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Implement. Change in Education #33 Guest: Dr. Maria Navarro and Dr. Sonja Brookins Santelises on Kids in the System you LeadWhat does it really look like to lead a school district when your own children are learning inside that same system? In this episode of "𝑰𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝑬𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏", I’m joined by two extraordinary Maryland leaders: Dr. Maria Navarro, Superintendent of Charles County Public Schools, and Dr. Sonja Brookins-Santelises, CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools. Together, we explore a side of educational leadership that rarely gets discussed: what it means to serve as both a superintendent and a parent within the same system. A few moments that stood out: - The “fishbowl” effect of leading in public while your children experience the system up close. - The hone...

2026-05-2644 min

Implement. Change in Education #32 Blog: How Does Your District Stack Up on the Blueprint?Maryland's $3.8B education bet had no scorecard — so we built one. 24 districts. 43 indicators. 685+ documents. The bright spots might surprise you. Maryland's first official Blueprint evaluation publishes in December 2026. The earliest quantitative data comes a year later. But the Governor and legislature need to make major policy and funding decisions in the 2027 session — before the evidence is in. The Education Trust Fund (casino revenues) runs out in FY2028. **MarylandBlueprint.com reads every district's Blueprint implementation, scores it against a consistent rubric, and surfaces the bright spots — with source citations.** Some highli...

2026-05-1210 min

Implement. Change in Education #31 Guest: Delaware Department of Labor Leadership Academy 2026 Keynote ExcerptOne of the biggest challenges I see across systems is the gap between a strong plan and real results. In this episode of Implement Change in Education, I share an excerpt from a talk I gave at the Delaware Department of Labor’s Leadership Academy, a month-long development opportunity for promising managers of people and projects. Through two powerful stories - one from healthcare and one from child nutrition work in Vietnam. I explore what it takes to move from strategy to execution. I break down two different implementation challenges: When we kn...

2026-04-2813 min

Implement. Change in Education #30 Blog: With Tighter Budgets, How Might Schools Navigate Strategy for SY2627?With tighter budgets, what do you actually protect? Across the country, school and district leaders are facing tough choices for SY26–27 - shrinking funds, rising costs, and real pressure to cut. But the biggest risk isn’t the budget itself; it’s losing what’s already working. In our latest blog post and podcast episode, we explore a simple but critical question: How do you protect hard-won student gains when resources shrink? It comes down to three moves: • Anchor decisions in research • Assess implementation health • Align your budget to your strategy, not...

2026-04-1408 min

Implement. Change in Education #29 Guest: Superintendent of Howard County Public Schools - William J. BarnesOne of the clearest takeaways from my conversation with William Barnes, Superintendent of Howard County Public Schools: “We’re not going to claim greatness until we’re great for all of our students.” Superintendent Barnes leads one of Maryland’s most well-regarded districts, but what stood out most was his honesty about the students the system has not yet served well and his urgency around changing that. In this episode of Implement. Change in Education, we talk about what it really looks like to implement Blueprint Pillar 4 in a high-performing district: aligning funding to student...

2026-03-2433 min

Implement. Change in Education #28 Blog: Organizations Change Differently Than Leaders ImagineOrganizations Change Differently Than Leaders Imagine The superintendent exhaled. "We rolled this out eight months ago. Trained everyone. Built the dashboard. And half the schools are doing something completely different." I've heard some version of that in almost every system I've worked in. The plan was clear, the training solid, and yet what happened on the ground looked nothing like what anyone had drawn up. There's a line from Bob Sutton, Stanford professor, that captures this perfectly: "Organizations are flexible and imaginative, but rarely change just as any leader...

2026-03-1008 min

Implement. Change in Education #27 Guest: Delaware Early Literacy Emergency: Kathy Kelly and Sam LougheedHow do you turn an emergency declaration into a sustainable literacy system? Delaware is showing us. With only 39% of third graders proficient in reading, Governor Meyer declared a state of emergency. But what followed wasn’t just policy; it was an implementation strategy. In this episode, Kathy Kelly and Sam Lougheed unpack the hard work of turning Science of Reading principles and high-quality instructional materials into daily classroom practice across an entire state. What I LOVE about this conversation is the focus on the delivery chain from the state office to districts, schools, classrooms, and families. Kathy and Sam b...

