Today we were joined by Dr. Melissa Herzig, who is the Co-founder and Assistant Director for the Gallaudet University PHD in Educational Neuroscience (pen) Program and Scientific Director of the Translation for the Science of Learning Lab (TL2) at VL2 and her interpreter, Kelsey Mitchell. The NSF Science of Learning Center at Gallaudet University on Visual Language and Visual Learning (VL2) works to advance knowledge on how human higher cognition is realized through vision. VL2 seeks to determine the effects of visual processes, visual language, and social experience on the development of cognition, language, reading and literacy for the benefit of society.

Learn more about their organization and the ways in which they work to develop new perspectives that enhance learning processes to advance education for all students.

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• 5 minutes with Gallaudet University/LV2

We were joined by one of our latest EALA partners, STEM4Real. We spoke with Leena Bakshi, Founder and Executive Director of STEM4Real. Their mission is to provide socially just and culturally relevant STEM teaching and standards-based learning strategies through collaboration, professional learning, culturally responsive instructional materials and diverse children’s literature. This stems from their belief that each and every single child, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, religion or creed should be able to see themselves in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and/or Mathematics. 

Learn more about their work to diversify the STEM fields and why it is so important for students to have proper representation in this episode. 

Mentioned People/Resources:

• STEM4Real’s website: https://stem4real.org/

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• 5 Minutes with STEM4Real Transcript

Today we were joined by Brooke Allen, founding director of Diverse Learners Cooperative. Diverse Learners Cooperative’s mission is to create purposeful networks of educators, providing them with high quality resources and collaborative learning experiences that increase best practices for diverse learners and teacher retention. In doing this, their vision that students of all abilities and backgrounds will have access to high quality, inclusive educational opportunities led by empowered and effective educators, a reality.

Learn more about their organization and the ways in which they support educators in this episode.

Mentioned People/Resources:

• Diverse Learner Cooperative’s website: https://diverselearnerscoop.com/

We are excited to speak with one of our latest EALA partners, Equity Institute. We spoke with Carlon Howard, Chief Impact Officer and Co-Founder of Equity Institute. Their mission is to  develop and implement innovative solutions for building more diverse, equitable, and inclusive learning and professional environments. This mission is a result of their vision of an antiracist education system that recognizes identity and human connection as central to the process of teaching and learning where all young people build the knowledge and skills they need to thrive in the world.

Learn more about their work to build up educators in order to best support students in this episode. 

Mentioned People/Resources:

• Equity Institute’s website: https://theequityinstitute.org/ 

In today’s episode, we were joined by Robyn Linscott, Public Policy Manager for The Arc. The Arc is a disability rights organization that works with and for people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), their families, and our communities to achieve change. They use the power of advocacy to improve the lives of people with IDD. The Arc promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.

Learn more about their organization on a state and federal level, as well as upcoming initiatives to support people with IDD.

Mentioned People/Resources:

• Upcoming Event: Disability Policy Seminar (March 28 - 30, 2022) - https://disabilitypolicyseminar.org/

In today’s episode, we spoke with Doug Killin, the head of school at Compass High School. Compass High School is a college preparatory program designed for students with Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, ADHD, 2E, and Anxiety. Their mission is to provide a supportive, individualized education for talented students with learning differences. Their innovative, multisensory teaching approach helps students learn at their own pace, while nurturing creativity. By utilizing evidence-based curriculum and techniques, they have helped their students develop learning strategies, social competence, and self-advocacy skills intended to provide the knowledge and confidence they need to succeed.

Learn more about their unique program and the ways in which they guide, strengthen and inspire their students in this episode. 

Mentioned People/Resources:

• Compass High School’s website: https://compasshigh.org/ 

Joining us on today's episode is a member organization of the EALA Ed Tech Council, Age of Learning. Sunil Gunderia, the Chief Innovation Officer and Head of Mastery & Adaptive Products at Age of Learning shares about their innovation strategy and the development, distribution, and implementation of the mastery and adaptive products for the company. Under Sunil’s leadership, Age of Learning has become recognized as one of the most innovative companies in education technology for its research-based, highly scalable learning products that are built to address inequities in learning.

• https://www.ageoflearning.com

We are excited to share a new EALA partner organization, The Social Institute. Their mission is to empower students with all things social media and technology. As social media becomes increasingly prominent in today’s world, it is important that students are educated on how to utilize these platforms for good. Tune in to hear about the impact The Social Institute has through their programs and curriculum.

Mentioned Resources:

• The Social Institute’s website: https://thesocialinstitute.com

In today’s episode, we spoke with Dr. Erica McCray, the Co-Director of The CEEDAR Center. ​​CEEDAR stands for “Collaboration for Effective Educator Development, Accountability, and Reform.” The CEEDAR Center at The University of Florida is a national technical assistance center dedicated to supporting states in their efforts to develop teachers and leaders who can successfully prepare students with disabilities to achieve college and career ready standards. Through extensive research and policy reform, CEEDAR ensures that students with disabilities are served through multi-tiered systems of support by highly qualified educators and leaders. Learn more about the resources and tools they have to support teacher and leader development, as well as some of their upcoming events in this week’s episode. 

• CEEDAR Center's website: https://ceedar.education.ufl.edu/

• Overview of the national issues that impact principalship (Jan. 26) - http://bit.ly/3njNOM7

After NCLD led the first all partner convening for the Educating All Learners Alliance in May 2021, focused on intersectional identities for students with disabilities, they thought it was important to bring partners together with both expertise and passion on this topic to create a resource for educators to use in their daily work. What was developed is something we all might have loved to have in our classrooms to remind students to celebrate their own and one another’s unique identities. Tune in to this week's episode where NCLD, Trajectory of Hope, and the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence join us to share about this incredible resource.

Mentioned Resources:

• Unique Identities facilitation guide and posters: https://educatingalllearners.org/our-unique-identities-facilitation-guide-posters/