Brighter Together

By Janet Courtney

Listen to a podcast, please open Podcast Republic app. Available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Image by Janet Courtney

Category: Education

Open in Apple Podcasts


Open RSS feed


Open Website


Rate for this podcast

Subscribers: 0
Reviews: 0
Episodes: 225

Description

Brighter Together with Janet L. Courtney is a podcast dedicated to real stories from the front lines of education leadership. Hosted by Janet L. Courtney, Founder and CEO of Lighthouse Therapy, the podcast highlights the voices of school leaders who are making a difference—sharing practical insights, creative solutions, and inspiring moments of growth.

Episode Date
From Turnover to Stability: How One District Rebuilt Its Culture - Erika Bare
May 13, 2026
Stop Chasing Awards: What One Director Learned About Real Impact - Dr. Katie Lowry
May 11, 2026
Stop Treating IEPs Like Paperwork (They're Protections) - Brighter Together Podcast
May 08, 2026
How Wayne County RESA Cut Teacher Shortages Through Partnerships (And You Can Too) - Elizabeth Santer
May 07, 2026
Why 50% of Your Teachers Are Leaving (And How to Stop It) - Sean Cooper
May 06, 2026
The Circle of Support That Cuts Teacher Turnover in Half - Lisa Guilbeau
May 05, 2026
The One Leadership Move That Transforms Teacher Buy-In - Chris Miesner
May 04, 2026
How Warren Local Serves Healthcare to 2,100 Students Without Referrals - Ann Skufca
May 01, 2026
The Principal's Lunch Trap: Why Your Best Leaders Are Drowning Alone - Greg McElwee
Apr 30, 2026
The Small School Advantage: Why Knowing Every Kid's Name Changes Everything - Chris Kamrath
Apr 29, 2026
How One Rural Superintendent Built a $1M+ Endowment (Without Asking Himself) - William C. Chilman
Apr 28, 2026
Demand Excellence: How One Superintendent Moved Average to Exceptional - PJ Caposey
Apr 27, 2026
The Superintendent Who Cleans Toilets (And Why His Teachers Never Leave) - Alex Moore
Apr 24, 2026
The Best Reader Trap: Why Your Strong Students Hide Their Gaps - Richard Modery
Apr 23, 2026
The One Thing Alternative Schools Know About Burned-Out Teachers - Juliene Haskins
Apr 22, 2026
Cindy Felkins on Building Special Education Systems That Actually Support Teachers (Not Break Them)
Apr 21, 2026
105 Students, Top 1% Results: What Happy Valley Figured Out - Michelle Stewart
Apr 17, 2026
How Lancaster Cut Teacher Turnover by Building a Lifestyle (Not a Career) - Jessie Thomas
Apr 16, 2026
How Alaska's Most Remote District Delivers Therapy 28,000 Square Miles Away - Ann Hilburn
Apr 15, 2026
The Classroom Visit That Changed How I Lead (Leonard's 10-Year Wake-Up Call) - Alison Smith & Leonard Martinez
Apr 14, 2026
The Job Security Play Most Districts Miss (And It's Federally Protected) - Denise Rahe
Apr 13, 2026
What Warren City Found When They Stopped Forcing Kids Into Programs - Patricia Dreher
Apr 10, 2026
How One Georgia District Cut Student Suicides by Building Trauma Systems (Not Programs) - Melanieann Pass
Apr 09, 2026
The One Question Mary Vandermlen Asks Every Staff Member
Apr 08, 2026
Stop Protecting Your Students From Failure - Dr. Robert Langman
Apr 07, 2026
Why Lee Thennes Closed Buildings to Save His District
Apr 06, 2026
The Students Nobody Expected to Thrive (And Why Virtual Changed Everything) - Jennifer Geyer
Apr 03, 2026
The 26% Secret: How One Director Cut Dropout Rates in Half - Jill Hudgel
Apr 02, 2026
Stop Sitting Across From Parents (Sit Beside Them Instead) - Derek Eccles
