Shows
Rebel Educator®117: Breaking Free from the "Sage on the Stage" and Increasing Student AgencyGiving up control in a classroom or at home can feel messy and uncomfortable, but it's essential for children's growth and independence. In this episode, I share how innovative educators and parents are reimagining their approach to teaching and raising confident decision-makers. Through real stories and practical examples, you'll discover simple yet powerful tools to help young learners build agency, reduce anxiety, and take ownership of their learning journey.IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:Moving from "sage on stage" to learning facilitator in order to better guide studentsPractical examples for creating systems for...2024-11-0522 minRebel Educator®116: Reimagining the Role of the Teacher and Making Space for Student-Centered Learning with Kyle WagnerWhat happens when you walk into a classroom and can't find the teacher? For Kyle Wagner, this moment sparked a fundamental shift in his understanding of what learning could look like. In this episode, Kyle shares powerful examples of schools that have transformed from traditional teaching models to student-centered environments - including one that went from requiring SWAT team interventions to becoming a place where students eagerly showcase their learning. Drawing from his experience working with schools worldwide, Kyle offers practical steps for teachers loo...2024-10-2939 minRebel Educator®115: Small Schools, Big Impact: Why Size Matters in EducationWelcome to another solo episode of Rebel Educator! As I continue to navigate these solo episodes, I’m excited to dive more into the advantages of small schools. At Up Academy, we are intentionally small, and I believe that small schools offer an ideal environment for student development, both academically and emotionally. Join me as I explore why smaller can be better when it comes to education.IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:How small class sizes strengthen student-teacher relationships and enhance social-emotional learning.The "myth of bigness" and why smaller schools can better su...2024-10-2218 minRebel Educator®114: Expeditionary Learning and the Small School Advantage with Stuart GrauerDiscover the power of small schools with Stuart Grauer, a visionary educator challenging the "bigger is better" mentality in education. Learn how connecting students to their local environment and fostering genuine human connections can revolutionize learning outcomes. From expeditionary education to naturalist leadership principles, Stuart shares insights from his 50-year journey that will inspire you to reimagine education.IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:The principles and values that guided the founding of the Grauer School in 1991The importance of expeditionary education and connecting learning with the local environmentThe benefits of small schools, including...2024-10-1641 minRebel Educator®113: Stepping Back and Allowing Learners to Experience Productive StruggleAre you unknowingly holding your learners back from reaching their full potential? In this solo episode, we’re discussing the benefits "productive struggle" and why allowing children to face challenges is crucial for their growth and success. Tune in and discover how embracing difficulty can supercharge brain development, build confidence, and prepare young minds for real-world triumphs!IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:The importance of productive struggle in learning and personal growth.How challenges build resilience and self-confidence in students.The role of educators and parents in fostering this independence.Why productive struggle doesn’t work work...2024-10-0822 minRebel Educator®112: Creating Literacy Programs That Connect Communities with Janet WileIn this episode, we sit down with Janet Wile, Supervisor of Library Services for Central Unified School District in Fresno, California. Janet’s journey has taken her from history teacher to passionate advocate for school libraries and literacy programs. IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:Janet's innovative programs that get students excited about readingThe challenges of encouraging literacy in a "book desert” Partnering with Reading is Fundamental (RIF) and its effect on studentsThe importance of creating welcoming, inclusive library spacesThe role of school libraries in providing safe spaces for studentsJanet offers us her incredible insights into b...2024-09-3044 minRebel Educator®111: The Science of Reading with Shannon Betts & Mary SaghafiEver feel like you're swimming against the tide when it comes to teaching kids to read? You're not alone! In this enlightening episode of the Rebel Educator podcast, we welcome seasoned educators Shannon Betts & Mary Saghafi, hosts of the Reading Teachers Lounge podcast.With over two decades of combined experience in various educational settings, from traditional classrooms to specialized reading instruction, they've seen it all – and they're not afraid to ruffle a few feathers to get kids reading.IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:The shift towards science of reading methodologies and its imp...2024-09-2341 min
Rebel Educator®Welcome to Season 5!Welcome to Season 5 Rebel Educators! We’ve got a fresh new look, new sound, AND a new release day! Starting next week, catch new Rebel Educator episodes every Monday and start your week with inspiration and innovative ideas for your classrooms. Plus, we’re adding more solo episodes alongside our guest interviews to keep digging deeper into the big questions in education.What started with one spontaneous chat has now grown into over 100 incredible conversations and has evolved beyond anything we could have imagined. We’re so excited to continue...2024-09-2009 min
Rebel Educator®Data-driven coaching and purposeful walkthroughs with Dr. Mat BarnettIn this episode, we hear from Dr. Mat Barnett, Director of TK-12 Programs for Beaumont Unified School District (CA). Mat began his career as a teacher in Anaheim, CA, and also held roles including junior high principal and director of education services in the Fullerton School District.Mat describes his interesting journey to the education field, his approach to coaching and professional development, fostering student ownership of learning, and more. Hear about:Professional learning focused on the entire classroom experienceHelping teachers focus on the things that are most valuableHow Classroom...2024-08-3033 minRebel Educator®110: Foresight as a Tool for Building Resilience and Thriving in Disruption with Roger SpitzIn a world filled with unpredictability, how do we equip students with the tools they need to make decisions? Our guest, Roger Spitz, shares his insights on the role of strategic foresight and how embracing complexity and uncertainty can revolutionize education, empowering students and educators to thrive in an ever-changing world.IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:The unpredictability and nonlinear nature of the world and how traditional education is inadequate for teaching students how to adapt and thrive in this worldThe importance of understanding the unpredictability of the world and the need to move...2024-08-1635 minRebel Educator®109: Whole-Child Health and Nutrition with Jill CastleJill Castle is the author of the book, Kids Thrive at Every Size (Workman 2024) and one of the nation’s premier childhood nutrition experts. Known for her ability to blend current research, practical application, and common sense, Jill believes that children can thrive at every size. With her paradigm-shifting, whole-child approach, she inspires parents, healthcare professionals, and organizations that serve children and families to think differently about young people’s health and wellbeing. A sought-after speaker, advisor, and media contributor, Jill has inspired a range of audiences with her up-to-date, practical insights on childhood nutri...2024-07-2740 minRebel Educator®108: Futures Thinking with Dr. Peter BishopDr. Peter Bishop is the Founder and Executive Director of Teach the Future, an organization whose mission is to encourage and support educators who want to include futures thinking in their classes and schools at all levels around the world. In 2013, Dr. Bishop retired as a Professor Emeritus of Strategic Foresight and Director of the graduate program in Foresight at the University of Houston. He has published two books on Strategic Foresight: Thinking about the Future: Guidelines for Strategic Foresight (2007) and Teaching about the Future: The Basics of Foresight Education (2012), both with co-author Andy Hi...2024-07-1235 minRebel Educator®107: Money Management