

Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators
Jeff Utecht & Tricia Friedman
Shifting Schools is a thought-provoking podcast that explores the latest trends, strategies, and tools in K-12 education. Hosted by educators Jeff Utecht and Tricia Friedman, the podcast provides a platform for teachers, administrators, and education thought leaders to share their experiences and insights on how to improve teaching and learning. From innovative approaches in classroom management to leveraging technology for personalized learning, Shifting Schools tackles the most pressing issues facing K12 educators today. Whether you are a seasoned teacher or a new educator, this podcast will inspire you to think outside the box and shift your educational approach. Tune in to Shifting Schools to gain new perspectives, share ideas, and join a community of passionate educators who are committed to making a positive impact in the lives of their students.
Follow us at @shiftingschools on Twitter and @shiftingschoolspod on Instagram and Tiktok
Follow us at @shiftingschools on Twitter and @shiftingschoolspod on Instagram and Tiktok
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 10, 2023 • 37min
268: The message about mistakes that our students need us to hear
Do you learn from your mistakes? Do your students? In this episode we go deep into ways we can truly leverage mistakes as fuel for deeper learning, engagement, and reflection. We think more about the mindsets that help us unpack our mistakes and share them with our learning community. Our fantastic guest this week is Eman Ismail whose podcast 'Mistakes that Made Me' is a great listen for Business and Entrepreneurship as well as any learning that focuses on Leadership. Ready to learn more about this week's special guest? Click here. Follow Eman on Social Media: On Twitter On Instagram Check out the resource from Eman that we discuss: Available here Thank you for listening to this episode! If you like our podcast you may want to check out our bank of free guides available here. A huge thanks to our sponsor for supporting us in making this episode possible: Visit textblaze.me/shiftingschools to get started saving time today!

Apr 3, 2023 • 24min
267: How do you share your stories of hope?
Thank you to our sponsor MackinVia for sponsoring today's episode. Jeff's book recommendation: The Dip by Seth Godin This week on the show we are honored to speak with Dr. Dana Goodier, the author of the book and podcast "Out of the Trenches". Dr. Dana Goodier has 23 years of experience in education. She has taught World Languages and English and worked as a middle school administrator. She completed her doctorate degree (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership early 2020. For her dissertation, she researched reasons parents were opting their students out of high-stakes testing at middle schools and how that affected the district accreditation rating. She often speaks at conferences, providing educators with techniques to minimize off-task behavior and to increase time on task. She is the host of the "Out of the Trenches" podcast, which features educators who share their stories of resiliency. She has also written the book "Out of the Trenches: Stories of Resilient Educators, which features much of her own story in educational trenches intertwined with stories of other educators who have faced challenges. You can reach Dana at: www.danagoodier.com Twitter @danagoodier @outoftrenchespc IG: @outoftrenchespc LinkedIn

Mar 27, 2023 • 36min
266: Reflections from the NCCE23 Conference
Welcome to the NCCE conference live episode sponsored by MackinVia. Today we explore the impact of Generative AI on education, digital and media literacy, and innovative projects happening in schools recorded on my Zoom H2n Mic. We begin with a discussion on Generative AI in education. We delve into the ways in which AI can personalize learning and engage students, while also teaching them about the ethical implications of this technology and the importance of digital literacy skills. Then we shift to the topic of digital and media literacy. We examine the critical role of media literacy in teaching students how to evaluate media sources and recognize misinformation. Finally, we turn our attention to some of the exciting projects happening in schools hearing from teachers and tech coaches about the fun things that are engaging kids today. The NCCE conference provides a valuable platform for educators to discuss how technology can enhance learning experiences for students. We thank MackinVia for sponsoring this episode and hope listeners enjoy this reflection from the NCCE23 conference. Join us next year at NCCE24! To learn more go to ncce.org.

Mar 22, 2023 • 28min
265: Feedback as fuel for trust
In this episode, we explore the transformative power of feedback for leaders. Drawing from the insightful article "How Leaders Can Get the Feedback They Need to Grow" from Harvard Business Review by Kim Scott, Liz Fosslien, and Mollie West Duffy (2023), we discuss the importance of seeking feedback as a means of enhancing trust in our learning community. We examine the common barriers that leaders face when seeking feedback and consider key questions to reflect on in order to overcome these obstacles. From the fear of criticism to the illusion of knowing everything, we explore the mental roadblocks that can impede our ability to learn and improve. We share our personal experiences with seeking feedback and reflect on the impact it has had on our leadership journey. Jeff and Tricia also offer actionable tips for leaders to create a feedback-friendly culture within their organization and establish meaningful connections with their team. Want to leverage our free resources on feedback? Find our free guide 'Reframing Feedback' here. Do you want to sign up for our Podcast Critical Friend Cohort and receive our $250 worth of Shifting Schools store credit? Fill out this form, please by March 30th. Or reach out to us at info(at) shiftingschools (dot com)

