Podcasts

Fatigued by School Reform, a new book by Jack Jennings, argues that school reform has been both wrongly targeted and oversold. Efforts should be focused on helping lower and middle income students to overcome any disadvantages from their families’ socio-economic status and also on recruiting more teachers with high verbal and cognitive skills. In addition, politicians and “experts” have peddled the wrong-headed view that the schools alone can solve society’s problems.

Kerensa Wing, 2020 NASSP National Principal of the Year and principal of Collins Hill High School in Suwanee (Gwinnett County), Ga., believes a classroom teacher has an enormous impact on student growth. She talks about hiring, retaining, and training the best teachers and how bringing high-quality

Whitney Nash Young, an assistant principal at W.J. Cooper Elementary School in Loganville, (Gwinnett County) Ga., discusses the schoolwide professional learning plan, including a new teacher induction and mentoring program, that her school has implemented. The school built a collaborative learning team to help teachers focus on a few critical, measurable areas to improve student learning and accountability.

As director of professional development for one of the nation's largest teachers' unions, Walter Taylor sees an urgent need for restorative practices, including cultural competencies, critical race theory, and trauma-informed mindset, in schools and teachers' professional development. He explains the Quest Center's work in advancing educational opportunities for students and professional development for teachers. 

As the Chief Technology Officer for the Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township, a high-poverty school district, Pete Just helps students reach their full potential and find the best pathways for college and careers. Just, a former teacher, gives tips for for training staff to use tools that are always evolving and finding the best resources, and how to adapt to a challenging and constantly changing environment. 

National Distinguished Principal Tracy Hilliard discusses her strategies for building culture and instilling a mission and vision in a school, and how she helps her elementary students (aka scholars) grow and achieve. Her latest career move is planning for the opening of a new elementary school as part of redistricting in fast-growing Frederick County, Md. 

Laura Ross, who was just named the 2020 National Counselor of the Year, chats about her middle school and the initiatives she's pushed to help all students feel welcome at school. She also discusses strategies for all educators and parents to better understand the impacts and strengths of diversity in public schools.

Curtis Jones, superintendent of Bibb County, Ga. and 2019 National Superintendent of the Year, discusses how his school district is achieving success by focusing on leadership and strategic planning. The district's graduation rate has dramatically increased and teachers and students are much more engaged in learning and academic achievement.

National PTA President Leslie Boggs discusses ways parents can work with their schools to help support their children. The National PTA has many resources and strategies from schools that have successful relationships with parents, teachers and administrators.

The National School Boards Association talks about the power of public schools as an integral part of the community. NSBA President Beth Branham, a former teacher, is proud of her school district and says Public Schools Week 2020 is a special time to show support for public schools.