Episode 22: 10 Years of Learner-Centered Innovation in Rural North Dakota with Dr. Cory Steiner
Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Podcasts Watch on YouTube Episode Summary: Marlon Styles takes a seat in the hosting chair to interview Dr. Cory Steiner, Superintendent of Northern Cass School District in North Dakota. Together, they explore the district's last decade of work transforming to a learner-centered, competency-based education system. Cory stresses the why behind it all - the obligation to meet every learner where they are and give them experiences to be ready for their next chapter. He shares openly about mistakes made, embracing vulnerability, and ...
Episode 21: Leading With a Learner-Centered Vision at Conway Academy with Tina Meglich
Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Podcasts Watch on YouTube Episode Summary: What does it take to shift toward a learner-centered approach? For Tina Meglich and the eight years she has led learner-centered transformation as an elementary principal, the answer begins by building a shared vision that honors student voice, cultivates learner agency, embraces an expeditionary learning model, and focuses on authentic assessments. In this episode, Tina provides insight into structures that support teacher collaboration, real-world projects, competency-based assessment, and student leadership. If you aspire to create more ...
Episode 20: This is What Happens When Everyone Gets an “A” with Monte Syrie
Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Podcasts Watch on YouTube Episode Summary: On the first day of his 20th year as an English teacher, Monte Syrie greeted each learner with a handmade, wooden "A" and told them: "This is your A for the year. No matter what, there is nothing that you can do to change that." Eight years later, the practice continues. To learn more about Monte, why he gave up on grading back in 2016, the impact it's had on his learners, and why he is ...
Episode 19: Empowering Young People to Thrive in All Areas of Life with Kirsten Jones
Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Podcasts Watch on YouTube Episode Summary: Did you know that over 70% of athletes drop out of sports altogether by age 13? That's just one fact we learned from Kirsten Jones, author of Raising Empowered Athletes, during this enlightening episode. Youth sports have always acted as a great space for kids to get their energy out while learning how to collaborate, lead, and work through adversity. But, what is the experience young people are having that make them give up on something ...
Episode 18: What Do Young People Need to Be Ready and Well? with Stephanie Malia Krauss
Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Podcasts Watch on YouTube Episode Summary: Stephanie Malia Krauss is an author, advocate, and consultant for designing systems, structures, policies, and practices that support young people in building lives and futures they love. During our conversation together, Stephanie shares how we can support the whole child during such an unprecedented time—calling for us to slow down, nurture relationships, collaborate across ages and roles, and make wellbeing the guiding priority of our educational approaches. During the episode, Stephanie shares: 😊 Why she had ...
Episode 17: Breathing Life Back Into Learning with Eric Chagala
Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Podcasts Watch on YouTube Episode Summary: Eric Chagala, the founding principal of Vista Innovation and Design Academy (VIDA), emphasizes the importance of creating a school culture where all kids matter and shares insights from his dissertation on the critical resiliency of high-achieving Latinx youth. The discussion touches on Eric's experiences in education, his belief in design thinking, and his journey as a school leader. During the episode, Eric shares: ✨ How Washington Middle School (the precursor to VIDA) went from scores of ...
Episode 16: Keeping Humanity at the Center of Assessment with Buffy Cushman-Patz
Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Podcasts Watch on YouTube Episode Summary: Buffy Cushman-Patz, Founder of SEEQS Charter School in Hawai'i, discusses her educational journey and the philosophy behind creating a learning environment that focuses on essential questions of sustainability. SEEQS is guided by five values: Real-world situations and real-world contexts enable real-world learning. Learning occurs when learners take ownership of their learning. Everyone is a teacher; everyone is a learner, all of the time. A learning environment is composed of its community members, cultural values, and physical ...
