Opportunity Thrives

Clearly district leaders are up against undeniable odds this school year as they navigate how to keep students safe, but still learning. This episode will be helpful for district leaders to gain first-hand perspective on what parents are thinking, how they are feeling about the recent challenges and how they would like to see districts support students this school year.

Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with two parents who plan to share their experience with the evolving world of education today and how online learning has impacted their lives and the lives of their children. With the pandemic creating such uncertainty for students and families about how the school year will look, many are weighing their options about how to plan for what’s coming and evaluating the best decision for their student.

Understanding how to support the health and well-being of students through social-emotional learning (SEL) is more important than ever as we enter this unusual school year. We know this episode is going to be helpful to district leaders who are looking for research-backed practices and practical advice on how to kickstart an SEL program. 

Check out the full episode to take the first step in developing a new SEL initiative or to refine an existing program. There are nuggets of advice that will benefit nearly everyone – wherever you are in your SEL journey.

In our 15th episode of Opportunity Thrives, we speak with two guests who share their insights on why an SEL program can be beneficial and how it can be implemented within your district. We dive deep into the details about how this can make a difference in the emotional well-being and academic success of your students. From research-backed evidence to practical experience, the episode shares advice and guidance for how to develop a program for the start of school year this fall. It’s not too late to get planning!

Debra Giacolone, the Supervisor for Mental Behavioral Health Services for the Sarasota County School District in Sarasota, Florida, joined us for this episode to share her insights on the SEL program they recently implemented throughout their district. Debra has been a passionate educator for over 20 years. Working in both the public and private sectors of education, she has served students and families from pre-k and beyond. Debra works tirelessly to promote the social-emotional well-being of all students while supporting the academic success and growth for every student, every day.

And Dr. Crystal Ladwig, the director of research for Suite360, a social-emotional learning provider that partners with districts across the country, also shared her perspective with us on this episode. As a researcher, teacher and a professor, Dr. Ladwig has a unique understanding of the issues facing teachers and families today. She has coordinated several research projects at the University of Florida, focusing on children with Autism and young children at-risk for the development of emotional and behavioral disorders.

Join us for a special episode with Tim Buckingham, the Virtual School Mentor at Big Rapids Public Schools, in Big Rapids, Michigan. Tim shares the district’s process of launching, refining and eventually hitting their stride with their virtual school. 

We discuss how to integrate a virtual program, including pitfalls to avoid, and strategies for getting it right the first time.

Tim shares lessons learned (there are many!), how they have managed to increase student outcomes even in a pandemic, and practical suggestions for other districts as they consider how to develop their own virtual schools.

Tim has been an educator for over 40 years and has a diverse background in education. He has spent many years at the high school level as a teacher and administrator and over 15 years as an elementary principal. The last seven years, he’s helped to establish the district’s virtual school, Big Rapids Virtual School, and today he serves as the school’s teacher/mentor. He retired five years ago, but loves his job so much that he keeps coming back!

As we navigate this new way of learning, it’s certainly beneficial to speak with experts like Tim whose advice and guidance will benefit our community of listeners who are making their virtual school plans right now.

You can find Tim's contact information here: https://www.brps.org/our-schools/big-rapids-virtual-school/staff-directory/. 

Providing a safe place for students to learn with the challenges of COVID-19, in addition to the recent civil unrest, has fueled an examination of equitable policies, curriculum, and considerations for how we can ensure all students have an equal opportunity to succeed.

In this podcast, we had a chance to explore this issue with two highly respected equity leaders who share how they are pursuing real and lasting equitable transformation within their districts. 

Shomari Jones, the director of equity and strategic engagement, for the Bellevue School District in Bellevue, Washington, shared his vast insight and experience. Bellevue School District is a large, multicultural district on the outskirts of Seattle with a highly diverse student population. Shomari is charged with researching, analyzing, developing initiatives, and coordinating strategies to ensure each and every student has an opportunity to succeed at Bellevue School District. He was recently recognized as a Leader to Learn From by Education Week.

