エピソード

  • Learning Experiences Worth Savoring with Kat Crawford (EP184)
    2026/03/02
    Subscribe: Spotify | TuneIn | RSS Kat Crawford, an Instructional Designer and Justice and Accessibility Advocate, specializes in designing innovative digital solutions, facilitating professional learning, and supporting the transformation of school systems to enhance student engagement. Kat never really left the stage—she traded the bright lights of theatre class for designing learning experiences that students actually want to eat up as the Lunch Lady. She spent over a decade disrupting the technology divide inside secure schools, fueled by her core belief: every student deserves a seat at the table—and a learning experience worth savoring. Your WHY My work spans various roles, including directing and designing national curriculum initiatives, teaching graduate courses, and leading digital adoption for alternative and secure schools, all driven by my passion for student success and inclusion. All of my work is driven by my core belief that all students deserve a high-quality education. I run on stories. On second chances. On the sacred mess of being human. Background as an Educational Technology Leader As an educational technology leader with over 20 years of experience, I specialize in designing innovative digital solutions, facilitating professional learning, and supporting the transformation of school systems to enhance student engagement. With expertise in curriculum design, technology integration, and instructional coaching, I have worked with school districts in 47 states to promote educational equity and impactful learning experiences. Executive Director of Digital Innovation From 2020 to 2024, I was the Executive Director of Digital Innovation at the Schlechty Center. My responsibilities included: Managing school district clients nationwide from the classroom to the boardroom in designing work centered around engagement.Customizing district proposals to design innovative work in person and virtually through on-site workshops, meetings, and trainings.Driving adoption and implementation of technology in professional learning sessions using educational technology tools aimed at equity, accessibility, and collaboration for all students.Leveraging client relations from year to year to maintain proposal renewals and growth opportunities with new and existing districts.Working closely with cross-functional teams to support our work nationally. The Lunch Lady My alter ego, The Lunch Lady, is an apron-wearing, tray-slinging voice inside every educator, reminding us that meaningful learning isn’t prepackaged—it’s handcrafted, messy, and deliciously authentic. It’s lunchtime, and The Lunch Lady is cooking up something new for the classroom. The way this came about is when I was asked to dress up like a chef for an ISTE playground. Everyone looked like a chef, but that wasn’t me. I remember Chris Farley as the lunch lady, and that was it. https://lunchladyedu.com The Secret Recipe for Student Agency is now Breakfast in Banter Today’s special? A three-course meal filled with deeper learning, sprinkled with innovation, and stuffed with student agency – served piping hot! Your reservation is ready because every student deserves a seat at the table – and a learning experience worth savoring. Don’t start from scratch! It’s time to reveal the secret recipe for Mystery Meat: Learning experiences worth devouring. Step into the kitchen and start cooking meaningful learning – no more prepackaging or reheating. Let’s transform classrooms into cafeterias of curiosity, choice, and creativity. Come hungry – you’ll want seconds. Figma and how it is aligned with your WHY I am the Education Program Manager for Figma. We support K12 educators, schools, and districts in bringing collaboration and creativity to the classroom through FigJam and Figma. The current focus includes in-person training, community building, and scaling impact through virtual programming. Your Consulting Company: How Might We We empower school districts to push beyond traditional boundaries by fostering innovative solutions that address complex challenges. We specialize in designing transformative systems and initiatives for educational institutions, with a strong focus on alternative schools. Our services include individual and team coaching, customized professional development, and dynamic workshops. We don’t just respond to existing needs—we inspire new possibilities, helping schools discover what could be and build toward what will be. Kat Crawford’s Contact Information LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dramatickat/X: https://x.com/dramatickatLL (X): https://x.com/LunchLadyEDU Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dramatickatInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dramatickat/LL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lunchladyedu/Lunch Lady Headshots: The Lunch Lady Plain Background...
