Education Evolution

Education Evolution, where we talk about today’s education: what’s broken, who’s fixing it, and how. We need to holistically serve a wide variety of learners and address academic, social, and emotional needs and we do that by making change happen today. Founded by Maureen O’Shaughnessy of Micro-Schools Coalition and Leadership Preparatory Academy in Seattle, Education Evolution is designed to start the conversation to transform the education system of today. Alternative education strategies including working with parents and colleagues, classroom management, lesson planning, activities, games, and more. Along with helping challenged students and those facing difficulty to find success.

What if we harnessed alternative and conventional resources and each child was seen, heard, valued, and met where they were academically, socially, and emotionally, with the goals of thriving NOW and being prepared for a productive, happy, and healthy adulthood?

Sadly, this isn’t what’s happening today. But that doesn’t mean those of us who know better have to stick with the status quo.

You’ll hear regularly from Maureen and guests from all corners of the educational landscape–from micro-school founders to concerned parents to journalists to lawmakers and decision-makers. Join the conversation today, we’re all in this together.

182. Life with Passion and Purpose 10/03/2023

181. Unlocking the World of Literacy with Marnie Ginsburg 09/26/2023

181. Unlocking the World of Literacy with Marnie Ginsburg Reading is simple, right? Not for everyone, and it’s especially challenging for those who don’t have access to all the tools and resources they need to be successful. This week we hear from Marnie Ginsburg, founder of Reading Simplified, who has dedicated her career to improving reading proficiency in students. She discusses the critical need to disseminate research-backed strategies to teachers, bridging the gap between what we know and what happens in the classroom. During our conversation, we explore the scientific foundations of reading, the role of phonemes, decoding, and phonological awareness. Marnie provides valuable insights into supporting children with dyslexia and shares tips for fostering a love of reading. From extrinsic motivation to the magic of public libraries, this episode explores the multifaceted world of literacy and emphasizes the importance of equipping our children with the tools they need to unlock the joy of reading, even before they step into a classroom. About Marnie Ginsburg: Marnie Ginsberg, Founder of Reading Simplified, is a reading difficulties detective who streamlines the science and art of reading instruction so teachers can rapidly learn effective techniques that help students accelerate to grade level and beyond. She also helps translate the latest understandings from science into practical, easy-to-implement activities. In the late 1990s, Marnie uncovered that her 6th-grade language arts students, on average, were reading 2 years below grade level. And despite her master’s degree and enthusiasm, she had no idea how to remediate their word-reading difficulties. After eventually finding solutions for her struggling readers, she led the development of the Targeted Reading Intervention at the University of North Carolina. Across 15+ years, multiple research articles have demonstrated that struggling K-2 readers grow significantly in reading with the Targeted Reading Intervention (TRI), which is on the federal What Works Clearinghouse and is endorsed by many organizations such as Evidence for ESSA and RAND Corporation’s Promising Practices Network. Given the repeated, strong results of the TRI across multiple clinical trials, Dr. Ginsberg expanded the resources and adapted the professional learning approach to provide Reading Simplified for a broader audience beginning in 2013. Jump in the Conversation: [1:36] - Where Marnie’s story of learning transformation began [3:42] - It’s not because reading the words are too hard - 67% of American 4th graders are not proficient in reading [4:43] - What we need to prepare readers is known by researchers, but we need to disseminate that information to teachers [5:21] - Two major events that have impacted Marnie’s work [6:46] - What “targeted reading intervention” means [9:17] - What pieces of reading are science and what pieces are art [13:13] - Tips for kids with dyslexia [18:13] - Who Reading Simplified is for [19:06] - How to make reading more fun for kids [23:24] - Turbo Time [26:20] - Marnie’s Magic Wand [27:20] - Maureen’s Takeaways Links & Resources Maureen’s TEDx: Maureen’s book: on Good Morning America /episode/index/show/educationevolution/id/28137902

180. Leading Like a Teacher with Miriam Plotinsky 09/19/2023

180. Leading Like a Teacher with Miriam Plotinsky The further away administrators get from their roots as teachers, the more they forget what it’s like to be in the trenches. The result is often either a real or perceived lack of empathy for teachers. Both teachers and administrators have vital roles in the school, and it’s important for both to have mutual respect for one another. To achieve this, administrators need to take a step back and really listen to teachers. How? By being more visible, asking questions, and seeking out teachers as the answers to the challenges in their buildings. This week on the podcast, we’re welcoming back author and educator Miriam Plotinsky. She’s sharing about her latest book, Lead Like a Teacher, and talking about what school leaders can do to build more trust and a more collaborative school environment. Of course, there’s an element for teachers in there too, and how they can look at school, teacher, and student needs through a different lens. About Miriam Plotinsky: Miriam Plotinsky is an author and instructional specialist who addresses challenges in both teaching and leading across schools with a wide range of differentiated needs. A strong advocate for student-centered learning, she provides coaching and professional development for teachers and administrators. She has written Teach More, Hover Less: How to Stop Micromanaging Your Secondary Classroom and Lead Like a Teacher: How to Elevate Expertise in Your School (W.W. Norton, 2022 & 2023). Miriam is widely published in education publications such as Education Week, Edutopia, ASCD Express, Middleweb, The Teaching Channel, EdSurge, K-12 Talk and Education World and is a frequent guest on education podcasts internationally. She is also a National Board-Certified Teacher with additional certification in administration and supervision. She can be found on her website or on Twitter: @MirPloMCPS. Miriam’s third book, Writing Their Future Selves, releases in November. Jump in the Conversation: [1:48] - Miriam's empathy framework [3:27] - Miriam's unique background in education [6:15] - There’s a complicated relationship between teachers and administrators [8:19] - There’s a need for empathy on both sides [9:12] - How Lead Like a Teacher addresses empathy [13:15] - How to foster mutual understanding and respect between teachers and administrators [15:45] - There’s a balance between toxic positivity and and miring yourself in the negativity that exists [17:00] - Unpacking teacher observations and evaluations [21:51] - Most school leaders feel attached to instruction but there’s so much happening that they can’t always participate [23:41] - A teacher observation that goes wrong [25:08] - Everything you see is data [27:55] - Leadership positions are often lonely [30:47] - Make what you do really transparent [32:12] - Steps school leaders can do to start building trust and a collaborative environment [33:56] - A sneak preview of Miriam’s third book [36:55] - Turbo Time [39:30] - What people need to know about closing the teacher-administrator empathy gap [41:32] - Miriam’s Magic Wand [42:31] - Maureen’s Takeaways Links & Resources Author of , & Twitter: Maureen’s TEDx: Maureen’s book: on Good Morning America /episode/index/show/educationevolution/id/28073019

179. Following the Evidence for Effective Policy with Darleen Opfer 09/12/2023

179. Following the Evidence for Effective Policy with Darleen Opfer We all want what’s best for our learners, but oftentimes biases get in the way of having productive conversations about what learning should look like in the classroom. Instead, we need to have evidence- and research-based conversations that support what truly works for our children. This week on the podcast, I’m talking with Darleen Opfer of RAND, a nonprofit organization that’s committed to low income and minority students. Darleen started as a special education teacher but quickly saw a need for changes in schools and went on a mission to impact education policy for the better. We talk about the loss of critical thinking skills as lawmakers remove topics from curriculum in some states, how demographics and culture impact both teaching and students success, and the impact of making decisions without sound and bipartisan research to back them up. We can all be active in policy making, starting at our own schools level. Parent and teacher involvement is vital in ensuring that we focus on overall coherence in our schools. Listen in! About Darleen Opfer: Darleen began her career as a special education teacher in Florida and then Virginia. After earning her Ph.D. in education policy at the University of Virginia, she became a professor of education policy. She served in that role at Georgia State University, Ohio State University, and the University of Cambridge, U.K.. Throughout her career, her focus has been on using evidence to improve schools for low-income and minority students. In 2011 she joined RAND as Director of RAND Education. In October 2018 she was promoted to Vice President and became Director of the RAND Education and Labor Research Division; she also holds RAND’s Distinguished Chair in Education Policy. Darleen has conducted policy research studies for several local, state and national governments on issues that affect teachers and schools, including recruitment and retention, professional development, and impact of policies on teacher practice. Recently, she’s been conducting research on teachers' use of curriculum and how coherent instructional systems impact low income and minority students' achievement. In addition to her research, she frequently serves as an advisor to international agencies and countries on teaching and teacher education including in Croatia, India, Israel, Norway, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and the OECD. Jump in the Conversation: [1:35] - Where Darleen’s journey of school transformation began [2:53] - Why policy doesn’t always work [3:18] - What RAND Corporation does [4:30] - What’s happening in politics with some of the key education conversations [5:58] - Dropping curricula, which means they’re dropping things that are necessary for critical thinking [7:24] - How RAND gets research out there to impact policy and education change [9:18] - Impact of 4-day schools - the research [11:44] - Solutions for low income and minority students [13:32] - Districts and schools that focus on coherence are more effective [16:50] - Demographic shifts and class culture [20:27] - The idea of transferring paraprofessionals to teachers using stackable credentials [22:51] - TALIS (Teaching and Learning International Survey) Video Study [27:15] - Resources for infusing nonpartisan views in the classroom [30:00] - How parents and educators can influence educational policy [35:51] - Turbo Time [36:50] - What people need to know about creating equity and access for all our learners [38:25] - Darleen’s Magic Wand [39:42] - Maureen’s Takeaways Links & Resources RAND Corporation: Gates Foundation: Seattle’s access 137: Maureen’s TEDx: Maureen’s book: on Good Morning America /episode/index/show/educationevolution/id/28004973

