Most of us agree that students experienced something extraordinary over the last two years. What we’re still trying to sort out is how to talk about it, and whether what we call it really matters. In this episode, we try to close the school year by reconciling the terms learning loss and learning recovery and what it all means in practice for students, teachers, and school leaders.

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Related Resources – MicrosoftEDU: See how schools worldwide are collaborating to transform learning and deliver sustained success

Amanda Young is Principal at Education Imagine Academy, Wichita Public Schools’ virtual school program, The Academy has been selected as a Microsoft Showcase School for its vision and its commitment to educational transformation. EI Academy is the only school in Kansas and the first virtual program anywhere to earn the distinction. EI Academy joins an exclusive network of schools for innovative lessons with students and collaboration with teachers from around the world. Education Imagine Academy provides flexibility and choice for students to learn in an online and in-person environment. Project-based learning, real-world experiences and community projects, along with weekly 1:1 mentoring with teachers and staff to help guide students to be Future Ready. All students are provided a free device and internet service.

One thing school leaders discovered over the last two years is that leading staff through ambiguity and chaos requires a unique skill set that most of us were never taught. In this episode, we identify specific skills and strategies for hiring and supporting staff who can thrive in the uncertainty of the education landscape ahead.

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Related Resources – MicrosoftEDU: See how schools worldwide are collaborating to transform learning and deliver sustained success

Michelle Zimmerman has taught students from ages 3-16. She received her Ph.D. in learning sciences and human development from the College of Education at the University of Washington in Seattle, and her research has been recognized with multiple awards. She currently leads the ongoing re-envisioning at Renton Prep Christian School in Renton, Washington. Microsoft selected Renton Prep as the first K-12 Microsoft Flagship School in the United States in September 2018. Since 2007, Zimmerman has presented around the world for groups including the American Education Research Association, UCLA CRESST, ISTE, NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering, New York Academy of Sciences and New York Academy of Medicine, as well as at multiple edtech conferences and universities.

We had just finished recording an episode with Justin Reich, director of the MIT Teaching Systems Lab. After our guest left the discussion, some pointed questions from our producer sparked a gut-level and starkly candid conversation about the myths and limits of education technology. It was a raw and uncommonly frank discussion between the hosts that was not intended for the public. But our producer was still recording and captured the entire conversation. All three hosts agreed that this discussion on the “true capabilities” of education technology was uncomfortable, but it was exceptionally real and relevant, so we agreed to release the core of it.

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Related Resources – MicrosoftEDU: See how schools worldwide are collaborating to transform learning and deliver sustained success

How can school leaders scale mentoring and coaching across multiple schools? Our guest is doing it, and today she shares what she’s learned about what works.

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Related Resources – MicrosoftEDU: See how schools worldwide are collaborating to transform learning and deliver sustained success

Marsha Wagner completed her B.A. in Elementary Education and M.Ed. in Educational Leadership. She began her teaching career as a first grade teacher, transitioned to become a fifth grade teacher, and later became a Math Coach. She served as an Assistant Principal for 6 years. Marsha currently serves as the proud Principal at Pembroke Lakes Elementary. She is proud that Pembroke Lakes is the only Microsoft Showcase School in the Broward County Public School District. Marsha is passionate about building relationships, technology integration, and ensuring students receive personalized instruction.

Join us for a candid, unvarnished, and informative discussion about what education technology can do and what it can't.  Our guest identifies and clarifies the conditions under which educational technology is transformational and the essential elements that must also be in place to see any significant impact from technology adoption.

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Related Resources – MicrosoftEDU: See how schools worldwide are collaborating to transform learning and deliver sustained success

Justin Reich is an educational researcher interested in the future of learning in a networked world. He is the director of the MIT Teaching Systems Lab which aspires to design, implement and research the future of teacher learning. He is the author of Failure to Disrupt: Why Technology Alone Can't Transform Education from Harvard University Press. He is the host of the TeachLab podcast, and five open online courses on EdX including Sorting Truth from Fiction: Civic Online Reasoning and Becoming a More Equitable Educator: Mindsets and Practices. Justin is a former fellow and faculty associate of the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University.

Most of us have never seen a period where we need inspiration more than today. This is especially true in our school districts, schools, and classrooms. Join us as we talk with the headteacher at a showcase school in the UK about how he cultivates and spreads inspiration throughout his staff and students.

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Related Resources – MicrosoftEDU: See how schools worldwide are collaborating to transform learning and deliver sustained success

Tim Clarke is Headteacher of Cornerstone CE Primary in Hampshire (UK). Cornerstone is a Microsoft Showcase School: and focuses on 'learning always and all ways'. Tim is an MIE Expert, an MIE Master Trainer, and a Microsoft Certified Educator. He blogs about educational leadership and learning at timjumpclarke.wordpress.com.Cornerstone is focused on 'Growing an Inspirational Learning Community.' We define this as: Together, inspiring a love of learning; Encouraging and empowering partnerships; Nurturing a Growth Mindset.

If there is a magic bullet in education, it’s psychological safety. Join us as we unpack how the best school leaders create psychological safety for teachers, staff, and students. Our guest and co-hosts explore why some school cultures feel safe, while others don’t, and why knowing how to create psychological safety is a leadership skill that is more critical now than ever before.

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Related Resources – MicrosoftEDU: See how schools worldwide are collaborating to transform learning and deliver sustained success

Robert Todd helps organizations improve productive collaboration by Integrating principles from evolutionary, behavioral and cognitive science to nudge pro-social behavior and grow social capital. Robert currently, Chief Innovation Officer at Emtrain. He believes that leading with integrity and treating every employee with respect is a winning strategy. Robert joined Emtrain after building innovative learning technology solutions at LinkedIn, McKinsey & Co, and Digitalthink.

For many schools and school leaders, budget constraints and limited resources are the big barriers to greater student performance.  In this episode, we talk with a school leader who transcended extreme budget limitations about how she created a model school that attracted interest from around the globe.

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Related Resources – MicrosoftEDU: See how schools worldwide are collaborating to transform learning and deliver sustained success
Paramjeet Kaur Dhillon is the Founder Principal of Kamla Nehru Public School, Phagwara, India since December 2006. Post Graduate in Physics, she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education for which she was awarded a Gold Medal for standing first in the University. With an experience of 26 years as a Principal, she has visited 14 countries. She is Microsoft Innovative Educator Trainer and Fellow, Microsoft Certified Educator, Adobe Education Leader, Wakelet Leader & Ambassador. Globally validated Master Trainer on 21st Century Core Skills, by British Council, U.K., she is also a British Council's School Ambassador. She has trained 3000+ educators from all over India being the resource Person of Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi. Paramjeet Kaur Dhillon initiated IT transformations in Kamla Nehru Public School, with 1:1 Anytime, Anywhere learning.  Phagwara is the Winner of the Microsoft Showcase School Biggest Impact award for the ASIA Pacific Region for the year 2020-2021 and was awarded the Microsoft Education Global Partner of the Year for 2021.