This conversation explores the pressing need to reimagine the role of teachers in education to enhance teacher retention, job satisfaction, and student outcomes. The discussion highlights the importance of collaboration among educators, the necessity of adapting to changing educational needs, and the challenges faced in implementing new teaching models. Key insights include the significance of leadership in fostering a supportive environment for teachers and the role of data in assessing the effectiveness of educational innovations.

Follow Twitter: @PrincipalGarden @hpeske@nctq.org @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd

Resource, Reimagining | state profiles

In 2022, Dr. Heather Peske was named NCTQ’s next President. She comes to NCTQ from her role as Senior Associate Commissioner for Instructional Support in the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (MA DESE) where she implemented policies and programs across teacher development, educator preparation, and curriculum and instruction that drove historic improvements for students—including record graduation rates, the highest rating NAEP performance, and dramatic increases in higher-education participation and success. After having started her career as an elementary teacher in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Dr. Peske served as Director of Teacher Quality at The Education Trust and later as the Vice President of Programs at Teach Plus. Over her three decades in education, she has been named a “Future Chief” by Chiefs for Change (2021), a Broad Academy Fellow (2019), and a recipient of the Governor Paul Cellucci Award for Leadership and Mentoring in State Government (2017). Dr. Peske earned her master’s degree and doctorate in Administration, Planning, and Social Policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree from Kenyon College with magna cum laude honors.

Dr. Peske is a coauthor of the award-winning book, Finders and Keepers: Helping New Teachers Survive and Thrive in Our Schools and co-editor of Learning from the Experts: Teacher Leaders on Solving America’s Education Challenges and has written reports and articles on teacher policy, teacher evaluation, alternative certification programs, new teachers’ experiences, and conceptions of career.

Liz Garden is currently the principal of the Henry P Clough Elementary School in Mendon, MA. She is the past President of MSAA. She is an Editorial Advisor for Principal Magazine and an NAESP Fellow for the Center for Innovative Leadership. She’s married to Dave, her musician husband and is mom to Emerson and Cayce.

How can we strengthen how we teach multilingual learners? We explore emerging best practices, including shifting from a deficit-based model, which focuses on what students can't do, to an asset-based model, which highlights students' strengths and abilities. Today, we discuss the need for continuous education, collaboration, and relationship-building at all levels, from teachers to administrators to central office staff.

Follow on Twitter: @debbiezacarian @delgadong94@DrRachaelGeorge @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd

Transforming Schools for Multilingual Learners: A Comprehensive Guide for Educators

Dr. Debbie Zacarian provides professional development and policy analyses for educators of culturally and linguistically diverse populations. An expert consultant for school districts, universities, and organizations nationally, she served the Massachusetts Parent Information Resource Center and Federation for Children with Special Needs.

With an advanced degree in clinical psychology and doctorate in educational policy, research, and administration, Debbie's written many books including the 2nd edition of Transforming Schools for Multilingual Learners: A Comprehensive Guide for Educators.

Altagracia H. Delgado, also known as Grace, has been in the education field for 28 years. In those years she has worked as a bilingual teacher, literacy coach, and school and central office administrator. She is an advocate for students in special populations and works in collaboration with multiple organizations to ensure appropriate services for children are in place. Grace is currently the Executive Director of Multilingual Services for Aldine ISD, in the Houston area. She is also an elected Board member of the Texas Association for Bilingual Education.

A welcoming classroom can reduce student absenteeism, a challenge exacerbated post-Covid. Listen in as we explore strategies like fostering positive peer interactions, and emphasizing community and respect. The conversation includes personal anecdotes demonstrating the power of a nurturing environment in engaging students. The participants emphasize the importance of personal connections, feedback, and ensuring every student feels validated and safe in the classroom. The episode highlights practical approaches to creating an inviting educational atmosphere and its significance in encouraging consistent student attendance.