2026-02-2425 min

Implement. Change in Education #26 Blog: MDBlueprint.comToday I'm launching MarylandBlueprint.com — and opening it to just 25 education leaders. The Blueprint for Maryland's Future is buried in 5,000+ pages of AIB reports, district plans, and accountability decisions. MarylandBlueprint.com uses AI to turn that into something useful: district profiles, cross-district comparisons, pillar analyses, and an AI query tool where you can ask questions in plain language and get cited answers. I'm looking for 25 Blueprint Coordinators, Pillar Leads, and education leaders to join as the founding group. What founding members get: → Founding Member status on the platform → Direct input into what gets analyzed next → A person...

2026-02-1013 min

Implement. Change in Education #25 Guest: Eric Roberts & Brady WheelerIn this episode, I’m joined by two Baltimore leaders advancing career readiness at scale, Brady Wheeler, Senior Program Manager for the Baltimore City Career Coach Initiative at the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development, and Eric Roberts, Director of Post-Secondary Success at Baltimore City Public Schools. Together, we dive into Maryland Blueprint Pillar 3 (college & career readiness) and what it takes to implement career coaching for students in grades 6–12, including the state’s ambitious goal that 45% of graduates will complete a registered apprenticeship or earn an industry-recognized credential by 2030–2031. Baltimore City’s approach has scaled quickly now...

2026-01-2733 min

Implement. Change in Education #24 Blog: Government for GoodGovernment for Good: Why Implementation Matters Now More Than Ever I once sat in Baltimore City Hall watching Mayor O'Malley review data dashboards tracking everything from potholes to crime stats. "Show me your data," he'd demand of department heads. This wasn't political theater—it was government using evidence to serve people effectively. As we face critical challenges in governance today, the question isn't about right vs. left politics. It's about whether we'll use evidence to lift all people, with targeted support for those who need it most. At EdScale, we're committed to this vi...

2026-01-1308 min

Implement. Change in Education #23 Guest: End of Year Review: Podcasts from May-NovKicking off the new year with highlights in our end-of-year podcast compilation featuring incredible education leaders and practitioners. 🎉 Throughout the second half of the year, we had the pleasure of recording conversations with leaders who are doing the hard, real work of implementing change across education systems—and this episode brings together some of the moments that resonated most with our listeners. Key insights from this compilation include: Why early childhood (0–5) is one of the highest-impact public investments we can make How leaders scale systems with clarity—not complexity—and keep quality at the center What...

2025-12-3020 min

Implement. Change in Education #22 Guest: Joanna Staib and Jon Wickert on Delaware Pathways now provides 70% of the state’s students with career-ready skillsIn this episode, I’m joined by two of Delaware’s workforce and CTE leaders — Joanna Staib, Statewide Coordinator of Delaware’s new Office of Workforce Development, and Dr. Jon Wickert, Director of Career & Technical Education at the Delaware Department of Education. Together, they co-chair Delaware Pathways, a statewide strategy designed to ensure every learner has a clear, supported route to career and life success. Delaware Pathways has scaled fast — reaching 68% of Delaware high school students and 84% of middle school students — and the state is aiming even higher over the next few years. Top 3 Insights: Scale wit...

2025-12-0243 min

Implement. Change in Education #21 Special Edition: The Audiobook Launch of “How to Implement (Just About) Anything”In this special episode, I celebrate the two-year anniversary of my book How to Implement (Just About) Anything, now available as an audiobook on Audible! I share reflections on what has changed and what still holds true about implementation since the book’s release, and introduce a short excerpt from one of the book’s most practical insights for leaders driving change in real-world systems. Links mentioned from show notes: Listen to the audiobook: How to Implement (Just About) Anything – Audible Explore all episodes: EdScale Podcast

2025-11-1812 min

Implement. Change in Education #20 Blog: Go See the Work: What Delaware’s Early Literacy Site Visits RevealedGo See the Work: What Delaware's Early Literacy Site Visits Revealed Delaware is tackling early literacy with purpose and precision. In this episode, we explore what happened when Secretary of Education Cindy Marten and her team visited the work in action across five schools. The visits revealed powerful insights: • When schools commit to core practices and use data effectively, students thrive • Teachers using explicit, systematic instruction are seeing results • Consistent implementation of science-based reading practices makes the difference Governor Meyer has declared an early literacy emergency "not as a slogan, but be...

