The Rachael Maves Podcast

On this week’s episode of The Rachael Maves Podcast, Dr. Simone Charles shares how Whitman Continuation (or as Dr. Charles calls it, Wonderful Whitman) is redefining success, one student at a time. From student-first design to restorative mindsets, this episode is a must-listen for anyone committed to rethinking what school can be. Episode Notes Hosted by Rachael Maves Produced and Edited by Josep...

Is it possible that the quietest students are the ones telling us the most? In this episode of The Rachael Maves Podcast, Rachael sits down with Nadene Dermody, Principal of Monterey County Home Charter School, to explore what it really takes to serve students who don't fit the traditional mold. From 1:1 learning models to rethinking re-engagement meetings, Nadene shares how she’s building a schoo...

How different would school feel if every student was truly seen? In this episode of The Rachael Maves Podcast, Rachael sits down with Dr. Ivan Duran, Superintendent of Highline Public Schools, to unpack how his own near-dropout experience and his parents’ struggles in the education system shaped his unwavering belief in equity, literacy, and the power of truly knowing every student. From launching...

What happens when students know more than their teachers? In this episode of The Rachael Maves Podcast, Rachael sits down with Dr. Rody Boonchouy, Superintendent of Winters Joint Unified, to explore how global experiences, project-based learning, and a community-driven graduate profile are transforming the way we think about school systems. From teaching English in the jungles of Laos to leading s...

How far would you go to protect your students? In this episode of The Rachael Maves Podcast, Rachael sits down with Liz Brenner, Superintendent of Compass Charter Schools, to unpack what it really means to personalize education in a virtual world. Liz shares how her early experiences in urban classrooms shaped her commitment to underserved students — and why she’s still fighting to protect innovat...

Want to know how a $500 scholarship set this leader on a path from classroom teacher to county superintendent? In this episode of The Rachael Maves Podcast, Rachael talks with Mike Freeman, County Superintendent at Shasta County Office of Education. Mike shares how the real work of leadership starts with listening and why the future of education depends on being involved with your community. From...

In this episode of The Rachael Maves Podcast, Rachael sits down with Max Silverman, Executive Director at the University of Washington’s Center for Educational Leadership. Max shares how coaching a fifth-grade basketball team led him to a career in education. From reimagining instructional leadership to building cultures of collective efficacy, Max unpacks what it truly takes to lead meaningful ch...

In this episode of The Rachael Maves Podcast, Rachael sits down with Missy Testerman, the 2024 National Teacher of the Year and ESL Specialist at Rogersville City School in Tennessee. Missy opens up about what first inspired her to teach, why relationships matter more than ever in today’s classrooms, and the big question she believes every educator should be asking: “When is enough, enough?” Episo...

In this episode of The Rachael Maves Podcast, Rachael sits down with Stacey Cool, Program Administrator for Curriculum and Instruction at Merced Union High School District. Stacey shares her inspiring journey from the Peace Corps to the classroom and how her global experiences shape her approach to education today. Episode Notes Hosted by Rachael Maves Produced and Edited by Joseph Gustilo  Execut...

In this episode of The Rachael Maves Podcast, Rachael sits down with JC Bowman, Executive Director and CEO of Professional Educators of Tennessee. JC shares his powerful journey from the classroom to the Capitol, and why storytelling, advocacy, and AI are shaping the future of education. Episode Notes Hosted by Rachael Maves Produced and Edited by Joseph Gustilo  Executive Produced by Morgan Melto...

In this episode of The Rachael Maves Podcast, Rachael sits down with Shoni Johnson, Curriculum and Accountability Director at Connecting Waters Charter School. With a unique background in education for two decades and also being involved in the healthcare, Shoni shares how she uses data, strategy, and heart to drive meaningful change. Episode Notes Hosted by Rachael Maves Produced and Edited by Jo...

In this episode of The Rachael Maves Podcast, Rachael sits down with Nick Greer, Principal Consultant and Founder of Halocline Consulting and Guide at Fearless Guides. With over 21 years of experience in education and systemic reform, Nick shares his journey from science major to award-winning teacher and district leader. He reflects on how building relationships and fostering belonging are key to...

