Shows / The Interview Chair
The Interview Chair
Are you an educator who is currently feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or wondering if you can continue to do this work? Visualize yourself back in the interview chair. You were genuine, sincere and full of passion. You convinced a group of people that you were the best person for the job and you believed it. That is the real you. Join Jimmy Casas, educator, speaker, and best-selling author as he takes you back to the interview chair to remind you of why you wanted to become an educator. If you…
Episodes
The Interview ChairEpisode 136: Carry the Banner
Back to school week sets the tone for the entire year, whether you're intentional about it or not. In this episode, we dig into Carry the Banner, one of the…
The Interview ChairEpisode 135: Clarify with Focus
In this episode, we talk about why decision fatigue builds, why "one priority" beats a packed to-do list, and how to tell what's actually yours to carry this…
The Interview ChairEpisode 134: How Healthy Is Your Team?
In this episode, Jimmy discusses the components of a High-Performing Team Self-Assessment and how to use it to check the pulse of your team before the new year…
The Interview ChairEpisode 133: Why Leaders Stay Exhausted
In this episode, Jimmy Casas explores the hidden cost of hustle culture and shares practical ways to replace constant busyness with intentional leadership that…
The Interview ChairEpisode 132: The Leadership Mirror
In this episode, Jimmy shares his insights on the power of self-reflection, modeling, and the role everyone's behavior plays in shaping the culture of an…
The Interview ChairEpisode 131: Lead Like You Are in a Job Interview
In this engaging interview, Dr. Tiffany Bone shares her inspiring journey through education, leadership challenges, and personal growth. Discover her insights…
The Interview ChairEpisode 130: School Counselors: The Heart of a School
In this heartfelt interview, Amy Harksen shares her journey as a school counselor, leader, and advocate for students and staff. Discover practical strategies…
The Interview ChairEpisode 129: Building Community in Athletic Programs
In this episode, Jimmy sits down with former school Athletic Director Stephen Speck. Whether you are an AD, school leader, or parent of a student athlete, this…
The Interview ChairEpisode 128: Don't Apologize for Caring
In this episode, Jimmy reflects on challenges that come with leading a school in the last month of the calendar year, causing us sometimes to move quickly and…
The Interview ChairEpisode 127: A Soft Place to Land
In this episode, Jimmy calls for educators to lead with empathy, recognizing that students and colleagues often carry unseen pain that influences their…
The Interview ChairEpisode 126: The Internal Siren
Avoiding tough conversations can turn small issues into major conflicts. In this episode, Jimmy shares practical strategies to help you initiate those…
The Interview ChairEpisode 125: Fingerprints on the Sculpture
In this episode, Jimmy reminds decision-makers that the more staff and students who have their “fingerprints on the sculpture” to determine the vision, design…
The Interview ChairEpisode 124: Responding to Disruptive Behavior
In this episode, Jimmy challenges listeners to reflect on how they are responding to disruptive student behaviors and provides several practical examples for…
The Interview ChairEpisode 123: Ease the Pain in the Classroom
Most educators feel overwhelmed by challenging behaviors — but what if changing the approach could turn chaos into connection? Dr. Bethany Bilidou, an expert…
The Interview ChairEpisode 122: Just Hanging On
In this episode, Jimmy shares how educators are facing fatigue as they enter the final stretch of the school year. He reminds us that if we want students to…
The Interview ChairEpisode 121: The Power of Giving Permission
In this episode, Jimmy sits down with his wife, Kheila Casas, to reflect on her journey and passion for education. Together, they discuss the value of giving…
The Interview ChairEpisode 120: Reflection Is the Best Teacher
In this thought-provoking episode, Will Parker shares his journey as an educator and leader, emphasizing the importance of reflection, asking for help, and…
The Interview ChairEpisode 119: Sometimes It’s Not the Right Time
In this engaging conversation, Jen Schwanke, an Ohio deputy superintendent, shares her insights on the challenges and rewards of leadership in education. The…
The Interview ChairEpisode 118: That Was Not My Intention
