Education Evolution

The guiding principle of Education Evolution has been to light passion among educational leaders and to spark them into action. Over the last few years, I believe we've done just that. And while the work isn't over yet, the time has come to put a pause on the podcast.   As an advocate for lifelong learning, this week on the podcast I'm sharing what that looks like for me right now. I've been worki...

Reading is simple, right? Not for everyone, and it's especially challenging for those who don't have access to all the tools and resources they need to be successful.   This week we hear from Marnie Ginsburg, founder of Reading Simplified, who has dedicated her career to improving reading proficiency in students. She discusses the critical need to disseminate research-backed strategies to teachers...

The further away administrators get from their roots as teachers, the more they forget what it's like to be in the trenches. The result is often either a real or perceived lack of empathy for teachers.   Both teachers and administrators have vital roles in the school, and it's important for both to have mutual respect for one another. To achieve this, administrators need to take a step back and re...

We all want what's best for our learners, but oftentimes biases get in the way of having productive conversations about what learning should look like in the classroom. Instead, we need to have evidence- and research-based conversations that support what truly works for our children.   This week on the podcast, I'm talking with Darleen Opfer of RAND, a nonprofit organization that's committed to lo...

Hopefully we all know the importance of nutrition early in life, but not enough schools offer nutrition education. And since children often do what their parents do, adults' poor food choices get passed down generation after generation.    This week on the podcast, I'm talking with Cynthia Jackson of Educare about this critical aspect of early childhood development. Cynthia shares the profound imp...

We know that students' basic needs need to be met in order for them to learn and grow. Safety is at the core of this, especially as they discuss ideas in the classroom. And with this safety comes community, connection, meaning, and purpose, some of the most important elements of a school setting, according to this week's podcast guest.   Michael Strong is founder of The Socratic Experience, a virt...

It's time for schools and universities to serve all learners, especially in an equitable and accessible environment.   National Louis University, under the visionary leadership of Dr. Nivine Megahed, is reshaping education and lives to meet this ever-present need. Their commitment to equity, employability, and social transformation stands as a beacon in the evolving educational landscape.   NLU's...

Think about the tremendous growth and learning that happens during the first five years of a child's life. These years are a foundation for future success, yet there's often a gap in resources and support.   Thankfully, in a world where government funding for early childhood education often falls short, there are still many out there advocating for comprehensive educational support.    This week o...

The possibilities are endless in education as technology offers new opportunities every year. But are we using that technology to support teachers, who can then support their students?   This week on the podcast, I'm talking with Jennie Magiera, global head of Education Impact at Google. She's also a bestselling author and former teacher and school administrator. She found her way to education aft...

Too many parents think they don't have power and choice in their children's education, but this week's podcast guest proves otherwise. During COVID, Tyson Junkers saw his children thrive because they were learning at home in a project-based learning environment that Tyson himself developed. And as schools went back to in-person, his son was entering kindergarten. They visited a number of tradition...

Explore the crucial role of school boards in driving student success and effective governance in our latest podcast episode with AJ Crabill. In this week's episode, AJ offers valuable insights into the key struggles faced by school boards and the importance of shifting the focus away from adult inputs and toward student outcomes. He shares the behaviors and actions that set successful boards apart...

You don't have to be an educator to make an impact in education. Sometimes it's a concerned parent, looking for what's best for their own child who can make the biggest impact. And the more parents like this week's guest, Tanya Sheckley, take action, the faster we'll have educational systems and support for all our youth.   When Tanya's daughter needed additional support at school, but the school...

Though the tide is slowly turning, not enough schools are offering financial literacy education to students, and I don't know of any states that require it for graduation. Some states may not feel like there's room or resources to teach this vital skill to students, but creative teachers and schools can find a way.   This week on the podcast, I'm talking with Brian Curcio, co-founder of the financ...

Parenting is challenging. We go from being caretakers to teachers to mentors to travel companions and there's a learning curve at each step of the journey. The one that sticks out to so many is the transition into releasing young adults into the post-high school world. There's an entirely new language for parents and students alike and it's not easy to navigate.   This week on the podcast, I'm tal...

Internships play a crucial role in shaping the careers of young professionals, providing them with valuable industry experience and insights. In this podcast episode, Rob Khoury shares his journey of discovering how to create the best environment possible for interns. Inspired by an incredible intern who taught him the importance of meeting interns' needs, Rob offers valuable insights for employer...

Homeschooling often gets a bad rap because of myths that parents believe about it. Contrary to popular belief, homeschooled kids have numerous opportunities to socialize or participate in group activities. And what many families experienced while their kids attended remote school during the pandemic is not an indication of what homeschooling looks like.   This week on the podcast, Mandy Davis, a f...

We know that every child deserves a quality education, but did you know where the roots started to form for universal design for learning (UDL)? This week on the podcast, I'm talking to a powerhouse in education about the power of teaching different students in different ways. Something just makes sense when you consider how very different we all are.   In this episode, Dr. Virginia (Ginny) Simmon...

Deregulating zoning and occupancy laws is crucial to support the growth of micro-schools, providing diverse educational options for students. But few know what steps to take or who to talk to.    This week on the podcast, Jon England of Libertas Institute shares how changing policies can help create new learning opportunities for students who don't thrive in the traditional education system.    Jo...

After watching her son struggle with severe impulse control, to the point where it was negatively impacting her family on a daily basis, Dianne Kosto became a mom on a mission. She had tried it all: private school, home school, boarding school, and even a military academy. But her son was always sent back home because he didn't follow the program.    Dianne, this week's podcast guest, found anothe...

The whole college admissions process is frustrating from both sides. Students rely on the school mailers they're inundated with beginning their second or third year of high school. And schools buy student lists and "spray and pray" them with mailers. There's no real science behind it and, as a result, students end up transferring or leaving their college after a semester or two (if they opt to go...

Research shows that children who have had access to early childhood experiences show up to kindergarten more prepared to learn because they have improved cognitive development, motor skills, and behavior expectations. Those who don't have access aren't as prepared to learn and typically start out their formal education a bit behind. This can cause challenges for years to come.   What we need is to...

We focus a lot on the education of our youth, but people at the other end of their life need resources and education too. Many people lose their hearing as they age, making communication difficult and connection even more challenging. Seniors face isolation, which leads to anxiety, depression, and elevated symptoms of dementia.   What can help combat this is more family and community connections a...

It is not enough for all children to have access to the human right of equitable and inclusive education. Our schools need to have a clear sense of the outcomes we want each learner to demonstrate. I've talked in some previous episodes about an amazing organization in Guatemala, Camino Sequro. This week on the podcast, I'm sharing more about what makes Camino Seguro special and spotlighting a few...

Human performance optimization is how elite athletes hone their crafts, but just about anyone can take these learnings and apply them to their own work.   This week on the podcast I'm talking to Ford Dyke, a human performance coach who is passionate about human performance on the field and court, in the boardroom, and in the classroom. Ford shares his journey from graduate school to becoming a sub...

Our youth in low-income communities were already struggling with finding opportunities to become more upwardly mobile before the pandemic. And now they're struggling even more to find resources and often turn to the workforce, delaying higher education. For the last 30 years, Spark the Journey has been creating such opportunities in D.C., providing mentorship and community support to help black an...