Join Dr. Bob Bravo as he talks about K-12 instruction with teachers, principals, and educational leaders. Recorded especially for the educators of South and Southeast Los Angeles, but with appeal for educators everywhere. Follow Dr. Bravo @robertbravo.
Elizabeth Pittman, a chemistry teacher at Spruce High School, was driving in her car and listening to NPR when she heard a story about a restorative discipline pilot program being implemented in New Zealand public schools. Pittman was intrigued by the story on the pilot program, which rethinks how teachers and administrators discipline students. She ended up applying and receiving a Fulbright Distinguished Teacher Award to travel to New Zealand to study the pilot program in person. In today’s episode of Ed Talk with Dr. Bob Bravo, Pittman talks with the Dallas ISD Chief of School Leadership about the process of applying for a Fulbright, why she is interested in learning about restorative discipline in New Zealand, and what she hopes to bring back to Dallas ISD from the experience.
With 130 officers and 220 employees, the Dallas ISD Police Department is among the largest of all police departments in the state. In this episode of Ed Talk with Dr. Bob Bravo, a podcast hosted by the Dallas ISD Chief of School Leadership, Dallas ISD Police Chief Craig Miller discusses the benefits of the school district having its own police department. Miller also tells Bravo about when it’s appropriate for a teacher or school administrator to call the Dallas ISD police department, how a teacher can work to deescalate instead of escalate a situation, and how students misusing cell phones is the biggest issue the police department faces.
Two Dallas ISD schools—Trinidad “Trini” Garza Early College High School at Mountain View College and Harry Stone Montessori and IB World School—were named National Blue Ribbon schools in September. Curious what is it like to lead or work at a Blue Ribbon School? Or what sets a Blue Ribbon School apart from other schools? This episode of Ed Talk with Dr. Bob Bravo, a podcast hosted by the Dallas ISD Chief of School Leadership, talks with Trini Garza Principal Dr. Janice Lombardi and Lisa Curry, who served as principal last year of Harry Stone, to learn the answers to these questions and more. The conversation also offers advice for a Dallas ISD principal or teacher who is interested in striving for Blue Ribbon status at their school.
In today’s episode of Ed Talk with Dr. Bob Bravo, Dr. Bravo picks the brain of Irma De La Guardia, the 2014 Bilingual Education Teacher of the Year who this year transitioned into a role as Assistant Principal at Cabell Elementary. In the episode, De La Guardia talks about her effort as a teacher to take advantage of every instructional minute and what inspired her to move out of the classroom to become an Assistant Principal. She also offers helpful tips for newer teachers, as well as advice for more veteran teachers who may be considering a transition into school administration, and discusses the professional development opportunities she has pursued to continue to improve her craft.
In this episode of Ed Talk with Dr. Bob Bravo, listeners can learn more about the leadership development opportunities in Dallas ISD. Dr. Bravo, Dallas ISD Chief of School Leadership, talks with Joe Miniscalco, Executive Director of the Dallas ISD Leadership Academies, about the district’s efforts to develop the leadership skills of administrators and interested teachers. The discussion also goes into a new speaker series that brings policy makers and national education leaders to talk with Dallas ISD staff.
In this episode of Ed Talk with Bob Bravo, Dr. Bravo, Dallas ISD Chief of School Leadership, speaks with Brian Lusk, the Executive Director of the H. Grady Spruce High School feeder pattern, and John Quincy Adams Elementary Principal Nancy Bernardino. The conversation explains how Learning Objectives (LOs) aim to focus a class on what a teacher wants students to learn in a lesson, while Demonstrations of Learning (DOLs) help teachers check if students understand the lesson. The podcast also talks about how a teacher can determine if they have written an appropriate LO and DOL and explains the resources available for teachers who want further guidance on the topic of LO and DOLs.
Today’s episode of Ed Talk with Dr. Bob Bravo talks about how Dallas ISD schools can form partnerships with the community and involve volunteers with school activities. Dr. Robert Bravo, the Dallas ISD Chief of School Leadership, talks with Tom Hayden and Imelda Alcala of the Dallas ISD Volunteer and Partnership Services department about the benefits of volunteering with the district. The discussion also goes through what steps a school needs to take to get connected with helpful volunteers.
Student discipline and truancy are the topics of today’s episode of Ed Talk with Dr. Bob Bravo. Dr. Robert Bravo, Dallas ISD Chief of School Leadership, talks with Martha Hawkins, supervisor of attendance improvement and truancy reduction, and Dr. C.A. Williams, director of the Office of Student Discipline and Truancy, about the changes in truancy law that went into effect this school year. The conversation also provides tips for teachers for what they can do to keep their students on the right sides of the rules.
