The Rachael Maves Show

Hosted by Rachael Maves, Parsec Education

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Sep 2026

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About the show

This is The Rachael Maves Show where we strip away the layers and get to the raw, unfiltered stories behind the leaders shaping the future of education.

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60 recent

September 28, 202620 min

Breaking Burnout in K-12 featuring Dr. Melissa Sadorf

What happens when being good at your job becomes the very thing hiding burnout? In this episode of The Rachael Maves Show , Dr. Melissa Sadorf joins Rachael to talk about the reality of wearing multiple hats in education, especially for leaders who are used to carrying it all. They explore how to recognize when a demanding workload has become unsustainable, how to make better decisions about what deserves your attention, and why protecting your capacity is a leadership skill, not a luxury. Listeners will walk away with practical ways to identify their priorities, audit their capacity, set meaningful boundaries, and recognize when it may be time to put down a role that no longer serves them.

November 5, 2025Episode 6017 min

The Rachael Maves Podcast featuring Lindsay Tornatore

In this episode of the Rachel Maves podcast, Lindsay Tornatore discusses her journey in education, emphasizing the importance of student belonging and engagement. She highlights the challenges of chronic absenteeism and shares innovative strategies being implemented in California to address this issue. Lindsay also reflects on academic performance trends post-pandemic and the need for effective math instruction and curriculum changes. Finally, she stresses the importance of supporting educators to ensure student success. Episode Notes Hosted by Rachael Maves Produced and Edited by Joseph Gustilo Executive Produced by Morgan Melton and Kimberly Tumambing Links Learn more about Parsec Education here.

December 17, 2025Episode 6522 min

The Rachael Maves Podcast featuring Peter Livingston

In this episode of The Rachael Maves Podcast, Peter Livingston, an experienced K–12 superintendent, shares his journey in education and the lessons he’s learned along the way. He reflects on the power of relationships in leadership, the need to address post-pandemic learning loss, and the responsibility of preparing students for an uncertain future. Episode Notes Hosted by Rachael Maves Produced and Edited by Joseph Gustilo Executive Produced by Morgan Melton and Kimberly Tumambing Links Learn more about Parsec Education here.

January 1, 2025Episode 2723 min

The Rachael Maves Podcast featuring Dr. Mary Cochron

In this episode of The Rachael Maves Podcast, Rachael chats with Dr. Mary Cochron, founder of Metamer LLC and an expert in educational assessment. Dr. Cochron provides a glimpse into her Measure What We Value Summit keynote, “Humanizing Measurement Through the Compassionate Assessment Framework,” where she discusses innovative ways to approach student assessments, focusing on understanding growth and improvement in education. She provides practical strategies to implement student-focused, data-driven practices that support both educators and learners in achieving meaningful outcomes. Episode Notes Hosted by Rachael Maves Produced and Edited by Joseph Gustilo Executive Produced by Morgan Melton and Kimberly Tumambing Links Learn more about Parsec Education here.

May 10, 2024Episode 626 min

The Rachael Maves Podcast featuring Terry Metzger

Join The Rachael Maves Podcast where we strip away the layers and strip away the layers and get to the raw, unfiltered stories behind the leaders shaping the future of education. My guest today is Terry Metzger, Superintendent of Denaire Unified School District. Episode Notes Hosted by Rachael Maves Produced and Edited by Joseph Gustilo Executive Produced by Morgan Melton and Kimberly Tumambing Links Learn more about Parsec Education here.

April 30, 2025Episode 4122 min

The Rachael Maves Podcast featuring Stacey Cool

In this episode of The Rachael Maves Podcast, Rachael sits down with Stacey Cool, Program Administrator for Curriculum and Instruction at Merced Union High School District. Stacey shares her inspiring journey from the Peace Corps to the classroom and how her global experiences shape her approach to education today. Episode Notes Hosted by Rachael Maves Produced and Edited by Joseph Gustilo Executive Produced by Morgan Melton and Kimberly Tumambing Links Learn more about Parsec Education here.

May 7, 2025Episode 4221 min

The Rachael Maves Podcast featuring Missy Testerman

In this episode of The Rachael Maves Podcast, Rachael sits down with Missy Testerman, the 2024 National Teacher of the Year and ESL Specialist at Rogersville City School in Tennessee. Missy opens up about what first inspired her to teach, why relationships matter more than ever in today’s classrooms, and the big question she believes every educator should be asking: “When is enough, enough?” Episode Notes Hosted by Rachael Maves Produced and Edited by Joseph Gustilo Executive Produced by Morgan Melton and Kimberly Tumambing Links Learn more about Parsec Education here.

September 11, 2024Episode 1223 min

The Rachael Maves Podcast featuring Melanie Matta

Episode Notes Hosted by Rachael Maves Produced and Edited by Joseph Gustilo Executive Produced by Morgan Melton and Kimberly Tumambing Links Learn more about Parsec Education here .

October 2, 2024Episode 1526 min

The Rachael Maves Podcast featuring Chuck Fisher

In this episode, Rachel Maves interviews Chuck Fisher, Director of Transformational Learning at Dovetail Learning, who shares his personal journey of overcoming adversity and fostering resilience. As a key figure in developing the We Are Resilient approach and the Toolbox SEL program, Chuck discusses how emotional intelligence and authentic relationships can empower both educators and students. The episode dives into the importance of addressing emotions for personal well-being and educational success, touching on Chuck’s latest book, The Heart of Resilience. Episode Notes Hosted by Rachael Maves Produced and Edited by Joseph Gustilo Executive Produced by Morgan Melton and Kimberly Tumambing Links Learn more about Parsec Education here.

November 26, 2025Episode 6331 min

The Rachael Maves Podcast featuring AJ Crabill

In this episode of the Rachel Maves Podcast, AJ Crabill explores the true purpose of governance in education: representing community values rather than simply managing from above. He emphasizes that effective governance begins with listening to the community’s vision and aligning decisions with those shared values. AJ challenges traditional notions of board leadership, highlighting that expertise alone isn’t enough without genuine responsiveness to community needs. This conversation offers a powerful reminder that authentic governance is about connection, representation, and serving the people at the heart of education. Episode Notes Hosted by Rachael Maves Produced and Edited by Joseph Gustilo Executive Produced by Morgan Melton and Kimberly Tumambing Links Learn more about Parsec Education here.