Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators

The Future of School with Dr. Annalies Corbin

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Aug 4, 2025

Dr. Annalies Corbin, Chief Goddess and Founder of the PAST Foundation, discusses transformative educational practices. She shares insights on the importance of student agency, cultural relevance, and problem-based learning. The conversation highlights the challenges educators face, especially amid standardized testing and traditional expectations. Annalies underscores the need for innovative strategies to bridge the gap between education and real-world employment, preparing students for active citizenship and a dynamic workforce.

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INSIGHT

Human-Centered Educational Questions

The PAST Foundation began by questioning what we are really preparing students for in education.
This shift to human-centered questions precedes meaningful educational reform.

INSIGHT

Shaping STEM Identity

STEM identity is when students see themselves with endless possibilities in STEM fields.
Shifting key mental levers can turn students' mindset from off to fully engaged.

INSIGHT

Kevlar Threads for School Change

The five key Kevlar threads for lasting school change are student agency, cultural relevancy, mastery-based learning, transdisciplinary approaches, and problem-based design.
Each thread adds resilience and strength while remaining flexible in educational transformation.

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In this episode of Shifting Schools, Jeff Utecht interviews Dr. Annalies Corbin, author of 'Hacking School: Five Strategies to Link Learning to Life.' They discuss the origins of the PAST Foundation, the importance of STEM identity, and the five key strategies for educational reform. Annalies emphasizes the need for cultural relevance, student agency, and problem-based learning in education. They also explore the challenges educators face in implementing these changes, the impact of standardized testing, and the concept of wicked problems in education. The conversation highlights the importance of community involvement and the future of education in preparing students for their roles as engaged citizens.

Dr. Annalies Corbin is the Chief Goddess, Founder & CEO the PAST Foundation. In 2000, Dr. Corbin founded the PAST Foundation, an organization she envisioned could lead the way to connecting scientific research with classrooms, schools and communities. From 2000-2006, Annalies concurrently led the PAST Foundation and taught at East Carolina University’s Program in Maritime Studies. In 2005, when PAST opened its headquarters in Columbus, Annalies turned all efforts to building the PAST Foundation, assembling a team that could grow the reach and mission of linking learning to life.

From a single school partnership in 2006, Annalies has grown PAST’s supporters across the nation, building a reputation for both transforming teaching and learning by understanding tomorrow’s education needs. In 2015, Annalies’ commitment to transforming schools led to the development of PAST Innovation Lab. Connecting directly with teachers through online professional development courses, MAEd program and on- site workshops, PAST Innovation Lab impacts more classrooms and expands learning opportunities for teachers and students everywhere. In 25 years, PAST has impacted more than 3,000,000 students, over 25,000 teachers across 42 states, hosting nearly 20,000 visitors and building hundreds of partnerships.

Chapters

00:00 The Genesis of Hacking School 02:54 Understanding STEM Identity 05:47 The Five Key Strategies for Education 08:28 Challenges in Implementing Change 11:24 The Impact of Standardized Testing 14:09 Wicked Problems in Education 18:55 Understanding Wicked Problems 21:21 The Role of Educators in Navigating Complexity 23:39 Shifting Mindsets in Education 27:25 Building Community Support for Change 31:18 Preparing Future Citizens and Thinkers 34:22 The Importance of Educator Authenticity

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