From teaching concentration and respect to endurance and strategy, chess brings many proven benefits besides the simply joy of checkmating an opponent. Today’s episode of Ed Talk with Dr. Bob Bravo focuses on the game that first appeared around A.D. 600. In the podcast episode, Dr. Robert Bravo, Dallas ISD Chief of School Leadership, talks with Irasema Coy, a fourth-grade teacher at Runyon Elementary who led the school’s chess club, and a parent liaison at Runyon who helped with the club. The conversation touches on the benefits of starting a chess club at a Dallas ISD school and how chess is much more than a game. Bravo recommends any Dallas ISD teachers interested in starting a chess club, or a teacher who already has started a chess club, to contact him at rbravo@dallasisd.org to help build a districtwide chess network.
Personalized learning—the subject of today’s episode of Ed Talk with Dr. Bob Bravo—aims to help students reach their fullest potential by tapping into their strengths, needs and interests. But what does a personalized learning classroom look like? And what are the benefits of personalized learning? In the podcast episode, Ashley Bryan, Dallas ISD Director of Planning and Special Projects, Julie Robinson, an instructional coach at Cabell Elementary, and Kristen Watkins, a manager of personalized learning, talk with Dr. Robert Bravo, Dallas ISD Chief of School Leadership, about how personalized learning works. The discussion also touches on how a teacher can bring personalized learning to their classroom and their school.
STEM, coding, and robotics—more specifically, a Robotics Smackdown—are the topics of this week’s episode of Ed Talk with Dr. Bravo. Dallas ISD STEM Executive Director Oswaldo Alvarenga, Director of Educational Technology Roland Antoine, and Educational Technology Coordinator Jeff Marx join Dr. Robert Bravo, the Dallas ISD Chief of School Leadership, to talk all things educational technology. The conversation touches on the district’s effort to get students involved with STEM-type activities at an earlier age, and gives a rundown on what a district teacher can do to bring robotics and STEM programing to their school. (Spoiler alert: It’s usually pretty easy and doesn’t cost the school any money.)
Leading up to Sept. 18, which is when teachers will receive their first-ever TEI scorecards, this episode of Ed Talk with Dr. Bravo provides background and context on the district’s comprehensive teacher evaluation system. TEI director Lindsay Coshatt talks with Dr. Robert Bravo, the Dallas ISD Chief of School Leadership, about the three main components—defining excellence, supporting excellence, and rewarding excellence—that make up TEI. Coshatt explains that, under TEI, an effective teacher over 15 years has the earning to potential to make $100,000 more than they could under a traditional step salary schedule. She added that no teacher would see a salary decrease this year under TEI.
On this episode of Ed Talk with Dr. Bravo, Dr. Robert Bravo, the Dallas ISD Chief of School Leadership, spoke with leaders from the Dallas ISD Office of Transformation and Innovation about the district’s Choice School initiative. Mike Koprowski, Chief of Transformation and Innovation, explained how choice schools aim to tap into a student’s individual learning style, personality, and aspirations. Koprowski and Mohammed Choudhury, Director of Transformation and Innovation, also explain what actions a teacher or administrator can take to launch a choice or transformation school. “If you’ve thought about launching your dream school in Dallas, this is your opportunity to do it,” Choudhury said.
For his first podcast with Dallas ISD, Dr. Robert Bravo, the Dallas ISD Chief of School Leadership, had a wide-ranging discussion with Alan Cohen, the district’s Assistant Superintendent of Early Childhood. Cohen and Bravo discuss the significance of preK, the importance of supporting the emotional health of students, and a cultural shift that could have an immediate positive impact on young students.“There is nothing scarier in the world than having 24 four-year-olds look up at you at the beginning of the day and say entertain me for eight hours,” Cohen noted.
What’s the gold standard in education? Join the conversation, as Dr. Bravo and John Vladovic, Principal of Dodson Middle School, retrace the steps Dodson took along its journey to becoming a Golden Ribbon School.
Times passes quickly, and we sometimes neglect pausing to celebrate our accomplishments. Join Chris Cassidy, Dr. Amber McKinney, and Dr. Bravo as they remind us of our collective achievements, and remind us that there’s more to come. Opening and closing music "Poco a Poco" by José Coaro Fumero (lyrics), Luis Tejada (arrangement), and Tanya Avelleyra (lead vocalist).
