Better Learning Podcast

Technology can be a powerful force, but not an easy force to harness in schools. But harness it we must, if we are to continue to evolve and provide opportunities for our students that they'll need in the 21st century. Bill Burr, Superintendent for the Wrangell Public Schools in Wrangell, Alaska, talks about keeping a school district relevant in today's tech-rich society.

Bill Burr has worked as a teacher, principal, tech, curriculum and assessment director, assistant superintendent and superintendent in Alaska for 26 years. He served on the Alaska Society for Technology in Education board from 2010 to 2014, serving as president three times and winning an award from ASTE/ISTE Making IT Happen. He currently serves on the CoSN Superintendent Advisory Member Board and University of Alaska Southeast Advisory Council.

 

Episode 111 of the Better Learning Podcast

 

Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.

 

 

Who made this episode possible?

Bill Burr

• Wrangell Public Schools

Kevin Stoller

• Connect on LinkedIn!
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Kay-Twelve

• Kay-Twelve Website
• LinkedIn Profile
• Twitter Profile

Better Learning Podcast

• Better Learning Podcast Website
• Follow on YouTube!

Association for Learning Environments (A4LE)

• The Association for Learning Environments Website
• LinkedIn Profile
• Twitter Profile

Education Leaders' Organization

• The Education Leaders' Organization Website
• LinkedIn Profile
• Twitter Profile

Second Class Foundation

• The Second Class Foundation Website

Sarah Hembree is the principal of Elizabeth Cobb Middle School, a progressive public middle school in Tallahassee, Florida. Under her leadership, Cobb meets the unique needs of adolescents through compassion, strong relationships, curiosity, and a lot of humor. With over 20 years of experience in secondary education, Sarah is passionate about seeing students through their journey of adolescence. During her tenure at Cobb, she is re-envisioning the idea of discipline, leading daily community-building activities, and supporting families through ongoing education and partnership. When students feel safe, seen, heard, and held in loving community, middle school turns out to be a much richer experience than the terrible cliché we’ve all come to know. With the right mix of support and engagement, Sarah knows we can tap into everyone’s superpowers and help them grow into their full potential. Unlocking others’ potential doesn’t end at the eighth grade. Sarah mentors experienced educators seeking to take on a leadership role or make their next career move. Aspiring leaders seek out Sarah’s guidance because they value her expertise in giving ongoing, actionable feedback and supportive coaching; building relationships through trust and purposeful interactions; curriculum design based on individual-student need; developing long and short-term strategic plans, and fostering an environment where every employee is valued.

 

Episode 109 of the Better Learning Podcast

 

Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.

 

Who made this episode possible?

Sarah Hembree

• Elizabeth Cobb Middle School
• Connect on LinkedIn!

Kevin Stoller

• Connect on LinkedIn!
• Follow on Twitter!

Kay-Twelve

• Kay-Twelve Website
• LinkedIn Profile
• Twitter Profile

Better Learning Podcast

• Better Learning Podcast Website
• Follow on YouTube!

Association for Learning Environments (A4LE)

• The Association for Learning Environments Website
• LinkedIn Profile
• Twitter Profile

Education Leaders' Organization

• The Education Leaders' Organization Website
• LinkedIn Profile
• Twitter Profile

Second Class Foundation

• The Second Class Foundation Website

Schools have a vast array of capabilities, including talented teachers, motivated students, specialized facilities and equipment, and a wealth of educational resources. To fully utilize everyone's intelligence and maximize their impact, educators can employ a variety of strategies and practices that are explored in this episode of the Better Learning podcast with Liz Wiseman!

Liz Wiseman is a researcher and executive advisor who teaches leadership to executives around the world.  She is the author of the New York Times bestseller Multipliers, The Multiplier Effect, and Wall Street Journal bestsellers Rookie Smarts and Impact Players. 

She is the CEO of the Wiseman Group, a leadership research and development firm headquartered in Silicon Valley, California.  Some of her recent clients include:  Apple, AT&T, Disney, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Nike, Salesforce, Tesla, and Twitter.  Liz has received the top achievement award for leadership from Thinkers50 and has been consistently named one of the world's top 50 management thinkers in its bi-annual ranking.  

She has conducted significant research in the field of leadership and talent development and writes for Harvard Business Review, Fortune, and a variety of other business and leadership journals.  She is a frequent guest lecturer at Brigham Young University and Stanford University and is a former executive at Oracle Corporation, where she worked as the Vice President of Oracle University and as the global leader for Human Resource Development.  Liz holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and a master’s degree in organizational behavior, each from Brigham Young University.

 

Episode 107 of the Better Learning Podcast

 

Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.

 

 

Who made this episode possible?

Liz Wiseman

• The Wiseman Group
• Connect on LinkedIn!
• Follow on Twitter!

Kevin Stoller

• Connect on LinkedIn!
• Follow on Twitter!

Kay-Twelve

• Kay-Twelve Website
• LinkedIn Profile
• Twitter Profile

Better Learning Podcast

• Better Learning Podcast Website
• Follow on YouTube!

Association for Learning Environments (A4LE)

• The Association for Learning Environments Website
• LinkedIn Profile
• Twitter Profile

Education Leaders' Organization

• The Education Leaders' Organization Website
• LinkedIn Profile
• Twitter Profile

Second Class Foundation

• The Second Class Foundation Website

Dr. Scott Muri has demonstrated a passion and ability for leading change, driving organizational effectiveness, and significantly improving student achievement while closing achievement gaps. With a focus on collaboration and excellence, Dr. Muri creates a positive and effective teaching and learning environment.

Dr. Muri joined the Ector County ISD family as Superintendent of Schools on July 1, 2019.  Prior to that, he spent four years as the Superintendent of Schools for Spring Branch Independent School District in Houston, TX.  During that time achievement gaps narrowed in all academic areas while overall student achievement rose. He fostered innovation in the system by incorporating the redesign process to transform the student learning experience.  

Prior to taking over at Spring Branch ISD, Dr. Muri served as the Deputy Superintendent of Academics in Fulton County Schools in Atlanta, Georgia, a large school district with 96,000 students and 100 campuses. 

Before joining FCS in Atlanta, Dr. Muri spent five years with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in Charlotte, North Carolina. His roles included Area Superintendent, Zone Superintendent, and Chief Information Officer overseeing research and evaluation, along with technology infrastructure and instructional technology innovation.

Dr. Muri’s educational experiences include serving as one of the first National Board Certified Teachers in the United States, high school principal, and administrator at Disney’s Celebration School in Celebration, FL.

 

Episode 106 of the Better Learning Podcast

 

Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.

 

 

Who made this episode possible?

Dr. Scott Muri

• Ector County ISD
• Dr. Scott Muri's Website
• Connect on LinkedIn!
• Follow on Twitter!

Kevin Stoller

• Connect on LinkedIn!
• Follow on Twitter!

Kay-Twelve

• Kay-Twelve Website
• LinkedIn Profile
• Twitter Profile

Better Learning Podcast

• Better Learning Podcast Website
• Follow on YouTube!

Association for Learning Environments (A4LE)

• The Association for Learning Environments Website
• LinkedIn Profile
• Twitter Profile

Education Leaders' Organization

• The Education Leaders' Organization Website
• LinkedIn Profile
• Twitter Profile

Second Class Foundation

• The Second Class Foundation Website

Dr. Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE is a prodigy in every sense of the word. Aged 11, she was the youngest girl ever to pass A-level computing, and was just 20 years old when she received her Master’s Degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Oxford.

Since then, she has forged an enviable CV, including positions at Goldman Sachs, Hewlett-Packard and Deutsche Bank. Then there are the Honorary Doctorates from Open University, Glasgow Caledonian University, Kent University, Bristol University & Coventry University and an Honorary Fellowship at Keble College, Oxford. She is also a Visiting Professor at the University of Sunderland and sits on the Council of Research England.

It is this wealth of experience and pioneering spirit that led her to co-found the Stemettes, an award-winning social initiative dedicated to inspiring and promoting the next generation of young women in the STEM sectors. Since its inception 10 years ago, it has exposed 60,000 young people across Europe to Anne-Marie’s vision for a more diverse and balanced science and tech community. In 2022 she released her new book She’s in CTRL a guidebook for women to take back tech.

In recognition of her influence and achievements, Anne-Marie was awarded an MBE in the 2017 New Year’s Honours for services to young women and STEM sectors. In June 2017, she became an Honorary Fellow at Keble College, Oxford and in 2020 was voted the most influential woman in tech in the UK by Computer Weekly.

 

Episode 105 of the Better Learning Podcast

 

Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.

 

 

Who made this episode possible?

Dr. Anne-Marie Imafidon

• Dr. Anne-Marie Imafidon
• STEMettes
• Connect on LinkedIn!
• Follow on Twitter!

Kevin Stoller

• Connect on LinkedIn!
• Follow on Twitter!

Kay-Twelve

• Kay-Twelve Website
• LinkedIn Profile
• Twitter Profile

Better Learning Podcast

• Better Learning Podcast Website
• Follow on YouTube!

Association for Learning Environments (A4LE)

• The Association for Learning Environments Website
• LinkedIn Profile
• Twitter Profile

Education Leaders' Organization

• The Education Leaders' Organization Website
• LinkedIn Profile
• Twitter Profile

Second Class Foundation

• The Second Class Foundation Website

Adam Bellow began his career in the classroom as a High School English teacher. He has worked as a technology training specialist, Director of Educational Technology, and is highly sought after as a speaker and thought leader on educational technology.  Adam is a serial EdTech entrepreneur and was the founder of the eduTecher, eduClipper, WeLearnedIt, and eduGames. Currently, Adam is the co-founder and CEO of Breakout EDU, the educational gaming platform that inspires learners to think outside the box by solving complex problems together. Prior to Breakout, Adam served as a Presidential Innovation Fellows for the Obama White House as well as having served as a board member of the EdCamp Foundation and an advisor to Alma, a modern SIS.   He is also the co-founder of two amazing kids.

