Classroom Matters

On this episode of the Classroom Matters podcast host Kristy Houle talks with Dr. Stephanie Gregson who currently serves as the Deputy Executive Director for the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE). Stephanie’s focus is on school turnaround centering on improving teaching and learning aimed at equitable access, opportunity, and outcomes for students. Stephanie has more than...

On this episode of the Classroom Matters podcast host Kristy Houle talks with Dr. Frank Buck, author of Get Organized!: Time Management for School Leaders and Get Organized Digitally!: The Educator's Guide to Time Management. After retiring from public education, Dr. Buck devoted his "second career" to writing and speaking on organization, time management, and personal productivity...

On this episode of the Classroom Matters podcast host Kristy Houle talks with accomplished artist, Kevo Aregbe.  Kevo holds a master’s degree in fine arts and his art ranges from painting to theater production, highlighting racial dynamics and human experiences. He is also the director of a nonprofit for arts, called Kevo Arts Studios, and teaches at a college, with over 10 years of experience as...

On today’s episode of the Classroom Matters podcast, host Kristy Houle talks with author, executive, angel investor, and lifelong student of markets John Foster about the importance of teaching students the most advanced concepts in business and economics.  John has years of experience teaching kids as a Junior Achievement volunteer and over the course of several years built his own curriculum, wh...

On this episode of the Classroom Matters podcast, host Kristy Houle talks with Dr. Gwenyth Jackaway about the impact of technology on student development and how to monitor digital wellness you’re your students. Dr. Gwenyth Jackaway is a leader in digital wellness. She was a member of the Fordham University and media studies faculty for more than 25 years. She's a mother, an author, and curre...

On this episode of the Classroom Matters podcast, host Kristy Houle talks Caylee Carullo about how to help educators put an end to misbehavior.  She’s been featured on Fox News for her positive behavior strategies and she’s the host of the Pre-K Teacher Family podcast.  She has over 100,000 followers across her social media platforms, and she has created an online course that is helping teachers a...

On this episode of the Classroom Matters podcast, host Kristy Houle talks with Grace Stevens about teacher burnout and how to create positive habits for a healthy mindset.  Grace is a former corporate girl who decided to quit her VP life to pursue a dream job as a public-school teacher.  After 20 years in the classroom, she now focuses full-time on helping educators have a more positive teaching e...

On this episode of the Classroom Matters podcast, host Kristy Houle talks with Katie Trowbridge about how to effectively incorporate creative and critical thinking skills into the educational environment.  Katie has over 20 years of experience in the classroom and serves as CEO of Curiosity to Create, a nonprofit organization she created to help teachers focus on creativity and critical thinking....

On this episode of the Classroom Matters podcast, host Kristy Houle talks with Jessica Sinarski, licensed professional counselor of mental health, educator, and speaker about helping children identify their emotions and process them in a healthy way.  Jessica has extensive post-graduate training and 15+ years as a clinician and educator which has led her to create the resource and training platfor...

On this episode of the Classroom Matters podcast, host Kristy Houle talks with trainer, coach, and speaker, Kathy Magnusson about increasing resilience in students and teachers.  Kathy has worked with educators and youth service professionals worldwide for over 25 years and is also a licensed teacher, social and emotional learning specialist, and certified Sources of Strength trainer. As the owner...

On this episode of the Classroom Matters podcast, host Kristy Houle talks to cognitive literacy expert Betsy Hill.  Betsy is an award-winning educator and co-author of the book “Your Child Learns Differently, Now What? The Truth for Parents.”  She studied the neuroscience of learning with Dr. Patricia Wolfe and other pioneers in the field, coining the term neuroeducator. In this episode Betsy shar...

On this episode of the Classroom Matters podcast, host Kristy Houle talks with Mae Caratachea, former Co-President of the Saint Louis Sudbury School. The school is based on the principle that we are born curious and learn best when we initiate our own learning. They offer entirely Self-Directed Education in a self-governing democracy for students ages 5-18. No required curriculum, no homework, no...

On this episode of the Classroom Matters podcast host Kristy Houle talks with author David McBee. David is passionate about reading, self-improvement, health, the outdoors, and his family. He is a podcast host, public speaker and is the author of the children's book series, DJ's Off-Road Adventures. This series teaches elementary-age children lessons on dealing with bullies, overcoming f...

