Shows
The RocketPD Podcast: Real Talk with EducatorsEpisode 16: Unlocking The Power of Fearless School Communications (w/Veronica V. Sopher)Veronica V. Sopher is a former journalist and school district communications chief. She's a sought after speaker and an expert at helping school leaders address sensitive topics like discipline and security with anxious parents. On this episode of the Rocket PD podcast, Veronica and Corey take on the issue of school communications. They talk about what it means to tell your school's story and we offer up steps that all school staff can take to build trust, create welcoming environment and make the hard work of communicating just a little easier for everyone.
This episode is brought...2025-06-2739 minThe RocketPD Podcast: Real Talk with EducatorsEpisode 15: Buzzworthy: How to Capture Students' Attention & Hold It (w/Matt Miller)Matt Miller is a former Spanish teacher and the author of Ditch That Textbook and Tech Like a Pirate. In the age of fleeting student attention, Matt has coached thousands of educators in the art and science of technology as a tool for student learning. In this episode of The RocketPD Podcast, Corey asks Matt what it takes to create authentic and engaging classroom experiences that capture students' attention and hold it. We talk about ways to include students in the instructional design process — and why the technology you use is less important than the experiences that you create. At...2025-06-0234 min
Angela Watson's Truth for TeachersWhat I’m working on right now–and what’s coming nextJust popping in with a special update to catch you up on everything that’s happening behind the scenes. If you’ve been thinking about ways to streamline your work, learn new strategies, or just reconnect with your sense of purpose this summer and fall, I’ve got a lot of different options for you. Listen in to hear: Insights from the latest survey I did on teachers’ thoughts about AI, and the resources I have to support you in artificial intelligence: https://courses.truthforteachers.com/bundles/40-hour-AI Details about the next coho...2025-05-1124 minThe RocketPD Podcast: Real Talk with EducatorsEpisode 14: Change Management in Schools: How to Promote Ownership Over Buy-In (w/Eric Sheninger)Eric Sheninger is the founder of Aspire Change EDU and author of books like Personalized and Disruptive Thinking. A former school principal, Eric helped turn New Jersey's New Milford High School into a model for school innovation. He's become one of the nation's leading voices on school change and transformation. On this episode of the Rocket PD Podcast, Corey and Eric take on the subject of change in schools. Rather than promote buy-in for big initiatives, Eric says schools need to promote ownership among teachers and staff, and he shares a plan for just how to do that.
2025-05-0238 minThe RocketPD Podcast: Real Talk with EducatorsEpisode 13: Spinning Plates: Secrets of Teacher Time Management (w/Angela Watson)Angela Watson is the founder of Truth for Teachers and the author of Fewer Things Better. In an age where school teachers and staff are starved for time, Angela has emerged as a leading voice on time management. On this episode of The RocketPD Podcast, Corey and Angela share practical ideas to help busy teachers and school staff make more efficient use of time. They talk about changing mindsets, letting go of perfectionism, creating space in the day, and building efficient systems.
Host
Corey Murray
Guest
Angela Watson
LINKS MENTIONED IN TH...2025-05-0229 minThe RocketPD Podcast: Real Talk with EducatorsEpisode 12: Voice & Choice: Using PBL to Help Kids Own Their Learning (w/John Spencer)John Spencer is a renowned PBL expert, college professor, and author of Empower, What Happens When Students Own Their Learning. On this episode of the Rocket PD podcast, Corey asks John about the power of project-based learning and design thinking in an AI-driven world. Corey and John discuss a process for designing PBL units that are engaging, easy to assess, and closely aligned to academic standards. At the end, John shares details about a group he is pulling together to master the art of effective PBL design in classrooms.
