The Learner-Centered Collaborative Podcast

Bryanna Hanson, Learner-Centered Collaborative’s Director of Learning Design, delves into her educational journey and her commitment to transforming assessment and grading practices. Bryanna’s teaching career began with enthusiasm but soon encountered the constraints of conventional grading and curriculum standards. With a foundation rooted in a genuine passion for learning and an early realizatio...

A.J. Juliani, author, speaker, and educator, shares his insights and experiences on creating meaningful and relevant learning experiences for young people. And, how doing so is evolving in the age of AI. Key topics covered include: 🏈 Drawing parallels between effective coaching practices and effective teaching practices, such as focusing on skill development and nurturing a love for the process r...

Dr. Stephanie Buelow, Associate Professor of Literacy Education at the University of Hawaii, shares her experiences and insights as an educator aimed at putting learners at the center through literacy instruction and teacher development. Stephanie discusses key moments that shaped her teaching philosophy, including the power of student conversation and letting students take the lead with technolog...

Sonn Sam, National Director of Partnerships at Big Picture Learning, discusses his experiences and insights on creating learner-centered education systems. Sonn shares how his experiences as a refugee from Cambodia shaped his educational journey and how he did not feel seen or supported in traditional school environments. He found mentors and purpose through community programs focused on his inter...

Nerel Winter, CEO of Bostonia Global in Cajon Valley, CA shares his experiences and insights on creating a learner-centered high school within a traditional district system. Nerel discusses his background as a musician who fell into education and became disillusioned by the conventional school system's focus on college admissions over personal purpose and relationships. This led him to envisio...

In this episode, host Katie Martin talks with Melissa Agudelo, the co-principal of Lincoln High School in San Diego, about her experiences and insights as an educator and leader aimed at putting students at the center of learning. Melissa shares how she got into education through Teach for America in the 1990s and the impact of seeing disaggregated student data under No Child Left Behind, which ma...

In the latest episode of The Learner-Centered Collaborative Podcast, Marlon Styles takes a seat in the hosting chair to interview Dr. Cory Steiner, Superintendent of Northern Cass School District in North Dakota. Together, they explore the district's last decade of work transforming to a learner-centered, competency-based education system. Cory explains the impetus for change, shifting mindset...

Principal Tina Meglich shares the journey of Conway Academy of Expeditionary Learning to create an authentic learner-centered environment. Learn how they built a shared vision that honors student voice, cultivates learner agency, embraces an expeditionary learning model, and designs authentic assessments.

In this episode, high school English teacher Monte Syrie shares his experience and perspective on assessing student learning without traditional grading. Syrie discusses how he started "Project 180," where he gave every student an A at the beginning of the school year. He found that removing grades allowed him to focus on authentic learning and feedback. Students were motivated to learn...

Kirsten Jones, author of Raising Empowered Athletes, joins The Learner-Centered Collaborative Podcast to share her perspective on how youth sports culture has changed over time and what parents can do to ensure their young athletes can develop lifelong knowledge and skills on the field, while avoiding burnout and remembering we play sports because it's fun. She emphasizes moving away from the...

From high school dropout to teacher and social worker to published author and founder of First Quarter Strategies, Stephanie Malia Krauss knows a thing or two about the good, the bad, and the possibility of education and learning. Listen in as Dr. Katie Martin explores Krauss's latest thinking found in her book, Whole Child, Whole Life, which explores the core question: What do young people ne...

If you're looking for a pick-me-up this week, this episode is a must-listen. Dr. Eric Chagala joins Dr. Katie Martin for an energizing conversation focused on his nearly 10 years leading Vista Innovation & Design Academy (VIDA) in Southern California. In his work at VIDA, Eric changed a middle school (formerly Washington MS) from a place learners hoped to be bussed away from to a learning...

Learn how Buffy Cushman-Patz leads learner-centered innovation at SEEQS—a middle school focused on empowering learners to become stewards of planet Earth and healthy, effective citizens of the world. In this insightful conversation, Buffy describes SEEQS' unique model and how their assessment practice keeps the humanity of the learner at the center. If you want to inspire middle schoolers to f...

