Aspire to Lead

24:57

398. Compliance Is the Baseline Not the Finish Line:...

Aspire to Lead ·

2026/10/05

What if compliance was not the finish line for special education services, but the starting point for providing every student with the instruction and support they deserve?In this episode, Joshua Stamper sits down with Korenne Wolken, Director of ANW Special Education Interlocal, to explore how leaders can create stronger, more collaborative, and student-centered special education programs. Korenne shares why Specially Designed Instruction must move beyond curriculum and paperwork to address each

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26:10

397. The Power of Presence in Leadership: Featuring...

Aspire to Lead ·

2026/09/28

What changes when you stop waiting to feel motivated and start showing up with discipline, purpose, and presence?In this episode, Joshua Stamper is joined by speaker, coach, entrepreneur, endurance athlete, and leadership strategist Ronnel Blackman. Ronnel shares the P.R.E.S.E.N.C.E. framework, a practical approach to helping leaders show up more intentionally in their professional and personal lives. Ronnel explains why discipline is more reliable than motivation, especially when leaders are

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32:26

Aspire Mailbag: Creating Teacher Goals That Build...

Aspire to Lead ·

2026/09/20

How can school leaders give teachers ownership over their professional growth while still creating alignment around campus priorities?In this Aspire Mailbag episode, Joshua Stamper and Jeff Gargas tackle two timely questions from school leaders: How much autonomy should teachers have when setting professional-growth goals, and how can a school create communication systems that keep staff, students, and families informed? Joshua and Jeff discuss why teacher goals should be shaped through

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39:12

396. Reflective Leaders Create Stronger School...

Aspire to Lead ·

2026/09/14

What would shift in your leadership if you treated every interaction, observation, and moment of reflection as an opportunity to help someone grow?In this episode, Joshua Stamper welcomes back district leader, author, speaker, and educator Lauren Kaufman. Lauren shares how her journey from classroom teacher and literacy specialist to instructional coach, assistant principal, and district leader has been shaped by mentorship, intentional reflection, and a deep commitment to keeping students at the

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17:15

Bonus: Get the Brain on Board With Carrie Bonnett

Aspire to Lead ·

2026/09/09

What if the challenges your child is having with homework, time management, organization, or emotional regulation are not about a lack of effort, but about skills that can be built?In this bonus episode, Joshua Stamper welcomes back executive function coach and former middle and high school teacher Carrie Bonnett to discuss her upcoming free audio event, Get the Brain on Board. Designed for parents and educators of school-age children, this event offers practical, on-the-go support for understanding

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29:44

395. Leading Without Apology With Dr. Carrie Mugridge...

Aspire to Lead ·

2026/09/06

What would change if more women stopped waiting to feel completely ready and began stepping into the leadership roles they are already capable of leading?In this episode, Joshua Stamper is joined by Dr. Carrie Mugridge and Dr. Jennifer Perez Bessolo, coauthors of Leading Without Apology: Empowering Women in Educational Leadership, From Aspiration to Advancement. Together, they unpack the internal doubts and external barriers that can keep talented women from pursuing school and district leadership

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30:11

394. How to Flourish in a Tired and Uninspired World:...

Aspire to Lead ·

2026/08/30

What if feeling less tired and more inspired is not about waiting for life to slow down, but about making small, intentional choices in the middle of the chaos?In this episode, Joshua Stamper welcomes back former high school chemistry and physics teacher, keynote speaker, and author Phil Januszewski to discuss his new book, Too Damn Happy: Flourishing in a Tired and Uninspired World. After 20 years in the classroom, Phil left a career he loved to help educators and other adult givers build lives

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42:42

393. Reclaiming Our Joy Before It’s Too Late:...

Aspire to Lead ·

2026/08/23

What would change if educators treated joy, connection, and mental wellness as essential parts of the work instead of extras?In this episode, Joshua Stamper welcomes back educator, author, speaker, and Teach Class Off creator CJ Reynolds. CJ reflects on more than 20 years in education, from teaching in West Philadelphia to serving students in New Mexico, and shares why his purpose has remained rooted in one simple belief: kids come first.Joshua and CJ discuss building meaningful relationships with

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12:17

BONUS Series – Aspiring Leaders Part 5: 30-Day...

Aspire to Lead ·

2026/08/21

You have reflected on your leadership experiences, clarified your leadership identity, identified the people in your corner, and recognized the gaps you still need to fill. Now it is time to turn that insight into action.In the final episode of the Aspiring Leaders Bonus Series, Joshua Stamper shares a practical framework for creating an intentional leadership action plan. Learn how to choose a leadership focus, pursue one meaningful experience, connect with a person who can support your growth,

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13:23

BONUS Series – Aspiring Leaders Part 4: What...

Aspire to Lead ·

2026/08/20

Are you building meaningful leadership experience, or are you simply staying busy? In Part 4 of the Aspiring Leaders Bonus Series, Joshua Stamper helps aspiring leaders identify the experiences they still need before stepping into their next role. Saying yes to every committee, project, or extra duty may show initiative, but not every opportunity builds the skills, relationships, and leadership evidence that hiring teams want to see. This episode explores key areas of school leadership, including

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12:43

BONUS Series – Aspiring Leaders Part 3: Defining Your...

