3 Ps in a Pod: An Education Podcast

If you're in need of a professional pep talk, we've got a dose for you. This week, Donnie and Angelia talk to three experienced teachers to hear what fuels their passion and practice. Beth Maloney, Sara Wyffels, and Anthony Perez discuss their paths toward education and the importance of having an enduring, positive professional disposition. The trio tells us how to boost peer and personal morale,...

With elections around the corner, today's #3PsinaPod guests share the importance of civic engagement. Angelia and Donnie discuss what it means to be an informed and active citizen with Nancie Lindblom, a teaching veteran from Mesa Public Schools, and Christie Megura, a National Board Certified Teacher from Arizona State University Preparatory Academy. All four share the importance of respectful di...

Two words: teacher retention. If there was a fairy godmother or magic genie in the world of Arizona education, this might be the first wish we'd want granted. Today, Danielle and Angelia talk about the supports that have kept them in the profession. The #3PsinaPod hosts hear from Arizona State University's Senior Policy Analyst at the Morrison Institute for Public Policy, Dan Hunting. The principa...

Settle in because we have a very special guest on #3PsinaPod today. Angelia and Mary chat with professor, researcher, and expert Dr. John Hattie about the truths behind visible learning. Teachers' own willingness to grow is pivotal to student success and professional disposition is crucial. Dr. Hattie recommends pondering what it means to be a learner in our contexts, so we can prompt students to...

We're settling into the school year, which means our classroom management skills must be sharper than ever. Today, the author of Real Talk about Classroom Management, Serena Pariser, joins us to talk about her favorite techniques for student engagement. She's a wealth of knowledge and her advice is sound (and simple). Join in on the conversation with Danielle and Angelia to learn ways to captivate...

School is back in session and so is "3Psin a Pod." We kickstart our latest season with a show all about new teachers. Even if you're not a novice educator, keep listening — our guests share what you can do to help those newest to the profession. Angelina Cook, a kindergarten teacher from the Paradise Valley Unified School District, and James King, a freshman English teacher from the Glendale Union...

What better time to talk about the power of teachers than during Teacher Appreciation Week 2018? Today, Jaime Casap, the Chief Education Evangelist at Google, chats with Danielle and Mary about what it was like being raised as a first-generation American in Hell's Kitchen, New York. The Arizona resident and father of three says education has the ability to disrupt poverty and change a family's des...

In education, the words "testing, evaluations, and budgets" might cause you to shudder. Fortunately, Chris Kotterman schools us on what each looks like in the context of Arizona's K-12 education system. Listen, as our hosts, Angelia and Donnie, reflect on their experiences with teacher evaluations and discuss current events at the Legislature. In his own words, the Director of Governmental Relatio...

Arizona educators are organizing and mobilizing. The Grand Canyon state is now known for having the lowest teacher pay in the nation and questionable public-school funding. Save Our Schools (SOS) Arizona is an organization created to communicate the impact of education on the future of our state. Today, Angelia and Mary chat with "3Ps in a Pod" guest, Beth Lewis. The Tempe educator shares why she...

Are your students giving high fives and fist pumping after solving a word problem? They should be! As teachers, can we make math more engaging. Dr. Mike Flynn is with us on "3Ps in a Pod" to share how we can help students see a real-life situation and mathematize it. Also, he reminds us there's an important balance to strike between making tasks fun and intentional. Let's see if we can't get our s...

School choice is hot topic, especially in Arizona. Today, Mary and Donnie talk about students' diverse needs and learning styles, and how that relates to equity. Mary reminds us that individuals don't need to travel to an entirely different school to receive a different learning experience — teachers can customize learning environments to mold the students they serve. Today, the co-host duo chats...

Playful and dirty probably aren't adjectives that come to mind when you say math out loud. However, today's "3Ps in a Pod" guest, John San Giovanni, says we need to freshen up the way students approach the subject. Regardless of who you are and where you go, math principles don't change, but the understanding, access, and application will. Fortunately, there are multiple ways to solve problems and...