 

Episode 104 of the Better Learning Podcast

 

Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.

 

 

Who made this episode possible?

Adam Bellow

• BreakoutEDU
• Connect on LinkedIn!
• Follow on Twitter!

Kevin Stoller

• Connect on LinkedIn!
• Follow on Twitter!

Kay-Twelve

• Kay-Twelve Website
• LinkedIn Profile
• Twitter Profile

Better Learning Podcast

• Better Learning Podcast Website
• Follow on YouTube!

Association for Learning Environments (A4LE)

• The Association for Learning Environments Website
• LinkedIn Profile
• Twitter Profile

 

Lisa Bodell is a futurist, best-selling author, and serial entrepreneur who has started three successful businesses in the strategy and innovation space. She is the founder and CEO of FutureThink, an innovation consulting firm that uses radically simple techniques to help companies challenge the status quo and proactively embrace change.

Her two award-winning books: Kill The Company, and Why Simple Wins, have been recognized for their immediate ability to ignite change within organizations, providing techniques that eliminate complexity and help teams get to the work that matters. As a global speaker, she brings her compelling message to over 100,000 people a year– showing them how to make space for change and think more creatively about the future.  Her work has transformed teams within organizations like Google, Pfizer, the U.S. Navy War College, Lockheed Martin, and more. 

Bodell has taught innovation and futuring at American University and Fordham University, and is an advisor on boards such as National Security Agency and the Global Advisory Council for the World Economic Forum.

 

Episode 103 of the Better Learning Podcast

 

Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.

 

Who made this episode possible?

Lisa Bodell

1. FUTURETHINK

2. Connect on LinkedIn!

3. Follow on Twitter!

Kevin Stoller

1. Connect on LinkedIn!

2. Follow on Twitter!

Kay-Twelve

1. Kay-Twelve Website

2. LinkedIn Profile

3. Twitter Profile

Better Learning Podcast

1. Better Learning Podcast Website

2. Follow on YouTube!

Association for Learning Environments (A4LE)

1. The Association for Learning Environments Website

2. LinkedIn Profile

3. Twitter Profile

Starr Sackstein is a recovering perfectionist who is an assessment reforming enthusiast.

Currently, she is the COO of Mastery Portfolio, an Edtech Startup committed to helping schools move to Standard-Based communication. Additionally, she works with teacher teams to engage students in the learning process, advocates for personal growth, and effectively use student data to drive instruction.

She was a high school English and journalism teacher for 16 years, a lead Humanities learner for 2 years, a publisher and developmental editor, and social media manager. Starr is an author, blogger, and speaker committed to changing the way we do assessments nationally and globally. You can learn more about her work on her website MsSackstein.com, and you can follow her on Twitter @MsSackstein. When Starr isn’t advocating for students and educators, she is a mom and partner looking for the next adventure.

 

Episode 102 of the Better Learning Podcast

 

Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.

David Reinhart is a design professional and an educational leader that is situated in the fourth fastest growing community in the United States - West Ada School District in Idaho. And as you may see in your own community, change is constantly happening whether that's through cultural, religious, economic, environmental, scientific and even technological forces.

But to be a part of one of the fastest-growing communities in the United States, it's hard to accommodate for all of the emotions and reactions that the community will have as tough decisions need to be made.

Having begun his career as a landscape architect, David specialized in community planning and neighborhood restoration. Later, David entered educational leadership and quickly found himself, once again, working with community groups to do K-12 facility master planning in school districts that were both growing and retracting.

Currently, concluding his doctoral studies at Gonzaga University, David is studying the role the community plays in facility master planning in a district that is made up of 58 schools and 40,000 students.

 

Season 8, Episode 1 of the Better Learning Podcast

 

Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.

Dr. Raechel French is passionate about helping schools design and use their spaces better and has been actively researching and working in the educational architecture industry for over a decade. In this time, Dr. French found that even the best planning processes often do not lead to the school envisioned. She toured project after project of award-winning work to see collaborative spaces empty, glass walls covered in paper, locked small group rooms, and lecture instruction in spaces meant for student-led, multi-modal work.  The movement towards providing these innovative learning spaces is far outpacing the delivery of professional development and organizational shifts that would allow them to achieve their potential. The gap between design intent and reality is commonplace.

To better understand this gap, she joined the Learning Environments Applied Research Network (LEaRN) at the University of Melbourne through a Fulbright Postgraduate Scholarship in 2017, working on the Innovative Learning Environments and Teacher Change (ILETC) project. She continued this work in the United States through her PhD research. 

Dr. French's research elevates the importance of school community development, particularly building positive and trusting relationships among teachers. These relationships are prerequisite to achieving the goals envisioned around innovative learning spaces since these often require more collaboration and sharing of both space and students. Her work also proposes a "Systems View of an ILE" in which intentional Physical and Organizational Supports serve as "nudges" to reduce the complexity of spatial shifts and enable shifts in practice.

 

Season 7, Episode 11 of the Better Learning Podcast

https://www.betterlearningpodcast.com/

 

Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.