Apr 01, 2026
The One Thing Lesley Russell Learned That Transformed Her Students' Identity
Mar 31, 2026
The One Question That Changed How I Lead Special Education - Mark Pfaff
Mar 30, 2026
The Follow-Up Problem: Why 90% of Teacher Support Fails - Dr. Anisha Mendez
Mar 27, 2026
The Leadership Shift That Closes Learning Gaps (and Keeps Teachers) - Dr. Jibby Brown
Mar 26, 2026
The IEP Meeting That Changes Everything (What Top Districts Know) - Kristin Davis
Mar 25, 2026
How One District Built 30 Job Partners (From Zero Planning) - Dr. Mike Ubbens
Mar 24, 2026
The Learning Coach Secret That Changes Virtual Special Ed - Erin Fatafehi & Rekha Manakkal
Mar 23, 2026
The Grace Gap: Why Your Best Teachers Are Leaving (And How to Stop It) - Dr. Damita James
Mar 20, 2026
Why Top Districts Stop 'Fixing' Dysregulated Students - Cheala Herrera
Mar 19, 2026
The Collaboration Shift That 90% of Educators Actually Want - Dr. Ashley Ace
Mar 18, 2026
What Top Districts Know: The Secret to Keeping Special Ed Teachers - Dr. Ashley Kolb & Dr. Valerie Hurm
Mar 17, 2026
The Confidence Code: How One Charter School Transforms Student Potential - Sam Wakefield
Mar 16, 2026
Why Catholic Schools Are Winning the Technology Battle - Dr. Kim Gorr
Mar 13, 2026
Stop Building Curricula: Become the Architect of Learning Instead - Taryn Miley
Mar 12, 2026
What Christian Schools Know About Inclusive Learning That Others Miss - Emily Jeninga
Mar 11, 2026
Rural Districts: The Secret Funding Formula Nobody's Talking About - Dr. Bill Wilson
Mar 10, 2026
Why Great Leaders Build Relationships Before Lesson Plans - Tom Anderson
Mar 09, 2026
Why Good Schools Lose Great Teachers (And How to Stop It) - Dr. Jessica Werner
Mar 06, 2026
What the Top 1% of Special Ed Leaders Know About Inclusion - Megan Surso
Mar 05, 2026
Rural Schools' Secret: How 250 Students Are Outperforming Districts 10x Larger - Nancy Popp
Mar 04, 2026
The Meeting That's Destroying Your Special Education Team - Kelly Rogers
Mar 03, 2026
The $750,000 Problem: How Rural Districts Actually Win Against Funding Odds - Stoney Winston
Mar 02, 2026
How One Small District Cut Behavior Referrals by 60% Overnight - Rob Effa
Feb 27, 2026
Stop Believing Rural Students Can't Achieve Greatness - Dr. Jason LeMay
Feb 26, 2026
Rural Schools Are Dying - Unless You Do This Now - Mark Stamper
Feb 25, 2026
How One District Cut Youth Suicide Risk 40% Without Adding Staff - John Humphries
Feb 24, 2026
Stop Building Schools: The Community Pathway Revolution - Joe Fagnant
Feb 24, 2026
Why Most SPED Leaders Fail at Love-First Education (And How to Succeed) - Enrique Lopez
Feb 20, 2026
What Top Superintendents Know About Crisis-Proofing Schools - Greg Eding
Feb 19, 2026
Why Top SPED Directors Are Ditching Traditional Paperwork - Jennifer Sessa
Feb 18, 2026
The Rural School Revolution: How Small Districts Are Winning Big - Josh Tarrell
Feb 17, 2026
The Hidden Pathway: How Special Needs Students Become Independent Professionals - Eden Guthrie
Feb 16, 2026
Rebuilding What’s Lost: Leadership, Resilience & Community at East Jackson - Jeff Punches
Feb 13, 2026
Why Great Rural Schools Succeed Where Others Crumble - Loren Glasbrenner
Feb 12, 2026
From Vision to Reality: Growing a Charter School That Thrives - Devin Thomas
Feb 11, 2026
Stop Graduating Students to the Couch: A Bold Transition Strategy - Dr. Ryan Wheeler
Feb 09, 2026
What the Best Districts Know About Behavior (That Took Most of Us 10 Years) - Dr. Julie Harris
Feb 06, 2026