2025-11-1111 min

Implement. Change in Education #19 Guest: Dr. Maria Navarro on Where High Quality & Diverse Teachers Drive Student Success (Blueprint Pillar 2)NEW EPISODE: Where High-Quality & Diverse Teachers Drive Student Success My conversation with Dr. Maria Navarro, Superintendent of Charles County Public Schools, reveals a powerful blueprint for educational transformation in action. Dr. Navarro's district has increased teacher diversity from 37.8% to 43.2% while dramatically expanding National Board Certification candidates from 8 to 117 teachers - showing how strategic leadership creates real change. Top 3 Insights: Teacher-led growth scales: Piloting the 60/40 model (60% teaching, 40% teacher leadership) enables peer coaching and faster improvement. Mindsets before mechanics: Naming the idea that moving to high-needs schools can feel like a “demotion” opene...

2025-10-2836 min

Implement. Change in Education #18 Blog: Five Lesson from Chefs for Education LeadersFor Father's Day, I was given a family-friendly cooking class from my wife and boys (3rd and 6th grade). The experience reminded me of how cooking and education have quite a bit in common. Including cuts and burns! Chefs know that success in the kitchen doesn’t happen by accident—it’s built through *mise-en-place* (“everything in its place”). Leaders face the same challenge: prepare well, or get lost in the rush. In this episode, we discuss how the chef's discipline of *mise-en-place* ("everything in its place") offers powerful lessons for education leaders seeking deeper focus: - Prep...

2025-10-1410 min

Implement. Change in Education #17 Guest: Blueprint Advisory Committee Pillar 5 PresentationMaking Reform Real: Lessons from Maryland’s Blueprint Want to implement ambitious education reforms that actually stick? Maryland’s Blueprint shows us the stakes — and the lessons. I recently joined the Blueprint Pillar 5 Advisory Committee to share insights on how communication and implementation strategies can make or break systemic reform. While Maryland is the case study, these lessons apply anywhere leaders are trying to drive meaningful change. The takeaway? Policy sets the direction, but success is 90% about implementation. Clear roles, timely updates, and school-first communication are what build trust, accelerate learning, and scale what w...

2025-09-2318 min

Implement. Change in Education #16 Blog: CACTE Closing Keynote Leveraging Change for Students (overview)Finding Our Stride in Times of Change! Change is hard — but when we embrace it, it opens the door to possibilities we never saw before. Driving back from CACTE through the Rockies, I was reminded that change often feels like stepping into the unknown, but those paths can lead to powerful growth. As William Bridges writes in Managing Transitions, change is like a marathon. Leadership isn’t about sprinting ahead; it’s about ensuring everyone crosses the finish line together. The real measure of leadership isn’t speed — it’s how many people finish the race with yo...

2025-09-0907 min

Implement. Change in Education #15 Guest: CACTE Closing Keynote- Leveraging Change for StudentsEdScale's Founder Tom DeWire gave the closing keynote in July 2025 at the annual CACTE Summit in Colorado to talk about change management. It was an incredible gathering of over 400 educators in Colorado focused on career and technical education. Since 1917, Colorado Association for Career and Technical Education (CACTE) has been the largest state organization supporting CTE educators in their efforts to prepare students for career and life success. EdScale co-designed breakouts right after this session for their members to put the learnings from the conference into practice around four key questions relevant to educators in Colorado. It...

2025-08-2654 min

Implement. Change in Education #14 Blog: Case Study: Delaware is the first state in growing the educator workforceWhat does it take to build and retain a strong, more diverse educator workforce? This episode spotlights Delaware’s bold approach to strengthening the teacher pipeline, and how one state is turning strategy into sustainable, statewide impact. Inside the episode: How Delaware is tackling teacher shortages with short- and long-term strategies Why partnerships, pathways, and pipelines are reshaping the educator workforce What it means to build capacity through systems, not just programs How the Delaware DOE is creating a national model for teacher recruitment and retention Learn ho...

