Most of us want to grow. We want to get better at what we do, lead well, and make a difference. But growth doesn't just show up on its own. It shows up when we're willing to slow down, be honest with ourselves, and take responsibility for the things we can actually control. At the end of the day, real progress starts with one simple question: Am I willing to work on me?

In this episode of Educators Among Us, host Scott Barron, Chief Reinvention Officer with School Growth, highlights self-mastery and why the most effective educators don't wait for someone else to push their growth forward.

He invites educators to accept feedback without becoming defensive, to view instruction as an investment rather than a threat, and to recognize how mindset and attitude shape influence.

Educators are encouraged to confront blind spots, stay open to learning, and commit to becoming better for the sake of those they serve.

— Growth is a personal responsibility and not something to wait on

— Self-mastery strengthens leadership and influence

— Teachability matters more than titles or experience

— Feedback is meant to be given and accepted as helpful information instead of as an attack

— Confidence without self-awareness can become a barrier

— Mindset and attitude shape long-term effectiveness

— Educators lead best when they keep learning themselves

— Personal growth prepares leaders for what's next

Chapters

00:44 Introduction

02:36 Becoming the Best Version of Us

05:02 Life is About Choices

06:46 Learning to Accept

09:37 Using Sober Judgement

12:40 New and Improved

14:17 A Coaching Question

—-----------------------------

Educators Fellowship is a non-profit organization that encourages educators in their calling and in their faith.

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Every organization, especially schools, has places where problems quietly live. Not because they're invisible, but because addressing them feels uncomfortable, disruptive, or inconvenient. Like bad behavior on the school bus, right? Over time, those known gaps become normalized, and "less than" acceptable behavior is tolerated simply because it's familiar. Just because it's always been that way doesn't mean it always has to be.

In this episode of Educators Among Us, host Scott Barron, Chief Reinvention Officer with School Growth, challenges school leaders and educators to confront the areas they know are broken. For too long, poor behavior has been expected, excused, or dismissed because change requires intentional discomfort.

Excellence begins when mediocrity stops being masked as "good enough." By naming issues, listening well, and committing to fix the experience gaps together, leaders can create safer, healthier environments where growth replaces avoidance, and those who were once negatively affected, now may shine.

– Known problem areas don't improve when they're ignored

– Tolerating "less than" behavior quietly shapes culture

– Leadership is revealed by what gets addressed, and by what doesn't

– Feedback is only valuable when people feel safe giving it

– Tradition should never excuse harmful patterns

– Uncomfortable conversations are often the most necessary ones

– Culture improves when issues are owned, not concealed

– Schools grow healthier when honesty replaces defensiveness

– Closing experience gaps requires collective responsibility

Chapters

00:47 Introduction
03:25 The School Bus Blues
04:49 The Back of the Bus
06:39 Taking the Feedback
09:04 Unmasking Mediocrity
12:08 A Fresh Start for a New Year
13:35 A Coaching Question

—-----------------------------

Educators Fellowship is a non-profit organization that encourages educators in their calling and in their faith.

www.educatorsamonguspodcast.com

www.educatorsamongus.com

https://www.edfellowship.org/

Sign up for weekly encouragement messages here:

Buy the book, Love'em and Lead'em, here:

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Teaching is hard work, but it's also deeply human work. Most educators are simply looking for practical support, thoughtful feedback, and tools that help them get a little better at what they do each day. That's where coaching and professional learning can make a real difference when it's done well.

That's what we're talking about on this episode of the Educators Among Us Podcast. This is a special episode, as Scott Barron, Chief Reinvention Officer with School Growth, is joined by Courtney Williams, CEO of TORSH, to talk about his path into education leadership and the work his team is doing to support teachers and school leaders.

They talk about how TORSH evolved from simple classroom video feedback into a broader coaching and professional learning platform. Why coaching in education has often been misunderstood. And why strong leadership matters when creating environments where teachers feel supported rather than evaluated.

