Education On Fire - Sharing creative and inspiring learning in our schools

Elanie Ademokun, Programmes Director at Jigsaw Education Group, joins Mark Taylor to unpack one of the most pressing issues facing schools right now: the rise of the "manosphere" and its impact on misogyny, safeguarding, and school culture.

Drawing on over 20 years in education — including 11 years teaching English and PSHE in secondary schools, teacher training with Teach First, and safeguarding work with Frontline — Elanie shares what she's hearing directly from schools: shifting attitudes among boys towards female teachers, misogynistic language creeping into corridors, and growing concern from primary schools too, not just secondary.

Mark and Elanie explore why this is happening so fast, how algorithms and online "lifestyle coach" influencers exploit adolescent needs for belonging and self-esteem, and why a whole-school, framework-led approach — rather than a reactive one — is essential. They discuss the balance between universal preventative education and targeted, safeguarding-led intervention, why shame and punishment backfire, and how every child needs at least one trusted adult in their corner.

This is a thoughtful, practical conversation for teachers, school leaders, and parents navigating a fast-moving cultural issue with real consequences for children's wellbeing.

Takeaways:

• Elanie Ademokun emphasizes the significance of a whole school approach in addressing sensitive topics within the curriculum, particularly in the realms of personal, social, health education, and religious education.
• The pervasive influence of social media has dramatically shaped the behaviour and perceptions of students, necessitating a proactive response from educators to mitigate its adverse effects.
• It is vital to create a supportive environment where students feel comfortable discussing their experiences and questions regarding complex societal issues like misogyny and digital misinformation.
• Educators are encouraged to focus on building resilience and critical thinking skills in students, ensuring they are prepared to navigate the challenges posed by contemporary online influences.
• The importance of fostering strong relationships and communication between teachers and students is highlighted as essential for addressing the nuances of modern educational challenges.
• Awareness and proactive discussions around sensitive issues must begin early in a child's education to establish a foundation for healthy relationships and self-esteem.

Chapters:

• 00:02 - Introducing Elanie Adamokun
• 01:12 - Understanding the Manosphere's Impact on School Culture
• 19:03 - The Importance of Early Awareness and Mentoring in Youth Development
• 23:20 - Navigating Conversations with Children about Social Media
• 33:46 - Building Resilience and Empowerment in Education

https://jigsaweducationgroup.com/

www.facebook.com/jigsaweducationgroup

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Lisa Pinkerton is Head of Education at Widget, a symbols-based communication software company, and a former deputy headteacher, inclusion lead, and NPQ SENCO course facilitator with 26 years in primary education.

Lisa makes the case for SENCOs sitting on the senior leadership team, not as a bolt-on role but as a strategic voice shaping decisions from the outset. With over 1.7 million pupils in England currently identified as having SEND, she argues inclusion has shifted from a specialist issue to a leadership one, and explains why designing environments for the child who needs the most support tends to benefit every child in the room.

We talk through the shift from a medical to a social model of disability, the "curb-cut effect" as a way of thinking about universal design in classrooms, why visual scaffolds like Widget's symbols work best when they're everyday practice rather than reserved for a few pupils, and why real inclusion means being willing to let a sparkly pink pencil sit next to standard ones. Lisa also shares a powerful story of a pupil whose severe dyslexia had been masked as behavioural difficulty, and how embedding visual support into ordinary classroom life changed his trajectory.

Takeaways:

• Inclusion must be embedded within the decision-making processes of educational institutions, not treated as an afterthought.
• The integration of symbols and visual aids can significantly enhance communication and comprehension for all students.
• Effective educational leadership requires the inclusion lead to have a strategic role within the senior leadership team.
• The approach to education should prioritize the individual learning journey of each student, fostering their unique strengths and needs.

