The CharacterStrong Podcast

Today our guests are Katrina Hill, Caleb Amstutz, & Melanie Fox from Community School in Roanoke, Virginia We talk to Katrina, Caleb, and Melanie about the advisory program at Community School which was recently recognized as an inaugural AMLE School of Distinction in 2022. They share about multiage groupings, multiyear relationships, the value of traditions, and the impact that these have had in the lives of the students at Community School. View the AMLE School of Distinction Page Caleb Amstutz has taught middle school science at CS for three years. He graduated with a bachelor's in Biology and English from Guilford College in 2019. He is a CS alumni, graduating in 2011, and understands the lasting benefits a CS education can provide. His favorite classes to teach are biology, chemistry, and ornithology. In his free time, he likes to adventure anywhere outside or curl up with a good book. Katrina Hill is a veteran teacher and has worked with students from preschool to high school. She has taught humanities at Community School for 21 years and is the current Middle School Coordinator. Katrina is also the advisor for ComMUN, a middle and high school Model UN team. She loves that Community School gives her the opportunity to teach a variety of subjects through studio-style electives and helping students find their perfect book. Melanie Fox has been a Humanities teacher at Community School for 2 years. She graduated from Shenandoah Conservatory with a BFA in Musical Theatre and attended VCU for Psychology. In her previous life, she worked as an actress, waitress, executive assistant, retail manager, and event organizer. Having such a varied resume has given her a unique perspective on being flexible and improvising on the fly. Her favorite part of teaching is allowing the students to take the lead when they need more than just content and need time to work through complex subjects that have more to do with their social and personal growth.

Today our guest is Lisa Koenecke. We talk to Lisa about how safety includes both physical and psychological safe spaces. Lisa reminds us that we can each make a difference in the lives of students by being intentional and planning ahead. Lisa also shares how this doesn't have to take a lot of time, and how sometimes all it takes is looking at education thru a new lens. As an experienced and energetic Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) professional speaker and facilitator, Lisa specializes in counteracting unconscious bias and LGBTQ+ inclusion in business. Her impact is amplified through strengthening each person's allyship. With a demonstrated history of working in secondary education and a passion toward community and social services, she is an expert in counseling, crisis intervention, educational leadership, and program development.

Today our guests are Amber Benson & Ruby Voss, better know as BensonVoss. We talk to BensonVoss about the role that Positive Relationships & Data-Based Decisions play in Student Growth. They share how they work to build positive relationships from day one of the school year, and the positive impact that this has in their classroom. BensonVoss also talk about how they have intentionally done more with less and how they work for total participation with their students. BensonVoss "is" the 2022 Association for Middle Level Education, National "Educator" of the Year. Amber and Ruby are a team of innovative, collaborative co-teachers who believe in data-driven instruction and a focus on developing and nurturing positive relationships with students and parents. These relationships are the foundation for successful teaching, learning, and support. They believe in a free-range classroom environment (aka LOUD) where students are encouraged to learn comfortably and to become part of their BensonVoss family. Amber and Ruby also believe in using Data @ the Door and Total Participation Techniques as their backbone for practice and data collection. They are active members of the VDOE Excellence in Co-teaching Initiative, contributed to the development of the VDOE Just-in-Time Quick Checks for Math 8, and they provide professional development at the local, regional, state, and national levels. Amber earned her B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Mary Washington in 2011. She has spent 11 years in the classroom teaching Math 6-8, Algebra I and Geometry. Ruby earned a B.B.A. in Accounting from Texas A&M University in 1990, completed an alternative certification program for Special Education in 1993 and earned her M.S. in Special Education in 2010. Ruby spent 8 years as a stay-at-home mom, 4 years as an educational consultant, and 17 years as an educator teaching Math 8, Algebra I and Geometry.

