Public education is living in a strange moment. Polls show trust and confidence in our K–12 system at an all-time low — a record 26% of Americans believe schools are headed in the right direction. And yet every day, inside classrooms across the country, teachers are pouring themselves into kids with everything they’ve got.
In this episode, we sit inside that tension: why the public perception has dipped so sharply, what stories are being told about schools, and what realities are actually unfolding inside them.
We also explore the deep and often unspoken ocean between people and curriculum. On one shore sits content: standards, pacing guides, expectations, academic rigor. On the other shore stand the humans: students carrying invisible weight, teachers navigating burnout, leaders trying to steer ships in choppy waters.
Joined by Dr. Polikoff, a professor at the University of Southern California whose expertise includes K-12 education policy, curriculum, standards, accountability and survey research methods, we wrestle with the why behind the public’s dissatisfaction and, more importantly, what can be done. We discuss what schools can control, what they should rethink, and how leaders might rebuild trust through clarity, connection, and communication.
If you’ve ever felt caught in the riptide between doing what the curriculum demands and what a student needs in that moment, or if you’ve wondered how we restore faith in public education, this conversation aims to offer both candor and hope.
Social Media:
Youtube: @SchurtzTies
Instagram: SchurtzTies
Show Sponsors:Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with TeachBetter.com:
“The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom.”
We’d love to hear your thoughts or ideas for future episodes:
schurtzandties@gmail.com
#DoGreatThings | #KeepKnocking
Most of our go-to strategies work because—well—they work for most kids. But every educator knows the moment when a trusted approach suddenly falls flat. So what do we do when the strategy that helps 90% of students leaves the other 10% untouched?
In this Schurtz Short, Brian and Kasey dive into that exact dilemma. In just twenty minutes, they unpack why even our most proven practices don’t work for everyone, explore how to rethink and modify support, and offer real, practical ways to reach the students who need us most.
A quick hit. A big question. Tangible solutions. Just the way we like it.
Social Media:
Youtube: @SchurtzTies
Instagram: SchurtzTies
Show Sponsors:Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with TeachBetter.com:
“The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom.”
We’d love to hear your thoughts or ideas for future episodes:
schurtzandties@gmail.com
#DoGreatThings | #KeepKnocking
In this follow-up conversation with international consultant and author Jennifer Abrams, we go deeper than strategies and surface-level “tips” for conflict resolution. This episode is about the inner work—the courage, humility, and self-awareness required to engage in the hard conversations we’d often rather avoid.
Building on our earlier episode (Ep. 102, “Successfully Navigating Hard Conversations”), Jennifer pushes us to look inward before we look outward. Together, we explore:
The role of identity—how culture, race, gender, and lived experience shape the way conflict shows up
Honoring what’s in the room—the emotions, histories, and immediate needs we often rush past
Developing a language of empathy that allows us to stay grounded while still being honest
The discipline of making space for discomfort
Why “being professional” means tending to our inner being, not suppressing it
This is one of those episodes that refuses to stay abstract. Jennifer challenges us—as educators, leaders, and humans—to recognize our own triggers, interrogate our assumptions, and build the internal muscles required for meaningful dialogue.
If you work with people (and yes, that’s all of us), this episode will stretch you in the best way
Social Media:
Youtube: @SchurtzTies
Instagram: SchurtzTies
Show Sponsors:Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with TeachBetter.com:
“The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom.”
We’d love to hear your thoughts or ideas for future episodes:
schurtzandties@gmail.com
#DoGreatThings | #KeepKnocking
Welcome to the first Schurtz Short — a behind-the-scenes look at how Brian and Kasey actually do the work. These mini episodes pull back the curtain on real-time problem solving, where ideas are messy, honest, and alive.
In this short, the two tackle a familiar challenge: how to make professional development meaningful, efficient, and energizing for staff. No scripts. No perfect answers. Just two educators thinking out loud — pushing, questioning, and refining as they go.
Because sometimes the best learning happens when you let people hear the struggle.
Is it a skill issue—or a will issue? And should we treat every behavior like it’s a skill that can be taught?
In this episode, Brian and Kasey dive into the heart of classroom management and motivation—exploring why so many conflicts stem from responding too quickly, how pacing guides can get in the way of meaningful teaching, and whether reward charts actually help or just distract from the real work.
Together, they unpack what it means to truly understand behavior, slow down our reactions, and respond in ways that make a lasting difference for kids.
Social Media:
Youtube: @SchurtzTies
Instagram: SchurtzTies
Show Sponsors:Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with TeachBetter.com:
“The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom.”
We’d love to hear your thoughts or ideas for future episodes:
schurtzandties@gmail.com
#DoGreatThings | #KeepKnocking
In 1969, psychologist Philip Zimbardo left two identical cars in two very different neighborhoods—one in the Bronx, one in Palo Alto.