Chapters:

• 00:03 - Introduction to Lisa Pinkerton and Widget
• 04:17 - The Importance of Inclusion in Education
• 20:40 - The Need for Flexibility in Educational Practices
• 36:23 - The Curb Cut Effect in Education
• 39:51 - Creating Accessible Classrooms: The Importance of Inclusion

https://www.widgit.com/

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Show Sponsors –

National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)

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From idea to live show – hands-on sessions to help you launch, grow, and streamline your brand.

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Danielle Vandehei is a world-schooling sailor mum who, with her husband and son, spent the last four years building a life around sailing, exploration and learning through experience.

Danielle shares how a breaking point on land — a demanding job, a young child, and a longing for more intentional time together — pushed the family to sell their home, their farm animals, and nearly everything they owned to learn to sail from scratch. She's honest about the messy, non-linear reality behind that decision: budget overruns, a house that took a year to sell, a stint in a minivan through Mexico, and plenty of "we're not in alignment yet, that's okay" moments along the way.

How does education actually works aboard their boat — starting not with a curriculum, but with deschooling themselves as parents first. Danielle explains how her son learns numbers through fishing, reading through his fish identification book, and social confidence through navigating world-school hubs full of kids of every age and language.

Danielle has created Water World Micro Expeditions, the family's new venture inviting other families aboard to experience sailing, marine life, and reconnection with nature in San Blas, Panama — plus where their vision is headed next.

• Deschool the parent first. Before a child can learn differently, the adult often has to unlearn their own assumptions about what "proper" education looks like.
• Follow the interest, not the age bracket. Danielle's son learns to read through a fish identification book and does mental math through abacus — because those are his interests, not a set curriculum.
• Learning is 0 to 99, not 5 to 18. There's no finish line — removing the pressure of a deadline changes how both kids and adults relate to learning.
• Nothing about this life was linear. Selling a 40-acre property took eight months; the house took a year to sell; they went from camper to minivan to boat and back again. Alignment came in its own time.
• Resilience is the standout FIRE value here — the willingness to stay in motion through setbacks (a blown transmission, a slow house sale) rather than let fear shut the plan down.
• Social confidence grows through real exposure, not curriculum: Danielle's son now approaches kids and adults of any age or language unprompted, something she attributes directly to years of varied, real-world interaction.
• Community over content. Water World Micro Expeditions isn't about replicating school on a boat — it's about giving families a lived experience of sailing, marine life, and reconnecting with themselves and each other.

Chapters:

• 00:02 - Introduction to World Schooling
• 04:15 - Transition to a New Way of Living
• 09:51 - Transitioning to a New Lifestyle
• 16:38 - Deschooling and Adapting to New Learning Environments
• 27:47 - Nurturing Well-Being in Education
• 34:22 - Connecting with Nature and Learning through Experience
• 37:50 - Building a Vision for Water World

https://waterworldmicroexpeditions.com/

Facebook Danielle Marie Vandehei

IG- Legacy_throughmotherhood

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Show Sponsors –

National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)

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From idea to live show – hands-on sessions to help you launch, grow, and streamline your brand.

https://creativeamplifiers.live/

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Zafra Lerman is a scientist, educator and humanitarian. She received a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel and conducted research on Isotope Effects at Cornell and Northwestern Universities in the U.S. and the ETH, Zurich, Switzerland. She developed an innovative approach of teaching science through art, music, drama, dance, and rap which was successful with underprivileged students around the globe.

She worked on human rights cases in the former Soviet Union, Russia, China, Guatemala, Cuba, Peru, and South Africa and was successful in preventing executions, releasing prisoners from jail and bringing dissidents to freedom. She is the President of the Malta Conferences Foundation, which uses science diplomacy as a bridge to peace in the Middle East by bringing scientists from all countries in the Middle East together with Nobel Laureates.

This five-day conference puts scientists under the same roof to develop collaborations and friendships that overcome the chasms of distrust and intolerance. She received over forty international awards, including the Presidential Award for Mentoring from President Clinton (1999), AAAS Award for Science Diplomacy (2015), American Physical Society Andrei Sakharov Prize for Human Rights (2016), Peace and Justice prize from the UN NOVUS summit (2016), Distinguished Women in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering Award from the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (2017), and she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by a member of the US Congress and a member of the French Parliament (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2025).

