More Than A Test

In today's episode, we have a special guest with us, Denise Eide, the CEO of Logic of English.  Eide has a fascinating background as a former teacher turned CEO, and her company operates uniquely, focusing on providing great products and support without sales pressure. In this episode, we'll dive into Eide's journey from teacher to CEO and how she discovered the logic of English. We'll also explor...

In today's episode, host Laura Glaab is joined by a true education trailblazer, Dr. Tauheedah Baker-Jones. As the Chief Equity and Social Justice Officer for Atlanta Public Schools, Tauheeda h shares her remarkable journey, from her initial desire to become a principal to her love for teaching and commitment to creating an inclusive environment for all students and families. She leads with grace,...

Today we have a very special guest joining us. Dr. Doris Baker, a renowned expert in bilingual education, is here to share her insights and experiences on supporting English learners, especially those from Latino backgrounds. From her experiences teaching Spanish at all levels to her groundbreaking research on the connections between Spanish and English language skills, Dr. Baker has dedicated her...

In today's episode, we have a very special guest joining us, Susana Cordova. Susana is an accomplished educator and advocate for educational reform, currently serving as the Commissioner of Education of Colorado's public schools. We dive into a wide range of topics, including the significance of treating people with respect during job changes, the importance of building strong foundations in early...

In today's episode, we have a very special guest joining us: Dr. Shannon Trejo. Dr. Trejo shares insights and experiences as the Chief Academic Officer at Dallas ISD, such as the importance of being visible in “the work” and actively supporting teachers and campus leaders. We'll dive into topics such as the science of reading, student success, and the challenges faced in education. Dr. Trejo will...

In today's episode, we have a dynamic duo joining us, Dr. Scott Muri and Jaime Miller, of Ector County Independent School District. From engaging in extracurricular activities to navigating political distractions, Dr. Muri and Jaime Miller reveal the intentional work they are doing to prioritize the needs of their students. Alongside our host, Laura Glaab, they explore the power of mentorship, str...

In this episode, we are joined by the brilliant Dr. Brianna Yamasaki, an expert in the field of bilingualism and literacy. Dr. Yamasaki shares insights into the challenges and advantages of bilingual education, focusing on the importance of understanding language abilities in young children. Dr. Yamasaki's work highlights the disparities within the US education system when it comes to supporting m...

In today's episode, we have the honor of speaking with Dr. Susan Enfield, a highly accomplished superintendent with a deep passion for education. Dr. Enfield shares valuable insights on the importance of executive function capabilities, self-regulation, and building strong connections within school communities. We delve into her strategic plan for the Washoe County School District and the transfor...

In today's episode, we are honored to have special guest Iranetta Wright, Superintendent & CEO of Cincinnati Public Schools, joining our host Laura Glaab. Wright shares her insights on the importance of parents and caregivers in the school-home connection, emphasizing the need for engagement and involvement in both positive and negative aspects of a student's education. She also discusses her...

In today's episode, we have a special guest joining us, Dr. Claude Goldenberg, a renowned expert in the field of literacy development. This conversation is packed with insightful information and thought-provoking discussions about the stages of reading development, the importance of foundational skills, and the impact of bilingual education. From understanding the nuances of reading progression to...

In this episode, our host Laura Glaab sits down with Rajen Sheth, CEO & Co-Founder of Kyron Learning. They discuss the transformative power of education and the innovative use of technology to enhance learning. Rajen takes us on a journey exploring the realm of personalized tutoring and its potential to provide equitable access to education. As they delve into the importance of authenticity in...

In today's episode, Nadia Madan Morrow joins us to share her insights on the grade-level text and tasks, urging educators to explore innovative methods, such as incorporating word problems into math lessons. Nadia, who has a strong coaching background and a wealth of experience in Denver Public Schools, emphasizes the need to scaffold and differentiate within classrooms, ensuring that no student i...

In today's episode, we'll explore the power of storytelling and how it can give voice to the untold stories and unspoken experiences of individuals. We'll learn how Ruta Sepetys, initially hesitant to share their writing, embarked on a journey to discover their family's untold story and ended up creating a novel that became a New York Times bestseller. Sepetys’ transition from the music industry t...

