Episode
Ep: 191 - Craig Randall: Stop Scoring Teachers. Start Growing Them.
- Podcast
- Stories from Real Life
- Published
- Mar 3, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2125
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Summary
Episode summary: Teacher observation is supposed to improve teaching and learning—but Craig Randall argues that in many schools it produces fear, limits risk-taking, and reduces growth. Craig shares the core principles of Trust-Based Observations (TBO) , including strengths-based walkthroughs, reflective follow-up conversations, and the routines leaders can use to build a culture of trust and continuous improvement. In this episode, we cover: * Why many traditional observation systems backfire (fear vs. growth) * The mentorship moment that shaped TBO—and the two questions that drive the model * What a high-impact 20-minute observation looks like (and why frequency matters) * How to run post-observation conversations that build trust and spark teacher reflection * Common implementation mistakes and how to avoid turning TBO into another checklist * What changes in a school when teachers feel safe taking instructional risks Guest: Craig Randall — author and founder of Trust-Based Observations Links: Trust-Based Observations / Meet Craig Stories from Real Life Get full access to Melvin E. Edwards at storiesfromreallife.substack.com/subscribe