WHAT SCHOOL COULD BE PODCASTS
COMING SOON! 142. Total Student Engagement Through the LENS of Rebecca Parks
Listeners, imagine a student who always loved school—not just for the grades or the gold stars, but for the challenge, the structure, the sense of accomplishment. A student who moved frequently as a kid, not worried about making friends, but determined to succeed academically. A student who “played school well,” but, looking back, remembers teachers more than lessons, relationships more than curriculum. That student was Rebecca Parks. Rebecca doesn’t just believe in education—she lives it. From a K-12 experience that set the stage for her passion to teach to the defining “failure moments” that forged her resilience in college, Rebecca’s journey has been one of learning, leading, and, most of all, reimagining what’s possible. And at the heart of her mission? A bold idea: that learning should be rooted in place, connected to the real world, and designed to spark curiosity and wonder. Her dissertation, The Impact of a Place-Based Environment on Elementary Students, is a call to action. It examines the power of place-based learning, where students don’t just sit at desks but engage with the world around them. She explored the country’s most innovative schools—Teton Science Schools in Wyoming, the Zoo Academy in Nebraska, Missouri’s WOLF Academy and many more—places where learning is hands-on, immersive, and deeply connected to the community. But she didn’t stop at research. As principal of Southview Elementary in southern Missouri, Rebecca led a school that became a state-recognized model for collaboration and professional learning. And in 2019, she took her vision even further, launching LENS—Learning and Exploring through Nature and Science—a groundbreaking school within a school, where a select group of third and fourth graders engaged in a non-traditional, science, nature-focused and archeology oriented curriculum while still meeting state standards. Her story is about breaking free from the factory model of education, embracing curiosity, and fostering a culture of learning that is real, meaningful, and alive. Today, we step into that story with her. So get ready; this is more than a conversation. It’s an invitation to rethink what’s possible in education. An invitation to consider what school could be, and what could be school. As always our episodes are edited by sound engineer, Evan Kurohara. Our theme music comes from the catalog of master pianist, Michael Sloan.
140. Schools as Ministries for the Future, with Roman Krznaric
Listeners, a little over a year ago I attended a leadership conference here in my home city of Honolulu. At that conference the keynote, a futurist named Richard Yonck referred to a book he felt the 1000 business leaders in the audience needed to read. The book he referenced is The Good Ancestor, by Roman Krznaric. Five minutes after Yonck’s reference Krznaric’s book was on its way to me via my Amazon app. The Good Ancestor changed the arc of my life and shifted my thinking about education 180 degrees. So it is with great pleasure that I bring to you today my interview with its author. In this episode I delve deep into the mind of one of the most thought-provoking authors of our time. Roman Krznaric is a public philosopher, social change advocate, and, as noted, the author of the influential book The Good Ancestor: How to Think Long Term in a Short-Term World. His work challenges us to reimagine how we approach the future, prioritize intergenerational justice, and rethink the systems that shape our lives—including and maybe most importantly, education. We begin with a walk through the world’s first Empathy Museum, an initiative Roman founded, which invites visitors to step into the shoes of others—literally and figuratively. From there, we explore how his own intercultural experiences as a young student in Hong Kong sparked a lifelong commitment to empathy and connection. Then, we geek out on Roman’s acclaim as a writer. The Good Ancestor has garnered praise from luminaries like The Edge of U2 fame, who called it “the book our children’s children will thank us for reading.” We discuss how such heartfelt endorsements fuel his mission to inspire long-term thinking. Subsequently, we turn our focus to the intersection of education and the ideas in The Good Ancestor. How can teachers incorporate concepts like Wade Davis’ ethnosphere into cross-disciplinary lessons that encourage students to think across time? How might legacy thinking, cathedral building, and imagination as a skill become the core of a reimagined curriculum? Roman shares actionable insights that educators can bring to life in their classrooms today. We also discuss bold ideas for governance, such as transitioning from nation-states to city-states, and how such shifts could empower students to design systems rooted in deep democracy and sustainable futures. And we explore the potential of a course modeled after Kim Stanley Robinson’s The Ministry for the Future, deputizing students as “ministers” tasked with addressing humanity’s greatest challenges. Finally, listeners, as I write approximately 8 billion humans are alive on Earth. Over 50,000 years approximately 100 billion have already died. And, approximately 7 trillion humans will be born in the next 50,000 years. This episode is dedicated to the just born, and yet unborn. Sophie Halliday, a dear friend and the executive director of the Laulima Foundation here in Hawaii said the following for this episode: “The Good Ancestor has been an important part of my thinking as both a citizen of the world and as an educator. I was profoundly moved by Krznaric’s call for us to extend our time horizon when it comes to decision-making to shift towards acorn thinking, taking into consideration the interests of future generations. His work translating and amplifying indigenous knowledge and wisdom has deeply influenced my work with youth – a core mindset that we seek to instill in our Laulima Foundation youth advisory board members is a generational mindset: We ask, How might we infuse our decision-making to take into account future generations yet to be born?” Our episodes are engineered and edited by the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music comes from the catalog of pianist, Michael Sloan.
139. Two Towering Redwoods in the Research of How We Learn: John Hattie and Tony Frontier
Back in June of last year, listeners, my daughter, Emma got married in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. The day after her wedding my wife and I got coffee and breakfast at a Nevada City coffee joint. While I was in the restroom Cheryl spotted a guy wearing a floppy hat reading and writing at one of the shop’s tables. The book he had open was John Hattie’s Visible Learning. She rushed to get me as I emerged from the restroom and excitedly shared what she had spotted. We sashayed over to the guy and struck up a conversation about his reading of Hattie. As it turned out, the gods were watching over me that morning because the gentleman, Tony Frontier, was and is a colleague of John Hattie. Tony and I traded contacts and later, at my request, asked Mr. Hattie if he would be on my show. Long story short, John Hattie and Tony Frontier are my first guests of the 2025 season. I could not be more stoked, honored, pleased and privileged. Professor John Hattie is a researcher in education. His research interests include performance indicators, models of measurement and evaluation of teaching and learning. Hattie became known to a wider public with his two books Visible Learning and Visible Learning for Teachers. Visible Learning is a synthesis of more than 800 meta-studies covering more than 80 million students. According to John Hattie Visible Learning is the result of 15 years of research about what works best for learning in schools. He has been called “possibly the world’s most influential education academic.” I asked ChatGPT for a quote about John Hattie and it came with this: “John Hattie is a beacon of educational insight, illuminating what truly works in the classroom with unparalleled clarity and evidence. His groundbreaking work in Visible Learning’has redefined how we understand impact, empowering educators to transform learning outcomes worldwide.” Thanks, ChatGPT, and I could not agree more! You can find more on John Hattie at the website of the Melbourne Graduate School of Education, University of Melbourne, in Australia. Tony Frontier is an award-winning educator who works with teachers and school leaders nationally and internationally to help them prioritize efforts to improve student learning. With expertise in student engagement, evidence-based assessment, effective instruction, teacher reflection, data analysis, and strategic planning, Frontier emphasizes a systems approach to build capacity and empower teachers to improve each student’s schooling experience. Prior to his work as a consultant, Frontier served as an associate professor of doctoral leadership studies at Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he taught courses in curriculum development, organizational learning, research methods, and statistics. As a former classroom teacher in Milwaukee Public Schools, an associate high school principal, and the director of curriculum and instruction for the Whitefish Bay School District, Frontier brings a wealth of experience to his writing and research. His latest book, AI with Intention: Principles and Action Steps for Teachers and School Leaders will be published later this year through ASCD. As a professional musician and photographer, Frontier is always listening and looking for metaphors in the arts and humanities to help participants make authentic connections to the opportunities and challenges teachers and school leaders face each day. As always, our episodes are edited by the talented Evan Kurohara, and our theme music comes from the catalog of pianist, Michael Sloan. Please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts!
138. Project Next Will Knock Your Socks Off, with Sean Duffie
If you are listening to this episode on the day of its release, it is Christmas Day, 2024, listeners, and you are welcome! My Christmas gift to you is Sean Duffie, who, frankly, is a crazy awesome and amazing educator in the great state of Michigan. Sean is a Project Next PBL, and Spanish-Immersion teacher at Forest Hills Northern High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Along the way he has served as Adjunct Professor of Spanish at Grand Valley State University and before that, he was a Fulbright English Teacher at Villablanca High School in Madrid, Spain, where he taught 7th and 8th grade learners while building a bilingual program and developing literature workshops. As a Project Next PBL teacher, department and program chair he has played many roles, including helping learners experience 21st-century learning essentials through authentic project experiences. He co-taught projects and inquiries with world history, biology, geometry, English, environmental science, and art. Sean coaches a 25-member high-school writing club and slam team that meets weekly and publishes a literary/arts magazine every school year. His experience training as a Louder than a Bomb! national organizer cemented his passion for injecting intersectionality and youth voices into his teaching and writing. Working side-by-side with students, he helps them become adults who will work to bring the marginalized to the center in whatever realm they work and live in. Sean holds an Education Specialist pre-doctoral degree in Education Leadership, as well as a Master’s in Spanish Curriculum and Instruction from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, where he was fortunate enough to emphasize 20th century and contemporary Caribbean poetry. Wendy Zdeb, the Executive Director of the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals had this to say about Project Next: “While observing the Project Next student presentations, I was struck by their professionalism, confidence, and impressive depth of knowledge. These students demonstrated a remarkable ability to connect literature to history, geography, and culture, showcasing an understanding far beyond the book’s storyline. Equally impressive were the employability skills on display—articulate communication, collaboration, organization, and creativity—skills that are essential for success in any career. It was clear they had engaged deeply with their learning, both as individuals and as teams.” Lynn Cvengros, our What School Could Be Global Innovation Synergist and the person responsible for bringing Sean to my attention shared this comment she heard from one of Sean’s students: “”Project Next has helped me in ways that I couldn’t even imagine. Going into high school I was a very poor public speaker. Project Next taught me how to speak with confidence in front of large crowds and how to develop social skills.” As this year comes to a close I want to express my gratitude to my team – Evan Kurohara (audio engineer) and Michael Sloan (theme music) – for their tireless support of this show.
137. LeeAnn Kittle And Her Team Are Walking The Talk Of Student Agency, Big Time
My guest for this episode is LeeAnn Kittle, the director of sustainability programs for the Denver Public Schools. LeeAnn showed up on my radar screen because of a headline in EdWeek’s weekly newsletter. The headline read, “This Leader Partners With Students to Build a More Sustainable Future for Her District.” At EdWeek’s website I discovered two more articles about LeeAnn, and vowed then and there to track down her contact and invite her to be my guest on the show. For the past several weeks I have been doing a deep dive into LeeAnn’s life, and work. She is an extraordinary human with a mile wide, and mile deep resume, all of which indicates she is a warrior for Planet Earth, and a powerful advocate for student voice. Describing her more formally, she is a strategic professional who has built sustainability programs in higher education and K-12 for over 15 years. She has a Master’s in Business Administration and a B.S. in Environmental Science. She is passionate about educating and inspiring her community on sustainability initiatives to address pressing climate issues. She works hard to change the narrative from climate crisis to one of bold action, innovation, and accountability. LeeAnn has implemented green roofs, rooftop solar, community solar, building and fleet electrification, natural resource management, and student engagement. She has served on several boards across the front range including organizations such as US Green Building Council, Recycle Colorado, and the Colorado Association for School District Energy Managers. She also took part in NREL’s Energy Executive Leadership Program and was recently named Energy Manager of the Year for the Central and South US through the Association of Energy Engineers. Most of all, LeeAnn is a strong advocate for the power and the promise of public education. I spent some time researching the team LeeAnn built for the Denver Public Schools Sustainability program. Wow, their collective commitment to Planet Earth and opportunity-based learning for young learners put a charge in my battery that will last for months, I am sure. From LeeAnn’s online biography I noted that she grew up in Cleveland catching frogs, kicking a soccer ball, and holding her own among her three brothers. When she’s not feeling the constant shame of failing to get through her inbox, she can be found spending time with her family, watching The Wizard of Oz, or letting her creative juices flow through art or fashion. These episodes are edited by the talented Evan Kurohara. Our music comes from the vast catalog of my college roommate and master pianist, Michael Sloan.
136. The Deep Compassion Embedded in Executive Functioning, with Mitch Weathers
Mitch Weathers is a brilliant educator, author of the book, Executive Functions for Every Classroom and the founder of Organized Binder. Organized Binder is an evidence-based MTSS Tier 1 universal solution. It provides a structured environment with clear expectations and routines, exposing students to goal setting, reflective learning, time management, study strategies, and organizational skills. It aligns with Universal Design for Learning and supports Least Restrictive Environments, or LREs. You know listeners, I graduated from high school in 1976 with a 2.6 GPA and awful SAT scores. My first year of college was a massive success if you consider drinking and playing rugby the object. After dropping out of college I became, for the next 15 years, a chef and then a hotel manager. Eventually I finished my undergraduate degree and earned a, yes, 4.25 GPA. Why? Because what I gained over those years as a chef and hotel manager was an elevated set of executive functions never taught to me when I was in this thing we call “school.” Evan Beachy, a senior strategist at one of the largest independent schools in the country, is the reason I have Mitch on the show today, and he had this to say for this episode: “I first met Mitch a couple of years ago, through a mutual friend. Though we’ve been meeting monthly ever since to dive into our work, ideas, personal and professional struggles, and engage in general intellectual discourse on education, we have never met in person. But our connection runs deep. Mitch is a snowboarder, a runner, a father, an entrepreneur, an author, and a connector. In a world where we must embrace technology, analog interaction and the hands-on practice of building resiliency is more important than ever. Thus, Mitch’s work with executive functioning is vitally important; far more important than mere content or scope and sequence. Studentship, the habits and practices of being a student – executive functioning in neuro-scientific parlance – are more vital than ever in today’s educational landscape and Mitch is among those leading the charge”. A principal at Sequoia High School in CA wrote the following about Mitch: “My first interactions with Mitch were when he was a new teacher in our district and I was his BTSA support provider. I remember being struck from the start by what an incredibly gifted educator he already was. Mitch not only put much time into planning his classroom instruction so that he maximized learning and minimized distractions, but he was also able to successfully convey these goals to kids. Every lesson began with the end in mind and students were given clear steps as to how to fulfill the day’s objectives. Every lesson closed with students writing about what they had learned that day and Mitch would use these writings to inform the next day’s instruction. Equal only to Mitch’s sound pedagogy is his ability to work with students. In short, he is a kid whisperer. Mitch consistently treats his students with the respect due to scholars and they respond in turn. From kids who end up at Stanford, to those who will be the first in their family to graduate from high school, all students love Mitch and strive to do well in his care.” Editing for this episode is provided by the amazing and talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music comes from the vast catalog of pianist, Michael Sloan.
135. Mahealani Jackson’s View on What School and Life Could Be
Today I am totally stoked to welcome to the show Mahealani Jackson, a remarkable 17-year-old senior at Kamehameha Schools in Honolulu. Joining as my color commentator is Hannah Grady Williams, Chief Rebel at d’Skills, who alerted me to this extraordinary young person who was part of her first all-virtual IMPACT10 cohort powering up kids on AI. Mahealani’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Despite her young age, she has already lived experiences equivalent to multiple lifetimes. From her early years as a skilled planner of Disneyland trips with her parents to her current pursuit of graduating from high school and college simultaneously, Mahealani’s story is one of determination, resilience and incredible self awareness. In Hawaiʻi where this show originates, we have a saying: Ma Ka Hana Ka Ike: in doing one learns. Mahealani lives and breathes and walks in the light of this proverb. In today’s conversation we delve into Mahealani’s philosophy of life, shaped significantly by Joseph Murphy’s book, The Power of Your Subconscious Mind. Murphy’s book has influenced Mahealani’s approach to success and her refusal to be limited by others’ achievements. Mahealani also shares insights into her educational experiences, highlighting two influential Kamehameha Schools teachers who fostered her growth mindset and created memorable learning environments. As a participant in the first all-virtual d’Skills IMPACT10 program, which took place in early 2024 when she was only 16, Mahealani has subsequently developed core skills that make her an instant asset to any company. Her drive for efficiency and unique approach to tasks, even those unfamiliar to her, set her apart. However, Mahealani also candidly discusses the challenges she faces, expressing that school has become “a burden to my dreams, not a supporter.” Ouch, these words hurt my heart. Today’s conversation also explores Mahealani’s thoughts on college preparation, her vision for a Student Bill of Rights, and her perspective on the role of AI in education, among other topics. She shares her experience helping her boyfriend build a ChatGPT bot for his nursing studies, demonstrating her forward-thinking approach to technology in learning, and her deeply layered humanist tendencies. Throughout this conversation, listeners, Mahealani’s self-awareness, critical thinking, and passion for learning will knock you out. Her story offers an open window into what school could be, and what could be school as seen through the eyes of an exceptional learner who is actively shaping her own educational journey and breaking out of the box that is traditional education, which we know tends to crush creativity and imagination. And as frosting on the cake, you will hear previous guest, Hannah Grady Williams chime in with her insights on Mahealani, much like a one-person Greek chorus. Frankly, Mahealani, Hannah and I had way too much fun doing this live to tape interview at the the Mike and Sandy Hartley Math, Science & Technology Complex, podcast studio at Mid-Pacific Institute in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. As always, this episode was engineered by Evan Kurohara. My thanks to Jon Pennington at MPI for helping to arrange for studio time.
134. Dr. Kyra Monèt Caldwell Templeton Knows Her Strengths
Listeners, I could not be more excited to share with you that my guest for this episode is Dr. Kyra Monèt Caldwell Templeton. Currently, she is Program Director of Student Engagement, an inaugural position with the Atlanta Public Schools, which serves over 50,000 students in 195 schools with nearly 4000 teachers. Remarkably, the student-teacher ratio in the Atlantic public schools is a very low 12.6. An important caveat here: for this episode Dr. Caldwell Templeton is not speaking on behalf of the Atlanta public school system. Dr. Caldwell Templeton’s journey in education includes degrees from Spelman College, Capella University, Georgia State University and Mercer University. Any walk through her resume will result in you knowing, listeners, for sure, that she is a passionate lifelong learner. Her teaching journey includes positions at Cobb County’s Sprayberry High school, the KIPP Atlanta Collegiate High School, McEachern High School, also in Cobb County, and Marietta City Schools. Along the way she co-founded Radiant Educational Services, LLC, a national educational empowerment consulting group that provides customized professional development, coaching, strategic planning, curriculum design and evaluation for academic and non-profit institutions. She has also been an advocate for professional development. She was awarded the National Council for Teachers of English, Teacher of Color Award and has presented at several county, regional, and statewide professional development initiatives in which she discussed Performance Assessment, Writing Across the Curriculum, Grammar Integration in the Literature Classroom, Multi-Modal Instruction, as well as other relevant educational topics. Editing for this podcast is provided by the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music is from the catalog of master pianist, Michael Sloan. Please leave us a review and rating wherever you get your podcasts!
