Leading for Deeper Learning with Ulster BOCES

In this episode of Leading for Deeper Learning with Ulster BOCES, Dr. Jonah Schenker sits down with four remarkable students from across Ulster BOCES Career Pathways Programs and the Center for Innovative Teaching & Learning to explore a question at the heart of educational transformation:

What should the future of schools look like?

Joining the discussion are:
Matthew Reilly, Center for Innovative Teaching & Learning at Port Ewen
Madison Liebel, Hudson Valley Pathways Academy
Nisean Abney, Career Academies at iPark 87
Fateen Akbar, Center for Innovative Teaching & Learning at Port Ewen

As New York continues its work through NY Inspires and the development of learner-centered systems, these students offer a powerful reminder that meaningful change begins by elevating student voice. Their insights challenge educators, leaders, and communities to rethink long-held assumptions about learning, assessment, engagement, and success.

Throughout the conversation, students describe the experiences that matter most to them—authentic learning, real-world connections, community engagement, hands-on opportunities, and pathways that help them discover purpose and possibility. They speak candidly about motivation, belonging, communication, flexibility, and the importance of creating schools where students can take risks, learn from failure, and grow. These themes echo many of the priorities that are at the center of deeper learning and New York's ongoing transformation efforts.

This episode is a reminder that students are not simply recipients of educational change—they are essential partners in designing it.

In this episode:
00:00 – Why Student Voice Matters More Than Ever
Dr. Jonah Schenker introduces four student leaders and explores why listening to learners is essential as schools rethink readiness, engagement, and the future of education.

02:13 – What Makes Learning Actually Stick?
Students share the experiences that have had the greatest impact on their growth—from hands-on projects and career pathways to authentic learning beyond the classroom.

07:05 – The Power of Real-World Learning
Why internships, community partnerships, CTE programs, and applied learning opportunities help students connect school to purpose, passion, and future careers.

12:15 – Are Schools Preparing Students for the Real World?
A candid discussion about what schools do well, where they fall short, and the skills students believe matter most after graduation.

18:34 – Belonging, Relationships, and Student Success
Students reflect on the teachers, mentors, and environments that helped them feel seen, supported, and motivated to succeed.

23:48 – Why Failure Is One of the Best Teachers
From robotics competitions to technical training, students discuss resilience, risk-taking, and how learning from mistakes builds confidence and growth.

30:20 – If Students Designed School...
What would school look like if students had a seat at the design table? The group shares ideas for creating more relevant, engaging, and flexible learning experiences.

35:48 – What Adults Need to Hear from Students
The panel offers direct advice to educators and leaders about communication, trust, motivation, and creating learning environments where all students can thrive.

39:46 – The Future of School Is Student-Centered
The episode closes with powerful reflections on what students hope educators, policymakers, and communities will prioritize as they shape the future of learning.

https://www.ulsterboces.org/about-us/news-communications/podcast

What does it mean to lead school systems through a period of significant change while keeping students at the center of every decision? Together, Ulster County superintendents discuss the challenge of balancing innovation with stability as schools rethink traditional approaches to grading, engagement, and readiness through the work of New York Inspires. The conversation highlights the importance of student voice, authentic learning experiences, and community trust-building, while emphasizing that meaningful transformation requires more than adding new initiatives—it requires schools to examine longstanding systems, create space for deeper learning, and design pathways that prepare all students to thrive in an evolving world. Three superintendents with varying experience, district demographics, and community relationships share their voices on what this transformation means: Dr. Gwendolyn Roraback (Saugerties Central School District), Dr. Paul Padalino (Kingston City School District), and Anthony White (Wallkill Central School District).

Discover more tools, updates, and resources for NY Inspires–including how to get your copy of the NY Inspires Transformation Design Cycles Playbook that Dr. Betty A. Rosa, NYS Commissioner of Education, has mentioned in communication to the field—at our dedicated NY Inspires hub.

