Bridging the Gap
Where Resarch Meets Practice in Education
Bridging the Gap Between Research and Practice
Bridging the Gap delivers bite-sized episodes that translate cutting-edge academic research into practical insights for educational leaders. Each episode breaks down complex studies into clear, actionable takeaways to support informed decision-making in schools and districts. Each episode shares practical wisdom and resources for today's educational leader in about 10 minutes.
Episodes will be released on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and every other Friday starting September 2, 2025.
In addition to the Bridging the Gap podcast, we offer two recurring segments to further support educational leaders:
- A Rural Perspective – Released every Wednesday, this segment is hosted by former superintendent Amanda Schmidt. Amanda explores issues unique to rural education through interviews and research reviews tailored specifically to the rural context.
- Leadership Book Reviews – Every other Friday, we share concise reviews of current leadership reads, offering insights and key takeaways to help guide your professional growth.
Episodes
Introduction
Welcome to the premiere episode of Bridging the Gap, an Institute for Educational Leadership podcast from the University of Northern Iowa, hosted by Dr. Mary Sult. In this introductory episode, Dr. Sult shares the vision behind the podcast: connecting the world of academic research with the daily work of educational leaders.
With over 20 years of experience in education, Dr. Sult understands the challenges leaders face in accessing and applying research while managing the demands of their roles. This episode sets the stage for what listeners can expect from future conversations—clear, practical, and relevant insights that support evidence-informed decision making in schools.
Whether you’re a principal, superintendent, instructional coach, or future leader, Bridging the Gap is your space to learn, reflect, and grow—without paywalls or academic jargon.
Episode 1: Ethical Decision-Making
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Maureen Spelman from North Central College to explore her insightful model for ethical decision making. Drawing on years of academic research and real-world experience, Dr. Spelman presents a reflective framework designed to guide individuals through complex moral choices with clarity and integrity. Whether you're an educator, leader, or simply someone seeking to make more thoughtful decisions, this conversation offers practical tools and deep wisdom. Tune in as we unpack the steps of her model, discuss its applications, and learn how intentional reflection can lead to more ethical outcomes.
Episode 3: Book Review: The Four Disciplines of Execution
In this episode, Amanda Schmidt offers a concise and insightful review of The Four Disciplines of Execution by Chris McChesney, Jim Huling, and Sean Covey, tailored specifically for educational leaders. Drawing from her experience in school leadership, Amanda breaks down the core concepts of the book—focus, leverage, engagement, and accountability—and explains how these powerful principles can be applied within schools to drive meaningful results. Whether you're looking to sharpen your strategic implementation or create a culture of execution in your district or building, Amanda’s review provides practical takeaways that will resonate with educators at every level.