for Teachers with Shaun MorganShaun Morgan is a full-time teacher, personal financial coach for teachers, and podcaster at the Teacher Money Show. He has written about personal finance since 2020, and has hosted virtual summits for teachers to get control of their finances. He does this because he has a deep passion for helping teachers move from a poverty-fixed mindset to a wealthy-growth mindset. Having struggled to provide for a family on a one teacher salary, Shaun has seen or made all the money mistakes in the book, but that only motivates him to help other educators overcome their f...2024-06-2832 minRebel Educator®106: Transforming Classrooms with S.E.L, A.I., and Experiential Learning with Dr. Michelle AmentDr. Michelle Ament is a dynamic educational leader committed to equipping learners with human-centered skills for career readiness through experiential learning. With 27 years of experience, she transforms K-12 education through cutting-edge learning experiences, fostering academic achievement and social-emotional growth. Driven by a passion for equity, she empowers educators with innovative approaches to provide all students with authentic and relevant learning opportunities. Emphasizing social-emotional learning (SEL), she cultivates inclusive classrooms that foster critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and teamwork. Dr. Ament's forward-thinking approach prepares students for success in an ever-changing world, ensuring they acquire the essential s...2024-06-1436 minRebel Educator®Replay: Middle School Matters with Andrew Ravin and Denise DanielsAndrew Ravin is the Founder and Head of School at Workshop Middle School. For nearly 25 years, he’s worked as a social worker, classroom teacher, instructional coach, and school leader. Andrew is an award-winning educator, mentor, and researcher. Most recently, he was named one of the Top 100 Innovators in American Education. Andrew founded Workshop Middle School to be the change he believes in. A movement of small, innovative, and progressive schools that can change the world. What else does he believe in? His family. Hard work. Bicycles. Poetry. And honest conversations about things that matter. 2024-05-2732 minRebel Educator®104: Adventures in Podcasting with Josh ReppunFormer chef, hotel manager and history teacher, Josh Reppun is the founder of Plexus Education, LLC, dba as Most Likely to Succeed in Hawai’i, a “movement” founded by extraordinary people dedicated to developing global public, private and charter school conversations around Ted Dintersmith’s film, "Most Likely to Succeed" and his book, "What School Could Be." Josh is also the founder of Josh Reppun Productions. He is the host of the What School Could Be Podcast and the producer of two films: "Ka Helena Aʻo: The Learning Walk" and "The Innovation Playlist," both about...2024-05-2436 minRebel Educator®Replay: Asset-Based Learning with Devin VodickaDevin Vodicka has spent the past 20 years working towards high quality student outcomes. He has earned multiple prestigious awards in the education field, including 2015 California Superintendent of the Year by both ASCA and Pepperdine University. He is also a nine-time White House honoree in recognition for his achievements and to partner with the U.S. Department of Education’s office of Educational Technology and Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools. Devin's years of experience in the education system have made one thing clear, school must have purpose and relevance. Listen as we discuss how schools can create c...2024-05-0631 minRebel Educator®Replay: Fearless Inquiry with Will RichardsonA former public school educator of 22 years, Will Richardson has spent the last 15 years developing an international reputation as a leading thinker and writer about the intersection of social online learning networks, education, and systemic change. Most recently, Will is a co-founder of The Big Questions Institute which was created to help educators use "fearless inquiry" to make sense of this complex moment and an uncertain future.Join us as we discuss how to navigate this moment and why we shouldn’t go back to normal.IN THIS EPISODE, WE...2024-04-2931 minRebel Educator®103: Purpose-Driven Learning with Ross WehnerRoss Wehner is a writer, teacher, and social entrepreneur who is the Founder of World Leadership School, which “partners with K12 schools to reimagine learning and create next-generation leaders.” Ross also co-founded the nonprofit TeachUNITED, which works to transform learning at rural schools around the world. Ross is guided by the question: How can K12 school become the ultimate platform for launching students into lives of purpose? Ross began his career by working as a journalist in Chile and Peru in the 1990s. He received a Master’s in Latin American literature and has worked...2024-04-2740 minRebel Educator®102: Clowning for Change with Ash PerrinHaving founded The Flying Seagull Project in 2008, entertainer Ash Perrin has spent the last decade and a half visiting the world's forgotten, pushed out and ignored communities.Ash and The Flying Seagull Project focus on the emotional wellbeing and confidence of children who are enduring situations beyond their control, creating safe and specialized play spaces utilizing music, art, circus, noise and energetic play techniques to alleviate stress, trauma and suffering. They're determined to make sure that every child has a meaningful, happy and emotionally healthy childhood.Ash's approach includes...2024-04-1239 minRebel Educator®Replay: Lessons from the Pandemic with Dr. Shira LeibowitzDr. Shira Leibowitz is founder and CEO of Discovery Village Childcare Center and Preschool and of REVABILITIES™ Educational Leadership Training Center. She is also a member of the faculty at Northeastern University, teaching and advising doctoral students in education. Prior to opening Discovery Village and REVABIILITIES™, Dr. Leibowitz served for twenty years as a principal of pre-kindergarten through eighth grade schools. She is author of The Coach Approach To School Leadership: Leading Teachers To Higher Levels of Effectiveness and Havens of Hope: Ideas for Redesigning Education From The COVID-19 Pandemic.Joi...2024-04-0836 minRebel Educator®Replay: Creating Inclusive Classrooms with Daniel SobelDaniel Sobel is the founder and CEO of Inclusion Expert and leads a team working withover 10,000 schools, offering training and support to professionals working to makeeducation more inclusive. Daniel is the best selling author of ‘Narrowing the AttainmentGap: A Handbook for Schools’ as well as 'Leading on Pastoral Care' and 'The InclusiveClassroom’. He has worked with regional and national governments, the UN, UNESCO,schools and organizations across the UK and internationally to achieve outstandinginclusion.IN THIS EPISODE, WE DIS...2024-04-0138 minRebel Educator®101: Improving Teacher Effectiveness with Mindset Mastery with Gerard VargasGerard Vargas is the co-founder of the Legacy Mastery Academy, an organization that improves student and educator resilience, wellbeing, performance, and school culture through mindset training in predominantly high need areas. With 23 years of experience in education, he has taught high school Biology, coached Math and Science teachers, and has helped lead professional development in reading, brain-based teaching, social and emotional learning, and Next Generation Science Standards preparation for several districts California. He is an adjunct clinical faculty member at Loyola Marymount University, recipient of the prestigious Sigma Xi 2009 teacher of the year award, an...2024-03-2931 minRebel Educator®Replay: Showcasing Learning Without Grades with Mike FlanaganMike Flanagan is the CEO of the Mastery Transcript Consortium (MTC), a growing group of high schools creating a digital high school transcript that opens up opportunity for each and every student — from all backgrounds, locations, and types of schools — to have their unique strengths, abilities, interests, and histories fostered, understood, and celebrated. Mike oversaw the design and development of Mastery Transcript software products, connecting with members and advisors to manage the MTC product roadmap till May, 2021. He is an experienced education technology executive, most recently having served as CEO of the Services Division at the National Assoc...2024-03-2436 minRebel Educator®Replay: The Intertwining of Business and Education with Komal ShahKomal Shah is an educational consultant and thought leader on a mission to transformthe world through conscious education.After Komal spent five years in the Teach For America program as a middle schooleducator, she was left wanting more. She wanted more for her own kids and all kids. Topursue this dream, she attended USC Marshall School of Business where she receivedher MBA.Today she leverages her passion for education, business expertise, and her personalconscious...2024-03-2233 minRebel Educator®Replay: Achieving Success Through Project Based Learning with Bob LenzBob Lenz is the CEO of PBLWorks, an institute that uses project based learning toincrease educational equity and provide learning that students connect with. Bob hasspent his life creating project based classrooms for himself and teaching others how todo it.We discuss how project based learning prepares kids, especially black and brown andunderprivileged learners, for college success through teaching collaboration, publicspeaking, and project management, and the education myth: just because someoneteaches it, doesn’t mean you learn it, just because it was covered, doesn’t mean...2024-03-1831 minRebel Educator®Replay: What is a Rebel Educator?