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    54 分
  • Unlock the Power of AI in School Counseling with Hanna Kemble-Mick (EP183)
    2026/02/16
    Subscribe: Spotify | TuneIn | RSS Hanna Kemble-Mick, school counselor, dean of elementary school counseling, Indian Hills Elementary School, Topeka, Kansas. Hanna is a 2025 School Counselor of the Year® finalist, Therapy Dog mom, and Tech/AI enthusiast. I met Hanna through her mom, Jerri Kemble, when they were presenting with firefly wings. Then I had a one-to-one conversation with Hanna, and that was it… she had to be a guest on my show. Your WHY and What Brings You Joy My “why†is building schools where students are truly seen, where creativity is valued, and where opportunity is not reserved for a lucky few. I root for the underdog, the underserved, and students in rural communities who deserve the same expansive possibilities as anyone else. What brings me joy is connection, continuous learning, dogs, polka dots, and the everyday magic of my students growing into who they are meant to be. Your Background (what it was like in school, growing up, what you always wanted to be) I grew up in a rural community with a big heart, where everyone knew each other and helping others was simply part of everyday life. My parents, Kurt and Jerri Kemble, modeled what it meant to show up for others, and that spirit carried through our town. All of my grandparents lived nearby, so my childhood was filled with time around their kitchen tables, lending a hand to neighbors, and taking part in community service. When I was little, I dreamed of becoming a veterinarian because of my love for animals. I loved school and felt connected there until my senior year, when my mom became superintendent, and I transferred to the district where she worked. Suddenly, I felt out of place. In true teenage fashion, I joined the track team and filmed basketball games, volunteering for anything that would get me out of the building. Even then, I was learning how much belonging and environment shape a person’s experience. I am fortunate to have a loving family and live in Lawrence, Kansas, with my husband, Dalton, two dogs, and a cat. Becoming a School Counselor: Describe what it meant to you when you figured out your calling. I graduated from college with a degree in advertising and began a career I genuinely enjoyed. I loved my job and deeply respected my boss, but something within me kept whispering that the work was not fulfilling my soul. I knew I wanted to make a different impact, so I decided to return to school to become a counselor. My boss met that decision with incredible kindness, allowing me to continue working while attending graduate school full-time, a generosity I have never forgotten. When I first contacted the counseling program, the response felt uncertain and discouraging. There were questions about whether this path was truly right for me and how a background in marketing and advertising fit into the counseling world. While I understand their perspective now, at the time, it planted seeds of imposter syndrome and left me wondering if I truly belonged. Yet, as the program continued, so did my clarity of purpose. I discovered that the skills I brought with me, including communication, creativity, understanding people, and connecting messages to meaning, were not detours but strengths. Looking back, I would not change the path at all. It shaped my resilience, deepened my empathy, and affirmed that this calling was exactly where I was meant to be. Junior Coaches Program Junior Coaches began as a restorative program designed to support students who struggle with peer conflict and behavior by building problem-solving skills and confidence. The group included older students who practiced these skills together and then took them to recess, where they supported younger students in navigating conflicts and challenges. This felt more comfortable and natural for them than stepping into that role with their own classmates, and it gave them a meaningful way to lead. Paws and Claws grew alongside it as a project-based learning group where students design, create, and donate pet products to a local animal shelter. I love both of these groups because they move beyond simply talking about skills and instead create depth through authentic skill-building. Students are not just learning what to do. They are practicing empathy, responsibility, collaboration, and problem-solving in real and meaningful ways. School Counselor of the Year 2025 Finalist Being named a 2025 School Counselor of the Year Finalist has been a wild and humbling ride. I still catch myself looking at photos from Capitol Hill and thinking, Did that really happen? It has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. https://videos.schoolcounselor.org/hanna-kemble-mick For a moment, you feel fully seen, valued, and celebrated as an educator and as a school counselor, and I find myself wishing every person in education could experience that kind of affirmation. The connections, friendships, and shared purpose have ...
