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In this episode, Jennifer sits down with Matthew Booher, Co-Founder and Partnerships lead at Clad, to talk about something every childcare owner cares about, whether they enjoy talking about it or not: getting paid! You can have strong enrollment, healthy tuition numbers, and even profit on paper, but if parent payments or subsidy dollars are arriving late, it can still feel like you are constantly wondering where the cash went. With nearly 30 years in the PreK-12 world, Matthew brings a big-picture view of the financial challenges child care businesses are facing right now and some surprisingly creative ways to solve them. Jennifer and Matthew talk about creating more consistent cash flow, taking the uncomfortable job of chasing payments off an owner's plate, finding capital for things like payroll or a new playground, and even using financial tools to support enrollment growth. Most importantly, this conversation is about giving owners more stability and more time to get back to the reason they opened their doors in the first place: serving children and families. Key Takeaways: [5:18] Matthew shares how nearly 30 years in the PreK-12 industry eventually led him to join Clad and its mission of helping schools and child care centers. [7:02] Consistent cash flow can take a major financial and mental burden off owners so they can spend more time focused on children and families. [8:10] Late parent payments and inconsistent subsidy dollars are challenges showing up across the industry, so owners struggling with them are definitely not alone. [9:30] Matthew says one of the most consistent financial trends right now is actually inconsistency, which makes predictability even more valuable. [11:14] Matthew shares how access to short-term capital helped one center cover payroll during a difficult summer and another invest in a new playground. [11:45] Clad's model includes three main areas: consistent weekly cash flow, tools to support enrollment growth, and access to capital for investing back into the business. [12:57] Rather than treating every center the same, Matthew starts by understanding the owner's story, community, and specific financial needs. [14:40] Clad began with a former school owner who was tired of spending his time chasing tuition payments instead of doing the work he loved. [18:17] Centers can use Clad without replacing all of their existing software, making it more of an activation than a full technology overhaul. [19:21] Parent payments and subsidy funds can both be included so owners have a more predictable picture of what is actually reaching their bank account. [20:41] Consistent cash flow can give owners the working capital they need to make improvements that help their center stand out and grow. [24:18] Matthew encourages owners to take an honest look at whether money is really arriving on time, because a few late payments here and there add up. [25:00] Owners should also watch subsidy payments closely and connect with other providers when payment problems may be affecting an entire community. [26:16] Jennifer points out that big-hearted child care owners can easily become lenient about tuition without realizing how much those delays impact the business. [28:35] The goal of better financial systems is not to give owners one more thing to manage, but to get business tasks out of the way so they can return to their why. [30:18] Matthew understands why the model can sound too good to be true and encourages owners to do their homework and talk directly with centers already using it. [31:42] Even an owner who thinks cash flow is perfectly fine may discover another opportunity, from funding growth to opening an additional location. Quotes: "The one consistency we're seeing in the trends is that things are inconsistent." — Matthew [9:30] "We'll cover your payroll for a few months. And it saved her business, and it literally saved her." — Matthew [11:14] "He spent most of his time as a school owner chasing payments and getting parents to pay on time, and so he was not able to do what his passion was, which is to teach." — Matthew [14:40] "Clad is not an implementation; it's an activation." — Matthew [18:17] Sponsored By: Procare Solutions — Visit Procare Solutions and find out what running your center feels like when you finally have the right tools. Mentioned in This Episode: Kris Murray @iamkrismurray Jennifer Conner The Child Care Success Company The Child Care Success Academy The Child Care Success Summit Grow Your Center Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal Clad: LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram
Send us Fan MailKristin Vincent is VP of Product at Learning Commons, where she leads teams focused on scaling proven teaching and learning practices. She has spent 20 years building Edtech products, including leadership roles at Pearson and K12.com/Strive.Brian Johnsrud, PhD is OpenAI's Global Head of Educational Engagement. A former K-12 teacher, college lecturer, and education technology researcher, he focuses on helping educators and students use AI to build skills, agency, and new possibilities for learning.
Send us Fan MailJoin hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they unpack New York City and Los Angeles school AI restrictions, the launch of a new AI tutor from Aristotle, and how Salesforce is supporting educators, students, and career pathways in the AI era.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:01:57] AI, cognitive offloading, and the future of learning[00:06:21] New York City restricts student-facing AI tools in schools[00:11:13] AI, edtech, and the growing technology backlash[00:15:08] The paradox of banning AI in schools[00:22:58] AI policy across New York, Los Angeles, and Miami-DadePlus, special guests:[00:33:49] Shan Reddy and Vivek Vajipey, Co-founders of Aristotle, on building an AI tutor designed around pedagogy and student learning[01:01:15] Dr. Ron C. Smith, VP of Philanthropy at Salesforce, on supporting educators, students, and career pathways in the AI era
Send us Fan MailNils Gilman is Senior Advisor to the Berggruen Institute, an intellectual historian by training and a widely published essayist on the future of higher education and AI's impact on work and learning. His writing has appeared in Noema, The New York Times, Foreign Policy, and many other venues. He holds a B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. from UC Berkeley.Hosted by Matthew RascoffThis episode is part of the Edtech Insiders HigherEd Podcast Series, featuring conversations with leaders shaping the future of higher education.