Mar 20, 2023 • 35min
264: Cultivating problem solvers one conversation at a time
On the show we are so excited to host Dr. Gina Picha! She explores the strategies and insight inside her new book: Conferring in the Match Classroom. We explore what it means to help learners develop their math identity and to develop their capacity and confidence as problem solvers. This conversation reminds us of the power of building relationships with students and ways we can build more casual conversations into our practice. Learn all about Dr. Picha: Dr. Gina Picha's career in education began in Illinois where she earned a bachelor's degree in business administration with a minor in economics and later a master's degree in education. Over the past fifteen years, Gina has worked as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, curriculum specialist and district math coordinator. In 2020, Gina graduated with a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from Concordia University-Austin where she conducted research on teacher professional learning that includes time for teachers to reflect on their math identities. Follow her on Twitter Want to send us your feedback on today's episode? Head to www.shiftingschools.com and send us a voice memo! Special thanks to our amazing Sponsor: MackinVia With 20 national awards, including ISTE Best of Show and Product of the Year, and 7 MLA Platinum Awards, MackinVIA is an accomplished digital content management system. https://home.mackin.com/digital/mackinvia/

Mar 16, 2023 • 7min
263: An Invitation, Opportunity, and a Thank You!
This short and sweet episode asks for YOUR feedback. It has now been a few weeks since we launched our learning opportunities for generative AI tools like ChatGPT. Specifically, we launched: Our 5-Day Generative AI Challenge and The Intersection of Equity and AI We are thrilled to have folks asking us for follow up challenges and courses and we want to get to work designing them. We want to do that with YOUR needs and questions in mind. So we are offering you a free pass if you agree to give us your feedback. Want your free pass? Please feel out this form by March 20th. Do you want to have a longer conversation about a bespoke training for your community? We love cultivating partnerships, book a discovery call with us free: click here to book your call. Learn more about our resources at www.shiftingschools.com Email us at info(at)shiftingschools (dotcom)

Mar 13, 2023 • 21min
262: What does 'being bold' mean to you?
On this episode we explore what it means to 'be bold' in our personal and professional lives. This conversation features the research and insight of Shanna A. Hocking. Shanna A. Hocking is a leadership consultant, philanthropic advisor, author, and speaker with 20 years of experience raising hundreds of millions of dollars and leading large teams at organizations such as the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Alabama, and Duke University. Her clients include universities, national nonprofit organizations, global businesses, and family foundations. Shanna is the author of One Bold Move a Day: Meaningful Actions Women Can Take to Fulfill Their Leadership and Career Potential (McGraw Hill, November 2022), which was recognized as a November nominee of The Next Big Idea Club. Shanna's articles have been published on Harvard Business Review, Fortune, Fast Company, The Muse, and Motherly, and her expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, PIX11 News, Entrepreneur, Chicago Tribune, Today.com, Insider, and The Business Journals, among others. Learn all about her book, connect and follow her using the links below: Learn more about today's guest by clicking here. Ready to order her book? Click here. Connect with today's guest on social media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannaahocking/ https://twitter.com/shannaahocking https://www.instagram.com/shannaahocking/ Special thanks to our amazing Sponsor: MackinVia With 20 national awards, including ISTE Best of Show and Product of the Year, and 7 MLA Platinum Awards, MackinVIA is an accomplished digital content management system. https://home.mackin.com/digital/mackinvia/

Mar 9, 2023 • 29min
261: Sparking and sustaining the social media conversation at home
How are we helping parents and caretakers as they seek to learn more about digital literacy and social media? On this episode Jeff and Tricia discuss recent research that makes the link between too much unregulated screentime and anxiety. So what do we do to help one another be more mindful of our social media use? Jeff walks listeners through his PARENT framework and talks more about ways he can support your parent/caretaker audience and ways he can help your PTA sustain a conversation about social media in this ever-shifting landscape of digital literacy. Ready to learn more about that framework? Click here for more. You can reach out to him at jeff(at)shiftingschools (dot com)to schedule a conversation to explore any of those options. Tricia talks to us about the brand new free Shifting Schools resource "Exploring our Relationship With Social Media." Ready to check out that free guide? Click here for more. As always you can explore our full collection of free guides, and sign up for our free newsletter at www.shiftingschools.com Thanks to the show sponsor MackinVia for supporting us in making this podcast free for you! Do you have thoughts on how SEL Day and SEL more broadly connects with social media? Weigh in on this episode and send us a voice memo! You can find the voice memo share button on our homepage at www.shiftingschools.com

