Teaching Learning Leading K-12

Francisco Cervantes: Director of Creative Learning of the Scratch Foundation. This is episode 527 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. Francisco has extensive experience researching, designing, and implementing educational resources in K–12 computer science. Before joining the Scratch Foundation, Francisco served as the Director of HS/MS Computer Science Academics for NYC Department of Education’s CSforAll Team and earlier as a researcher with EDC's Center for Children and Technology.   Francisco worked closely with ScratchEd’s Creative Computing Curriculum Guide while in these roles where he investigated how teachers designed learning experiences in computing education. He later worked with rural and tribal schools in Minnesota to build K-12 CS programs that support underrepresented students in computing. Francisco is a California native and holds an M.A. in Educational Leadership, Politics, and Advocacy from New York University and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara. His research interests include the development of computational fluency in young learners and the use of formal assessments in design-based learning environments. In his spare time, Francisco enjoys skateboarding and playing soccer. A note about Scratch… Scratch has become the world’s largest coding community for kids. In the past year alone, more than 200 million children interacted with Scratch. So much to learn! Awesome talk! Some extra information before you go... The new intro and outro music was written and performed by Brian K. Buffington. Connect with Brian at briankbuffington@gmail.com or go to his website at  https://briankbuffington.com/ He is an awesome musician, comedic power, teacher, trainer, technology guru, and overall creator of all that is cool. Thanks, Brian! Oh, yeah... Could you do me a favor? Please go to my website at https://www.stevenmiletto.com/reviews/ or open the podcast app that you are listening to me on and would you rate and review the podcast? That would be Awesome. Thanks! Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? That would so awesome! Thanks for sharing! Thanks for listening! Connect & Learn More: https://www.scratchfoundation.org/ https://www.instagram.com/scratchteam/ https://twitter.com/scratch https://www.facebook.com/scratchteam/ Length - 34:56

Dr. Quintin Shepherd: The Secret to Transformational Leadership. This is episode 526 of Teaching Learning Leading K12. Dr. Quintin Shepherd, a true visionary for the future of education, is the Superintendent at Victoria Independent School District in Victoria, Texas. Sarah Williamson of SWPR Group works with leaders in education to create thoughtful public relations programs that promote growth, build momentum, and enhance learners’ academic success and overall well-being.  Today, we are focused on their book - The Secret to Transformational Leadership Even with the deluge of leadership books on the market, a superintendent of a large school district and his colleague, the head of a prominent PR firm, still struggled to find a book that spoke to them about what they needed to become really successful leaders. So they wrote one themselves. Dr. Quintin Shepherd and co-writer Sarah Williamson use their combined decades of experience in the education and corporate spheres to create a unique model for leadership that is anchored by compassion and a powerful new language.   The Secret to Transformational Leadership presents the personal journeys of such professionals as a pediatric cancer specialist, a president of an innovative nonprofit, and a former investment banker who became an online entrepreneur. The authors use their experiences to illustrate how we are at a precipice for real change in the way we perceive and enact leadership.  This book offers practical advice about how to make a transition into compassionate leadership through adopting a new language of leadership—one that Quintin shows can teach us how to lead from the middle. And if the way we approach leadership can help others think differently, ultimately we can create a ripple effect of empathy, compassion, kindness, and a sense of purpose for our life’s work.  So much to learn! Some extra information before you go... The new intro and outro music was written and performed by Brian K. Buffington. Connect with Brian at briankbuffington@gmail.com or go to his website at  https://briankbuffington.com/ He is an awesome musician, comedic power, teacher, trainer, technology guru, and overall creator of all that is cool. Thanks, Brian! Oh, yeah... Could you do me a favor? Please go to my website at https://www.stevenmiletto.com/reviews/ or open the podcast app that you are listening to me on and would you rate and review the podcast? That would be Awesome. Thanks! Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? That would so awesome! Thanks for sharing! Thanks for listening! Connect & Learn More: https://www.transformationalleadershipsecret.com/ https://twitter.com/QShepherd https://www.linkedin.com/in/quintin-shepherd-45602715/ Length -45:58

