July 26, 2026 It's almost here, ISTE is happening next week. My next email will be an update from ISTE. Already, I have a bunch of podcast recordings scheduled. You know how before a trip, you are just excited, anxious, and trying really hard to cram everything in before you leave? That's where I'm at right now. It is fun, stressful, and weird, but totally worth it. Three updates today, see below. The hardest part of school leadership is that you do it alone. Every principal knows the...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
July 26, 2026 Hi Reader With ISTE 2026 just around the corner, the BE Podcast Network is gearing up for a massive week of conversations in Orlando from June 28 to July 1. We'll be recording live on the ground, diving deep into the things that matter right now: the cutting edge of AI, leadership insights from Transformative Principal, and navigating digital safety with Cybertraps. If you’re going to be in Orlando and want to jump behind the mic for a quick podcast episode, I’d love to have...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
July 26, 2026 Hi ReaderWe are faced with a real problem at the BE Podcast Network! We have so many great shows, it's sometimes hard to choose what to listen to. And we are ready to grow! Want to be a host? The BPN Mega Feed! First, we are announcing the BE Podcast Network MEGAFEED! This has every single episode that is published in our network. It's a firehose! So, I suggest a digest to get an email each week with the title of each show. To join that list, you can just click this link. It...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
July 26, 2026 Hi Reader I’d like to share something with you through the BE Podcast Network that’s been coming up often in my conversations with school and district leaders. One question keeps circling back. How can schools reduce chronic absenteeism in a way that helps students feel connected, supported, and eager to come to school? I’ve been paying close attention to the work Playworks is doing in this area, especially as more schools look for practical ways to improve attendance. Their...
3 months ago • 2 min read
July 26, 2026 Have you ever felt like a bad parent, even when you were doing everything you could? I know that feeling. In the fall of 2018, a doctor told me, “I would have operated on your daughter six months ago.” Hearing that was devastating. My oldest daughter had been complaining about knee pain for several months. We took her to a specialist in Fairbanks and he said there was nothing wrong. But I knew there was. Eventually, we found a specialist in Anchorage, and he saw her, but he said...
4 months ago • 3 min read
July 26, 2026 The BE Podcast Network is thrilled to welcome The Learning Experience from CAST. This successful, high-impact series aligns closely with our mission to support transformative change in learning environments for all educators and learners. Check out the latest episode:Ergonomics Meets UDL: Designing Classrooms That Work for Every Body (S5 E5) Occupational therapist Elisa Wern is this week’s guest. Elisa supports students with complex communication and physical needs to explore...
6 months ago • 2 min read
July 26, 2026 I’ve been interested for a long time in the idea of soft skills. I even helped produce a podcast focused on this called Skilled by Design. Tom Bay has done a lot of work in this arena. As has Seth Godin. I recently found Dr. Marvin Berkowitz’s book PRIMED for Character Education: Six Design Principles for School Improvement to have the best definition, and one that I will adopt and use frequently. I only wish I had come up with it. I use the notions of organic vs. mechanical...
7 months ago • 5 min read
July 26, 2026 Hi Reader, I’ve got some exciting news — and a quick favor to ask. If you know any school leaders, teachers, or staff who need continuing education hours, would you please pass this along? LinkedLeaders just launched Book Study Workshops — a brand-new, university-accredited way for K–12 educators to earn 30 Continuing Education Hours (or 2 University Credits) through Boise State University while engaging in meaningful, practical learning. Each workshop blends real-world...
9 months ago • 5 min read
July 26, 2026 Hi , I felt like an idiot. I’ve been using AI for years, but this week I took an assessment on how well I can use AI. It was humbling to say the least. The challenges were very technical, included word games, outputting things just right, and process/flow charts. Man, it was tough. It was a timed test, and I never got the first question right. I had to skip it and come back later, which I did, and I’m glad I did because I still couldn’t figure out how to get it to format it...
about 1 year ago • 5 min read