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Accelerate Your Performance

Studer Education

Accelerate Your Performance is a weekly podcast hosted by Dr. Janet Pilcher, Managing Director of Studer Education and author of Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Every week, Janet highlights tactical and actionable strategies that leaders in educational organizations can hardwire to meet successful student, service, and people outcomes. Listen now, and you’ll see why it’s ranked by ListenNotes in the top 5% of podcasts worldwide.

As she introduces a variety of pivotal leadership practices from the 9 Pillars of Leadership Excellence, Janet underscores the importance of seamlessly integrating each practice to deliver positive and impactful results. For each leadership practice she introduces, Janet provides a solid foundation and then collaborates with coaching experts to dig deeper and demonstrate its practical application. Janet also interviews leaders and partners who excel at the tactics to hear about their implementation journeys, hurdles they’ve faced, and their notable achievements. To bring it all together, she offers a broader perspective on leadership, interviewing guests about a diverse array of topics on their paths to achieving organizational excellence.

Follow for weekly insights and actionable strategies to accelerate your performance and become your best at work!

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S8 · E449
Yesterday · 20 min
Listen to Learn, Act to Improve
Good leaders listen with intention and then act on what they learn. Listening to those closest to the work provides the most meaningful and accurate information because they are the ones that know the work best. These people can share what’s working well, what needs to be improved, what problems need to be solved, what potential solutions might look like, why organizations are achieving the results they are achieving, how to scale positive results, and so much more. Listening to those closest to the work, then, provides leaders with valuable information that can be turned into actionable priorities for improvement. Therefore, effective leaders listen to those closest to the work and then act on what they hear. In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher talks with Johnny Edwards, the Superintendent of the Portage Public Schools, who has made it a regular practice to listen to those closest to the work and then act on what he hears. Listen as they discuss ways to listen to those closest to the work, why listening to these people is valuable, and the benefits of listening with intention and acting with purpose. Recommended Resources: Listen Humbly and Learn Continuously, Listen to People to Continuously Improve Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
S8 · E448
August 31 · 24 min
Build Stronger Teams by Including Students and Families
When schools, students, and families work together, everyone wins. The truth is that teachers, families, and students have the same goal – student success. Therefore, building teams that allow everyone to work together for this shared goal helps bring the goal to fruition. Everyone has a valued voice on the team, and leaders build the culture for these teams to thrive and invite people to the table to share their voices. Listen as Dr. Janet Pilcher and Keri Jo Sapp, the principal of Oxford Early Childhood Center, explore the importance of including children in their own learning; the value of building strong school-family relationships; and the magic of bringing students, families, and teachers together to build powerful teams. As Ms. Sapp shares, it is hard work but is worth every effort. Recommended Resources: Families Are Valuable Team Members, The Partnership Between Schools and Families Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
S8 · E447
August 24 · 17 min
Show Gratitude for the Gift Called "Teacher"
Teachers are a gift to the world, and the work they do each day is transformational. They leave special marks on our lives, and their work is impactful. Teachers need to be reminded how remarkable and appreciated they are; they need to be reminded that their work matters in so many ways. This episode is about the big and small ways we can show appreciation and the impact that those demonstrations have on educators. The truth is that all employees and leaders need to know they are appreciated, and we get so much out of demonstrating gratitude. In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher talks with one of the remarkable gifts that we call “teacher,” Brian Hostetler, an educator at Aspen Academy in Greenwood Village, Colorado. Listen as Dr. Pilcher and Mr. Hostetler discuss why gratitude matters, particularly to educators; how to show gratitude in big and small ways; and the impact that demonstrations of gratitude have. Recommended Resources: Express Gratitude for Those on Your Journey, Three Ways to Show Gratitude Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
S8 · E446
August 17 · 16 min
Care, Concern, and Community
Good leaders are effective at showing care and concern for others. Acts of care and concern can be demonstrated in both expected ways (such as check-in meetings) and unexpected ways (such as difficult conversations). The bottom line is that when people feel cared for, they are more engaged, feel a deeper investment to their work, and feel safe. In environments that build these feelings, a community is built and supported. People just want to know they are valued and that their work matters. Listen as Dr. Janet Pilcher and Adam Bowen, Superintendent of New Buffalo Area Schools in Michigan, use an improvement mindset lens to discuss the importance of care and concern, ways to show care and concern, and the impact that care and concern have on building and supporting a community. Recommended Resources: Serve Others with Great Care and Concern, Build Trust to Strengthen Culture Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