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    53 分
  • Building Future-Ready Schools and Families with Dr. Martha Umana (EP182)
    2026/02/09
    Subscribe: Spotify | TuneIn | RSS Dr. Martha Umana, Founder of AIA (AI4Educator), author, and bilingual educator, is known as The Bridge. She helps parents and teachers thrive in the AI era by prioritizing human skills for future-ready kids. For over two decades, Dr. Umama has worked at the intersection of school and home, guiding families and educators in raising children who are emotionally intelligent, cognitively strong, and future-ready. Your Why My WHY is the child and the adults around the child. I kept seeing students who could produce impressive work, but they could not explain it, verify it, or revise it. When the process is missing, the child is not protected: teachers cannot assess fairly, and parents cannot mentor confidently at home. I do this work to keep learning honest across school and family life, and to build the human skills that remain stable. no matter what AI becomes: judgment, self-regulation, empathy, and truth seeking. Your Background I was born and raised in Latin America. Because I have lived and worked across countries and languages, I am careful about what transfers and what does not. What I focus on is universal: children learn when adults stay connected, expectations are clear, and revision is safe. Growing up, learning was a deeply social experience. Adults helped you improve without shaming you. That balance, accountability, and connection became central to how I work with teachers and families. I do not romanticize any system. I simply pay attention to what protects children: high expectations paired with dignity, and correction paired with care. Early in my career, I held leadership roles in higher education, including Academic Affairs Director and University Professor. Later, I moved to the United States as an adult, built a business, and eventually returned to education in public schools. Looking back, that shift mattered because it gave me the three lenses I needed: system, workplace, and relationship. AI Changed the Conditions of Learning, and Why This is Urgent AI did not just add a tool. It changed the conditions of learning for children and for the adults guiding them. AI accelerates output, but it does not build the internal capacities a child needs to live well. It can generate language, answers, and even persuasive arguments, but it cannot build a child’s self-regulation, empathy, moral judgment, or ability to verify what is true. Those skills are formed through guided practice and accountability. If we do not prioritize them now, we will confuse productivity with competence. We will raise students who can perform, but cannot explain, check, or revise under pressure. That is why I say that human skills are the stable line of support when the future is hard to predict. From school safety to AI governance: why emotional and identity harms appear first. The Role Shift for Teachers and Parents Teachers are no longer competing as holders of information. Information is everywhere. What is scarce now is judgment, verification, and authorship. So the teacher’s role shifts. Teachers become accountable architects of thinking: they design what students must know and show independently, what can be supported, and what must be verified, so learning is not replaced by polished output. Parents face a role shift, too. Parents have a new factor shaping childhood: algorithmic influence. It shapes what children see, what they repeat, what they normalize, what they desire, and sometimes what they fear. Parenting shifts from policing screens to mentoring attention, values, safety, and truth seeking. The child is the only person who lives in both worlds every day. That is why home and school must be coherent: shared expectations for explanation, verification, and revision keep the child protected. Coherence before capacity: Protecting teacher thinking in the age of AI Coherence Before Capacity, and What I Built My organizing principle is Coherence Before Capacity. It means we align roles, boundaries, and evidence of learning first, before we scale tools, training, or adoption. Capacity without coherence just scales confusion. Coherence is what protects meaning, protects dignity, and protects the child as an author of their own learning. I founded AI4Educator to help teachers use AI in a way that protects teacher authority, student authorship, and feasibility. That is why I built two practical supports. Question: When AI saturates STEM ecosystems, what protects the learning process? For teachers, I developed an Epistemic Principle: a simple way to decide what must be independent, what may be supported but verified, and what artifacts make thinking visible. I built the agent to operationalize that in teacher planning, so those protections show up in lessons without adding workload. For parents, I created The Bridge: a shared language that brings home and school together in the same direction through explanation, verification, and revision. ...
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    42 分
  • Dismantling Math Anxiety with Dr. Aditya Nagrath (EP181)
    2026/01/22
    Subscribe: Spotify | TuneIn | RSS Dr. Aditya Nagrath helps students overcome mathematics anxiety. He is the creator and founder of Elephant Learning Mathematics Academy. With a PhD in Mathematics & Computer Sciences, he has spent over 30 years in industry as a software engineer, author, leader, speaker, and serial entrepreneur working on projects ranging from atomic clocks to iOS and Android apps to Amazon’s Kindle Fire. Dr. Nagrath shares how confidence and belief are essential in overcoming math anxiety and shaping a child’s success in mathematics. Your WHY I help children and the adults who support them overcome mathematics anxiety and build real confidence with numbers. My mission is to empower children with mathematics. Right now, about 4 out of 5 students start kindergarten unprepared for the kindergarten math curriculum. Underneath that statistic is something very human: a language gap around quantities. Children often don’t have a solid, intuitive grasp of what words like “three,†“ten,†or “five†really mean, and have not connected them with symbols on a page. When the language and ideas aren’t there yet, math can quickly feel like a foreign language. My “why†is closing that gap—so that every child has the conceptual language of quantity they need before they ever have a chance to say, “I’m just not a math person.