In today's episode, we are joined by Hailey Carter, an educator with a unique journey and a passion for making a difference in students' lives. Hailey shares her experiences of being inspired by her students within the confines of the classroom, but also realizing the limitations of traditional teaching methods. Later on, Hailey discovered the potential to scale her impact globally, reaching stude...

In today's episode, we are joined by a special guest, Shelly Spiegel-Coleman, as we dive into the world of education advocacy and the power of collective action. Shelly is a seasoned advocate and the president of an organization that has been making waves in the education sector. We'll explore how their organization started, their impact on policy changes, and the importance of supporting English...

In this episode, we are thrilled to have Dr. Maria Vazquez, an esteemed educator and the Superintendent of Orange County Public Schools. Join our host, Laura Glaab, as she delves into Dr. Vazquez's incredible journey, from initially planning to retire as the Chief Academic Officer to embracing the opportunity to become the Superintendent. Together, they discuss the challenges faced during the COVI...

On this episode of More Than a Test, we delve into the systemic issues facing education and the need for change. Our special guest, Kimberly Vaught, takes us on a journey through the "Reading Wars" and the evolving approaches to teaching reading. We explore the science of reading, which is both a science and an art, and the challenges of teaching adult learning theory. Kimberly discusses the impor...

On this episode of More Than a Test, host Laura Glaab welcomes special guest Jack Mostow to discuss his fascinating work in the field of intelligent tutoring systems and the impact has on education. Jack begins by sharing his experience working on a campus as a social service and how his passion for intelligent tutoring systems was sparked. Throughout the episode, Jack touches on various experienc...

On this episode of More Than a Test, host Laura Glaab welcomes guest Patricia Montes Pate to discuss teachers' challenges when implementing new resources in the classroom. They delve into the complex ELA framework and how it often remains unused due to a lack of time for teachers to fully understand it. Patricia highlights the need for coaching and support to effectively integrate new resources an...

On this episode of More Than a Test, host Laura Glaab is joined by guest Arun Saigal to delve into the importance of decision-making, the power of community in product development, and the potential of EdTech and AI. Arun shares his own journey of choosing a career path, highlighting the significance of committing to a decision and trusting your gut. He also discusses the impact of block-based pro...

On this episode of More Than a Test, host Laura Glaab is joined by Julia Rafal-Baer, an advocate for women in educational leadership. They discuss the challenges faced by women in education, including the lack of representation in top leadership positions and the bias they encounter throughout their careers. Julia shares her own experiences and the initiatives she has started, such as Women Leadin...

On this episode of More Than a Test, Laura Glaab sits down with Karl Rectanus, the creator of LearnPlatform, to discuss the challenges and rewards of making a difference in education. Coming from a family of educators, Rectanus recognized the need to make a big impact in education due to the industry's significant equity challenges. He shares his story of creating LearnPlatform and how it became a...

On this episode of More Than a Test, host Laura Glaab interviews Thomas Arnett, a Senior Research Fellow at the Clayton Christensen Institute. Arnett shares his journey as a former Teach for America middle school math teacher who sought to revolutionize the education system. He discusses his work with Clayton Christensen's Institute for Disruptive Innovation and how the "Jobs to Be Done" framework...

Creating An Easier Teaching Pathway for Aspiring Teachers In this episode of the More Than a Test podcast, Jennifer Jordan explains how TeachStart creates a pathway into teaching for people who want to teach but don’t have the opportunity, plus her passion for ensuring all kids have great teachers. Jenny is the Executive Director at TeachStart and formerly COO at Teach for America Bay Area. She ex...

In this episode of the More Than a Test podcast, Todd Grindal, Associate Center Director and Principal Senior Researcher at SRI Education discusses the organization's work in education-focused research and technical assistance. He also shares his personal journey and views on dyslexia. SRI Education conducts high-quality research, builds capacity through technical assistance, and develops innovati...