Ever pitched an idea you were sure would spark excitement—only to be met with silence or resistance? In this episode, we walk through a simple 3-step process to turn pushback into partnership and bring your team along for meaningful change. Whether you're launching something new or refining something old, this approach helps you shift from conflict to collaboration.

🛠️ Mentioned in this episode: 🔗 Companion blog post with feedback templates: How to Overcome Resistance to Change at Your School 📘 Empowering the Educator Within book & workbook: Tools to support intentional school leadership and planning l

We’ve all felt the post-conference buzz—the excitement, the fresh ideas, the urge to rethink how we teach. But too often, that energy fades once we’re back in our classrooms.

In this episode of Empowering the Educator Within, we explore why most professional development doesn’t stick—and what’s missing from the equation. The answer? Planners. But not just any planners—the kind designed to help you move from theory to practice with intention.

We’ll look at how the right planning tools can turn one-time inspiration into long-term growth, and why every PD session should end with a plan in hand—not just a pile of notes.

📝 Read the companion article: The Problem With Current Professional Development and How to Solve It 📘 Explore Empowering the Educator Within—the book and workbook that help schools plan with purpose 💻 Want a digital solution? Check out ESBPlanners for collaborative school-wide planning

In many Early Years classrooms, foreign language lessons feel more like standalone performances than integrated learning experiences. A teacher pops in with songs and stories—and while students enjoy the moment, the language rarely sticks.

In this episode of Empowering the Educator Within, we explore how to make foreign language a meaningful part of classroom life. From collaborative planning to playful immersion, we’ll walk through four practical strategies that connect language learning to what students are already doing—and where they are developmentally.

Whether you’re a classroom teacher, a language specialist, or a school leader looking to strengthen your program, this episode offers simple, impactful ideas to bring foreign language learning to life.

📝 Read the companion blog article: Ensuring Meaningful Foreign Language Classes in the Early Years 📚 Explore tools from Empowering the Educator Within, the book and workbook designed to help schools plan with purpose