When thinking about the makeup of K-12 schools, teachers, students, and principals might come to mind first. Too often, the forgotten soldiers of education are librarians. These unsung, multiskilled individuals are sometimes the backbone of a school. During COVID-19 these specialized educators faced tremendous adversity as they were forced to advocate for literacy via video conferences or socially distanced library visits. This week I reached out to three extraordinary librarians who did amazing...
May 16, 2021•37 min
Graduation is one of the most celebrated events in the American school system. Students, parents, teachers, and principals all look forward to the day when they can collectively celebrate the culmination of students’ learning. However, a new term has surfaced during the pandemic: learning loss — the loss of academic progress that may lead to students not graduating due to low test scores. If standardized testing is not a good reflection of a student’s development and growth, and a growing number...
May 10, 2021•26 min
This week marks one year of this podcast’s trek in building a viable resource for teaching and learning during this pandemic. We strive to highlight teachers, administrators, students, and parents who are thriving in the era of remote learning. We have been extremely lucky to have amazing educators share their recipe for success or excellence. Casey Jakubowski is an excellent addition to the catalog of scholars who share best practices during COVID-19. I met Casey two years ago when we were both...
Apr 25, 2021•32 min
Rhonda Finely is one of the best instructional coaches I know. She supports teachers and students in one of the most innovative middle school learning labs in southeast Texas. Rhonda is a graduate of Houston Baptist University with a master’s degree in educational counseling and a bachelor’s in psychology. She taught me about MakerSpaces , Genius Hours , and a plethora of other instructional strategies that support high-quality instruction. She also played a key role in securing a grant from Ver...
Apr 18, 2021•24 min
I really don’t know why basketball and education go hand in hand — they just do. It’s as if learning about basketball is an unwritten rule of the American educational system. Some of us educators love basketball so much that we coach it, create NCAA tournament brackets, and even repeat this process during the NBA playoffs. Basketball is ingrained in the fabric of the American educational system. This week I invited Aaron Meyer , George Couros and David Preston for a conversation on equity and ot...
Apr 11, 2021•33 min
For over a year now we all have been teaching with video. Quite frankly, teaching with video is a craft that needs to be developed, especially if you want to get your point across. I can honestly say that I believe video in education is here to stay. I’ll go further and say that in education, COVID-19 will be remembered as a catalyst for improving instruction. Former high school teacher Rob Bayuk understands how important video is to education. He has worked with the Microsoft Innovative Experts...
Mar 29, 2021•23 min
One of the prevalent problems in the COVID-19 era is the lack of digital access for students. Parents, students, and teachers know this problem all too well and it has led to disparities in education that manifest in multiple ways. The most significant of these is that teachers and schools have struggled to get students to show up for online classes and interact with them using technology at the same rate as face-to-face instruction. Cari Kozicki Dr. Stephanie Frazier , Salandra Bowman , and Sta...
Mar 21, 2021•30 min
I am a firm believer in giving credit where credit is due. When COVID-19 broke loose last year I was looking for a resource to prepare our teachers for what I thought was coming. I had no idea at this time last year that I would write 40 articles and episodes about education because of a pandemic. Even more surprising to me is that Flipboard has supported me to do it! I dedicate this episode to Flipboard and its employees who support educators. They have been amazingly supportive through this jo...
Mar 14, 2021•26 min
On March 2, 2021, Texas Governor Gregory Abbott , along with Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves, decided to waive mask requirements for their respective states. Face masks had become our “new normal” in the COVID-19 pandemic since they were quickly required to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Moreover, public health experts say masks are key in ensuring schools are safe for students and staff. This plan was shared with all stakeholders simultaneously as a newscast, without a mention of a strate...
Mar 08, 2021•17 min
On October 26, 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. surprised students of Barratt Junior High School in Philadelphia as he made a pitstop to talk with them about their life’s blueprint. He gave this speech six months before his untimely death. In my estimation, this speech affected America profoundly as it exposed racial injustice in the American education system. To understand the breadth and depth of the impact this single 20-minute speech has had, you need to understand why it was pivotal to stud...
