The Innovator’s Mindset Podcast

In this compilation video from the "3 Questions" series, we share highlights from people answering the question, "Who is a teacher that inspired you and why?"
0:00 Intro
2:07 Dr. Derrick Love
3:49 Meghan Lawson
8:53 Dr. LaQuita Outlaw
11:25 Dave Burgess
12:35 Jennifer Casa-Todd
14:19 Deontay Torres
17:37 Amber Teamann
19:24 Dr. Katie Novak
Description & Links
Dr. Derrick Love - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccUpjno7Fqs
Dr. Derrick Love reflects on how a grade 1 teacher supported his needs as a learner while providing him with the opportunities that allowed him to fall in love with learning.
Meghan Lawson - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q35SDwov9uQ
Meghan Lawson shares an incredibly vulnerable story about her first-grade teacher and an incredibly difficult time in her personal life. Hear the story about how Lawson’s grade one teacher made such a memorable impact on Lawson in this clip of Three Questions on Educators that Inspire with Meghan Lawson!
Dr. LaQuita Outlaw - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZk5iplabPs
Dr. LaQuita Outlaw reflects on a teacher who took the time to explain the content area being taught instead of acting like the students were supposed to know how to demonstrate their learning. This teacher has impacted the way that Dr. LaQuita Outlaw interacts with her students and staff today!
Dave Burgess - Full podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRsX7PrqRmw&t
Dave Burgess reflects on the time that he got to work with John Wooden and how his definition of success has impacted him as an educator and as a person.
Jennifer Casa-Todd - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgq7KO3UGc0
Jennifer Casa-Todd reflects on a teacher who believed in her later on in her schooling by opening the world of books. Casa-Todd comes with a unique perspective because she had teachers in her elementary years who did not believe in her.
Deontay Torres - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_0THbACfvk
Deontay Torres, who at the time of this recording had recently graduated high school, shares the first teacher who came to mind that inspired him! He shares how his relationship with a teacher impacted him and how this teacher supported him and gave him a new perspective on who he was as a person and his ability. Hear how this teacher helped him get through a crossroad moment in his life.
Amber Teamann - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBdFINtC68M
Amber Teamann reflects on a teacher who was all-in on, not just her, but her entire family! Teamann shares a story about how a teacher’s enthusiasm showed through in her commitment to her learners!
Dr. Katie Novak - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7pBn-r0k7E
Dr. Katie Novak shares a pivotal moment in her education and how a teacher pushed her to put her best effort into her academics. Dr. Novak reflects on her time in high school and how this teacher helped make her into the educator she is today!
Please share your thoughts with us on Twitter or Instagram at #InnovatorsMindset.
More at georgecouros.ca
George Couros on Twitter: https://twitter.com/gcouros
George Couros on Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros
George Couros on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/
George Couros on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519
For the full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros
Because of a Teacher - https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d
The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d
Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d
Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/

Take a listen to some of the great stories and guests from Season 2 of the #InnovatorsMindset Podcast! George Couros starts off this episode with a focus on gratitude and then you will hear some of the favourite stories from the year! Guests are below:
0:00 Intro
2:30 Dr. Sarah Thomas
9:37 Dr. Katie Novak
13:54 Steve Bollar
17:41 Livia Chan
21:02 George Couros
28:28 Dr. Brad Gustafson
31:59 Outro
Dr. Sarah Thomas - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvP8gCM3wrs
In this clip of The Innovator’s Mindset Podcast: The Whole Educator and Saved by the Bell - A Convo with Dr. Sarah Thomas, George Couros and Dr. Sarah Thomas talk more about how Dr. Thomas got into investing and financial literacy. Hear her surprising story and more as the two talk about education, pop culture, and the hit TV shows of the ’80s and ’90s!
Dr. Katie Novak - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoTQpgnm3YM&t=5s
Dr. Katie Novak shares the three core principles of UDL as she discusses the strategies and how those strategies have evolved:
Engagement
Representation
Action & Expression
Dr. Novak talks about designing a collection of resources for any type of learning environment - hybrid, face to face, virtual.
Steve Bollar - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgBnKaFEqXw
Steve Bollar shares his definition of integrity in this clip of The Innovator’s Mindset Podcast: Standing Tall in Leadership - A Conversation with Bollar: “My definition of integrity is a set of beliefs, values, and actions that other people can depend on.”
Hear his explanation on what integrity is as well as a great example of this definition. Bollar also continues to list the four ways that people can show their integrity. This is a great clip of a powerful conversation with an amazing leader!
Livia Chan - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2rpPzMkNwE&t
In this short clip of the longer episode, How Do You Make Others Feel Valued in Their Work? - A Convo with Livia Chan, Chan describes the impact that has been made because of the PLN she has built. She reflects on how who she has connected with and how making connections has impacted her career.