S8 · E445
August 10 · 22 min
Getting and Keeping Team Members Engaged: Part 2
Getting and keeping employees engaged is hard, intentional work, but it's worth the continuous time and effort. As Lana Fontenot, Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement and External Relations at South Louisiana Community College, states, "Engagement is not a one-time thing, it happens day in and day out, year-round. You never stop doing it. It's not a check the box." In the first part of this two-part interview, Dr. Janet Pilcher and Ms. Fontenot discussed the importance of getting employees engaged from very early in their tenure at an organization. In this second part of this interview, they talk about how important it is to continue keeping employees engaged throughout their career at an organization. Listen as they discuss the importance of employee engagement; the impact of employee engagement on organizational culture; and ways to keep employees engaged, such as Holding regular touch points, Listening strategically and deliberately, Capitalizing on wins, Showing care and concern for employees' growth and well-being, Taking an interest in employees’ work, and Removing barriers. Recommended Resources: Small Conversations, Big Impact: Strengthening Culture Through Rounding, Shape Culture Through Connection Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
S8 · E444
August 3 · 18 min
Getting and Keeping Team Members Engaged: Part 1
Employee engagement is key to a successful organization, and getting team members engaged should begin even before their first day of work as a new hire. New hires naturally feel a mix of excitement and anxiety, but leaders must capitalize on the excitement while minimizing the anxiety to stimulate employee engagement from the outset. According to Lana Fontenot, Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement and External Relations for South Louisiana Community College, effective pre-boarding and onboarding programs are effective ways to not only stimulate excitement and reduce anxiety but to build engagement and increase retention rates. Listen to the first part of Dr. Janet Pilcher's two-part interview with Ms. Fontenot as they discuss her model for pre-boarding and onboarding and her personal experience as a new hire that instilled within her the passion for effective onboarding and employee engagement. Recommended Resources: Focus on Employee Engagement, Increase Employee Engagement with Recognition Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
S8 · E443
July 27 · 25 min
Drive Improvement Through Leading and Learning
Continuous improvement is grounded in learning. In fact, continuous improvement necessitates a mindset that focuses on continued learning and growth and that acknowledges that there is always something new to discover. Through this learning, growth occurs, and growth facilitates improvement. As Brian Alaback, Director of Professional Learning for Escambia County Public Schools in Florida so aptly shares, “if I don't have the mindset of continuing to grow and learn, then it doesn't matter what I’m trying to improve.” Listen as Dr. Janet Pilcher and Mr. Alaback consider how leaders model and lead the way in growing and learning to drive improvement, explore why investing in your own learning and the learning of others is crucial to continuous improvement, and discuss tactics for supporting improvement through learning. Recommended Resources: Continuous Improvement Through Leadership, Build a Culture of Improvement Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
#442
July 20 · 11 min
The Bottom Line
In today’s episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher implements her own advice to “face the brutal facts” in education. As educational leaders in both K12 and higher education face a changing landscape, Dr. Pilcher explains that it’s crucial for leaders to attend to the bottom line to provide what’s best for students. Listen as she encourages the practice of facing the brutal facts and responding in positive ways by using scorecards and short cycles of improvement; having open conversations with other leaders; helping people understand where they’ve been, where they are now, how they got to where they are now; tracking progress; engaging in problem-solving discussions; and making decisions even when they are difficult. Recommended Resources: Drive Student Achievement with Scorecards, Get Aligned: Strategic Plans, Scorecards, and Measures that Matter Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
S8 · E441
July 13 · 18 min
Know Your "Why"
Dr. Howard Spearman, one of the 2026 Studer Education Difference Maker Award winners, believes that knowing your "why" is essential for a leader. Without knowing your why, Dr. Spearman shares that a leader can "lose their way." When a leader knows their why, students and communities thrive, and outcomes are met. Dr. Spearman is an example of how knowing and living your why reaps benefits. Listen as he shares with Dr. Janet Pilcher his experiences with aligning daily work with the why and the positive results that follow. Recommended Resources: Remember Your Why: From Struggle to Purpose, Connecting Operations to Student Success Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
