Behaviorally Speaking: Leadership for Change Makers

Season 1 Bonus Episode 1: Behaviorally Speaking: Leadership Lessons from the First Ten Episodes

In this special bonus reflection episode of Behaviorally Speaking: Leadership for Change Makers, Dr. Esther C. Bubb takes listeners behind the mic for an honest, reflective, and deeply personal look at what she has learned across the first ten episodes of Behaviorally Speaking: Leadership for Change Makers.

From pressing record despite fear, to forgetting to press save and turning a “leadermon” into “leadermonade," this episode explores what it truly means to lead behaviorally.

Dr. Bubb reflects on:

• Why leadership is behavior, not a title
• The power of listening as a leadership intervention
• Creating opportunity through expanded choice
• Compassionate, performance-based feedback
• Behavioral momentum and persistence
• Progress over perfection
• Perseverance, courage, and starting before you're ready

If you’ve ever delayed starting something because it wasn’t “perfect,” this episode is your reminder:

Start, even if imperfectly, but start!

Reinforcement will follow.

🎧 Listen now and share with someone building something meaningful.

Season 1 Episode 10: Leadership as Behavior: Listening, Choice, and Compassionate Feedback with Dr. Jim Connell

What does leadership look like when it’s grounded in behavior, not position?

In this episode of Behaviorally Speaking: Leadership for Change-Makers, Dr. Esther C. Bubb sits down with Dr. Jim Connell, Associate Professor at Drexel University and founding director of multiple graduate training programs, and a nationally recognized leader in school psychology, applied behavior analysis, and systems‑level change, to explore leadership through a behavioral science lens.

Dr. Connell shares his powerful and remarkable journey, from entering college later in life after serving in the military, to confronting personal challenges, to sobriety, and to building impactful academic and clinical programs, which led to his rediscovery of purpose through behavioral science.

Dr. Connell also unpacks how listening, opportunity, choice, guardrails, and performance feedback shape effective leadership.

Together, Dr. Bubb and Dr. Connell explore:

• Leadership as a set of observable behaviors
• How perseverance and compassion shape leadership
• The power of listening and setting “behavioral guardrails”
• Using data‑based decision‑making to strengthen teams and systems
• How performance feedback is a robust leadership tool that becomes a transformative leadership strategy
• Creating opportunities, reinforcing growth, and building momentum to shape outcomes
• Navigating resistance to change with empathy and curiosity
• Supporting others without judgment as paths evolve
• Why inclusive leadership matters — especially for neurodivergent colleagues

This warm, conversational, and inspiring episode highlights what leadership truly looks like when rooted in behavioral science and human connection. It’s a must-listen for educators, behavior analysts, administrators, and anyone committed to developing people and systems with intention.

 

Dr. Connell’s Bio:

 

Dr Connell is an Associate Professor in the Drexel University School of Education. In 2012, Dr. Connell departed the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine to become the founding Clinical Core Director of the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute. There he designed the Institute clinic, hired Core area faculty and staff, and developed and supported contracts and funded research for the next 8 years. At the time of his Drexel appointment, Dr Connell also founded the Drexel ABA master’s program which continues to this day. Dr Connell became full time faculty in the Drexel School of Education 5 years ago, to be the founding director of the School Psychology graduate training program, which is now in its fifth year. Dr. Connell has published in consultation, intervention, and assessment, which demonstrates his professional interest in school psychology. His current interest includes the manipulation of the population through social media, and the behavioral mechanisms than set the occasion for radicalized behavior, and the making of a “school shooter” through the work of his doctoral student.

The Behaviorally Speaking: Leadership for Change Makers Podcast Trailer

Welcome to Behaviorally Speaking: Leadership for Changemakers, the podcast where leadership meets behavior science, and where educators, clinicians, and everyday humans come to grow.

Hosted by Dr. Esther C. Bubb, special educator, Board Certified Behavior Analyst, administrator, mentor, and lifelong believer in bringing out the best in people, this show is rooted in over two decades of experience across early childhood programs, schools, behavioral health, higher education, and systems-level leadership.

Across her journey, Dr. Bubb discovered one powerful truth:
Leadership isn’t a title. It’s a behavior: teachable, learnable, and measurable.
And when we apply the science of behavior to how we lead? Transformative things happen. Teams become more resilient, children thrive, confidence grows, and work becomes more meaningful and aligned.

This podcast is your weekly invitation to reflect, reset, and rise. You’ll get practical strategies, leadership frameworks, behavior-analytic tools, inspiring stories, personal-growth practices, and real conversations about leading with clarity, purpose, and heart.

Whether you’re a teacher, BCBA, parent, supervisor, administrator, therapist, counselor, or simply a human striving to show up better in the world, you’re right where you belong.

So take a deep breath. Grab your notebook. And join Dr. Bubb on a leadership journey grounded in science, strengthened by compassion, and designed for changemakers.

Subscribe now and tune in each week to build leadership capacity, elevate practice, and empower the changemakers of today and tomorrow, behaviorally speaking.