Host
Corey Murray
Guest
Jo...2025-05-0232 minThe RocketPD Podcast: Real Talk with EducatorsEpisode 11: Individualizing Instruction: Meeting Every Learner’s Needs (w/Robert Barnett)Robert Barnett is the co-founder of the Modern Classrooms Project and author of the book, Meeting Every Learner's Needs, Redesigning Instruction So All Students Can Succeed. On this episode of the Rocket PD Podcast, Corey asks Robert about his journey as a classroom teacher, the challenges of one-size-fits-all instruction, and how the community he's building through Modern Classrooms aims to change the status quo. Robert and Corey talk about ways that simple tools like video, self-paced lessons, and mastery checks can be used to individualize learning. And they ask - and just maybe answer - the question: Is it...2025-04-0235 minThe RocketPD Podcast: Real Talk with EducatorsEpisode 10: Courageous Conversations & How to Build a ‘Culture of Love’ (w/Dr. Luvelle Brown)Dr. Luvelle Brown is an author, educator, former superintendent of the year and AASA Effie A. Jones Jones Humanitarian Award winner. As a school leader, he has emerged as a champion for change in the area of school culture and a leading advocate for student inclusion. In this episode of the RocketPD podcast, Dr. Brown confronts the inflammatory, often hurtful rhetoric that public school leaders and educators are forced to endure and talks about what it takes to create a truly inclusive learning environment where students and teachers feel supported and encouraged to do their best work.
H...2024-10-1827 min
Breaking the GradeHow This EdTech Company Transformed Their Sales Process And Went From Stagnation to Leads In Just 8 WeeksJoin me as I sit down with Chris and Corey from Rocket PD to talk about how they revamped their entire sales process to feel more natural and focused on building relationships with their ideal customers. Chris and Cory have years of SaaS experience under their belt and they know a lot about marketing and selling software, but selling to schools felt like a whole different ball game. And so we worked on building out their sales process together to fit them, their business and their clients. If you've ever thought sales has to be pushy and you want...2024-09-2731 minThe RocketPD Podcast: Real Talk with EducatorsEpisode 9: Supercharge Your Classroom with UDL & Blended Learning (w/Dr. Catlin Tucker)Dr. Catlin Tucker is a bestselling author, former Teacher of the Year, and expert on all things UDL and blended learning. On this episode of the Rocket PD podcast, Dr. Tucker challenges educators to reimagine traditional classroom education in favor of more student-centered blended learning models and describes what it looks and feels like when teachers transition from leading at the front on the room to faciliating and working alongside students as architects of the learning experience.
Host
Corey Murray
Guest
Dr. Catlin Tucker
LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Supercharge...2024-09-2637 minThe RocketPD Podcast: Real Talk with EducatorsEpisode 8: The Power of Adaptive Leadership in K-12 Schools (w/Joshua P. Starr)Josh Starr is the managing partner of the Center for Model Schools, a division of mega-publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. He's also an author and a former school district superintendent. Since taking the helm at the Center for Model Schools, Josh has been on a mission to ensure that every student has the opportunity to attend the model school that they deserve. In this episode of The Rocket PD Podcast, Josh encourages school leaders to move from a problem mindset to a solution mindset and describes a framework for adaptive leadership that innovative leaders across the country have started adopting...2024-09-0545 minThe RocketPD Podcast: Real Talk with EducatorsEpisode 7: Family Engagement as a Problem Solver (w/Steve Constantino)Dr. Steve Constantino is the author of Engage Every Family. His Five Simple Principles logic model has become foundational to family engagement strategies in thousands of U.S. K-12 school districts. But there's a difference between family engagement theory, which nearly everyone can agree is important, and actual practice. In this episode of The RocketPD Podcast, Dr. Constantino talks about how a commitment to family engagement, done right, can help administrators address systemic problems, from chronic absenteeism to student discipline to MTSS to lingering learning gaps and everything in between.
Host
Corey Murray
Guest 2024-09-0442 minThe RocketPD Podcast: Real Talk with EducatorsEpisode 6: How to use A.I. for good in schools (w/A.J. Juliani)As educators weigh the potential benefits of artificial intelligence with the inherent risks, educator and Wall Street Journal Best-Selling Author of Adaptable A.J. Juliani has emerged as a leading voice of innovation, experience, and reason on the topic. On this episode of the RocketPD podcast, helps us balance obvious drawbacks of the technology, like cheating and plagiarism, with its potential rewards. He talks about how, when deployed responsibly in schools, A.I. is already helping educators improve decision making, save time, and differentiate instruction. Stick around until the end, where A.J. details a group he is pulling...2024-08-2738 minThe RocketPD Podcast: Real Talk with EducatorsDeleted videoThis video is unavailable.
