Leading Innovation: What school leaders are thinking, saying and doing today

Most of us agree that students experienced something extraordinary over the last two years. What we're still trying to sort out is how to talk about it, and whether what we call it really matters. In this episode, we try to close the school year by reconciling the terms learning loss and learning recovery and what it all means in practice for students, teachers, and school leaders. Follow on Twitter: @MicrosoftEDU @DinaMGhobashy @GOALACADEMY @frankchip2 @jonharper70bd @amandajeanyoung @bamradionetwork Related Resources – MicrosoftEDU: See how schools worldwide are collaborating to transform learning and deliver sustained success Amanda Young is Principal at Education Imagine Academy, Wichita Public Schools' virtual school program, The Academy has been selected as a Microsoft Showcase School for its vision and its commitment to educational transformation. EI Academy is the only school in Kansas and the first virtual program anywhere to earn the distinction. EI Academy joins an exclusive network of schools for innovative lessons with students and collaboration with teachers from around the world. Education Imagine Academy provides flexibility and choice for students to learn in an online and in-person environment. Project-based learning, real-world experiences and community projects, along with weekly 1:1 mentoring with teachers and staff to help guide students to be Future Ready. All students are provided a free device and internet service.

One thing school leaders discovered over the last two years is that leading staff through ambiguity and chaos requires a unique skill set that most of us were never taught. In this episode, we identify specific skills and strategies for hiring and supporting staff who can thrive in the uncertainty of the education landscape ahead. Follow on Twitter: @MicrosoftEDU @DinaMGhobashy @GOALACADEMY @frankchip2 @jonharper70bd @mrzphd @bamradionetwork Related Resources – MicrosoftEDU: See how schools worldwide are collaborating to transform learning and deliver sustained success Michelle Zimmerman has taught students from ages 3-16. She received her Ph.D. in learning sciences and human development from the College of Education at the University of Washington in Seattle, and her research has been recognized with multiple awards. She currently leads the ongoing re-envisioning at Renton Prep Christian School in Renton, Washington. Microsoft selected Renton Prep as the first K-12 Microsoft Flagship School in the United States in September 2018. Since 2007, Zimmerman has presented around the world for groups including the American Education Research Association, UCLA CRESST, ISTE, NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering, New York Academy of Sciences and New York Academy of Medicine, as well as at multiple edtech conferences and universities.

We had just finished recording an episode with Justin Reich, director of the MIT Teaching Systems Lab. After our guest left the discussion, some pointed questions from our producer sparked a gut-level and starkly candid conversation about the myths and limits of education technology. It was a raw and uncommonly frank discussion between the hosts that was not intended for the public. But our producer was still recording and captured the entire conversation. All three hosts agreed that this discussion on the “true capabilities” of education technology was uncomfortable, but it was exceptionally real and relevant, so we agreed to release the core of it. Follow on Twitter: @MicrosoftEDU @DinaMGhobashy @GOALACADEMY @frankchip2 @jonharper70bd @bjfr @bamradionetwork Related Resources – MicrosoftEDU: See how schools worldwide are collaborating to transform learning and deliver sustained success

How can school leaders scale mentoring and coaching across multiple schools? Our guest is doing it, and today she shares what she's learned about what works. Follow on Twitter: @MicrosoftEDU @DinaMGhobashy @GOALACADEMY @frankchip2 @jonharper70bd @bjfr @bamradionetwork Related Resources – MicrosoftEDU: See how schools worldwide are collaborating to transform learning and deliver sustained success Marsha Wagner completed her B.A. in Elementary Education and M.Ed. in Educational Leadership. She began her teaching career as a first grade teacher, transitioned to become a fifth grade teacher, and later became a Math Coach. She served as an Assistant Principal for 6 years. Marsha currently serves as the proud Principal at Pembroke Lakes Elementary. She is proud that Pembroke Lakes is the only Microsoft Showcase School in the Broward County Public School District. Marsha is passionate about building relationships, technology integration, and ensuring students receive personalized instruction.

