Category: Podcasts

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

In Episode 28, we discuss learner-centered education with Dr. Pam Moran, superintendent in Albemarle County Public Schools in Virginia and Keaton Wadzinski, a consultant working with Albemarle learners developing start-ups and engaging learner voice. We discuss what learner-centered learning looks like in Albermarle County Public Schools. We also discussed the importance of honoring all individuals as learners who will move at a different pace in the learning organization.

Our conversation prompted the following questions:

1. What learner-centered aspects of Albermarle County Public Schools are most intriguing to you?
2. What did you learn today that you can use to move your school or district toward a learner-centered environment?

Resources:

• Dr. Moran on Twitter
• Keaton on Twitter – @reinventedlab
• Education-reimagined.org
• A Transformational Vision for Education in the US
• It’s a Paradigm Shift. So What?
• TLTalkRadio conversation with Education Reimagined Executive Director, Kelly Young

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

In Episode 27, we are speaking with Jon Hanover, Founder and Executive Director of Roots Elementary School in Colorado.

Jon Hanover is the founder of Roots and led the organization through its early development. He was Principal in its first year and is now the Executive Director. Before launching Roots, Jon was a Founding Kindergarten Teacher, Grade Level Chair and member of the school leadership team at Rocky Mountain Prep (RMP). As a teacher, his students demonstrated over two years of growth in both math and reading on the nationally-normed NWEA MAP. Jon graduated with honors from Harvard University.

We discussed the history and GROW values of Roots Elementary, their transformation to a learner-centered environment, barriers they overcame, and advice they would offer learners and leaders as they move towards a more learner-centered environment.

Our conversation prompted the following questions:

• What did you hear today that can shift your thinking about learner-centered learning?
• What barriers are holding you back from a more learner-centered environment and what can you do tomorrow to reduce or remove them??

Resources:

• Roots Elementary

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

In this episode we are revisiting Springhouse Community School located in Floyd, VA. You may recall that in Episode 23, we had a wonderful conversation with school co-founders Ezekiel Fugate and Jenny Finn through the leadership lens. In this episode, a significant part of our conversation is with two learners at Springhouse, Gabby Howard and Leah Pierce who provide us with a deeper dive into the kinds of learning experiences Springhouse provides. In addition to the learner experience our conversation includes discussion of learner agency and how the concept of relationships at Springhouse differs from other learning organizations.

Springhouse Community School seeks to create a culture of connection to self, community, and Earth. Springhouse sees the school as a place to explore questions such as:

• How does a child successfully shed his or her childhood to fully enter adolescence?
• What does a young person need to deal with the complexity of adolescence?
• What does it take to emerge from adolescence prepared for young adulthood?

Our conversation prompted the following questions:

1. What learner-centered aspects of Springhouse are most intriguing to you?
2. What did you learn today that you can use to move your school or district toward learner-centered?

Resources

• Springhouse Community School
• Shift Your Paradigm – Episode 23 with Jenny and Ezekiel
• TLTalkRadio Episode 28 with Jenny and Ezekiel – Critical Friends
• Education-reimagined.org
• A Transformational Vision for Education in the US
• It’s a Paradigm Shift. So What?
• TLTalkRadio conversation with Education Reimagined Executive Director, Kelly Young

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

In an earlier episode, Episode 15, we had a conversation with Big Picture leaders and learners to learn more about their learner-centered environments. In this episode, we focus on leadership and a conversation with Big Picture Co-Executive Directors, Dr. Andrew Frishman and Carlos Moreno. Our conversation dives deeply into how Big Picture Learning represents the five elements put forth by Education Reimagined and the key role of leadership in educational transformation. We also discuss a reframing of the term “relationships,” the power of giving up control, policy and mindset barriers and the shifting role of the teacher.

Our conversation prompted the following questions:

1. What did you hear today that can shift your thinking about relationships and your learners?
2. What barriers are holding you back from a more learner-centered environment and what can you do tomorrow to reduce or remove them?

Resources:

• Big Picture Learning
• Huffington Post – “I Want to Follow Your Footsteps,” — Schools and Social Capital
• Finding a Way to Reach All Students -This piece was written in collaboration with his former student, Justin Frago
• Harvard School of Education – Belong and Build
• Education Week Deeper Learning and Equity: Looks Can Be Deceiving
• Getting Smart: Student-Centered Learning and Smart Parents
• Rhode Island Educators’ Guide to Personalized Learning

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

In Episode 24, we are joined by David Miyashiro, the superintendent in Cajon Valley USD in CA and Ed Hidalgo, Chief Innovation and Engagement Officer at Cajon Valley. Cajon Valley has been dubbed “One to Watch” by The Classroom of the Future Foundation and has earned both local and national recognition for its leadership in transforming public education. In 2015, The Cajon Valley Union School District was inducted into The League of Innovative Schools, a bipartisan nonprofit, authorized by Congress in 2008. This distinction ranks Cajon Valley in the top school districts for innovation and digital learning.

Our conversation prompted the following questions:

1. How does the World of Work build agency in learners?
2. How does today’s conversation build on your “why” of transformation?

Resources:

• David on Twitter – @davidmiyashiro
• Ed on Twitter – @edhidalgoSD
• Cajon Valley School District 
• World of Work
• David’s TEDx talk
• Cajon Valley SD ‘In view’
• Holland’s RIASEC Framework

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

In Episode 23, we speak with the founders of Springhouse Community School in Virginia, Ezekiel Fugate and Jenny Finn.   Springhouse Community School seeks to create a culture of connection to self, community, and Earth. Springhouse sees the school as a place to explore questions such as:

• How does a child successfully shed his or her childhood to fully enter adolescence?
• What does a young person need to deal with the complexity of adolescence?
• What does it take to emerge from adolescence prepared for young adulthood?