On this episode of the Classroom Matters podcast host Kristy Houle talks with author Maria Castellucci Moore, author of the newly released children’s book Vivienne in Paris which follows a young Parisian girl on a journey through Paris to find what makes her tick.  This book tells a story of mindfulness and insight into how the surrounding world can really move you. It unites curiosity, wonder, an...

On this episode of the Classroom Matters podcast host Kristy Houle talks with School Emergency Management Expert, Trauma Informed Practices Consultant, and former Reserve Law Enforcement Officer, Claire Marie to discuss her new book on school lockdowns, Sammy the Sasquatch: Welcome to Crittertopia. Claire also dives deep into her passion for approaching emergency preparedness and management throug...

On this episode of the Classroom Matters podcast, host Kristy Houle talks with award-winning writer and video producer Tom Speicher.  His book, “A Week with Waffles” is a beautifully illustrated children’s book that is designed to help young children learn about the days of the week, encourage creative thought, help them understand that it’s ok to be an only child, and consider a host of adventure...

On this episode of the Classroom Matters podcast, host Kristy Houle talks with Ryan Steuer, founder of Magnify Learning, a PBL professional development organization that equips educators to engage learners, tackle boredom, and transform classrooms.  Ryan believes that when we get education right as leaders, leaders have launched their vision, teachers are fired up to be a part of something bigger...

Bryson Tarbet is a PreK-6th grade general music teacher just outside of Columbus, Ohio.   He spent his first year out of college as part of an elementary school intervention team where he fell in love with working with students with disabilities. Due to this experience, as well as his personal experience as a neurodiverse individual, Bryson feels strongly about advocating for sensory and emotional...

On this episode of the Classroom Matters podcast host Kristy Houle talks with Dr. Bibi Pirayesh, an educational therapist and learning rights advocate based in Los Angeles, CA. Dr. Pirayesh has spent the last 15 years working with hundreds of children, parents, teachers, and schools to enhance the lives of children with learning disabilities. In 2020, Dr. Pirayesh launched The Difference is Not De...

On this episode of the Classroom Matters podcast host Kristy Houle talks with author and educator Jaer Armstead-Jones.  Throughout his teaching of reading and writing, he has always had a burning desire to write books for middle school and high school teens they can relate to.  His first novel, My Invisible Father, is a story about three St. Louis teens facing the hurdles of adolescence and the im...

On this episode of the Classroom Matters podcast host Kristy Houle talks with Sally Nellson, an award-winning documentary filmmaker, about capturing and sharing the stories of what happens every day in public schools.  Having directed and edited more than 100 films, Sally has a deep understanding of how to connect with her subjects and translate that to greater understanding among audiences. Her n...

On this episode of the Classroom Matters podcast, host Kristy Houle talks with Dr. Deborah Offner, who brings more than 2 decades of experience in schools and colleges as a classroom teacher, counselor, administrator, and consultant.   She has written  a new book called Educators as First Responders: A Teacher’s Guide to Adolescent Development and Mental Health, Grades 6-12, which is a comprehensi...

On this episode of the Classroom Matters podcast host Kristy Houle talks with Elizabeth West, CEO of EWC Consulting about helping students build sustainable habits in high school to help prepare for college or a career.  Right out of college, Elizabeth was hired as an Admissions Counselor at UNC Pembroke where she began to see student’s stories come to life. Throughout her 25 years in higher educa...

Join host Kristy Houle as she talks with physicist and host of the popular YouTube channel Kathy Loves Physics, Kathy Joseph. Kathy has spent decades researching over 400 years of scientific history in her new book “The Lightening Tamers.”   Not only is Kathy a popular YouTube host, but she's also a former Bay Area science teacher who spent 12 years teaching high school physics. Kathy knows w...

According to literacy expert Matt Bardin, studies show that only 13% of American adults can read complex texts, and more than half read below a 6th grade level, but Matt is on a mission to change that.  With decades of experience as an educator and entrepreneur, Matt has become an expert in literacy education, test-prep and strategies for transforming adolescents into their highest achieving selve...