S8 · E440
July 6 · 19 min
Become a Student of Leadership
Even the best leaders know that they can continue to learn. That mindset is partially what makes them good leaders; they continue to seek ways to improve. In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher talks with Dr. Vincent June, one of those great leaders who continues to seek ways to improve. His leadership has had a tremendous impact on the institutions and communities that he has served. As a result, he was the recipient of a 2026 Studer Education Difference Maker Award. Listen as Dr. June shares candid advice and wisdom about what good leadership looks like and feels like and the value of becoming a student of leadership. Recommended Resources: Leaders as Lifelong Learners, Higher Education Isn't One Size Fits All Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
S8 · E439
June 22 · 11 min
Change Is Everyday Business
Change is everyday business for leaders, and employees rely on leaders to guide them through change by effectively managing and leading change efforts. Listen as Dr. Janet Pilcher reflects on the idea that change is everyday business and shares three key concepts related to how leaders can effectively manage and lead the "everyday business" of change: Align leader behaviors that produce results and consider what this means in relation to change. Apply tactics to show people that they are valued and to demonstrate that what they do adds value. Commit to the reality that solid performance is not good enough. Recommended Resources: 9 Pillars of Leadership Excellence: A New Operating System for Education, Just Start: Driving Change in Education Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
S8 · E438
June 15 · 21 min
Change Organizational Culture With Standards of Excellence
People want to do good work, and they want to work in an organization that has a positive work environment. According to Kelly Krostag, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resource Services for Escambia County Public Schools in Florida, a positive work environment “is the culture,” and she shares that developing, implementing, and living standards of excellence in the organization can transform organizational culture. In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher talks with Ms. Krostag about how the Human Resource Services Department of Escambia County Public Schools created and implemented standards of behavior and the positive impact those standards have had on the culture of the department. She also shares how she recognizes the standards “walking the halls.” Listen to hear how standards of excellence can make a positive impact on organizational culture. Recommended Resources: Develop and Apply Standards of Excellence, Transform Culture with Reward and Recognition Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
S8 · E437
June 8 · 4 min
Enhance the Student Experience with Student Rounding
On the heals of Studer Education's 2026 Destination High Performance Higher Education Conference, Dr. Janet Pilcher reflects on the event and her takeaways. She calls out an idea shared by Dr. Brendan Kelly, President of Eastern Michigan University: the idea that education institutions serve and support students best when they align "what they do" with what students want and need -- not what the institution wants and needs. Listen as Dr. Pilcher shares a way to identify what students want and need and how education institutions can align what they do to student wants and needs with the intention of enhancing the student experience. Recommended Resources: Drive Student Achievement with Scorecards, Get Aligned: Strategic Plans, Scorecards, and Measures that Matter Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
S8 · E436
June 1 · 26 min
Using Scorecards to Keep the Strategic Plan “Alive”
As Dr. Kristine Strickland, Chancellor of Fletcher Technical Community College, proposes in this week’s episode, strategic plans are important…if they don’t sit on a shelf to collect dust. Rather, as Dr. Strickland shares, strategic plans must be “alive” in daily work and conversations to keep everyone in an organization aligned with the goals and priorities outlined in the strategic plan. Scorecards are one effective way to keep strategic plans alive and a central focus of daily work. Dr. Janet Pilcher and Dr. Strickland discuss how scorecards have kept Fletcher Technical Community College moving toward collective goals. They explore how scorecards help internal and external stakeholders understand where the organization is going, how they are tracking toward goals, and how the work of each individual in the organization supports goal attainment. Listen to hear how scorecards have helped Fletcher take their strategic plan “off the shelf.” Recommended Resources: Drive Student Achievement with Scorecards, Get Aligned: Strategic Plans, Scorecards, and Measures that Matter Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
S8 · E435
May 18 · 16 min
Add Voice and Value with Rounding and Recognition
Employees want to feel valued and heard at work. When they feel this way, they feel safe sharing ideas, are motivated to do their best, and see the impact of their contributions and the contributions of others. In these ways, value and voice build a strong workplace culture. Rounding and recognition can help add value and voice to an organization to a strong culture. Listen to this conversation between Dr. Janet Pilcher and Mr. Bill Adams, a Studer Education Leader Coach, to learn how to use rounding and recognition as tactics to add voice and value to an organization. They discuss the value of rounding and recognition, how rounding and recognition work together, and how organizations have successfully implemented rounding and recognition. Recommended Resources: Strengthen Your District with Rounding and Recognition, Transform Culture with Reward and Recognition, The Power of Reward and Recognition Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
