In this episode, we speak with Rich Merlo, Superintendent of Corcoran Unified School District. Through a tech-forward school culture, Rich is determined to reach all of his learners through hands-on, differentiated instruction. His work at CUSD is demonstrating that sociodemographic status does not have to determine student outcomes.

Rich Merlo, Using Tech to Narrow the Opportunity Gap

Redefining Ready is a SchooLinks hosted podcast community exploring innovative topics, ideas, strategies, and philosophies in the evolving world of college and career readiness. Our featured guests are leaders in their fields who constantly seek to learn from others, collaborate, and apply their own experiences to truly distill best practices in the world of college and career readiness.

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Listen in as Houston Kraft, co-founder of CharacterStrong and author of the upcoming book Deep Kindness joins the program to talk about strategies for being deliberate and intentional with social emotional learning in 2020 and beyond. We discuss the need for intentional SEL - particularly in 2020 considering all that’s going on in the world and the social challenges presented by remote / hybrid learning and the challenges of truly connecting with students these days. Houston believes that social emotional learning concepts should be taught in concert with lessons on character, and that kindness can be taught and practiced to make a more pleasant world for all. Tune in for more strategies to implement with your students as well as information about CharacterStrong and Houston’s upcoming book Deep Kindness.

Houston Kraft - Kindness, Character, and Connection

Listen in as Diane Campbell, Director of College and Career Readiness at Liberty Common High School in Ft. Collins, Colorado joins the program to talk about her journey in the school counseling world and the innovative ways she engages her students in exploration and future planning. Key to Diane’s success in motivating her students comes from the enthusiastic culture of curiosity she has built at Liberty Common. Students are kept on their toes, excited to engage with a wide variety of guests brought into school to discuss majors, careers, colleges, and alternative postsecondary options (including tattoo artistry and video game design!). Diane believes it’s important to strike a balance between encouraging students to determine a focused pathway while also remaining open to additional discovery and investigation - especially considering the shifts currently occurring in the labor market and postsecondary education landscapes. While Liberty Common will be starting in-person this fall, we discuss the importance of being prepared to adjust and pivot at a moment’s notice as well as the unique challenges students are presently encountering. Tune in for more!

Diane Campbell: Creating a Culture of Curiosity

Kat Pastor of Flagstaff USD in Arizona joins the program to talk about the unique challenges facing her district (in general and during the COVID era), how the district managed the crisis this past spring, and what the district is prioritizing for this coming year. Flagstaff USD has a significant Indigenous American population (specifically from the Hopi and Navajo nations), and Kat discusses how school shut downs presented disproportionate challenges for these students both academically and in terms of access to important resources that the school system provides. We discuss how high school counseling has changed in the past decade plus, promoting equity in college and career readiness, and the importance of using the right data to guide your counseling. Kat’s commitment to her students is both admirable and inspirational. Tune in to listen to the whole interview!

Kat Pastor: Now More than Ever

Listen in as Mindy Willard and Robin Murphy from Madison Metropolitan School District join the program to share the innovative ways they’re engaging their students and customizing graduation pathways to set students up for postsecondary success. Madison takes a holistic and community approach to exposing students to different career options. Work-based learning is a major emphasis in Madison, and the district partners with community and industry leaders to provide opportunities for students to connect their learning to real-world careers. Additionally, Madison’s academic pathways allow students to specialize their studies around particular areas of focus that they are engaged and passionate about. Robin and Mindy also discuss how the district emphasizes portfolio creation and presentation, where students compile their learning into presentations that are then delivered to school and community leaders. Exciting stuff is certainly happening at Madison Metropolitan … listen in for more!

Robin Murphy and Mindy Willard: Innovate Fearlessly

Listen in as Susan Hill, Director of College and Career Readiness at the School District of University City (Missouri) joins the program to discuss the “to and through” culture that University City has built around college and career readiness. At every level, University City consciously designs their curriculum and counseling framework through the lens of postsecondary preparation. Susan believes it is the job of all educators to “own the responsibility” when it comes to exposing students to postsecondary pathways and helping students align their interests to a pathway of best fit. A racially and socioeconomically diverse district, University City’s commitment to their students does not end with graduation, and Susan and her team meticulously track student success six years out from high school - continually offering support and using the data to fine tune the district’s approach. At University City, they own the responsibility at every level, try and remove barriers that may stand between their students and ultimate life success, and then let students’ natural grit and resilience come to the fore and carry them through.

Rich Merlo, Using Tech to Narrow the Opportunity Gap

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