133. Sandra Stein: Brilliant Educator, Writer, Scholar, Justice Advocate
At the Global Nomads Group website their vision, mission and about begins with this paragraph: “In 1998, four college friends had an idea to connect young people across the globe to foster dialogue and forge meaningful connections. They had heard about the emergence of video conferencing technology and thought maybe they could use it to link classrooms.” What happened over the next decades, listeners, is the subject of this episode. My guest today is Sandra Stein, Chief of Programs and Learning at the Global Nomads Group. Sandra is a passionate educator, writer, scholar, and justice advocate who leads staff and youth in the design, delivery, and assessment of Global Nomads Group’s unique programs. She is the author of two books on education policy and practice, and her writing has appeared in leading periodicals. She has a doctorate in Education from Stanford University and a long and deep teaching resume. The best way to introduce Sandra to you, listeners, is to use the words of individuals who have written about her. A program coordinator in Korea wrote, “One of her exceptional skills is her ability to tackle heavy topics such as bias and women’s rights in such an effortless manner, sustaining everyone’s engagement and nurturing discussions. Her extensive knowledge and experience in curriculum development and instructional material design ignited a passion in me to dig deeper in this path. Dr. Sandra is one of those once in a lifetime individuals who come into your life and help you reach a reckoning by dissecting your life, your biases, and infusing you with energy to reach for your potential.” A former programs coordinator at Global Nomads had this to say about Sandra: “Beyond her technical and leadership skills, Sandra has a unique talent for fostering an inclusive and collaborative environment. She introduced me to the world of accessibility, teaching me how to ensure that all the content I create, the language I use, and the way I live are as accommodating and inclusive as possible. I learned about the impact of ableism and how it can affect the lives of those around me, and I carry this knowledge with me wherever I go.” And finally, a student who first met Sandra at Grinnell College said this: “What stands out most about Sandra is her unique approach to feedback. She has a way of making every conversation feel like a two-way dialogue, where both parties are learning and growing. Sandra is direct and honest, but her feedback never feels harsh or discouraging. Instead, she has a remarkable ability to frame constructive criticism as part of a broader, thoughtful discussion. She always takes the time to understand the effort and thought behind the work, valuing the person just as much as the final product. Her feedback isn’t just about what needs improvement—it’s about recognizing potential and encouraging growth, which made every interaction with her feel empowering and insightful.” Our show’s audio engineer is the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music comes from the vast catalog of master pianist, Michael Sloan.
132. Theresa Tate, Fierce Advocate For All Learners
Today my guest is Theresa Tate, who currently teaches, guides, coaches and advises kids at the Orchard View Innovative Learning Center in Michigan. Theresa is a guest on this podcast because of a recommendation made to me by Chris McNutt, one of the founders of The Human Restoration Project, which just held its annual, virtual, Conference to Restore Humanity. Chris wrote the following for this episode: “Theresa Tate is an incredible educator with an unwavering support of students who have nowhere else to turn. In our focus groups at the Orchard View ILC, students consistently described Theresa’s classroom as a “family,” expressing reluctance to leave the nurturing space she has created upon graduation. And she is a fierce advocate for disabled and neurodivergent students, dedicated to building a more inclusive and supportive future.” Nick Kunnen, Theresa’s Director at the Innovative Learning Center wrote the following for this episode: “As her co-worker, friend, and supervisor, I can not say enough about Theresa Tate. She continues to amaze me with her passion and drive to connect with her students and to provide them with not only a quality learning experience but also a space that is safe and welcoming. Theresa’s ability to openly share her own story helps everyone around her feel comfortable and connected.” Theresa noted to me that she decided at a young age (once she got past the combination firefighter-ballerina-marine biologist phase) that she wanted to be a teacher. There were a few factors that influenced her decision, one being her mother, who, though started as a teacher but became a mail carrier, encouraged Theresa to follow the teaching path. The other factor had to do with getting a ticket to college – becoming a teacher was that ticket and the start of a process of becoming the remarkable educator she is today. At Spring Arbor University Theresa earned her BA in English with a minor in Spanish while being named, in her secondary education concentration, as the E.P. Hart Honors Scholar. Among the many accomplishments listed in her resume related to the Orchard View Innovative Learning Center, these several jump out as wonderful gemstones. Theresa founded a Creative Writing Club during her last semester that had regular after-school attendance of 5-7 students who enjoyed exploring and experimenting with new forms and genres. She served as Vice President of Orchard View Education Association, which gave her the opportunity to learn a great deal about the relationship between the District and the Association and how both work to improve the field for teachers and students. By the way, listeners, What School Could Be is doing some major work in the great state of Michigan. This is why I am so pleased to bring you this episode. As always, this show’s audio engineer is the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music comes from the master pianist, Michael Sloan.
131. Sokvy Vin Knows SHE-CAN
Inspired by the Liger Leadership Academy, which, by the way, I featured in a previous episode, Cambodia’s Future Foundation, known as the CFF was created with the ultimate goal of “nurturing leaders and changing lives.” In 2014, CFF identified and selected a cohort of ten, 16-year-old students with two years of high school before graduation. CFF recognized that, due to financial limitations, these students did not and would not have the funds to attend university after high school. This stark reality affects thousands of young Cambodians destined to drop out of school to work in factories or farms, marry at a young age, or move to a bigger city to find work. CFF students successfully realized their potential and made decisions that positively impacted their lives, the lives of others, their community, and their country. After screening hundreds of candidates, a young woman named Sokvy Vin stood out with her bright smile and the grit and perseverance to succeed. I am thrilled that Sokvy is my guest on today’s episode. She was selected and would become the first in her family to graduate high school and attend university. Her ambitious CFF service project aimed to provide sanitation facilities to four economically disadvantaged families, including a single mother with AIDS and two young children. Happily, every CFF student has graduated from a Cambodian university and is gainfully employed. One CFF student is now a high school chemistry teacher. Due to her ambition and motivation, CFF collaborated with the foundation SHE-CAN, from whom Sokvy Vin received a full scholarship to the University of Portland, where she is now in her senior year. Robert Landau, one of the founders of Cambodia’s Future Foundation wrote the following for today’s episode. “Sokvy Vin’s journey from rural Cambodia to the University of Portland exemplifies the transformative power of investing in human capital, education, and perseverance. I first met Sokvy in 2013 when she was a 16-year-old high school student in Kampong Speu Province. Her excellent English and confidence stood out as we launched Cambodia’s Future Foundation. Despite challenges, Sokvy exceeded expectations, earning scholarships to a Cambodian university and later to the University of Portland. I’ve watched her embrace new experiences, from her first international service trip to initiating a basketball project, which included building a basketball court along with uniforms and equipment in her hometown. Sokvy’s story of grit and paying it forward makes her an inspiring role model, showing that with determination and support, one can overcome challenging circumstances to achieve their dreams.” Editing for this episode is provided by the talented, Evan Kurohara. Our theme music comes from the catalog of master pianist, Michael Sloan.
130. EdWeek’s 2024 Leader to Learn From, with Kate Maxlow
Months ago a colleague of mine alerted me to an EdWeek article titled “An Unorthodox Plan to Pay Students to Write Curriculum Is Raising Achievement,” which described some very unusual work being done by Dr. Kate Maxlow, an educator on the East Coast. The article opens with this: “Kate Maxlow admits to being the ‘first person in the room to get bored.’ As a teacher, she worked overtime to keep her elementary students engaged but privately wondered if some content is just destined to be dry. She changed her mind the day her daughter—sick with a 100-degree fever—pleaded to be allowed to go to the last day of summer math camp. The 10-year-old had spent a week learning about patterns and writing code, and the work was set to culminate in a big escape-room challenge. Maxlow, the director of curriculum, instruction, and assessment for the Hampton City schools on Virginia’s eastern coast, wished all students would be so excited by their classwork that a sick day would come as a bitter disappointment. ‘I’ve always thought that schools need to do a better job of being innovative and engaging students, but I figured there were just some subjects you can’t make fun,’ Maxlow said. ‘I realized then that it’s possible to do, even if it’s not easy or obvious.’” So, awesome listeners, what you will hear over the next 70 minutes is a deep dive into Dr. Maxlow’s life, her work, the way she thinks and her hopes and dreams for education. And, I am excited to share, back in 2020, Dr. Maxlow received the Virginia Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Leadership Award for her work coordinating efforts to innovate the Hampton City Schools curriculum. As always, our episodes are edited by the talented audio engineer, Evan Kurohara. Our theme music is provided by pianist, Michael Sloan. Please leave us a review and rating wherever you get your podcasts.
129. Kim Ah Soon and Catherine Thorn
This episode features two guests and largely focuses on the What School Could Be, 2Revolutions masters program in Learner-Centered Schools & Systems, which is geared towards innovative educators seeking to develop capacity as teacher leaders, instructional coaches, and supportive leaders working towards educational transformation. My guests are 2Revolutions’s Senior Consultant, Catherine Thorn, and Wai’alae Elementary Public Charter School Curriculum Coordinator and Instructional Coach, Kim Ah Soon, who will graduate from the aforementioned masters program in July, 2024, a few weeks after this episode airs. Catherine Thorn has nearly 20 years of classroom and educational leadership experience. She holds a B.A. in Biology from Boston University and an M.Ed. from the University of Massachusetts. She completed a The Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Leading and Learning in a Competency-Based System at Southern New Hampshire University; this program was a product of a collaboration between Southern New Hampshire University and 2Revolutions. Over the course of 20 years Catherine has held numerous positions as a classroom educator and an education leader and change agent in Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire. Now a Coach for 2Revolutions, Catherine has co-facilitated state-level professional learning communities focused on leveraging performance assessment as evidence of graduation readiness and served as an adjunct professor for Spalding University. Catherine is leveraging her passions and experiences in implementing competency-based, student-centered learning to support 2Revolutions’s Graduate programs and Communities of Practice. The best way for me to introduce Kim Ah Soon is to read from a letter of recommendation written on her behalf by Mary Wenstrom, the CEO of the school she works at, which is Waialae Elementary Public Charter School. Mary wrote, “She has been an educator for 34 years and has been willing to learn, unlearn, and relearn. She possesses a genuine warmth and empathy that allows her to connect with educators at all levels, from veteran teachers to those just starting their careers. Kim doesn’t simply connect; she leads. She exhibits a unique blend of empathy and knowledge. She can readily understand a teacher’s challenges and frustrations, yet she also possesses the pedagogical expertise to offer insightful solutions. This makes her coaching sessions incredibly valuable, as teachers feel both heard and supported in their journey towards growth. She has a talent for building capacity within her colleagues, empowering them to become more effective educators.” One of Kim’s student’s parents once wrote, “You’re a real person in a world where real people are hard to find. And when my son needed you, when I needed someone even though I tried so hard not to need anyone, you were there. You were my friend when I needed a real one. Beautiful and high praise, which is why I am glad to have Kim on this show. Prior to her position at Waialae Elementary Public Charter School Kim taught for more than 23 years at Ben Parker Elementary and Hawaii Technology Academy. She is also active in several organizations working to prepare kids for the workforce of today, and tomorrow, including the Pilina Education Alliance. Post production provided by Evan Kurohara. Our theme music comes from master pianist, Michael Sloan. Please leave us a rating and review wherever you get your podcasts!
128. Looking at the Big Picture, with Kris Swett
Today’s conversation is with Kris Swett, who wrote the following: “My passion is for the alternative. Making sure schools can better serve different students’ needs, my life’s work is to create alternative educational models. Conventional schooling is falling by the wayside and technology, and a global community becomes our new reality. We cannot teach the students of the future with the ways of the past.” Though Kris has held a number of roles in education today’s episode is going to focus a great deal on his time as the principal at South Valley High School, which became, under his leadership, Big Picture Ukiah. It is a remarkable story, listeners, worthy of your time. Kris has a masters in education from Cal State Chico with an emphasis on Curriculum and Instruction and School Leadership. His bachelors is in political science with an emphasis in international relations and economics, also from Cal State Chico. Kris writes, “I am a Northern California native and the son of an elementary school teacher and union leader. I am described as restless and always full of new ideas. My path to becoming a principal was not a straight journey. I began my adult life as a Bartender and Manager of a Michelin rated restaurant in rural Northern California. I then became a high school teacher, teaching mostly social studies with a smattering of English, math, independent study, and physical education. I love being with students and challenging them to think. They showed their appreciation for me by selecting me as the 2007 Teacher of the Year.” Robert Landau, who first introduced me to Kris as together they launched what is called IMPACT, a project that exists at the cutting edge of what school could be and what could be school, wrote the following about Kris for this episode. “In August 2020, I, along with many others, believed that the worldwide pandemic might spark a global transformation in education. While this didn’t fully materialize, I designed a framework for the future called IMPACT. While searching for thought partners, a trusted friend, Scott Paulin, recommended I meet Kris Swett. The rest, as they say, is history. Kris is a dynamic, passionate, and determined change agent. It has been wonderful to find someone so committed to leaving theory behind, rolling up his sleeves, and getting in the trenches to make schools better and more equitable for all students. It is an honor to pass my baton to Kris Swett.” Editing for these episodes is provided by the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music comes from the vast catalog of pianist, Michael Sloan. Please leave us a rating and review wherever you get your podcasts!
127. Sarah Renfrow, a Master Teacher of Teachers
Listeners, Real World Learning is a Kansas City-based initiative, incubated at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, in partnership with the community, that works to prepare its region, students, and employers for the future. Through immersive experiences like projects and internships with leading employer partners, students get a head start on achieving their career goals at an early age. I learned about Real World Learning through its facilitator at the Kauffman Foundation, educator in residence, Bill Nicely. Eventually, after being knocked out by what Real World Learning is doing in the Kansas City area, I asked Bill to name someone to be a guest on this show. He named Sarah Renfrow, who teaches at Ray-Pec High School and works as a consultant for the Kauffman Foundation. Bill Nicely wrote the following about Sarah for today’s episode. “True ‘Master Teachers’ are an amazing gift. And even knowing this, to say that Sara Refrow is a Master Teacher is to make a significant understatement. Sarah is or course, a master teacher, one of the best I’ve observed. She is also a master teacher of teachers. The best I’ve observed. Her understanding of how to strategically integrate Client Connected Projects into core content high school courses is amazing, but it is her ability to help teachers do the same that is her true talent. When done well integrated Client Connected Projects are synonymous with Competency Based Learning and can very quickly become over complicated and burdensome for teachers. Sarah’s real skill lies in simplifying the process to manageable pieces while conveying a low pressure, ‘just try it’ disposition. The result for teachers is they not only learn a new and better way to engage students, they also find themselves equally engaged themselves especially as they transition from teacher to facilitator of learning. All the while, Sarah, in a whispering kind of way, checks for understanding and moves to the next step in the process. Before you know it, teachers are implementing with fidelity and students are not only learning content, they are discovering new things about themselves and the world around them. It is this approach and her talent that has helped to catalyze the Kansas City’s Real World Learning Collaborative. Some day, when we step back and ask ourselves, ‘how did this initiative take hold to benefit so many students,’ one response will surely be; ‘we had Sarah Renfrow.’” Editing for this show is provided by the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music comes from the master pianist, Michael Sloan.
126. Andrew Culberson’s Approach to Systemic Change in Education (May 5th Release)
Andrew Culberson lives and works in New Brunswick, which is one of the 10 provinces (along with the three territories) that make up Canada. Andrew is a learning specialist for the New Brunswick Department of Education, with a focus on school counseling, mental health and high school change. He has been working in leadership roles in schools and in education and early childhood development over the past 18 years. In many ways Andrew embodies and thrives on what we at What School Could Be care deeply about, which is the building of caring and connected communities. Andrew’s resume is long, and deep. A careful reading suggests he is a coalition builder, a counselor with strong listening and empathy skills, a motivational leader who understands that moving change forward starts with building lasting relationships with the educators, parents and greater communities that will actually carry out that change. Andrew has a BS in Science and Biology, a BA in Education and a Masters in Education Counseling from the University of New Brunswick. Robert Landau, a previous guest on this show and a What School Could Be consultant and coach working with Andrew wrote the following for this episode: “In his role as a Comprehensive and Developmental School Counselor within Education Support Services for the Province of New Brunswick schools, Andrew Culbertson embodies the essence of a champion, advocate, and facilitator for educational innovation and transformation. The foundation of his impactful work is aptly encapsulated in the word ʻsupport.ʻ Andrew’s fervent belief is that every student is entitled to an educational experience that nurtures their potential and fosters a sense of inclusion and success. Having had the privilege to collaborate with him on an innovative alternative education project that introduced micro-courses to high school students, I witnessed firsthand the profound respect and admiration he commands. Andrew’s unique combination of strengths—ideation, maximizing, strategic planning, and connectedness—makes him a dynamic force of nature in educational support and development.” Kimberly Bauer, the former Director of Learning and Achievement for the New Brunswick Education and Early Childhood Development, English speaking sector has called Andrew a highly committed visionary, a relationship builder, a networker, a results oriented and future focused leader. Those are some pretty awesome accolades. Editing provided by the talented, Evan Kurohara. Our theme music comes from the vast catalog of master pianist, Michael Sloan.
