In this episode of Learning Lab, Christina and Kaylah sit down with Chyrl Johnson, a cosmetology teacher at Macon YDC in Georgia Preparatory Academy, to explore parent engagement rooted in empathy, respect, and humanity.

Chyrl shares how treating students the way she would her own children shapes everything. Through monthly phone calls, letters home, and joyful family engagement events, she shows how consistent, caring outreach strengthens trust, increases student engagement, and sparks meaningful conversations between students and their families. Chyrl reframes parent outreach not as an obligation, but as a meaningful responsibility, grounded in the belief that families deserve to be part of their child’s story, even in secure settings.

This episode is a powerful reminder that when educators treat students as humans and families as partners, everyone benefits.

Christina and Kaylah sit down with Kimberly Molidor, an ELA teacher at the Academy for Academic Excellence Henry Wade campus, to explore multi-level teaching and the power of thematic units. Kimberly shares how flexible design, student choice, and shared themes create one cohesive classroom where students can work at different levels while moving toward common goals.

From starting small with short thematic units to identifying standards that span grade levels, this episode offers practical strategies—and encouragement—for educators navigating the complexity of multi-level classrooms.

In this episode of Learning Lab, Christina and Kaylah talk with educator Katharine Jones about the critical process of Cultivating Relationships with Secure Care. Katharine illustrates how when adults are intentionally aligned, the result is significantly calmer, more predictable classrooms for students. The conversation highlights practical alignment strategies, including establishing consistent routines, creating clear channels for daily information exchange, and explicitly sharing expectations with students so they always know what to anticipate. This practice reduces student frustration and builds trust. Katharine shares her powerful philosophy of treating every challenge as a creative opportunity, reminding us that successful partnership begins when we shift the mindset from "Don't tell me how I can't do it, tell me how I can." This episode champions a "village" mindset, emphasizing shared goals and offering concrete first steps for teachers seeking to build stronger, more unified relationships with their secure care staff.

In this episode of Learning Lab, Christina and Kaylah sit down with Ben Wiebesiek, a graphic design teacher at Lookout Academy in Colorado. Together, they explore how Ben's classroom turns student designs into real-world business assets, fostering professional skills and dignity.

Ben shares how he uses the critique process, working with authentic clients, to teach students the essential life skill of receiving and applying feedback. The conversation goes beyond design mechanics, diving into how Ben guides students to challenge misconceptions about artistic symbolism, particularly regarding colors and shapes often misidentified as gang signifiers.

Ben reminds us that by validating students’ creative choices and allowing them to explore deeper meaning, we foster resilience, professional communication, and the powerful self-expression necessary for students to feel their unique vision is seen and understood.

In this episode of Learning Lab, Christina and Kaylah sit down with Melissa Jeanty, assistant principal at Maya Angelou Academy at New Beginnings, Washington D.C.’s long-term youth facility.

Together, they explore how Melissa and her team have built a powerful culture of celebration and acknowledgment — one that helps students see themselves as capable, valued, and part of a caring community. From monthly award ceremonies and birthday shoutouts to everyday classroom wins, this conversation reveals how simple acts of recognition can transform school culture, sustain educators, and remind everyone why this work matters.

It's a conversation that highlights not only the transformative power of recognition on students but also how these moments of joy and acknowledgment refuel and sustain the adults doing this critical work. Melissa reminds us why showing up to celebrate every win is the cornerstone of effective JJ education.

In this episode, we sit down with Melissa Duncan, a passionate science teacher at Cammack Children's Center in West Virginia.

Melissa shares why she was drawn to Juvenile Justice education and why she believes JJ education is the best kept secret. We explore how she implemented the BreakFree initiative, Unseen. We discuss how engaging in hands-on work that is reviewed and celebrated by an authentic audience (including winning a national contest!) allows students to feel profoundly seen, challenging the negative narratives often placed upon them.

It’s a conversation about breaking misconceptions, building confidence, and activating the hidden potential of students.

In this episode, we sit down with Heidi Loening, a passionate art teacher at Travis Hill School in New Orleans. Heidi shares how she uses her classroom as a space to build a strong community and a sense of safety for her students.

We’ll also hear about Travis Hill’s annual Youth Justice Action Month (YJAM) showcase, where students share their work and stories with the wider community. Together, these practices highlight Heidi’s commitment to creating spaces where young people feel seen, heard, and valued—not just through self-expression, but through authentic opportunities to belong and be recognized.

Here's an example mood meter such as the one Heidi discusses

Travis Hill School YJAM Event Info

Book Link: Troublemakers: Lessons in Freedom from Young Children at School

In this episode, we sit down with Jessie Storrs, a teacher librarian at a youth detention facility. Jessie shares her "ask for forgiveness later" approach to innovation, including how she used board games in the library to build crucial social-emotional skills and foster student connection.

We discuss the importance of introducing students to new opportunities and how genuine teacher passion is the key to unlocking student engagement. Join us as Jessie reminds us what it takes to make a real difference in the classroom.

In this episode, we're honored to sit down with Amanda Johnson, a dedicated educator from Passages Academy in New York. Amanda shares how she creates a classroom that welcomes students in and empowers them to make it their own. We'll explore her "Real World Fridays" initiative, which turns classroom discussions into platforms for authentic, student-led conversations on big issues.

Join us as we learn from Amanda about leading with a focus on connection and creativity to create a learning environment where students feel seen, heard, and empowered.

What makes a technology program truly successful, especially in challenging, restricted spaces? In this episode of Tech Check, we're taking a '1000-foot view' to analyze the key elements that contribute to a program’s success. We'll break down the importance of devices, software, network infrastructure, and policies, but most importantly, the people who make it all happen. Join us to understand how these elements work together to create a cohesive and effective program.

Shownotes: Nothing this week.