#EduCrush
A celebration of the brave humans who are reimagining education through a liberating praxis. Hosted by assessment specialist Natalie Vardabasso, and teacher Alex Noel, this is a show for change agents who aren't afraid to ask uncomfortable questions, embrace complexity, and continuously empower themselves and others. Your next #EduCrush is right here!
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111 – The Court of Public Opinion
03/04/2024
111 – The Court of Public Opinion
Continue the conversation with Natalie on or Continue the conversation with Alex on or On this episode Alex discusses how the court of public opinion influences policy, ethics and our feelings about assessment.
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110 – Hacking Parent Communication (w Crystal Frommert)
02/26/2024
110 – Hacking Parent Communication (w Crystal Frommert)
✊ Parent communication isn’t the sexiest part of our jobs, but that doesn’t make it any less critical. Natalie is joined by Crystal Frommert, author of “When Calling Parents isn’t your Calling,” to discuss strategies to proactively partner with parents and how to assert ourselves when communication crosses into disrespectful territory. Show Notes: Whenever possible, we should lean towards verbal rather than written, digital communication. Many of us are nervous about talking to parents because of bad past experiences and deep fears of being exposed as a fraud. Parent communication in education is NOT customer service; we are professionals, not “yes” people. Strategies for proactive parent communication are meet-the-teacher nights, information nights about special events, or spontaneous positive phone calls home. A great question to ask when talking to parents about something tough is, “What suggestions do you have for me to support your child through this?” As we build our expertise, we can avoid talking about grades with parents altogether by sharing evidence of learning directly. 💬 Continue the conversation with Natalie on or 💬 Continue the conversation with Crystal on , or her ✊
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109 – Pillars of the community w/ Rodney Noel
02/05/2024
109 – Pillars of the community w/ Rodney Noel
On this episode Alex interviews an expert in the community work that goes on in major cities. He has 20 years of experience working with children and youth, non-profits, schools, and families. He also happens to be my older brother, Rodney Noel. Continue the conversation with Natalie on or Continue the conversation with Alex on or
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108 – Assessment Identity (w Karley Alleyn)
01/29/2024
108 – Assessment Identity (w Karley Alleyn)
✨J Assessment and identity might not seem like a logical pairing on the surface, but they are a powerhouse combo for learning and professional growth. Everyone has an assessment story that we carry into the school space and those experiences determine what we believe to be true about ourselves, learners, and learning. Today Natalie reconnects with her childhood friend, Karley Alleyn, to explore the shared childhood experience that was fundamental to their assessment identities and what Karley learned about the role of authentic mentorship in its continued development during her Masters research. Show Notes: Natalie and Karley’s shared history of competitive rhythmic gymnastics is the foundation of their assessment identity to “please, perform, and perfect” and a focus on external rewards. Assessment identity is our understanding of assessment through our experiences as a student, educator, and as a human being. Karley chose narrative inquiry as the method for her assessment identity research as story is the foundation of our identities. This topic is important for all educators as it is an invitation to courageously look inward and share who you truly are. Authentic mentorship opportunities, not coerced or forced partnerships, are a powerful space for educators to develop their assessment identity as they enter the profession. An important first step in exploring assessment identity is to go inward and ask, “What was my first transformative assessment experience and how has it impacted my teaching practice?” 💬 Continue the conversation with Natalie on or 💬 Continue the conversation with Karley on ✊ ✨
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107 – Learning for Need, Honour, and Awe
01/22/2024
107 – Learning for Need, Honour, and Awe
Happy new year! What are the things in this world that make your jaw drop? Things that are so awesome that you can’t help but get excited about it, about learning about it and experiencing it? On this episode of #Educrush, Alex explores knowledge for need, for honour and for awe as we take some time to look to the past and to space! Links to SN 1006 because it’s awesome. Continue the conversation with Natalie on or Continue the conversation with Alex on or
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106 - Let go of limiting BS and transform your life
01/15/2024
106 - Let go of limiting BS and transform your life
✨J Sometimes, our focus on external change is just a reflection of the deeper changes we know we're avoiding in ourselves. Go read that again. Join Natalie for a solo episode to seize the new year and finally let go of the toxic habits, patterns, and relationships in your life to manifest your deepest desires. And no, manifesting isn’t magic, it’s science. Learn the biological basis for this powerhouse practice and a three-step process to apply it to your own life. 💬 Continue the conversation with Natalie on or ✊ ✨ Show Notes: A game of high/low for the holidays. Natalie gets personal about the 15-year karmic cycle she’s ready to release. The science behind manifesting as described by Dr. Bruce Lipton in “Biology of Belief.” A three-step process to tap into creative visualization and clear blocks.
