EDUP Xcelerated Excellence
A podcast advancing educational excellence and equity across traditional and non-traditional learning experiences and contexts.
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Latest Episode
2026 Award Nominee HigherEdPodCon
Katie Powell and Dr. Todd Brist—Are the Kids Safe?: Partnerships with the Association for Middle Level Education
Our guests, Katie Powell and Dr. Todd Brist, are members of the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE).
Katie Powell is the Director for Middle Level Programs for The Association for Middle Level Education and a former middle school special education, Title 1, and ELA teacher. Passionate about reclaiming the wonder and curiosity of learning, Katie is author of the books Boredom Busters: Transform Worksheets, Lectures, and Grading into Engaging, Meaningful Learning Experiences and Fr
New to EDUP Xcelerated Excellence?
7
April 1, 2024
Inspirational Shorts with Dr. Christopher Bonn — Educational and Assistive Technologies
Meet Dr. Christopher Bonn, President and CEO of BonFire Leadership Solutions LLC. He is a former school district superintendent, the author of Igniting Change: The BonFire Principles for Transforming Toxic Organizations, and a university faculty member. Chris works with the technology industry and school systems to achieve greater efficiencies for educational outcomes through the use of assistive and other forms of technology. Recorded during the Education 2.0 Conference, 2024 in Las Vegas, NV,
9
April 15, 2024
Inspirational Shorts with Dr. Alisha Pollard — Developing Students and Parents in Financial Literacy
Guest, Dr. Alisha Pollard, is President of Warriors Helping Achieve Triumph (or “WHAT”). What is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to empowering individuals of all ages through enriching experiences and knowledge-sharing sessions, while encouraging self-confidence and the desire to excel. Dr. Pollard, describes how WHAT supports students and their families achieve financial literacy. Recording during the Education 2.0 Conference, 2024, Las Vegas, NV, Dr. Pollard shares how authent
10
April 22, 2024
Dr. Elsa Núñez — Leading an Elite Liberal Arts College in the Absence of Elitism
Dr. Elsa Núñez is the President of Eastern Connecticut State University, Connecticut’s only public liberal arts institution of higher education. Dr. Núñez shares her lived experiences, and those as a university president looking toward retirement who is a lifelong learner. She discusses the importance of a liberal arts education and educational attainment. She champions excellence and access and shares with the EDUP Xcelerated Excellence community the evolutionary process defining the unique ex
Recent Episodes
32
Oct. 27, 2026
Katie Powell and Dr. Todd Brist—Are the Kids Safe?: Partnerships with the Association for Middle Level Education
Our guests, Katie Powell and Dr. Todd Brist, are members of the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE). Katie Powell is the Director for Middle Level Programs for The Association for Middle Level Education and a former middle school special education, Title 1, and ELA teacher. Passionate about reclaiming the wonder and curiosity of learning, Katie is author of the books Boredom Busters: Transform Worksheets, Lectures, and Grading into Engaging, Meaningful Learning Experiences and Fr
31
Oct. 19, 2026
Jeffrey C. Wright, Jr.—Reflecting on the First-Year Principalship at the National School Leaders Conference
Our guest, Jeffrey C. Wright, Jr., is a devoted husband and proud father of two, whose passion for education shines in his work as Principal at Vartan Gregorian Elementary School. Over the past twelve years, he has nurtured young minds and is now in his fourth year with the Providence Public School District. His educational journey began at the Community College of Rhode Island, where he remains an active alumnus,serving on both the Alumni Association Assembly Board and the Board ofTrustees. He
30
Oct. 12, 2026
Dr. Stephanie Johnson and Diane Edwards—Mentoring New Principals in a Circle of Trust
Our guests, Dr. Stephanie D. B. Johnson and Diane W. Edwards, are school leader mentors and retired administrators. Dr. Stephanie D. B. Johnson is a highly accomplished educational leader recognized for her transformative impact on school administration and mentorship. As Co-Owner of Monitoring & Motivating for Educators and a nationally trained principal mentor, Dr. Johnson has guided and developed new and novice principals across the Northeast United States, presented at major national conf
29
Sept. 29, 2026
Jimmy Adams—Leading NASDTEC and Championing Educator Ethics and Standards for Novice Teachers
Our guest, Jimmy Adams, is the Executive Director of the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Educationand, Certification (NASDTEC). He worked in public education for 27 years serving as the Chief of Human Resources for JeffersonCounty Public Schools (JCPS) in Louisville, Kentucky, the Executive Director for the Education Professional Standards Board for Kentucky with experience in Fayette, Woodford, and Jessamine counties which included classroom teacher, technology resource teach
28
Sept. 16, 2026
Dr. Marianne Lucas Lescher—Life Beyond Retirement: Giving Back by Mentoring School Leadership Teams
Our guest, Dr. Marianne Lucas Lescher, is a lifelong educator, as a teacher, district curriculum director, and school principal for total of 43 years. In her 26 years as a K-5 and K-8 principal,she led her school to a National Blue-Ribbon recognition, the highest award a school can receive. Her schools receivedArizona's highest school recognition, the A+ School of Excellence honor 5 times. Dr. Lescher received her Ph.D.from Boston College, in Educational Research. Her M. Ed. is in Educational Ad
27
Sept. 8, 2026
James Wilson—Youth Leadership and Developing Education as a Community Good through Policy
Our Guest, James Wilson, is a public policy professional, education advocate, and graduate student at Georgia StateUniversity’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, where he is pursuing a Master of Public Administration. A recent cum laude graduate of Georgia State with a degree in Public Policy, a minor in Urban Education, and a certificate in Social Science and Data Analytics, James has focused much of his academic and professional work on improving educational opportunity, student success,
