#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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Episodes

36 – The Learning Diamond: A Mentor, a Champion, a Coach, and Ourselves

Though we are learning more about the importance of human connections in schools and workplaces, which are the relationships that actually drive learning? In this solo episode, host Natalie Vardabasso explains how our relationships with a mentor, a champion, a coach, and ourselves create the optimal learning diamond. Show Notes: Defining the pinnacle of the learning diamond and guide for our hero’s journey: the mentor. (4:46) How the social norms around gender challenge the potential of mentorsh...

Jan 03, 2022•36 min•Season 2Ep. 36

35 – Elevating Sex Ed in the Curricular Hierarchy (w Alex Noel)

We all have memories of Sex Ed that are filled with embarrassment and shame. How might we change our collective experience of this topic? What structural barriers create this problem? How might we reimagine Sex Ed as relationship education? Alex Noel worked for many years as a Sexual Health educator before stepping into his own classroom as a high school Science and Math teacher. The contrast of these two educational experiences has given him a passionate insight into how we might better achieve...

Dec 13, 2021•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 35

34 – Reimagining Education with Passion, Purpose, and Projects (w Loni Bergqvist)

In nearly every field of work, we are quick to jump on the latest and greatest strategy leading to a habitual focus on what we do, rather than a deeper analysis about why we do it. Project-based learning (PBL) threatens to fall into this trap, but not if Loni Bergvist has anything to do about it. Loni discovered a purpose-driven passion for PBL as a teacher at High Tech High in San Diego and has been on a quest to bring it to the world. She is currently the founding partner of “Imagine If” a Den...

Dec 06, 2021•56 min•Season 2Ep. 34

Project Feature: Nature Documentary Film Festival (w Jaclyn Demmers)

On the episode, we unpack how students were challenged to deepen and demonstrate their understanding of Ecosystems and Visual Literacy in a grade 7 interdisciplinary project. Teacher Jaclyn Demmers also shares her newfound insights about the potential of students with learning disabilities when given creative opportunities that spark their curiosity. Jaclyn’s current role and what drew her into education. (1:45) A summary of the project. (3:05) A breakdown of the major milestones of the project—...

Nov 22, 2021•26 min

33 – Unpacking Teacher Leadership (w Randy Swift & Pedro Dones III)

What is the truth about teacher leadership? Is it an exciting opportunity to become a change agent, or, is it just another managerial manifestation of the status quo? Randy Swift and Pedro Dones III are two teacher leaders from New York who have had very different experiences in the role. On the episode, we explore their perspectives and how they have each brought their unique purpose to life as teacher leaders. Show notes: Randy and Pedro describe their current roles as teacher leaders. (4:40) ...

Nov 15, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Season 2Ep. 33

BONUS – EduPodlooza 2021: Poetry Slam

EduPodlooza is an all-day marathon, live-stream event featuring some of the dopest names in the education podcast space. The day is filled with many different segments including round tables, a radio play, and of course, a poetry slam. The slam segment was a collaboration between the following EduPodcasters who shared their own poems and responded to poems that had been submitted digitally: Mealey & Tudisco of Unprofessional Development ( @unprocast ) Gerardo Munoz of Too Dope Teachers and a...

Nov 08, 2021•1 hr 3 min

32 – Coaching Change in Schools (w Tim Lewis)

Despite our best intentions, collaboration in schools often looks more like cooperation (at best), or polite dysfunction (at worst). As an NCAA div 1 basketball coach and strategic business development professional, Tim Lewis has learned a lot that can help us build the schools we’ve always dreamed of, together. On the episode we discuss teaching like a coach, unleashing teams with collective accountability, and taking the imperfect first step to make your mission statement a reality. View full ...

Oct 31, 2021•51 min•Season 2Ep. 32

Project Feature: Forest of Fright (w Leeanne McLim)

In this project feature episode, we explore how drama teacher Leeanne McLim reimagined the classic “Haunted House” project in response to the pandemic. While students learned a myriad of life skills through planning, pitching, designing, and hosting the event, Leeanne discovered a deeper appreciation for interdisciplinary collaboration. View full show notes here ! Leeanne on Twitter: @lechiquita Email the Podcast: hello@educrushpod.com Podcast on Twitter: @educrushpod Natalie on Twitter: @nataba...

Oct 24, 2021•30 min

31 – What is the literacy of our lives? (w Brent Saccucci)

The 21st century demands an updated definition of literacy and an expansion of our understanding of what constitutes a “text.” For instance, how might we read and write our relationships? Our institutions? Our own thoughts? Brent Saccucci (he/they) is currently a senior school teacher at Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School and Ph.D. candidate in Literacy—focusing on social, emotional, and critical literacies—at the University of Alberta where he also teaches a course in the BEd program. On the episode,...

Oct 17, 2021•48 min•Season 2Ep. 31

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