ClassCast Podcast Ep.079 features host Ryan Tibbens talking about the correlation between centralized decision-making and the surge of superintendent and school board criticisms nationwide. Over the last few years, we've seen politicians, parents, and even teachers at school board meetings speak out, shout out, and even get thrown out. The complaints are as varied as Critical Race Theory, mask mandates, diverse reading lists, opening 5-days per week, gender/pronoun/bathroom policies, schools named after Confederate generals, social media use, and beyond. The one thing all these issues have in common is where the decisions are made -- at the top of the local (and sometimes state) public education hierarchy. As more and more decisions about curricular and pedagogical specifics are made at higher and higher levels, public concerns elevate, so what once would have been a quick meeting between a parent, teacher, and principal is now a loud diatribe in a public forum against bureaucrats who don't actually teach students. Too many teachers have lost autonomy in their work and faith in their systems.  Here's one teacher's take on why centralized decision-making processes have partially caused the political debates over schools and why they hurt teachers and students. 

The ClassCast Podcast streams on all major platforms, including iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Pandora, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Stitcher, and more.  You can also find us on YouTube and at www.ClassCastPodcast.com.  Be sure to like, subscribe, follow, share, and comment wherever you listen.  Leave a comment below to let us know what you think of the discussion and if you have any questions!

Support the show (http://paypal.me/TibbensEST)! 
​Donations -- large and small -- help keep this podcast independent!

ClassCast Podcast Ep.078 features Kohila Sivas, the founder and lead coach at MathCodes, an innovative program designed to help students build their math skills, personal confidence, and executive functions. Kohila's amazing work builds on the idea that most students need more than just content help, so adults must be more than just tutors or teachers; instead, Kohila recommends serving as a "coach," one who works with the student, on the same team, to achieve mutual goals. In addition to her 22+ years in private tutoring and coaching, Kohila has worked as an advocate, teacher's assistant, teacher, and parent. Recently, she launched the MathCodes Certified Coach program to help other tutors and teachers around the world to better serve their students by demystifying math and helping the whole student. She's also the author of the upcoming book Escape the Tutoring Trap: Be an Agent of Change.  If you are a tutor or teacher looking for some great ideas about serving all students or improving your practices, or if you are a parent interested in tutoring and coaching support (from Sivas, host Ryan Tibbens, or elsewhere), this episode is rich in great ideas and sound advice. 

Interested in learning more? You can find Kohila and MathCodes on Facebook and LinkedIn. 

Table of Contents (*highlights)

1. 0:00-9:03 -- Intro to Kohila Sivas & Math Codes
2. 9:03-14:23 -- Are You a "Math Person"? (They Don't Exist.) *
3. 14:23-22:30 -- The Importance of Purpose & the Purpose of Education According to Kohila 
4. 22:30-37:30 -- Kohila's Ideal School: Universal IEPs, Coaches, & Serving Individual Students **
5. 37:30-47:42 -- "Learning Loss," the Pandemic Tutoring Boom, & MathCodes Certification *
6. 47:42-56:15 -- The Power of Confidence in Education
7. 56:15-1:03:43 -- Kohila's Education & Preparation for Teaching & Coaching
8. 1:03:43-1:07:47 -- How Schools Limit Teacher Creativity & Enthusiasm *
9. 1:07:47-1:17:49 -- For Parents: Homework Help vs Tutoring vs Coaching **
10. 1:17:49-1:25:20 -- Kohila's Book/Movie Recs. & Wrap-Up​ 

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​​The ClassCast Podcast streams on all major platforms, including iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Pandora, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Stitcher, and more.  You can also find us on YouTube and at www.ClassCastPodcast.com.  Be sure to like, subscribe, follow, share, and comment wherever you listen.  Leave a comment below to let us know what you think of the discussion and if you have any questions!

Support the show (http://paypal.me/TibbensEST)! 
​Donations -- large and small -- help keep this podcast independent!

ClassCast Podcast Ep.077 features Grant Schafer, the Supervisor of Community Connections for Loudoun County Public Schools. Working closely with Career & Technical Education, Computer Science Experiential Learning, and a few other specialized programs in the school system, Grant strives to connect community resources with individual teachers, students, and classrooms to make school-based learning as authentic as possible. His hard work, power skills (soft skills), and ever-growing rolodex make him an asset to the whole community because he fosters relationships between local businesses, non-profits, and schools. Host Ryan Tibbens met Grant, a fellow JMU Duke, at the 2021 Loudoun 40 Under 40 celebration where he was being recognized for his amazing work connecting public schools with community resources. (Ashley Tibbens -- Ep.021 -- was also among the honorees this year!)  If you are interested in project-based learning, making school more "authentic," getting involved in public education without becoming a teacher, or understanding how community members can work together to improve education, this discussion is for you.  You can learn more about Grant's work by following @LCPSpartner and @CommunityLCPS on Twitter. 

Table of Contents (*highlights)

1. 0:00-5:38 -- Intro to Grant Schafer & Community Connections
2. 5:38-13:31 -- Project-Based Learning, "Authenticity," & Grant's Rolodex **
3. 13:31-20:53 -- Loudoun 40 Under 40, Networking, & Community Buy-In *
4. 20:53-28:26 -- Grant's Education: James Madison University & Outreach Services
5. 28:26-37:48 -- The Future of Community Connections in Schools **
6. 37:48-47:25 -- The Purpose of School According to Grant
7. 47:25-50:44 -- Equity & Social-Emotional Learning as Job Skills *
8. 50:44-57:04 -- Grant's Ideal School
9. 57:04-1:07:06 -- The Inflexibility of Education Bureaucracy **
10. 1:07:06-1:14:58 -- Grant's Book Recommendations & Wrap-Up​ 

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​​The ClassCast Podcast streams on all major platforms, including iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Pandora, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Stitcher, and more.  You can also find us on YouTube and at www.ClassCastPodcast.com.  Be sure to like, subscribe, follow, share, and comment wherever you listen.  Leave a comment below to let us know what you think of the discussion and if you have any questions!

Support the show (http://paypal.me/TibbensEST)! Donations -- large and small -- help keep this podcast independent!