178. Early Life Nutrition is Key to Wellness with Cynthia Jackson 09/05/2023

178. Early Life Nutrition is Key to Wellness with Cynthia Jackson Hopefully we all know the importance of nutrition early in life, but not enough schools offer nutrition education. And since children often do what their parents do, adults’ poor food choices get passed down generation after generation. This week on the podcast, I’m talking with Cynthia Jackson of Educare about this critical aspect of early childhood development. Cynthia shares the profound impact of a good diet during the early years on long-term health and well-being. We explore how organizations like Educare are addressing food insecurity among families and empowering children to make healthier food choices. The conversation highlights innovative initiatives like WISE (We Inspire Smart Eating), which encourages children to enjoy more fruits and vegetables, both at home and at school. We also explore the role of family engagement, community gardens, and experiential learning in fostering healthier habits from an early age. Tune in to discover how education and practical programs are transforming lives by providing access to nutritious food and empowering young learners to develop lifelong healthy eating habits. About Cynthia Jackson: Cynthia D. Jackson leads the Educare Learning Network of high-quality birth-to-five schools and is Senior Vice President at Start Early.Previously, she served as national director of training and technical assistance for Healthy Families America at Prevent Child Abuse America. Cynthia holds a master’s degree in counseling and health education from the University of North Texas. Jump in the Conversation: [1:56] - Where Cynthia’s passion for education and nutrition began [3:50] - When schools align with dietary guidelines for americans, health, well-being and academics all improve [4:38] - Advancing quality early learning through partnerships and innovation so every child can thrive [6:08] - Wise - We Inspire Smart Eating - fun with fruits and veggies - child led approach to nutrition [9:10] - High quality programming and practice, alongside evaluation and research [10:26] - 4 pillars: data utilization, high quality teaching and learning, embedded professional development, intensive family engagement [11:48] - Exposing children to natural world through gardening programs [13:54] - Turning nutrition into a science project [16:10] - 28% of families report food insecurity [18:31] - Other ways Educare is addressing nutrition and health needs [19:49] - What parents can do to help change habits now [22:50] - Turbo Time [24:54] - What people need to know about the role of nutrition in the early years of life [26:45] - Cynthia’s Magic Wand [28:01] - Maureen’s takeaways Links & Resources Maureen’s TEDx: Maureen’s book: on Good Morning America /episode/index/show/educationevolution/id/27940365

177. Creating More Meaning for Students with Michael Strong 08/29/2023

177. Creating More Meaning for Students with Michael Strong We know that students’ basic needs need to be met in order for them to learn and grow. Safety is at the core of this, especially as they discuss ideas in the classroom. And with this safety comes community, connection, meaning, and purpose, some of the most important elements of a school setting, according to this week’s podcast guest. Michael Strong is founder of The Socratic Experience, a virtual school for students in third through twelfth grades, and he’s designed schools for students from Alaska to Chicago and beyond. In our conversation, Michael and I talk about why student choice is so important, why psychological safety matters more than test scores, and when parents should search for other options for their children. Michael reinforces the message that I’ve been sharing since the start of this podcast: there’s no such thing as one size fits all when it comes to education. And it just takes one teacher, parent, or school administrator to start the conversation to create change. Tune in today! About Michael Strong: Michael Strong is founder of The Socratic Experience, a virtual school for grades 3-12. He is one of the most experienced designers of innovative school programs in the United States. His projects include a public school program in which minority female students gained four years’ worth of critical thinking gains in four months (on the Watson-Glaser). He later went into Montessori secondary school program design at The Judson Montessori School (San Antonio), The Emerson School, and Hacienda School. He created The Winston Academy, where middle school students passed AP exams, making it the most academically advanced school in the country at the time. Another of Michael’s projects, Moreno Valley High School, a Paideia charter high school, was ranked the 36th-best U.S. public high school by Newsweek. More recently he co-founded KoSchool in Austin, Texas, which combined his high-performance approach to AP coursework and SAT score gains with a focus on entrepreneurial and creative projects. KoSchool, in turn, became the original model for The Academy of Thought and Industry, the high school model for the largest Montessori network in the United States. Students from Michael’s schools have been admitted to Harvard, Stanford, Georgetown, Smith, Bard, Bennington, McGill, UT-Austin, University of Colorado, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Parsons School of Design, Quest, St. John’s and many dozens of other post-secondary institutions. He is the author of The Habit of Thought: From Socratic Seminars to Socratic Practice and lead author of Be the Solution: How Entrepreneurs and Conscious Capitalists Can Solve All the World’s Problems. Jump in the Conversation: [1:45] - Where Michael’s story of transformation began [3:03] - What is Socratic dialogue and how it’s used in online schools [4:50] - How co-schooling with Montessori works [7:20] - Solving for inequity [8:26] - SAT and AP are cognitively rich, but schools don’t always have a cognitively rich curriculum [9:10] - Keys to adolescent well-being [12:26] - Simple suggestions to build connection, community, meaning, and purpose [13:50] - Creating metrics for community and purpose [16:19] - Focus on things other than test scores [17:24] - We need a broader conversation about mental health data [19:56] - How parents can support an alternative program for their children [22:23] - What’s next for the school [24:10] - Turbo Time [25:30] - What people need to know about Socratic dialogue [27:20] - Michael’s Magic Wand [28:43] - Maureen’s Takeaways Links & Resources by Kaja Sadowski Follow Michael on and Maureen’s TEDx: Maureen’s book: on Good Morning America /episode/index/show/educationevolution/id/27872694

176. Empowering Equity and Employability with Dr. Nivine Megahed 08/22/2023

176. Empowering Equity and Employability with Dr. Nivine Megahed It’s time for schools and universities to serve all learners, especially in an equitable and accessible environment. National Louis University, under the visionary leadership of Dr. Nivine Megahed, is reshaping education and lives to meet this ever-present need. Their commitment to equity, employability, and social transformation stands as a beacon in the evolving educational landscape. NLU's focus extends beyond degrees, emphasizing continuous learning, skills, and economic stability. By addressing challenges faced by marginalized students, NLU exemplifies a commitment to inclusivity and success for all. In an era where education is redefined, NLU's model reminds us of the power of personalized support and empowerment. As we celebrate NLU's recognition for social mobility, their journey exemplifies that education isn't just about degrees; it's about tangible impact and transformation. Listen in to hear more of this very timely and necessary conversation. About Dr. Nivine Megahed: Dr. Megahed has worked in higher education for over 35 years. As an educational entrepreneur, her passion is building innovative student centered organizations focused on student success and empowering our most marginalized populations to achieve social and economic mobility through education. Jump in the Conversation: [1:40] - Nivine’s story of school transformation [3:02] - National Louis University and the needs it addresses [5:19] - Building programs with best practices and data [7:33] - Helping students find jobs [10:04] - Creating a career bridge for students and taking responsibility [12:14] - From internship to post graduate jobs [15:39] - Educational equity in a university [20:37] - How NLU compares to prestigious, pricy universities [23:20] - Meeting the mission of public good [25:40] - Turbo Time [33:25] - Nivine’s Magic Wand [34:36] - Maureen’s Takeaways Links & Resources Maureen’s TEDx: Maureen’s book: on Good Morning America /episode/index/show/educationevolution/id/27811377

