Essential Element Podcast

Today Christian has the special honor of speaking with Steve and Sunny Cairns, two founding members and teachers of SOTA and considered the Ma and Pa of SOTA. They share stories from the very first days of SOTA, the speed bumps and emotions involved in building up a new school, and what the guiding principles were at the start and how they are still around today.  Featuring original music from SOT...

Today Christian talks with Elements Board President and long time community member Michael McGavock. Micheal helps shape what education looks like at elementary schools as well as getting involved first hand by being an internship host and helping students find unique opportunities.  Featuring original music from SOTA Graduates Abbey Meysenburg and Ellia Coggins. Visit elementsofed.org for more in...

In this special episode Christian and Zach take a back seat so we can hear stories from four SOTA alumni who are now teachers at either SOTA, SAMI, or IDEA. They share their stories about the impacts being a SOTA student had on them, about their journey back into the Elements community, and why they believe the mentor framework at Partners schools is important.

This week Christian has SOTA Theater Director and Mentor Kay Onorati on to talk about self discovery. Kay shares about how she’s seen art and mentorship help students to discover and grow themselves while also building community.  Curious about references made during the episode? Learn more: Uri Treisman and the Treisman model: https://merit.illinois.edu/for-educators/the-treismans-model/ Blackfee...

This week Christian invites SOTA social worker and long time friend Steve Primas to talk about emotions in the classroom and the community. Steve talks about social emotional learning, how to engage families and the community, and why students have to be well to do well.  Featuring original music from SOTA Graduates Abbey Meysenburg and Ellia Coggins. Visit elementsofed.org for more information.

Christian invites IDEA CoDirector and NextMove program coordinator Brittany Skobel on to talk about how mentorship and relationships can extend into the community outside of school and how students in NextMove grow from interning with businesses in their community. Featuring original music from SOTA Graduates Abbey Meysenburg and Ellia Coggins. Visit elementsofed.org for more information.

This week Zach shares about a new graduation pathway being proposed for Washington States graduation requirements, its goals to meets students needs for the future, and how it plays in with Element's mentorship program. Featuring original music from SOTA Graduates Abbey Meysenburg and Ellia Coggins. Visit elementsofed.org for more information.

Today Christian sits across from Melissa Moffett, current NextMove Coordinator at IDEA, previous SOTA teacher and mentor, service and study tour leader, and so much more! Melissa talks about the importance of understanding students and their interests, building their strengths in those interests, and how service tours and internships can tie interests to the real world. Featuring original music fr...

Today Christian speaks with SOTA’s special education teacher Zach Hightower. Zach talks about diversity and equity, about what inclusion in the classroom looks like, and the benefits it offers to everyone involved. Featuring original music from SOTA Graduates Abbey Meysenburg and Ellia Coggins. Visit elementsofed.org for more information.

Today Christian digs deep with long time mentor and SAMI Co Director, Liz Minks. Liz has been involved with the Elements schools since the early days of SOTA. She shares about some of the backstory of the current mentorship students of SOTA SAMI and IDEA experience today and balancing relationships and performance. Featuring original music from SOTA Graduates Abbey Meysenburg and Ellia Coggins. Vi...

Welcome to Season 2 of the Essential Element Podcast! For this first episode Christian and Zach sit down with Van DeGoede, previously the art and design teacher at IDEA and now at SOTA. Van shares about art's place in education as a whole, his journey into to art and then into education, and even a bit about the future of art with coming technologies. Featuring original music from SOTA Graduat...

We're starting season 2 of the Essential Element how we start our school year at SOTA, SAMI, and IDEA; at camp! Christian and Zach take a moment to welcome you the new season and share some of their memories from the early days at this very same campground. Listen now to find out what makes starting the year with camp so special and catch a glimpse of the activities on our camp recap reel on I...

This week Christian chats with Zach to recap some favorite moments during the first season of the Essential Element, touch on taking a break, and discuss some of the hopes for the future of the podcast and how it can showcase more about mentorship strategies happening at the Elements schools.  Featuring original music from SOTA Graduates Abbey Meysenburg and Ellia Coggins. Visit elementsofed.org f...

