AWB Education

Reflect, Reset, and Recharge: Leading Through the Pause

Welcome to another insightful episode of Your Morning Boost, brought to you by AWB Education and sponsored by Grundmeyer Leader Services. Join host Adam Busch as he wraps up the week with special guest Erin King from Inspired Education and the Teacher's Pep Rally podcast.
This episode emphasizes the power of reflection and the significance of 'the pause' in educational leadership, especially as we transition into summer. Erin discusses the importance of intentional reflection on the academic year, celebrating accomplishments, and using these insights to guide future actions. There's a special focus on creating a culture of curiosity and play within the educational environment, even amidst the high-pressure demands of school leadership.
Key takeaways include the value of asking reflective questions to staff and students, building a culture that thrives on inspiration and creativity, and the necessity of aligning activities with core values. Erin also shares practical tips for educators to embrace recharging and purpose-driven leadership during the summer.
Don’t miss Erin's strategies on how to maintain energy as a leader and transition smoothly into the upcoming academic year. Plus, explore more about Erin's work in the show notes and on our webpage at awbeducation.org.

Building Bridges, Not Barriers: Language in Education

Welcome to this episode of Your Morning Boost, where we dive into the critical role of communication in education. Hosted by Adam Busch and featuring special guest Erin King, founder of Inspired Education and host of the Teacher's Pep Rally podcast, we explore the transformative power of inclusive communication practices in schools.
Erin shares insights on how language can either be a wall or a welcome mat in educational settings, discussing the importance of correct name pronunciation, the use of multilingual tools, and creating a welcoming environment for all students and families.
Learn practical steps to enhance communication in your school, from using real-time translation tools to redesigning welcome experiences and teaching with empathy. This episode underscores why language should never be a barrier and offers actionable strategies for educators to foster trust and connection in diverse communities.

Unlocking the Power of Mentorship: A Leadership Strategy for Stronger Schools

Welcome to "Your Morning Boost," the daily leadership podcast aimed at empowering school leaders. In this episode, host Adam Busch is joined by Erin King, founder of Inspired Education and host of the "Teacher's Pep Rally" podcast, to explore the pivotal role of mentorship in strengthening school communities.
This episode delves into why mentorship is considered an essential leadership strategy, not a luxury. Erin shares personal experiences of how mentorship has provided her with guidance, growth, and support, emphasizing how it can prevent burnout and build lasting school cultures.
Listeners will learn actionable steps to enhance mentorship, including intentional pairings, two-way mentorship, celebrating small wins, and supporting mentors themselves. These insights highlight how a strong mentoring culture benefits teachers and students alike, ultimately transforming educational environments.

Transforming Professional Development: A New Approach

In this episode of Your Morning Boost, host Adam Busch and special guest Erin King, founder of Inspired Education and host of the Teacher's Pep Rally Podcast, delve into the transformative power of professional development (PD) for educators. Learn how to shift PD from a mundane checklist item to an inspiring, empowering experience that fuels teacher growth and community re-energization.
Erin shares five key ingredients that make PD effective: relevance, interaction, energy, sustainability, and empowerment. Discover strategies that help customize PD to meet the diverse needs of educational staff, promote engagement through interactive activities, and maintain continuous growth with sustainable practices. Listen in for insights on how to celebrate every educator’s voice, make PD an enjoyable experience, and create a movement that reaffirms teachers' passion for education.

Clearing the Path: Supporting Aspiring Educators

In this episode of Your Morning Boost, host Adam Busch welcomes special guest Erin King, founder of Inspired Education and host of the Teacher's Pep Rally podcast. Together, they delve into the pressing challenges faced by aspiring educators today and explore effective strategies to support them.
Aspiring teachers often encounter financial strains and a lack of encouragement as they step into the educational field. This conversation highlights the importance of advocacy for stipends, paid teaching residencies, and partnership with local universities to ease financial burdens. Moreover, the episode emphasizes the need for a supportive culture and robust mentorship programs to inspire and retain future educators.
Discover innovative approaches, such as virtual classrooms and early community involvement, that aim to transform hurdles into stepping stones for aspiring teachers. This episode is a must-listen for educational leaders committed to nurturing a sustainable and passionate teaching workforce. Join Adam and Erin as they share insights, tools, and actionable strategies to build a bright future for education.

