Getting Smart Podcast

Four years ago Satya Nadella took the helm at Microsoft. Under his leadership, the value of the company has tripled, and some think it could be the first company worth a trillion dollars. The story of the culture and strategy refresh are told in Satya’s new book, Hit Refresh, co-authored by Greg Shaw and Jill Tracie Nichols.

In this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast, Tom interviews Greg and Jill, who have both have impressive careers beyond co-authoring. Greg and Jill both worked with the last three CEOs at Microsoft and have a great perspective on the ups and downs of the company. Greg also managed public relations at Microsoft in the ’90s after serving as a speechwriter in the Reagan white house. In the 2000s, Jill Tracie Nichols led communications for Steve Ballmer and — after a quick transition — became Satya Nadella’s Chief of Staff. Tracie is also the founder and CEO of Tracie Group — a company that helps kick-start new companies and helps them build their vision, voice, and brand to successfully make an impact in today’s competitive market.

In this conversation, Greg and Jill discuss the importance of the cultural refresh at Microsoft (based on Carol Dweck’s growth mindset), the challenge of meeting the unmet — and often unarticulated — needs of customers, and valuable tips on writing and publishing.

Key Takeaways:

[1:26] Tom welcomes Greg and Jill to the podcast, and Greg gives some background about himself.

[2:59] What made Greg think of himself as a writer in High School and College?

[4:04] How did Greg land his position at the U.S. Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C.?

[5:26] How Greg came to manage public relations for Microsoft.

[6:35] Greg’s move from Microsoft to The Gates Foundation.

[7:43] The first project Greg and Tom worked on together at The Gates Foundation.

[8:58] About Jill’s schooling background.

[10:23] What made Jill think of herself as a communicator and writer?

[12:04] The delicate balance between the challenges and passion for writing.

[12:55] What Greg has discovered about himself as a writer.

[15:57] The challenges of the writing processes and what Jill and Greg enjoyed about working together.

[17:42] Jill’s transition from working with Steve Ballmer to Satya Nadella.

[19:52] The origin story behind Hit Refresh.

[21:26] About the growth mindset culture that Satya shifted Microsoft towards.

[22:40] Jill gives some examples of how Satya attempted to incorporate a growth mindset into the culture, signaling that growth mindset was a priority.

[25:48] The tech optimist Greg sees in Satya.

[27:56] Can technology can boost inclusion and be disruptive? What Greg sees as the future of technology and mankind.

[31:47] How writing Hit Refresh has helped Greg think about civic infrastructure and the engagement we need to help communities be successful in the future.

[35:30] Jill’s thoughts on the evolution of machine intelligence and companies looking to build technology for the future.

[37:40] How did Greg manage the process of writing Hit Refresh with all of his other projects.

[39:34] How has Greg’s writing changed since working collaboratively?

[41:48] Jill and Tom’s views on working collaboratively.

[42:55] Jill’s editing tips for writing.

[44:33] Jill and Greg’s advice and tips and secondary school teachers in helping teenagers become better writers and communicators.

[49:08] Where to find Jill and Greg online.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Hit Refresh: The Quest to Rediscover Microsoft's Soul and Imagine a Better Future for Everyone,

by Satya Nadella, Greg Shaw, and Jill Tracie Nichols

The Gates Foundation

Tracie Group

The Writing Life, by Annie Dillard

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, by Carol Dweck

Steve Gleason

Greg Shaw’s Linkedin

Get Involved:

Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com.

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This episode, the Getting Smart team continues on their road trip, heading towards Tulsa, Oklahoma to chat with Dr. Deborah Gist.

Dr. Gist grew up in Tulsa, earning her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education at the University of Oklahoma. After teaching in Texas and Florida — earning a couple of east coast masters degrees and a Ph.D. from Penn — she ran Serve DC; an extension of the D.C. mayor’s office. She went on to lead the Office of the State Superintendent of Education in DC. Three years later, she became Chief in Rhode Island where she ran, what Tom called, “the most innovative and inclusive state planning process.”

