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Schoolutions: Curious Educators. Evidence-Based Strategies. Classrooms Where Every Child Thrives.
Schoolutions: Curious Educators. Evidence-Based Strategies. Classrooms Where Every Child Thrives.
Schoolutions is a podcast for educators, coaches, administrators, and families seeking evidence-based strategies to strengthen school culture and spark student growth. Host Olivia Wahl, with over 25 years of teaching and coaching experience, curates insights from more than 150 expert interviews. Each episode offers practical tips to bridge the gap between school and home, tackling common classroom challenges. New episodes drop every Monday and Friday, featuring actionable strategies and inspirational stories.
Episodes
I See, I Hear, I've Got You: Changing How We Teach with The NeuroWild Shift
In this S3E29 Schoolutions conversation, Emily (Em) Hammond shares why she built NeuroWild after her own late autism and ADHD diagnosis, and after years of translating abstract concepts into illustrations for the neurodivergent kids and families she works with as a speech pathologist. She walks through The NeuroWild Shift, her three-stage framework for classroom belonging and student engagement: I
Are You Quoting Too Much? A Simple Writing Tip (Writing Wednesday)
Happy Writing Wednesday. This week's tip is about a decision writers make constantly: quote it directly, paraphrase it, or summarize it.I pulled an old favorite off my shelf, Emily Kissner's Summarizing, Paraphrasing, and Retelling. I've had this book since 2006 and it still holds up. Some quotes need to stay word for word. Others work better paraphrased. The book helps me sort out
Using Micro Mentor Texts: Standing Next to & Teaching Beautiful Writing
In this S2E31 Schoolutions conversation, Penny Kittle lives by her words, "When you stand next to beautiful writing, your writing is just kind of set free." Penny shares how her latest book, Micro Mentor Texts: Using Short Passages From Great Books to Teach Writer's Craft offers a process for studying and teaching on the shoulders of incredible authors as mentors to transform studen
Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics
Dr. Peter Liljedahl breaks down why 80% of students sit through a math lesson without ever thinking, and what actually fixes it. This episode covers the research behind Building Thinking Classrooms: random groups, vertical whiteboards, and the difference between a thinking task and a mimicking task. Peter and host Olivia Wahl talk through classroom behavior, student engagement, and why low engagem
What I Learned When My Friend Read My Writing Aloud to Me (Writing Wednesday)
Reading your own writing out loud catches a lot of errors. But, reading it out loud yourself is not the same as hearing someone else read it back to you. In this Writing Wednesday, I talk about what happened when my friend Katie Kelly read the opening of a chapter I wrote. Hearing her voice on my own words showed me exactly where the writing dragged, where it confused her, and where I could cut wi
20 Years in Kindergarten Taught Me This About Joy
Kindergarten teacher extraordinaire "Mr. Greg" of The Kindergarten Smorgasboard and ELEVATE Conference shares why being a teacher matters most. Listeners will leave inspired by Greg's hilarious tales from the classroom and practical tips to try right away with their students! Episode Mentions: The Kindergarten SmorgasboardResource CenterBlogBasket Head ELEVATE ConferenceHolly Ehle
Kids Deserve More Than Answers: They Deserve Ownership
Discover why true educational transformation happens when we shift from content-centered to student-centered learning! In this insightful conversation, educators Julie Wright and James Goldberg share wisdom from their book The Limitless Classroom: Mantras to Deepen Learning. Learn how giving students time, purpose, and ownership develops genuine curiosity and transferable skills.Julie and James ex
We All Have Our Own Writing Process (Writing Wednesday)
I spent last week at the Quoddy Writing Retreat in Lubec, Maine. My colleague Angela teaches fifth- and sixth-grade writers. She tells her students that every writer works differently. Some students write inductively. They start with small stories and scattered facts, then hunt for the pattern that reveals the big idea. Other students start with the big idea. They find the stories and facts that s
Orthographic Mapping vs. Memorization: Which Actually Works?