Her book “Human Rights and Peace: A Personal Odyssey” was published in August 2024. On March 6, 2025 she received in New York the International Advocate for Peace Award from the Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution. Previous awardees include Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and Paul McCartney.

Chapters:

• 00:19 - Innovative Approaches to Teaching Science
• 01:05 - The Journey into Education and Science
• 20:49 - Innovative Teaching Methods in Chemistry
• 36:46 - Human Rights and Science Education
• 44:33 - Focusing on the Middle East: A New Direction

https://zafralerman.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/zafralerman

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Show Sponsors –

National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)

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From idea to live show – hands-on sessions to help you launch, grow, and streamline your brand.

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Mark Taylor talks with Patrick van der Burght — business partner of Dr. Robert Cialdini and founder member of the Cialdini Institute — about the science of ethical persuasion and what it means for teachers, parents, and school leaders.

Patrick explains why 90-95% of our decisions are made by the brain's fast, automatic "System 1" rather than deliberate reasoning, why human attention spans have now dropped below that of a goldfish, and how Cialdini's seven universal principles of persuasion (reciprocity, liking, unity, social proof, authority, consistency, and scarcity) can help educators build trust, motivate students, and lead more effectively — without ever resorting to manipulation.

Along the way: a study that took student success rates from 14% to 86%, why asking for "advice" beats asking for "feedback," and why public commitment is a far stronger motivator than private commitment.

Guest: Patrick van der Burght, co-author of How to Hear Yes More Often (2024) and host of Ethical Persuasion Unlocked.

Chapters:

• 00:03 - Introduction to Patrick Van der Burght
• 05:08 - The Science of Decision Making
• 11:24 - Understanding Decision-Making: System One vs System Two
• 16:40 - The Impact of Attention Span on Decision Making
• 26:52 - The Importance of Early Persuasion Skills
• 31:19 - The Power of Compliments and Relationships
• 41:14 - Principles of Influence and Authority
• 48:59 - The Impact of Appearance on Perception
• 56:12 - The Importance of Feedback, Inspiration, Resilience, and Empowerment

https://ethicalpersuasion.com.au/

https://ethicalpersuasion.com.au/free-influence-persuasion/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ethicalpersuasion

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-van-der-burght/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ethicalpersuasion/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethical_persuasion/

Twitter: https://x.com/yesmoreoften

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ethicalpersuasion

Book: https://yesmoreoften.com/

Profile: https://patrickvanderburght.com

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Show Sponsors –

National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)

Their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/nape

From idea to live show – hands-on sessions to help you launch, grow, and streamline your brand.

https://creativeamplifiers.live/

https://creativeamplifiers.substack.com/

Dr. Sophia Nicole Morgan is an educator, author, and entrepreneur whose work focuses on career literacy, academic advising, and helping students make intentional decisions about their futures. Her career spans Jamaica, the United States, and China.

She is the founder of Explore Career Academy, a platform dedicated to helping schools integrate career exploration and college planning into everyday learning.

Dr. Morgan is the author of several career development resources, including The High Schooler's Guide to College and Career Planning and Reflections: A College and Career Journal for Middle Schoolers. Her work equips students with the tools to reflect on their strengths, explore career possibilities, and plan meaningful academic pathways.

Originally from Williamsfield, Westmoreland, Jamaica, Dr. Morgan is passionate about helping schools ensure that every student graduates with clarity, purpose, and direction.

Takeaways:

• Dr. Sophia Morgan emphasizes the importance of career literacy in education, equipping students for their future.
• Explore Career Academy aims to provide tailored resources to ensure every student has a post-secondary plan.
• The podcast discusses the need for continuous career support for students beyond one-off career days.
• Dr. Morgan shares her journey from Jamaica to China, highlighting cultural differences and commonalities.
• The importance of involving parents, teachers, and administrators in supporting students' career paths is underscored.
• Career literacy should start early, integrating career awareness into learning from kindergarten through grade 12.

