Shows
Great Leaders = Great SchoolsEp 15: It Starts with You with Johna Giordano of the Hollywood Academy of Arts & ScienceJohan Giordano has been the principal of the Hollywood Academy of Arts & Science (HAAS) for the past four years yet has been with HAAS for nine years.Hollywood Academy of Arts & Science (HAAS) is committed to educational excellence every time. HAAS is relentless in pursuing excellence in visual and performing arts and STEM education for our growing leaders. Opened in 2004 with 400 students and now has grown to 1600 serving children K- 8.
Learn how Johna leads with passion, enthusiasm, authenticity and selflessness.
Tune in to hear how this Level 5 leader levels up!
Learn more about...2024-12-3040 min
Great Leaders = Great SchoolsEp14: Making the Box Bigger with Jeff Skowronek of Pepin AcademiesIn this episode of Great Leaders, Great Schools, host Dana Vignale welcomes Jeff Skowronek, Executive Director of Pepin Academies, to discuss how this innovative charter school network empowers students with learning disabilities to thrive. Jeff shares his philosophy of "making the box bigger"—leveraging education, therapeutic services, and inclusive practices to meet students where they are and unlock their full potential.
Learn how Pepin Academies' unique therapeutic educational model and transitional program prepare students not just for graduation, but for life. Jeff also reflects on his leadership journey, strategies for teacher retention, and the power of focusing on...2024-12-1943 minGreat Leaders = Great SchoolsEp 13: Passion, Twinkle, and a Sense of Humor with Ann Eisenberg of Palm Beach School for AutismAnn Eisenberg is a founder and executive director of Palm Beach School for Autism. Ann is fiercely committed to providing an innovative education and behavioral support to individuals with ASD.
Palm Beach School for Autism was founded in 2003 by a group of parents who were seeking a better education for their children with autism. The founders of the school wanted a program that would provide individualized education and therapy to children with autism.
And they found that the existing options were not meeting their needs. They began researching best practices and consulting with the experts in...2024-09-2732 minGreat Leaders = Great SchoolsEp 12: Student Empowerment as the Central Focus with Michelle Nunez of Galileo School for Gifted LearningIn 2011, Galileo School for Gifted Learning opened its first campus. The school's model brings gifted learning practices to all of its students to provide them with opportunities to engage fully in their education. Galileo is currently two campuses in Orlando and Sanford, serving almost 1, 400 students in grades K through 8.
Michelle Nunez, Principal and CEO, took the helm shortly after and has committed to providing innovative, research-based education in a nurturing environment for gifted and talented students and those who want to learn in a gifted learning environment that will challenge and motivate them to pursue their passionate...2024-09-2039 minGreat Leaders = Great SchoolsEp 11: Leading with Grit: The Dr. T Story of Educational TransformationLive at the 2024 Impact Summit and Awards we are diving deep into the inspiring journey of Dr. Dogan Tozoglu, the visionary behind River City Science Academies. Known affectionately as Dr. T, he shares his unique path from a newcomer evaluating programs in Leon County to founding a network of top-performing charter schools in Duval County. This episode explores the relentless perseverance, strategic partnerships, and community engagement that transformed educational prospects for thousands of students through a focus on STEM disciplines. Tune in to discover how Dr. T's leadership and the collective efforts of dedicated educators have reshaped the educational...2024-06-2856 minGreat Leaders = Great SchoolsEp 10: The Drive to Want to Do Better & Learn More w/ Suzanne Legg, Dayspring AcademiesIn 2000, Suzanne Legg, founder and CEO opened the Dayspring Academy, the first charter school in Pasco County and remains the highest-performing school in the Tampa Bay area. Dayspring's growth story is nothing short of impressive, now accommodating over 1,200 students from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade across five campuses. Their latest venture, Dayspring Angeline, is slated to open its doors in August 2024, welcoming an initial cohort of 400 students from pre-kindergarten to 5th grade.
Learn how Suzanne cultivates community and faculty commitment from her "lead from the middle" style.
Tune in to hear how this Level 5 leader levels...2024-04-1224 minGreat Leaders = Great SchoolsEp 9: Cultivating Community Connections through Project-based Learning with Shannon Treece of Babcock Ranch SchoolsIn 2017, Shannon Treece, founder and executive director, opened Babcock Ranch Schools in Babcock Ranch, the first solar-powered town in America.
Learn how Shannon cultivates community connections through authentic project-based learning while engaging her students in truly innovative approaches.
Tune in to hear how this Level 5 leader levels up!
Learn more about Babcock Ranch Schools: https://babcockneighborhoodschools.org/2024-03-1540 minGreat Leaders = Great SchoolsEp 8: Lead with Love with Cameron Frazier of Becoming Collegiate AcademyIn 2022, Cameron Frazier, founder and principal, opened Becoming Collegiate Academy in Jacksonville, Florida -- the first charter school in the state that mirrors the experience of Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU) by providing a supportive, nurturing, and self-empowering environment needed for students to develop and affirm their cultural and academic identities.