125. Learn by Doing, Learn by Caring, with Nueva School’s Lee Fertig
Meet Lee Fertig, the Head of School at Nueva School in the San Francisco Bay Area. Lee has more than 30 years of leadership and teaching experience in a wide variety of educational settings including five international schools in Ethiopia, Brazil, Spain, and Belgium, a leading independent school in New York City, and a voluntary integration public magnet school in Minneapolis. In addition, for many years Lee has been training at the Principals’ Training Center (PTC). You will hear more about the PTC in a moment. Lee has taught in the College of Education at the University of Minnesota, and is a guest speaker on contemporary educational issues at a wide variety of community events. Nueva School is a place that brings together gifted students from across the Bay Area to engage in a Pre-K through 12 educational program anchored by a community that is caring and compassionate. It is this unique combination of academic and social-emotional learning that makes Nueva the school that it is and has been since 1967. At the core of what Nueva means by developing learners and thinkers who are ‘bridgers’ across perspectives is the ability of its students to engage in deep learning across disciplines, to understand different ways of knowing about a particular concept, and to break down and reconstruct systems that frame how we learn about things. It is a school and community dedicated to learning by doing and learning by caring. Robert Landau, a former guest on this show wrote the following for this episode, and I quote. “During my recent visit to Nueva School, I witnessed Head Lee Fertig’s exceptional ability to interact and network. Seamlessly engaging with parents, teachers, and students, Lee demonstrated a relational, respectful, and encouraging demeanor, making everyone feel known and included. His smart, intuitive, and passionate approach and commitment to the future make him an educator I truly respect and admire.” Because Lee and I dive into the Principals Training Center in this episode, I asked Robert Landau to say a word about it as well. Robert writes, “Since its inaugural session in 1985 and first summer session in 1989, the Principals Training Center has stood as a beacon of excellence in educational leadership development, nurturing the potential of countless school leaders across the globe. It emboldens them with cutting-edge strategies, a deepened understanding of educational leadership, and a global network of peers. The PTC’s unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation in leadership training remains unparalleled, genuinely embodying the pinnacle of professional development for educational leaders.” Editing provided by the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music comes from the vast catalog of master pianist, Michael Sloan.
124. The River School’s Dr. Connors and Dr. Ottley
My guests for this episode are The River School’s Dr. Christane Connors and Dr. Sharlene Ottley. The River School is located on MacArthur Boulevard in Washington, DC. The pillars that The River School stands on, listed at their website, include the following: a commitment to progressive education, a play-based, child-centered thematic curriculum, a commitment to diverse and inclusive classrooms and active learning. So how does The River School stand out from similar independent, progressive elementary schools? One to three students in each class live with hearing loss, which means children learn there are different ways to think, to feel, to process information, and to express themselves. A classroom where difference is the norm advances social-emotional learning and promotes an ethos of caring, engagement, and support that extends beyond the classroom. Its unique co-teaching model is unique, and having a master’s level educator and a speech-language pathologist together in each classroom has greatly impacted and enhanced the language, literacy and social outcomes of its students. Dr. Christiane Connors is the Director of Curriculum and Instruction at The River School. Previously, she was Director of Civic Engagement and Senior Projects at Edmund Burke School where she led a school-wide initiative to integrate social justice pedagogy across the school’s curriculum, instruction and administration. Christiane was an Adjunct Professor at George Washington University’s Graduate School of Education & Human Development. She holds a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University. Christiane has a daughter who is a cochlear implant user, thus, she is aware of the challenges parents face in navigating the hearing intervention landscape starting with diagnosis, through cochlear implant candidacy and rehabilitation. For over ten years Dr. Sharlene Ottley has served as Director of Community Outreach and Research at The River School. She completed graduate studies in Speech-Language Pathology at Gallaudet University with an emphasis in Pediatric Aural Rehabilitation. Prior to The River School, Dr. Ottley worked in a variety of early intervention, school-based and outpatient settings providing services to children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, including those with hearing loss and Spanish-English bilingual students. She completed her Ph.D. in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Howard University with a focus on children with cochlear implants from bilingual Spanish/English speaking homes. Dr. Ottley oversees the research, assessment, and DEIB efforts at The River School, develops community based partnerships and programs, and has a passion for improving services for children and families from marginalized and underserved communities. Listeners, this is the first time I have featured a school that specializes in supporting young learners who are HH, meaning hard of hearing. Today’s guests embody what we care deeply about at What School Could Be, which is caring and connected communities. The River School is a lifeline to countless families, which is what makes this episode so special.
Editing was provided by the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music comes from the catalog of master pianist, Michael Sloan. Please leave us a review and rating wherever you find your podcasts!
Coming in April, 2024!
123. The 2024 GRAMMY Music Educator Award Winner, Annie Ray
My guest for this episode is a Fairfax County Public Schools music teacher, Annie Ray. For many of you listeners, her name will immediately ring a bell. To introduce Annie, I am going to read verbatim from a National Public Radio online article posted on February, 7th, 2024.
“GRAMMY Awards don’t only go to the people who produce and perform songs. For just over a decade, they’ve also been given out to those who teach others how to make music. The Music Educator Award, presented by the Recording Academy and Grammy Museum, recognizes those who have made a “significant contribution and demonstrate a commitment to music education.” This year it went to Annie Ray, the performing arts department chair and orchestra director at Annandale High School in Fairfax County, Virginia. She was honored for her efforts to make music accessible to all students, particularly those with disabilities. Ray got to attend the awards ceremony in Los Angeles, take selfies with pop stars and bring home both a $10,000 prize and matching grant for her school’s music program. But speaking with NPR’s Morning Edition, she said she doesn’t consider the award to be hers at all. ‘This is the students’ award,’ she said. “I’m just lucky enough to have been a part of their journey and their process and to have been taught by them.”
Listeners, you all know that the five themes of the What School Could Be movement are mobilizing your community, student driven learning, real world challenges, assessing for deeper learning and caring and connected communities. Annie Ray’s story might be the greatest example of an educator, or education leader I have interviewed on this show who is tapping into all five themes. Annie’s resume in the arts is long and very deep. In addition to two degrees in music from the University of North Texas, she develops training programs and workshops for disability and inclusion at a remarkable organization called String Wise. She is a frequent speaker at conferences on the arts, and I will share with you that my favorite of her topics is titled, “Harpe Diem: the Harp in Your Everyday Classroom.” How cool is that title? In addition to her GRAMMY Music Educator award and other awards, in 2022 she was named the Outstanding Secondary Teacher of the Year by the Fairfax County Public Schools. Best of all, Annie’s students say that at times she is “unhinged.” Given this is the way most of my former history students would describe me, I felt an immediate sense of kinship with my guest. Annie lives in Virginia with her husband, also a musician, and their two young daughters, Eloise and Millie. This show’s editor is the talented, Evan Kurohara. Our theme music is by Michael Sloan. Please leave us a rating and review wherever you get your podcasts!
[SPECIAL NOTE: THE 2ND AND 3RD MUSICAL INTERLUDES IN THIS SHOW COME FROM A PERFORMANCE OF BALMAGE’S “GREATER THAN” BY THE BRISBANE GIRLS GRAMMAR ORCHESTRA. YOU CAN HEAR THE FULL PIECE HERE. THE 1ST MUSIC INTERLUDE IS ANNIE RAY PLAYING THE HARP IN CONCERT WITH HER HUSBAND, IRVING.]
122. Grab the Wheel and Make it Legendary, with Garrett Smiley
RELEASE DATE: 3.3.24. My guest for this episode is Garrett Smiley, the co-founder of Sora Schools, a description of which, frankly, is very hard to pin down. Sora is an online learning experience, but beyond that, it is a complex and fabulous answer to the question, What could school be? So that you, listeners, know what you are in for in this episode, I am going to quote directly from Sora’s website. “Our curriculum is designed to meet the needs and goals of all students, while delivering a program that is empowering, engaging, rigorous, and relevant. Our approach is founded on inquiry-based and interdisciplinary learning to give students the opportunity to develop knowledge and skills through engaging projects, based on real-world challenges and problems. We use a mastery-based approach to evaluate learning, allowing students to demonstrate skills and abilities at their own pace and in multiple contexts while fostering intrinsic motivation to deepen understanding. Students have multiple opportunities and avenues by which to demonstrate their learning. The primary methods of learning are Expeditions, Activities, and Independent Study Projects.” Ted Dintersmith, the producer of the film Most Likely to Succeed and the author of the book, What School Could Be, said the following for this episode: “History has shown us that many of the biggest boldest innovations come from young visionary entrepreneurs. A few episodes ago, this show featured one such entrepreneur, Hannah Williams, with her d’Skills initiative. Today the show features the remarkable Garrett Smiley, founder and CEO of Sora Schools. Garrett is out to change the world of education, and he will do exactly that. You’ll be blown away by his vision of a school that truly prepares kids for their futures, and by his plans to reach one million kids. In addition to being a fantastic entrepreneur, Garrett is just a wonderful person. You’re in for a fascinating discussion. This show’s editor is the talented, Evan Kurohara. Our theme music is by Michael Sloan. Please leave us a rating and review wherever you get your podcasts!
121. Gold Standard Project-Based Learning, with Allie Wong
My guest for this episode is Allie Wong, a PBLWorks National Faculty member who is extremely passionate about Project-Based Learning, mainly because as a graduate from a PBL high school herself, she has seen firsthand the benefits of student-centered, authentic and real world learning. From 2012 through 2022 Allie worked as a math science instructor, as a dean of students, as school director and as a graduate school of education instructor at High Tech High, the network of elementary, middle and high schools made famous by the acclaimed film Most Likely to Succeed. Her specialties include differentiated instruction, multidisciplinary projects that incorporate math, collegial coaching techniques and much more. Allie also developed a successful approach to collaborative design that lifts student voices in the project design process. Allie holds her B.S. in Liberal Arts from Soka University of America, a masters in teaching and curriculum from the University of Pennsylvania and a masters in educational leadership from the High Tech High Graduate School of Education. She is a practicing Buddhist, lover and grower of plants, and mom to several dogs and a rabbit. Editing was provided by the talented Evan Kurohara. Theme music by Michael Sloan. Please leave us a rating and review wherever you get your podcasts!
120. La Gioia di Imparare, with Sarah DeLuca
Today’s guest is Sarah DeLuca, a K-1 early childhood educator at Hanahauʻoli School in Honolulu, where she has been teaching and learning with and from her students, colleagues, and families since 2009. Sarah was born and raised in Honolulu and graduated from ‘Iolani School. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon in International Studies and her masters in teaching at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She has lived and studied in Italy and enjoys traveling to spend time with extended family there. Terry George, the Executive Director of the Hawaiʻi based Harold Castle Foundation wrote the following for this episode: “Sarah DeLuca brings intentionality and a deep love of children to her work as an educator in a progressive school. As a parent, I got to experience this firsthand when I saw how my own children grew as curious and confident learners while in her class. Sarah really works to reflect on her teaching practice, and to do so not alone, but with other educators. How wonderful would it be if teaching were a team sport every day, where teachers worked together, talked with one another about teaching strategies, and adjusted their curriculum after seeing what works best for the children under their care! A curious learner herself, Sarah recently returned from a year in Italy where she intensely studied the Reggio Emilia approach to teaching and learning. Listeners to this podcast you are in for a treat!” Editing services provided by the talented Evan Kurohara. Theme music is provided by the master pianist, Michael Sloan.
119. The d’Skills Chief Rebel, Hannah Grady Williams
My guest today is Hannah Grady Williams. Hannah grew up in North Carolina as the oldest of seven homeschooled children and started college online through College+ when she was 14, meaning she graduated from high school and college, with a degree in international business, at the same time. Hannah notes that by roughly grades seven and eight, she was mostly teaching herself, although she did have outside instructors for some subject areas. She shared with me that most of her “education” came from one subject: speech and debate, where, simply by preparing for frequent competitions, she learned research, public speaking, communication, teamwork, efficiency, history, public policy, and even science. In a few minutes, you are going to get a taste of Hannah’s verbal acumen. Hannah’s journey towards founding a company called d’Skills began in a blue pickup truck when her father handed her, at age 12, the phone so that she could close a deal on a piece of real estate. Now, as a 25-year old Native Digital, Hannah is Chief Rebel at and founder of d’Skills, a VC-backed start-up shifting students from test prep to life prep. It’s a hub, perhaps the hub where motivated teens learn new digital skills and convert them into real-world projects, helping them leave high school with more experience and connections than most college graduates! The vision is to equip one million high schoolers with impact portfolios that will help them forge their own paths in life and lead the country in leveraging AI for good. Our editor is the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music comes from the vast catalog of master pianist, Michael Sloan. Please give us a rating and review wherever you get your podcasts. Editing services provided by Evan Kurohara’s Søzen Audio. Our theme music is provided by the master pianist, Michael Sloan.
118. Joann McPike and Think Global School
Joann McPike is the Founder and Board Chair at THINK Global School (TGS), a traveling high school, and much more. In September of 2010, TGS began its first semester in Sweden with 15 students hailing from 11 countries. The traveling high school has since visited every continent except Antarctica, hosted dozens of influential guest speakers, campaigned for human and environmental rights, mounted art exhibitions, created thousands of essays, blog posts, and videos, sent graduating students to university, and fostered lifelong friendships between students from around the globe. Check out TGS’s YouTube channel. A foundation established by McPike provides long-term funding for TGS and allows for broad cultural and economic diversity within the student body, ensuring that promising global citizens from all walks of life will have the opportunity to make the TGS experience their own. But the TGS’s vision goes beyond serving its students. With an emphasis on education through experience, service as citizenship, and sharing best practices with other educational institutions worldwide, TGS aims to not only shape students who are informed, engaged, and inspired, but also to leave a positive impact on both the world of education and the world at large. Chris Balme, the acclaimed author of Finding the Magic in Middle School and the triple founder of schools in California and Japan said this about my guest today: “Joann leads with boldness, style, and bravery. She and her team have built one of the most unique and compelling schools on the planet. It’s like an ideal version of the United Nations, exceptionally diverse, practicing place-based and project-based learning at very high levels. Today it’s beginning to more directly influence and train schools around the world, and it all started with her willingness to think big and think differently.” Editing services provided by Evan Kurohara’s Søzen Audio. Our theme music is provided by the master pianist, Michael Sloan.
Game Changers: The Story of Xperiential
Story Xperiential was created by Elyse Klaidman, Tony DeRose, and Brit Cruise, who previously developed Pixar in a Box. Enjoy this remastered 2021 What School Could Be Game Changer conversation with Ms. Klaidman, plus educator, Jorge Flores and student, Matteo Aldon! Elyse Klaidman once wrote, “For a long time, we’ve known that education has fallen short in preparing people for the jobs of today and tomorrow. With college tuition and loans becoming more unattainable for many families, students are turning to alternative programs to launch their careers. That means demand for high quality, affordable, project-based virtual apprenticeships is at an all-time high. In the time that Story Xperiential has been available, we’ve seen doors open for participants who have completed our course and developed a portfolio piece. And while the program has obvious advantages for students, companies will be the ultimate beneficiaries of exceptional, well-prepared talent.” Editing provided by Kim Dilts and Evan Kurohara. Theme music is by Michael Sloan.
117. The 2022 EL Education Educator Awardees, Annie Smith and Tom Rochowicz
EL Education was born out of a collaboration between The Harvard Graduate School of Education and Outward Bound USA. What started as a concept has grown into a movement. Its mission is to create classrooms where teachers can fulfill their highest aspirations and students achieve more than they think possible, becoming active contributors to building a better world. In its core DNA, EL Education is all about this one question: What if school served a higher purpose? Over the last ten years EL Education has received hundreds of nominations for its EL Education Educator Awards. I am thrilled to have as my guests today the two winners of the 2022 EL Education, Educator Award: Annie Smith and Tom Rochowicz. Annie Smith was a kindergarten teacher at Polaris Charter School in Chicago, Illinois and the recipient of the 2022 Klingenstein Teacher Award. She is now the primary instructional coach at Polaris. In 2022 Tom Rochowicz was the Principal at WHEELS, a New York City Outward Bound School, the recipient of the 2022 Silverberg Leadership Award and the 2014 Teach For America National Teaching Award. Tom is now the NYC Public Schools – Consortium, Internationals, and Outward Bound District Deputy Superintendent. Our editor is the talented Evan Kurohara. Theme music is provided by the master pianist, Michael Sloan. You can find Michael’s music on all the major music platforms. RELEASE DATE: December 17th, 2023.
Big Think Game Changers: Gregg Behr and Ryan Rydzewski
Pittsburgh has spawned two major contributions to educating our youth: Mr. Rogers and Remake Learning, which will be the focus of today’s rebroadcast of a What School Could Be Game Changer conversation back in 2021. You will meet Remake Learning’s founder, Gregg Behr, and co-author Ryan Rydzewski of their book about Mr. Rogers, When You Wonder, You’re Learning, released in 2021. You’ll be flooded by childhood memories, and marvel at how the values of Fred Rogers pointed us to such an inspiring vision of education. This 2021 Game Changer conversation was hosted by Ted Dintersmith: author, film producer, innovation expert and 2018 recipient of NEA’s Friend of Education Award. Gregg Behr is the executive director of The Grable Foundation, and a father and children’s advocate whose work is inspired by his hero, Fred Rogers. Ryan Rydzewski is an award-winning author, reporter, and speechwriter whose science and education stories span everything from schools to space travel to Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.
116. Finding the Magic in NuVu, with Saba Ghole
Saba Ghole is an architect and urban designer turned education and technology entrepreneur. She received her Masters in Urban Design at MIT. As the Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of NuVu Studio, Saba leads an innovation center for middle and high school students. So what is NuVu? The simplest definition is that it is an independent non-traditional school where the next generation of young innovators are developing the skills, knowledge and confidence to solve real-world problems through project-based learning. NuVu was built on four so-called pillars, which include Empathy, Design, Innovation and Impact. NuVu also presents itself as having a set of core beliefs, which are: We are more engaged when we are solving meaningful problems; We should actively pursue new ideas and diverse perspectives; Students thrive when they set their own personalized learning goals; Collaboration is key to addressing complex challenges.
115. A Homeric Odyssey into Deeper Learning, with Richard Boerner
I encourage all listeners to watch this short video before listening to the episode. Richard Boerner, the Superintendent at the American School in São Paulo, otherwise known as Graded, is leading his faculty, students and extended community on an Homeric and epic voyage of discovery into learner-centered, deeper learning. In this episode, find out how. For the past 30 plus years, Richard has held a variety of administrative and teaching positions in an array of international and US educational settings. At Graded, Richard launched the Graded Learning Lab: Advancing Education Beyond Boundaries. The Learning Lab provides innovative instruction in deeper learning – embedding the science of learning in everyday practice. Richard received the 2023 Association for the Advancement of International Education, Dr. Keith Miller International Innovation Leadership Award for leading Graded’s efforts in the systematic implementation of deep, learner-centered education. A colleague of Richard’s, international school thought leader, Robert Landau said the following about Graded and Richard for this episode: “The Graded School’s vision statement: ‘Individuals empowered to reach their potential and positively impact the world,’ speaks accurately and appropriately to the sum total of Richard’s career. As a fellow international educator and futurist, and through many encounters with him at conferences and meetings I have greatly admired Richard’s accomplishments. The Graded School has always pushed boundaries – I believe because the school continues to select the cream of the crop among the best progressive leaders in the world. Richard has consistently earned my respect and admiration as a fearless leader. It’s wonderful to see a fellow international school leader on this podcast. I look forward to hearing what is current and fresh in Richard’s magnificent mind.” Editing for these episodes is provided by the talented, Evan Kurohara. Our theme music comes from master pianist, Michael Sloan. Find his albums on all the major music platforms.
