Learning Unboxed

In this episode of Learning Unboxed, we explore how Ferris, a facility dog at Upper Arlington High School, is transforming inclusion and leadership for students with disabilities. Kim Wilson, an Intervention Specialist, shares how Ferris fosters connections, encourages student leadership, and enhances the school community in ways beyond traditional support models.

What started as an experiment in disability inclusion became a powerful tool for engagement, bridging gaps between students and creating unexpected learning opportunities. From leading activities in elementary schools to bringing families together through his Instagram, Ferris’s impact extends far beyond the classroom.

We also discuss the challenges of introducing a facility dog in schools, including managing logistics, addressing allergies, and ensuring meaningful inclusion. Whether you’re an educator or simply love an inspiring story, this episode highlights how unconventional approaches can reshape education.

To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.org

We unbox:

• How Ferris the facility dog fosters inclusion and leadership among students with disabilities.
• The process of bringing a facility dog to a school, from idea to implementation.
• The unexpected ways Ferris connects the broader school community and even families at home.
• The subtle promotion of disability awareness without focusing directly on disabilities.
• Challenges schools should consider before introducing a facility dog, including managing allergies and cultural sensitivities.

Resources:

• Paws with a Cause: The organization that provided Ferris and supports facility dog programs tailored to educational environments. Learn more about their work.
• Ferris’s Instagram: Follow Ferris’s daily adventures and see how he’s making an impact at Upper Arlington High School. @UAFerris

Produced by NOVA

In this episode of Learning Unboxed, we dive into the transformative power of the Portrait of a Graduate with Shannon King, Chief Learning Officer at Battelle for Kids. This initiative is reshaping how schools define student success, moving beyond grades and test scores to include durable skills like communication, collaboration, and critical thinking—skills that are essential for thriving in the modern workforce.

Shannon shares insights into the Portrait to Practice and Portrait to Impact frameworks, which help educators bring these skills into the classroom and measure real-world success. We explore the critical role of community engagement in redefining education and discuss the growing recognition that traditional schooling no longer meets the needs of students or employers. With research showing that 85% of job success comes from skills schools often overlook, this work is more urgent than ever.

Join us as we discuss the challenges and opportunities in transforming education, from rethinking assessments and leadership training to shifting the way schools communicate their values. If we were to excavate a school thousands of years from now, what would its artifacts say about what we valued? It’s time to ensure that education truly prepares students for a future we can’t yet predict.

To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.org

We unbox:

• The Portrait of a Graduate and why it matters
• Durable skills and their impact on workforce readiness
• How communities and businesses influence education reform
• Challenges in transforming schools and redefining success
• The role of authentic assessment and student-led learning
• Why the traditional education model is obsolete and needs reinvention

Resources:

• Connect with Shannon on LinkedIn
• Battelle for Kids – Organization leading the Portrait of a Graduate initiative. Learn more here
• EdLeader21 Network: www.battelleforkids.org/networks/edleader21-network/
• The Future of the Portrait of a Graduate Special Report

Produced by NOVA

What if education worked for every child, no matter where they lived or how they learned?

In this episode of Learning Unboxed, we welcome Carmela Fleury, the creator of the Global Education Meetup Retreat and host of the Global Nomad Parent Podcast. Carmela is on a mission to reimagine education on a global scale with the launch of the Common Global School Diploma, an ambitious initiative that brings together progressive educators and alternative learning institutions from around the world.

We explore the shifting landscape of education, how digital nomad families and neurodiverse students are challenging the traditional model, and why now is the time to create a globally recognized alternative to standardized schooling. With a focus on self-directed learning, mastery-based assessments, and e-portfolios, Carmela shares her vision for a future where education meets students where they are. Tune in as we discuss the potential impact of this global initiative and how it could reshape the way we think about learning.

