In this episode, host Keri Beach chats with educational leaders Casey Lefler and Laura Hilger about their leadership journeys, what it takes to be an effective educational leader, and the Portrait of a Leader resource. Access the Portrait of a Leader here .
Apr 25, 2025•27 min•Season 1Ep. 56
In this episode, host Keri Beach chats with educatorsAnna Whiteside and Jacquelyn George from Crowders Creek Elementary in Clover, SC about how they took inspiration from an Inquiry Lab school visit in their district and turned it into actionable and effective practices with the students they serve! Hear more about classroom structures they have implemented to help their kindergarten and 4th grade students track, monitor, and reflect on their learning in real time as well as some helpful tips on...
Mar 17, 2025•41 min•Season 1Ep. 55
In this episode, host Keri Beach chats with Nick Lafave, Personalized Learning Instructional Specialist at Clover School District about their innovative and transparent approaches to helping teachers find entry points and make shifts in their practices with student-centered learning. Hear more about the journey and tips for getting started from a leadership perspective! Contact Nick via email at [email protected] The Makin’ It Personal Podcast will be shifting to releasing episodes on...
Oct 07, 2024•34 min•Season 1Ep. 54
In this episode, host Keri Beach chats with parents from Richland District 2's Center For Achievement School about their students' learning journeys . Hear more about how this school is having a major impact on students and helping them take ownership in their learning process. Contact Principal Hutcherson via email ([email protected]) Subscribe, share, & access more resources to help you on your personalized learning journey here: https://linktr.ee/scpersonalize #PersonalizeSC...
Aug 01, 2024•24 min
In this throwback episode, host Keri Beach chats with Dr. John Spencer, educator and author of the books Empower , Vintage Innovation , and more. Hear his take on student-centered learning, what an empowered learner looks like, and getting buy in from parents, subtle shifts that make a big difference in giving both students and teachers more ownership in their learning journeys! Connect with Dr. Spenser at www.spencerauthor.com and access his Assessment Toolkit here . Subscribe, share, &...
May 13, 2024•30 min
In this episode, host Keri Beach chats with Kim Lawson, ELA teacher at Batesburg-Leesville Middle School about their journey with personalized learning practices and her current new take on learning pathways with students. Hear more about her classroom structures and their impact on students having more transparency and ownership in their learning process! Contact Kim via email --> [email protected] Preview her ELA Conferencing Template here ! Subscribe, share, & access more resources to h...
Apr 08, 2024•19 min•Season 1Ep. 52
In this episode, host Keri Beach chats with Jennifer Richardson and Michelle Maroney, Assistant Principals at Batesburg-Leesville Primary School about their journey with student-centered learning practices. Hear them share how LETRS training has helped them expand and scale their efforts for the benefit of students! Subscribe, share, & access more resources to help you on your personalized learning journey here: https://linktr.ee/scpersonalize #PersonalizeSC
Mar 01, 2024•24 min•Season 1Ep. 51
In this throwback episode, host Keri Beach chats with author and educational leader, Elena Aguilar to discuss educational change, accessing courage to continue moving forward in student-centered practices, and how to truly transform the educational system for ALL kids! Connect with Elena at https://brightmorningteam.com/ Join the PersonalizeSC Community: https://tinyurl.com/JoinPersonalizeSC Subscribe, share, & stay connected with us at the SCDE Personalized Learning Team! https://linkt...
Feb 02, 2024•31 min
This episode is a throwback to Episode 4: What's The Best That Can Happen? Stay Connected with the SCDE Personalized Learning Team! https://linktr.ee/scpersonalize #PersonalizeSC
Jan 08, 2024•30 min
To celebrate our 50th episode of the Makin' It Personal Podcast, the SCDE Personalized Learning Team shares their favorite student-centered learning strategies, tools, and resources in the form of gifts! Tune in and check out the links below to access the "gifts" mentioned! Happy Holidays! Sarah G's Gift: Snailed It Mindset Video Kristen's Gift: Classroom Systems For Feedback & Conferencing (examples) Dr. Sarah B's Gift: Student Self-Assessment Based on Code of Cooperation Lindsay's ...
Dec 01, 2023•24 min•Season 1Ep. 50
Are assessing and grading one in the same? What is the role of assessing or grading in a student centered context? What about grading and motivation? How do I actually personalize learning for my students while still having to grade? In this episode, brought to you by the SCDE Personalized Learning Team, host Keri Beach chats with fellow Personalized Learning Coaches Kristen Logan and Dr. Sarah Bowie about the complexities of assessing and grading in education. Hear frequently asked questions fr...
