High Tech High Unboxed: Recent Episodes
High Tech High Unboxed
Stories of learning in and out of school, and interviews with teachers, students, and school leaders.
Artwork by the inimitable Enrique "Chikle" Lugo
Brought to you by HTH Unboxed: A Journal of Adult Learning in Schools
Visit us online at hthunboxed.org
Episode NotesLearn more about Nowell Academy Here
Learn more about the Deeper Learning Conference here
Find all the podcast episodes from Deeper Learning 2024 here
Episode NotesMore episodes with Rob
- Kaleb & Rob’s Fireside Chats: Where They’re Coming From—In this conversation between Rob and Kaleb Rashad you can hear about Rob's education journey—from Morocco, to Alabama, to Boston, to San Diego!
- Kaleb & Rob’s Fireside Chats: Adult Learning At High Tech High—In this conversation between Rob and Kaleb, they talk about how High Tech High's pedagogical philosophy informs professional development.
Episode NotesAysha Upchurch's organization, HipHopEX
The best place to see Enrique "Chikle" Lugo's art is his instagram account
The custom Padres shoes that. Enrique was wearing at the Den Talk
Did you like listening to this but wish you could have been there and seen those shoes (and the rest of it) in person? Come hang out with us at the Deeper Learning Conference next year!
Episode NotesThis video about the Everybody Needs a Rock project played at the end-of-project exhibition
Learn more about the High Tech High Graduate School of Education's Professional Learning Team here
Learn more about the New School Creation Fellowship and the Center for Love and Justice here
Learn more about the San Diego Teacher Residency here
Episode NotesGet Carlos Moreno's book, Finding Your Leadership Soul
Learn more about the Deeper Learning Conference
Episode NotesListen to the first episode in this series, Iowa WTF: The High School Students Fighting for Free Speech in in Schools
Iowa WTF on Instagram
David’s pre-walkout video message for organizers
Article about the walkout in the Des Moines Register
Episode NotesIowa WTF's Instagram Account
The instagram post announcing Iowa WTF's first walkout
An article about the Johnston Community School District
Episode NotesThe book that Stacey and Derek talk about is Change Agents, by Justin Cohen
Listen to a conversation between the author, Justin Cohen, and Derek Mitchell here!
Learn more about Derek's organization, Partners for School Innovation on their website
Check out our full library of podcast episodes, articles, and videos about Continuous Improvement here!
Episode NotesFind out more about college access here: CARPE Collective
Listen to our other episodes about college access here
Episode NotesBeyond the Surface of Restorative Practices Watch Marisol's keynote from the PBL Leadership Academy
Episode NotesJillian's Recommended Reading/Listening:
- Street Data by Shane Safir and Jamila Dugan
- Street Data Pod hosted by Shane Safir and Alcine Mumby
Episode NotesThis is the shorter version of this episode. To find out about how XP does student portfolios and uses them for student-led conferences and "passage presentations," listen to the "director's cut" version of the episode here.
- Examples of XP Trust Expeditions and Student Work
- The XP Trust Statement of Values and Ethos
- XP Schools Assessment Handbook
- Click here to see photos of Toby’s Dust Jacket for the book "What Makes a Successful Community?", and XP's "anatomy of a learning expedition" photo
Episode NotesThis is the "director's cut" version of this episode. It includes a section on how XP does student portfolios and uses them for student-led conferences and "passage presentations." You can find a shorter version of the episode here.
- Examples of XP Trust Expeditions and Student Work
- The XP Trust Statement of Values and Ethos
- XP Schools Assessment Handbook
- Click here to see a photo of Toby’s Dust Jacket for the book "What Makes a Successful Community?", photos of the student portfolios at XP School, and XP's "anatomy of a learning expedition" photo
Episode NotesMake sure you also listen to the companion episode to this one, For Navajo Teacher Bernita Bedah, Language is Foundational to Building Identity
Check out Peter’s podcast, 21st Century Native Leaders!
Episode NotesMake sure you also listen to the companion episode to this one, For Assistant Superintendent Peter Deswood, Connection to Navajo Students is Personal
Bernita references Rochelle Gutierrez’s keynote address from the 2023 Deeper Learning conference. You can listen to it on your preferred podcast platform here, and find the transcript here.
Episode NotesKristian Basaraba's podcast, the Rad Dads Podcast
Joe Buffalo on Instagram
The New Yorker Documentary about Joe Buffalo
Oasis Skateboard Factory
Colonialism Skateboards
Read more about Michel Blades Bird’s work here
John “JCat” Cardinal on Instagram
You can see photos from the project (including Layla's deck) here.
Episode NotesLearn More About Connecticut Rise
How RISE Partners are Collaborating to Keep Students On-Track
Referenced in the episode:
- On-Track Coaches
- On-Track Data Teams
- Conditions for Grade 9 Success,
- RISE Data Hub
- Margaret J. Wheatley, “Willing to Be Disturbed”
Listen to another episode from Unboxed about Ninth grade success here
Want more awesome stuff about Continuous Improvement? Click here!
Episode NoteThis is a special bonus episode. The jury's out on whether it's "educational" but this is not a story you want to miss.
Liberate! Pocket-sized Paradigms for Liberatory Learning by Dr. Michelle Sadrena Pledger
The San Marcos Writing Project
The Deeper Learning Conference
Episode NotesIf you have questions you’d like me to ask Rob and Kaleb in their next episode, send them to unboxed [at] hthgse [dot] edu.
Episode NotesArticle: "Improving FAFSA Completion Rates," by Ben Daley
Podcast Episode: The $50,000 Prize: How Calexico High School Raised FAFSA Completion by 13 percentage points in one year
Click Here for More Continuous Improvement Stuff than You Can Imagine!
Episode Notes See a video about the rocketry project here.
Read more about Andrew Lerario and Blue Dot Education here.
Episode Notes The CARPE Collaborative
High Tech High International
You can find more great podcast episodes, articles, and videos about improvement here!