Listen in as Dr. Bravo discusses summer professional development opportunities and recommended reading with Faynessa Armand, Eric Grow, and Lisa Saldivar. Opening and closing music "Poco a Poco" by José Coaro Fumero (lyrics), Luis Tejada (arrangement), and Tanya Avelleyra (lead vocalist).
A few weeks ago, Dr. Bravo interviewed two teachers who recently achieved National Board Certification. In this podcast, Dr. Bravo interviews Michael de la Torre, coordinator of the Support Network, to get additional insight into the certification process and to examine the impact National Board Certification has on one’s career, school, and community. Opening and closing music "Poco a Poco" by José Coaro Fumero (lyrics), Luis Tejada (arrangement), and Tanya Avelleyra (lead vocalist).
What does it mean to be college and career ready? Listen in as Dr. Bravo discusses the A-G graduation requirements for the class of 2017 with members of the ESC South instructional team and hear about promising practices teachers are using to help students succeed. Opening and closing music "Poco a Poco" by José Coaro Fumero (lyrics), Luis Tejada (arrangement), and Tanya Avelleyra (lead vocalist).
Teachers like their work to be research-based, but often taking that research from a study to the classroom can be challenging. Join Dr. Bravo and Dr. Nell Duke as they discuss how to practically implement research-proven pedagogy. Opening and closing music "Poco a Poco" by José Coaro Fumero (lyrics), Luis Tejada (arrangement), and Tanya Avelleyra (lead vocalist).
Smarter Balanced Assessments have arrived in Educational Service Center, South. What influence will 21st century testing have on our classrooms and our students? Join ESC South's Chris Cassidy and Elmer Choe as they discuss these and other matters with Bandini ES Principal, Robert Fenton, and Testing Branch Specialist, Moses Jorge. Opening and closing music "Poco a Poco" by José Coaro Fumero (lyrics), Luis Tejada (arrangement), and Tanya Avelleyra (lead vocalist).
What does it mean to achieve Natuonal Board certification? Dr. Bravo discusses the road to National board recognition with Teary August and Oscar Espinoza. Opening and closing music "Poco a Poco" by José Coaro Fumero (lyrics), Luis Tejada (arrangement), and Tanya Avelleyra (lead vocalist).
How can taking the DIBELS assessment today prevent reading difficulties tomorrow? Join with us, as Dr. Bravo, Chris Cassidy, Lisa Saldivar and Dayna Wells discuss the possibilities. Opening and closing music, da Bob Groove, composed by Martijn de Boer (NiGiD), featuring Admiral Bob.
Interviewers become interviewees, as Dr. Bravo discusses journalism with Donn Cottom, advisor to South East High School's Jaguar Times, and five promising young journalists. Opening and closing music, da Bob Groove, composed by Martijn de Boer (NiGiD), featuring Admiral Bob.
What’s it like to be part of a school-wide writing revolution? Find out as Dr. Bravo joins Tanya Avelleyra, Heidie Hoffman, and Mary Anne Tippin as they share their thoughts and tips for using Kelly Gallagher’s practices in the classroom. Opening and closing music, da Bob Groove, composed by Martijn de Boer (NiGiD), featuring Admiral Bob.
Join Dr. Bravo, author and teacher, Kelly Gallagher, and over two-hundred educators for a lively (and live) discussion that ranges from the Common Core State Standards, to the trouble with the five-paragraph essay, to how literature can serve as a rehearsal for life. Opening and closing music, da Bob Groove, composed by Martijn de Boer (NiGiD), featuring Admiral Bob.
What is it to be gifted? Listen in as Dr. Bravo and Dr. Debbie Dillard provide some surprising answers. Opening and closing music, da Bob Groove, composed by Martijn de Boer (NiGiD), featuring Admiral Bob.
Enjoy Dr. Bravo's conversation with science specialists, Amber McKinney and Keri Porter, as they discuss the connections that link children's books, Trash for Teaching and NASA to the science curriculum. Opening and closing music, da Bob Groove, composed by Martijn de Boer (NiGiD), featuring Admiral Bob.
Dr. Bravo joins history/social studies specialists, Dayna Wells and Emmalee Briggs, to discuss how an incisive understanding of informational text contributes to becoming a successful student and an informed citizen. Opening and closing music, da Bob Groove, composed by Martijn de Boer (NiGiD), featuring Admiral Bob.