Learn how Cameron leads with love creating a safe, supportive, and intellectually rigorous environment that connects with the history of their community, contributes to the healing of societal wounds, and inspires them to translate their community’s relentless spirit into academic success.
T...2023-12-0733 minGreat Leaders = Great SchoolsEp 7: Be Willing to Open Yourself Up with Mrs. Vera Hirsh of Academy for Innovative EducationAcademy for Innovative Education is the first District-managed charter school in the country. With less than two months to open on three campuses, Mrs. Vera Hirsh, the founding principal and now Head of School made the impossible possible through her wise leadership that supports growth in all of her staff. Thirteen years later, Academy for Innovative Education now serves almost 1,000 in grades K-12 in Miami Springs, Florida.
Tune in to hear how this Level 5 leader levels up!
Learn more about AIE CHarter School: https://www.aiecharterschool.org/2023-11-0335 minGreat Leaders = Great SchoolsEp 6: Small Changes Create Cascading Effects with Doug Lemov, author Teach Like a Champion" We often assume that the size of the solution has to match the size of the problem, and that's not true. Sometimes very small changes can have cascading effects in a complex environment. And suddenly so many things that look like they are larger and more intransigent and more nebulous suddenly fall into place." -- Doug Lemov
Dana Vignale hosts Doug Lemov on this very special episode of Great Leaders = Great Schools. Doug Lemov is the author of the international bestseller Teach Like a Champion--now in its 3.0 version -- and The Coach's Guide to Teaching. He is the co-author, with T...2023-09-2637 minGreat Leaders = Great SchoolsEp 5: Don't Lower Your Expectations with Dr. Daniel Sandberg of Franklin Academy Charter Schools"Don't lower your expectations depending on where you're serving or who you're serving. Your results can yield just as high expectations as if you were serving students in a Title I school or serving students in West Pembroke Pines." -- Dr. Daniel Sandberg
Dr. Daniel Sandberg is the Superintendent for Franklin Academy Charter Schools, a premier network of seven charter schools serving almost 9,000 students in Broward and Palm Beach Counties.
The Franklin Academy network is the first in the country to be a fully authorized International Baccalaureate district or...2023-07-2831 minGreat Leaders = Great SchoolsEp 4: Trust Your Gut with Ms. Sherry Watts of Minneola Charter School" If it is about students first, then I know that we're on the right track. And so for me, I think it's trust your gut." -- Ms. Sherry Watts
Ms. Sherry Watts is the very proud principal at Minneola Charter School, a neighborhood on the outskirts of Orlando, Florida. Founded in 2004 as a conversion charter school, Minneola Charter School now serves 1,750 students from Pre-kindergarten to 8th Grade.
What is her secret to success? Trust Your Gut. Tune in to hear how this Level 5 leader levels up.
Check out this incredible sc...2023-07-1332 minGreat Leaders = Great SchoolsEp 3: Win Every Minute We Possibly Can with Carlos Gonzalez of HIVE PrepCarlos Gonzalez is the founding principal and now Director of Schools of HIVE Preparatory, where the mission is to create a Highly Inquisitive Versatile Education that will facilitate a student-centered, adaptable learning environment.
Opened in 2009 with 132 students in grades K-5, HIVE has now grown to 841 in grades K-8. Serving students who are 94% minority and 73% on Free and Reduced Lunch, HIVE has impressively earned an A for all 15 years since its founding and is in the top 1% of all Title I schools in Florida. What's the secret to his success? Be on task and win every moment.
Che...2023-06-2833 minGreat Leaders = Great SchoolsEp 2: Be Champion and a Cheerleader with Dr. Tamara Moodie of South Florida Autism Charter School"They're my babies and I am their champion, and I'm their biggest cheerleader. And I just wanna find other cheerleaders for them." -- Dr. Tamara Moodie
Dr. Tamara Moodie is the founding principal and executive director who saw a need to provide the highest-quality education and social services to families of children with Autism regardless of income level. What is her secret to success? be a champion; be a cheerleader. Tune in to hear how this Level 5 leader levels up.
Founded in 2009, South Florida Autism Charter School serves almost 300 children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder...2023-05-3146 minGreat Leaders = Great SchoolsEp 1: Creating Climate, Culture, and Community with Jeannette Acevedo-Isenberg of Downtown Doral Charter SchoolsDowntown Doral Charter Elementary Schools and Upper School are two of the most sought after schools in South Florida and two of the highest performing in the entire state. Serving almost 2700 students in PK3- Grade 12. DDCS offers fully bi-lingual programs in Spanish, French or Portuguese. Jeannette Acevedo-Isenberg is the founding head of school who brought a developers dream to a reality. What's the secret to her success? Putting children first no matter what, creating a family amongst the entire faculty and staff, and of course, taking some inspiration from Walt Disney. Tune in to hear how this Level 5...2023-05-1148 min