Coaching helps develop and retain teachers, using technology and AI to support growth, without replacing human connection. It's how we invest in people to improve schools.

Takeaways

-Some of the most influential "educators" aren't in classrooms.

-TORSH stands for T O R S H ("Today's One Room Schoolhouse"). The name came from an early vision of tech helping teachers focus support where it's needed most.

-A key entrepreneurship lesson: solve the problem people are actually asking for, not just the one you're excited about.

-Coaching in education often carries a stigma ("you're struggling"), but strong leaders are reframing it as support, investment, and development.

-Teacher shortages are pushing systems to take coaching more seriously as a way to retain and grow educators.

-In other fields like sports and business, coaching is normal at the highest levels, while education sees coaching as there is something wrong.

-Accountability still matters: educators can't disconnect their work from whether students leave school with core skills.

-Schools are facing new challenges beyond academics. Students' social confidence and human interaction are changing fast.

-AI may make "a coach for every teacher" more realistic by supplementing human coaching with more frequent support and feedback.

Chapters:

00:28 Introduction

03:30 An Impactful teacher

05:36 About Courtney Williams

07:40 Achievements to be Proud of

08:28 About Torsh

12:58 Today's One Room Schoolhouse

19:28 Coaching Model

31:38 Advice for Entrepreneurs

36:00 Biggest Challenge for Education

49:58 Contact Torsch

_______

Educators Fellowship is a non-profit organization that encourages educators in their calling and in their faith.

www.educatorsamonguspodcast.com

www.educatorsamongus.com

https://www.edfellowship.org/

Sign up for weekly encouragement messages here:

Buy the book, Love'em and Lead'em, here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottebarron/

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https://www.linkedin.com/company/school-growth

There is a season for everything. Christmas time can be frenzied, hurried and chaotic. But it can, and should, be a season of Reflection, Rest and Renewal. Especially at the end of a year, and at halftime of the school year, we need this season to prepare for what's next, to pause, to breathe, and to take an honest look at where we've been and where we're headed.

In this episode of Educators Among Us, host Scott Barron, Chief Reinvention Officer with School Growth, is joined by his wife Tammy Barron, President at School Growth. They discuss why it matters so deeply for those who serve in education to make the most of this holiday season. Drawing from Ecclesiastes and their own experiences, they explore how reflection helps us learn from the past without being trapped by it, how rest can help us to be present, and how reflection can open our eyes to the moments of wisdom and growth.

With a strong emphasis on grace, forgiveness, imagination, and courage, Scott and Tammy encourage educators to release what no longer serves them, restore strained relationships, and step into the future with clarity, hope, and intention.

-Reflection works best when it's honest, grateful, and focused on learning.

-Rest is a necessary rhythm for sustained leadership and joy

-Being present matters more than getting everything done perfectly

-The narratives you repeat to yourself shape your confidence, capacity, and growth

-Renewal includes your mind, body, emotions, relationships, and imagination

-Grace toward yourself and others creates freedom and forward momentum

-This season is a natural "halftime" to adjust habits and refocus purpose

-Letting go of the past makes room for hope, clarity, and renewed energy

Chapters:

00:42 Introduction

3:00 A Season of Reflection

8:23 A Season of Rest

15:28 A Season of Renewal

25:49 Be Creative This Season

28:43 A Coaching Question to honor the season today

—-----------------------------

Educators Fellowship is a non-profit organization that encourages educators in their calling and in their faith.

www.educatorsamonguspodcast.com

www.educatorsamongus.com

https://www.edfellowship.org/

Sign up for weekly encouragement messages here:

Buy the book, Love'em and Lead'em, here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottebarron/

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https://www.linkedin.com/company/school-growth

What are we working on? And what have we left behind? Plans that stalled, perhaps? Commitments that faded? Goals that started strong and slowly slipped into the background? When we look back, do we see those "Coulda Woulda Shoulda" moments? Credibility requires us to finish what we started, even if it's not convenient.

