The CharacterStrong Podcast

Sandi Pinner is a wife, mother of 4 boys, Nani of 2 and has been married to her husband for the past 26 years. Sandi has been in education since 1999 and currently is the Pre-K-12th Grade School Counselor in Chireno ISD a small 1A district in deep East Texas.

Jordan Osborn is in his 10th year of working in education. He started off as a social studies teacher in several different schools in Oregon where he also coached football and basketball. During his 10 years he has spent 7 years as an Athletic Director and 5 years as a vice principal most recently at Chiloquin Jr/Sr High School in Southern Oregon. Jordan is in his first year as Principal at Bonanza High School in South Central Oregon.

Brian Slater is an Assistant Principal at Fred Lynn Middle School. Brian believes in finding the good throughout the school! Finding the good, celebrating it, and sharing it with others sends a message of positivity and good vibes throughout the building and school community. He values each day, each moment and understands the importance of spreading love and kindness! School is and should be a place of fun and laughter, where we should never take ourselves too seriously. Enjoy the moments, do something nice for someone, and always bring the daily good vibes.

As an educator for 19 years, Jen has enjoyed teaching in the classroom, as a gifted intervention specialist, and more recently as an instructional coach. Her recent Amazon #1 New Release, The Happy Teacher's Handbook, shares strategies for inspiring teachers to find a reason to stay and make their impact on the world, one class at a time. Jen's superpower is getting teachers to smile again. She brings a refreshing perspective that lifts you up when you want to walk out, reminding you of the real reason you became a teacher. She has this amazing ability to shift perspective from the overwhelm of state mandates to the fire within you that keeps you going. Her newest project, The Inspired Teachers Podcast, shares real coaching conversations with dedicated teachers looking to upgrade their craft. Listeners can access chapter 1 of Jen's book for free @ happyteachershandbook.com and can find her on Twitter @TeacherRenegade and on Instagram @renegadeteacher

We talk with Bethany about the lack of belonging in our schools, ways that we can focus on this work, and she shares about the importance of growing a culture of empathy. Bethany has been an educator for 21 years and considers herself a teacher who has filled many roles. Her experience includes teaching grades one, two, and three, instructional coaching, literacy trainer for her district, assistant principal, and principal. She is currently the assistant principal at Magness Creek Elementary in Cabot, Arkansas. She is the founder of #JoyfuLeaders, a hashtag that promotes positivity and encouragement among educators, and one of the originators of #EduAR, a Twitter chat focusing on trending topics in education. Her passions include: school culture, adult learning, growing leaders, scientifically based reading instruction, trauma informed practices, and social emotionallearning. You can connect with Bethany on Twitter: @bethhilll2829, Instagram: @bethanyhill1,her website at bethanyshill.com, or her Facebook page, Inspiration for Educators.

Wes Kanawyer is the Principal of Woodgate Intermediate School in Waco, TX. He has a passion for serving, developing and empowering educators to pursue their own growth as they seek to enrich and enhance the lives of their students. He believes that relationships with students, families and staff are the foundational component to every area of success. He has spent his career in service to students and staff at a Title 1 District, where he taught history and coordinated an After School Program targeting at-risk youth. He then transitioned into full-time administration at a high-performing CA Charter School before relocating with his wonderful wife and three children to Central Texas, where he works with amazing educators at Midway ISD.

Jenny's from Madison, WI -- she played college hoops at Lake Forest and earned her doctorate at Loyola University in Chicago. Dr. Jenny Severson taught and led as a principal in Gurnee School District 56 before becoming an educational consultant. She works with schools, corporations and is trained in Brené Brown's Dare To Lead content and leadership work. Learn more about Jenny at JennySeverson.com

Tyson Sturza resides in West Pasco with his wife JJ and their two year old son Will. His is currently the building principal at Mabton Jr/Sr High School. Before coming to Mabton Tyson was a math and leadership (CharacterStrong Curriculum) teacher at Connell High School.

Dr. Clay Cook holds the John and Nancy Peyton Endowed Chair in Child and Adolescent Wellbeing at the University of Minnesota and is a Professor of Educational Psychology in the College of Education and Human Development. He has extensive research and practical experiences involving the implementation of multi-tiered systems of support to promote children's social, emotional, and behavioral wellbeing as the foundation for academic and life success. He co-founded the School Mental Health Assessment, Research and Training (SMART) Center at the University of Washington and is a core faculty member who helps direct the Institute of Translational Research in Children's Mental Health at the University of Minnesota. He has received over 12 million dollars in external grant funding from multiple agencies and foundations to conduct research on educational program and practices that promote student social, emotional, and behavioral competencies. In addition to his research, he consults with several school systems throughout the US to integrate a continuum of social, emotional, and behavioral supports to enhance student academic and life success.

Ranesia Davenport Edwards has a track record of successful teaching experiences teaching struggling readers and is motivated to provide EVERY child with an exceptional education as a campus school administrator. Ranesia taught for 7 years, served as an Instructional Coach, and is currently in her 10th year in Administration in Katy ISD as an Assistant Principal. Ranesia's Top 5 Strengths are Achiever, Discipline, Focus, Learner, and Analytical. Daily, those strengths are working together to provide students with rich learning experiences both academically and emotionally while serving at McMeans Junior High. Ranesia is INTENTIONAL with every Interaction, because kids deserve our personal best.