Most leadership decisions are handed down instead of developed. Former superintendent Wade Stanford believes that inviting people into a meeting does not automatically make a decision collaborative. When leaders arrive with the answer already determined, they may be creating compliance, not genuine ownership. In this episode of Z-Rated Success: The Decision Lab for Education Leaders, Wade draws from 43 years in education, including 10 years as a superintendent, to share practical lessons abou...
Aug 6
58 min
Many students do not lack ability. They need access, exposure, support, and someone who reminds them that they belong. In this episode of Z-Rated Success: The Decision Lab for Education Leaders, Nick “The Zebra” Zizi sits down with Dr. Alana Simmons, an education leader with more than 20 years of experience across workforce development, correctional education, GEAR UP, and higher education. Drawing from her leadership with GEAR UP Dougherty and her transition into a new chapter in higher educ...
Jul 16
42 min
AI is changing education, but many educators are still trying to figure out where to begin. In this episode, Kimberly A. Freeman joins Z-Rated Success to discuss how educators can leverage AI without fear, reclaim time, and use technology in ways that support teaching and learning. Kimberly shares why AI literacy matters, especially for ESL and multilingual students, and why educators need clear systems instead of more overwhelm. The conversation explores how AI can help with lesson planning,...
Jul 7
32 min
Student leadership is more than a title. It is how students communicate, make decisions, handle conflict, build community, and grow under pressure. In this conversation, Hanan Allen, MPA, Assistant Director of Student Activities at the University of Rochester, shares what she has learned from advising student organizations and supporting student leaders. She discusses the behind-the-scenes work of student activities, the importance of cultural competence, how student organizations build belon...
Jun 30
45 min
Today’s college students are carrying more than many education leaders realize. In this episode of Z-Rated Success, Nick “The Zebra” Zizi sits down with Brittany Blackwell Broussard, Director of Culture and Climate and Psychology Instructor at Northwestern State University, to talk about culture, climate, belonging, empathy, and what it really means to help students feel safe, seen, supported, and valued. Brittany shares how campus culture shows up in everyday student life, why empathy empowe...
Jun 23
31 min
Community college is not the end of the road. For many students, it can be the beginning of a bigger academic journey. In this episode of Z-Rated Success, Nick “The Zebra” Zizi sits down with Dr. Tiffany Paige, Director of the McNair Scholars Community College Program at Jackson State University, to talk about helping students move from simply trying to finish a semester to seeing themselves as scholars, researchers, and future graduate students. Dr. Paige shares her own educational journey a...
Jun 16
40 min
In this episode of Z-Rated Success: The Decision Lab for Education Leaders, Nick Zizi sits down with Brittany Jackson, Director of Orientation and New Student Programs at North Carolina A&T State University. Brittany shares why orientation is not just a checklist or a schedule of events. It is often the first real experience students and families have with a campus community, and it can shape how they feel about belonging, safety, support, and student success. This conversation explores o...
Jun 9
34 min
In this episode of Z Rated Success, Nick “The Zebra” Zizi sits down with Bennie Williams for a powerful conversation about fear, opportunity, student success, and what it means to help students become comfortable being uncomfortable. Bennie brings over 12 years of experience in higher education, student affairs, multicultural education, diversity, equity, and inclusion work, and now K–8 education as a third-grade ELA teacher. In this conversation, he shares lessons from his own journey, inclu...
Jun 3
38 min
Students are carrying more than many people realize, and education leaders have an opportunity to help them feel seen, supported, and challenged to grow. In this episode of Z-Rated Success, Nick Zizi sits down with Robert Johnson, Executive Director of the Agape Center for Human Dignity at Sacred Heart University, for a powerful conversation on student belonging, leadership, campus culture, and what students need right now. Robert shares why students need advocates and translators, how leader...
May 27
54 min
In this episode of Z-Rated Success: The Decision Lab for Education Leaders, Nick Zizi sits down with Dan La Bar, a seasoned K-12 public charter school leader, to explore how leadership decisions shape student outcomes. Dan shares one of the most practical leadership lessons from his career: too fast, too slow. Move too fast, and you may leave out important voices, feedback loops, and stakeholders. Move too slow, and you may miss the urgency of the moment. This conversation also explores what ...
May 19
35 min
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