Evidence in the Wild

Kimberly Smith of Digital Promise, co-lead of the Center for Learner Pathway Innovations and Executive Director of the League of Innovative Schools, joins the podcast to unpack what actually makes school R&D stick. This discussion covers the six dimensions behind sustainable innovation, why mindsets matter more than tools or systems, and how districts of any size can start small without a big...

Amber Northern, Senior VP for Research at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute and Senior Advisor at the Department of Education, joins us to discuss her recent paper Reimagining the Institute of Education Sciences. In this episode, she shares which strategic shifts would make IES more relevant, responsive, and useful to educators on the ground. Key themes include closing the gap between research and p...

From designing school-wide organizational systems for high schoolers to studying the science of learning in the earliest grades, Mitch Weathers and Sarah Oberle have spent decades observing how executive function shapes student learning. In this episode, they join us to unpack what executive function actually is, and how every K–3 teacher can start supporting it tomorrow without overhauling their...

This episode contains a brief mention of student suicidal ideation. From tutoring peers in a classroom to shaping federal education policy, Anousheh Shayestehpour has seen American education from every level. In this episode, she joins us to unpack the tension between standardized testing and real student growth, including how 'No Child Left Behind' shifted the focus from skills to scores, and whi...

In this episode of Evidence in the Wild, Josh sits down with internationally recognized bonsai artist Ryan Neil, founder of Bonsai Mirai and the nonprofit One Tree Project, to explore an unexpected but powerful intersection of bonsai, youth development, and the psychology of measurement. Bonsai is so much more than horticulture. It becomes a living metaphor for developmental science: slow growth,...

In this reflective and forward-looking conversation, Josh Stewart sits down with education researcher and entrepreneur David Blumenthal to unpack what 2025 meant for the research and evaluation community. Following mass federal layoffs and deep uncertainty across the education research sector, David shares how he navigated professional upheaval, transitioned into independent consulting, and ultima...

In this episode of Evidence in the Wild, Superintendent Michelle Miller and Director of Innovation and Strategic Partnerships Matthew Callison from South Fayette Township School District unpack how meaningful research and development can thrive inside a public school system, without massive budgets or rigid frameworks. South Fayette’s “little bets” approach of small, low-risk micro-experiments led...

Adam Smith is a seasoned math education researcher and instructional leader. In this episode, he shares with us the roots of math anxiety and how identity, early experiences, and societal messages shape whether we see ourselves as “math people.” All humans are naturally wired for foundational mathematical thinking, yet math education often becomes abstract and disconnected from students’ lives in...

In this episode, Vernon Orndorff, superintendent of Park County School District 6 in Cody, Wyoming, shares how his district created the “Classroom to Careers” program. This K–12, district-led model of authentic, project-based learning is grounded in community partnerships and career pathways. The initiative blends state standards with real-world experiences like internships and outdoor projects, h...

This episode of Evidence in the Wild features a discussion with Aubrey Francisco, co-director of the Executive Function + Math (EF+Math) program, part of the Advanced Education Research and Development Fund (AERDF). The discussion explores how EF+Math has pioneered a new, equity-centered model of research and development in education. A model that connects executive functioning (the mental skills...

There is prevailing pressure in education to deliver quick, measurable results. But do results from 1-2 years of implementation reflect the true potential of meaningful change? In this episode of Evidence in the Wild, I’m joined by Shelby Danks, founder and principal advisor at Arken Research. We discuss how real impact can often take years, not months. By emphasizing the value of detailed plannin...

In this episode of Evidence in the Wild, I talk with Greg Ponikvar and Dan Effland from Summit Public Schools about their journey with locally led research and development (R&D). We explore how Summit designs, pilots, and scales new efforts, what’s changed in their approach over time, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. We also dive into some of the simple but powerful steps that su...

AI in education research and development can certainly help us push the boundaries of what is possible, but what happens when AI draws on best practices from the past? Can it limit our potential? Can it encourage us to implement approaches that didn’t work? In this episode, I discuss the ups and downs of AI in education research. 

In this episode of Evidence in the Wild, I explore the current uncertainty around accountability and standardized testing in U.S. education policy. With no changes so far in federal guidance on accountability, many are wondering… will testing mandates disappear? Will states be left to decide? Or will things stay the same… for now? As someone who’s long been skeptical of standardized testing, I fin...

In this episode of Evidence in the Wild, I sit down with Eric Mason, a seasoned education leader with experience spanning the classroom, district-level assessment, higher ed, and federal policy. Most recently, Eric served at the Institute of Education Sciences within the U.S. Department of Education. Together, we explore the evolving landscape of education research, from teacher apprenticeship mod...

In this episode of Evidence in the Wild, I explore two research-backed reading interventions that have shown strong results for students with dyslexia and those struggling with literacy: Pennsylvania’s Dyslexia Screening and Early Literacy Intervention Program and Reading Recovery. I also reflect on how programs like these could have supported my own learning journey and why tools like the What Wo...

In this solo episode of Evidence in the Wild, I explore one of the most common pitfalls in interpreting data, confusing correlation with causation. Whether it's linking ice cream consumption to shark attacks, or assuming a program "works" based on surface-level trends, failing to account for confounding variables can lead to deeply flawed conclusions. I share a vivid education example from a well-...

In this solo episode of Evidence in the Wild, I dig into the real purpose of logic models, and why they’re more than just a compliance checkbox. I explore how logic models can serve as practical, actionable tools to help us define measurable milestones, monitor our progress, and stay focused on outcomes that are actually within our control. Whether you’re leading a program, managing a grant, or tr...

In this episode of Evidence in the Wild, I sit down with Dr. David DeJong, Dean of the College of Education at Dakota State University and one of the key architects of South Dakota’s teacher apprenticeship program. We talk about how the SD TAP model came to life, why it matters, and what it's teaching us about expanding the teacher pipeline. David shares early insights from the program, including...

In this first episode of Evidence in the Wild, host Josh Stewart shares why this podcast exists, and why now is the time for a more honest, human conversation about data and research in education. Josh reflects on his background as a researcher, someone who grew up with dyslexia, and a former college professor who has spent the last decade working on federal and philanthropic education projects. T...