Impacting the Classroom

Can the outdated laws meant to protect children in the digital world keep up with the rapidly advancing technology? Join us as we engage in an enlightening discussion with Kris Perry, a passionate advocate for early childhood safety. Kris shares his unique journey from growing up in a family of educators to becoming a social worker and child abuse investigator. We explore the critical need for upd...

How could strengthening Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) impact literacy? And does it? New research shows it does. This conversation, hosted originally as a webinar through EdWeb, covers new research out of CASEL that shows how SEL supports literacy development, along with Teachstone’s evidence of meaningful adult-child interactions in the classroom. This panel of experts will discuss how SEL c...

Unlock the secrets of effective leadership and revolutionary education in our latest episode featuring Darrell Brown from ITAV (It Takes a Village) Schools. Discover how Darrell, as the Director of Teaching, Learning, and Quality Practice, utilizes servant leadership to build trust-based relationships with educators and overcome challenges like outdated technology. Learn how these innovative appro...

Welcome to another enlightening episode of Impacting the Classroom. Today, we are joined by Oliver Spurgeon III, an esteemed education policy advocate with a unique perspective shaped by his diverse educational journey and extensive experience on Capitol Hill. In this episode, we dig into the intricacies of education policies from both the Republican and Democratic viewpoints, explore the cultural...

Engaging children in science and engineering long before high school is important. It needs to start at much younger ages. But how can educators make that happen? And how can CLASS help?  Today, you’ll hear from Dr. Daryl Greenfield, a professor of Psychology and Pediatrics at the University of Miami, and Veronica Fernandez, Teachstone Senior Director of Social Impact. They’ll discuss their resear...

Welcome to another insightful episode of "Impacting the Classroom," where we delve into effective class implementation strategies with Matt Owens, the Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives at Teachstone. In this episode, Matt shares his journey from being an 8th-grade writing teacher to playing a pivotal role at Teachstone. We'll explore the newly developed, user-friendly CLASS Implementation G...

In this episode, we uncover the practical steps taken by the Fairfax County Public Schools team to introduce the CLASS tool in special education settings. Jess, Cindy, and Christy share their experiences addressing teacher hesitation and bias, providing effective training, and fostering empathy through coaching.  Through individual and group coaching methods, they highlight the importance of activ...

Can the quality of early childhood education be significantly improved through targeted coaching and data-driven strategies? Join us as Lynn Cook, Coach Specialist, and Jenny Fleming, Program Quality Specialist, share their expertise and success stories from Nebraska's Step Up to Quality program. They reveal the planning and robust foundations that underpin the program, including the recruitment,...

On today’s episode of Impacting the Classroom, we have a fascinating conversation with Kris Meyers, the Director of Quality Measurement and Improvement at the Virginia Department of Education. Kris sheds light on the Virginia Quality Birth-to-Five System (VQB5) and the transformative role of the CLASS® tool in early childhood education. Listen in as we explore the substantial changes brought by Vi...

In this episode, we explore Teach for America's strategies for addressing the national teacher shortage with Grant Van Eaton and Robin Greatrex. Grant, a Senior Research Scientist, and Robin, a Senior Managing Director of Teacher Leadership, share their combined research and data insights in supporting and retaining educators.    The episode delves into Teach for America's unique recruitment model...

In today’s episode, we reconnect with Grant Van Eaton and Robin Greatrex from Teach for America, shining a spotlight on their dedicated efforts to advance teacher development and promote an equitable education system. In our discussion, Grant and Robin unpack the significant strides taken since their last visit, sharing the triumphs of their CLASS system in enhancing teacher observations and coach...

Norway has long been recognized for its progressive approach to early childhood education. The country places a significant emphasis on creating nurturing environments for its youngest citizens, offering a glimpse into a system where the well-being and development of children are of utmost importance. In this episode, we invite Ståle Gerhard of FUS Kindergartens to shed light on the pioneering str...