Jeff Ikler & Steven Miletto Discuss Knowing Your Purpose and Doing One More. This is episode 525 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. Jeff Ikler is Director of Quetico Career and Leadership Coaching, a firm dedicated to helping individuals overcome career issues, and leaders develop sustained changes in their leadership practices and organizations. He received his certificate in coaching from the Coach Training Institute, a firm recognized as one of the leading coach-training organizations in the world. His approach blends data-driven coaching, and consulting informed by working for more than 35 years in the corporate world. Jeff holds a Master’s in the Teaching of History along with a Bachelor’s in History from the University of Illinois. He taught high school history in Maywood and Batavia, Illinois, for seven years. He is a certified innovation facilitator using the SIT (Systematic Inventive Thinking) process. Additionally, Jeff is a former Executive Vice President at Pearson Learning where he directed the development of text- and technology-based products for all disciplines. He finished his career at Pearson by leading the development of its multi-dimensional Leadership Development program for school administrators, working closely with authors Lyle Kirtman and Michael Fullan. He currently works with Lyle Kirtman to support change in school districts and nonprofit organizations. Jeff is the host of the podcast Getting Unstuck - Cultivating Curiosity. He is the author of the book Shifting: How School Leaders Can Create a Culture of Change. Today we are talking about Finding, Knowing, and Keeping our Purpose as well as doing One More. So much to learn! Thanks for listening! Some extra information before you go... The new intro and outro music was written and performed by Brian K. Buffington. Connect with Brian at briankbuffington@gmail.com or go to his website at  https://briankbuffington.com/ He is an awesome musician, comedic power, teacher, trainer, technology guru, and overall creator of all that is cool. Thanks, Brian! Oh, yeah... Could you do me a favor? Please go to my website at https://www.stevenmiletto.com/reviews/ or open the podcast app that you are listening to me on and would you rate and review the podcast? That would be Awesome. Thanks! Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? That would so awesome! Thanks for sharing! Thanks for listening! To connect with Jeff go to: Jeff Ikler Executive Coach - Personal Leadership Podcaster – Getting Unstuck – Cultivating Curiosity Author - Shifting: How School Leaders Can Create a Culture of Change Instagram - @jeff.ikler LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffikler/ Calendar - Let's schedule some time together   Length - 34:35

Laurel Schmidt talks about her book Gardening in the Minefield: A Survival Guide for School Administrators. This is episode 524 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. Laurel Schmidt is a lifelong educator (teacher, principal, district director), art lover, and writer. She's the author of a critically-acclaimed novel, How to Be Dead – A Love Story, and four non-fiction books on art, learning, and brain development. Today we will be focused on her book for school administrators - Gardening in the Minefield: A Survival Guide for School Administrators. She's a nationally recognized expert who has helped thousands of docents and museum educators master the art of leading dynamic inquiry-based conversations that have museum visitors and students longing for more.  Laurel also works with the education departments of numerous museums in Los Angeles and New York. She is a consultant to The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), and co-author of Contemporary Art Start: A Curriculum Guide to Contemporary Art and Culture, published by MOCA in 1985. It is the centerpiece of an inquiry-based art education program. She is a consultant to the Guggenheim Museum, The Met and MoMA in New York City and presents at their annual Teacher Institute on The Arts.  She was a member of the Education Advisory Board of the Natural History Museum and served for eight years on the Landmarks Commission in the City of Santa Monica, California. She has published numerous articles in national journals for parents, teachers and school leaders. However, writing is her lifelong passion. She is the author of Seven Times Smarter: 50 Activities, Games and Projects to Develop the Multiple Intelligences in Your Child (Three Rivers Press, 2001), Gardening in the Minefield: A Survival Guide for School Administrators (Heinemann, 2002), and Classroom Confidential: 50 Things Great Teachers Do Behind Closed Doors, and Putting the Social Back in Social Studies (Heinemann, 2007). Laurel is also a consultant, university lecturer and professional development specialist. Laurel received a BA in Art from Mt. Saint Mary’s College and a Masters Degree in Art History from California State University in Northridge. Her thesis was on contemporary photorealism. She also studied art history at Oxford University.  When not writing, she enjoys painting, reading, watching good films and happy hour with friends.  She lives with her writer husband, Durnford King, in Santa Monica, California. Next life---Paris. For more information, please consult: www.laurelschmidt.com  Some extra information before you go... The new intro and outro music was written and performed by Brian K. Buffington. Connect with Brian at briankbuffington@gmail.com or go to his website at  https://briankbuffington.com/ He is an awesome musician, comedic power, teacher, trainer, technology guru, and overall creator of all that is cool. Thanks, Brian! Oh, yeah... Could you do me a favor? Please go to my website at https://www.stevenmiletto.com/reviews/ or open the podcast app that you are listening to me on and would you rate and review the podcast? That would be Awesome. Thanks! Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? That would so awesome! Thanks for sharing! Thanks for listening! Connect & Learn More: https://laurelschmidt.com/ https://www.amazon.com/Laurel-J.-Schmidt/e/B001IU0D08%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_shar https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09CG4L3WT/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i0 thanelaurel@aol.com Episode 496 - How to be Dead Length - 01:29:58

