SPS Digital Learning Hour

This week's podcast we interviewed Denise Cote, a Middle School English Teacher from Springfield’s Conservatory of the Arts. Mike and Denise talked all about the use of technology in the district for the last 17 years! During the interview you will learn how Denise first adopted technology in her classrooms and how that technology continues to enhance her teaching. Denise has also been a proponent...

Welcome to the start of a new school year. For the first episode of the year we spoke with Sarah DeFeo. This interview was recorded near the end of last year and we thought it would be a great way to start this year. Sarah teaches at White Street Elementary School and has been there for the last eight years. Sarah came to teaching 2nd grade as a career change. Throughout the interview we discussed...

We here at the SPS Digital Learning Hour love to spotlight teachers and this week’s episode is no different. I met Desiree Robinson from Glenwood Elementary. Desiree is a true homegrown teacher here in Springfield. You can hear her love for the city of Springfield in the way she talks about her job. She is a shining example of how you can go from being a para-educator to a teacher to a Math Instru...

Here at the SPS Digital Learning Hour we are excited to bring you this week’s episode featuring Kathryn Runyan from White Street Elementary. Having taught various grade levels throughout the last 22 years, Kathryn has used a wide variety of technology tools that we get into in this episode. Back in 2002 schools were still using floppy discs!!!! Throughout this episode we learn about what technolog...

Here at the SPS Digital Learning Hour we are excited to bring you this week’s episode featuring KatieAnne DeMars from Springfield Virtual School. Having taught various grade levels throughout the last 22 years, which included time as a School Administrator KatieAnne brings a wealth of knowledge to Springfield’s Newest School.  Throughout this episode we learn about what technology was like ba...

When it comes to interviews I hit the jackpot. I met with NJ Rivilis from the Springfield Conservatory of the Arts. NJ is a new teacher to our district, but I think that we are the lucky ones. As an Electrical Engineer Graduate, NJ has an interesting path to the classroom. NJ has a lot of experience outside of the classroom working at Mass General in a research role and now they are in the cl...

This is the final week for our series on Computer Science in Middle School. In the previous weeks we heard from principals and teachers, this week we will hear from their students. I met with students from Zanetti, Kiley Prep and STEM Academy. Listen to these students' experiences as they discuss their favorite parts of computer science in their classrooms. These students are just a small represen...

For this weeks episode we dive into a three part series featuring our Middle School Computer Science Students, Teachers, and Principals. I met with a few of our teachers for this episode. I talked with Melissa Zeitz of Alfred G Zanetti Montessori School, Alva Laster, Jamie Carens and Gary Burgess of STEM Middle Academy and Lia Ashe Simmer of Kiley Prep Middle School. These teachers are are leading...

For this weeks episode we dive into a three part series featuring our Middle School Computer Science Students, Teachers, and Principals. I met with three of our principals for this episode. I talked with Principals Tara Clark of Alfred G Zanetti Montessori School, Luis Martinez of STEM Middle Academy and Julia St. Martin of Kiley Prep Middle School. These principals are are leading the way in brin...

For our latest episode I met with Dr. T. Alan Bush, the Dean of Student at Kiley Prep, and former Middle School Science Teacher at John F. Kennedy Middle School. We had an enjoyable conversation on how Science and Math are connected and how that can help your students. You’ll also hear my dad joke about math, feel free to adjust and use it. I was thinking about summer when I came up with it. You’l...

In this week’s podcast episode, I met with Joanna Mineo from Brightwood Elementary School here in Springfield. Joanna is a newish to the teaching world, having graduated a few years ago and now she is doing a fantastic job teaching. Check out to hear all about her experiences as a new teacher and learning how to teach during COVID. Plus, you’ll have to check out how Joanna likes to take care of he...

For this weeks podcast we meet with Lori Spiro from Alice B. Beal Elementary School here in Springfield. During our conversation Lori spoke about teaching at various schools and various grade levels. Lori is another one of our teachers who have moved from their classroom position to the brand new CS/TC teacher position. This position was created this school year to ensure that Computer Science is...

Welcome Back to the 2021-2022 School Year. To kick off this year's podcast we meet with Erin Demarest from Milton Bradley Elementary School here in Springfield. During our conversation you can hear all about what it was like to teach 2nd grade and then how she made the move to Springfield's new CS/TC teacher position. This position was created this school year to ensure that Computer Science is ta...