Feb 27, 2021•18 min
We all know that the future of education has changed since COVID-19 but what that future looks like for students and teachers is a clear as mud. Educators know that at the core of that change in education is a collaboration with peers and amongst teachers and incorporating meaningful critical thinking exercises for students to learn from. That future also entails a thrust for creativity to be inserted into teacher’s lessons requiring students to use creativity to show mastery of those lessons, a...
Feb 19, 2021•30 min
I have had many discussions with my peers in the last year about race, equity and culture as well as what it means to be Black in America. We discuss how ingrained racism is in this country and its education system. One conversation in particular that has continued to surface is how the celebration of Black History Month has rested in the hands of educators. I can honestly say that my peers, who are as diverse as the United Nations, have been appalled at how some of the ways Black history is tau...
Feb 13, 2021•22 min
During the month of February, we will be highlighting conversations that I feel are necessary for educators as well as the recognition of Black History Month . These conversations are sparked by photos and articles I’ve seen on Twitter about How Not To Celebrate Black History . The gist: for anyone’s participation in Black History Month to not come across as performative it’s important to understand the culture and experience of Black people in America. As some educators begin to celebrate Black...
Feb 05, 2021•22 min
During this pandemic, we have highlighted the way teachers can enhance their careers through collaboration with other successful educators. We believe that connecting teachers with other teachers will foster creativity and collaboration in ways that will enhance student achievement. Humberto Perez of E4 Youth takes that collaborative mindset to a whole other level. E4 Youth is a nonprofit organization that develops and mentors marginalized youths into creative professionals and Humberto Perez is...
Jan 30, 2021•27 min
Teaching students to be critical thinkers during this pandemic is at the forefront of most teachers' minds. Teaching students to be truth-seekers may be one of the most essential objectives for educators during the COVID-19 pandemic. Combating misinformation and citing credible sources can make all the difference when getting information online. Jonathan Rogers is an award-winning journalism adviser at Iowa City High School , where he was a former Journalism Teacher of the Year in Iowa. Jonathan...
Jan 22, 2021•28 min
Fifty-three years ago America lost a true leader and visionary. Fifty-three years later his words ring true in our ears today. As educators deal with the pandemic and stress of working remotely, we are now faced with civil unrest and a divided country. I have gathered some resources that can be helpful to educators who are working to make Dr. Martin Luther King's dream a reality in 2021. Link: Flipboard EDU Resources Support the show Podcast Planner for Teachers and Students Flipboard EDU Magazi...
Jan 18, 2021•2 min
Preparing the next generation of teachers is a daunting task. The incorporation of mobile technology has led to many changes in education in the last five years, and the pandemic has accelerated the need to embrace these changes. New teachers need to know how to build relationships virtually, deliver engaging lessons using the best tools available, and communicate with parents to monitor students' progress. How will preservice teachers know where to start? These trends inspired Samantha Fecich t...
Jan 15, 2021•22 min
What if the taught-and-tested curriculum in schools could foster really engaging learning experiences? If this pandemic has taught us anything, it is that the standards-based curriculum in school will have to evolve, along with expectations placed on teachers. Evin Schwartz , CEO of Belouga , was well aware of this paradigm shift when he started his curriculum supplement company four years ago. Think of Belouga as an on-demand video service that supports what students need today to build a bette...
Jan 08, 2021•23 min
Passionate educators like Christy McGowan are a necessity for reshaping equity in marginalized neighborhoods through education. Her plan of action is to build a charter school from the ground up, with open admissions based on a lottery system. A former teacher and literacy coach and current BES fellow, Christy is building her own school, One Collegiate, deeply rooted in literacy. BES believes that great schools are led by great leaders who are passionate about changing the educational landscape ...
Dec 18, 2020•23 min
*During the month of December, computer science is finding its way into classrooms around the world. “* *DeSTEMber* ( https://girlstart.org/our-programs/destember/ ) *” was created by* *Girlstart* ( https://girlstart.org/ ) *as a month-long virtual program to build awareness for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). The goal is to show children and families that STEM is everywhere and to promote equal access to computer science initiatives for girls and misrepresented youth. These 2...
Dec 12, 2020•18 min
*Dr. Josue Falaise is joining us again this week to dive deeper into the topic of cultural competence.**As founder and CEO of* *GOMO Educational Services* ( https://gomoedservices.com/ ) *, he trains educators and writes articles on a variety of topics such as “Turning Adversity into Opportunity” and “Dealing with Difficult Students.” While he was director of improving student achievement at the Rutgers University Graduate School of Education, he traveled the world to train educators on practice...