Diana Marshall, the director of equity and student achievement, for San Juan Unified School District in Carmichael, California, provided her passionate and unique perspective. San Juan Unified School District is a large, diverse district sprawling throughout 75-square miles in northern California. She oversees several projects and initiatives throughout her district to mentor specific populations of students, establish cultural proficiency training for employees, increase student voice and advocacy, and to create positive school climate for all students. She also leads the Equity Task Force and facilitates the Equity Community Collaborative.

This episode is chock-full of applicable strategies that education leaders can apply within their districts to embrace equity transformation to impact lasting change. 

Discussions about the fall are continuing to evolve with districts evaluating potential back to school scenarios to keep students safe, but still learning. We all seem to be talking about our students these days, but few are talking to the students themselves. On this episode, we have an opportunity to understand their concerns, their strategies for success and what they believe districts should consider when implementing long-term virtual learning programs.

Our first guest, Nicola Peck, is a senior in high school, who recently landed a near perfect SAT score. She will be graduating this summer from Apex Learning Virtual School where she is a full-time virtual student. Nicola has a unique approach to learning that she credits is her father’s influence. She has also adopted many strategies along the way that have made her a very successful online student. Nicola Peck has accepted a full-tuition scholarship to Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky this fall. 

We also have Ryan Ziyuan Qu, a 16-year old sophomore at San Marino High School in Los Angeles. Ryan grew up in Beijing, China and immigrated to the United States with his mother when he was 10 years-old. In January, he founded a nonprofit organization whose mission is to assist and support single families through donations, employment opportunities and legislative reform. He recently led an initiative to support single families impacted by COVID-19 with a care package drive. He gathered individual donors, assembled baskets that included personal protective equipment and delivered care packages to single families in low income neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles. 

Summer slide is a common issue in education. What’s not fully known is the impact summer slide will have in the fall when compounded by learning loss from COVID-19 this spring. 

In this podcast we address the potential for a large number of students to fall behind or develop significant gaps in their learning. We also discuss solutions to manage learning loss, resources available and best use cases where districts are successfully addressing student learning gaps.

Our guest, Jean Sharp, has more than 25 years of leadership and management experience in the education and software publishing industries. Her expertise includes product development, curriculum strategy, instructional design and development, project management and effective implementations for digital learning solutions. Among her credits are numerous award-winning educational software products published for both school and consumer markets. Jean currently currently serves as a board member for the Digital Learning Collaborative.

COVID-19 has transformed discussions about equity and supporting our nation’s most vulnerable students. With the large-scale shift to online learning, educators have had many questions, but one that has frequently risen to the top is equity and providing equitable access to all students. This topic has also emerged front and center as one of the challenges for districts in supporting remote learning programs.

We know this has been an overwhelming time for districts and administrators who are doing the best they can (as we all are!). In this episode, we discuss replicable strategies, resources and lessons learned on how to ensure remote learning programs support educational equity. 

One of our guests, Raymond Rose, is the Chair of the Public Policy Committee at the Texas Distance Learning Association. He is recognized as one of the most knowledgeable and accomplished visionaries defining and building online learning communities for more than 15 years. He created, and administered the first virtual high school in the country, and his background encompasses technology in education, innovation and digital accessibility to online learning.

Kelsey Ortiz, the founder and director of the Inclusive Digital Era Collaborative at the KU Center for Research on Learning, also joined us for this episode. Kelsey supports state efforts for deeper policy on digital learning and equal access for all students. Her work includes development in online learning environments, compliance training in virtual schools, and advocacy for parents seeking equitable school choices. She previously conducted two large scale policy studies on special education policy in virtual schools, across all 50 states and eight territories, and the largest study on parents of children with disabilities enrolled in virtual schools.

In this discussion, both Ray and Kelsey share their definition of equity and how they would describe providing equitable opportunities for students. They also offer their perspective on what they believe are major considerations districts need to be thinking about when it comes to equity.