Now back in Tulsa, Dr. Gist is serving as the school’s Superintendent, where — despite some of the lowest funding in the country — she is leading an agenda to Create powerful learning experiences for all students; cultivate safe, supportive, and joyful school cultures; attract, develop, and retain a highly effective and empowered team; and incubate and implement innovative classroom, school, and district designs.

The Tulsa team is serious about dramatically improving the secondary school experience. Listen in to learn more about Dr. Gist’s work at Tulsa Public Schools, the challenges they’re working to overcome from being underfunded, the improvement strategies they’re implementing, and how they are planning to redesign secondary learning entirely.

Key Takeaways:

[:14] Some background on Dr. Gist’s career and work with Tulsa.

[2:54] Three years in as Tulsa’s Superintendent, what does Dr. Gist see headed in the right direction?

[4:33] About Tulsa’s efforts to reimagine secondary learning entirely.

[5:55] Overcoming the challenges of being underfunding through incredible resources.

[7:03] About the great team they have in place at Tulsa.

[8:08] One of Tulsa’s biggest challenges from being underfunded — attracting and developing a teaching core.

[10:52] Why schools joined the Summit Learning Network in Tulsa.

[12:00] The other improvement strategies they’re using across the city.

[13:07] Why receiving support from the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation for the formative assessment project is important.

[13:50] Collective impact — alive and well in Tulsa.

[15:49] Tulsa’s work and focus towards high school redesign.

Mentioned in This Episode:

“Inclusive and Iterative Plan Drives Rhode Island Forward,” by Tom Vander Ark

Serve DC

Chiefs for Change

Tulsa Public Schools

Impact Tulsa

XQ Super School Project

Summit Learning Network

Tulsa Teacher Corps

Want to Learn More?

• During the podcast, Dr. Gist mentions the formative assessment project sponsored by the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation. To learn more about that, check out:

“S3:E14 What is Formative Assessment? Voices from the Field”.

• For another example of a great new school, listen to:

“S3:E9 iLead: Student-Centered, Career Focused, Accelerated Learning”.

• To read more on Impact Tulsa, check out the blog featuring this podcast on GettingSmart.com.

Get Involved:

Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com.

Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.

Is There Somebody You’ve Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You’d Like Covered?

To get in contact: Email Jessica@GettingSmart.com, Tweet @Getting_Smart, or leave a review.

The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!

Recently, Tom and Adam spent 3 days in Boise, Idaho touring One Stone — an innovative school rooted in Design Thinking. Tom and Adam were joined by the school’s National Advisory team, including; Eduardo Briceño, Julia Freeland, Sasha Barab, Tony Lewis, and Alex Hernandez.

While celebrating and reflecting upon this innovative high school’s growth and development, the team was able to sit down and unpack the ‘why,’ ‘how,’ and ‘what’ of measuring what matters. Listen in as the advisory team shares their thoughts on this topic — taking a look at mindset assessment tools, qualitative vs. quantitative feedback, the challenges of measuring feedback, and much more.

Key Takeaways:

[:51] An introduction to One Stone and their desired learning outcomes.

[1:34] Eduardo’s thoughts on the extent to which we can and should measure a growth mindset.

[3:35] The importance of qualitative feedback vs. quantitative.

[5:13] How and when Eduardo believes One Stone’s mindset assessment tools should be used.

[6:10] Is that information from those results aggregated?

[6:58] Does Alex see any schools that are doing a good job at providing formative feedback around mindset?

[8:50] Providing qualitative feedback and the difficulties of measuring it.

[11:54] Julia’s thoughts on mindset and how to make it important in education.

[14:02] Thoughts on measuring mindsets in a quantitative way.

[16:13] Opinions on measuring and quantifying Social Emotional Learning skills and feedback.