Episode Notes * EdWeek article about Mountaineer Mathematics Master Teachers (M3T) * Mountaineer Mathematics Master Teachers * Center For Research on Equity and Innovation
You can find more great podcast episodes, articles, and videos about improvement here!
Episode Notes Scott's book, Leadership for Deeper Learning
The website (and book) Scott shares with schools to show them examples of what they could do:Changing the Subject: Twenty Years of Projects from High Tech High
Books written by John Holt
Books written by Tom Vander Ark
Getting Smart
Episode NotesBrian's article about weather balloons, "From Socratic Seminar to Space Science"
Blue Dot Education
Episode NotesRochelle’s recommended reading:
- “Why (Urban) Mathematics Teachers Need Political Knowledge”
- Introduction to Rehumanizing Mathematics for Black, Indigenous, and Latinx Students
- A Spiritual Turn: Toward Desire-Based Research and Indigenous Futurity in Mathematics Education
Also, check out the ethnomathematics program at the University of Hawaii!
Episode NotesRuby Ibarra kicked off the Deeper Learning 2023 conference with a blistering set featuring members of her band, the Balikbayans.
Ruby Ibarra's album, Circa 91, on Bandcamp
Episode NotesThis episode originally aired on Ashanti Branch's podcast, Taking off the Mask.
You can learn more about Ashanti and the Ever Forward Project here.
Stacey Caillier sat down with Sofi Frankowski, Dana Diesel, and Taqwanda Hailey to talk about their organization, Schools that Lead, which runs networked improvement communities of schools across North Carolina.
They have developed a unique approach to running an improvement network, and it’s pretty exciting!
To see an image of the three-year Schools That Lead "cohort journey," go here.
Episode NotesResources mentioned in this episode:
Books
- Change Leadership: A Practical Guide to Transforming Our Schools by Tony Wagner, Robert Kegan, Lisa Laskow Lahey, Deborah Helsing, Harriette Thurber Rasmussen, Richard W Lemons, Jude Garnier, Annie Howell
- What's Worth Fighting For in the Principalship by Michael Fullan
- The Moral Imperative of School Leadership by Michael Fullan
- The Six Secrets of Change: What the Best Leaders Do to Help Their Organizations Survive andThrive by Michael Fullan
Online resources
- National Equity Project Leading for Equity Framework
- National School Reform Faculty Protocols
- Center For Adaptive Schools Thinking Collaborative
Episode NotesTo find out more about the deeper learning conference visit the website, deeper-learning.org
Andre Spicer (@drespicer88 on twitter and @regionsouthsupt on Instagram), a career educator of 27 years, has had the honor of serving children, families and communities as a Teacher, Dean, Coordinator, Principal and Instructional Director, Administrator of Instruction and Superintendent.Andre grew up in Compton, California where he learned first-hand, the perils of inequities, systemic racism and oppression plaguing our inner city public schools. Before becoming an educator, Andre served in the United States Marine Corps (1988-1992). A veteran of the Persian Gulf War, Andre uses many of the leadership qualities that he learned serving alongside some of the world’s finest men and women.Andre attended California State University Long Beach to obtain a BA in History and Teaching Credential. He attended CSUDH earning a master’s degree in Educational Leadership. Today, Andre is a PhD student at Claremont Graduate University where he is engaged in research on college access for Black and Latinx students while sharpening his tools as an urban leader.
As principal, Andre eliminated barriers through a cycle of continuous improvement, professional development and training emphasizing the importance of cultural awareness and the persistent achievement gap of Latinx students and Black students. As Administrators of Instruction for LD Central, Andre’s responsibilities included, aligning student needs with resources to ensure academic success, while assisting the Local District Superintendent and Community of Schools in providing instructional support to all schools within the service area.
Mr. Spicer served proudly as President of the LAUSD Council of Black Administrators. During his tenure, the membership of over 400 administrators gained knowledge on how to better serve the communities of under-served students. Andre and team ensured that the Black Educational Civil Rights Agenda was at the forefront of their work, and under his leadership members of COBA collaborated to advocate for the acceleration of black student achievement. As President, Andre oversaw the 40th and 41st Annual Black Child Conference and Scholarship Luncheons. Attended annually by over 1000 faculty members and parents, the conference provides workshops on a variety of topics including CLRP, MTSS, College Board, and student access to STEM and STEAM education, all vital tools to help ensure equity throughout our schools.
Currently Andre is serving as the Region South Superintendent for Los Angeles Unified School District
Episode NotesTo find out more about the deeper learning conference visit the website, deeper-learning.org
Kristin DeLaTorre (@delatorretcs on twitter) holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Florida Atlantic University. She is an educator in South Florida with 19 years of teaching experience. She has been nominated for the Dwyer Award in the area of Elementary Education and twice in the area of Stem-Project Based Learning Education. Kristin serves as a mentor for the Innovative Schools Project in the School District of Palm Beach County, where she supports teachers with implementing project-based learning in their classes. Her classroom has become a learning space for teachers and leaders as she works closely with the Innovative Schools Lead Instructional Program Developers and the Assistant Superintendent for Palm Beach County schools, helping teachers integrate Project Based Learning. This implementation will allow this methodology to be utilized across more schools in Palm Beach County. Kristin spends summers as a lead trainer for the Inquiry Project Collaborative as well as onboarding new teachers in the methods of Inquiry and Project Based Learning. Kristin started her work at The Conservatory School in the fall of 2015. In her time at TCS she has immersed herself in the PBL process and shown her students a greater understanding and empathy for the world beyond themselves. Over the past seven years, her students have been involved with, raised money, or donated goods for The Water Project in Africa, HIP Africa, Challenged Athletes Foundation, UNICEF, El Sol Food Bank, Rocking Horse Foundation, The National Honey Bee Conservancy, The World Wildlife Fund, and bought an acre of land in the South American Rainforest. The consistent mantra in her classroom is “Be the change you wish to see in the world”. Kristin has also become an expert in student-led learning, developing and implementing creative practices in the classroom that emphasizes self-directed education, creativity, and discovery, rather than rote memorization. Students are encouraged to incorporate their own interests into projects, within their current topic. Kristin strives to offer students agency and having their voices heard as they work together as a collective towards setting goals, being reflective and acting responsibly to effect change.
