When The Wind Blows

# of Students

# of Teachers

10,000 K Ss last year…

25k+ Ss this year

Grace - A’s, T’s, Ps - There are soooooo many kids signed up right now because this option was better than the other one that was presented to them. We already know it will not be right for everyone. We already know that being self driven, persistent, a problem solver are keys to EPIC success.

Virtual learning is hard. As to Bs and Cs

A teacher filled with love and understanding over spreadsheets and to-do lists. The standards do matter and we will teach them, but it will require the village to do it. This 

We are not a school without problems. We try really hard to shut out the noise of the haters and do the job ahead of us. We know that nothing of consequence can get done without a little bit of courage and a heck of a lot of grit. 

We have graduated a west point scholar and a student 6 months into a prison sentence. We have graduated more 19-21 year olds AND more 15 and 16 year old than any other school in the state. 

The tyranny of how is our biggest challenge at Epic...and not just this pandemic school year. 

Teacher question: How do you teach every grade level and every subject to every student? How do you satisfy the requirements of the  world of standardization in an environment of personalization? 

You need a strategy

You need to train your brain and the brain of the kiddos, students, and families we work with to be, keep, and stay flexible. When a plan isnt working around here, we dont keep trying to force our way...we try to find a new way.

You have got to keep the state of your being in a constant state of gratitude for the ability to think outside of the box. We are NOT the status quo. For 10 years we have and will continue to push every boundary in front of us to do what’s best for students. Period.

I’m here to make a scene. Paint a picture. Disrupt what is downright ridiculous and archaic in this day and age. 

Those that came before me fought too hard to see me squander any opportunity I have to remake what is out of date.

I give my all to the projects I know have great potential. I give myself room to make mistakes in public. I know that paying attention to the quality of my presence is more powerful than trying to be perfect. 

I want people to feel my heart in all I do, whether or not they are impressed with what I got right is none of my business. I know that practice is essential. 

Preparedness is priceless. 

But without witnessing the moment, they’ll most likely fly by without me actually enjoying them. Each opportunity that I get to show the world what I’ve got is only going to come once. I want to enjoy it. 

There will be pressure, but I can learn to roll with that too. There will be chaos, but every creative moment is a full-on mess. There will be moments of epic doubt, but those are usually a good sign. What monument was ever built without a little reconstruction?

When it comes to your school can you identify the legislation that would impact your school? Do you have a relationship with the people that lead your district/state?

Policy Chat - Wins and Loses

Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders, and anyone vested in world of education

How did you get involved in Politics? What made you bring those skills and knowledge to Epic?

Why did I suggest this topic?

1. HB 2905 - Truancy - People (other educators) really thought the lawmakers stuck it to EPIC when this bill was passed. 

That's all we have for today. If you like what you heard, go ahead and hit the like button and subscribe to the podcast so you are notified each time a new episode drops. If you are a returning listener you should rate the podcast and leave us a comment. 

Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world.

Classcraft and Motivation Engagement Learning

Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders and anyone vested in world of education. I am Erin Barnes, host of the show...and today’s co-hosts are:

Kylie Trower

Travis Barnes

Kari Prevett

How did you get involved in education? What made you bring that to Epic?

Kylie

Kari

Travis

Kari: What is Classcraft?

Travis: WHy do you think Gamification in Education is so important?

Kylie, tell me what EPIC has done in its partnership with Classcraft this year.

Daily Oklahoman Article https://oklahoman.com/article/5667051/in-oklahoma-remote-learning-goes-to-the-next-level

You and your team enter The Ruined Lands. They sprawl before you, thick with overgrown plants that conceal wild animals shrieking from afar. You and the other enter the ruined lands with you mission. The King of Karaz has told you of a corruption that is sprawling across the land. It is up to you all to try and end the corruption and bring peace to the islands again. You hold the maps of the land, Talik having the knowledge of the Mages, Alster with Haden has new shields that are holding well. They will protect you from the dangerous corruption, but you don't dare touch anything for fear of alerting some ferocious beast.

As you explore your surroundings, you start to wonder if this task is impossible. How will you even begin to cure the corruption or stop it from spreading? You only hope the child of light can help you!

That's all we have for today. If you like what you heard, go ahead and hit the like button and subscribe to the podcast so you are notified each time a new episode drops. If you are a returning listener you should rate the podcast and leave us a comment. 

Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world.

1.3 Misconceptions and Myths 

Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders and anyone vested in world of education. I am Erin Barnes, host of the show...and today’s co-hosts are:

How did you get involved in education? What made you bring that to Epic?

Why I suggested this topic? 

Co-founder David Chaney had to make a public statement on 7/29 about people putting words in his mouth, Co founder Ben Harris made a video addressing teachers telling them “chin up”, Jennifer Palmer is about to drop an article about EPIC Ca as if their laws pertain to Ok...

How much of your job is putting out fires that people have set...people who have no clue the law states or situation may be?

What are some of the misconceptions?

Schools will lose funding if kids enroll in EPIC during the pandemic

Epic teachers never see their students

EPIC kids are all behind when they leave EPIC

Parents get $1000 cash

We are a public school when we want and a private school when it suits us

Colleges hesitate or dont accept EPIC students. 