Join us for a candid, unvarnished, and informative discussion about what education technology can do and what it can't.  Our guest identifies and clarifies the conditions under which educational technology is transformational and the essential elements that must also be in place to see any significant impact from technology adoption. Follow on Twitter:  @MicrosoftEDU @DinaMGhobashy @GOALACADEMY  @frankchip2  @jonharper70bd @bjfr @bamradionetwork Related Resources – MicrosoftEDU: See how schools worldwide are collaborating to transform learning and deliver sustained success Justin Reich is an educational researcher interested in the future of learning in a networked world. He is the director of the MIT Teaching Systems Lab which aspires to design, implement and research the future of teacher learning. He is the author of Failure to Disrupt: Why Technology Alone Can't Transform Education from Harvard University Press. He is the host of the TeachLab podcast, and five open online courses on EdX including Sorting Truth from Fiction: Civic Online Reasoning and Becoming a More Equitable Educator: Mindsets and Practices. Justin is a former fellow and faculty associate of the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University.

Most of us have never seen a period where we need inspiration more than today. This is especially true in our school districts, schools, and classrooms. Join us as we talk with the headteacher at a showcase school in the UK about how he cultivates and spreads inspiration throughout his staff and students. Follow on Twitter:  @MicrosoftEDU @DinaMGhobashy @GOALACADEMY  @frankchip2  @jonharper70bd @tim_jumpclarke @bamradionetwork Related Resources – MicrosoftEDU: See how schools worldwide are collaborating to transform learning and deliver sustained success Tim Clarke is Headteacher of Cornerstone CE Primary in Hampshire (UK). Cornerstone is a Microsoft Showcase School: and focuses on 'learning always and all ways'. Tim is an MIE Expert, an MIE Master Trainer, and a Microsoft Certified Educator. He blogs about educational leadership and learning at timjumpclarke.wordpress.com.Cornerstone is focused on 'Growing an Inspirational Learning Community.' We define this as: Together, inspiring a love of learning; Encouraging and empowering partnerships; Nurturing a Growth Mindset.

If there is a magic bullet in education, it's psychological safety. Join us as we unpack how the best school leaders create psychological safety for teachers, staff, and students. Our guest and co-hosts explore why some school cultures feel safe, while others don't, and why knowing how to create psychological safety is a leadership skill that is more critical now than ever before. Follow on Twitter: @MicrosoftEDU @DinaMGhobashy @GOALACADEMY @frankchip2 @jonharper70bd @KimberlyMoyer9 @bamradionetwork Related Resources – MicrosoftEDU: See how schools worldwide are collaborating to transform learning and deliver sustained success Robert Todd helps organizations improve productive collaboration by Integrating principles from evolutionary, behavioral and cognitive science to nudge pro-social behavior and grow social capital. Robert currently, Chief Innovation Officer at Emtrain. He believes that leading with integrity and treating every employee with respect is a winning strategy. Robert joined Emtrain after building innovative learning technology solutions at LinkedIn, McKinsey & Co, and Digitalthink.

For many schools and school leaders, budget constraints and limited resources are the big barriers to greater student performance.  In this episode, we talk with a school leader who transcended extreme budget limitations about how she created a model school that attracted interest from around the globe. Follow on Twitter:  @MicrosoftEDU @DinaMGhobashy @GOALACADEMY  @frankchip2  @jonharper70bd  @KimberlyMoyer9 @bamradionetwork Related Resources – MicrosoftEDU: See how schools worldwide are collaborating to transform learning and deliver sustained success Paramjeet Kaur Dhillon is the Founder Principal of Kamla Nehru Public School, Phagwara, India since December 2006. Post Graduate in Physics, she holds a Bachelor's degree in Education for which she was awarded a Gold Medal for standing first in the University. With an experience of 26 years as a Principal, she has visited 14 countries. She is Microsoft Innovative Educator Trainer and Fellow, Microsoft Certified Educator, Adobe Education Leader, Wakelet Leader & Ambassador. Globally validated Master Trainer on 21st Century Core Skills, by British Council, U.K., she is also a British Council's School Ambassador. She has trained 3000+ educators from all over India being the resource Person of Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi. Paramjeet Kaur Dhillon initiated IT transformations in Kamla Nehru Public School, with 1:1 Anytime, Anywhere learning.  Phagwara is the Winner of the Microsoft Showcase School Biggest Impact award for the ASIA Pacific Region for the year 2020-2021 and was awarded the Microsoft Education Global Partner of the Year for 2021.

