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by CharacterStrong
The CharacterStrong Podcast: Weekly conversations for anyone in education. CharacterStrong provides an evidence-based, multi-tiered solution to support whole child success. Curricula and trainings that improve behavior, increase safety, and support mental health.
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- 1 weeks ago20 min
How Sharing Student Information Across Staff Improves School Outcomes - Steve Smith
Today our guest is Steve Smith, CEO and co-founder of IntelliSpark. Steve shares how IntelliSpark helps educators get to know students as people — not just learners — by making it easier to capture, share, and act on student information across an entire school team in real time. He also explains how the platform addresses two persistent gaps in schools: the friction of sharing critical student information between educators, and the lack of just-in-time support for teachers who encounter a student need but aren't sure what to do next. In this conversation, Steve offers important reminders for educators and leaders: When educators know something personal about a student, even a brief conversation about it can shift the entire relationship and improve academic outcomes. Critical information about a student — a loss, a struggle, a win — too often stays with one adult instead of reaching the whole team, and that gap has real consequences. Most professional development is episodic, but the moments that require it are daily. Educators need tools and strategies available to them in real time, not just at the start of the year. Every interaction with a student can be a pivotal one, even when neither the educator nor the student knows it at the time. Learn More About CharacterStrong: Learn more about Intellispark Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples Request a Quote Today! Learn more about CharacterStrong Implementation Support Visit the CharacterStrong Website
- 2 weeks ago3 min
The Secondhand Compliment: How Indirect Recognition Builds Stronger Connections - John Norlin
Today, host John Norlin shares a practical relationship-building strategy called the secondhand compliment — an intentional approach to recognizing students through another trusted adult, especially before a strong connection has been established. He also explains why indirect recognition can land more credibly with students who don't yet feel seen, and how this simple three-step practice fits into the broader work of intentionally building, maintaining, and restoring relationships with students. In this conversation, John offers important reminders for educators and leaders: Direct compliments can sometimes feel off-putting to students you haven't connected with yet. Indirect recognition through another adult can feel more credible and genuine. The secondhand compliment only works when the positive observation is specific and real, it cannot be fluff. Delivering recognition through a coach, counselor, or administrator creates a network of adults who are actively affirming students together. Learn More About CharacterStrong: Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples Request a Quote Today! Learn more about CharacterStrong Implementation Support Visit the CharacterStrong Website
- 3 weeks ago18 min
Five Strategies to Strengthen Tiered Support Across Your District - Dr. Susanne Thompson
Today our guest is Dr. Suzanne Thompson, Vice President of Business Development at SESI (Specialized Education Services, Inc.). Dr. Thompson shares five practical strategies for superintendents and building leaders who want to build stronger, more responsive tiered support systems, with a focus on reaching the most vulnerable students and celebrating progress along the way. She also explains how MTSS works best when it's treated as a district-wide priority, not a department, and why celebrating incremental progress is just as important as reaching mastery, especially for the most vulnerable students. In this conversation, Dr. Suzanne Thompson offers important reminders for educators and leaders: MTSS should be owned across an entire school system, not siloed in special education or guidance, the right adult response needs to show up everywhere students are. Protecting time for teachers to actually use student data is one of the highest-leverage decisions a leader can make. Investing in educator skill and confidence is the most direct path to better student outcomes. Many teachers aren't unwilling, they're undertrained. Progress deserves celebration at every point on the scale, not just at the finish line. Movement matters, especially for your most vulnerable students. Learn More About CharacterStrong: Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples Request a Quote Today! Learn more about CharacterStrong Implementation Support Visit the CharacterStrong Website About Dr. Thompson: Dr. Susanne H. Thompson serves as Vice President of Business Development at SESI, where she leads growth strategy, programs, services, and market expansion. She is deeply focused on strengthening partnerships and building new relationships that extend SESI's reach—helping more students in need truly shine. Susanne began her career as a classroom teacher in Pennsylvania and went on to serve as a building administrator, director of curriculum and instruction, and superintendent of schools. She has held senior leadership and executive roles at organizations including Discovery Inc., Discovery Education, Northwestern Lehigh School District, Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit, and Colibri Group with Moreland University. Her expertise spans business development, sales and marketing, operational effectiveness, curriculum and instructional design, technology integration, and education-industry partnerships. Career highlights include presenting at ERDI, AASA, and state superintendent councils; writing for Teach Secondary in the UK; serving as a keynote speaker during National Digital Week in Ireland; supporting the launch of the Egyptian Knowledge Bank in Cairo; and teaching in Australia.