*Bonus Replay*Welcome to Season 3 Rebel Educators!I recently had a conversation about why we chose the name "Rebel Educator" and what it means to me. I wanted to share with you the reason why I started this podcast, what it means to be a Rebel Educator, and what I think we can accomplish when we all challenge the status quo.Thank you for listening and enjoy the season!RESOURCES AND LINKS:Check out my bestselling book Rebel Educator: Create Classrooms Where Impact and Imagination Meet: amzn.to/3AcwlfFLearn more...2024-03-1107 minRebel Educator®100: Celebrating Our Journey with Tanya SheckleyJoin me in celebrating our 100th episode milestone as I reflect on my journey as a disruptor and Rebel Educator. From unexpected beginnings to conversations with inspiring leaders in education, each episode has been a testament to challenging norms and fostering innovation. Tune in to hear all about my experience opening an inclusive, progressive school, the obstacles faced, and the invaluable lessons learned along the way. Thank you to all of our remarkable guests and dedicated listeners for being part of this adventure!Giveaway details:Enter for your chance to win the...2024-03-0125 minRebel Educator®99: Curating Education with Manisha SnoyerManisha is the CEO and Founder of Teach Your Kids. Teach Your Kids is an exciting new podcast and online community that empowers families to play an active, informed role in their children’s education. It advocates for flexible, customized education that promotes whole child development.Manisha’s journey has been remarkable - apart from educating over 2000 children ages preK-12th grades in three countries, she founded a non-profit during the pandemic, MasteryHour, which has been pivotal in offering free math tutoring to underserved youth. She also led the largest network of organizations supporting famil...2024-02-1632 minRebel Educator®98: Embodying Change and Embracing Failure with Hope PatersonHope Paterson is a global nomad, mother of two and transformation coach. For the past 20 years, she has been working in what she calls the Hope triangle: electrifying pathways for humans of all ages working at the intersection of education, innovation and entrepreneurship.Hope walks alongside people as they move from old to new, supporting them to identify opportunities, and support new ways of moving through their lives—careers, lifestyle changes and family. Her innate skill of understanding and articulating the uniqueness and brilliance of people allows them to explore and achieve what they en...2024-02-0229 minRebel Educator®97: Executive Functioning Skills with Dr. Karen Dudek-BrannanDr. Karen Dudek-Brannan is the founder of Dr. Karen, LLC, a company focused on empowering educators to support language, literacy, executive functioning, and cognitive wellness. She currently offers professional development focused on helping K-12 teams develop programs and services that support students in the areas of leadership, language, literacy, and executive functioning. Dr. Karen is a licensed SLP and has a doctorate in special education, a special education director license, and an assistive technology graduate certificate. She spent 14 years in the school systems before starting her online education company in...2024-01-1947 minRebel Educator®96: Prioritizing Connection and Empathy with Lizette VallesLizette Valles, M.Ed., is the founder of Ellemercito Academy, a Los Angeles-based microschool, with a focus on project/place-based learning. Her mission is to nurture students who think critically, develop a growth mindset, and demonstrate profound empathy. She is dedicated to reimagining education and implementing trauma-informed approaches in out-of-system school models such as the fast-growing small school movement.For over 16 years, her career in education has included teaching middle/high school English, serving as a K-12 librarian, publishing La tierra de los calcetines perdidos, a bilingual children's picture book, launching Compass Educators: A...2024-01-0528 minRebel Educator®95: Growing Community Engagement with Nathaniel ProvencioNathaniel Provencio has worked in the public education field since 2001 as a classroom teacher, building administrator and associate superintendent . In 2010, he became the principal of Minnieville Elementary in Prince William County, Virginia. Under his leadership, Minnieville Elementary was recognized as a Virginia Distinguished Title 1 School, became a National Model Professional Learning Community and was the winner of the 2019 Richard DuFour PLC Award.Mr. Provencio has been honored as the 2017 Prince William County principal of the year, the 2017 Washington Post Principal of the Year and the 2019 Virginia National Distinguished Principal of the Year.2023-12-2235 minRebel Educator®94: Teacher Wellness with Danielle NuhferDanielle Nuhfer believes that “well teachers will change the world.” And part of how this change will happen is through educators, school leaders, and school systems finding creative ways to prioritize teacher well-being.Danielle is the author of The Path of the Mindful Teacher which chronicles her own journey of burnout and how she found a mindfulness practice that transformed her from the inside out. During her 20 years as a public school educator, she founded Teaching Well which is dedicated to helping school leaders increase teacher retention and student outcomes by choosing to pr...2023-12-0828 minRebel Educator®93: Permissionless Education with Matt ChausseeMatt Chaussee is the CEO and Co-founder of Be More Colorful, an immersive media and virtual reality production company whose flagship product, CareerViewXR, is being used across the country to help students explore authentic, real-world careers through virtual reality.Be More Colorful is currently a semifinalist for the Yass Prize and Matt is here to share with us about his company’s work and how it’s revolutionizing education. Join us for this wonderful conversation about permissionless learning and empowering students to explore diverse careers paths in an ever-evolving landscape.IN...2023-11-2426 minRebel Educator®92: Building a Culture of Empathy and Curiosity with Tom WillisTom Willis is a former classroom teacher and a prior CEO for Cornerstone, a school system in Detroit. He also believes in the power of lifelong learning. These beliefs have shaped his primary goal in life: helping others move beyond their self-limiting beliefs so they can reach their God-given potential. He was fortunate to earn an engineering degree from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the University of Notre Dame. He thanks God every day for his amazing wife and three wonderful children.Join us fo...2023-11-1033 minRebel Educator®91: The Link Between Change and Learning with Richard GerverRichard Gerver is a sought-after speaker, bestselling author and world-renowned thinker. His career began in education, first as a teacher and then as a school principal, when he turned the fortunes of a failing school and its pupils around in just two years.Since the success of his first book, focusing on his experience in frontline education, Richard has devoted himself to advancing society’s thinking on learning, change, and how best to realise our full potential. He has since written several books on leadership and innovation, including the bestsellers Change and Simple Thinking...2023-10-2740 minRebel Educator®90: Taking Risks and Meeting Needs with Hillary MillerHillary Miller has been an educator for over 20 years. Hillary has worked in PK-12 education in most capacities as a teacher and administrator. With a strength-based focus, she has spent her career finding ways to meet the needs of individual and small groups of students, as well as building positive school cultures. Over the past few years, Hillary has supported