In this S5E4 Schoolutions conversation, Dr. Molly Ness challenges what you know about learning to read, sharing insights from her most recent book, co-authored with Dr. Katie Pace Miles, "Making Words Stick." Discover how brain science and the alphabetic principle reveal better teaching reading strategies and build stronger reading skills for kids. You'll discover why 99% of "i
When RtI Boxes Kids In Instead of Lifting Them Up
I sit down with teacher, instructional coach, and author Julie Wright to dig into her book What’s Our Response: Creating Systems and Structures to Support ALL Learners. We talk about the five problems of practice she names in RtI and MTSS models, and why so many well-intentioned systems end up boxing kids in instead of lifting them up.Julie and I explore what classroom belonging actually looks lik
Stop Trying to Fix Students' Writing and Do This Instead (Writing Wednesday)
I'm at the Quoddy Writing Retreat in Lubec, Maine, this week, working alongside Ralph Fletcher and Georgia Heard and a room full of writers on completely different projects. Yesterday they gave us three prompts to bring into our response groups each day, and I'm sharing them here because every teacher facilitating peer feedback in a classroom can use these too."This seems to be abou
What Happens When You Bring Mindfulness into Every Classroom?
Christy Lynn Anana is a Mindfulness Director with Whole School Mindfulness at Quil Ceda Tulalip Elementary, located on the land of The Tulalip Tribes in Washington State, north of Seattle. In this episode, Christy offers listeners two guided meditations alongside a peek into her published book series called I Am Healing. This is one of my top 20 most-listened-to episodes, back now as part of our s
The Step-by-Step Process to Build Your Own Integrated Curriculum
Leah Mermelstein returns to Schoolutions for S2E35 to make the case for bending curriculum instead of buying a new one for literacy instruction every few years. She walks me through the exact process she uses with school districts to build integrated units of study, work that pulls reading, writing, vocabulary, and grammar together around real content like a kindergarten animal unit or a fourth-gr
We Need Human Stories Tied to Data About Teaching (Writing Wednesday)
Research alone won't move a teacher to change what they do tomorrow. A story will. In this Writing Wednesday, I break down the method I use in my own writing: for every piece of research I include, I pair it with a real classroom moment, either something I lived through myself or something I watched happen in another teacher's room.The story is what makes a reader trust you. The research
Relationships Before Correction: The Strategy That Changes Student Behavior
In S3E11 of Schoolutions, I sat down with school counselor Zack "Coach Kasabo" to talk about self- and co-regulation mental health strategies that actually work, not quick fixes teachers try once and abandon. Zack told me about his own struggles with anxiety and depression as a teen, and how that experience now shapes his work on classroom belonging, classroom behavior, and student enga
Identity-Affirming Classrooms: What's Actually Working?
You will learn practical strategies and frameworks to create inclusive, identity-affirming spaces throughout this S4E24 conversation with Kwame Sarfo-Mensah. This episode highlights Kwame’s book, Learning to Relearn: Supporting Identity in a Culturally-Affirming Classroom. This conversation is officially one of our top 20 most-listened-to episodes. Culturally responsive teaching and identity awar
Four Brain Shifts That Happen When You Walk (Writing Wednesday)
Stop staring at your screen and start walking for a mental reset. This Writing Wednesday covers four science-backed reasons walking resets your brain and improves cognitive function before you sit back down to write. Movement is a powerful tool to regulate your nervous system and flush out stress hormones like cortisol. By increasing dopamine and serotonin, a short walk stabilizes your brain chemi
The Outline I Almost Skipped Became My Lifeline (Writing Wednesday)
I'm starting a new weekly series called Writing Wednesday. My book manuscript is due end of August, and I'm holding myself accountable by posting every week about the process. Here are two lessons from my editor, Kassia: First: build an outline before you write. I didn't get why she pushed me on this until I was three chapters in and kept losing the thread. Now I reread that outline
