San Marcos CISD near Austin, Texas set out to boost engagement, address the issue of teacher turnover and ultimately improve student outcomes. Here’s their data-driven approach.

In this interview, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Willie Watson explains how they conducted a teacher engagement survey, what they found and the steps they’re taking in response to their findings. We also speak with Henry Wellington, founder and CEO of Upbeat, an organization that helps school districts collect and examine data around teacher engagement.

Some highlights:

Field Trip is a podcast from Frontline Education.

How does a school district support culturally and linguistically diverse learners? Tere Masiarchin supports educators grappling with this question. She works at CESA (Cooperative Educational Service Agency) 2 in Wisconsin, providing professional development, needs assessment and program support to school districts and teachers working with English language learners.

In this interview, Tere shares the reason she’s passionate about this topic and some of the issues that she encounters most frequently in her work with school districts.

Field Trip is a podcast from Frontline Education.

Branding their district, attracting great candidates and making sure all departments are aligned: how Blue Valley Schools upholds a stellar academic record and ensures they have an exemplary teacher in every classroom for every child.

This interview with Chief Human Resources Officer Bob Kreifels explores:

Field Trip is a podcast from Frontline Education.

Mary Kathryn Moeller and her team facilitate professional learning at Jenks Public Schools in Oklahoma. In this interview, she discusses the big questions that shape their program, how they iterate and improve, and what it looks like to measure impact.

When we spoke with Mary Kathryn, the Director of Professional Development, she spoke with us about:

Field Trip is a podcast from Frontline Education.

Five years ago, Dr. Andy Koenigs was tasked with employee recruitment and retention at Emporia Public Schools in Kansas. Borrowing a strategy from the business world, he and his team launched an employee wellness program. Here’s how — and the impact it had on engagement, absences and district finances.

In our interview, Dr. Koenigs, the Associate Superintendent for Human Resources, talks to us about:

Field Trip is a podcast from Frontline Education.

In August 2016, Livingston Parish, Louisiana was devastated by a flood. As Livingston Parish Public Schools grappled with the effects, the district looked for any possible way to save money to help rebuild its damaged schools. Supervisor of Human Resources Bruce Chaffin found a fascinating way to save tens of thousands of dollars each month - and positively impact instruction at the same time.

In our interview, we asked Bruce Chaffin about:

Field Trip is a podcast from Frontline Education.