An in-depth look at all things public education in the US. Does the district matter? Yes! Listen, laugh, and learn as a forty-year participant in public school leadership tells you why! Phil Stover started in public education as a school bus driver and retired from serving as interim superintendent of the second-largest border school district in the United States. In between, he worked in, with, and for somewhere around 100 districts. He developed strategies with districts to overcome financial, managerial, organizational, and climate challenges.
Phil hopes to instruct, inspire (with humor and real-life stories), and offer insight to those who follow his podcasts and have an interest in or faithfully dance in the mind fields of public education. He will be examining all the internal and external forces for and against public education in the United States. On this journey, no subject will be left unexplored. Oh, and the names will be changed to protect the innocent and the guilty!
Embark on a journey with me, Phil Stover, as we navigate the often-overlooked symphony of public education departments and their crucial role in shaping our students' futures. Our latest episode of "Dancing in the Mind Fields" unveils the concept of 'intentional integration' and 'pastoral teachers," concepts close to my heart for uniting the instructional and operational forces of school districts. Discover how every member, from bus drivers to cafeteria staff, plays a pivotal part in nurturi...
11 Apr 2024
Episode 4: Faithful and Flourishing School District Employees and Stakeholders
Discover the secret sauce that makes an educational district employee and stakeholder not just good, but truly exceptional. Join me, Phil Stover, as we traverse the landscape of public education, pinpointing nine key traits that mark the difference between the ordinary and the extraordinary. From the diligence of food service workers to the strategic thinkers on the school board, this episode is a treasure trove of insights into the knowledge, competence, judgment, wisdom and more that drives...
20 Mar 2024
Episode 3: Defining the District
In episode 3 of year 1 we look at the variety in public school districts in the United States. I point out the scarcity of studies on how the district as a whole impacts student learning. Distancing mechanisms are constructs that inhibit student learning and lead to what I deem "tribal markings" within districts. Even within, let alone between districts a variety of culture, languages, and customs exist. I delve into family systems theory to extract the model of the "family scapegoa...
20 Mar 2024
Episode 2: How are the Children?
This episode, the second of year one delves into the background of the question "how are the Children? It also explores the concept that the entire district, as a system, either helps or hinders the school sites by means of the culture, climate, and consistency that it creates. This episode explains my commitment to the concept that the entire district is instrumental in improving or hindering student achievement. It makes the case that when roles are unclear or chaotic, both teaching an...
15 Mar 2024
Episode 1: An Introduction to Dancing in the Mind Fields of Public Education
This podcast is the first episode of the first year of our series of podcasts. In it, Phil Stover provides an introduction to the concept of Dancing in the Mind Fields of Public Education in the United States. Phil provides an overview of his background working in more than 100 districts and institutions of higher learning.This initial podcast presents the core thesis behind all of Phil's podcasts; that despite a district's best efforts, teaching and learning are subject to a whole host...
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