George Couros - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuTLbVOrKGs
When we show up and help others, when we persevere through tough conditions, when we take time to appreciate this moment, we can focus on our progression and growth. Education is not about getting to an endpoint, it is about growing and developing as we go. This podcast ends with a reminder to stop, take a moment, and appreciate what we have done. So, remind yourself that you are proud of yourself!
Dr. Brad Gustafson - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W20H2BhcR5k
This is a short clip from my conversation with Brad Gustafson coming out soon! Dr. Gustafson shares how he created a budget for innovation where teachers could write a one-sentence “grant”. Hear more about how this idea opened up opportunities and helped all learners explore new ideas that otherwise may not have been possible! Hear how this idea created new opportunities for the school!

Adam Torrisi, an assistant principal, social worker, and , talks about the importance of relationships, team building, storytelling, and more in this episode of Three Questions on Educators that Inspire! Hear the conversation between Torrisi and Couros as they talk about these three questions:
Who is a teacher that has inspired you and why?
Who is an administrator that has inspired you and why?
What advice would you give your first-year teacher-self?
Links:
Adam Torrisi Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theintentionalathlete/
Adam Torrisi Website - https://www.theintentionalathlete.com/
Quotes:
"...he doesn't see them as obstacles, he sees them as conditions of a situation." -Adam Torrisi - reflecting on an inspiring administrator
Please share your thoughts with us on Twitter or Instagram at #InnovatorsMindset.
More at georgecouros.ca
George Couros on Twitter: https://twitter.com/gcouros
George Couros on Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros
George Couros on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/
George Couros on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519
For the full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros
Because of a Teacher - https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d
The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d
Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d
Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/

We all have different circumstances, the solutions that work for one person may not necessarily work for you. George Couros reflects on his professional journey as well as his fitness journey and considers how he has taken control of both. Couros shares that some of the programs he tried for fitness and health taught him some things but, in the end, he had to take learning from each experience and each program to make his own way forward. When we depend on others to fix our problems and they are not able to do so, then we are still stuck with the same problem. When we mix and match different ideas to make our solutions, we create routines that are solution-oriented and help us reach our goals. Couros encourages us to choose 3 things to try, give those 3 things some time, then reflect and re-evaluate before adjusting those routines or practices.
Questions (PIP):
What solutions will work for you?
What is your way forward?
Find 3 things that you want to try. Give them some time then reflect on the progress and re-evaluate.
What did you learn from this series? What has helped you? How did you figure out a way forward?
Links:
Bryon Carpenter (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/BryonCar
Please share your thoughts with us on Twitter or Instagram at #InnovatorsMindset.
More at georgecouros.ca
George Couros on Twitter: https://twitter.com/gcouros
George Couros on Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros
George Couros on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/
George Couros on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519
For the full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros
Because of a Teacher - https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d
The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d
Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d
Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/

A very vulnerable solo podcast with George Couros who reflects on a time when he needed to take some time off and how the administrators he worked with, including Kelly Wilkins, reminded him that if he didn’t take care of himself, he couldn’t take care of the learners he was supposed to be serving. This episode The Innovator’s Mindset Podcast reminds us to embrace the opportunity to catch our breath and support those who need the same. This is the last episode of the 2021 Season 2 of The Innovator’s Mindset Podcast, Couros reminds us to go enjoy things outside of our jobs, to understand that there is no endpoint, try to do fewer things better, and find people that give you energy.
Links:
Rethinking Professional Learning to Support Adult SEL Needs - https://georgecouros.ca/blog/archives/12006
The Fight: Self-care vs. Systemic Change - https://www.mandyfroehlich.com/post/the-fight-self-care-vs-systemic-change
4 Ideas to Help Improve Teacher Well-Being - https://georgecouros.ca/blog/archives/8858
Quotes:
“We can't wait on other people to make the change for us; because if you are always counting on other people to make the change, they have the control." - George CourosPlease share your thoughts with us on Twitter or Instagram at #InnovatorsMindset.
More at georgecouros.ca
George Couros on Twitter: https://twitter.com/gcouros
George Couros on Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros
George Couros on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/
George Couros on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519
For the full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros
Because of a Teacher - https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d
The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d
Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d
Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/

