In this episode of M-TIP, Dr. Tamara L. Thomas sits down with Principal Kelly Holland of Glendale-Kenly Elementary to unpack a truly remarkable turnaround story. Once a school labeled as "not meeting growth" for years, Glendale-Kenly not only rebounded post-COVID but soared—achieving exceptional student growth, especially among English Language Learners and students with disabilities. With bold leadership moves, strategic delegation, and a laser focus on inclusion and teacher empowerment, Principal Holland shares how her team rebuilt trust, restructured systems, and reignited academic excellence.

From building teacher-led committees to rethinking differentiation and instruction fidelity, this episode dives deep into the actionable strategies that transformed a struggling school into a statewide exemplar. It’s not just a comeback—it’s a masterclass in what’s possible when vision meets execution.

Key Moments
00:00 "Glendale Kenly Exceeds Post-COVID Growth"
03:24 Transition from Assistant to Principal
09:08 Empowering Committees Transformed Leadership
11:30 Flexible Committee Meeting Schedule
15:19 Impressive EL Proficiency at Glendale Kenly
19:02 Strategic Inclusion and Pull-Out Services
22:34 Improving EC Student Proficiency
25:45 Academic Transformation Plan Unveiled
28:38 Empowering Teachers for Immediate Impact
32:08 Introducing New Teaching Format
33:45 Strategic Teacher Leadership Development
36:29 Empowered School Team Progress
39:41 "Remarkable School Transformation Efforts"

Why You’ll Love This Episode:
If you're a school leader, educator, or advocate for equitable education, this episode will recharge your belief in the power of intentional leadership. You’ll hear how one principal moved from managing every detail to cultivating a culture of shared ownership, leading to record-breaking EL proficiency scores and meaningful student growth. Packed with real strategies, human-centered insights, and a dose of honest reflection, this episode is a powerful reminder: when you build the right systems and empower the right people, the “impossible” becomes inevitable.

Connect with Guest - Kelly Holland
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-holland-902528102?trk=pub-pbmap
Website: https://www.johnston.k12.nc.us/gke

Connect with Host - Dr. Tamara Thomas
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-tamara-thomas-2204b113/
Website: https://drtamaralthomasconsulting.com/

Thanks for listening to the M-TIP Podcast. Keep striving, continue reflecting, and remember—real change starts with one committed leader. That could be you.

In this episode, host Dr. Tamara Thomas has an in-depth conversation with Dr. Cynthia Simons, the principal credited with ushering in remarkable change at Warren County High School. After ten years of academic stagnation and persistent challenges, Dr. Simons stepped into the principal role in 2023, bringing her over twenty-five years of experience and a passion for educational excellence.

In just one year, Dr. Simons led the school to break free from its long-standing struggles, achieving overall academic growth and seeing every student subgroup meet or exceed achievement targets. Her approach? A combination of setting clear, high expectations, fostering a culture of collaboration, leveraging data to inform instruction, and making every staff member and student feel seen and supported.

Dr. Simons discusses how she navigated the initial challenges of taking over a low-performing school, built trust with staff and the community, and created structures, like student and parent advisory committees, that empowered all voices within the school. She also opens up about the importance of recognizing big and small wins, and how transparency and intentionality made all the difference.

Key Moments

04:15 "Overcoming CSI School Challenges"

07:38 Enhancing Student Growth with EVAS Data

09:38 School-Wide Data Ownership

15:50 School Ambassadorship and Teacher Expectations

18:46 Coaching for Collaborative Growth

21:22 Improving Graduation and Discipline Rates

25:59 Fostering Positive School Culture Strategies

27:09 Engaging Parent & Student Advisory

31:25 Support Systems for School Administrators

Why You’ll Love This Episode:

If you're an educator, leader, or simply someone who believes in the power of change, this episode will hit home. Dr. Simons doesn’t just talk strategy—she shows what it looks like to lead with courage, conviction, and care. Her story is a masterclass in what happens when expectations are high, data is transparent, and relationships come first.

You’ll walk away with practical takeaways on instructional leadership, culture-building, and mobilizing a team toward a shared vision. But more than that, you’ll be reminded that even the most entrenched challenges can be overcome with the right mix of vision and heart.

Connect with Guest - Dr. Cynthia Simons

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clsleads

Website: https://www.warrenk12nc.org/

Connect with Host - Dr. Tamara Thomas

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-tamara-thomas-2204b113/

Website: https://drtamaralthomasconsulting.com/

Thanks for listening to the M-TIP Podcast. Keep striving, keep reflecting, and remember—real change starts with one committed leader. That could be you.

In this episode of the M-TIP Podcast, Dr. Tamara Thomas sits down with Principal of Selma Middle School, Stephen Baker to unpack one of the most inspiring school turnaround stories in North Carolina. Once ranked the 10th lowest performing school in the state and designated a Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) school, Selma Middle has not only defied the odds—it’s redefined them.

Stephen shares his decision to step into the role at Selma in 2019, just before the pandemic struck, and how he led his team through a journey marked by urgency, intentionality, and an unwavering focus on culture. Under his leadership, Selma Middle moved from the bottom 5% to the top 10% in student growth by 2022 and again exceeded growth in 2024.

Key Moments

00:00 Selma Community Impact and Challenges

08:11 "Aiming Beyond Average for Growth"

10:53 Testing Strategy Backfired, Growth Met

20:31 "Fake It Until You Become It"

25:24 "Effective Organizational Strategies and Partnerships"

27:52 Culture: The Secret to Sustained Success

33:57 Enhancing Intelligence Through Vocabulary Teaching

39:32 Cortisol's Impact on Learning

47:11 "Balancing Support and Challenges in Education"

50:26 Building Leadership and Ownership

53:56 Classroom Struggles and Coaching Solutions

01:02:45 Aligning with School Improvement Strategy

01:07:12 Contextual Evidence-Based Education

01:09:47 Tailored Evidence-Based Solutions

Why You’ll Love This Episode

If you’ve ever wondered what real school turnaround looks like, this episode delivers. Principal Stephen Baker doesn’t just talk theory—he walks us through the exact steps his team took to lead Selma Middle from crisis to confidence. It’s a masterclass in leadership, culture, and the power of doing the hard things well.

Connect with Guest - Stephen Baker

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-baker-8107905b/

Website: https://www.johnston.k12.nc.us/

Connect with Host - Dr. Tamara Thomas

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-tamara-thomas-2204b113/

Website: https://drtamaralthomasconsulting.com/

Thanks for listening to the M-TIP Podcast. Selma Middle’s story reminds us what’s possible when vision meets action. Keep striving, keep reflecting, and remember—real change starts with one committed leader. That could be you.