Enjoy the conversation as Dr. Bravo and Dr. Laura Schiller, consultant for Teachers College of Columbia University, discuss Units of Study, the need for explicit instruction, and the indispensable role of writing in today’s world. Opening and closing music, da Bob Groove, composed by Martijn de Boer (NiGiD), featuring Admiral Bob.
Join Dr. Bravo as he meets with Teacher College's Cornelius Minor to discuss topics ranging from addressing a global audience to uplifting the children before us. And listen in as Mr. Minor explains why engagement may be more important than mastery. Opening and closing music, da Bob Groove, composed by Martijn de Boer (NiGiD), featuring Admiral Bob.
Join Dr. Bravo as he hosts arts integration teachers, Delynn Schoenholt, Mimi Ortiz, Andrea Mauk, Karen Robinson, Alison Rose, and ESC, South Arts Integration Specialist, Ruth Torres. Discover how the arts not only build community and enrich our lives, but actually make us smarter. Opening and closing music, da Bob Groove, composed by Martijn de Boer (NiGiD), featuring Admiral Bob.
Listen in as author, teacher and Professor Emeritus, Dr. Cathy Fosnot joins Dr. Bravo to discuss math anxiety, dead mathematicians, and the auspicious trends in mathematics toward doing mathematics and mathematizing the lived world. Opening and closing music, da Bob Groove, composed by Martijn de Boer (NiGiD), featuring Admiral Bob.
In this week's podcast, Dr. Bravo discusses Writers Workshop with Dana Bowden and Kate Beaudet from Powerful Solutions. Listen in as Dana and Kate outline key components of Writers Workshop and offer tips and particulars to get your writing program started on the right foot. Opening and closing music, da Bob Groove, composed by Martijn de Boer (NiGiD), featuring Admiral Bob.
In this week’s podcast Dr. Bravo speaks with Dr. Ruth Perez, Deputy Superintendent of Instruction, whose passion for learning has fueled her journey from language learner to Deputy Superintendent for the 2nd largest school district in the United States. Listen as Dr. Perez explains why she left a job she loved in another district to come to LA Unified. Opening and closing music, da Bob Groove, composed by Martijn de Boer (NiGiD), featuring Admiral Bob.
In this week's podcast Dr. Bravo speaks with Amber McKinney and Keri Porter to learn more about the Next Generation Science Standards. Opening and closing music, da Bob Groove, composed by Martijn de Boer (NiGiD), featuring Admiral Bob.
Listen to this week's inspirational conversation with Lovelyn Marquez-Prueher, one of five distinguished educators recognized as a 2015 California Teacher of the Year. Ms. Marquez-Prueher discusses the award's significance and how experiences have influenced her approach to education. Opening and closing music, da Bob Groove, composed by Martijn de Boer (NiGiD), featuring Admiral Bob.
In this week's episode, Dr. Bravo speaks with Christine Cassidy, Lisa Saldivar, and Elmer Choe about the Smarter Balanced Assessments. Learn about the latest information, tools, and resources that are available to prepare for these assessments. Opening and closing music, da Bob Groove, composed by Martijn de Boer (NiGiD), featuring Admiral Bob.
Listen to this week's podcast where Dr. Bravo speaks with Dr. Breakstone about the work the Stanford History Education Group is doing with schools in ESC South. Opening and closing music, da Bob Groove, composed by Martijn de Boer (NiGiD), featuring Admiral Bob.
In this week's podcast, Dr. Bravo and Dr. Kate Kinsella discuss strategies to improve students' English language proficiency. Opening and closing music, da Bob Groove, composed by Martijn de Boer (NiGiD), featuring Admiral Bob.
In this week's podcast, Dr. Bravo discusses the Question Formulation Technique with Amber McKinney, Secondary Science Specialist, and Emmalee Briggs, Secondary Social Studies Specialist. This technique is applicable across all content areas and grade levels. Opening and closing music, da Bob Groove, composed by Martijn de Boer (NiGiD), featuring Admiral Bob.
The Question Formulation Technique (QFT) is a strategy developed by the The Right Question Institute to empower students to ask their own questions. Listen to this week's podcast as Dr. Bravo, Dan Rothstein (Director of and co-author of Make Just One Change: Teach Students to Ask Their Own Questions), and Lavada Berger (Co-Director of, The Right Question Institute) share strategies for going deeper into this technique. Opening and closing music, da Bob Groove, composed by Martijn de Boer (NiGiD), featuring Admiral Bob.
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