The Learning Curve

In this week’s episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Ark Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy of the Center for Public Schools speak with Julie Young, Julie Petersen, and Kay Johnson, co-editors of Pioneer Institute’s new book, Virtual Schools, Actual Learning: Digital Education in America. They explore the evolution of online education in the U.S., from the founding of Florida Virtual School (FLVS) to the innovations at ASU Prep Digital. Young, Petersen, and Johnson discuss key principles of educational leadership, pivotal historical milestones in virtual schooling, and the early challenges of creating student-centered, technology-driven learning models. The co-editors highlight lessons from states’ high-performing digital programs, the role of state regulations, and strategies for addressing national learning loss, including insights about shortcomings of remote education during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also examine state funding structures, policy best practices, and critiques of online education, including concerns about equity of access. They discuss the book’s policy recommendations, offer a forward-looking vision for “unbound” learning, as well as the future of K-12 digital education across the globe. In closing, Julie Young reads a passage from Virtual Schools, Actual Learning: Digital Education in America.

In this engaging discussion, Erika Donalds, Chair of Education Opportunity at the America First Policy Institute and founder of numerous classical charter schools, shares her journey into education reform. She emphasizes the importance of high-quality curricula and innovative schooling methods like classical education to boost reading and math scores. Donalds advocates for parent-directed funding and expanding school choice, highlighting Florida's leadership in the movement. She also addresses the decline of civic literacy and the need for empowering states over federal control in education.

In this week’s episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Ark. Professor Albert Cheng and Center for Strong Public Schools’ Alisha Searcy speak with Sean Geraghty & Mike Goldstein, authors of I’ll Do It Later: Surviving School (and Renewing the Love) with Your ADHD Son. Geraghty and Goldstein reflected on the academic and personal experiences that fueled their passion to research ADHD and coauthor their latest book. The authors delve into the rise in ADHD diagnoses among young Americans, weighing in on how social media and technology have contributed to dwindling attention spans. Drawing on four case studies from their book, they share lessons from observing families raising children with ADHD and offer guidance for parents facing similar challenges. As many schools work to meet the needs of ADHD learners, Geraghty and Goldstein also discussed how educators can adapt classroom environments to better support broader academic needs.

Paul Andrew Hutton, a Distinguished Professor of History Emeritus at the University of New Mexico and author of The Undiscovered Country, dives into the rich tapestry of the American West. He explores iconic figures like Daniel Boone and Sitting Bull, shedding light on their roles and legacies. Hutton discusses Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show and its impact on the cowboy's global image as a symbol of American identity. His insights bridge the past's heroes and the mythos they created, all underscored by poignant narratives from his work.

In this week’s episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts Great Heart Academies’ Dr. Helen Baxendale and American Federation for Children’s Shaka Mitchell speak with Mike Miles, superintendent of the Houston Independent School District. Miles has devoted his life to public service, starting as a soldier, then as a diplomat in Poland and Russia during the Cold War before moving into K-12 education reform. He discussed how his family background and early educational experiences shaped his commitment to service. Reflecting on his years as an officer in the Army Ranger Battalion and a Company Commander, Miles described how military service influenced his leadership philosophy and approach to school reform. Since 2023, he has led the Houston Independent School District, the eighth largest in the country. He spoke candidly about the challenges of transitioning from military and diplomatic roles to driving educational reform in large urban districts, emphasizing the political and bureaucratic barriers that often slow progress. He also highlighted the many improvements that have already been accomplished during his brief tenure in Houston. Finally, Supt. Miles shared what he hopes to see governors, state legislatures, and parents do to dramatically improve academic outcomes for students in urban communities.

In this week’s episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Center for Strong Public Schools’ Alisha Searcy speak with Sir Hew Strachan, Professor of International Relations at the University of St Andrews, Scotland, and recipient of the 2016 Pritzker Literature Award for Lifetime Achievement in Military Writing. Prof. Sir Hew, author of numerous award-winning books, including The First World War, the basis of the definitive 10-part Channel 4/BBC documentary, discusses how World War I shaped the 20th century and beyond. He explores how European imperial rivalries contributed to the conflict; the role of Germany's Kaiser Wilhelm II; the First Battle of the Marne, the Battle of Verdun, and the Battle of the Somme; and the significance of V. I. Lenin’s 1917 return to Russia sparking the Bolshevik Revolution. Prof. Strachan also examines how the Zimmermann Telegram contributed to U.S. entry into the war; U.S. Army General John "Black Jack" Pershing as the commander of the American Expeditionary Forces; and the ways in which new mechanized weapons made WWI the first modern war. Sir Hew concludes by reflecting on the Great War’s enduring impact on the world today and reads an excerpt from his forthcoming essay due to be released later this month.