The effort put forth by teachers to make educational equity a reality for students can be seen in actions, both big and small. Jesse Delgado is a special education mentor in the Tolleson Union High School District where he trains and coaches teachers on five campuses. At the heart of his mission toward equity is inclusivity. The Arizona native breathes life into opportunities for students that mak...

Welcome to season three of "3Ps in a Pod!" Today's hosts, Donnie and Mary, discuss a fiery topic—teacher salary. Educator pay pushes beyond classroom walls and barrels into teachers' personal lives. Whether there is a comma on your paystub or not, it's no secret that teachers (everywhere) are undercompensated. Currently, Arizona rounds out the ranks for teacher pay, notably 50th in the nation for...

You've been there, right? You're sitting, fully engaged, in an extraordinary professional learning opportunity. You feel the teacher high and are linking concepts to your current classroom practices. The synapses in your brain are connecting at lightning speed and you feel ready to hit the ground running. Next thing you know, you're sitting behind your desk without any notion of how to put what yo...

Do you feel like staying up-to-date on policy in the profession is similar to drinking from a fire hose? Today's hosts, Angelia and Danielle, admit that while life is so much about the hustle, it's important to find the time to be informed educators. Fortunately, Chris Kotterman is back with an update on Arizona's current legislative session. The Arizona School Boards Association's Director of Gov...

The term "master teacher" can mean a multitude of things to a variety of people. Today, Danielle and Mary define the term according the standards of the Arizona K12 Center. The duo hears from Ellen Moir, the Chief Executive Officer of the New Teacher Center (NTC), a national organization dedicated to improving student learning by accelerating the effectiveness of new teachers and school leaders. A...

Have you ever encountered a person with an aversion toward mathematics? Get ready to rewrite your math autobiography with the Director of Teaching and Learning from the Buckeye Elementary School District and past Chief Learning Officer for the Rodel Charitable Foundation of Arizona. Dr. Kim Rimbey will help you realize it's time we twist the negative narrative because the subject isn't going anywh...

If technology gets you in a tizzy, you'll come to admire (and maybe envy) our guest. Tony Vincent has been a friend of the Arizona K12 Center for nearly 15 years, and his self-proclaimed, geeky obsession with technology and immeasurable expertise began long before we met him— he will tell you that growing up he requested birthday cakes decorated with computers. But in a society so dependent upon o...

Today, we dive into the policy behind English learners in the state. The Arizona Department of Education's Deputy Associate Superintendent for the Office of English Language Acquisition Services (OELAS), Kate Wright, talks about the importance being intentional and structured when working with this specific student population. As educators, we have to help English learners realize they are becomin...

Although you're only a few weeks into the semester, you might feel like you've been at it again for months. Stop going through the motions and rekindle your purpose in the classroom with focus and intentionality. Today's "3Ps in a Pod" guest wears many hats, simultaneously. Not only is Sarah Brown Wessling an educator, but also a parent, the 2010 National Teacher of the Year, a National Board Cert...

"3Ps in a Pod" is back in session! Thanks for joining us for the start season two. Today, Angelia and Donnie chat with Amber Parker from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. This week, the National Board honors 5,470 new and 3,957 renewed National Board Certified Teachers. There are now more than 118,000 Board-certified teachers in the United States. These numbers are significan...

Thanks for joining us for the season finale of "3Ps in a Pod." While we're guessing you're in need of rest and relaxation during winter break, we're positive your heart, mind, and soul will feel refreshed after listening to today's guest. Marian Mellen is a former teacher and founder of the Zen Bird, a company whose goal is to help individuals find deep connections through intentional practices. T...

Thanks for joining us for the bonus episode of our first season. We're thrilled to have Elma Dzanic in the "3Ps in a Pod" studio to discuss restorative justice practices in the Phoenix Union High School District. We first explored this subject during episode two with Dr. Dominique Smith. We were left more than intrigued and knew there was someone who could help us dive even deeper. As an alumna of...

Holidays in the classroom can look and feel different for everyone. What might be a jolly season for some, may leave others feeling confused, excluded, and undervalued. Listen, as we discuss the importance of inclusive and thoughtful classroom planning. Donnie and Mary hear personal stories from two teachers in the Creighton School District, Marie Twist and Kendall Gooden. Together, they prompt ot...