[19:19] Thoughts on giving and receiving feedback, and the challenge of measuring it.

[20:38] How much of the mindset, creativity, and skills category should be part of a competency-based system?

[25:29] Does Sasha see gamification as a part of the answer to measuring hard stuff?

[26:09] What kinds of feedback can be given to young people about difference-making?

[27:56] Ways to help prepare people to make a difference and help them build confidence in their impact-making skills.

Mentioned in This Episode:

One Stone

“S2:E56 Student-Led One Stone is Transforming Boise”

DSST Public Schools

Michael Crow, ASU’s President

ASU: School for the Future of Innovation in Society

Want to Learn More About One Stone?

Check out “S2:E56 Student-Led One Stone is Transforming Boise”.

Get Involved:

Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com.

Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.

Is There Somebody You’ve Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You’d Like Covered?

To get in contact: Email Jessica@GettingSmart.com, Tweet @Getting_Smart, or leave a review.

The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!

Today Tom Vander Ark is talking with Dr. Carmen Coleman and Dr. John Marshall. Carmen serves as Chief Academic Officer and John as Chief Equity Officer, of Jefferson County Public Schools. The two have worked together to shape powerful, equitable, high-quality learning experiences for the over 100,000 students in Louisville, Kentucky and are united in their thoughts and beliefs on how to address urban school district needs.

Even though they’ve only known each other for seven months, Carmen and John’s partnership is already strong and is deeply rooted in the notion that all students deserve a richer set of challenging experiences that prepare them for the innovation economy — also known as Deeper Learning. Listen in to learn more about the work John and Carmen are doing for the community and students of Louisville.

Key Takeaways:

[1:26] About John’s pathway to getting to JCPS, how he became Chief Equity Officer and the history behind the position.

[3:42] About the focus on Deeper Learning in Louisville.

[6:34] Why Deeper Learning and equity are central to JCPS’s equity agenda.

[8:05] The challenge of making Deeper Learning central to a high-challenge community.

[9:01] How JCPS finds the middle ground between personalized and rigorous project-based learning.

[13:01] What does a Chief Equity Officer do? John’s role at JCPS.

[15:05] How Carmen’s role at JCPS intersects with John’s.

[17:40] What tasks and challenges would John work on with a Chief Academic Officer?

[19:04] Is John a problem-finder or a problem-solver?

[20:10] What John and Carmen have learned about leadership and promoting equity and Deeper Learning simultaneously.

[22:50] How John describes his leadership approach.

[25:03] What Ms. McCormick (one of JCPS’s teachers) is doing, in relation to Deeper Learning.

[25:45] The process of funding $800,000 for digital learning proposals.

[27:32] John’s progress on reducing suspensions and removing subjective code of conduct rules.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Jefferson County Public Schools

Deeper Learning

Eastern High School

New York Performance Standards Consortium

Ed Week

Get Involved:

Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com.

Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.

Is There Somebody You’ve Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You’d Like Covered?

To get in contact: Email Jessica@GettingSmart.com, Tweet @Getting_Smart, or leave a review.

The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!

In today’s episode, Mary Ryerse sits down with Eric Schneider, Assistant Superintendent of Minnetonka Public Schools, which serves over 10,000 students and is located in the greater Minneapolis area. Eric and his team have taken a unique approach to gathering input for strategic planning that drives innovation, including the use of a platform to crowdsource ideas. This process has been used by districts in several states now under the umbrella of the nonprofit, InnovateK12.

If you’d like to learn more about the district’s approach to innovation success, join Mary and Eric as they discuss how Eric and his team helped build Minnetonka’s strong culture of innovation, how other districts are starting to use some of the strategies they’ve developed, what Eric is doing with InnovateK12, and how he’s making a difference in Minnetonka and beyond.

Key Takeaways:

[1:03] Eric talks about his background in education and his role currently in Minnetonka.