114. Our Future is in the Hands of Changemakers, Vama Kothari and Sophia Dietrich
Frankfurt International School (FIS) student, Sophia Dietrich has an international background that includes being born in Denver, Colorado, growing up in France, then growing up again in Germany. A senior at FIS, she has already developed an international mindset and, interestingly, a passion, dare I say, for Japanese culture and its values of harmony, tranquility, purity, and respect. It is safe to say Sophia is a globalist who has a broad and deep understanding of the world, and education. And, she aspires to be a teacher. FIS student, Vama Kothari was born in India, but carries an American passport. She has lived half of her life in Germany, and is a junior at FIS. She has also lived in China, and, briefly, in New Jersey. She has traveled extensively to Asia, Africa, the Middle East and other parts of Europe. With her family, and in part because of her place of birth, she celebrates many Indian festivals and eats Indian food almost daily. She is an avid reader and tennis player, and as I learned during an FIS, February 2023 symposium on AI, well versed in what’s happening in the world. What you are about to hear is a gesture of respect on my part, meaning I pulled no punches with my questions, despite the fact I was talking to two high school students. In the end this is a marvelous conversation that ranges across a multiplicity of topics, including purpose versus passion, all things generative AI, the value of a deep sense of self when one is a young learner and much, much more. As I have done with previous episodes involving more than one guest, I spoke to Vama first, then, after the first break, I spoke to Sophia. After the second break I brought these two awesome change makers together for some reflections and final thoughts. Our theme music comes from master pianist and recording artist, Michael Sloan. Find Michael’s music at Spotify and Apple Music.
113. Dorothy Maxwell: Milken Awardee, Maine’s Teacher of the Year, 50 Plus Years in Education
Today my guest is Dorothy Maxwell, an educator in face-to-face and online teaching and learning for more than 50 years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Education from the University of Maine, a Master’s Degree in Education and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern Maine. She has served as President of the National Business Education Association, the Eastern Business Education Association, the New England Business Education Association, and the Business Education Association of Maine. Dorothy was the 1994 Maine Teacher of the Year and has been recognized by the Milken Family Foundation with its National Educator Award. Moreover, she received the National Secondary Teacher of the Year Award from the National Business Education Association. The primary reason why I wanted Dorothy on this podcast is that she is the Vice Chair of the Board, a site coordinator and a teacher for a remarkable organization called VHS Learning, which has been around more than 20 years. VHS Learning, a nonprofit organization, provides supplemental online classes to high schools and students. It offers schools a way to expand their catalogs without incurring the full cost of a class for which there may be limited demand. That in turn has helped many schools offer the full suite of classes that students might desire, in spite of budgetary pressures. It’s been a valuable way for many institutions to expand their course catalogs and dip their toes into online learning. Editing for this episode was provided by the amazing Evan Kurohara. Our theme music comes from master pianist and recording artist, Michael Sloan. Find Michael’s music at Spotify and Apple Music.
Special Episode: Kauai High School Students Ruminate on the Meaning of Love
Today I am going to share with you a special something, a very short special something. One of my former podcast guests, Jonathan Medeiros reached out to me to see if I might join his high school students who were using podcasts as a way to demonstrate their learning in a language arts class. I was only too happy to say yes. That session, last spring, 2023, was marvelous. I shared the story behind my show and they shared the projects they were working on and how a podcast could be a way to demonstrate their knowledge and skill development in the language arts. Later, Jonathan sent me their finished podcasts, which I listened to and provided written feedback on. Jonathan and I decided it would be way cool if I had my editor, the very talented Evan Kurohara, work his magic and turn one of these student podcasts into a special episode. So what is the context behind the short, student-generated episode you are about to hear. Jonathon writes: “In my language arts classes, I often ask students to put texts in conversation with each other, to notice when one text might be commenting on, criticizing, responding to, or expanding on another. As students begin to understand, notice, and appreciate that conversations are taking place all around us, across borders and time, we practice joining these conversations as well. This past school year, one way we tried to do this was by creating podcasts. Students had very few guidelines for this project but were trying to sharpen their abilities to develop and communicate insights. They had to think about audience and purpose; they needed to consider the wider conversations they might be joining through their podcasts. The group featured here envisioned a series of conversations around big topics. In this episode, they take a closer look at how social media influences our perceptions of love and what impacts our parents have on our ‘love lives.’ In this conversation, students take you on a journey through what they think it means to be in…love.” And now, listeners, here are Jonathon Medeiros’s students reflecting on the nature and meaning of love. Enjoy.
112. Two Remarkable Social Justice Educators, with Natalie Lalagos and Jonathon Medeiros
By way of context, the Social Justice Education in Hawai‘i Project is a joint initiative of the Hanahauʻoli School Professional Development Center and the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa’s college of Education. It is aimed at growing the capacity of local educators to inspire youth to be active participants in a diverse democracy. Made possible by the generosity and forward thinking of Jana and Howard Wolff, The Social Justice Education in Hawai‘i Project works to ensure that more teachers, administrators, counselors, and other school practitioners have access to high-quality professional development programs and resources needed for effectively carrying out social justice education initiatives in the state of Hawai‘i. Launched in 2022, a new and exciting component of the overall project is the Hawai‘i Social Justice Educator Award – a financial award program that aims to support the growing work of social justice educators in the 50th state. The first Social Justice in Education Award went to two remarkable educators: Natalie Lalagos NBCT, a Spanish teacher at Kealakehe High School in Kona, and Jonathon Medeiros NBCT, a language arts teacher at Kauai High School on the island of Kauai. Editing for this episode was provided by Evan Kurohara. Our theme music comes from master pianist and recording artist, Michael Sloan. Find Michael’s music at Spotify and Apple Music.
Big Think: Social Identity Development, with Dr. Sandra “Chap” Chapman
This is the 5th in a series of special episodes that come from the Game Changer and Big Think speaker series in the WhatSchoolCouldBe.org archives. Keep in mind the audio comes from Zoom calls and YouTube webinars, so expect a couple bumps and knocks along the way. On the other hand, the conversations you will hear are incredible for their depth and insight into what school could be, and what could be school. In this episode Dr. Sandra Chapman joins What School Could Be hosts Kapono Ciotti and Susannah Johnson for an inspiring conversation focused on helping educators of infants through adolescents apply an identity-conscious and developmentally appropriate approach to teaching and caring for children. Dr. Chapman will also share interventions with educators that can interrupt bias and contribute instead to identity-safe environments. Sandra “Chap” Chapman, EdD is the Founder of Chap Equity, an organization rooted in the belief that, through teamwork, we can learn more about ourselves and others; discuss and discover the foundational research needed to address the needs in a community; create conversations that support individuals where they are and confront barrier issues; and create actionable steps towards building stronger educational communities. Dr. Chap facilitates workshops on racial identity development, racial microaggressions, implicit bias, identity and racial anxiety, stereotype threat, and hiring in education and with teams in various types of organizations. Embedded within each concept are tools for helping individuals override unconscious phenomena linked to identity and better connect behavior with values. This episode was edited by Kim Dilts and Evan Kurohara. Theme music provided by Michael Sloan. To join the What School Could Be global online community go to Community.WhatSchoolCouldBe.org.
111. Michael Nachbar’s Magical Course Catalogue of Competencies
Listeners, I could not be more stoked to share that today my guest is Michael Nachbar, the Executive Director of the Global Online Academy, otherwise known as GOA, a pioneering network of more than schools and educators reimagining learning to empower students and educators to thrive in a globally networked society. Michael was appointed the executive director of GOA in 2011, its inaugural year. Since 2011 he has collaborated with global educational institutions to develop a network of over 100 schools in more than 40 countries, enhancing access to quality online education worldwide. GOA is an international consortium of public, independent, charter, and international member schools. Member school students have full access to GOA’s online education course catalog. Member school teachers have the opportunity to design and teach student courses and have access to GOA’s professional learning courses and programs. Prior to founding GOA, Michael served as Lakeside School’s middle school assistant director (Lakeside is an independent school located in Seattle, Washington), and worked in a variety of roles, including teacher, curriculum coordinator, and director of technology at the Village Community School in New York City. He holds a B.A. in both English and Psychology from Indiana University, and earned an M.A. in Education Leadership through the Klingenstein Center at Columbia University’s Teachers College. Michael started his career in education as a Teach for America corps member, teaching high school English in Roma, Texas. Editing for this podcast is provided by the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music is provided by Michael Sloan. Please leave us a review and give us a rating at your favorite podcast app.
110. Together, Impossible is Nothing, with Dr. Carmen Coleman
My guest for this 110th episode is Kentucky’s Dr. Carmen Coleman. Boy-oh-boy, did I look forward to this conversation, and enjoy prepping for it! Back in April of this year, 2023 I finally had the chance to meet Dr. Coleman in person at the Deeper Learning Conference, held at High Tech High. I felt like I had just met the Jane Goodall of student-driven learning. Dr. Coleman is Kentucky bluegrass through and through. Her first teaching job was at the elementary school her mom taught at, and she attended. Not only has she been a teacher, principal, college professor and superintendent in Kentucky, she was the Superintendent of the Danville Independent School District, the Chief Academic Officer for the Jefferson County Public Schools and is now the Chief of Transformational Learning and Leading for the Ohio Valley Education Cooperative. Professor John Nash at the University of Kentucky wrote the following wonderful words about Carmen, for this episode. “I often say that the only barrier preventing schools from reaching their full potential is the will of the adults leading them. It’s not an overly complicated concept – you simply have to want to make a difference. Carmen Coleman is living proof of this principle. These last twelve years, I found not just a colleague, but someone who inspires me to continue to advocate for meaningful change in education. I’m certain I’m not the only one who feels this way. The entire state of Kentucky is fortunate to have Carmen’s visionary leadership.” Editing for this podcast is provided by the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music is provided by Michael Sloan. Please leave us a review and give us a rating at your favorite podcast app.
109. Cerina Livaudais, An Ultimate And Most Gracious A.G.E.N.T.I.C
Today my guest is Cerina Livaudais, a computer science coach, mentor and guide, and education leader at DreamHouse Academy Ewa Beach, on the West Side of the island of Oahu in Hawai’i. DreamHouse was founded by a team of individuals led by Alex Teece, a former guest on this show and a brilliantly innovative leader who worked relentlessly to get DreamHouse’s charter application passed. Alex recently handed over the reins at DreamHouse to Ryan Mandado, whose name will come up at the end of this conversation. Michael Sarmiento, Purple Maiʻa Education Director said the following about Cerina: “She has reminded me that teaching is about connection. Connection to your students, connection to your content, connection to your culture, connection to you colleagues, connection to your community, and most importantly connection to a purpose that is bigger than yourself. Cerina gathers all of these connections and creates a magical learning space where her students are brave enough to do challenging things because they know they are valued and loved.” Editing for this podcast is provided by the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music is provided by Michael Sloan.
108. The Total Brilliance of Liger Leadership Academy, with Jeff Hotle
Fasten your seatbelts, listeners. Jeff Holte is an innovative, creative educator with nearly 40 years of experience as a teacher, principal, technology director, school director and designer of pioneering learning models. Originally from the United States, Jeff has been living in Qatar, China, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cambodia and New Zealand working in the field of education since 2006. He has been with Liger Leadership Academy as its Director of Learning since 2013 and is passionate about education and the promise it provides to the learner, the community and the world. His goal is to ignite curiosity, inspire a love of learning, and motivate children to fulfill their potential through project-oriented and opportunity-based experiences. Our episodes are edited by the talented Evan Kurohara. Music is provided by my friend and master pianist, Michael Sloan.
107. John Nash: Brilliant Education Designer, Thought Leader and Human Being
This episode covers a wide range of issues in education, most notably design thinking and generative AI. John B. Nash is an associate professor in the Department of Educational Leadership Studies at the University of Kentucky. He teaches a range of courses on school technology leadership, design thinking and research methods. His current research agenda investigates how technology, innovation and policy interact and influence schools and educators in different contexts. John is also a director of the UCEA Center for Advanced Study of Leadership for Technology in Education (CASTLE) and the Laboratory on Design Thinking in Education (dLab). John is the former Associate Director for Evaluation at the Stanford Center for Innovations in Learning (SCIL), where he conducted applied research on improving program evaluation in grant-funded initiatives, and the former Associate Director of Assessment and Research at the Stanford Learning Laboratory, where he examined the effects of innovative technologies on learning. Our episodes are edited by the talented Evan Kurohara. Music is provided by my friend and master pianist, Michael Sloan.
Big Think: Amplifying Student Voice, with Jennifer D. Klein
In this re-mixed, re-mastered Game Changer conversation, Jennifer D. Klein, author of The Global Education Guidebook, takes us through the steps and strategies needed to set up equitable global partnerships that benefit all learners, founded in the tenets of global citizenship and global competency. Hosted by What School Could Be’s Susannah Johnson, the Director of Global Curriculum and Coaching Development, and Kapono Ciotti, the Executive Director, this conversation ranges across a number of topics and themes, which will inspire you.
106. Two Time Author, Stephanie Malia Krauss
Whole Child, Whole Life author, Stephanie Malia Krauss writes, “I am a mom [and now two time author] with a background in education and social work. Through my experiences teaching and running a school, I know getting young people to succeed academically does not always mean they are healthy, happy, or ready for what comes next. This was true in my own life. As a high school dropout, I needed people and opportunities within and beyond school to help me live and learn. Today I work at the intersection of education, youth development, workforce development, and human services. My work and writing focuses on what young people need to build lives and futures they love. I am fortunate to work with brilliant leaders across the US to advocate for and build systems, structures, policies, and practices to make that possible.” Editing for this episode is provided by the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music comes from the vast catalogue of music by master pianist, Michael Sloan. Please support this show by giving us a rating and writing a review wherever you get your podcasts!
Big Think: The Creative Hustle, with Olatunde Sobomehin and Sam Seidel
Humans have always been creative hustlers—problem solvers who seek to live beyond the limits suggested by society. Yet we live in a world where the place you were born, the amount of money you have, and the level of melanin in your skin indicate a precise path you are expected to follow. Too many of us silence our creativity and let our hustle calcify as we settle for the roles assigned to us. In this special episode, moderated by What School Could Be’s Susannah Johnson and Kapono Ciotti, you will hear Olatunde Sobomehin and Sam Seidel, co-teachers of the Creative Hustle course at Stanford University, help you identify and navigate your own creative path that leads from your gifts—your unique combination of skills—to your goals, where you make a living doing things that matter. Sam Seidel is the K12 Lab Director of Strategy and Research at the Stanford d.school, and co-author of four books. Olatunde Sobomehin is the CEO and co-founder of StreetCode Academy, a Silicon Valley-based non-profit that offers free tech classes to communities of color. Editing for this episode was provided by Kim Dilts and Evan Kurohara. Music is provided by Michael Sloan.
Big Think: Four Brilliant Futurists
The following conversation happened on December 1st, 2022 via Zoom. Kapono Ciotti and I hosted a panel of four brilliant futurists who discussed the need to educate not one, but multiple generations of teachers and students who will intentionally shape the future of society, resulting in a world that is more just, more equitable, and fully sustainable, and do it in a way that avoids negative, unintended consequences. This panel did a remarkable and wonderful job unpacking all that is what school could be, and could be school. Our four panelists were: Dr. Kristin Alford is the Director of the Museum of Discovery (MOD.) at the University of South Australia: Laura McBain is the Co-Interim Managing Director at Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford (d.School) and the Co-Director of the K12 Lab at Stanford’s d.School in California: Zoe Weil is the co-founder and president of the Institute for Humane Education (IHE), and a pioneer in the comprehensive humane education movement. Zoe calls Maine her home. Dr. Aubrey Yee is a futurist, systems thinker, and passionate advocate for positive social transformation in Hawaii is a facilitator and coach for Our Beloved Futures, among many other pursuits and passions. Editing for this episode is provided by Evan Kurohara and Kim Dilts. Our theme music comes from the vast catalogue of music by master pianist, Michael Sloan. Please support this show by giving us a rating and writing a review wherever you get your podcasts!
105. The Solutionary Squad’s Magical Mystical Alchemist, Julia Fliss
Today my guest is Julia Fliss. Julia is an educator, activist, world changer, lifelong learner, creative, and yogi who lives and teaches middle level learners at a school in the mountains of Evergreen, Colorado. She has made it her life’s mission to advocate for student voice, agency, and the power of transformative pedagogy and global collaboration within our current education system. Julia and I share a common superhero named Zoe Weil, the founder of the Institute for Humane Education and the author of The World Becomes What We Teach. Zoe, for this episode writes, and I quote, Julia Fliss is the kind of teacher most of us wish we had had, even just once in all the years we were in school. A teacher who believed in us so deeply that we discovered who we could be through her reflected eyes and constant encouragement. A teacher who wanted to know us so that we could better know ourselves and pursue our passions. A teacher who created a class culture so bustling with enthusiasm, kindness, and cooperation that we could truly thrive. A teacher who made learning come alive and inspired us to make a difference in the world. A teacher who helped us to think deeply as well as to act ethically. A teacher so positive and loving that we had a role model for life. Editing for this episode is provided by the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music comes from the vast catalogue of music by master pianist, Michael Sloan. Please support this show by giving us a rating and writing a review wherever you get your podcasts!
