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Castbox 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 Frustration Busters: Unpacking and Responding to Classroom Management Challenges. As part of her role with AMLE, Katie works closely with schools, districts, and affiliate organizations through the Successful Middle School book study, assessment, and Schools of Distinction programs as well as providing professional development and coaching on a variety of middle grades topics.
Todd is a middle school principal of 16 years in Watertown, SD. Here is an AMLE Leadership Institute Faculty and serves on the NAESP Professional Learning Advisory Council. In 2016, Todd was awarded the South Dakota Middle School Principal of the Year. He is a member of organizations such as NASSP/SDASSP, NAESP/SDAESP, AMLE/SDAMLE, and ASCD/SDASCD and Adjunct Professor at Northern State University & Mount Marty.
Associations:
National Principals Association
Your Host: Jacob Easley II, PhD, PMP
Sponsor: National Associate of Elementary School Principals (NAESP). National School Leaders Conference–Powered by NAESP is designed for Pre-K–12 principals and assistant principals, featuring high-impact learning tracks, networking, and the newly added "Camp Lead-A-Lot" retreat. Held July 13-15, 2026, Orlando, FL, learn more and register at naespconferenence.org.
Resources:
Frustration Busters: Unpacking and Responding to Classroom Management Challenges (Book)
The Successful Middle School Advisory (Book)
Greeting: Dr. Maylén Sullivan
#EDUPXE #EDUCATIONALEXCELLENCE #EDUCATIONALEQUITY #Shchoolleaders#XEListeningTour
Director for Middle Level Programs, 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 Frustration Busters: Unpacking and Responding to Classroom Management Challenges. As part of her role with AMLE, Katie works closely with schools, districts, and affiliate organizations through the Successful Middle School book study, assessment, and Schools of Distinction programs as well as providing professional development and coaching on a variety of middle grades topics.
Brist
Watertown (SD) Middle School Principal (16 years) | AMLE Leadership Institute Faculty | NAESP Professional Learning Advisory Council | Previous AMLE Trustee/Vice Chair | Previous NAESP Center for Middle Level Leadership Fellow | Member of NASSP/SDASSP, NAESP/SDAESP, AMLE/SDAMLE, and ASCD/SDASCD | South Dakota Association of Middle Level Educators (SDAMLE) Board of Directors (Past President) | 2016 South Dakota Middle School Principal of the Year | Ed.D. (Not just a rite of passage: An action research project on bullying prevention) | Adjunct Professor Northern State University & Mount Marty University | Active in the Boys and Girls Club (Past President) | National, Regional, and Local Presenter | Former High School Principal (3 years) and Middle School/High School Teacher (12 years) | Avid Prince Fan