Listen to this conversation to get a better understanding of what the KY CEO II Rank Change program is as Latishia Sparks and Charles discuss what their enrollees experience, why, and support that they offer.  They discuss why this program is offered, pricing, micro credentials, and capstone requirements.  

Listen to the end of the episode and you'll get great advice for educators from these two veteran educators.

Don’t forget to follow this podcast, download episodes, listen often, and share with co-works/staff.  We are here to inform and help you lead and educate others. 

Resources discussed in the episode: 

To Learn more about BloomBoard micros www.bloomboard.com

To learn more about CEO II in KY - www.epsb.gov

To view the KY CEO program Guide -http://www.epsb.ky.gov/mod/page/view.php?id=481

Sarah Snipes has taken on the new role as Director of Innovation for KDE since we recorded this episode. Congratulation to her and our school districts!

In this episode you hear her reflection of the Department of Innovation's work and future plans for sustainability.

Documents and information referenced in this episode can be found at these links.

Competency Based Education

School districts are being challenged to create learning ecosystems that are different than ever before.  Challenges such as chronic absenteeism, engagement of learners, gaps in teacher knowledge and skills to plan and lead inquiry learning, and leading positive productive community engagement are common to all districts.  Brandy Carver, assistant superintendent, discusses how Rowan County school district is growing their layered systems to support the growth of all learners in their district for students and adults.  Rowan County is a L3 district and Community Schools district learning from an authentic community about how partnerships are developed to overcome challenges.  Through these partnerships Rowan County has decreased absenteeism from 37% to 18% this school year, deepened learning experiences for students, and showcased professional learning for Preschool through 12th grade teachers. While Mrs. Carver understands this is all a work in progress; she explains their vision of systems and thinking behind them that you may find inspiring, validating, and empowering.  We hope you listen, share, and don’t forget to FOLLOW this podcast.  We’d love to be in your podcast library.  Thanks!

Links to referenced work this episode:  

https://www.kentuckyteacher.org/news/2022/03/six-districts-named-to-the-kdes-third-cohort-of-local-laboratories-of-learning/

https://www.rowan.k12.ky.us/

Music credits go to Charles Davis, public school teacher in Wayne County, WV.

Stephanie Wilson and I reflect on the support that we have been able to provide for K-12 teachers who continue their growth in shifting to project based learning.  We also discuss all of the opportunities that are coming up this summer and next year to continue growing PBL for students.  There are lots of options coming up! We hope you find this informational and inspirational. We are inspired by this method of teaching and learning through amazing stories from teachers' and students' excitement about this work.  We are here to help sustain this shift and keeping ourselves ready to support the needs in the ever changing landscape of teaching and learning.

Read about KDE's 4 year initiative for PBL

⁠https://www.pblworks.org/news/pblworks-partners-kentucky-department-education-kde-four-year-initiative-scale-gold-standard⁠

PBL Summer Cohort

Registrants MUST have previous PBL101 training with PBL Works

Date: Wednesday, July 10th-Friday, July 12th, 2024

Time: 9:00AM-3:30PM EACH DAY

Location: KEDC-Ashland (904 Rose Rd. Ashland, KY 41102)

https://PBLVCS07-08-2024.rsvpify.com

PBL Advanced

Date: Monday, July 15th-Wednesday, July 17th, 2024

Time: 9:00AM-3:30PM EACH DAY

Location: Morehead Conference Center (111 E 1st St, Morehead, KY 40351)

Please let us know if you plan to attend by completing this form!

https://PBLVCS07-18-2024.rsvpify.com

PBL Virtual Coaching Session

Via Zoom

PBL Virtual Coaching Session (06/05/2024 11:30-12:30): https://PBLVCS06-05-2024.rsvpify.com

PBL Virtual Coaching Session (06/18/2024 10-11 am): https://PBLVCS06-18-2024.rsvpify.com

PBL Virtual Coaching Session (07/08 10-11 am): https://PBLVCS07-08-2024.rsvpify.com

PBL Virtual Coaching Session (07/19 10-11 am): https://PBLVCS07-18-2024.rsvpify.com

We think that you'll find Michael's stories similar to all of those stories in our member districts. The great thing about sharing these stories is that while we have so many similarities we approach improvements in different ways depending on your context. Sharing our approach with one another can generate both inspiration and ideas to explore within your context of serving students.