- 4 weeks ago15 min
How High-Impact Tutoring Reaches the Students Schools Can Miss - Devon Wible
Today our guest is Devon Wible, Vice President of Teaching and Learning at Catapult Learning. Devon works directly with schools and districts to design high-impact tutoring programs that fit inside existing MTSS systems — helping the students most likely to fall through the cracks actually get the support they need. She also explains how relationship-building sits at the center of this work, not as an add-on, but as the core driver of academic and behavioral outcomes. When students feel seen and supported in small-group settings, attendance goes up, behavior challenges go down, and learning accelerates. In this conversation, Devon offers important reminders for educators and leaders: Praising the process over the product builds resilience and strengthens relationships with both students and staff. High-impact tutoring done well produces four to six additional months of learning in just 10 to 12 weeks, and those gains tend to stick. Relationship is not something you add to the work when there's time, relationship is the work. Learn More About CharacterStrong: Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples Request a Quote Today! Learn more about CharacterStrong Implementation Support Visit the CharacterStrong Website About Devon Wible: Devon Wible serves as the Vice President of Teaching and Learning at Catapult Learning, where she leads the design, development, and implementation of high-impact academic programs and instructional initiatives. She oversees curriculum development, instructional quality, special education, and academic services—driving efforts that empower educators and improve student outcomes. Devon is passionate about ensuring equitable access to rigorous instruction and has championed initiatives in literacy and math intervention, high-dosage tutoring, professional development, and data-informed teaching practices. Under her leadership, Catapult has expanded its use of evidence-based programs, adaptive technology, and educator training models that support measurable academic growth. Most recently, her teams contributed to a 5% year-over-year increase in students meeting national growth benchmarks in reading and math. Devon partners across teams to align strategy, execution, and innovation in service of Catapult's mission to close learning gaps and create brighter futures for all students. Devon began her career as a high school teacher and Teach For America corps member in Camden, NJ. She holds a bachelor's degree in history from Princeton University and a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Kansas.
- May 1, 20264 min
How Pre-Correction Reduces Behavior Problems Before They Start - John Norlin
Today, host John Norlin shares a practical classroom strategy called pre-correction a proactive approach to reducing behavior correction before it's needed. This episode helps educators understand why constant correction increases conflict and disengagement, and what they can do instead to get ahead of it. He also explains how pre-correction works as a system, not just a technique, by front-loading expectations before transitions, tasks, and high-risk moments. When implemented consistently, it shifts behavioral responsibility to students over time. In this conversation, John Norlin offers important reminders for educators and leaders: Constant correction increases interpersonal conflict, which damages classroom climate and drives disengagement. Pre-correction means intentionally reminding students of expected behaviors before they enter a new setting or begin a task. Effective pre-correction requires three steps: identify the situations, define the expected behaviors, and teach students why those behaviors serve them. Learn More About CharacterStrong: Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples Request a Quote Today! Learn more about CharacterStrong Implementation Support Visit the CharacterStrong Website
- Apr 24, 20263 min
Why Predictability Is One of the Most Powerful Tools in the Classroom - John Norlin
Today, host John Norlin shares a strategy called Grandma's Rule, a practical, research-backed approach to building predictability into the classroom through first-then scheduling and visual routines. John walks through why predictable environments lead to regulation, engagement, and ultimately learning, and how educators can set this up in a way that increases student motivation from the start. This episode is part of the CharacterStrong Weekly series — short, immediately applicable strategies educators can put to work the same day. In this episode, John offers important reminders for educators and leaders: Students crave predictability, when they can anticipate what is coming and why, they are better regulated and more ready to learn. First-then scheduling makes routines visible and explicit, giving students something to reference and helping educators get ahead of behavior proactively. Sequencing preferred and less preferred activities strategically increases student motivation without requiring more time or resources. Learn More About CharacterStrong: Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples Request a Quote Today! Learn more about CharacterStrong Implementation Support Visit the CharacterStrong Website
- Apr 17, 20264 min
How to Train Yourself to Pause Before You React - John Norlin
Today, host John Norlin shares a strategy called the Tactical Pause, a simple, trainable habit of pausing before responding in high-emotion situations so that reactions come from intention rather than regret. John walks through what it looks like in practice and why building this habit in low-stakes moments is what makes it available when it matters most. In this episode, John offers important reminders for educators and leaders: Responding from emotion in the moment is easy, the Tactical Pause is a trainable habit that creates space between a situation and your response. Practicing the pause in low-emotion situations is what makes it accessible when things get hard and the stakes are high. Simple cues like walking through a doorway can serve as a daily reminder to set an intention before entering a space or interaction. Responding with skill and empathy instead of emotion isn't one more thing on the plate, it is the actual plate. Learn More About CharacterStrong: Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples Request a Quote Today! Learn more about CharacterStrong Implementation Support Visit the CharacterStrong Website
- Apr 10, 20264 min
A Simple Strategy for Becoming a Better Listener - John Norlin
Today, host John Norlin shares a simple approach to staying focused in conversations when the noise of the day makes it hard to truly hear what someone is saying. He walks through exactly how to use it, step by step, in a way that makes the other person feel genuinely seen and heard. In this episode, John offers important reminders for educators and leaders: Truly listening to someone is harder than it sounds, the Click On strategy gives you a practical tool to cut through mental noise and stay present in conversation. Listening for key topics and emotions gives you something concrete to hold onto and return to, which deepens connection in even short interactions. Simple, intentional strategies practiced consistently are what make relationships stronger over time. Learn More About CharacterStrong: Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples Request a Quote Today! Learn more about CharacterStrong Implementation Support Visit the CharacterStrong Website
About The CharacterStrong Podcast
The CharacterStrong Podcast: Weekly conversations for anyone in education. CharacterStrong provides an evidence-based, multi-tiered solution to support whole child success. Curricula and trainings that improve behavior, increase safety, and support mental health.
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