The Achievement Formula: How Faith Transforms Disability Learning - Dr. Toni Shaw
Feb 05, 2026
Every Life Deserves for Us to Dig In - Denise Geiger
Feb 04, 2026
When the School Doesn’t Burn but Everything Else Does - Steve Rosa
Feb 03, 2026
Reverse Inclusion in Action: How Sunnyvale Builds Inclusive Leaders - Megan Hsu
Feb 02, 2026
Mentoring Matters: Building Confidence and Community for New Teachers - Jan Masterson
Jan 30, 2026
Your Podcast Episode Title HereWhat Education Could Be: Individualized Learning With Taylor Stanton
Jan 29, 2026
Behind the Scenes of SELPA: Supporting Students, Schools, and Systems
Jan 28, 2026
STEAM Ahead: Preparing Students for Tomorrow’s World - Gina Lynch
Jan 27, 2026
Life Beyond the Classroom: Kari Radzik on Building Independence Through Transition Programs
Jan 26, 2026
Reimagining School: Mark Odsather on Project-Based Learning and Real-World Skills
Jan 23, 2026
Equitable Access for Every Student: Paul Hungerford’s Vision for Rural Education
Jan 22, 2026
Leading Community-Centered Schools: Dr. Nicolas Wade’s Rural Education Vision
Jan 21, 2026
Raised Here. Leading Here. Why Ira Porchia Never Left Tulare
Jan 20, 2026
This School Proves Bilingual Isn’t a Barrier—It’s a Superpower - Javier Bolivar
Jan 19, 2026
Flooded, Not Forgotten: The Leadership Lessons from Ingram’s Hardest Year - Dr. Holly Lambert
Jan 16, 2026
More Than a Score: Leading Schools with Heart, Not Hype - Dr. Dana Bashara
Jan 15, 2026
From Surviving to Shining: The School Culture Dr. Yolanda Vazquez Built From Scratch
Jan 14, 2026
Stop Guessing: Scott Kilgore’s Framework for Effective Student and Staff Support
Jan 13, 2026
Education That Strengthens Communities - Jeff Byrd
Jan 12, 2026
Silver Platters and Second Chances: Empowering Students with Purpose - Anne Leslie Tijerina
Jan 09, 2026
Lucky’s Brew: Empowering Students One Cup at a Time - Lacy Hollingsworth
Jan 08, 2026
The Brain and the Heart: How SEL + Neuroscience Are Shaping Schools - Renee Kolle
Jan 07, 2026
Unlocking Student Success: Inside Calvin Christian’s MTSS & Personal Curriculum Model - Abrianne Castaneda
Jan 06, 2026
Everyday Wins Matter: Why Lodi Celebrates the Small Stuff (and You Should Too) - Dr. Vince Breunig
Jan 05, 2026
Hungry Kids, No Budget, and Still Showing Up: The Realities of Leading in 2025 - Michelle Gill
Dec 31, 2025
Leading Small — Thinking Big: Dr. Jerry Adams’ Vision for Rural School Success
Dec 30, 2025
From a Culture of Fear to a Culture of Trust — Insights from Superintendent Aaron Peña
Dec 29, 2025
Start Small. Think Big. Why One Job Can Change Everything - Shannon DeLora
Dec 26, 2025
Teach High, Close Gaps: Amanda Unruh’s Co-Teaching Breakthrough
Dec 22, 2025
Building Trust, Breaking Barriers: How One School Is Redefining Success - Hannah Frink
Dec 19, 2025
Recruiting Isn’t Matching—It’s Ministry: Inside Lighthouse’s Therapist Hiring Strategy - Bethany Smedley
Dec 18, 2025
Lead Like You’re Seen: Why Authenticity Changes Everything - Autumn Mattson
Dec 17, 2025
Check on the Human, Not Just the Doing: A Montessori Leader’s Bold Call for Change - Shanina Draughn
Dec 16, 2025
Parents First: How Believing in Families Builds Generational Change - Ana Andrade
Dec 15, 2025
Every Student, Every Pathway: Maynard ISD’s Bold Vision for Readiness by 2029 - Dr. Robert Sormani
Dec 12, 2025
Co-Teaching, Multilingual Classrooms, and the Charter Challenge: Dr. Sparacello Leads the Way
Dec 11, 2025
Faith First, People Always: Dr. Teddy Clevenger’s Bold Blueprint for Rural Schools