†Your Background: What Math Was Like for You Growing up, I was not always the kid who just “got†mathematics. It did not all come naturally. My mother played a huge role in changing that story for me. Every summer, she would gather the math books for the following year and have me study for a few hours a day so I could be ready when school started. At the time, it sometimes felt tedious, but looking back, that steady, structured exposure is what gave me the understanding and confidence to persevere in math, instead of turning away from it. Early discipline and support are big reasons why I eventually earned my Ph.D. in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Denver. Because I know firsthand what it’s like not to instantly understand math—and what a difference the right support can make—I’m passionate about giving other children the kind of foundation and encouragement that changed everything for me. Elephant Learning Elephant Learning is my way of scaling that kind of support and structure to as many families as possible. The system focuses on the language and concepts of quantity first, then builds steadily toward more advanced ideas. On average, students in our system learn about 1.5 years of mathematics in just ten weeks, using Elephant Learning for only 30 minutes per week. By meeting students at their true level and strengthening the underlying language of math, we help them move quickly and confidently—without the pressure and anxiety that so many of us grew up with. My goal is simple: to make sure that the next generation doesn’t inherit the same fear of math that so many adults carry today, and instead experiences mathematics as a tool for thinking, problem‑solving, and empowerment. Book: Rethinking Math Learning https://amzn.to/44bDN94 Book: Treating Mathematics Anxiety https://amzn.to/3KdZy1d Resources: Course and Videos30 Second Math Hack and more tips What’s next for you? Writing a textbook on Fractions, Decimals, and Percentages. Dr. Nagrath’s Contact Information LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adityanagrath/ Website: https://www.elephantlearning.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anagrath/ Email: anagrath@elephantheadsoft.com ***** It was great to have Dr. Aditya Nagrath join me on my virtual porch. I was one of the students who was anxious about math. I even said, “I don’t do math,†because I struggled with it. Listening to the strategies he shared about making math relevant and real makes so much sense. As a professional developer working with math teachers, I saw the power of math. I could see math everywhere. I understand the idea Dr. Nagrath mentioned about math being like a language we can learn if we practice it. I hope you enjoyed our conversation as much as I did. Please share this post and podcast with your friends, and make sure you connect with Dr. Aditya Nagrath. ***** The post Dismantling Math Anxiety with Dr. Aditya Nagrath (EP181) appeared first on Barbara Bray.
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    48 分
  • Listening to Change by Communicating with Purpose with Dr. Laura Janusik (EP179)
    2026/01/06
    Subscribe: Spotify | TuneIn | RSS With over 20 years as a listening expert and researcher, Dr. Laura Janusik empowers caregivers, leaders, and growth seekers to build stronger, more compassionate relationships. Transforming workplace communication through training and workshops, Laura guides caregivers navigating cognitive decline. Laura’s work is rooted in the science and practice of listening, helping people connect with clarity, patience, and understanding in every part of life. Your WHY about Listening I took my first listening course in my master’s level program because my mentor, Dr. Andrew Wolvin, was a listening scholar. I knew he’d be writing my letters of recommendation, so I figured that if I showed a little interesr of his passion, the letters might be better. Within 2 weeks of that class, my life had changed! I couldn’t believe what listening actually was, and how I had been the world’s worst listener for over 30 years! When I realized that the quality of listening determines the quality of the relationship, I was hooked! I, too, became a listening scholar, and my passion has been to help people develop better personal and professional relationships through the power of listening. Most communication problems aren’t about what we say; they’re about how our brains listen. I help business leaders, caregivers, and coaches strengthen their communication through neuroscience-based listening strategies. When you understand how the brain processes messages, you can create connections, reduce stress, and build trust in every conversation. Listening to Change, LLC http://listeningtochange.com/ Listening to Change helps Coaches, Leaders, Executive Leadership Teams, Sales Teams, Groups, and Individuals listen and speak with purpose to increase shared understanding, decrease time on projects, and build a positive company culture. Consulting, training, and coaching are customized for each client. Create AlignmentDeepen ConnectionsGrow through Action Why Listening is an Important Skill Listening takes intention, awareness, and practice, and it appears different depending on who you are and the challenges you face. It is also dependent on the context, including with whom you’re speaking, the purpose of the conversation, and your goal. Whether you’re leading a team, caring for a loved one, or seeking personal growth through coaching, the right strategies can help you listen more effectively, increase trust, and build stronger, more compassionate connections. Most people don’t think of listening as being a part of communication. I like to use this equation: Communication = Sending Messages + Receiving Messages. And, most miscommunication occurs because of poor listening, not poor speaking. If we learn to listen even 10% better, our conversations and relationships will improve. How Listening is Important in Business Listening is important in business because it’s the best skill to create alignment. It is the skill that helps teams get on the same page and work towards the same goal. A business cannot exist without communication, so it seems counterintuitive to me when a business doesn’t invest in communication training. Listening is the one skill that influences all of those primary business goals, such as getting projects completed on time, increasing