Our conversation prompted the following questions:

1. What learner-centered aspects of Springhouse are most intriguing to you?
2. What did you learn today that you can use to move your school or district toward learner-centered?

Resources

• Springhouse Community School
• Education-reimagined.org
• A Transformational Vision for Education in the US
• It’s a Paradigm Shift. So What?
• TLTalkRadio conversation with Education Reimagined Executive Director, Kelly Young

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

In Episode 22, we learn about learner-centered education in the Fraser Public Schools. Superintendent, David Richards, along with learners Emily Ruebelman and Julia Wallace shared stories that highlight learning in Fraser. a school district of over 5,000 students located in Macomb County, Michigan. The District is one of the largest 1:1 iPad and MacBook initiatives in the Great Lakes Region with students in grades K-12 equipped on a 1:1 basis with a focus on personalizing learning for every child. To further support the individual learning needs of every student, the District is currently in the process of implementing a competency based education model across all grade levels which will allow students to progress through their academic experience based upon demonstration of proficiency in each of the subject areas.

Our conversations prompted the following questions:

1. How would your students benefit if they could set their own pace in learning?
2. What did you learn today that you can use to move your school or district toward learner-centered?

Resources

• Fraser Public Schools
• Video
• Education-reimagined.org
• A Transformational Vision for Education in the US
• It’s a Paradigm Shift. So What?
• TLTalkRadio conversation with Education Reimagined Executive Director, Kelly Young

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

In this bonus episode, we gathered practitioners and thought-leaders in the realm of learner-centered education to uncover the distinctions between leadership and management in a learner-centered environment. We were joined by

• Kelly Young, Executive Director of Education Reimagined
• Dr. Trace Pickering, Associate Director for Education Reimagined, Co-founder and Executive Director of Iowa BIG
• Allan Cohen, Strategy Consultant and Program Leader/Advisor to Education Reimagined
• Thomas Rooney, Superintendent of Schools, Lindsay Unified School District (CA)

To frame the conversation, we shared the thinking of Ken Robinson and John Kotter on the distinction between leadership and management.

From Ken Robinson:

The role of a leader is to provide a vision, to try to realize a sense of direction, a set of goals and purposes, and to inspire people to believe in and pursue them.

The role of the manager is to make sure everything is working so that the vision actually comes to pass.

And from John Kotter :

Leadership – The development of vision and strategies, the alignment of relevant people behind those strategies and the empowerment of individuals to make the vision happen, despite obstacles.

Management – Keeping the current system operating through planning, budgeting, organizing, staffing, controlling, and problem solving.

Our conversation was rich in principles that help to distinguish learner-centered leadership from the traditional school-centered paradigm of leadership. We touched briefly on management, but from this conversation, it’s clear that leadership in a learner-centered environment comes with greater challenges and far more nuance than management.

We are thinking about this question as a result of this incredibly rich conversation:

• How do you distinguish between leadership and management as you work to design learner-centered environments?

Resources:

• Education-reimagined.org
• A Transformational Vision for Education in the US
• It’s a Paradigm Shift. So What?
• TLTalkRadio conversation with Education Reimagined Executive Director, Kelly Young

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

For Episode 21, we return to Maine and a second visit with RSU 2 (Regional School Unit 2). You may recall earlier in Episode 6 we spoke with superintendent Bill Zima, and Mark Tinkham, principal. With this episode we dig more deeply into what learning looks like in RSU 2 through the eyes of two learners/graduates: Will Fahy and Rose Warren. Be sure to hang around until the end, where Bill and Mark share their wisdom on learner-centered leadership!

Will graduated from Hall-Dale High School in June 2017. During his time there, he lead the school’s FRC robotics team and math team, played in the Hall-Dale jazz band and sang in the Hall-Dale jazz choir, being accepted into multiple district or statewide music festivals. He also led the Hall-Dale Academic Decathlon team and co-captained the Hall-Dale Japanese Taiko Drumming team. He is currently attending Carnegie Mellon University studying Chemistry.

Rose graduated from Hall-Dale High School in June 2017. During her time in high school, she was President of Key Club, Vice President of National Honor Society, Captain of the Varsity Tennis team and was named MVC all star first team multiple years. She interned for State Senator Shenna Bellows and actively participated in many social justice advocacy groups. She is currently attending Bowdoin College studying government and legal studies, and education.

We were prompted to reflect on the following questions after our conversation:

1. How do you tap into learner voice when designing a learner-centered environment?
2. How learner-centered is your leadership?

Resources

Resources:

• Main DOE – The Long Conversation
• Learners Rule
• Education-reimagined.org
• A Transformational Vision for Education in the US
• It’s a Paradigm Shift. So What?
• TLTalkRadio conversation with Education Reimagined Executive Director, Kelly Young
• Shift Your Paradigm – Episode 6 – RSU 2

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

In this episode, we spoke with John Ramos who was serving at the time of the recording as superintendent in the School District of South Orange & Maplewood in NJ. Our conversation touched on aspects of learning and leading in SOMSD including creating a vision for the future – a world we’ve yet to imagine – and engaging the South Orange & Maplewood community in designing that future.

Our conversation with John prompted these questions:

1. How will you engage your stakeholders (including learners) in the development of your school or district’s vision?
2. How can you ensure equity across your organization as you develop your strategic or comprehensive plan?

Resources

• Strategic Planning Documents for the School District of South Orange & Maplewood
• Equity & Excellence Imperative
• Education-reimagined.org
• A Transformational Vision for Education in the US
• It’s a Paradigm Shift. So What?
• TLTalkRadio conversation with Education Reimagined Executive Director, Kelly Young