IN THIS EPISODE

00:00 – Introduction & Meet the Superintendents
 04:20 – District Contexts & Community Differences
 07:30 – What Students Need to Thrive
 10:00 – Engagement, Joy & Student-Driven Learning
 13:00 – Rethinking Success & Readiness
 19:30 – Leadership in Complex Times
 27:00 – New York Inspires & System Transformation
 33:30 – Why This Moment Feels Different
 38:00 – Building Community-Driven Change
 49:20 – What Schools Need to Stop Doing
 56:30 – Expanding Opportunity for Every Learner
 59:50 – Final Reflections: Creating the Conditions for Success

https://www.ulsterboces.org/about-us/news-communications/podcast

In this episode of Leading for Deeper Learning with Ulster BOCES, Dr. Jonah Schenker sits down with Dr. Raymond Sanchez, Superintendent of the Tarrytown School District and 2025 NYSOSS Superintendent of the Year.

Together, they explore what it means to lead in a moment of real transformation—where student voice, belonging, and meaningful learning must take center stage. Dr. Sanchez shares how his district is working to rethink systems, elevate student experiences, and create more adaptive pathways for every learner.

From redefining learning to navigating the shifts of NY Inspires, this conversation challenges educators to move beyond compliance and design schools that truly work for students.

This is a conversation about possibility—and the responsibility to build something better. 

EPISODE CHAPTERS

00:00 – Introduction

01:00 – Meet Dr. Sanchez & District Overview

06:30 – Leading in Complex Times

10:30 – Collaboration & Collective Leadership

12:00 – Vision, Pillars & Student Voice

18:00 – What Students Are Telling Us

20:00 – Rethinking Systems & Structures

23:00 – Portrait of a Learner & Defining Success

27:00 – New York Inspires: Opportunities Ahead

31:00 – Readiness, Resistance & Change Management

40:00 – Letting Go & Redesigning Learning

46:00 – The Roadmap Forward & What Leaders Need

https://www.ulsterboces.org/about-us/news-communications/podcast

Season 2 is here! Leading for Deeper Learning with Ulster BOCES is back—and this year we’re focusing on NY Inspires, New York State’s multi-year transformation of what it means to be a graduate. We took time to thoughtfully shape this season so it speaks directly to the changes ahead in New York and the promise of NY Inspires. We’re excited to get started and to share conversations that support meaningful learning across systems, schools, communities, and—most importantly—students.

Season 2 kicks off with a clear message from Dr. Jonah Schenker: the old model of school isn’t built for the world our students are stepping into—and the NY Inspires initiative gives us a once-in-a-generation opportunity to change that.

Join Dr. Schenker as he explores why this moment is energizing: we finally have permission, momentum, and a pathway to build learning environments grounded in belonging, relevance, equity, and real-world readiness.

How will this show up in our schools?
NY Inspires helps students by shifting school from a system built around compliance and sorting to one built around readiness, belonging, and real opportunity. It supports students to:
• Graduate with skills that matter, not just credits
• Demonstrate learning in multiple, meaningful ways, not just by testing
• Access authentic pathways, like internships, projects, etc., aligned to passions and future goals
• Experience stronger belonging, relevance, and engagement
• Succeed through multiple pathways while meeting high expectations

This season will spotlight what it takes to lead change well—sharing bright spots, hard questions, and real learning across the field as New York moves from current state to future state.
Subscribe and join the work ahead—because the opportunities this creates for students are too important to miss.

CHAPTER DETAILS
Episode Chapters
00:00 – Welcome & Season 2 Overview
Why Leading for Deeper Learning is returning with NY Inspires as the central theme.

01:00 – What Is NY Inspires?
A brief history of the initiative and why New York is rethinking what it means to graduate.

02:25 – The Four NY Inspires Transformations
• Portrait of a Graduate
• Reimagining credits and learning experiences
• Decoupling Regents exams from graduation requirements
• One diploma with multiple seals and endorsements

04:30 – Why the Traditional School Model Needs to Change
Why systems built on time, compliance, and sorting no longer serve students or society.

05:45 – Human-Centered Design & Empathy Work
Why listening to students, educators, families, and communities must come before implementation.