Stephanie Smith and George Couros start this podcast off with a brief conversation about 75-Hard! The two have a lively conversation about these three questions:
Who is a teacher that has inspired you and why?
Who is an administrator that has inspired you and why?
What advice would you give your first-year teacher-self?
Smith shares some powerful reminders about showing up in the moment and asking meaningful questions. Couros also reminds us of the importance of making sure other people know we are invested in them.
Links:
Stephanie Smith Twitter - https://twitter.com/eduhealthy?lang=en
Stephanie Smith Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/eduhealthy/?hl=en
75 Hard - https://www.health.com/fitness/75-hard
Stephanie Smith Blog - https://stephanieleasmith.weebly.com/blog
Quotes:
"...feel more comfortable being (yourself)."
"...find your voice and find who you are."
Please share your thoughts with us on Twitter or Instagram at #InnovatorsMindset.
More at georgecouros.ca
George Couros on Twitter: https://twitter.com/gcouros
George Couros on Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros
George Couros on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/
George Couros on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519
For the full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros
Because of a Teacher - https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d
The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d
Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d
Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/

Highlights from November 2021!
3 Questions on Educators that Inspire With Lauren Kaufman - https://youtu.be/Fl4rErF8b1g
George Couros reads aloud Lauren Kaufman’s first paragraph in the book, Because of a Teacher! Hear Kaufman as she talks about the advice that she would have appreciated earlier on in her teaching career. Kaufman has some great suggestions about how to learn from and connect with others. Kaufman also shares how she looks at each year as her first year in this clip of Three Questions on Educators that Inspire with Lauren Kaufman! Check out the book by going to bit.do/BOAT
3 Questions on Educators that Inspire With Dr. Shaun Carey - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZDO0k3fASU&t=1s
Dr. Shaun Carey reminds everyone to not take themselves too seriously. Dr. Carey reflects on how this is powerful advice for anyone, including educators! Dr. Carey has a great message and share that with the listeners and viewers of this podcast as well as the learners in his district.
Connecting Through the Innovator's Mindset - A Convo with Melisa LeBlanc, Tori Dennie, and Jenny Richards - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hq0bEGmQyWg
Torrie Dennie shares a strategy that she used early in the school year to seek feedback from her learners. Through the book club, #bookclubIM, and through the connections she has made at her own school site, Dennie has received ideas and support to follow through on her learning. Couros reflects on how we can celebrate those in our own schools!
Building the World's Greatest School! A Convo with Scott Cavanias, Jessica Delavigne, and Richard Parkhouse - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFiki8jaA3Y
George Couros reflects on a quote that has gotten some push-back from others. Couros shares that his job is to help kids find a path to success in a way that is meaningful to them, not to define what success is for them. The closing reminder, surround yourself with awesome people, sums up this episode and this group of educators!
Teacher-Centred Leadership - A Convo With Dr. Chris Jones - LINK TBD
Dr. Chris Jones and George Couros talk about how to support educators as they take risks. Dr. Jones reflects on the strategies he uses to encourage risk-taking and Geroge Couros talks about what risk-taking means to him and how we relate to risk-taking by asking the question about how we can move from pockets of innovation to a culture of innovation! All this and more in this clip from the full podcast, The Innovator’s Mindset: Teacher-Centered Leadership - A Convo With Dr. Chris Jones.
George Couros - Celebrating People Across the Hallway - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgobN1vYywc
How can we celebrate the people that are closest to us, the people that are across the hallway? This clip of The Innovator's Mindset Podcast: The Power of Connections - A Convo with Dr. Matthew Joseph, George Couros reflects on the importance of celebrating the successes of others in an authentic way. The clip closes with this thought from George Couros: "It is amazing that we can celebrate people across the world, but it does not mean anything if we cannot celebrate people across the hallway."
Please share your thoughts with us on Twitter or Instagram at #InnovatorsMindset.
More at georgecouros.ca
George Couros on Twitter: https://twitter.com/gcouros
George Couros on Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros
George Couros on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/
George Couros on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519
For the full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros
Because of a Teacher - https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d
The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d
Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d
Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/