New York City has launched its new 2-K program as the first major step toward universal childcare. But some providers started the school year without city funding they were counting on, leaving some to borrow money or dip into their own savings to cover payroll, rent and supplies. WNYC's Karen Yi explains why payment and contracting delays keep happening and what they could mean for the city's plans to expand free childcare.Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org.Photo: Kara McCurdy / Mayoral Photography Office COVID hospitalizations are on the rise in NYC. Here's how to protect yourself.Gov. Hochul expected to send rebate checks to New Yorkers shortly before Election DayAs NYC's free 2-K begins, childcare providers say they're still waiting to get paid Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Send us Fan MailVinitra Swamy is the CEO and Co-founder of Scholé AI, a UC Berkeley and EPFL spinoff building AI-native learning for the future of work. A former Microsoft AI engineer and AI-for-education PhD, she focuses on bringing learning science, personalization, and AI together to transform adult learning.
Send us Fan MailEmily Freitag is Co-founder and CEO of Instruction Partners, a nonprofit focused on strengthening instructional leadership and support for educators. She previously served as Assistant Commissioner of Curriculum and Instruction for the Tennessee Department of Education and began her career as a seventh-grade math teacher in Louisiana.
Send us Fan MailPaul LeBlanc is the former president of Southern New Hampshire University, the largest non-profit provider of online higher education in the country. His new book, Reclaiming Purpose: The University in an AI World, examines how higher education can respond proactively to leverage the rise of artificial intelligence and reconnect to its essential task of helping students discover lives of purpose. Hosted by Matthew RascoffThis episode is part of the Edtech Insiders HigherEd Podcast Series, featuring conversations with leaders shaping the future of higher education.
Presented by Pamela Wimbish, Experienced Educator, Director of Special Education, Birmingham City Schools (AL)Moderated by Evan Spellman, Former Educator, Current Product Director, Level DataThis edWeb podcast is sponsored by Level Data.The edLeader Panel recording can be accessed here.At the heart of every Individualized Education Plan (IEP) are educators working hard to provide the instruction, intervention, and support a student needs to thrive in school. Documentation and compliance matter, but they can't come at the expense of the instruction and intervention that drive student outcomes. Finding the right balance between the two is one of the biggest challenges special education leaders face.During this edWeb podcast, Pamela Wimbish, Director of Special Education for Birmingham City Schools (AL), shares how her district built sustainable systems and processes to strengthen IEP compliance and simplify documentation, freeing up more time and attention for instruction, intervention, and student growth.You learn:Key steps and decision points for building systems that support both compliance and targeted interventionHow to build staff buy-in for standardizing service tracking and progress monitoring across a districtHow to leverage technology to create sustainable practices that reduce compliance risk while keeping the focus on instructionHow to strike a sustainable balance between compliance and instruction as a district evolvesListeners leave this session with a practical framework for strengthening IEP documentation and tracking, closing compliance gaps, and keeping instruction and intervention at the center of the work. This edWeb podcast is of interest to PreK-12 school and district leaders, special education leaders, MTSS/RTI leaders, intervention specialists, and education technology leaders.Learn more about viewing live edWeb presentations and on-demand recordings, earning CE certificates, and using accessibility features.
251: Phonemic awareness is essential for learning to read—but what does the research actually tell us about how to teach it? Dr. Beth Phillips and Dr. Shayne Piasta unpack what we know (and what we still don't know) about rhyming, phonological sensitivity, phonemic awareness, and the role of letters. Find the show notes here. Sign up for my free masterclass, 5 Essential Steps to Reach All Readers.Get my book, Reach All Readers! Looking for printable resources that align with the science of reading? Click here to learn more about our popular and affordable membership for PreK through 3rd grade educators.Connect with me here!BlogInstagramFacebookTwitter (X)
Is play just for fun—or is it doing something deeper? In this episode, I sit down with Kristen Day, founder of Butterfly Hill Nature Preschool and a fierce advocate for honoring how young children actually learn. We dig into the real science behind play-based learning—what it does for the brain, how it shapes behavior, and why removing it from early childhood classrooms may be doing more harm than we realize.Whether you're feeling pressure to “get more academic” or just need language to advocate for more play in your day, this episode will leave you feeling grounded, validated, and inspired to make small changes that matter.In this episode, we'll talk about:What the research really says about play-based learning.Why risky play (yes, even stick sword fights!) builds essential life skills.What happens when children don't get enough time to play.Practical ways to bring meaningful play back into your PreK–2 classroom.How to talk to admin about protecting playtime—using research, not guilt.Show LinksKristen Day's Website // Instagram // FacebookJoin Malia on Instagram.Become a Science of Reading Formula member!Rate, Review, and FollowIf you loved this episode, please take a minute to rate and review my show! That helps the podcast world know that this show is worth sharing with other educators just like you.Scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review". Then let me know what you loved most about the episode!While you're there, be sure to follow the podcast. I'm adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed and I don't want you to miss out!
Send us Fan MailNir Zicherman is the CEO of Oboe. Oboe's mission is to teach one billion people one trillion things. In 2015, Nir co-founded Anchor, which grew to become the world's largest podcasting platform. After Spotify acquired Anchor in 2019, he led Spotify's expansion into audiobooks as VP of Audiobooks.
