The CharacterStrong Podcast

Today our guest is Kim Reykdal. We talk to Kim about the importance of having a whole child approach as we work to serve students and families. She talks about what she sees is missing from education, academic, career, and social emotional development, and how we can use data to help us close the gaps in those areas. Kim shares practical ways that we can better support all students, and gives ways that we can honor students as they take the next steps in their journeys after high school. Kim Reykdal, M.Ed. is the Director of Graduation and Pathway Preparation at Washington's Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). In her current role she co-leads a statewide team to execute a recent policy change requiring every district to implement a comprehensive K-12 school counseling program aligned to the ASCA National Model. In collaboration with Hatching Results, the Washington School Counselor Association (WSCA), Association of Wa School Principals (AWSP) and other state- and regional-level partners, Kim is helping facilitate systemic shifts to improve student support systems across Washington. In addition to previously supporting dual credit and secondary school counseling at OSPI, Kim's 25+ years in education have also included serving as a high school teacher, high school counselor and career counselor, Reach Higher WA Steering Committee Member, Military Academy Selection Committee Board Member, School Board Director, and Chair of the WSCA Government Relations and Advocacy Committee. Through these roles, Kim has tirelessly advocated for students, school counseling and public education at the building, district, and state levels. Consequently, WSCA named Kim their 2014 Career Counselor of the Year and ASCA recognized her as a 2016 Finalist for National School Counselor of the Year. Kim is passionate about working collaboratively with district, regional and state-level partners to scale up standards- and evidence-based practices for school counseling.

Today our guest is Dr. Laura Owen. We talk to Dr. Owen about centering and celebrating student and family voices as we work to support them in their education. She shares some of the things that they have learned from listening to students, and how the pandemic has impacted them specifically when it comes to college enrollment. Dr. Owen highlights the need to include student voice as we plan, and build programs to support students in their post-secondary plans, and she shares the fast-growing impact that they are seeing in this work. Dr. Laura Owen is the Executive Director for the Center for Equity and Postsecondary Attainment at San Diego State University. A prior urban school counselor and district counseling supervisor, she is a passionate advocate for closing college opportunity gaps. Her research focuses on evaluating the impact of interventions and programs designed to address the systems, structures and policies that drive equitable access to high quality postsecondary advising support. Laura has researched interventions targeting FAFSA completion, the high school to college transition, virtual advising, the use of technology in college counseling, and how students prefer to receive college and career information. Follow Dr. Owen's work on Twitter - @sdsucepa Website: https://education2.sdsu.edu/cepa

Today our guest is Allen Hill. We talk to Allen about the importance of advocating for the school counseling profession. He shares how we need to talk about what school counselors do and the impact that school counselors can have in the lives of students and families. Allen also talks about how school counselors are needed more than ever and gives examples of how we can support students in real, practical ways. Allen Hill has served as a school counselor in urban and rural settings since receiving a master's degree from Northern Arizona University-Yuma in 2002. Allen has been active on the Arizona School Counselor Association governing board since 2004 in roles including President, Secondary Vice President, and Advocacy Chair. He is currently serving as Indiana School Counselor Association Executive Director; he has been in this position since 2016. Allen is an active volunteer with the American Red Cross where he works in the Service to Armed Forces division as a trainer and facilitator for Reconnection Workshops.

Today we talk to CharacterStrong co-founder Houston Kraft about practicing gratitude. He shares how when it comes to gratitude, constraint increases creativity, specificity drives significance, and absence amplifies. Houston also shares some words of gratitude to all of those in education that are serving students and families every day.

Click here to access a sample of CharacterStrong Tier 2 Solution: http://tier2samples.com/ Today our guest is Megan Gruis the Executive Director of Customized Implementation Supports (CIS) at CharacterStrong. We talk to Megan what Tier 2 is, how it differs from Tier 1 and Tier 3 supports, and why Tier 2 solutions are needed now more than ever in our schools today. She talks about some of the roadblocks that come when implementing Tier 2, and Meagan shares an overview of CharacterStrong's new Tier 2 Solution.

Today our guest is Patrice Davis. We talk to Patrice about the ASCA National Model and how school counselors are implementing it impact the students and families in our communities. She shares how the ASCA model helps give school counselors a framework to set up their programs and make sure that they are data driven. Patrice also talks about when the model is implemented well it's not about just showing what has been done, but the data helps show the difference that has been made in the lives of students. Patrice Davis is a native Mobilian, and she is a 1989 honors graduate of Baker High School. She attended the University of South Alabama, where she graduated in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education with a concentration in Language Arts. She furthered her studies at the University of South Alabama where she graduated in 1995 with a Master of Education degree in Secondary Education with a concentration in Language Arts. In 1996, she received certification in school counseling from the University of South Alabama; and in 1999, she received certification in administration/supervision from Alabama State University. In 1998, she graduated from the University of South Alabama with her Educational Specialist degree as an Instructional Specialist in Secondary Language Arts. In addition to these educational achievements, Patrice is a 2005 graduate of the Principals' Academy, and she is also a 2007 graduate of the University of Alabama Superintendents' Academy. During her thirty-year career in the Baldwin County Public School System, Patrice has served as an English teacher at Fairhope High School; a counselor at Bay Minette Middle School; an assistant principal and principal at Bay Minette Middle School; and as the Intervention Supervisor in Central Office. She currently serves as the Prevention and Support Services Coordinator, whereby she supervises the school counselors, school social workers, the transition liaison coach, the general education homebound teachers, the Section 504 Resource Counselor, and the on campus suspension aides. In addition, she serves as the Section 504 Compliance Coordinator and the Homebound Services Coordinator for the district, as well as the administrator for the At-Risk Budget. Patrice lends her time to several civic and community organizations in Baldwin County. She is a member of the Board of Directors for Baldwin County's Child Advocacy Center, and she is a member of the Baldwin County Underage Drinking Task Force. She also serves on the Baldwin County Community Alliance, of which she is one of the charter members. She is a former Chairman of the Board of Directors for the United Way of Baldwin County, and she is also a past President for the Board of Directors for the Snook Youth Club of Foley. Patrice is currently the President-Elect for the Alabama School Counselor Association. In previous years, she has also served as the Counselor Supervisor Vice President for the Alabama School Counselor Association.