[3:48] The district’s process of planning activities that engage the whole district in innovation challenges and strategic planning.

[9:00] How this process has evolved and what it looks like today.

[12:55] How this model has migrated to other districts and environments, the difference between traditional strategic planning and innovation strategic planning, and whether or not most districts tend to replace their current strategic planning process or not.

[16:23] How their model also doubles as a talent development strategy and helps breed teachers into leaders.

[20:29] Indicators and metrics Eric uses to determine success.

[24:00] An idea that came out of this process that is directly impacting learning in a classroom today.

[29:52] Where to learn more about the model.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Minnetonka Public Schools

InnovateK12

St. Cloud State University

United Health Group’s Optum

@TonkaEric (Twitter)

Get Involved:

Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com.

Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.

Is There Somebody You’ve Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You’d Like Covered?

To get in contact: Email Jessica@GettingSmart.com, Tweet @Getting_Smart, or leave a review.

The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!

Adam Kulaas and Emily Liebtag from The Getting Smart team sit down to chat about school coaching. As more and more schools work to shift their models of teaching and learning, coaching is becoming the key component to driving that change. When coaching is done right it can be really transformative for educators alike.

Listen in to hear Emily and Adam unpack school coaching and discuss what Adam has learned in both the past and present in the school coaching space — and what he hopes will come in the future. Adam and Emily further discuss what he has seen unfold in schools with good teaching models, how he believes schools can transform to make their learning become more student-centered, what motivated him to get into school coaching, to begin with, and what effective coaching looks like to him.

Key Takeaways:

[1:30] What school coaching looked like back when Adam started coaching (two decades ago).

[4:47] What motivated Adam to get into school coaching and what the sorts of change he wanted to see were.

[5:42] What Adam has seen unfold and evolve in school coaching that has led to good teaching models today.

[6:38] The importance of instructional coaches being able to build strong, transparent relationships.

[9:14] What effective coaching looks like to Adam and Emily.

[13:00] Adam unpacks how schools can transform their learning to become more student-centered.

[16:02] One of Emily’s favorite leaders that she finds most inspiring.

[17:13] How does Adam customize coaching to each new school or educator.

[20:18] Where Adam sees learning and education headed with tech in the coaching space.

[24:24] Where Adam sees coaching headed and what he thinks leaders need to know next.

[28:26] The four lessons about coaching Emily learned from Adam during the duration of the podcast!

[29:30] Where to find out more about the work Adam is currently up to.

Mentioned in This Episode:

“S2:E55 Coaching for High-Quality Project-Based Learning”

Daniel Pink

@AdamKulaas on Twitter

The Getting Smart Team Page

Want to Learn More About Coaching and its Effects on Education?

Listen in to “S2:E55 Coaching for High-Quality Project-Based Learning” to hear from New Tech Network coach, Andrew Biros on coaching for PBL.

Get Involved:

Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com.

Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.

Is There Somebody You’ve Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You’d Like Covered?

To get in contact: Email Jessica@GettingSmart.com, Tweet @Getting_Smart, or leave a review.

The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!

On today’s episode, Tom is talking with Tess Posner, Executive Director at Al4ALL — a new Oakland nonprofit that is introducing artificial intelligence to high school students — and, more specifically — girls. The goal is to help high school students learn to use AI for good and to increase diversity and inclusion in computer science.

AI4ALL is really aligned to one of the recommendations from Getting Smart’s December report, “Ask About AI,” which focused on the future of work and learning. In the report, Tom called for connecting experts and high school students to close the guidance gap and help more people use AI for good. AI4ALL is a great example of the solution Tom was envisioning — and as he says, he’s nearly “doing jumping jacks” out of excitement for this conversation!

Listen in to hear more about Tess and the work she’s doing at AI4ALL, how her interest in AI and computer science formed, how she connected with Samasource and AI4ALL, her take on integrating new tech and AI into schools, and her current mission and goals for AI4ALL.

