Learning Can't Wait

In this episode of the Learning Can't Wait podcast, host Hayley Spira-Bauer returns to the Rural Education mini-series with guests Mike Barrera, Superintendent of Premont ISD, and Conrad Cantu, Superintendent of Freer ISD. Both guests bring valuable perspectives from their roles in the Rural School Innovation Zone (RSIZ), sharing their expertise on the unique challenges faced by rural schools.

The episode delves into Mike and Conrad’s backgrounds in education, highlighting their districts' contributions to RSIZ. Conrad discusses the inception of the medical academy, while Mike elaborates on offering cybersecurity and drone certification courses, among other initiatives. They also discuss future challenges, emphasizing the importance of integrating industry into their communities and expanding their programs beyond graduation.

A major hurdle for rural schools, as agreed by both superintendents, is the attraction and retention of quality educators. They suggest that fostering a strong community and providing compensation incentives at both local and state levels are critical solutions. Emphasizing the significant impact educators have on students, Mike and Conrad encourage new rural teachers to embrace the serene rural lifestyle and build a meaningful community around them.

Tune in every Tuesday at fullmindlearning.com/podcast. Next week, we continue our Rural Education mini-series with Heather Bookstaver, Ann Lewish, and Taylor Gump sharing their passion for teaching in rural America.

In today’s Rural Education Miniseries episode, we take a look at one of the largest obstacles rural schools are currently facing: resources for students. With first-hand experiences as members of leadership in rural Texas schools, our guests, Richard Wright, Superintendent of Agua Dolce ISD, and Michael Gonzalez, Executive Director of the Rural School Innovation Zone, share how the inception and implementation of the Rural School Innovation Zone has changed the trajectory of many students’ lives. Our guests also speak on how technology has advanced their ability to create opportunity for their students and they share their hopes for expansion via legislation. Michael and Richard share their advice for new educators in rural areas as they round out the episode.

Join us every Tuesday for a new episode of Learning Can’t Wait- fullmindlearning.com/podcast

Learn more about the Rural School Innovation Zone and it’s impact in the Texas Legislature.

On this special episode of the Learning Can’t Wait podcast, we take a brief detour from our Rural Education Miniseries to sit down with Arne Duncan, former Secretary of Education, current Managing Partner of Emerson Collective, and Found of Chicago CRED.

Arne brings a wealth of experience from his time at Chicago Public Schools and the Obama Administration, offering unique perspectives on what officials at local, state, and federal levels are missing in our education system. With a passion for creating stable, safe communities for children, Arne discusses fighting chronic student absenteeism with “relentless outreach,” the intentional use of technology in the classroom, and addressing the nationwide teacher shortage with an educator-centered approach.

Known for successfully bridging political divides, Arne encourages us to see education as a nation-building goal. He also shares his best advice for new educators and extends a heartfelt thank you to those leading the future of our democracy in the classroom.

For further reading, check out Arne’s book:
“How Schools Work: An Inside Account of Failure and Success from One of the Nation's Longest-Serving Secretaries of Education.”

Welcome to Episode One of our Rural Education mini-series on the Learning Can’t Wait podcast!  This week, Hayley Spira-Bauer hosts a panel of three incredible education leaders to help us dispel myths about rural America:

Melissa Harris - Senior Fellow at Transcend

Allen Pratt - Executive Director of the National Rural Education Association

Taylor McCabe-Juhnke - Executive Director at Rural Schools Collaborative

Tune in as our guests illuminate the many positive aspects of rural education, exploring how the "scrappiness" of rural schools inherently fosters a culture of innovation. The group also delves into the opportunities of AI and other technologies, while describing why collaboration between rural schools and communities is essential.

Show notes from this conversation include:

Changing the One-Size-Fits-All Education Model from the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction

Rural Cultural Wealth: Dismantling Deficit Ideologies of Rurality  from the Journal for Multicultural Education

This week on the Learning Can’t Wait podcast host Hayley Spira-Bauer sits down with Jessica Sie, Chief Academic Officer at Zeta Charter School.

In this inspiring episode, Jessica describes her passion for breaking down systemic and structural barriers to education.  We learn how Jessica defines innovative work and why she believes some of the most exciting ideas to transform education might be coming from different sectors entirely.  Finally, Jessica shares her philosophy around teacher professional development and why she always grounds her work in its core mission, vision, and values.

Book recommendations for this week’s episode include:

Mindset by Carol Dweck

Culture Code by Daniel Coyle

Power of Moments by Chip & Daniel Heath

Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain by Zaretta Hammonds

This week on the Learning Can’t Wait Podcast, Hayley Spira-Bauer hosts a thought-provoking conversation with Juliana Finnegan, VP of Educator Experience at Vivi.  

Tune in as Juliana shares her thoughts about the role of technology in the classroom and how it can support effective instruction without replacing essential human connection.  Hayley and Juliana also discuss Learning Language Models and the vital difference between passive and active engagement.  Finally, we learn about why Juliana believes we need to make technology “future proof” if we’re going to use it in schools.

Resources from this conversation include:

NETP

Jessica Grose's three writing pieces

Research-Based, Online Learning for Teachers

Vivi for Teachers

This week on the Learning Can’t Wait podcast, host Hayley Spira-Bauer sits down with Brandon Cardet-Hernandez, Chief Strategy Officer at Mrs. Wordsmith.  

In this delightful conversation, Brandon describes how both rigor and play are central to his work helping kids to read and tackling the ‘30 million word gap’.  Brandon also shares lessons from his early career and what it’s like to work on education at a political level.  Lastly, Brandon emphasizes that “not all screen time is created equal” and shares tips for how adults can be more involved in children’s use of technology.

Welcome back to Season 5 of the Learning Can’t Wait podcast! Today, Hayley Spira-Bauer hosts a conversation with Doug McCurry, Former Co-CEO and Superintendent of Achievement First, now working as a consultant.

Doug shares insights on the resilience learned from his father and son, the impact of smartphones on school and mental health, and  why summer is a great time for both students and teacher development.  Doug also discusses his ideas around curriculum and standards, and shares how school leaders can support their teams through celebration and recognition.

Welcome back to the Learning Can't Wait Podcast! This week, we're excited to present a panel discussion on innovation in education featuring Brett Roer, Jacob Kantor, and Candice Sears.

Tune in as host Hayley Spira-Bauer talks to our respected guests about what makes them hopeful about education today. They'll explore how we can make technology work with, not against, traditional teaching methods. The discussion also covers strategies for encouraging schools to adopt new approaches and why it's important to prioritize student input in innovation decisions.

Join us today for a special solar eclipse episode of the Learning Can't Wait Podcast! Host Hayley Spira-Bauer dives into the universe of STEM with John Dedeaux Davis Jr., an Education Specialist at NASA's Office of STEM Engagement, and Talia Milgrom-Elcott, the Founder and Executive Director of Beyond100K.

In this captivating discussion, they explore how NASA shares scientific concepts with the public why the solar eclipse is an amazing opportunity to tap into the sense of mystery and wonder all around us. John shares a fascinating project involving tree seeds that traveled to the moon and back, while Talia emphasizes that just as reaching the moon is achievable, so is overcoming the shortage of STEM educators.

Helpful Links:

NASA Universe of Learning Eclipse Resources
Total Solar Eclipse Safety
Find Your Place in Space Week – April 6-13, 2024
Eclipse cloud map

Also mentioned:

PROOF POINTS: How Covid narrowed the STEM pipeline

Join us every Tuesday at fullmindlearning.com/podcast. Next week, we explore the Forefront of Innovation with Brett Roer, Jacob Kantor, and Candice Sears.