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Gilbert, Dave and Michael speak with Dr. Whitney Hegseth, educational anthropologist and author of Just Talk to Us Normally: A Leader’s Guide to Organizing Schools That Elevate Students, to discuss how school leaders can shift culture by rethinking what young people are capable of. The book’s title comes from a nine-year-old student who said teachers should “just talk to us normally.” Dr. Hegseth shares her framework for educational infrastructure, including how adaptable, aligned, and specified a school’s systems should be and the trade-offs of each choice. She also covers the three dimensions of respect (equality, autonomy, and equity), what the best leaders do consistently, and her new project teaching elementary students to lead their own research.

For the On Tap segment they name their favorite college traditions and fight songs.

Website: www.edleadershipontap.com

Email: info@edleadershipontap.com

The content of this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by the hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of any organizations they are affiliated with. This podcast is not intended to replace professional advice, mentorship, or official training programs. Listeners are encouraged to adapt the strategies discussed to their unique contexts and consult with relevant experts when making decisions.

By leaving a voicemail, you consent to the recording, editing, and broadcast of your voice and message in future episodes of EdLeadership on Tap. Standard editing for time and content may apply.

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In this episode of EdLeadership on Tap, hosts Gilbert, Dave, and Michael welcome Tony Muñoz, Chief Talent Officer at YES Prep Public Schools, to explore what a career in human resources looks like for educators. Tony traces his path from school social worker to district leadership to the hotel industry and back to education, and explains how “talent” differs from traditional HR.

The conversation covers:

• Recruiting, retaining, and rewarding great people in a competitive market
• Why people quit managers, not jobs, and how stay conversations help
• Having difficult conversations with grit, grace, and a growth mindset
• How AI is changing screening, survey analysis, and long-term staffing plans
• Hiring in August, and why probing questions matter in interviews
• Traits of strong HR professionals and leaders: humility, selflessness, and working in the gray

The episode closes with the On Tap segment, where Tony and the hosts share their very first jobs, from utilities work, migrant farm work, paper routes to a busboy mishap.

Website: www.edleadershipontap.com

Email: info@edleadershipontap.com

The content of this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by the hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of any organizations they are affiliated with. This podcast is not intended to replace professional advice, mentorship, or official training programs. Listeners are encouraged to adapt the strategies discussed to their unique contexts and consult with relevant experts when making decisions.

By leaving a voicemail, you consent to the recording, editing, and broadcast of your voice and message in future episodes of EdLeadership on Tap. Standard editing for time and content may apply.

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Gilbert, Dave and Michael continue their “first year” series with a voice from the classroom: Anna Day, a second-grade teacher at Glen Hope Elementary in GCISD who just wrapped up her first year. Anna shares how she went from broadcast journalism to elementary education, and what she learned from her students about embracing the chaos and letting kids do the learning. She also opens up about how quickly classroom management clicked, how different real-world lesson planning is from college, and why she’s giving herself more grace in year two.

For principals listening, Anna offers a practical look at what makes a new teacher thrive:

• Three traits to look for in a new hire: confidence, a positive attitude, and flexibility
• What she wants from leaders: kindness, a commitment to helping her grow, and leading by example
• What great support looks like: a present administrator, silent observations followed by a “glow and grow,” weekly instructional coaching, and a team that carries some of the planning load

She also talks about work-life balance (schedule things after school to get yourself out the door), how she uses AI for coloring sheets and seating charts, and why teaching kids to think critically matters more than ever.

In the On Tap segment, the hosts celebrate Anna’s upcoming wedding with their picks for perfect wedding and love songs.

Website: www.edleadershipontap.com

Email: info@edleadershipontap.com

The content of this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by the hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of any organizations they are affiliated with. This podcast is not intended to replace professional advice, mentorship, or official training programs. Listeners are encouraged to adapt the strategies discussed to their unique contexts and consult with relevant experts when making decisions.

By leaving a voicemail, you consent to the recording, editing, and broadcast of your voice and message in future episodes of EdLeadership on Tap. Standard editing for time and content may apply.