Carol Anderheggen talks about her books - Writing Down Cancer & Born-Child. This is episode 523 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast.  Carol Anderheggen has been a published poet and writer since the 1980s and is an active disaster relief volunteer with the American Red Cross. She has confronted many challenges in her life. Taken out of her home early in her life, removed from a mom with mental health issues, she floundered in foster care and then was adopted by a Navy couple. Her second mother became an alcoholic. Later in life she became a survivor of breast cancer. Both her childhood of trauma and her adult health scare are the subject of her books. Her first chapter book, Writing Down Cancer, was published by Finishing Line Press. She followed that up with the publishing of Born-Child. She has been published in regional journals such as Anemone, The Great Swamp Gazette, Newport Life, and Northeast Journal and served on the staff of The Frost Festival of Poetry, Franconia, NH for seven years. She served as docent for the museum hours at Robert Frost’s home in Franconia, NH, assisted the director with book sales and edited the annual attendee anthology of readings. Carol also worked as a school librarian media specialist for nearly three decades. Carol is active in the Ocean State Poets of Rhode Island, both as their web designer and as a practitioner of poetry outreach. As secretary and web-master of the organization, Ocean State Poets, in Rhode Island, Carol created and maintains the website, www.oceanstatepoets.org for the organization. As an OSP member, Carol has participated in area readings and nurtured a public library writing group with another poet, Heather Sullivan. Carol and Heather have worked together for seven years in a Salve Regina University community service class which pairs developmentally handicapped adults with Salve students. The class has produced two anthologies of poetry, a DVD of stage presentations highlighting community students abilities, and several group poems presented orally each school year. She earned a BA in English and an MLS from University of Rhode Island. Carol has two children and two grandchildren. She resides in Rhode Island. For more information, please consult: www.carolmaeray.com Some extra information before you go... The new intro and outro music was written and performed by Brian K. Buffington. Connect with Brian at briankbuffington@gmail.com or go to his website at  https://briankbuffington.com/ He is an awesome musician, comedic power, teacher, trainer, technology guru, and overall creator of all that is cool. Thanks, Brian! Oh, yeah... Could you do me a favor? Please go to my website at https://www.stevenmiletto.com/reviews/ or open the podcast app that you are listening to me on and would you rate and review the podcast? That would be Awesome. Thanks! Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? That would so awesome! Thanks for sharing! Thanks for listening! Connect and Learn More: https://www.carolmaeray.com/ carolmaeray@cox.net Length - 37:52