07:15 – Designing for Students Furthest from Opportunity
How equity-driven design benefits all learners and strengthens the entire system.

09:30 – What NY Inspires Makes Possible for Students
More relevant learning, authentic pathways, meaningful assessment, and a stronger sense of purpose.

11:30 – Leading Change Well
What leaders must rethink—time, schedules, calendars, and systems—to align values with practice.

13:30 – Season 2 Roadmap
What to expect this season: reflections, research, and conversations with leaders across the field.

15:00 – Invitation to the Field
Why innovation in isolation is a disservice—and how shared learning moves the work forward.

https://www.ulsterboces.org/about-us/news-communications/podcast

In this inspiring episode of Leading for Deeper Learning, Dr. Jonah Schenker sits down with three remarkable students—Olivia Butler, Matthew Parkhurst, and Jada Valles—from Ulster BOCES to explore what truly motivates them and how student voice shapes meaningful learning. Recorded at the Q29 Studio, this conversation dives into the power of purpose, the importance of being heard, and the impact of deeper learning experiences that are co-created with students at the center.

From personal reflections to powerful insights, Olivia, Matthew, and Jada share their “why”—what drives them, what they value in education, and how having a voice has changed the way they learn and lead. This episode is a must-listen for educators, leaders, and anyone passionate about student-centered education and authentic engagement.

https://www.ulsterboces.org/about-us/news-communications/podcast

In this special episode, Dr. Jonah Schenker, District Superintendent of Ulster BOCES, sits down with two of New York State’s leading voices in education policy—Deputy Commissioners Angelique Johnson-Dingle and Jason Harmon of the New York State Education Department. Recorded on location in the historic Medical Library of the NYSED Building in Albany, this powerful and candid conversation explores the New York Inspires initiatives and the bold reimagining of the state’s Portrait of a Graduate.

This isn’t a small movement—it’s a pivotal moment. The Graduation Measures initiative signals more than a shift in assessment; it’s a call to fundamentally change the container in which education is taught. Johnson-Dingle and Harmon share why now is the right time for these changes, what they mean for students and communities, and how New York is working to align its educational vision with the needs of today and tomorrow.

Tune in now for a unique, behind-the-scenes perspective on how education leaders are working with the NYS Education Department to empower students to be the architects of their own future.

https://www.ulsterboces.org/about-us/news-communications/podcast

How can leaders in non-student-facing roles cultivate a strong leadership culture while keeping students at the center?

In this episode of Leading for Deeper Learning, host Dr. Jonah Schenker, District Superintendent of Ulster BOCES, explores this critical question, as well as dives into how to cultivate the conditions needed for dreaming and designing a new future for education. The discussion highlights how Educator Edge supports teachers beyond traditional models to include the integration of culture-building with instruction—ensuring that joy, learning, and student voice remain at the heart of education.
The conversation also highlights the role of the Instructional Services team at Educator Edge in designing meaningful professional development experiences that empower educators and foster a culture where deeper learning thrives. Through CREW structures–which center on the power of relationships–and deeper learning practices, Ulster BOCES professional learning offerings help schools foster an environment where educators feel supported, students are heard, and teaching is infused with joy, purpose, and possibility.

Featuring:  
Sarah Dudley Lemek - Assistant Superintendent for Learning & Design - Educator Edge
Dr. Juli Ross-Kleinman and Yaa-Yaa Whaley-Williams, both Supervisors of Instructional Services at Educator Edge