HS credits will not be accepted bc we arent accredited. 

Epic steals the left over learning fund when students leave or graduate

EPIC has the lowest graduation rates

EPIC takes away the rights and freedoms of homeschoolers

Epic embezzels

EPIC has ghost students to boost their numbers

That's all we have for today. If you like what you heard, go ahead and hit the like button and subscribe to the podcast so you are notified each time a new episode drops. If you are a returning listener you should rate the podcast and leave us a comment. 

Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world

Adaptability/Growth Mindset 

Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders and anyone vested in world of education

How did you get involved in education? What made you bring that to Epic?

PR background - unfulfilled

Love for missions and working with students

Alt Cert - Cutting edge of what the future of education looks like

Why did you suggest this topic?

Pace of change on the rise. Problem - adapt or die. 

The solution -creating and sustaining change in a volatile environment requires creative leadership.How do we develop leadership capabilities (competitive capacity and lifelong learning….or the adoption of a growth mindset)

Growth Mindset - a mindset is a set of assumptions, methods, or notations held by a person or group of people that arise out of a person's worldview or philosophy of life. Happiness and Grit and cheap...do a physical exercise on this...whats it look like or feel like? We train our brain for this. You are not stuck.

Living with intention. Creating space for incremental change through learning, reflection, and application. Eradicating or moving through fear. Collaborating with others for honest feedback. Open to new ideas and discovery of multiple perspectives. Never expecting to know it all. Always on a quest to discover more. As educators we MUST model this. Embody this. Before expecting this of our teams, students, families, etc. 

Book - John Cotter - 

Overcoming Childhood trauma - the solution to helping them most lies in their stories. 

Tatum with fraction, decimals, percents

Parents have new plans coming at them based on whether or not the original plan is working

Teachers have new plans each year, add a new curriculum they arent used to, Epic Esspenials, 

Administrators - Growth at 50-60% each year. How on earth can you forecast for this? How do you put plans into place for this? 

Neural associations or pathways may need to be retraced to allow for positivity. Surfing and learning story from Tony Robbins (Day 3 Module 2)

Thats all we have for today. If you like what you heard, go ahead and hit the like button and subscribe to the podcast so you are notified each time a new episode drops. 

Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world.

When the Wind Blows

Back to School Bootcamp

Welcome back to When the Wind Blows...an Epic podcast for parents, teachers, leaders and anyone vested in the world of education. I am Erin Barnes, host of the show and today’s co-hosts are:

Special Guest: Whitney Farmer, Regina Bell and Skylar Shanks

1. How did you get involved in edu? Epic?

Whitney - VBS, Church Camp Counselor. I needed my gifts and talents to be utilized and I had the desire to be developed and poured into. I also had to get outside of the box that my students and I  were being shoved into. 

Regina- 30 years, needed a change, one on one relationships, 

1. This back to school might be one of the most different starts. How does a new teacher and a new student navigate this?

Whitney: Put kids first and prioritize learning, be kind to others and be kind to yourself, work hard.

1. Skyler: What is the best advice you can give students for the start of this school year? 

make a schedule, know exactly what your going to do each day, that helped me a lot. make lots of goals & don’t over stress. ask your teacher questions if you don’t understand something. 

1. Regina: What is the best advice you can give students for the start of this school year  (estab routine)

1. Whitney and Regina: What do parents need to know about this school year... New and vets? 

Parents need to know that they must lock arms with their teacher. This means communicating often.. What is working, what isn’t working, where can we pivot to make learning and growth occur? We believe in a partnership between the student, the parent and the teacher. Please know that we don’t hire teachers just because they can do this job, we hire people who believe in our mission. Your teacher is prioritizing your child’s education, meeting them where they are and pushing them to be the very best they can be! Growth is hard. Learning is hard. Your teacher will provide you with the tools you need and guide you as we all navigate this journey together. 

Edutopia article linked in the notes: Building Productive Relationships With Parents

 https://www.edutopia.org/article/strategy-building-productive-relationships-parents?utm_content=linkpos3&utm_campaign=weekly-2020-07-22&utm_source=edu-legacy&utm_medium=email

1. Skylar: what should parents do to help their kids be successful this year. Do check ins with them, some kids can stay on task better than others, so that may mean daily or weekly. Keep them on pace. The more uplifting you are the harder they will want to work. 

1. Workspaces: Dedicated spaces - Beds...anyplace CAN work but its up to the parent, student and teacher to find that space. 

We have all heard that that Francis Beacon quote

‘Knowledge is power” But I challenge that notion, knowledge is only potential power. You have to put it into action for it to have any kind of lasting  impact. 

Thats all the time we have for today. If you like what you heard, go ahead and hit the like button and subscribe to the podcast so you are notified each time a new episode drops. 

Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world.

Introductions

Special Guest: Josh Brock, the CFO of EPIC

How did you get involved in edu? 

At the admin retreat last year you told a story to the group that sat the tone for me last year…

The Story

Why the podcast? 

How can this story set the tone for dealing with all the questions and haters?

Tune in next week where we are rethinking how leadership and education can better prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world.