VirtualEDU is the only online school in the state of Minnesota to offer both fully online and blended (in-person + virtual) pathways. School leaders at VirtualEDU have turned the concept of online learning on its head by creating virtual learning environments that are supportive, community-based, and culturally affirming. Our guests, who all taught in in-person environments prior to joining VirtualEDU, talk about how this type of learning environment is changing their beliefs about what is important and why they believe virtual learning is here to stay.

Guests:

• Dr. Tiffany Nielsen-Winkelman, Learning Design Futurist and Assistant Director of Innovation, Design & Learning
• Demond Johnson, Associate Principal
• Regina Johnson, Learning Facilitator 

Resources: 
Watch - Why VirtualEDU
More Info - VirtualEDU website 
Read - Apple’s spaceship campus was designed to promote collaboration 
Read - Are You Putting Learners First? Here are 8 Ways to Check Yourself
Listen - Ask Caitlin - Student Agency

The Hopkins Public Schools Legislative Action Coalition (known as LAC) is a grassroots advocacy group of parents, community members, school board members, and high school students. But it’s also more than that. Within the group is a legacy that includes and involves many of the legislators who are currently in office today. The Hopkins LAC is the birthplace and powerhouse for Minnesota legislators and a model for other districts. In this episode, our guests talk about the work they do behind-the-scenes to ensure that legislators understand the education priorities of Hopkins Schools and other districts in Minnesota and what bills they would like to see pass. We also discuss school funding and why school districts, including Hopkins, are needing to cut budgets after receiving increased funding from the state last year.

Guests:
Shannon Andreson - Hopkins School Board Chair
Catherine Callahan - LAC Liaison
Steve Adams - LAC member and former Hopkins School Board Chair

Resources:
Hopkins Legislative Platform - 2024
Association for Metropolitan School Districts
Find Your Local Legislator

Interested in joining or learning more about the Hopkins LAC? Contact Catherine Callahan at [email protected].

Okay. That’s not true. But a robot could have. That’s what we are talking about in this episode – the evolution of AI technology and the growing need for expertise in computer science and coding. These skills will be in high demand in the job market and are changing quickly. According to our guests, AI advancements like ChatGPT are the biggest technological shift that adults will see in their lifetime and may even be the biggest technological shift our students will see in their lifetime. What is AI’s place in education, and how can we help our students use the technology for good? What are we doing in Hopkins to ensure that our students are not only developing technology mastery, but are also learning to become critical thinkers and problem solvers within the context of technology? And how can we bring more women and people of color into the field of technology? You don’t want to miss this powerful conversation.

Guests:
Jen Wallace - Media Specialist, Glen Lake Elementary
Carol Tracy - Media Specialist, VirtualEDU
Lorne Kelly-Collins - TechEd teacher at Hopkins High School

Resources:
HEF’s Special Appeal - Fueling Future Minds

Coding Resources for Caregivers:
Code.org (for parents/caregivers to learn alongside their children)
Scratch and Scratch Jr.
CSUnplugged
MidJourney

In Hopkins, we call ourselves an E-12+ system because we know and believe that early childhood learning is an essential component of the school experience. In this discussion, we explore why those early years are so crucial for child development. According to our guests, it is in early childhood and through preschool programs that students develop a love of learning and begin to develop skills like curiosity, creativity and critical thinking. Early childhood provides community and connection to our families. In Hopkins, preschool programs are offered in all of our in-person elementary schools, creating a sense of belonging for little ones and setting the stage for positive school experiences. In this episode, we also discuss early childhood special education. Across the country, we are seeing an increase in students under the age of five who qualify for services. We discuss the reasons for this and also the ways in which Hopkins is meeting the needs of all scholars.