Chapters:

• 00:02 - Introducing Dr. Sophia Morgan
• 00:31 - Navigating Cultural Transitions and Career Guidance
• 20:25 - The Importance of Career Literacy in Early Education
• 22:19 - Exploring Career Awareness in Education
• 31:39 - Exploring Career Literacy and Global Opportunities

https://www.explorecareeracademy.com/

www.linkedin.com/in/dr-sophia-morgan-1a784671

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Show Sponsors –

National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)

Their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/nape

From idea to live show - hands-on sessions to help you launch, grow, and streamline your brand.

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Adam Adler is a Charleston-based founder and investor focused on building technology that creates healthier, more sustainable systems — for families, communities, and the next generation.

The idea for Wyzly didn't come from a pitch deck or a boardroom. It came from Adam's daughter, Isla. At seven years old, Isla proposed a simple idea that every parent instantly understands: what if kids could earn screen time by learning first?

That moment sparked the creation of Wyzly — a learn-to-earn screen time platform designed to eliminate daily screen battles without punishment or restriction.

Drawing on more than 20 years of experience in private equity, data-driven businesses, and systems design, Adam built Wyzly from the ground up. The platform uses AI to generate curriculum-aligned learning challenges tailored to each child's age, grade, and school district.

• It's the only app with this level of iOS integration. Two years working with Apple let Wyzly act as a true gatekeeper for all apps — unlocking them only after kids answer curriculum-aligned questions.
• The AI adapts to each child. Questions adjust in difficulty based on performance and are tailored to age, grade, and school district.
• It interrupts "doom scrolling," not just screen time. Built-in breaks prompt learning moments during long stretches of passive use — his daughter's idea.
• Built with real experts, not guesswork. The team includes 14 in-house staff, teachers, a school principal, and a licensed child mental health counselor.
• His daughter helped design it firsthand. She tested features, flagged confusing questions, and shaped the UX from a kid's point of view.
• Currently U.S./iOS only, K–6. Android and more grades/countries are planned for next year.

Chapters:

• 00:13 - The Inspiration Behind Wyzly
• 02:50 - The Birth of Wisely: A New Approach to Screen Time
• 09:27 - Introducing the App and Its Unique Approach to Screen Time Management
• 17:33 - The Importance of Sports in Education and Life
• 22:26 - Navigating Technology and Parenting
• 29:11 - Empowering Children: A New Approach to Parenting

https://www.wyzly.app

https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamadler-charleston

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Dyslexia, which affects an estimated 15 to 20% of learners, often leads to the frustrating advice of waiting and seeing from educational professionals. Russell Van Brocklen, a dyslexia researcher and advocate, challenges this complacency by presenting actionable solutions for parents and educators. His innovative approach, grounded in structured literacy methods, aims to transform the educational experience for dyslexic students, evidenced by his program that has successfully elevated students from middle school writing levels to college readiness in a remarkably short time. Multi-sensory routines surpass conventional worksheets, enabling observable progress before the next report card arrives.

Takeaways:

• Dyslexia affects a significant portion of learners, often leading to delayed intervention and support.
• Russell Van Brocklen utilizes structured literacy methods to effectively assist dyslexic students.
• His innovative program has demonstrated remarkable improvements in writing skills for dyslexic teens in a short time.
• Understanding the neurological differences in dyslexia is crucial for effective teaching and learning strategies.
• A focus on multisensory routines can yield better results than traditional methods like worksheets.
• Engaging students in topics they are passionate about greatly enhances their learning outcomes.