26
Aug. 30, 2026
Dr. Dani Molle—Leading School Districts for Equity with the Wallace Foundation
Our guest, Dr. Daniella Molle, is a qualitative researcher who conducts inquiries related to equitable education for historically underserved students. She has a background in the teaching and learning of English as an additional language. For a decade, her work focused on expanding educators’ capacity to meet the needs of multilingual students through job-embedded professional learning. Since 2021, Daniella has been the research director of a large grant-funded project focused on equity-centere
25
Aug. 28, 2026
Dr. Mohammed Elmeski—Leadership through Convening: Building Educational Equity and Agency across the African Diasporas
Our guest, Mohammed Elmeski, PhD, is a university professor, senior education advisor, researcher, and international development professional with nearly three decades of experience spanning education policy, higher education, school improvement, and system reform. His career has bridged academia, government, research, and international development, with leadership and advisory roles in Morocco, the United States, Africa, the Middle East, and other international contexts. He has served a
24
Aug. 10, 2026
Eric Scheninger—Leading Principals in Asking the Right Questions for Student Achievement through Aspire Change EDU
Our guest, Eric Scheninger, is founder and CEO of Aspire Change EDU. He works with schools worldwide, helping educators meet and exceed their potential to improve learner outcomes. Aspire Change EDU, a collaborative consultancy, provides personalized support to educational systems. Prior, Eric was a teacher and the award-winning Principal at New Milford High School. Under his leadership, his school became a globally recognized model for innovative practices. Eric oversaw the successful implement
23
Aug. 2, 2026
Dr. Scott McLeod, J.D.—Research and Practice on Supporting Principals to Make Learning Interesting
Our guest, Dr. Scott McLeod, J.D., is a Professor of Educational Leadership. He is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading experts on P-12 school leadership, deeper learning, technology, and innovation. He is on a mission to make students’ day-to-day learning less boring and more meaningful and relevant. Scott is the Founding Director of the UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education (CASTLE), the only university center in the U.S. dedicated to the technolo
25
July 27, 2026
Dr. Jean-Philippe Marelli—Building community capacity for the ecological preservation of the stingless bee and it honey resource
Our guest, Dr. Jean-Philippe Marelli, is a scientist and beekeeper. Along with Psychologist Carlos André Santana, he founded Arimubee, with a mission to demonstrate thatexceptional food can be produced while regenerating forests, protecting native bees, and creating positive impact on society. Arimubee is a Brazilian regenerative food company producing premium stingless bee honey and bee-derived products from the Atlantic Forest of Bahia. Working within a protected environmental area, Arimubee
24
July 23, 2026
Reyan Warren, Yiwei Guo, and Lorena Valer—Council members on the impact and future of the AACTE Holmes Scholars Program, celebrating 35 years
Our guest, Reyan Warren, is a doctoral student in the Social Justice in Education program at the University of San Diego and the current President of the AACTE Holmes Scholars Program. A proud graduate of Victor Valley College, she brings a unique perspective shaped by her journey from community college to doctoral study. Her research centers on resilience theory, with a specific focus on how Black girls and women navigate and resist deficit labels in educational spaces. She is pioneering the ad
Recent Blog Posts
Oct. 27, 2026
Middle School Safety and Engagement: Insights from AMLE Partnerships
Discover how middle school educators can balance physical and emotional safety with high engagement through insights from the Association for Middle Level Education. This guide explores actionable strategies for middle grades leaders to foster welco…
Oct. 22, 2026
Navigating the First-Year Principalship: Lessons from Jeffrey C. Wright, Jr.
Welcome back to our ongoing exploration of educational leadership. As podcasters, we often talk about the big-picture philosophies of running a school, but nothing compares to the gritty, boots-on-the-ground reality of stepping into the principal's …
April 18, 2026
Exploring the Role of Journalism in Education and Reporting on the Student Debt Crisis
We revisit a highly listened to episode of EDUP Xcelerated Excellence, featuring award-winning journalist and educator Dr. Jamal Watson. Dr. Watson is a longtime senior leader at Diverse: Issues In Higher Education, now The EDU Ledger, where he has …
About the Host
Jacob Easley II, PhD, PMP
Host
Entrepreneur, higher education leader, podcaster, scholar, and change agent. President of Xcelerated Excellence Consulting LLC.
Dr. Jacob Easley II is an internationally accomplished and award-winning educational leader and entrepreneur. He is an expert in educational policy and politics, focusing on educational accountability, effectiveness, and improvement. He has served in various faculty and leadership positions across five different states and the District of Columbia. Dr. Easley is proud of his work as an advocate for equity and access and quality educational opportunities for all students. He has published numerous books, articles, and commentaries on educational accountability, change, equity, and educator preparation. He is the immediate past president of the New York Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (NYACTE). Dr. Easley is a National Association of Holmes Scholars Alumni (NAHSA) lifetime member and former president of the organization. He is also the founder of the International Congress of School Effectiveness and Improvement’s (ICSEI) Culture, Race, and Intersectionality Network.
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