Follow on Twitter: @MirPloMCPS @sgthomas1973 @DrRachaelGeorge @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd

Miriam Plotinsky is an instructional specialist with Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland, where she has taught and led for more than 20 years. She is the author of Teach More, Hover Less, Lead Like a Teacher and Writing Their Future Selves. She is also a National Board-Certified Teacher with additional certification in administration and supervision. She can be reached at www.miriamplotinsky.com

Dana Cole has been teaching high school language arts in the Walker County School District in rural northwest Georgia since 2005. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she began creating video lessons to help students catch up if they missed class, and has continued to make additional videos based on areas of student need and interest and is a current co-host of the Edchat podcast. youtube.com/danacoledares.

Shawn Thomas is in her 25th year of teaching in the largest county in Georgia. She has taught Kindergarten, Second and Third Grade, and ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages) K-5 and coaches new teachers. Shawn also hosts the We Just Want To Teach podcast.

Women dominate the ranks of classroom teachers but are not as broadly represented among school and district leaders. How can we support women school leaders and better use the unique qualities women can bring to leadership positions?

Follow on Twitter: @arriaga_trudy @DrDBL @DrStacieStanley @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd

Dr. Stacie L. Stanley, Dr. Delores Lindsey and Dr. Trudy Arriaga are the co-authors of the best selling book Leading While Female: A Culturally Proficient Response for Gender Equity.

Dr. Stacie Stanley is a fierce advocate for ensuring women are positioned to move into executive leadership roles – including a special focus on women of color. She has served as the Superintendent in the southwest metro area of the Twin Cities in MN since 2021. She has held a variety of education roles including math teacher, school principal, director of curriculum, assessment and instruction & prior to her recent appointment she served as the associate superintendent of Eden Prairie Schools and earned a doctorate degree from Bethel University in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where she researched the impact of intercultural development on K-6 administrative leadership practice. Dr. Stanley served as a contributing author for the text Innovative Voices in Education: Engaging diverse communities (2012) and also serves as a Senior Training Associate at the Center for Culturally Proficient Educational Practice.

Dr. Delores Lindsey, a former middle grades and high school teacher, assistant principal, and county office of education administrator and retired Associate Professor of Education at California State University, San Marcos, CA, focuses on developing culturally proficient leaders. Delores and her husband, Randy, co-founded The Center for Culturally Proficient Educational Practice. They developed a 10-day curriculum using the 4 Tools of Cultural Proficiency for equity leaders of schools and organizations.

Dr. Trudy Arriaga is a former public school superintendent in Ventura, CA and currently serves as a faculty member in the Graduate School of Education at Cal Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, CA. She is a national consultant in equitable leadership.

As we gear up to head back to school, we pause to think about the millions of students who fell between the cracks during the pandemic and did not return.  How do we find them, support them and engage them this school year?

Follow on Twitter: @ShantelMeek @ChildrensEquity @KarenDSouza4  @Eklundteaches @DrRachaelGeorge @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd

Shantel E. Meek is a professor of practice and the founding director of the Children's Equity Project (CEP) at Arizona State University. She manages strategic partnerships with CEP partners at 16 universities and non-profit organizations, policymakers, and national organizations, and sets the strategic direction of the CEP. Dr. Meek previously served as a consultant in early childhood policy and strategy at the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington D.C. where she advised senior staff on a range of federal and state equity and early childhood policy issues. Prior to founding the CEP, Dr. Meek served in the Obama Administration as a Senior Policy Advisor for Early Childhood Development at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and as Senior Policy Advisor for Education in the Domestic Policy Council at the White House. Dr. Meek holds a B.A. i n Psychology and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Family and Human Development from Arizona State University.

Karen D'Souza covers arts education, literacy, and early education. She is an award-winning writer who comes to EdSource after covering lifestyle, parenting, health, housing, education and the arts for the San Jose Mercury News. She is a four-time Pulitzer juror and her writing has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, San Francisco Chronicle and Seattle Times. She has an MA in journalism and a BA in political science and dramatic art from UC Berkeley.

Wendy Kiang-Spray is a Pupil Personnel Worker in Montgomery County, Maryland. She is proud to support students and families by removing barriers and providing access to school and community resources. The best part of her job is building relationships with families.

