In this episode, Jaime Casap, Google's Chief Education Evangelist, reflects on his experience as the lead developer on the Google Apps for Education project and how the launch of Chromebooks has created added momentum for K-12 technology programs. In addition, Casap also shares his thoughts on the ever-changing Digitalization Economy that has shifted the future of work from a single-player focus to a team-based approach that places a greater emphasis on soft skills development and critical think...
Nov 26, 2019•36 min•Season 1Ep. 54
In this episode, best-selling author Michael Horn shares insights on developing the passion and potential in every child through a triad of blended learning, personalized learning and competency-based assessments that serve as a foundation for student-centered schools. He also discusses talking points from his best-selling book, Blended: Using Disruptive Innovation To Improve Schools, and why school construction must shift to an intrinsic design model that is affordable and more purposeful in bu...
Nov 20, 2019•35 min•Season 1Ep. 54
In this episode, accomplished teacher, principal, author and speaker Adam Dovico talks about school leadership, innovative new professional development models and what he learned as a former teacher at the famed Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, GA. He also shares insights on his current book, The Limitless School: Creative Ways to Solve the Culture Puzzle, that provides strategies to create a more positive school culture. In addition, Dovico also shares a S.P.E.C.I.A.L. blueprint from his website t...
Nov 15, 2019•33 min•Season 2Ep. 53
In this episode, teacher, author and speaker Katie Powell shares insights from her book, Boredom Busters: Transform Worksheets, Lectures, And Grading Into Engaging, Meaningful Learning Experiences, and offers strategies that leverage curiosity and fun to engage students while driving deeper learning. Katie also shares resources form her popular website and blog, Teach Beyond The Desk, that provides free and easy ideas that can immediately be integrated into your classroom teaching. Twitter: @Bey...
Nov 05, 2019•35 min•Season 1Ep. 53
In this episode, award-winning principal and author Derek McCoy shares his passion for working with middle school students and reflects on his new role as Director of Learning and Innovation at Grady County Schools in Georgia. As a long-time school leader, McCoy reflects on numerous topics with the sole purpose of creating a culture of innovation and passion-based learning. This approach includes elements of design thinking, personalized learning, global competence, student empowerment and strat...
Oct 29, 2019•43 min•Season 1Ep. 53
In this episode, long-time Mathematics teacher Robert Kaplinsky discuses his new book, Open Middle Math: Problems That Unlock Student Thinking: Grades 6-12, and talks about his passion for Problem-Based Learning and Depth of Knowledge (DOK) that places an emphasis on moving away from superficial questions and answers to identifying various levels of understanding. Kaplinsky also talks about the growth of the #ObserveMe movement that encourages teachers to welcome colleagues into their classroom ...
Oct 22, 2019•33 min•Season 2Ep. 52
In this episode, author, presenter and National Board Certified Teacher Starr Sackstein discusses the process of authentic assessment in the classroom and how teachers must look inward and question their current grading practices to shift the conversation from traditional grading to a true mastery of learning. Sackstein also shares highlights from her popular book, Hacking Assessment: 10 Ways to Go Gradeless in a Traditional Grades School, and reflects on how competition and homework can be detr...
Oct 17, 2019•40 min•Season 2Ep. 51
In this episode, award-winning blogger, speaker and author AJ Juliani talks about his passion for implementing an "inquiry-driven" educational system that places an emphasis on empowering schools to use passion and purpose to fuel curiosity in winning the "attention battle" with Generation Z students. Juliani also discusses the importance of Design Thinking and offers tips from his new book, The PBL Playbook: A Step-By-Step Guide To Actually Doing Project-Based Learning, that includes ideas and ...
Oct 08, 2019•38 min•Season 2Ep. 50
In this episode, David Osborne, former Senior Advisor to Vice President Al Gore, reflects on his career working in public policy and why he's a champion for the Charter Schools movement in his role as the Director of the Progressive Policy Institute's Project on Reinventing America’s Schools. He also shares insight from his book, Reinventing America’s Schools: Creating a 21st Century Education System, and cites examples of measured success from charter school models in New Orleans, Denver and Wa...
Oct 03, 2019•44 min•Season 2Ep. 49
In this episode, George Couros shares insights from his new book, Innovate Inside The Box: Empowering Learners Through UDL and the Innovator's Mindset with co-author Katie Novak, and reflects on lessons learned throughout his career as a teacher and school administrator. By combining the principles of his first book, The Innovator's Mindset: Empower Learning, Unleash Talent, and Lead a Culture of Creativity (2015) with Universal Design for Learning (UDL), Couros and Novak were able to create a n...