2025-08-1208 min

Implement. Change in Education #13 Guest: Laura Weeldreyer on MD Blueprint Pillar 1 (Early Childhood)In this episode of Implement Change in Education, we’re joined by Laura Weeldreyer, Executive Director of the Maryland Family Network. With decades of leadership in public and private education, including key roles at Johns Hopkins and Baltimore City Schools, Laura brings a clear-eyed, mission-driven perspective on what it takes to build a truly integrated early childhood system. Drawing on her years of work in classrooms, central offices, and policy spaces, she shares how Maryland is working to expand high-quality pre-K while preserving the fragile childcare ecosystem that families rely on. “Investing in early childhood,” says L...

2025-07-2237 min

Implement. Change in Education #12 Blog: The Blueprint is in trouble: Aligned, coherent implementation remains elusiveWhat will it take to turn Maryland’s historic Blueprint into lasting change? Our latest blog unpacks why coordination is breaking down and what it will take to turn visionary policy into real impact for schools, students, and communities. Inside the post: - Why implementation has become “everything, everywhere, all at once - What districts are doing well — and why we’re not learning from them - How missing communication, unclear roles, and untracked progress are stalling change - What a healthy Blueprint implementation ecosystem could look like Links mentioned for show not...

2025-07-0819 min

Implement. Change in Education #11 Guest: Derek Mitchell, Partners in School InnovationIn this episode of Implement Change in Education, we’re joined by the visionary Dr. Derek Mitchell, CEO of Partners in School Innovation. With deep roots as a district leader, researcher, and systems thinker, Dr. Mitchell shares a powerful perspective on what it really takes to improve outcomes in under-resourced schools. Drawing from decades of work across the country—and his own experience growing up on Chicago’s West Side—he offers a bold yet practical take on school transformation. “Improvement,” says Dr. Mitchell, “is both an art and a science. The science is in the tools. The...

2025-06-2436 min

Implement. Change in Education #10 EdEchoes: Guest Highlights EditionIn this special highlight compilation, we bring you powerful moments from conversations with some of the most influential education leaders. These short clips capture the insight, urgency, and vision driving change in schools today. You'll hear from: Dr. Carey M. Wright, Maryland State Superintendent, on building teacher capacity and transforming reading instruction statewide. Dr. Sonja Brookins Santelises, CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools, and Alison Perkins-Cohen, Chief of Staff, on system-wide trust-building, curriculum reform, and instructional leadership. Secretary Cindy Marten, Delaware State Superintendent, on local equity, strategic budgeting, and leadership through change. Plus a snippet from...

2025-05-2720 min

Implement. Change in Education #9 Blog: How to stay hungry for better, consistent results -- A lesson from Boston Celtics Coach Joe MazzullaWhat does it take to lead a team of superstars to the top—and keep them growing? In this episode, we explore the leadership mindset of Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, whose blend of tactical brilliance, emotional intelligence, and unshakable calm has guided one of the most dominant NBA teams in history. From his “criticism is an opportunity” mantra to flying across the world to support a benched Jayson Tatum during the Olympics, Mazzulla shows us what it looks like to lead with humility, adaptability, and relentless care for people. Whether you're managing teams or shaping system...

2025-05-1310 min

Implement. Change in Education #8 Guest: Cindy Marten, Delaware Secretary of EducationIn this episode, we’re joined by the inspiring Secretary of Education for Delaware, Cindy Marten. With decades of experience as a teacher, principal, and former Deputy Secretary of Education, Secretary Marten brings bold yet grounded insights to transforming public education systems. From her time leading San Diego Unified, where she helped drive graduation rates to 89% and close equity gaps, to her new role in Delaware, she shares a leadership style rooted in community voice, strategic coherence, and a relentless commitment to equity. “Equity,” says Secretary Marten,“ is a school that knows its students and families by name, by...

2025-04-2934 min

Implement. Change in Education #7 Blog: J-A-T (Just Ask Them) TheoryIn this episode, we dive into the J-A-T Theory — a simple but powerful framework for building trust, deepening relationships, and encouraging meaningful feedback. Inspired by a recent EdScale blog post, we explore how curiosity and the habit of Just Asking Them can shift conversations and unlock progress in management, coaching, and collaboration. Whether you're leading a team or working cross-functionally, this episode offers practical insights for increasing clarity and connection. Key Insights: Feedback is one of the greatest gifts for growth — but only when it's grounded in trust. The J-A-T Theory encourages direct, curi...