Both looked abandoned. Within hours, one was destroyed. The other sat untouched—until Zimbardo himself broke a single window. Then, predictably, the destruction began there too.
It became known as the Broken Window Theory—the idea that when we let small signs of disorder go unchecked, bigger problems follow. It’s a study that’s often been used to justify zero-tolerance approaches: punish every behavior, enforce every rule, no exceptions.
But here’s where we push back.
Because while Zimbardo’s study reminds us not to ignore the “broken windows” in our schools—the disrespect, the apathy, the small cracks in culture—it also reminds us that punishment alone doesn’t repair anything.
This week on Schurtz and Ties, we talk about the real takeaway:
Everything needs to be addressed, but not everything needs a consequence.
We’ll explore how leaders and teachers can respond to “broken window behavior” without breaking people in the process—how to repair, not retaliate; how to build culture through accountability and care.
We also share practical systems and strategies that help:
What to do when small behaviors start to spread.
How to balance grace and structure.
How to create a culture where students and staff feel both safe and responsible.
Because the goal isn’t control.
It’s culture.
And culture grows best when we address the cracks—before they spread—without shattering the glass.
Social Media:
Youtube: @SchurtzTies
Instagram: SchurtzTies
Show Sponsors:Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with TeachBetter.com:
“The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom.”
We’d love to hear your thoughts or ideas for future episodes:
#DoGreatThings | #KeepKnocking
Why does it sometimes feel like teachers and administrators are on opposite sides of the same mission? Why is there friction when we all want the same thing? To do what's best for kids - for people - and to do it well!
Because we're human. Because we're complicated.
In this episode, Brian and Kasey dig into the roots of that divide—the misunderstandings, pressures, and assumptions that quietly build walls between the front office and the classroom. Through honest conversation and personal stories, they explore what happens when both sides pause long enough to listen, assume good intent, and remember that everyone showed up for the same reason.
Because when teachers and administrators work together, schools don’t just function better—they feel better.
Show Sponsors:Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with TeachBetter.com:
“The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom.”
We’d love to hear your thoughts or ideas for future episodes:📘 X: @SchurtzandTies📧 schurtzandties@gmail.com
#DoGreatThings | #KeepKnocking
Education, like the NFL Combine, is flooded with data. Numbers, charts, metrics, and measures. And too often, we focus on the wrong ones.
Somewhere along the way, our obsession with data turned into overcomplication—wasted time, poor decisions, and distraction from what matters most.
Can your students think deeply?
Can they communicate clearly?
If so, they’ll be okay.
It’s that simple.
The same goes for us. Are you above or below the line of healthy, productive thinking? Call it what it is. Name it. That simple act gives you the power to pause—and to choose differently.
In our effort to do what’s best for kids—and to be the best for those we serve—we often make things harder than they need to be. In this episode, Brian and Kasey remind us all that sometimes the best thing we can do is step back, simplify, and focus on what really matters.
Because sometimes, what’s best for all… is keeping it simple.
References:
Above the Line Thinking — Brené Brown
Show Sponsors:
Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with TeachBetter.com:
“The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom.”
We’d love to hear your thoughts or ideas for future episodes:
📘 X: @SchurtzandTies
📧 schurtzandties@gmail.com
#DoGreatThings | #KeepKnocking
Sometimes, it’s not the big decisions that break a school’s culture — it’s the quiet ones. The rolled eyes in the hallway. The half-hearted “sure” in a staff meeting. The slow erosion that happens when we stop believing the best about each other.
In this episode, we sit down with Darron Pepperd — educator, author, and founder of Road to Awesome — to talk about the subtle, often invisible ways school culture can start to slip.
If you’ve ever wondered why morale feels low even when everyone “agrees” things are fine, this episode will feel uncomfortably familiar — and deeply hopeful.
You can discover more or reach out to Darron at his website, where you can listen to his podcast, purchase his book, and learn more about the AWESOME things he and his team are doing.
Show Sponsors: Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with TeachBetter.com: "The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in the field toward creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom."
Please reach out and let us know your thoughts or share a topic:
X: @SchurtzandTies
Gmail: schurtzandties@gmail.com
#DoGreatThings and #KeepKnocking
What can the rules of improv teach us about life and education?
Tons.
In this conversation with Bob Kulhan—improv veteran, executive educator, and founder of Business Improv—we take “Yes, and…” off the stage and into real life, where the stakes are higher and the lessons cut deeper. Bob shows how improv fuels trust, sparks creativity, and equips teachers and leaders to face the unexpected with courage and grace.
Bob’s stories remind us that adaptability isn’t just a skill for the stage; it’s a way of living and leading. Whether in a classroom, a school, or at home, the mindset of improv invites us to listen, engage, and keep showing up—even when things don’t go as planned. This episode is as fun as it is practical, and it might just shift the way you see your work and your relationships.