Episode NotesTo find out more about the deeper learning conference visit the website, deeper-learning.org.
Walter Cortina, 19, is Bridgemakers President and Co-Founder. Led by Minnesota youth from backgrounds of extreme adversity, Bridgemakers amplifies the voice and mentors the leadership of under-resourced youth to bridge America’s toughest gaps. Walter became homeless at 13 after his parents were deported to Mexico. The Minneapolis native worked three jobs to support himself and his family and encountered the juvenile justice system. Experiencing trauma and poverty at an early age, Walter discovered his passion to channel anger and pain into action and purpose. At 15, he created and led Venture Academy’s Changemakers team to advocate for student-centered school improvement. At 17, he interned for the Minneapolis Foundation CEO and co-keynoted the Teacher-Powered Schools National Conference.After losing their jobs in the 2020 pandemic shutdown, Walter and other youth built a bipartisan statewide coalition that generated 65 media features, successfully sued the State of Minnesota and permanently changed state law, bringing $33 million in unemployment benefits to 20,000 eligible students. Walter’s journey is featured in Sam Seidel’s Hip-Hop Genius 2.0: Remixing High School Education (Rowman & Littlefield, 2022). The first in his family to graduate high school, he graduated from the High School for Recording Arts (HSRA) in St. Paul last May. Walter’s life purpose is to create a world in which youth have the resources, mentorship, access, and opportunities to be leaders of their destiny to create a better tomorrow for everyone.
You can learn more about Bridgemakers at Bridgemakersmn.org
Also, read the article “Building Bridgemakers” in Unboxed!
Episode NotesThis is a "reissue" of a classic episode. The original came out in January 2020.
You can learn more about all the awesome work LeDerick Horne is doing at his website, lederick.com
The poem at the start of the episode is called "New Beginning". You can hear it on LeDerick Horne's first album, Rhyme Reason and Song. You can also see LeDerick performing it here.
LeDerick's book, which he wrote with Margaret Vreeburg Izzo, is called Empowering Students with Hidden Disabilities: A Path to Pride and Success.
Episode NotesWatch Personalized Learning through Collaborative Experiences (the companion video to this episode)
Listen to John Santos’s other Podcast Episode: “‘Rigor’ Shouldn’t Mean ‘Some Kids Fail’”
Episode NotesLearn more about the C3 Mobility DAO in this article
Read more about the software "Airtable" in the article “Educators Building Software: Two Case Studies”
Episode NotesHigh Tech High Graduate School of Education Director of Liberation Michelle Pledger talks to Stanford D.School's Laura McBain about how the Deeper Learning conference came about, and what it takes to help conference-goers EXPERIENCE deeper learning, rather than just talking about it.
Resources:
Read about (and register for) this year's Deeper Learning Conference! (March 28-30 2023)
You can see the deeper learning competencies here (scroll down a little bit)
The Deeper Learning video series
The Edweek Learning Deeply blog
Episode NotesThe Internet Free Education Resource Bank (IFERB)
Janhvi Kanoria's Ted Talk, A is for Arrow
Episode NotesYou can find lots more podcast episodes, articles, and videos about continuous improvement here!
Episode NotesYou can find lots more podcast episodes, articles, and videos about continuous improvement here!
Episode NotesJustin Cohen's book, Change Agents, is available here
You can find lots more podcast episodes, articles, and videos about continuous improvement here!
Episode Notes You can find Michelle and Elizabeth on Twitter! Michelle is @DrMiBowman and Elizabeth is @EFoster11
References further reading:
- Michelle’s dissertation Bowman, M. A. (2021). Learning together: A quantitative examination of inter-district collaboration in a community of practice. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.10867.45609
- Standards for Professional Learning – https://standards.learningforward.org/
- Three Stack Protocol – attached slides from the Charles A. Dana Center
- Redesign Professional Development Community (205-2017) -- https://learningforward.org/networks/redesign-professional-development-community/
- What Matters Now Network (2016-2018) – https://learningforward.org/networks/what-matters-now-network/
- Professional learning for a virtual world – https://learningforward.org/journal/leadership-under-pressure/professional-learning-for-a-virtual-world/
Episode Notes Read the first chapter of Dear Math: Why Kids Hate Math and What Teachers Can Do About It, “Dear Math, You are Dreadful”
Buy a copy of Dear Math: Why Kids Hate Math and What Teachers Can Do About It
Episode Notes Here are the models that David and Hannah made for the project slice:
- David writing for Hannah
- Hannah writing for David
Resources you can use if you want to create your own PD based on what David and the team did:
- Project Slice Note-Catcher
- Slides for Day 1
- Slides for Day 2
- Slides for Day 3
Read more about Blue Dot
Episode Notes * Map showing location of the department of Antioquia in Colombia * Map showing the city of Medellín’s location in Antioquia * Comfama website (in Spanish) * Cosmo Schools website (in Spanish)
Episode Notes Watch the video that Edrick and the High Tech High Chula Vista staff made for the start of the year (seriously, watch this): HTHCV—Where Passion and Projects Take Flight
Watch the full-length Meals and Muppets movie
Here are instructions and templates for the Broken Circles activity
Episode Notes Thrive: The Purpose of Schools in a Changing World by Valerie Hannon and Amelia Peterson
Episode Notes The Make-or-Break Year: Solving the Dropout Crisis One Ninth Grader at a Time by Emily Krone Phillips
The CARE Network
Episode Notes In New Orleans, listen to the Be Loud Radio Hour on 102.3FM on Saturday mornings at 9AM.
Everyone else can listen online at whivfm.org
You can listen to old episodes on Soundcloud, and you can listen to that Hotseat with Tank and the Bangas here!