school leaders as a consultant across the US to create more positive school cultures. This work focuses mostly on schools with alternative programs in marginalized communities.In 2020, Hillary co-founded S...2023-10-1330 minRebel Educator®89: Breaking Down Barriers to Financial Literacy with Brian CurcioBrian’s first word was money and he’s always been fascinated with the world of investing. He developed Rapunzl as a financial literacy, EdTech tool to revolutionize how we teach students about investing and to provide equitable access to high-quality, project-based learning tools for students across the country. The world of returns is perched in an ivory tower, inaccessible to most investors. In response, Rapunzl helps everyone climb to financial success with free, simulated investing competitions as well as an integrated curriculum. Rapunzl was a 2022 Yass Prize Finalist, recognized as one of 8 transformational educa...2023-09-2931 minRebel Educator®88: Navigating the Workplace as an Autistic Adult with Nicole Kubilus and Bret ThayerNicole Kubilus has a serious passion-call it a special interest-for autism advocacy. Diagnosed with autism at two years old, Nicole has pursued various types of autism advocacy work over the last twenty years.Her artwork and poetry focus on celebrating the autistic experience and spreading awareness about ableism (which she uses to promote Understanding Autism). She is a former art educator and currently working towards a certification in counseling. She lives in Denver, Colorado.Bret Thayer is a retired public school teacher and the parent of an autistic child...2023-09-1540 minRebel Educator®87: Exploring Student Experiences with Natalie ChenNatalie Chen is a ninth grade high school student and was one of my daughter Eliza’s best friends. Natalie has encountered a variety of educational approaches throughout her academic career so far and she’s here to talk to us about her experiences, her thoughts on the pros and cons of the different styles that she's had and share with us some of the work she’s done to teach young learners a critical life skill.Join us for this enlightening episode that’s all about amplifying student voices and understanding the exper...2023-09-0135 minRebel Educator®86: Teacher Privacy in the Digital Age with Frederick LaneFrederick Lane is an author, attorney, educational consultant, and lecturer based in Brooklyn, NY. He is the co-founder of The Center for Cyberethics and is a nationally-recognized expert in the areas of cybersafety, digital misconduct, personal privacy, and other topics at the intersection of law, technology, and society. Lane has appeared on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, the BBC, and MSNBC.He has written ten books, including most recently Cybertraps for Educators 2.0 (2020), Raising Cyberethical Kids (2020), and Cybertraps for Expecting Moms & Dads (2017). He is currently working on his newest book...2023-08-1834 minRebel Educator®85: The Power of Community with Seth EhrlichHailing from Pittsburgh, PA, Seth Ehrlich learned early the value and opportunity that exists within a strong community. He has engaged for more than 20 years in community engagement and building. Projects include multiple collaborative efforts and his professional work with SOS Outreach over the past 15+ years. He currently serves as executive director for the organization and is dedicated to connecting talent to opportunities for kids and adults associated with the program and growing the organization's impact across current and potential sites. He moved to the mountains 20 years ago and fo...2023-08-0431 minRebel Educator®84: Schools as Learning Organizations with Anthony KimAnthony Kim is a Corwin Press bestselling author, with publications including The New Team Habits, The New School Rules, and The Personalized Learning Playbook. His writing ranges from topics including the future of work, leadership and team motivation, improving the way we work, and innovation in systems-based approaches to organizations and school design. Anthony believes that how we work is the key determinant to the success of any organization.In addition to his writing, Anthony is the founder and Chief Learning Officer of Education Elements, a Scholarus Learning company. Anthony is a trusted partner...2023-07-2129 minRebel Educator®83: School Leadership and Shifting to a Culture of Try with Dr. Joseph Jones and Dr. T.J. VariDr. Joseph Jones is the Superintendent of Schools in the New Castle County Vocational-Technical School District. Joe is a former high school teacher, assistant principal and principal. As principal, he was named the Delaware Secondary Principal of the Year and during his tenure, Delcastle Technical High School was the first high school to receive the state’s Outstanding Academic Achievement Award. Joe received his doctorate from the University of Delaware in educational leadership. He is also an adjunct professor for various universities. Dr. T.J. Vari is the Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Schools and Dis...2023-07-0733 minRebel Educator®82: College Admissions: Finding the Right Fit with David HurwittDave Hurwitt is an innovator. Over the course of his career, he’s led the development and launch of new products and services – from toothpicks to wind turbines – that have generated well over $1 billion in sales. If you have a large, front loading washing machine in your house, that was Dave and his team at Whirlpool. They re-envisioned the traditional, small European washer for the US market and took front loaders from 1% of the market to over 50% today, saving billions of dollars in electricity and water consumption in the process.Dave...2023-06-2334 minRebel Educator®81: The Paradox of Education with Steve HargadonSteve Hargadon is the founder and director of the Learning Revolution Project, the host of the Future of Education and Reinventing School interview series, and the founder and chair (or co-chair) of a number of annual worldwide virtual events, including the Global Education Conference and the Library 2.0 series of mini-conferences.Steve's work has been around the democratization of learning and professional development. He has pioneered the use of live, virtual, and peer-to-peer education conferences, popularized the idea of "unconferences" for educators and built one of the first modern social networks for teachers in 2007 (Classroom 2.0).2023-06-0939 minRebel Educator®80: Relationship Centered Learning with Teens with Dr. Maureen O'ShaughnessyMaureen O’Shaughnessy is on a mission to connect the dots between education, belonging, and youth empowerment. She is the founder of the human-centered micro-school, LEADPrep. This learner-focused middle / high school is a national model for micro-schools, helping students learn from a place of love and personal alignment. Dr. O’Shaughnessy is the author of Creating Micro-Schools for Colorful Mismatched Kids, host of the Education Evolution podcast, and co-founder of the EdActive Collective. She has also shared innovation ideas on her TEDx talk: Changing My Mind to Change Schools.Join...2023-05-2626 min
Rebel Educator®79: Finding the Magic in Middle School with Chris BalmeChris Balme is an education leader, writer, and school founder, passionate about helping young people discover more of their human potential. Chris currently serves as Founding Principal at Hakuba International School. He is also the Founder & Director of Argonaut, an online advisory program for middle schoolers around the world. Prior to this, Chris co-founded and served as Head of School at Millennium School, a lab school in San Francisco, where he helped pioneer new learning methods based in developmental science. Chris has received the Ashoka Fellowship as a leading changemaker in education, and regularly speaks, tr...2023-05-1231 min
Rebel Educator®78: Fostering Connection in Online Spaces with Shaunak RoyShaunak founded Yellowdig in 2015, a community-driven active and experiential learning platform. It is now used by hundreds of thousands of students of all ages and backgrounds in the US and around the world. Shaunak graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering from IIT Bombay and completed his graduate studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Prior to founding Yellowdig, Shaunak spent a decade advising global companies on technology, strategy, and growth. Join us for this conversation about connected online spaces and how they can foster learner agency and connectedness. IN THIS EP...2023-04-2833 min
