<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Within Our Ranks ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Within Our Ranks ]]></description><link>https://www.withinourranks.com/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 21:00:17 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.withinourranks.com/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Transforming Education and Professional Development through "Within Our Ranks"]]></title><description><![CDATA[Greetings, gang! We're delving into the dynamic and often misunderstood world of educational speaking. I'm thrilled to share insights into how speakers can revolutionize education and professional development, especially through programs like Within Our Ranks .  This is an extraordinary episode of the “Stand Tall Leadership” show, as Meg and I are together to record for the first time ever! Usually, I am in New Jersey, and she is in Wyoming.  But in this recording, we are in the same space...]]></description><link>https://www.withinourranks.com/post/transforming-education-and-professional-development-through-within-our-ranks</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d811d9a51db32c14c39140</guid><pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 20:57:15 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Jessica  Kennison</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Classroom Keynote]]></title><description><![CDATA[When the bell rings, the classroom becomes the stage. The teacher becomes the keynote speaker. Students become the audience. As with any keynote presentation, the first moments determine everything.]]></description><link>https://www.withinourranks.com/post/the-classroom-keynote</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d802fba51db32c14c36f9a</guid><category><![CDATA[education speaker]]></category><category><![CDATA[trainer]]></category><category><![CDATA[consultant]]></category><category><![CDATA[professional development]]></category><category><![CDATA[Within Our Ranks]]></category><category><![CDATA[Inner Circle]]></category><category><![CDATA[Steve Bollar]]></category><category><![CDATA[teachers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Megan Diede]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 19:53:38 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="http://youtu.be/VDVz4Yu3Kig" length="0" type="video"/><dc:creator>Steven A. Bollar</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[From Classroom to Conference Room]]></title><description><![CDATA[How do I share what I know beyond my classroom or building? How do I help more educators without leaving education behind? That question led Dr. Cherise Smith to Within Our Ranks, and her story reflects what happens when experience meets the right community.



Join her journey as a member of the Within Our Ranks Inner Circle and learn why so many veteran educators find new purpose through this work. ]]></description><link>https://www.withinourranks.com/post/from-classroom-to-conference-room</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d800774e4fe2e3f72ae006</guid><category><![CDATA[Within Our Ranks]]></category><category><![CDATA[education speaker]]></category><category><![CDATA[trainer]]></category><category><![CDATA[consultant]]></category><category><![CDATA[professional development]]></category><category><![CDATA[Inner Circle]]></category><category><![CDATA[teachers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Steve Bollar]]></category><category><![CDATA[Megan Diede]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 15 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="http://youtu.be/Qi5LBmdb6o4" length="0" type="video"/><dc:creator>Steven A. Bollar</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Be Great on Purpose]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dwight Carter shared a journey that speaks directly to veteran educators who crave growth, clarity, and renewed impact. His experience inside the Within Our Ranks Inner Circle shows what happens when intention meets structure and community. I’m so proud of Dwight as a longtime friend and now a fellow educational speaker.]]></description><link>https://www.withinourranks.com/post/be-great-on-purpose-how-within-our-ranks-helps-educators-lead-with-impact</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d7f91834a8ccd671ea0d06</guid><category><![CDATA[Within Our Ranks]]></category><category><![CDATA[education speaker]]></category><category><![CDATA[trainer]]></category><category><![CDATA[consultant]]></category><category><![CDATA[professional development]]></category><category><![CDATA[Inner Circle]]></category><category><![CDATA[Steve Bollar]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 15 Feb 2026 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="http://youtu.be/-hKpabHLicQ?si=tDHTKDOGvkwoglkq" length="0" type="video"/><dc:creator>Steven A. Bollar</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Spotlight on Education Speakers: Alexandra Desbiens-Leighton]]></title><description><![CDATA[In a recent conversation on the School Culture and Climate Show, I spoke with Alexandra Desbiens-Leighton, a member of our Within Our Ranks Inner Circle. Her story offers a powerful example of how experience, passion, and purpose can align into meaningful work in the educational speaking space.]]></description><link>https://www.withinourranks.com/post/spotlight-on-wor-speakers-alexandra-desbiens-leighton</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d7ee804e4fe2e3f72ab81b</guid><category><![CDATA[education speaker]]></category><category><![CDATA[trainer]]></category><category><![CDATA[consultant]]></category><category><![CDATA[professional development]]></category><category><![CDATA[Within Our Ranks]]></category><category><![CDATA[Inner Circle]]></category><category><![CDATA[Steve Bollar]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 15 Jan 2026 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="http://youtu.be/KWips8nse5M?si=1bVYI60fEEv94oBT" length="0" type="video"/><dc:creator>Steven A. Bollar</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[2025 NSA Chair Leadership Award]]></title><description><![CDATA[I am deeply honored to announce that I received the 2025 NSA Chair Leadership Award from the National Speakers Association. This recognition celebrates leadership that goes above and beyond to strengthen the NSA community, acknowledging a commitment to serve, support, and empower the speakers who inspire audiences across the nation.]]