LinkedUp: Breaking Boundaries in Education

Dr. Jill Siler has been serving as the Superintendent of Gunter ISD since 2012 and has been in education for nearly 25 years.    Jill has a passion for helping others reach their goals and has been a frequent speaker at TASA’s First-Time Superintendent Academy, TCWSE and other leadership conferences. She is the Chair of the Future-Ready Superintendent Leadership Network Design Team where innovative leaders from across the state gather to learn, share and grow together. Jill is also currently serving as the lead facilitator for TASA’s Aspiring Superintendent Academy.  Jill’s first book, Thrive Through the Five, was released in September and focuses on how to thrive through the most challenging seasons. Her book empowers leaders at all levels to thrive and lead during difficult times by giving them concrete examples and frameworks to inspire and provide a roadmap to work through tough leadership situations.  Although the book is aimed at leaders it the ideas transcend into personal lives as well.  In this podcast, you will experience Jill's enthusiasm, expertise and experience Jill's empowering ideas. The timing of this podcast is serendipitous with the many challenges our educators are facing during the pandemic.  Listen and gain some strategies to help you power through these tough times.

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 Order Thrive Through the Five: Practical Truths to Powerfully Lead through Challenging Times   https://www.amazon.com/Thrive-Through-Five-Powerfully-Challenging/dp/195160038X/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=thrive+through+the+five&qid=1606067929&sr=8-3

Educators know that ISTE is the premier international conference, but how do you have a conference in a pandemic for over 15,000 people?  Our guest Liz Lee gives us an inside look into ISTE and what is happening in 2020. Liz Miller Lee is the Director of Online Learning at the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). She leads ISTE U, ISTE’s online professional learning initiative, to help educators build the confidence, tools and strategies to accelerate innovation in their schools through engaging and impactful online courses.

RESOURCE - online teaching microcourses and academy - https://www.iste.org/academy

LinkedUp goes international for this podcast about the global COVID impacts on schools and families.Jamie and Jerri visit with school leaders Adam Archer from Vietnam, Jeff Kersting from Qutar, Jennifer Surujpaul of Egypt and Mark Goldhawk from the United Kingdom.  These educational leaders discuss the issues they have overcome as they work to educate students around the world  during a pandemic. Our friends in VIetnam discuss how they actually get their internet through a pipe in the ocean and the connectivity issues that surround that kind of internet connection. The best part of the podcast is learning from this global community and realizing we are all connected.  Technolgy gives us the power to learn from each other and grow together as leaders druing this very difficult time.   More about our guests:  Jennifer Surupaul has been working as a Director of IT in NCBIS for over two years. She currently holdas National Professional Qualification Middle Leadership (NPQML) focusing on development of leadership skills by raising attainment throughout the whole school. Previous to joining NCBIS, she  taught in the UK as Head of Computer Science and E-learning specialist for over 15 years. She is  passionate about education and technology, ensuring every child has the digital skills to succeed by developing resilience, confidence and becoming risk takers throughout the curriculum. She has also worked and lived in Holland as a network consultant. During her spare time, she enjoys fundraising for different charities including Cleft Lip and Palate Association (CLAPA) and Cancer Research. After 20 years of working in industries such as Biotechnology and Education, Adam Archer continues to be fascinated and passionate about technology’s role in our future. As a lifelong learner, he studies new technologies and methods to foster innovation. Adam believe that successful teamwork stems from a combination of empathy and technical proficiency. The positive influence of mentors and talented colleagues has helped him develop expertise in team leadership, enterprise architecture, and navigating organizational change. Mark Goldhawk is the Head of Digital Learning and part of the Senior Leadership Team at The Hawthorns School (Surrey, United Kingdom). He leads the School’s Digital Strategy to deliver an innovative curriculum that engages and inspires children to be creators, not just consumers. His other responsibilities include leading and managing academic reporting to parents and the senior school transfer process of pupils to their selected senior schools.  In his free time, Mark enjoys running with his wife Natalie and taking part in race events. He is also a Training Officer within the Combined Cadet Force, managing and delivering training to young men and women to develop their qualities of leadership, self-reliance and initiative. Jeff Kersting started teaching Grade 4  in 1995 in Idaho Falls, ID and after three years  he  began his overseas teaching experience at Tashkent International School in Uzbekistan with my wife .  In the Fall of 2000, they trekked  to South Korea and spent the next 17 years at Seoul Foreign School, teaching Grade 2 and Grade 4,   and MS computers. Jeff then became the Director of Educational Technology and finished up as the school's Director of Information Technology overseeing all infrastructure and educational technology for the school.  He and his wife left Korea in 2017 and have now live in Doha, Qatar at American School of Doha.  Jeff has been the  school's Director of Innovation and Technology for the past 3 years.  In his spare time, Jeff loves hunting and fishing and especially my passion for woodworking.