Today our guest is Amber Dixon. We talk to Amber about some different ways that school counselors can FOCUS on counseling this school year. She shares how she has helped encourage counselors to fill their buckets, own their personal and professional skills, create a safe environment, understand their campus and community, and stay connected to the system that they work in. Amber Dixon has served in the field of education for 15 years with 12 of those years in counseling. She began her counseling journey as a college counselor working with various populations on academic, personal, and career development and soon moved to high school counseling where, as lead counselor, she facilitated the opening of the third comprehensive high school in Alvin ISD in Pearland, Texas. Currently, she is serving as the District Coordinator of Guidance and Counseling for Alvin ISD where her professional mission is to grow, empower, and equip school counselors to be the campus leaders they are destined to be!

Today our guest is Dr. John Hattie, the Director of the Melbourne Educational Research Institute at the University of Melbourne, Australia. Dr. Hattie is also the author of Visible Learning and Visible Learning for Teachers, the result of 15 years of research. On this episode we talk about 10 Steps To Develop Great Learners: Visible Learning For Parents, Dr. Hattie's newest book that he wrote with his son Kyle. Dr. Hattie also shares some of the mindframes that can help all of us that work with students. Professor John Hattie is a renowned researcher in education. His research interests include performance indicators, models of measurement and evaluation of teaching and learning. John Hattie became known to a wider public with the publication of his two books, Visible Learning and Visible Learning for Teachers, the result of 15 years of research. The books are a synthesis of more than 800 meta-studies covering more than 80 million students. The Visible Learning series has sold more than 1.5 million copies, and has been translated into 29 different languages. TES once called John "possibly the world's most influential education academic." He has been Director of the Melbourne Educational Research Institute at the University of Melbourne, Australia, since March 2011. Before, he was Project Director of asTTle and Professor of Education at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. He holds a PhD from the University of Toronto, Canada. You can find a full CV of Professor John Hattie (PDF) at the website of the University of Auckland. Kyle Hattie is a Year 6 Teacher working in a Primary School in the Northern Suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. Over his 10-year career, he has taught at many year levels, from Prep to Year 6 in both Australia and New Zealand. Kyle has held various leadership titles and has a passion for understanding how students become learners.

Today our guest is Barb Micucci, Barb is a recently retired elementary school counselor and was the 2010 ASCA School Counselor of the Year. We talk to Barb about the importance of school-wide SEL programming as we support all students & the impact that can happen when all staff has a common language. She shares how setting the tone right at the beginning of the day helps shape the climate in our classrooms, and why character ed is so important right now. Barb Micucci has been an educator for 41 years. She began her career as a special education teacher before becoming a school counselor. Her school counseling career began in 1986 in the Philadelphia School District and she spent the past 23 years in the Upper Merion Area School District. Barb was the 2010 ASCA School Counselor of the Year. Her school received RAMP recognition in 2017. She has served in various capacities on her local, state and national association, serving on the ASCA board. Barb has frequently presented at state and national conferences on a variety of topics. She was an adjunct professor at Arcadia University and the University of Pennsylvania. She has spent her adult life advocating on behalf of her students and their families. She recently retired in June of 2021.

On today's episode, Melvin Fields Jr. shares the importance of building trust and relationships with our students and colleagues. He also talks about how he got started with the WA state counselors association and highlights the importance of showing up and providing opportunities for others. Melvin J. Fields Jr., certified School Counselor at Yelm Middle School in Yelm, Washington is current President of the Washington School Counselor Association (WSCA) for 2021 – 2022. He is the Washington School Counselor Association's 55th president and the first African American to serve in that position. The organizational mission of WSCA is promoting best practices in, and advocates for, Professional School counseling.Their vision is to further develop Professional School Counselors expertise by providing leadership and professional development that promotes positive student outcomes in the areas of Academic Support, Career Planning, and Personal/Social Development, thereby enhancing achievement for every student. Melvin is also an Adjunct Professor and teaches Diversity in Education at Saint Martin's University in Lacey, WA. He is a second year Leadership Studies doctoral student and also pursuing a certificate in Higher Education and Student Affairs from Saint Martin's University, where he also earned his School Counselor certification. He previously earned a Master's Degree in Organization Management from Webster University and Bachelor's of Arts Degree from Troy University. Melvin retired as a Command Sergeant Major in 2015, serving 27 years and three combat tours in the U.S. Army, where he earned the Bronze Star and Legion of Merit. Melvin has been married for the past 33 years to the former Tamela Marie Clemons, they have two children, Alanté and Camerin. Melvin is the son of Denyvetta Davis and Melvin J. Fields Sr. The theme for this year's presidential team is, COURAGE-COMMITMENT-COMMUNITY and he is humbled by this awesome opportunity to positively impact students and serve others.