Dec 10, 2025
From Bus Routes to Brain Science: Leadership Lessons from Wyoming’s Wild 100 Miles - Nathan Wescott
Dec 09, 2025
From Anxious Mornings to Independence: Shayna Stuempfig on Parenting with Purpose
Dec 08, 2025
Not the Parent’s Fault: Reclaiming Compassion in Special Education - Patty Garcia
Dec 05, 2025
The Power of One: Martin DuBois on Community, Special Education, and Saving a Generation
Dec 04, 2025
The School Culture That Stays: How Dr. Jeanetta Cooper Builds What Teachers Won’t Leave
Dec 03, 2025
Vision That Works: How Larkspur Is Building 2036, One Layer at a Time - Dr. Brett Geithman
Dec 02, 2025
Adulting 101 and Self-Defense: The Life-Changing Lessons Schools Forget to Teach - Mandy Traylor
Nov 25, 2025
We Don’t Do Restorative: We *Are* Restorative — Transforming Districts from Within - Veronica Lake
Nov 24, 2025
The Big ‘I’ in IDEA: What Individualized Education Really Looks Like - Dr. Patrick Gaffney
Nov 21, 2025
4-H, FFA, and a Student-Run Store: Building Real-World Skills Before High School - Heather Pilgrim
Nov 20, 2025
How One Leader Turned a Rural School into a Culture Powerhouse - Chase Christensen
Nov 19, 2025
You Don’t Build Trust with a Survey. You Do It Face-to-Face. - Daniel Barton
Nov 18, 2025
It’s Not a Resource Fair—It’s a Movement - Karla Rahiman & Janet Queneau
Nov 17, 2025
What Happens When You Build Support In, Not Pull Kids Out? - Dr. Anne Crylen
Nov 14, 2025
The Graduation Stage Isn’t the Finish Line—It’s the Launch Pad - David Ritchey
Nov 13, 2025
How Virtual Innovation Saved the Kids Falling Through the Cracks - Steven Spenner
Nov 12, 2025
This Preschool Started in a Target. Now It’s Changing the Community. - Jeff Drake
Nov 11, 2025
Inclusion Isn’t a Program—It’s a Pig Pen - Michele Jackson
Nov 10, 2025
3 Years. One Plan. A Whole New Way to Lead Curriculum Reform - Dawn Spears
Nov 07, 2025
This One Change Made Every Behavior Plan Obsolete - Shane Ogden
Nov 06, 2025
Why Your SPED Model Isn’t Working — And What Your Students Really Need - Richard Wright
Nov 05, 2025
Exploring Moral Injury in Education: Dr. Chris Hodges on School Leaders' Moral Challenges
Oct 28, 2025
Unlocking Student Success: The Power of Relationship‑Driven School Systems - Mitch Cumings
Oct 24, 2025
Beyond Compliance: Transforming Student Support Through Tele‑, Hybrid & On‑Site Therapy - Dr. Kelly Coffin
Oct 23, 2025
Equity, Empathy & Education: Jonathan Eggerman’s Vision for Safe Schools
Oct 22, 2025
Staying Rooted When Everything Changes - Tanya Duffy
Oct 21, 2025
When Leadership Meets Legacy: Chris Mason’s Path
Oct 21, 2025
Intentional Ripples: Small Acts, Big School Impact - Chris Whorton
Oct 17, 2025
When Systems Break: Courageous Fixes in Schools - Dr. Brenda Lewis
Oct 16, 2025
From Supporter to Supported: Navigating Role Shifts in Family - Lauren Blakely
Oct 15, 2025
Adaptive SPED Leadership: Emotional Intelligence in the Age of Change - David Zitin
Oct 14, 2025
Mentorship that Matters: Growing, Guiding, and Guarding the Next Generation of Teachers - Lori Rush
Oct 14, 2025
Teaching the Whole Child: Balancing Academics and Emotional Growth - Adam Zingsheim
Oct 10, 2025
Making Big Districts Feel Small: How Moorhead Builds Community Through Connection - Dr. Brandon Lunak
Oct 09, 2025
Leading Through Innovation: Jason Gribble on Technology & Culture
Oct 09, 2025
Leading With Heart: Therapy Insights for School Leaders - Megan Myers
Oct 09, 2025
Getting to Yes: Building Systems That Serve Every Student - Kimberli Halliday