In this episode of Leading Voices in Literacy, special guest host Jamil Odom sits down with literacy expert Monica Yoo and veteran teacher Jenny Freer to unpack what truly effective professional development looks like in today's classrooms. Moving beyond one-off workshops, they explore how sustained, content-focused, and collaborative PD—grounded in ongoing Professional Learning Communities—can drive meaningful change.Visit Savvas.com/Literacy today to learn more about our high-quality PreK-12 literacy solutions for your school district.To keep the conversation going follow us @SavvasLearning on Instagram, Facebook, X, Youtube, or Linkedin. Visit Savvas.com today to learn more about our award-winning K-12 programs and to request curriculum samples for your school or district.
Send us Fan MailJoin hosts Ben Kornell and Alex Sarlin as they break down new federal guidance on edtech evidence and efficacy, the growing backlash against AI and big tech in schools, Harvard's AI faculty avatars, and MIT's evolving approach to teaching and learning in the AI era.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:04:47] U.S. Department of Education issues edtech evidence guidance[00:14:21] AI tutoring research highlights mastery-based learning[00:16:36] The growing backlash against AI and big tech in schools[00:19:02] OpenAI announces 55 school district partnerships[00:20:50] Should big tech be in schools?[00:29:57] Harvard launches AI faculty avatars for student practice[00:35:41] MIT rethinks teaching and assessment for the AI eraPlus, special guests:[00:39:42] Carl Madi, Co-founder and CEO of Stepful, on expanding healthcare career pathways through employer partnerships, AI-powered assessment, and scalable workforce training[00:56:46] Manny Smith, Founder and CEO of EdVisorly, on modernizing college admissions and transfer through AI-powered enrollment operations and more transparent pathways for students
In this episode we explore the reality of starting a new homeschool year, especially when things don't go as planned. We all set out with big dreams and carefully constructed plans, but when our real, neurodivergent kids show up—with their unique strengths, challenges, and sometimes unexpected needs—it's easy to feel overwhelmed or question ourselves. Listen for actionable reflection questions, permission to pivot your plans, and a reminder that every year is a fresh opportunity to meet your kids where they are and help them grow into the amazing people they're meant to be. Key Takeaways Start with the Child You Have: Observe your child's real needs and interests—not your ideal of what homeschooling "should" look like. Ditch What Doesn't Work: Don't be afraid to drop curriculum, routines, or activities that create friction or don't fit your child's current stage. Celebrate Asynchrony: Embrace uneven growth—kids may excel in some areas and need extra support in others, and that's normal. Connection Comes First: Prioritize strengthening your relationship and trust with your child—learning follows where connection is strong. Small Changes, Big Impact: Focus on just one meaningful adjustment at a time for positive momentum and less overwhelm. Links and Resources from Today's Episode Thank you to our sponsors: CTC Math – Flexible, affordable math for the whole family! The Learner's Lab – Online community for families homeschooling outside-the-box learners! The Lab: An Online Community for Families Homeschooling Neurodivergent Kiddos The Homeschool Advantage: A Child-Focused Approach to Raising Lifelong Learners Raising Resilient Sons: A Boy Mom's Guide to Building a Strong, Confident, and Emotionally Intelligent Family The Anxiety Toolkit Sensory Strategy Toolkit | Quick Regulation Activities for Home Affirmation Cards for Anxious Kids Homeschool Curriculum for Your Asynchronous Gifted Learner Our Gifted Homeschool Curriculum For Multiple Grade Levels: 2021-2022 Homeschooling Middle School Using Your Own Interest-Based Curriculum Building Our Own Curriculum – Why it's Easier Than Buying Boxed Our Gifted Homeschool | Curriculum for Pre-K, 1st, 4th, and 8th Grades Homeschool Curriculum Choices for 2015-2016 Homeschool Curriculum Choices Creating Your Own Interest-Based Middle School Curriculum A Family-Friendly Homeschool Art Curriculum Our Homeschool Curriculum Our Curriculum Choices for 2012-2013
As a hot NY Summer comes to a close, and students of all ages are getting back to school next week, the City's educators are facing unexpected challenges. Expanding the city's Pre-K and 3-K programs has been one of Zohran Mamdani's signature issues since he first ran for mayor. However, the non-profit organizations that are the backbone of the city's early childhood education system are scrambling to stay afloat as the city has yet to deliver the advance payments required by law that make it possible for them to cover their initial operating expenses. We'll speak with Fariha Rahman, the City&State reporter who broke the story and the heads of two pre-K schools that are scrambling to get ready for the new school year. In our second segment, we speak to the Indy's very own contributing author, Theodore Hamm on a stunning update on a murder case he has followed for years and what it says about the Brooklyn DA's office's shady history of false convictions against innocent New Yorkers.
As a hot NY Summer comes to a close, and students of all ages are getting back to school next week, the City's educators are facing unexpected challenges. Expanding the city's Pre-K and 3-K programs has been one of Zohran Mamdani's signature issues since he first ran for mayor. However, the non-profit organizations that are the backbone of the city's early childhood education system are scrambling to stay afloat as the city has yet to deliver the advance payments required by law that make it possible for them to cover their initial operating expenses. We'll speak with Fariha Rahman, the City&State reporter who broke the story and the heads of two pre-K schools that are scrambling to get ready for the new school year.
Send us Fan MailDr. Sasha Thackaberry-Voinovich founded Newstate University in 2026, bringing 20+ years of education leadership from executive roles at SkillsWave, Pearson, LSU and SNHU. She holds a PhD from Kent State and authored "The Power Worker" and "How to Grow Enrollment in Online Higher Education."Hosted by Matthew Rascoff This episode is part of the Edtech Insiders HigherEd Podcast Series, featuring conversations with leaders shaping the future of higher education.