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105 – Reflections on Community
12/18/2023
105 – Reflections on Community
This week on #Educrush, Alex is looking back on some of the interviews that match with what has turned out to be the focal point of the year…Community. Continue the conversation with Natalie on or Continue the conversation with Alex on or
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104 – Assessment, Change and Mindset through Story (w Tom Schimmer)
12/11/2023
104 – Assessment, Change and Mindset through Story (w Tom Schimmer)
In this crossover episode, Natalie joins fellow podcast host and co-author, Tom Schimmer, to discuss how story is critical to rehumanize assessment, embrace the messiness of change, and to cultivate the mindset necessary for inner peace. 💬 Continue the conversation with Natalie on or 💬 Continue the conversation with Tom on or ✊ ✨ Show Notes: Rehumanizing assessment through story allows us to tap into deeper learning, build empathy, and demonstrate cultural expansiveness while gathering evidence of the critical competencies. When students are the storytellers, they develop agency. Storytelling in the classroom can range from micro moments to macro projects, and capture evidence of the standards as well as metacognition and reflection. Change requires leaders to become storytellers to model the vulnerability of making mistakes and trying something new. The stories we tell ourselves determine our mindset. If you live to please others you'll lie to yourself, but when you tell yourself the truth, you'll find your inner peace, even if that doesn't make everyone happy.
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103 – Sharing Cultures without Fear
12/04/2023
103 – Sharing Cultures without Fear
As the winter Holiday’s loom, now is the time of the year that I and others start to think about family. The countdown is on and we’re ready for a break. What does it look like to use this time, leading to the holidays, as an opportunity for personal growth and community building? Join Alex for a brief discussion on sharing traditions for the season! **Note from Alex** This episode is shorter than usual because I am sicker than usual but I hope you still enjoy! Continue the conversation with Natalie on or Continue the conversation with Alex on or
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102 - The Goal of Inclusion, is to Not Need Inclusion (w Dr. Shelley Moore)
11/27/2023
102 - The Goal of Inclusion, is to Not Need Inclusion (w Dr. Shelley Moore)
As soon as we say the word inclusion, there’s an exclusion. Designing an education system that is grounded in the mindset that all students belong and are capable of high levels of learning is the real goal. Dr. Shelley Moore joins Natalie to talk about what inclusion means to her and how we can make change through collaboration, standards-based approaches, and stories. 💬 Continue the conversation with Natalie on or 💬 Continue the conversation with Alex on or 💬 Continue the conversation with Shelley on or ✊ ✨ Show Notes: A personal story for Shelley that reveals the transformative power of inclusive education was in grade 8 when she experienced a middle school program that was organized in cohorts, supported by tech and inquiry-based. The vision for ideal inclusion is that we don’t need to talk about it anymore; as long as there’s inclusion, there is also exclusion. Two ways to reduce stress and workload in inclusive education are through collaboration and thinking standards-based. Stories and humour are critical for making change in a complex system like education. We don’t need ability groups for all students to receive the support they need to be successful, especially as these groups limit students from grade-level instruction. Inclusion requires us to build our capacity to teach strategically, and two powerful strategies are designing learning progressions and fluid, goal-oriented groups.
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101– Beginning Equity Conversations w/ Dr. Shirley Steinberg
11/19/2023
101– Beginning Equity Conversations w/ Dr. Shirley Steinberg
Diversity, equity and inclusion will always be a complicated subject. It’s worthwhile to learn and to grow from it, because that allows us as teachers to create environments where all students can learn. Not just about the subject matter that we’re trying to teach but learn about what it means to be considerate of the communities we’re in and the people we encounter. This week on #Educrush, Alex interviews Professor and Author, Dr. Shirley Steinberg as they start to explore what it means to consider Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accommodation. Continue the conversation with Natalie on or Continue the conversation with Alex on or
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100 – From Science Teacher to STEM School Founder (w Stephanie Lammlein)
11/13/2023
100 – From Science Teacher to STEM School Founder (w Stephanie Lammlein)
Fasten your seatbelts as Natalie takes you on a journey through the inception, challenges, and triumphs of Bio-Med Science Academy with its founder, Stephanie Lammlein. They explore how she turned a bold vision into reality, how the students are thriving in this educational ecosystem and the impact it's making on the rural community it serves. 💬 Continue the conversation with Natalie on or 💬 Continue the conversation with Stephanie on or ✊ 📅 ✨ Show Notes: The tipping point for Stephanie to leave the classroom and create a STEM school was mastery of her craft and frustration with being trapped in a box. The hallmark of a thriving STEM classroom is students experimenting with things we don’t already know the answer to. Creating a school requires legislative backing and many pivots. The integration that STEM requires challenges both students and teachers to learn to navigate social-emotional hurdles. Assessment in an integrated STEM school requires a shift to assessing competencies over products.
