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Episode 010 – Mesa County School District 51 Interview with Steve Schultz

Lynn Fuini-Hetten and Randy Ziegenfuss

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Episode 10 takes us to the Mesa County School District 51 in Colorado and a conversation with superintendent, Steve Schultz, about the district’s work on performance-based learning. Among other things, we learn how Mesa County is engaging community to design the “what” and “why” of system transformation, the importance of providing the space and time for community to shift mindsets, and the value of “walking the talk.”

Steve began working in District 51 in 1982 as a teacher at Columbus Elementary School. He served as a principal, administrator and assistant superintendent before being appointed Superintendent in 2009. He retired in June 2017 after 35 years of service to Mesa County Schools.

Our conversation with Steve inspired us to think about the following questions:

  1. What happens when everyone’s a learner and a leader in the organization?
  2. What mechanisms of compliance can your organization let go of to move toward a more learner-centered learning environment?

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Episode 009 – McComb School District Interview with Dr. Cederick Ellis

Lynn Fuini-Hetten and Randy Ziegenfuss

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In this episode, we’re having a conversation with Dr. Cederick Ellis, Superintendent in the McComb School District in McComb, MS. We talked about developing an audacious vision, the importance of building relationships and having patience as you make learning personal for students.

Dr. Cederick Ellis has over 25 years of creating and sustaining a positive student-centered learning environment to develop academic proficiency and strength of character. He is a highly motivated, dedicated, results-oriented and innovative educator. Prior to his current position, he served as superintendent, director of schools, principal and teacher. Cederick was recently one of three Mississippians to receive the National School Leadership Coach credential from the National Institute for School Leaders (NISL). Cederick was recognized by the National Association of School Superintendents as the 2015 Superintendent of the Year Runner-Up. His primary goal is to develop a “World Class” school district: a school district that constantly strives for excellence in preparing its students to both meet and exceed state and national educational standards. Cederick launched Mississippi’s only student-centered teaching and learning school, focusing on personalizing learning for every student.  

Cederick and his work in McComb will inspire you to reflect on these questions:

  1. What is your audacious vision for learning in your organization?
  2. What terminology will you change as you embark on your transformation?

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Episode 008 – Pike Road Schools Interview with Dr. Suzanne Freeman and Ryan Kendall

Lynn Fuini-Hetten and Randy Ziegenfuss

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In this episode,  we’re having a conversation with Suzanne Freeman and Ryan Kendall.

Dr. Freeman is superintendent of the Pike Road Schools, a public school district of 1,400 students in kindergarten through 9th grade. She previously served as a principal and assistant superintendent for Auburn City Schools as well as superintendent for Cullman City Schools, Trussville City Schools, and now the newly formed Pike Road Schools. Suzanne has served a total of 15 years as a school system superintendent.  Dr. Freeman is a member of Superintendents’ Leadership Network with the Center for Leadership and School Reform. She has presented nationally on such topics as effective professional learning, leadership, student engagement, community engagement, using technology to enhance learning, the impact of globalization on student learning and other education topics. She is currently a member of Auburn University’s National Advisory Council for the College of Education. Pike Road Schools will have it’s first graduating class in 2020.

Ryan Kendall is a K-6 Principal at Pike Road Schools. He joined the Pike Road team in June 2014. Ryan began his career as a social studies teacher in Oklahoma. He moved to Alabama in 2009 and worked in private education as a teacher, technology integrationist and technology director.

Soon after moving to Alabama, Ryan earned two masters degrees from Auburn University at Montgomery: Instructional Technology and Instructional Leadership. He is passionate about student-centered learning, making, leadership, and transformation in education.

 

These learner-centered learners and leaders will inspire you to reflect on these questions:

  1. What happens when everyone’s a learner and a leader in the organization?
  2. What mechanisms of compliance can your organization let go of to move toward a more learner-centered learning environment?

Resources:

Episode 007 – Avalon School Interview with Carrie Bakken and Riley Molitor

Lynn Fuini-Hetten and Randy Ziegenfuss

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In this episode, we’re having a conversation with Carrie Bakken, Program Coordinator and teacher at Avalon School in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Riley Molitor an 11th grader at Avalon.

Carrie was hired with a team of teachers to open Avalon School in St. Paul in 2001. Over the last few years, she completed a two year Aspen Institute Teacher Fellowship and won an Outstanding Educator in Ethics Education Award sponsored by the WEM Foundation. Carrie has a Master of Arts degree in Teaching from the University of St. Thomas and a Juris Doctorate from Hamline University. She completed her undergraduate work at Beloit College in Women’s Studies and Latin American Studies. She is also a member of the Center for Teaching Quality Collaboratory and a Teacher Powered Ambassador Alumni.

Riley, a Junior at Avalon is the debate team captain who has a passion for history. 

These learner-centered learners and leaders will inspire you to reflect on these questions:

  1. What happens when everyone’s a learner and a leader in the organization?
  2. What mechanisms of compliance can your organization let go of to move toward a more learner-centered learning environment?

Resources:

Episode 006 – RSU 2 Interview with Bill Zima, Mark Tinkham, and Bryce Bragdon

Lynn Fuini-Hetten and Randy Ziegenfuss

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In Episode 6, our guests are from RSU 2 (Regional School Unit 2), a school working diligently to implement a learner-centered vision. RSU 2 is located in Maine. Bill Zima has served as a middle school principal and now superintendent in RSU 2 since 2015. Bill is also author of the book, Learners Rule.

Mark Tinkham has been principal in RSU2 for the past five years at Hall Dale Middle School/High School which is completely proficiency based and incorporates various levels of implementation of learner-centeredness.  

Bryce Bragdon is a 16-year-old sophomore at Hall-Dale High School. He believes that learner-centered learning is a good opportunity/program for most learners.

These learner-centered learners and leaders will inspire you to reflect on these questions:

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

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Episode 005 – Iowa BIG Interview with Dr. Trace Pickering, Shawn Cornally and Jemar Lee

Lynn Fuini-Hetten and Randy Ziegenfuss

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In Episode 5, our guests are from Iowa BIG, a school where passion, projects and community are its backbone. Trace Pickering is Executive Director of Iowa BIG and Associate Director of Practitioner Engagement & Learning at Education Reimagined. Dr. Pickering co-created Iowa BIG with Shawn Cornally and is a lifetime educator and entrepreneur. Shawn Cornally is co-creator and lead teacher at Iowa BIG

. Jemar Lee is a junior in high school attending Iowa BIG and a firm believer that education needs to be restructured for the benefit of learners,.

These practitioners will inspire you to reflect on these and other questions:

  1. What happens when everyone’s a learner and a leader in the organization?
  2. What perceived barriers to change does your organization have?

Resources:

Episode 004 – Learning rocketry in a learner-centered environment Interview with Erick Castillon, graduate of Alamo Height Independent School District

Lynn Fuini-Hetten and Randy Ziegenfuss

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In Episode 003, we learned about the work in Alamo Heights Independent School District with Dr. Kevin Brown (Superintendent) and Dr. Frank Alfaro (Assistant Superintendent). In this episode,  we had the chance to speak with Erick Castillon, a graduate of Alamo Heights and a former learner in its Rocketry Program for two years. Erick is currently a student at the University of Texas at San Antonio majoring in Mechanical Engineering. Erick has also had the opportunity to intern at NASA (Summer 2015 and Spring 2016). After listening to the podcast, check out the TEDx talk by Erick’s teacher, Colin Lang, to learn more about the amazing learning environment that transformed Erick!

After listening to this episode, you’ll want to ponder these questions:

  1. How might leaders provide opportunities for learners to develop their passions in a learner-centered environment?
  2. How do real-world projects support learner-centered education?

Resources

Episode 003 – Alamo Heights Independent School District Interview with Dr. Kevin Brown and Dr. Frank Alfaro

Lynn Fuini-Hetten and Randy Ziegenfuss

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With episode 3, we begin our conversations with practitioners working to implement learner-centered education in schools. Our guests are Dr. Kevin Brown, Superintendent in the Alamo Heights Independent School District in TX and Dr. Frank Alfaro, Assistant Superintendent. Alamo Heights is a mid-urban district with about 4,800 students. Dr. Brown and Dr. Alfaro have led Alamo Heights to collaboratively develop the AHISD Profile of a Learner, which describes the characteristics and attributes we desire for our 21st century students.



These practitioners will inspire you to reflect on these and other questions:

  1. How might a learner profile help focus a school/district on being learner-centered?
  2. What takeaways from today’s conversation can you act upon in your own practice?

Resources:

Episode 002 – What is learner-centered leadership? Interview with Allan Cohen and Anya Smith

Lynn Fuini-Hetten and Randy Ziegenfuss

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In episode 2, we speak with Allan Cohen and Anya Smith about learner-centered and learner-centered leadership. Allan leads transformational workshops for stakeholders addressing a wide range of social and economic challenges. He works with Education Reimagined as a strategic consultant and program leader. Anya is a learner at Mount Vernon Presbyterian School in Atlanta, GA, and serves as the Mount Vernon Institute for Innovation (MVIFI) Fellow as well as an inaugural Innovation Diploma member and graduate of the class of 2017.

After listening to this episode, you’ll want to ponder these questions:

  1. What AHA or clicking moments have you had along your leadership journey?
  2. How can we as leaders inspire our learners to make the world better?

Resources

Episode 001: What is learner-centered? Interview with Kelly Young, Executive Director, Education Reimagined

Lynn Fuini-Hetten and Randy Ziegenfuss

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We are very excited to be partnering with Education Reimagined on this work and are pleased to kick off this podcast series with someone certainly expert in the learner-centered paradigm, Education Reimagined’s Executive Director, Kelly Young. In this episode, we lay the ground work for this podcast series by focusing the conversation on what learner-centered means and what learner-centered leadership might look like.

For each episode we leave you with a couple of questions to think about with the idea of provoking conversation. Leave your responses in the show notes! This episode’s questions:

  1. How would you explain learner-centered to a colleague?
  2. What is one practice you would like to re-examine as you make the shift to a learner-centered environment?

Resources