The Innovator’s Mindset Podcast

What happens when we put teaching and learning at the center of educational leadership?

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Dawn Bridges, Associate Director of Professional Learning for the Illinois Association for School Administrators (IASA), to talk about the upcoming IASA 62nd Annual Conference, taking place September 30–October 2 in Springfield.

Dawn and I talk about the conference, what school leaders can expect, and—more importantly—what makes a professional learning experience truly meaningful. We explore the idea that great leadership in education is grounded in doing everything we can to support teaching and learning in our classrooms. When leaders stay connected to the work of teaching and learning, they are better equipped to lead their schools.

That same philosophy is at the heart of how Dawn approaches professional learning. The experiences we create for educators should look a lot like the experiences we want for students: engaging, relevant, personalized, conversational, and grounded in learning with and from others.

With so many great things happening in Illinois schools, Dawn sees the conference as an opportunity for school leaders to learn from one another, personalize their experience around what they need, and have the kinds of conversations that can lead to new ideas and meaningful growth.

Ultimately, Dawn's goal is for people to leave the conference better than when they arrived—and excited to come back because the experience was that valuable.

We also talk about my upcoming keynote on October 1 and how the ideas behind the keynote connect to this larger conversation about leadership, learning, relationships, and moving education forward together.

Learn more about my keynote:
https://myemail.constantcontact.com/The-Wait-Is-Over--Meet-Our-Second-General-Session-Speaker.html?soid=1103777180704&aid=l7RLjHlb7PY

Learn more about Dr. Dawn Bridges:
https://www.iasaedu.org/about/iasa-staff

Learn more about IASA Professional Learning:
https://www.iasaedu.org/professional-development

Learn more about the IASA 62nd Annual Conference:
https://www.iasaedu.org/professional-development/iasa-annual-conference

 

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👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on social media using #InnovatorsMindset

 

🌐 More at: https://georgecouros.com

 

🎙 Full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

 

Follow George Couros:

X: https://x.com/gcouros

 

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/

 

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519

 

📚 Books by George Couros:

Forward, Together:

https://a.co/d/99RGvl3

 

The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

What Makes a Great Principal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334739?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

 

Because of a Teacher: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

Because of a Teacher 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833450X?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

 

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/

Strong schools are built by recognizing strengths, not just fixing weaknesses.

In this episode, I explore why the way we develop educators ultimately shapes the experiences of every student they serve. Inspired by a recent ISTE presentation from Dr. Rachel Edoho-Eket on the importance of identifying and building student strengths, I ask a simple question:

What if we approached our staff the same way?

I share a story from The Innovator's Mindset about Ontario education headlines that focused almost entirely on declining math scores, while overlooking significant gains in literacy. Instead of only asking, "Why did math go down?" we should also have been asking, "What did we do so well in literacy, and how can we build on that success?"

The same mindset applies to leadership.

This isn't about ignoring areas for growth. Every educator, every student, and every organization has room to improve. But when we begin with strengths, people feel seen, valued, and capable. Those strengths become the foundation for meaningful growth, rather than improvement feeling like a constant effort to fix what's broken.

When leaders intentionally build on their staff's strengths, those strengths ripple into classrooms, creating richer learning experiences and helping students discover and develop their unique gifts.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why strengths-based leadership leads to stronger schools
• The connection between staff growth and student success
• What Ontario's literacy story can teach us about improvement
• Why beginning with strengths increases trust, ownership, and motivation
• How to address weaknesses without allowing them to define people

Special thanks to Dr. Rachel Edoho-Eket for the inspiration behind this conversation. Watch her video here:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Dauzge3DRMn/

I'd love to hear your thoughts:

How do you intentionally identify and build on the strengths of your staff?

When have you seen a person's strengths create unexpected growth for others?

How can schools create a culture where strengths become the starting point for improvement, not the finish line?

If you enjoyed this conversation, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who believes great schools are built by developing great people.

 

Check out "The Innovator's Mindset" where I have an entire chapter on Strengths-Based Leadership: https://a.co/d/0de51Bia

 

Also, Innovate Inside the Box focuses on "5 Questions to Ask Your Students to Start the School Year":  https://a.co/d/0j8cFTHs

 

___________

 

 

👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on social media using #InnovatorsMindset

 

🌐 More at: https://georgecouros.com

 

🎙 Full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

 

Follow George Couros:

X: https://x.com/gcouros

 

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/

 

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519

 

📚 Books by George Couros:

Forward, Together:

https://a.co/d/99RGvl3

 

The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

What Makes a Great Principal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334739?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

 

Because of a Teacher: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

Because of a Teacher 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833450X?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

 

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/

What does it take to build a school culture where every student is challenged, valued, and inspired to reach their potential?

In this episode of The Innovator's Mindset Podcast, George Couros sits down with Anne Uberti, Superintendent of Newtown Public Schools, and Frank Purcaro, Assistant Superintendent, to discuss the vision behind the district's upcoming Convocation Day and the beliefs that shape their work with students and staff.