></description><link>https://www.withinourranks.com/post/2025-nsa-chair-leadership-award</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d804d234a8ccd671ea26fa</guid><category><![CDATA[Within Our Ranks]]></category><category><![CDATA[education speaker]]></category><category><![CDATA[trainer]]></category><category><![CDATA[consultant]]></category><category><![CDATA[professional development]]></category><category><![CDATA[Inner Circle]]></category><category><![CDATA[Steve Bollar]]></category><category><![CDATA[teachers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Megan Diede]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 30 Jul 2025 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/74610d_6f8477f4e7f541aaa30011b59a2a9d15~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Steven A. Bollar</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[You Could Be Ready, or You Could Be Within Our Ranks Ready]]></title><description><![CDATA[Through my Within Our Ranks program, I help educators confidently step into this space and thrive. We don't just dream about the stage; we prepare for it. Let me walk you through the key steps you need to follow once you land your first speaking engagement. This is what “Within Our Ranks” ready looks like, a place where you belong and are supported.]]></description><link>https://www.withinourranks.com/post/you-could-be-ready-or-you-could-be-within-our-ranks-ready</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d805d6646a4e908b71f988</guid><category><![CDATA[education speaker]]></category><category><![CDATA[trainer]]></category><category><![CDATA[consultant]]></category><category><![CDATA[professional development]]></category><category><![CDATA[Within Our Ranks]]></category><category><![CDATA[Inner Circle]]></category><category><![CDATA[Steve Bollar]]></category><category><![CDATA[teachers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Megan Diede]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 30 Jun 2025 20:03:45 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="http://youtu.be/pIs2Eyts9C0" length="0" type="video"/><dc:creator>Steven A. Bollar</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Teacher Professional Development Trends]]></title><description><![CDATA[At its core, professional development should serve two purposes: inspiration and strategy. Educators want to walk away energized, but they also need actionable tools they can use in their classrooms the very next day. Too often, though, PD misses the mark, leaving teachers bored, frustrated, and disconnected. As a result, we need to rethink our professional development approach as educators and presenters.  ]]></description><link>https://www.withinourranks.com/post/teacher-professional-development-trends</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d80732646a4e908b71fcdb</guid><category><![CDATA[education speaker]]></category><category><![CDATA[trainer]]></category><category><![CDATA[consultant]]></category><category><![CDATA[professional development]]></category><category><![CDATA[Within Our Ranks]]></category><category><![CDATA[Inner Circle]]></category><category><![CDATA[Steve Bollar]]></category><category><![CDATA[teachers]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 15 Feb 2025 21:08:38 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="http://youtu.be/pzir2IflLAY" length="0" type="video"/><dc:creator>Steven A. Bollar</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Co-Teaching Connection]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jennifer Mazzochi joins the School Climate and Culture Show to share some insights and reflections on how co-teaching has transformed her teaching journey, enhanced the classroom environment, and created opportunities for student growth and understanding.]]></description><link>https://www.withinourranks.com/post/the-co-teaching-connection</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d80d77c55f668b5307ec13</guid><category><![CDATA[education speaker]]></category><category><![CDATA[trainer]]></category><category><![CDATA[consultant]]></category><category><![CDATA[professional development]]></category><category><![CDATA[Within Our Ranks]]></category><category><![CDATA[Inner Circle]]></category><category><![CDATA[Steve Bollar]]></category><category><![CDATA[Megan Diede]]></category><category><![CDATA[teachers]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 15 Nov 2024 21:38:34 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="http://youtu.be/d7Kp46pvDbE" length="0" type="video"/><dc:creator>Steven A. Bollar</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Understanding Special Education]]></title><description><![CDATA[Recently, I had the privilege of working with Allison Gollin, the founder of Gollin Educational Services. Her insights further deepened my understanding of the challenges families and educators face navigating the special education process. Supporting students, forming productive partnerships, and the intricacies of the Individualized Education Program (IEP) and 504 processes are just the beginning of understanding how this impacts the climate and culture in schools.  ]]></description><link>https://www.withinourranks.com/post/understanding-special-education</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d80f4ffc7a52acb90adb56</guid><category><![CDATA[education speaker]]></category><category><![CDATA[trainer]]></category><category><![CDATA[consultant]]></category><category><![CDATA[professional development]]></category><category><![CDATA[Within Our Ranks]]></category><category><![CDATA[Inner Circle]]></category><category><![CDATA[Steve Bollar]]></category><category><![CDATA[teachers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Megan Diede]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 01 Nov 2024 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="http://youtu.be/T7XwKXK-j8U" length="0" type="video"/><dc:creator>Jessica  Kennison</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Who Are We?]]></title><description><![CDATA[In life, no good stories start with eating a salad.  Great success stories begin with a bold move, a moment of courage, a creative risk, or a leap of faith.  Many of you have tuned in and read the blogs for “Stand Tall Leadership Show” and now “The School Climate and Culture Show.” In this episode, we wanted to share a bit of how our journeys in educational speaking began.  Join us for a trip down memory lane and hear the origin stories of Steve Bollar and Meg Diede!]]></description><link>https://www.withinourranks.com/post/who-are-we</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d81053a51db32c14c38d83</guid><category><![CDATA[education speaker]]></category><category><![CDATA[trainer]]></category><category><![CDATA[consultant]]></category><category><![CDATA[Within Our Ranks]]></category><category><![CDATA[Inner Circle]]></category><category><![CDATA[professional development]]></category><category><![CDATA[Steve Bollar]]></category><category><![CDATA[teachers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Megan Diede]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 30 Sep 2024 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="http://youtu.be/lHZNsyHwB3E" length="0" type="video"/><dc:creator>Steven A. Bollar</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>