In this episode, Jimmy highlights the impact of our words and actions, emphasizing the difference between intent and impact. He discusses how educators can…
The Interview ChairEpisode 117: The Negative Impact of Hustle Culture
In this authentic, engaging conversation, Meg Simon, a dynamic leader in education, shares her journey in the fast-paced world of education, including the…
The Interview ChairEpisode 116: Every Rose Has Its Thorns
In this episode, Jimmy introduces the "Rose and Thorn" reflection practice, highlighting how focusing on the positive experiences can help navigate challenges…
The Interview ChairEpisode 115: Stuck in the Compliance Trap
Jimmy shares a personal experience where his approach to student behavior was rooted in a compliance mentality, focusing on punishment rather than…
The Interview ChairEpisode 114: When Leadership Gets Personal
In this engaging conversation, Dr. Kirsten Frankovich shares how she sat in the Interview Chair as a young, strong, and confident leader and left the chair…
The Interview ChairEpisode 113: Recalibrating Our Collective Commitments
In this episode, Jimmy shares an excerpt from his best-selling book, Recalibrate the Culture, and reminds us of the significance of giving all members of the…
The Interview ChairEpisode 112: Enhancing Professional Learning
In this engaging conversation, David James shares his journey from substitute teacher to assistant principal, and back to classroom teacher, and his role in…
The Interview ChairEpisode 111: Personalizing Trust Through Assessment
In this episode of the Interview Chair, host Jimmy Casas shares insights from coaching leaders, emphasizing the need for personal connection to build trust…
The Interview ChairEpisode 110: Breaking Down Barriers
In this episode, Lynmara Colón opens up about her journey from self-doubt to self-empowerment. Through the guidance of key mentors, Lynmara discovered the…
The Interview ChairEpisode 109: The Impact of Student Voice
In this episode, Jimmy highlights the power of student voice and shares insights directly from students themselves. He reveals the questions they believe every…
The Interview ChairEpisode 108: Taking On Negative Self-Talk
In this conversation, Todd Nesloney discusses the importance of embracing our vulnerability and the necessity of addressing negative self-talk to take control…
The Interview ChairEpisode 107: Feeling Supported
How do you respond when you don’t feel supported? In this episode, Jimmy shares his thoughts on how we can move forward and more importantly, reflect on our…
The Interview ChairEpisode 106: 3 Ways to Impact Your School System
In episode 106, Jimmy describes the throughline from the boardroom to the classroom and how we all play a part in shaping the culture of an organization…
The Interview ChairEpisode 105: The Power of Purposeful Reflection
In this episode, Dr. Maria Lewis discusses the challenges educators face and her current role in school performance and curriculum development, emphasizing the…
The Interview ChairEpisode 104: Taking Inventory of Our Work
In this episode, Dr. Rick Fernandez shares his insights on the importance of philosophical alignment among staff, the impact of experience on leadership roles…
The Interview ChairEpisode 103: Remembering Where You Came From
In this conversation, Van Ayres, superintendent of Hillsborough County Schools, shares his journey from student to leading the 7th largest school district in…
The Interview ChairEpisode 102: Leveling Up Learning Through Innovation
In this episode, Laura Williams, a 21st-century learning specialist, shares her journey through personal and professional challenges, emphasizing the…
The Interview ChairEpisode 101: The Importance of Relational Intelligence
In this episode, Dr. Rachel Edoho-Eket shares her journey as a principal, discussing the importance of relational intelligence in school leadership, advocating…
The Interview ChairEpisode 100: Celebrating 100 Episodes of Educational Impact
Join Jimmy Casas, Jonathan Alsheimer, Erika Bare, and Jessica Cabeen as they take you back to The Interview Chair. Together they share different perspectives…
The Interview ChairEpisode 99: Before the Bell Rings
Jimmy shares ways to set yourself up for success each morning so you can lead with clarity and purpose all day long.
The Interview ChairEpisode 98: Making This the Best Year Yet!
In this episode, Jimmy goes back to The Interview Chair and shares 3 ways you can focus on making this the best year yet!
The Interview ChairEpisode 97: The 3 Gold Standards for Educators
In this episode, Kelly Croy shares his journey in education, discussing the challenges he faced transitioning from a classroom teacher to a district…
The Interview ChairEpisode 96: Taking Ownership
In this episode, JImmy interviews the 2025 National High School Principal of the Year, Toni Cattani. Tony shares his experience with isolation and the…
- The Interview Chair
Episode 95: Maintaining a Serendipity Mindset
In this engaging conversation, Allyson Apsey shares her journey as an educator and school leader, emphasizing the importance of a serendipity mindset and the…
The Interview ChairEpisode 94: The Blueprint: Overcoming the Fear of Failure
In this episode, Todd Bloomer, long-time school leader, discusses his fear of failure and the challenges he faced in leadership, including the importance of…
The Interview ChairEpisode 93: Every Child Deserves Someone to Be Crazy About Them
In this episode, Principal Salome Thomas-EL shares his thoughts on the significance of every educator's role in a child's life, embracing their role as…
The Interview ChairEpisode 92: Resilience in Education
In this conversation, Dr. Sarah Johnson shares her journey in education and discusses the challenges she faced in her career, the importance of resilience…
The Interview ChairEpisode 91: Lessons from a Ruckus Maker
In this engaging conversation, Jimmy Casas interviews Danny Bauer, who discusses the challenges he faced in his first year as a principal, including receiving…
The Interview ChairEpisode 90: Embracing Discomfort for Growth
In this engaging conversation, Brian Mendler discusses the complexities of teaching, emphasizing the role of adults and strategies to engage effectively with…
The Interview ChairEpisode 89: Finding Joy in the Small Moments
In this episode, Jimmy interviews Zac Bauermaster, an elementary principal who discusses his soon-to-be-released book, Day by Day, 180 Days of Hope and…
The Interview ChairEpisode 88: Unleashing Relentless Leadership
In this episode, I sit down with Hamish Brewer, a globally recognized educational leader known for his relentless approach to school improvement and…
The Interview ChairEpisode 87: Supporting Bilingual Students & Families
In this engaging conversation, Andrea Bitner shares her journey as a teacher, focusing on her experiences with English language learners and the importance of…
The Interview ChairEpisode 86: The Importance of Self-Care
In this conversation, Principal Sean Gaillard discusses the emotional toll of working in education and the importance of personal health and well-being. He…
The Interview ChairEpisode 85: Forgive Often and Forgive Quickly
In this episode, Jimmy sits down with Joy Kelly, a seasoned educator and leadership coach, who shares the challenges faced by many school leaders and the…
The Interview ChairEpisode 84: Finding Clarity In Our Work
In this episode, Jimmy interviews former principal and Superintendent Darrin Peppard. They discuss the critical aspects of educational leadership, emphasizing…
The Interview ChairEpisode 83: Be the Leader That Is Needed
In this episode of the Interview Chair, Dr. Sanée Bell reminds us to be excellent on purpose, emphasizing the need for educators to maintain high expectations…
The Interview ChairEpisode 82: Cultivating a Thriving Community
In this episode, Texas Principal of the Year, David Arencibia shares his journey from humble beginnings, overcoming situational poverty and dyslexia to…
The Interview ChairEpisode 81: The Power of Mentorship
In this episode, Jennifer Womble shares her journey from a law school dropout to a leader in educational technology. Jimmy and Jen discuss the challenges and…
The Interview ChairEpisode 80: Finding Purpose Through Adversity
In this episode, Jimmy interviews Jordan Montgomery, a USA Today bestselling author and renowned performance coach. They discuss Jordan's journey from…
The Interview ChairEpisode 79: The Power of Support Systems
In this episode, Beth Houf shares her journey as principal, discussing the challenges and triumphs she has faced in her career. She emphasizes the importance…
The Interview ChairEpisode 78: We All Need People to Lean On
In this episode, Illinois Superintendent Mike Lubelfeld, shares his experiences in dealing with the trauma of COVID-19, the impact of non-person vs. in-person…
The Interview ChairEpisode 77: Every Teacher Is Great at Something
In this episode, Jimmy is joined by teacher Nick Ferroni, who reminds us that there is no such thing as a perfect teacher. However, every teacher is great at…