Rebel Educator®77: Creating Effective School Boards with AJ CrabillAJ Crabill serves as Conservator at DeSoto ISD — where during his guidance, DeSoto improved from F ratings in academics, finance, and governance to B ratings — and as Governance Director at CGCS. He has also served as Deputy Commissioner at Texas’ Education Agency and Board Chair of Kansas City Public Schools.Join us for this conversation about creating effective school boards, letting go of ego, committing to continuous improvement, and finding alignment within our schools and classrooms.IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:AJ’s reflection on the space between intentions and impact.The commitment to continuo...2023-04-1439 min
Rebel Educator®76: How Web3 is Changing Education with Vriti SarafVriti Saraf is the CEO & founder of k20 Educators where she builds metaverse spaces for learning. She is also a co-founder of the first community organization on blockchain for educators, by educators, called Ed3 DAO. Both organizations aim to reimagine learning.Vriti has served as a teacher, a professor, a dean, & a director in public, private, & charter schools both locally & internationally across k12 & higher education.Join us for this conversation about Web3, what it is, how it is transforming education, and why we should embrace it. IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:2023-03-3135 min
Rebel Educator®75: Teaching English as a Non-Native Speaker with Sarah OmarSarah Omar is a freelance teacher trainer and educator with over 10 years experience in the field of teaching ESL/EFL. She has worked for the British Council in Cairo for eight years, in addition to a couple of other organizations. She is interested in teacher well-being, assessment, and materials development. Sarah has collaborated with her colleagues to record a series of videos on YouTube, IELTS Café, to help learners who are preparing for the exam with some helpful tips and tricks. In her free time she likes to read, listen to musi...2023-03-1726 min
Rebel Educator®74: Showcasing Learning Without Grades with Mike FlanaganMike Flanagan is the CEO of the Mastery Transcript Consortium (MTC), a growing group of high schools creating a digital high school transcript that opens up opportunity for each and every student — from all backgrounds, locations, and types of schools — to have their unique strengths, abilities, interests, and histories fostered, understood, and celebrated. Mike oversaw the design and development of Mastery Transcript software products, connecting with members and advisors to manage the MTC product roadmap till May, 2021. He is an experienced education technology executive, most recently having served as CEO of the Services Division at the National Assoc...2023-03-0334 min
Rebel Educator®73: 21st Century Education with Yvette LarssonYvette Larsson, an international Swede, is passionate about learning and innovation so that we can create a better world together. She uses applied neuroscience, focusing on our human potential and the question: What does it mean to be human in a global age of technology? Her personal story starts 100 kilometers above the Arctic Circle, where she grew up with a lot of freedom and adventure to roam the mountains and the forests of Swedish Lapland. She admits that she was often bored. In hindsight, she has realized that she developed her sense of creativity and en...2023-02-1737 min
Rebel Educator®72: EdTech and the Future of Education with Malvika BhagwatMalvika brings a wealth of education experience with a particular expertise in assessment design, learning sciences research, and outcomes measurement. At Owl, Malvika leads all portfolio services and partners closely with Owl’s 50+ portfolio companies on their impact and outcomes objectives. She also serves as an thought partner to many of Owl’s limited partners globally and leads the creation of Owl’s annual Education Outcomes Report and Owl Insights. Prior to joining Owl, Malvika was at Emerson Collective, where she led impact and efficacy efforts for a portfolio of EdTech companies, and before that she spent four years as an...2023-02-0330 minRebel Educator®71: Learning is the Work of Learners with Dr. Bobbi MacdonaldDr. Bobbi Macdonald serves as the Senior Partner for Ecosystem Growth and Advancement for Education Reimagined, a non profit organization dedicated to a transformational vision for education. Her previous work as Executive Director of City Neighbors in Baltimore sought to provide an answer to the question, "What would it take for every student to be known, loved, and inspired?" That question remains at the heart of her work today. Bobbi most recently completed her Doctorate in Education Leadership from Harvard University. Join us for this conversation about the paradigm shift that needs to happen so s...2023-01-2032 min
Rebel Educator®70: Self-Directed Learning with Jacqueline EvaneczJacqueline Evanecz is a teacher-turned-entrepreneur, who's using her years of experience in elementary and secondary education to create a peer network for students to direct and manage their own projects. She has seen how transformative learning can be when students take the reins, so her mission is to support teachers and the work they are doing to foster self-directed learners in their classrooms.Join us for this conversation about helping students find their value, why process is more important than final products, and how educators can support student self-directed learning.IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:2023-01-0626 min
Rebel Educator®69: The Inclusive Education Project with Amanda Selogie and Vickie BrettVickie Brett was born and raised in Southern California and through the Inclusive Education Project she focuses on advocating and educating families about their legal rights. Vickie is committed to strengthening her clients who come to her disheartened and beaten down by the current education system. Because Vickie is bilingual, she represents and empowers many monolingual Spanish-speaking families. She is a dedicated pro bono attorney for the Superior Court of Los Angeles’s Juvenile and Dependency 317(e) Panel and in the past was a supervising attorney for the UCI Law School's Special Education Law Project. Amanda Selogie rece...2022-12-2328 minRebel Educator®68: Taking Initiative with Ella (Yi Xiu) WangKnown as Ella Wang, but named Yi Xiu, Ella is an East-Asian immigrant who has faced many struggles including language barriers, financial difficulties, low self-esteem, discrimination, and a loss of identity. The one thing that never changed was her passion for traditional instrumental music. It’s what motivated her to keep improving and believing in the present and the future. Today, with a combination of hard work, a supportive network, and a hint of luck, she has become an accomplished international musical performer, speaker, and social entrepreneur. She hopes to share her experience in order to empower others!...2022-12-0921 minRebel Educator®67: Creating Environments Where Learners Can Thrive with Sauda PorterSauda Porter is a School Design Partner at Transcend. She has devoted her career to innovative learning and working to create systems to meet the needs of all children. Prior to joining Transcend, she was a Principal, and later Senior Director, at Perspectives Charter Schools. During her time there, Sauda was a true pioneer of digital learning and brought student agency to the network. She holds two master’s degrees from St. Xavier and Lewis University and lives in the suburbs of Chicago, IL. Join us for this conversation about creating an edu...2022-11-2528 min
Rebel Educator®66: The Collaborative Classroom with Kelly StuartKelly Stuart serves as President and Chief Executive Officer at Collaborative Classroom. In earlier roles at Collaborative Classroom, Stuart worked as Chief Operating Officer, Vice President of Dissemination and Implementation, and Assistant Director of Dissemination. Previously, she served as the senior research associate at WestEd, where she led dissemination for the Doing What Works (DWW) website, which developed practical tools and videos to support educators in their understanding and use of proven research-based practices based on IES Practice Guides. Also while at WestEd, Dr. Stuart launched the U.S. Department of Education’s School Turnaround Learning Community (ST...2022-11-1122 min
Rebel Educator®65: Teachers As Agents of Change with Barnett BerryBarnett Berry is a Research Professor at the University of South Carolina, and serves as Senior Director for Policy & Innovation. His work in the 1990s with the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future led to his founding of the Center for Teaching Quality in 1999, a non-profit that focused on igniting teacher leadership to transform public education for more equitable outcomes for students. He is author of over 150 peer review articles, book chapters, and trade journal publications focused on teaching policy, teacher leadership, and systemic change in education. His two books, TEACHING 2030 and Teacherpreneurs: Innovative Teachers Who L...2022-10-2832 min