2025-04-0806 min

Implement. Change in Education #6 Guest: Dr. Sonja Brookins-Santelises (CEO) and Alison Perkins-Cohen (CoS) in Baltimore City Public SchoolsIn this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Sonja Brookins-Santelises, CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools, and Alison Perkins-Cohen, Chief of Staff. With nearly 30 years of experience, Dr. Santelises has led transformative change in Baltimore’s schools, driving historic academic gains and prioritizing equity. To my knowledge, they are the longest standing CEO/CoS team in large urban schools across the country! Together, they’ve implemented the Blueprint for Success, focusing on academics, leadership, and student well-being. In this conversation, they share insights on the challenges of educational reform, their leadership legacy, and what’s next for...

2025-03-2532 min

Implement. Change in Education #5 Blog: Five tactics to navigating a leadership transitionNavigating leadership transitions can be challenging, but with the right strategies, they become opportunities for growth. Our latest blog post shares five key tactics—rooted in research and practical frameworks—to help leaders and organizations adapt and thrive during change. From building strong relationships to scenario planning, these actionable insights drive better results. Change involves navigating uncertainty but is also fundamentally about loss - even when changing something you don't like, you are losing something familiar. Understanding both the emotional and strategic components is key to successfully managing transitions. Links referenced in podcast Original blog...

2025-03-1109 min

Implement. Change in Education #4 Guest: Dr. Carey Wright, Maryland State Superintendent of SchoolsToday, we’re joined by Dr. Carey Wright, a nationally recognized education leader with over 50 years of experience. She led Mississippi’s historic rise in fourth-grade reading scores, proving that strategic, long-term reform can drive real student success. Now back in Maryland, she’s leading through one of the most ambitious education overhauls in a generation. In this episode, we discuss lessons from Mississippi, the future of Maryland’s Blueprint, and what it takes to create lasting change in public education.

2025-02-2532 min

Implement. Change in Education #3 Blog: What's Important Now - The Team!This blog post reflects on a visit to the Baltimore Ravens stadium and the valuable lessons learned about teamwork and core values. It explores how the Ravens emphasize their mantra "What’s Important Now" (W.I.N.) and "The Team, The Team, The Team" to foster a culture of unity and excellence. I connect these insights to our work at EdScale, highlighting the importance of building cohesive teams and implementing effective leadership strategies. Key Insights: The Ravens’ focus on "What’s Important Now" (W.I.N.) and prioritizing the team above all else. Leadership and team develo...

2025-02-1108 min

Implement. Change in Education #2 Guest: Rebroadcast of First State Insights Podcast About ImplementationStarting something new often comes with unexpected challenges, and launching a podcast with guest interviews is no different. Scheduling surprises are par for the course. As a result, we will be sharing the first guest episode in February. But today I’m thrilled to share a rebroadcast of a conversation I had last year with Troy Mix from the University of Delaware Biden School on First State Insights. Troy and I explored the intricacies of implementing change in education, and I’m grateful to have his permission to share it with you today. Let’s dive in!

2025-01-2728 min

Implement. Change in Education #1 Blog: Five lessons I learned coaching the “best team in the league” (my son’s 4th grade basketball team)In this episode, we explore five powerful lessons learned from coaching a 4th grade basketball team that directly apply to education leadership. Through experiences of victories, setbacks, and a nail-biting championship game, these insights demonstrate the parallels between sports coaching and implementing change in education systems. The key lessons include: Elevate voices and listen to stakeholder insights Maintain consistency with proven strategies despite setbacks Foster a positive mindset while staying resilient Lead with support rather than strict accountability Trust in the process and celebrate progress, even when results aren't perfect

2025-01-1309 min

Implement. Change in Education Coming Soon! Implement. Change in EducationIntroducing our new podcast, Implement. Change in Education. Full episodes starting in January 2025!

2024-12-2101 min

First State Insights How To Implement (just about) AnythingTom DeWire, Founder and Principal Consultant of EdScale, speaks with Troy Mix, Associate Director of the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA), about his 2023 book, "How To Implement (just about) Anything: Lessons from 25 years in public education." This interview covers Tom's perspectives on the importance of and challenges associated with implementation, along with his lessons for driving and sustaining change in complex systems. Through his work at EdScale, LLC (https://edscalellc.com/), Tom helps educators get better results through a relentless focus on implementation. Tom earned a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Delaware's Biden...

2024-05-0927 min