Sharing the Good with Dr. Denise Ball

About Sharing the Good with Dr. Denise Ball

Welcome to Sharing the Good with Dr. Denise Ball, a podcast celebrating the people, ideas, and practices that inspire us to lead with purpose and cultivate communities where others can thrive. Through authentic conversations with educators, school leaders, authors, researchers, and ministry leaders, Dr. Denise Ball explores topics including school culture, leadership, belonging, faith, innovation, teacher retention, professional learning, and the joy of the work. Whether you are leading a school, serving a parish, supporting educators, or simply seeking encouragement, each episode is designed to leave you with practical ideas, renewed hope, and a reminder that sharing the good can transform communities.

Publisher

Dr. Denise Ball

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

13 Jul 2026

Latest episode

16 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

22 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   16 Oct 2026

   Episode 8 | Clarity and Consistency: Helping Middle School Students Know What Success Looks Like

   Episode 8 | Clarity and Consistency: Helping Middle School Students Know What Success Looks Like The Middle School Culture Blueprint: Reflections from the Field What if one of the greatest gifts we can give middle school students is helping them understand what is expected, what success looks like, and where to turn when they need support? In Episode 8 of The Middle School Culture Blueprint: Reflections from the Field, Dr. Denise Ball welcomes Laura MacDonald, Vice President of Content and Program Development for the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA), for an inspiring conversation on the importance of clarity and consistency in creating positive middle school cultures. Middle school students navigate multiple classrooms, different teachers, and changing expectations during an already complex season of development. How can school teams reduce unnecessary confusion while still celebrating the creativity, personality, and expertise of individual teachers? Together, we explore: The importance of shared expectations and consistent routines across middle school classrooms. How clarity can strengthen student confidence, independence, and readiness to learn. Why coherence does not mean conformity, and how thoughtful structures can create room for teacher creativity. The value of common language and clear communication with students and families. How viewing the school day through a student's eyes can reveal opportunities to simplify and strengthen the learning experience. Practical ways middle school teams can create the conditions for students and teachers to thrive. This episode highlights one of the four pillars of The Middle School Culture Blueprint: Clarity, alongside Belonging, Coherence, and Formation. Dr. Denise Ball and Dr. LaTonya White are developing The Middle School Culture Blueprint, which will be published this spring with NCEA, connecting research with the experiences and insights of educators serving middle school communities across the nation. A heartfelt thank you to Laura MacDonald for sharing her time, leadership, and commitment to Catholic education! Please feel welcome to join the conversation as we continue learning from one another and sharing the good happening in our schools. Your words and actions matter. We can do so much more together! #TheMiddleSchoolCultureBlueprint #SharingTheGood #CatholicEducation #MiddleSchoolEducation #SchoolCulture #EducationalLeadership #Clarity #NCEA

2. 

   14 Oct 2026

   Episode 7 | Culture by Design, Not by Default | Dr. Anita Harkins-Mehsling

   With 36 years of experience in education, Dr. Harkins-Mehsling shares thoughtful reflections on intentional leadership, collective efficacy, courageous conversations, and protecting the dignity of every person in the school community. Throughout this inspiring conversation, we explore: Why listening, including welcoming constructive feedback, is essential to building trust. The courage required to enter difficult conversations with grace and intention. How our words, including sarcasm, can impact middle school students who come to us for both learning and formation. The importance of collective efficacy and consistently asking, "Is this what is right for the students?" Why meaningful school improvement begins with preparation, reflection, and honest conversations. How sometimes the greatest gift a school leader can offer is simply being present, listening, and acknowledging. One particularly inspiring story highlights a school community where teachers, recognizing that many of their students and families spoke Spanish, invited parents to tutor the faculty after school so they could strengthen their own communication skills. What an extraordinary example of humility, partnership, and collective commitment to students! This conversation reminds us that culture is not built through one program or initiative. It is cultivated through the words, actions, decisions, and relationships we choose to reinforce every day. Episode 7 (https://youtu.be/3q8mL5h4cz8?si=W7J9L6BJutjw4XPH)is part of The Middle School Culture Blueprint: Reflections from the Field, a podcast series supporting the forthcoming manuscript by Dr. Denise Ball and Dr. LaTonya White in collaboration with the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA). Join the conversation on Sharing the Good with Dr. Denise Ball as educators and leaders from across the nation share their experiences, research, and wisdom for the good of the profession. Our words and actions matter. We can do so much more together! www.youtube.com/@SharingTheGoodwithDrDeniseBall (http://www.youtube.com/@SharingTheGoodwithDrDeniseBall) #TheMiddleSchoolCultureBlueprint (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/themiddleschoolcultureblueprint) #SharingTheGood (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/sharingthegood) #CatholicEducation (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/catholiceducation) #SchoolCulture (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/schoolculture) #EducationalLeadership (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/educationalleadership) #BelongingByDesign (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/belongingbydesign) #CollectiveEfficacy (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/collectiveefficacy)

3. 

   8 Oct 2026

   Episode 6 | Belonging by Design: Helping Middle School Students Feel Seen, Known, and Needed re: The Middle School Culture Blueprint: Reflections from the Field

   Episode 6 | Belonging by Design: Helping Middle School Students Feel Seen, Known, and Needed The Middle School Culture Blueprint: Reflections from the Field Featuring members of the Holy Redeemer Catholic School community in Kensington, Maryland. What does it take to create a middle school culture where every student feels seen, known, valued, and needed? In this episode, I welcome an inspiring team from Holy Redeemer Catholic School in Kensington, Maryland, Archdiocese of Washington: Tommy Corrigan, Principal. Jeanne Donatelli, Assistant Principal, Ted Scott, Middle School Teacher, and Danielle Trotta, Middle School Teacher. Together, we explore how intentional routines, meaningful traditions, clear expectations, and a shared commitment to Catholic identity create a school community where belonging thrives. Drawing on the Thriving with Social Purpose model and research by Ford and Smith, Dr. Ball shares the importance of helping students recognize that they have a meaningful role, or a "job," within their school community. Ted and Danielle bring this concept to life through examples of the many opportunities Holy Redeemer students have to contribute, serve, and take responsibility. Tommy and Jeanne remind us that prayer is woven throughout the school day, providing a foundation of faith that the entire community can lean on. This conversation is a beautiful reminder that positive school culture does not happen by accident. It is cultivated with intention, consistency, and a commitment to helping every student know that their presence matters. Episode 6 is part of The Middle School Culture Blueprint: Reflections from the Field, a podcast series supporting the forthcoming manuscript by Dr. Denise Ball and Dr. LaTonya White, in collaboration with the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA). Join us as we continue learning from educators and school leaders across the nation who are generously sharing their wisdom for the good of the profession. Our words and actions matter. Thank you for joining the conversation and for sharing the good! Watch here: https://youtu.be/_H9MV2gpTOE (https://youtu.be/_H9MV2gpTOE), or listen wherever you enjoy your favorite podcasts. #TheMiddleSchoolCultureBlueprint #SharingTheGood #CatholicEducation #SchoolCulture #StudentBelonging #MiddleSchoolLeadership

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.