175. Championing Equitable Early Childhood Education with Danielle D. Jordan 08/15/2023

175. Championing Equitable Early Childhood Education with Danielle D. Jordan Think about the tremendous growth and learning that happens during the first five years of a child's life. These years are a foundation for future success, yet there's often a gap in resources and support. Thankfully, in a world where government funding for early childhood education often falls short, there are still many out there advocating for comprehensive educational support. This week on the podcast, I’m talking with Danielle Jordan, a 20-year educational leader who supports youth in the Chicago area. We discuss the challenge of expanding universal pre-K programs to include essential services for children aged zero to three years old and why early childhood education goes beyond mere babysitting, playing a pivotal role in developmental learning. Everyone should be proactive advocates for increased funding and equitable access to quality education and Danielle shares how to empower parents through engagement and committees and highlights parents’ role in supporting their child's educational journey. About Danielle D. Jordan: Danielle D. Jordan, M.S., M.A. Ed., Director, oversees the implementation of our early childhood program at the Start Early’s Educare Chicago school in the Grand Boulevard community. With more than 20 years of experience, Danielle supported early childhood teachers and support staff with planning, coordinating, and implementing education programs. Ms. Jordan holds several credentials, certifications and licensures in the field of Early Childhood Education along with a master’s degree in Child and Family studies from Northern Illinois University and a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education with an endorsement in Early Childhood Special Education from University of Illinois at Chicago. Danielle has held various positions within the early childhood development field. She continues to be an advocate for quality early childhood education. Jump in the Conversation: [1:17] - Where Danielle's journey began [3:59] - How Danielle's personal experience ignited her passion for early childhood development [5:45] - Understanding the importance of Head Start and its impact on families in need of assistance and support [10:06] - Wraparound services offered by Headstart [16:13] - “Grow your own" approach [20:51] - Maintaining eligibility criteria and supporting families as they transition in and out of the program [23:46] - Challenges of finding affordable quality child care [26:15] - The role of universities in training future educators and advocates for early childhood education [30:58] - Advocating for early childhood education [34:12] - Turbo Time [36:48] - A powerful message about understanding and respecting the rapid development of children aged zero to five [43:41] - Danielle’s Magic Wand [45:21] - Maureen’s Takeaways Links & Resources Maureen’s TEDx: Maureen’s book: on Good Morning America /episode/index/show/educationevolution/id/27750297

174. Leading Education with What We Value with Jennie Magiera 08/08/2023

174. Leading Education with What We Value with Jennie Magiera The possibilities are endless in education as technology offers new opportunities every year. But are we using that technology to support teachers, who can then support their students? This week on the podcast, I’m talking with Jennie Magiera, global head of Education Impact at Google. She’s also a bestselling author and former teacher and school administrator. She found her way to education after a transformative school year as a young girl and that’s helped her throughout her career as she tries to create that same experience for other students. Jennie and I talk about her vision for facilitating teacher support. She talks about the need to reimagine professional learning experiences, allowing teachers to start with their hopes in training sessions. And she shares about the recently published Future of Education report, which studied the future of education across 24 countries. In her analysis of these reports, she provides a glimpse into the changing landscape of education. She emphasizes the ongoing need to understand and respect future users of educational technology and elaborates on how these changes affect students, schools, and the broader education system. If you’re looking for a sign that education CAN change, from the inside out, then this is the episode to listen to. With leaders like Jennie at the helm, anything is possible. About Jennie Magiera: Jennie Magiera is the Global Head of Education Impact at Google, the Corwin bestselling author of Courageous Edventures and the founder and president of the non-profit organization, Our Voice Alliance, whose mission is to elevate marginalized voices and perspectives to improve equity & empathy in education. Previously, she was the Chief Program Officer at EdTechTeam, the Chief Innovation Officer for the Des Plaines Public School District 62, the Digital Learning Coordinator for the Academy for Urban School Leadership, and a Chicago Public Schools teacher. Jennie uses her classroom experiences to inform her work supporting educators to create new and better opportunities for their students. She believes that despite the many challenges facing schools today, every classroom can be a place for “edventures”: student-centered, passion-based experiential learning. Her work centers around acknowledging problems and finding innovative ways to navigate them so as to allow teachers and students to dive into these classroom “edventures”. Jennie is also passionate about reimagining professional learning to facilitate more relevant teacher support. She has served on the Technical Working Group for the US Department of Education’s National Educational Technology Plan, helped develop the Dynamic Learning Project, and co-founded various conference concepts such as PLAYDATE and Teachers for Tomorrow. She has been recognized for her work as an Obama White House Champion for Change, Chicago Public Schools Innovator of the Year, TEDx Speaker, Golden Apple Teacher of Distinction, Apple Distinguished Educator, Google for Education Certified Innovator, and featured on various programs such as NBC’s Education Nation, C-SPAN’s Reimagining Education and NPR. Jennie shares her experiences taking risks in the classroom and helping others to feel comfortable doing the same in her book, Courageous Edventures. You can follow her on Twitter at @MsMagiera and learn more about her work and her book at bit.ly/edventuresbook. Jump in the Conversation: [1:52] - Where Jennie’s story of school transformation began [3:49] - Teaching in NYC to south side of Chicago and seeing disparate opportunities [6:30] - What are Edventures? [8:40] - Beyond the classroom, facilitating teacher support [10:56] - How can we allow teachers to start with their hopes in trainings [12:55] - The role of Google for Education [15:37] - Google’s Trends in Education Report [16:10] - Future of Education Report [18:11] - Looking into the future [26:24] - What’s next for Google Education [27:49] - What students, parents, educators can do to help be prepared for future [29:01] - Coming into it with curiosity [36:35] - Maureen’s Takeaways Links & Resources by Jennie Magiera Maureen’s TEDx: Maureen’s book: on Good Morning America /episode/index/show/educationevolution/id/27684552

173. Parent Choice Leads to Empowerment for All with Tyson Junkers 08/01/2023

173. Parent Choice Leads to Empowerment for All with Tyson Junkers Too many parents think they don’t have power and choice in their children’s education, but this week’s podcast guest proves otherwise. During COVID, Tyson Junkers saw his children thrive because they were learning at home in a project-based learning environment that Tyson himself developed. And as schools went back to in-person, his son was entering kindergarten. They visited a number of traditional schools and saw the discomfort in his children’s eyes. After searching for a solution and a lot of discussion, Tyson and his family moved and opened an Acton Academy in West Palm Beach, Florida. The result is a school that allows children to pursue their life passions while learning, making mistakes, and starting again. The school teaches character and values as part of the learning process, embedding it into everything they do. And it creates a system where teachers are empowered to do what’s best for their students instead of holding everyone back. Listen in to this thoughtful and empowering conversation about how parents have the power to do what’s best for their own children, and the community at large. About Tyson Junkers: Like you, we want to be confident in the school we send our children to. The problem is that conventional schools aren't always equipped to foster children's spirit, creativity, and passion for learning, which made us feel like we were losing our children to the public education system. We wanted a school that focused on our children's future instead of its own. One that lets children experience real-world, hands-on projects. One that throws away pointless tests in favor of mastery and excellence in everything from leadership skills to community involvement to academics. One that doesn't have teachers but Guides who put every decision, big or small, into our children's hands. And one that celebrates failing as a way to push yourself forward. And we knew we weren't alone. Like you, there's nothing more important to us than our kids. We, too, would do anything to see them thrive in life and on their educational journey. That's why we started an Acton Academy in Palm Beach Gardens, which has been called one of the most important education developments in the world. So, instead of your child not getting the individualized education they deserve where they see learning as a choir, your child will discover their unique strengths through family values, Christian faith, and the freedom to explore, create, and grow. Jump in the Conversation: [1:54] - Where Tyson’s path began [7:10] - Why Tyson decided NOT to open a school (and then changed his mind) [9:15] - Key concepts of Acton Academy [10:46] - Making every child independent and resilient [16:20] - Bring past careers and experience into the school [17:31] - How the voucher system works in Florida [19:56] - Competition is okay in schools [22:20] - Growth mindset applies to educators too [23:43] - What is the outcome we’re all after? That’s what matters [25:32] - The system is holding back great teachers [26:48] - Turbo Time [28:27] - What parents need to know about their kids pursuing their life passions [31:50] - Tyson’s Magic Wand [33:03] - Maureen’s Takeaways Links & Resources Maureen’s TEDx: Maureen’s book: on Good Morning America /episode/index/show/educationevolution/id/27617961

