Quick look: Coaching expert and former school leader Allyson Apsey recently joined the FutureCurrent podcast to share insights on feedback, collaboration and creating environments where educators feel valued and supported.
In the seventh episode of FutureCurrent, Orange County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stefan Bean and educator Lainie Rowell sat down with education leader, coach and author Allyson Apsey to explore what it takes to create school environments where educators feel safe, supported and empowered to thrive.
With 28 years in education — including 19 as a school leader — Apsey reflected on her journey from working in the classroom to leading adults, and how that shift led her to study workplace motivation and the role leaders play in shaping staff experiences.
“We have entire school buildings, entire districts, entire counties with adults, professionals who are there to take care of the students,” Apsey said. “And there’s only a few of us who are there to take care of the adults. And we have a responsibility.”
That responsibility, she explained, requires a different skill set than teaching. While many educators are promoted for their success with students, leading adults demands a deeper focus on communication, emotional intelligence and building relationships.
Throughout the conversation, Apsey emphasized coaching as one of the most effective, yet often underdeveloped, leadership approaches in education. She said that coaching requires honest, candid feedback and a commitment to helping others grow independently.
Dr. Bean echoed the importance of creating environments where that kind of feedback is possible, noting that strong relationships and trust are essential for leaders to grow.
“As leaders, we owe it to people that we lead authentic, open, honest feedback,” he said. “Otherwise, we’ve done them a disservice.”
Ensuring educators feel valued
A key theme throughout the episode was the importance of helping staff not just be valued, but feel valued — a distinction Apsey said is vital to stronger performance and morale. She noted the bridge between the two is communication, and having that sense of value extends into improved collaboration as well.
Apsey emphasized that for collaboration to be effective, every voice at the table must carry equal weight regardless of their title or experience.
“If true collaboration is happening, everyone around the table bears equal value,” she said.
Drawing from her work coaching educational leaders across the country, Apsey added that forming these kinds of cultures requires ongoing effort, trust and a willingness to improve. The skills discussed — from communication to being coachable — are not innate, but can be developed over time.
FutureCurrent is produced by the Orange County Department of Education and features unscripted, story-driven conversations with educators and community leaders across Orange County. Episodes are available in both audio and video formats on major podcast platforms and YouTube.