Nov 01, 2023•29 min•Season 1Ep. 49
In this episode brought to you by the SCDE Personalized Learning Team, host Keri Beach chats with William Ash, Social Studies Teacher at Batesburg-Leesville High School about his approach to student-centered learning with his students. Hear his take on standards coverage, testing, and tips for preparing students to be lifelong learners. Contact William via email at [email protected]. Subscribe, share, & access more resources to help you on your personalized learning journey here: https://linktr....
Oct 02, 2023•20 min•Season 1Ep. 48
In this episode, host Keri Beach chats with Griggs Road Elementary School Teachers Dori Petriella & Samantha McCarter about their approaches to student-centered learning while navigating large class sizes and variation in the ability of their students. Get tips and strategies from their experiences that you can immediately take back to your classroom or school to help students own their learning! Contact Dori ([email protected]) or Samantha ([email protected]) ...
Sep 01, 2023•35 min•Season 1Ep. 47
In this episode, host Keri Beach chats with Tanner Slagle, Math Coach at Ebinport Elementary School in Rock Hill, SC. Listen in as he shares his journey to shifting his coaching practice to a more learner-centered model by cultivating trust, “modeling the model,” and giving teachers choice in their professional growth and feedback. Subscribe, share, & access more resources to help you on your personalized learning journey here: https://linktr.ee/scpersonalize #PersonalizeSC...
Aug 01, 2023•21 min•Season 1Ep. 46
In this episode of the Flexibility Within Fences Series, host Keri Beach chats with Eric Gambrell, Assistant Principal at Batesburg Leesville High and Kristen Logan, Personalized Learning Coach about ways that educators can reimagine flexibility with time. Hear more about Batesburg Leesville's approach through their "Half-Time" initiative and other tips on leveraging time within student-centered learning! Connect with Eric via email at [email protected] and Kristen at [email protected]. Subscrib...
Jun 01, 2023•30 min•Season 1Ep. 45
We're kicking off a brand new series called Flexibility Within Fences! In this opening episode, host Keri Beach chats with Stephanie DiStasio, Director of the Office of Personalized Learning about how educators can begin to rethink and reimagine our system of education in order to better serve all students in our state. Listen in as we discuss the importance of mindsets, misconceptions regarding flexibility, and resources that can help educators continue progressing within the work of student-ce...
May 02, 2023•34 min•Season 1Ep. 44
In this episode, host Keri Beach chats with Bethany Elementary School teacher Tammy Crago about her simplistic approach to providing learning paths for her students. Hear more about her tips and techniques for creating a growth focused classroom and giving students opportunities to become more independent learners. Contact Tammy via email ([email protected]) for more info! Learn more about learning pathways and other PCBL practices here ! Subscribe, share, & plug into the SCDE Off...
Apr 04, 2023•21 min
In today’s episode, host Keri Beach chats with Audra Yesnach, Visual Arts Teacher at River Bluff High School about how her approaches to intergrating the PSCG Competenceis into her AP Art class. Hear more about the tool she created to merge the Competencies with AP guidelines to help students “play and experiment for play’s sake” and focus more on growth and their learning journey through art. Check out Audra’s tool here and contact her via email ([email protected]). Learn more about the P...
Mar 13, 2023•23 min•Season 1Ep. 42
Today's episode features an iTalks Podcast recording (hosted by our friends in Anderson District 5) featuring coaches from across South Carolina sharing their journeys with personalized learning and the ways they are supporting teachers in growing their PCBL practices (Access the full episode here ). Subscribe, share, & plug into the SCDE Office of Personalized Learning resources here: https://linktr.ee/scpersonalize #PersonalizeSC...
Feb 13, 2023•36 min•Season 1Ep. 41
In this episode, host Keri Beach chats with Sydney Schaef, Managing Director of reDesign about the Measuring PCBL Toolkit. This powerful resource is a one stop shop to help educators refine their practices and measure their impact on the journey towards making learning more personal for students. Access the Measuring PCBL Toolkit here and learn more about the Profile of the SC Graduate Competencies on our website ! Subscribe, share, & plug into the SCDE Office of Personalized Learning resour...
Jan 09, 2023•34 min•Season 1Ep. 40
In this episode, host Keri Beach chats with 3rd grade teacher Lynette Vargo from Westminster Elementary School in Oconee County about her teaching journey and the shifts she’s making to make learning more personal for her students. Hear more about her approach to small group instruction, assessments, and data tracking to help her students own their learning! Subscribe, share, & plug into the SCDE Office of Personalized Learning resources here: https://linktr.ee/scpersonalize #PersonalizeSC...
