Letting Educators Take the Lead

Episode 17

Scott Lee has held a wide variety of roles including teaching, school leadership, residential treatment program administration, curriculum design and school-level consulting. He currently directs curriculum design at the CWK Network and is the producer/host of The Thoughtful Teacher Podcast. His classroom teaching experience includes urban and rural public schools, a residential alternative school and a non-public school for students with language-based learning disabilities. His leadership roles include being a high school principal and a residential alternative school director. His dissertation focused on social emotional learning and teacher practices for students with emotional and behavioral disorders within school-wide positive behavioral support (SWPBS) systems. He has authored/co-authored articles published in peer-reviewed journals including Reclaiming Children and Youth and Children and Schools. He provides consulting services with schools to improve social emotional learning techniques, support academics, curriculum design, effective data use, and develop professional educator practice. When not working, he and his wife, Sara, spend time sailing, camping, hiking, and traveling. 

Powerful Moments

Throughout this podcast there are powerful moments that provide deeper insight into the individuals and topics discussed in this podcast.

  • 1:25 – Scott’s backstory as a teacher and the inspiration behind his podcast, The
    Thoughtful Teacher.
  • 3:41 – Importance of developing the positive relationship as a teacher.
  • 5:30 – Issues in teacher retention.
  • 7:20 – The three issues teachers are facing today: COVID, Communication Issues,
    Control Issues.
  • 10:00 – Teachers are feeling scapegoated by issues in the world.
  • 12:01 – Importance of a teacher in helping students deal with social issues impacting them.
  • 13:15 – Unintended consequences of telling teachers to not talk about certain subjects.
  • 17:25 – What should school look like in the 21st Century?
  • 18:32 – We have to be asking the right questions.
  • 19:00 – What are some solutions and how can everyone help?
  • 21:45 – Take a lead from educators.
  • 23:00 – Everyone remembers the best teacher(s) they had.

Critical Reflection Questions (During and After the Listening)

Use the following critical reflection questions to make deeper meaning of the topics discussed in
this episode.

  • How do my own identity, experiences and knowledge influence my understanding of this topic?
  • How does this topic connect with my current context?
  • What are the implications to my practice?
  • Am I using a relationship-based approach in my interactions with students?
  • How will I continue the conversation in my school/community/organization?

Inside the Conversation

Want to know more? Continue the learning with some of the important individuals, organizations, and topics discussed in this episode.

• Scott Lee on Twitter
• The Thoughtful Teacher Podcast
• Chief Academic Officer of LA Unified School District
• Marc Brackett, Ph. D. – Yale University
• Defining Us Podcast with Tim Shriver