Mar 6, 2023 • 27min
260: Who does the library belong to?
Often the cliche 'the library is the heart of the school' is heard in literacy circles...but what does it mean to listen to a library's heartbeat? On the podcast this week we hear directly from award-winning librarian Karina Quilantán about the journey she's explored in telling the story of her library. We also discuss the way librarians and educators can learn from one another through social media. If you are curious to learn more about what a 'future-ready' library is all about, Karina has stellar advice to share. Learn more about this week's guest: Karina Quilantán, also known as "Q.", is an award-winning library media specialist, international presenter, and keynote speaker from the Rio Grande Valley, Texas. She has been an educator for over a decade and has earned array of digital credentials including Apple, Google, and Microsoft for Education certifications. Karina's love for educational technology has allowed her to expand her library programming beyond the classroom and she loves finding innovative ways to keep her students and staff engaged in the learning process. In addition to her love of librarianship and professional development, she maintains several social media channels and moderates a professional learning network called RGV Library Squad which earned her the Texas Library Association Media Virtual Presence Award. Karina currently serves on the Texas Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List Committee, TxLA Social Media Committee, and is the Libraries Lead for MagiKids. She was also a TCEA Library Media Specialist Finalist in 2021 and was named the 2022 Texas Library Association Librarian of the Year. When she is not learning and empowering her community, she can be found playing video games, Magic the Gathering, or reading comics on her very comfy couch. You can connect with Karina Q. on any social media outlet by following her @cuethelibrarian or following her blog cuethelibrarian.com. Be sure to also check out her amazing blogposts by clicking here. Did you love this week's episode? Be sure to send us a voice memo and tell us your thoughts: shiftingschools.com A huge thank you to this week's Sponsor: MackinVia A few other reminders: Save $50 at the upcoming NCCE conference here in the State of Washington March 21-23 by using the code shiftingschools50. It's always a great conference and I'll be there doing six sessions including two on ChatGPT and AI in education. We will also be recording a live Shifting Schoosl podcast with anyone who wants to join us in room 406 at 2:00 pm on March 23rd. Thank you to NCCE for sponsoring Shifting Schools and giving us a space to record an episode live. If you are going to the conference please make sure you stop by and say Hi and if you can join me at 2pm in room 406 and be a part of the podcast we'd love to have ya. Will be talking about trends during the conference, ah-ha moments, and just our takeaways. If you can't make it to the conference make sure you follow using the #ncce23 on Twitter and be listening for that episode after the conference. Again that's ncce.org and that offer code is shiftingschools50 of course it's all in the show notes as well. All podcast listeners can save $25 when they use the code SSPOD25 at checkout on any of our courses. Our 5-Day AI Challenge and Tricia's steller The Intersection of AI and Equity are both for sale at the moment. With that discount code you get either one for $74. We send you an email with a link to the slide deck that includes everything you need to implement it in your school. A built in reflective journal, a facilitator's guide and videos walking you through the process. In fact I just took our 5 Day Challenge and used it in a PD training at a school district. So many great ways to use these resources. Don't forget that's $74 for a site license you are allowed and encouraged to give every teacher in your building their own copy. You don't have to go to a website, there are no logins. We literally just give you the file to share within your school. It comes in both Google Slides and PPT format and of course, we're here to support you every step of the way. So use that code SSPOD25 and start supporting the shift in your school around generative AI. That's SSPOD25 at shiftingschools.com

Mar 2, 2023 • 41min
259: A world of possibility: are you interested in becoming an International school educator?
Are you curious to learn more about what it might mean to become an International school educator? Have you ever considered an international move? Today's episode aims to help you dig into that curiosity and learn more about your potential next steps. On this episode, we're speaking with the creators of Educators Going Global, a community that aims to connect and bring focus to international education. Our guests today David and Audrey , who founded Educators Going Global. They share their vision for the website and podcast and discuss the resources and training opportunities it provides to teachers around the world. Throughout the conversation, we hear about the challenges and rewards of being an international educator. Whether you're an international educator looking to hear stories from others, or an educator interested in getting started on those next steps, our conversation provides you insight. Be sure to head over to https://educatorsgoingglobal.com/ to learn, listen, and connect even further.