S8 · E434
May 11 · 7 min
Connecting to Purpose: The Little School District That Could
Bright spots of good work are all around us in organizations. It is a leader's responsibility to create ways for people to harvest the stories of these bright spots. These stories reinforce why someone's work is valued, the impact it has on others, and how individual contributions make a positive impact. “Connecting to Purpose" is a tactic outlined in Pillar 4 of the 9 Pillars of Leadership Excellence that highlights an approach to sharing bright spots. Connecting to Purpose stories are powerful. In today’s episode, Dr. KK Owen shares the Connecting to Purpose story of a struggling school district that changed their community by saving education. They transformed the perceptions and outcomes of their district through hard work and an unwillingness to give up. This is a story of how education can save a community by restoring hope, pride, and success. Listen as Dr. Owen shares the story of Tarrant City School District and what we can all learn from the “Little School District That Could.” Recommended Resources: Transform Communities by Transforming Schools, Bridging Community Divides Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
S8 · E433
May 4 · 7 min
Build a Feedback Culture
In preparation for an upcoming webinar, Dr. Janet Pilcher provides a brief introduction to the idea that feedback is a gift. She discusses how feedback is a two-way gift – leaders must provide and receive feedback. Feedback is a gift that provides valuable data that informs solid decisions, but it must be received with the right mindset. Listen as Janet shares tips for receiving feedback in the “right” way; explains how leaders must provide meaningful, constructive feedback; and explains how leaders receive feedback as a means to improvement. Recommended Resources: Listen, Learn, Improve: The Gift of Feedback, Master the Art of Feedback Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
S8 · E432
April 27 · 18 min
Get Aligned: Strategic Plans, Scorecards, and Measures that Matter
Every day in an organization, good work is being done. Ensuring that all this good work is aligned and focused on the same goals and outcomes is what Superintendent Michael Maine of Martin County, Florida calls getting “locked tight,” and Superintendent Maine is a master at this alignment process. In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher and Superintendent Maine discuss how getting locked tight has resulted in the success of Martin County School District. Listen as they explore the power of aligning strategic plans, goals, scorecards, and measures that matter; and they talk about the importance of having a strong, united team working together to create this alignment. Recommended Resources: Measure Impact to Drive Improvement, Drive Student Achievement with Scorecards Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
S8 · E431
April 20 · 16 min
Listen, Learn, Improve: The Gift of Feedback
Getting feedback is one thing; capturing feedback with the mindset that it is a gift is another. The idea that “feedback is a gift” relates to proactively seeking feedback to better understand what is working well and what needs improvement. Join Dr. Janet Pilcher and, Kathy Myles, a Studer Education Leader Coach, as they explore the idea of feedback being a gift and listening to others for the purpose of learning. Kathy shares her personal experiences and suggests that feedback isn't personal; it's about the system, and it's about improvement. When leaders hold this mindset, they see feedback as a gift and use feedback to grow and improve. Listen as Janet and Kathy discuss: how leaders can listen to learn, tips for developing the mindset that feedback is a gift, and tactics for effectively listening to learn. Recommended Resources: 9 Pillars of Leadership Excellence: A New Operating System for Education, Feedback Is a Gift...or is it Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
S8 · E430
April 13 · 6 min
DHP 2026 Virtual K12 Leadership Conference Launch
Good leaders continuously seek improvement; they want to grow and learn. They lead the way in growing, improving, and surpassing status quo. The 9 Pillars of Leadership Excellence frame these kinds of continuous improvement efforts and shape how leaders execute effective leadership practices. The Pillars offer the means to grow, learn, and excel in leadership. In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher discusses the DHP 2026 Virtual K12 Leadership Conference, an opportunity for leaders to see the 9 Pillars in action, grow their leadership skills, and share their continuous improvement stories. Listen as Dr. Pilcher provides an overview of this conference and the 9 Pillars of Leadership Excellence. Our goal is to support leaders who are on a continuous improvement journey develop effective leadership practices and learn how to use specific strategies, concepts, and tactics in everyday work to be the best leaders they can be. Recommended Resources: 9 Pillars of Leadership Excellence: A New Operating System for Education, Building Lasting Impact with 9 Pillars for Leadership Excellence Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/

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