Send us Fan MailSeason 6 kicks off with a conversation that matters to every Dearborn parent, teacher, and taxpayer. New Dearborn Public Schools Superintendent Mike Esseily sits down with OZ Media to talk straight about where the district stands, what's actually broken, and what's on the line when voters head to the polls on November 3, 2026 to decide on a $1.51 billion bond.No spin. No soft PR answers. Just the real operational reality of running one of Michigan's most diverse school districts — and what happens if this bond doesn't pass. In this episode: • Who is Mike Esseily outside the title — his own story with Dearborn and whether he came through this district himself • What his honest read on the district looks like as he steps into the role • How he's leading one of Michigan's most culturally diverse student populations • The hard truths on test scores, literacy rates, and chronic absenteeism • What the district is doing differently for student mental health post-COVID • Why teachers are leaving — and what's being done to stop it • A plain-language breakdown of the $1.51B bond: what it actually pays for • Inside the "transformational" 20-year plan — six new preK-8 buildings, full renovations, air conditioning district-wide • How the district plans to stay transparent and accountable with taxpayer dollars • What "success" looks like three years from now — and how parents will actually see itThis is Season 6, Episode 1 of the MotivateMe313 Podcast — where OZ Media brings you unfiltered conversations with the people shaping our community, our schools, and our future. Subscribe for more real talk on the issues affecting Metro Detroit. More at Ozmedia313.comFollow us on social media:- Instagram: @MotivateMe313 or @ozmedia313- Website: ozmedia313.com- LinkedIn: ozmedia-TikTok: @ozmedia313-Apple Podcast: ozmedia-Spotify Podcast: ozmediaThis show was sponsored by:-The Family Doc https://thefamilydocmi.com/-Wingfellas thewingfellas.com-Hanley International Academy https://www.hanleyacademy.com-Chill Box https://www.chillboxstore.com/-Emari Roast Cafe https://www.emariroastcafe.com/ -FRC Physical Therapy#MotivateMe313 #DearbornPublicSchools #MikeEsseily #DearbornBond #MetroDetroit
Staying Calm and Staying Firm Hosts: Dr. Beth Wilkins and Dr. Anna Quinzio-Zafran In this episode, Dr. Beth and Dr. Anna tackle the moment every new teacher dreads, the one where a student pushes and the whole room waits to see what you'll do. They reframe that test as a question rather than an attack, and show how the same core skills play out differently at every stage from pre-K through senior year. In this episode: Why a student testing you is rarely personal, and what they're actually asking: are you safe, are you steady, and do you mean what you say Pre-K and kindergarten: the “you're not the boss” carpet standoff, and why a small choice beats a command with a flooded four year old First and second grade: the warm broken record for the student who argues every direction like a tiny courtroom lawyer Third through fifth grade: naming the eye roll or under-the-breath comment privately instead of publicly to protect a student's dignity and the relationship Middle school: why defiance is almost always a performance for an audience, and why you should never hand a student a public stage to lose on Deferring the power struggle instead of fighting on the student's schedule High school: reading the quieter test, the head on the desk, the phone, the flat refusal, and why force backfires with older students Getting curious, not controlling, and leading with respect to bring the wall down The five-part through line that works at every grade: regulate yourself first, take the audience out of it, offer a way to save face, stay boringly consistent, and repair when you slip Why an off ramp isn't letting students off the hook, it's the only kind of compliance that lasts Why apologizing after you lose your cool builds authority rather than costing it Key takeaway Staying calm and staying firm isn't about never being tested, every good teacher is. It's about being the steady, predictable presence in the room when it happens, so students learn they can trust both your warmth and your limits. #StayingCalmStayingFirm #NewTeacherTalk #ClassroomManagement #NewTeachers #TeacherPD #ClassroomCulture #TeacherLeadership #K12Education
Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced an AI ban in city elementary and middle schools, as well as AI literacy classes for high-schoolers. WFUV's Mia Barth has more. Governor Kathy Hochul announced an expansion to her childcare programs for Pre-K students. WFUV's Sonia Weliwitigoda explains the development and what it entails. The FDNY released a health report on rescue and recovery workers 25 years after the attacks on September 11th. WFUV's Lainey Nguyen has more. There are more than a hundred community gardens in New York City that have their gates open to the public. WFUV's Livia Regina stopped by some of the gardens in the Bronx to learn about how they act as community spaces. Host/Producer: Sonia Weliwitigoda Editor: Lainey Nguyen Editor: Nathan Ray Reporter: Mia Barth Reporter: Livia Regina Theme Music: Joe Bergsieker
{Listen Again} Back when this episode first aired on March 20, 2023, I suspect that "set for variability" was a new term for most of us. It's a skill that readers use to transform a pronunciation error into the correctly decoded form of the word. Even if this is a term you now know, I think you'll love this episode with Dr. Marnie Ginsberg.Click here for the show notes from this episode. Sign up for my free masterclass, 5 Essential Steps to Reach All Readers.Get my book, Reach All Readers! Looking for printable resources that align with the science of reading? Click here to learn more about our popular and affordable membership for PreK through 3rd grade educators.Connect with me here!BlogInstagramFacebookTwitter (X)
Send us Fan MailAneesh Sohoni is CEO of Teach For America and a former high school English teacher and TFA corps member. He has also led TFA Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana and One Million Degrees.
