Be Evolved: Empowering Parents and Educators to Help Students Succeed

College visits can bring up excitement, uncertainty, clarity, overwhelm, and everything in between. In this final episode of her three-part college visit series, Sarah Bergin guides students and parents through the important process of reflecting on a campus visit while the experience is still fresh. Sarah encourages families to move beyond surface-level impressions and have meaningful conversatio...

College visits are about much more than brochures and campus tours. In this episode, Sarah Bergin guides families through meaningful conversations to have before stepping onto campus. As part two of her three-part college visit series, she helps students and parents understand what they're each hoping to gain from the experience, align expectations, and approach the day with curiosity rather than...

College visits can feel exciting, overwhelming, and sometimes disappointing if families arrive without a clear plan. In this episode, Sarah Bergin, Director of College Counseling at Evolved Education, shares how students and parents can prepare mentally, emotionally, and practically before setting foot on campus. She explains why visits matter, when to schedule them, and how thoughtful preparation...

In this episode of Be Evolved, Mary Miele sits down with special education attorney Tracey Spencer Walsh, Esq., to unpack the reality that most private school families never hear: you do have rights, but they look very different from what public school families are told. Together, they break down the myths surrounding IDEA and private schools, explain what Child Find actually means for your child,...

Applying to private school? Your list matters more than you think. In this episode, Becky Reback guides listeners through one of the most overlooked yet critical parts of the school admissions process: building the right school list. Rather than relying on reputation, rankings, or outside opinions, she emphasizes the importance of creating a thoughtful, strategic list rooted in a child's unique ne...

In this episode of Be Evolved, School Placement Advisor Sophie Roberts shares a powerful and practical guide to navigating private school spring tours, from nursery through high school, with clarity and intention. Too often, families walk away from tours feeling like every school looks the same. Sophie unpacks why that happens, and more importantly, how to shift your approach so each visit becomes...

Senior year is finally here—and according to Sarah Bergin, Director of College Consulting at Evolved Education, this is where clarity, strategy, and strong decision-making truly matter. While many families think senior year is only about applications, Sarah reminds listeners that it's about much more: managing deadlines, navigating multiple application portals, completing financial aid steps, and...

Junior year is often described as the most stressful year of high school — but it does not have to be. In this episode, Sarah Bergin, Director of College Consulting at Evolved Education Company, walks families through how to turn strategy into action during this pivotal year. She explains why junior year carries significant weight in college admissions and how students can demonstrate academic rea...

In this episode, Sarah Bergin, Director of College Consulting at Evolved Education Company, explains why sophomore year is one of the most underestimated — yet strategically important — years in the college admissions journey. While freshman year is about adjustment and junior year gets most of the attention, sophomore year is when colleges begin to see patterns, consistency, and emerging directio...

Freshman year is often dismissed as "just the beginning," but in this episode, Sarah Bergin, Director of College Consulting at Evolved Education, explains why ninth grade quietly sets the tone for growth throughout high school. Rather than chasing perfection, Sarah encourages students and parents to focus on building strong habits, confidence, and thoughtful exploration. Freshman year is about adj...

The college admissions process feels overwhelming — not because it's impossible, but because most families don't understand how it's structured. In this foundational episode of Be Evolved, we break down the complete roadmap to college admissions — including the five core components colleges evaluate (transcript, extracurriculars, testing, writing, and recommendations) and the five phases families...

In this episode of Be Evolved, Mary Miele is joined by Amy Nathan, Director of Student Services, and Becky Reback, Director of Assessment, for a thoughtful and practical conversation about two of the most important admissions tests students face in New York City: the ISEE and the SHSAT. Together, they walk families through what these exams really measure, why starting 6–8 months early makes a majo...

In this episode of BE EVOLVED, Mary lays out a clear, step-by-step roadmap for building a bespoke summer plan that actually moves the needle for students in grades 6–12. You'll learn why summer experiences matter for growth, skills, and college admissions; how to complete a smart intake (interests, logistics, budget); and our three-step method — What will you do? How will you do it? How will you a...

