Blog | National SAM Innovation Project

SamTastic Weekly Tip: 2/24/25 - Be Your Top 20 Self

Jim Mercer
Feb 24, 2025

This week’s tip: Be Your Top 20 Self.

The research is clear. We make a choice each day to be our better selves…or something less.

Learning how to communicate effectively and work with others is key. Willow Sweeney and Paul Bernabei* have shared practical and applicable ideas and tools at SAM conferences for over a decade. Willow’s presentation in Miami this year resulted in a standing ovation.

“When we are in the Top 20 mode, it means we are thinking, learning and communicating effectively. When we operate out of our Bottom 80 mode, we’re being ineffective in our thinking, learning and communicating. Every person can operate in either capacity.” ~Willow Sweeney

Every attendee received a copy of Willow’s book, Rebalanced Thinking~Rebalanced Living. If you and a member of a SAM team and were unable to attend, you can receive a copy of her book, too.

How? Watch her presentation in HD video, below. Then, click this link to answer one question and provide your mailing address. We’ll then send you the book at no charge next week. Why? Because the book is packed with ideas you can use every day that can make a difference in your life, personal and professional, and the lives of the people in your school community.

Click anywhere on the picture, below, to start. Chick here to complete the form after viewing: https://bit.ly/3XeBM8M

All conference videos, 2015 to 2025, are available at this link: https://www.samprocess.com/conference-and-workshop-materials You are welcome to use these videos, all or in part, in PD sessions with staff and others in your school and district.

Would you like more information about Willow Sweeney? Her company’s website is: www.top20training.com

Would you like to book Willow for a presentation in your district? You can contact Willow directly: Willow@top20training.com or 612-805-2412.

Note: It is budget time in most schools and districts. Be sure to budget for your SAM services for the 2025-26 school year. You can request an invoice now by using this link: https://bit.ly/40GtA33

*Paul Bernabei passed away August 31, 2025, age 77. His work lives on in his books, work with others and, especially his colleagues at Top 20 Training. You can access his obituary at this link: https://www.ohalloranmurphy.com/obituary/Paul-Bernabei

Leading Successfully When Viewpoints Differ: A Set of 20-Minute Tools https://bit.ly/NSIP_Toolkit You are welcome to share the link with colleagues and friends.
Jenn David Lang, the Main Idea, is offering a free, online workshop: Don’t Lose Them! Strategies to Retain and Re-energize Your Teachers. (March 5, 4:00 PM, Eastern) Here’s the registration link: https://forms.gle/FPswewsb5xzktd1SA

SamTastic Weekly Tip: 2/17/25 - Trust is the Key

Jim Mercer
Feb 17, 2025

This week’s tip: Trust is the Key

The research is clear. You can’t improve teaching and learning without trust.

David Horsager uses decades of research and experience to show leaders how to build, maintain and even restore, trust. We’ve brought David to four National SAM Conferences. Each year attendees rave about their experience with David. This year, he was keynote speaker and provided a riveting, humorous and memorable presentation. Every attendee received a copy of his book, Trust Matters More than Ever. If you and a member of a SAM team, and were unable to attend, you can receive a copy of his book, too.

How? Watch his presentation in HD video, below. Then, click this link to answer three questions and provide your mailing address. We’ll then send you the book at no charge next week. Why? Because the book includes 40 tools you can use to build trust now.

Click anywhere on the video to start. Chick here to complete the form after viewing: https://bit.ly/4hRTZ3Q

Would you like more information about David Horsager?

His company website is: https://davidhorsager.com/

Would you like to book David for a presentation in your district? Are you interested in the Trust Certification for Educators? Contact Dan Kerrigan dkerrigan@trustedge.com

Leading Successfully When Viewpoints Differ: A Set of 20-Minute Tools https://bit.ly/NSIP_Toolkit You are welcome to share the link with colleagues and friends.

If you’d like to pre-pay for SAM service, and/or the conference next year, use this link to request an invoice: https://bit.ly/40GtA33

Jenn David Lang, the Main Idea, is offering a free, online workshop: Don’t Lose Them! Strategies to Retain and Re-energize Your Teachers. (March 5, 4:00 PM, Eastern) Here’s the registration link: https://forms.gle/FPswewsb5xzktd1SA

SamTastic Weekly Tip: 2/10/25 - Focus on Your Professional Development.

Jim Mercer
Feb 10, 2025

This week’s tip: Focus on Your Professional Development.

The research on the SAM process makes clear the SAM Daily Meeting is key. It is a daily professional development session where leaders not only plan their work but reflect on next steps and their impact on teaching and learning. Great!

The annual National SAM Conference follows a similar design. It is a much-needed boost of positivity, blending professional development, celebration and fun. I hope the videos we release, beginning today, provide a similar boost to those unable to attend, and a happy reminder for those of us who were in Miami. As always, you are free to use the videos, all or in part, with staff and others.

Today, we have two videos to share. The first, featuring SAM Principal Tracie Anderson Swilley, will add to your fire, passion and commitment to serve staff and students. The second is a celebration of your work each day doing this important and life-changing work.

Click anywhere on either video to start.

All conference videos, from 2015 to 2025, are available at this link: https://www.samprocess.com/conference-and-workshop-materials You are welcome to use these videos, all or in part, in PD sessions with staff and others in your school and district.

Leading Successfully When Viewpoints Differ: A Set of 20-Minute Tools https://bit.ly/NSIP_Toolkit You are welcome to share the link with colleagues and friends.
If you’d like to pre-pay for SAM service, and/or the conference next year, use this link to request an invoice: https://bit.ly/40GtA33
Jenn David Lang, the Main Idea, is offering a free, online workshop: Don’t Lose Them! Strategies to Retain and Re-energize Your Teachers. (March 5, 4:00 PM, Eastern) Here’s the registration link: https://forms.gle/FPswewsb5xzktd1SA