Lessons from the Field - Austin ISD Professional Learning

Lessons from the Field - Austin ISD Professional Learning

By Austin ISD Professional LearningEducation
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Lessons from the Field - Austin ISD Professional Learning episodes

  • Episode #40: Lessons from the Field

    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!

    • Fill out this form and we'll get in touch with you!
    • 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:

      • Journey this school year [4:30]
      • Teaching elementary music & essential area content [11:07]
      • Connecting classroom to the community [16:25]
      • 32 min
      • Episode #39: Lessons from the Field

        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!

        • Fill out this form and we'll get in touch with you!
        • 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:

          • Description of this year [4:30]
          • Transition from band directing to teaching English [11:45]
          • Challenges and learnings [17:50]
          • Planning for success in the fall [21:05]
          • Professional learning and growth [24:32]
          • 35 min
          • Episode #38: Lessons from the Field

            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!

            • Fill out this form and we'll get in touch with you!
            • 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:

              • Experiences and learnings this year [3:15]
              • Building relationships [6:30]
              • Challenges [10:05]
              • A day in the life of [12:50]
              • Pedagogy to keep for next year [16:04]
              • Resources mentioned in this episode include:

                Twitter accounts:

                • @mrfitzhist
                • @MrThortonTeach
                • @KateJones_teach
                • @historysandoval
                • 22 min
                • Episode #37: Lessons from the Field

                  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!

                  • Fill out this form and we'll get in touch with you!
                  • 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:

                    • How has the year gone? [4:00]
                    • A day in the life of student [6:30]
                    • Transition for students in early childhood [9:20]
                    • Student engagement [14:22]
                    • Opportunities and Learnings [17:15]
                    • Looking ahead to the fall [20:45]
                    • How to pursue this teaching role [23:50]
                    • 34 min
                    • Episode #36: Lessons from the Field

                      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:

                      • Teaching right now [4:40]
                      • A day in the life of students [8:50]
                      • Pivotal instructional moves through-out the year [14:50]
                      • Opportunities learned [18:47]
                      • Engagement [22:00]
                      • Working with new to AISD teachers [25:00]
                      • 33 min
                      • Episode #35: Lessons from the Field

                        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:

                        • Current reality of working with students right now [3:20]
                        • Building relationships [8:33]
                        • Engagement [13:50]
                        • Assessing learning [16:40]
                        • Learned opportunities [22:00]
                        • Campus innovation connector role [25:42]
                        • 32 min
                        • Episode #34: Lessons from the Field

                          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:

                          • What does your current reality look like? [2:00]
                          • Engaging students in an online environment [7:45]
                          • Campus collaborations [12:50]
                          • The transition from 5th grade to 6th grade [18:06]
                          • Challenges & Opportunities [23:13]
                          • A look back in time [30:15]
                          • 38 min
                          • Episode #28: Lessons from the Field

                            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:

                            • Experiences in supporting campuses in the fall [5:30]
                            • Structure of a typical day [15:05]
                            • Challenges & celebrations [22:05]
                            • Resources mentioned in this episode include:

                              • Concurrent BLEND course
                              • 37 min
                              • Episode #21: Lessons from the Field

                                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:

                                • Projects of the technology design team [3:30]
                                • High-leverage personalization strategies [13:37]
                                • Blueprint Courses [19:38]
                                • Technology Design Coaches [33:05]
                                • Words of inspiration [41:00]
                                • Resources:

                                  • High Leverage Personalization Strategies
                                  • TDT Blog
                                  • Follow us on Twitter: @aisdtdt 
                                  • Subscribe to us on YouTube: AISD TDT
                                  • TDT Campus Assignments: bit.ly/meetyourtdc
                                  • Remote Learning Stances
                                  • 44 min
                                  • Episode #15: Lessons from the Field

                                    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:

                                    • Preparations to support teachers return [3:29]
                                    • Reopening Conference Competencies [12:01]
                                    • Choice & Variety for Learners [29:05]
                                    • Continued support after Reopening [34:11]
                                    • Resources mentioned in this episode include:

                                      • REOPENING flyer
                                      • REOPENING Conference Schedule
                                      • 49 min

                                      About Lessons from the Field - Austin ISD Professional Learning

                                      From the publisher's feed

                                      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.