We all know that meaningful connections between administrators and teachers are required for effective learning to happen. The pandemic disrupted the traditional face-to-face connections that educators rely on in schools. Join us as we talk about how to connect with teachers and students when it doesn't matter, so we can maintain those critical connections when it does. Follow on Twitter: @MicrosoftEDU @DinaMGhobashy @GOALACADEMY @frankchip2 @jonharper70bd @KimberlyMoyer9 @bamradionetwork Related Resources – MicrosoftEDU: See how schools worldwide are collaborating to transform learning and deliver sustained success Kimberly Moyer completed her B.A. in Social Science, M.A. in Clinical Psychology, and is un the process of earning her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology. She began her teaching career as an English teacher at Fontana High School and later taught 7th grade ELA and Social Studies at Alder Middle School. She left Fontana Unified for a period and worked for a charter school organization while simultaneously practicing as a therapist in community mental health and private practice settings. She eventually came back “home” to Fontana Unified where she worked as an Instructional Coach. Kimberly has a passion for instruction, mental wellness, and identifying strengths to develop successful teams. She is grateful to work with the students, staff, and parents that embody the heart of Sequoia!

In this episode, we talk about five practices that give school leaders the ability to see what teachers and students need most to achieve their academic goals  -- at any point in the school term. Join us as we discuss the what, why, and how of putting these practices to work. Follow on Twitter:  @MicrosoftEDU @DinaMGhobashy @GOALACADEMY  @frankchip2  @jonharper70bd @savery_mark @dan_pearson @bamradionetwork Related Resources – MicrosoftEDU: See how schools worldwide are collaborating to transform learning and deliver sustained success Mark Savery is the Head of eLearning (P-12) at Emmanuel College, a Microsoft Showcase School, located on the Gold Coast. As a Microsoft Fellow and member of the Microsoft Innovative Expert Educator program since 2015, he regularly contributes to local and international educational communities. He was awarded as a Hot List recipient 3 years in a row by the Educator Magazine for being an influential figure in the K-12 education space. With a background in primary teaching, Mark has a passion for pushing the boundaries. He loves bringing innovation and engagement into the classroom through the use of technology, to enhance the learning experience. “I have a drive for innovation and creativity. I love exploring models of flipped classrooms, collaboration, utilising tools like AR and VR and bringing as much engagement as possible to ensure that learning is always fun!” Dan Pearson (BIT, MBA) is passionate about great leadership, developing high-performance teams, and using technology to improve outcomes in K-12 education. He has spent over 18 years leading teams in large, multi-campus schools and is currently Director of IT & Advancement at Emmanuel College, a Microsoft Showcase School. After beginning his career as a software developer, Dan has successfully made the transition from technical expert to strategic educational leader, and in his combined role is focused on leveraging the synergies between IT and the Advancement (marketing, events, communications, alumni) disciplines. Dan is a regular contributor to the education community around delivering ICT effectively in an education environment and has been featured on The Educator Magazine's Hot List.