Sep 23, 2019•41 min•Season 2Ep. 48
In this episode, Matt Miller reflects on the success of his “Ditch” series of books that Includes Ditch That Textbook, Ditch That Homework, and his newest release, Don’t Ditch That Tech with co-authors Nate and Angie Ridgway that offers solutions for differentiated instruction within the ed tech classroom. Miller also offers advice on how to use the recent surge of interest in audio to start a classroom podcast that will serve as your very own, authentic channel of positive news in your school. ...
Sep 17, 2019•33 min•Season 2Ep. 47
In this episode, popular author and keynote speaker Adam Welcome provides inspiration for a new school year and encourages educators to "get moving" and let the creative juices flow with laser focus and more clarity than ever before. From time management skills to tips on how to become more disciplined, Welcome reflects on his past experience as a teacher, principal and Director of Innovation and how his deep dive approach to leadership moves beyond surface-level thinking to find greater balance...
Sep 10, 2019•37 min•Season 2Ep. 46
In this episode, best-selling author, speaker and financial expert Chris Hogan shares his thoughts on leadership development, financial planning for educators and how K-12 schools can bring a Life Skills Curriculum to the classroom through the Foundations in Personal Finance Program as offered by (Dave) Ramsey Solutions. Hogan also offers sage advice to educators about the principles of Servant Leadership that includes building positive school culture, team building and goal setting within schoo...
Jul 15, 2019•30 min•Season 2Ep. 45
In this episode, Matt Friedman, Chief Academic Officer in the Downingtown Area School District (PA), discusses his passion for creating Future Ready Schools that includes design thinking principles, enriched technology opportunities for students and a personalized approach to professional learning for faculty and staff. Friedman also reflects on his school district's recent launch of Pennsylvania's very first Mobile Innovation Lab, a handicap accessible school bus that has been transformed into ...
May 23, 2019•32 min•Season 1Ep. 44
In this episode, best-selling author and international keynote speaker Eric Sheninger, talks about building more authentic relationships through job-embedded coaching and how the 2nd edition of his book, Digital Leadership: Changing Paradigms for Changing Times, can improve innovative practice and improve teaching, learning and leadership through the 7 Pillars of Digital Leadership. Sheninger also discusses the power of efficacy and how our mission as servant leaders is to prepare kids today to ...
May 15, 2019•34 min•Season 1Ep. 43
In this episode, award-winning principal Todd Nesloney talks about the power of connection on social media and reflects on the success of Kids Deserve It, the best-selling book with co-author Adam Welcome. He also discusses the importance of amplifying the voices of others and how his book, Stories From Webb, will forever be his proudest moment as an educator. Nesloney also looks ahead to his "dream job" as the newly hired Director of Culture and Strategic Planning for the Texas Elementary Princ...
May 09, 2019•30 min•Season 1Ep. 42
In this episode, Dr. Joe Sanfelippo, Superintendent of the Fall Creek (WI) School District, shares his thoughts on Hacking Leadership and reflects on the #GoCrickets hashtag that has been a game-changer for school districts that have adopted social media for Branding, Telling Your School Story and Advancing the Use of Social Media for School Leaders. As an innovative school leader, Dr. Sanfelippo also talks about the value of being intentional within his daily routine and why he's passionate abo...
May 01, 2019•35 min•Season 1Ep. 41
In this episode, Andrea Gribble, a social media specialist and founder of #SocialSchool4EDU, talks about her passion for helping schools celebrate their students in a safe and positive way with social media and offers tips on how you can “tell your school story” by creating a hashtag and branding your school district. Gribble also talks about social media’s big four platforms - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube and offers suggestions on how to maximize your time and resources with a dedic...
Apr 02, 2019•36 min•Season 1Ep. 40
In this episode, Dwight Carter, a former NASSP Digital Principal of the Year, shares insights on his book, Leading Schools in Disruptive Times: How To Survive Hyper-Change, and offers advice for working with “Generation Z” kids who need positive self-talk and crave a balance between technology opportunities and expanded face-to-face interaction to enhance social-emotional learning. He also provides a strong foundation on how to reinvent school space from his previous book, What’s In Your Space? ...
Mar 26, 2019•30 min•Season 1Ep. 39
In this episode, Ken Kay, CEO of EdLeader21, challenges school districts across the nation to develop a personalized Portrait of a Graduate that will serve as a collective vision that articulates a community of stakeholders for school transformation. Kay, co-author of The Leader’s Guide to 21st Century Education: 7 Steps for Schools and Districts, shares insights on the work of EdLeader21 and its recent collaboration with Battelle For Kids, a national not-for-profit organization committed to col...
