It’s been SAId: Conversations on Leadership

In this Legal Vortex episode of the It's Been SAId podcast, SAI Legal Services Director Matt Carver breaks down the essential reporting requirements for school administrators submitting mandatory reports regarding practitioner misconduct to the Board of Educational Examiners (BoEE).
This 21-minute episode details the triggering disciplinary actions that mandate reporting—ranging from written reprimands to terminations—and explores the six key categories of misconduct. Listeners will gain clear insight into explicit definitions and practical scenarios covering student boundary violations, record falsification, public property misuse, substance impairment, direct discrimination, and student abuse. 
Show Notes
Host: Matt Carver
Podcast: SAI's Legal Vortex
Overview
School administrators often face complex decisions regarding when and how to report practitioner misconduct to the Board of Educational Examiners (BoEE). In this episode, Matt Carver walks through the triggering events that require formal reporting and provides a comprehensive breakdown of the six misconduct categories.
Key Discussion Points
Triggering Disciplinary Actions
Mandatory BoEE reporting is triggered by formal disciplinary actions taken against a practitioner, including written reprimands, written warnings, separation agreements, resignations, non-renewals, or terminations.
Administrators must not withhold or avoid necessary disciplinary actions simply because doing so triggers a mandatory report to the BoEE.
Primary reporting responsibility falls on superintendents or Area Education Agency (AEA) chief administrative officers, though failure to report can lead to disciplinary action against other administrators who fail to escalate information.
The Six Categories of Reportable Misconduct
Inappropriate Student Relationships & Grooming: Encompasses physical or sexual interactions, expanded definitions of grooming (actions intended to entice or entrap a student for personal gain), and inappropriate communications, such as late-night direct messaging using informal, student-like language.
Falsifying Official Records: Includes altering grades or test scores, as well as fabricating progress-monitoring data (common in special education settings) when data collection falls behind.
Conversion of Public Property or Funds: Covers unauthorized personal use of district resources, including vehicles, snowplows, laptops for side businesses, or school facilities for private paid lessons without approval or rental agreements.
Substance Impairment: Being on school grounds or at student-sponsored events while possessing, using, or impaired by illegal drugs or alcohol. While an off-duty drink may not automatically constitute legal impairment, observable signs like slurred speech or staggering trigger reporting requirements.
Discrimination Based on Free Speech or Intellectual Freedom: Penalizing students (such as lowering grades or taking retaliatory action) simply because their expressed political, social, or personal viewpoints differ from the practitioner's.
Abuse of a Student: Instances of student abuse or assault, which require both a report to the BOEE and parallel reports to Health and Human Services (HHS) and local law enforcement.
Legal Best Practices
When facing uncertainty regarding mandatory reporting requirements, administrators should consult district legal counsel or organizational legal staff. Documenting reliance on professional legal advice provides strong protection against potential ethical claims or BoEE actions.

In this Leadership Life Fit episode of the It's Been SAId podcast, host Dr. Dana Schon (Associate Executive Director — Professional Learning at School Administrators of Iowa) explores the critical distinction between stressors—the internal and external events that trigger us—and stress—the physiological reaction happening within our bodies.
In this 30-minute podcast, discover actionable strategies to clarify your role at work, combat negative self-talk, and complete the stress cycle so you can avoid burnout and cultivate a quality leadership life fit.
Show Notes & Key Timestamps
– Introduction
Welcome to Leadership Life Fit with Dana Schon.
– Stressors vs. Stress
Why managing a stressor requires a completely different approach than managing your stress response.
– Identifying External & Internal Stressors
External: work (role ambiguity, role conflict, and role overload), kids, family, finance, injustices
Internal: Self-criticism, negative self-talk, and trauma history.
– Strategies for Mitigating Work Stressors
Gaining role clarity, prioritizing with the Eisenhower Matrix, delegating, and establishing clear expectations.
– What is Burnout?
Understanding the three elements of burnout: Emotional exhaustion, decreased sense of accomplishment, and depersonalization.
– Completing the Stress Cycle
How emotions act like tunnels and why getting "stuck" in an emotion leads to burnout, not just physical exhaustion.
– Practical Ways to Reset Your Nervous System
Eight evidence-based techniques: Physical movement, REM sleep, box breathing, positive social interaction, deep laughter, safe affection, creative expression, and crying.
– Final Thoughts & Weekly Challenge
Differentiating how you address stressors (triggers) versus stress (your body's response).
Resources & Links Mentioned
Organization: School Administrators of Iowa (SAI)
Article Referenced: Gargi Sawhney and Mallory McCord (Harvard Business Review) on workplace stressors
Book Referenced: Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski
Upcoming Event: Creating a Culture of Growth: Writing Effective Plans of Awareness and Assistance (Dec 8 at SAI in Clive)

In this episode of It's Been SAId podcast, Communications Director Laine Buck sits down with Dr. Brad Buck, the new executive director of School Administrators of Iowa, to discuss Scholarship Granting Organizations, commonly known as SGOs.
In this packed 30-minute episode, listeners will learn how Iowa school leaders are navigating new legislation to bring fresh funding and expanded learning opportunities directly to public school students across the state.
The two discuss SAI's latest initiative, the Iowa Public School Student Support Fund, which is designed to help public school districts across the state leverage federal tax credits to expand student opportunities.
Topics covered in this episode include:
The definition of an SGO and why SAI is managing the administrative backend for local school districts.
The mechanics of donor contributions, including how supporters can designate funds directly to a specific school district.
Details on the dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit of up to $1,700 for eligible donors.
Qualifying student offerings, such as after-school programs, tutoring services and expanded summer school courses.
Student eligibility guidelines, which allow roughly 96% of Iowa K-12 students to qualify.
Important implementation timelines and district rollout dates leading into 2027.
For more information or to submit a district interest form, visit the Resources Hub on the SAI website at https://www.sai-iowa.org/sais-scholarship-granting-organization-sgo 