Aspire to Lead ·

2026/08/19

What kind of leader do you want to be when the title finally arrives? In Part 3 of the Aspiring Leaders Bonus Series, Joshua Stamper helps aspiring leaders move beyond simply naming the role they want and begin defining the values, mission, vision, and commitments that will guide their leadership. A title may change, responsibilities may shift, and your career path may take unexpected turns, but your leadership identity can serve as the compass that keeps you grounded. In this episode, you will

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11:14

BONUS Series – Aspiring Leaders Part 2: Growth Does...

Aspire to Lead ·

2026/08/18

Leadership growth does not happen in isolation. While your experiences, credentials, and drive all matter, the right relationships can help you gain perspective, identify meaningful opportunities, and take the next step in your leadership journey. In this episode, Joshua Stamper explores why aspiring leaders need a strong network of support and introduces four people who can make a meaningful difference: a mentor, a coach, a campus advocate, and a district connector. You will reflect on who

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10:58

BONUS Series - Aspiring Leaders Part 1: Leadership...

Aspire to Lead ·

2026/08/17

If you are considering a future leadership role, have recently joined a principal preparation program, or simply feel ready to make a greater impact on your campus, this series will help you take practical next steps. In this first episode, Joshua Stamper challenges aspiring leaders to look beyond the title and recognize the leadership experiences they may already have.You will reflect on the committees, initiatives, relationships, and problems you have helped lead, while also identifying gaps in

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30:57

392. Culture Is a System, Not a Slogan: Featuring Tom...

Aspire to Lead ·

2026/08/16

What if the strongest school cultures are not built through big initiatives, catchy slogans, or another binder of expectations, but through small actions repeated every day? In this episode, Tom Walls shares lessons from more than 30 years in education and coaching across four continents. He explains why culture must be treated as a system, not a slogan, and how leaders can create genuine buy-in by helping people feel seen, valued, and connected. Tom introduces the idea of micro-inclusions:

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45:08

391. Taking Off the Leadership Mask: Featuring...

Aspire to Lead ·

2026/08/09

What might change in your school if students felt safe enough to say they were not okay?In this episode, Ashanti Branch shares how his own journey as a student, engineer, and educator led him to create the Ever Forward Club, a nonprofit dedicated to helping young men build connection, emotional awareness, character, and leadership skills. He explains why many students learn to hide behind masks, what it takes to earn trust, and how schools can create spaces where young people feel seen, heard, and

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34:37

390. Preparing Future School Leaders and Enhancing...

Aspire to Lead ·

2026/08/03

What does it really take to lead well when school life is messy, fast-moving, and full of real challenges? In this week's episode, Adam Dovico shares a grounded and practical conversation about what educators and school leaders are facing right now, from supporting new teachers and building school culture to developing future leaders and creating meaningful learning experiences. He talks about the changing realities of the teaching profession, why confidence matters in leadership, and how small

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27:05

389. The Resistance Solution: Featuring Becca Silver

Aspire to Lead ·

2026/07/25

What if resistance in your school is not a sign of defiance, but a signal that something deeper needs attention?In this episode, Becca Silver shares a research-informed approach to understanding resistance in K-12 education and why it is often rooted in unmet needs rather than unwillingness to change. She explains how school leaders and instructional coaches can move from reacting to resistance to diagnosing it with more intention, clarity, and empathy. Becca also breaks down the five needs that

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30:50

388. Empowering School Leaders to Be Math Leaders:...

Aspire to Lead ·

2026/07/19

Why is it still so common for people to say, “I’m not a math person,” and how can school leaders help change that narrative? In this week's episode of Aspire to Lead, Joshua Stamper sits down with Thomas O’Brien to explore why leaders are uniquely positioned to shape math culture, support stronger instruction, and create environments where both teachers and students see themselves as capable math learners. Thomas also shares why leading math instruction does not require a math background, and how

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39:58

Aspire Mailbag: How to Hire Well and Reimagine...

Aspire to Lead ·

2026/07/11

In this Aspire Mailbag episode, Joshua Stamper and Jeff Gargas tackle two leadership topics that are on a lot of educators’ minds right now: how to hire great people when applicant pools are shrinking, and how to rethink student discipline in ways that actually build skills. They explore why culture matters in attracting the right staff, how leaders can look beyond interview answers to find the right fit, and what it means to create a school or district people genuinely want to be part of.The

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41:01

387. How to Develop Future Leaders and Grow Talent:...

Aspire to Lead ·

2026/07/05

In this episode of Aspire to Lead, Joshua Stamper sits down with Darrin Peppard to explore how organizations can intentionally develop future leaders. Darrin shares practical ideas for identifying leadership potential early, creating meaningful growth opportunities, and building the kind of trust and support that helps emerging leaders step into new roles with confidence. Together, they discuss why leadership development cannot be left to chance, how mentorship and coaching shape long-term growth,

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