Rebel Educator®64: Lessons from the Pandemic with Dr. Shira LeibowitzDr. Shira Leibowitz is founder and CEO of Discovery Village Childcare Center and Preschool and of REVABILITIES™ Educational Leadership Training Center. She is also a member of the faculty at Northeastern University, teaching and advising doctoral students in education. Prior to opening Discovery Village and REVABIILITIES™, Dr. Leibowitz served for twenty years as a principal of pre-kindergarten through eighth grade schools. She is author of The Coach Approach To School Leadership: Leading Teachers To Higher Levels of Effectiveness and Havens of Hope: Ideas for Redesigning Education From The COVID-19 Pandemic.Join us for this conversation about...2022-10-1434 min
Rebel Educator®63: Sustainable Teaching with Mandy RiceMandy Rice was a classroom teacher for 10 years when she discovered that by flipping her classroom she got a 91% passing rate in her AP class. She works with teachers who crave a student-centered classroom by giving them the tools to get exactly what they want, which is a classroom culture of student accountability, innovation, and growth.She is the founder of Teach on a Mission where she advocates and empowers educators to take back their classrooms and maintain the necessary boundaries of personal and professional lives. Her YouTube videos have over 1 million views and she is the...2022-09-3032 min
Rebel Educator®What is a Rebel Educator?Welcome to Season 3 Rebel Educators!I recently had a conversation about why we chose the name "Rebel Educator" and what it means to me. I wanted to share with you the reason why I started this podcast, what it means to be a Rebel Educator, and what I think we can accomplish when we all challenge the status quo.Thank you for listening and enjoy the season!RESOURCES AND LINKS:Check out my bestselling book Rebel Educator: Create Classrooms Where Impact and Imagination Meet: amzn.to/3AcwlfFLearn more about Rebel Educator, explore...2022-09-3007 min
Rebel Educator®62: Open Mind School - The Complete Series with Marina Vaserman, the Open Mind Social Innovation Lab, and Rachel Kripke-LudwigI’m excited to bring you this compilation of our series of episodes with Open Mind School.Open Mind School has been a mentor for me in launching UP Academy and they are a leader in inclusion education. Learning about their innovation lab, talking to their leadership, and hearing from their students is a unique experience and one that shouldn’t be missed. I hope you enjoy this mini-series with Open Mind School. IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVER:Eradicating social isolation, creating truly inclusive spaces, and the importance of having supportive communities in an...2022-09-161h 30Rebel Educator®61: Highlights From Your Favorite Episodes with Tanya SheckleyIt’s been such a wonderful season on the Rebel Educator podcast! I’m so excited to share these highlights from your all-time favorite episodes. Thank you for tuning in and supporting us in this journey to reimagine education and build a better future for all learners. Keep challenging the status quo Rebel Educators! IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVER:Meaningful Learning with Raheen Fatima (ep. 35)The Intersection of Inclusion, Diversity, and Ableism with Heather Clarke (ep. 47)Designing Learning Frameworks for a Changing World with Chris Menage (ep. 44)Experiential Online Learning with Tony DeRose...2022-09-0225 minRebel Educator®60: Social Innovation at Open Mind School (Part 3 of 3) with Rachel Kripke-LudwigRachel Kripke-Ludwig is a nonspeaking, college bound autistic advocate. She attends Open Mind School in Menlo Park, and is a Community Partner in the AASPIRE Community Based Participatory Research Group, working on a five-year project to develop tools to measure outcomes for adult autism services. She is also on the Community Advisory Council of CommunicationFIRST, the only nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the civil rights of people who cannot rely on speech to communicate. To learn more please see, Rachel Tells it All. Join us to learn more about Rachel, her educational journey an...2022-08-1943 min
Rebel Educator®59: Social Innovation at Open Mind School (Part 2 of 3) with the Open Minds, Silicon Valley Social Innovation LabAs an inclusive podcast our guests are both speakers and non-speakers. In this episode students and staff from the Open Mind, Silicon Valley Social Innovation Lab (OMSIL) come together, using various tools, to tell us all about social innovation. The OMSIL bridges the gap between neurodivergent populations and the development of products, services, and research. It is an incubator for new technologies to be designed, tested, and launched with the support of K-12 students. Their mission is to research and advocate for universal design and accessibility. Join us to listen to the...2022-08-0522 min
Rebel Educator®58: Social Innovation at Open Mind School (Part 1 of 3) with Marina VasermanMarina Vaserman is a Doctor of Social Work and she has dedicated her life personally and professionally to servicing youth in our community. Her background is in the field of mental health, neuroscience, and educational advocacy. She specializes in working with foster youth, children identified as gifted learners, and children with learning differences. Marina is an experienced founder and board member working in the nonprofit sector with startups and social impact organizations. She consults and runs trainings in the school system including public, private, charter, and nonpublic schools on the topics of inclusion, neurodiversity, universal de...2022-07-2231 min
Rebel Educator®57: Increasing Student Engagement with Adam F.C. FletcherAdam F.C. Fletcher is a writer, speaker and consultant focused on human engagement, education transformation, and social change. Exciting, educating, and empowering are some of the words people have used to describe Adam F.C. Fletcher. A specialist in human engagement for more than two decades, he has consulted on more than two dozen international projects; written more than 50 publications; keynoted more than 300 conferences; and worked with more than 500 organizations focused on engaging everyone, everywhere, all of the time. As the founder of more than 100 initiatives in dozens of communities, he h...2022-07-0832 min
Rebel Educator®56: Shifting the Structures of Schools with Louka ParryLouka Parry is an educator, strategist and entrepreneur working at the global forefront with schools, systems and organisations as they adapt for the future. As a school teacher, he was promoted to Principal at 27 and has been named Inspirational Public Secondary Teacher of the Year for South Australia. As Founder + CEO of The Learning Future and a Founding Executive of Karanga: The Global Alliance for Social Emotional Learning and Life Skills, he works internationally (in English and Spanish) to support positive change. A rapid learner, he holds two Masters degrees, speaks five languages and recently completed a fellowship at...2022-06-2431 min
Rebel Educator®55: Mindful Arts with Andrew Jordan NanceAndrew Jordan Nance has been an educator since 1990. He is the author of four published books; The Barefoot King, The Lion in Me, Mindful Arts in the Classroom, and the bestseller, Puppy Mind. He is the founder of Mindful Arts San Francisco; a program of the San Francisco Education Fund that provides volunteer mindfulness educators to teach in SF public schools. On KTVU’s SF Loves Learning Mr. Nance was the featured Mindfulness Teacher and his adapted five-episode series of Puppy Mind premiered on KTVU and is distributed to school districts around the country. For almost thirty years he tau...2022-06-1031 min
Rebel Educator®54: Bridging the Opportunity Gap with Paula FynbohPaula Fynboh has extensive nonprofit leadership, program development, and equity and social justice experience at the local, national, and international level. Paula has studied and practiced social change extensively and believes that real and sustainable change happens when people come together at the grassroots and community level around seemingly simple, yet powerful actions that shift the narrative and culture of what is acceptable. Paula currently serves as the Executive Director for Aspire! Afterschool Learning, which provides high-quality, holistic, academic enrichment to students most impacted by the educational opportunity gap in Arlington, VA. Pr...2022-05-2728 min
