Help Me Understand with Dr. Robert Dillon

Derek and I discuss leadership, empowering others, and building a culture of care and support. He is the pastor of Salem Lutheran Church. You can connect with Derek at [email protected]. His instagram account is https://www.instagram.com/revdmh/?hl=en. 

Bridgitte Alomes, CEO of Natural Pod, joined the podcast to help me understand the mission of this learning environments partner. They work with schools to truly redesign and rethink space.  Check out this TED talk from Bridgitte (https://youtu.be/IIzyfJQbuT8) and more about Natural Pod and their work. (https://naturalpod.com/)

Jonathan E Martin, author of Reinventing Crediting for Competency-Based Education (https://www.amazon.com/Reinventing-Crediting-Competency-Based-Education-Jonathan/dp/1138609226) joins us to discuss the Mastery Transcript. High school transcripts are a century old device that is causing our education system friction as it looks to evolve. Jonathan helps me to understand more about the power of this next generation transcript and how it hold promise to be a lever of change for all schools. 

Janelle McLaughlin is an education strategist that supports schools and districts with growth and change.  This episode focuses on how teachers and leaders can take control of their own personal and professional growth to remain energized in their work. Janelle is the CEO of Innovative Education Solutions (https://www.innovativeeducationsolutions.net/) You can connect with her here as well (https://www.linkedin.com/in/janellemclaughlin/)

Garreth Heidt is the lead learner of the PVHS InNOVAtionLab. His students have developed an amazing social entrepreneur effort called Living Now (https://www.instagram.com/livingnowyt/?hl=en) These students are working to get their fellow learners to lift their head and see the beauty of nature. They are guiding tours to some amazing places, and they are turning their class project into a movement. Follow them and their teacher Garreth (@Ed_by_design) to learn more. 

Stephen Himes, educator and experience learning coordinator, joins the podcast to help me understand more about Dickens and A Christmas Carol. Himes is an expert on curating and supporting student growth about the themes of Dickens. He organized travel abroad programs for schools.  https://sway.office.com/alYVx2u69y22rPSl In this podcast, we explore the themes and ideas in A Christmas Carol include how the modern day Scrooge story wanders from the messages that Dickens wanted us to consider. 

Shannon Pitcher-Boyea, founder of Breathing Room Mindful Personal and Professional Wellness (https://adkbreathingroom.com/) joins us to discuss the concept of healthy leadership. She helped me understand the importance of personal growth and wellness for school leaders. Shannon works with schools and districts around the country to support the development of healthy students, teachers, leaders, and systems.  

Learner, Listener, Leader, Storyteller, and Future Author Brianna Hodges joins the podcast to help me understand how she sees the power of story playing a role in excellent teaching and learning. More from Brianna at her website, https://briannahodges.com/

This episode features Talia Kovacs, CEO of Lit Life. LitLife shapes lives of purpose and joy through literacy. An international leader in professional development for literacy education, LitLife inspires and guides teachers to refine their instruction to provide students with robust and meaningful reading and writing experiences. Our dynamic and experienced teacher leaders provide the why, what, and how of literacy instruction by modeling best practice lessons side by side with teachers and through a combination of in-person and live virtual support. Students and the educators working with them leave LitLife's workshops with concrete steps to implement joyful literacy for the entire school and district community.

LitLife's website: www.LitLifePD.com

Talia's Twitter: @TaliaKovacs

LitLife's Twitter: @LitLifePD

James Owen joins us to talk movies and being a reviewer. He is the co-founder of filmsnobs.com and a regular contributors to the Columbia Tribune.  https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-owen-5029b673/