Speaking of Education Podcast

This episode features curriculum scholar Dr. William Schubert, Emeritus Professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. In addition to his teaching responsibilities at UIC, Dr. Schubert served as Chair of the Department of Curriculum & Instruction, Director of Graduate Studies, Coordinator of the Ph. D. Program in Curriculum Studies, and Coordinator of the M.Ed. in Educational Studies. Among h...

In this episode we continue our conversation with Evan J. Branson. As we mentioned in our previous episode, Evan graduated from high school in the spring of 2022. Due to the large number of advanced courses Evan took, he was accepted as a junior at the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor majoring in Robotics Engineering. His extensive background in competitive robotics, his knowledge of computer-ai...

This episode features Evan J. Branson. Evan graduated from high school in the spring of 2022. Due to the large number of advanced courses Evan took, he was accepted as a junior at the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor majoring in Robotics Engineering. His extensive background in competitive robotics, his knowledge of computer-aided design, manufacturing, and mechanical design provides a unique an...

This episode features our conversation with Dr. Barbara Mink and Dr. Miranda Haskie about a partnership between Fielding Graduate University and the Navajo nation. We explore how this partnership came about, its purpose, and how our two guests have been involved in it. In addition, we discuss the Navajo Nation's department of education and its efforts, not simply to preserve Navajo culture, but to...

This episode features Dr. Doris Santoro, a professor at Bowdoin College and Chair of the Education Department. As a teacher educator for both pre-service and experienced practitioners, Dr. Santoro examines how norms and values are communicated in professional communities.  In addition to her responsibilities at Bowdoin College, Dr. Santoro is a Senior Associate Editor for the American Journal of E...

This episode features Dr. Ryan Carpenter, Superintendent of the Estacada School District in Oregon. Our conversation focuses on Dr. Carpenter's use of an improvement science process as an evidence-based leadership framework to develop and initiative the district's long term plan. We discuss the su perintendents' role in involving a wide range of community stakeholders in the planning process and h...

This episode features our conversation with Dr. Cynthia A. Tananis. Dr. Tananis has been an educator for more than 40 years, serving as a public school teacher and in a variety of administrative positions.  Prior to her retirement in 2020, she served as an Associate Professor in Education Leadership at the University of Pittsburgh for 25 years.   At the University of Pittsburgh, she founded and se...

This episode features Sarah Zeffiro , a Pittsburgh artist , educator , and community builder. An innovative educator and curriculum designer with 20 years ' teaching experience in museums, schools, and community organizations , Zeffiro's many projects include designing educational, creative, and therapeutic spaces for all ages. Zeffiro is currently a studio art instructor and art gallery curator a...

Today's episode features Dolores Colarosa , the head of youth services at the Baldwin Borough Public Library. In this position, she is responsible for overseeing all aspects of collection development, programming, and community engagement for children ages birth through high school. Colarosa has completed certifications in both early literacy and STEM education.  She has been named one of the top...

n this episode we continue our conversation with Jaime Martinez, Jr., a student at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland. Martinez exemplifies, not only an engaged learner, but also an individual who wants to use his considerable talents to make a positive difference in the world. During our conversation we touch on a number of issues including lessons he learned when the COVID pandemic closed his...

In this episode, we resume our conversation with Dr. Sean Freeland, who joined the faculty at Carlow University in 2022. As part of his teaching responsibilities, Dr. Freeland taught one section of Creative Inquiry, the capstone course in the Masters of Education program. The three of us who host Speaking of Education have developed and taught this course for a number of years. We thought it would...

In this episode we talk with Dr. Julie Fallon, a board certified pediatrician who has wor ked with tweens and teens for over 20 years. She is also a certified parenting and teen life coach. Her program, SkillsIRL, (Skills in Real Life), is a six-unit course for girls between the ages of 10 and 18. Dr. Fallon teaches wellness skills that foster confidence, calm, self-care, and self-acceptance. Thro...

In this episode, we talk with Randy Shine, a Philadelphia native, who has been presenting "real magic for real people," for over a decade. Performing under the stage name Ran'D Shine, this amazing illusionist has been wowing audience s in hundreds of American cities and in over 25 countries. He was featured at the South African African Arts Festival, performed at a Presidential Inauguration in Was...

In this episode we are joined by two distinguished faculty from Hanze University of Applied Sciences in The Netherlands: Loes Damhof, Senior Lecturer of 21 st Century Skills, and Elles Kazemier, Senior Lecturer of Professional Development. Our subject today is Futures Literacy…using our images of the future—our anticipation of the future—to inform our present.   Loes Damhof has always had a strong...

This episode features Joe Wos whose passion for drawing mazes and cartoons began at an early age and has shaped his unique career. Over the years, Wos' art has evolved into a whimsical blend of mazes and cartoons that he calls Mazetoons.  Regarded as a master maze maker, Wos created the world's largest hand-drawn maze in 2012. Measuring 140 square feet, it features more than 100 illustrations. One...

This episode features Dr. Bridget Keown . Dr. Keown earned a PhD in history at Northeastern University, where her research focused on the experience and treatment of war-related trauma among British and Irish women during the First World War and Irish War of Independence. Her focus on , and the construction of history through trauma.  She has written blogs on this research for the American Histori...

This episode features Ann Bisignani. She has a Master's in Public Management with an Educational Leadership Concentration. Bisignani's career as an educator comprises an incredible range of roles and experiences. She began her career as a high school business teacher and technology specialist. She then moved into administration and became a high school principal and, later, assistant to the superi...

This episode features Jessica Mann, Ph. D., the Assistant Vice President for Community Engagement at Duquesne University. During the conversation, we consider the differences between volunteerism, community service and community engagement. Through a two-tiered model of community-engaged learning, the University partners with organizations to nurture students' civic development.  The program also...

In this episode we continue our conversation with Jaime Martinez, Jr., a student at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland. Martinez exemplifies, not only an engaged learner, but also an individual who wants to use his considerable talents to make a positive difference in the world. During our conversation we touch on a number of issues including lessons he learned when the COVID pandemic closed his...

Today's episode features Jaime Martinez, Jr., a student at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland. After completing his sophomore year, Martinez decided to undertake a 1000 mile trek on the Camino de Santiago. Beginning in France, he completed his 10 - week walk at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia Spain where, it is believed, the remains of St. James, the apostle, are buried. Durin...

This episode features Gregg Behr and Ryan Rydzewski, co-authors of When You Wonder, You're Learning: Mister Rogers' Enduring Lessons for Raising Creative, Curious, Caring Kids . Behr is Director of the Grable Foundation and founder and co-chair of Remake Learning, an internationally renowned network of educators, scientists, artists, and makers who are igniting engaging, relevant, and equitable le...

This episode features Dr. Thomas Ralston, Assistant Professor in the School of Education at the University of Pittsburgh and Director of the Forum for Western Pennsylvania School Superintendents.   Dr. Ralston brings 32 years of experience as a public educator to our conversation about the challenges facing school superintendents as they move beyond the COVID pandemic and look toward the future. A...

Jason Banks is a standup comedian based out of Columbus, Ohio. His unique and refreshing style of comedy has helped him emerge as one of the top rising talents on the comedy scene. Jason's natural ability to connect with any crowd with humorous yet over exaggerated stories has placed him as one of Columbus's top comedians. After winning numerous contests throughout Ohio including the funniest pers...

In this episode, Dr. Sean Freeland shares his experiences as a public-school math teacher and as a university professor preparing future math teachers. Of particular concern are the negative experiences students have had with math and their aversion to the subject. To help learners reimagine the relationship with math, Freeland invites learners to write a math autobiography. Once they are able to...

Today's episode features guests Frances Rust, PhD and Roberta Schomburg, PhD.  In the late 1970s, the Carnegie Foundation began to explore the differences between a PhD and an EdD. All too often it seemed that teachers and administrators found the PhD to have little relevance to their world of practice. At the same time, those in the university were concerned that the results of research were not...