Plus you can read all about Be Loud Studios here: https://beloudstudios.org/
Episode Notes This is the video Ron refers to in which a senior needs to redo her passage presentation
High Tech High Unboxed resources on Presentations of Learning
“Share Your Learning” resources on Presentations of Learning
Leaders of Their Own Learning, by Ron Berger, Leah Rugen, and Libby Woodfin
You can watch clips from the portfolio presentations in Ron Berger’s own class from the 1980s
More EL Education resources for portfolio presentations
Episode Notes Experience Changing the Subject for yourself! Visit www.changingthesubject.org
You can learn more about the Western Carolina Education Leadership Program from this website and this video
Episode Notes This episode is a guest episode from the Hip Hop Genius podcast. Find all their episodes here, or wherever you get your podcasts!
Episode Notes Justin Lopez-Cardoze Instructional Coach and Curriculum Coordinator, Capital City Public Charter School
Ron Berger Ron is Senior Advisor, Teaching & Learning for EL Education. Ron was a public school teacher and carpenter in rural Massachusetts for 25 years. His writing and speaking focus on inspiring quality and character in students, specifically through project-based learning, original scientific and historical research, service learning, and the infusion of arts. He works closely with the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where he did his graduate work and now teach a course that focuses on high-quality student work. He has authored or co-authored eight books, An Ethic of Excellence and A Culture of Quality; and with EL colleagues, Leaders of Their Own Learning, Transformational Literacy, Management in the Active Classroom, Learning That Lasts, The Leaders of Their Own Learning Companion, and We Are Crew.
Arria Coburn Arria Coburn is the principal of The Springfield Renaissance School, a 6-12 EL Education School located in Springfield, Massachusetts. She is entering her sixth year as principal and has been in education for 14 years. Prior to becoming a principal, she worked as a special education teacher before transitioning into the role of an assistant principal. Under her leadership the school earned the title of Secondary Magnet School Merit Award of Excellence. In 2018 she was named the Magnet School 2018 Region 1 Principal of the year. She entered the EdD program in Curriculum, Teaching, Learning, and Leadership (CTLL) at Northeastern University during the fall of 2018 with an interest in studying how to use student centered learning strategies to increase the achievement of African American students. Her research on student centered learning strategies has given her a deep understanding of how to utilize student voice to build a sense of community for all students.
Laina Cox Laina Cox is the Middle School Principal at Capital City Public Charter School, a PreK3-12th grade EL Education School, in Washington DC. She also currently serves as a School Ambassador Fellow for the United States Department of Education, one of seven educators from around the country, chosen to help improve education for students in the development and implementation of national education policy. Laina graduated from Spelman College with a B.A. in Psychology and received an Ed.M in Teaching and Curriculum from Harvard University. She began her career in Boston Public Schools, first as a teacher and later as an Assistant Principal. She worked as a School Designer for EL Education for two years prior to becoming the founding principal of the Middle School at Capital City PCS. Laina was named a Ted Sizer Principal Fellow through the Coalition of Essential Schools, she was the recipient of the 2017 Distinguished Alumni Fellow for Hopkins School, her high school alma mater in New Haven, CT., is currently a mentor principal for EL Education, and is a member of the Trinity University Coalition on Education. In 2018, Laina was named the recipient of the Silverberg Leadership Award for EL Education, awarded annually to one exemplary school leader who raises student achievement through deep implementation of EL Education practices. And most recently, in 2020, Laina was selected as a member on the District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent’s Principal’s Advisory Committee. Laina is an active member of the National Alumnae Association of Spelman College, where she founded the Blueprint Conference for Middle and High School Girls as well as a mentoring program for Middle & High School students. She is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and the proud wife of Winston and Mommy to Jaida (13) and Solomon (9).
Episode Notes This episode comes from the Deeper Learning 2022 Conference.
This is a recording of the opening keynote, in which four educators from around the country told stories of deeper learning from their own lives.
Here's a little more about our four speakers:
German Gallardo German Gallardo is a Fulbright Scholar who holds a B.A. from the University of California Santa Cruz and a master’s from Claremont Graduate University. Before returning to education German served as an Executive Director and a non-profit consultant with a focus on the creation of healing programs for youth. As a social science educator German centers the knowledge and experiences of marginalized peoples through the use of project-based learning, inquiry-based instruction and youth participatory action research. German strives to create learning experiences that address generational trauma and community challenges, allowing students to identify and nurture their gifts and strengths to generate real world change. As a school founder German seeks to bring the founding principles that have guided his career to the families he serves. By focusing on healing generational trauma through the use of powerful educational experiences and the use of indigenous healing practices to create a school that challenges all forms of oppression and helps the community radically reimagine what is possible. German currently serves South Central Los Angeles California at Wallis Annenberg High School as a Dean of Culture. German is also developing professional development for school and developing a high school with La Junta Educativa collective. Connect with German~ gmgallardo@gmail.com
Sommer Jones Sommer Jones is an alum of Longwood University, and a current graduate student in High Tech High’s GSE leadership program. Over her last 15 years as an educator, Sommer has taught middle and high school English, and served as an Instructional Technology and Innovation Coach. She is currently the Dean of Student Experience for K12 CREW Academy in Hopewell, Virginia where she supports teachers and students as they engage in their core values of Community, Real-World Deeper Learning, Empathy and Equity, and Championing the Wins. Sommer believes that culture and identity work remains at the heart of deeper learning, and she is passionate about co-designing brave and liberating learning spaces where students can elevate their voice, develop emotional resilience, and experience the freedom to become their most authentic selves in our schools and our communities.
Christian Martinez Christian Martinez, is an educator & poeta. Born in Uruapan, Michoacan, Mexico, he and his family migrated to Oakland, California in 1999 to pursue a better future. Growing up in East Oakland deeply influenced his desire to elevate in the community. Christian witnessed and experienced the social and educational inequities first hand and wanted to contribute to leveling the playing field for communities of color. In 2010, Christian commenced his career as an educator in his beloved Fruitvale community. Here, he co-founded Latitude 37.8, a unique high school that focuses on real-world project-based learning, with strong arts, multimedia, and technology integration. The focus of the school deeply aligns with Christian's creative vision.
Christian developed a passion for music, recording and producing all while fostering a drive to succeed.