Send us Fan MailJoin hosts Ben Kornell and Alex Sarlin as they break down the biggest stories shaping AI, Edtech investment, the growing tech backlash, and the future of assessment.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:05:47] ChatGPT for Teens introduces new safety and learning features[00:11:29] Generalized AI models raise new challenges for Edtech companies[00:13:47] OpenAI partners with CodeAI on AI learning and youth safety[00:17:07] Reach Capital launches a new $265M fund focused on early-stage companies[00:23:32] B2B vs. B2C: New dynamics reshape Edtech investment[00:25:12] Hugh Grant and Closed Screens Open Minds fuel the Edtech backlash[00:27:46] Why Edtech needs to put education first and technology secondPlus, special guests:[00:32:28] Sabine Wallis, General Manager of NWEA, on assessment, learning science, and using data to drive instruction. [00:51:23] Andy Rotherham and Marisa Mission, of Bellwether, on AI in education, EdTech quality, market sustainability, and designing for productive struggle.
Shawna and LaLa are talking back-to-school season! Giulina is heading to Pre-K, Gio is starting 8th grade, and LaLa shares the unforgettable story of biting her teacher on her very first day of preschool. Meanwhile, Giulina isn't exactly thrilled about her nature based school—creeks, mud and getting dirty are NOT on this little princess's agenda. She'd much rather show up in a Disney princess dress!The girls also get into a more serious conversation about abortion laws in Massachusetts, with Shawna sharing her personal perspective as someone who was born at just 23 weeks and survived. Later, Shawna and LaLa sit down with Isaac Zablocki, CEO and Co-Founder of ReelAbilities, to talk about disability representation, inclusion and the importance of authentic storytelling. Plus, the girls remember Dolly Parton, sharing their love for the legendary entertainer and what her music and legacy meant to them.Hosted by Shawna and LaLa, Life Beyond The Mic brings real conversations that go beyond the mic, lights, cameras, and stage. Follow the show so you never miss an episode, and if this resonated with you, share it with someone who needs to hear it. We feature real conversations, product experiences, and brands we genuinely love. For interviews, product features, and media opportunities, visit www.shawnaandlala.com.
Dr. Naphtali Hoff trains school leaders and teachers to perform at their best without running themselves into the ground. A former educator and school leader himself, Dr. Hoff now coaches and trains school leaders on management, productivity, and delegation across the country. He's the author of three books, and his newest, Becoming the Delegating School Boss, is the one most relevant here — it helps school leaders clear their plates and empower their teams. Dr. Naphtali Hoff joins the Ruckuscast to break down why so many principals resist letting go, and what it actually takes to build a team you can trust. Every principal has felt it: the sense that if they left the building for a day, something would fall apart. That's not a compliment — it's a delegation problem, and it's quietly running good leaders into the ground. This episode breaks down why school leaders won't let go, and the exact framework for handing off real work without losing control of it.
In this solo episode of The Well Woman Show, I explore a powerful real-world example of what happens when a community decides that care work, early childhood education, and family support systems truly matter.Through the story of San Antonio's groundbreaking Pre-K program, we look at what becomes possible when we shift from individual survival to collective investment.This episode invites us to reconsider how we define success, leadership, and impact, and what it means to build systems that actually support women, families, and communities.This is the first installment of an ongoing partnership with the Better Life Lab at New America. They are a team of researchers and reporters who track what's happening across the country on work, gender, and care, and look for real structural solutions, not just individual workarounds. What You'll Learn:How San Antonio built one of the most effective universal pre-K programs in the U.S.Why investing in childcare infrastructure is essential for women's economic empowermentThe connection between self-trust and collective decision-makingHow broken systems shape burnout, and what it looks like to rebuild themWhy community investment creates long-term impactResources MentionedBetter Life Lab websiteHow San Antonio Built One of America's Most Ambitious Pre-K Programs – The 74(the article referenced in this episode)Lucia Cirmi Obon's episode on The Well Woman ShowHave a bright spot in your own community? I'd love to hear about it. Message us at info@wellwomanlife.com---✨ Join other smart, high-achieving women to rewrite the rules for how to love, lead, and succeed so you can live with more joy, ease, and abundance, even when life is tough.
D.C. Public Schools is the national leader — by a lot — in at least one category: enrollment in pre-kindergarten programs. Almost every D.C. 4-year-old goes to pre-K; about 80 percent of 3-year-olds do. That's more than twice the national average. Sara Mead recently wrote an essay for Capital Commonsense describing this as a D.C. triumph. She's here to explain how it happened, and what it means. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter City Cast DC. You can text us or leave a voicemail at: (202) 642-2654. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month. Learn more about the sponsors of this August 25th episode: DC Department of Behavioral Health Tasti Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
{Listen Again} In this episode, originally aired on April 3, 2023, I talk with Dr. Susan Brady about phonemic awareness research and practical applications for teaching. Click here for the show notes from this episode. Sign up for my free masterclass, 5 Essential Steps to Reach All Readers.Get my book, Reach All Readers! Looking for printable resources that align with the science of reading? Click here to learn more about our popular and affordable membership for PreK through 3rd grade educators.Connect with me here!BlogInstagramFacebookTwitter (X)
Send us Fan MailTony Wan is Head of Platform at Reach Capital and co-founder and former managing editor of EdSurge. Betsy Corcoran is a writer, speaker, serial entrepreneur, and co-founder of EdSurge who explores AI and learning through her work and podcast, Future Fluent.
