Your Morning Boost
Feeling overwhelmed by the daily grind in education? Then it's time to tune into Your Morning Boost from AWB Education! This is your daily dose of inspiration and practical advice aimed directly at school leaders. In just a few minutes each weekday, you'll gain quick insights and actionable strategies to tackle the unique challenges you face. From navigating tough situations and fostering a positive school culture to attracting top talent and transforming professional development, we're tackling the issues that matter most to you. Each episode is designed to empower you to lead with confidence and impact, ensuring you start your day energized and ready to make a difference. Find Your Morning Boost on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform. Subscribe now and join us as we work together to truly transform education, one leader at a time!
Episodes

Thursday Aug 07, 2025
Thursday Aug 07, 2025
In this episode, we continue our monthly deep dive into the Fitting Five, focusing on a thought-provoking article that redefines what it means to be a truly effective leader in a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence. We'll be exploring why the classic combination of IQ and EQ is no longer enough and introducing a new, critical form of intelligence that is becoming the ultimate differentiator for success: Contextual Intelligence, or CQ.With AI handling data and routine tasks, the most valuable human skill is shifting. CQ is the ability to understand the bigger picture, read the unwritten rules, and apply knowledge in a way that is deeply relevant to a specific environment. For a school leader, this means making decisions that are not just correct on paper but are also sensitive and effective in practice, reminding us that the most valuable form of leadership will always be uniquely and profoundly human.You can read the article that inspired this episode here: https://www.fastcompany.com/91349501/in-the-age-of-ai-iq-and-eq-are-no-longer-enough-heres-whyLearn more about our sponsors at awbeducation.org and grundmeyerleadersearch.com.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/your-morning-boost--6612702/support. Learn more about our sponsors at awbeducation.org and grundmeyerleadersearch.com.Learn more about our work at awbeducation.org and grundmeyerleadersearch.com.

Wednesday Aug 06, 2025
Wednesday Aug 06, 2025
In this episode, we continue our monthly deep dive into the Fitting Five, focusing on a critical aspect of school leadership: student motivation. We’ll be exploring a powerful strategy highlighted in an EdWeek article titled, "What Would Motivate Teens to Work Harder in School? The Chance to Redo Assignments." The article argues that a thoughtful redo policy can boost student motivation. We take this a step further, adding that our opinion is to focus on reassessment, not just a "redo" of assignments.The goal is to ensure students have multiple opportunities to show they have mastered a standard through varied assessments, shifting the focus from simply chasing points to true learning and ownership.This approach builds crucial skills like resilience and accountability and empowers students to become active participants in their education. It communicates to students that their learning journey is more important than their initial performance and fosters a school culture where mistakes are seen as opportunities for growth, not as failures.You can read the article that inspired this episode here: https://www.edweek.org/leadership/what-would-motivate-teens-to-work-harder-in-school-the-chance-to-redo-assignments/2023/02?utm_source=li&utm_medium=soc&utm_campaign=editLearn more about our sponsors at awbeducation.org and grundmeyerleadersearch.com.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/your-morning-boost--6612702/support. Learn more about our sponsors at awbeducation.org and grundmeyerleadersearch.com.Learn more about our work at awbeducation.org and grundmeyerleadersearch.com.

Tuesday Aug 05, 2025
Tuesday Aug 05, 2025
Welcome to Your Morning Boost, the podcast dedicated to equipping school leaders with the insights and encouragement they need for a fantastic day.In this episode, we continue our monthly deep dive into the Fitting Five, focusing on the article, "Do the Day — Don’t Let the Day Do You." We challenge leaders to re-examine how they spend their time and energy, and to consider the profound difference between being a reactive problem-solver and a proactive, purpose-driven leader. We explore how to stop drifting and start driving by being deliberate with our energy and priorities. The key takeaway is a simple yet profound challenge: to reclaim our role as proactive leaders.You can read the article that inspired this episode here: https://preview.mailerlite.io/emails/webview/394942/160837459950700336Learn more about our sponsors at awbeducation.org and grundmeyerleadersearch.com.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/your-morning-boost--6612702/support. Learn more about our sponsors at awbeducation.org and grundmeyerleadersearch.com.Learn more about our work at awbeducation.org and grundmeyerleadersearch.com.