Today our guests are Brent Jurgensen and Tom Grogan.We talk to Brent and Tom about the importance of virtues and how virtues are our values in action. They share about the busyness of family life today and how we need to provide tools for both families and educators to focus on supporting students on who they want to be and what is most important to them. Brent and Tom also share why it is necessary to give students opportunities to think about, reflect on, and apply virtues in their lives. Brent Jurgensen is a 24-year veteran in the world of education and coaching. He is a graduate of the University of Wyoming and Chadron State University. Brent was named the James Madison Fellow for the state of Wyoming in 2012. Named Coach of the Year for the State of Wyoming twice, contributed to 13 state championship teams, coached 24 individual state champions, and seven state record holders in track and field. He has also created an ethics and leadership curriculum, ventured into business ownership, and works in sports broadcasting. Brent lives in Casper, Wyoming with his wife, Heather, and his children, Royce and Piper, while the eldest, Paisley, continues her education in St. George, Utah. He lives for his family, fishing adventures, guitar, travel, reading history, baseball, and ultimately, the pursuit of live music. You can connect with Brent on Twitter at @bjurgens23. Teacher, coach, and family man, Tom Grogan's passion for leadership and character development runs deep in every aspect of his life. Growing up in Wyoming, discipline and hard work formed his foundation. Whether it's in the classroom, on the football field, or in everyday mentorship, Tom lives to teach young people about character education. In 2018, Tom received the Arch Coal Outstanding Teacher award. Shortly thereafter, he founded LIFT Wyoming, a non-profit organization promoting youth leadership throughout the state. Tom currently lives in Casper, Wyoming with his wife Sommer and their two children, Kellan and Elise. When his soul needs realignment, a fly rod and a mountain stream magically put his world in order. You can connect with Tom on Twitter at @coachgrogan52.

Webinar Link: 10 Powerful Moments To Get Right This School Year Today our guest is Brandon Bakke, the Director of Secondary Education at CharacterStrong. We talk to Brandon about how intentionally making defining moments can improve the climate in our schools. He gives some practical examples of everyday events that we can elevate as we interact with students and staff. Brandon also shares 3 strategies that we can put in practice as we begin to think in moments, and he shares one way that a specific yearly milestone can be turned into a more memorable moment. Brandon Bakke is the Director of Secondary Education for CharacterStrong. Brandon has 27 years of experience serving in secondary education, a career that has spanned six different high schools in four different school districts in two different states. Brandon has been a high school administrator for 20 years, and his work building culture and climate in schools has been featured on the CharacterStrong podcast and blog, as well as in Washington Principal Magazine.

Today our guest is Felisha Santiago the Director of MTSS at CharacterStrong. We talk to Felisha about how Environment is of the key ingredients of Tier 1 and how Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) can impact the way that students learn by establishing safe, predictable, routines. She also shares how educators bring PBIS it to life in classrooms, and what districts can to do to continue to support the work. Felisha Santiago recently served in public education overseeing PBIS, Restorative Practices and Social Emotional Learning under the MTSS Framework as a District Climate and Culture Coordinator. Her 14 year expertise ranges from a district secretary, special education aide, teacher at all grade levels, site administrator designee, Department Lead, District Specialist and District Administrator. She led over 25 schools in her district to obtain state of CA PBIS recognition that ranged from Bronze to Platinum. She has a passion for rooting for the whole child work, training staff in effective practices and giving a voice back to our students.

Today our guest is Mike Nelson, Assistant Executive Director for Professional Learning at the Washington Association of School Administrators We talk to Mike about WASA and the role that it plays in Washington in supporting Administrators. He shares the top 3 needs that his organization has heard loud and clear from educational leaders and talks about some ways leaders can help meet these needs. Michael (Mike) Nelson began his career as an elementary school teacher before becoming an elementary school principal. During his time as the principal, his elementary school received a National Blue Ribbon by the U. S. Department of Education. As a district leader, he led learning initiatives in both the Federal Way and Enumclaw school districts in Washington state. In January 2007, he became the superintendent for the Enumclaw school district during which time he led several initiatives to improve the district's cultural support and academic outcomes for Native students. In 2019, the Washington Association of School Administrators named him the Washington State Superintendent of the Year. Currently, he is the Assistant Executive Director for Professional Learning for the Washington Association of School Administrators.