Outliers in Education from CEE

We know more about the inner workings of the human brain than ever before, but is our educational system taking advantage of what we've learned? Cognitive behavioral researcher Dr. CK Bray joins us on the podcast today to explore the intricate relationship between neuroscience, education, and culture. Dr. Bray shares insightful perspectives on the pressing need for change in our educational practices, emphasizing the importance of mental health monitoring, emotional regulation tools, the profound impact of physical activity and the vital role played by social connection in optimizing our brains for learning.

Ever heard of box breathing? In this episode, Dr. Bray explains how this simple technique and others can reset the brain, reduce stress, and combat fatigue, creating a more conducive environment for both learning and teaching. But, it doesn't stop there! We also discuss the positive impacts of educator autonomy on their motivation and student outcomes. A little autonomy can go a long way to foster a sense of control, purpose, and increase collective teacher efficacy. 

Finally, Dr. Bray lays out the importance of developing strong social connections. In the digital age, our interactions are often mediated by screens, resulting in a potential lack of genuine connection. Dr. Bray guides us through the influences of social media on our youth and underscores the significance of continuous learning and taking on challenges in enhancing self-efficacy and self-esteem. So, gear up as we dive into these pivotal discussions aimed at equipping educators to be more successful in their indispensable roles. Let's redefine education together!

"Outliers in Education" is a project of CEE, The Center for Educational Effectiveness. Find out more at effectiveness.org.

Produced by Jamie Howell at Howell at the Moon Productions.

In just two short years it is projected that 25 percent of all students in American schools will be English Language Learners (ELL). Are our schools prepared for that? Seasoned educator Andrea Bitner helps us understand the explosion in ELL students and how our school systems can best handle this change.

Bitner, an educator for 23 years, fills us in on the unique challenges of teachers and schools as they prepare to cater to these students' distinctive needs, illuminating the paths to progress. Communication strategies with the parents of multilingual students are critical, along with a commitment to empathy in education. She shares her groundbreaking AACE system and some of the currently available assistive technologies that can help foster a conducive learning environment for ELL students.

Bitner is also an author and speaker who travels the country providing resources to help educators better teach, connect and communicate with their ELL students and families. She is the author of "Take Me Home," in which she shares the true and inspiring stories of 11 of her former students through first-hand accounts of what it's really like to be bilingual in the American school system. (The book includes English and Spanish versions under the same cover.) Find out more about Andrea, her speaking services and other ELL resources at andreabitnerbooks.com or email her at [email protected]. 

"Outliers in Education" is a project of CEE, The Center for Educational Effectiveness. Find out more at effectiveness.org.

Produced by Jamie Howell at Howell at the Moon Productions.

A pioneer in Early Learning in Washington State, Ferndale School District Superintendent Kristi Dominguez believes passionately that all children have the capacity to thrive in education, they simply don't all have the same opportunities to do so, and that those years before kindergarten are among our best opportunities to begin addressing those inequities.

"When you teach to the heart of a child, their mind will follow," she says. By working to build a sense of belonging for all her students, staff and families, she hopes to  create an equitable, district-wide learning landscape where every child can thrive. In this episode, we talk with Superintendent Dominguez about how she does it and why belonging consistently rises to the top of her priority list as a school leader.

"Outliers in Education" is a project of CEE, The Center for Educational Effectiveness. Find out more at effectiveness.org.

Produced by Jamie Howell at Howell at the Moon Productions.

Dr. Tinisha Parker, as Executive Director for Student Services for Gwinnett County Public Schools in Georgia, is responsible for the wellbeing of more than 180,000 students. Imagine the challenges she faces in supporting the social, emotional, and academic needs of all students. Dr. Parker tells us how she approaches this complex and very personal professional work.

"Outliers in Education" is a project of CEE, The Center for Educational Effectiveness. Find out more at effectiveness.org.

Produced by Jamie Howell at Howell at the Moon Productions.

Maria Barrera read an article in the New York Times about rising suicide rates among eight-year-olds and found her life path permanently altered. This Stanford-educated mechanical engineer caught the wave of new tech sweeping through education and began developing a system in which every child has access to the wellness support they need when they need it.

Today, as CEO of Clayful Health, Barrerra has rolled out a school-based  online coaching and support system that removes barriers that keep students from asking for help and can connect them with the support they need as little as 60 seconds, even after-hours away from school. It's a revolutionary concept in a challenging post-pandemic world where for every 1,200 students there is only school psychologist and waitlists for support can be as long as four to six months. Barrera hopes to provide schools across the country with a new tool to support their students while taking the increasing load off of educators who can often find themselves spending more time reacting to student behaviors and wellness issues than they are actually teaching.

Find out more about Maria and Clayful Health at clayfulhealth.com.

