This is a preview of episode 115 where I discuss with AJ Crabill the importance of engaging educational leaders, school board members  and community stake holders to focus on improving student outcomes.  Mr. Crabill is an education reform advocate and public speaker on education reform. In 2016, the Texas Commissioner of Education Mike Morath appointed Crabill as a Deputy Commissioner responsible for developing and facilitating leadership and governance training sessions to educate school administrators and board members on how to better execute the responsibilities of their positions

Today’s episode of the Making After School Cool podcast features my discussion with Dr. Christine Phares regarding Young Audiences of Houston is collaboration with schools to make safe spaces for students for social emotional learning. The topic of this episode highlights spaces for students to access when they are experiencing severe anxiety, depression, or another extreme negative emotional outburst.

During this podcast you will learn about the following:

1. Information regarding the Self Care Labs, how it works, and how long as it been in existence.

Guest

Dr. Christine Phares currently serves as the Program Director for Young Audiences of Houston, supporting programs across more than two hundred site partnerships, overseeing 184 teaching artists, and leading the YAH Education Committee. Prior to joining Young Audiences, Christine has worked as an Educator in public and independent schools, an Education Consultant, and with the Metropolitan Opera Guild.

Christine also holds experience as an opera singer and has performed with The Miami Music Festival, Rockwall Symphony, UNT Opera, Lamar Opera, and the Institute for Young Dramatic Voices. She holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees in music and education and a doctorate in education.

 Published research includes a study on classroom management and gender with additional research on the impact of Music Education on Texas Standardized Test Scores.

Christine is the recipient of the Harris County Department of Education Spirit of Excellence Award – Community Connection Champion, has recently served as a panelist on pathways for diversifying teaching artist networks at the Arts & Action Conference, serves as a Grant Panelist for Texas Commission on the Arts and Houston Arts Alliance, and volunteers on the Scholarship Review Committee with Greater Houston Community Foundation.

Resources

Dr. Christen Phares

[email protected]

Mike Wilson

[email protected]

Harris County Department of Education

https://hcde-texas.org

CASE for Kids

https://hcde-texas.org/afterschool-zone

 Today is a preview of episode 114 of the Making After School Cool podcast and features my discussion with Dr. Christine Phares regarding how Young Audiences of Houston is collaborating with schools and OST professionals to make safe spaces for students with and emphasis of social emotional learning.  A few suggestions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (the CDC) Schools can use a variety of strategies to help students improve their emotional well-being and connectedness with others. Thus, the topic of this upcoming episode highlights spaces for students to access when they are experiencing severe anxiety, depression, or another extreme negative emotional outburst.

Ep113: Teaching Youth to Dress for Success featuring Michael Williams with Ties Required Plus

Today’s  episode of the Making After School Cool podcast focuses on the importance of youth knowing how to dress for success  and features my conversation with Mr. Michael Williams, founder of Ties Required plus

Proper etiquette and the way an individual dress communicates what kind of person they are to other people. Their behavior and appearance reflect what kind of character they have, and people take notice of it.

During this podcast you will learn more about the following:

1. Why is important for young men to be aware that how they present themselves can either expand or limit their opportunities?

Guest

Michael Williams founder of Ties Required Plus, has over 25 years’ experience in the retail men’s clothing industry. He helped countless men, suiting up for successful interviews as well as helped them with key interviewing techniques that allow them to highlight their job skills and personal attributes. Additionally, Mr. Williams  has authored 3 books, How to Win in the Game of Dress for Success, Would You Hire Me? And If You Want a Job Done Right, Hire a Woman, and also produced a DVD entitled How to Tie a Tie (5 knots in 15 min.). He currently presents to youth and adults in churches, schools and non-profit community groups.

Resources

Michael Williams

[email protected]

Ties Required Plus

Professional Etiquette | Tiesrequiredplus

Mike Wilson

[email protected]

Harris County Department of Education

https://hcde-texas.org

CASE for Kids

https://hcde-texas.org/afterschool-zone

This is a preview of episode 113 the Making After School Cool podcast which focuses on the importance of youth knowing how to dress for success  and features my conversation with Mr. Michael Williams, founder of Ties Required Plus.

Understanding what is expected for various environments  can help people avoid embarrassing situations. But there's more to it than knowing the correct way to sit at a formal function. It really comes down to relationships between people.

This episode of the Making After School  Cool podcast tackles the subject of discussing  body diversity  with youth and features my conversation with Pam Luk, Founder at Ember & Ace. The perceptions of body image changes when kids go through puberty, is shaped by the media, and what others say about beauty standards. During this time in their lives youth  need  educators, parents and other adults in their lives to do things to help support a child's healthy body image.

