On this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast, Tom Vander Ark is joined by the phenomenal Kaya Henderson. Kaya is the CEO of Reconstruction, a edtech company that delivers k-12 courses that situates Black people, culture, and contributions in an authentic, identity-affirming way. Kaya is a career educator, starting as a middle school Spanish teacher in the South Bronx with Teach for America. Kaya has been a leader in DC for 20+ years, first with TFA, then TNTP and then a decade at DCPS. She co-hosts the popular podcast Pod Save the People, with DeRay McKesson.  Let’s listen in as they discuss representation, hosting a podcast and the importance of culturally responsive pedagogy.  Links: LinkedIn Pod Save the People

On this special episode of the Getting Smart Podcast, producer Mason Pashia is joined by Tom Vander Ark and Shawnee Caruthers to celebrate the approximately 400th episode of the Getting Smart Podcast.  They discuss why Getting Smart started a podcast in the first place, run through a quick lightning round of favorite moments and laugh a lot.  Episodes mentioned in the episode:  Dr. Roberta McFarland on The Magic of Outdoor Education   Joe Erpelding on Magical Schools and Thrively   EduCatered: Ululani Shiraishi 100 Days of Conversation Project and The Importance of Community Agreements Chris Emdin on STEM, STEAM, Make Dream Summit Tech Academy on Learning Pathways Immokalee High School on Entrepreneurship and Projects That Serve Community Embark Education on Embedding Learning in Business Jamie Merisotis on Human Work in the Age of Smart Machines Clifton Taulbert on Habits of the Heart Timothy Jones on HipHopEd and Techniques4Learning Erin Jones on Stories and Strategies for Racial Healing Dr. Trish Scanlon on How Voice Technologies Should Work For Kids Dr. Angela Duckworth on Developing Character The Future of Learning with Dr. Pamela Moran, Byron Sanders and Dr. Ed Hess Stephanie Krauss on Readiness, Opportunity, and The Right to a Decent Life Michelle Weise on Long Life Learning  Chelsea Craig and Dr. Anthony Craig on Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Leading

This episode of the Getting Smart Podcast is brought to you by What If.  On this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast, Tom Vander Ark and Getting Smart Podcast Producer Mason Pashia are joined by Dr. Frank Keil, a Yale Professor of Psychology & Linguistics and author of the new book Wonder: Childhood and the Lifelong Love of Science. When it comes to thinking about thinking … Frank is one of the best.  Together, they discuss the majesty of wonder, how we need to do a better job of instilling wonder on a daily basis and how it is how science is a fantastic avenue for exploring a sense of wonder.  Links:  Frank Keil Bio Wonder: Childhood and the Lifelong Love of Science Excerpt from Wonder: Childhood and the Lifelong Love of Science The Age of Wonder Annie Murphy Paul Podcast Marin Reeves Podcast When You Wonder, You’re Learning Podcast

This episode of the Getting Smart podcast is a part of our New Pathways campaign. Find out more here. On this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast, Tom Vander Ark is joined by Dr. Mark Benigni, the award-winning superintendent of Meriden Public Schools and the co-author of the forthcoming book The Great Equalizer: Six Strategies to Make Public Education Work in America.We’re also joined by Barbara Haeffner, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Innovation at Meriden Public Schools and co-author.  Together, they discuss Mark’s legacy in Meriden and the book’s strategies for reimagining and building a better public education.  Links Book Link Mark Benigni LinkedIn Mark Benigni Twitter Barbara Haeffner LinkedIn New Pathways Campaign Meriden Portrait of a Graduate Tools For Building a Climate

This episode of the Getting Smart podcast is a part of our New Pathways campaign. Find out more here. This episode of the Getting Smart Podcast is a re-airing of our recent New Pathways Town Hall that breaks down each of the six pillars of pathways. These pillars will help learners find meaning in their personal, professional, and communal lives.  Our New Pathways campaign is comprised of Unbundled Learning, Credentialed Learning, Accelerated Pathways,  New Learning Models, Support and Guidance, and Policies and Systems and steered by our guiding principles of: Intentionality, Equity, Curation and Purpose, the goal of New Pathways is to help learners experience success in what’s next. Find all links mentioned in this town hall here.