Meg Flanagan - Helping Parents - Military & Civilian - Navigate Public School Requirements like 504 Plans, IEPs, and More. This is episode 522 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. Meg Flanagan is an educator who is passionate about helping families find peaceful, practical solutions to school problems. After serving as a tutor, she noticed that many families were unsure about who to ask or what to do when it came to getting their child the best help at school. This is a concern that is universal! As a Mom, she knows just how hard it is to remain clear-headed in the face of a crisis that could impact her kids. She loves serving as a voice of reason and a moderator when parents are overwhelmed and struggling to figure out the best things to help their child learn and grow. She is ready to use her decade of experience as a teacher and mom to help your family find sanity and solutions to stressful school problems! Lots to learn! Some extra information before you go... The new intro and outro music was written and performed by Brian K. Buffington. Connect with Brian at briankbuffington@gmail.com or go to his website at  https://briankbuffington.com/ He is an awesome musician, comedic power, teacher, trainer, technology guru, and overall creator of all that is cool. Thanks, Brian! Oh, yeah... Could you do me a favor? Please go to my website at https://www.stevenmiletto.com/reviews/ or open the podcast app that you are listening to me on and would you rate and review the podcast? That would be Awesome. Thanks! Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? That would so awesome! Thanks for sharing! Thanks for listening! Connect & Learn More: https://megflanagan.com/ https://www.instagram.com/megflanaganeducation/ https://twitter.com/megflanaganed https://www.facebook.com/megflanaganeducation/ milkidsed@gmail.com Length - 01:03:24

Miriam Plotinsky - Teach More, Hover Less: How to Stop Micromanaging Your Secondary Classroom. This is episode 521 of Teaching Learning Leading K-12, an audio podcast. Miriam Plotinsky is an instructional specialist with Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland, and the author of Teach More, Hover Less: How to Stop Micromanaging Your Secondary Classroom and the upcoming Lead Like a Teacher: How to Elevate Expertise in Your School.  Miriam is a National Board Certified Teacher and certified administrator, she lives in Silver Spring, Maryland and can be reached via her website or on Twitter: @MirPloMCPS. Today, we are focused on her book, Teach More Hover Less: How to Stop Micromanaging Your Secondary  Classroom.  Some extra information before you go... The new intro and outro music was written and performed by Brian K. Buffington. Connect with Brian at briankbuffington@gmail.com or go to his website at  https://briankbuffington.com/ He is an awesome musician, comedic power, teacher, trainer, technology guru, and overall creator of all that is cool. Thanks, Brian! Oh, yeah... Could you do me a favor? Please go to my website at https://www.stevenmiletto.com/reviews/ or open the podcast app that you are listening to me on and would you rate and review the podcast? That would be Awesome. Thanks! Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? That would so awesome! Thanks for sharing! Thanks for listening! Connect & Learn More: https://miriamplotinsky.com/ https://twitter.com/mirplomcps https://www.facebook.com/MiriamPlotinsky/ https://twitter.com/mirplomcps https://www.linkedin.com/in/miriam-plotinsky-b739a3189/ https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324019879 Order on Amazon Length - 40:20  

Sheila Akbar - President & COO of Signet Education - Getting Into College. This is episode 520 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. Sheila Akbar joined the Signet team in the summer of 2010, bringing with her a wealth of experience teaching SAT, ACT, GRE, literature, and composition in both one-on-one and classroom settings. Sheila loves both teaching and learning, and finds nothing more rewarding than working closely with students to overcome the challenges they face. After graduating from Harvard in 2002, Sheila spent two years working in financial services before continuing her academic career, which culminated into two doctorates. She brings her significant business and academic experience to bear on her current role at Signet. Her skills include speaking to every client to craft a tailored solution for their needs, managing the administrative team, and providing educational thought leadership for the company. Sheila holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Harvard University and two doctoral degrees from Indiana University. Today we are focused helping students get into the college they desire to attend. Some extra information before you go... The new intro and outro music was written and performed by Brian K. Buffington. Connect with Brian at briankbuffington@gmail.com or go to his website at  https://briankbuffington.com/ He is an awesome musician, comedic power, teacher, trainer, technology guru, and overall creator of all that is cool. Thanks, Brian! Oh, yeah... Could you do me a favor? Please go to my website at https://www.stevenmiletto.com/reviews/ or open the podcast app that you are listening to me on and would you rate and review the podcast? That would be Awesome. Thanks! Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? That would so awesome! Thanks for sharing! Thanks for listening! Connect & Learn More: Sheila Akbar President & COO Signet Education 405 Waltham St. #192 Lexington, MA 02421 info@signeteducation.com 617.714.5262 https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheilaakbar/ http://signeteducation.com/ Length - 57:29