104. An Educator and Leader of Great Promise, Esther Kwon
The Milken Family Foundation writes, “Esther Kwon has worn many hats in her years at Daniel K. Inouye Elementary School. Currently an assistant principal, Kwon looks for innovative ways to enhance students’ educational experience in and out of the classroom. As assistant principal, she is an integral part of the school’s administrative leadership team, helping to drive the instructional program and meet overall academic goals. Last year she piloted the Pineapple Academy, a distance learning option for 12 area elementary schools. Kwon’s fifth graders started each day with ‘Pineapple Talk Time,’ where they chatted, listened to music played by ‘DJ Kwon,’ and set their intentions for the day with one of the four classroom norms: be present, be respectful, be curious, be responsible. Students served as co-teachers, helping to summarize learning and share key ideas in the online chat panel. Kwon encouraged students to follow their passions, pairing them with high school students to create projects for the state’s elementary STEM fair. In the program’s inaugural year, 100% of Kwon’s students showed growth on diagnostic assessments, with 80% meeting or exceeding grade level targets in language arts. Kwon shared her learning practices with peers and invited state leaders into her online classroom to showcase what effective virtual instruction looked, sounded and felt like.” Editing for this episode is provided by the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music comes from the vast catalogue of music by master pianist, Michael Sloan. Please support this show by giving us a rating and writing a review wherever you get your podcasts!
103. Bike Repair, Great Coffee and Three Pioneers at Embark Education
Listeners, meet Miguel Gonzales, Brian Hyosaka and Megan Parry, three visionary and articulate education leaders at Embark Education and Embark, the School in Colorado. “At Embark Education, we are rooted firmly in radical trust, fostering relationships, and shifting mindsets, while expanding to explore the profound potential of learner-centered education for youth and adults. Embark, the school, is a micro middle school in North Denver embedded in two small businesses – Pinwheel Coffee and Framework Cycles. Embark supports students to courageously inquire, engage, and discover a sense of self in an environment that is learner-centered, integrated, and embedded.” Editing for this episode is provided by the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music comes from the vast catalogue of music by master pianist, Michael Sloan. Please support this show by giving us a rating and writing a review wherever you get your podcasts!
Big Think: Stephen Ritz and the Green Bronx Machine
Stephen Ritz is a South Bronx educator and administrator who believes that students shouldn’t have to leave their community to live, learn, and earn in a better one. Moving generations of students into spheres of personal and academic successes they have never imagined, while reclaiming and rebuilding the Bronx, Stephen’s extended student and community family have grown more than 165,000 pounds of vegetables in the Bronx while generating extraordinary academic performance. This special What School Could Be Big Think episode was edited by Evan Kurohara and Kim Dilts. Music is provided by Michael Sloan.
102. Small Flames of Learning That Become Bonfires, with Paul Balazs
Today my guest is Paul Balazs, the Theory of Knowledge teacher, Student Activities coordinator, Wipeout Crew founder and advisor, and Milken Award Teacher of Promise – among many other things – at Henry J. Kaiser high school in East Honolulu. Listeners, as always, I spent two weeks preparing for today’s conversation. In the end I must have had 30 questions I wanted to ask Paul, but in a painful process and in the interests of time I had to narrow them down to just 9 or 10. Ouch! So here is what I will not be asking Paul Balazs in this interview, though some of these topics might come up anyway in his responses to my chosen questions. I was not able to ask him why the following awards have great meaning to him: the Donald and Astrid Monson Award, the League of Women voters award and the Aloha Award, which recognizes individuals in the global surfing community who are ambassadors of the Aloha Spirit. Frankly, to hear the complete list of things we did not have time to cover, listen to the episode! Editing for this episode is provided by the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music comes from the vast catalogue of music by master pianist, Michael Sloan. Please support this show by giving us a rating and writing a review wherever you get your podcasts.
101. My Daughter, My Teacher, My Friend, Emma Reppun
The very well traveled educator, Emma Reppun was raised between the hills of Marin County, California and the Koʻolau Mountains of O’ahu, in Hawai’i. In college she studied sociology at UC Santa Barbara where she received the first inkling that teaching would be her life’s work. In the following years she was trained in the ways of Forest School and Nature Connection by her mentors at Vilda and Earthwise Education, and became a Wilderness First Responder through the National Outdoor Leadership School, or NOLS. During that time she discovered a deep love for working with early-childhood aged children and decided to pursue a graduate degree in education, through the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute, which she completed in 2021. Editing for this episode is provided by the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music comes from the vast catalogue of music by master pianist, Michael Sloan. Please support this show by giving us a rating and writing a review wherever you get your podcasts.
100. Ted Dintersmith, Relentless Crusader for What School Could Be
Ted Dintersmith, at his website, writes, “I have an unusual vantage point on the future of our children and our nation. I spent my career in the world of innovation [and venture capital], and my track record there suggests I might know a bit about it. And over the past decade, I’ve immersed myself in the world of education. I don’t claim to have the expertise our classroom teachers have, and I respect their insights — celebrate them, actually. But I have insights into the world our children will live in as adults, and the ways this future ought to affect the way we educate children. I fight every day to do what I can to help give children a creative, uplifting education that prepares them to lead lives of purpose. Make no mistake, the challenges are serious. But so are the opportunities.” Ted is the Executive Producer of the acclaimed film, Most Likely to Succeed, co-author of the book, Most Likely to Succeed (with Tony Wagner) author of the book, What School Could Be and the founder and funder behind all the work being done at WhatSchoolCouldBe.org, including this podcast. Editing for this episode is provided by the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music comes from the vast catalogue of music by master pianist, Michael Sloan. Please support this show by giving us a rating and writing a review wherever you get your podcasts.
99. Leading Us Towards a More Perfect Union
My guest today is Annie Evans, the Director of Education and Outreach for New American History at the University of Richmond in the great state of Virginia. Annie is a National Geographic Society Grosvenor Teacher Fellow, a National Geographic Certified Educator and Trainer, a Co-Coordinator of the Virginia Geographic Alliance and a terrific writer/blogger. She has over 30 years of classroom and educational leadership experience and she designs curriculum and facilitates professional learning for K-16 teachers and museum educators. Her focus is on Historical Thinking Skills, Geo-Literacy, Instructional Coaching, Project-Based Learning, and Performance Assessments. Editing for this episode is provided by the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music comes from the vast catalogue of music by master pianist, Michael Sloan. Please support this show by giving us a rating and writing a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Release date: January 23, 2023
98. Of Polar Bears, the Ultimate Goal of Mankind and Educating Young Stewards, with Ali Pressel
Ali Pressel is an environmental sciences educator in Florida, dedicated to bringing science exploration to students through project-based learning and outdoor field studies. She is a leader in career academy education and develops innovative ways to engage students in their local community and help them make connections between the natural world and their personal human stories. She actively collaborates with community partners (including National Geographic) to ensure real-world applications of natural resources management, citizen field science, and internship opportunities for her students. Editing for this episode is provided by the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music comes from the vast catalogue of music by master pianist, Michael Sloan. Please support this show by giving us a rating and writing a review wherever you get your podcasts.
97. Rob Strain is a Living Reinvention Lab
Today my guest is Rob Strain, coming to us from Oakland, California. This is his first time as a guest on a podcast! Working chronologically, Rob has done internships in Botswana, at NASA and at a refugee camp in Philadelphia. He taught in the 1st grade at a Bay Area public school, served in multiple roles at Teach For America, GripTape, the Catalyst Fellowship and at Transcend. Rob co-founded the Inspiration Project and is about to launch a rebranded consultancy called Lemon Battery. And that is just the half of it. Alison Kerr, a partner at Transcend writes: “Rob was able to bring out ideas I didn’t even know I had. One of his biggest superpowers is this insane ability to generate ideas across different topics. Then he’s able to take all that and synthesize so beautifully. He’s got an ability to take complex or unrelated information and make it user-friendly.” Editing for this episode is provided by the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music comes from the vast catalogue of music by master pianist, Michael Sloan. Please support this show by giving us a rating and writing a review wherever you get your podcasts.
96. Brendan Christopher McCarthy is Running in His Red Shoes
Brendan McCarthy is passionate about exploring the transformative possibilities of education through the intersections of his diverse academic and professional background in mathematics, economics, design, fashion, fine arts, sport and teaching. Prior to joining the University of Hawaiʻi Progressive Philosophy and Pedagogy Program, Brendan was an assistant professor and Director of the undergraduate Fashion Design Program for Systems & Society + Materiality at The New School Univeristy’s Parsons School of Design in New York. At Parsons, he leveraged his unique background to develop socially engaged, collaborative, interdisciplinary, human-centered, community-specific, sustainable, systems-based curricula to support students in generating expansive, new types of outcomes and models for fashion that can have positive, transformative impacts on our world. Brendan has served as a scholar-in-residence at Hanahauoli School in Hawaiʻi. Editing for this episode is provided by the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music comes from the vast catalogue of music by master pianist, Michael Sloan. Please support this show by giving us a rating and writing a review wherever you get your podcasts.
95. Erik Swenson Dives Deep Into the WHEA Way
My guest will be Erik Swenson, the Student Service Coordinator and Project Teacher at West Hawaiʻi Explorations Academy public charter school fondly known in Hawaiʻi as WHEA. Erik describes himself as an analytical, data driven critical thinker with a diverse skill set applicable in varied educational settings. He sees himself as a big picture thinker with a bias towards practical action. He endorses a procedural based theology, loves project based learning and authentic assessments, and is devoted to student needs and providing equitable access to learning for all. He also describes himself as environmentally conscious with a deep understanding of Hawaii’s aquatic environment gained from years of experience. Editing for this episode is provided by the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music comes from the vast catalogue of music by master pianist, Michael Sloan. Please support this show by giving us a rating and writing a review in your wherever you get your podcasts.
94. Hawaiʻi Governor, David Ige: Looking Back, and Looking Forward
So what will you hear in my conversation with Hawaii’s Governor, David Ige? Over the next 75 minutes you will hear him talk about his passion for education and his involvement in a start up high school in his home community of Pearl City; how his degrees in engineering and business shaped his approach to appointing members of Hawaii’s Board of Education; his thoughts on No Child Left Behind, Race to the Top and the Every Student Succeeds Act; the creation of his Blueprint for Public Education; his strong feeling that education is at its most innovative when local communities are empowered to shape teaching and learning and school governance; how Hawaiʻi, as a result of the pandemic, could become a model for learning over distances and remote work, and how he turned federal COVID education relief funds into an innovation grant program (GEER) 37 teams are using to reimagine what school and what education could be. Editing for this episode is provided by the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music comes from the vast catalogue of music by master pianist, Michael Sloan. Please support this show by giving us a rating and writing a review in your wherever you get your podcasts.
93. Jackie Freitas Lives and Works on the Cutting Edge of Teaching, Learning and a Revolution in Agriculture
Jackie Freitas teaches the natural sciences and agriculture at Leileihua High School on the Island of Oahu in the state of Hawaiʻi. But really, she is doing much, much more than that. She is cultivating, nourishing, and shaping the minds and hearts of the next generation of young farmers, engineers, coders and makers who will move Hawaiʻi from unsustainable mono ag to a more diverse and organic AgTech approach to feeding the local population. Jackie is changing lives, developing a love of place and culture, engaging her young students in real world challenges and student-driven learning and literally helping Hawaiʻi solve its food sustainability issues. She is the evidence that supports any argument that innovation in education comes from the grassroots, from the rank and file, from the teachers on the ground. Metaphors abound, but don’t take my word for it. Listen to the episode. Post production editing is provided by the talented, Evan Kurohara. Our theme music is provided by the master pianist and my friend of 40 years, Michael Sloan. Please give us a rating and review wherever you get your podcasts!
92. A Magical Mystery Tour to MOD., with Dr. Kristin Alford
Dr. Kristin Alford has a Bachelor’s Degree in Minerals Processing Engineering and a PhD in Ferrosilicon Corrosion in Dense Medium Plants from the University of Queensland. Dr. Alford, a futurist, also has a Master’s in Strategic Foresight from Swinburne University. Yes, there is an interesting difference between being a futurist and having a degree in strategic foresight, whose connotation has a bias towards action. Most important, Dr. Alford is the Director of the Museum of Discovery at the University of South Australia. Stay tuned because Dr. Alford and I are going to take you on a magical mystery tour that dives deep into what learning could be. This episode was edited by the talented, Evan Kurohara. Our theme music is by the master pianist, Michael Sloan. To support this show, please give us a rating and review in your favorite podcast app.
91. Joy, Imagination, Kindness and Mentoring, with Parul Punjabi Jagdish
My guest today is Parul Punjabi Jagdish, who came onto my radar screen because of a talk he gave in Las Vegas attended by one of my previous guests, Robert Landau. Currently, Parul is the CEO of AIME Mentoring, Inc. (USA), a global movement founded in Australia. Parul’s resume is long, and deep. So what is AIME Mentoring? In 2004, AIME founder Jack Bancroft sketched an idea of a social network for good, one that connected university students as mentors with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander high school students in Australia, building bridges between two different groups, to lead to educational equity, exchanges of worth and value, and for the mentors a deeper connection to a different lived experience. To learn more, dive into the episode! My editor is the talented Evan Kurohara. Theme and interlude music are provided by master pianist, Michael Sloan. If you love these episodes, help spread the word by giving our series a rating and review wherever you get your podcasts.
90. Three Times 20 for the Next 20: Kevin, Aaron and David
In this episode I interviewed three honorees from the Hawaiʻi Business Magazine’s 20 for the Next 20. They are: Kevin Matsunaga who in his 21 years at Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School has taught over a thousand students how to use cameras and editing software, and how to conduct interviews and tell stories. Also, Aaron Schorn is the co-founder of Nalukai Academy and the director of development and community at Unrulr, an app that captures learning in real time. And finally, David Miyashiro, TFA alum and founder of the remarkable HAWAIIKIDSCAN advocacy group. I recorded this conversation in early May, 2022. This episode was edited by the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music and musical interludes comes from the vast catalogue of pianist, Michael Sloan. To support this podcast, write us a review and give us a rating in your favorite podcast app!
89. Relationships, Relationships, Relationships, with Ashley Mika Ito-Macion
Ashley Mika Ito-Macion (pictured on the right with Lori Kwee, our 26th episode) is an educator at Kanoelani Elementary School and a proud Hawai‘i State Teacher Fellow. She has a passion for helping her colleagues and working to create opportunities for educator growth. Ashley also was recently awarded Teacher of the Year for the Pearl City-Waipahu Complex, which is in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi She is also the founder of the Hawaiʻi Distance Learning Forum. This episode was edited by the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music and musical interludes comes from the vast catalogue of pianist, Michael Sloan. To support this podcast, write us a review and give us a rating in your favorite podcast app!
88. Laura McBain: Educator, Designer, Leader, Climber, Runner, Futurist
“Over her years at High Tech High, Laura McBain (K12 Lab, the d.School) did almost every job it was possible to do – teacher, principal, graduate school instructor. She can hold her own in any conversation about policy, standards, school design, school change. But the most important thing about Laura is she is all about FUN! Having it, creating it, sharing it. She never loses sight of the fact that learning has to be fun to be engaging. She wants learners of all ages to have those ‘WOW, that’s amazing’ moments. And she makes them happen, all the time.” (Larry Rosenstock, Founder, High Tech High) This episode was edited by the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music and musical interludes comes from the vast catalogue of pianist, Michael Sloan. To support this podcast, write us a review and give us a rating in your favorite podcast app!
87. Weaving Together Mastery, Competency and Relevant Learning, with Emily McCarren
Since 2015 Emily McCarren has served as Punahou School’s Academy Principal. Punahou is the largest, and one of the oldest private schools in the United States. Originally from Vermont, Emily graduated from Colby College in Maine where she majored in Spanish and Biology. She served as captain of the Alpine ski team and lacrosse team. Emily holds two master’s degrees: Spanish Literature and Educational Leadership. She completed her Ph.D. at the University of Hawaiʻi, where her dissertation examined the role of teacher care on a student’s online learning experience. This episode was edited by the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music and musical interludes comes from the vast catalogue of pianist, Michael Sloan. To support this podcast, write us a review and give us a rating in your favorite podcast app!
86. Reading the Wave, Reading the World, with Lipoa Kahaleuahi
Today my guest is Lipoa Kahaleuahi, innovative educator, deep thinker, champion surfer and the executive director of Ma Ka Hana Ka ‘Ike (also known as Hana Build), a truly remarkable experiential learning program on the island of Maui. In this conversation, Lipoa and I range widely over a number of topics, including the remarkable way her life is a literal representation of the phrase, “it takes a village.” This episode was edited by the talented, Evan Kurohara. Our theme music and musical interludes come from the vast library of master pianist, Michael Sloan. To help spread the word about this podcast, please give us a rating and review in your favorite podcast app!
85. Rewilding Teaching and Learning, with Ayana Verdi
May 9, 2022
Education Design
Ayana Verdi is an educational leader and mother of two who, with her husband John in 2016, established the Verdi Eco School to provide hands-on educational experiences for children in the historic Eau Gallie Arts District of Melbourne, Florida. The school quickly grew to become the first K-8 urban farm school in the southeastern United States and has now expanded to include high school learners. This episode was edited by the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music and musical interludes come from the vast catalogue of pianist, Michael Sloan. To support this podcast, write us a review and give us a rating in your favorite podcast app or aggregator.
84. Nothing Less Than Restoring Humanity to Learning, with Chris McNutt
April 25, 2022
Education Design
In the About section of his amazing resume Chris McNutt, co-founder of the Human Restoration Project and a digital art and design educator from Columbus, Ohio wrote: “I’m obsessed with revolutionizing education to meet the needs of students. Instead of standardized tests and rote learning, why not create equitable, authentic, and relationship-centered experiences where students can flourish? Let students lead their educational pursuits.” Our theme music and musical interludes come from the vast catalogue of pianist, Michael Sloan. My editor and audio consultant is the talented, Evan Kurohara. Please leave us a review and or rating in your favorite podcast app!
83. Denise Karratti: Openness and Grace, Warmth and a Collaborative Spirit
April 11, 2022
Education Design
“The best thing about Denise Karratti is not even all of the things she does, it is the way she does them-with complete openness, grace, warmth, and a collaborative spirit. Denise is grounded in our place and invested in all of the people who contribute to our communities. She is a connector and an innovator, and is going to be an incredible administrator in the near future.” (Kristen Brummel, Hawaiʻi State Teacher Fellows Coordinator) Our theme music and musical interludes come from the vast catalogue of pianist, Michael Sloan. My editor is the talented, Evan Kurohara. Please leave us a review and or rating in your favorite podcast app!