172. Aligning Board Behaviors with Student Outcomes with AJ Crabill 07/25/2023

172. Aligning Board Behaviors with Student Outcomes with AJ Crabill Explore the crucial role of school boards in driving student success and effective governance in our latest podcast episode with AJ Crabill. In this week’s episode, AJ offers valuable insights into the key struggles faced by school boards and the importance of shifting the focus away from adult inputs and toward student outcomes. He shares the behaviors and actions that set successful boards apart, including how they spend their time and prioritize the growth of children. Creating a continuous improvement cycle within school boards is so important, and AJ emphasizes the need to clarify priorities, monitor progress, align resources, and communicate results to the community. And he tells us why a student outcomes focus is paramount and how it impacts decision-making and resource allocation. Furthermore, AJ highlights the significant role of parent involvement in school boards, as they represent the vision and values of the community within the education system. Find out how parents can actively engage in the school board, regardless of their educational background, by focusing on implementing the community's vision and values. Don't miss this enlightening conversation that empowers education leaders, teachers, principals, and decision-makers to prioritize student outcomes and foster effective governance within school boards. Tune in now to gain valuable insights and actionable strategies. About AJ Crabill: Improving student outcomes is AJ Crabill’s focus. He serves as conservator at DeSoto, Texas ISD. During his guidance, DeSoto improved from F ratings in academics, finance, and governance to B ratings. He’s also faculty at Leadership Institute of Nevada and director of governance at the Council of the City Great Schools. He served as deputy commissioner at the Texas Education Agency and spearheaded reforms as board chair of Kansas City Schools that doubled the percentage of students who are literate and numerate. Crabill is a recipient of the Education Commission of the State’s James Bryant Conant Award. Jump in the Conversation: [1:41] - Where AJ’s passion for school excellence came from [3:01] - Key struggles that school boards face [6:01] - What healthy board behaviors look like [7:40] - What successful boards do differently [9:02] - Great on Their Behalf: Why School Boards Fail [10:56] - Five steps of a continuous improvement cycle [12:18] - The only reason schools exist [14:46] - Understanding what it means to have a student outcomes focus [21:35] - Where to find support for school boards [22:28] - The importance of parent involvement [25:07] - How parents can go about getting involved in the school board [29:32] - Turbo Time [34:10] - AJ’s Magic Wand [36:30] - Maureen’s Takeaways Links & Resources Maureen’s TEDx: Maureen’s book: on Good Morning America /episode/index/show/educationevolution/id/27533535

171. Creating What Our Kids Need with Tanya Sheckley 07/18/2023

171. Creating What Our Kids Need with Tanya Sheckley You don’t have to be an educator to make an impact in education. Sometimes it’s a concerned parent, looking for what’s best for their own child who can make the biggest impact. And the more parents like this week’s guest, Tanya Sheckley, take action, the faster we’ll have educational systems and support for all our youth. When Tanya’s daughter needed additional support at school, but the school could only offer a modified curriculum rather than a full inclusion model, Tanya knew that she needed to do something different. That’s when UP Academy was born and Tanya began advocating for educational change. On this week’s episode, Tanya and I talk about how to create more inclusion in schools, why modifications should be available for everyone (not just those with IEPs and 504 plans), what real-life experiences look like in practice, and what others can do to take us out of the status quo. This is an inspirational interview that will have you thinking about what you can do in your own community. The answer is: a lot! About Tanya Sheckley: Tanya Sheckley is founder and president of UP Academy, an elementary lab school which values innovation, empathy, and strength and incorporates a unique neuro-development program for children with physical disabilities. Tanya’s vision and mission show it’s possible to celebrate differences, challenge what’s broken in the American education system, and that all children can receive a rigorous, well-rounded education. She is an edupreneur, author of Rebel Educator: Create Classrooms of Imagination and Impact, and host of the Rebel Educator podcast. She speaks frequently on the future of education and entrepreneurship. She is a rebel educator who works with new and existing schools to question the status quo and develop innovative student experiences through inclusion and project-based learning. Jump in the Conversation: [1:50] - Where Tanya’s story of school transformation began [4:24] - Goal was to create a methodology and prove it was possible, then make it available to others [5:44] - Creating universal accommodation [10:42] - Project based learning at UP Academy [15:15] - Creating Real experience in the world to create self confidence [15:39] - How learners explore STEAM and innovation [18:46] - Where impact and imagination meet [21:27] - Make sure we’re pausing and asking the people who are involved what they want [22:27] - Launching a middle school in fall 2023 [23:20] - Creating core framework and philosophy to support other school founders [25:28] - What others can do to take us out of the status quo [26:25] - How can you take things away to give more space for educators to be creative and collaborative [27:32] - Turbo Time [31:25] - Tanya’s Magic Wand [33:52] - Maureen’s Takeaways Links & Resources Follow UP Academy on and Maureen’s TEDx: Maureen’s book: on Good Morning America /episode/index/show/educationevolution/id/27460461

170. Making Room for Financial Literacy with Brian Curcio 07/11/2023

170. Making Room for Financial Literacy with Brian Curcio Though the tide is slowly turning, not enough schools are offering financial literacy education to students, and I don’t know of any states that require it for graduation. Some states may not feel like there’s room or resources to teach this vital skill to students, but creative teachers and schools can find a way. This week on the podcast, I’m talking with Brian Curcio, co-founder of the financial literacy tool Rapunzl. It was founded to provide education about investing through fun and free investment competitions with scholarships and cash prizes. And because of the way it was built, students can learn about financial literacy both in and out of the classroom, opening up the possibilities and creating more accessibility. It’s time for life skills to take priority in the classroom and this is just the beginning of what I hope will be a tidal wave of tools to do just that. About Brian Curcio: Brian fell in love with the world of investing in high school and quickly developed a passion for financial education after teaching his peers about the stock market. Over time, they realized that ordinary investors have paid a price to learn to invest; and that price typically was real money ending up in Wall Street’s pocket. Rapunzl was founded to provide an unparalleled investing education through fun (and free) investment competitions with scholarship and cash prizes. Jump in the Conversation: [1:35] - Where Brian’s passion for his work started [2:49] - What students are currently getting in terms of financial literacy [4:28] - What students should learn about financial literacy [6:06] - Making financial literacy more attainable for learners [7:37] - What teachers need to know to support students through the platform [9:36] - Teaching financial literacy without a dedicated block in the school day [11:16] - Teachers don’t have to be the expert [14:12] - Project based learning and growing soft skills [15:34] - What parents can do to help kids get more established with financial literacy [18:40] - Award-winning tool [22:27] - Turbo Time [25:04] - How others can be activists and transform schools [26:38] - Brian’s Magic Wand [29:07] - Maureen’s Takeaways Links & Resources Maureen’s TEDx: Maureen’s book: on Good Morning America /episode/index/show/educationevolution/id/27422979

169. Connecting Parents, Students, and Post-Secondary Experiences with Colin Pears 07/04/2023

169. Connecting Parents, Students, and Post-Secondary Experiences with Colin Pears Parenting is challenging. We go from being caretakers to teachers to mentors to travel companions and there’s a learning curve at each step of the journey. The one that sticks out to so many is the transition into releasing young adults into the post-high school world. There’s an entirely new language for parents and students alike and it’s not easy to navigate. This week on the podcast, I’m talking with Colin Pears, founder of Highpoint Education. Colin saw a communication and development need for new college students and created a resource to bridge this gap. So many high school graduates go into college not having the maturity and sense of self to make the most of it. They need support in the transition. A circle of care is necessary for these young adults, and Colin and his organization have created a resource to make that happen. Tune in for our conversation around what post-secondary education preparation should look like; how parents and students can find the right tools for their needs; how we can reimagine the relationship between students, parents, and institutions; and more. About Colin Pears: Dr. Pears is the founder and executive director of Highpoint Education, a company dedicated to providing students and families with the support they need to navigate the transition from high school to college and ensure that students are successful once they arrive on campus. Dr. Pears was formerly the University Director of Academic Support and Advising and Co-Director of The Center for Academic and Career Success at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. He is an expert on student success and retention and has teaching experience at the primary, secondary, and university levels of education. As a higher education administrator, Dr. Pears developed support frameworks and retention initiatives for high-risk, under-represented, and underserved students, served as a professional consultant, and trained faculty, advisors, and academic coaches on important aspects of student engagement and pedagogy. He holds an MA in Political Science and an MA in Philosophy from Boston College, and a PhD in Philosophy from The Catholic University of America. Jump in the Conversation: [1:45] - Colin’s story of school transformation [4:39] - What happens in transition to college [5:45] - We’re asking too much of college students [6:35] - Creating circle of care with public health model [7:40] - Students need to be prepared for questioning their beliefs and figuring out who they are [9:38] - What post-secondary education preparation looks like [15:01] - When parents and students should get started [19:25] - Students can’t be effective without the right skills and tools [20:55] - Parents/student relationships have changed [24:21] - The greatest success for parent/child relationships [26:33] - How to shift the thinking that college is the path for everyone [31:07] - The reality of 4-year to 2-year colleges is vastly different [32:37] - Educational access is important [34:09] - Turbo Time [44:20] - Colin’s Magic Wand [46:12] - Maureen’s takeaways Links & Resources Maureen’s TEDx: Maureen’s book: on Good Morning America /episode/index/show/educationevolution/id/27358356

