Duration: 00:31:07

Guest: Alana Urbano, Hart Elementary School, Austin ISD

Lessons from the Field engages staff members from the Austin Independent School District about teaching and learning in our community. Discussions focus on various education topics and how they impact and empower teachers and students.

Website: Austin ISD Professional Learning

Social Media: @AustinISDPL

Want to be a guest on the Lessons From the Field Podcast? Tell us your story!

In this episode, Mark Gurgel and Matthew Castilleja interview Alana Urbano. Alana Urbano is a foodie, gamer, pet lover, and Music Teacher at Bernice Hart Elementary School in the glorious northeast side of Austin. Through her rich past in music and education, she is cultivating the lives of her students and striving to bring the community together through music.

During this episode, we discuss:

Duration: 00:34:12

Guest: Jeffrey Heffler, Paredes Middle School, Austin ISD

Lessons from the Field engages staff members from the Austin Independent School District about teaching and learning in our community. Discussions focus on various education topics and how they impact and empower teachers and students.

Website: Austin ISD Professional Learning

Social Media: @AustinISDPL

Want to be a guest on the Lessons From the Field Podcast? Tell us your story!

In this episode, Mark Gurgel and Matthew Castilleja interview Jeffrey Heffler who has taught in the Austin area for fifteen years- fourteen and a half as a band director, and five months as a 6th grade ELA teacher. He is a native of Boston Massachusetts and enjoys spending time with his wife, Crossfit, reading comic books, and attempting to play the piano.

During this episode, we discuss:

Duration: 00:21:50

Guest: Melissa Prepster, Gorzycki Middle School, Austin ISD

Lessons from the Field engages staff members from the Austin Independent School District about teaching and learning in our community. Discussions focus on various education topics and how they impact and empower teachers and students.

Website: Austin ISD Professional Learning

Social Media: @AustinISDPL

Want to be a guest on the Lessons From the Field Podcast? Tell us your story!

In this episode, Mark Gurgel and Matthew Castilleja interview Melissa Prepster. Melissa Prepster has been teaching for 28 years (20 in Austin) all in Middle School. She currently teaches 8th grade US History at Gorzycki Middle School. She serves as her campus CIC (Campus Innovation Connector) and Social Studies Department Chair. She is a National Board facilitator and assists in the district Teacher Induction Program. Melissa is a Wisconsin native (though she's lived in TX longer than she lived in Wisconsin) so that's why you hear the accent. She is an avid Packers fan, loves going to see the Eagles and Don Henley in concert, and is a two-day Jeopardy champ.

During this episode, we discuss:

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

Twitter accounts:

Duration: 00:33:43

Guest: Vicente Escalante, Reilly Elementary School, Austin ISD

Lessons from the Field engages staff members from the Austin Independent School District about teaching and learning in our community. Discussions focus on various education topics and how they impact and empower teachers and students.

Website: Austin ISD Professional Learning

Social Media: @AustinISDPL

Want to be a guest on the Lessons From the Field Podcast? Tell us your story!

In this episode, Mark Gurgel and Matthew Castilleja interview Vicente Escalante. Vicente Escalante is from the city of Mexico, the Aztec Empire, where he obtained his bachelor's degree in Nature Sciences and started teaching biology and chemistry in Middle and High School before he came to the U.S. He is currently a bilingual ECSE teacher, and a brand new NBCTS in exceptional needs.  He is a veteran teacher, but I feel my learning never stops.

During this episode, we discuss:

Duration: 00:32:34

Guest: Katie Brown, Cowan Elementary School, Austin ISD

Lessons from the Field engages staff members from the Austin Independent School District about teaching and learning in our community. Discussions focus on various education topics and how they impact and empower teachers and students.

Website: Austin ISD Professional Learning

Social Media: @AustinISDPL

In this episode, Mark Gurgel and Matthew Castilleja interview Katie Brown. Katie Gibbons Brown has been teaching in Austin ISD for 29 years and is currently in her 21st year at Cowan Elementary teaching 2nd grade. Katie is a product of Austin ISD having attended Pleasant Hill Elementary, Bedicheck MS, and Crockett HS. Mrs. Brown earned her masters in Elementary Education and is a National Board Certified Teacher since 2003.

During this episode, we discuss:

Duration: 00:32:00

Guest: Tania Tasneem, Kealing Middle School, Austin ISD

Lessons from the Field engages staff members from the Austin Independent School District about teaching and learning in our community. Discussions focus on various education topics and how they impact and empower teachers and students.

Website: Austin ISD Professional Learning

Social Media: @AustinISDPL

In this episode, Mark Gurgel and Matthew Castilleja interview Tania Tasneem, a science teacher at Kealing Middle School Austin ISD. Tania is in her 14th year at Kealing Middle School where she is teaching 8th-grade science, marine biology, and imagineers. She also coaches track and volleyball and in her first year as a campus innovation connector. In her free time, Tania enjoys crafting, her fur family, and dominating a game of dominoes with her husband.

During this episode, we discuss:

Duration: 00:37:49

Guest: Jennifer Smith, Mendez Stem Academy, Austin ISD

Lessons from the Field engages staff members from the Austin Independent School District about teaching and learning in our community. Discussions focus on various education topics and how they impact and empower teachers and students.

Website: Austin ISD Professional Learning

Social Media: @AustinISDPL

In this episode, Mark Gurgel and Matthew Castilleja interview Jennifer Smith. Jen Smith, a middle school educator in her fourth year of teaching is focused on curating scientifically rigorous explorations that spark joy, wonder, and intrigue. With a foundation in Culturally Responsive Teaching and SEL practices, she approaches her students with a keen eye for growth as they co-create their learning goals on the path to becoming life-long scientists together.

During this episode, we discuss:

Duration: 00:36:15

Guest: Matthew Castilleja

Lessons from the Field engages staff members from the Austin Independent School District about teaching and learning in our community. Discussions focus on various education topics and how they impact and empower teachers and students.

Website: Austin ISD Professional Learning

Social Media: @AustinISDPL

In this episode, Mark Gurgel and Matthew Castilleja discuss supporting campuses in the fall 2020. As an educator + professional learning designer and facilitator serving the educational community of Austin ISD, Matthew is passionate about developing teacher and student proficiency with teaching and learning in the classroom. As an advocate for best practices and seamless integration, he collaborates on projects and facilitates professional learning sessions using technology applications to enhance pedagogy, organization, and creative skills.

During this episode, we discuss:

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

Duration: 00:43:31

Guests: Laura Browder & Shane Rosenkrantz

Lessons from the Field engages staff members from the Austin Independent School District about teaching and learning in our community. Discussions focus on various education topics and how they impact and empower teachers and students.

Website: Austin ISD Professional Learning

Social Media: @AustinISDPL

In this episode, Mark Gurgel and Matthew Castilleja interview Laura Browder (Interim Director of Technology Integration) & Shane Rosenkrantz (Learning Systems Coordinator).

During this episode, we discuss:

Resources:

Duration: 00:48:04

Guests: Dr. Suzanne Newell & David Reinhart Austin Independent School District

Lessons from the Field engages staff members from the Austin Independent School District about teaching and learning in our community. Discussions focus on distance learning and how it impacts teachers and students.

Website: Austin ISD Professional Learning

Social Media: @AustinISDPL

In this episode, Mark Gurgel and Matthew Castilleja interview Dr. Suzanne Newell, the Director of Academics, and David Reinhart, the Director of Professional Learning, both in the Austin Independent School District.

During this episode, we discuss:

Resources mentioned in this episode include: