Four Winds Learning Collective

Episode Notes There's been a version of this conversation happening in school hallways for years: the one about phones, about screens, about what we're doing to kids' attention. Most educators have watched it happen in slow motion: the iPads that seemed like a gift, the social media that ate everything, the kids who grew up without social interaction habits that being in a room with other people a...

Episode Notes On this mini-episode, Stuart shares a deep dive into The Dyslexic Advantage by Brock and Fernette Eide, a book that challenges the conventional deficit-based view of dyslexia and instead explores it as a distinct and powerful way of processing information. As educators, we often find ourselves working within systems designed for a narrow "middle," where a student's struggle...

Episode Notes Everybody in education has felt the nagging sense that you don't quite belong there, that someone smarter or more prepared is about to walk in and take your seat. Jen would like you to know it's called imposter phenomena, not syndrome, and that distinction actually matters. In this episode, we're joined by Ryan, our audio engineer and longtime collaborator, to talk about why that fee...

Episode Notes On March 2, 2026, the Supreme Court handed down its decision in Mirabelli v. Bonta, a case that started with two veteran teachers in Escondido, California who were told by their school to hide students' gender transitions from their parents. In this solo mini-episode, Kyle walks through what actually happened in the case. This isn't a legal analysis episode, nor a political one. Usin...

Episode Notes The world is on fire — and the kids in your classroom know it. In this solo mini-episode, Kyle sits with a question that a lot of educators are carrying right now: when something as large and frightening as a widening war is all over your students' feeds, what is your actual job? This isn't a geopolitics episode. It's about presence, belonging, and the difference between having a pla...

Episode Notes Season Two opens with the three of us dusting off the microphones, forgetting how to introduce ourselves, and immediately diving into the deep end: mental health in schools, the crisis facing students  and  teachers, and why everything seems to be on fire. We talk SEL, trauma, the impossible pressure on educators, and the growing push toward community schools as a way to actually mee...

Episode Notes In this episode, Three Educators Who’ve Seen Too Much™ dive headfirst into the mess that is FAPE: Free and Appropriate Public Education. We unpack how “appropriate” too often means “sit in a class you can’t access,” why canned curriculum is a billion-dollar confidence trick, and how grade levels still haunt us like a bad group project. From misinterpretations of special education law...

Episode Notes In this warm and candid conversation, Kyle, Jen, and Stuart welcome Dawn—one of Vermont’s Teachers of the Year—to reflect on two decades in middle school classrooms. Together, they explore how the modern emphasis on teacher-student relationships differs from traditional models, the emotional weight of holding space for disregulated students, and the fine line between mentorship and f...

Episode Notes In this episode, we explore the barriers that traditional teacher certification processes create, preventing passionate, talented individuals from entering the classroom. Joined by Maya, an experienced educator who transitioned from progressive private schools to traditional public education, we discuss how expensive degrees, unpaid student-teaching requirements, and rigid credential...

Episode Notes In this episode of the  Four Winds Learning Collective  podcast, Kyle, Jen, and Stuart dive into the fascinating world of attachment styles—how our early relationships with caregivers shape the way we connect with others throughout life. They discuss the four main attachment styles (secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganized) and how they manifest in students and adults alike. The c...

Episode Notes Episode 3: The Politics of Education: Wrestling with Project 2025 Subtitle: A Deep Dive into Education’s Tug-of-War Over Values and Funding In this episode, Kyle, Jen, and Stuart dive into one of the most polarizing education policy proposals of our time: Project 2025. The team examines the potential dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education, the shift to state-controlled fundi...

Episode Notes Episode 2: Reclaiming Passion in the Age of Distraction Subtitle:  The Battle for Focus and Purpose in the Modern Classroom In this episode, Kyle, Jen, and Stuart dive into the pressing challenges faced by educators, parents, and students in a world dominated by screens. They explore themes from Jonathan Haidt’s  The Anxious Generation , discussing how technology distracts from passi...

Show Notes: Episode 1 - The Four Winds Learning Collective Episode Title: "Breaking the Rules: Education in the Great Outdoors" Episode Summary: Welcome to the inaugural episode of the Four Winds Learning Collective podcast! Join Stuart, Kyle, and Jen as they embark on a candid and insightful discussion about the state of education, all while enjoying the great outdoors. This episode set...