In this episode, Dr. Jess Laine unpacks the engagement data from her dissertation study comparing Montessori and traditional middle schools in Dallas ISD. What does “student engagement” really mean? How was it measured? And did Montessori classrooms actually lead to higher engagement?

Spoiler: instructional method alone didn’t tell the whole story.

This episode explores why engagement is more than participation—it's about belonging, motivation, and connection. Dr. Jess reveals what the data said, what it didn’t, and why school culture and teacher relationships matter just as much as curriculum design.