In this episode, Thomas and Becky break down their School Technology Checklist, offering practical guidance for school leaders and tech coordinators. They discuss the importance of managing access to critical systems, maintaining robust infrastructure, and ensuring regular device updates and backups. The conversation is filled with real-life examples, from the challenges of lost admin access to the value of having clear documentation and multiple staff members with key responsibilities.The hosts also explore strategies for effective communication, both in emergencies and everyday school operations, highlighting tools like Google Classroom and Seesaw. They emphasize the need for sustainable funding plans, the benefits of involving students in tech support roles, and the importance of building a collaborative tech leadership team. Whether you’re new to school tech or looking to refine your processes, this episode is packed with actionable tips to keep your school organized, secure, and ready for anything.Walk through the checklist with us and see where your school has things setup and where there might be room for improvement.  Then schedule an hour on your calendar each month to move forward the process for the things still unfinished. If you need help with getting items crossed off your list or following through on the next step, please schedule a time to talk with us today. https://bit.ly/Build-IT-Better-TogetherTo get a copy of the School Technology Checklist, please visit us here.  Becky Wong has been a teacher, admin, tech coordinator and innovator in Catholic Schools for over 25 years.  She not only assists schools as part of the Tech Team but has been instrumental in guiding the Archdiocese of San Francisco as it navigates the edtech decisions and ever-changing landscape of classroom technology. The In Search of Catholic School Excellence Podcast is brought to you by I Love My Tech Team. When technology doesn’t work, Catholic school leaders lose time, trust, and momentum. We partner with schools to restore reliable systems, empower teachers, and create the foundation for innovative learning centered on students.Lead Your School Into What’s Possible with I Love My Tech Team.Restoring What’s Broken. Advancing What’s Possible.Find out more at https://ilovemytechteam.com

Staff turnover is costing your hospital far more than you think—and the root cause isn't money, it's Emotional Intelligence (EQ).In this introductory episode, we expose the "$\mathbf{\$100,000}$ Mistake": underestimating the true financial and human cost of staff turnover. We argue that employees leave their managers and the emotional culture, not just their salary.Discover how low EQ in leadership and across the staff creates an environment of stress and burnout. We focus on the lack of empathy, self-awareness, and effective conflict resolution that fuels the revolving door.The solution? A top-down, bottom-up commitment to raising the collective EQ of your entire hospital staff. We promote coaching as a vital tool to build emotional resilience and retention.💡 Key Takeaways & Resources:The true, comprehensive cost of turnover often exceeds $\$100,000$ per employee.The solution to high turnover is building a culture of Emotional Intelligence.Find your cost and take action: Use our free Staff Turnover Calculator today:https://excelerateyoucoaching.com/turnovercalculator

Why are we so obsessed with “storytelling”?In education, we talk about it when we’re working on language and reading comprehension. It’s also referred to in sales and copy writing as a tool for generating more leads and customers. And of course, people writing books or films think about it all the time. We all know storytelling is an important life skill. But do we remember HOW MUCH it can impact our ability to communicate and function? And do we know how to support students who don’t have this skill?I invited my colleague Jane Gebers to the De Facto Leaders podcast to discuss this topic. If you’re helping students build skills for functional daily tasks, challenging academic work, or in social situations, you won’t want to miss this conversation. In this first half of the interview, we talk about the “why” behind teaching narrative discourse, plus specific examples of how we’ve both used narrative structure to build our own comprehension.Jane L. Gebers is the author of the popular resource, Books Are for Talking, Too!, first published in 1990, and now in its 4th edition as of March 2023. A practicing speech-language pathologist for over 40 years, she has worked in public school, hospital, private, and clinical settings. She has been an adjunct professor at St. Mary’s College of California and other universities where she taught Language Development, Assessment, and Intervention courses to students pursuing special education credentials. She currently holds a private practice in Northern California.You can connect with Jane on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-l-gebers-53856119/Email her at jane@soundingyourbest.comLearn more about her book, Books Are For Talking, Too! here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C2SG8J58?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_RR4P3SB19A92WD6FPD3RLearn more about her storytelling resources and speech therapy services on her website here: http://soundingyourbest.com/ In this episode, I mentioned Language Therapy Advance Foundations, my program that gives speech pathologists a framework for building language skills needed to thrive in school, social situations, and daily life. You can learn more about the program here: https://drkarenspeech.com/languagetherapyI also mentioned the Art and Science of Narrative Language, my program that gives speech pathologists and educational professionals a process for evaluating and supporting narrative language. You can learn more about the program here: https://drkarenspeech.lpages.co/art-science-narratives-blog-297/

Two teachers, one middle school and one elementary, share how they have made writing instruction a priority. Josie Wozniak and Kimberly Voge are avid users and proponents of EduProtocols to support their writing instruction. In this episode they share how students are able to write more. But more importantly, how the students take more responsibility for improving their writing.Twitter: @‌ms_woz @kvoge71LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-voge-662b905b/Facebook: (5) Facebook(5) EduProtocols Community | FacebookInstagram: @‌jwoz_teaches @‌hermajestyvogeBluesky: @‌jwoz-teaches.bsky.socialTik Tok: @‌jwoz_teaches @techsassyDeploying EduProtocols

What would your school—and your life—look like if you protected your time as fiercely as you protect everyone else’s? In this episode of The Principal’s Handbook, we break down the 5 Eight-to-Four Non-Negotiables that help principals get more done during the school day without sacrificing their evenings, weekends, and families. Barb walks you through a free planning guide to help you personalize these non-negotiables for your building. You can get the free guide HERE.Tune in and give yourself the space to lead with clarity, work with purpose, and go home on time—without guilt.