2024-07-1600 minThe RocketPD Podcast: Real Talk with EducatorsEpisode 5: A Framework for Adult Well-Being in Schools (w/Carla Tantillo Philibert)Carla Tantillo Philibert is an educator, author, and entrepreneur whose work on student and adult well-being has taken her from starting a school in inner-city Chicago to classrooms and keynote stages around the world. On this episode of The RocketPD Podcast, Corey and Carla explore the growing challenge of staff retention and Carla offers up strategies to help schools nurture a culture of mutual support and encouragement, giving teachers and staff a framework and the tools to achieve satisfaction in their personal and professional lives.
This episode is brought to you by RocketPD.
2024-07-0140 minThe RocketPD Podcast: Real Talk with EducatorsEpisode 4: Rethinking Teacher Supervision, Coaching & Evaluation (w/Kim Marshall)Kim Marshall is founder and editor of the Marshall Memo. He's also a former Boston principal and one of the world's leading voices on teacher evaluation. On this episode of The RocketPD Podcast, Kim and Corey take on the challenge of job-related stress and staff engagement in K-12 schools. Kim challenges principals and other school leaders to rethink the traditional teacher-evaluation process — in which school leaders deliver feedback in bunches, often toward the end of the year — with a system of “mini-observations,” featuring a series of frequent unannounced visits, followed by a brief face-to-face meeting and a short writeup delivere...2024-06-2437 minThe RocketPD Podcast: Real Talk with EducatorsEpisode 3: The Power of Powerful Lesson Design (w/Jennifer Gonzalez)If you don't know Jennifer Gonzalez by name, you almost certainly know her popular blog Cult of Pedagogy. A former classroom teacher and self -professed teaching nerd, Jenn has built one of the nation's most engaged communities of educators dedicated to sharing and promoting effective teaching practices. On this episode of The RocketPD Podcast, Corey and Jenn take on the myth that more teachers are disengaged and explore the art of lesson planning as a practice to help teachers both old and new build professional confidence, while simultaneously helping students reach and exceed their potential.
...2024-06-1737 minThe RocketPD Podcast: Real Talk with EducatorsEpisode 2: How to Build a Thinking Classroom (w/Peter Liljedahl)Peter Liljedahl is the author of Building Thinking Classrooms, a book that has quite literally started a movement, the premise of which is simple: If we want students to learn, we must teach them not what to do, but how to think. On this episode of The RocketPD Podcast, Corey talks with Peter about what a Thinking Classroom looks like, how it works, the years of research behind it, and the feeling that students and teachers get when they unlock the power of thinking.
This episode is brought to you by RocketPD.
2024-06-1045 minThe RocketPD Podcast: Real Talk with EducatorsEpisode 1: Tackling Staff Attrition With Teacher-Led Training (w/George Couros)The numbers tell a sobering story. Too many teachers are leaving the profession. On this episode of The Rocket PD Podcast, Corey talks with educator, speaker, and best-selling author of Innovator’s Mindset George Couros. Together, George and Corey take on this issue of teacher attrition and discuss ways to unleash the creativity of teachers and staff through things like better training and professional development, while considering the critical role that administrators and instructional coaches play in giving teachers a reason to stay in schools.
This episode is brought to you by RocketPD.
...2024-06-0339 minThe RocketPD Podcast: Real Talk with EducatorsSeries Trailer: Launching The RocketPD PodcastOn the series trailer of The RocketPD Podcast, award-winning journalist and RocketPD co-founder Corey Murray shares a deeply personal story about his struggle with Cerebral Palsy, his experience in the public school system, and how the many exceptional teachers and staff he met along the way helped shape his future.
This episode is brought to you by RocketPD.
Host
Corey Murray
LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
https://rocketpd.com/
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Reimagine SchoolsRSP 113 - Tom MurrayReimagine Schools Podcast (RSP)
Episode 1113
Thomas C. Murray is the Director of Innovation for Future Ready Schools. He is also a best-selling author, keynote speaker, and former school district administrator.
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Thomas C. Murray Website
Meet Dr. Greg Goins
Dr. Greg Goins is a veteran school administrator, teacher, author, speaker, and podcaster with more than 25 years of experience leading transformative change within education. Dr. Goins served 15 years as a school district superintendent in Illinois and has more than 10 years...2023-12-1932 minReimagine SchoolsRSP 112 - Liz KolbReimagine Schools Podcast (RSP)
Episode 1112
Dr. Liz Kolb, Professor of Educational Technology at the University of Michigan, ISTE author and creator of the Triple E Framework.