168. Creating Exceptional Internship Experiences with Rob Khoury 06/27/2023

168. Creating Exceptional Internship Experiences with Rob Khoury Internships play a crucial role in shaping the careers of young professionals, providing them with valuable industry experience and insights. In this podcast episode, Rob Khoury shares his journey of discovering how to create the best environment possible for interns. Inspired by an incredible intern who taught him the importance of meeting interns' needs, Rob offers valuable insights for employers on optimizing the internship experience. Creating exceptional internship experiences requires intention, ongoing communication, and a commitment to the growth and development of interns. By following the principles of exceptional internships, employers can provide valuable learning opportunities, foster meaningful connections, and make a lasting impact on the next generation of professionals. Whether you’re an organization wanting to create the best internship experience, an intern wanting to benefit from an internship or an educator helping students find internships, this episode will provide invaluable insights. About Rob Khoury: Robert J. Khoury is co-founder and CEO of Agile Rainmakers, a high-impact business development consulting and advisory firm based in Chicago’s Gold Coast. Previously, he had a 20+ year career in the financial industry that had him in many leadership roles. Rob earned a BSE in Electrical Engineering at Princeton University and his MBA in Finance and International Business from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. He led personal and professional development seminars for Landmark Worldwide for several years. Rob is co-author of How To Intern Successfully: Insights & Actions to Optimize Your Experience. Jump in the Conversation: [1:38] - Where Rob’s story of transformation began [3:09] - What is Agile Rainmakers [4:35] - How employers can attract interns that are the best fit for [6:25] - An investment in the intern is an investment in the intern [7:49] - Have interns check in with their friends and bring their feedback back to you [13:21] - Help potential interns get really clear so they know what they're looking for [17:33] - Network to get to know people, not to find an opportunity [18:16] - What kind of mentoring employers should provide [21:39] - 9 principles of exceptional internships - THE BRIDGE [29:53] - We need more organizations to mentor [32:20] - Turbo Time [33:49] - What people need to know about creating meaningful internships [36:20] - Rob’s Magic Wand [38:42] - Maureen’s Takeaways Links & Resources by Rob Knoury Maureen’s TEDx: Maureen’s book: on Good Morning America /episode/index/show/educationevolution/id/27275517

167. Building an Education at Home with Mandy Davis 06/20/2023

167. Building an Education at Home with Mandy Davis Homeschooling often gets a bad rap because of myths that parents believe about it. Contrary to popular belief, homeschooled kids have numerous opportunities to socialize or participate in group activities. And what many families experienced while their kids attended remote school during the pandemic is not an indication of what homeschooling looks like. This week on the podcast, Mandy Davis, a former school administrator, shares what homeschooling looks like in her home. She shares her insights and experiences in creating a nurturing and empowering learning environment for her children. In our conversation, Mandy highlights the importance of open conversations about educational options, advocating for children, and the power of community and connection in parenting. Listen in and gain valuable insights into authentic, student-driven learning and the power of homeschooling in nurturing well-rounded individuals. Let's continue to challenge the status quo and create educational environments that prioritize emotional well-being and individualized learning experiences. About Mandy Davis: Mandy Davis is a former school principal with a background in both public and private education. With a passion to provide both a solid academic foundation alongside life-giving opportunities and freedom for her children, she watched her priorities and goals shift. Bringing all of her focus back to the home, Mandy and her husband, Josh, found themselves moving their family on 10 acres in Central Oregon, and creating the life they had only dreamed could exist. Now a homeschooling, homesteading family of five, Mandy shares her stories and experience to help other mom’s find joy through giving their children a wild and free life! Homesteading, homemaking, homeschool, student centered learning, COVID’s learning disruption, charters, distance learning, interest led learning, rise in problematic behavior in schools Jump in the Conversation: [2:02] - Where Mandy’s educational activism came from [3:50] - What Mandy created for her family [5:08] - what’s working for Mandy and her kids [7:26] - Struggles in homeschooling [9:03] - Transformations that come from this model [14:40] - Easing into homeschooling [16:12] - The importance of connecting with other homeschool families [18:08] - What goes into school choice [22:38] - What’s next for Mandy and her mission [23:25] - Turbo Time [24:28] - What people need to know about authentic, student-driven learning [25:15] - How to be an activist to transform learning [26:08] - Mandy’s Magic Wand [26:52] - Maureen’s Takeaways Links & Resources Maureen’s TEDx: Maureen’s book: on Good Morning America /episode/index/show/educationevolution/id/27197154

166. Embracing Universal Design for Learning with Ginny Simmons 06/13/2023

166. Embracing Universal Design for Learning with Ginny Simmons We know that every child deserves a quality education, but did you know where the roots started to form for universal design for learning (UDL)? This week on the podcast, I’m talking to a powerhouse in education about the power of teaching different students in different ways. Something just makes sense when you consider how very different we all are. In this episode, Dr. Virginia (Ginny) Simmons, an advocate for UDL, shares her journey of transforming education to create inclusive classrooms that cater to the unique needs of every student. Reflecting on the limitations of traditional special education, Ginny emphasizes the importance of recognizing different "brain prints" and implementing innovative teaching methods. UDL shifts the focus from textbooks to empowering teachers as they tailor goals and objectives to meet the individual needs of their students. By embracing multiple intelligences, incorporating personal interests, and integrating technology, educators can create engaging and inclusive learning environments that foster higher-order thinking skills. Ginny's insights inspire educators to harness the power of UDL, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential in the classroom. About Dr. Virginia Simmons: Dr. Virginia Simmons makes over achievers look like lightweights. Not only is she serving learners and supporting educators fully well past when many may have retired, but she has more degrees than a room full of educators. Ginny has undergrad degrees in elementary ed, English, social studies, four master's degrees in mental disabilities, behavior disorders, learning disabilities, gifted and talented, and then a doctorate in special education and admin. Jump in the Conversation: [2:24] - Her accomplishments started when a principal told her to go to college [5:07] - Think in an open way; don’t close the door [5:48] - Where Ginny started in special education [8:50] - Educators looked at reasons for universal design and applied it to learning [11:50] - We were creating isolated worlds [14:12] - Research started to show the way to teaching special education [15:38] - Universal Design for Learning is caring for every student in the classroom [16:46] - The textbook is just a book; the teacher is who implements the goals and objectives [18:30] - How many intelligences can you include in one lesson [19:19] - Higher-order thinking skills and technology [24:21] - Teaching prosody [29:03] - How teachers can implement universal learning in their classrooms [32:16] - Turbo Time [43:30] - Ginny’s Magic Wand [44:53] - Maureen’s Takeaways Links & Resources Maureen’s TEDx: Maureen’s book: on Good Morning America /episode/index/show/educationevolution/id/27131079

165. Empowering Education with New Opportunities with Jon England 06/06/2023

165. Empowering Education with New Opportunities with Jon England Deregulating zoning and occupancy laws is crucial to support the growth of micro-schools, providing diverse educational options for students. But few know what steps to take or who to talk to. This week on the podcast, Jon England of Libertas Institute shares how changing policies can help create new learning opportunities for students who don’t thrive in the traditional education system. Jon highlights the limitations of the public education system and emphasizes empowering parents and teachers to explore innovative approaches in education. And we discuss the risks entrepreneurs face in challenging traditional norms and building alternative models to create a system that caters to individual student needs. This thought-provoking conversation with Jon England calls for educational transformation through innovation, individualized learning, and policy change. Together, let's create an education system that empowers students, supports teachers, and nurtures the unique potential within each child. About Jon England: Jon is the Education Policy Analyst at Libertas Institute. He is a fourteen-year veteran of public schools. He taught both fifth and sixth grades, receiving Weber District’s E+ Team Award. He proudly homeschools and micro schools his children with his wife. Jon received his bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Utah and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Western Governors University. He spent time in the Marine Corps and separated as a sergeant in 2006. During his time in public schools, Jon increasingly understood the importance of parental empowerment in education. This increased understanding led him to join Libertas to provide educational freedom for families. Jon enjoys spending time with his wife and five children traveling, skiing, and playing games. Jump in the Conversation: [1:48] - John shares his story of school transformation [3:35] - Deregulating some of the zoning and occupancy laws to help support micro-school founders [6:07] - The risks that entrepreneurs face in education [7:00] - Why create more schools for children? [9:44] - Breakout school for children with ADHD and autism [13:05] - Every child has greatness and it’s our responsibility to draw that out [16:46] - Where can we begin to be a part of policy change [20:09] - Our common humanity is more important than politics [22:45] - Turbo Time [23:15] - What people need to know about educational policy [25:47] - Jon’s Magic Wand [27:03] - Maureen’s takeaways Links & Resources Maureen’s TEDx: Maureen’s book: on Good Morning America /episode/index/show/educationevolution/id/27053301