Dec 06, 2022•31 min
In this episode, host Keri Beach chats with Griggs Road Elementary School principal Nicole Thompson and innovation coach Joy Dillon about their school's journey towards personalizing learning for students. Hear more about how they got started, what support looks like for teachers as they implementing personalized practices at varied paces, how they are helping parents understand the PCBL shifts happening in classrooms, and how students overall are take more ownership of their learning journeys! ...
Nov 01, 2022•31 min
In this episode, host Keri Beach chats with principal Margaret Guerin and instructional coach Laura Falls from Bethany Elementary School about how they are supporting teachers' PCBL learning journeys with resources like the Office of Personalized Learning Framework Foundations Series . Listen in as they share strategies and keys for helping teachers grow their practice for the benefit of the students they serve. Follow Bethany Elementary School on Facebook and Twitter (@BethanyElem)! Subscribe, ...
Oct 03, 2022•25 min•Season 1Ep. 37
In this episode, host Keri Beach chats with Sarah Gams, the SCDE Student Learning and Development Program Manager and the 2021 SC Teacher of the Year. Hear more about what it looks like to attend to the needs of learners at various levels and tips for establishing a culture of collaboration at the start of the year. Contact Sarah Gams ([email protected]) for additional supports. Subscribe, share, & plug into the SCDE Office of Personalized Learning resources here: https://linktr.ee/scpersonal...
Sep 01, 2022•24 min•Season 1Ep. 36
As the new school year gets underway, gain insightful tips and strategies from SCDE Office of Personalized Learning Coaches Kristen Logan and Dr. Sarah Bowie on how to lead the work of PCBL well! In this episode, hear more about how to get buy-in and empower teacher leaders, how to ensure that other initiatives align with PCBL practices, how to structure learner-centered professional development to meet the diverse needs of teachers, and much more! Contact Dr. Sarah Bowie ([email protected]) and...
Aug 01, 2022•26 min•Season 1Ep. 35
In this episode, host Keri Fersner chats with Elizabeth Edwards, a resource teacher at Devon Forest Elementary School in Berkley County. Hear how she got her personalized learning implementation journey started and how the small shifts she's making are impacting the students she serves! Connect with Elizabeth via email: [email protected] Subscribe, share, & stay connected with the SCDE Office of Personalized Learning! https://linktr.ee/scpersonalize #PersonalizeSC...
Jul 01, 2022•27 min
In this episode, host Keri Fersner chats with Dr. John Spencer, educator and author of the books Empower , Vintage Innovation , and more. Hear his take on student-centered learning, what an empowered learner looks like, and getting buy in from parents, subtle shifts that make a big difference in giving both students and teachers more ownership in their learning journeys! Connect with Dr. Spenser at www.spencerauthor.com and access his Assessment Toolkit here . Subscribe, share, & stay connec...
Jun 01, 2022•30 min•Season 1Ep. 33
Ever wonder what makes personalized learning different from differentiation? Or if it's possible to personalize learning for students with a strict district curriculum? Get your questions answered and more in this episode as host Keri Fersner chats with fellow Office of Personalized Learning Coaches Kristen Logan and Dr. Sarah Bowie on a few myths and truths surrounding the work of Personalized Competency-Based Learning (PCBL)! Contact Dr. Sarah Bowie ([email protected]) and Kristen Logan (kloga...
May 02, 2022•25 min•Season 1Ep. 32
Ever wonder what flexibilities exist for SC schools and districts who are interested in innovative approaches to student-centered learning? In this episode, host Keri Fersner chats with Stephanie DiStasio, Director of the SCDE Office of Personalized Learning and Dr. Sarah Longshore, Director of the SCDE Office of Accountability about the recently released SC Education Flexibility Guide. Hear more about the creation of the guide and how the resource helps save educators time by making existing st...
Apr 01, 2022•24 min•Season 1Ep. 31
Need an inspiring example of a SC school who is making strides and reimagining the learning experience for students? In this episode, host Keri Fersner chats with the North Charleston High School of Innovation staff about how they are leveraging state waived requirements, including seat time to allow for more flexibility and creativity in their approaches to meet the needs of the students they serve. Hear more about their story, teamwork, and collective drive to truly think outside of the box! T...
Apr 01, 2022•40 min