Transform Your Classroom With Intentional Vocabulary Instruction
Dr. Tanya S. Wright, an Associate Professor at Michigan State University and former kindergarten teacher, explains how to move beyond static word lists. This S2E26 Schoolutions episodeffocuses on the mechanics of building rich language environments during everyday classroom routines. Whether you are managing transitions or facilitating morning meetings, you will see how minor adjustments to your e
The Case for Bringing Play Back to School
Global changemakers Renée Dinnerstein and Larry Leaven have a shared commitment to children when it comes to reviving choice time, inquiry, exploration, and play in schools around the world. Their inspiring anecdotes and creative out-of-the-box solutions through this S2E36 Schoolutions conversation, will help listeners immediately put choice time into action.Episode Mentions:Vivian Gussin PaleyDeb
PLC at Work® Is Being Reignited by Leaders Like This
I sat down with Dr. Anthony Muhammad for Schoolutions S3E37 to talk about his book The Way Forward: PLC at Work and the Bright Future of Education, and this conversation just landed in the top 20 most listened-to episodes in our summer series re-release. Anthony spent nearly twenty years as a teacher, assistant principal, and high school principal before becoming one of the most respected voices i
Science of Reading & The PreK Years (NYSED Literacy Brief 4)
You're about to hear one of the most downloaded episodes from the last five years of this podcast. The audio may be rougher than what you hear now, but I'm not going back to clean it up. You're hearing exactly where I started, and I trust that the growth shows on its own, the same way I hope my work as an educator does.___________________________I continue my conversation with Dr. W
Counting Down the Top 20 Schoolutions Episodes This Summer
There's a magic to the 1980s and 90s childhood memories that just doesn't exist anymore. Did you grow up waiting by the radio on Sunday mornings for Casey Kasem's American Top 40? My sister and I would sit next to a clock radio for four hours, waiting for the number-one song in America. That kind of countdown is worth reviving.I’m taking a trip back to the era of analog weekend ritu
Season 5 Finale: Truths About Teaching in Uncertain Times
How do we approach parenting advice and teaching children when the world keeps changing? After over 40 conversations with experts during Season 5 of Schoolutions, I am summarizing the key ideas for supporting children during uncertain times. You will learn the surprising answer that nearly every expert discussed as the foundation for modern child development and the throughline every expert kept r
Teaching Fiercely: Why Teachers Need Autonomy to Transform Schools
What does it look like to lead with both ferocity and grace, and why do so many teachers forget that admitting your feelings isn't the same as admitting defeat?In Part 2 of my S5E43 Schoolutions conversation, I continue my conversation with Cornelius Minor (author of We Got This) and Dr. Kass Minor (author of Teaching Fiercely), co-founders of The Minor Collective. We discuss why grace and
Teachers Don't Have to Go It Alone
At the heart of the refreshed Minor Collective site is one belief: people come before ideas, ideology, or frameworks. As conversations about student growth and teacher effectiveness quietly shift toward kid obedience and teacher compliance, going it alone can feel scary. In this short but powerful clip from my S5E43 Schoolutions conversation with Cornelius and Dr. Kass Minor, The Minor Collective
Reclaiming Joy: The Blueprint Resilient Educators Follow
What does it look like when education is built around the full humanity of every child and every teacher?In Part 1 of my S5E43 Schoolutions conversation, I sit down with Cornelius Minor (author of We Got This) and Dr. Kass Minor (author of Teaching Fiercely), co-founders of The Minor Collective. Together, they unpack what it really means to build a pro-kid mindset, reclaim teacher personhood, an
Rebuilding Math Confidence: Practical Tips for Families
What if rebuilding your child's math confidence this summer started not with worksheets, but with a mirror?In Part 2 of my S5E42 Schoolutions conversation, Wendy Ward Hoffer (All Minds on Mathematics: Math Workshop for Every Learner) gets practical and personal. If your child had a hard year in math, this is your playbook. Wendy walks families and educators through exactly what to do and what