Rebel Educator®53: The Future of Work with SJ BarakonySJ Barakony is an American small business champion with a boundless appreciation for people, entrepreneurship, liberty, & lifelong learning. He started his journey as the Education Sherpa in late 2011; over the next 9+ years, he's been offered a number of opportunities to partner with others, inc. the H7 Network; Founders Live; Economic Impact Catalyst; The Entrepreneurial Leap; Elevate Capital; BeeKonnected, & Web Strategy+ Join us for this conversation about the skills needed for the future of work, how schooling should evolve to develop these skills, and why learning needs to be customized individually....2022-05-1328 min
Rebel Educator®52: Reevaluating the Transition into Adulthood with Abby FalikAbby Falik is the Founder & CEO of Global Citizen Year, an award-winning social entrepreneur, and an expert on the changing landscape of education. She is a frequent speaker and writer, and has been featured in prominent forums and news outlets including the Aspen Ideas Festival, the Fast Company Innovation Festival, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Chronicle of Higher Education, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, and NPR. Join us for this reevaluation of the transition into adulthood, developing power skills, and becoming global citizens, change-makers, and leaders. IN...2022-04-2929 min
Rebel Educator®51: Letting Go of Old Ideas with Homa TavangarFor over three decades, Homa Sabet Tavangar’s work has addressed themes of culture, innovation, leadership, global citizenship and global competence, and deep diversity, equity, belonging and inclusion. She connects timely topics of the moment with the timeless desire to work with purpose and make a difference – whatever one’s circumstances. Homa’s clients range from Fortune 50 corporations to public, international and independent K-12 schools around the world; from an Ivy League university to Disney Channel and numerous not-for-profit public and multilateral organizations and professional associations. Co-founding the Big Questions Institute and Oneness Lab represents a natural...2022-04-1531 minRebel Educator®50: Experiential Online Learning with Tony DeRoseTony DeRose is currently Chief Content Officer and co-founder of X in a Box, LLC. In partnership with innovative companies, X in a Box (xiab.org) creates world-class lessons that connect the classroom to the real-world. Prior to founding X in a Box Tony was a Senior Scientist at Pixar for 23 years, and for most of that time he led Pixar’s Research Group. In recent years he has contributed to several initiatives to help make math, science, and engineering education more inspiring, primarily for middle and high school students. These initiatives include the Science Beh...2022-04-0124 minRebel Educator®49: Building Connections Between Curriculum and the Real World with Nicole DysonNicole Dyson is a globally recognized expert and practitioner in project-based learning and youth entrepreneurship. She is the founder of Future Anything, an award-winning, curriculum-aligned entrepreneurship program for high school students, the founder of YouthX, Australia's only startup accelerator program for school-aged entrepreneurs, and the founder of Catapult Cards, a design thinking tool for corporates and classrooms.An experienced educator, Nicole has repeatedly led the design and implementation of whole-school changes to support future ready learning; placing young people at the forefront of co-designing contextually relevant learning experiences.Nicole passionately pushes the boundaries around the...2022-03-1833 minRebel Educator®48: Fostering Entrepreneurship with Scott StewardBig Stew, Scott Steward, or Professor Steward (depending on how you know him) has taught business management, entrepreneurship, and marketing at Chicago State University, DePaul University, Roosevelt University, and Lewis University. Scott has a strong and vast business school education and he wants to share all of his knowledge with you. Known as the “force” behind a student’s limitless future, Scott empowers students to become CEOs of their own businesses and lives, and to create wealth on their own terms. Scott Steward is a national voice for youth entrepreneurship. He is a form...2022-03-0431 minRebel Educator®47: The Intersection of Inclusion, Diversity, and Ableism with Heather ClarkeHeather Clarke is a Black Afro-Caribbean mother of 2 small children. She is also neuro-divergent, with an invisible disability. She has over 20 years of experience working as a teacher, and in the field of educational justice and policy. She is an abolitionist educator and universal design for learning expert with more than 20 years’ experience working with children and families with disabilities both in the United States and in other countries. Through Heather’s Learning Advocacy business, she consults with parents and guardians to help them with the process of educational evaluations and the crea...2022-02-1830 minRebel Educator®Bonus: A Special AnnouncementIn this episode, I discuss some changes we're making here at the Rebel Educator podcast! We’d love it if you could take a few minutes to fill out this survey to let us know how we can bring you the best possible content: https://forms.gle/JcKHf9DHTZnYUmQr6 Enjoying the show? Leave us a rating and review and help more people find us! https://bit.ly/RebelEducatorApplePodcasts Interested in being on the Rebel Educator podcast? Fill out this form and we'll reach out to you if we think you'd be a great fit...2022-02-1103 minRebel Educator®46: Changing the Education Game with Matt BarnesOver 25 years, Matt has run an $18m hospital department, distributed $500m in philanthropy, led an education reform nonprofit, served on nine educational boards from selective public university to pre-K, and coached thousands of parents how to “W.I.N.” The Education Game.He is the father of three amazing teens who were educated in traditional, hybrid, micro, and self-directed learning models. One was a valedictorian at his public high school, another started college at age 15 and is publishing her first book, and a third is working as an administrator at a church at age 15 while also winning seve...2022-02-0432 minRebel Educator®45: Curiosity and Clarifying Questions with Chelsea RobbersonChelsea Robberson always thought that her dream was to be teaching in a classroom, wearing an “I teach for the money & fame" shirt, and loving every second of dancing along with her students to Tooty Ta by Dr. Jean.She took her first classroom role in 2005, served in the states and internationally, and loved it all the way through her first taste of school leadership in 2009.Taking an Assistant Director role pretty much ruined everything…That role is when it happened; the spark she loved with teaching ignited into a bonfire the moment she...2022-01-2831 minRebel Educator®44: Designing Learning Frameworks for a Changing World with Chris MenageChris Menage is an award winning educator and learning design innovator whose purpose is to shape ‘new ways of doing, thinking, seeing and being’ that create the human and social capital needed for progressive communities to thrive. Chris’ experience as a migrant between three countries includes over 20 years’ in private enterprise, government administration, educational and school leadership, not-for-profit boards and local community committees which ensures unique perspectives and fresh insights for this time of flux. Through e2, Chris continues to influence learning design by collaborating with innovators and activating partnerships so as to build...2022-01-2136 minRebel Educator®43: Social Dynamics and Independence in Early Adolescence with Chris BalmeChris Balme is an education leader and innovator, passionate about helping people discover more of their human potential. Chris was the co-founder and CEO of Spark, a US nonprofit which works across the country to re-inspire the love of learning in adolescents. He then co-founded and was Head of School at Millennium School, a lab school in San Francisco which uses developmental science to create powerful new learning methods for adolescents. Most recently, Chris founded and now leads Argonaut, an online program which helps adolescents discover their strengths, explore their identity, and find ways to co...2022-01-1428 minRebel Educator®42: Middle School Matters with Andrew Ravin and Denise DanielsAndrew Ravin is the Founder and Head of School at Workshop Middle School. For nearly 25 years, he’s worked as a social worker, classroom teacher, instructional coach, and school leader. Andrew is an award-winning educator, mentor, and researcher. Most recently, he was named one of the Top 100 Innovators in American Education. Andrew founded Workshop Middle School to be the change he believes in. A movement of