Lona Running Wolf on Education Reform and Cultural Preservation

On this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast Victoria Andrews is joined by Melissa Byrne, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching & Learning at Barrington Community 220 School District in Illinois. We visited Barrington High School a few weeks ago with a team of principals from the Kansas City area. Melissa shared Barrinton’s Learner Profile, Pathways implementation, and Gem program that allows students to self-select competencies for a project. Links: View Full Shownotes and Transcript Learner Profile Framework 220 Melissa Byrne LinkedIn Barrington 220 The Portrait Model Postsecondary Workforce and Readiness Act Juan Jose Gonzalez and Gina Schuyler on EdSystems Chicago Real World Learning School Visits  

On this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast, Mason Pashia is joined by Jennifer Brandsberg-Engelmann to discuss a new approach to teaching economics  and why it is critical to teach economics to K-12 students as a way of understanding the world. Links Regenerative Economics Course Link to the course Recent Webinar on the Generative Economics Curriculum Doughnut Economics Kate Raworth GCSE Requirements Revised GCSE Syllabus Mason’s Biomimicry Blog  

This episode of the Getting Smart Podcast is sponsored by Mrs. Wordsmith, learn more at mrswordsmith.com On this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast, Tom Vander Ark is joined by Dr. Carl Gombrich, the Dean at the London Interdisciplinary School (LIS), to discuss his transition from University College London (UCL) to LIS, motivated by a desire for educational innovation.  Throughout the conversation, Dr. Gombrich shared his experience of fostering interdisciplinary education at UCL and his subsequent decision to establish a new institution dedicated to this approach. He explained that traditional educational structures often inhibit interdisciplinary learning, as they are organized around distinct disciplines that do not reflect the interconnected nature of real-world problems.  

We hope you’ve attended our town halls, but are you looking for even more ways to learn in community? Check out one of the two forthcoming webinars from the Aurora Institute. Learn more here.  This Getting Smart Town Hall focused on pathways in Health Sciences and focus on the following elements of effective pathways:  sector job prospects and entrepreneurial opportunities  career exploration resources  high school pathway examples work-based learning and credentialing opportunities  postsecondary pathway examples. The event highlighted the critical role of education leaders, intermediaries, and thought partners in shaping the future of the healthcare industry and empowering the next generation of healthcare professionals. We were joined by Dr. Kyle Hartung from JFF, then Kate Kreamer from Advance CTE, followed by Dr. Christine Rodriguez from NAF, and we closed with Jason Rausch from Project Lead the Way. For the full shownotes, the recording, the slide deck and links mentioned in the chat, click here. To view our new Health Science publication, click here.

This episode of the Getting Smart Podcast is sponsored by Mrs. Wordsmith, learn more at mrswordsmith.com On this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast, Tom Vander Ark is joined by Dr. Shari Camhi, Superintendent of the Baldwin School District in Long Island. Together, they discuss the need for enhanced media literacy in an age where information credibility is increasingly questioned. Additionally, Dr. Camhi shares insights from her decade-long tenure in Baldwin, highlighting how her personal experiences as a parent and educator have shaped her approach to creating diverse, enriching educational experiences. She stresses the importance of adapting education to ensure each student's unique needs are met, rather than conforming to traditional, one-size-fits-all models. She argues that media literacy is essential for developing critical thinking skills, enabling students to discern between true and false information. The Baldwin School District's strategy, known as Baldwin 2035, focuses on fostering civic engagement and community connections across all grade levels. Links Dr. Shari Camhi Baldwin School District Baldwin 2035  

On this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast, Shawnee Caruthers is joined by two of the leaders leaning into this space, Juan Jose Gonzalez, Managing Director of Pathways & Operations at Education Systems Center at Northern Illinois University (EdSystems) and Gina Schuyler, Department Chair of Career and Technical Education at Grayslake Central High School, a partner of EdSystems. EdSystems is a part of the Accelerate ED initiative, supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Accelerate ED is built on the idea that high schools can provide early access to quality higher education in ways that incorporate work-connected learning and have long-term benefits for students. This initiative helps state- and region-based groups plan and build accelerated pathways between K-12 education, postsecondary education, and careers. Links: EdSystems AccelerateED Edsystems Juan Jose Gonzalez Bio Page Grayslake High School Gina Schuyler  

This episode of the Getting Smart Podcast is part of a new short monthly series where Mason Pashia is joined by Dr. Jason Cummins, a previous guest and a friend of the podcast, to speak with indigenous leaders and academics to discuss how indigenous ways of knowing and leading can, and should, shape the education system.   On this podcast episode, they are joined by Lona Running Wolf from the Piikani Nation to discuss her extensive work in educational reform and cultural preservation. Lona shares insights from her journey, highlighting her current role as the project administrator for Blackfeet ECO Knowledge, a nonprofit organization aimed at reversing the effects of historical trauma on Native communities through cultural, language, and environmental initiatives. Together they discuss the systemic challenges faced by Native students, the impact of policies such as the boarding school era, and the importance of integrating cultural knowledge into educational frameworks to better serve diverse learner needs. Lona also discusses the profound influence of Blackfoot culture on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, emphasizing a community-centric approach to education and well-being.  

On this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast Nate McClennen is joined by Sarah Elizabeth Ippel,  Founder and Executive Director of the Academy for Global Citizenship, a public K-8 charter school that opened in 2008 on the southwest side of Chicago. ACG just moved into a brand new campus in partnership with the Cultivate Collective project — a multi-generational community hub that includes an urban farm, health center, and adult education programs.  Together, Nate and Sarah discuss her journey to founding the Academy for Global Citizenship, how she was shaped by international travel, her observations of both innovative and inequitable education systems, and her non-traditional way of navigating the educational ecosystem. Links: Full Shownotes Sarah Ippel Linkedin Academy for Global Citizenship Cultivate Collective Carnegie Report AGC Model Interview with Sarah La Paz Podcast with Abel McClennen  

On this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast Tom Vander Ark is joined by Yu-Ling Cheng,Co-Producer of Remake Learning Days and Director of Kidsburgh and Parents as Allies, (Kidsburgh operates as a project of Grantmakers of Western PA). Remake Learning Days is one of the world's largest festival of hands-on learning where parents and caregivers learn alongside their kids. The festival began in 2016 in southwestern PA and has since taken root in other regions. In 2024, there will be 2,000+ events across 16 regions, including 3 international regions, between the dates April 20-May 31. The festival events are an opportunity for families to learn together, to encourage kids to be curious and to learn about community resources. Links:  Remake Learning Days Remake Learning Yu-Ling Cheng LinkedIn Grable Foundation Kidsburgh Brookings Institution IDEO HundrED Parents as Allies  Grantmakers of Western PA Carnegie Mellon University University of Pittsburgh Northgate School District  

On this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast Shawnee Caruthers is joined by Jennifer Mellor, Chief Innovation Officer at the Phoenix Chamber Foundation and Mike Huckins, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and IT Operations at the Greater Phoenix Chamber. Together, Jennifer and Mike are working on ElevateEdAZ, a remarkable initiative by the Arizona design team that's revolutionizing education and workforce development in the state, is working to be at the intersection of key stakeholders to provide real opportunities for learners.  Links: Full Shownotes AccelerateED Phoenix Chamber Greater Phoenix Chamber