Educationally Speaking

Educationally Speaking is an Oakland Schools Intermediate School District broadcast which focuses on important local and national topics related to education.

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Episodes

Managing the polarity of meeting students' social-emotional health and learning during COVID-19

We know school leaders are between a rock and a hard place when it comes to planning class for the fall. They must think about students' social-emotional health AND learning needs. Both have to be attended to. Leaders can't pick one or the other. So, the question is, how do school leaders manage this balancing act? Guests: Jenelle Williams, Oakland Schools' Leadership and School Improvement Literacy Consultant Marty Chaffee, Oakland Schools' Administrator Leadership Consultant Resources: Oakland...

Aug 26, 2020•12 min•Season 2Ep. 3

Early childhood transitions: How to prepare your kindergartener for the upcoming school year

The transition back to school is going to be tough for everyone this year. Last year, with the pandemic, school went completely online then ended as it always does with the start of summer. But the bottom-line is in late August when students start coming back, it will have been months since they were in a classroom for face-to-face learning. This transition is likely to hit younger students the hardest as this may be the first time they have even gone into a classroom. In particular, the move fr...

Aug 17, 2020•12 min•Season 2Ep. 2

Tips and tricks for online learning during COVID-19

With school starting back up in the fall, many parents are having to make the tough decision of whether to have their children go back into the classroom or pick online learning options. For the past seven years, Oakland Schools has already been offering an online option for those interested. The program, called Virtual Learning Academy Consortium, or VLAC for short, offers an at-home learning program for grades K-12. In this episode, we talk with the director of VLAC who provides us with some t...

Aug 03, 2020•11 min•Season 2Ep. 1

Oakland Schools Outreach, Part Two

This is the second part of our series where we are interviewing Oakland Schools' employees who are helping out their communities. In the second segment, we will talk about two of our Oakland Schools' staff who are on the frontlines working to help those in need of food and shelter. Guests: Lori Adkins, Oakland Schools Nutrition Consultant Sara Orris, Oakland Schools Homeless Services Consultant Resources: Oakland Schools Oakland Schools Community Resources Meet Up and Eat Up Michigan Department ...

Jun 01, 2020•24 min•Season 1Ep. 8

Oakland Schools Outreach, Part One

This is the first of a two-part podcast where we are talking to Oakland Schools' employees who are helping out their communities. In this first segment, we touch base with our Oakland Schools Technical Campuses, as well as one of our early childhood compliance consultants. Both are great examples of going above and beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic. Guests: Martin Kaye, Dean Oakland Schools Technical Campus Southwest Elaine Tadajewski, Early Childhood Compliance Consultant in Oakland Schools S...

May 26, 2020•14 min•Season 1Ep. 7

Teaching cultural proficiency

Oakland Schools' Diversity and Equity Consultant Dr. Jay Marks talks about cultural proficiency and how he teaches the subject to school leaders and students throughout the community. Resources: Oakland Schools Host: Oakland Schools' Communications Specialist Sarah Davis Producer: Oakland Schools' Media Production and Distance Learning Manager Mark Hansen...

Feb 20, 2020•23 min•Season 1Ep. 6

Oakland Schools Technical Campuses offer myriad of opportunities for students

Oakland Schools Technical Campus-Southeast (Royal Oak) Dean Amy Gole and Oakland Schools Technical Campus (Wixom) Dean Martin Kaye and student Nihal Suthakar discuss what opportunities Oakland Schools Technical Campuses can provide for local students. Resources: Oakland Schools Technical Campuses Oakland Schools Host: Oakland Schools' Communications Specialist Sarah Davis Producer: Oakland Schools' Media Production and Distance Learning Manager Mark Hansen...

Feb 05, 2020•21 min•Season 1Ep. 5

Oakland Schools Service Desk chosen to provide support for MIServiceDesk

Oakland Schools' Assistant Superintendent and Chief Information Officer Tammy Evans and Oakland Schools Service Desk Supervisor Robin Evenson discuss how the Oakland Schools Service Desk was recently given the opportunity to provide tech support for MIServiceDesk, which is a statewide pre-K-12 initiative. This move puts Oakland Schools at the forefront of technology plans taking place at the state level. Resources: MIServiceDesk.org Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators Oakl...

Jan 08, 2020•14 min•Season 1Ep. 4

Piece of the Pie: How school aid funding works

Oakland Schools' Director of Government and Community Services Lisa Hansknecht talks about school aid funding and exactly how it works. She debunks myths to help give listers a better understanding of how Oakland County school districts are funded. Resources: School Finance Research Collaborative: https://www.fundmischools.org/ Oakland Schools: oakland.k12.mi.us House Fiscal Agency Fiscal Brief: http://www.house.mi.gov/hfa/PDF/Alpha/Fiscal_Brief_Basics_of_the_Foundation_Allowance_FY19_Update_Nov...

Dec 10, 2019•18 min•Season 1Ep. 3

NTIP program helps ensure teacher retention

Oakland Schools' Teacher Induction and Social Studies Education Consultant Dr. Christopher Lee and Oakland Schools' Literacy Consultant Dr. Andrea Zellner have started a New Teacher Induction Program called NTIP. The purpose of NTIP is to provide induction services for new teachers in participating Oakland County districts. Oakland Schools' goal is to support and guide educators who are in the early stages of their careers. Resources: Contact NTIP on Twitter at @NTIPINOC or #NTIPINOC Contact Dr....

Nov 18, 2019•16 min•Season 1Ep. 2

Bullying 101

Oakland Schools' Student Safety and Well-Being Consultant Dr. Julie McDaniel talks about Bullying during Bullying Prevention Month. The discussion ranges from the three main characteristics of bullying to what impact bullying has on school culture. Resources: Okay to Say Oakland Schools Bullying 101 Stopbullying.gov International Bullying Prevention Association Host: Oakland Schools' Communications Specialist Sarah Davis Producer: Oakland Schools' Media Production and Distance Learning Manager M...

Oct 10, 2019•16 min•Season 1Ep. 1

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