https://www.ulsterboces.org/about-us/news-communications/podcast

Recorded on site in the Phoenix lab at the Ulster BOCES Career & Technical Center in Port Ewen, NY, in this episode of Leading for Deeper Learning our host Dr. Jonah Schenker (District Superintendent Ulster BOCES) leads a powerful conversation with Peter Harris (Assistant Superintendent for Learning & Design), Stephen Casa (Supervisor of Workplace Learning), and Karen Riche (Assistant Principal for Career & Technical Education). Together, they explore the transformative impact of Career & Technical Education (CTE) on students, communities, and the workforce.
The discussion highlights how Ulster BOCES CTE redefines learning by equipping young scholars and young professionals with technical, workplace and personal skills, a sense of identity, and a strong sense of community. With over 60% of CTE graduates pursuing college and others directly entering the workforce, the program offers pathways that prepare students for more than just the next four years—it prepares them for life.
Key topics include the importance of partnering with industries to create real-world, equity-based learning opportunities, fostering collaboration and joy through project-based learning, and breaking down outdated systems that limit student potential. Karen, a proud CTE graduate herself, shares how the program transformed her life, proving that CTE is not a secondary option but a vital pathway to success.
The conversation also dives into CTE's role as a cornerstone of economic and workforce development, with Ulster BOCES growing internship model and innovative plans for the future space at iPark 87 in Kingston, NY that blend education, industry, and community. Tune in to discover how Ulster BOCES is leading the charge in creating a regional hub for employability, opportunity, and lifelong learning.

Featuring:  
Peter Harris, Assistant Superintendent for Learning & Design - Career Pathways Programs
Stephen Casa, Supervisor of Workplace Learning, Career Pathways Programs
Karen Riche Assistant Principal for Career & Technical Education

https://www.ulsterboces.org/about-us/news-communications/podcast

Recorded on location as a snowstorm started to brew through the Ulster BOCES Career & Technical Center in Port Ewen, NY, this episode of Leading for Deeper Learning brings together Amanda Stokes, Assistant Superintendent for Administration, and Ed Forgit, Assistant Superintendent for Operations, for an in-depth conversation about the vital work happening behind the scenes to support learning for all—students and staff alike.
Amanda and Ed share how Ulster BOCES aligns its non-student-facing systems, structures, and processes with our "North Star" vision. From financial planning and resource allocation to fostering belonging and equity across the agency, they reveal how every role—whether in custodial services, food operations, or technology—ties back to the same guiding principles of equity, collaboration, and academic excellence.
In this episode, we explore how equity-based practices, such as budgeting and technology, create a sense of belonging for all learners. We discuss the collaboration between operational teams and educators to align their efforts and build systems that support deeper learning, as well as innovative approaches like empathy-building, cross-training, and breaking down "us vs. them" dynamics across divisions. Finally, we highlight how intentional professional learning helps non-instructional staff connect their work to classrooms, showing its direct impact on students and programs.
Amanda and Ed discuss how focusing on the "why" of the North Star enables teams to transcend traditional silos, creating a community where everyone pulls in the same direction. Tune in to hear how Ulster BOCES is building a foundation for a brighter future through strategic systems and collaboration.
Featuring:  
Amanda Stokes, Assistant Superintendent for Administration at Ulster BOCES
Ed Forgit, Assistant Superintendent for Operations at Ulster BOCES

https://www.ulsterboces.org/about-us/news-communications/podcast

In this episode of Portrait of a Leader, we gather a powerful roundtable of educational changemakers to explore how leadership can transcend traditional constraints by integrating heartset into decision-making. Whether guiding students or supporting educators, leaders are discovering that learning is a natural gift—rooted in play, mastery, and passion—that can ignite transformative change.
We challenge the outdated mindsets reflected in report card comments like “socializes too much” or “struggles to stay on task.” With support and direction, these very behaviors—building community, collaborating, and exploring—are the keys to reimagining education.
Join us as we unpack how leaders can foster deeper learning and embrace project-based approaches to revolutionize a system that has remained static for decades. Leadership is the foundation for this bold new vision—tune in to discover ways that you can be a part of the shift!
Featuring:  
Dr. Jill Berardi, Assistant Superintendent for Learning & Design - Center for Innovative Teaching & Learning Program at Ulster BOCES

Sarah Dudley-Lemek, Assistant Superintendent for Learning & Design - Educator Edge at Ulster BOCES 

Peter Harris, Assistant Superintendent for Learning & Design - Career Pathways Program at Ulster BOCES

https://www.ulsterboces.org/about-us/news-communications/podcast