Abbie Eklund is an educator with twenty years experience in the field, including roles as a classroom teacher, district based teacher leader, and school administrator. She currently serves as an elementary school principal in Elgin (IL) School District U-46.

What do we need to understand the unique experiences, perspectives, and needs of school staff from the Silent Generation to Generation Z? Join us as we dig into what it takes to foster collaboration and empower every member of our school family to thrive.

Follow on Twitter: @DrRachaelGeorge @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd @jean_twenge.

Jean M. Twenge, Ph.D. is a professor of psychology at San Diego State University, and she frequently publishes papers in academic journals, but she knows how to write for and speak to a general reader – she’s a frequent guest on national tv news and radio programs. Jean is the author of more than 180 scientific publications and 7 books, including Generations: The Real Differences between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers and Silents—and What They Mean for America’s Future.

It's hiring season, and principals are looking at creative ways to fill those teaching positions. It seems like a good time to take a second look at the four-day school week. Many schools have made the switch this year. How was their experience? Can a shorter school week help us attract and keep teachers in this climate? What have we learned?

Follow on Twitter: @Paul_N_Thompson @TheresaStager@dianalambert @DrRachaelGeorge @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd

Paul Thompson is an Associate Professor of Economics in the School of Public Policy at Oregon State University. His research focuses on the effects of four-day school weeks, financial intervention systems, and changes in local and state funding for K-12 education.

Theresa Stager is a seasoned K-12 administrator, currently serving as Principal at Saline High School (MI). She is a Board Member for MASSP (Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals), a Corwin author, and a frequent contributor to podcasts, articles, and books. Theresa is a doctoral student in Leadership and Innovation at Arizona State University and is committed to supporting staff and students and mentoring leaders.

Diana Lambert covers teachers and teaching for EdSource. Before coming to EdSource, Diana was an education reporter for The Sacramento Bee for more than a decade. She has won numerous awards, including the 2017 James Madison Freedom of Information Award from the Society of Professional Journalism, and both a first-place honor for investigative reporting from The Inland Press Association and the McClatchy President’s Award in 2016. Before becoming an education reporter Diana was a bureau chief for the Sacramento Bee.

Many educators see work-life balance as a pipe dream detached from the realities of teaching. It’s certainly among the most elusive goals in education. But despite the complex forces pulling us out of balance every day, some educators have found ways to bring more stability, joy, and peace to their challenging work. Here’s what they say works.

Follow on Twitter: @JessicaCabeen @SarahSajohnson @DrRachaelGeorge @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70b.

Jessica Cabeen is the Principal of Alternative Education Programs in Austin, Minnesota. Jessica was named the 2021 ED Dive National Principal of the year, 2017 Minnesota National Distinguished Principal of the Year, and was awarded the NAESP/VINCI Digital Leader of Early Learning Award in 2016. She is a NAESP Middle Level Fellow and a Future Ready Principal. Jessica is the author of Hacking Early Learning and co-author of Balance Like a Pirate, Unconventional Leadership, Lead with Grace: Leaning into the Soft Skills of Leadership and Principal in Balance: Leading at Work and Living a Life.

Sarah Johnson has led in rural Pk-12 schools in Northwestern Wisconsin since 2004 in teacher leadership roles and as a building principal at all levels. She is a leadership coach for excellent principals across the country with J Casas and Associates and hosts the In AWE Podcast where she amplifies women to empower a community. Sarah is co-author of Balance Like a Pirate: Going Beyond Work-Life Balance to Ignite Passion and Thrive as an Educator and author of Lead with FAITH: Building Strong Foundations So You Can Rise Up, Slay Fear, and Serve Well. She is deeply passionate about serving principals to live full lives that transcend the title.

RELATED RESOURCES:
Balance Like a Pirate: Going Beyond Work-Life Balance to Ignite Passion and Thrive as an Educator
Lead with FAITH: Building a Strong Foundation So You Can Rise, Slay Fear, and Serve Well