This week, Katie Martin has a conversation with Dr. Tom Burton, Superintendent of Princeton City Schools in Ohio. In the episode, they discuss Tom's approach to empowering each student for success in college, career, and life, as well as his efforts to build partnerships with the business community. Tom shares with us how many of the perspectives gained by educating at the middle school level...

Join Dr. Katie Martin this week as she speaks with Tom Schimmer , a leading expert in assessment for learning, sound grading practices, and educational leadership. In this episode, they discuss the importance of effective assessment and how it can drive student learning. Tom shares his insights on how educators can implement sound grading practices and how to provide effective feedback to students...

In this week’s episode of the Learner-Centered Podcast, Katie Martin speaks with Shane Safir, an educator and leader in school transformation. They discuss their shared interest in creating equitable learning environments and dive into the ideas presented in Safir's book, "Street Data: A Next Generation Model for Equity, Pedagogy, and School Transformation." Shane has over 20 years o...

Jenn Maichin joins Katie Martin to discuss the benefits of challenging learners and evoking a growth mindset. “Every single human on this planet has the capacity to grow their ability, their knowledge, their skills, and even their intelligence, regardless of their starting point, if they believe they can.” For almost 27 years, Jenn has worked as a special education teacher for middle school studen...

Starr Sackstein joins Katies Martin in the season 2 premier of the Learner Centered Collaborative Podcast as they discuss empowering learners to advocate for themselves, helping learners to own their learning process, and what effective assessment looks like in a learner-centered environment. Starr is an experienced educator, consultant, coach, and speaker with over 20 years of experience. She rec...

"Authentic learning is about real world learning.” How can we work with our students to make meaning together? Strategic Partnerships Lead Bryanna Hanson joins The Learner-Centered Collaborative Podcast in the latest special edition episode to talk about all things authentic learning. In this episode, she’ll dive into the importance of leaning into what students are learning outside of the classro...

“We want the conversations that are happening in the classroom to extend outside of that. They don’t end there.” VP of Community Engagement Kelsey Payne interviews Partner Success Lead Lázaro Sánchez in a special edition episode of the Learner-Centered Collaborative Podcast to uncover the power of learner agency and how it can be used to democratize classrooms. Let's dive in!

“When you know your why, you can support and you can defend anything!” VP of Community Engagement Kelsey Payne interviews Director of Strategic Partnerships Bri Hodges in a special edition episode of the Learner-Centered Collaborative Podcast to talk specifically about leadership in education, and how we can support our leaders as they shift towards LC learning and education. We’re going to dive i...

Curious what a Framework for the Future is and how it can help your school or district move towards a more learner-centered future? The secret behind many schools and districts making progress toward clear, shared, and aligned learner-centered outcomes is a Framework for the Future that actively guides a learning community's decisions, experiences, and resources. VP of Community Engagement Kelsey...

“Agency is a critical aspect of learner-centered schools. But we have constraints. We have goals. Schools are very structured and organized.” Devin Vodicka joins Katie Martin on the Learner-Centered Collaborative Podcast to discuss Devin’s personal experience as a young learner, the origins of Learner-Centered Collaborative, what it means to be learner-centered, and so much more!! Today, Devin is...

Henry J. Turner is an award-winning high school principal, author, and nationally renowned speaker.  He is most proud of the collaborative community he works within to empower students to fight hate and bigotry in their school. Pointing to his unwavering commitment to equity and a student-centered culture, Henry was named 2020 K12 Principal of the Year by K–12 Dive. Henry is the author of the...

Michelle Bangara joins Katie Martin on this week’s episode of the podcast to talk about her experiences as a middle school teacher, flexibility in the classroom, and shifting gears to promote the best outcomes for learners. Michelle is a middle school teacher at Arcadia School District in California. She approaches educating her students with high expectations, strong beliefs in building knowledge...