Dec 05, 2020•26 min
*Storytelling might be the unsung hero of the pandemic. More and more schools are seeing the importance of incorporating “a narrative” during COVID-19. Traditionally school districts don’t proactively tell their own stories and as a result, they aren’t accurately represented in the media. Professional journalist and author* *Clement Townsend* ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/clement-townsend-53718821/ ) *fill a huge need as he mentors students and teachers on video journalism and broadcasting.**In ...
Nov 20, 2020•27 min
*Tarael Kee* ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarael-kee-705197193/ ) *, the president-elect of the Illinois School Counselors Association, speaks with me about these discrepancies and how some minority teachers are identifying bias in education that promotes various stereotypes. Tarael is also a high school counselor in Collinsville Illinois and has worked as an educator for 15 years. He is currently working on his doctorate in educational leadership and writes for the Illinois School Counselor As...
Nov 13, 2020•19 min
*It seems like 2020 has most of us feeling boxed in and overwhelmed with grading student’s work and virtual parent meetings. What better way to navigate the COVID-19 education era than with a wingman? Especially if your wingman is* *“EDUCopilot” Albert Thomas* ( https://educopilot.com/ ) *. Albert is an amazing educator who has been a teacher, principal, and instructional technologist and serves as the* *President for ISTE PLN* ( https://www.iste.org/ ) *. He has done extensive work with* *Adobe...
Nov 06, 2020•30 min
*Nikki Spears has been an educator for 25 years, but in recent years, stepped away from her career as a principal, and now works as an educator, motivational speaker, and change leader. In 2016, Niki co-founded the* *Energy Bus for Schools* ( https://energybusschools.com/ ) *with* *Jon Gordon* ( https://www.jongordon.com/ ) *, where she trained educators to create positive school climates for teaching and learning. She recently embarked on yet another career – as an author..”**In this episode, w...
Oct 30, 2020•24 min
*It wasn’t until later in my career that I realized applying creativity to problem-solving is critical in engaging students.* *Claudio Zavala Jr.* ( https://iamclaudius.com/ ) *and* *Fred Benitez* ( https://twitter.com/fredbenitez?lang=en ) *don’t just understand that component of the learning cycle. They also use it to train teachers and students. Both of them inspire my growth as an educator.**Claudio Zavala, Jr. and Fred Benitez are renowned educational technologists, in Burleson ISD and Eane...
Oct 24, 2020•25 min
*Now, more than ever, video is playing a key role in the classroom. Teachers at all levels are using video daily for various classroom activities. Synchronous and asynchronous learning are terms that were definitely born in 2020 and are becoming staples of professional development for teachers. It appears that they are here to stay.**Oddly enough using video in classrooms is nothing new for educators. Yet, this school year has required a new skill from teachers, who may or may not have anticipat...
Oct 16, 2020•18 min
*I have had the fortune of working with many talented people throughout my career. One that stands out for me is* *Patience Edwards* ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/patience-edwards-70853265/ ) *, who was a newly minted third-grade teacher when I met her. At that time, she was one of the best new teachers I had ever seen: charismatic, well organized, and eager to learn anything that would change the lives of her students. This dynamic educator excelled in the classroom back then and now in a new r...
Oct 09, 2020•21 min
*In this episode, we explore the technique of “mining for treasures” in students and teachers. We also discuss meaningful instructional design for diverse student populations. We speak about her podcast Designed to Thrive Podcast and connecting multidisciplinary approaches to instruction. Elissa also details how important it is for teachers to cultivate personal creativity and using varied approaches to reach students where they are to grow students and teachers.**In Elissa’s terms “mining for t...
Oct 02, 2020•28 min
*In this episode, we speak with Tom Mc Fadden about using hip-hop as a way to teach science. We also discuss how COVID-19 and social distancing may hinder teacher creativity in the classroom, and strategize on how to get that excitement back into teaching.**Tom teaches 8th graders biology at the Nueva School in Southern California. He also teaches the world science with his* *YouTube Channel Science Rap Academy* ( https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3gFS6DINL-JBj5kd6hm9Ng ) *. Tom’s videos are eng...
Sep 26, 2020•27 min