In this episode of The Rachael Maves Podcast, Rachael sits down with Dr. Bill Hite, President & CEO of KnowledgeWorks and former Superintendent of The School District of Philadelphia. With a career dedicated to transforming education, Bill shares his journey from coach to district leader and now a national advocate for personalized, competency-based learning. He discusses how education systems mus...

In this episode of The Rachael Maves Podcast, Rachael sits down with Sheryl Sisil, Associate Superintendent of Educational Services for Madera Unified School District. Sheryl leads nine key departments dedicated to supporting student growth and academic success while championing inclusive and innovative learning environments. She shares her journey from agriculture teacher to educational leader, r...

In this episode of The Rachael Maves Podcast, Rachael sits down with Jim Cowen, Executive Director of the Collaborative for Student Success, a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening K-12 education policies to drive better student outcomes. Jim shares his unique journey—from serving as a U.S. Naval Officer to leading advocacy efforts in education—and discusses the critical need for high-quality instr...

In this episode of The Rachael Maves Podcast, Rachael chats with Camden Iliff, Vice President of Engineering at Apollo Education Systems, who has spent over 25 years revolutionizing K-12 education technology. Camden shares his insights on the unsung heroes in education—the school and district staff working behind the scenes to support students, teachers, and families. He discusses how modern stude...

In this episode of The Rachael Maves Podcast, Rachael chats with Sinead Kiley, a high school senior and student board member for Poway Unified School District, where she represents over 35,000 students. Sinead shares her passion for expanding opportunities for students, fostering mental health awareness, and advocating for inclusive education policies. She discusses her work with the National Stud...

In this episode of The Rachael Maves Podcast, Rachael chats with Jimena Mendez, the first student elected to the Los Angeles County Board of Education, the largest regional education agency in the country. Jimena expresses her passion for amplifying student voices, advocating for diversity in specialized schools, and ensuring all students have access to educational opportunities. She also provides...

In this episode of The Rachael Maves Podcast, Rachael sits down with Anika Yu, a first-year UC Berkeley student studying Political Economy on a pre-law track. Anika shares her journey as the 2023-2024 student board member for Dublin Unified School District, where she advocated for fair policies on grading, menstrual equity, and student compensation. She also provides a sneak peek into her upcoming...

In this episode of The Rachael Maves Podcast, Rachael chats with Sinead Kiley, a high school senior and student board member for Poway Unified School District, where she represents over 35,000 students. Sinead shares her passion for expanding opportunities for students, fostering mental health awareness, and advocating for inclusive education policies. She discusses her work with the National Stud...

In this episode of The Rachael Maves Podcast, Rachael sits down with Timi Ilori, a remarkable ninth-grade student at Liberty High School in Madera, California, who is already making waves as a leader and changemaker in her community. Timi shares her passion for fostering human connection, both on and off the soccer field, and reflects on how teamwork and relationships have shaped her perspective o...

In this episode of The Rachael Maves Podcast, Rachael speaks with Dr. Marshall Baker, Education Analyst Director at Parsec Education, who combines data-driven insights and strategic systems thinking to improve educational outcomes from cradle to career. Marshall shares highlights from his Measure What We Value Summit session, Measuring What We Value in Action, where he explores the complexities of...

In this episode of The Rachael Maves Podcast, Rachael chats with Dr. Mary Cochron, founder of Metamer LLC and an expert in educational assessment. Dr. Cochron provides a glimpse into her Measure What We Value Summit keynote, “Humanizing Measurement Through the Compassionate Assessment Framework,” where she discusses innovative ways to approach student assessments, focusing on understanding growth...

In this episode of The Rachael Maves Podcast, Rachael sits down with Tony Alpert, Executive Director of Smarter Balanced, who he leads a 12-member state consortium to develop and maintain innovative assessment systems that serve the needs of students, educators, and states. Tony shares insights into his Measure What We Value Summit keynote, “Digging Deeper with Smarter Balanced Data,” where he exp...

In this episode of The Rachael Maves Podcast, Rachael speaks with Pepper Miller, a distinguished market researcher, author, and speaker with over 25 years of experience helping organizations understand and engage Black American consumers. Pepper shares a preview of her 2025 Measure What We Value Summit keynote, Unpacking the Value of the Black American Experience: Let Me Explain Black Again, where...