Chapters:

• 00:07 - Introduction to Dyslexia and Its Challenges
• 07:57 - The Journey of Overcoming Dyslexia
• 23:31 - The Case of Casey: A Unique Learning Journey
• 28:01 - Understanding Dyslexia and Effective Learning Strategies
• 45:53 - Navigating the Future: Education and AI

https://dyslexiaclasses.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-van-brocklen-2007ab87/

https://www.instagram.com/dyslexiaclassesus/

https://www.facebook.com/dyslexiaclasses/

https://twitter.com/dyslexiaclasses

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_cqwfxn9FqFx1Idl0YbeHg

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Show Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)

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Kevin Cripe was a teacher in Modesto City Schools for 27 years and during that time created an award winning after school chess program for students who came from socio-economically challenged backgrounds. He took students to 200+ tournaments and 14 national chess championships and watched as students used chess to become first generation college graduates. After retiring he moved to Central America, continued to teach chess and wrote a "Child Moral Development Trilogy" .

Takeaways:

• Kevin Cripe dedicated 27 years to teaching and created an award-winning chess program for underprivileged students, demonstrating a profound commitment to educational equity.
• Through chess, Kevin facilitated the participation of his students in over 200 tournaments, resulting in numerous students becoming first-generation college graduates.
• After retiring, Kevin continued his passion for teaching chess in Central America and authored a trilogy focused on moral development for children.
• Kevin emphasizes the importance of celebrating every student's progress, not just those who achieve the highest scores, fostering a culture of encouragement and resilience.
• Kevin's approach to education revolves around providing emotional support and understanding that effort is as important as the results, helping students to feel valued beyond academic performance.
• We highlight the transformative power of exposure and opportunities, illustrating how students can aspire to greater futures when given the right support and encouragement.

Chapters:

• 00:03 - Kevin Cripe: Transforming Lives Through Chess
• 01:30 - The Journey Begins: Inspiring Change Through Education
• 21:04 - The Impact of Parental Support on Student Success
• 29:20 - The Journey of Learning and Growth
• 36:23 - The Impact of Caring in Education

https://kevincripemotivationalspeaker.com/

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https://www.educationonfire.com

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Show Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)

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Jacob Adams is an education leader committed to transforming schools into places of joy, belonging, and critical thinking for Black and Brown youth. He coined the term “disconnection crisis” to describe how traditional education separates young people from their purpose, community, and creativity. In 2017, he founded STEM to the Future, now Inner Spark Learning Lab, which has reached over 40,000 young people and generated insights shaping the broader education field.

Jacob began his career as a Teach For America corps member, teaching 1st and 2nd grade before serving as an instructional coach for three years. He holds a B.A. from Birmingham-Southern College and a master’s from Relay Graduate School of Education. He is also an alum of fellowships including the Simons Foundation’s inaugural Science Sandbox Fellowship, 4.0 Schools, LA Leads, and the Black Equity Collective Build Fellowship.

Takeaways:

• The disconnection crisis in education highlights how traditional schooling alienates students from their true potential and creativity.
• Inner Spark Learning Lab aims to transform educational environments into nurturing spaces that foster joy and a sense of belonging.
• By engaging students in participatory action research, they learn to address community needs and develop critical thinking skills.
• The importance of feedback loops is emphasized, ensuring that the voices of students and families shape the educational experience.
• Empowerment in education is achieved when students feel their contributions are valued and their identities are recognized.
• The initiative aims to create a network of schools that adapt to the needs of their communities, fostering relevant and engaging learning experiences.

Chapters:

• 00:21 - The Disconnection Crisis in Education
• 00:29 - The Birth of Inner Spark Learning Lab
• 10:52 - Transitioning Educational Paradigms
• 19:27 - Transforming Education: The Role of Dreamweavers
• 35:15 - Navigating the Map of Life: Teaching Self-Awareness and Skills
• 37:23 - The Importance of Feedback in Education

https://www.innersparklab.org/

instagram.com/innersparklab

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobadams706/

🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire, get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources and be part of our season finale with Ger.

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