164. Reconnecting Pathways with Neurofeedback Training with Dianne Kosto 05/30/2023

164. Reconnecting Pathways with Neurofeedback Training with Dianne Kosto After watching her son struggle with severe impulse control, to the point where it was negatively impacting her family on a daily basis, Dianne Kosto became a mom on a mission. She had tried it all: private school, home school, boarding school, and even a military academy. But her son was always sent back home because he didn’t follow the program. Dianne, this week’s podcast guest, found another way. Neurofeedback technology. Dianne got trained in using neurofeedback, then helped her son and others in his boarding school use it to fill in gaps in the “brain wiring” that helped the brain regulate more effectively. And what she learned in the process became a whole new mission for her. This week, we’re talking about brain regulation and rewiring to support people with challenges that are all over the map. Dianne shares where it can be used and how it can support just about anyone, because the reality is that we all have dysregulated brains. About Dianne Kosto: Dianne KostoDianne Kosto, Founder and CEO of SYMMETRY Neuro-Pathway Training is a Mom on a Mission to make Neurofeedback technology available to families and individuals. She wants to help other families avoid the trauma that her family experienced as a result of her son’s brain dysregulation. For years Dianne sought an environment that would help her son thrive as he was kicked out of schools and programs repeatedly. Dianne was given advice by physicians, psychologists, therapists, counselors, education professionals, and school administrators but no one told her about Neurofeedback. When people have dysregulated brains they struggle with physical and emotional pain, life is hard and relationships are damaged. Neurofeedback helps the brain learn to better regulate, when the brain is functioning better people thrive. Dianne knows that Neurofeedback saved her son’s life and restored hope for her family. Jump in the Conversation: [1:27] - A mom on a mission [1:53] - Dianne’s story of change [3:17] - Asking, “what happened to you?” [6:14] - Learned about a neurofeedback company [7:28] - Spark came back to her son’s eyes [8:57] - After 40 sessions, he had the pause that he never had before [10:35] - What neurofeedback looks like [13:01] - We all need this in our homes [14:03] - When the brain isn’t well-regulated they respond to the same things [15:05] - Became a trainer for the company, then started own company [16:35] - Requirements for training [18:57] - What’s needed after therapy [21:28] - Outliers from babies to peak performers [23:58] - Next steps for neurofeedback technology [26:33] - Uncovering even more issues [28:01] - Getting out of the status quo in thinking about emotional outbursts [30:24] - Turbo Time [31:53] - Dianne’s passion for what she does [32:35] - How other parents can be activists [32:37] - Dianne’s Magic Wand [35:28] - Maureen’s Takeaways Links & Resources Maureen’s TEDx: Maureen’s book: on Good Morning America /episode/index/show/educationevolution/id/26904873

163. Better Tech & Better Processes for College Choice with David Hurwitt 05/23/2023

163. Better Tech & Better Processes for College Choice with David Hurwitt The whole college admissions process is frustrating from both sides. Students rely on the school mailers they’re inundated with beginning their second or third year of high school. And schools buy student lists and “spray and pray” them with mailers. There’s no real science behind it and, as a result, students end up transferring or leaving their college after a semester or two (if they opt to go at all) and colleges are constantly looking for new students to fill seats and meet revenue quotas. Not only that but students of privilege tend to get better access to college planning resources, leaving a big gap in those who end up with a good fit college vs. those who don’t. David Hurwitt is on a mission to change this. By leveraging research from the dating app eHarmony, he’s created a free tool where students can match with a good-fit college. This creates better student successes as well as better results for the colleges and universities that provide data and feedback to the system. Not every student is meant to go to college, and that’s okay. But giving more students access to resources that allow them to forge their own paths is essential. This is a step in the right direction. Listen in to hear more. About David Hurwitt: Dave Hurwitt is an innovator. Over the course of his career, he’s led the development and launch of new products and services – from toothpicks to wind turbines – that have generated well over $1 billion in sales. If you have a large, front loading washing machine in your house, that was Dave and his team at Whirlpool. They re-envisioned the traditional, small European washer for the US market and took front loaders from 1% of the market to over 50% today, saving billions of dollars in electricity and water consumption in the process. Dave has lived and worked around the world, and is now based in Burlington Vermont with his wife and two Golden Retrievers. Their 3 “kids” have now graduated from college, but it was his experience with them on their college journeys that started his innovator’s brain cranking on what became Troove. Having worked in admissions through grad school, he was amazed by how little technology and the internet had impacted the college search and admissions process. And even more, he was dismayed to discover how often students were transferring or dropping out altogether. In early 2020, this led directly to his founding Troove, a 2-sided, AI powered platform to help students discover their passions, people, and place based on the real experiences of recent alumni and current higher education students. An accomplished photographer, lover of history, and avid traveler, Dave has made it to every state but Alaska (so far!) and some 50 different countries, camera always in hand. The same curiosity about people that shows up in his photography also shows up in the new products he creates – always with a focus on human interaction and how we can better blend the old and the new. Jump in the Conversation: [1:39] - where did story of school transformation begin for you [4:49] - The story of Benjamin Woodbridge’s application to Harvard in 1637 [6:35] - What can solve this problem [9:02] - Goal for admissions officers is enrollment, not retention [12:00] - People don’t know exactly what they’re looking for, making it difficult to find the right school [14:04] - Leveling the playing field in higher education against the bias toward those with more means [17:56] - Why admissions offices need this resources [20:34] - What the process looks like for students [25:26] - When to start using a resource like Troove [32:46] - Turbo Time [39:04] - David’s Magic Wand [40:53] - Maureen’s Takeaways Links & Resources Maureen’s TEDx: Maureen’s book: on Good Morning America /episode/index/show/educationevolution/id/26904858

162. Early Childhood Experiences from Birth with Cynthia Jackson 05/16/2023

162. Early Childhood Experiences from Birth with Cynthia Jackson Research shows that children who have had access to early childhood experiences show up to kindergarten more prepared to learn because they have improved cognitive development, motor skills, and behavior expectations. Those who don't have access aren't as prepared to learn and typically start out their formal education a bit behind. This can cause challenges for years to come. What we need is tools and resources to help support young children, before they head to kindergarten, so they can be prepared to thrive. That’s what Cynthia Jackson is doing at Educare. In this episode of the podcast, I sit down with Cynthia, the Executive Director of Educare, a learning lab that advances quality learning with partnerships, policy, and research so every child can thrive. We talk about how children are learning from birth, the responsibilities of early childhood professionals, how data can create a continuous quality improvement mindset, and how other educators can get involved. About Cynthia Jackson: Cynthia D. Jackson leads the Educare Learning Network, a generative, coast-to-coast network of high-quality birth-to-five schools that function as innovative learning labs for the field of early childhood education. In her dual role as Senior Vice President at Start Early, she works alongside other senior leaders to advance the organization’s mission. In collaboration with the Buffett Early Childhood Fund, Educare Learning Network school leaders and other early childhood stakeholders, Cynthia advances practice, research and policy solutions to create greater system-wide impact. Prior to joining Start Early, she served as national director of training and technical assistance for Healthy Families America at Prevent Child Abuse America and director of the Midwest Learning Center for Family Support at Family Focus, Inc. Cynthia holds a master’s degree in counseling and health education from the University of North Texas. Jump in the Conversation: [1:50] - Where advocacy for young learners began for Cynthia [3:30] - Children learn from day one [4:18] - What is Educare and how does it contribute to a critical development stage [5:25] - How partnerships in Educare work [8:19] - The difference between children who have had access to early childhood experiences vs. those who haven’t [9:25] - How Educare addresses policy [12:05] - How Educare manages the dynamic of cutting vs. adding [13:02] - Innovative learning labs [16:30] - Theory of change model [17:35] - Parents are first and best teachers [18:29] - Ways listeners can help shake up the resources for early childhood education [20:42] - Turbo Time [24:15] - Cynthia’s Magic Wand [26:01] - Maureen’s Takeaways Links & Resources Maureen’s TEDx: Maureen’s book: on Good Morning America /episode/index/show/educationevolution/id/26791332

