Dr. Donyall Dickey will inspire you to help your students “climb the ladder of cognitive demand.” With 17 years as an educational leader, Dr. Dickey focuses his work on curriculum, instruction, organizational development, and school administration. In this episode, he and hosts Danielle and Angelia plunge into conversations about student achievement, instructional leadership, opportunity gaps, and far more. 

Find additional resources related to today’s episode, including a guide for individual or group discussion, at this link or by visiting the Arizona K12 Center’s website at azk12.org.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) can negatively impact a young person’s brain development, cognitive abilities, behavior, and social and emotional wellbeing; and more than half of students may have had at least one ACE. In this episode, you will learn more about ACEs and how they impact students and teachers. We will explore ways to help build more resilient students and teachers through relationships, intentionality, and thoughtfulness. We are so excited to share the work of Ricky Robertson, Victoria Romero, and Amber Warner with all of our listeners this week as we work to be our best professional selves and build system-wide processes to support both students and educators.

Learn more about the resources and topics mentioned in this episode by visiting this link or azk12.org.

Teachers are talking about what Arizona’s new dyslexia law means for them. In this episode, Sean Ross, Arizona Department of Education’s Director of English Language Arts and Humanities, explains how the passing and signing of SB 1318 affects how schools and teachers approach dyslexia screenings and what resources are available. He also shares about his other literacy work and how he can support Arizona’s teacher.

Learn more about the resources and topics mentioned in this episode by visiting this link or azk12.org.

With the signing of SB 1014 earlier this year, this school year brings some major changes for English learners in Arizona schools. Kate Wright is the Deputy Superintendent of the Office of English Language Acquisition Services in the Arizona Department of Education and will share in this episode how this new policy opens up the possibilities for Arizona’s EL students and advice for teachers implementing these changes.

Learn more about the resources and topics mentioned in this episode by visiting this link or azk12.org.

How is Arizona approaching the teacher shortage? Hear from Northern Arizona University President Dr. Rita Cheng about Governor Doug Ducey’s Arizona Teachers Academy and how NAU is implementing the program and supporting tomorrow’s teachers. You’ll also learn more about why education is so important to Dr. Cheng, how she spends her time away from work, and what books she’s currently reading.

Learn more about the resources and topics mentioned in this episode by clicking here or by visiting azk12.org.

Today we explore instructional leadership with Dr. Peter DeWitt. DeWitt focuses heavily on the idea of servant leadership and his belief that the best coaching is not based on having all of the answers. He believes the most effective instructional leaders are open and honest with those they support. DeWitt also highlights the overwhelming importance of credibility and its relational impact on an instructional ability to move practice forward. We close the episode discussing his early work around supporting LGBT students in schools and his current use of meditation as a means to a happy and healthier life.

Learn more about Dr. DeWitt by clicking here or visiting azk12.org/homeroom

We are so excited to share one of our first mobile podcasts with our listeners this week! We invite you to come with us and meet Dr. Olivia Amador at the Annual Visible Learning Conference this past summer. This week, we will learn more about the practicality of the Teacher Clarity Playbook and how it can enhance the structures that exist in your space. Find upcoming teacher clarity events here.

For more resources related to this episode, visit this link or azk12.org. 

After several years as an elementary classroom teacher, Connie Hamilton wanted to expand her influence on how children learn in schools. In this episode, you’ll hear about her journey from a young child “playing school” with her stuffed animals to an author and presenter helping other teachers to be their best in the classroom and what she’s learned about equity, relationships, and teaching along the way.

Connie will also share about why she thinks John Hattie’s Visible Learning is such a powerful concept and what participants will experience at the upcoming event Visible Learning in Mathematics: Foundations and Beyond. Learn more and register here.

Find out more about Connie Hamilton and the Arizona K12 Center here.

This week we have a chance to learn more about Geoff Esposito. We discuss his advocacy work in the area of education, his early interest in politics, and why bow ties have become his staple. Listen in to learn ways that you can connect with policymakers in your area. We hope that Esposito’s podcast will serve as a resource as you think about getting involved in things that you care about and also as a point of reflection as your professional journey evolves. What do you want your career in education to look like over the next five years?

Dr. Jenny Pieratt joins us to chat about Project Based Learning (PBL). Angelia and Danielle bring up the importance of involving families in the work and Dr. Pieratt offers some helpful strategies and hints. Dr. Pieratt also shares her experiences and belief in the learning structure expressing the power she has seen when PBL becomes a school and systemwide structure leading to changes in the disposition of learners. Students involved in ongoing successful PBL experiences often have the outlook that challenges and creative problem solving are part of the learning process. 

We look forward to hosting with Dr. Jenny Pieratt on September 26 and March 26. The two-day learning series is, “not your typical professional development experience”. You will leave with a project in your hands that can be implemented right away. To learn more information and to register to attend, please visit: http://azk12.org/event/31145/details