In this Leadership Life Fit episode of the It's Been SAId podcast, Dr. Dana Schon explores how listening—both to our bodies and to others—strengthens leadership and wellbeing. She explains the listening continuum (from ignoring to empathic listening), the importance of nonverbal cues, and practical tools like body scans and box breathing.
Listeners will learn concrete habits to slow down, hold space, and respond more effectively—so you can make better decisions, build stronger relationships, and create a higher-quality leadership life fit.
Listen and learn a lot in this 17-minute podcast.

Dave Daughton, government relations director with School Administrators of Iowa, summarizes September legislative and policy updates for school districts in this episode of the It's Been SAId podcast.  He addresses the  Department of Education guidance on Senate File 2428 and open enrollment, work groups on concurrent enrollment and cybersecurity, and the potential FCC E‑Rate rule changes that could reduce internet funding.
The update also highlights scholarship‑granting organizations (SGOs) as a funding opportunity and he urges superintendents to contact Dr. Buck for more information. The podcast wraps up with a preview of the upcoming November 3 election and proposed Amendment 1 that would require a 2/3 legislative majority to raise state income taxes.
This podcast covers a lot in under four minutes.

In this follow-up to last month's deep dive into Iowa’s new behavior bill (SF 2428), SAI’s Legal Vortex, Legal Services Director Matt Carver returns to address key questions, legal nuances, and practical scenarios raised by educators and administrators.
This episode explores:
Non-Violent Removals: Understanding teacher discretion and the three main options available for addressing non-violent disruptions.
Special Education & IEPs: How 2428 applies to students with IEPs, including support provisions, documentation, and guidelines around expanded IEP meetings.
Meeting Requirements: Clarifying when meetings are required for general education students versus IEP students following classroom removals.
Oversight Review Committees: The specific role and limits of building committees in shaping removal and return policies.
Tracking & Resetting: How the tracking of removals resets with grading periods.
Teacher Support & Leave: Best practice recommendations for supporting injured educators.
Disclaimer: This podcast reflects current legal interpretations and guidance from the Department of Education. Always consult your district's legal counsel for specific guidance.
Thank you for your leadership and dedication to Iowa’s students!
Listen and learn a lot in this 15-minute episode.

In this episode Leadership Life Fit edition of the It's Been SAId podcast, Associate Executive Director of Professional Learning Dr. Dana Schon explores a powerful strategy to enhance your leadership life fit: intentional visualization and manifestation.
Drawing from her early days in sports to modern neuroscience, Dana breaks down how unexamined self-talk can trigger stress and default "worst-case scenario" thinking. She contrasts simple goal-setting with intentional living, explaining how aligning daily intentions with core values rewires neural pathways, engages the prefrontal cortex, and shifts the body out of fight-or-flight mode.
Plus, Dana outlines a practical, six-step morning routine incorporating breathwork, intentionality, writing, verbalization, and visualization to help you navigate constant distractions, reduce cortisol levels, and lead with clarity, courage, and joy.
Listen and learn a lot in this 20-minute podcast.

As the new school year kicks off, Dave Daughton, government relations director for School Administrators of Iowa, provides a quick rundown of critical legislative updates affecting Iowa schools.
In this legislative episode of the It's Been SAId podcast, Daughton breaks down key compliance requirements and points to essential resources for Iowa educators:
Senate File 2428 (Student Behavior Bill): Insights from recent discussions, the joint SAI, Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) and Iowa State Education Association (ISEA) town hall, and navigating implementation guidance.
House File 2676 (Physical Activity and Fitness Testing): Requirements for physical fitness testing covering first through 12th grades.
Senate File 369 (Civics Test Mandate): Updates on administering the required civics test for students in ninth through 12th grades, including senior-plus students.
Catch up in this short three-minute podcast.

In this episode of SAI’s Legal Vortex, host Legal Services Director Matt Carver breaks down Senate File 2428 (the Behavior Bill) and what it means for Iowa superintendents and principals.
From defining non-violent and violent disruptions to handling student removals, IEP requirements, and Oversight Review Committees, Matt provides practical legal insights to help school administrators navigate these new expectations.
Tune into this 28-minute podcast to ensure your building policies align with statutory changes and the Iowa Department of Education guidance.

Before the emails, the meetings, and the demands of the day begin, take six minutes to pause, breathe, and center yourself. Designed specifically for school administrators and educational leaders, this short guided reflection invites you to set aside the pressure of having all the answers and reconnect with your purpose.
Through gentle breathing exercises, mindful reflection, and empowering affirmations, you’ll release perfectionism and embrace a mindset grounded in curiosity, compassion, and courage. Remember: leadership isn’t about solving everything in a single moment—it’s about the small, intentional choices we make every day.
Tune in, take a deep breath, and start your day ready to lead with vision and heart.