Mar 19, 2019•34 min•Season 1Ep. 38
In this episode, leadership expert Jimmy Casas discusses his new release, Stop Right Now - 39 Stops to Making Schools Better and reflects on his best-selling book, Culturize – Every Student. Every Day. Whatever It Takes, while offering insight on how school leaders can create student-centered schools by always putting kids first in the decision-making process. Casas also reflects on his experience as an award-winning high school principal and how fear is often the greatest obstacle to sustainabl...
Mar 12, 2019•40 min•Season 1Ep. 37
In this episode, the Reimagine Schools Podcast joins forces with Jethro Jones, the founder/host of the popular Transformative Principal Podcast, to launch our very first simulcast. Named as a 2017 National Digital Principal of the Year, Jethro Jones is currently leading the design process to launch a new K-12 Magnet School within his school district located in Fairbanks, Alaska, and shares his vision for redesigning schools from the "inside-out." Among the topics discussed in this simulcast are ...
Feb 25, 2019•36 min•Season 1Ep. 36
In this episode, Joe Erpelding, Principal at the Design 39 Campus near San Diego, CA., shares insights on an innovative school model that is learner-centered with a Design Thinking approach that creates multiple pathways for kids to "build bridges" to their own future through collaboration, critical thinking and problem solving. This "student-powered school", uses its own unique language to "reimagine" traditional roles and school space, while promoting a growth mindset that connects the dots be...
Feb 21, 2019•33 min•Season 1Ep. 35
In this episode, Alyssa Gallagher, co-author of Design Thinking for School Leaders: Five Roles and Mindsets That Ignite Positive Change, describes Design Thinking as a "problem-solving process that can really help you reimagine what's possible for kids" while also inspiring educators to think intuitively and chase big, audacious dreams to improve our schools. Gallagher also talks about empathy for students, the power of disruption and why making a "bug list" provides fresh eyes and new opportuni...
Feb 16, 2019•34 min•Season 1Ep. 34
In this episode, Innovation Specialist Don Wettrick shares insights from his nationally-recognized Innovation Class at Noblesville High School near Indianapolis, IN and reflects on why his students are "enterprising, creative and opportunity driven" as they learn real-world skills through the power of networking and open source learning. He also discusses his book, Pure Genius: Building a Culture of Innovation and Taking 20% Time to the Next Level, and how his StartEdUp Network empowers students...
Feb 07, 2019•39 min•Season 1Ep. 33
In this episode, Brian Aspinall shares insights on his passion to empower educators to achieve more in the classroom using modern teaching tools and technology. He also discusses his two book projects, Code Breaker: Increase Creativity, Remix Assessment, and Develop a Class of Coder Ninjas from 2017 and his newest release, Block Breaker: Build Knowledge and Amplifying Student Voice that will be available in February, 2019. The conversation includes a wide variety of topics that includes Hour of ...
Jan 30, 2019•32 min•Season 1Ep. 32
In this episode, Tom Murray, Director of Innovation for Future Ready Schools (FRS), talks about efforts to maximize digital learning opportunities to help school districts move quickly toward preparing students for success in college, a career, and citizenship. The conversation includes information on the Future Ready Pledge for school district leaders and how resources such as the FRS Framework and interactive dashboard can help lead your school to personalized learning experiences for all stud...
Jan 24, 2019•33 min•Season 1Ep. 31
In this episode, Dr. Brad Gustafson, talks about his new book, Reclaiming Our Calling: Hold on to the Heart, Mind, and Hope of Education, and why it’s important to support educators who may be feeling tension and conflict within the daily pressures of education accountability. Embedded within the book, Dr. Gustafson says you will find several “hidden layers” that include a digital discussion guide and an innovative new approach to book studies with the launch of his new Underground Book Club (#u...
Dec 18, 2018•37 min•Season 1Ep. 30
In this episode, Dr. Yong Zhao, a leading voice in the globalization of education, talks about his new book, What Works May Hurt - Side Effects in Education, and why we must stop searching for the panacea to education reform. From his new book, Dr. Zhao says that policymakers often overprescribe solutions to fix education while underestimating the power of kids to create their own changes in a new “personalizable” model for learning. Dr. Zhao also talks about the impact of Steve Jobs and America...
Dec 13, 2018•34 min•Season 1Ep. 29
In this episode, Dr. Todd Whitaker, one of the nation’s leading authorities on staff motivation, teacher leadership, and principal effectiveness, shares proven strategies that can be utilized to lead positive change within our schools. Among the topics discussed are how to influence others, the difference between climate and culture, and why modeling expectations is always better than correcting behaviors. Dr. Whitaker also looks ahead to his next book project in 2019 and explains why he thinks ...
Dec 10, 2018•38 min•Season 1Ep. 28
