The CharacterStrong Podcast

Rick Hess is a resident scholar and the director of education policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, where he works on K–12 and higher education issues. He is the author of Education Week's blog "Rick Hess Straight Up" and is a regular contributor to Forbes and The Hill. Since 2001, he has also served as an executive editor of Education Next. His books include Letters to a Young Education Reformer, Bush-Obama School Reform: Lessons Learned, and Cage-Busting Leadership. Rick has been published in scholarly outlets such as American Politics Quarterly and Social Science Quarterly, as well as popular outlets including National Affairs, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. He teaches or has taught at the University of Virginia, the University of Pennsylvania, Georgetown, Rice, Johns Hopkins, and Harvard University. Rick began his career as a high school social studies teacher. He holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in Government, as well as an Ed.M. in Teaching and Curriculum, from Harvard University.

Zoie Breland is a Senior at Fife High School, in Fife, Washington, where she serves as the ASB president. She started a Special Olympics Unified Sports Program during her sophomore year at Fife High School, a program that has sparked the inclusion revolution within the Fife community. Fife is now being recognized by ESPN and Special Olympics as one of their top 5 National Banner Unified Schools. Zoie has committed her school life to helping create an inclusive school culture. She was an intern with Special Olympics Washington, and will be representing Washington State in China at the Special Olympics East Asia Leadership Summit. Zoie has a 4.0 GPA, plays 3 sports at Fife, and has plans to pursue a career in the medical field. We talk with Zoie about how she started Unified sports at FIfe, the impact that Unified sports has had, and how this amazing journey started when she was in preschool.

Samuel Karns is in his 12th year of education, and this school year marks his second year as an assistant principal of Landrum Middle School in Spring Branch ISD. Prior to this position, he served as the assistant director of student wellness in central office in Spring Branch ISD as well as serving as a Health and Physical Educator at the elementary level for several years. He continues to be a champion and pioneer for the whole school whole community whole child framework through ASCD and CDC. Karns has implemented this framework from a district level, and at the local level through the Greater Houston Leadership group through Harris County. He has also presented this framework at the local, state and national level through ASCD, SHAPE America, TAHPERD, and It's Time Texas. He resides with his wife and two children in Houston, TX. We talk with Samuel about the school advisory council at Landrum Middle School and how it comes together to support the whole child, and practical ways that they serve kids & engage more families in their community.

For Ethan Zohn, winning CBS's SURVIVOR: Africa was the springboard to an exceptional young life of entrepreneurship, social purpose and advocacy. It was also the prelude to an incredible story, one of perseverance, accomplishment, and enduring spirit in the face of once unthinkable challenges. By sharing that story, Ethan inspires countless others around the globe. His message for young people, academia and the corporate community alike emphasizes character, resiliency, service, kindness and turning challenges into strengths. A fit, active, 35-year-old former professional soccer player who had traveled the world on behalf of the international health community through his foundation, Grassroot Soccer, Ethan became an unlikely face of cancer. Diagnosed not once but twice with CD20+ Hodgkin's Lymphoma in the span of several years, Ethan endured years of aggressive treatment, including two stem cell transplants. Never losing optimism, spirit, or humor despite extraordinary rigors and setbacks, Ethan used his journey and considerable platform to connect with others – young adults in particular – and offer much-needed inspiration, advice, and comfort. As demonstrated by his charitable work with various global and domestic health and wellness organizations, and community involvement, Ethan believes that a better and healthier world can be achieved by living with strong values. His inspiration to help heal the world stems from being taught at an early age the importance of kindness, community and a connection to social goodness. Ethan is a recognizable face that delivers deeply felt, meaningful lessons on character, kindess, personal strength, and giving back, all which he developed long before his battles with cancer. With his remarkable combination of humor and honesty, Ethan offers keynotes that inspire others to answer life's opportunities with strength and the conviction to never let a crisis to go to waste. Programs & Speaking Topics: Cancer Mental Health/Anxiety Sport for Social Good Motivation & Inspiration Service Learning Character Development Social Entrepreneurship Jewish Leadership and Values Preservation of Israel HIV/AIDS. We talk about how crises are also opportunities to do important things, how making a difference can start with something simple, and how character is the ultimate survival tool.

Allyson Apsey has been an educator for over twenty years; a school leader for fifteen of those years. She is so proud of her school district and the Zeeland, MI community, and she loves being the principal of Quincy Elementary. She is the author of a blog called Serendipity in Education, and of the book The Path to Serendipity and the picture book The Princes of Serendip. Her third book was released in May of 2019 and is called Through the Lens of Serendipity: Helping Others Discover the Best in Themselves. She also loves speaking to passionate groups of educators as everyone works to be happy and effective people for the benefit of everyone. She is married to Jim and has two amazing sons with him, Laine and Tyson.

Dr. Andy Jacks has a passion for the success of every single child ensuing that school is a place filled with meaningful relationships and support for even the most at-risk students. Andy is the principal of the award-winning Ashland Elementary School in Northern Virginia where they have skyrocketed student achievement and created a unique school culture that even brought the U.S. Secretary of Education there for a tour. Andy also serves on the Autism Society of Northern Virginia Board of Directors and is an NAESP Fellow leading the Center for Innovative Leadership. Andy and his school have received various local and national recognition including Nationally Distinguished Principal, Virginia Principal of the Year, School Bell Award, State Excellence Award, and Business Partnership of the Year. Connect with him at andyjacks.co or on Twitter @_AndyJacks. We talk about some of the moves that skyrocketed student achievement at Ashland Elementary, how he is leading with the Center for Innovative Leadership, and the important role that educators have + the responsibility that comes with that.

Shreeya Arora is a junior at the Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky. She believes in driving positive outcomes through technology. From increasing the efficiency of the response to natural disasters to developing a sustainable transportation service for new refugees at no cost, her love for computer science has allowed her to make a change in her community. Along with coding and graphic design, civic engagement is also important to Shreeya as it allows her to learn more about the communities she serves. We talk with Shreeya about the awesome ways that she is using technology to change the world, and her involvement in the #Digital4Good conference which is focused on empowering positive tech and media use. You can check out #Digital4Good live from Facebook HQ on 9.16.19 at icanhelpdeletenegativity.org

CharacterStrong Co-Founders John Norlin & Houston Kraft have some fun and talk about the first thing that comes to mind on different School Culture & Climate topics. Topics: Back to School: Helping everyone feel welcome, School Dances, Back to School for Staff

Jonathan Alsheimer is a teacher from "The" Fred Lynn Middle School, Speaker, and author of the upcoming book "Next Level Teaching" published by Dave Burgess Consulting - All about how teachers can make a profound impact on the culture and climate of their classroom and school! We talk about how making a difference at school starts in the classroom, three characteristics of a great teacher, and how we can re-engage the fire and passion for education.

Season 2 Kickoff Episode!! CharacterStrong Co-Founders John Norlin & Houston Kraft have some fun and talk about the first thing that comes to mind on different School Culture & Climate topics. Topics: Kindness Weeks, Back to School for Students