Together, they explore why meaningful learning often requires productive struggle, how educators can recognize the unique strengths of every learner, and why building a culture of high expectations starts with believing every student is capable of growth. The conversation also highlights Newtown's commitment to inquiry-based learning, Building Thinking Classrooms, and creating experiences that continue influencing educators long after a keynote ends.

Drawing connections to George's book Forward, Together, the discussion reinforces a simple but powerful idea: every student deserves to know they are good at something, even if they are not all good at the same thing. When schools embrace challenge, relationships, and community, they create environments where both students and educators can thrive.

Whether you're a teacher, principal, district leader, or anyone passionate about creating stronger school communities, this conversation offers practical insights into leadership, learning, and sustaining meaningful change.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why challenge, not comfort, leads to deeper learning.

How to help every student recognize and develop their unique strengths.

What makes professional learning experiences create lasting impact.

Why community partnerships strengthen school culture.

How district leaders build a shared vision that extends beyond a single event.

Reflection Questions

How do you ensure every student experiences both challenge and success in your school?

What professional learning experiences have stayed with you long after they ended, and why?

How can schools create cultures where every learner is known for their strengths while still being pushed to grow?

 

___________

 

 

👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on social media using #InnovatorsMindset

 

🌐 More at: https://georgecouros.com

 

🎙 Full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

 

Follow George Couros:

X: https://x.com/gcouros

 

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/

 

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519

 

📚 Books by George Couros:

Forward, Together:

https://a.co/d/99RGvl3

 

The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

What Makes a Great Principal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334739?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

 

Because of a Teacher: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

Because of a Teacher 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833450X?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

 

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/

Great ideas are not always enough.

In this episode of The Innovator's Mindset, I explore why building rapport matters before we challenge people, push their thinking, or introduce new ideas.

I share a story from earlier in my career about someone who was truly ahead of their time. They had great ideas and saw possibilities that many others did not. But the way those ideas were communicated often felt condescending and dismissive. Instead of drawing people toward the ideas, the approach often pushed them away.

That experience taught me something I have carried throughout my career:

People want to know that if you are going to push them, you also have their back.

This matters in leadership, professional development, speaking, teaching, and almost any situation where we are asking people to consider something new.

Building rapport does not mean avoiding difficult conversations or lowering expectations. In fact, the opposite can be true. When people know that you care about them, respect their experience, and genuinely want them to succeed, you can often challenge them more.

But if we push before building trust, even a great idea can be dismissed because of how it was delivered.

Before asking people to move forward, we need to consider whether we have taken the time to connect with where they are right now.

Questions for Discussion

How does knowing that someone genuinely has your back affect your willingness to be challenged by them?

What does it look like to build genuine rapport without avoiding difficult conversations or lowering expectations?

Think of a time when a good idea was lost because of how it was communicated. What could have been done differently?

___________

 

 

👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on social media using #InnovatorsMindset

 

🌐 More at: https://georgecouros.com

 

🎙 Full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

 

Follow George Couros:

X: https://x.com/gcouros

 

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/

 

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519

 

📚 Books by George Couros:

Forward, Together:

https://a.co/d/99RGvl3

 

The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

What Makes a Great Principal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334739?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

 

Because of a Teacher: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

Because of a Teacher 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833450X?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

 

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/

What does it take to build a culture where innovation is expected, supported, and sustainable?

In this episode of The Innovator's Mindset Podcast, George Couros is joined by Tim Bearden, Superintendent of West Ottawa Public Schools, and Todd Tulgestke, Associate Superintendent for Innovation & Secondary Instruction, to explore how their district developed an Instructional Compass that centers relationships in every learning experience.

Rather than creating another initiative that sits on a shelf, West Ottawa spent a full year working alongside teachers and school leaders to design a shared instructional framework that emphasizes how students learn, not just what they learn. The result is a living document displayed in every classroom, revisited each year, and owned by the people who use it every day.

The conversation also previews the district's upcoming opening day for more than 450 staff members, where the goal extends beyond professional learning. The hope is that every educator leaves feeling inspired, empowered, and trusted to innovate. As Tim and Todd explain, when teachers experience the same joy, autonomy, and sense of belonging that we want for students, meaningful change becomes possible.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why relationships are the foundation of meaningful innovation.

How to create instructional frameworks that teachers actually own.

The difference between focusing on what we teach and how we teach.

How collaborative design builds long-term commitment.

Why giving educators permission to innovate is essential for student success.

Practical leadership strategies for building a culture where creativity and trust thrive.

If you're a superintendent, principal, instructional coach, or teacher leader looking to strengthen culture while improving instruction, this conversation offers practical ideas that can be implemented in any school or district.

West Ottawa Public Schools Instructional Compass - https://www.westottawa.net/academics/instructional-compass/

 

___________

 

 

👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on social media using #InnovatorsMindset

 

🌐 More at: https://georgecouros.com

 

🎙 Full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

 

Follow George Couros:

X: https://x.com/gcouros

 

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/

 

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519

 

📚 Books by George Couros:

Forward, Together:

https://a.co/d/99RGvl3

 

The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

What Makes a Great Principal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334739?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

 

Because of a Teacher: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

Because of a Teacher 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833450X?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

 

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/