161. Combatting Disconnection Among Seniors with D’yann Crosby 05/09/2023

161. Combatting Disconnection Among Seniors with D’yann Crosby We focus a lot on the education of our youth, but people at the other end of their life need resources and education too. Many people lose their hearing as they age, making communication difficult and connection even more challenging. Seniors face isolation, which leads to anxiety, depression, and elevated symptoms of dementia. What can help combat this is more family and community connections and learning something new. This week on the podcast, guest D’yann Crosby shares her solution to this challenge. And it’s ingenious. As an educator, D'yann has immersed herself in the deaf community, learning and understanding their needs and finding solutions to fill a need for a community that is underserved and marginalized. She emphasizes the importance of providing exercises for everyone, from hitting the beginning of language learning to senior citizens, and looking at the next generation. About D’yann Crosby: Dr. D’yann Elaine is a leading American Sign Language (ASL) educator, interpreter, consultant, author, producer, and the founder of Sign with Me, Inc. She is an expert in connecting the hearing and Deaf communities and blazing new trails in this field. Dr. D’yann holds a Doctorate in Divinity, two Bachelor’s and two Master’s degrees from prestigious universities. With a passion for social equity and inclusion, Dr. D’yann’s goal is to help people expand their perspectives and focus on their abilities instead of their limitations. With over two decades of experience, Dr. D’yann has dedicated her life to teaching others. She is the executive producer of the ASL Emergency Preparedness DVD Series and Unheard Voices Talk Show, as well as the author of the “Seniors Sign, Too!” book series. Her vision is to inspire a new generation of signers and make a positive impact by unifying communities through language. She has been featured in iDominate (April 2022 and February 2023) and Voyage LA (2022) and on various On-demand and podcast platforms including Power of Praise Network and Unshakeable Woman and Radio Theatre For Your Soul. Jump in the Conversation: [1:40] - Learning is lifelong [2:00] - Where the desire for impact started for D’yann [4:05] - Equal communication access for those who are deaf and hard of hearing [6:15] - 1 in 3 people over age 65 suffer hearing loss [11:52] - Creating cross-generational and cross-cultural activities [12:50] - ASL belongs to the deaf community [13:57] - Family signing together and learning something new makes it more fun [14:52] - Filling a need for a community that are underserved and marginalized [18:01] - Serving those in the beginning stages of language learning on up to senior citizens [19:19] - How to ease into learning ASL for parents and aging population [23:19] - Goal is to raise awareness of ASL and continue to be lifelong learners, even as we age [24:24] - Turbo Time [31:57] - D’yann’s Magic Wand 33:10] - Maureen’s Takeaways Links & Resources Maureen’s TEDx: Maureen’s book: on Good Morning America /episode/index/show/educationevolution/id/26782830

160. Creating Clear Outcomes & Wraparound Support for Students 05/02/2023

159. Optimizing Human Performance in Schools with Ford Dyke 04/25/2023

159. Optimizing Human Performance in Schools with Ford Dyke Human performance optimization is how elite athletes hone their crafts, but just about anyone can take these learnings and apply them to their own work. This week on the podcast I’m talking to Ford Dyke, a human performance coach who is passionate about human performance on the field and court, in the boardroom, and in the classroom. Ford shares his journey from graduate school to becoming a subject matter expert in the field, emphasizing the importance of being open to lifelong learning. Ford focuses on the human side of optimization, where it's essential to get to know oneself so you can support others. Ford believes that everyone is connected, and we all have a brain, set of lungs, and heart. Understanding how we’re all connected is one of the keys to growth and optimization. To maintain our energy, we need to stop and return to normalcy, whatever that means for each individual. Especially in this post-pandemic world, it's crucial to find what works for us and makes us feel good and work those processes so we can continue to grow and evolve. In K-12 education, the focus should be on reenergizing and moving the education system forward by applying human performance optimization principles. Join us in this episode to learn more about Ford Dyke's work and how you can optimize your own performance. About Ford Dyke: Human performance optimization subject-matter expert Dr. Ford Dyke delivers his innovation through podcasts, consultations, workshops, webinars, and seminars. Dr. Dyke collaborates globally with high-level performers such as corporate executives, elite athletes, physicians, academicians, first responders, and military personnel. His methodology integrates components of his Professorship, Team USA Athlete career, and experience as a Performance Coach for the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee. Dr. Dyke's education, professional experience, and personal journey led to the creation of perfor[Hu]mance.® | A multidimensional space for The Human Experience. As a native of the seaside community of Jupiter Beach, Florida, he remains mindful of an ocean breeze and waves breaking on the sand. Jump in the Conversation: [2:08] - How Ford got involved in doing things differently [3:28] - Life experiences that make him a human performance coach [5:03] - How have you worked on optimizing your own performance [7:49] - From psychology to exercise science to psychophysiology [11:26] - Course for perfor[Hu]mance [12:56] - The common theme for any performance is the human [16:31] - Common themes within a wide range of performers [19:34] - How this is applied to K-12 education [22:35] - We all have a brain, set of lungs, and heart [22:34] - What people can do to maintain their own energy [28:43] - Turbo Time [37:46] - Ford’s Magic Wand [39:30] - Maureen’s Takeaways Links & Resources Maureen’s TEDx: Maureen’s book: on Good Morning America /episode/index/show/educationevolution/id/26640996

158. Bridging the Opportunity Gap with Khari Brown 04/18/2023

158. Bridging the Opportunity Gap with Khari Brown Our youth in low-income communities were already struggling with finding opportunities to become more upwardly mobile before the pandemic. And now they’re struggling even more to find resources and often turn to the workforce, delaying higher education. For the last 30 years, Spark the Journey has been creating such opportunities in D.C., providing mentorship and community support to help black and brown students continue their education or find careers they enjoy. This week on the podcast, I’m talking with Khari Brown about his own journey from his ah-ha moment as a basketball coach, seeing the great divide between the opportunities of his white players versus those of color. That led him to Spark the Journey, which he has grown to supporting more than 1,000 participants and volunteers alike. In this conversation, we talk about volunteerism, racial inequality, creating partnerships of nonprofits, and more. Tune in now! About Khari Brown: Khari Brown is the Chief Executive Officer of Spark the Journey, a 30-year-old nonprofit organization that provides mentorship and a community of support to young adults from DC’s low-income communities. When Brown joined Spark the Journey, he was its only employee. He has since built Spark from a small-scale scholarship program to a renowned mentorship organization that has served 1,000+ program participants and engaged 1,000+ volunteer mentors. Jump in the Conversation: [2:01] - Where this journey began for Khari [3:57] - What Spark the Journey is [4:53] - How kids and volunteers can get involved [6:16] - What it looks like to be part of the program [7:21] - It’s hard to focus on being a student or pursuing a career when your basic needs aren’t being met [9:12] - What workforce development looks like for Spark the Journey [13:01] - Town for Tomorrow Alliance [13:41] - What it takes to engage and retain volunteers [16:00] - Roadblocks that Spark the Journey is experiencing right now [18:15] - Ways you can support youth with what they need to succeed in life [19:24] - Turbo Time [25:15] - Khari’s Magic Wand [27:08] - Maureen’s Takeaways Links & Resources , episode 136 Maureen’s TEDx: Maureen’s book: on Good Morning America /episode/index/show/educationevolution/id/26561298

