Bridging the Gap

We are back with Megan, a first-year kindergarten teacher with the Lisbon Community School District and a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, as she reflects on the conclusion of her first year in the classroom. After spending a full school year navigating the joys, challenges, and realities of teaching kindergarten, Megan returns to share how she has grown both personally and professionally since the first day of school. In this end-of-the-year conversation, she discusses the lessons she learned, the moments that shaped her confidence as an educator, the successes she is most proud of, and the challenges that pushed her to grow. She also reflects on the importance of mentorship, collaboration, and administrative support in helping first-year teachers thrive. Whether you are an aspiring teacher, veteran educator, or school leader, Megan’s story provides honest, relatable, and encouraging insight into the rewarding journey of a first year in education. 

In this episode of Bridging the Gap, Amanda Schmidt sits down with author, combat veteran, assistant principal, and founder of Ember-Rise Leadership Collective, Andrew Carbajal, to discuss his book, Ignite Your Grit. Andrew shares how his experiences as a husband, father of eight, educator, and leader have shaped his belief that true leadership is rooted in heart, humility, and hope. Together, they explore the power of resilience, the importance of fueling your fight with faith and purpose, and why success is less about perfection and more about the comeback. This inspiring conversation will encourage listeners to ignite their own grit and lead in ways that leave a lasting impact.

In this episode, we dive into Strong Ground: The Lessons of Daring Leadership, the Tenacity of Paradox, and the Wisdom of the Human Spirit by Brené Brown. A powerful call for leaders to return to what matters most: human connection, purpose, and courage. Brown challenges the myth that efficiency and humanity are at odds, showing instead that the strongest, most innovative organizations are built on both. If you’re navigating uncertainty, leading teams, or rethinking what meaningful work looks like, this conversation will push you to embrace vulnerability, think deeper, and lead with grounded confidence. Tune in to discover why the future of leadership isn’t less human, it’s more.
Book Study Questions 

In this episode of Bridging the Gap, we sit down with Dr. Denise Schares to explore the partnership between the Kern Family Foundation and the Institute for Educational Leadership. Dr. Schares shares how Leadership Camps for administrators are creating meaningful opportunities for reflection, collaboration, and growth while helping school leaders strengthen their impact through evaluation within their buildings and districts. The conversation also highlights the value of UNI's leadership coaching and the ways personalized support can help administrators navigate today’s complex educational challenges.
We also discuss exciting possibilities for the future, including implementation grants designed to help schools expand character education and leadership initiatives in sustainable ways. Whether you are a building leader, district administrator, or educator interested in strengthening school culture and student outcomes, this episode offers practical insights and inspiration for moving character-focused work forward in your school community.
Summer Leadership Camps 
Institute for Educational Leadership 
Standards-Based Grading Conference
504 Collaborative Conference 

In this episode, we dive into the book That One Kid: Changing Lives, One Student at a Time by author Brian Mendler. This book is a powerful and practical guide for educators navigating disruptive, defiant, or disengaged behavior. This book challenges traditional discipline models and invites us to see behavior not as a character flaw, but as a skills gap rooted in unmet needs. In this book, we explore what it really means to lead with connection before correction, how to avoid power struggles without losing authority, and why accountability and empathy must coexist in today’s classrooms. Whether you are an administrator, teacher, or para-educator, this book offers concrete strategies you can implement immediately. If you have ever felt stuck, frustrated, or unsure of how to reach that one student, this book will leave you encouraged, equipped, and ready to respond. Sometimes changing how we see “that one kid” changes everything.  
Book Study Guide 