Getting ready for a boarding school interview can feel overwhelming — for both parents and students. In this episode of the Be Evolved Podcast, Mary sits down with Sarah, Evolved Education's Boarding School Specialist, to walk families through the essential steps of interview preparation. Together, they discuss: How parents can authentically share their child's story and values. The most common pa...

Join Becky Reback as she shares practical strategies and expert insights on creating effective back-to-school routines that set students — and families — up for a smoother, more successful school year. Have a question or comment? I'd love to hear from you. You can reach out anytime at admin@evolveded.com . Please click the button to subscribe so you don't miss any episodes and leave a review if yo...

In this special bonus episode, educator and Director of Student Services, Amy Nathan joins us to share practical, age-specific strategies to help families navigate the back-to-school season with confidence. Whether you have a toddler entering preschool, an elementary student building routines, a middle schooler juggling responsibilities, or a high schooler managing academics and college prep — thi...

Join Becky Reback, Director of Assessment & Parent Education, and Mary Miele, Specialized Education Consultant & Founder of Evolved Education Company, as they dissect the key themes of the New York Times Magazine's April 13, 2025 feature "Have We Been Thinking About A.D.H.D. All Wrong?", and a June 2025 Daily Podcast follow-up. Have We Been Thinking About A.D.H.D. All Wrong? feature article: https...

In this episode of Be Evolved, Mary sits down with Evolved Education's Becky Reback and family behavior specialist Mandy Grass for a powerful conversation about motivation and the functions of behavior. Whether you're a parent, educator, or caregiver, you'll gain actionable insights into how to understand, respond to, and support the children in your life with greater clarity and compassion. Tune...

Parents and Educators, be inspired and equipped with immediately applicable moves to build connected relationships for learning, avoid power struggles, and apply communication as a universal support for students, colleagues and caregivers. Erika Bare has been an educator for over 20 years, currently serving as the Superintendent in the South Umpqua School District in Oregon. A special education te...

Join Mary Miele as she reflects on 18 years of parenting work and the wisdom she's gained from it. This heartfelt sharing of lessons learned is for every parent at any stage of their journey. If you'd like to dive deeper into specific strategies, please join me on SuperCast. As a subscriber, for just $5 a month, you'll get access to my private weekly feed where I share exclusive ideas and answer a...

Discover how Randi Dumont's holistic mentorship weaves executive-function coaching, mental health, and career planning into one powerful container — and how parents can sign their college students up for lasting academic and personal success. Resources: Book: 10 to 25: The Science of Motivating Young People by David Yeager Contact Randi at Randi@EvolvedEd.com If you'd like to dive deeper into spec...

Learn concrete, step-by-step strategies from GapWell founders Lee Sosin, Seth Kessler, and student Miles Kessler. They talk about preparing students before departure, supporting them through freshman year, and future-proofing their skills for an AI-shifting job market and turbulent world. Gapwell Website: https://www.gapwellguide.com/ If you'd like to dive deeper into specific strategies, please j...

In this episode, Mary sits down with Neill Seltzer from Score Smart—the "test prep genius" who truly studies this stuff—to explore everything parents, students, and educators need to know about test preparation today. They discuss the evolving landscape of standardized testing, practical strategies, and how data-driven insights are revolutionizing the way tutors work with students. Learn how Score...

In this episode of Be Evolved, I sit down with Anna Toomey, director of the documentary Left Behind, to discuss the realities of dyslexia, the systemic challenges in education, and the urgent need for advocacy. We explore the stories behind the film, the impact on students and families, and what needs to change to support all learners. Stay tuned until the end, where I share my personal reflection...

Join Mary Miele as she sits down with Jin Yun Chow, founder of Polygence, for an insightful conversation about the transformative impact of PhD mentorship for high school students. Discover how this personalized, high-level guidance strengthens college applications and fosters deep learning, critical thinking, and personal growth. This episode is a must-listen for upper middle school and high scho...