157. [Human Rights Series] Giving Back 04/11/2023

156. Maximizing the Value of Summer School with Sari Factor 04/04/2023

156. Maximizing the Value of Summer School with Sari Factor In years past, summer school has been used as a way to punish kids who were falling behind, putting them into remedial classes where there was a lot of rote memorization and dry reading crammed into a short space. While those days aren’t fully over yet, many organizations and schools are working hard to create summer school programs that are engaging and allow students to succeed on their own terms. Imagine Learning is one such organization. Through technology, teachers can personalize learning for students and try out new modalities in summer school. And students can grow leaps and bounds in smaller classes with teachers who are more focused on their needs. This week on the podcast, Sari Factor of Imagine Learning is sharing more about the benefits of summer school, why we shouldn’t be afraid of technology, how we can use summer school as a way to address inequity in learning, and so much more. If you’re an educator or parent who is wondering about the value of summer school, it’s time to listen in! About Sari Factor: Sari is the Vice Chair and Chief Strategy Officer at Imaging Learning. She began her career as a mathematics teacher but soon thought of much bigger ways to impact students. Recognizing that technology could greatly transform the way students learn, she made a career move into education technology and has been working to leverage technology to help students, teachers, schools, and districts ever since. Sari joined Imagine Learning in 2011 and has held leadership positions at successful educational publishing and learning technology companies, including Kaplan, McGraw-Hill, Houghton Mifflin, and Everyday Learning Corporation. “I knew that I could fulfill my vision to combine technology with research on learning to make education truly student-centered.” Jump in the Conversation: [1:39] Where transforming education began for Sari [2:42] - A tech upside to the pandemic [3:59] - First response to tech is to feel threatened [4:57] - You can’t separate school work from work at large [5:25] - How Imagine Learning is maximizing student learning [6:35] - In summer school in particular, you can personalize learning in a way you can’t during the regular school year [8:26] - Teachers can focus better in summer school [9:45] - Personalized intervention comes into play for mastery learning [12:54] - The gift of mastery based learning [14:40] - Making a positive impact on test scores [17:50] - How administrators can address burnout of year round schooling and support teachers and students [21:21] - Summer classes can address inequity in learning [24:48] - What learners and educators can feel less daunted about summer school [27:36] - Turbo Time [32:48] - Sari’s Magic Wand [34:00] - Maureen’s Takeaways Links & Resources Maureen’s TEDx: Maureen’s book: on Good Morning America /episode/index/show/educationevolution/id/26429631

155. [Human Rights Series] The Right to an Education 03/28/2023

155. [Human Rights Series] The Right to an Education We’ve all always known that not everyone has the same access to a quality education. We only need to look in our own communities to see the difference. But travel overseas and you’ll find children living in poverty that we can’t even imagine who don’t have access to some of our basic human rights, education being only one of them. I recently had the opportunity to travel to Guatemala City to visit a school, Camino Seguro, that is trying to change this lack of access for children in its community. Known as Safe Passage in English, this school is just one example of what one teacher can do. This episode is part one of a three-part series on our basic human rights. We’ll cover the right to an education and mental health services as well as how to start supporting initiatives to ensure every child has what they need to succeed. In this first episode of the series, I talk about the Sustainable Development Goals that were adopted by the United Nations in 2015, the loss of services many underprivileged areas saw as a result of the pandemic, and how one school is helping students disrupt the poverty cycle for their families. Jump in the Conversation: [1:46] - A reminder of my beliefs and mission [2:47] - Safe Passage and the right to an education [3:51] - Learning about Jane Walker and the quality of life in Tondo [3:45] - Families have to choose between sending kids to school or to work [6:06] - Fast forward to today and having a broader sense of what learners need [6:07] - Looking at equity and learning opportunities with a global lens [7:08] - UN Sustainable development goals, adopted in 2015 as a call to action [8:36] - Local public schools in international schools are vastly different from private schools [9:50] - Children in extreme poverty have no access to basic human needs, including education [10:30] - The global educational impact of the pandemic [11:33] - We see the learning gap and how it’s grown [12:13] - Camino Segurio’s systemic and holistic support to the poorest families in Guatemala City [15:13] - Hanley Denning’s story and how Safe Passage came to be [17:02] - Safe Passage is a gateway out of poverty [18:18] - Maureen’s Magic Wand Links & Resources U Maureen’s TEDx: Maureen’s book: on Good Morning America /episode/index/show/educationevolution/id/26359929

154. Addressing Equity Through Adaptive Assessments with Nathan Thompson 03/21/2023

154. Addressing Equity Through Adaptive Assessments with Nathan Thompson Traditional standardized assessments are easy to use because they expect every student to take the exact same test. It’s easy to grade and inexpensive to administer. But these kinds of tests don’t work. They expect mastery at a granular level and don’t account for students who are well above or below the bell curve. Technology now allows us to administer adaptive assessments, where students are taken on a journey and the test is customized to find out where they excel and where they might need more help. One person leading this charge with adaptive assessments is Nathan Thompson of Assessment Systems. In this week’s episode, Nathan shares more about the importance of adaptive technology, how we can do better as educators, and other use cases for this technology. About Nathan Thompson: Nathan Thompson is CEO and Co-Founder of Assessment Systems, a company driven to improve assessment by making modern psychometrics accessible to more organizations, from adaptive testing to item response theory to automated essay scoring. Nate earned his PhD in Psychometrics from the University of Minnesota, with a focus on AI algorithms in adaptive testing. Jump in the Conversation: [1:42] - Where Nathan’s story of impacting education began [3:11] - What is computerized adaptive technology [5:20] - Adaptive technology is beneficial for making assessment the right size for every learners [6:14] - Where we are as a country in adaptive technology [8:07] - Lots of room for improvement on state assessments [9:09] - How to make adaptive tests more realistic for teachers [10:18] - Difference between formative and summative assessments [11:24] - How to do better as adults [13:31] - How it works in the real world [14:20] - How to get started in creating better assessments [16:00] - Assessments can help people evaluate where they should go in their careers Instead of expecting [18:23] - Creating stackable credentials [21:28] - What’s next for this mission [22:42] - How educators can use smarter and more accurate assessment tools [24:48] - What about for educators that struggle with statistics and numbers [26:56] - Turbo Time [28:06] - What people need to know about computerized adaptive testing [29:40] - What Nathan brings to assessment work [32:07] - Nathan’s Magic Wand [33:32] - Maureen’s Takeaways Links & Resources Maureen’s TEDx: Maureen’s book: on Good Morning America /episode/index/show/educationevolution/id/26287110

153. Education as a Human Right with William Tucker 03/14/2023

153. Education as a Human Right with William Tucker Every human on the planet has a right to an education. And, more importantly, a right to the education that they need and want. In Western culture, that often looks like traditional education…sitting in seats in classrooms and memorizing vocabulary and historical dates. Not only is this not what our children need, the ability to memorize isn’t a sign of success. Nor is this even a good way to educate anyone. This week on the podcast, I’m talking with William Tucker of Charity United, a US-based organization that provides humanitarian aid to those in need. William and I talk about what quality education actually is and why we need to ask what others need instead of simply assuming we know. There’s so much nuance in the way people learn and we need to approach education from the perspective of helping others to understand and learn how to think rather than thinking the way society does. This was a wonderful conversation around the English language, human rights, and why we need to approach teaching and learning from a different mindset. About William Tucker: William Tucker and his wife have helped over 100,000 kids & civilians in the slums of India, improving their quality of life through literacy education, emergency aid, and other philanthropic initiatives. As a Co-Founder of Charity United, a U.S.-based charity that provides humanitarian aid to children and civilians in need, William helps ensure children receive food, clothing, shelter, and education. William has worked as an educational specialist and corporate training officer in International Charitable organizations for several decades, training thousands of individuals for their jobs in order to improve the productivity of these organizations. After selling his house and living in the slums of India for a year, William discovered through on-the-ground experience the problems that kids most often face while living in the slums, mainly a lack of educational opportunities. In collaboration with charities and volunteers in India, Africa, and Latin America, Charity United provides educational tools to children with the aim of giving all children an equal opportunity for a promising future. Jump in the Conversation: [1:47] - How William joined the cause [2:50] - The underlying cause of challenges - failure to communicate, uneducated [3:51] - What counters undereducation [5:15] - The ability to think is what sets us apart [6:42] - Goals for working with students in India [7:20] - Don’t be arrogant and assume you know better [10:02] - In all the top English literature education materials, they didn’t teach the sequence of learning a language [16:08] - Use illustrative examples and the kids will start learning [16:57] - Removing frequency words for better understanding [19:08] - The real point of education: understanding [19:54] - We’re not telling them what to think; we’re telling them how to think [20:25] - Illustrations for educational purposes is much different than illustrations for entertainment [21:47] - Adults can extract logic out of an image but kids are a blank slate [24:47] - Making the right of literacy a priority around the world [26:24] - Turbo Time [27:27] - What people need to know about learner-centered learning [28:27] - Everyone has opportunity to human rights, no matter where they grew up [29:36] - How to be an activist to support learning and literacy [30:54] - William’s Magic Wand [31:38] - Maureen’s Takeaways Links & Resources Maureen’s TEDx: Maureen’s book: on Good Morning America /episode/index/show/educationevolution/id/26214222

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