Jenn talks about Leo's first day of Pre-K.
She studies why anti-racist professional development in schools so often fails to change how teachers actually treat students — and what works instead. Dr Abby C. Emerson is an assistant professor of Childhood Education at Hunter College, CUNY, where her research spans anti-racist and abolitionist teacher education, restorative justice, and the critique of whiteness in educational spaces. She's been named National Association for Multicultural Education's Critical Teacher of the Year, and this fall she releases her book, From Anti-Racism to Professional Learning for Liberating Schools, with Harvard Education Press. Most schools running anti-racist professional development hit the same wall: teachers learn the theory, reflect on their own bias, update a unit — and the discipline data doesn't move. Dr. Abby C. Emerson studied schools across New York City to find out why, and she found the fix isn't another workshop. It's handing the mic to students.
IASP Members, The start of a new school year always brings challenges—and this year, Mother Nature has certainly added a few of her own. In this week's IASP Advocacy Podcast, IASP Executive Director Dr. Todd Bess joins me to welcome school leaders back and, more importantly, to recognize the leadership you continue to demonstrate as you navigate whatever comes your way. From there, we turn our attention beyond Indiana to talk about IASP's new national affiliation with the National Principals Association (NPA). What does having one national association representing PreK–12 school leaders mean for Indiana principals? Todd shares the story behind the formation of NPA, why IASP chose to become a founding state affiliate, and how this partnership can strengthen professional learning, connection, and—especially—advocacy for school leaders at the national level. Want to learn more about the benefits of bringing school leaders together under one national association? Watch this short video. And, of course, no conversation with Todd would be complete without a shameless plug! This week's plug is for IASP's Aspiring Leader Institute. As you begin the year, think about the rising stars in your building or corporation. Who has leadership potential? Who is ready for an opportunity to grow? Sometimes all it takes is a school leader tapping someone on the shoulder and saying, "I think you'd be good at this." We'd love for you to make that tap and encourage a future school leader to take the next step. Click here to learn more about the IASP Aspiring Leader Institute. Thank you for your leadership—and welcome back!
Send us Fan MailJoin hosts Ben Kornell and Alex Sarlin as they break down the biggest stories shaping educator confidence, tutoring, higher ed grading, AI models, education policy, and AI workforce development.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:02:47] Edtech Insiders heads to Teach For America's 35th anniversary[00:05:19] HMH survey shows educator AI adoption reaches 80%[00:08:45] Varsity Tutors exits school-based tutoring[00:11:46] What makes tutoring effective?[00:13:00] MIT drops freshman grades as Harvard tightens grading[00:15:06] AI reshapes academic integrity and assessment[00:17:41] AI cheating accelerates competency-based learning[00:19:52] Open vs. closed AI models heats up[00:23:53] Could AI become a public utility?[00:28:11] New benchmarks measure AI tutoring effectivenessPlus, special guests:[00:29:40] Reg Leichty, Founding Partner of Foresight Law + Policy, on screen time and AI regulation [00:47:26] Mike Wales, Senior Director of AI Programs at CodePath, and Madison McCormick, CodePath leader, on AI apprenticeships and workforce development
Building AI tools that replace one-size-fits-all personality tests with real career plans is what got Corey Kossack into K12 education. He's the founder and CEO of Orchard, an AI-powered career counseling platform for schools, and Aspireship, an employee upskilling platform — work born from watching his own father cycle in and out of a job he hated for years. Kossack has spent his career helping people who want to help themselves climb toward ambitious goals, and Orchard is the result: an AI career counselor named Orchie, paired with real interviews from working professionals across hundreds of occupations. For Ruckus Makers wrestling with overworked counselors and an outdated career-readiness playbook, that's the credential that matters. Most schools still run career readiness on a conveyor belt: next grade, next test, college, then hope for the best. Corey Kossack argues that model was built for a workforce AI has already started dismantling — and he's built a system for what comes after it. This is the episode for any Ruckus Maker rethinking what career readiness actually means right now.
Are you searching for the "perfect" curriculum for your neurodivergent or twice exceptional child? This week's episode of the podcast dives into why the magical curriculum doesn't exist—and what really matters instead. The conversation focused on practical strategies for adapting curriculum to fit your unique learner, why flexibility is more valuable than aesthetics, and the importance of serving your child—not the other way around. If you've ever felt frustrated by programs that didn't work for your family, this episode is for you! Key Takeaways Curriculum Must Bend: Prioritize flexibility over perfection—choose resources that can adapt to your child's needs, pace, and interests. Serve the Child, Not the Curriculum: The best curriculum is the one you'll actually use and that fits the learner right in front of you—not just what looks good online. Beware of Sunk Costs: Don't stick with something that isn't working just because you spent money on it—adjust, adapt, or move on guilt-free. Support Strengths and Challenges: Aim for tools that nourish your child's gifts while scaffolding their areas of difficulty, instead of sacrificing one for the other. Embrace Rabbit Trails: Value curiosity—let your child follow their interests, knowing that real learning often happens off the prescribed path. Links and Resources from Today's Episode Thank you to our sponsors: CTC Math – Flexible, affordable math for the whole family! The Learner's Lab – Online community for families homeschooling outside-the-box learners! The Lab: An Online Community for Families Homeschooling Neurodivergent Kiddos The Homeschool Advantage: A Child-Focused Approach to Raising Lifelong Learners Raising Resilient Sons: A Boy Mom's Guide to Building a Strong, Confident, and Emotionally Intelligent Family The Anxiety Toolkit Sensory Strategy Toolkit | Quick Regulation Activities for Home Affirmation Cards for Anxious Kids Homeschool Curriculum for Your Asynchronous Gifted Learner Our Gifted Homeschool Curriculum For Multiple Grade Levels: 2021-2022 Homeschooling Middle School Using Your Own Interest-Based Curriculum Building Our Own Curriculum – Why it's Easier Than Buying Boxed Our Gifted Homeschool | Curriculum for Pre-K, 1st, 4th, and 8th Grades Homeschool Curriculum Choices for 2015-2016 Homeschool Curriculum Choices Creating Your Own Interest-Based Middle School Curriculum A Family-Friendly Homeschool Art Curriculum Our Homeschool Curriculum Our Curriculum Choices for 2012-2013
Send us Fan MailJomayra Herrera is a Partner at Reach Capital, an early-stage venture fund investing across learning, health, and work. Previously, she worked at Emerson Collective and Cowboy Ventures, investing in companies including Handshake, Guild, Contra, and Career Karma.