Monday Aug 04, 2025
Monday Aug 04, 2025
Welcome to Your Morning Boost, the podcast designed to give school leaders the insights and inspiration you need to conquer your day. Happy Monday! We're kicking off the first Monday of August with our monthly deep dive into the Fitting Five, a handpicked selection of valuable articles featured in the Grundmeyer Leader Services newsletter, powered by AWB Education.This episode, we're focusing on an article that reveals how a significant portion of teenagers feel talking to a chatbot is just as satisfying as a conversation with a real person. We explore what this profound shift means for our schools and how leaders must double down on fostering authentic human connection in a digital age. It's a powerful lesson that the most important technology in our schools will always be the human heart.Read the article discussed in this episode here:https://www.edweek.org/technology/one-third-of-teens-are-as-satisfied-talking-to-a-chatbot-as-a-real-person/2025/07Learn more about Grundmeyer Leader Services at grundmeyerleadersearch.com and AWB Education at awbeducation.org.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/your-morning-boost--6612702/support. Learn more about our sponsors at awbeducation.org and grundmeyerleadersearch.com.Learn more about our work at awbeducation.org and grundmeyerleadersearch.com.

Friday Aug 01, 2025
Friday Aug 01, 2025
This "Boost Bundle" provides a week's worth of crucial insights for school leaders. This comprehensive episode covers: supporting English Learners in math by addressing linguistic challenges; empathetically assisting students from challenging home environments while maintaining academic rigor; fostering unity between fine arts and athletics to celebrate all student talents; strategies for becoming a recognized thought leader and sharing your expertise; and guiding assistant principals and other rising leaders for their next career move through intentional development. A vital resource for holistic leadership growth and cultivating the next generation of educators.This episode is brought to you by awbeducation.org and grundmeyerleadersearch.com.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/your-morning-boost--6612702/support. Learn more about our sponsors at awbeducation.org and grundmeyerleadersearch.com.Learn more about our work at awbeducation.org and grundmeyerleadersearch.com.

Friday Aug 01, 2025
Friday Aug 01, 2025
On this episode of Your Morning Boost, as we wrap up the week, our focus shifts to professional growth—not just for ourselves, but for our amazing teams. Today, we're talking about guiding your assistant principals, assistant directors, and other rising leaders to develop the precise skills and experiences they need for their next career move. It’s about being a mentor and consciously cultivating the next generation of leadership.Discover how true leadership involves strategically preparing for the future by actively mentoring aspiring leaders. We discuss helping them understand the specific requirements for their "next step" roles and facilitating strategic experience building by assigning projects that align with future needs (e.g., budget management, curriculum development). Learn to conduct a "resume gap" analysis together, collaboratively creating a plan to fill missing experiences through intentional professional development. We emphasize providing targeted feedback and coaching on crucial leadership aspects like presence, strategic thinking, and conflict resolution, and encouraging networking beyond the school. Finally, we explore how to apply these same principles to your own career trajectory, continuously assessing your skill set against your next aspirational role. The goal is to move beyond simply performing the job and instead, intentionally build a portfolio of experiences that demonstrates readiness for advancement. This episode is brought to you by awbeducation.org and grundmeyerleadersearch.com.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/your-morning-boost--6612702/support. Learn more about our sponsors at awbeducation.org and grundmeyerleadersearch.com.Learn more about our work at awbeducation.org and grundmeyerleadersearch.com.