If you want to connect more with Bob Kulhan and his content, you can find him at the following:
- businessimprov.com -bob@businessimprov.comTwitter - @BizImprov
Show Sponsors: Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with TeachBetter.com: "The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in the field toward creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom."
Please reach out and let us know your thoughts or share a topic:
X: @SchurtzandTies
Gmail: schurtzandties@gmail.com
#DoGreatThings and #KeepKnocking
On April 20, 1999, Columbine shattered America’s sense of safety in schools. Since then, more than 400 school shootings have followed — each new number added to a grim tally, each headline fading too quickly.
But behind every statistic is a story, a family, a wound that never fully heals.
In this episode, we sit down with survivors of the Evergreen High School shooting — mother and son, Vivian and Keegan Cox. Together, we turn statistics back into tragedy: to remember, to listen, and to learn.
Our conversation goes beyond the headlines. We talk about the quiet aftermath and the details that linger long after the cameras leave. We wrestle with warnings that went unheeded, celebrate the helpers who stepped in, and acknowledge the slow, complicated work of healing.
Most of all, we ask: What can we do? How do we ensure these stories are not just tragedies of the past, but calls to action for the future?
Thank you, Vivian and Keegan, for sharing your story — for speaking up and out, and for choosing courage, even when it sounds a lot like silence.
*A gentle warning: This episode contains a difficult but important conversation about school shootings, loss, and healing. Please listen with care.
Show Sponsors: Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with TeachBetter.com: "The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in the field toward creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom."
Please reach out and let us know your thoughts or share a topic:
X: @SchurtzandTies
Gmail: schurtzandties@gmail.com
#DoGreatThings and #KeepKnocking
Bullies get things done—but do they create lasting value? Most often, no. So why do they still attract followers? Because they often embody the Six Traits of Being Cool: extraverted, hedonistic, powerful, adventurous, open, and autonomous.
In this episode, Kasey and Brian unpack these six traits—why they’re so attractive, how they can be both magnetic and destructive, and what we can do about it in our schools, our homes, and in our personal lives.
References:
- At the Table Podcast, "Stop Trying to be Cool"
Show Sponsors: Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with TeachBetter.com: "The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in the field toward creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom."
Please reach out and let us know your thoughts or share a topic:
X: @SchurtzandTies
Gmail: schurtzandties@gmail.com
#DoGreatThings and #KeepKnocking
Today, we're honored to host a distinguished guest—someone who navigates the crossroads of leadership, culture, and transformation with both strategy and soul. Please welcome Sydney Jacques, a Next Level Leadership Strategist who knows that great cultures aren’t accidental—they’re built by design.
With over 25 years of leadership experience and a background as a professional engineer turned keynote speaker, Sydne has partnered with more than 600 teams—across industries—to reduce turnover, build trust, and ignite alignment that actually lasts.
But there’s one concept that keeps rising to the top when we talk shop: her signature Upper Arrow Growth Model™. Think of it as a guiding compass—pointing you upward toward engagement, intentional culture, and retention that doesn’t just stick—it thrives.
In today’s conversation, we’re excited to explore with Sydne:
What it means to lead with the “upper arrow” in mind—beyond reacting, and towards designing your culture with purpose.
How shifting from reactive modes to intentional leadership can transform team morale, trust, and loyalty.
Real stories from workplaces she’s helped boost—and how her frameworks turned disengaged teams into connected, committed powerhouses.
You can discover more about Sydne Jacques on her website, or through her book, Build What Matters.
As always, thank you for joining us! We are thrilled to have you on the show and look forward to any feedback you can provide.
Show Sponsors: Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with TeachBetter.com: "The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in the field toward creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom."
Please reach out and let us know your thoughts or share a topic:
X: @SchurtzandTies
Gmail: schurtzandties@gmail.com
#DoGreatThings and #KeepKnocking
Bullies can get things done.
But humble leaders? They’re the ones who inspire lasting change—and the ones we actually remember.
In this conversation, John Dickson pulls us back to the heartbeat of life and leadership: humility. He’s not just speaking from theory, either. John’s a professional singer-songwriter, author of more than 20 books, a historian, speaker, and media presenter. He’s spent his life weaving words, music, and history into stories that shape how we see the world—and ourselves.
This episode is an invitation to slow down, listen deeply, and consider how humility might just be the most powerful leadership tool we’ve been overlooking.
Show Sponsors: Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with TeachBetter.com: "The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in the field toward creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom."
Please reach out and let us know your thoughts or share a topic:
X: @SchurtzandTies
Gmail: schurtzandties@gmail.com
#DoGreatThings and #KeepKnocking
Welcome to Season 4 of Schurtz and Ties! Each season, we’ve tried to dig a little deeper into the stories, voices, and questions that shape education, leadership, and life. And we are thrilled to get back after it again!
