Lessons from the Field - Austin ISD Professional Learning

Lessons from the Field - Austin ISD Professional Learning

By Austin ISD Professional LearningEducation
Download on the App Store

Lessons from the Field - Austin ISD Professional Learning episodes

  • Episode #22: Lessons from the Field

    Duration: 00:33:49

    Guest: Dr. David Kauffman, Dr. Aida Alanis, Salimah Shamsuddin

    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 Dr. David Kaffman (Executive Director of Multilingual Education), Dr. Aida Alanis (Assistant Director of Multilingual Education), and Salimah Shamsuddin (Refugee Family Support Coordinator).

    During this episode, we discuss:

    • Work of the Multilingual Team [2:57]
    • Challenges and opportunities in a distance environment [20:04]
    • Where to go to for support [26:37]

      • Resources mentioned in this episode include:

      • High Leverage Personalization Strategies
        • 34 min
      • Episode #20: Lessons from the Field

        Duration: 00:39:16

        Guest: Sara Freund and Bavu Blakes, Cultural Proficiency & Inclusiveness Specialists, 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 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 Sara Freund and Bavu Blakes, Cultural Proficiency & Inclusiveness Specialists for Austin ISD.

        During this episode, we discuss:

        • What is CP&I? [3:20]
        • CP&I work in Austin ISD [10:30]
        • Where to start the journey? [22:11]
        • CP&I professional learning in a virtual environment [25:50]
        • Words of inspiration [35:00]

          • Resources mentioned in this episode include:

          • Austin ISD CP&I Website
          • CP&I Newsletter
            • 40 min
          • Episode #19: Lessons from the Field

            Duration: 00:28:51

            Guest: James Butler, the Mindfulness Specialist, 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 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 James Butler, the Mindfulness Specialist in Austin ISD.

            During this episode, we discuss:

            • What is mindfulness? What does it look like in AISD? [2:32]
            • Starting mindfulness practices [7:34]
            • Educator specific practices [10:51]
            • Distance learning discoveries [16:50]
            • Top 3 recommendations [20:00]
            • Vision of mindfulness [22:43]

              • Resources mentioned in this episode include:

              • AISD Mindfulness Website
              • Twitter - 2 Minute Mindful Moments (@Mrbutler629)
              • Headspace App
              • SEL At-Home Website
                • 29 min
              • Episode #18: Lessons from the Field

                Duration: 00:36:32

                Guest: Ami Cortes-Castillo, Director of Early Childhood, Jessica Jolliffe, Assistant Director of Humanities, and Danielle Perico, Assistant Director of STEM. 

                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 Ami Cortes-Castillo (Director of Early Childhood), Jessica Jolliffe (Assistant Director of Humanities), and Danielle Perico (Assistant Director of STEM) in AISD.

                During this episode, we discuss:

                • Work to support the start of school in 20-21 [1:45]
                • Challenges and learning from the work [9:05]
                • Successes and what is working well [16:10]
                • What school might/could look like [21:11]
                • What role is the instructional coach now serving in? [26:15]

                  • Resources mentioned in this episode include:

                  • BLEND Blueprint Courses
                  • Seesaw
                  • Playposit
                    • 37 min
                  • Episode #17: Lessons from the Field

                    Duration: 00:26:01

                    Guest: Sandy Chilton, Uphaus Early Childhood Center, 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 Sandy Chilton, an early childhood educator in Austin ISD for 15 years. She is a passionate supporter of play-based learning for young children.

                    During this episode, we discuss:

                    • Ending the 2019-20 school year [2:38]
                    • Distance learning for Early Childhood students [7:47]
                    • Challenges in moving to distance learning [12:51]
                    • Planning for the start of the upcoming school year [18:39]

                      • Resources mentioned in this episode include:

                      • Seesaw
                        • 27 min
                      • Episode #16: Lessons from the Field

                        Duration: 00:28:57

                        Guest: Sterlin McGruder, Northeast Early College High School, 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 Sterlin McGruder, the principal at Northeast Early College High School.

                        During this episode, we discuss:

                        • The 2019-2020 school year and the transition [2:33]
                        • SEL in a distance learning environment [7:18]
                        • Challenges during the 2019-2020 transitions [11:32]
                        • Online tools and resources [19:30]
                        • Advice for the start of the school year [23:14]

                          • Resources mentioned in this episode include:

                          • Smore - Educators
                          • Canvas (BLEND)
                          • Zoom
                            • 29 min
                          • Episode #14: Lessons from the Field

                            Duration: 00:29:38

                            Guest: Leyla Olano, Joslin Elementary School, 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

                            Mark Gurgel and Matthew Castilleja interview Leyla Olano, the proud Assistant Principal of Jerry Joslin Elementary. She loves what she does and is a firm believer that ALL kids deserve access and support to a high-quality education!

                            During this episode, we discuss:

                            • Experiences as an assistant principal in her first year in AISD [3:56]
                            • Transition to distance learning [8:29]
                            • Preparing for the start of school [12:11]
                            • Transition from middle school to elementary school [19:52]
                              • 30 min
                            • Episode #13: Lessons from the Field

                              Duration: 00:32:31

                              Guest: Eric Ortmann, Crockett High School, 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

                              Mark Gurgel and Matthew Castilleja interview Eric Ortman, a secondary math educator in Austin, Texas, who tries his best every day to effectively facilitate collaboration, growth, and joy for people.  He currently serves the Crockett High School community as a department chair, instructional coach, teacher, and soccer coach.

                              During this episode, we discuss:

                              • Working with students and families [3:31]
                              • Challenges teaching in a distance environment [11:11]
                              • New discoveries shifting to distance environment [16:46]
                              • Advice to prepare for the new school year [21:21]

                                • Resources mentioned in this episode include:

                                • Desmos
                                  • 33 min
                                • Episode #12: Lessons from the Field

                                  Duration: 39:55

                                  Guest: Veronica Sharp, T.A. Brown Elementary School, 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 Veronica Sharp the campus principal at T.A. Brown ES in the Austin Independent School District.

                                  During this episode, we discuss:

                                  • Working with students and families [4:26]
                                  • Looking ahead to the fall [14:44]
                                  • A day as an administrator in a distance learning environment [24:14]

                                    • Resources mentioned in this episode include:

                                    • Flipgrid
                                      • 40 min
                                    • Episode #11: Lessons from the Field

                                      Duration: 37:25

                                      Guest: Jeff Seckar-Martinez, McCallum High School, 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 Jeff Seckar-Martinez, M.Ed. (NBCT) a visual arts teacher at McCallum HS, home of the Fine Arts Academy.  He has taught for 26 years and is a strong advocate for equitable arts education in public schools.  He lives in Austin with his wife and 2 daughters.  Seckar-Martinez enjoys painting and drawing and is part of the arts community in Austin.

                                      During this episode, we discuss:

                                      • Working with students and families [4:15]
                                      • Supporting students using technology [9:02]
                                      • Challenges & opportunities for distance learning [14:05]
                                      • Positives from the experiences [22:49]
                                      • Looking ahead to the fall [26:06]

                                        • Resources mentioned in this episode include:

                                        • MAC Journalism
                                        • Drawasaurus 
                                          • 38 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.