To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.org

We unbox:

• The Global Education Meetup 2025 and its mission to create a Common Global School Diploma
• How progressive education models are challenging traditional schooling
• The role of AI and technology in designing personalized learning experiences
• The importance of mentors over traditional teachers in student development
• How e-portfolios could replace traditional transcripts and revolutionize assessments

Resources:

• Learn more at carmelafleury.com
• Listen to the Global Nomad Parents Podcast
• Learn more: The Global Education Meetup 2025
• Read the article Creating a Global Educational System
• Follow Carmela on Instagram: @carmela_fleury

Produced by NOVA

In this episode of Learning Unboxed, we’re joined by Dave Hersh, the CEO of InTandem, a groundbreaking organization connecting youth voices with industries to improve products, programs, and services. Dave’s work centers on reducing the barriers that prevent young people from participating in the design of the very systems and tools that impact their lives. By removing logistical, regulatory, and cultural obstacles, InTandem ensures youth are not just heard but actively co-designing the future.

Dave shares his insights into the friction industries face when engaging with young people and explains how InTandem bridges this gap. We dive into the transformative potential of youth-driven design, from education technology to app development, and how organizations gain actionable insights by involving young people at every stage of the R&D process. Dave also explores the profound impact this engagement has on youth, fostering agency, belonging, and real-world skills.

Tune in to hear how InTandem is redefining collaboration between generations, giving young people a seat at the table, and helping organizations create solutions that truly work.

To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.org

We unbox:

• The importance of youth voices in user-centered design.
• Barriers to involving young people in decision-making and how to overcome them.
• The mutual benefits for organizations and youth in co-designing solutions.
• The transformative role of agency and belonging for young participants.
• Real-world examples of how InTandem connects youth with industries.

Resources:

• Learn more about In Tandem
• Read 10 to 25: The Science of Motivating Young People by David Yeager
• Connect with Dave Hersh on LinkedIn

Produced by NOVA

In this episode of Learning Unboxed, we have the privilege of delving into the personal journey of Kapono Ciotti, CEO of the Pacific American Foundation and co-author of the Landscape Model of Learning. His story, inspired by his parents and his own empowering school experiences, resonates with our shared commitment to reimagining education as a space where students are the protagonists of their learning journey.

We explore the origins of the PEAK model, rooted in the work of "What School Could Be," and its focus on fostering purpose, essential skills, student agency, and deep, applied learning. Kapono's emphasis on celebrating schools' successes beyond standardized testing is a beacon of hope, providing a pathway for certification of distinction and encouraging schools to spotlight and build on what they're doing well. 

Kapono shares insights into the challenges of educational reform, from systemic bureaucracy to integrating AI, and introduces the 'island change model,' a practical and applicable framework for guiding schools through transformation. This episode is an inspiring look at how education can evolve to meet the needs of the future by focusing on adaptability, empathy, and creativity.

To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.org

We unbox:

• The origins and principles of the PEAK model for educational transformation.
• How the Pacific American Foundation works to foster purpose-driven learning across the globe.
• Challenges and opportunities in education, including the role of AI.
• Practical frameworks for managing change in schools.
• Strategies for celebrating and scaling innovative educational practices.

Resources:

• Learn more at reimaginelearning.ca
• Hyperlinked URLs to relevant social media channels
• Follow Kapono on Instagram: @kaponociotti
• Take the survey: reimaginelearning.ca/survey
• Read The Landscape Model of Learning

Produced by NOVA

In this episode of Learning Unboxed, we’re joined by Alan Tang, co-founder of Collaboration Laboratory (CoLab), an award-winning online program that teaches kids life skills through immersive, game-based learning. CoLab combines elements of Pokemon and Sherlock Holmes, using interactive challenges to help kids develop confidence, leadership, and critical thinking—all while having fun.

Alan shares his unconventional career journey from corporate finance to education and how his experiences led him to create a platform that engages students in authentic learning. CoLab’s global approach fosters collaboration between children from different cultures, allowing them to learn through negotiation, experimentation, and shared problem-solving. The program’s impact isn’t just limited to kids—companies and leadership teams are using CoLab’s methodology to improve teamwork and decision-making.