sales, and achieving higher customer satisfaction. There are two best ways someone can develop better listening in business. The first is through coaching, and the second through team training. I work in both areas. I use the ECHO Listening Profile™. as the foundation of either one, and I’m a certified coach for Listening Intelligence. The ECHO is special, as it’s a validated listening assessment that identifies your dominant listening habit and blind spot. I use this instrument because it’s a great way to show people what they are listening to and for, as well as what they are missing. It not only helps individuals; it also helps teams, because the group report is an excellent way to ‘see’ how team members are listening similarly and differently. Aren’t Most Coaches Good Listeners? Most coaches are better listeners than the average person, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t improve. As a coach myself, I know that it’s a great way to help clients build their confidence. I help coaches with tiny tweaks rooted in neuroscience so they can help their clients listen better to their inner wisdom. How did you get involved with Caregivers and the focus on listening? My Mom was diagnosed with cognitive decline about 10 years ago, and I promptly did what most children do…nothing! I figured she had dealt with and conquered all of her health ailments, and she would do the same with this one, too. Fast forward 5 years to when she got COVID, which really exacerbated her dementia. As ...
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    43 分
  • Don’t Trust Your Ears! Head, Heart, and Hands Listening with Kymberly Dakin-Neal (EP178)
    2025/10/20
    Subscribe: Spotify | TuneIn | RSS Kymberly Dakin-Neal is a certified mindset coach, playback practitioner, and founder of Voice into Learning, LLC. Her specialty is team experience design, incorporating individual coaching programs and applied mediums such as improvisation, intentional listening, and focused creativity. Her book, “Head Heart & Hands Listening in Coach Practice,†is an essential book for coaches, teachers, salespeople, parents, and, actually, anybody who listens for a living. Through Kym’s work and book, she demonstrates why listening is what the world needs more of. I met Kym at the International Listening Association Convention at the University of Maryland in August where we had a picture of us taken in the Listening Garden. Your WHY As an introvert in an extroverted culture, I’ve always been curious about group dynamics and how listening is a strong, if underappreciated, superpower that introverts possess. They are often the ones who have valuable insights and ask powerful questions. Introverts often (not always) have highly refined listening skills. Your Background and Overview I do training based on my book, and I work with clients who are struggling with transitions, change, and interpersonal issues. I was a founding member of Portland Playback Theatre and won an international Audie award for book narration. I recorded audiobooks for the BBC, Brilliance Audio, and Audible. I taught at Bowdoin College, the University of Southern Maine, the University of New Hampshire, and the University of New England. I currently train physicians in productive listening and patient communication at Tufts/MaineHealth and Kaiser Permanente in the Washington, DC area. Voice into Learning, LLC I do a fair amount of public speaking coaching, particularly with those who are transitioning into positions of greater visibility. Particularly for introverts, stepping into the spotlight can be challenging. As an introvert myself, I can help clients avoid the mental pitfalls of imposter syndrome and anxiety. The Positive Intelligence model is particularly effective in this kind of work. Your mind can be your best friend or worst enemy. Most negative emotions and stress come from self-sabotage. The Positive Intelligence PQ® program offers proven tools to strengthen mental resilience and quiet internal saboteurs. This leads to a more positive mindset, greater resilience, and reduced stress, known as mental fitness. I cannot recommend Kymberly enough! Once regarded with dread, my upcoming talk to an audience of 2500 should be a breeze. Kymberly meets you where you are, not engaging in cookie-cutter solutions.I feel that I have been equipped by a “magical helper†to embark upon my own Hero’s Journey. Five stars, at least! ~ Jonathan Fisher Writer & Director of PBS Documentary on NYC Probation “In a Whole New Way†The Training Game Shift/POV I developed the training game Shift/POV: From Conflict to Collaboration in One Hour through the Top Gun incubator program and created a bookmarking app called Nugget to eliminate the need for note-taking in online meetings. URL to video:https://youtu.be/W2pU31j63_k?si=m_zq3hnDmiLd44VB Bookmarking App “Nugget†During the shutdown, when all of my in-person work evaporated, I was facilitating online meetings and noticed challenges. Challenges of trying to get participants engaged while taking notes, or coursing through videos to highlight the important points I wanted to share. “Nugget†lets users highlight the important things in real-time at the touch of a button and allows them to share those notes with the team. We sold Nugget in 2023 for a nice price! Why is deep listening at the core of coaching? How do we build trust? Listening is how we grasp another person’s story and build bridges to our own. It’s how we create relationships and build trust across differences in skillset, experience, background, race, age and gender. Effective listening gives us information beyond the actual words – once we know how to slow ourselves down long enough to pay attention to it. When we feel deeply heard, something in us relaxes enough to feel that we just might be able to trust this person. That is how trusting, positive relationships are built. Book, “Head, Heart & Hands Listening in Coach Practice†My book, Head Heart & Hands Listening in Coach Practice, is an exploration of intentional listening as an essential skill for coaches. It introduces the Head, Heart, and Hands (3H) Listening model as a vital tool to amplify effective listening in coaching practice. This is essential reading for coaches in practice and in training, as well as organizational psychologists, HR professionals, salespeople, and those working within corporations. Head, Heart, and Hands Listening in Coach Practice is about how we listen, what we listen for, why it ...