In 2018, Christian founded Noxhegalactica Podcast & Magazine. Noxhegalactica invites all participants--the host, its guest, and listeners--to reveal our struggles and build the community we never thought we would have. Noxhegalactica aims to elevate the community. Christian's is a big fan of fashion and promoting mental health. In 2019, he took a trip to Tokyo, Japan where he was inspired to uplift and motivate people through his message. He started his own clothing brand named swimgood. Swimgood is rooted in the idea that "No matter where you are in this ocean called life , you’ll be okay if you just swimgood."
Haben Ghebregergish Haben Ghebregergish is an alum of the University of Chicago and a current student at the Hamline University Graduate School of Education. This year she successfully defended her thesis entitled Math Students as Changemakers in a Transforming World: How African American Girls Connect Mathematics and Social Justice in the High School Classroom During Online Learning. Haben is the Lead Facilitator at the High School for Recording Arts. Haben has the pleasure of co-facilitating social justice mathematics courses at HSRA. The student-centered and problem-driven classes allow students to take ownership of their learning by exploring topics that are important to them, including the impact of the Black Lives Movement, Billionaires in our society, and owning a business. She is passionate about learning through travel and has collaborated with colleagues and students to organize trips to Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and New York City. Haben is also a coach to youth advocates in two organizations. The first is Bridgemakers, a nonprofit, youth-led organization that works on issues such as education reform and economic justice for marginalized Minnesotans ages 14-25. One of Bridgemakers’ most recent victories was passing a law that made high school students in Minnesota eligible for unemployment benefits. The second is Reconnect Rondo, whose mission is to revitalize the Rondo community of St. Paul, a once thriving black neighborhood that was devastated by the construction of I-94.
Episode Notes You can see photos from the Garden project and the launch at the Forbidden City, and find a full transcript of the episode, here.
Note: Yinuo started interviewing candidates at McKinsey in 2006, not 2002.
Episode Notes Reading List All these are referenced in the episode:
Brandi Hinnant-Crawford, Improvement Science in Education: A Primer
Frederick M. Hess and Jon Fullerton, "The Numbers We Need: Bringing Balanced Scorecards to Education Data."
Colleen Capper, Organizational Theory for Equity and Diversity
Sonya Douglass Horsford, Janelle T. Scott, and Gary L. Anderson, The Politics of Education Policy in an Era of Inequality
Audre Lorde, "The Master's Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master's House"
Shane Safir (Author) Jamila Dugan (Author), _Street Data_
Anthony S. Bryk, Louis Gomez, Alicia Grunow, and Paul LeMahieu, Learning to Improve: How America’s Schools Can Get Better at Getting Better
Episode Notes This is the final episode in our series about Cheltenham School District. Check out all the episodes here!
You can hear the three episodes made by teachers at Cedarbrook Middle School here.
Examples of Student Work:
- Philadelphia Museum of Art Photo Challenge (11th Grade)
- Johnson & Johnson Collaboration (11th Grade): Podcast Episode, TikTok video, Children's Book
- Foodology Project (9th Grade)
Episode Notes This is the fourth episode in the series about Cheltenham School District. Check out all the episodes here!
This is the third episode in a series about Cheltenham School District.
You may want to start with Episode 1: “I Hear You Want to Do Something Different,” which is three episodes back in the podcast feed, but this one will also make sense on its own!
Episode Notes This is the second episode in a series about Cheltenham School District.
You may want to start with Episode 1: “I Hear You Want to Do Something Different,” which is two episodes back in the podcast feed, but this one will also make sense on its own!
Episode Notes Find Cat on Instagram here: @the_feelingsteacher
For more resources on connecting with kids, Cat recommends Dr. Ross Greene's website
The phone number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 800-273-8255
Find all the episodes in our student-led conferences miniseries here
Read a how-to guide to Student-led conferences written by a teacher!
Episode Notes Find all the episodes in our student-led conferences miniseries here!
Read a how-to guide to Student-led conferences written by a teacher!
Episode Notes Find all the episodes in our student-led conferences miniseries here Read a how-to guide to Student-led conferences written by a teacher!
The kindergarten student-led conference videos Ron refers to are here:
Kindergarten Student-led Conference
Station-based Kindergarten Student-led Conference
Episode Notes You can learn more about the Syrian Refugee Simulation at Changing the Subject
If you want to go deep on Big Picture Learning, check out this longitudinal study of big picture students and alumni that Eva coauthored!
If you want to learn more about Don Berwick, listen to Stacey Caillier's interviews with him: "Improvement as Learning" and "Building Courageous Networks"
A short biography of W. Edwards Deming
A short biography of Anthony (Tony) Bryk
A short biography of Peter Senge
Episode Notes This episode was inspired by Stacey Caillier's interview with Ron Berger, "Crafting Beautiful Lessons."
And THAT interview was inspired by a 2008 interview with Ron Berger that appeared in the inaugural issue of Unboxed, called "Crafting Beautiful Work."
Episode Notes You can learn more about Kemp Harris's music here, and find his latest album, Kemp Harris Live at The Bird SF, here.
Our other episode featuring Sarah is Season 2 Episode 14, "What Can School Learn from After-school?" You can listen to it here.
Episode Notes Watch Isaac Stanford's Year in Review video here
Check out more of Isaac's music at https://www.sloweyandtheboats.com/
Read the latest issue of our journal, Unboxed, and find much more, at hthunboxed.org
Episode Notes Learn more about Don Berwick and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement at http://www.ihi.org/
Episode Notes Resources referenced in this episode:
Our Family Coalition https://ourfamily.org/
ONE Archives Foundation https://www.onearchives.org/
Teaching LGBTQ History http://www.lgbtqhistory.org/
Billy DeFrank Center https://www.defrankcenter.org/
The LGBT Youth Space https://youthspace.org/
Our Germs, Our Future. Human Microbiome as a Community of Self. | Miriam Lueck Avery | TEDxMarin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJTjuiYrmFs
California History-Social Science Project, Resources & professional learning for K-12 history-social science: https://chssp.ucdavis.edu/regional-sites
Queer: A Graphic History by Meg-John Barker, Julia Scheele (Illustrations) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28957268-queer
A Queer History of the United States by Michael Bronski https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10065595-a-queer-history-of-the-united-states?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=xC389q7h8s&rank=1 Transgender History by Susan Stryker https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2420983.Transgender_History?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=9OT4gsFOrH&rank=1 Making Gay History hosted by Eric Marcus https://makinggayhistory.com/
Queer America: Learning For Justice hosted by hosts Leila Rupp and John D'Emilio https://www.learningforjustice.org/podcasts/queer-america
Episode Notes Full episode transcript here
There's nowhere in the world quite like the Habla Center in Mérida, Mexico. Teachers go there for professional development and come back talking about it the way people talked about being at Woodstock.