This episode of the Getting Smart Podcast is a part of our Green Schools campaign, an initiative to highlight important thinkers and activists in the movement to make schools more sustainable, more green, and more mindful of our relationship with the planet.  On this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast, Tom Vander Ark is joined by his friend and former Governor of Colorado, Bill Ritter. Bill Directs Center for the New Energy Economy, Colorado State University which works with state and federal policymakers to create clean energy policy throughout the country.  During his four-year term, Ritter established Colorado as a national and international leader in clean energy by building a New Energy Economy. Years ago, Governor Ritter authored a book entitled, Powering Forward – What Everyone Should Know About America’s Energy Revolution, which we talk about at length on this episode.    Links Center for the New Energy Economy Powering Forward – What Everyone Should Know About America’s Energy Revolution Bill Ritter LinkedIn Dr. Bryan Willson Senator Tim Wirth Green Cross Justice 40 TerraPower Modular Reactors Boulder Valley School District

On this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast, Deion Jordan is joined by Isaiah Walker, principal at KIPP Philadelphia Prep Academy, where he manages and mentors multiple Principals in Residence.  Isaiah started his teaching career at Saint Charles Borromeo School in Harlem, teaching middle school science. He then transitioned to Newark to teach middle school English language arts at Great Oaks Charter School. Later on, Isaiah spent five years working with KIPP focusing on building teacher coaching and leadership development with KIPP NYC and KIPP School Leadership Programs. As a leader in his building and the KIPP network, Isaiah developed multiple at-risk intervention programs to address social and emotional issues for students that are being used throughout the organization and across the country. Isaiah holds a B.A. from Columbia University, has studied and received certifications from Cornell University and Harvard University and is currently studying at the University of Pennsylvania. Links:  KIPP Philadelphia The Fire Next Time Bettina Love Kim Marshall’s Podcast Center for Black Educator Development - Black Men Educator Conference

On this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast Nate McClennen is joined by three incredible students who recently competed in the Regeneron Science Talent Search, an event co-hosted with Society for Science. Check out our podcast episode with Maya Ajmera to hear more about Society for Science. The students are Christine Ye, a student at Eastlake High School Aseel Rawashdeh, a student at Anderson High School, and Elijah Burks, a student at Caddo Parish Magnet High School.  Let’s listen in as they discuss their science projects, what project-based learning has done for them as learners, agency, and much more.  LINKS: Christine’s Project Video Aseel’s project video Elijah video Regeneron Talent Search Society for Science Getting Smart Podcast with Maya Ajmera

On this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast Shawnee Caruthers is joined by Nadine Levitt, founder of WURRLYedu and PD Reimagined. She is also the creator of the My Mama Says book series and writer of numerous blogs and education resources.  Nadine has a varied combination of experiences - from lawyer, to opera singer to education advocate and we are thrilled to have her on the podcast. Links WURRLYedu PD Reimagined My Mama Says

On this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast, Nate McClennen is joined by GPS Education Partners (GPS Ed) and representatives of DuPage County Schools to discuss school and industry partnerships and work-based learning. We recently supported GPS Ed in publishing a white paper called Work-Based Learning Ecosystems: Improving OPPORTUNITY for All by Integrating SCHOOL, COMMUNITY and the WORKPLACE.  On this episode, our guests are:  Dr. Darlene Ruscitti, Superintendent of DuPage County Schools  Jovan Lazarevic), Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction of Lake Park HS Jim Campbell, the business partner on this project and VP & General Manager, Fabrication Division of Prince Industries Jeff Ziegler, GPSEd's Partner Development Manager for our Client Solutions Team WBL learning ecosystems have three elements - community, education (cc and K-12), and business partners - and then an intermediary to help bring them together. This episode works to highlight that relationship. Links: White Paper GPS Education Partners DuPage SD Prince Industries DuPage Youth Apprenticeship Program