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    51 分
  • Changing the Narrative with Michael Hernandez (EP177)
    2025/10/12
    Subscribe: Spotify | TuneIn | RSS Michael Hernandez is changing the narrative as an award-winning educator, best-selling author, education consultant, and international speaker. He helps individuals and organizations adapt and thrive in a changing world. Michael is an Apple Distinguished Educator, PBS Digital Innovator, and National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellow. Michael’s work focuses on authentic learning in the age of AI, digital and civic literacy, creativity, and innovation. Your WHY about Changing the Narrative This is a challenging moment in education. I’m doing my best to help teachers and education leaders navigate these challenges. Educators diagnose problems, such as academic integrity, in the age of AI. However, kids aren’t showing up to school, physically or intellectually. There has been too much focus on standardized test scores, the drill and kill mindset, and data-driven processes. Instead, we need to focus on human-centered experiences. But I don’t see many people offering solutions. That’s where I’ve decided to focus my energy. Students can create nonfiction multimedia research projects as an alternative to tests and worksheets. It just builds on what teachers already do best and what they know to be good pedagogy. When students have agency, when they can work on projects they care about, and when all of the hard work we ask them to do has a point, they’ll put in the effort and get excited about learning. They won’t want to cheat if the experience is rewarding and has an impact. Even kids as young as kindergarteners can have agency and impact their communities beyond the classroom. My WHY is to help educators design assignments that maintain rigor and address standards, but in ways that are meaningful to students and help teachers make the case for why their curriculum matters. How Changing the Narrative Affected You Growing Up I come from a family of educators–both of my parents, two aunts, and my uncle were educators. My brother is a college professor and research scientist. I guess learning is in my blood. I grew up in Central California, the son of a migrant farm worker who was the first in his family to graduate from college, so I have the experience of understanding why a quality education is important. I was fortunate to have some incredible teachers growing up, from elementary through college, who shaped who I am and my teaching philosophy. In fact, many of them are in the acknowledgements section of my book. The main thread is that they were all creative and none of them stuck to the rules. Even though they asked us to work hard, we had fun, and school was joyful. Fun and joy are the key pieces that have been sucked out of education in the U.S. ever since No Child Left Behind. The metric of success became a test score, not a tangible product or observable outcome. It’s not surprising that student engagement has been decreasing for years, long before the pandemic and cell phones. Your Story of Changing the Narrative as an Educator As I said, both of my parents were educators, so I should have known better than to become one! I was finishing graduate school in film and realized that I had student loan debt. I was going to be a production assistant, hunting for jobs. I should have thought that career path through a little better! Then I heard about a school district starting a film and journalism program, so I applied, and they hired me. It was a 5-year plan to pay off my student loans. I foolishly thought I could work on my own projects in all the spare time that teachers have! I just completed year 26 of the five-year plan! I was able to share my passion for film, journalism, and storytelling with thousands of students–many of whom are working in the industry. It’s so rewarding to open eyes to new possibilities, and students found their “thing.†It wasn’t math, or history, or science. We can’t all be novelists or engineers. It’s crucial to honor everyone’s individuality and potential, and offer students experiences that empower them to discover their way. Now that I’ve left the classroom, I’m focusing on helping schools and districts adapt and thrive in these challenging times by taking my knowledge of teaching and deep empathy for teachers to help others find success in meaningful ways. I support schools through keynote speaking, leading professional development experiences, and working alongside leadership teams. I’m still a teacher; however, I get to have more impact than if I stayed in my own classroom. Book: Storytelling with Purpose:  Digital Projects To Ignite Student Curiosity I published my book, “Storytelling with Purpose, through ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education). It is a practical handbook and guide to solving these problems by designing authentic learning ...
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    53 分
  • Transforming the Way the World Deals with Conflict with Saadia Qureshi (EP176)
    2025/09/15
    Subscribe: Spotify | TuneIn | RSS Saadia Qureshi is Community Engagement Officer, Senior Officer for Training and Community Engagement at Common Ground USA/Search for Common Ground. Her work as a Gathering Coordinator for Preemptive Love led her to Common Ground USA, transforming how we deal with conflicts. When I met Saadia at the International Listening Association Convention, I knew that her story needed to be heard. Your WHY Through authentic connections, hearts can soften and hatred can subside. My religious tradition teaches us that we were created to know and understand one another. This is how we bring peace to the places where we live. We all have a role to play in this; it takes courage and determination- and this is why we need to do it in community, because “We Belong to Each Other.†Your Background I was born in Pakistan and moved to the United States when I was three years old, as my father was finishing his master’s degree and saw greater opportunities for our family here. After a few years up north, my parents decided to settle in hot, humid, and sunny Orlando, Florida—a place I have now proudly called home for nearly 40 years. Growing up in Central Florida, I navigated what it meant to feel “different†in a very homogenous environment. Those experiences—both the struggles and the joys—shaped me into who I am today. Your Education and Beliefs I pursued a degree in environmental engineering and worked in the field for several years, driven by a desire to use my skills to make the world a better place. After pausing to raise my family, I felt a growing pull toward people as much as the planet. My faith deepened this conviction: to get to know those who were different from me and to show that we have more in common than what divides us. I’ve always seen myself as a connector, as I have always been one to look for similarities I have with people who are not like me. Growing up in Central Florida—where diversity was limited—I experienced the good, the bad, and the uncomfortable realities of difference. It took time, but when I eventually found my “people,†I knew building bridges was the work I wanted to dedicate myself to. When the towers fell on 9/11, as a Muslim American, the world I had known crumbled too. That’s when I made a conscious choice to be a bridge builder, a peacemaker, a practitioner of nonviolence. Whether facilitating groups for nonprofits, volunteering for the Muslim Women’s Organization of Orlando, or bringing her kids to a vigil around town, I believe meaningful friendships can be found in unexpected places. What or who inspired you to get involved in peace projects? One of my biggest inspirations is my dear friend Anna, who embodies what it means to lead with an open heart. She’s the reason I’m in this field today—showing me how to lean into uncomfortable conversations with people who are different, speak the truth with love, and model courage rooted in empathy. Together, we embarked on a peace-building journey. What began as a small women’s group blossomed into work with Preemptive Love, helping people around the world host their own Love Anyway Gatherings. Today, I continue this work as a Senior Officer for Community Engagement and Training at Search for Common Ground / Common Ground USA. I’m also deeply inspired by other peace heroes in my life, like my friend Diana, a veteran who chose to lay down her weapon in Iraq and now continues her commitment to peace through the Waging Peace Project, creating change both locally and globally. Search for Common Ground/Common Ground USA Founded in 1982, Search for Common Ground is the world’s largest dedicated peace-building organization. and was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2018. Search for Common Ground works to transform the way the world deals with conflict, moving from adversarial approaches toward collaborative problem-solving. We work with local partners to find culturally appropriate means to strengthen societies’​ capacity to deal with conflicts constructively: to understand the differences and act on the commonalities. www.cg-usa.org Our mission is to transform the way the world deals with conflict: away from adversarial approaches, towards cooperative solutions. We have developed a broad array of operational methods, collectively our “toolbox.â€â€‹ These include well-known conflict resolution techniques, such as mediation and facilitation, and less traditional ones, like TV productions, radio soap opera, and community organising. We have found that employing multiple tools increases their overall effectiveness. After realizing that the markers for violence and destabilization seen abroad is shown in our own American society, Search for Common Ground created Common Ground USA as the U.S.-focused ...
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