Author and consultant Emily Liebtag has been working in education for more than a decade supporting schools, teachers, and education leaders to unleash the potential of young people around the world. In this conversation we talk about Emily's recent book and how building connections with others can be a way for teachers to get support for the efforts they're trying to make in their everyday classrooms. We are also joined by special guest Chris Unger. Plugs include Difference Making at the Heart of Learning by Emily and Tom Vander Ark, Sankofa Farms, St. Paul and the Broken Bones, What School Could Be the app, Welcoming the Unwelcome by Pema Chodron, and the One tablet by Wacom. Music by Ketsa.

In this episode our co-hosts chat with Terwill Tomino and Maria Gallastegui, two amazing bilingual educators who have spent their entire career promoting the value of language-learning, literacy, and dual language schools. We explore the topics of language immersion, the impact of growing up in a bilingual household, and why everyone should drop what they're doing, put on a Selena song, and dance for 3 minutes everyday. Plugs include Señorita Spanish, Later by Stephen King, and Braver Angels. Music by Ketsa.

In this special episode, Mike sits down with 5 students and fellow educator Jane Shore to explore opportunity in this moment of challenge and division. Part of the 100 Days of Conversations About School, this episode seeks to add to the national dialogue around what school could be. Visit the 100 Days website for more details about how to set up your very own community conversation. Music by Ketsa.

As educators, we often push for teaching and learning to happen in engaging, 21st century ways. Dr. Sarah Pazur's work with CS Partners and FlexTech Education around the state of Michigan supports educators and schools as they transition to more authentic, project-based classrooms. With a fascinating background in progressive teaching and leadership, Sarah offers a terrific perspective on what opportunities and challenges exist for schools as they emerge from the pandemic. Plugs include How to Citizen with Baratunde, 100 Days of Conversations About School, the Human Restoration Project, and Real School Budapest. Music by Ketsa.

Sociology professor Jen McGovern has been working with students at the higher ed level for more than 20 years. With roots in student affairs, and a deep appreciation for the value of sports in the lives of young people, Jen gives her perspective on the challenges and opportunities for K12 institutions from her unique position. Jeannine, Julie, Matt, and Mike ask Jen about cultivating curiosity, promoting self-directed learning, and the personalization of curriculum at all levels of education. Plugs include three other awesome podcasts: Nice White Parents, Heavy Medals, and Forward Progress. Music by Ketsa.

Our newest series is called Perspectives and in it we have conversations with individuals who might not always be at the center of the education dialogue. In this episode we talk with entrepreneur, standardized test prep expert, and dynamic thinker Justin Menda of the company Rocket Prep. Justin talks about his experiences with test preparation and his work to empower students to set goals and make decisions in their lives. He also illuminates some aspects of education that he sees as requiring change, particularly as we approach a post-pandemic work. Music by Ketsa.

After a brief fall / winter hiatus, the team is back in action with some intriguing insights into their experiences this fall. Jeannine talks about curriculum changes in the virtual classroom. Julie elaborates on the recent declaration of future DOE nominee Miguel Cardona. Mike shares his insights into the impending teacher shortage. No plugs this week as we get back into the swing of things, but check out our upcoming episodes for some interesting guests and thoughtful dialogue. Music by Ketsa.

Executive Functioning (EF) has quickly become a buzzword in the educational landscape over the past five years. Elizabeth Hamblet has been doing work with college-aged students to address EF skill deficits and help these young people find success at what can be a particularly tumultuous time. In this Knowledge Drop episode, Mike chats with Elizabeth about EF, her book about transitioning to college, and what implications a focus on EF could have for K12 educators and schools. Plugs include Elizabeth's website LDAdvisory.com and her book From High School to College: Steps to Success for Students With Disabilities. Be sure to used the code RETHINKINGEDU for a special discount on Elizabeth's book. Music by Scott Holmes.

Ulcca Joshi Hansen is an educator, consultant, and mom who has dedicated her entire career to understanding the intricacies of what hinders and supports school change. In this episode, we unpack Ulcca's three buckets of schools idea, talk about how we have set up an educational system that we could actually change, and get some insight about her upcoming book. Check out Ulcca's consultancy at Educating Potential. Plugs include A Revolution in Education, Mark the Shark, SoundTrap, The Divided Brain, and "College-Educated Professionals Are Capitalism’s Useful Idiots". Music by Ketsa.

The learner-centered movement is pushing the boundaries of what school should be for so many young people. It's fundamentally asking teachers, administrators, parents, and student to rethink what might be possible in school. In this episode, we explore some of these ideas with Kelly Young, the President of Education Reimagined, and Grace Kiboko, a recent graduate of Iowa BIG and a participant in SparkHouse, a learner-centered convening of Education Reimagined. Plugs include New Ed Tech Classroom, Rich Blocks Poor Blocks, Community Share, Canva, Procreate, and @SoYouWantToTalkAbout. Music by Ketsa.