Key Takeaways:

[1:47] In 2015, Tom started noticing the rise of AI and made it his personal study topic for 2016. He reads some excerpts from his “Ask About AI” paper and how he discovered AI4ALL.

[5:47] Where Tess went to high school and how that helped give her an interest in the education field.

[6:43] Why Tess studied math at St. John’s College.

[8:27] What sparked Tess’ interest in social entrepreneurship.

[10:26] The importance of traveling as a learning experience.

[10:52] How Tess came about connecting with Samasource.

[12:44] How Tess’ interest in AI formed.

[15:32] When and how Tess spotted the guidance gap in STEM careers (including AI).

[18:11] The founding story of AI4ALL and what the alumni have gone on to accomplish.

[20:55] How Tess sees AI4ALL’s mission today.

[22:00] About AI4ALL’s current focus: After-school and summer camp programs.

[23:03] What’s on AI4ALL’s roadmap.

[24:16] The challenge of educating teachers on AI and integrating new tech into schools.

[27:15] Tess’s take on the current ‘coding for all’ trend.

[29:25] Where to find out more about Tess and AI4ALL.

[29:46] About Tess’s SXSWedu panel and SXSW Interactive panel.

Mentioned in This Episode:

If you’ll be at SXSWedu, tweet the team @Getting_Smart and use #SXSWedu, or email Jessica at Jessica@Gettingsmart.com to set up a time to meet!

SXSWedu Events: Join Tom on Tuesday for a meetup on The Rise of AI & What It Means for Education. And join Tess on Wednesday for her panel on AI in Education: Opportunities & Challenges.

AI4ALL

“Ask about AI: The Future of Learning and Work,” by Tom Vander Ark

Hewlett Foundation

Smart Cities That Work for Everyone, by Tom Vander Ark with Mary Ryerse

South Shore Charter Public School

St. John’s College

In Defense of a Liberal Education, by Fareed Zakaria

Samasource

Samaschool Tech Hire Initiative

IBM Watson

Stanford University

University of California, Berkeley

Princeton University

Carnegie Mellon University

CreAIte

Code.org

CSforALL

Get Involved:

Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com.

Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.

Is There Somebody You’ve Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You’d Like Covered?

To get in contact: Email Jessica@GettingSmart.com, Tweet @Getting_Smart, or leave a review.

The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!

You may remember back in 2015, SXSWedu had a special screening of Most Likely to Succeed, a film produced by Ted Dintersmith. Well, he’s also the author of Most Likely to Succeed: Preparing Our Kids for the Innovation Era, along with Tony Wagner. And his new book, What School Could Be: Insights and Inspiration from Teachers across America, comes out on April 17th, outlining everything he has learned from the 50-state tour following the release of Most Likely to Succeed. In this episode, Tom talks with Ted about this journey to advocating for next-generation education.

Ted’s work as a venture investor put him in the middle of the formation of the new innovation economy. He uniquely appreciates the impact of exponential technology and the future of work. It has given him real urgency about promoting quality education — especially engaging project-based learning where young people build agency, creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration skills.

Tune in to hear more of Tom and Ted’s fascinating conversation on their hopes and goals for the future, the process of filming Ted’s movie — as well as the process for writing his new book, his own education growing up, what attracts him to next-gen learning, and his thoughts on where he sees education headed in this new innovation era.

Key Takeaways:

[:15] Introduction to the guest today and upcoming events for the Getting Smart team.

[2:04] Where Ted went to high school and the experience he had there.

[3:28] Ted’s college experience at the College of William and Mary.

[5:46] Ted’s support for the undergrad research at William and Mary.

[7:50] How Ted got to Stanford and why he decided to make the switch from physics to engineering.

[10:22] About Ted’s Ph.D. in engineering.

[11:31] Emerging in the information age.