The Truth About Being "Good" at Math
What does it really mean to be "good at math"? In this short but powerful clip from my S5E42 Schoolutions conversation with Wendy Ward Hoffer, of PEBC, we challenge the old myth that math identity is built on speed and being right and explore how families and teachers can work together to nurture every child's confidence and curiosity in math.True mathematical thinking isn't ab
The Secret to Student-Centered Math Instruction
What if the most powerful thing you could do for your child's math future this summer had nothing to do with worksheets or tutoring?In Part 1 of this week's S5E42 Schoolutions conversation, Wendy Ward Hoffer, author of All Minds on Mathematics: Math Workshop for Every Learner, shares a simple but radical idea: math identity is built in the everyday moments most of us are already living.I
Summer Boredom? Try These Movement Ideas for Every Age
🏃 What if the secret to student engagement this summer was free, fun, and made by a P.E. teacher with nearly 15 million views?In Part 2 of my Schoolutions conversation with @CoachGelardi (The PhysEdZone), we get completely practical. Tom gives age-by-age movement tips for summer, shares exactly which videos to start with, and explains why co-creating movement WITH kids, not just directing them, i
Building Emotionally Safe P.E. Classrooms with Evidence-Based Strategies
What if the most powerful thing you could do for student engagement wasn't a new lesson plan, but making sure every kid feels safe enough to try?In this clip from my S5E41 Schoolutions conversation, I sit down with @CoachGelardi where he emphasizes the critical role of physical safety in the P.E. classroom, but also highlights that an emotional connection with students encourages them to try
The Hidden Power of P.E. Class
What does it really take to teach 28 kindergartners (alone) in a gym every single day? In Part 1 of my S5E41 Schoolutions conversation with @CoachGelardi, the 2025 SHAPE America National Elementary P.E. Teacher of the Year and New York State Teacher of the Year, we talk about what world-class physical education and fitness actually look like and why every educator, parent, and school leader needs
The Summer Reading Toolkit Every Family Needs
In Part 2 of my S5E40 Schoolutions conversation with Dr. Kay Stahl, we explore practical tips for families to keep reading alive over the summer. This episode provides valuable educational strategies to enhance reading comprehension and foster essential reading skills, especially for children who say they are not readers. Dr. Stahl shares the latest research on comprehension (from the National Aca
Do You Know the Difference Between These Two Categories of Reading Skills?
Are all reading skills taught the same way? Not according to researcher Scott Paris and understanding the difference could transform how you teach literacy.In this short from my S5E40 Schoolutions conversation, I sit down with Dr. Kay Stahl as she explains how Scott Paris introduced a powerful framework that every educator needs to know: the Constrained vs. Unconstrained Skills Continuum. On one e
Diagnostic Reading Tools Every Teacher Needs Before Summer
What if the biggest obstacle to student success isn't summer, it's what teachers stop doing after the standardized test? In Part 1 of my S5E40 Schoolutions conversation with Dr. Katherine (Kay) Stahl, literacy consultant, clinician, and former director of the NYU Literacy Clinic, she shares what 25+ years in classrooms taught her about reading, assessment, and what actually works. Learn
Setting Teachers, Families, and Students up for Summer
This June, Schoolutions is setting teachers, families, and students up for success in September all summer long. Five conversations. One month of inspiring students, empowered educators, and real education transformation. This Month's Conversations: 📖 S5 E40: Dr. Kay Stahl | June 1 & 5Dr. Kay Stahl brings 25+ years of classroom and clinic experience to a conversation about the 5th edition
Why This Integrated Literacy Framework is a Game-Changer for ELLs
What does it actually take to build student engagement and student participation for experienced multilinguals — not just in theory, but in every lesson, every day?In Part 2 of my S5E39 Schoolutions conversation, literacy experts Beth Skelton and Tan Huynh break down the integrated literacy framework at the heart of their new book, Integrated Literacy for Experienced Multilinguals. This episode is
Breaking Down Language Barriers in the Classroom
What does it cost us when experienced multilinguals never receive the explicit academic language instruction they need, not just to pass a class, but to fully participate in school, in careers, and in life?In this short from my S5E39 Schoolutions conversation, I sit down with authors Beth Skelton and Tan Huynh to unpack their newest book, Integrated Literacy for Experienced Multilinguals. Together
Your Good Intentions Are Widening the Gap: What ENL Teachers Need to Hear
What does "stuck" actually look like in a classroom and whose job is it to fix it?In this S5E39 Part 1 episode of Schoolutions, I sit down again with Beth Skelton and Tan Huynh to discuss their newest collaboration, Integrated Literacy for Experienced Multilinguals. They talk about why the phrase "long-term English learner" needs to go, and what "stuck" looks like in
The Actionable Participatory Model Every Teacher Needs to Learn About
What happens when the students whom everyone overlooks become the ones who change everything? In Part 2 of this must-hear S5E38 Schoolutions conversation, Rachael Thrash shares the inspiring story about Angolan students in Portland, Maine, who turned their isolation into a school-wide soccer tournament, walks through her Actionable Participatory Model step by step, and gives you the one move you c
Treating Every Student as a Leader Changes Everything
Is your student council secretly reinforcing the status quo? In this short from my S5E38 Schoolutions conversation, Rachael Thrash, author of Let the Learners Lead and Senior Director of Education & Innovation at Big Bad Boo Studios, breaks down why traditional student leadership models are built on barriers that silence the very students whose voices matter most.When school leadership becomes
Every Student Is a Leader & Here's the Research to Prove It
Is your student council accidentally silencing the students who need a voice most? In Part 1 of this two-part S5E38 Schoolutions conversation, Rachael Thrash, Senior Director of Education and Innovation at Big Bad Boo Studios and author of Let the Learners Lead: Empowering Student Voice to Co-Create School Culture, breaks down why traditional student leadership models are quietly reinforcing the s
Student Climate Advocacy In Action: From Classroom Stories to Civic Change
What if the secret to student engagement, student motivation, and inspiring students wasn't a new app or a new behavior system, but storytelling? In Part 2 of my S5E37 Schoolutions conversation, Xochitl Bentley (author of Helping Students Become Climate Stewards) walks us through what climate stewardship projects look and feel like in real classrooms: from a Green Ambassador Grant field trip
How to Get Students to Care About Climate Change in Your Classroom
When students shut down during climate conversations, the answer isn't more data; it's better storytelling. In this short from my S5E37 Schoolutions conversation, climate educator and author Xochitl Bentley explains why wrapping difficult facts in stories is the key to unlocking student engagement, authentic voice, and real civic action in your classroom.Whether you're focused on in
Want Students to Become Climate Stewards? Use These 6 Storytelling Stances!
What if the most powerful climate tool we have isn't a statistic, it's a story?In Part 1 of my S5E37 Schoolutions conversation, I sit down with teacher Xochitl Bentley to unpack how using six specific storytelling stances can effectively engage students with climate change issues. Xochitl emphasizes that stories can be a more powerful tool than statistics in fostering environmental educa
Can We Scale Street Redesign? @openplansnyc Has a Plan!
In part 2 of my S5E36 Schoolutions conversation with Sabina Sethi Unni from @openplansnyc breaks down how urban redevelopment can truly impact a school community. Sabina shares specific strategies for urban design, like a co-created toolkit and a relational outreach approach, showing a before and after in community engagement. This architecture video highlights the Clarkson Street project, propo
How is @openplansnyc Turning School Streets into Outdoor Classrooms for Students?
In this clip (watch here), Sabina Sethi Unni from Open Plans defines a school street as a DOT program enabling schools to close adjacent streets to car traffic during school hours, enhancing school safety. This initiative, rooted in urban planning, can range from simple pick-up and drop-off closures to creating spaces for recess and gym. The aim is to improve road safety and overall student safety
School Streets: Inside NYC's Movement to Reclaim Urban Spaces
In Part 1 of this S5E36 two-part Schoolutions conversation, urban planner and organizer Sabina Sethi Unni from @openplansnyc breaks down New York City's School Streets program. It's a DOT initiative that closes car traffic in front of schools during school hours to create outdoor space for kids who need it most. Consider the possibilities...what if the street outside your school could be
Students Thrive When Teachers Center Their Voices
This May, Schoolutions is putting student voices front and center because real student success starts with listening. We spotlight how teachers can tune in to children's voices and experiences, including their streets, stories, leadership, and language.👟 Sabina Sethi Unni opens the month with her powerful work through Open Plans NYC and the School Streets program. She is transforming unsafe s
The Truth About Making Science Outreach Work Worldwide
In part two of my S5E35 Schoolutions conversation, science busker and communicator David Price with @ScienceMadeSimpleUK joins me to unpack what happens when you take STEM education to the streets. From crossing language barriers without a single word to designing classroom belonging through hands-on phenomena to building STEM kits for classrooms where balloons are a luxury, this episode is pack
This Proprioception Trick Stops Every Student Cold
In this short (watch here), David Price of @ScienceMadeSimpleUK and I explore science busking: a joyful, hands-on approach to inspiring students through playful phenomena in education. Watch as proprioception (your brain's ability to sense where your body parts are in space) becomes an unforgettable lesson hook.This is what effective teaching looks like: low-prep, high-impact, and rooted in c
Science Busking: The Unexpected Teaching Method Schools Are Missing
In part 1 of my S5E35 Schoolutions conversation, science busker and LAMDA-trained communicator, David Price of @ScienceMadeSimpleUK, takes us inside a live street performance, and YOU get to participate. We explore proprioception, the body science behind the busk you'll try in this episode, as a metaphor for how hands-on, student participation, and whole-child learning can transform classroom
Growing Through Discomfort: Why the Best Teachers Step Away
In part two of my S5E34 Schoolutions conversation, Muriel Summers of Leader in Me explores the balance in education and parenting between fostering student independence and providing necessary guidance, drawing from Muriel's extensive teaching experience. Discover practical classroom strategies and teaching tips for educators aiming to cultivate confident, self-directed learners.What does it
Want Students to See Their Own Greatness? Empower Them...
In this short, Muriel Summers and I explore the concept of empowerment, drawing insights from Stephen Covey's 7 Habits and the Leader in Me framework. We discuss how true leadership involves recognizing and unleashing the inherent greatness within individuals, fostering significant personal growth. This perspective highlights the importance of cultivating success habits and continuous self-im
Want Children to Find Their Inner Leader? Do This...
In part one of my S5E34 Schoolutions conversation, Muriel Summers of Leader in Me offers life advice and highlights the significant impact of entrusting children with real responsibility. This practice is a powerful, yet often underestimated, tool in child development. Summers, with extensive experience, offers valuable teaching and parenting tips, encouraging a positive parenting approach that fo
Why Civics Knowledge Doesn't Necessarily Lead to Civic Participation
In part two of my S5E33 Schoolutions conversation, Colleen O'Brien, Ed.D., reveals what decades of research and classroom teaching experience taught her: the gap between civic knowledge and civic participation isn't apathy, it's confidence. Colleen and I explore:🔹 Why low engagement in civic life is really a confidence problem, not an apathy problem🔹 What inclusive teaching and non
What the Data Actually Shows About Young Voters
In this short, civics educator and doctoral researcher Colleen O'Brien, Ed.D., (Co-Director of Civics for Colorado) shares how a recent Georgetown University survey highlights a crucial point: 90% of youth believe understanding the us government is important. This educational video explores how this strong interest in civics debunks the myth of student apathy. It's clear that fostering d
Students Don't Need Motivation for Civics: They Need Confidence
Part one of my S5E33 Schoolutions conversation, Colleen O'Brien, Ed.D., discusses the critical role of civic education in fostering informed citizens. She argues that providing students with real civic experiences, not just textbook definitions, can shift their engagement from passive observation to active participation. Some Episode Mentions:Dr. Diana Owen, Georgetown University Civic Educat
Why the Best Classrooms Look More Like Nature Than Factories
In part two of my S5E32 Schoolutions conversation with Dr. Benjamin Freud of the Green School Bali, we explore how regeneration and regenerative agriculture principles can inform learning, emphasizing a more holistic view. This conversation is designed to cultivate fresh perspectives on adult learning and sustainable development in educational contexts.We cover:→ The four S's of the Bird Lab
What a School in the Jungle Taught Me About Community, Nature & Why We Really Learn
This short with Benjamin Freud, Ph.D., of Green School Bali explores how the learning process is intrinsically linked to active participation. Benjamin highlights the profound connection between learning by doing and contributing to community building. Discover how a trajectory focused on community engagement shapes a meaningful learning journey. This isn't just a school in the jungle; it&apo
A School in the Jungle With No Walls & Lessons Every Teacher Needs to Hear
In part one of my S5E32 Schoolutions conversation, Dr. Benjamin Freud, Head of Upper School at Green School Bali, challenges conventional beliefs about education. This conversation explores the philosophy of education, questioning whether traditional approaches truly foster learning. We discuss the future of education, focusing on sustainable living and environmental education as pathways to deepe
April's Confidence Boost for Students & Teachers!
This month, Schoolutions focuses on cultivating student confidence through insightful conversations. Dr. Benjamin Freud discusses the principles of regenerative agriculture, emphasizing that learning by doing is essential for true understanding. Following this, Colleen O'Brien, Ed.D., highlights the critical role of civic education in fostering informed citizens and strengthening democracy. M
San Diego Unified School District's Bold Plan: $4 Billion Housing Strategy Without Taxpayer Funds
Part two of my Schoolutions conversation with Superintendent Fabiola Bagula, Ph.D., details the San Diego Unified School District's strategies for affordable housing and community building. Their initiative showcases a regional vision for urban planning that aims to tackle the housing crisis and drive social change. This discussion offers a glimpse into real estate and local news efforts to s
San Diego Unified's Solving the Housing Crisis for Their Educators
In this short, a visionary superintendent, Fabi Bagula, Ph.D., breaks down a bold, innovative approach to teacher retention and the housing crisis: repurposing district-owned land to develop affordable housing for employees, complete with on-site daycare and trade apprenticeships for students entering the workforce.This is what school leadership done right looks like: tackling the real barriers to
The Groundbreaking Plan to Stop Teachers From Being Priced Out of Their Own Communities
In part one of my S5E31 Schoolutions conversation, Dr. Fabi Bagula, Superintendent of San Diego Unified School District, discusses her authentic approach to leadership and its impact on education. She shares insights into critical teacher retention issues and the innovative, affordable housing solutions her team is implementing in San Diego, California. Fabi's commitment to equity and school
100% Ask-Back Rate: Why Every School That Tries Portrait Pals Wants It Again
Part 2 of my Schoolutions conversation with Tonya Quinn from The Kindness Art Education details how her Portrait Pals program uses art to address critical attendance management issues. The initiative fosters a powerful kindness movement, helping to alleviate stress relief among students by connecting them through shared experiences. This approach significantly contributes to improving kids mental
The 3-Step Method Every Portrait Artist Needs
In this short, we discuss creating and painting portraits by focusing on three key areas: shape, light and shadow, and spirit. Tonya Quinn outlines how to paint a face by observing and interpreting human features, emphasizing that even simple shapes like parentheses can represent them. This approach provides valuable painting tips and painting techniques for artists of all levels.By teaching stude
Every Child Needs These 4 Rules to Become an Artist
Part 1 of my S5E30 Schoolutions conversation, Tonya Quinn from The Kindness Art Education shares her journey, emphasizing the role of visual art and art for kids in shaping worldviews. This conversation highlights how art classes for beginners can ignite creativity and provide healing, even far from home. Tonya illuminates how personal hardship has fostered her powerful kindness movement. In this
Africa Has a Literacy Crisis. America Has an Economic Stake in Solving It.
