The Perkins Platform

Parents all over the US have suddenly been thrust into the role of teacher, parent, custodian, cafeteria worker, aide, curriculum specialist and principal.  After two weeks, resources and patience are wearing thin and parents are experiencing a range of success.  Today's show will feature parents from different cities across the US to discuss their own experiences and what they are doing to keep their children engaged in the learning process during the stay-home orders.  Join us at 2pm EST for what promises to be a dynamic show!

School and district leaders were given as little as 48 hours notice in some areas to prepare staff and communities to be part of a whole-scale transition to on-line learning all over the United States.  On this broadcast, you will hear from some leaders from around the country describe what life has been like for them over the past 10 days.  Join us at 2pm EST for this dynamic discussion!

All over the US, teachers and principals were hit with the mandate to implement on-line learning procedures to keep students engaged in the learning process almost overnight.  With little time for preparation, instructional staff members stayed home with little time to prepare and certainly little opportunity to take many files or progress notes.  Today's show features a number of educators from across the country who specialize in the education of special needs populations.  Join us to hear their concerns, fears and aspirations for their students.  Join us at 2pm!

Governments around the globe have ordered the wholesale closing of schools and educational institutions.  Today's panel of educators confirmed from Brazil, China, Taiwan, France, Romania and South Africa to share what they are experiencing in their country.  Join us at 9am EST for this informative show!

Parents and Educators are searching for ways to keep children engaged at their homes during Shelter-In-Place and Stay-Home Orders.  Today's show will highlight some of the things suggested by some award-winning educators from around the nation.  Join us at 2pm EST on Tuesday, March 24.

The global pandemic surrounding COVID-19 has shaken our world society at its core.  In the world of education, professionals are struggling to deal with feelings of anxiety, depression, stress and uncertainty.  Our guests are educators from around the United States who will talk to us about their emotional well-being and that of their colleagues in this time of social isolation.  Join us at 2pm EST on March 23.

Join us on Wednesday, August 14 at 2pm EST for an exciting discussion about the leadership for challenging urban contexts.  Our guest, Kimberly Neal is the founder of Believe Schools in Indianapolis, Indiana.Kimberly was most recently the Managing Director of Secondary Education at KIPP DC. She worked closely with Turnaround for Children to ensure all schools at KIPP DC redesigned their systems to improve the student experience. Additionally, Kimberly developed network policies and procedures, supported special education, and oversaw the professional development track for upcoming school leaders. Kimberly also served as a turnaround school leader for a year at AIM Academy, KIPP DC.  There, she was instrumental in stabilizing the school and creating a culture of identity and academic achievement. The middle school grew 10 points on DC’s Public Charter Performance Metrics, almost reaching Tier 1 (highest distinction) status in one year of a turnaround.Before KIPP DC, Kimberly was the founding principal for Muchin College Prep, a campus of Noble Network. Muchin has consistently ranked as a Tier 1+ High School and since its inception has ranked among the highest performing non-selective schools in Chicago. In 2018, Muchin outperformed all of Chicago Public Schools in the school quality framework. Kimberly is a seasoned school leader, social worker, leadership coach, and has consistently led significant academic performance in her schools while developing students from a whole-child approach.   Kimberly earned her B.A. in Psychology and Criminal Justice from Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, an M.S.W. from Washington University, St. Louis, and an M.Ed. from Teachers College-Columbia University.

This month's show is about recognizing the indicators of insitutional racism in schools and helping students to succeed in spite of the challenges.   Our guest, Jill Berkowicz, Ed.D. has spent her thirty - year career in education focusing on issues of equity and best practices in curriculum, instruction, assessment, and technology, as they affect the development of all learners in the K-12 system.  She co-authored The STEM Shift: A Guide for School Leaders with Dr. Ann Myers.  In addition they co-authored a blog, Leadership360 for the publication of Education Week, an independent news organization that has covered K–12 education since 1981.Join us for an important and necessary discussion on June 19 at 2pm EST!

Trauma-informed practice in schools has recently gained international attention.  Today's guest, Julie Beem,  is an advocate for increasing the number of education professionals and schools that address the needs of students and families in need of support. Julie Beem been the Executive Director of the Attachment & Trauma Network since 2009, and over the last decade has watched ATN grow from a grassroots support group for those parenting children with trauma and attachment challenges to being a powerful voice in the field of trauma-informed education and parenting. Julie has a Bachelors in Secondary Education from Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, MO and a Masters in Business Administration with emphasis in Professional Services Marketing from Avila College in Kansas City, MO.We are delighted to have a second guest, Dr. Melissa Sadlin.  Dr. Sadin has served as a special education teacher and a building administrator. She is currently working as a director of special education. Publicly, Dr. Sadin has been vice-president of her local School Board, is on the Board of Directors of the Attachment & Trauma Network and serves as the director of the Creating Trauma Sensitive Schools Program. She has conducted research on the perceptions of teachers working to create trauma-informed classrooms. Dr. Sadin is a published author and has produced numerous webinars on children with attachment trauma in schools. Currently, Dr. Sadin works as an education consultant and developmental trauma expert providing professional development to school districts, municipal service providers and parents. As an adoptive mother, Dr. Sadin provides first hand expertise in her work with adoptive parents at conferences and in other formal and informal settings. Her first book, “Teachers’ Guide to Trauma” has recently been released. Join us at 2pm EST for this exciting topic!

Join us at 2pm EST with our special guest Ms. Helen Westmoreland as she discusses the challenges schools around the U.S. face engaging families and adult caretakers and some innovative strategies they use to overcome those challenges. Helen Westmoreland is the Director of National Parent Teacher Association's Center for Family Engagement, where she leads PTA’s efforts to empower parent leaders to be champions for transformative family engagement.Prior to National PTA, Helen was Deputy Director at Flamboyan Foundation, where she co-developed their family engagement strategy. Previously, she worked at the Harvard Family Research Project and with community-based afterschool programs. She has provided consulting services and authored publications on family engagement, education organizing, out-of-school time, and scaling impact.Helen received an MEd from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a BA from Duke University. She is also a proud graduate of South Carolina public schools and a new mother.