Whether you’re a teacher in the classroom, a parent at home, or a leader guiding others, these stories are for you.
Thank you for joining us!
Show Sponsors: Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with TeachBetter.com: "The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in the field toward creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom."
Please reach out and let us know your thoughts or share a topic:
X: @SchurtzandTies
Gmail: schurtzandties@gmail.com
#DoGreatThings and #KeepKnocking
As Season 3 of Schurtz and Ties comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the powerful conversations, unexpected insights, and inspiring guests that have shaped this season. From bold truths about leadership to heartfelt stories from the frontlines of education, this finale is a celebration of the year. The growth, grit, and moments of humanity that keep us grounded and showing up, day after day.
Join us as we look back on the highlights, share what we’ve learned, and celebrate all the men and women who have helped this show.
Thank you for spending time with us this season! If you have any suggestions, encouragements, or thoughts, please do not hesitate to reach out! We'd love to hear from you: schurtzandties@gmail.com
Show Sponsors: Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with TeachBetter.com: "The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in the field toward creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom."
Please reach out and let us know your thoughts or share a topic:
X: @SchurtzandTies
Gmail: schurtzandties@gmail.com
#DoGreatThings and #KeepKnocking
If you want to talk about education and culture, the conversation must include Jimmy Casas.
Mr Casas served twenty-two years as a school leader, is a best-selling author, speaker, leadership coach, and a state and national award-winning principal. And in this episode, he brings all of his wisdom and expertise in a way only Jimmy Casas can: directly, tangibly, and full of humanity.
You can find more about Jimmy Casas and building culture at Jimmycasas.com and find his book Culturize: Every Student. Every Day. Whatever It Takes on Amazon.
Show Sponsors: Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with TeachBetter.com: "The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in the field toward creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom."
Please reach out and let us know your thoughts or share a topic:
X: @SchurtzandTies
Gmail: schurtzandties@gmail.com
#DoGreatThings and #KeepKnocking
Spring is (mostly) here! Which means students and teachers need to get outside.
This week, we head to Alberta, Canada to talk with outdoor enthusiast Court Rustemeyer about something every educator should hear: how just five minutes outside can transform a student’s day.
From boosting focus to calming anxiety, Court shares the science and stories behind the outdoors as a classroom for holistic health. Whether it's a hike or a breath of fresh air between classes, this episode is a reminder that better learners start with better living—one step outside at a time.
You can learn more about Court and his outdoor adventure ideas on his website, courtrustemeyer.com.
Show Sponsors: Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with TeachBetter.com: "The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in the field toward creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom."
Please reach out and let us know your thoughts or share a topic:
X: @SchurtzandTies
Gmail: schurtzandties@gmail.com
#DoGreatThings and #KeepKnocking
Mr. Whitaker is a familiar voice in education. The author of bestsellers such as What Great Teachers Do Differently, What Great Principals Do Differently, and, most recently, How to Get All Teachers to Become Like the Best Teachers, Mr. Whitaker brings tangible systems and actions that can impact our classrooms and schools, today.
And this episode is no different.
From teaching the basics to ensuring the best teachers are doing the best work, Mr. Whitaker brings his wisdom, sense of humor, and expertise and packs it all into a fifty-minute conversation. And it is brilliant!
You can find more resources from Todd Whitaker on his website, at toddwhitaker.com, follow him on X (@toddwhitaker), or send him an email at Todd.Whitaker@indstate.edu
Show Sponsors: Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with TeachBetter.com: "The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in the field toward creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom."
Please reach out and let us know your thoughts or share a topic:
X: @SchurtzandTies
Gmail: schurtzandties@gmail.com
#DoGreatThings and #KeepKnocking
When Josh Tovar prepares for the day, most everyone is still asleep. When he pulls into the parking lot, he enters a school packed full of cultures, differences, and diverse learning needs. He also has a school full of similarities: students and teachers who need to be seen.
And he meets them all where they're at.
In this episode, Mr Tovar brings his wisdom and experience into the discussion and shares with us how to connect with all students, support and encourage staff, and celebrate the best part of public education: the diversity of humanity.
Josh Tovar is the principal at Memorial Pathway Academy in Garland ISD, Texas. He actively engages with students and the community through various social media platforms:
Twitter: @MPA_GOJAGUARS
Instagram: @mpajaguars
TikTok: @mpajags
Facebook: MPA JaguarsBabyBoomer.org+1IDCrawl+1
He also shares insights on educational leadership through platforms like the Principal Project and has been featured on podcasts such as Leaning Into Leadership.
Show Sponsors: Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with TeachBetter.com: "The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in the field toward creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom."
Please reach out and let us know your thoughts or share a topic:
X: @SchurtzandTies
Gmail: schurtzandties@gmail.com
#DoGreatThings and #KeepKnocking