Oct 08, 2025
From Resilience to Hope: Redefining Equity in Education - Kelly LaBelle Lewis
Oct 07, 2025
Organize Your Mind, Organize Your Life: The Executive Function Advantage - Dr. Christine Powell
Oct 07, 2025
Red Flags, Languages & Leadership: Re-examining School Assumptions - Jon Arens
Oct 07, 2025
Designing for Dignity: Reimagining Support Systems in Education - Ryan Rehnstrand
Oct 07, 2025
The Ripple Effect of Intentional School Leadership - John Weekley
Oct 06, 2025
Turning Insight into Action: The Mindset Shift Schools Need Now - Dr. Sharon Castelli
Oct 06, 2025
Leading with Eyes Open: Courage, Context & Clarity in Schools - Joe Pendleton
Oct 06, 2025
Heart & Strategy: Leading Systemic Change in Schools - Dr. Mit Foley
Oct 03, 2025
From Policy to Practice: Bridging the Gaps in Special Education - Jill Dunn
Oct 03, 2025
Equity Is Personal: From Special Ed Student to Decision Maker - Anthony Barnes
Oct 01, 2025
Secrets to Strengthening School‑Therapist Partnerships - Michelle Schmidt & Heather Whelan
Sep 30, 2025
How One School District is Housing Students with Heart - Susan Austin
Sep 29, 2025
Teaching Without a Principal: What Happens Next? - Nate Moore
Sep 29, 2025
What Happens When Every School Can Save a Life? - Joe Harrington
Sep 29, 2025
How One School Became a Sanctuary, Not Just a Building - Dani Scott
Sep 29, 2025
From Stress to Strength: School Therapy That Transforms - Tate Schoeberlein
Sep 29, 2025
From Behavior to Belonging: The Emotional Journey of Schools - Dr. Rose Ann Bomentre
Sep 29, 2025
Data That Talks Back: Rewriting Instruction From the Inside Out - Bianca Baquerizo
Sep 29, 2025
More Than a Diploma: What 78 Graduates Taught Us About Community - Gina Guarino Buli
Sep 19, 2025
Counsel, Connect, Cultivate: A Blueprint for K–12 Resilience - Dr. Nancy Molfenter
Sep 18, 2025
Counsel, Connect, Cultivate: A Blueprint for K–12 Resilience - Dr. Nancy Molfenter
Sep 18, 2025
Data That Talks Back: Rewriting Instruction From the Inside Out - Bianca Baquerizo
Sep 17, 2025
Education Anywhere: How Flexibility Fuels Equity - Elizabeth Brenner
Sep 16, 2025
Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable: Leading Through the Pivot - Greg Doverspike
Sep 15, 2025
Funding Broken Since ’95: A Superintendent’s Case for Fairness - Jim Reif
Sep 12, 2025
From Chaos to Connection: A Simple Shift That Matters - Lezlie Katz
Sep 11, 2025
When Every Student Matters: Personalized Paths That Unlock Potential - Erin Smith
Sep 01, 2025
When Community Supports Inclusion, Students Win—and So Does Innovation - Willy Chambers
Aug 29, 2025
Innovation on One Gallon: Project-Based Learning That Shifts Futures - Glenda Butterfield-Boldig
Aug 28, 2025
When School and Social Media Collide: The Mental Health Toll Inside Schools - Doug Parker
Aug 27, 2025
Next-Level Ready: Designing Schools Where Every Student Feels Seen - Dr. Colleen Timm
Aug 26, 2025
Reading Reimagined: Tech‑Enabled Success for Exceptional Children - Christy Kinder
Aug 25, 2025
This One Change in Approach Changed Everything - Susie Tiggs
Aug 22, 2025
The Shift That Turned Doubt Into Breakthroughs - Rachel Galanis
Aug 21, 2025
Belonging Isn’t a Buzzword: Building Culture When Resources Are Tight - Dan Keyser
Aug 20, 2025
Stronger Together: Co-Teaching, Wellness, and Inclusive Support That Works - Andrea Walker
Aug 19, 2025
Your Podcast Episode Title Here
Aug 18, 2025
Systems of Support: How SPED Leaders Can Reimagine Student & Staff Well-being - Jim Kitchen