In this episode of Educators Among Us, host Scott Barron, Chief Reinvention Officer with School Growth, talks about the difference between those who struggle and those who make meaningful progress due to the habit of finishing. Scott explores how "coulda, shoulda, and woulda" point to missed opportunities due to inaction lead toward regret.

Focus on the right work, and finish it. Decide what must be done, take the step, and find joy in completing it. When we see it through, our diligence reshapes habits, confidence, and outcomes over time.

-Finishing what you start is a defining habit of effective educators

-Inaction often creates more regret than making a mistake

-"Coulda, shoulda, woulda" distract from present responsibility

-Follow-through builds trust, both externally and internally

-Enthusiasm matters, but completion is what gives it value

-Progress requires deciding when to stop counting the cost and start moving

-Celebrating milestones helps sustain long-term motivation

-Daily reflection reinforces accountability and growth

Chapters

00:40 Introduction:

02:29 Seasons

03:29 Finishing Habits

05:46 Deciding to Finish

06:58 Finish the work

09:41 Work on the Right Things

10:59 A Coaching Question

—-----------------------------

Educators Fellowship is a non-profit organization that encourages educators in their calling and in their faith.

www.educatorsamonguspodcast.com

www.educatorsamongus.com

https://www.edfellowship.org/

Sign up for weekly encouragement messages here: https://www.edfellowship.org/home-1

Buy the book, Love'em and Lead'em, here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B2TSN3Z5/ref=cm_sw_r_api_i_0CCPAWD6EHNHHJM7V9D1_0?__hstc=67846606.15a978c0a602cb645a744352c793cb34.1663423843231.1681129795776.1681246873869.57&__hssc=67846606.1.1681246873869&__hsfp=3000179024&hsCtaTracking=5359b695-8624-4a9a-aed3-d55946349257%7C615acece-58b8-4703-a508-7ba4f9ce7e91

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If we knew then what we know now. Wouldn't that be a gift? But how could we, when we were so young, and thought we knew it all?

Sometimes, when a piece of advice finally lands or a familiar face in the mirror reminds us of someone who guided us along the way, we realize, "Oh, now I get it". These moments or maturity shift how we see our work, our relationships, and the people who helped shape us.

In this episode of Educators Among Us, host Scott Barron, Chief Reinvention Officer with School Growth, explores these "maturity moments". He explains that wisdom often reveals itself in hindsight, how perspective changes as we grow, and why these moments matter so deeply for anyone committed to serving others.

This episode reminds us that humility, clarity, and reflection are essential tools for transforming our service and strengthening the communities we lead. We need seize and build upon these maturity moments. Because while the pace of life may try to drown out reflection, choosing to pause and to see differently can change the way we see the world around us.

-Growth often becomes visible only after perspective shifts.

-Wisdom from parents, mentors, and teachers often makes sense years later.

-Educators shape lives in ways they may never fully witness.

-We see the world not as it is, but as we are—perspective must be renewed.

-Humility opens the door to clearer insight and deeper understanding.

-Meaningful reflection prevents us from losing our purpose in the rush of life.

-Our decisions—not our origins—ultimately define who we become.

-"Maturity moments" offer opportunities to embrace wisdom rather than resist it.

-Pausing to reflect strengthens both professional growth and personal identity.

Chapters

00:45 Introduction:

01:54 Answers to Unasked Questions

04:40 When Did They Get So Smart?