To understand where the magic comes from, Alec spoke to the founders, Marimar Patrón Vasquez, and Kurt Wootton. The roots of Habla turn out to include Brazilian dancing, 19th century literature, and alcohol-smuggling ancestors!
To learn more about Habla and High Tech High's collaborative institute, "Found Beautiful," visit https://hthgse.edu/events/found-beautiful/
Episode Notes Jean and Alec interview Marcy Clayson, of Planned Parenthood, about how to teach kids about consent, plus a whole lot more about sex, gender identity, and relationships.
Sex Ed To-Go
Marcy's email address: mclayson [at] planned.org
Episode Notes You can find Cat Magielnicki on Instagram: @the_feelingsteacher
The CompassEd website is CompassEdConsulting.com
You can email Cat at Cathryn@compassedconsulting.com
Episode Notes Full Episode Transcript Here
This episode is a recording of a "Den Talk" from the 2021 Deeper Learning Conference, on “Leading School Staff in Work to Address Equity and Racism.” It's hosted by Ron Berger, Senior Advisor for Teaching and Learning at EL Education, and he’s speaking to Laina Cox, Middle School Principal at Capital City Public Charter School, in Washington, DC, Justin Lopez-Cardoze, a Middle School Teacher at Capital City Public Charter School, and Arria Coburn, Principal of Springfield Renaissance School, Springfield, Massachusetts.
You can find the the “White Supremacy Culture” resource that Laina was talking about here
You can learn more about the Deeper Learning conference here
You can learn more about EL Education here
And finally, you should read An Ethic of Excellence by Ron Berger. You should read his other books too, but honestly, if you care about education, you will never be the same after reading this book.
Episode Notes In Search of Deeper Learning, by Sarah Fine and Jal Mehta
This Teenage Life Website (you can also find it wherever you get your podcasts)
The Center for Research on Equity and Innovation at the High Tech High Graduate School of Education
Read a full transcript here
Episode Notes Learn more about Don Berwick and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement at http://www.ihi.org/
The book Don recommended is The Improvement Guide
Learn more about the Center for Research on Equity and Innovation here
A full transcript is available on the Unboxed Website
Episode Notes The transcript of this episode is here
You can download Ayo's lesson plan and slides for The Blind Man and the Elephant here
You can download a slideshow of maps showing racial and economic segregation across the USA here
A collection of statistical evidence about systemic racism is here
You can find out more about Ayo's workshops and online courses here
Send Ayo an email: ayo.magwood [at] gmail.com
Episode Notes The CARPE College Access Network
Cesar's Recommended Educated Guess Episodes
Ep.041: Don Dumas aka Don the Jeweler | San Diego County Teacher of the Year
Ep.045: Stephanie Brown | Principal of Lincoln High School
Ep.044: Dr. Rob Rubalcaba AKA Professor Shadow | Umoja | Pillars of the Community
Rodrigo's Recommended Educated Guess Episodes
EP024 | DrChrisEmdin | RealityPedagogy |#HIpHopEd
EP027 | OSCAR DE LA TORRE | PYFC | SantaMonicaSchoolBoard
EP021 | Gerardo Huidor | AP World Champ
Episode Notes Little Things Are Big: Jesús Colón
You can read a transcript of this episode HERE
Episode Notes You can read more about Kat Wu and rest of the High Tech Middle Media Arts 7th Grade Team here
If you have an idea for a pro session, or a teaching question you want help with, send an email to unboxed [at] hightechhigh.org
Episode Notes You can see a screenshot of Shane's padlet here
Shane Duenow's Digital Portfolio
The research article on parallel prototyping: "Parallel Prototyping Leads to Better Design Results, More Divergence,and Increased Self-Efficacy"
Make your own padlet here
Gravit, the online vector design app, is here
Episode Notes Episode Transcript HERE
Further reading:
0:38 The Innovation Unit, where I used to work
0:44 Agile School Leadership
0:50 Teaching Sprints
2:05 The OECD and PISA
4:54 Valerie Hannon
4:59 Tony Mackay
5:03 Michael Fullan
5:16 Michael Fullan, "Large-scale Reform Comes of age"
6:38 Andreas Schleicher
8:16 Jeffrey Sachs
15:10 Anthony Bryk on Networked Improvement Communities
15:28 Nelson Gonzalez
17:41 Anthony Bryk, Learning to Improve
18:11 IDEO Design Thinking, Human-centered Design
18:15 Agile Development
18:19 Lean Startup
18:31 Implementation Science
22:07 James Clear, Atomic Habits
22:16 BJ Fogg, Tiny Habits
27:34 Boulder, Pebble, Sand protocol
Episode Notes Read a full transcript of this episode HERE
Follow Chikle on Instagram: @chikle79
Check out all his merch at https://chikle79.bigcartel.com/
Podcasts:
- Emo Brown, The Saddest Mexican
- Dale Gas Confidentials
Check out the "This Teenage Life" website at https://thisteenagelife.org/
You can also find it on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!