82. For Chad Carlson, It Starts With One Stone
March 27, 2022
Education Design
My guest today is Chad Carlson, the Director of Research and Design at One Stone Lab School in Boise Idaho. Chad is one of the most innovative, creative and imaginative educators and education leaders ever to come across my radar screen. To say he, and One Stone Lab School work “outside the box” is a vast understatement. In all ways, Chad and One Stone dispense with boxes and approach students as bundles of joyful potential and promise, as agents of their own lives and futures. This episode was edited by the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music and musical interludes come from the vast catalogue of pianist, Michael Sloan. To support this podcast, write us a review and give us a rating and leave a review in your favorite podcast app!
81. Dr. Mark Hines, the Obi-Wan Kenobi of Deeper Learning
March 13, 2022
Education Design
Today, I welcome back to the show Dr. Mark Hines, the Director of Kupu Hou Academy, and the founder of the Mid-Pacific Explorer (MPX) program at Mid-Pacific Institute in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. To his friends and colleagues, Mark is a Jedi warrior who uses The Force to help public, private and charter school educators find their inner deeper learning practice. This episode was edited by the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music and musical interludes come from the vast catalogue of pianist, Michael Sloan. To support this podcast, write us a review and give us a rating and leave a review in your favorite podcast app!
80. Janelle Field: Totally Driven, Relentlessly Positive, Always Learning
February 28, 2022
Education Design
You have heard the phrase “drinking from a firehose,” right? Well, listeners, you are about to have one of those firehose moments. Fasten your seatbelts because the next hour is going to get pretty crazy. Janelle Field is the PK-12 Teaching and Learning Engagement Coach at Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa Public Schools located in central Minnesota. When I interviewed her, it was 3 degrees Fahrenheit in her neck of the woods. But inside her schools, the heat was on and the learning was happening, big time. This episode was edited by the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music and musical interludes come from the vast catalogue of pianist, Michael Sloan. To support this podcast, write us a review and give us a rating and leave a review in your favorite podcast app!
79. Centering on Love, Justice and History, with Shiloh Francis
February 13, 2022
Education Design
In this first episode of 2022, I speak with Hawaiʻi Technology Academy’s (HTA) Shiloh Francis, a remarkable history and government teacher. HTA is a blended learning charter school with seven campuses on four Hawaiʻi islands. Shiloh has leadership roles in two HTA professional development cohorts: The Teacher-Leader Cohort and the Center for Love and Justice Cohort, among many other projects and roles. She is relentlessly focused on student-driven, real world learning. This episode was edited by the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music and musical interludes come from the vast catalogue of pianist, Michael Sloan. To support this podcast, write us a review and give us a rating and leave a review in your favorite podcast app!
69. (Rereleased) – Reading the World, with Dr. Edna Hussey
January 26, 2022
Education Design
(This is a re-release of my episode number 69 with Mid-Pacific Institute’s, Dr. Edna Hussey.) Dr. Edna Hussey is a passionate and dedicated educator committed to the advancement of an educated citizenry, children’s rights to quality learning AND the professionalism of teachers. Mention Dr. Hussey’s name anywhere in Hawaiʻi and you will get mad respect and admiration. Folks say she operates at a different level, which I am sure she would humbly reject. She KNOWS what school could be because she has done it, repeatedly. This episode was edited by the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music comes from the vast catalogue of pianist, Michael Sloan. To support this podcast, write us a review and give us a rating in your favorite podcast app or aggregator!
78. The Power of Backwards Design, with Darciann Baker
December 21, 2021
Education Design
My guest today is Darciann Baker, a faculty member at the Kamehameha Schools Hawaiʻi campus. Darciann is a Native Hawaiian woman, born and raised in Hawaiʻi. Her entire career has been dedicated to the perpetuation of the Hawaiian language. It is an endeavor she has held close to her heart ever since she found her Hawaiian identity when she was 15 years old. (The special oli, the Hawaiian chant that blesses this episode was written and performed by Kalei ‘A’arona Lorenzo, my guest’s high school classmate and basketball teammate. Mahalo, Kalei for this beautiful beginning to a wonderful episode.) This episode was edited by the talented Evan Kurohara (Darci’s student way back when). Our theme music comes from the vast catalogue of pianist, Michael Sloan. To support this podcast, write us a review and give us a rating in your favorite podcast app or aggregator!
77. The Deepest Meanings of Language and Community, with Dr. Julie Mowrer
December 15, 2022
Education Design
My guest today is the deeply insightful, Dr. Julie Mowrer, Acting Director of the Center for Community Engagement at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. Dr. Mowrer is also the Director of the English Language Institute (ELI), also at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo and the founder of the Bonner Leadership Program. Her dissertation title is: Student Voices at UH Hilo: “Do I Belong Here?” A Case Study on Student Perception of Community-Engaged Teaching & How It Impacts Their Sense of Belonging at UH Hilo. This episode was edited by the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music and music interludes come from the vast catalogue of pianist, Michael Sloan. To support this podcast, write us a review and give us a rating in your favorite podcast app!
76. Meeting Students Where They Are At, with Wes Atkins
February 13, 2022
Education Design
My guest today is Wes Adkins, a math teacher at James Campbell High School in Ewa Beach, the largest school in all of Hawai‘i. He proudly works in an inclusion classroom, promotes self-paced learning environments, and implements project based learning assessments. Nipsey Hustle and Vector90 inspired him to work in STEM education and teach students the skills for locally minded entrepreneurship. A first generation college graduate and a film buff, Wes won a $25,000 Education Innovation Teacher Challenge grant for his proposal to have his students create the Ewa Beach Drive-In. This episode was edited by the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music and music interludes come from the vast catalogue of pianist, Michael Sloan. To support this podcast, write us a review and give us a rating in your favorite podcast app!
75. The Many Passions and Projects of Educator, Dr. Tammy Jones
November 23, 2022
Education Design
Dr. Tammy Jones is a Project Coordinator for PLACES Hawaiʻi at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, supporting teachers on the Waiʻanae Coast to develop place-based curricula. She is also the curriculum developer and co-facilitator of Try Think, a program run in the state correctional facilities and sponsored by the Hawaiʻi Council for the Humanities. Dr. Jones has worked closely with Dr. Thomas Jackson and the Uehiro Academy for Philosophy and Ethics in Education to promote Philosophy for Children Hawaiʻi, known as p4c. This episode was edited by the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music and music interludes come from the vast catalogue of pianist, Michael Sloan. To support this podcast, write us a review and give us a rating in your favorite podcast app!
74. Communications, Deadlines and Teamwork, with Kevin Matsunaga
November 15, 2022
Education Design
I have wanted Kevin Matsunaga on my podcast for a long, long time. Kevin never imagined he would follow in his father’s footsteps and become a teacher. He found his calling as the digital media teacher, coach and guide at Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School on the island of Kauaʻi, and his students have won too many national video competitions to count. In 2007, the Hawai’i Department of Education recognized Kevin with a Kauaʻi District Teacher of the Year award. The impact he has had on kids in our public schools since 2007 is simply staggering. This episode was edited by the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music and music interludes come from the vast catalogue of pianist, Michael Sloan. To support this podcast, write us a review and give us a rating in your favorite podcast app!
73. From Defensive End to Philosopher In Residence, with Chad Miller
November 1, 2021
Education Design
A college football defensive end and a philosopher meet at a bar. The defensive end asks, “What’s the meaning of life?” The philosopher replies, “Missed tackles, my friend. To many missed tackles.” Dr. Chad Miller is a former NCAA football star, our 2012 Hawaiʻi State Teacher of the Year, a National Board Certified teacher, and currently a Specialist at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Institute for Teacher Education. Dr. Miller also serves as the Director of Teacher Development at the University’s of Hawaii’s Uehiro Academy for Philosophy and Ethics in Education. This episode was edited by the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music comes from the vast catalogue of pianist, Michael Sloan. To support this podcast, write us a review and give us a rating in your favorite podcast app!
72. Russell Motter: Renaissance Man, Raconteur, Teacher and Mixologist Extraordinaire
February 13, 2022
Education Design
It’s hard to rank all the things I love about Russell Motter – history teacher, lover of great music, epic thespian, good cook, creative innovator, Atlanta Braves and Falcons fan, among others – but the fact he mixes a mean Sazerac, my favorite cocktail, sits at the top of the list. Russell and I taught together in the history department at ‘Iolani School from 2010 to 2014. When I say taught together, I mean it literally. We team-taught US History, merging our two classes into one very cool section that at times traveled to the outer edges of innovation in education and what history could be. This episode was edited by the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music comes from the vast catalogue of pianist, Michael Sloan. To support this podcast, write us a review and give us a rating in your favorite podcast app!
71. (Special Re-Mix) Dr. Cara Chaudron, Hawaii’s 2022 Public Charter School Teacher of the Year
October 18, 2021
Education Design
Dr. Cara Chaudron is a math enthusiast born and raised in Honolulu, Hawai’i. She teaches 6th grade math at the School For Examining Essential Questions of Sustainability, known as SEEQS, a public charter school near and dear to my heart. I have done two previous episodes with SEEQS faculty, including Zoe Ingerson and school founder, Buffy Cushman-Patz. Dr. Chaudron is a shining example of what it means to teach for deeper learning. This episode was edited by the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music comes from the vast catalogue of pianist, Michael Sloan. To support this podcast, write us a review and give us a rating in your favorite podcast app or aggregator.
70. (Special Re-Mix) Of Green Labs and Piko Pals, with Lianna Lam
October 16, 2021
Education Design
Lianna Lam is an educator and leader passionate about community and public schools who views both as places to seed and cultivate Aloha! Lianna holds an environmental engineering degree from University of California at Davis and a Masters in Education from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. She has worked as an engineer, science teacher, sustainability coordinator and as a STEM Coordinator. Currently she is leading Kaimuki Middle School on a marvelous journey towards student-driven learning through a project KMS is calling the Voyager Center. This episode was edited by the talented Evan Kurohara. Our theme music comes from the vast catalogue of pianist, Michael Sloan. To support this podcast, write us a review and give us a rating in your favorite podcast app!
69. Reading the World, with Dr. Edna Hussey
September 27, 2021
Education Design
My guest for this first episode of our 3rd season is Dr. Edna Hussey, a passionate and dedicated educator committed to the advancement of an educated citizenry, children’s rights to quality learning AND the professionalism of teachers. Mention Dr. Hussey’s name anywhere in Hawaiʻi and you will get mad respect and admiration. This episode was edited by Daniel Gilad at DG Sound Creations. To support this podcast, write us a review and give us a rating in your favorite podcast app!
68. On Being the Daylight, with Erin Medeiros
May 24, 2021
Education Design
What does it mean to be the daylight for someone? Erin Medeiros is an epic educator at Kanuikapono Learning Center, a K–12 Hawaiian-culture-focused school in Anahola on the island of Kauaʻi in Hawaiʻi. Erin seeks renewal in literature and hiking, biking, or playing at the beach with her educator husband, Jonathon and their two daughters. She views teaching as a deeply creative profession and encourages her students to develop their attention to the past and present, to observe and question life. This episode was edited by Daniel Gilad at DG Sound Creations. To support this podcast, write us a review and give us a rating in your favorite podcast app!
67. Two Epic Teacher-Leaders, Melissa Montoya and Wrayna Fairchild
May 17, 2021
Education Design
What must schools do to build caring and connected communities? What is student-driven learning? What learning challenges are authentic and real-world? What must schools do to help students become fully human? What does it mean that “school is in but class is outside”? How can schools help students and staff navigate the complexities of this age of acceleration? Why put Yertle the Turtle on trial? My guests, Wrayna Fairchild and Melissa Montoya, two charter school educators selected for the Hawaiʻi State Teacher Fellows program, take on these questions and much more. This episode was edited by Daniel Gilad at DG Sound Creations. To support this podcast, write us a review and give us a rating in your favorite podcast app!
66. Hawaii’s Living Treasures, Art and Rene Kimura
May 10, 2021
Education Design
What does wise school leadership look, sound and feel like? How do we, as a nation, unleash the creativity, the imagination, the innovation that we seem to know already exists in every kid from birth? Profoundly impacted by the Challenger disaster, twenty years ago, Art and Rene Kimura created Future Flight Hawai‘i, a space-themed educational program, while Art, a former teacher and school administrator, was assigned to the Office of Space Industries, part of the Hawai‘i Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. This episode was edited by Daniel Gilad at DG Sound Creations. To support this podcast, write us a review and give us a rating in your favorite podcast app!
65. “Making It” Author, Stephanie Malia Krauss: Part 2
April 26, 2021
Education Design
Part II: What does it mean to live in an “open source society”? What impact is the so-called Age of Acceleration having on your school age children? When did the blue collar, white collar paradigm start to shift? What does it mean to be “cognitively fit”? What is the impact on kids of being hyperconnected but totally alone? Why will going to college or pursuing a postsecondary credential increasingly feel like shopping on a poorly organized Amazon? A few weeks ago Stephanie Malia Krauss published her first book, Making It: What Today’s Kids Need for Tomorrow’s World. Within hours it had rocketed to the top of Amazon’s education category. Why? This episode was edited by Daniel Gilad at DG Sound Creations. To support this podcast, write us a review and give us a rating in your favorite podcast app!
64. Beautiful Kauai’s Teacher of the Year, Serena Cox
April 19, 2021
Education Design
What is parent coaching professional development and how does it help build healthy learning communities? What are co-created rubrics and what is the long term impact of films like Most Likely to Succeed? Serena Cox was a Comprehensive School Improvement Resource Teacher, in the Kauai Complex Area but now is back at Waimea Canyon Middle School as Vice-Principal. She was the Kauai Island Teacher of the Year and a teacher of the year at two middle schools in South Carolina. This episode was edited by Daniel Gilad at DG Sound Creations. To support this podcast, write us a review and give us a rating in your favorite podcast app!
63. The Crazy Busy Puzzle Master, Buddy Leong
April 12, 2021
Education Design
Fasten your seatbelts, listeners. This episode is going to blow your mind. Buddy Leong is a senior at Punahou School, which likely makes him 17 or 18 years old. Judging by his LinkedIn profile, he has accomplished more in his short life to date than most of us have accomplished in our lives combined. I think it’s best if I let Buddy introduce himself via the “About” section of his LinkedIn page. Buddy writes, “I’m an aspiring social entrepreneur, youth leader, and investor.” Now that I have teased you, listen to the conversation! This episode was edited by Daniel Gilad at DG Sound Creations. To support this podcast, write us a review and give us a rating in your favorite podcast app!
62. Robert Pennybacker, Hawaii’s “Can Do” Renaissance Man
April 5, 2021
Education Design
When I called Robert Pennybacker a “Renaissance Man” during my interview he seemed not to know why I attached the term to him. I can say with some confidence that folks in Robert’s network see him as exactly that. He is a poet, writer, producer, director, traveler, technologist, deep thinker and the very definition of both a specialist and generalist. He is also one of the founders of HIKI NŌ, arguably the most remarkable state student news network programs on Planet Earth. This episode was edited by Daniel Gilad at DG Sound Creations. To support this podcast, write us a review and give us a rating in your favorite podcast app!
61. Character Teaching Knowledge Practice, with Kaleialoha Aarona-Lorenzo
March 22, 2021
Education Design
Kalei ʻAʻarona-Lorenzo is a kumu, or teacher of music, culture and Hawaiian language at the Kamehameha Schools Maui campus. She is the 3rd educator from this campus, including middle school teachers, Kui Gapero and Ululani Shiraishi, that I have featured in this series. She is a shining example of an educator with both a laser focus and a beautiful, big and expansive view of life, learning, love and humanity. This episode was edited by Daniel Gilad at DG Sound Creations. To support this podcast, write us a review and give us a rating in your favorite podcast app!
60. The Most Beautifully Relevant Learning, with Florence Scott
March 15, 2022
Education Design
This was Florence Scott’s first podcast interview so it was understandable that she would text me after the fact asking if it was normal to be rethinking her responses to my questions. In some ways, her text to me illustrates at the deepest possible level who Florence is: A deeply reflective educator who lives and breathes relevant learning. Florence, who teaches at Hawai’i Technology Academy’s Kauai campus believes with all her mind and all her heart that learning is constant day in and day out, year in and year out. This episode was edited by Daniel Gilad at DG Sound Creations. To support this podcast, write us a review and give us a rating in your favorite podcast app!
59. Why Small Schools are Epic, with Jeanne Wilks
March 8, 2022
Education Design
What do we do about kindergarten teachers quitting their jobs, citing top down “seat time” mandates as…child abuse? And in what ways did teachers become learners again because of Covid-19? These and other questions are addressed by Jeanne Wilks who served as the Interim Head of Holy Nativity – a small, independent school in East O’ahu – from July 2019. After leading the school during the challenges of transition and COVID-19, the board appointed her permanent Head of School. This episode was edited by Daniel Gilad at DG Sound Creations. To support this podcast, write us a review and give us a rating in your favorite podcast app!
58. “Making It” Author, Stephanie Malia Krauss: Part 1
March 3, 2022
Education Design
Part I: What does it mean to live in an “open source society”? What impact is the so-called Age of Acceleration having on your school age children? When did the blue collar, white collar paradigm start to shift? What does it mean to be “cognitively fit”? What is the impact on kids of being hyperconnected but totally alone? Why will going to college or pursuing a postsecondary credential increasingly feel like shopping on a poorly organized Amazon? A few weeks ago Stephanie Malia Krauss published her first book, Making It: What Today’s Kids Need for Tomorrow’s World. Within hours it had rocketed to the top of Amazon’s education category. Why? This episode was edited by Daniel Gilad at DG Sound Creations. To support this podcast, write us a review and give us a rating in your favorite podcast app!
57. Teacher Surfer Writer Builder Poet: Jonathon Medeiros
March 1, 2022
Education Design
What do teachers need from their administrators? According to Jonathon Medeiros a bit of magic. What magic, you ask? Jonathon writes: “Too often, while teachers are reaching toward our students, inviting them in and making them feel valuable, administrators are planning meetings in air-conditioned offices by filling time slots and checking compliance boxes instead of thinking about who their teachers are, what we might need, what we bring to the table. These are opportunities missed.” Jonathon has been teaching and learning about Language Arts and rhetoric for 15 years with his students on Kauaʻi. This episode was edited by Daniel Gilad at DG Sound Creations. To support this podcast, write us a review and give us a rating in your favorite podcast app!
