Shows
The School Climate & Culture ShowThe Best Summertime Teaching Jobs: Earn Extra While Staying in EducationSummer is almost here, and if you are an educator, you already know what that means—two months of “rest” that somehow end up jam-packed with side gigs, house projects, and maybe some lesson planning you swore you would not do. I have rounded up the best summertime jobs!2025-05-1431 minThe School Climate & Culture ShowJust Do This...I recently released my newest book, Just Do This… The message is clear. The mission is urgent. That is where this book comes in. It's a practical guide, structured into twelve chapters, each focusing on a specific aspect of school culture and performance.2025-04-1440 minThe School Climate & Culture ShowStaff Meetings SUCK and How to Make Them BetterLet’s be honest—staff meetings suck and often feel like a waste of time. They should bring people together, share valuable information, and improve the school. Instead, they drain energy, frustrate teachers, and make everyone question their life choices. The good news? It does not have to be this way. I am on a mission to improve the climate and culture of schools everywhere, and today’s focus is staff meetings. Here is why staff meetings suck and how to fix them.2025-03-1537 minThe School Climate & Culture ShowTeacher Development Trends: What Teachers Really WantHey, gang! I am bringing you the real talk on professional development. Let’s be honest: when educators hear “professional development,” it doesn’t always spark excitement. Instead, we brace ourselves for long hours, unengaging presentations, and content irrelevant to our daily needs. That mindset exists for a reason—the bar for professional development in K-12 education is set way too low. But it doesn’t have to stay that way. Professional development can be valuable, inspiring, and practical experience.2025-02-1424 minThe School Climate & Culture ShowTop 10 Ways to Retain Great Educators: Building Thriving School CommunitiesAs I walk through schools across our nation, I see an unsettling trend: talented educators leaving the profession. The problem isn't a lack of capable teachers—it's our struggle to retain them. Retaining great educators requires more than acknowledgment; it demands deliberate, intentional efforts to create an environment where they work and thrive. Here's how we can ensure our schools become places where educators are excited to stay and grow.2025-01-1536 minThe School Climate & Culture ShowStay on the PathWhen we think about education, we often picture a straight and narrow path—a singular road traveled by all, leading to the same destination. Yet, as teachers and learners, education is rarely a one-size-fits-all experience. Each student has strengths, challenges, and unique perspectives shaping how they learn best. Recognizing and embracing the idea of differentiated learning pathways is vital—a teaching approach that values flexibility, creativity, and adaptability in meeting diverse learning needs. The dynamic duo Kara and Meg from IntegratED join the podcast to share the fantastic work they have accomplished by implementing diverse learning pathways for their stud...2024-11-2933 minThe School Climate & Culture ShowThe Co-Teaching ConnectionThe episode centers on the topic of co-teaching and its impact on school culture and climate. The hosts invite Jennifer Mazzochi, an experienced co-teacher, to share her insights on building effective co-teaching relationships. They explore the challenges and strategies of successful co-teaching, especially when co-teachers lack shared planning time. Jennifer offers various methods to bridge this gap, including using collaborative tools like Google Docs and scheduling brief daily check-ins.2024-11-1324 minThe School Climate & Culture ShowUnderstanding Special EducationAs a former student, educator, and administrator with dyslexia, overcoming learning challenges has always been a part of my life. Over the years, as I’ve worked with students, families, and other educators, I’ve come to realize just how complex and vital this field truly is. Recently, I had the privilege of working with Allison Gollin, the founder of Gollin Educational Services. Her insights further deepened my understanding of the challenges families and educators face navigating the special education process. Supporting students, forming productive partnerships, and the intricacies of the Individualized Education Program (IEP) and 504 processes are just the...2024-11-0225 minThe School Climate & Culture ShowFinding the Balance with Efficiency and EffectivenessEfficiency and effectiveness are two concepts that often get thrown around together, yet they can feel like distant cousins in the world of education and leadership. For many of us, these terms create tension, like a marriage that constantly needs counseling. When we strive for both simultaneously, we often find ourselves pulled in different directions, torn between the desire to get things done quickly and the need to get things done well. I’ve come to see that while they are connected, understanding the difference between efficiency and effectiveness—and how they can complement each other—is key to naviga...2024-10-1323 minThe School Climate & Culture ShowWho Are We?In life, no good stories start with eating a salad. Great success stories begin with a bold move, a moment of courage, a creative risk, or a leap of faith. Many of you have tuned in and read the blogs for “Stand Tall Leadership Show” and now “The School Climate and Culture Show.” In this episode, we wanted to share a bit of how our journeys in educational speaking began. Join us for a trip down memory lane and hear the origin stories of Steve Bollar and Meg Diede!2024-09-2940 minThe School Climate & Culture ShowPurposeful ParentingParents, families, and grownups are a major component of your climate and culture from the classroom, building, and the whole district. Building these critical relationships needs to be purposeful and intentional. Leaving it to chance is too risky.2024-09-1632 minThe School Climate & Culture ShowEvaluation NationThe mood changes if you say the word ‘evaluation’ around classroom teachers. The word evaluation has the stigma of a four-letter word, but it does not have to be that way. Depending on your district’s evaluation model, it can include so many components. It is not uncommon for teachers to feel anxiety about observations. Unlike the business world, you get a small chunk of time to show your incredible work with your students all year. There is an additional adult (or more) in the room, with a laptop or a notebook, taking notes, asking students questions, and watching your e...2024-08-3026 minThe School Climate & Culture ShowValuing ValueValues should be the driving force behind the climate and culture of your classroom, school, and district. Once you identify your keywords, classroom management becomes even easier. In this episode, we will provide ideas to include values in the classroom, building, and district wide to improve the climate and culture.2024-08-1218 min
The School Climate & Culture ShowCreating the Classroom CultureWelcome to the "Climate and Culture Podcast" hosted by Stand Tall Steve of Stand Tall Enterprises, co-hosted with Meg Diede from IntegratEd!
We are thrilled to introduce this engaging and insightful podcast specifically designed for educators, administrators, and leaders looking to enhance the climate and culture of their schools or organizations.
In each episode, Stand Tall Steve, renowned educational leadership and school improvement expert, will share practical strategies, real-world examples, and actionable insights that you can immediately apply to create a positive and thriving environment. Meg Diede brings her current classroom expertise to the conversation...2024-08-0117 min
STAND TALL LEADERSHIP SHOWStand Tall Leadership Show Ep. 74 w/Meg Diede from IntegratedOn the Episode Steve Bollar chats with Megan Diede, who is one of the visionary educators behind IntegratED, a revolutionary educational platform dedicated to fostering student growth and instructional innovation in classrooms across the United States.2023-11-1533 min
STAND TALL LEADERSHIP SHOWSTAND TALL LEADERSHIP SHOW EPISODE 54 FT. MEGAN DIEDE AND KARA RIGSBYMegan Diede and Kara Rigsby
Founders of
IntegratED LLC - Integratedk12.co
My name is Kara Rigsby. I am a second grade teacher.I have been teaching for 12 years in grades ranging from Kindergarten to Second grade.I am an educator who strives to be better for my students.I have earned my masters in Reading & Literacy Pre-K-Sixth grade fromWalden University.I am a Level 1 Google Certified teacher, as well as a NationalGeographic Educator.I had the honor of being a participant in the National...2021-11-0830 min