Morning Motivation for Educators

In this episode, we have Karen Dudek Brandon, a licensed SLP and founder of Dr. Kieran LLC, joining us to discuss the importance of effective communication and collaboration in educational settings. Karen starts off by addressing the frustration that often arises from unnecessary meetings that could have easily been handled through email. However, she warns against swinging too far in the opposite direction, advocating for a mindful approach to determining the most appropriate mode of communication. To make this determination, Karen suggests asking three important questions: What is the purpose of the interaction? What is the other person's preference? And are there potential additional benefits to be gained from scheduling a meeting or call? By considering these factors, she believes that individuals can make more informed decisions about how to best communicate and collaborate. Karen emphasizes the importance of maintaining regular communication, even if it means exceeding the minimum requirements. She acknowledges that while technology and productivity are crucial, there is also value in taking the time to connect with others on a personal level. She encourages listeners to consider the added benefits of connecting with someone, even if it may not immediately seem productive or efficient. Sometimes, the act of simply pausing and connecting can have long-term benefits. For those who are solely focused on productivity, Karen suggests shifting their perspective when it comes to meetings. Instead of immediately thinking "this meeting should have been an email," she urges individuals to approach these interactions with curiosity. By exploring different ways of thinking and considering the potential benefits of connecting with others, individuals may discover new avenues for collaboration and relationship-building. In conclusion, Karen reminds us to prioritize genuine connections and relationships, rather than always seeking efficiency and productivity. While technology plays a vital role in our lives, taking the time to pause and connect can lead to unexpected, yet valuable outcomes. So, let's embrace the power of communication and collaboration, and not underestimate the importance of face-to-face interactions in building meaningful relationships.


Dr. Karen Dudek-Brannan, and is a learning leader, SLP, and founder/CEO of Dr. Karen, LLC, a company focused on empowering therapists and educators to design interventions that support language, literacy, and executive functioning. Through her courses and trainings, as well as the De Facto Leaders Podcast, she shares up-to-date evidence-based practices, my own experience, and guest interviews designed to help pediatric therapists, educators, and aspiring school leaders design services that support social, emotional, and academic growth and set kids up for success in adulthood.

You can connect with Karen on LinkedIn here, and find all her episodes of De Facto Leaders on her website at drkarendudekbrannan.com/blog.

You can download her Executive Functioning Implementation Guide for school teams at drkarendudekbrannan/efschools

If you’re an educator or school clinician and you want to learn how to support students’ executive functioning skills in the K-12 setting, check out the School of Clinical Leadership at drkarendudekbrannan.com/clinicalleadership.

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. 

IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.