The EdTech Incubator

Anyone in education knows there is always buzz about how it’s changing or how it needs to change.

But most people don’t have a concrete vision of what this looks like. Not Cecily and Michael though.

They created Learning Pathmakers to bring this vision to fruition. And as policy leaders, researchers, advocates, teachers, and parents, they have a pretty good idea of how to make it happen.

Check out this interview to learn more.

Where to Find Learning Pathmakers

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/learningpathmakers
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/learning-pathmakers/
• Website: www.learningpathmakers.org 
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRbiSDPqreI

We know the education system has flaws… 

Most students are behind grade level. Learning often revolves around high stakes assessments. And parents are left out of the equation.

Matt Barnes and The Education Game want to change that. 

Matt asks the question: “How can parents improve their child’s educational journey REGARDLESS of the functioning of their school?”

Especially during COVID, the role of the parent is changing. And this podcast covers exactly what this means AND how schools, parents, and communities can lean into this. 

The possibilities are endless. We have to start thinking differently. 

Where to Find Matt:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewcbarnes/ 
• Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/7IqTX2koCqgzJ8uTpmHqzk
• Phone Number for Low-Income Families: 832-210-1200 (Ext 1200)
• Website: https://theeducationgame.com/  

Safety first, they say. But what does safety look like?

Well, there is a lot of planning that has to go into it. Planning for things like weather events, natural disasters, fires, pandemics, and more. 

That’s where Ronald Roszak comes in. He’s the Senior Safety Advisor at the Institute for Childhood Preparedness. And this last year alone, he worked with over 65,000 education professionals to plan for pandemic preparedness in response to COVID-19.  

He stopped by the K12ish podcast this week to share his safety & preparedness strategies for now and the future. 

Where to Find Ronald:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChildPrepared
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChildPrepared
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ChildhoodPreparedness/
• Website: https://www.childhoodpreparedness.org/

Published Under Former Name: K12ish, now The Edtech Incubator.

Is there are better way to teach students to read than traditional phonics?

Zachary Silverzweig and the team at TinyIvy think so. That’s why they set out to create a new and improved English alphabet that works as a pronunciation guide for new and emerging readers. 

It sounds radical, until you realize that hundreds of millions of people already read like this in other languages.

But putting it into play in the United States does require some radical and visionary thinking. And that’s what we dive into during this episode.

Check it out. 

 Where to Find Zachary:

Published Under Former Name: K12ish, now The Edtech Incubator.

Have you heard any good math jokes lately? Well, this podcast has got you covered.

During this week’s episode, Anna sits down with David Ullendorff, who is the President & Co-Founder of Mathnasium. They dive into how Mathnasium came to be, the secrets of effective math curriculum, and what it takes to run an international education company during a pandemic.

They also nerd out on topics like the intersection of art and math, why ‘e’ feels left out of Pi day, and more. 

You won’t want to miss this one.

Where to Find David:

Picture this: you’re cozied up on a cold day with a warm mug of tea and a book you can’t wait to open. What book is it?

Whatever your answer is, Kimberly is on a quest to make sure that all students have that moment. You know the one where you are transported into another world, when a character speaks to your soul, and the pages seem to just turn themselves.

In this episode, we talk about the work that goes into this, how new genres open up new opportunities, and why diversity and inclusion are wholly necessary.

Where to Find Kim:

• Twitter: @KimRues
• LinkedIn: Kimberly Rues
• Website: kimberlyrues.com/
• EdSurge: edsurge.com/writers/kim-rues

**Correction: The author mentioned is EBONY Elizabeth Thomas, not EMILY Elizabeth Thomas.

On this week’s episode, Jennifer Carter, or Mrs. C as she’s often called, stops by to talk about leadership strategies specifically for education.

And she knows what she’s talking about. Jennifer has worked at all levels of education from child care to university. She was a previous Academic Dean for a K12 school and now owns and operates a child care business.

She is passionate about leveraging effective leadership to serve students and expand opportunities for learning. 

Plus, we end with a fun game to understand what a child care director’s life looks like during COVID. You won’t want to miss it!

Where to Find Jennifer:

• Instagram: @oaktreelearning
• LinkedIn: Jennifer Carter
• Podcast: anchor.fm/mrscspodcast
• Website: oaktreelearningcenter.com

It’s no secret that learning happens when students are engaged. But that doesn’t make it easy to achieve. That’s why we brought in the expert: Rick Reynolds. He writes curriculum and learning content for major organizations like PBS, SOLVE, and the National Wildlife Services.

He knows how to bring learning to life through hands-on activities that inspire students to be researchers, changemakers, and environmentalists.

In this episode, Anna and Rick geek out on the NGSS, curriculum development, and crawfish – yes, crawfish. Tune in to see why. 

Where to Find Rick:

• LinkedIn: Rick Reynolds
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.engagingeverystudent.com/ 

As a former Boys & Girls Club counselor, our host, Anna, is super excited about this guest: Jamie Sanic-Paz. During this episode, they bond over fond memories of the club and look at how operations have changed over the last year.

Even with all the challenges, the club is still going strong – just now it is happening virtually and in small groups. At the end of the day, it is about giving students a place where they feel happy, safe, and supported, and right now that is more important than ever. You won’t want to miss this one!

Where to Find Jamie:

• LinkedIn: Jamie Sanic-Paz
• Website: https://bgcportland.org/

Computer Science has been quite the buzz over the last few years. But during the pandemic, it took a back seat in many cases – not for Stacy Lane and her team at Codefi, however. The Youth Coding league is still going strong in a hybrid learning environment, and it’s even rapidly expanding across the country. So, what started as a community development effort in a small town is now reaching rural students throughout the United States. 

What does it take to start and manage an after-school program for coding? Tune in to find out.

Where to Find Stacy:

• LinkedIn: Stacy (Dohogne) Lane
• Website: https://www.youthcodingleague.com/