In this episode of Bridging the Gap: Research Edition, we explore "Navigating (Another) Reading Crisis as an Administrator: Rethinking the ‘Science of Reading’ Movement" by P.L. Thomas from the Journal of School Administration Research and Development. We unpack the article’s central claim that much of the current “reading crisis” narrative has been shaped—and often distorted—by media and political messaging, leading to cycles of abandoning and adopting new programs that disrupt instructional consistency. The conversation challenges the idea of a one-size-fits-all solution, instead emphasizing the importance of balance in literacy instruction and clarifying common misconceptions—like the true meaning of “balanced literacy” and how NAEP proficiency data is often misinterpreted.
From there, we dig into what this means for school leaders navigating real-world pressures around curriculum, implementation, and accountability. We discuss the tension between fidelity to programs and teacher autonomy, especially for educators at different experience levels, and highlight the article’s call for administrators to prioritize teacher professionalism, student-centered decision-making, and a deeper understanding of what assessment data can—and cannot—tell us. Grounded in the spirit of Think Again by Adam Grant, this episode encourages leaders to question oversimplified narratives and lead with nuance in an area where easy answers simply don’t exist.
Thomas, P. (2025). Navigating (Another) Reading Crisis as an Administrator: Rethinking the "Science of Reading" Movement 
Episode 24: Defining Comprehensive Literacy: A Conversation with Dr. Lori Norton-Meier 
National Center for Education Statistics - Mapping State Proficiency Standards on to NAEP Scales 2007-2019

In this episode, we sit down with UNI Professor Emeritus Dr. Susan Etscheidt to preview our upcoming Collaborative 504 Conference and explore the key topics shaping the conversation. Dr. Etscheidt breaks down some of the essential components to be discussed at the conference for effective 504 implementation, including shared coordination practices, clearly defined roles and responsibilities, and navigating eligibility decisions. She discusses the breakout sessions, who should attend—from administrators to educators and support staff—and why it’s critical for teams to come together with a shared understanding. This conference emphasizes the value of collaboration in building and refining a comprehensive, legally sound, and student-centered 504 plan for your district.
The conference is June 22, 2026 and will be held at the Central Rivers AEA. 
Conference Registration Here - Early Bird pricing ends May 15, 2026

In this episode, we will review Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter by Liz Wiseman. This book reveals why some leaders bring out the best in their teams while others unintentionally hold people back. Leaders who are Multipliers amplify intelligence, spark innovation, and get twice the impact from their people, not by working harder themselves, but by helping others think harder. Tune in to learn how you can become the kind of leader who makes everyone around you smarter. 
 
Multipliers Website 
Study Guide for Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter 

In this inaugural Research Edition episode, co-hosts Amanda Schmidt and Mary Sult (your resident former K-12 practitioners-turned-research-leaders) are putting a polarizing educational staple under the microscope: Direct Instruction.
Inspired by Adam Grant’s Think Again, we’re ditching the oversimplified media narratives to "think like scientists." We dive into the Perspectives on Behavior Science article, "Just How Effective is Direct Instruction?" by Lee Mason and Maria Otero, to settle a long-standing point of confusion in the teacher’s lounge.
Just How Effective is Direct Instruction? - Lee Mason and Maria Otero 
Think Again - Adam Grant
John Hattie's Visible Learning

In this episode of the Bridging the Gap podcast, we speak with Dr. Nicole Skaar, from the University of Northern Iowa about the origins and impact of UNI's fifth annual Social & Emotional Learning Conference supporting students’ social, emotional, and behavioral development. Dr. Skaar shares how the event began with a vision from Aricia Beckman to support students with autism and evolved—through collaboration with Dr. Kerri Clopton—into a broader focus on social-emotional learning, now entering its sixth year. She discusses why SEL is increasingly important as educators see more students arriving at school with social and emotional challenges, highlighting that SEL builds on long-standing practices like character education, classroom management, and strong teacher–student relationships. The conference will feature keynote speaker Dr. Stephanie Jones of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, director of the EASEL Lab and the Harvard Center on the Developing Child, as well as children’s author Susan Verde, author of the bestselling I Am Human. The conference also highlights the work of Iowa educators through breakout sessions that showcase practical SEL strategies being used in schools across the state.
Register for in-person attendance
Register for online virtual keynotes only 
Leader Valley
Marc Brackett