In today’s episode, we are joined by Aven Ford from the Children's Coalition for Northeast Louisiana. We discuss CLASS® and its influence on teaching practices. Aven shares the strategic implementation of CLASS observations, the crucial use of the Early Childhood Portal, and the instrumental role of retired educators. We explore effective methods for securing stakeholder buy-in and discuss the imp...

Welcome to a new season of Impacting the Classroom. In today’s season opener, we're joined by Bridget Hamre, Teachstone CEO and CLASS author, who sheds light on how educators can enrich their teaching practices to foster whole student development.      Throughout this episode, we will uncover the critical yet often overlooked connection between a student's emotional well-being and their learning a...

In today’s episode, we continue our discussion with Anna Kresse and Mackenzie Whipps from the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center. This time, we go beyond the cost of quality childcare and examine the incredible returns on investment it can provide. The science behind the development of children shows us the profound impact of having the right people and settings around them.  In our conversation,...

In today’s episode, we explore the intricacies of the childcare system with distinguished guests, Jen Huffman and Anna Kresse from the Prenatal-to 3-Policy Impact Center at Vanderbilt University.  Focusing on the enormous ripple effects of investing in affordable, high-quality childcare, our guests highlight the far-reaching benefits of such investments, including enabling thousands of mothers to...

This episode deeply delves into the complexities of special education and intersectionality with Cheryl Poe. Cheryl Poe is the founder and Executive Director of Advocating 4 Kids, Inc., a Special Education Advocacy organization that provides resources, information, and workshops to parents and professionals with a special focus on addressing the needs of Black and Brown children with disabilities....

How can educators use trauma-informed strategies as they work to engage with the families of their students? In today’s episode of our podcast, we dive deep into the transformation of family engagement in education amidst the challenges posed by the pandemic. Today’s guest is Sean M. Bryant, Director of Professional Development and Adult Learning with the Child Lab at Yale University. With Sean's...

What does social-emotional learning really mean, and why is it so important? In today’s episode, we explore the transformative power of social-emotional learning (SEL) with renowned experts Dr. Bridget Hamre and Erin Gruwell. Join us as we delve into the true meaning of SEL, its impact, and some critiques.  Erin shares her experiences, including her story portrayed in the Freedom Writers movie. We...

In this episode, we explore Teach for America's strategies for addressing the national teacher shortage with Grant Van Eaton and Robin Greatrex. Grant, a Senior Research Scientist, and Robin, a Senior Managing Director of Teacher Leadership, share their combined research and data insights in supporting and retaining educators.    The episode delves into Teach for America's unique recruitment model...

This week we’re bringing you a special recast from our sister podcast, Teaching with CLASS®. You’ll hear from a very CLASSy school, who shares their advice for creating a school with one shared goal: it’s all about interactions.  What does it look like for CLASS to be fully integrated into the curriculum? How can coaches get teachers excited about that, and what impact does it have on the lives of...

CLASS® is more than just observations. To really see the principles work for you and your students, what you should be thinking about is building a CLASS culture that permeates the school all year long. How can program leaders do that?  In today’s episode, you’ll hear from Dr. Mike Jacobs, Principal at Apple Tree Early Learning. He’s made building a culture of CLASS a foundational principle at his...

The educational workforce is changing, and going through a global pandemic only heightened and accelerated those changes. Today, we’ll talk about the kinds of changes that are happening in schools and classrooms and how the workforce is adapting and evolving along with the classrooms. Melia Slinger, the ECE Program Director at Waldorf University, and Dr. Freda Barnett-Braddock, the Program Directo...

Implementing CLASS® can be a challenge, especially in special education and inclusive settings. Teachers may initially feel they don’t have the time to handle or have other struggles that get in the way. Today’s guests discuss the implementation of CLASS in a special education setting to show how it can work.  In today’s episode, you’ll hear from Early Childhood Special Education Coaches Jess Schu...

Impacting The Classroom – Why Join the Educator Workforce How can students get on the path to becoming educators, and why should they? In today’s show, you’ll learn about a program in Broward County, FL, that puts high school students on that path by allowing them to finish high school with their CDA credentials.  Our guest, Deborah Covard, teaches high schoolers as they learn to work with prescho...