In this week’s episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts Center for Strong Public Schools’ Alisha Searcy and American Federation for Children’s Walter Blanks interview Kelley Brown, an award-winning civics and government teacher at Easthampton High School and former Massachusetts Teacher of the Year. Ms. Brown discusses her background as an educator, her work with the “We the People": The Citizen and the Constitution program, and how it helps students engage with America’s Founding Documents, U.S. history, and enduring civic ideals. She examines the nationwide decline in K-12 civics education and how teachers and policymakers can reengage the subject to strengthen our democratic civic knowledge and understanding. Ms. Brown also shares her thoughtful approaches to teaching complex topics such as slavery, race, and equality under rule of law, in ways that honor our history, while addressing how America hasn't always fulfilled its highest ideals. Brown concludes by reflecting on her own civic heroes and heroines from U.S. history and how their examples can inspire students and citizens to become more knowledgeable participants in our republic.

In this week’s episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Great Hearts Academies’ Dr. Helen Baxendale interview Leo Damrosch, Ernest Bernbaum Professor of Literature Emeritus at Harvard University, and acclaimed biographer of some of the world's greatest literary figures. Prof. Damrosch discusses his newest book Storyteller: The Life of Robert Louis Stevenson. He reflects on Stevenson's childhood in Scotland and the close relationship he maintained with his nanny, Alison Cunningham. He shares how Stevenson lived an adventurous life, with his travel inspiring classics like Treasure Island, Kidnapped, and A Child’s Garden of Verses. Prof. Damrosch explores the moral dualities in Stevenson’s gothic masterpiece, Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, examining how the novella reveals humanity’s capacity for good and evil. He also discusses Stevenson’s later years in Samoa, his marriage to the American Fanny Osbourne, and his involvement with the politics and people of the South Pacific islands before dying at the age of 44. Prof. Damrosch concludes with reading an excerpt from Treasure Island.

In this week’s episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Center for Public Schools’ Alisha Searcy interview Dr. Anna Lembke, MD, professor of psychiatry at the Stanford University School of Medicine, chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic, and author of the NYT bestselling book, Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence. Dr. Lembke explains how dopamine functions in the human brain and contributes to addictive behaviors. She explores how modern American life fuels a culture of addiction, drawing parallels between past waves of opioid and alcohol abuse and today’s dependence on the internet and smart phones. Dr. Lembke also examines how overuse of technology is influencing dopamine-driven addiction and contributing to rising rates of teen mental illness. Drawing on her extensive research, she offers practical strategies for people seeking to break addictive habits and be more restrained in using technology. Dr. Lembke concludes the interview by reading an excerpt from Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence, offering a valuable lesson on how individuals can find greater fulfillment by living a more balanced life without excessive dopamine.

In this week’s episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Center for Public Schools’ Alisha Searcy interview Jack Johnson Pannell, founder and head of Trinity Arch Preparatory School for Boys in Phoenix. Mr. Pannell discusses his career as an educational leader, including founding a nationally recognized charter school in Baltimore, and shares how his background in the liberal arts and law has informed his approach to schooling. He explores the enduring value of a liberal arts education, American studies, and legal reasoning in cultivating civic-minded, intellectually engaged students. Pannell also addresses the impact of educational fads like school-to-work programs, social-emotional learning, and 21st-century skills on academic achievement, noting the importance of grounding boys in rigorous, time-tested curricula. Drawing on his experience moderating the Teen Socrates program at the Aspen Institute, he shares strategies for engaging teen boys in meaningful academic and philosophical discussions. Finally, Pannell explains how Trinity Arch Prep uses choice options available in AZ to impart Christian faith and strong academics to develop young men of character, intellect, and civic purpose.