Encore: Measuring what Matters

Today’s program is not specifically about special education or Autism, it’s about creating schools that celebrate and value different kinds of minds. The great educator Howard Gardner, the author of Multiple Intelligences, once said that he, “Rues the day someone invented the bell curve,” which suggests that some people are smart, others at not smart, and that most people are in the big middle. Absurd. There are lots of ways to be smart. There are all kinds of minds. We will be joined by two extradentary educators a generation apart in experience but both forward-thinking educators who embrace the notion that all young people can thrive, and have a right to thrive, if they are nurtured, are surrounded by love and support and are accepted and respected for who they are- for their assets, not their so-called deficits.

Dedicating one’s life to serving others is both honorable and challenging. This is particularly true in a world where communitarian values are often at odds with those that define success as what is best for the individual. Today’s program will spotlight the journey of two individuals who have chosen to serve. How did their experiences in school inspire them? What motivates them to continue to serve? Today’s episode features two extraordinary individuals, one running to retain his seat of the Union County Board of Education and another running for a seat on the Board of Education in Mecklenburg County, both in North Carolina. Our focus today is not to provide an opportunity for each to campaign, explain their platform, or make a case for election. Additionally, their participation on Let’s Reinvent School is in no way an endorsement of their candidacy. Rather, we will focus on their own experiences in school and what, in their own lives, continues to inspire them to serve.

In this episode of Let’s Reinvent School we turn to internationally recognized educator, author, and education policy scholar, Professor James Guthrie. We are joined in our third segment by Dr. Robert Goodman, the Executive Director of the New Jersey Center for Teaching and Learning. Together we will identify the structural and systemic challenges that are contributing to our schools not being able to meet the diverse needs of diverse students. Join us for a fascinating and provocative conversation as we ask the question, “What would it take to make schools more effective, more efficient, and more equitable? “

Preparing young people to thrive as adults will take more than school. Success in life is often a result of the experiences young people have outside of school. Mentoring programs, internships, exposure to a variety of career opportunities, mental health services, and financial support can clear a path to a bright future, particularly for those young people who face obstacles. Join us as five nonprofit leaders operating in the “College and Career Readiness” arena, as well as a major funder discuss how to best align and coordinate efforts to increase individual and collective impact. In an era where impact if often determined by what is measurable, we will be asking ourselves how we can best measure what matters.

Join our conversation with the nation's leading expert on Music and Arts Education, Bob Morrison. Given that standardized tests do not measure the Arts, school districts do not have the incentive to provide substantive, comprehensive, and articulated Arts programming in our schools. Why do the Arts matter? The Arts foster creativity, an essential characteristic of intelligent behavior, and success in a complicated, often dangerous world. Bob will help us understand the State of Arts Education in our schools. Always a data-driven professional, he will provide evidence of where the arts are flourishing and where there are gaps. He will also provide information about funding streams and how educators, including administrators, can access additional resources,

Everyone has a story about their experiences in school. Many had to overcome religious or racial prejudice and low expectations, others were bullied because of their sexual orientation or economic status or assigned to classes that did not lead to college. Yet, despite enormous challenges, they prevailed. Today’s Episode? Beyond School: Building a Meaningful Life As many of us know, experiences outside of school frequently shape our lives and help us determine the trajectory of our lives. School does not equal education. One can be schooled and not educated and educated without being schooled. Being schooled does not mean success. Buddha said, “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” Our guest today has learned from and sought out many teachers, including his parents. Let’s listen. Let’s hear his story. As we process his journey, we encourage you to reflect on how we can learn from him to school ourselves and build, as he has, a meaningful life.

When it comes to equity vs equality in education, the terms are often used interchangeably. But understanding the distinction between the two is essential for resolving issues faced by disadvantaged students in the classroom. While working towards equity and equality can both do good, equity should be an educator’s end goal. The reason lies in the difference between being fair vs equal. Join us, along with James Ford, Marta Duran, Joanne Jenkins, and Shelly Biby as we identify what is possible in terms of creating equity in our schools and in our communities.

Join Ross and his guests as they take us into their world to help us understand how they overcame obstacles and manifested their best lives. We are proud to point to the success of not only our graduates but so many others in our community. Join us as we unlock the secrets to their success. We want to hear how they navigated a system that was not designed for everyone to succeed. You will be moved and inspired by the stories of each of our guests. You may even discover that their story is your story. So tell your friends to tune in on Thursdays, beginning on October 13, at 11 EST, 8 am PST on Voice America’s Empowerment Channel- or download episodes any time and anywhere you get your podcasts. And we want to hear from you. Please call in to ask a question or to tell us your story. __________________________________________________________________________

Did you know that there are approximately 179,000 young people in NC alone who are being educated in over 112,000 Homeschools? That is a 100% increase from the previous year. In fact, Homeschooling is up all across the country. You might say it is the fastest-growing educational initiative in America right now! Join us as we take a deep dive into the world of homeschooling, through the eyes of four different homeschool parents with four very different reasons.

Season II of Let's Reinvent School will move beyond inputs (programs, policies, and practices) and put a spotlight on outputs- the people whose experiences in school have contributed to who they are as adults. Everyone has their own unique school experience. Some of us have great memories of our years in school, while others had to overcome obstacles to succeed both in school and in life. We want to highlight all your school stories- some funny, some sad, some warm and endearing, and others frustrating or infuriating. All compelling. All real. And all about our individual and collective experiences. What do we hope to learn? We will be looking for themes and shared experiences, both good and bad. We want to be inspired to create the schools that our kids need to thrive in the world in which they will live.