There is a transcript of this episode here
Read the book here
Check out the student survey here
Episode Notes A full transcript of this episode is here
You can hear our interview with German and Rebecca about "creating a school that heal trauma rather than inflicting it" here
We also have some recommended reading: Check out "Unthinkable Thoughts: Call Out Culture in the Age of Covid-19" by Adrienne Maree Brown
Full episode transcript here
Notes and references:
Part 1: First Aid (starts 7:15)
10:57 The GLSEN activity about using "gay" as an insult is here
14:49 Julie uses this video from Jay Smooth to help students understand why not to use the n-word
20:54 The book Jean is reading is We Want to Do More Than Survive: Abolitionist Teaching and the Pursuit of Educational Freedom by Bettina Love
Part 2: Design and Planning (21:30)
22:04 The person who gave Julie the idea to start from data is Ayo Heinegg Magwood. Follow her on Twitter at @UprootingInequi
22:54 The teacher who shares data about the Cross-Bronx Expressway is Edrick Macalaguim. Follow him on Twitter at @EdrickMac
24:38 The article Julie reads with her students Philando Castile is here
28:40 Julie worked with Nuvia Ruland to create the Social Justice Project Think Tank as a tool for project design
29:14 Here are the Stanford D. School Liberatory Design Cards
29:24 Ana de Almeida Amaral and Izadora McGawley, co-founders of High Tech High Chula Vista’s Ethnic Studies program, created this Culturally Responsive Project Tuning protocol
32:36 Read more about the poet Natasha Hooper here
38:35 The book Julie’s reading is Not Light but Fire by Matthew R. Kay
39:41 The University of Michigan activity about identities is the Social Identity Wheel
42:57 You should read the comment piece that High Tech High Chula Vista Ethnic Studies co-founder Ana de Almeida Amaral wrote for the San Diego Union Tribune
47:28 To find out more about student consulting, read For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood (And the Rest of Y’All Too) by Chris Emdin, and Engaging Students as Partners in Learning and Teaching by Alison Cook-Sather, Catherine Bovill, and Peter Felten
50:10 The book Julie’s talking about is The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
Part 3: The Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) (43:50)
43:51 GLSEN has great resources for starting your own GSA here
51:46 Follow Julie on twitter at @julieruble
52:12 Follow Zaretta Hammond (@readyforrigor) and Cornelius Minor (@MisterMinor) on twitter
You can find all our podcasts, videos, articles, and "project essentials" toolkits at High Tech High Unboxed.
If you have ideas for stories, get in touch with Alec on Twitter: @alecpatton
Episode Notes Episode transcript here
Some of he "quaranscenes" that Carol's students wrote:
From Across the Street by Evonna Esparza
Surf Going South by Lauren Zirinsky
Wasteland by Rishi Halker
The Parking Lot by Nicholas Castro
Inside the Dog House by Walker Settle
Episode Notes You can read a transcript of this episode HERE
You can learn more about John Santos's research on his digital portfolio
Just to be clear, the mahogany wall hooks John made for me are made of salvaged wood - we're not buying new mahogany, and neither should you
If you have ideas for stories, get in touch with Alec on Twitter: @alecpatton
Episode Notes You can read a transcript of this episode HERE
Learn more about Latitude High School on their website, https://latitudehigh.org/
Episode Notes Read a full transcript here
The website that LeDerick recommends is https://www.educatingalllearners.org/
Episode Notes Writing referenced in this episode:
Mary Helen Immordino-Yang's book is Emotions, Learning, and the Brain Exploring the Educational Implications of Affective Neuroscience
The Aspen Institute report is "The Brain Basis for Integrated Social Emotional and Academic Development"
If you want to know more about the stuff we talked about, or just have thoughts to share, hit up Alec (@alecpatton) and Nuvia (@CRISOLguerra) on Twitter
Episode Notes You can find all our podcasts, videos, articles, and "project essentials" toolkits at High Tech High Unboxed.
If you have ideas for stories, get in touch with Alec on Twitter: @alecpatton
Episode Notes You can find all our podcasts, videos, articles, and "project essentials" toolkits at High Tech High Unboxed.
If you have ideas for stories, get in touch with Alec on Twitter: @alecpatton
Episode Notes Transcript here.
The Fishbone Diagram and Interrelationship Digraph that Julie Ruble's group made.
You can get a PDF of an effort-impact chart here.
To find out more about High Tech High's teacher induction program, visit the High Tech High Teacher Center
You can find all our podcasts, videos, articles, and "project essentials" toolkits at High Tech High Unboxed.
If you have ideas for stories, get in touch with Alec on Twitter: @alecpatton
Episode Notes Our other podcast episode featuring Ron Berger is "Ron Berger on the magic of beautiful lessons, and of "no lesson at all"
Stacey Caillier's interview with Ron Berger is “Crafting Beautiful Lessons: An Interview with Ron Berger”
Resources from EL Education: In this video, Hillary Mills' 11th grade biology class at Metropolitan Expeditionary Learning School in New York City grapples with a scientific figure taken from an article on TALEN gene therapy.
This video shows Peter Hill's 8th grade science class at King Middle School (Portland, Maine) grappling with an article about how magnets and wires generate electricity.
Episode Notes Episode Transcript here
You can learn more about all the awesome work LeDerick Horne is doing at his website, lederick.com
The poem at the start of the episode is called "New Beginning". You can hear it on LeDerick Horne's first album, Rhyme Reason and Song. You can also see LeDerick performing it here.
LeDerick's book, which he wrote with Margaret Vreeburg Izzo, is called
Empowering Students with Hidden Disabilities: A Path to Pride and Success.
Episode Notes To see if there's an organization like the California Innocence Project near you, visit www.innocencenetwork.org
Table of Contents
1:29 What the California Innocence Project does, and how XONR8 helps them
2:17 XONR8: the project in a nutshell
3:31 XONR8: Origins (how Mackenzie came up with the idea for it)
5:15 How XONR8 starts: deciphering autopsy reports
6:17 Gavin & Sofia on figuring out the autopsy reports
7:48 Step 2: the whole class looks at a case file together
8:23 Step 3: the students get assigned a real case file
9:38 How Mackenzie makes groups and decides how to assign cases
10:40 Gavin and Sofia on how it felt to get their case files
12:04 Structures for project-management within groups
12:58 Sofia and Gavin on how well their groups worked together
14:09 The low point of the project for Sofia and Gavin
15:43 The verdict that Gavin's group reached
16:07 The verdict that Sofia's group reached
16:54 Preparing to present to the Innocence Project lawyers
17:27 Giving the presentations
19:26 High Tech High students are better prepared and better presenters than the law students
20:13 Differentiating for kids who struggle with reading
20:59 The other part of the project: Reading "Just Mercy" by Brian Stevenson
You can listen to our episode about how Calexico High School raised their FAFSA completion rates by 13 percentage points in one year here.