During this Podcast you will learn more about the following:

• Advice parents can give to youth regarding how they could help kids love their bodies.

Guest

Pam Luk, Founder at Ember & Ace. In 2021, Pam left behind the world of tech product management to start a new athletic clothing line specifically for bigger-bodied kids. Ember & Ace is an athletic wear brand designed exclusively for plus size kids.

Resources

Pamela Luk

[email protected]

Ember and Ace

emberandace.com

Mike Wilson

[email protected]

Harris County Department of Education

https://hcde-texas.org

CASE for Kids

https://hcde-texas.org/afterschool-zone

This is a preview of  episode 112 of the Making After School  Cool podcast which will tackle the subject of discussing  Body Diversity  with Youth. The perceptions of body image grow over time. It changes when kids go through puberty and shaped by the media and  what others say about beauty standards. During this time in their life’s youth  need  educators, parents and other adults to help support a child's healthy body image.

Therefor this upcoming episode of the Making After School Cool podcast features my conversation with Pam Luk, founder of Ember and Ace.

Welcome back for part 2 of my 2-part interview with my guest Julia Gabor and Michelle Pina with Kid- Grit. During this episode you will hear our ongoing discussion concerning the importance of students being resilient and having grit.  This is a continuation of our previous interview so it is already in progress.

During this podcast you will learn more about the following:

• How do parents and educators teach students patience and a strong work ethic

Guest

Julia Gabor is an award-winning educator and national speaker. She is the co-founder of kid-grit. kid-grit supports students (PK-12) with curriculum and workshops and supports educators with evidence based professional development and coaching. Currently, kid-grit is expanding into corporate learning space in partnership with Academic Solutions Group. She designs, trains, and facilitates workshops for educators, small businesses, mentor programs and students. Julia has been teaching/leading groups since she was a teenager working alongside her mother, who is a master acting teacher, and coach in the USA and Europe.

Michelle Pena education background began as a toddler accompanying her mom to college classes, helping her set up her elementary classrooms, and eventually as a substitute teacher while her mom was a middle school principal. Michelle’s professional career launched as middle school teacher and quickly evolved into administrative roles. Her experiences include professional development coordinator, program evaluator, federal grant director, and out-of-school time program director for school districts. She has over 15 years of experience in leading and starting up self-funded OST programs for school districts and 25 years in education management. More recently, Michelle has worked as a consultant, with out-of-school time organizations, technology companies and various non-profits in the areas of business development, strategic and sustainability planning, professional development, curriculum design and grant writing.

Resources

kid-grit

www.kid-grit.com

Mike Wilson

[email protected]

Harris County Department of Education

https://hcde-texas.org

CASE for Kids

https://hcde-texas.org/afterschool-zone

This is part one of a two part series of episodes which features a conversation I had with my guest Julia Gabor and Michelle Pina with kid- grit as we discuss  the importance of students being resilient and having grit. Talent alone is not always what makes individuals succeed. People seldom achieve their goals without effort. That is why grit is essential element for success.

During this podcast you will learn more about the following:

• Their inspiration for providing resources and trainings designed to empowers students and educators

Guest

Julia Gabor is an award-winning educator and national speaker. She is the co-founder of kid-grit. kid-grit supports students (PK-12) with curriculum and workshops and supports educators with evidence based professional development and coaching. Currently, kid-grit is expanding into corporate learning space in partnership with Academic Solutions Group. She designs, trains and facilitates workshops for educators, small businesses, mentor programs and students. Julia has been teaching/leading groups since she was a teenager working alongside her mother, who is a master acting teacher, and coach in the USA and Europe.

Michelle Pena education background began as a toddler accompanying her mom to college classes, helping her set up her elementary classrooms, and eventually as a substitute teacher while her mom was a middle school principal. Michelle’s professional career launched as middle school teacher and quickly evolved into administrative roles. Her experiences include professional development coordinator, program evaluator, federal grant director, and out-of-school time program director for school districts. She has over 15 years of experience in leading and starting up self-funded OST programs for school districts and 25 years in education management. More recently, Michelle has worked as a consultant, with out-of-school time organizations, technology companies and various non-profits in the areas of business development, strategic and sustainability planning, professional development, curriculum design and grant writing.

Resources

kid-grit

www.kid-grit.com

Mike Wilson

[email protected]

Harris County Department of Education

https://hcde-texas.org

CASE for Kids

https://hcde-texas.org/afterschool-zone

Talent alone is not always what makes individuals succeed. People seldom achieve their goals without effort. That’s why grit is essential element for success. This a preview of a two part series of episodes featuring a conversation with my guest Julia Gabor and Michelle Pina with Kid- Grit as we discuss  the importance of students being resilient and having grit.