As a twenty-year coaching veteran, Renee Lopez is an expert in the college recruiting process, leadership development training, and creating positive team environments. As a United States Soccer Federation (USSF)- and National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)- licensed coach, she has recruited and produced 3 All-Americans and has been honored as Coach of the Year by her peers. In addition, she has served as an NCAA Compliance Director. She has learned the recruiting process from being a college student-athlete herself and from having worked as a high school varsity head coach for three years and a college coach for fourteen, in NCAA Divisions I, II, III, and NAIA.  produced 3 All-Americans and has been honored as Coach of the Year by her peers. In addition, she has served as an NCAA Compliance Director. She has learned the recruiting process from being a college student-athlete herself and from having worked as a high school varsity head coach for three years and a college coach for fourteen, in NCAA Divisions I, II, III, and NAIA.   In addition to being the CEO of her own leadership development, teambuilding, and coaching education academy consulting service, she is the author of a book on the college recruiting process for student-athletes titled Looking For A FULL RIDE?: An Insider’s Recruiting Guide where she has interviewed 65 college coaches and athletic directors. She currently does recruiting educational programs for individual families and groups.   In addition to consulting with high school families, coaches, athletic directors, and guidance counselors, she regularly speaks as a keynote and teaches seminars with Fortune 500 companies, sports organizations, non-for-profits, churches, and community groups. Her most requested keynote is “Building More Positive, Effective, and Confident Leaders and Teams”. She runs a weekly blog on the college recruiting process for high school student-athletes, 9 different Facebook groups related to coaching, recruiting, teambuilding, mindset, and leadership.  Her undergraduate degree is in Elementary Education and her graduate work from the University of Florida is in Exercise Sport Science (Sport Management/Pedagogy). She is also a certified speaker, trainer, and coach with the John Maxwell Team, Jon Gordon Company, D.I.S.C. Assessment Consulting, 3Dimensional Coaching, and Positive Coaching Alliance.  For more information on Renee Lopez: www.rlopezcoaching.com http://www.lookingforafullride.com/ http://blackcardspeakersbureau.com/topic/leadership-speakers/ http://www.johncmaxwellgroup.com/reneelopez/About Jon Gordon :: JG Speakers

George Perreault has been on the leading edge of technology integration in education for over two decades.  In this podcast he brings  the experience of having been the Instructional Technology Director for the 10th largest school district in the country, as he discusses technology integration during the pandemic. George outlines the need for digital learning in the face to face, remote learning and hybrid learning environments, and articulates the critical difference between digitized and digital curriculum.  Perreault identifies examples of successful teacher solutions and how digital integration can increase engagement, interactivity and develop 21st century skills for students. Currently George Perreault is the Chief Academic Officer at ClassLink.

Esports has arrived in many schools and they are a game changer.  Listen as you hear from two eSPorts coaches as they talk about the setup, rigor, and positive outcomes of eSPorts. Chris Aviles is a teacher at Knollwood middle school in Fair Haven, New Jersey. There he runs the renowned Fair Haven Innovates program he created in 2015. Part of his FH Innovates program includes the FH Knights, the first middle school esports team in the country. As coach of the FH Knights, Aviles and his players take on all comers from around the country including other middle schools, high schools, and even colleges. Chris has been involved in esports since 1998 and he is passionate about growing the esportsedu movement. He has authored The Esports Education Playbook and runs a nonprofit, Garden State Esports, to help other educators start esports teams in their schools. Nate Simons is the Director of Technology for the Louisville Public School District in Louisville, NE. The district is PreK-12 and all in one building with about 650 students. Along with his tech director and teaching duties, he is also the high school Esports coach. Nate is on the board of the Nebraska School Esports Association (a NASEF affiliate) where he helps to organize season tournaments and helps to grow the scholastic gaming community.  To find out more about The Esports Education Playbook and the work Chris is doing, visit his website at http://www.techedupteacher.com/about-chris-aviles/

In this insightful eposide, dIgital sociologist, Dr. Julie Albright discusses the unseen opportunities in digital infrastructure - which she calls "the best job nobody knows about." She digs deep into how young people - and even older, more experienced people - have no idea that there is an entire suite of people and technologies running the apps they use on their phones everyday. Dr. ALbright discusses the  innovations in technology, specifically  power/ heating & cooling, battery storage and the impact they can have a global impact on things like climate change. Young people can make a significant difference in the world and this podcast disusses how this can happen and how our educational system plays a role in empowering young people.