56. Traveling to Two Moons, with Matthew Tom
February 22, 2021
Education Design
What can we educators do to insure that kids coming out of elementary school don’t have their natural, innate curiosity, creativity and ingenuity crushed out of them by middle school, and later, high school? What is student-driven learning and what is the real meaning of student agency? In this episode I interviewed Matthew Tom, a writing teacher and media specialist formerly at RL Stevenson Middle School, now at Kaimuki Middle School. Matthew engages his students in ways I find completely inspiring and want everyone to know about. This episode was edited by Daniel Gilad at DG Sound Creations. To support this podcast, write us a review and give us a rating in your favorite podcast app!
55. Unrulr’s Capturing Learning, with Fred Delse and Will Reppun
February 15, 2021
Education Design
What does it mean when we talk about “capturing” learning (as if learning is some sort of fish in the sea)? What is the relationship between student and teacher when student-driven learning sits at the core of the classroom, or learning space? It’s these and other essential questions Fred Delse and Will Reppun tackled when they decided to found and develop the learning capture app, Unrulr, which is now being tested and used by public, private and charter schools here in Hawaiʻi. “What makes Unrulr special is that it speaks the language of social media, which is the parlance of today’s youth. Being able to express yourself with words, pictures, videos and other formats means that you can paint a really unique picture of who you are and what you’ve done.” (Evan Beachy) This episode was edited by Daniel Gilad at DG Sound Creations. To support this podcast, write us a review and give us a rating in your favorite podcast app!
54. Aaron Jamal Schorn, Capstone Man
November 30, 2020
Education Design
My guest today for this final episode of Semester 1 of Season 2 is Aaron Jamal Schorn, Nalukai Foundation Program and Academy Startup Camp Director, and Capstone Coordinator at Hawai’i Preparatory Academy on Hawai’i Island. At Nalukai, Aaron creates and implements curriculum, hustles to find mentors and teaches digital storytelling. Outside of Nalukai he is focused on creating student-centered systems to authentically tell the story of learning communities. (Since this episode’s release Aaron has also become Director of Community Development for Unrulr.) This episode was edited by Daniel Gilad at DG Sound Creations. To support this podcast, write us a review and give us a rating in your favorite podcast app!
53. Writer, Poet, Teacher, Mother, TFA Alum: Jannica Breslin
November 23, 2020
Education Design
Metamorphosis, dragon flies, Hoʻokipa writers, coffee talks, Poetic Couture, Carol Dwek and finding the Filipina within, oh my! My guest today is Jannica Breslin in an episode I am calling my Teach for America Special. This is a partnership with Jill Baldemor, the Executive Director of Teach for America Hawai`i. When I offered Jill the opportunity to name a TFA Hawaiʻi alum to be on this podcast, after some consideration, she named Jannica Breslin. In this episode Jannica and I ranged across a variety of subjects including her passion for writing, her love of vulnerabilities and growth mindsets, her Aloha for TFA and what it takes to get middle school kids excited about words. Editing provided by DG Sound Creations.
52. Marching for Justice and Planet Earth, with Kawika Ke Koa Pegram
November 16 2020
Education Design
What exactly is student voice? This question has become the hot topic in public, private and charter schools here in Hawaiʻi, for which I am glad. Sometimes the conversation revolves around giving students agency over their learning. At other times we talk about public exhibitions of learning and the ways students might articulate what they know and what they can do. Conversations around student activism, especially around ways to encourage kids to be politically active, seem fewer and farther between. I wonder sometimes if we are afraid to encourage this kind of deep community involvement for fear that parents might object or schools might feel liable. My guest today is Kawika Ke Koa Pegram, a recent graduate of Waipahu High School now matriculating at American University in Washington, DC. Editing provided by DG Sound Creations.
51. She Lives on the Edge of Her Seat: Ululani Shiraishi
February 22, 2021
Education Design
I have learned, as a podcast host, that some episode interviews are question and response, and some conversations are more…intimate. My episode here with Ululani Shiraishi is decidedly the latter. Ululani gave me a gift during this interview, a phrase I will use in my life going forward: Working at the edge of your seat. She comes from a place of part frenzy crazy, and part deliberate intentional. And she is always, always working at the edge of her seat. Ululani is a Kamehameha Schools Maui campus middle school language arts teacher who is deep into SEL, Hawaiian culture and trans-disciplinary teaching and learning. Editing services provided by DG Sound Creations.
50. Questing to Find the Golden Fleece with Argonaut Chris Balme
October 26, 2020
Education Design
Chris Balme, my guest for this episode, writes: “Middle school is one of life’s great forks in the road. As the time when puberty begins and thus incredible neurological changes are taking place, middle school has an outsized impact on child development. For some students, it’s the time they begin to find their voice, their social identity, their sense of self in a bigger world.” Chris is the founder of the Millennium School and the Argonaut School in the Bay Area. He is also a warm, funny and caring educator who wants make “school” all that it could be. Editing done by your host, Josh Reppun using Alitu.
49. A Reverence for Student-Centered Learning, with Kumu Kaulana Smith
October 19, 2020
Education Design
The Kupu Hou Special: When I asked my dear friends, Mark Hines and John Cheever at Kupu Hou Academy to recommend a Kupu Hou friend and supporter to interview for this podcast, they both immediately and enthusiastically recommended Po’o Kumu Kaulana Smith. Kumu Kaulana is the Director of Curriculum and Instruction at Laupahoehoe Community Public Charter School located near the ocean in a small township on the northeast shore of Hawaiʻi Island. In this conversation Kaulana and I ranged across education in ancient Hawaiʻi to the broad expanse of project-based learning. Editing services by DG Sound Creations.
48. Our 2019 Hawaii State Teacher of the Year, Mathieu Williams
October 12, 2020
Education Design
My guest today is Mathieu Williams, our 2019 State Teacher of the Year who constantly strives to be…better. It’s why I love the man, why I admire him so much, why everyone in Hawaiʻi, public, private, charter and community admires him so much and why his students love working with him. He is the ultimate guide, coach, sponsor and mentor of our Hawaiʻi youth, and for that, we are all grateful. Mathieu is the Director of the Hawk Media Program at Kealakehe Intermediate near Kona. His students edited this and all my early episodes. This episode was edited by DG Sound Creations.
47. She’s Been Published!, with Danielle Mizuta
October 5, 2020
Education Design
To be a learning coach, a teacher-leader, an educator coach and an expert on kids with special needs, some on the autistic spectrum, you have to be a deeply empathetic person…right down to your core. Danielle Mizuta has empathy in spades. Empathy is in her DNA. I have known this for a long, long time. She and I got our graduate degrees about the same time, in the late 90s. Over the years she has been a tremendous supporter of my @WSCBPodcast “movement,” at film screenings, event design sessions and professional development workshops. So it is with great pleasure that I present newly minted author, Danielle in a wide ranging conversation about teaching and learning. Editing provided by DG Sound Creations.
46. The Genome of SEEQS, with Buffy Cushman-Patz
September 28, 2020
Education Design
In schools, as in life, the commodity in shortest supply is time. How we spend our time is how we enact our values (SEEQS.org). Buffy Cushman-Patz and I have known each other for a long time. Mere words cannot capture the enormous respect I have for her and the work she has done in our community. And, it was my high privilege to be on the team she assembled to write SEEQS charter. So what is SEEQS? It’s the School for Examining the Essential Questions of Sustainability, a secondary public charter school in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi founded in 2013. Editing provided by DG Sound Creations.
45. Coastal Erosion and Other Subjects, with Dan Gaudiano
September 21, 2020
Education Design
Dan Gaudiano is the Academy Science Department Head at Punahou School. He has a BA in geology from Colgate University. At the University of South Carolina Columbia he earned an MS in geology, and then a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT). Dan has written in scientific journals, authored scientific papers, been a coastal geologist and a scientific researcher. Most of all, what you get from reviewing Dan’s body of work so far is that he cares deeply about kids and learning. There is no doubt that he has a growth mindset and is continually developing his teaching practice. In this interview Dan and I talked about inch deep and a mile wide, vs. posthole learning. Editing provided by DG Sound Creations.
44. All Good Things are Wild and Free, with Christina Hoe
September 14, 2020Education Design
“All Good Things Are Wild and Free” (Henry David Thoreau). As it turns out this episode is four years in the making. At the very start of my work with Ted Dintersmith and his film, Most Likely to Succeed, Christina Hoe, a humanities teacher at Le Jardin Academy, reached out to me via an intermediary and asked to bring all 77 of her students to my 2nd MLTS screening in January, 2016. What followed was a wild and crazy ride that resulted in her students doing a deep dive into education. Four years later, Christina is my interview guest! How cool is that? Editing provided by DG Sound Creations.
43. The Epic Journey of Lory Peroff, So Far
September 7, 2020
Education Design
At the end of this episode Waikiki Elementary School educator, Lory Peroff read the following excerpt from a poem: The people I love the best, Jump into work head first, I love people who harness themselves, an ox to a heavy cart, Who pull like water buffalo, with massive patience, Who strain in the mud and the muck to move things forward, Who do what has to be done, again and again. (Marge Percy “To Be of Use”) Amen, Lory! Lory’s journey, in this episode, starts with the Pease Corps in Uzbekistan, moves to Tonga, then to Boston and ultimately to Hawaiʻi. Along the way her focus is relentlessly on kids. Editing services provided by DG Sound Creations.
42. Matthew Lynch, Building Sustainability Initiatives
August 31, 2020
Education Design
Matthew Lynch and I recorded this interview back on March 24th, just as the Covid-19 “shelter-in-place” lockdown began in Hawaiʻi. What we planned to do in person suddenly had to be done via Zoom. The resulting audio is pretty sketch, but wow, Matthew and I covered some serious ground over a 90-minute conversation. Matthew is the System Sustainability Coordinator for all 10 campus of the University of Hawaiʻi system. Four years ago we met at a special Ted Dintersmith-hosted gathering at PBS Hawaiʻi. At the time I recall Matthew telling me, to my utter astonishment, that the UH systems had no sustainability degree. In Hawaiʻi? What? Editing provided by DG Sound Creations.
41. When Your Teacher is a Trained Ballerina, with Heather Baylosis
May 4, 2020
Education Design
Imagine a place where your lead elementary school teacher is a trained ballerina with a propensity for breaking out the dance moves during a lesson. Look no further than Maui and Heather Baylosis, a creative, imaginative and innovative teacher at Hawaiʻi Technology Academy’s Maui Campus. HTA is a seven-campus public charter school (on four islands) that uses a blended learning model. Over more than an hour’s interview Heather and I ranged across topics related to blended learning, differentiated instruction, distance learning in the time of Covid-19, teaching the “whole child” and team building at the elementary level. Editing by DG Sound Creations.
40. Here’s to the Crazy Ones, with Brian Dote (Part 2)
April 27, 2020
Education Design
In Part 2 of this episode, Brian Dote, the Chief Innovation Officer at Mid-Pacific Institute in Hawaiʻi, dives deep into ideas and concepts around educator professional development, the so-called “21st century transcript,” the wild and wonderful things happening at Waipahu High School, how he deliberately and intentionally worked to develop his skills, habits and dispositions, and his proximity to the Black Swan event that was the first iPhone. Editing provided by DG Sound Creations.
39. Here’s to the Crazy Ones, with Brian Dote (Part 1)
April 20, 2020
Education Design
Brian Dote has been orbiting near “Black Swan” (type) events all of his professional life. To qualify as a “Black Swan,” an event has to be: Completely unpredictable and rare: Hugely impactful: People love to say after the event, we saw it coming (which they didn’t). Brian worked on Steve Jobs’ team that designed, built and launched the first iPhone, which changed the arc of and accelerated the course of history. In Part I of this episode, we talk about how he worked near the center of the Human Genome Project and eventually became the Chief Innovation Officer at Mid-Pacific Institute in Hawaiʻi. Editing provided by DG Sound Creations.
38. Being the Change They Want to See, with Robyn Vierra
April 13, 2020
Education Design
In one of my longer episodes Robyn Vierra, the Director of Global Education at Punahou School, and I range across a wide variety of subjects, including a day in the life of her 4th grade classroom, what it really means to have a global perspective, the dangers of “keeping it simple” during the 2020 Covid-19 crisis, models of distributed work in this 21st century, Kozol’s “Savage Inequalities,” competency-based learning and what it means to let kids be the change they want to see. Robyn is also the Associate Director of the Wo International Center at Punahou School. Editing provided by DG Sound Creations.
37. Miki Cacace, OUR Hawaii Milken Award Winner
April 6, 2020
Education Design
Meet Rob, Colin, Abbie and Miki, collectively known as the Cacace family. Colin and Abbie are a couple of wonderful rowdy kids, Rob works at the Myron B. Thompson Public Charter School and Miki is OUR Hawaiʻi 2019/2020 Milken Family Fund Award winner from Ewa Makai Middle School. It is hard to put into words what Miki has already accomplished in her career as a teacher, guide, mentor, coach. All the boxes – student agency, experiential learning, teacher collaboration, intentional design, problem-based learning, challenge-based learning, social and emotional inclusion, product-based learning, individualized inquiry, teacher as marketing agent – have already been checked. But Miki, in so many ways, is just getting started. Editing provided by DG Sound Creations.
36. Fasten Your Seatbelts: It’s Justin Brown Time
March 30, 2020
Education Design
I first met Justin Brown four years ago at a small Most Likely to Succeed film screening at West Hawaiʻi Explorations Academy just outside Kona. After the film, Justin (who mentors, guides and coaches kids in Kealakehe High School’s CTE, STEM and maker spaces) sat at the far end of a small panel examining the essential questions raised by Ted Dintersmith’s film. He spoke last in the first round and I recall being instantly blown away by his global understanding of public, private and charter school education. In this episode Justin asks, Why don’t more kids like school? This episode was edited by students in the Hawk Media Program at Kealakehe Intermediate just outside Kona.
35. Leslie Witten Knows Distance Learning
March 27, 2020
Education Design
As the COVID-19 crisis began to roll over Hawaiʻi, I reached out to a group of trusted education friends and asked for the names of potential guests who could speak clearly to the conceptual, and technical nature of so-called distance learning. Very quickly my colleagues suggested Leslie Witten, and glad I am that they did. Leslie is an education technology specialist at Le Jardin Academy, a medium sized independent school on the Windward side of Oahu. She has a BA from UCLA in ethnomusicology and a M.Ed. from National University with an emphasis on 21st century learning and teaching methodologies and constructivism. Your host, Josh Reppun edited this episode using Alitu.
34. Whitney Aragaki on the Nobel Profession
March 23, 2020
Education Design
To say Whitney Sayuri Aragaki speaks passionately about education is to make a vast understatement. Over a wide ranging conversation about learning “holistically,” indigenous ways of knowing and doing, teacher empowerment, building educator capacity, preparation for 21st century workspaces, student engagement and what makes her hometown, Hilo, so special, her voice came through, time and again, loud and very clear. Whitney is a science teacher at Waiakea High School on Hawaiʻi Island. (And now, in 2022, our Hawaiʻi State Teacher of the Year.) This episode was edited by students in the Hawk Media Program at Kealakehe Intermediate outside Kona.
33. Climbing Summits and exploring Questions, with Wasfia Nazreen
March 19, 2020
Education Design
In part 2 of my interview with Wasfia Nazreen, we explore a range of issues related to her life as a climber, her leadership in the outdoor world, the elevation and education of women, and her relationship with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. If you are reading this episode description before you listen to the interview, I recommend you watch her short, award winning film, produced by Apple, Inc., and National Geographic. Wasfia was in Hawaiʻi in the Spring of 2020 for a series of school and pubic speaking events sponsored and organized by Hawaiʻi Technology Academy, a blended learning charter school with seven campuses on four Hawaiʻi islands. This episode was editing by your host, Josh Reppun using Alitu.
32. Steve Sue Makes a Very Tasty Lemonade
March 16, 2020
Education Design
What a privilege to interview Steve Sue (in his Kaimuki, Honolulu kitchen, ergo the sounds of traffic and songbirds) for one of my “on the road” episodes. Steve is the “Chief Lemon Head” at Lemonade Alley, a youth entrepreneur program, and Chairman of Bizgenics Foundation, a Hawaii-based 501(C)(3) nonprofit. In a wide ranging, hour-long conversation, Steve and I tackle some of the pressing issues related to entrepreneurship, innovation, creativity, imagination and business in K-12 education. Steve’s energy is infectious, and his optimism is reassuring. He is quick on the draw and sees everything from a 360 perspective. This episode was edited by your host, Josh Reppun using Alitu.
31. Climbing Summits and Exploring Questions, with Wasfia Nazreen: Part 1
March 13, 2020
Education Design
Wasfia Nazreen absolutely loves life. This became very clear during my interview with her for this 12th the-road-episode. She is funny, insightful, deep, kind and compassionate, among other qualities. My questions revolved around finding freedom, the role of mindfulness in schools, learning to make decisions and think critically in life threatening situations (as in climbing massive mountains), how teachers can become guides and mentors, and how she documents her life, thoughts and insights. This episode was edited by your host, Josh Reppun using Alitu.
30. Derek and Micah: Two Student-Centered School Leaders https://media.blubrry.com/wscbh/content.blubrry.com/wscbh/OTR12WasfiaNazreenFinal.mp3
March 9, 2020
Education Design
In this episode, we hear from Micah Hirokawa, Head of School at Hakipu’i Academy Public Charter School, and Derek Minakami, Principal at Kaneohe Elementary School. These two schools are literally a couple miles apart on Oahu’s Windward Side. Both Derek and Micah are members of the Hawaiʻi Innovative Leaders Network. Both have much to say about what student-centered education looks, sounds and feels like. Both are passionate about grounded and relevant life-long learning. This episode was edited by students in the Hawk Media Program at Kealakehe Intermediate outside Kona. (Since this episode aired Micah is now directing a school in California.)
29. Melissa Handy’s Brilliant Maker Mindset
March 2, 2020
Education Design
Where do we start with Melissa Handy? Well, we start with the fact that her parents, in Pennsylvania, were both teachers. Even better, her father was her 5th grade teacher. Melissa writes, “My love for education started sprouting young.” I have known Melissa for a bunch of years, so it was pretty special to have her on this podcast. Needless to say, I had been looking forward to the moment for months. Melissa is a brilliant, brilliant thinker, and doer. She is the Education Technology Director at Le Jardin Academy, a small independent school on the Windward Side of O’ahu. She is the Past President of the Hawaiʻi Society for Technology in Education. and she is a champion robotics coach. This episode was edited by students in the Hawk Media Program at Kealakehe Intermediate near Kona.