"Outliers in Education" is a project of CEE, The Center for Educational Effectiveness. Find out more at effectiveness.org.

Produced by Jamie Howell at Howell at the Moon Productions.

Superintendent Eric Sobotta of the Reardan-Edwall School District in Washington State was moved to tears when he saw the film, "LISTEN" by Erahm Christopher, so much so that he flew Christopher into his district all the way from Montreal not once, but four times. The goal was to begin employing the power of listening across his district and to help his staff, building leaders, teachers and even the community understand why listening is not only the right path forward for them, but for the future of education.

"Outliers in Education" is a project of CEE, The Center for Educational Effectiveness. Find out more at effectiveness.org.

Produced by Jamie Howell at Howell at the Moon Productions.

Lifelong newspaperman Rufus Woods provides a uniquely positive perspective on the pathways to a better educational system. Woods has been passionate about education his entire career and he has seen the good and the bad. Through the mental discipline of appreciative inquiry, Woods  has developed a slate of positive and inspiring ideas on how to improve our current systems. Overarching philosophies like replacing "problem mentalities" with strengths-based approaches and improving our assessment systems combine with concrete concepts such as building better relationships with local media to the benefit of schools and seeking out proven practices, like those identified in CEE's Outliers Study,  that have real impacts on student outcomes and wellness.

Rufus Woods is publisher emeritus of The Wenatchee World, a publication founded by his grandfather, Rufus Woods Sr. He continues to write regular opinion columns on the "Art of Community" which you can find HERE.

You can find the abstract and full version of CEE's Outliers Study HERE.

"Outliers in Education" is a project of CEE, The Center for Educational Effectiveness. Find out more at effectiveness.org.

Produced by Jamie Howell at Howell at the Moon Productions.

Coach Jim Johnson rose into the national spotlight back in 2006 when he allowed Jason "J-Mac" McElwain, a young high school basketball student-manager on the autism spectrum, to suit up and get in the game. What happened next is the stuff of legend. Today, Coach Johnson is a nationally recognized expert on teamwork and leadership, a sought after motivational speaker and author of the book, "A Coach and a Miracle." In this episode, Coach Johnson shares leadership gems that apply far beyond any high school basketball court - about mentorship, teaching, teamwork and more. As his motto reads, "Think bigger, lead better, win more!"

Hot Links!
- Watch the J-Mac Story here
- Coach Jim Johnson Official Website
- "A Coach and a Miracle" by Coach Jim Johnson

"Outliers in Education" is a project of CEE, The Center for Educational Effectiveness. Find out more at effectiveness.org.

Produced by Jamie Howell at Howell at the Moon Productions.

Former long-time superintendent Nick Brossoit's advice is crystal clear - start with an unwavering love for and commitment to kids, and everything else will fall into place. In this deeply moving and insight-filled episode, we spend time with Nick as he stares down the end of his life and reflects back on his 33 years in education. 

In 2020, Nick was diagnosed with terminal cancer and at the time of this recording, having far outlived his doctors' prognoses, was at his home in Lynden, Wash., on end-of-life hospice care.

Nick has taken maximum advantage of his remaining time to write the book, "Love the People in Line" (2022) in which he shares the story of his cancer journey, his foundations in faith and his remarkable career in public education. 

This is an inspirational episode for any educator, listening to Nick's passion and focus on finding what's best for kids always and never bending to the influences of the politics that face all educational leaders.

You can find Nick's book and more about his journey at the selection of links below:

• Love the People in Line: Through the Eyes of my Heart (2022) - all proceeds benefit the Eagle's Nest Children's Home in Guatemala.
• "Former schools superintendent reflects on cancer journey, faith and importance of being present in new book," (April 17, 2022) - article published by My Edmond News.
• Nick's Cancer Journey Update (January 2023) - update posts by Nick on LinkedIn seen by more than 10,000 people.

You can find out more about this podcast, the Outliers study and the Center for Educational Effectiveness at effectiveness.org. 

"Outliers in Education" is a project of CEE, The Center for Educational Effectiveness. Find out more at effectiveness.org.

Produced by Jamie Howell at Howell at the Moon Productions.

Something remarkable happened at Freeman High School last fall when a group of students, having decided they were truly being listened to and in a safe environment, opened up the floodgates and let their voices be heard. The catharsis that resulted is a symptom of a growing trend toward elevating student voice in our schools. In this episode, we hear from Freeman School District Superintendent Randy Russell and two of his students who participated in the focus groups about what that kind of experience really means in terms of their own futures and the future of education.

Welcome to Season 2 of OUTLIERS IN EDUCATION!

"Outliers in Education" is a project of CEE, The Center for Educational Effectiveness. Find out more at effectiveness.org.

Produced by Jamie Howell at Howell at the Moon Productions.