07:49 Limitations of Perspective

10:06 Resembling Our Decisions

12:40 Lifelong Learners

13:34 A Coaching Question

—-----------------------------

Educators Fellowship is a non-profit organization that encourages educators in their calling and in their faith.

www.educatorsamonguspodcast.com

www.educatorsamongus.com

https://www.edfellowship.org/

Sign up for weekly encouragement messages here:

Buy the book, Love'em and Lead'em, here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottebarron/

https://www.facebook.com/SchoolGrowth/

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https://www.linkedin.com/company/school-growth

People don't always tell us where their limits are. You step forward with good intentions, trying to help or clarify, or lead, and somehow you still land on a sensitive spot. It's a critical part of leadership. Doing the right thing can still create discomfort, even when it's done with care. In fact, when done with tact, "Stepping on Toes" doesn't have to hurt so much.

In this episode of Educators Among Us, host Scott Barron, Chief Reinvention Officer with School Growth, explores what it means to lead with tact when difficult conversations or uncomfortable truths can't, and should not be avoided.

"Step on Some Toes" centers around the idea of "invisible toes," those unseen expectations and unspoken assumptions that quietly shape how people react. As leaders, we need to have the honest conversations with gentle firmness and the kind of leadership that risks discomfort for the sake of growth.

Takeaways

-Tact allows leaders to speak truth without causing unnecessary harm.

- "Invisible toes", those unspoken expectations and assumptions, can create hidden conflict.

-Avoiding hard conversations promotes mediocrity and confusion.

-Love and accountability can coexist without diminishing either.

-Courageous leadership often means stepping forward even when it's uncomfortable.

-Unexpressed expectations undermine trust and clarity.

-Educators lead best when they own the responsibility to address issues directly.

-Conflict handled with compassion can create long-term growth.

-Wise leadership doesn't retreat from discomfort.

Chapters

00:43 Introduction

01:48 Leadership is Hard

02:46 A Good Pedicure

05:48 Stepping on Toes

08:27 Good Intentions and Hard Decisions

10:57 Coaching Question.

—-----------------------------

Educators Fellowship is a non-profit organization that encourages educators in their calling and in their faith.

www.educatorsamonguspodcast.com

www.educatorsamongus.com

https://www.edfellowship.org/

Sign up for weekly encouragement messages here:

Buy the book, Love'em and Lead'em, here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottebarron/

https://www.facebook.com/SchoolGrowth/

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https://www.linkedin.com/company/school-growth

There are days when communication feels harder than it should. You speak thoughtfully, you reach out with the best intentions, yet the message lands short or gets lost. If it seems like no one is listening, remember that communication isn't about what we say. It's about what they trust to be true. And so the question becomes, "Why should they listen to you?"

In this episode of Educators Among Us, host Scott Barron, Chef Reinvention Officer with School Growth, talks about communication, our efforts to get our message across, and the frustration we feel when it seems we aren't being heard. Like the tree that falls in an empty forest, did we even make a sound?

He highlights the things that block communication: noise, fear, overloaded schedules, broken trust, and even our own habits. He draws a distinction between noise and meaning, explaining that communication only works when it travels through relationship. And if that relational channel gets clogged, the message fails to be heard.

Are we communicating, or are we just making noise? As educators seeking to make an impact, it's important to know the difference.

Takeaways

-Clear communication depends on trust, not volume
-Leaders must adjust tone, timing, and voice to match the moment
-Noise, fear, and overload are major obstacles in schools
-Communication is meaning carried through relationship
-Trust is fragile and requires intentional habits
-Listening builds more credibility than speaking
-Good communication makes action easier for others
-Personal presence matters more than polished messaging

Chapters

00:45 Introduction

02:22 A Culture of Trusted Communication

04:14 Falling Trees

06:06 Constraints and Habits

08:07 Earning Trust

11:54 Coaching Question

—-----------------------------

Educators Fellowship is a non-profit organization that encourages educators in their calling and in their faith.

www.educatorsamonguspodcast.com

www.educatorsamongus.com

https://www.edfellowship.org/

Sign up for weekly encouragement messages here:

Buy the book, Love'em and Lead'em, here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottebarron/

https://www.facebook.com/SchoolGrowth/

https://twitter.com/schoolgrowth

https://www.linkedin.com/company/school-growth