The Innovator’s Mindset Podcast

What does it take for school boards and education leaders to move their communities forward when people don't always agree on the path?

In this episode of The Innovator’s Mindset Podcast, I sit down with Thomas Hosler, CEO of the Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA), to discuss leadership, trust, vulnerability, and the important role school boards play in supporting public education and the communities they serve.

This conversation is especially meaningful as I prepare to keynote the 2026 OSBA Capital Conference in Columbus, Ohio, where I will open the First General Session on November 15 and share ideas from my newest book, Forward Together: Moving Schools from Conflict to Community in Contentious Times.

Tom and I explore why "Forward Together" is such an important idea for school boards and education leaders today. Moving forward doesn't require everyone to have the same perspective. It requires leaders who are willing to listen, build trust, extend grace, and create the conditions for productive conversations within their communities.

Tom shares insights from 25 years as a superintendent and his work leading OSBA, including why the organization wants to be the first call for boards looking to improve, not simply a resource when something goes wrong. We also discuss why vulnerability can be a strength in leadership, what it means to "fail forward," and why elected leaders shouldn't feel like they have to go it alone.

A major theme throughout our conversation is that strong communities aren't built only in moments of crisis. They are built proactively through relationships, consistent follow-through, and a willingness to understand the people we serve.

With Ohio's school board members and education leaders coming together at the Capital Conference, this conversation offers a preview of some of the ideas we'll explore in Columbus and a reminder that even when we bring different perspectives to the table, we can still find ways to move Forward, Together.

And, of course, we find a little time to talk about music, including The Police, Rush, and Gordon Lightfoot.

 

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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/

In this episode, I talk with Kevin Brown, Executive Director of TASA, about why trust and community are the foundation for educational innovation. Kevin shares how TASA is helping leaders shape a positive vision for Texas public schools through the Texas Promise, leadership networks, and professional learning designed around members’ needs.

We also discuss the partnership between superintendents and school boards, the importance of engaging student experiences, and why leaders must keep learning throughout their careers.

What is one way your school or district builds trust with its community?

 

I’m excited to keynote txEDCON 2026, the annual TASA | TASB conference for Texas school board members and education leaders. Join me in Houston for the second general session on Saturday, October 10, at 10:30 a.m.

Conference dates: October 8–11, 2026
Location: George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, Texas
Conference website: https://tasa.tasb.org/

 

Interested in bringing me to your school, district, or event? Learn more and inquire about speaking: https://georgecouros.com/speaking/

 

___________

 

 

👉 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 happens when educational technology is built with teachers instead of simply built for them?

In this episode of The Innovator’s Mindset Podcast, George Couros talks with Meagan French, Chief Partnerships Officer at ForEDU, about how ForEDU is taking a teacher-first approach to technology, AI, and professional learning.

Rather than starting with a tool and asking teachers to adapt, ForEDU starts with educators themselves. Meagan shares how involving teachers in the ideation, testing, and refinement of technology can create greater ownership, reduce decision fatigue, and better support the realities of the classroom.

George and Meagan also explore how AI can actually make education more human. When technology helps reduce the time teachers spend on planning, differentiation, grading, and other repetitive tasks, educators can devote more energy to relationships, meaningful feedback, creativity, and connecting with students.

The conversation explores the difference between professional development and professional learning, why AI implementation should begin with teachers before students, and how ForEDU's co-design philosophy puts teacher voice at the center of innovation.

Meagan also shares examples from Central Square School District, where teachers reported saving more than 150 hours through tools supporting personalized grading, feedback, and planning.

Ultimately, the conversation isn't simply about bringing more technology into schools. It's about how ForEDU can work alongside educators to use technology to strengthen the human side of teaching and learning.

 

Learn more at: https://www.foredu.ai/

___________

 

 

👉 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/

Are you looking for a meaningful book study for your school or district this year, or perhaps already using Forward, Together with your team? This episode can serve as a starting point for those conversations, focusing on three questions that can help educators and leaders move beyond simply reading a book together and toward actually strengthening the community they serve.

In a world where disagreement can quickly become division, how do we intentionally build stronger communities in our schools?

In this episode of The Innovator’s Mindset Podcast, George Couros explores the idea that disagreement does not have to lead to division and shares three questions that can help school leaders and educators strengthen their communities:

How do we move forward when we don’t always agree?

How do we create ownership instead of simply seeking buy-in?

How do we ensure people feel valued for their contributions to our organization?

George discusses why listening and finding common ground should come before trying to convince others, why having more fingerprints on the journey creates more advocates for the destination, and why recognizing people’s strengths is only the beginning. We also have to give people meaningful opportunities to use those strengths.

The episode shares examples from schools and leadership experiences that demonstrate what it looks like to build community proactively, rather than waiting until relationships become fractured.

As George shares in Forward, Together, “When schools and families work together, they double the chance of a child’s success.”

Links & Resources Mentioned
Forward, Together by George Couros:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334836?linkCode=ssc&tag=georgecouros-20&creativeASIN=1948334836&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.2SBTFVTBT0S6X&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d_asin

Illinois Association of School Administrators Conference, George Couros Keynote Announcement:
https://myemail.constantcontact.com/The-Wait-Is-Over--Meet-Our-Second-General-Session-Speaker.html?soid=1103777180704&aid=l7RLjHlb7PY

3 Questions Before You Launch Your Profile of a Graduate:
https://georgecouros.com/portrait-of-a-graduate/

Naperville 203 Profile of a Learner:
https://www.naperville203.org/our-district/profile-of-a-learner

Being a Good Follower:
https://georgecouros.com/being-a-good-follower/

Connect with George / Speaking & Book Study Inquiries:
https://georgecouros.com/contact/

Ultimately, building community is not something we should focus on only when things go wrong. Building community should be a proactive endeavor.

The question for all of us is not simply, “How do we get people to come along with us?” Instead, it might be: How do we create something together that people are proud to move forward with?

 

___________

 

 

👉 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 if meaningful innovation in schools isn’t about doing more, but about rethinking how we use what we already have?

In this episode of The Innovator’s Mindset Podcast, George Couros sits down with Heidi Domescik and Daniel Forrester from Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School to explore how they are reimagining professional learning by making it more personal, relevant, and responsive to the needs of educators.

The conversation also explores one of the most valuable resources in any school: time. Rather than continually adding new initiatives and expectations, how can schools rethink the way time is used so educators have greater opportunities to learn, collaborate, create, and do work that truly matters?

Heidi and Daniel also discuss the powerful connection between the arts and innovation, and why creativity, expression, and distinctly human ways of thinking may become even more important as artificial intelligence continues to reshape education and the world around us.

This conversation is a reminder that innovation isn’t always about adding something new. Sometimes, it starts by looking differently at what we already have.

 

___________

 

 

👉 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/