Connecting with Global Leaders in Education
Welcome to “Lattes & Leaders,” a podcast where Dr. Brad Johnson shares his journey of connecting with educational leaders from around the globe. Over the years, Dr. Johnson has met with his leadership mentees in the comforting ambiance of a coffee shop, believing that the relaxed environment fosters open and meaningful conversations. Inspired by these experiences, he created “Lattes & Leaders” to bring that same inviting atmosphere to discussions with influential educators worldwide. Join us for engaging dialogues over a virtual cup of coffee, as we explore leadership in education.
Tune in each week for more informing and inspiring stories.
Episode 8
Special Guest -
Mimma Sayuti Mat Khalid
Episode 7
Special Guest -
Tanya Thiessen
Tanya Thiessen is a dedicated educational leader with a passion for positively impacting school culture, teachers, and students through genuine servant leadership. With a rich 17-year career, primarily at Elk Island Catholic Schools in Alberta, Canada, she has excelled as a high school teacher, school counsellor, and school leader. Tanya also served as the Principal of the Canadian International School of Guangzhou, an Alberta Accredited International School, where she led Pre-K to Grade 12 education.
Tanya holds a Bachelor of Education in Secondary Education and a Master’s in Educational Psychology, both from the University of Alberta. Most recently she has completed a certificate in Executive Coaching from Royal Roads University. Currently, she is an Executive Staff Officer for the Alberta Teachers’ Association, focusing on Regulatory Affairs within the Government program area.
Episode 6
Special Guest -
Dr. Paul Walton
Dr. Paul Walton is an educational Leader, qualified leadership coach, and writer, focused on developing staff and improving student outcomes. His career has included a variety of leadership posts both globally and in the UK, as well as being an advisor for educational IT use in two international regions.
He is a qualified school inspector and has organised training courses both in person and online for educators internationally. He has set up professional development communities in various countries and TeachMeet workshops bringing schools together.
Paul has a dual Doctorate, Doctor of Education and Doctor of Educational Leadership and Management, Master’s in Education, NPQH, NPQSL, and is a member of the European eLearning and eEducation group. He is currently a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching. He has received UK national teaching, wellbeing and UK school ‘learning experience’ awards.
Episode 5
Special Guest -
Dr. Tiffany Brunson
A native Chicagoan, educational leader and Army Veteran, Dr. Tiffany Brunson is a highly sought after speaker, presenter, author and equity warrior. Dr. Brunson continues to be focused on community service and giving her gift of time to many organizations. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Illinois Alliance of Black School Educators (ILABSE) and is a member of the Superintendents’ Commission for the Study of Demographics and Diversity (SSCSD) where she serves on the Scholarship Committee. Recently, she became a contributing author of a new book, Centering Our Voices, The Anthology. This is a novel that celebrates the brilliance, persistence and significance of Black Women Educators.
In Brunson’s twenty-nine year career she has served as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer. Presently, she is the proud superintendent of Elementary School District 159, serving the families of Matteson, Richton Park and Tinley Park. Dr. Brunson has been recruited, hired, and tasked with being a co-founding administrator of a new school, the creator of many new departments, educational programs and serving on educational task forces and commissions. She has received awards and recognition for her progressive visionary and innovative leadership. Making the invisible visible and the impossible possible is her “Superpower”.
Centering Our Voices: The Brilliance, Persistence, and Significance of Black Women Educators
Episode 4
Special Guest -
Jeni Neatherlin
Episode 3
Special Guest -
Dr. Ciara O'Donnell
Dr. Ciara O’Donnell began her career as a primary school teacher in Dublin. During that time
she was appointed to the role of Home-School-Community Liaison Co-ordinator working with
parents as first educators of their children. In 2005 Ciara was seconded to teacher education
services where she held a number of leadership positions related to curriculum, policy and
educational disadvantage. She was appointed as National Director to Ireland’s first cross
sectoral and multi-disciplinary professional development support service (The Professional
Development Service for Teachers (PDST), a position she held for ten years. Leading a
national team of teacher educators, Ciara continually advocated for teacher professional
development to be transformative, sustained and rooted in school context.
Ciara now works as an independent teacher education consultant specialising in teacher and
teacher educator learning, professional development strategy, curriculum and school
leadership. She also works as a tutor with Maynooth University on school leadership,
curriculum studies and teacher education programmes. Viewing teacher educators as a
unique group within the profession she is passionate about the need for robust induction for
the transition from teacher to teacher educator followed by ongoing teacher educator
development through signature pedagogies. Her study exploring the secondment of teachers
to teacher education described by Professor Andy Hargreaves as “ground-breaking
research”, has been presented internationally and has resulted in her evidenced based
programme for aspiring and developing teacher educators “Becoming and Developing as a
Teacher Educator”
Ciara’s published research about the professional learning of teachers seconded to work as
teacher educators in Ireland explores their career experiences in navigating and carving
out a new professional identity and the transformative impact of this career journey
highlighted by transitions and tensions .
Read it here https://doi.org/10.1080/03323315.2023.2293148
With FREE access available to the same publication at this link
http://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/17932
Episode 2
Special Guest -
Robert Hinchliffe
Robert Hinchliffe is a successful principal in Las Vegas, Nevada, and has been an administrator for over 18 years. His career accomplishments include leading various 5-star rated schools, schools that have received distinguished awards, and he was selected to open Tyrone Thompson Elementary School in 2020.
He is the co-author of “Building Dynamic Teamwork in Schools”, “House Systems Rock”, as well as the author of “Dream Themes”, and “It’s All About Perspective” while hosting a podcast with the same title.
He leads “the model of what a public school can and should be” while fighting the status quo daily as he works to create an exciting school environment for kids and families.
Episode 1
Special Guest -
Dr. Rachel Edoho-Eket
Dr. Rachel Edoho-Eket is the author of the best-selling book, “The Principal’s Journey: Navigating the Path to School Leadership.” She has served for 20 years in education as a highly regarded teacher and leader, and currently serves the principal of a National Blue Ribbon school in Maryland. As the 2024 President-Elect of The Maryland Association of Elementary School Principals, she advocates on behalf of students, staff, and families to improve educational outcomes for all stakeholders.
The Elevated Leadership course: The Elevated Leadership Course Series