Leadership Isn't Funny Podcast

Activities Director Shannon Troutman - West High School in Tracy, CA - shares what it is like to be a first year activities director.  She expounds on what she learned as well as advice for any new advisers that might be starting off as a director next year. 

Formspring to be more exact.  Looking to learn a little more about social networks like Facebook and Formspring, then look no further.  This week I sit down with one of my former basketball players, and current speaker, Scott Backovich.  We talked about utilizing Formspring and Facebook to promote activities programs at your school. For more info you can check out Scott's fan page on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/SpeakerScott.

This week we take a few minutes with the "Original" Mike Smith.  Mike talks speaks with me on the power of language and how changing just a few simple habits an lead to some very positive results.  Mike also created a PPT of his topic which can be found at http://bit.ly/dmPuxl.

Just like the article of the same name in the recent CADA Newsletter, Russ Peak is double trouble as he sits down and speaks to me in a bit more detail about goal setting.  

In this episode I talk about some of the lessons I have done using cell phones and give you a few resources that will help you develop lessons of your own to utilize a tool that most kids already have in their pocket. For research, check out http://bit.ly/cqX7PN - From Toy To Tool: Cell Phones in Learning by Liz Kolb, an instructor at the University of Michigan studyinglLearning technologies.  I touch on some of her research as well as Nielsen at http://bit.ly/anIirA.  As always, you can learn more about CADA at www.cada1.org or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CADALeaders.  

Take a trip down to The Big Easy and experience the Spirit of New Orleans with CADA president elect Cindy Bader. Cindy has been working hard with scores of others to make this year's CADA convention a memorable and educational experience. Get the inside scoop on programs and events at the convention. We also talk about funding sources to attend convention and Cindy elaborates on why CADA hosts the convention at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno. For more info, go to www.cada1.org and click on "State Convention."

Freak dancing is a big deal at any school dance you attend. In this episode I speak with Dave Cloutier from Feet First Entertainment about hiring a DJ, which music to play, and what is the best way to deal with all of those freakers. By the way, any suggestions or thoughts please be sure to post on the CADA discussion pages or email me at tech@cada1.org. Be sure to check out our blog too: http://bit.ly/8jerPf

In episode 9 we visit with speaker Scott Greenberg.  Scott asks the question, which would you choose, the skateboarder or the ASB president?  The prevailing theory is for our students to be involved in many activities, however, it is often the activities we are most passionate about and put our time into that we will do the best. 

In this episode we speak with Tyler Durman, speaker and author, about the power of stories and how educators can use stories to help staff and students understand the role activities play on our campus. In times of economic hardship, we need to remind people of the power of community and how activities builds that community on campuses every day, with every event, and every interaction we have with kids at our schools.

Now with the correct volume! In this podcast I meet with Phil Boyte, co-founder of Link Crew as well as Breaking Down Walls, his programs have centered around creating a stronger community on school campuses both in the classroom and within the school as a whole. Phil shares with us his ideas for the first few days and what teachers can do to make his/her classroom inviting.

People are communicating in new and innovative ways: Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, or texting - and all of these options are starting to dominate the public scene. According to a recent article in Time Magazine, over the past year alone, Twitter has seen its visitors, in the millions, increase 1,298% (about 16 million). With this type of traffic, it is hard to ignore Twitter and other social networking tools as they are becoming valuable resources that we can use in education. In this podcast, I speak with CADA's new Communications Coordinator, Ron Ippolito, about the pro's and con's of social networking, what to expect, how it fits into our CADA standards, and possible ways to permeate it into our school culture. Below are some links that we reference in the podcast. Trouble with Twitter: http://tinyurl.com/bg2cqa Real Life Twitter: http://tinyurl.com/p2xvd9 Time LIfe Article on Twitter, June 2009: http://tinyurl.com/qtvneh

Today's podcast features the talents of Richard Parkhouse. Park is a regular presenter at CADA, education conferences and schools all over the country. Today Park shares with us an activity we call "The Card Game." In this game, kids learn what it is like to be popular vs. unpopular - and in learning this difference - how kids and teachers alike can then work to make a change in the school culture. Whether ending your year and reflecting on your activities or starting your year with a retreat or inservice, this is a great activity to get your kids and staff thinking about their roles and the impact that each of them can have at school. This lesson connects with CADA Standards under Communication (8. Interpersonal Skills); Citizenship (3. Service Learning); and Personal and Social Development (Interpersonal).

Once again I visit with my mentor and friend Steve Southard.  As we have just passed the day of the teacher and staff appreciation week, this podcast is dedicated to the teachers who create opportunity for students to learn and grow during their time in school.  It is not often that you hear of a student who credits you or someone else at school with changing his or her life, but when you do, it makes this job worth every extra hour we spend at school.  Please enjoy the Bill Guissi story.

This podcast features the incomparable Russ Peak.  In this episode Russ talks about taking his own talents and hobbies and using them to help make connections with other people to get his message across.  He also shares a great offer on his book for educators looking for some lessons on goal setting and success.  A big thanks to Russ for stopping by during his recent tour of Northern California.

Steve Southard, AKA Skipper Steve, talks about an recent activity he did with his class using pipe cleaners. Student creatively express themselves through the use of pipe cleaners as Steve talks to them about respect and understanding as well as looking at where the kids think they need to go as well as what other students might be dealing with at this point in their lives.

This podcast is the inaugural adventure of CADA Area A as we strive to offer more professional development opportunities for our members.  In this episode, we talk with experienced teacher and activities director Ron Jones who shares one of his infamous Ten Minute Lessons from his book of the same name.  Ron presents at the local and state level in California and has been doing so for many years.  This is a great resource for any educator.  Check us out on the web at either Twitter or Facebook under CADA_Area_A, as well as www.cada1.org.  Thanks for listening.