28. Of Goats, Anthropology and EdTech, with Shawna Gunnarson
February 24, 2020
Education Design
Shawna Gunnarson has a heart as big as Montana. She exudes compassion, humor, kindness, innovation, creativity and imagination; on top of all that, she and her Mom founded the Dancing Goat Sanctuary, a place for wayward animals, energetically guarded by Starsky & Hutch, two frat-like goats. Oh yes, and she is an epic educator at Konawaena Middle School on Hawaiʻi Island (otherwise known as the Big Island), which is what brought her to this podcast. Listen as Shawna and I explore her learning journey and teacher practice. This episode was edited by students in the Hawk Media Program at Kealakehe Intermediate near Kona.
27. Seeking Essential Questions, with Zoe Ingerson
February 17, 2020
Education Design
Listen to my guest, Zoe Ingerson and you will hear a strong, clear, articulate and intelligent voice for student agency, the joy of learning (and writing), inquiry-based, discovery-based education, teacher collaboration, intentional school design and what school could be. Zoe is Hawaii’s 2020 Charter School Teacher of the Year, but more than that, she is the embodiment of her school’s mission and vision. She teaches at the School for Examining Essential Questions of Sustainability. This episode was edited by students in the Hawk Media Program at Kealakehe Intermediate, near Kona.
26. There is No Doubt Lori Kwee Changes Lives
February 22, 2021
Education Design
Lori Kwee has been changing the lives of kids for more than 30 years, and for that the State of Hawaiʻi and a legion of parents surely are very grateful. After listening to this episode, you will find it easy to imagine what it’s like being at Ala Wai Elementary in the presence of this mentor, guide and sponsor of young children. You will find it easy to imagine her kids saving the Vaquita dolphin, developing a school culture that nurtures bullies towards kindness and compassion, and diving deep into the essential questions of life and learning. One of the reasons Lori can do what she does is the support of her visionary Principal, Michelle DeBusca. (Lori is now our 2021 HIDOE Teacher of the Year.) This episode was edited by students in the Hawk Media Program at Kealakehe Intermediate, near Kona.
25. For Chris Stapleton, Cultural Context Really Matters
February 4, 2020
Education Design
The first thing that jumps out at you when Chris Stapleton speaks is how passionate he is: About school, about life, about cultural context, about education technology and about what happens when kids from Korea come to study in Hawaiʻi (and vice versa). In this new format, which I am calling “Ten Questions For,” Chris defined the role of international schools, tackled the big issues of our New Pacific Century, zeroed in on what makes for great education technology, and raised objections to using the word “project” so much. Oh, and he took on a half-dozen other questions as well. His voice is clear and his responses thoughtful. This episode was edited by students in the Hawk Media Program at Kealakehe Intermediate, near Kona.
24. Ten Epic Questions for Helen Turner, Part 2
January 29, 2020
Education Design
It’s not often one gets to talk to a brilliant scientist about college admissions and Paul Tough’s book “The Years That Matter Most,” Ken Jennings vs. an artificial intelligence, an internship at Google vs. a Harvard undergraduate degree, Stanford University’s wondrous document “Uncharted Territory,” and the incredible insights of excellent indigenous science. Even better is the fact that I caught all of this conversation on tape and can present it here in this podcast. Dr. Helen Turner is the VP for Strategy and Innovation at Chaminade University, a small, private college sitting on a lovely hillside above the city of Honolulu. This episode was edited by your host, Josh Reppun using Alitu.
23. Ten Epic Questions for Helen Turner, Part 1
February 22, 2021
Education Design
It’s not often one gets to talk to a brilliant scientist about artificial intelligence, college admissions, David Epstein’s book, “Range,” the scary questions of biology and the incredible insights of excellent indigenous science. Even better is the fact that I caught all of this conversation on tape and can present it here in this podcast. Dr. Helen Turner is the VP for Strategy and Innovation at Chaminade University, a small, private college sitting on a lovely hillside above the city of Honolulu. This episode was edited by your host, Josh Reppun using Alitu.
22. Yes, Hawai’i Kids CAN!
January 16, 2020
Education Design
What’s the best thing I can offer educators and community members as we start the New Year 2020? The unmistakably clear voices of two remarkable students at the very beginning of their life-long learning journeys. In this episode, meet Phoenix Maimiti Valentine and Dayevin Bunao; both are student advocates-in-training with HawaiiKidsCAN, an innovative nonprofit that seeks to help students dive deep into the legislative process…that they might help shape the future of Hawaiʻi and level the playing field for everyone in this state. Oh, and HIKIDSCAN’s Executive Director, David Miyashiro, is also part of this conversation. This episode was edited by your host, Josh Reppun using Alitu.
21. A Progressive’s Progressivee, Amber Makaiau
January 6, 2020
Education Design
I taught Amber Strong Makaiau her Advanced Placed United States History 25 years ago. Recently, we came onto each other’s radar again and began working on some projects related to educator professional development. As we do this work, I continue to reflect how many kids’ lives have been impact by Amber’s work over the past two decades. The number has to be enormous, and is beyond staggering. Amber is now the Director of Hanahau’oli School’s Professional Development Center, which is offering intimate and targeted PD around teaching social justice, climate change, art, equity and much, much more. She remains on the faculty at the Univ. of Hawaiʻi at Manoa’s COE. This episode was edited by your host, Josh Reppun using Alitu.
20. Kanoelani Elementary Chooses Love
December 25, 2019
Education Design
As soon as I walked on Stacie Kunihisa’s campus I knew something different was happening. Two student ambassadors guided me on a tour of classrooms and project spaces, and spoke to me at length about how campus culture had changed as a result of a “movement” called Choose Love. Both felt that kids were related to each other in ways not seen before. Kanoelani Elementary is a carnival of interesting ideas and concepts in motion, and Stacie is clearly the catalyst, the transformational leader building a choose love campus culture. This episode was edited by your host, Josh Reppun using Alitu. (Since this episode aired Stacie has become the interim director of the HIDOE Leadership Institute.)
19. Finding the Genius of a Place, with Dan Kiknzer
December 16, 2019
Uncategorized
When I first heard Dan Kinzer planned to walk the entire circumference of O’ahu in order to find its “genius,” I immediately concluded I had to have him on this podcast. Even better, for this 7th “on the road” edition I wanted to catch him on the last day of his two-week walkabout. And so it happened. About 9:00AM on a Monday, as he walked his final miles along Kalanianaole Highway in the morning Hawaiʻi sun, Dan, a cup of coffee in hand, paused in my dinning room and fielded my many questions. We talked about planet walking, exploring Antarctica, his projects at international schools around the world and his love of deeper learning. And the “genius of place.” This episode was edited by your host, Josh Reppun using Alitu.
18. Trish Morgan’s Magical, Fantastical Imaginarium
December 9, 2019
Uncategorized
In this conversation, Trish Morgan takes our listeners on a magical mystery tour of her Innovative Invention Imaginarium, a maker space and technology laboratory built with a sizable award from Farmer’s Insurance, and with the helping hands of her middle school students at Honolulu’s Stevenson Intermediate. It is not in Trish’s DNA to see limits; she apparently fears nothing and sees each waking minute in and out of school as another opportunity to guide, coach and mentor young people towards the better angels of their nature. This episode was edited by students in the Hawk Media Program at Kealakehe Intermediate, near Kona.
17. Paul Singer, One of Hawaii’s Greatest Assets
December 2, 2019
Uncategorized
Paul Singer has strong opinions about education, but he comes by them honestly. He spent nearly 30 years as Head at The Country School in Los Angeles, then another 11 as Head at Assets School in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. His experiences in school at a very young age still shape the way he sees the world, and teaching and learning. Paul has been one of Hawaii’s most vocal advocates for individualized, differentiated “meet students where they are” instruction. No, in this episode he does not hold back. This episode was edited by your host, Josh Reppun using Alitu.
16. Sandy Cameli, Coach of Teacher Leaders
November 25, 2019
Uncategorized
I first met Sandy Cameli during a facilitated protocol discussion on synchronous, vs. asynchronous professional development. Her passion for education filled the conference room with energy and spirit. Since then I have witnessed her, many times, facilitating sessions on teacher-leadership; I always come away inspired. In this episode Sandy and I dive deep into professional crushes (on noted education authors), tri-level professional growth, identity of leadership, those special kids we remember always, and how teacher-leadership shifts school culture towards student voice, teacher collaboration and intentional school design. This episode was edited by students in the Hawk Media Program at Kealakehe Intermediate, near Kona.
15. On Being Bold and Brave with Kristie Fetterly
November 18, 2019
Uncategorized
Kristie Fetterly knows first hand how an innovative, imaginative, creative, caring, empathetic teacher bucking the traditional in education can change a young person’s life. Back in the day, a certain Mr. Bergh played that role when Kristie started her senior year in high school. Today, as the Site Director for Hawaiʻi Technology Academy’s Maui Campus (HTA), and a member of the Hawaiʻi Innovative Leaders Network, she is bravely and boldly leading her school community into a bright future full of possibilities and great promises. This episode was edited by students in the Hawk Media Program at Kealakehe Intermediate, near Kona.
14. Cecilia Chung, Hawaii’s Epic Teacher of the Year
November 13, 2019
Uncategorized
Cecilia Chung, otherwise known as CC, is Hawaiʻi’s 2020, State Department of Education, Teacher of the Year. In this episode, CC and I dive deep into her thoughts on Ted Dintersmith’s film, Most Likely to Succeed, her remarkable education journey, how she became an EdTech Jedi coach, her views on student data, student voice, teacher collaboration and celebration, intentional school design, and the meaning of her selection as our teacher of the year. Oh yes, and CC is now the president of our Hawaiʻi Society for Technology in Education. This episode was edited by your host, Josh Reppun using Alitu.
13. Doug Hiu IV, Living Breathing Education
November 11, 2019
Uncategorized
Douglas Hiu is a middle school social studies teacher at Kamehameha Schools Kapālama. He is also the boys and girls middle school wrestling coach. He has recently completed two years within the Ke Ala Ula Learning and Innovations cohort and has continued that work by innovating, testing, and diving into the design thinking process to create a collaborative, intellectually safe, student centered, and engaging learning environment for native Hawaiian learners. He also enjoys experimenting and iterating with the framework and theories of other great innovative educators and professionals. Doug was born and raised on the east side of O‘ahu and is an alumnus of Kahuku High School. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa in Sociology. He went on to receive his masters degree in secondary education (MEd) at the University of Phoenix. This episode was edited by students in the Hawk Media Program at Kealakehe Intermediate just outside Kona.
12. The Umi Project, Intentionally Born
November 4, 2019
Uncategorized
Kay Beach Sturm is one of the most intentional people I have ever met. I knew this from observing her practice years ago when she taught at The School for Examining Essential Questions of Sustainability (SEEQS). It’s still true today as she works to stand up and make fly The Umi Project, whose vision is to bring people and ideas together through intentionally designed education. Listen as Kay and I work through deeper learning, essential question-based learning, communities of practice and much, much more. This episode was edited by students in the Hawk Media Program at Kealakehe Intermediate just outside Kona.
11. Investing in Human Capital, with Robert Landau
October 29, 2019
Uncategorized
Robert Landau has served in almost every capacity imaginable, in schools and public, private and charter education at large. He describes himself as a futurist, but in truth, he is a wizard at “school renovations.” What is a “school renovation,” you ask? Listen to this episode to find out. More than anything, Robert loves his students of all ages, a fact evident when visiting him at Maui Preparatory Academy, where he is Head of School. As recently as 2017, he was the executive director of the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, an organization that preserves and strengthens private school education in Hawaii. Subsequently, he started his own education consulting business, Two Roads Education LLC. Editing by your host, Josh Reppun using Alitu. (Since this episode aired Robert has left Maui Prep to focus on development of Two Roads.)
10. Three Global Deeper Learning Superheroes
October 28, 2019
Uncategorized
PBLWorks and Kupu Hou Academy (a program out of Mid-Pacific Institute, a medium sized private school on Oahu in Hawaiʻi) are two of the best known project-based, inquiry-based, challenge-based, essential question-based, place-based, culture-based, multiple intelligences-based, teaching and learning PD programs in Hawaiʻi. Leading those programs are Mark Hines, Leigh Fitzgerald and Lisa Mireles. Combined, the deeper learning knowledge of these three individuals is simply staggering. This episode was edited by Hawk Media Program students at Kealakehe Middle School.
9. Susannah Johnson is Individualized and Realized
October 21, 2019
Uncategorized
If I were to line up all the people I know who understand individualized learning, Susannah Johnson stands at the front…by a lot. After a career in business she moved to the classroom; the lives of kids have been impacted ever since. She is the kind of teacher (meaning guide-on-the side, sponsor, coach, mentor) I would have thrived with when I was in school 40 years ago. After 12 years in business (fitness management positions and exercise instruction), and years in the classroom at Assets School in Honolulu, she recently formed her own consultancy, called Individualized Realized, LLC. Susannah now works with public, private and charter schools on several continents to help educators and education leaders realize student-driven learning. This episode was edited by middle school students in the Hawk Media Program at Kealakehe Intermediate outside Kona. Please give us a rating and review in your podcast app!
8. The Dreams of Alex Teece
October 13, 2019
Uncategorized
Alex Teece and his team worked for three years to turn DreamHouse Academy (located in West Oahu) from an idea into a reality. Listen as Alex and I explore how he and his partners designed and developed a public charter school focused on the fusion of identity, leadership, place, culture and student agency. The Hawaiʻi Public Charter School Commission rejected Alex’s first application. Undaunted, the DreamHouse team went back to the drawing board, revamped their academic and financial plans and built community support. Today, 100 students are six weeks into the first year of this innovative, imaginative, creative school. Your host, Josh Reppun edited this episode using Alitu.
7. Zack Morita, Jedi Music Man
October 7, 2019
Uncategorized
Zach Morita takes a very real world, very experiential and progressive approach to music education at Niu Valley Middle School on the east side of Oahu in Hawaiʻi. His students commission musical scores from local artists, compete in Olympic events, collaborate with local chamber music ensembles and much, much more. Listen as Zach and I explore the DNA of music appreciation and exploration, his approach to project-based learning and portfolio assessments, and why his philosophy of teaching and learning music, and life moved me emotionally. This episode was edited by middle school students in the Hawk Media Program at Kealakehe Intermediate outside Kona. Please give us a rating and review in your podcast app!
6. Luke Ritchie Knows School Transformation
October 3, 2019
Uncategorized
Luke Ritchie is the Head of School at the Annesley Junior School – tagline: Heritage, Values, Innovation – in Adelaide, Australia (population 1.4 million). Annesley was a school on the brink of collapse not long ago. In this On the Road episode Luke and I talk about how he and his staff, his faculty, his parents and his students transformed Annesley into one of the fastest growing schools in the region. Along the way, hear about the “Crunchy Café,” nature hikes with mathematicians and other wonders of student focused school culture. At some point a Myna Bird screams at us. We recorded this episode outside at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center! Editing by Josh Reppun using Alitu.
5. Evan Beachy Knows Assessments
September 30, 2019
Uncategorized
In this first On The Road episode of the What School Could Be in Hawaiʻi podcast, you will hear a wide ranging conversation about grades, transcripts, rubrics, assessments and topics related to knowing and measuring student learning. Dr. Evan Reppun Beachy is Senior Education Consultant and Director of the Kealaʻula Innovations Institute at Kamehameha Schools (KSBE) in Hawaiʻi. KSBE has three campuses on three islands and serves over 7000 students of Native Hawaiian ancestry. Evan has a BA from Harvard, a doctorate from UCLA and has taught at Crossroads and Newroads in CA. This episode was edited by Josh Reppun using Alitu.
4. Kui Gapero Knows What School Could Be
September 28, 2019
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Kui Gapero loves working with middle school students. It’s safe to say they are his passion. He finds their quirks difficult sometimes, but in the end, they reward and nuture him with their eagerness to learn. An innovative, creative, imaginative educator at the Kamehameha Schools, Maui Middle School, his work primarily focuses on teaching Hawaiian language and Hawaiian Studies. In truth, Kui sees not line between “school” and “community.” This episode was edited by middle school students at the Hawk Media Program at Kealakehe Middle School. To support this podcast, write us a review and give us a rating in your favorite podcast app or aggregator.
3. Katina Soares: Educator, Innovator, Leader
September 16, 2019
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As a kid, Molokai High Schoolʻs principal, Katina Soares attended Molokai’s Kaunakakai Elementary, Molokai Middle and Molokai High School. She has an associate’s degree from the University of Hawai’i, Maui College, a bachelor’s degree from Judson College, a master’s degree from Liberty University and a PhD in education leadership from Walden University. She is a School Retool Fellow and a member of the Hawaiʻi Innovative Leaders Network. She is also a skilled user of The Innovation Playlist. This episode was edited by middle school students at the Hawk Media Program at Kealakehe Middle School. To support this podcast, write us a review and give us a rating in your favorite podcast app or aggregator.
2. Melissa Speetjens, Public School Proud
September 9, 2019
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Listen to this episode and you will clearly see that Melissa Speetjens is public school proud. The Principal at Waimea Canyon Middle School on the island of Kauai (the westernmost middle school in the United States), Melissa and her faculty have implemented a dynamic program called “20% Time,” where 6th, 7th and 8th graders spend 20% of every school day working on complicated and complex global issues. Melissa is a mentor in the Hawaiʻi Innovative Leaders Network, a graduate of the Stanford School Retool program and a recipient of one of the 2018/2019 Hawaiʻi Department of Education’s innovation grants. This episode was edited by middle school students at the Hawk Media Program at Kealakehe Middle School.
1. Janice Blaber Inverts Maslow
September 2, 2019
Uncategorized
Janice Ochola Blaber, born of parents from Western Samoa and Ecuador, started dreaming about being a teacher in the 1st grade. Today, after managing restaurants and bartending in New York City and Honolulu, getting a graduate degree from University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, holding various public and private school substitute teaching and ELA positions – and much more – she is the Principal at Keaʻau Elementary School on Hawaiʻi Island. This episode was edited by middle school students at the Hawk Media Program at Kealakehe Middle School. To support this podcast, write us a review and give us a rating in your favorite podcast app or aggregator. (Since this episode aired Janice has become the principal at Kealakehe Middle School in Kona.)