In this episode you'll receive an invitation to reach out to Central Elementary and visit to see what the Eagles are up to for yourselves. You can find their information on their school webpage or facebook pages at these links...

https://www.johnson.k12.ky.us/o/central-elementary-school

https://www.facebook.com/centralelemeagles

Thank you, Michael, for sharing your story and the Eagle's story!

As humans we are meant to, as Kim puts it, problem solve and make sense of the world around us.  This conversation will have listeners considering math instruction and the complex shifts needed from how we identify as mathematicians to how we question math thinking.   Yes, we are all math people!  Perseverance is the key to unlocking our ability to grow new pathways in our brains and grow in mathematical understanding.  Be brave, educators!

Resources discussed in this episode: 

https://kystandards.org/home/ky-acad-standards/

https://kystandards.org/standards-resources/mathematics-resources/

This episode features a variety of guests and hosts brought to you from the Sweet Sixteen Boy’s Basketball.  This episode showcases the different opportunities that public school districts, KSHAA, and KEDC partnership provides for the development of students.  You’ll hear the excitement of the tournament in the background of the interviews compiled.  

Guests: 

Nancy Hutchinson, CEO of KEDC 

Charles Becknel, former athletic physician 

Taylor owner of Taylor Bell Famous Ice Cream

Don Lane- Hall of Famer Basketball Coach from Transylvania 

Olivia Poage-6th Grader from Lion County

Conner Loy-Adair Basketball Player

Isiah Coachran- Adair Basketball Player

Jasmine Major and Enimee Hubbard- Band Members from Harlan County

Join us for information about Deeper Learning in the Commonwealth with Dr. Robb Smith. As the director of the deeper learning initiative in KY Dr. Smith works with the eight directors of the educational cooperatives promote the principles of the United We Learn campaign. He talks about the deeper learning initiative to this point as well as future plans. You'll want to listen to get information about the Momentum 2024 Deeper Learning Conference being offered this summer.

Check out the referenced website and information here.

https://www.kaec8.org/

Natalie Wexler brings research and cognitive science to our conversation about instruction. She discusses a variety of topics that your won't want to miss if you are a K-5 teacher or administrator. If you are serving in a different role her findings are very inspriring to keep asking why we are doing what we do for students and knowing our impact as educators.

Check out more about Natalie and topics discussed at these links. Thanks for tuning in!

Don't forget to hit that FOLLOW button.

https://nataliewexler.com/about/

Natalie's post on not having to choose between teaching skills/strategies and building knowledge: 

https://nataliewexler.substack.com/p/no-teacher-dont-have-to-choose-between

Her post about clearing up misconceptions about the Science of Reading:

https://nataliewexler.substack.com/p/clearing-up-misconceptions-about 

Post about cognitive load theory and literacy:

https://nataliewexler.substack.com/p/want-kids-to-be-better-readers-and 

And visit the website of The Writing Revolution, a nonprofit organization, to learn more about the method and how you can help bring it to more schools, teachers, and students.

Minding the Gap: A newsletter about education, cognitive science, and fairness from Natalie Wexler, author of The Knowledge Gap.

Dr. Matinga Ragatz is a multiple-award winning educator, author, keynote speaker, and consultant. Among many accolades, she served as Michigan Teacher of the Year and in 2017 was inducted in the US National Teacher Hall of Fame. Matinga holds a PhD in Education and Leadership specializing  in Learning, Instruction, and Innovation. She is currently a Lead National Faculty at Buck Institute for Education (dba PBLWorks) scaling Gold Standard PBL throughout the state of KY.

In 2017, she opened a PBL food science school in Tanzania focusing on Maasai children of extreme poverty and their learning needs. In 2020, she founded a tuition scholarship and advocacy program for school children to support open air market mothers financially affected by COVID-19 in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. She is currently an NPR Michigan Radio education commentator. Her new book, Pulse of PBL: Cultivation Equity Through Social and Emotional Learning, is available on Amazon Books. She is also the author of a culturally relevant children’s books series featuring the adventures of the Maasai children in her Tanzanian school.

https://www.pulseofpbl.com/

Matinga.com

Flyer for PBLWorks Summer Sessions