd annual Leadership Circle Summit at Cognia’s corporate headquarters in Alpharetta, GA, January 13-15, 2025.
Learn pragmatic solutions from our expert keynote speakers, Amanda Ripley, AJ Crabill and Dr. Mark Elgart.
Connect with other educational leaders to identify simple solutions to complex problems, share governance challenges and establish critical professional networks that best support your work.
Find out more about Cognia's Leadership Circle Summit at https://www.cognia.org/news-events/events/ under the "Conferences" section. Contact us directly for more information or questions by emailing us at leadershipcircle@cognia.org or by contacting our event coordinator, Katie Hall, at katie.hall@cognia.org

Wednesday Nov 27, 2024
Episode 104: Leading a Movement of Culturally Responsive Teaching with Zaretta Hammond
Wednesday Nov 27, 2024
Wednesday Nov 27, 2024
In this engaging episode of Leader Chat, Jeff speaks with teacher educator and author of Culturally Responsive Teaching & The Brain, Zaretta Hammond. Jeff and Zaretta delve into the importance of culturally responsive teaching, productive struggle, and building strong teacher-student learning partnerships. Zaretta also discusses the integration of neuroscience with teaching practices and provides practical leadership strategies to support instructional equity.

Wednesday Nov 20, 2024
Wednesday Nov 20, 2024
In this episode, Jeff is joined by Alicia Hughes, a seasoned virtual leader with over 14 years of experience. Jeff and Alicia explore the importance of setting norms and expectations for virtual learning, share strategies for engaging both students and adults online, and discuss the evolving landscape of virtual education post-COVID. Alicia provides practical advice for leaders to enhance virtual engagement and build strong, collaborative cultures in online spaces.

Wednesday Nov 13, 2024
Wednesday Nov 13, 2024
In this episode, Jeff is joined by the New York Times' bestselling author, Amanda Ripley. They discuss strategies for managing conflict in educational leadership, especially during politically chaotic times. Jeff learns about Amanda's journey, her valuable insights on handling conflict, and how leaders can adapt to changing dynamics. This episode is perfect for educators, school leaders, and anyone looking to foster meaningful conflict resolution.

Wednesday Nov 06, 2024
Wednesday Nov 06, 2024
In this episode, Jeff speaks with John Hope Bryant, a renowned entrepreneur and advocate for economic empowerment and CEO of Operation HOPE. They discuss John's mission to instill financial literacy and economic infrastructure in underserved communities. John describes the inspirational journey behind his recent book 'Financial Literacy for All' as well as the critical need to integrate financial education in schools for lasting impact. John makes a strong case for educators to make financial literacy a priority.

Wednesday Oct 30, 2024
Wednesday Oct 30, 2024
In this milestone 100th episode of Leader Chat, Jeff speaks to Arthur C. Brooks discusses his latest book, "Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier." Arthur is a Harvard professor, columnist for The Atlantic, and an accomplished author of 13 books. Jeff and Arthur discuss and explore the evolution of happiness studies, the transition from fluid to crystallized intelligence, and the importance of compassionate and metacognitive leadership. Arthur also shares insights from his diverse career, his collaboration with Oprah Winfrey, and practical advice for leaders on fostering well-being and managing emotions. Enjoy!

Thursday Oct 24, 2024
Thursday Oct 24, 2024
In this episode of Leader Chat, Jeff speaks with Dr. Pedro Martinez, CEO of Chicago Public Schools, on his journey from immigrant student to educational leader. They discuss the importance of integrity, empathy, strategic leadership, and the impact of building trust and stability in school districts amidst challenges.