Episode Summary:

In this episode, Sandy Cima, Director of People and Business Operations at Learner-Centered Collaborative, offers her unique perspective as both a parent and a professional. Sandy discusses her experiences navigating the education system as a parent of two young children and the challenges of advocating for a more personalized approach to learning. With a background in both education technology and working with underserved communities, Sandy shares how these experiences have shaped her views on the importance of flexibility, curiosity, and happiness in both education and career paths.

Key topics covered include:

• The vital role of parental trust and communication with educators
• How schools can better engage with parents and involve them in their children’s learning journey
• The importance of teaching students to develop a strong sense of identity and agency
• The necessity for schools to remain adaptable to changes in society and the job market
• Preparing children for diverse paths beyond traditional academic success, including college and non-college careers

Related Resources:

• Blog: Listen, Learn, Lead: Start with Community Engagement
  At Learner-Centered Collaborative, we have seen the power of meaningful change and what is possible when you deeply understand your context and intentionally include a wide range of voices from your community to inform the work.
• Course: Develop Learner Agency
  Explore how to build learner agency by supporting metacognition, goal-setting, and self-reflection routines; focusing on the learning process (over product); and emphasizing a growth mindset.
• Tool: Facilitate Empathy Interviews and Focus Groups Tool
  Our Empathy Interview and Focus Group Tool provides a comprehensive guide for conducting both one-on-one interviews and focus groups. It includes tips for building rapport, asking effective questions, and ensuring equity of voice.