Harvey "The College" Wizard - Helping Students Stand Out from the Crowd and Get Accepted Into the College They Desire. This is episode 519 of the audio podcast - Teaching Learning Leading K12. The story of how Harvey Wizard became an internet multimillionaire in the early days of affiliate marketing is told in the New York Time Bestseller, “Get Rich Click.”  Harvey is a successful serial entrepreneur, the world’s winningest college admissions coach, an international bestselling author, award winning photographer, published songwriter and globetrotting standup comedian.  And today, Harvey will tell us not only how to get accepted to schools like Harvard and Stanford (without unethical shenanigans), but also how the same approach can enable anyone to win at even life’s most competitive games. Awesome conversation! You will know that you can achieve more after listening to Harvey! Lots to learn! But wait... The new intro and outro music was written and performed by Brian K. Buffington. Connect with Brian at briankbuffington@gmail.com or go to his website at  https://briankbuffington.com/ He is an awesome musician, comedic power, teacher, trainer, technology guru, and overall creator of all that is cool. Thanks, Brian! Oh, yeah... Could you do me a favor? Please go to my website at https://www.stevenmiletto.com/reviews/ or open the podcast app that you are listening to me on and would you rate and review the podcast? That would be Awesome. Thanks! Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? That would so awesome! Thanks for sharing! Thanks for listening! Connect & Learn More: https://www.harveywizard.com/ support@harveywizard.com 1(347)741-8200 https://www.instagram.com/officialharveywizard/ https://www.facebook.com/harveywizard https://twitter.com/harveythewiz https://www.linkedin.com/in/harveywizard/ https://www.youtube.com/c/HarveyWizard https://www.tiktok.com/@harveywizard Length - 01:10:26

Omar Reda, MD talks with me about his book The Wounded Healer: The Pain and Joy of Caregiving. This is episode 518 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. With us today is Dr. Omar Reda, world-renowned, Harvard-trained trauma expert, the author of several books, including his most recent book, “The Wounded Healer: The Pain and Joy of Caregiving”, and the founder of Untangled, a healing initiative that aims to break the cycles of trauma-related dysfunction through connection, support, education, empowerment, and the mastery of healthy coping skills. Today, we are focused on his book - The Wounded Healer: The Pain and Joy of Caregiving.  Lots to learn! But wait... The new intro and outro music was written and performed by Brian K. Buffington. Connect with Brian at briankbuffington@gmail.com or go to his website at  https://briankbuffington.com/ He is an awesome musician, comedic power, teacher, trainer, technology guru, and overall creator of all that is cool. Thanks, Brian! Oh, yeah... Could you do me a favor? Please go to my website at https://www.stevenmiletto.com/reviews/ or open the podcast app that you are listening to me on and would you rate and review the podcast? That would be Awesome. Thanks! Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? That would so awesome! Thanks for sharing! Thanks for listening! Connect & Learn More: OMAR REDA - Home (dromarreda.com) dromarareda@gmail.com Dr. Omar Reda - Home | Facebook Dr. Omar Reda | Untangled (projectuntangled.org) 1 (503) 899-3657 https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-omar-reda-9852065a/ Length - 26:52