Aug 15, 2025
Rural Resilience: Lance Bagstad’s Blueprint for Staffing Small Schools
Aug 14, 2025
The Leadership Move No One Talks About That Makes Schools Thrive
Aug 12, 2025
The Fifth Year That Changes Everything
Aug 05, 2025
When Systems Fail, Hope Still Shows Up
Aug 04, 2025
What If Therapy Was the Strategy? A Radical Rethink on School Culture
Aug 01, 2025
Teaching Beyond the Test: Building Solutionaries, Not Just Students
Jul 31, 2025
They Don’t Need More Rules. They Need More Relationships.
Jul 30, 2025
Fix the Root, Not the Symptoms: A School Culture Blueprint
Jul 28, 2025
Not Just a Student with Needs—A Child with Capabilities
Jul 25, 2025
If You’re Seeing This… Your School’s Dyslexia Strategy Might Be Outdated
Jul 24, 2025
Micro‑Communities: The Key to Mental Health Support in Classrooms
Jul 23, 2025
Change Isn’t the Enemy. Poor Communication Is.
Jul 22, 2025
The Teachers Who Stay: What They All Have in Common
Jul 21, 2025
What If the Most Important Class Has No Test
Jul 18, 2025
What If Every Classroom Had a Special Ed Teacher—Every Day?
Jul 17, 2025
He Sees Their Stories First: Wade Callaway on Relational Leadership
Jul 14, 2025
Fix the Root, Not the Symptoms: A School Culture Blueprint
Jul 14, 2025
If You Care About Students’ Mental Health, Stop Scrolling
Jul 11, 2025
What if trauma-informed care was the heart of every school?
Jul 10, 2025
SPED Is Not a Place. It’s a Promise.
Jul 09, 2025
Teaching the Whole Human: A Superintendent’s Bold Call for Change
Jul 07, 2025
Walk With Them Before You Lead Them: The Culture Blueprint Every Principal Needs
Jul 04, 2025
They Dropped Out… Because They Could: Reclaiming Purpose in Public Education
Jul 03, 2025
Neurodiverse by Design: How One Charter School Builds a Microcosm of the World
Jul 02, 2025
You Can’t Build Trust Without Room for Mistakes
Jun 25, 2025
Teach Them They’re Worth It: The Message That Changes Everything
Jun 24, 2025
Nature, Not Just Notebooks: Reclaiming Learning Outdoors
Jun 20, 2025
Ending School, Starting Life: A Seamless Transition—If Only
Jun 19, 2025
More Than a Diploma: What Real Preparation Looks Like Today
Jun 18, 2025
Grow Your Own: How This School Is Growing Kids and Future Teachers
Jun 17, 2025
Ready, Set, Grow: The Program That Rewrote a School’s Post-COVID Playbook
Jun 16, 2025
We Don’t Fix People. We Believe in Them.
Jun 16, 2025
Trauma, Trust, and 2,227 Repetitions: How Learning Actually Happens
Jun 13, 2025
The Dirt Is the Desk: Why This Educator Swapped Lessons for Lettuce
Jun 09, 2025
Helping Families Let Go—With Grace
Jun 06, 2025
How Early Is Early Enough? This Special Ed Leader Has an Answer
Jun 06, 2025
From Silent Lunchrooms to Board Games and Belonging
Jun 05, 2025
Self-Care Isn’t a Luxury—It’s a Leadership Skill
Jun 04, 2025
The CTE Revolution Starts in Kindergarten—Here’s What It Looks Like
Jun 03, 2025
Lead with Empathy. Decide with Integrity. Repeat.
Jun 02, 2025
Why Engagement Starts with Breakfast—and Belief
May 29, 2025
When the Waitlist Won’t Wait: Hiring, Housing, and Hope in Maine Schools
May 27, 2025
What Happens When Schools Empower Therapists as Educators?
May 23, 2025
From Crisis to 1,000 on the Waitlist: How York Prep Rebuilt Trust and Transformed
May 21, 2025
They Locked the Phones—Here’s What Happened Next
May 06, 2025
The Problem Isn’t AI—It’s Apathy: How Rockwell Charter Is Reigniting Student Purpose
May 06, 2025
Leadership That Listens: How Educators Are Rewriting the Rules Together
May 06, 2025