{Listen Again} Today we get to hear from my favorite phonics expert, Wiley Blevins. He's the author of many practical books about teaching phonics, and today we talk ALL things phonics - from decodable books and syllable types to sound walls and differentiating phonics lessons. This episode originally aired on April 10, 2023. Sign up for my free masterclass, 5 Essential Steps to Reach All Readers.Get my book, Reach All Readers! Looking for printable resources that align with the science of reading? Click here to learn more about our popular and affordable membership for PreK through 3rd grade educators.Connect with me here!BlogInstagramFacebookTwitter (X)
Send us Fan MailJoy Delizo-Osborne is President and CEO of Student Achievement Partners, where she works to improve instructional quality and connect evidence-based practices with curriculum and edtech. A former teacher, instructional coach, and principal, Joy brings more than 20 years of experience in education.
Send us Fan MailJoin hosts Ben Kornell and Alex Sarlin as they break down the biggest stories shaping higher education, AI adoption, school technology policy, and the future of learning.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:05:13] Higher ed leadership turnover accelerates amid political, financial, and AI pressures[00:11:00] OpenAI launches new AI tools for college students, professors, and K–12 educators[00:17:27] OpenAI pushes deeper into higher ed with AI-powered academic workflows[00:20:40] AI could reshape university research and accelerate scientific discovery[00:23:55] AI-generated “slop” floods Teachers Pay Teachers[00:25:41] Pew finds growing support for cell phone bans in schools[00:28:39] AI cheating arms race continues as professor catches students using ChatGPT[00:31:37] Students create the Students First Act to establish rules for AI in schools[00:35:27] Student AI policies call for human oversight, transparency, and protections against false accusationsPlus, special guest:[00:41:28] Janice Jackson executive director of the Aspen Institute's Education & Society program, on technology in schools, student voice, equity, trust, and the future of education
In this week’s episode, Jennifer and Danielle Allen dive into the workings of Massachusetts’ primary system, discussing why it is seen as broken and proposing fairer, more democratic solutions. They take a nonpartisan lens to explore the controversial ballot question about opening up the primaries to all voters, which could enfranchise the state’s 64% of unenrolled voters. The conversation highlights topics such as uncontested legislative races, forced choice between party ballots, party control over candidate selection, lack of transparency, and low competition. Both stress the historic legacy of self-government and citizen-driven reform, challenging the entrenched power of political gatekeepers. The episode stirs debate around party fears, compelled association, term limits, and the practical benefits of transforming a system that currently leaves many voters without a meaningful say. Danielle is a political philosopher whose current research focuses on democracy renovation: how to reconnect citizens to civic power through education and institutional redesign, how to make political institutions more responsive, accountable, and participatory, and how to make public policy that supports democracy. Her most recent book, Justice by Means of Democracy (University of Chicago Press, 2023), provides the theoretical foundation for this work. Her forthcoming book, The Radical Duke, a biography of an 18th-century British political reformer, is due out with Liveright/Norton in 2026. Through the Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation at the Harvard Kennedy School, she leads applied research on electoral reform, civic infrastructure, institutional design, and democracy-supportive public policy. Through the Democratic Knowledge Project-Learn at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, she develops and scales civic education curricula for preK-12 students and higher education. She is the publisher and founder of The Renovator Substack and a contributing columnist at The Atlantic Magazine. "It's not rational to go vote when literally you look at your ballot and there's one name per line." ~Danielle Allen Today on Political Contessa: Massachusetts has the nation’s least competitive races, with most legislative seats uncontested. 64% of Massachusetts voters are unenrolled, and current rules restrict their full participation in primaries. The open primary ballot question would allow all voters access to every consequential electoral decision. Accountability and transparency in the legislature suffer without genuine electoral competition. Parties currently serve as gatekeepers, limiting candidate diversity and voter choice. Civic education and engagement are strengthened by competitive elections. The ballot question aims to enfranchise unenrolled voters without abolishing political parties. The historical struggle for voting rights informs current efforts for primary and electoral reform. Connect with Danielle Allen and Resources: Partners in Democracy: yeson3ma.org Learn more about all-party primaries and ballot question 3 at Yes on 3 Massachusetts: yeson3ma.org Awaken Your Inner Political Contessa Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Political Contessa. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Spotify I Stitcher I Apple Podcasts I iHeart Radio I TuneIn I Google Podcasts Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media. And if you’ve ever considered running for office – or know a woman who should – head over to politicalcontessa.com to grab my quick guide, Secrets from the Campaign Trail. It will show you five signs to tell you you’re ready to enter the political arena.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Phil Brown trains educators to build the kind of learning moments a curriculum can't schedule. As an experiential and adventure education trainer at High 5 Adventure Learning Center, he's guided everyone from Iraqi high schoolers working through conflict resolution to NHL players from the Boston Bruins and Calgary Flames through experiences designed to stretch — not break — them. He also serves on the board of the Association for Experiential Education and hosts the podcast Vertical Playpen, where he digs deeper into the theory and practice behind this work. Most principals have sat through a lesson that went exactly as planned and taught nobody anything. Phil Brown has the opposite story: a day where nothing went as planned, and it became the most important teaching moment of his career. This episode is about what happened in between — and why experiential education, not another curriculum map, might be the fix your campus actually needs.