Tune in to hear how CoLab is redefining education by making learning engaging, accessible, and truly transformative. Whether you’re an educator, parent, or business leader, Alan’s insights will leave you inspired to rethink how we teach and learn.

To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.org

We unbox:

• How CoLab gamifies learning to teach essential life skills.
• The power of engagement-driven education in building problem-solving and leadership abilities.
• The unexpected benefits of game-based learning for corporate teams.
• Creating a global classroom where kids learn through cultural exchange.
• The role of reflection and iteration in fostering real-world skills.
• Expanding access to high-quality education through an inclusive, subsidized model.

Resources:

• Learn more about CoLab: collaborationlaboratory.com
• Connect with Alan on LinkedIn

Produced by NOVA

Dr. Maggie Broderick is the Dissertation Chair in the Department of Teacher Education at National University. National University has doctoral students all over the world and credentials the most PK-12 teachers in the state of California. 

Because of her position, Maggie has an incredible view of the latest research in teacher education. Today, she joins the show to share the latest trends in doctoral research in this area.

We discuss the surge of interest in social-emotional learning and the concept of teacher dispositions. We also touch on generational differences and the role of technology. 

To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.org

We unbox:

• How teacher education needs to be agile
• Reasons for the increased interest in social-emotional learning research
• The new field of questions about the role of teacher dispositions  

Resources:

• Read “Mindset” by Carolyn Dweck
• Learn more about the work of Ken Robinson
• National University: https://www.nu.edu/

Produced by NOVA Media

Amber Humm Patnode has spent over a decade researching the root causes of chronic absenteeism and how to address them effectively. She joins us today to explain what the data shows.

Amber is the Acting Director of the Proving Ground program, part of Harvard University’s Center for Education Policy Research. She helps school districts assess the data they have related to chronic absenteeism, analyze it, and come up with timely solutions.

In today’s episode, we talk about the three main categories of root causes– physical, aversion, and disengagement– and what educators can do about them.

To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.org

We unbox:

• The physical barriers leading to absenteeism: illness, transportation, suspensions, etc.
• The “aversion” reasons for absenteeism: perception of safety, social-emotion difficulties. etc.
• The “disengagement” root cause of absenteeism: When students or families don’t see how attendance is going to help students reach their goals.

Resources:

• Learn more about Proving Ground
• Learn more about Attendance Works 

Produced by NOVA Media

What if instead of pushing every high schooler into Algebra 2, we let them choose a math route that focused more on data science and computers? That’s what Chris Orban and the Math Pathways project are working to make happen in the state of Ohio.

On the show today, Chris describes how he’s helping increase access to computer science education for kids across the state through math course offerings. He walks us through what those courses can look like, including a project on the Nintendo64 Mario game.

Chris gives an excellent, deep-in-the-weeds perspective of what it takes to make this kind of systemic change.

To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.org

We unbox:

• How a course can serve as both a math class and a computer science class
• What systems change looks like from an in-the-weeds perspective
• How community members can be impactful in education policy change 

Resources:

• Learn more about the Math Pathways project

Produced by NOVA

Kasondra Wilson was a first generation college student and now works at one of the top consulting firms in the world, Deloitte. She knows firsthand what boost students need in order to thrive in the professional environment. Kasondra is one of our industry partners here at the PAST foundation, and we’re thrilled to have her on the show today.

Kasondra walks our listeners through how to attract and retain industry partners in the education and youth development space. If you’ve been hesitant about reaching out to local industry partners for your own organization, you’ll definitely feel more confident after tuning in to this episode.  

We are so proud of our partnership with Kasondra and Deloitte. Thank you to all our industry partners out there!

To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.org

We unbox:

• How to look through an corporate org chart to identify potential partners
• What collaboration looks like between educators and industry professionals
• How industry partners can identify what they have to offer students

Resources:

• Learn more about Deloitte’s Skill-Based Volunteering

Produced by NOVA