The Authority Podcast — Expert Insights and Fresh Ideas for Education Leaders

Today’s guest, Shari Pierce, received her B.S. in Special Education from New York University, an M.A. in Learning Disabilities from Teachers College, Columbia University, and was a special educator for the Yonkers Public Schools for thirty-three years. 

For most of that time, she taught middle and high-schoolers with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities and enjoyed finding innovative ways to work with her students and their families. 

She is the author of Life Skills: A Handbook for Parents & Teachers of the Intellectually Disabled.

We discuss:

Find Life Skills on Amazon. 

Shari Pierce was born and raised in Yonkers, New York and was a special educator for the Yonkers Public Schools for thirty-three years. For most of that time, she taught middle and high-schoolers with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities and enjoyed finding innovative ways to work with her students and their families. She received her B.S. in Special Education from New York University and an M.A. in Learning Disabilities from Teachers College, Columbia University. Shari was named a Leader in Education by the JCY - Westchester Community Partners in 2012. 

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossromano 

Learn more about today's sponsor, Playworks:

We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.

If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time. 

These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation.