RethinkingEDU

Ep50-Finale- Ted Dintersmith and What School Could Be

Ted Dintersmith is at the forefront of education change. He's a filmmaker, author, and community activist. He's been political appointee, and is actively working toward making the education sector more dynamic and responsive to the needs of society. In this conversation, we highlight Ted's work and amplify his voice showcasing some of what he believes need to come next in school. Plugs include It's Time to Rethink Our Approach to Preschool, Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, and Have You Heard Podcast with Jack Schneider and Jennifer Berkshire. Music by Ketsa.

Ep49-Knowledge Drop- Dr. Courthney Russell, Jr. and the Intersection of Health and School Pt.2

In part 2 of Mike's conversation with Dr. Courthney Russell, Jr., we dive into a deep conversation around equity and health in schools. If we were to really center health and longevity and thriving, wouldn't we center the wellness of our young people? Doc unpacks what a health and wellness centered education experience could look like for students and communities. Music by Scott Holmes.

Ep48-Knowledge Drop- Dr. Courthney Russell, Jr. and the Intersection of Health and School Pt.1

Dr. Courthney Russell, Jr. (Doc) has an unusual path as an educator. Spending most of his youth in Atlanta, Doc is a social entrepreneur, civil activist, and libertory educator. He works to center the voices of those experiencing homelessness, those who are oppressed, and those whose voices are often ignored. He began this work as a medical doctor, and continues with a slew of social endeavors including WeUp CBO, A2H2, RandR Vision, and his very own podcast called the Humanize Podcast. In this special knowledge drop episode, Doc and Mike talk about his story and the intersection of health and wellness with education. This is part 1. Music by Scott Holmes.

Ep47-Teacher Preparation- Feat. Dr. Sarah Fine, Carol Battle, & High Tech High Graduate School of Education

As the United States continues to rethink teacher preparation, New Graduate Schools of Education (NGSEs) are becoming increasingly common. One of these schools is the High Tech High GSE located in San Diego, CA. Dr. Sarah Fine and Carol Battle are doing the important work of preparing teachers through HTHGSE's San Diego Teacher Residency and cultivating the critical community relationships that make the program a beacon for the rest of the country. Plugs include the Alder GSE, Sposato GSE, The Spirit of Our Work by Cynthia Dillard, and the HTHGSE Deeper Learning Conference. Music by Ketsa.

Ep46-Teacher Preparation- Feat. Sarah Bertucci & Eagle Rock School & Professional Development Center

At Eagle Rock School & Professional Development Center in Estes Park, CO, teacher preparation is a critical element of the school's mission and work. Director of Professional Development Sarah Bertucci oversees this program in partnership with national non-profit Public Allies. Each year, Eagle Rock brings on a new cohort of fellows who can earn their Colorado teaching license through the school's alternative licensure program. In this episode we talk with Sarah about the program's mission, goals, and approach. Plugs include the Teacher Powered Schools Conference, What School Could Be, Cultivating Genius by Gholdy Muhammad, and Open Way Learning. Music by Ketsa.

Ep45-Teacher Preparation- Teach for America Feat. Eric Sarb & Andy Alcaraz

Teach for America (TFA) was founded in 1990 to address underachievement in American schools. Since this time, TFA has become a lightning rod for positive and negative commentary about how to address change in schools and how to prepare teachers to meet the needs of students. In this conversation, we chat with Eric Sarb and Andy Alcaraz, two TFA alumni. They highlight their experiences in the corps and we reflect on what these experiences could mean for the future of teacher preparation. Plugs include What Strange Paradise by Omar El Akhad, All About Love by bell hooks, Deep Work by Cal Newport, The Descendants, and the BIPOC TFA experience account on Instagram. Music by Ketsa.

Ep44-Teacher Preparation- Feat. Dr. Carol Watson

The vast majority of teachers experience their preparation programs at a tradition university under the guidance of a dedicated group of Faculty. Dr. Carol Watson is one of the Faculty members at Kutztown University. Dr. Watson talks with us about her approach to preparation programming, some of the experiences she shares with her students, and the research that underpins this approach. Plugs include Deliberate Optimism by Debbie Silver, Words Their Way, White Fragility by  Robin DiAngelo, Help Us Begin by Jen Cort, and FieldTrip.com. Music by Ketsa.

Ep43-Teacher Preparation Programs

As teachers continue to leave the profession in large numbers, preparation of existing and new teachers is something we must consider. Join us over the next month as we explore teacher preparation programs from four different perspectives around the country. Here's are some of our pre-series thoughts to give you an idea of what's to come in this insightful series. Music by Ketsa.

Ep42-Equity, Belonging, & Inclusion Part 3- Feat. Patti Hess

In the final installment of our mini-series on equity, belonging, and inclusion we chat with Dr. Patti Hess, the Director of Pupil Services for a school district in Connecticut. Patti's past work as a school social worker helped inform and prepare her to oversee all of the special education services in her district. Our co-host team chats with Patti about this work, what high quality inclusion looks like and why inclusion is directly tied to both belonging and equity. Plugs include HomeByMe and all the amazing special education teachers out there, or as Patti says, all "Inclusion Champions". Music by Ketsa.

Ep41-Equity, Belonging, & Inclusion Part 2- Feat. Shahrzad Missaghi

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage school experiences for teachers and students around the world, questions of belonging in classrooms become increasingly critical for educators and administrators to grapple with. In this episode the co-hosting team chats with Shahrzad Missaghi. Originally from Iran, Shahrzad's life story is a fascinating example of the importance of belonging for all students. This is the second episode of our series on Equity, Belonging, and Inclusion. Plugs include Mason's Greatest Gems by Chelsea Lee Smith and Elaheh Bos, The Lighthouse Effect by Steve Pemberton, Cultivating Genius by Gholdy Muhammad, a new translation of Les Misérables by Victor Hugo, and singer/songwriter Tim Ward, Jr. Music by Ketsa.

Ep40-Equity, Belonging, & Inclusion Part 1- Feat. Antonia Johnson and Ken Simon

In our first episode of a mini-series on Equity, Belonging, and Inclusion, our co-host team chats with Dr. Antonia Johnson and Dr. Ken Simon of East Carolina University's Project I4. Antonia and Ken are working with school leaders to make classrooms more equitable around the country, and we dive into what educational equity means, what evidence we might see of equity in classrooms, and some tangible tips on how teachers can pursue more equitable practices. Plugs include Avoiding Racial Equity Detours by Paul Gorski, Coaching For Equity by Elena Aguilar, Rethinking Ethnic Studies, and Mathematical Mindsets by Jo Boaler. Music by Ketsa.

Ep39-Perspectives-Antonio Boyd and the Future of School

Dr. Antonio Boyd is the Executive Vice President of Future of School (FoS) and a columnists for Getting Smart. He met our co-host team at Northeastern University as all of us pursued our doctorates together. In this conversation we chat about equity, school change at both the macro- and micro- levels, and how intermediary organizations like FoS can shift the education landscape. Antonio shares a bit about his journey as an education activist and lots more about the future of school. Plus include the FoS Resilient Schools Project, the FoS Resilient Teachers grants, Street Data by Shane Safir and Jamila Dugan, Five Practices for Equity Focused School Leadership and Antonio's forthcoming book The Booker T. Blueprint (TBD!). Music by Ketsa.

Ep38-Perspectives-Jenny Finn, H Leopold, Sarah Merfeld, Springhouse Learning Community and Vitality-Centered Education

Located in a small town in rural Appalachia, Springhouse Learning Community was founded by Jenny Finn and an amazing team of educators to center vitality in the educational experience of young people and adults. Since its founding, Springhouse has pushed underlying assumptions around what school should and could be all about for its learners and community. Centering ideas such as vulnerability, connection, and resiliency, the community is leading the way in generating school that is responsive and meaningful for students. This episode also features H Leopold and Sarah Merfeld, two of the community's dynamic team, who lend important depth and dynamic to the conversation. Plugs include The Body Is Not An Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor, Monoculture by F.S. Michaels, The Icarus Deception by Seth Godin, Letters To A Young Poet: A New Translation, and Heat Wave by Glass Animals. Music by Ketsa.

Ep37-Perspectives-Gary Schoeniger and Building an Entrepreneurial Mindset in Schools

Gary Schoeniger has been working to build entrepreneurial mindsets in schools for more than 15 years. He is an international speaker, author, founder of the Entrepreneurial Mindset Institute (ELI). In this conversation, our co-host team dives into what it means to be an entrepreneur and what implications this has for schools. We talk with Gary about ELI, his book Who Owns The Ice House: Eight Life Lessons From An Unlikely Entrepreneur, and ELI's initiative Icehouse. Plugs include Learned Optimism by Martin Seligman and the Entrepreneurial Mindset Imperative. Music by Ketsa.

Ep36-Perspectives-Matt McQuillen, Jeff Harris, and College and Career Readiness

Canada-based Xello was founded over 25 years ago by entrepreneurs Matt McQuillen and Jeff Harris. They saw the need for a unified approach to consistent college and career readiness curricula in schools and developed a CD-ROM (say whaaa?!?) as an initial solution. From this early effort, has blossomed a comprehensive platform that helps schools engage students in purposeful thought activities around their futures. But is the secret sauce really in the platform? Listen up as Matt and Jeff share their insights. Plugs include Blaze's Party Rentals and Bovine Math. Music by Ketsa.

Ep35-Dissertations in Practice-Researcher Spotlight Feat. Mike Dunn, Julie Cook, Jeannine Dunn, and Matt Downing

In our final episode of our DiP series, our co-hosts interview one another about their research projects. From a technology professional development cohort, to collaborative leadership, to personalized learning, to an examination of change agents, this episode features a wide range of topics. We also explore some tips for those considering pursuing a doctorate while still maintaining full-time employment. We hope you loved this DiP series as much as we did! Music by Ketsa.

Ep34-Dissertations in Practice-Researcher Spotlight Feat. Dana Huff and Amanda Wild

In the next installment of our dissertations in practice series the co-hosts launch into the episode with a conversation about how to balance the work of being a scholar practitioner with their day jobs, family lives, and personal time. We then hear from researchers Dana Huff and Amanda Wild, colleagues of our co-hosts at Northeastern University, as they talk about the challenges they face as an English department chair, and as a special education teacher. Considering entering a doctoral program? Email us for a conversation. We'd love to chat. Music by Ketsa.

Ep33-Dissertations in Practice-Researcher Spotlight Feat. Laura Walker-Andrews, Jeff Cheng, and Katelyn Goodington

In our second installment of the DiP series, we sit down with Laura Walker-Andrews, Jeff Cheng, and Katelyn Goodington, three of our amazing colleagues from Northeastern University. Laura and Jeff talk about some of the challenges they experience working with community college students, and Katelyn talks about how her work has been supporting teachers of some of our youngest students. All of the researchers share some of their implications for scholar practitioners. The co-hosts talk about what a dissertation in practice is all about. Music by Ketsa.

Ep32-Dissertations in Practice-Researcher Spotlight Feat. Nicole Willard, Rebecca Murphy, and Kathy Dilks

As our co-hosts move toward the completion of their own dissertations, we are using our platform to feature other researchers in our cohort and the amazing work they are doing. In this first episode of our DiP mini-series we are highlighting the work of Nicole Willard, Rebecca Murphy, and Kathy Dilks who are doing great things in the fields of early childhood education, international credential evaluation, and higher education. We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did. Music by Ketsa.

Ep31-Perspectives-Penn Pritchard and DEI Work In Schools

Penn Pritchard is the Coordinator of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at AIM Academy and has been working on centering traditionally minoritized voices in curricula, helping teachers build their capacity to make classrooms more equitable and inclusive, and constructing spaces that allow student voice to be heard and valued for more than a decade. In this conversation we chat with Penn about experiencing change as a teacher, crucible moments, and inclusivity in schools. Plugs include André Robert Lee's film Equity in Action Grant: Pushing for Progress in Our Communities, Outwrite, Threadit, Releasing the Imagination by Maxine Greene, We Will Not Cancel Us by Adrienne Maree Brown, and the Your Body Is Not an Apology Workbook by Sonya Renee Taylor. Music by Ketsa.

Ep30-Perspectives-Emily Liebtag (feat. Chris Unger) and Difference Making in Schools

Author and consultant Emily Liebtag has been working in education for more than a decade supporting schools, teachers, and education leaders to unleash the potential of young people around the world. In this conversation we talk about Emily's recent book and how building connections with others can be a way for teachers to get support for the efforts they're trying to make in their everyday classrooms. We are also joined by special guest Chris Unger. Plugs include Difference Making at the Heart of Learning by Emily and Tom Vander Ark, Sankofa Farms, St. Paul and the Broken Bones, What School Could Be the app, Welcoming the Unwelcome by Pema Chodron, and the One tablet by Wacom. Music by Ketsa.

Ep29-Perspectives-Terwill Tomino, Maria Gallastegui, and Bilingual Education

In this episode our co-hosts chat with Terwill Tomino and Maria Gallastegui, two amazing bilingual educators who have spent their entire career promoting the value of language-learning, literacy, and dual language schools. We explore the topics of language immersion, the impact of growing up in a bilingual household, and why everyone should drop what they're doing, put on a Selena song, and dance for 3 minutes everyday. Plugs include Señorita Spanish, Later by Stephen King, and Braver Angels. Music by Ketsa.

Ep28-Perspectives-100 Days of Conversations About School

In this special episode, Mike sits down with 5 students and fellow educator Jane Shore to explore opportunity in this moment of challenge and division. Part of the 100 Days of Conversations About School, this episode seeks to add to the national dialogue around what school could be. Visit the 100 Days website for more details about how to set up your very own community conversation. Music by Ketsa.

Ep27-Perspectives-Sarah Pazur and Supporting Project-based Authentic Learning

As educators, we often push for teaching and learning to happen in engaging, 21st century ways. Dr. Sarah Pazur's work with CS Partners and FlexTech Education around the state of Michigan supports educators and schools as they transition to more authentic, project-based classrooms. With a fascinating background in progressive teaching and leadership, Sarah offers a terrific perspective on what opportunities and challenges exist for schools as they emerge from the pandemic. Plugs include How to Citizen with Baratunde, 100 Days of Conversations About School, the Human Restoration Project, and Real School Budapest. Music by Ketsa.

Ep26-Perspectives-Jen McGovern and Higher Education

Sociology professor Jen McGovern has been working with students at the higher ed level for more than 20 years. With roots in student affairs, and a deep appreciation for the value of sports in the lives of young people, Jen gives her perspective on the challenges and opportunities for K12 institutions from her unique position. Jeannine, Julie, Matt, and Mike ask Jen about cultivating curiosity, promoting self-directed learning, and the personalization of curriculum at all levels of education. Plugs include three other awesome podcasts: Nice White Parents, Heavy Medals, and Forward Progress. Music by Ketsa.