Today our guest is Christi Sturgeon a School Counselor, Broken Arrow High School, and is Oklahoma School Counselor of the Year for 2021-22. We talk to Christi about how important it is to find our purpose and how we can stretch ourselves and model that for students. She shares 7 things that we can do to help students focus on looking forward, and some of the ways that this can have impact. Christi graduated from Oklahoma Baptist University with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology followed by a Master's Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. She is currently both a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Certified School Counselor. She started her career in community mental health working at the former Shadow Mountain Hospital as the Assistant Director of Therapeutic Foster Care Services, but quickly learned that the way to really impact children and families early on was by working in the school setting. Christi is currently serving as a School Counselor in Broken Arrow Public Schools and is in her 25th year. She was the Lead Elementary Counselor In Broken Arrow prior to moving to the high school and has been recognized by the Oklahoma School Counselor Association as the Emerging Leader Grant Winner (2018) and the Oklahoma School Counselor of the Year for 2021-22. Christi is passionate about serving her students and helping them prepare for the next stage of life. She is a strong advocate for school counseling best practice not only in her district but across the state as well through her service on the former Superintendent's Counselor Advisory Council and now as Treasurer and President-Elect of the Oklahoma School Counselor Association. When she isn't busy with work, you can find her teaching Sunday School or attending band contests as a proud former Broken Arrow Pride Band Mom!

Today our guest is Dr. John Salovardos. Dr. Salovardos is the Director of Pupil Services in the Athol-Royalston Regional School District, in Athol-Royalston, Massachusetts. He has been working in special education in public schools for the past 23 years. We talk with Dr. Salovardos about ways that we can help all students feel connected at school, and how we can help students to thrive in our communities after high school. John Salovardos Ed.D. is a Director of Pupil Services who has been working in special education in public schools for the past 23 years to develop programs and services in collaboration with organizational stakeholders. Prior to going into public education he worked in clinical inpatient psychiatric units for nearly 15 years and strives to work regionally on increasing awareness of mental health needs in the communities where he lives and works. Dr. Salovardos has engaged in considerable work in improving inclusion and co-teaching models in schools, developed a stand-alone alternative high school, and has been engaged in leadership research and consultation for more than ten years. As part of his community outreach, he has developed a trauma-informed regional curriculum pilot project for adolescents,. His professional mission is to utilize intent-based leadership practices to work with staff in collaborative teams and to challenge students to excel academically and emotionally by making sure that all students get what they need to succeed and are ready to become active community members once they leave the public school setting.

Today our guest is Phil Brown the lead trainer for High 5 Adventure Learning Center in Brattleboro, Vermont. We talk to Phil about what Adventure Education is and how it is both novel and can involve some risk. He describes the experiential learning cycle and talks about the power of having a shared experience. Phil also gives practical ways we can use experiential learning strategies in our classrooms that can amplify learning for students. Phil Brown, originally from England, joined the High 5 team in May 2015 having previously worked in Adventure and Outdoor education for 7 years. Phil brings high energy and devotion to the Adventure field and has presented at many national and international conferences on the subject of Adventure learning. He is also one of the co-authors of the book "Tinker: Building Purposeful Experiences from Classic Adventure Activities" and the producer/host of "Vertical Playpen" – the podcast all about Adventure and Experiential Education.