The SENIA Happy Hour Podcast

Overview Today host Lori Boll speaks with Estelle Baroung Hughes, an inspirational speaker, school leader, and founder of the non profit organization Africa Learning International which focuses on Quality Education for All. Estelle trains teachers and organizes educational events in Africa to make a difference in schools and learning on the continent . Estelle is SENIA’s keynote speaker at our upc...

Overview Today host Lori Boll speaks with Richard Poulin, an educator and parent. When Richard’s daughter was diagnosed with a rare disease, he and his wife, Judy (also a teacher), felt isolated and didn’t know how to support their daughter. Now, they are taking their knowledge as educators and what they learned raising their daughter and are helping the community with their new non-profit organiz...

Host Lori Boll speaks with Jon Nordmeyer on today's show, WIDA’s International Program Director. Jon is a long-time friend of SENIA, international presenter, published author, An international educator and researcher for over 30 years, and has taught graduate seminars at Harvard Graduate School of Education and Tibet University. Today’s discussion touches on many topics such as DEIJ and EAL, the i...

Overview Today host Lori Boll speaks with Phillip Bowman, a Learning Support Specialist and the Co-Founder and CEO of MARIO Framework. This September, the National Association for Special Education Needs (NASEN) published a peer-reviewed study co-authored by Phillip and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) expert Dr. Katie Novak.. The 6-year retrospective study places the efficacy of Philip's uniqu...

Overview: Today host Lori Boll speaks with Angeline Aow and Dr. Sadie Hollins, the authors of Becoming a Totally Inclusive School a Guide for Teachers and School Leaders published by Routledge in November, 2022. Many of you know Angeline Aow as she was a keynote speaker at our SENIA Europe conference and a presenter at our virtual conference happening right now (PS, it’s not too late to register f...

Overview: Today host Lori Boll speaks with Patrick (Paddy) McGrath, who is an  international speaker, blogger, podcaster, and Head of Education Strategy at the Texthelp Group. Paddy shares how we can use digital tools to help our students better access our documents, but emphasizes the importance of making the content accessible first and foremost. You’ll leave today’s podcast with an easy wa...

Overview: In today’s podcast, host Lori Boll speaks with Joel Llaban, the Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice of the International Schools Services (ISS). Joel and Lori discuss the important work ISS and other organizations are doing to ensure schools are inclusive in all areas from their hiring practices, to their mission statement, to their curriculum and how they should be li...

Overview: Today Lori Boll speaks with Aidan and Lisa Sos. Aidan and LIsa first met Lori on a playground in Shanghai, China when they had just been told that Aidan could no longer attend the international school he was attending due to his Intellectual Developmental Disability (IDD). So, he ended up attending a small school for individuals with special needs that Lori was directing at the time. In...

Overview: Today host Lori Boll speaks with Cheri Dotterer all about Dysgraphia. Cheri is an international speaker, author, and consultant who trains adults to shift their mindsets about struggling writers to strengthen the social-emotional well-being of people with dysgraphia so they can fully engage in life activities and unleash their potential to change their future and other generations throug...

Overview: Today host Lori Boll speaks with Samuel Young the founder of Scholars Academy, a strength-based, talent-focused virtual enrichment center that supports twice-exceptional students and their families. Sam is a neurodivergent educator who has ADHD. As an ADHD learner, he has a tremendous understanding of, experience in, and respect for all things related to neurodiverse education. Today, Sa...

Overview: Today, Nicole Demos, a SENIA Europe Board Member and a proud disabled Third Culture Kid, and host Lori Boll chat more about Nicole and how she now accepts her disability as part of her identity. Nicole shares her experiences growing up with a disability, frustrations and disappointments she went through and continues to navigate through with society and the systems not set up for the dis...

Overview: On today’s show, host Lori Boll speaks with Daniel Wickner the founder of Identity-Centered Learning, a framework for supporting students’ identity development in schools. This work builds on culturally-relevant, responsive, and sustaining pedagogies and is informed by his own biracial, multicultural, and multilingual identity, along with his thirteen years in international education. Da...

Overview: Today, host Lori Boll speaks with Dr. Jack Naglieri. Some of you may recognize that last name. Yes, he is the creator of the Naglieri Noverbal Ability Test. Jack and Lori speak about how traditional IQ tests do not measure how students think. Rather, they measure what they know- which is an inherently biased and unfair practice. Today’s conversation is eye-opening and hopefully gets us a...

Overview: Today, host Lori Boll speaks with Katy Fattaleh who is the Chief Program Officer for The Nora Project. The Nora Project’s mission is to promote disability inclusion by empowering educators and engaging students and communities. Their work is important and can truly change the way we see disabilities and inclusion. Take a listen. Get inspired by learning more about The Nora Project today....

Overview: Today host Lori Boll speaks with Robyn Reagan who is the Executive Director for Circle of Friends. Circle of s a school inclusion program for students who experience social isolation due to disability or other challenges. Through weekly lunches and meaningful activities students develop compassion and the understanding that they are more alike than different. CoF promotes a culture of ac...

Overview: Today, host Lori Boll speaks with the Chief Global Education Officer for the Special Olympics, responsible for global education and youth leadership. Jacqueline Jodl, PhD.  Lori and Jackie discuss the history of the Special Olympics, the evidence that backs up these programs that lessens bullying and bias, and how we, in our international schools, can get more involved. With a progr...

Overview: On today’s podcast, host Lori Boll speaks with long time SENIA friend and Executive Functioning expert, Sarah Ward. Sarah and Lori discuss Processing Speed, and how having either slow or fast processing speed can impact our everyday lives, what teachers or families may recognize in the classroom or home, and how we can best support these challenges. This is a must-listen for all of us. E...

Overview: Today host Lori Boll speaks with Chris Nikic and his father, Nic. Chris set a new world record by being the first person with Down Syndrome to complete a 140.6-mile Ironman. He is also the first person with Down Syndrome to be sponsored by Adidas. His mission is to inspire others like him to pursue their dreams and goals. His greatest achievement is showing others how shifting your focus...

Overview: In today’s show, host Lori Boll speaks with Julie Skolnick. Julie  is a thought leader and expert in the field of twice exceptionality a.k.a. 2e or gifted with a learning difference. As Founder of With Understanding Comes Calm, Julie passionately guides parent, mentors 2e adults and trains teachers on how to bring out the best and raise self confidence in 2e learners. Lori and Julie...

Overview: On today’s show, Lori speaks with our most recent recipient of SENIA’s World Changer award; Courtney Wong. Courtney is a high school student in California and is the founder and president of Tutors4Stars, a youth organization that provides free learning opportunities for neurodiverse students through online private and group lessons. Courtney gained experience as a volunteer by teaching...

Overview: Today our host Lori Boll speaks with Dr. Elizabeth Henry, affectionately known as Dr. Liz. She is a nationally renowned, board-certified pediatrician, speaker, author, parent coach, and youth advocate. She is a trusted advisor to parents and youth and the founder of Dr. Liz Consulting, a company created to empower parents and uplift youth. After graduating from Princeton University, the...

Introduction: Welcome back to another year of Roundtable discussions with Erin Madonna and Lori Boll. Today Erin and Lori chat about some professional learning they engaged in over the summer break and invite the SENIA community to share topics they would like to see discussed in future Roundtables. We’d also love to have you join us for a discussion, so reach out to us and let us know if you woul...

Overview: Today host Lori Boll speaks with Cath Brew. Cath  is an artist who illustrates and educates about marginalised experiences for positive change - with a focus on identity, belonging and expat life. She’s also a passionate advocate for open and honest conversations. Cath hosts Talk-Back Tuesday - a weekly Q&A on social media about LGBTQ+ issues and the podcast ‘Drawn to a Deeper S...

Overview: On today’s podcast, host Lori Boll speaks with LeDerick Horne, one of SENIA’s keynote speakers at our upcoming virtual conference. LeDerick was diagnosed with a learning difference in 3rd grade. He shares how this diagnosis impacted him as a child and how he used his passion for poetry to advocate for a more inclusive school system and a more inclusive society. LeDerick also talks about...

Overview: On today’s podcast, I speak with Sara Larrington, a learning support coordinator at Dresden International School. Growing up, Sara felt “different” from their peers. In Sara’s 20’s they received a diagnosis of Aspergers. Our discussion today focuses on Sara’s experiences in school as a child, why boys are diagnosed at a much higher rate than girls with ASD, what schools can do to better...