This week Christian invites a handful of students from the NextMove Internship Program to share their experiences with learning to work outside of the school environment. Students share what it was like forming relationships with supervisors and colleagues, how they met worksite expectations, what they were able to bring to the table for their worksites, and how the experience has help shaped thei...

This week on The Essential Element, Christian sits down with SOTA teacher, career counselor, and mentor Jordan Villalpando to talk about what students post high futures can look like, the importance of seeing each student as an individual, and making sure students find out what they truly enjoy doing so their can make plans with purpose. Featuring original music from SOTA Graduates Abbey Meysenbur...

This week on The Essential Element, Christian invites IDEA teacher, mentor, and pilot Jen Flonacher to talk about her hope for creating impactful experiences in schools. Jen is passionate about instilling confidence in her students and finding ways to improve the representation in STEM. Featuring original music from SOTA Graduates Abbey Meysenburg and Ellia Coggins. Visit elementsofed.org for more...

This week on The Essential Element, Christian sits down with SOTA alumni, teacher, and mentor Jessie Fouts to share her experience of going full circle from mentee to mentor. Jessie talks about putting teachers at the center of decision making in schools, prioritizing their mental health, and about how a truly pivotal experience she had has a mentee has shaped where she is now. Featuring original...

First, we want to thank everyone who made it out to our first Live Community Night at Alma Mater last week! The Partner School teachers and the Elements of Education team really felt the warmth of this community. Thank you! This week, for those who couldn’t make it out, or anyone who just wants a recap of the night, that's what we have for you. In this special live event, Christian invites on...

This week on The Essential Element, Christian sits down with SAMI teacher and mentor Stephanie Skaggs to talk about mentorship and what it means for the future of our community. Stephanie shares how she invests in our young people while in the classroom, about why mentorship is important, and what that looks like while also playing the the role of a teacher. Featuring original music from SOTA Grad...

FREE LIVE EVENT NEXT WEEK! If you enjoy the show, are interested in learning more about the Mentor Framework, or just want to meet some awesome Tacoma Public Schools community members, join us for our free live event on May 24th at Alma Mater. Tickets and more information here: https://bit.ly/PartnerSchoolTickets This week on the Essential Element, Christian sits down with IDEA Co-Director Kinoa H...

This week on the Essential Element, Christian sits down with community mentor Melanie Grassi to talk about growth and evolving through deeply difficult times. Melanie shares her experience on finding ways to continue to mentor, learn, and support the people in her community all while dealing with her own journey of becoming a widow. Featuring original music from SOTA Graduates Abbey Meysenburg and...

This week on the essential elements, Christian speaks with Carrie Hampton, the first face you see when walking through the doors at SAMI. Carrie shares with us about how she makes space to get to know every student that walks through the door by the end of the year, what it means to hold students, the ways she helps push them forward, but also how to show them grace when they may be struggling. Fe...

This week on the Essential Element, Christian speaks with SAMI science teacher and mentor Matt Lonsdale about how so much of his teaching is actually human connection, about his hopes and dreams for his students futures, and about education through inquiry instead of focusing on just knowing the answers.  Featuring original music from SOTA Graduates Abbey Meysenburg and Ellia Coggins. Visit elemen...

This week Christian sits down with IDEA Humanities Teacher and mentor Kate Merwin to talk about intergenerational relationships, about her past work with incarcerated student has informed her current work in the classroom and as mentor, and about what it mean for empathy to be slow burn.  Featuring original music from SOTA Graduates Abbey Meysenburg and Ellia Coggins. Visit elementsofed.org for mo...

This week Christian sits down with SAMI social worker and mentor Jodi Dumont to talk about creating a space for students to fail in ways that are constructive and that create a sense of worthiness along the way. Jodi speaks about going beyond meeting the basic needs of students to give them a sense of value and belonging that they can use even after they graduate.  Featuring original music from SO...