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In this powerful leadership episode, host Ryan Steuer sits down with Matt DeHart, founder of Teach from DeHart Academy and Teach from DeHart Foundation, to explore what it looks like to build a school model that transforms both students and families. Matt shares how his personal “why” is rooted in generations of educators, how travel and real-world experiences elevate academics, and how his two-generation school model is revitalizing a Pennsylvania community.
Resources and Links:
whatispbl.com
Get Matt's Book
Matt's Website: teachfromdehart.org
In this episode, Ryan Steuer unpacks the concept of “random acts of STEM” and explains how Project Based Learning (PBL) provides the structure, authenticity, and engagement needed to make STEM meaningful. Instead of relying on flashy experiments to capture attention, Ryan shows how PBL connects science, math, and inquiry to real-world problems, community partners, and long-term engagement.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Key Takeaways:
Resources & Links Mentioned:
PBL Simplified (book by Ryan Steuer) – Available wherever books are sold
Today's podcast discusses three solutions that Project-Based Learning (PBL) brings to Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs.
While CTE programs are already rich with real-world application, engagement, and projects (students are welding, wiring, and cooking), simply doing projects does not guarantee learners are experiencing the full benefits of PBL. PBL offers three specific solutions to upgrade any CTE program.
Even with authentic, hands-on work (like laying pipe or designing logos), engagement isn't always automatic because learners often don't know the "why" or the spark of purpose behind the task.
Many CTE professionals (e.g., master electricians, nurses, chefs, engineers) come straight from the industry and are not traditional educators. They may lack training in creating rubrics, connecting lessons to standards, or backwards planning. Without structure, projects can go "off the rails," potentially running far longer than planned (e.g., three weeks turning into nine weeks).
Incredible things are happening in CTE (e.g., rewiring homes, interning at hospitals), but they often happen "behind closed doors," and the community never sees them. This leads the community to misunderstand the current state of CTE (thinking it is "shop class from 50 years ago").
PBL is a smooth transition for CTE because the programs already have authentic projects and CTE professionals understand the work. When done right, PBL aligns with what CTE is already good at and helps build citizens, problem solvers, and leaders in addition to the workforce of tomorrow.
In this conversation, Marsha Enright discusses her journey from Montessori education to founding Reliance College, emphasizing the importance of independent learning and the development of autonomous, self-directed individuals. She shares insights on how Montessori principles can be adapted for higher education, the significance of real-world applications, and the need for effective teacher training. The discussion also highlights the unique approach of Reliance College in preparing students for meaningful careers through experiential learning and research projects.
Takeaways
Resources and links:
reliancecollege.org
FB: https://www.facebook.com/reliancecollege.org
X: https://x.com/RelianceCollOrg, @MarshaEnright
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/reliancecollege/?viewAsMember=true
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marsha-familaro-enright-8a973b/
Article: Enright, "Teaching for Freedom"
The Secret of Childhood by Maria Montessori
In this episode, Ryan Steuer of Magnify Learning details a five-year implementation plan for launching a Project-Based Learning (PBL) movement in a large district, specifically focusing on 13 middle schools. While the example is niche, the process is designed to be customizable and scalable for districts of any size. The episode emphasizes the importance of systematic, structural change, starting with district leadership, and leveraging the "innovation curve" to ensure widespread adoption and sustainability.
Key Takeaways & Implementation Steps:
This is a long game to fundamentally change mindsets, structures, and redefine educational norms, ultimately growing people and systems to achieve desired outcomes for learners. It is challenging but doable and totally worth it.
Resources and links:
pblnetworks.com
In this conversation, Dr. Josh McConkey discusses the importance of leadership in education, emphasizing the need for accountability, resilience, and mentoring in preparing youth for the future. He shares insights from his experiences in the military and healthcare, highlighting the significance of empowering teachers and students alike. The discussion also covers the challenges of change management in educational settings and the vital role of ordinary actions in mentoring and teaching.
Takeaways
Resources and links:
whatispbl.com
Connect with Dr. McConkey:
Website: www.weightbehindthespear.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshmcconkeymd/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshua.mcconkey
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-mcconkey-md/
X (Twitter): https://x.com/mcconkey007
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drjoshmcconkey
IMDB: https://www.imdb.me/joshmcconkey
In this episode, Ryan Steuer sits down with Jill Reilly, author of the book, "10 Permissions." Jill shares her journey and insights on navigating profound change, both personally and within organizations, offering a fresh perspective for school leaders looking to innovate. This conversation is particularly relevant for school and district administrators, coaches, and anyone trying to bring about change in long-standing systems.
Key Takeaways from Jill Reilly:
Connect with Jill:
Today on the PBL Simplified for Administrators podcast we have Ashley Curtin. Ashley is a district coach in Calvert County Maryland working with PBL teachers. The PBL initiative started in social studies to increase engagement and has spread across the district. Ashley is now under Career Technical Education (CTE) funding and is building relationships with CTE instructors. She connects teachers and suggests collaborations. A key to her approach is meeting people where they are at with their mindset and comfort level with PBL.
PBL Unit Examples
Roses, Buds, and Thorns
Addressing the Challenges (Thorns)
Getting Administrative Buy-In
Optimism about Education
Conclusion
Resources and links:
Ask a question or share a win: PBLShare.com
Join the PBL Online Community: https://magnifylearningin.com/join-the-online-community/
Key Moves to Increase Student Engagement:
◦ Leaders should share their vision often and loudly, connecting it with teachers' personal "why". Your teachers look to you for vision.
◦ Publicly acknowledge positive things you see happening in classrooms.
◦ Leave positive Post-it notes for teachers; these can serve as powerful reminders that they are on the right track and encourage more of those actions.
◦ Share wins in faculty meetings (at the beginning and throughout) and in weekly newsletters.
◦ Celebrating wins tells everyone what is "awesome," aligns with the vision, and helps kids be engaged, implicitly encouraging others to follow suit. "What you focus on grows".
◦ Faculty meetings should not be boring updates that could be emails. Teachers often cite meetings as the one thing they would change in education.
◦ Use this rare collaborative time to model engagement strategies you want to see in the classroom, such as Project-Based Learning (PBL) moves, collaboration, voice, and choice.
◦ When you model "sit and get" in meetings, you are communicating that this is how teaching and learning are done. Instead, model empowered and engaged learning.
◦ Avoid sending only one person to a PBL training and expecting them to train the entire staff or for others to instantly become innovators. This often leads to frustration and the abandonment of PBL.
◦ Effective PBL implementation requires a comprehensive approach, as seen in the Babcock Ranch model school in Florida, where everyone is PBL certified, they use structured processes (like the "PBL Simplified" book), and have PBL-certified coaches.
◦ PBL is a significant shift, especially for teachers accustomed to traditional teaching. Success comes when PBL becomes ingrained in the school's culture and daily operations.
Practical Steps for Implementation:
Leadership Advice and Resources:
• If this episode was helpful, please rate and review the show to help other leaders find it.
In this episode of PBL Simplified, host Ryan Steuer interviews Vanessa Myers, Senior Director of Education and Workforce Development at Interplay Learning. They discuss the transformative power of Project Based Learning (PBL) in vocational education, particularly through the integration of virtual reality (VR) technology. Vanessa shares personal stories that highlight the importance of hands-on learning and how VR can enhance vocational training. The conversation also addresses the challenges of implementing VR in schools, the future of education technology, and the critical need for preparing students for employability in various trades.
Takeaways
Resources and links:
interplaylearning.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-myers-5066879/
From the publisher's feed