small, innovative, and progressive schools that can change the world. What else does he believe in? His family. Hard work. Bicycles. Poetry. And honest conversations about things that matter.Den...2022-01-0730 minRebel Educator®41: Creating Safer Schools with Nurturing Healing Love with Scarlett LewisScarlett Lewis founded the nonprofit Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement after her six-year-old son’s murder in the Sandy Hook tragedy on December 14th, 2012. She became part of the solution to the issues in society -- and that also caused the tragedy -- and advocates for social-emotional learning and character education. She's the author of Nurturing Healing Love: A Mother’s Journey of Hope & Forgiveness, a memoir of her journey toward choosing love and forgiveness, and From Sandy Hook to the World: How the Choose Love Movement Transforms Lives, an in-depth look at how Scarlett founded the Movem...2021-12-1750 minRebel Educator®40: Bio-collective Goals and the Importance of Kindness with Benjamin Freud, Ph.D.Benjamin Freud is the co-founder of Coconut Thinking, whose ambition is to create spaces for purposeful thinking and action that contribute to the welfare of the bio-collective. Coconut Thinking imagines learning ecosystems that extend beyond physical and conceptual walls. They would be inter-generational and collaborative. Alongside future-ready skills, they would teach future-saving ethics such as “practice eco-reciprocity,” “stand up for justice,” “share with solidarity,” and “act with kindness.”Benjamin is also the Whole School Leader of Learning and Teaching at Prem Tinsulanonda International School in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Benjamin focuses on the ‘lived’ curriculum: on pedagogy, and what classroom pract...2021-12-1028 minRebel Educator®39: Developing Mental Agility and Resilience with Fabienne VailesFabienne Vailes is the French Language Director at the University of Bristol, Senior Fellow of HEA and Director of Flourishing Education Ltd, with almost 25 years’ experience in the sector. Fabienne is on a mission to change the face of education! Join us for this incredible conversation about developing mental health skills, keeping curiosity alive in a knowledge-rich system, using natural consequences to help learners flourish, the benefits of intrinsic motivation, and the importance of taking risks. IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVER:The difference between the salutogenic and pathogenic appro...2021-12-0335 minRebel Educator®38: The Intertwining of Business and Education with Komal ShahKomal Shah is an educational consultant and thought leader on a mission to transform the world through conscious education.After Komal spent five years in the Teach For America program as a middle school educator, she was left wanting more. She wanted more for her own kids and all kids. To pursue this dream, she attended USC Marshall School of Business where she received her MBA.Today she leverages her passion for education, business expertise, and her personal conscious living practices. Her plan is to shift outdated educational paradigms and transform the educational system for...2021-11-1932 minRebel Educator®37: Finding Strengths with Peter HostrawserPeter Hostrawser has been a high school business educator for over 18 years, teaching internships, entrepreneurship, web design, and career planning. He is known as the “Unlearning Coach” and for most of his teaching career, Peter has pushed for more skills based training in academic educational systems. Peter is also the host of the Disrupt Education Podcast featuring over 200 episodes showcasing creative and non-traditional learners and their stories and thoughts on how to change education. He has spent countless hours studying these skills and has helped thousands of people find and show their value. Join us for this meani...2021-11-1230 minRebel Educator®36: Always Evolving with Jeremy GoldsteinWith a broad background in teaching, administration, and innovation in education, Jeremy Goldstein started his career after graduate school working as a Forensic Archaeologist and Anthropologist in Southeast Asia. Jeremy's educational leadership journey began when he was tasked with directing a growing Global Education program in Rhode Island. He currently serves on the senior leadership team at Episcopal High School as the Executive Director of the McCain - Ravenel Center where he leads teams in developing innovative curricula, designs professional development opportunities, and builds the school's network of partners in the greater Washington D.C. area and beyond.2021-11-0531 minRebel Educator®35: Meaningful Learning with Raheen FatimaRaheen Fatima is a 13-year-old stand-up comedian, actress, social entrepreneur, Sustainable Development Goals Youth Ambassador and so much more. She is a professional humanitarian interviewer and during the pandemic she has conducted over 500 interviews and sessions to foster global peace and achievements of SDGs. When her brother was diagnosed with cancer in 2018, she realized that one is never too young or old to die. She embarked on her journey with a passion to empower people around her and bring peace to this world. Join us for this encouraging and wide-ranging interview wh...2021-10-2929 minRebel Educator®34: Better Leaders Better Schools with Daniel BauerDaniel Bauer is an unorthodox Ruckus Maker who has mentored thousands of school leaders through his Better Leaders Better Schools blog, books, podcasts, and powerful coaching experiences. Daniel’s book, Mastermind: Unlocking Talent Within Every School Leader, reimagines what professional development for school administrators looks like in order to meet the needs of all school leaders who currently feel isolated and overwhelmed. Join us for this conversation about the struggles that school leaders are currently facing, the importance of mindfulness and changing perspectives, and how school leaders can work towards minimizing the s...2021-10-2230 minRebel Educator®33: Inclusive Language Learning with Dr. Jennifer PreschernDr. Jennifer Preschern, CCC-SLP is a USA born speech-language pathologist/learning disabilities teacher. She has spent most of her professional life working in diverse USA public school settings with students from ages 3-15 with various additional needs such as dyslexia, autism, ADHD, and speech/language difficulties. While serving as a pre-school SLP for a school district outside of Chicago, she obtained grant funding to start the first-ever public school LENA program, which has been proven to be a successful method for increasing child language skills and preventing future academic problems. 7 years ago, Jennifer had the op...2021-10-1541 minRebel Educator®32: Supporting the Outliers with Brett RoerBrett Roer currently serves as Outlier.org’s High School Strategic Partnerships Lead after 16 years empowering high school students in Brooklyn, Queens, and The Bronx. His mission has been to equip high school students with the foundational academic skills needed to graduate from their best-fit colleges and feel both academically and financially supported along the way. Brett has inspired students and families as a high school principal, college and career advisor, and teacher, always fiercely passionate in providing students access to high-quality education. Join us for this wonderful discussion about creating path...2021-10-0831 min
Rebel Educator®31: Student-Empowered Microschools with Kelly SmithKelly Smith is the founder and CEO of Prenda, an education company that helps parents and teachers operate world-class micro schools by partnering with regulated, state-credentialed educational institutions to engage small groups of students in mastery-focused, project-based learning. Join us as we discuss Kelly’s journey to founding Prenda, the lengths students will go to in order to avoid learning in a traditional setting, the benefits and functions of microschools, and how the pandemic help to facilitate the exploration of alternative options to to the traditional school environment. IN THIS...2021-10-0133 min
Rebel Educator®1: Where Do We Go From Here? with Barry Sheckley PhDWelcome to the first episode of the Rebel Educator podcast!Where is education going?According to our guest, Dr. Barry Sheckley, that depends a great deal on where we want it to go. The current crisis has given us an impetus to change the education system and create one in which students become engaged learners, rather than passive students who are simply repeating information back to their teachers. What we really need are classroom environments where students feel autonomous, confident and respected so they can explore and learn all the things they wonder about.2021-07-1439 min