 

The Behaviorally Speaking: Leadership for Change Makers Host

Dr. Esther C. Bubb, host of Behaviorally Speaking: Leadership for Changemakers, is an educator, behavior analyst, leader, and mentor with more than two decades of experience supporting children, schools, families, and professionals.

Grounded in a strengths-based and relationship-centered approach, Dr. Bubb specializes in leadership development, coaching structures, early childhood systems, and behavior intervention. Her work focuses on helping leaders and teams build confidence, clarity, and capacity to create lasting, meaningful change.

Blending evidence-based practices with heart-centered leadership, she empowers others to lead with purpose, resilience, and compassion. When she’s not teaching, mentoring, or presenting, Dr. Bubb is busy creating inspiring learning content, supporting early childhood teams, and helping leaders bring out the very best in themselves and others.

Follow the show and grow alongside Dr. Bubb, one intentional behavior at a time.

 

Season 1 Episode 9: Behavior, Belonging, and the Law: Leadership Lessons from Special Education Advocacy

In this powerful episode, Dr. Esther C. Bubb sits down with Gabrielle C. Sereni, Esquire, teacher turned school attorney, educational advocate, and founder of Sereni Law Group, LLC.

Together, they explore the intersection of behavior, belonging, and the law, uncovering how legal systems, human behavior, and leadership practices shape the lived experiences of children, families, and educators.

Drawing from her unique journey as a former public school teacher, education attorney, parent, and doctoral student in educational leadership, Gabrielle shares how keeping children at the center, leading with transparency, and addressing fear with empathy can transform systems from the inside out.

In this episode, Gaby shares:

• Her journey from classroom to courtroom and why she never left her love for children and schools behind
• Why centering the child creates clarity in the most complex educational decisions
• How adult behavior—fear, stress, empathy, transparency—drives outcomes in special education
• Why systemic weaknesses must be addressed proactively, not reactively
• How behavior science supports conflict reduction, trust‑building, and culture change
• What meaningful collaboration between families, educators, and legal teams truly requires
• The real emotional experience of navigating special education law
• The leadership values she lives by as a woman founder in a high‑stakes field

This conversation is honest, human, and deeply grounding. Whether you're a leader, educator, parent, or practitioner, Gaby’s insights offer a roadmap for compassionate, effective, and equitable leadership.

 

Gaby’s Bio:

Gabrielle Sereni loves schools and kids. She started out as a public school teacher and became a school lawyer at a time when there were very few people who even knew that was a field of law. Since then, she has represented dozens of school entities, as well as parents, and continues to raise her own children. A lifelong learner, she is approaching her dissertation phase for her Ed. D. at Neumann university so that she can serve as a more informed voice in discussions around improving education.

Perhaps her greatest talent is recognizing the talent in others, and she has created the conditions necessary to assemble a group of educational professionals of the absolute highest caliber to join her in her entrepreneurial mission. SLG's focus is to improve education through proactive identification of systemic weaknesses, and to plan and implement foundational fortification of our educational programs in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and beyond through a collaborative approach, looking to find long-term solutions which are fiscally responsible, achievable, and capable of harmonizing relationships between schools

Season 1 Episode 8: Leadership That Serves: Behavior- Driven Decision-Making In Education and Advocacy

In this episode of Behaviorally Speaking: Leadership for Change Makers, Dr. Esther C. Bubb sits down with Jennie Prochorenko-Stadelberger, Special Education Consultant with Sereni Law Group LLC, for a rich discussion on servant leadership, behavior-driven decision making, and educational advocacy. We explore how servant leadership and behavioral science intersect to drive student success, strengthen teams, and sustain compliance without overwhelm. Jennie shares her journey from classroom teacher to systems leader, why she rejects silos in favor of interdisciplinary collaboration, and how strategies like positive reinforcement, ABC analysis, PBIS, and prompting & fading help students and adults thrive. We also cover responding to parent crises with emotional intelligence, coaching staff for capacity building, and turning legal standards into clear, actionable checklists.

In sharing her journey from the classroom to educational leadership and legal consultation, Jennie offers real-world insights on:

• Servant leadership and interdisciplinary collaboration
• Using behavioral data to inform leadership decisions
• Supporting students, families, and staff through compassion and structure
• Translating legal compliance into practical, people-centered systems
• Building resilient teams and inclusive educational environments

Top Takeaways: Find a win in every day; all children can learn with the right tools; active listening is a leader’s superpower; own your seat at the table.

This episode is a must-listen for educators, administrators, advocates, and leaders committed to equitable, compliant, and effective educational systems.

Jennie Prochorenko-Stadelberger’s Bio

Jennie provides extensive expertise in special education advocacy with highlights of maintaining and leading complex educational teams and systems. She has dedicated her career to ensuring equitable, compliant, and effective educational programming across diverse settings. As a former special education administrator, she has successfully led initiatives to develop and monitor legally compliant individualized educational plans, ensure FAPE compliance, and implement inclusive practices. Her experience includes managing federal and state grants, fostering collaborative teams, and advocating for students and families to promote access and success in every educational setting while linking stable supports to community resources when entering into school-aged services as well as the postsecondary sector of education.