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Triple E Framework
Meet Dr. Greg Goins
Dr. Greg Goins is a veteran school administrator, teacher, author, speaker, and podcaster with more than 25 years of experience leading transformative change within education. Dr. Goins served 15 years as a school district superintendent in Illinois and has more than 10 years of experience teaching in higher education...2023-11-1735 minReimagine SchoolsRSP 111 - David JakesReimagine Schools Podcast (RSP)
Episode 111
David Jakes, author, speaker, and educational designer.
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David Jakes Designs LLC
Meet Dr. Greg Goins
Dr. Greg Goins is a veteran school administrator, teacher, author, speaker, and podcaster with more than 25 years of experience leading transformative change within education. Dr. Goins served 15 years as a school district superintendent in Illinois and has more than 10 years of experience teaching in higher education as a professor in Educational Leadership. He is also an Educational Consultant (G2...2023-11-1036 minReimagine SchoolsRSP 110 - Will RichardsonReimagine Schools Podcast (RSP)
Episode 110
Will Richardson, author, speaker, and co-founder of the Big Questions Institute.
Will Richardson's website
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Meet Dr. Greg Goins
Dr. Greg Goins is a veteran school administrator, teacher, author, speaker, and podcaster with more than 25 years of experience leading transformative change within education. Dr. Goins served 15 years as a school district superintendent in Illinois and has more than 10 years of experience teaching in higher education as a professor in Educational Leadership. He is also an...2023-11-0235 minReimagine SchoolsRSP 109 - Brad GustafsonReimagine Schools Podcast (RSP)
Episode 109:
Dr. Brad Gustafson, author, speaker, podcaster, and 2016 Minnesota Principal of the Year.
Dr. Brad Gustafson Website
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Meet Dr. Greg Goins
Dr. Greg Goins is a veteran school administrator, teacher, author, speaker, and podcaster with more than 25 years of experience leading transformative change within education. Dr. Goins served 15 years as a school district superintendent in Illinois and has more than 10 years of experience teaching in higher education as a professor in Educational Leadership. He...2023-10-1039 minReimagine SchoolsRSP 108 - Travis LapeReimagine Schools Podcast (RSP)
Episode 108:
Travis Lape, Director of Innovative Programs at Harrisburg School District 41-2, Harrisburg, South Dakota.
Harrisburg School District
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Meet Dr. Greg Goins
Dr. Greg Goins is a veteran school administrator, teacher, author, speaker, and podcaster with more than 25 years of experience leading transformative change within education. Dr. Goins served 15 years as a school district superintendent in Illinois and has more than 10 years of experience teaching in higher education as a professor in Educational Leadership. He...2023-10-0439 min
Reimagine SchoolsCrafting The Culture with Joe SanfelippoIn this episode, author, speaker, and award-winning school superintendent Dr. Joe Sanfelippo, discusses his new book with Dr. Jeff Zoul, Crafting The Culture: 45 Reflections On What Matters Most, and shares insights on how school leaders can build a stronger school culture by making people people valued, earning trust, and coaching educators to help them find their purpose within the organization. Sanfelippo also reflects on his friendship with Jimmy Casas, best-selling author of Culturize: Every Student. Every Day. Whatever It Takes., and how the two have joined forces to create a live weekly YouTube show with a focus on school leadership...2022-10-1233 minReimagine SchoolsCrafting The Culture with Joe SanfelippoIn this episode, author, speaker, and award-winning school superintendent Dr. Joe Sanfelippo, discusses his new book with Dr. Jeff Zoul, Crafting The Culture: 45 Reflections On What Matters Most, and shares insights on how school leaders can build a stronger school culture by making people people valued, earning trust, and coaching educators to help them find their purpose within the organization. Sanfelippo also reflects on his friendship with Jimmy Casas, best-selling author of Culturize: Every Student. Every Day. Whatever It Takes., and how the two have joined forces to create a live weekly YouTube show with a focus on school...2022-10-1234 minReimagine SchoolsPBL Simplified with Ryan SteuerIn this episode, Ryan Steuer, author of PBL Simplified: 6 Steps to Move Project Based Learning from Idea to Reality, talks about the common myths and challenges many new teachers face when trying to implement PBL in the classroom. Steuer also provides practical tips and advice on how to design PBL lessons at all grade levels, how community stakeholders can become part of the design process, and why grading should never be a barrier as classroom assessment remains the same with a focus on communication, creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking. Twitter: @ryansteuer. Website: www.magnifylearningin.org. (The Reimagine Schools Podcast i...2022-10-0435 minReimagine SchoolsPBL Simplified with Ryan SteuerIn this episode, Ryan Steuer, author of PBL Simplified: 6 Steps to Move Project Based Learning from Idea to Reality, talks about the common myths and challenges many new teachers face when trying to implement PBL in the classroom. Steuer also provides practical tips and advice on how to design PBL lessons at all grade levels, how community stakeholders can become part of the design process, and why grading should never be a barrier as classroom assessment remains the same with a focus on communication, creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking. Twitter: @ryansteuer. Website: www.magnifylearningin.org. (The Reimagine Schools Podcast is s...2022-10-0434 minReimagine SchoolsStreet Data with Shane Safir & Jamila DuganIn this episode, Shane Safir and Dr. Jamila Dugan, co-authors of Street Data: A Next-Generation Model for Equity, Pedagogy, and School Transformation, share insight from their best-selling book that teaches schools how to eradicate the fixation on big data like standardized test scores to measure equity and learning by rebuilding the system with classrooms, schools and systems built around students’ brilliance, cultural wealth, and intellectual potential. The book also provides an asset-based model to help educators look for what’s right in our students and communities instead of seeking what’s wrong as Safir and Dugan offer an actionable framewo...2022-09-2636 minReimagine SchoolsStreet Data with Shane Safir & Jamila DuganIn this episode, Shane Safir and Dr. Jamila Dugan, co-authors of Street Data: A Next-Generation Model for Equity, Pedagogy, and School Transformation, share insight from their best-selling book that teaches schools how to eradicate the fixation on big data like standardized test scores to measure equity and learning by rebuilding the system with classrooms, schools and systems built around students’ brilliance, cultural wealth, and intellectual potential. The book also provides an asset-based model to help educators look for what’s right in our students and communities instead of seeking what’s wrong as Safir and Dugan offer an actionable framework for sch...2022-09-2635 minReimagine SchoolsUnited We Learn with Dr. Jason GlassIn this episode, Dr. Jason Glass, Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Education, shares his vision for public schools in Kentucky through the launch of a new statewide United We Learn initiative that's built around the three big ideas of creating a more vibrant experience for every student, encouraging innovation in our schools – especially when it comes to assessment, and creating a bold new future for Kentucky’s schools through collaboration with local communities. At the center of the United We Learn initiative is a unified commitment to Deeper Learning, a push for a statewide Portrait of a Graduate, and o...2022-09-1934 minReimagine SchoolsUnited We Learn with Dr. Jason GlassIn this episode, Dr. Jason Glass, Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Education, shares his vision for public schools in Kentucky through the launch of a new statewide United We Learn initiative that's built around the three big ideas of creating a more vibrant experience for every student, encouraging innovation in our schools – especially when it comes to assessment, and creating a bold new future for Kentucky’s schools through collaboration with local communities. At the center of the United We Learn initiative is a unified commitment to Deeper Learning, a push for a statewide Portrait of a Graduate, and oppor...2022-09-1933 min
Reimagine SchoolsThe Empowered Classroom with John SpencerIn this episode, former middle school teacher, best-selling author, and current college professor Dr. John Spencer shares insights from his work around design thinking, project-based learning, and deeper learning strategies to promote creativity and wonder in schools. From his two most popular books - Launch: Using Design Thinking to Boost Creativity and Bring Out the Maker in Every Student and Empower: What Happens When Students Own Their Learning - Spencer talks about the power of his Launch Cycle that creates a streamlined process to help students move from asking big questions to ultimately creating a prototype and presenting final projects...2022-05-2030 min
Reimagine SchoolsThe Empowered Classroom with John SpencerIn this episode, former middle school teacher, best-selling author, and current college professor Dr. John Spencer shares insights from his work around design thinking, project-based learning, and deeper learning strategies to promote creativity and wonder in schools. From his two most popular books - Launch: Using Design Thinking to Boost Creativity and Bring Out the Maker in Every Student and Empower: What Happens When Students Own Their Learning - Spencer talks about the power of his Launch Cycle that creates a streamlined process to help students move from asking big questions to ultimately creating a prototype and presenting final...2022-05-2031 min