Dr. Julie M. Albright is a digital sociologist who was the Behavioral Lead of a $121 million Smart Grid Demonstration Grant funded by the U.S. Dept of Energy, and former managing director of the USC Energy Institute. She is a Board Member of Infrastructure Masons. A frequent media commentator, she teaches classes at USC on the Psychology of Interactive media and Sustainable Infrastructure. Her bestselling book Left to Their Own Devices: How Digital Natives Are Reshaping the American Dream from Prometheus Books was chosen as a Bloomberg - Top 30 Book of the Year. Her next book - the Cloud Machine, co-authored by Dean Nelson - will look at the challenges and opportunities of connecting everybody globally.

Parents, grandparent, and siblings are now part of the educational and instructional landscape! Join this webinar to hear from parents, grandparents, and experts in the field here about their successes, challenges, and tips for all!

This episode features former teacher and school counselor after 43 years in education Paula Henderson. Retired and now living in Lawrence, Kansas.  Loved my 43 years in education.  Taught many classes, from Art to Psychology,  preschool through college, in Kansas and Texas.  My last 23 years, in education, I was a School Counselor.

Also Public Relations Specialist Matt Lara. Matt is a public relations professional at a regional health system, sharing stories of the patients they serve. Matt spends most nights and weekends on the soccer fields with is five active boys. When not on the soccer fields, him and his family enjoy spending time with their five dogs and finding new adventures to go on!

And Ruben Lara, Behavioral Health Service Coordinator. Ruben Lara is currently a Licensed Master of Social Work in the State of Kansas. Ruben is originally from Topeka, KS. Ruben attended Baker University for his undergraduate degree and graduated in 2011 with a Bachelors of Arts in Sociology with an emphasis in Criminal Justice. Ruben then attended graduate school in Azusa, CA where he obtained his Masters in Social Work in 2013. After obtaining his Masters in Social Work, he then went back to Baker University and graduated with a Masters in Healthcare Administration with an emphasis in Healthcare Administration. Ruben currently works for Aetna Better Health of Kansas as a Behavioral Health Service Coordinator as well as doing part time crisis for Family Service and Guidance Center where he works with children that are having a mental health crisis. Ruben also serves as an adjunct professor for Washburn University in the Master of Social Work program. When not working Ruben also currently services on the board of directors for CASA of Shawnee County as well as assisting with the Foster Parent Advisory Board with KVC. Ruben and his husband, Matt Lara are currently parents to five children.

And finally Folake Oshodi MD.  I am an adult and child psychiatrist.  I received my undergraduate degree from University of Pennsylvania and my medical degree from the University of Wisconsin.  I did my residency and fellowship at Albert Einstein/Montefiore College of Medicine.  I have been practicing psychiatry in NYC for 10 years and now in the Central Coast of California.  I am a distinguished fellow with the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists.

In this episode,Internet Safety: Keeping our Kids Safe Online, Gretchen Thompson uses the analogy that our students are on-line the new internet playground, yet who is on recess duty to alert listeners to concerns now that almost all students are spending educational time online.  Gretchen doesn’t only speak of the perils, she also provides tips to help parents keep their children safe during remote leaning.   Gretchen Thompson is the Regional Vice President of Sales for Gaggle. She brings with her an expansive background in educational technology, holding titles as Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Market Development, and Sales and Outreach over the past 12 years. A polished public speaker and passionate advocate for safety in the K-12 digital playground, she also holds certificates in women’s executive leadership and emotional intelligence leadership. A graduate of both Kent State and Case Western Universities, Gretchen resides in the Cleveland, Ohio area.

Ken Shelton is an educator, Ted X speaker, International speaker and very involved in the educational  technology community. Ken is especially involoved at the intersection of where technology,education, and equity meet. In this episode, Ken discusses systemic racism,   the tough questions educators should  ask in order to make  the policy decisions that will disrupt racism in our schools, from standardized tests, to discipline, to the curriculum, Ken Shelton explores these issues through a racial lens.   Ken (He/Him/His) currently holds an M.A. in Education with a specialization in Educational Technology as well as New Media Design and Production. He has worked as an Educator for over 20 years and spent most of his classroom experience teaching technology at the Middle School level. As a part of his active involvement within the Educational Technology community, Ken is an Apple Distinguished Educator, a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert, and a Google Certified Innovator. Ken has worked extensively at the policy level with a number of State Departments of Education, Ministries of Education, non-Profits, and was appointed to the Education Technology Task Force formed by a previous California State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Ken regularly gives keynotes, presentations, consults, and leads workshops, covering a wide variety of Educational Technology, Equity and Inclusion, Anti-Bias/Anti-Racist, Multimedia Literacy, Cultural Intelligences, Visual Storytelling, and Instructional Design topics. Ken is the ISTE Digital Equity PLN 2018 Excellence Award winner.   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Three Links Worth Connecting to   https://kennethshelton.net/     Ken Shelton (@k_shelton) | Twitter Understanding Cultural Appreciation verses Cultural Appropriation