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99 – The Person, The Team and the Task
11/06/2023
99 – The Person, The Team and the Task
Leadership is often cited as one of the most important and contentious parts of school’s life. Many dream of being a leader that is effective and inspiring and many more have opinions on what exactly a leader needs in order to be effective and inspiring. What if we focused on the leadership that lives in all of us? What does it look like to move away from a system where one person is always at the top and shift to looking at having the right leader for the right time. This week on #Educrush, lets explore a little of leadership and what it looks like when it is distributed through democracy. When Teachers Run the School Continue the conversation with Natalie on or Continue the conversation with Alex on or
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98 – Five Culture Fixes for Schools
10/30/2023
98 – Five Culture Fixes for Schools
In this solo episode, Natalie honors the Halloween season by describing five ghastly ghouls haunting our schools: phantom policies, zombie meetings, dementor processes, and the control and avoidance poltergeists. Learn what they are and how to defeat them! 💬 Continue the conversation with Natalie on or 🎥 ✊ ✨ Show Notes: Organizational debt is the policies, practices and ways of working that are no longer serving their purpose, leading to bureaucracy. Phantom policies are born of a idiosyncratic mistake and scare teachers from more meaningful practice (e.g. teachers must have 5 entries per week in their grade book). Zombie meetings are routine meetings that have lost their soul. (e.g. PLC meetings). Dementor processes suck the life out of creativity and innovation. (e.g. committees as a part of the change process). The control poltergeist haunts leaders lacking connection and leads to a culture of permission. The avoidance poltergeist haunts leaders who feel unsafe and leads to a culture of influence. The fix to all of these issues is the thing we tend to avoid in our workplaces, tough conversations (with ourselves and others).
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97 – Athletics for Education w/ Nick Waterbury
10/23/2023
97 – Athletics for Education w/ Nick Waterbury
School or Athletics? That’s the question we often ask students athletes if grades begin to slip. What if we are misunderstanding the role that sports have in the education space? How can teams help students better grasp the concepts in the academic classroom. This week Alex sits down with Teacher, Coach and Athletic Director Nick Waterbury, who has spent time on a local and national and international level, giving opportunities for students and teachers to learn about leadership and participate in the athletics as an extension of education. Continue the conversation with Natalie on or Continue the conversation with Alex on or
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96 – Learning, Assessment and Belonging in Physical Health Education (w Josh Ogilvie)
10/16/2023
96 – Learning, Assessment and Belonging in Physical Health Education (w Josh Ogilvie)
Is participation the only thing that can be assessed in Phys Ed class? How might health be integrated as a goal alongside physical activity? Nat joins Canadian PHE and assessment expert Josh Ogilvie to explore what’s possible for Phys Ed when we embrace conversation, personal inquiry and belonging. Show Notes: The shift to Physical “Health” Education (PHE) was an intentional one to explore the intersection between movement and mental health. The ideal goal of a PHE program is for each student to arrive at an awareness of the type of “mover” they are and what personal benefit it provides. There is no equity in assessing participation in PHE as it does not consider the competence, confidence, and satisfaction each learner is experiencing in that space. PHE teachers have more to offer than being a glorified recreational facilitators. Competition is an important concept to explore in PHE, albeit within the context of student voice and choice. PHE teachers cannot assess every student at once, but they can practice sound assessment by embracing more conversation as an artifact of learning. 💬 Continue the conversation with Natalie on or 💬 Continue the conversation with Josh on or . ✊ ✨
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95 – Perilous Burnout
10/09/2023
95 – Perilous Burnout
What is burnout? Why does it have such a tight grasp on discussions of educator’s efficacy and longevity? This week on #Educrush Alex discusses learnings about the insidious natures of and potential strategies for dealing with Burnout. **For the curious, here are some links to the papers I read that don’t cost money or require membership at a university library.** National Library of Medicine . 35 Years Continue the conversation with Natalie on or Continue the conversation with Alex on or
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94 – Are you an EduPreneur? (w Dr. Will Deyamport III)
10/02/2023
94 – Are you an EduPreneur? (w Dr. Will Deyamport III)