Guests:
Sara Chovan, Early Learning Assistant Director
Kathy Willett, Preschool Supervisor
Jennifer Muller, Early Childhood Special Education Lead and Teacher

Resource Links
Hopkins Preschool Enrollment for 2024-25
(Opens in late February through March)

Hopkins Early Childhood Family Education

Hopkins Early Childhood Special Education

Hopkins Early Childhood Screening

Spanish Immersion Preschool in Hopkins

There is no such thing as a “math brain.” And yet, it’s common for people to say, “I am not a math person.” According to our guests, you ARE a math person. Everyone is. In this episode, we explore people’s unique relationship with math and offer strategies for addressing math phobia. Math is more than simply ticking the boxes and moving on. Hopkins educators integrate creativity and conceptual learning into math, encouraging scholars to embrace mistakes and acknowledge the multiple perspectives within a math context. Our guests delve into the tangible benefits and potential drawbacks of accelerating math education, shedding light on the essential math skills scholars will need for the future. Whether you loved this subject as a child or not, this episode will have you rethinking your relationship with math.

Guests:
Matthew Bruflodt, Hopkins High School Math Teacher
Else Goll, Personalized Math Specialist
Sara Lacey, West Middle School Math Teacher

Resource Links:
Boaler, J. (2022). Mathematical Mindsets: Unleashing Students' Potential through Creative Mathematics, Inspiring Messages and Innovative Teaching. Jossey-Bass.

Boaler, J. (2015). What's Math Got to Do with It?: How Teachers and Parents Can Transform Mathematics Learning and Inspire Success. Penguin Books.

Stanford University (2024). YouCubed. (https://www.youcubed.org/)

Liljedahl, P. (2020). Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics, Grades K-12. Corwin.

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (2014). Principles to Actions: Ensuring Mathematical Success for All. NCTM.

Hopkins has two language immersion programs - Spanish Immersion and Chinese Immersion. At Eisenhower Elementary, these two pathways operate alongside an English pathway with a robust International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) framework connecting concepts and curriculum. Hopkins’ immersion programs follow a 90/10 model, meaning 90 percent of the content is Spanish or Chinese with English being introduced, or reinforced as biliteracy comes naturally to many students, in third-grade.

In this episode, we explore how learning a second language builds critical thinking and cultural competency in young children, the learning transference that occurs when you learn multiple languages, and the impact of the READ Act on immersion education.

Guests:
Melissa Ness, Principal of Eisenhower Elementary
Pamela Shrestha, second-grade Spanish immersion teacher
Yuqi Li, fifth-grade Chinese immersion teacher

Resources:
READ Act
International Baccalaureate
Chinese Immersion Spanish Immersion

This teaser provides a sneak peek into our upcoming podcast episode focusing on our Chinese and Spanish language immersion programs within Hopkins Public Schools. As the holiday season unfolds, we're taking a brief pause to recharge our podcasting spirits. Join us back on January 11 as we venture into the captivating world of language immersion education.

Resources:
Learn More About Our Chinese and Spanish Immersion Programs

In our last episode of 2023, we explore the development of our Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program at Hopkins High School. The program will be offered in January in a state-of-the-art lab at the high school designed to simulate a hospital setting. The program not only offers real-world experience in the medical field, it also offers scholars CNA certification - a value of around $1,500. Scholars who enroll in this class will spend time in this simulated clinical setting and an actual clinical setting, offering them critical thinking skills, deep perspective, and empathy. Thank you to the Hopkins Education Foundation for helping support this important and relevant class.

Guests:
Kara LeVahn, Career and Tech Ed. Coordinator, Hopkins High School
Marit Lee-Dohse, B.S. M.S. NA-R, Health Science Educator, Hopkins High School

Resources: Medical Careers Class at Hopkins High School
Hopkins Education Foundation

In this episode, we dive into the immersive outdoor education program at Gatewood Elementary. Discover how this innovative curriculum not only connects children with the environment, but also enhances academic skills, fosters teamwork, and ignites a lifelong love for the outdoors.

Guests:
Dr. George Nolan, principal, Gatewood Elementary
Ellen Dischinger, Kindergarten teacher, Gatewood Elementary

In this episode of Inside Hopkins, join our host, Superintendent Rhoda Mhiripiri-Reed, in a thoughtful conversation with Laura Jensen, the dedicated LGBTQ+ Community Liaison for our school district. Diving into the heart of inclusivity and diversity, this episode sheds light on the experiences, challenges, and triumphs of the LGBTQ+ community within Hopkins Public Schools.

Guest: Laura Jensen
Reading Teacher, North Middle School
Gender & Sexuality Alliance Advisor
Hopkins Schools LGBTQ+ Community Liaison