Table of Contents
1:40 The three questions that define "Improvement with a capital I"
1:56 How improvement normally happens, and what's missing (with an example from a classroom)
3:44 The CARPE College Access Network's plan to raise FAFSA completion
4:41 The CARPE network's four recommended FAFSA practices
7:31 "We tend to underestimate how much rich work goes into the implementation of an idea"
8:20 Ben's take on whether "handholding" is a problem in the college application process
9:39 How Ben learned to stop worrying and love specific suggestions
10:42 There are SO much stuff to improve in our schools, so if someone has some ideas, that's pretty compelling
11:56 A revolutionary idea: maybe not everyone does everything they plan to do
13:03 How the CARPE team actually collected data about what schools were doing
15:32 School Improvement Networks: a secret tool for influencing education policy
La Junta Collective in South Central LA is Rebecca Rodriguez, German Gallardo, Carlitos Cortez, and Pedro Gomez, four educators who are starting a school that will be a place for an entire community to heal from trauma together.
Rebecca and German came to High Tech High and talked to Alec about what they're doing, why they're doing it, and what's standing in their way.
Episode Notes Table of Contents
1:25 Growing up in New Orleans’ Ninth Ward, and childhood trauma
2:16 College and Hurricane Katrina
2:55 Starting again in North Texas
3:30 Working at Wal Mart
4:07 Returning to college to finish her undergraduate degree
4:33 Brandy starts teaching math
5:22 Brandy becomes an English teacher
5:35 Brandy returns to New Orleans start an “Earn to Learn” program run by Tulane University
5:45 Why Brandy decided she had to start a new school: her son
9:30 How Brandy’s son’s experience changed how she looked at other students and parents
11:20 Brandy joins the 4.0 Schools Essentials program and starts planning her new school
11:40 The difference between “customer” and “user” for a school
12:30 Brandy’s first iteration: a school for twice-exceptional learners ONLY
14:10 Brandy’s vision for spread and scale of Generation Success Academy
14:45 Where Generation Success Academy is at in their development process now
15:40 How you pilot a school without actually opening a school
16:15 Which students the Generation Success Academy will serve
17:00 How they’re making this financially sustainable
18:00 Why and how to build a strong network
Episode Notes You can read more about San Antonio Preparatory Charter School here
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.
Table of Contents:
Who Joe Truss is & why we're talking to him (0:37)
White Supremacy Culture, defined (1:02)
White Fragility, defined (1:44)
Growing up in the Tenderloin (2:24)
Why Joe was academically successful when most of his friends weren't (3:57)
Tracked classes and White Supremacy Culture (5:52)
How writing is taught and White Supremacy Culture (6:29)
Reading: For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood... and the Rest of Y'all Too: Reality Pedagogy and Urban Education by Chris Emdin, and We Want to Do More Than Survive: Abolitionist Teaching and the Pursuit of Educational Freedom by Bettina Love (8:16)
Joe's initial approach to teaching: "social justice wrapped in white supremacy culture" (9:41)
Joe's journey to transform his school's practice begins (14:00)
Reading: Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain by Zaretta Hammond (14:31)0
The year of tackling White Supremacy Culture begins with "Brave Norms" (14:54)
Joe describes the staff's first day back from summer break (15:28)
Reading: “Safe Spaces to Brave Spaces: A New Way to Frame Dialogue Around Diversity and Social Justice” by Brian Arao and Kristi Clemens, from "The Art of Effective Facilitation: Reflections from Social Justice Educators" (16:02)
How Joe would prompt first-day discussion differently if he did it today (21:52) What happened after that first day back, for Joe and for the school (25:17)
Joe's mentors and how he found them (27:19)
Reading: Dismantling Racism: A Workbook for Social Change Groups by Kenneth Jones and Tema Okun (29:59)
Joe introduces "White Supremacy Culture" and "White Fragility" to the staff in December (32:36)
Getting into the risks to Joe's own position of tackling this (37:16)
What happened next: January (47:35)
Connecting White Supremacy Culture to School Discipline (49:42)
What Joe's doing with his staff this year to build on last year (52:01)
Joe's long term goals for the school (55:30)
More about Joe Truss
Check out Joe’s website, and follow him on Twitter here: @TrussLeadership.
Joe is leading a full day workshop on Dismantling White Supremacy Culture coming up on Saturday, November 2nd. Details can be found on the site.
And one final shout-out...
The English headteacher who told me the line about “what happens on a wet Wednesday afternoon” is Andy Raymer, now-retired headteacher at Matthew Moss high school in Rochdale.
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.
The Hechinger Report article about FAFSA completion is here
You can learn more about the CARPE College Access Network (and apply to join) here
Episode image: photo of Calexico High School by Susan Myrland (Flickr)
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.
Episode Notes Shelby's project was inspired by the Library of Congress's Voices Remembering Slavery collection. HBO produced a film based on interviews from this collection, called Unchained Memories.
The piece that Madeleine Tsoi wrote for the project, "The Escape", is here.
The "Push-pull protocol" that Shelby used for writing conferences is here.
Our theme music is "Agassi (Into the Spider's Web)" by Brother Hershel
This episode's other music comes from Truxtun Road, which, it's worth mentioning, was made by students and staff members at High Tech High Media Arts.
Episode Notes Alec talks to math teacher Mele Sato about how she appealed to students' sense of fairness in order to teach them about alternative voting methods.
You can find out all about the electioneering project here.
Alec talks to Mele Sato about bringing Gerrymandering home for students, using local maps.
You can find out all about the electioneering project here.