Jennie works closely with legal teams, community organizations, and educators to develop tailored programs that enhance student self-advocacy, foster family engagement, and uphold rigorous standards of educational excellence. By leveraging data analysis, detail-oriented professional development, and strategic planning, she advances inclusive practices and ensures program fidelity across multiple sites.

Her passion for creating inclusive, student-centered environments underscores her commitment to equitable educational opportunities and continuous improvement in all facets of special education and systemic leadership. 

Season 1 Episode 7: From Grenadian Roots to Global Leadership Impact: Lessons in Behavior, Education, Justice, and Agriculture

What does leadership really look like when it’s grounded in values, culture, behavior, and impact, not just titles and charisma?

In this powerful episode of Behaviorally Speaking: Leadership for Change-Makers, Dr. Esther C. Bubb is joined by Dr. Tessa Barry and Dr. Donnell Thomas for a rich, reflective conversation on behaviorally informed leadership in education and beyond. Drawing from their shared Grenadian roots and diverse professional journeys, including education, agriculture, justice, and policy, the guests explore how early life experiences, cultural values, and intentional behaviors shape effective, sustainable leadership.

Together, they explore leadership through a behaviorally informed and culturally grounded lens, examining how leadership is shaped by lived experience, education, community, and systems. They discuss leadership as influence rather than position, the importance of humility and flexibility, and why creating safe, supportive environments is essential for learning and growth. From classrooms to communities to systems-level change, this episode highlights how consistent values, collaboration, and everyday leadership behaviors—listening, modeling, reinforcing, and adapting—create meaningful impact and drive sustainable change.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How leadership shows up in everyday behaviors—not just formal roles
  • Why transformative leadership outlasts charisma
  • How culture and upbringing shape leadership identity and values
  • The role of behavior in education, agriculture, and social systems
  • How leaders can build hope, capacity, and equity through action
  • Why showing up—and staying engaged—matters in creating change

Whether you are an educator, administrator, emerging leader, policymaker, behavior analyst, or change-maker committed to ethical and human-centered leadership, this episode offers powerful insights you can apply immediately, challenge how you think about leadership, and inspire you to lead with intention and purpose.

🎧 Tune in to explore how leadership behaviors—not just authority—drive lasting change.

Dr. Tessa Barry’s Bio

• Grenadian from the community of Birch Grove, St. Andrew.
• Educator for over 20 years at both primary and secondary level in Grenada.
• BSc: Management Studies
• MSc: Development Studies: Economics and Rural Development
• PhD: Agricultural Extension: Food Security, Agriculture Entrepreneurship and Gender
• Current: Part time lecturer UWI St Augustine
• Consultant for a number of organizations including: FAO, World University Services of Canada.
• Research Fellow with the University of Liverpool England
• Serves on the board of the Grenada Food and Nutrition Council
• Managing Director of consultancy firm: JRI consultancy.
• Publisher: number of reputable journals
• Mother to one daughter Zadie Barry…Wife to Mr. Learrie Barry
• Engaged in community development work and youth development in church
• Lover of sports and culture

Dr. Donnell Thomas’s Bio

• Educator for 7 years in Grenada
• High School Teacher in the US for the last 18 years. 
• Former head of the Language Other Than English (LOTE) at Hirschi High School and Legacy High school. 
• Current International Baccalaureate Spanish teacher for the last 12 years at Hirschi High School and Legacy High School. 
• Undergrad in Spanish and Psychology at Midwestern State University (2005). 
• Masters in Human Resource Development (Specializing in Training and Development) from Midwestern State University (2011).
• D at Western Illinois University in Educational Leadership concentrating in Organizational Leadership Equity and Inclusion (2025). 
• Former Teacher of the Year nominee at Wichita Falls ISD in 2023. 
• Father of 3 (Jelani, Jrue, and Jovani Thomas). Husband of one to Dr. Renisha Thomas.

Season 1 Episode 6: From Vision to Practice: What Educational Administrators Can Teach Us About Behaviorally Informed Leadership

What does leadership look like when it’s grounded in everyday behavior, not titles or authority?

In this episode of Behaviorally Speaking: Leadership for Change Makers, host Esther C. Bubb is joined by Evangelist Dr. Monay Legette, Ed.D., Principal and Building Supervisor at Samuel Everitt, for a powerful conversation on translating leadership vision into daily practice.

Dr. Legette shares her leadership journey and offers candid reflections on building trust, designing systems with purpose, and honoring the whole person in schools and organizations. Together, they explore how behaviorally informed leadership, rooted in clarity, empathy, and intentional environments, can shape culture, support accountability, and create spaces where people thrive.

In this episode, you’ll hear insights on:

• Leading with service, not status
• Designing systems that support people and positive behavior
• Why connection matters more than perfection in building trust
• Balancing accountability with compassion
• Recognizing the power of small, consistent gestures in shaping culture
• Navigating resistance and change with transparency and respect

Whether you’re an educational administrator, emerging leader, or change maker working in complex systems, this episode offers grounded, practical strategies for leading with intention and impact. 🎧

Tune in to discover how leadership behaviors—not titles—create cultures of belonging, trust, and sustainable change.