[12:55] Spending more than 20 years in venture capital, Ted reflects on the timing of when he got out of school linked with the opportunity of becoming an investor.

[15:14] Ted’s thoughts on us being in a new era of artificial intelligence.

[23:14] Where Ted learned about Larry Rosenstock, the President of High Tech High.

[26:34] What initially attracted Ted to High Tech High?

[28:21] The process of creating his film Most Likely to Succeed with Greg Whiteley.

[33:31] How Ted now thinks about the purpose of school.

[36:00] The remarkable changes in education in the last 25 years.

[41:23] About Ted’s new book coming out this spring, What School Could Be.

[43:55] Where to learn more about Ted’s new book.

[45:18] Where to find more about the film, Most Likely to Succeed.

[47:03] Embracing change.

[49:40] An important message that Ted wants to triple underline for all listening.

Mentioned in This Episode:

If you’ll be at SXSWedu, tweet the team @Getting_Smart and use #SXSWedu, or email Jessica at Jessica@Gettingsmart.com to set up a time to meet!

SXSWedu Events: ‘Don’t Let Data Hold You Back’, ‘Why Innovate Alone? Harness the Power of Networks’, and ‘The Rise of AI & What It Means for Education Meet Up’.

What School Could Be: Insights and Inspiration from Teachers across America, by Ted Dintersmith

Most Likely to Succeed: Preparing Our Kids for the Innovation Era, by Ted Dintersmith and Tony Wagner

Most Likely to Succeed (Film)

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

William and Flora Hewlett Foundation

High Tech High

New Tech Network

Big Picture Learning

Expeditionary Learning

The College of William and MaryStanford University

Larry Rosenstock

John Dewey

Ted Sider

Rudy Crew Tony Wagner

Waiting for Superman

Greg Whiteley

No Child Left Behind Act

Mitt

Harvard Graduate School of Education

Tugg.com Most Likely to Succeed film

Innovation Playlist on mltsfilm.org

Get Involved:

Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com.

Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.

Is There Somebody You’ve Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You’d Like Covered?

To get in contact: Email Jessica@GettingSmart.com, Tweet @Getting_Smart, or leave a review.

The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!

Today, Emily, the Director of Advocacy from the Getting Smart team, sits down with Jen McMillan of Detroit Prep. Jen is the Co-Founder and Head of School at Detroit Prep Academy — an elementary school located in the Indian Village neighborhood in Detroit’s east side. They’re a proud expeditionary learning school, with an intense focus on multiple dimensions of student achievement and a commitment to mastery of knowledge and skills, character development, and high-quality student work. After years of teaching in different schools across the country, Jen has learned key lessons in leading a school and is truly focused on putting students and families first.

Emily is super energized this episode and ready to share about her recent trip to Detroit Prep, so join her and Jen to hear more about the current education climate in Detroit, all about what’s working well at Detroit Prep, and all the great things Jen is putting forward.

Key Takeaways:

[2:00] All about Jen’s background and current role at Detroit Prep.

[2:52] How Jen got to where she is currently at Detroit Prep.

[4:43] What Jen has seen this past couple of years in Detroit’s education system.

[7:25] About Detroit Prep’s diverse student body and individualized support to give all children a first-class education.

[9:23] Detroit Prep’s current building hosting.

[10:19] All about Detroit Prep’s deeper learning experiences.

[11:11] Detroit Prep’s six habits of character and weekly goal student goals.

[13:17] The element of community and bringing the community experience to the school.

[15:11] What the switch to the new curriculum has been like for teachers.

[19:00] What a culturally responsive classroom looks like day-to-day for teachers and students.

[23:49] What brings Jen hope and joy about teaching and learning in 2018.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Detroit Prep

Getting Smart Blog

Get Involved:

Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com.

Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.

Is There Somebody You’ve Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You’d Like Covered?

To get in contact: Email Jessica@GettingSmart.com, Tweet @Getting_Smart, or leave a review.

The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!