Where is the space for entrepreneurship in education? How might visionary educators expand their impact outside the four walls of their classroom and school? Dr. Will joins Natalie to discuss what an EduPreneur is and how we can disrupt our limiting beliefs around money and worthiness to become one. Show Notes: Dr. Will’s mission in education is to fill the “hope gap" An EduPreneur is someone who wants to make a greater impact in education without being confined by the rules of the system. Breaking through limiting money mindsets means recognizing our value and owning it. By making a documentary featuring successful EduPreneurs, Dr. Will learned it requires finding your niche, being patient and not being afraid to pivot. Becoming an EduPreneur is a pathway to achieve transformation and the first step to getting there is discovering your element. 💬 Continue the conversation with Natalie on or 💬 Continue the conversation with Dr. Will on or 🎥 Watch Dr. Will’s documentary film “” ✈️ ✊ ✨
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93 – A Student's View on Community
09/25/2023
93 – A Student's View on Community
This week on #Educrush, we’re talking to a recent high school graduate and previous guest to the pod, Reese Gagne. She shares her insights about the value, complexity and elusive nature of community as she begins her post-secondary journey, and we begin our school year! Links: Continue the conversation with Natalie on or Continue the conversation with Alex on or
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92 – The Functionality, Narrative, and Aesthetic of Design (w Christine Boos)
09/18/2023
92 – The Functionality, Narrative, and Aesthetic of Design (w Christine Boos)
What makes for good design? If teachers are to see themselves as learning designers, what qualities might guide their work? Join Natalie as she talks to a professional interior designer to discover parallels to teaching. Show Notes: If architects create the outside of a building, interior designers create the inside (of which decoration is only one small piece). Good design is more of a noun than a verb that includes functionality, inclusiveness, aesthetics, and a powerful user experience. There are many parallels between the qualities of good design and good teaching. Sound design principles include the use of space and a design narrative. A common mistake folks make when approaching design is to adhere to the status quo and over-emphasize aesthetics. When designing our physical school spaces, access to nature and inspiring imagery, along with flexible uses of space, should be our guide. 💬 Continue the conversation with Natalie on or ✊ ✨
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91 – Apathy the Enemy
09/11/2023
91 – Apathy the Enemy
This week on #Educrush Alex talks a little bit about his summer learning and discusses the true enemy of education, Apathy. Continue the conversation with Natalie on or Continue the conversation with Alex on or Continue the conversation with ______ on Twitter or Instagram
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90 – The time I began anew...and failed.
09/04/2023
90 – The time I began anew...and failed.
In the season 4 opener, Natalie comes to you solo to share a story of failure that reveals an important truth about change. 💬 Continue the conversation with Natalie on or ✊ ✨
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89 – Season 3 Reflection!
07/03/2023
89 – Season 3 Reflection!
Nat and Alex come together to answer the season 3 inquiry question, “How might we rehumanize education through story?” by reflecting on what they learned from conversations with guests. Show Notes: · Nat and Alex check-in. (0:30) · Stories are the bedrock of community and how we decolonize education. (3:15) · To tell a story of personal growth, we need to feel that we belong. (7:45) · We must rewrite the stories about leadership, wellness, and power that limit our humanity in school spaces. (9:50) · Updating the story of education as it relates to work in our modern world. (17:00) · Why is it so hard to change what we know we need to change? (22:00) · The connection between story, accessibility, and story. (25:45) · Looking forward to summer and beyond. (34:40) Follow Natalie: | Follow Alex: | Follow the Podcast: |
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88 – Decolonization Through Story (w Carolyn Roberts)
06/26/2023
88 – Decolonization Through Story (w Carolyn Roberts)
What is decolonization? How is story integral to it? How might we all become better at receiving and telling stories? Natalie joins Indigenous scholar, teacher and changemaker Carolyn Roberts to discuss circle work, deep listening, performative allyship and finding our voices. Carolyn’s Blog Post, “.” Carolyn’s Podcast Series, “” Follow Natalie: | Follow the Podcast: | Follow Carolyn: | Show Notes Why stories and circles are inherently decolonizing. (11:35) How can teachers honor indigenous storytelling? (16:05) The barriers to accepting story as valid evidence of learning in schools. (18:50) Opportunities to decolonize the education system writ large. (26:05) How the adults in schools can learn to listen and create psychological safety (30:35) Why it is critical for leaders and teachers to tell better stories to rebuild relationships. (38:34) The purpose of education. (49:28)
