Shift Everything explores the benefits of early literacy with West40 professional learning specialist Dr. Erika Lukasik. Hear how reading at a younger age can build critical skills that can lead to success in school and beyond.

Imagine being a teenager and seeing your friend collapse while on a jog. What would you do and how would you react? Four Ridgewood High School juniors experienced this in July when their friend suffered a cardiac arrest. Their quick-thinking kicked-in and they performed CPR until paramedics arrived. This episode highlights why learning life-saving measures in school is so important.

The Shift Everything podcast is back with another question and answer session with West40 executive director Dr. Mark Klaisner. Area superintendents submitted questions covering a wide range of topics, including education-related legislation, school vouchers, leadership qualities, supporting undocumented students, and more. This is the season finale of Shift Everything. We'll be back in a few months!

Welcome to Shift Everything! In this episode, West40 executive director Dr. Mark Klaisner recaps his Spring 2025 trip to Asia, where he was one of approximately twenty educators from across the US selected to join an international delegation to South Korea and Singapore. Dr. Klaisner explains how they explored innovative education systems, leadership practices, and global perspectives on learning.

There could be any number of reasons why graduating from high school in four years does not work out for a young adult.  But there are solutions for those looking to restart or finish high school.  In this podcast episode, hear from a current student and a recent graduate of the West40 Seniors Plus program.  Seniors Plus offers students a second chance to finish high school in a setting built on respect and support.

The Shift Everything team attended the ICEARY (Illinois Coalition for Educating At-Risk Youth) Conference in Bloomington in early March. We chatted with several attendees and an organizer to hear their thoughts on the conference, what they hoped to learn there, and what misconceptions about at-risk kids they hope to get cleared up.

Yessenia Olivas is West40's Director of ALOP Operations. Her work often involves visits to advocates and students at schools in West40 partner districts. Yessenia explains why it's important to build strong connections with team members so they can walk further with students.

The sky is the limit students who are interested in many in-demand careers and not all of the careers require four year degrees. High school students can start their training for these careers before they graduate by participating in workforce development programs. The Shift Everything podcast highlights the programs offered by Ridgewood High School and Elmwood Park High School, whose students spend can attend training classes at area colleges and technical educational centers and get a step closer to their possible career of choice.

While a teacher shortage continues to impact schools across the nation, some districts are in the process of growing teachers from within their schools. On this episode of Shift Everything, Bellwood School District 88 superintendent Dr. Victoria Stockton explains how the district is partnering with BloomBoard to create pathways for for paraprofessionals and other school employees to become certified teachers.

Improved grades. More attention from teachers. Making friends. More creativity. That's how a family describes their child's experience with attending the West40 Remote School. Join Shift Everything and hear from the family as they explain how online learning (post pandemic) has led to positive results.