In Part 2 of my Schoolutions conversation, Dr. Kris Nystrom (founder of Reading the World Inc.) connects the dots among global literacy rates, the world economy, and why what happens in a slum school in Nairobi has a profound economic impact. This discussion highlights the critical role of universal education in addressing poverty and fostering global awareness, underscoring the broader implicatio
Where You're Born Shouldn't Decide Your Education
What does a child's birthplace have to do with their right to learn? Everything. And Dr. Kris Nystrom is doing something about it.This clip explores the philosophical foundation of "reading the world," asserting that a child's place of birth should not dictate their access to education for all. It underscores the critical role of academic success in fostering social justice. Th
Lions, Floods, & Poverty: Knocking Down The Barriers Keeping African Kids Out of School
Part One of my S5E29 Schoolutions with Dr. Kris Nystrom highlights the critical need for education for all and how a dedicated "teacher" can drive education reform through direct action. It reframes our understanding of social justice in educational contexts and the profound impact of ensuring academic success globally.In Part 1 of this conversation, Kris shares:• How 10 years of global
Federal Funding Threatened: Here's How Homeless Liaisons Fought Back
In Part 2 of my Schoolutions conversation, Erin Patterson from SchoolHouse Connection returns to detail legislative wins for families experiencing homelessness, showcasing how advocacy works amid federal budget cuts. In this episode, you'll learn:How $129 million in homeless education funding was zeroed out in the President's FY26 budget, and how SchoolHouse Connection got it restored th
The Truth About Childhood Homelessness
This clip with Erin Patterson of SchoolHouse Connection explores the often-overlooked reality of childhood homelessness, particularly for families with children. We learn that many children experiencing homelessness are having to "double up" with others, making them part of the invisible people in our communities. These real-life stories shed light on how economic inequality contributes
Who Are the Children Experiencing Homelessness in America?
In part 1 of this powerful S5E28 Schoolutions conversation, Erin Patterson, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives at SchoolHouse Connection, pulls back the curtain on what homelessness in America truly looks like for children experiencing it. This conversation reveals how often the reality of a family experiencing homelessness is hidden, challenging common perceptions about critical social issu
Talking with Skeptical Parents & Educators About Students Taking Action
Welcome back to Part Two of my S5E27 Schoolutions conversation. The dreaming is over, and it's time to move from empathy to action. Dr. Chris Hass and I get into the hard stuff: scripted curricula, skeptical parents, time constraints, and how to do this work even when the system feels like it's working against you.Dr. Hass shares what research actually looks like from kindergarten throug
Which of the Three Kinds of Empathy Helps Us Take ACTION?
What does it really mean to be empathetic, and are we teaching kids the right kind?In this reel, Dr. Chris Hass breaks down the 3 Forms of Empathy every educator, parent, and school leader needs to understand and why most people stop at the first one. Whether you're focused on classroom belonging, student engagement, or building a stronger school culture, this short snip from our conversation
Empathy without Action? That's the Real Problem!
In Part One of our S5E27 Schoolutions conversation, Dr. Chris Hass challenges our understanding of empathy, suggesting that simply feeling emotions might not lead to substantive change. This conversation delves into emotional intelligence, highlighting how moving beyond mere feelings to tangible actions is vital for social justice in childhood.Chris is an assistant professor at James Madison Unive
Taking Action When Feeling Badly Isn't Enough
This March, Schoolutions brings you 5 powerful conversations designed to inspire change in education, build hope, offer leadership skills, and transform how we show up for children, families, and communities. Whether you're an educator, school leader, or advocate, these discussions will meet you where you are.🎙️ Here's what's coming this March:✅ Dr. Chris Hass opens the month by exp
The Kindergarten Proposal NYC's Mayor Must Hear
Welcome back to Part Two of my S5E26 Schoolutions conversation with Dr. Beverly Falk and Dr. Nancy Cardwell. 🧠 What you'll learn in this episode:💫The exact asks inside Beverly and Nancy's proposal and why Massachusetts and Connecticut have already led the way💫How play-based learning actually builds the foundation children need to detect AI misinformation and fake news💫What culturally res
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