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As students get ready to return to school this fall, the post-pandemic norm of plummeted student engagement rises to the top as a deep and wide concern for teachers, parents, families, educational leaders, and policymakers. However, we should be careful about HOW we describe, assess, or remedy engagement. Stakeholders need to be cautious in not letting students’ behavioral engagement in the form of physical signals of attentiveness or compliance with class activities take precedence over their cognitive engagement in the form of love for learning, curiosity around challenges, and a willing exploration for personal satisfaction. 

In this episode, Garry McGiboney, Chief of Operations for Health Security Dynamics, Executive Director of Government Programs at Sharecare, consultant for the United States Department of Education and past Deputy State Superintendent for the Georgia Department of Education, discusses what gets students engaged and how educators and school leaders can reimagine learning environments by building relationships and modeling ways in which learners can become agents of their own success. We all play a role in improving educational outcomes in all children and we have to rise above the sentiment that ‘everything is falling apart’ or ‘nothing will have a lasting impact.’ Dr. McGiboney invites us to invest our effort in understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the system, build on what works, and build on our strengths to move the needle forward.

About Dr. Garry McGiboney
Garry McGiboney, Ph.D., is the Chief of Operations for Health Security Dynamics and Executive Director of Government Programs at Sharecare and a consultant for the United States Department of Education. He was Deputy State Superintendent for the Georgia Department of Education for 14 years. He serves on the Behavioral Health Reform Commission, State Juvenile Alternatives to Detention Committee, Council on Alcohol and Drugs, and Georgia Parent Support Network Board. Dr. McGiboney co-founded the Georgia Education Climate Coalition with a membership of over 80 organizations. He has several professional journal publications and several books. His book The Psychology of School Climate is referenced by the United States Department of Education and researchers. His book An Epidemiological Study of Leadership is used by graduate schools. He also authored an inspiration book, Leading Us Out of Darkness and a book of poetry, Timberline of the Mind.  He has been interviewed by CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC, NPR,  Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Le Devoir, Japan Press, and others. He has received state and national awards and was inducted into the Board of Regents Alumni Hall of Fame. The Dr. Garry McGiboney Outstanding Leadership Award is given annually by the Georgia Association of Positive Behavior Supports.

Books:

• The Psychology of School Climate 2nd Edition
• An Epidemiological Study of Leadership
• Timberline of the Mind
• The Psychology of Leadership Principles, Practices, and Priorities

About Host, Sucheta Kamath
Sucheta Kamath, is an award-winning speech-language pathologist, a TEDx speaker, a celebrated community leader, and the founder and CEO of ExQ®. As an EdTech entrepreneur, Sucheta has designed ExQ's personalized digital learning curriculum/tool that empowers middle and high school students to develop self-awareness and strategic thinking skills through the mastery of Executive Fu

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