In the penultimate episodes of the 2020-2021 school year, I interviewed Kathryn Chace from Springfield Conservatory of the Arts Middle and High School. She is an Instructional Leader and an AP Statistics teacher. Throughout many of her years teaching Kathryn always seemed to be a step ahead with Technology, you might even say she was an EdTech DIYer (not sure if that's a thing but it's a great way...

In the latest episode of the SPS Digital Learning Hour I met with Alex Freedman from John J Duggan Academy. This award-winning teacher is doing exceptional work in his school. Pre-COVID-19 he was already preparing the teachers he works with for Digital Learning. Microsoft Teams was the tool of choice at his school. Come and learn all about everything he's doing at his school, along with some aweso...

We're back! In the latest episode of the SPS Digital Learning Hour I met with Alyson Santerre from Milton Bradley Elementary School. Come and learn all about her journey with technology in the classroom and her growth as a classroom teacher to be a leader in her building with the use of technology. Hear some great ideas for teaching reading remotely and ways that you can continue to use best pract...

With this week's episode we jump into module three of the very popular book, The Distance Learning Playbook, Grades K-12: Teaching for Engagement and Impact in Any Setting by Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey, John Hattie. With the SPS Digital Learning Hour podcast, we are talking our learning out loud. If you do not own this book, get it now and join us on the journey of discovery. You will also hear my...

If you missed it in Episode 103 we meet with various teachers, students and parents from Liberty Elementary School in Springfield to discuss Minecraft in the classroom. When I was talking with everyone I quickly realized that I needed to share the whole interview with the teachers, as they gave me so much good stuff but I didn't want to make a 2 hour episode, I'm not Joe Rogan. So I am producing t...

In this week's episode we visit with Teachers, Students and even Parents at Liberty Elementary School to discuss how, as an entire community, they have adopted Minecraft Education. As a Microsoft district we provide Minecraft for Education for all schools, at a district level, we are thrilled with Liberty that they have taken advantage of our Microsoft Partnership. Liberty Elementary is also a Sho...

In the latest episode of the SPS Digital Learning Hour I met with Kristyn Brannigan, classroom teacher from Beal Elementary. Come and learn all about her journey, which took her from teaching in Springfield to all around the world and back again. Hear some great ideas for teaching reading remotely to younger students and ways that you can take care of yourself. I loved chatting with Kristyn and I...

In this week’s episode we met with Catherine Murphy, a Kindergarten Teacher from Arthur T. Talmadge Elementary School. Catherine is doing some amazing work in the classroom. During this magical year, she introduces many students to what school is all about. As a CSForAll teacher, she integrates a lot of technology into her class pre-COVID, which excites her students throughout the year. If you hav...

We did it! We've hit 100 episodes! This week we interviewed Arturo De Bourbon, technology teacher and Tech Coordinator at Samuel Bowles Elementary School. Listen to how he got his start in education and the way he is keeping morning messages going through this remote time. You can hear his inspiring story here at the SPS Digital Learning Hour Podcast. Tools mentioned: Flipgrid: https://info.flipgr...

With this week's episode we jump into module two of the very popular book, The Distance Learning Playbook, Grades K-12: Teaching for Engagement and Impact in Any Setting by Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey, John Hattie. With the SPS Digital Learning Hour podcast, we are talking our learning out loud. If you do not own this book, get it now and join us on the journey of discovery. You will also hear my t...

In this week's episode we met with Liberty Elementary Teacher, Karen Potter. Karen has been teaching for 20+ years now all at Liberty. Karen has taught 1st grade for most of her time. Come hear some marvelous stories about her time, things that she is doing now with her students and her strategies for taking care of yourself. Tools mentioned: Bee-Bots: https://www.terrapinlogo.com/bee-bot-family.h...

In this week's episode we met with Sumner Ave Elementary Teacher Liam Bevan. Liam teaches Science to the entire school. Learn how he came to education and the ways he is finding success in the classroom. Tools mentioned: Stemscopes Brightspace Unified Classroom Schoology Peardeck Nearpod Classkick Microsoft Whiteboard Zoom Microsoft Teams Document Camera a la iPhone Flipgrid PHet Simulation Music:...