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87 – Learning for All w/ Ceri Riley
06/19/2023
87 – Learning for All w/ Ceri Riley
This week on #Educrush, Writer, Producer and Science communicator Ceri Riley shares her experiences being an educator outside of the classroom, the challenges that she has faces and the importance of making sure that everyone has access to learning! Ceri on Twitter: Alex on Twitter: Natalie on Twitter: Podcast on Twitter: Podcast on Instagram: Links Mentioned:
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86 – What if students took a stand against racism? (w Harsh, Victoria, Chris & Katie)
06/12/2023
86 – What if students took a stand against racism? (w Harsh, Victoria, Chris & Katie)
Who is the greatest lever for change in our education system? Teachers? Parents? Students? In this episode, Natalie connects with three former students and their mentor teacher from Prince George, Canada, to explore how students can become visionary catalysts who spark learning in an entire community. Video #1 - Stories and Experiences: Video #2 - Impact: Video #3 - Hope and Allyship: Video #4 - For Educators: Join the Facebook group: Follow Natalie: | Follow the Podcast: | Show Notes: Who is the greatest lever for change in our education system? (1:30) The inciting incident; a polarizing costume at Halloween following the renaming of a school. (11:50) The collective decision by the DSAC students in response to the racism they witnessed in their community. (22:03) The critical difference between “student voice” and agency. (27:03) Grounding themselves in the first persons' principles to navigate the process. (32:40) The brave conversations, pushback, and productive discomfort in the SD57 community as a result of the learning series videos. (34:58) Key insights and learnings that emerged from each journey. (44:33) Student advice for teachers about how to develop their own agency to make change in the education system. (51:15) The purpose(s) of education. (55:04)
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85 – Word and Story w/ Wakefield Brewster
06/05/2023
85 – Word and Story w/ Wakefield Brewster
Description: This week on #Educrush we hear from Calgary’s Current and the first ever Black Poet Laureate of the city, Wakefield Brewster as he shares with us the importance of story and poetry and education. Wakefield on Twitter Wakefield on Instagram Alex on Twitter: Natalie on Twitter: Podcast on Twitter: Podcast on Instagram: Links Mentioned:
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84 – Building Community by Telling the Story of Us (w Melody McAllister)
05/29/2023
84 – Building Community by Telling the Story of Us (w Melody McAllister)
What is community? How do we build it, and break it? Who are we as a wider education community? Natalie connects with former teacher and current community engagement strategist, Melody McAllister, to unpack the complexities of both youth and adult communities in the age of social media. Join the Facebook group: Follow Natalie: | | Follow the Podcast: | Follow Melody: | v | Email: Show Notes: · Melody’s education journey thus far. (6:25) · What is community? (9:45)) · How to tell the story of a classroom community; building a classroom community with parents. (13:30) · The power of co-creation to build community. (20:00) · Leveraging music and check-in questions to make everyone welcome immediately. (20:20) · Who are we as an education community? (30:25) · We need to stop attacking each other on social media and giving ammunition to the critics. (39:15) · How can we honor one another as whole people and get back to a place of unity? (48:35) · A hopeful note about the purpose of education. (55:15)
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83 - Pursuing Passions w/ Nick Hughes
05/22/2023
83 - Pursuing Passions w/ Nick Hughes
Description: This week Alex talks to Multimedia Specialist and Search and Rescue volunteer Nick Hughes. He share how his experiences with high school influenced his passions today. What does it look like for teachers to nurture the interests and passions of students and where might that start lead them in their lives? Alex on Twitter: Natalie on Twitter: Podcast on Twitter: Podcast on Instagram:
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82 – #EESummit23 Debrief (w Katie White & Tom Schimmer)
05/15/2023
82 – #EESummit23 Debrief (w Katie White & Tom Schimmer)
Fresh off the first-ever Empowerment Ecosystem Summit in Vancouver, BC, Natalie sits down with co-hosts Katie White and Tom Schimmer to reflect on highlights, insights, and next steps for the innovative event. Show Notes: · What’s sticking with each of us immediately after the event. (10:25) · Rethinking the concept of the “middle” in education and how tension shows up in creative work. (19:45) · Tweaks to the event design to better meet the vision. (23:30) · Moments that will stick with us. (27:00) Follow Natalie: | Follow the Podcast: | Follow Katie: | Follow Tom: | Email:
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