Renegades & Mavericks

The argument that has always been an issue is, should students go to college or not?This episode we speak with Dr. Belinda Leon, a college advisor at Downtown Doral Upper Charter school in Doral, FL. Dr. Leon shares how the college admission process has evolved over the past 30 years, what schools are looking for now, and how parents can best equip their children for life after graduating high school.

As new and exciting (or for some people incredibly scary) artificial intelligence is for the future of technology, it’s rooted in one thing you learned since Kindergarten. Math.Every bit of code and algorithms used to make all the applications & software on the planet all started from you learning basic numbers, addition & subtraction back when you started elementary school, and probably before.And for some of you that experience was a breeze and you just rocked math all the way through your K-12 experience and beyond, or you may have been someone who struggled really hard with math from the beginning.We’re going to focus on two stories from opposite ends of the math spectrum, showing how math has evolved, but also where math is today at the elementary level but also used every day in artificial intelligence.Featuring Chrissy Burr, a Vermont-based 1st grade teacher, & Brian Dolan, founder of Verdant AI. ___________________________________To learn more about resources Chrissy Burr utilizes in her classroom AND all about Brian Dolan’s company Verdant AI, you can visit their episode page at renegadesandmavericks.com

This episode launches a series where we explore the history of each subject area we were taught in our K-12 education, and seeing it's progression from the mid-1900's to present.Exploring the evolution of physical education, I speak to Jerry Flora, a pre-K-12 physical education teacher and high school football coach from outside White Plains, NY about currently teaching students and keeping them engaged.To reflect on the 1960's to today, I interviewed my own father Robert Oates, a retired physical education and dance teacher of 35 years, focusing on how the classroom (or gymnasium) has evolved.For more information on this episode and our guests, explore today at renegadesandmavericks.com

The ongoing question that is asked especially with parents and teachers, is at what age is it appropriate to incorporate technology into children’s lives and especially the classroom? Should it start at Kindergarten or before because they are already experiencing it at home, or should the K-5 experience especially be focused on tactile play, imagination, and environmental creativity? Maria Bradley, an education technology steward and Josh Olins, a 1st grade teacher share their view points on this topic and what it looks like for the K-5 classroom moving forward.

AR, VR & a virtual autopsy table sound like things you would never expect in a high school classroom. However, welcome to 2021, where these tools are becoming the foundation for student growth. Kerin Coffey, a biomedical science teacher at Eastside High School in Lancaster, California has discovered what makes a 21st century classroom. From technology in the classroom, to understanding technology & social media outside the classroom, Kerin knows what is necessary for a student to succeed in their K-12 education.

The LIBRE Institute is a 501c3 nonprofit nonpartisan organization that operates to both engage and inform America’s Hispanic community on the many benefits of a free and open society.This episode shares the story of Lee Dury, who has been an integral part of the LIBRE Institute. Lee involved himself with LIBRE as a way to help the Hispanic community, paying homage to his own family's immigration history, eventually rallying behind big causes like the impact a zip code does have on a child's education. Discover and support the LIBRE Institute at thelibreinstitute.org

From Kindergarten to the NFL, mental health, wellness & emotions are not just topics that should be discussed and discovered, but actively worked on by anyone and everyone.For Mental Health Awareness Month we speak with Dr. Carrie Hastings & Brianne Gallagher about the importance of mental health & wellness and the impact it has on us that we don't actively recognize. Dr. Carrie Hastings is a sports psychologist and is the mental health clinician for the Los Angeles Rams. Brianne Gallagher is a K-5 school counselor at Pond Cove Elementary School in Cape Elizabeth, Maine.Class is now in session. Time to learn about mental health.

Brandon is the founder of BlueKube Brands, a parent company that is home to many products from many different parts of the market, a lot of which are his own creation and ideation. From the Porch Potty, to Flexline Fitness equipment, to the Tutor Cam Pro which you’ll hear a lot about in this episode, Brandon’s background as a mechanical engineer and inventor gives him the tools to bring his ideas to life.His ability to see a problem and look for solutions really shines in Tutor Cam pro. While his kids were trying to learn remotely at home during the pandemic, he noticed that the teachers couldn’t see his children’s work on their paper from the angle of the camera on their iPad or laptop. With some ingenuity and brainstorming with another engineer, in just a few short months he created a stand that fixes this problem entirely!The inventions of the Tutor Cam Pro & Tutor Cam Go helped so many students learn from home during a trying time, letting them achieve even more towards their education.This is Brandon Kennington of BlueKube Brands and Tutor Cam Pro. And he, is a maverick.

Jazz drummer and clinician Jonathan Barber has been helping students approach jazz and playing styles around the world, teaching them applicable skills that they can put into practice in their careers, regardless of age or level. It’s his resume that backs up his ability to preach what he practices. Barber was voted #1 Up-and-Coming Drummer of 2018 in Modern Drummer magazine, played back-to-back sold out concerts with the Brooklyn Philharmonic featuring Erykah Badu, and is the drummer for legendary jazz guitarist Pat Metheny, a 20-time Grammy award winning artist and composer.All of this by the age of 30.Barber shares his story of his father’s influence growing up, his new education program 4ward Motion and also the importance that faith has played in his life as an educator and musician.

Season 02 of Renegades & Mavericks is back in session. This season is all about education and what better way to kick off the premiere episode with my story as the host and as an educator.From growing up in a family of educators to teaching public school, I have experienced the spectrum of education and eager to share stories of those who broke the status quo in the field of education.