YMB - Celebrating Success: The Key to Employee Motivation

In this episode of the Morning Boost, we delve into the significance of celebrating both individual and team achievements in the educational sector. As the work week comes to an end, discover how recognizing the hard work and dedication of employees is not merely a gesture, but a cornerstone for enhancing morale and motivation. Join us as we explore various ways schools can honor accomplishments, from informal lunches and school-wide announcements to formal recognition programs and award ceremonies. Learn how these acknowledgments contribute to a positive work environment, where employees feel valued and engaged. We also discuss insights from Gallup, highlighting the importance of employee engagement in retaining a committed workforce. Whether it's celebrating professional milestones or acknowledging exceptional performance, find out how these practices can significantly impact employee retention and motivation levels within your school community.

YMB - Mastering the Art of Interviews for a Winning Team

In this episode of Your Morning Boost, host Adam Busch delves into the critical elements of the talent acquisition process, focusing on the art and science of conducting effective interviews. Sponsored by Grundmeyer Leader Services, this episode highlights the importance of thoughtful and inclusive interview strategies that help build not just skilled but cohesive and high-performing teams.
Drawing from personal experiences, Adam shares insights on structuring interviews that respect candidates' time, involve diverse team members for comprehensive evaluations, and focus on behavior-based questions to predict future performance. The discussion emphasizes aligning interview questions with essential job skills and competencies, as well as ensuring a cultural fit to foster collaboration and success within educational communities.
Listeners will gain valuable tips on enhancing their interviewing practices, ultimately leading to successful hires who contribute positively to team environments. Tune in for practical advice to transform your school's recruiting process.

YMB - Boosting HR: Enhancing Hiring Processes Through Feedback

In this insightful episode of Morning Boost, host Adam Busch delves into the critical practice of continuous improvement within HR functions, specifically focusing on enhancing the recruitment process. Sponsored by Grundmeyer Leader Services, we explore the valuable perspectives that current employees, recent hires, and even unsuccessful candidates can offer to improve the hiring journey.
Listeners will learn effective methods for gathering feedback, such as conducting anonymous surveys, organizing focus group discussions, and holding informal one-on-one conversations to obtain individual insights. Key topics include the clarity of job descriptions, the efficiency of the application process, and the relevance of interview questions.
Drawing inspiration from Ken Blanchard's words, "Feedback is the breakfast of champions," this episode emphasizes the importance of seeking feedback to identify bottlenecks and unconscious biases in hiring processes. By refining strategies, organizations can attract and retain higher caliber talent, ensuring sustained success and a stronger workforce.
Join us for a thoughtful midweek discussion and discover how proactive listening can enhance your HR practices. Tune in for more leadership insights tomorrow.

YMB - Mastering Difficult Conversations in HR

Welcome to your Morning Boost, where we delve into essential leadership topics to empower your school community. In this episode, hosted by Adam Bush and presented by AWB Education and Grundmeyer Leader Services, we explore the art of navigating challenging conversations in human resources, specifically focusing on the non-renewal of employee contracts.
We discuss the importance of approaching these discussions with empathy, clarity, and professionalism, emphasizing the need for direct and transparent communication. Proper preparation, including documentation and understanding of transition resources, is crucial for ensuring a respectful and dignified process for departing employees.
Drawing insights from Brene Brown, we underscore the significance of being clear in our communications to foster kindness and understanding. As we tackle these difficult yet necessary conversations, we are reminded to maintain the "human" aspect of human resources, treating each individual with the dignity they deserve.

YMB - Attracting Top Talent: Think Like a Marketer

In today's episode of Your Morning Boost, host Adam Busch dives into the essentials of recruiting the best candidates by applying marketing principles. This HR-focused discussion highlights innovative strategies to attract a diverse pool of applicants, crucially including millennials, by focusing on their online and offline habits. With insights from Harvard Business Review, the episode emphasizes the need to dismantle systematic biases in recruitment processes and to reflect a truly inclusive company culture. Listeners are encouraged to utilize creative means like video snippets, employee testimonials, and virtual workplace tours to showcase their organization as an attractive place to work. Join us for a practical lead into the week, aimed at helping you build strong, effective teams in your school community.