In this episode, we tackle a challenge that has risen to the very top of every school leader's priority list.  As teaching becomes more demanding and the pool of talent shrinks, how do we inspire and energize teachers without becoming a source of the stress that is burning them out? Follow on Twitter:  @MicrosoftEDU @DinaMGhobashy @GOALACADEMY  @frankchip2  @jonharper70bd @JillToussaint @bamradionetwork Related Resources – MicrosoftEDU: See how schools worldwide are collaborating to transform learning and deliver sustained success Jill Toussaint received her bachelor's degree in Biology from Colorado State University – Pueblo and her master's degree in Educational Leadership from the American College of Education. Jill's career as an education professional has been spent in two of Colorado's most innovative charter schools. As an education professional, Jill has transitioned from a high school science teacher to a school administrator tasked with implementing progressive educational policies that increase opportunities for Colorado students. Jill is well qualified to do so. She spent six years serving on the Colorado Advisory Board overseeing the implementation of state legislation for the Concurrent Enrollment and ASCENT programs. Jill is committed to advocate for legislation to positively support Alternative Education Campuses in our state. In 2010, Jill joined the Guided Online Academic Learning (GOAL) Academy's administrative team as the Concurrent Enrollment and Career and Technical Education Coordinator, significantly expanding and enhancing both programs. She has served as GOAL's Director of Academic Advising and Associate Academic Officer of the Pueblo Region. Since fall 2016, she has served as GOAL's Chief Academic Officer. In this role, Jill supports GOAL's five regions and regional staff along with the oversight of all of GOAL's academic programs including: Curriculum and Instruction, College and Career Counseling, English Language Learners, Intervention Resources, Career and Technical Education, Professional Learning and Development, Exceptional Student Services, and Student Support Services. Education is… a right that should not be withheld from anyone. Jill is happily married and is the proud mother of two amazing children.

Being a school leader can be lonely and isolating. Join us for the premiere episode of Leading Innovation: Where school leaders talk about what we're thinking, saying, and doing to guide our schools today. We kick off the first segment with a discussion about the need for school leaders to share ideas and strategies, then dive into the challenge of managing "innovation fatigue." Listen in as we drill down on how some school leaders use data to rebalance school priorities and reduce teacher burnout while maximizing student achievement. Follow on Twitter:  @MicrosoftEDU @DinaMGhobashy @GOALACADEMY @frankchip2 @jonharper70bd @bamradionetwork Related Resources – MicrosoftEDU: See how schools worldwide are collaborating to transform learning and deliver sustained success Jamie Trujillo serves as the Chief Information Officer for GOAL Academy. In this role, Jamie is directly responsible for leading GOAL Academy's technology efforts and enabling digital transformation across the School, with a passion to prepare students for a life centered around technology. Jamie is a 20-year veteran of the Tech industry. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in IT Administration from Western Governors University. He possesses 13 technical industry certifications, ranging from the CompTIA A+, Security+, and Network+ to the Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator: Messaging (MCSA). Jamie is a fifth-generation native of Western Colorado. Prior to joining GOAL Academy, Jamie was the worldwide Director of Information Technology for Doss Aviation (now L3 Harris) based in Pueblo and Colorado Springs. Jamie is an active member of the Colorado Association of Leaders in Educational Technology (CALET) and is a member of the Board of Directors for the Pueblo West Chamber of Commerce. In his free time, Jamie enjoys spending time with his wonderful family, officiating high school basketball games, and the great outdoors of Colorado. Dina Ghobashy is passionate about achieving positive social impact through education and she sees technology as a catalyst for realizing this vision.  She currently champions schoolwide education transformation and manages school leader strategy and programs at Microsoft. Dina possesses a broad background in technology and its effective application to transform teaching and learning.   She led academic innovation at the French American International School in San Francisco and at Intel Corporation, she advised and supported schools and governments worldwide on transforming education using technology.  She spent the early part of her career at Intel developing expertise in business analysis, process improvement coaching, adult learning, requirements discovery, program management, change management, and software development.  Dina holds a Master's in Education Technology from Columbia University, a Master's in Computer Engineering from West Virginia University, and a Bachelor's of Science in Electrical and Communications Engineering from Cairo University. Frank Chiappone is a Sr. Product Marketing Manager at Microsoft with a focus on School Leaders and IT audiences. He loves to go deep on how institutions undertake digital transformation, the challenges they face in implementing and driving technology adoption in the classroom, and learning how Microsoft can best deliver innovation to help institutions around the world enable student success. This is his 14th year with Microsoft Education. Prior to joining Microsoft, Frank was an Emmy-award winning journalist with more than 22 years spent in television newsrooms around the country. He is a graduate of the University of Texas at El Paso. Outside of work he's either spending time with his family, playing lot of pickleball, or cooking something in the kitchen.