Unpopular Opinion - I know. But it's true! I haven't meant a single PreK or Elementary Teacher who would tell me they LOVE Gentle Parenting. But let's be real - teachers don't hate 'gentle parenting' because they want harsh discipline. They hate what it can turn into when boundaries disappear: kids who can't regulate their emotions, make many demands, and derail learning for the rest of the class.I'm Flora McCormick, a licensed therapist and parenting coach, and I'm pulling together what I've seen for 20 plus years with what educators tell me off the record. We talk about why children are supposed to test limits, how cause and effect drives child behavior, and how our responses can accidentally train more screaming, more negotiation, and less frustration tolerance. You'll also hear concrete “red flag” patterns that often signal gentle parenting has slid into permissive parenting, like hour-long bedtime support, constant emotional processing that crowds out follow-through, escalating picky eating without a medical cause, and disrespect toward adults and other kids.What is a better alternative? Sustainable Parenting - a version of Positive Discipline which focuses on strategies that holds kindness and firmness at the same time. And trust me - I'm only sharing this harsh truth because I was the parenting making the mistakes of overly-gentle parenting. And I share about that in this episode. If you want a calmer home, smoother transitions, and a child who can handle “no” and recover, you'll leave with a clear direction and next steps, including resources if coaching isn't an option right now.Books I recommend on Kind & Firm Parenting: Positive Discipline (ages 2-12): https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/825309/positive-discipline-2nd-edition-by-jane-nelsen-edd/Parenting a Child Who Has Intense Emotions (ages 5-18): https://a.co/d/04cHYbWrvRaising Mentally Strong Kids (ages 5-18): https://a.co/d/01rZ9F7G✨Want more? ✨JOIN me in the SUMMER of support:
District 8 Councilwoman Ivalis Meza Gonzalez talks with the ENside Politics team about why she wants to ask San Antonio voters in November to reauthorize Pre-K 4 SA for another 20 years. Suggested reading: Council members pitch November vote to extend Pre-K 4 SA for 20 years ‘Governing by memo': Council frustrations with one another boil over at first meeting since July recess San Antonio leaders slam mayor's push for Spurs arena, Ready to Work votes Sign up here for our ENside Politics newsletter: https://www.expressnews.com/newsletters/ensidepolitics/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
{Listen Again} Dr. Tim Rasinski is an educator, researcher, writer, and director of an award-winning reading clinic. Today he shares what the research tells us about reading fluency - and how to apply this knowledge in artful ways. (Originally aired on October 31, 2022) Sign up for my free masterclass, 5 Essential Steps to Reach All Readers.Get my book, Reach All Readers! Looking for printable resources that align with the science of reading? Click here to learn more about our popular and affordable membership for PreK through 3rd grade educators.Connect with me here!BlogInstagramFacebookTwitter (X)
Send us Fan MailEdna Martinson is the Co-founder and COO of Boddle Learning, a gamified K–6 learning platform used by millions of students to build confidence in math, literacy, and science. She is passionate about combining great game design with research-backed learning experiences that teachers and students love.
Dr. Lindsay Whorton is the President of The Holdsworth Center, whose "mission is to impact, over time, the quality of PreK-12 public education for all Texas students by supporting and developing educational leaders." Dr. Whorton discusses her work building long-term talent and support in the education world across many school districts in Texas. This involves patience and a process of dealing with creating change over time in larger-scale systems. She talks about the importance of understanding the output and work of the day, Government stakeholders have a different response Different funders have different time horizons. Some challenges also arrives when focus creeps too broadly to keep a mission moving over time. Host Steve Boland asks Dr. Whorton about systems change issues that are both about program and policy changes which may be needed over the longer term, and she talked about challenging the notion that there is a zero-sum choice in these arenas. The question is about bringing your supporters forward without accepting the idea that others must need to be shut down in order to move forward. Get more details on how to subscribe on our podcast page. Please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or your platform of choice. Thanks!
{Listen Again} In this interview with Brent Conway, we discuss "the balanced literacy hangover" and why we need to rethink reading comprehension. This episode originally aired on April 24, 2023.Click here for the show notes from this episode. Sign up for my free masterclass, 5 Essential Steps to Reach All Readers.Get my book, Reach All Readers! Looking for printable resources that align with the science of reading? Click here to learn more about our popular and affordable membership for PreK through 3rd grade educators.Connect with me here!BlogInstagramFacebookTwitter (X)