In the rush to keep students learning amidst school closures, education leaders utilized whatever resources were available. This often translated to working with different programs for every subject, requiring students and educator to quickly adjust to new platforms. While schools and districts plan for the upcoming school year, there is an opportunity to consider how to streamline resources and reduce confusion. In our latest podcast, we talk with two district leaders about their strategies for creating virtual learning programs and their advice and guidance for districts who are navigating the challenges of an ongoing transition to virtual learning. To listen to the full podcast, visit: (link).

These leaders share how their districts are establishing a continuity of resources so that teachers can focus on connecting with their students and students can focus on learning. We learn more about how administrators believe educators, students and families are adjusting to the new normal and whether or not they are feeling a sense of acceptance in acclimating to the changes. We also gain an understanding of what they consider to be the key components that are essential to a successful long-term virtual program and what’s important to get right, particularly if remote learning becomes a long-term solution.

Amy Hollstein, the Deputy Superintendent for Charles County Public Schools in La Plata, Maryland, is a guest on today’s episode. She is a 29-year veteran of Charles County Public School. She began her career in 1987 as a teacher and was quickly promoted to vice principal of the elementary school where she was working. She went on to become a principal of the school in 2000 and later moved to a different elementary school in the district where she was credited with a drastic increase in student achievement. She received the Washington Post's Distinguished Educational Leadership Award and was the Charles County Public Schools 2011 Principal of the Year.

Dr. Kimberly McClain, the Blended Learning Coordinator for Cincinnati Public Schools, also joined us for this episode. Kimberly has over 20 years of experience in public education as a classroom teacher, online/virtual instructor, administrator, and instructional designer emphasizing curriculum development in the virtual setting. Kimberly has spent the last 15 years working in online and hybrid learning environments with a focus on middle school, primarily with at-risk and specially circumstanced student populations. She has also studied leadership in K-12 online and virtual school environments.

In our eighth episode of Opportunity Thrives, we discuss tools, tips, and best practices to help support teachers who are new to online learning. As online learning has been thrust into the forefront of the COVID-19 pandemic, we recognize that many districts and educators have questions about how to navigate this transition. 

Kari Feldhaus, who has been an online instructor for more than 15 years, shares the nuts and bolts of an online learning program, including specific steps for creating assignments, orienting parents and students, monitoring student progress, and providing students with additional support as they adjust to this transition.

She also provides tips for sustaining student motivation. Online learning is a very different form of instruction than in the traditional classroom, and it’s clearly important to humanize the communication styles that are used. Kari shares how she keeps students engaged while learning remotely. To listen to this podcast or any of our other episodes, visit: www.opportunitythrives.com.

On today’s episode, we explore CTE, career technical education, available throughout schools nationwide. An increasing number of districts across the county recognize the value of career and technical education and are expanding their CTE programs by creating programs of study that are rigorous and aligned with post-secondary education and career pathways.

Today we discuss strategies for establishing CTE programs to support students who struggle to graduate, tactics for effectively implementing these programs and resources that can be immediately applied within your school or district.

Our first guest, Michael Connet, the Associate Deputy Executive Director for ACTE is responsible for promoting the impact of CTE on America’s learners. In his role he also supports the development and growth of the organization’s service to professionals engaged in preparing America’s STEM learners as the next generation of workers. He leads the efforts of the organization to build relationships that harness the potential of career and technical education, including opportunities to incorporate digital curriculum, and create projects and initiatives that elevate the profession.

We are equally pleased to have Sandra Cerny on this episode. Sandra is an Online Blended Learning teacher and facilitator for Temecula Valley Unified School District in Temecula, CA. She currently teaches online CTE courses in the Business and Finance sector. She has collaborated on several curriculum writing and alignment teams for Temecula Valley, and has recently developed a Business Management pathway that is the first CTE course in the district to be delivered completely online. Sandra has been awarded a CTA Institute For Teaching Grant, and has been accepted into the 2020 CTE Online Curriculum Writing Institute as a Curriculum Writing Specialist.