With only two episodes left, George Couros reflects on how choosing to do hard things can lead to long-term benefits. In this episode, Couros reflects on his own health journey and how he had allowed the easy things, like having treat meals, actually had a negative impact on his future. Couros relates doing the “hard thing” consistently, like creating content on a regular basis, can help us years down the line. This episode is a great reminder that starting those hard things today creates positive impacts sooner than if we put them off until the eternal “tomorrow.”
Main Points:
Choose your hard...things that you can do right now that are easy may create long-term consequences that lead to other difficulties.
How do you see the journey while also looking at your long-term end goal?
Are you willing to do the work consistently?
Why is doing this hard thing consistently important to you?
How do you make sure that your "treat" is not your norm?
What is something that you can do daily that you know is good for you? What do you hope it will lead to 5 years from now?
Please share your thoughts with us on Twitter or Instagram at #InnovatorsMindset.
More at georgecouros.ca
George Couros on Twitter: https://twitter.com/gcouros
George Couros on Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros
George Couros on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/
George Couros on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519
For the full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros
Because of a Teacher - https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d
The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d
Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d
Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/

In this episode of The Innovator’s Mindset Podcast - A Convo with Melisa, Tori, and Jenny, George Couros welcomes three members of the #bookclubIM group who connected after one of Couros’ keynote presentations! Couros reflects on a strategy he uses to help educators make connections and learn from those across the hallway while still making connections with others around the world. The four talk about mitigating learning loss and creating a solution for the problem - too often, the conversation stops at addressing the problem, but these four connect to create solutions! Each guest, Melisa, Tori, and Jenny, share what they are doing for their learners, how they build relationships, and how they have used the ideas shared in The Innovator’s Mindset to create their own solutions. You can join #bookclubIM at 8:30 central standard time every Tuesday through January of 2022!
*Watch on YouTube for a special guest appearance by Fred
Links:
Melisa LeBlanc Twitter - https://twitter.com/leblanc_melisa
Tori Dennie Twitter - https://twitter.com/ToriDennie
Jenny Richard Twitter - https://twitter.com/mrsrichardsjen
#bookclubIM on Twitter - https://twitter.com/hashtag/bookclubim?src=hash
Innovator’s Mindset (book on Amazon) - https://www.amazon.com/Innovators-Mindset-Empower-Learning-Creativity-ebook/dp/B016YTBZKO
3 Ideas for Taking Care of Yourself Before the Break (blog post) - https://georgecouros.ca/blog/archives/7921
Quotes:
“It is their classroom, we are just privileged to teach in it.” - Tori Dennie
“We have to be conscious as educators to not lose our spark.” - Melisa LeBlanc
"How can we meet the needs of our students and meet them where they are right now?" - Jenny Richards

Dr. Chris Jones and George Couros reflect on educators who instill a love for learning and leaders who instill values in their learners. Hear how Dr. Chris Jones answers these questions in detail:
Who is a teacher that has inspired you and why?
Who is an administrator that has inspired you and why?
What advice would you give your first-year teacher-self?
Dr. Chris Jones and George Couros reflect on the power of a great principal as Dr. Jones reflects on the leaders he has worked with - hear Couros and Dr. Jones give a shout-out to all the coaches out there! Dr. Jones closes out with a reminder about knowing why you are doing what you are doing and how that relates to academic success. Be sure to listen or watch the follow-up episode, Teacher-Centered Leadership - A Convo With Dr. Chris Jones.
Links:
Dr. Chris Jones Twitter - https://twitter.com/drcsjones?lang=en
Dr. Chris Jones Blog - https://t.co/sX5UCrO1pd?amp=1
Dr. Chris Jones Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/drcsjones/
Please share your thoughts with us on Twitter or Instagram at #InnovatorsMindset.
More at georgecouros.ca
George Couros on Twitter: https://twitter.com/gcouros
George Couros on Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros
George Couros on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/
George Couros on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519
For the full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros
Because of a Teacher - https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d
The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d
Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d
Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/