Friday Aug 01, 2025
Friday Aug 01, 2025
On this episode of Your Morning Boost, as we wrap up the week, our focus shifts to professional growth—not just for ourselves, but for our amazing teams. Today, we're talking about guiding your assistant principals, assistant directors, and other rising leaders to develop the precise skills and experiences they need for their next career move. It’s about being a mentor and consciously cultivating the next generation of leadership.
Discover how true leadership involves strategically preparing for the future by actively mentoring aspiring leaders. We discuss helping them understand the specific requirements for their "next step" roles and facilitating strategic experience building by assigning projects that align with future needs (e.g., budget management, curriculum development). Learn to conduct a "resume gap" analysis together, collaboratively creating a plan to fill missing experiences through intentional professional development. We emphasize providing targeted feedback and coaching on crucial leadership aspects like presence, strategic thinking, and conflict resolution, and encouraging networking beyond the school. Finally, we explore how to apply these same principles to your own career trajectory, continuously assessing your skill set against your next aspirational role.
The goal is to move beyond simply performing the job and instead, intentionally build a portfolio of experiences that demonstrates readiness for advancement.
This episode is brought to you by awbeducation.org and grundmeyerleadersearch.com.

Thursday Jul 31, 2025
Thursday Jul 31, 2025
On this episode of Your Morning Boost, we focus inward, exploring how you, as a school leader, can effectively promote your own work and share your invaluable knowledge and expertise with the broader educational community. It's about moving from being an expert in your school to becoming a recognized thought leader, creating a ripple effect of positive change.Discover practical ways to amplify your impact, starting with harnessing the power of professional networking through active participation in organizations, conferences, and online communities. We discuss the benefits of starting a blog or VLOG to regularly share your insights and strategies, and seeking guest contribution opportunities with educational websites and publications like AWB Education.Learn about pursuing speaking engagements at various levels, from district trainings to national conferences, and offering to be a guest on educational podcasts.Sharing your expertise not only helps others but also deepens your own understanding and refines your ideas, creating a continuous cycle of learning and contribution. Your unique insights are valuable, and the world of education is waiting to hear them.This episode is brought to you by awbeducation.org and grundmeyerleadersearch.com.For more insights on leadership, check out "Control+Shift+Lead," a show co-hosted by Jim Wichman.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/your-morning-boost--6612702/support. Learn more about our sponsors at awbeducation.org and grundmeyerleadersearch.com.Learn more about our work at awbeducation.org and grundmeyerleadersearch.com.

Thursday Jul 31, 2025
Thursday Jul 31, 2025
On this episode of Your Morning Boost, we focus inward, exploring how you, as a school leader, can effectively promote your own work and share your invaluable knowledge and expertise with the broader educational community. It's about moving from being an expert in your school to becoming a recognized thought leader, creating a ripple effect of positive change.
Discover practical ways to amplify your impact, starting with harnessing the power of professional networking through active participation in organizations, conferences, and online communities. We discuss the benefits of starting a blog or VLOG to regularly share your insights and strategies, and seeking guest contribution opportunities with educational websites and publications like AWB Education. Learn about pursuing speaking engagements at various levels, from district trainings to national conferences, and offering to be a guest on educational podcasts.
Sharing your expertise not only helps others but also deepens your own understanding and refines your ideas, creating a continuous cycle of learning and contribution. Your unique insights are valuable, and the world of education is waiting to hear them.
This episode is brought to you by awbeducation.org and grundmeyerleadersearch.com.
For more insights on leadership, check out "Control+Shift+Lead," a show co-hosted by Jim Wichman.

Wednesday Jul 30, 2025
Wednesday Jul 30, 2025
This sneak peek from Control-Shift-Lead, with hosts Jim Wichman and Adam Busch, highlights how powerful leadership principles enhance loyalty and trust in any community, especially in education. Get a glimpse of insights on effective communication and development among leaders. This offers a taste of the practical advice from the full episode, designed to help you lead your school or district. Learn about the three key elements that transform leadership: control, shift, and lead. Tune into the full discussion for more! Find out more at www.awbeducation.org and https://www.jimwichman.com/.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/your-morning-boost--6612702/support. Learn more about our sponsors at awbeducation.org and grundmeyerleadersearch.com.Learn more about our work at awbeducation.org and grundmeyerleadersearch.com.









