Unlock the secrets of effective leadership and revolutionary education in our latest episode featuring Darrell Brown from ITAV (It Takes a Village) Schools. Discover how Darrell, as the Director of Teaching, Learning, and Quality Practice, utilizes servant leadership to build trust-based relationships with educators and overcome challenges like outdated technology. Learn how these innovative approaches not only create a positive working environment but also significantly enhance the educational experiences of young students.

We then pivot to the transformative potential of holistic education. Imagine schools that serve as comprehensive community hubs addressing not just educational needs but also family support, mental health, and food insecurities. Through the lens of ITAV Family of Schools, we illustrate the profound impact of providing these resources on fostering equity and inclusion. Get inspired by real-world examples of how intentional and proactive strategies can uplift entire communities and shift the educational landscape.

Topics Discussed in This Episode

• [00:00:00] Introduction
• [00:01:41] ITAV Schools and what Darrell does there
• [00:04:10] The concept of servant leadership and the importance of being a supportive resource and building trust-based relationships with educators
• [00:09:37] Parallels between what Darrwl does and how Teachstone is using CLASS
• [00:10:55] The role of ITAV Schools in addressing teacher shortages through workforce development programs, and how these efforts contribute to creating a positive working environment
• [00:16:07] What attracted Darrell to servant leadership
• [00:18:39] The transformative potential of holistic education, where schools serve as comprehensive community hubs addressing family support, mental health, and food insecurities
• [00:21:57]] The importance of being intentional and proactive in understanding and meeting the broader needs of students and their families to promote community growth and well-being
• [00:26:56] Replicating the holistic approach
• [00:31:01] How Darrell sees school evolving
• [00:34:47] The necessity of fighting for funding to sustain supportive educational initiatives and prevent teacher burnout and attrition

Resources

Marnetta Larrimer

Darrell Brown

Welcome to another enlightening episode of Impacting the Classroom. Today, we are joined by Oliver Spurgeon III, an esteemed education policy advocate with a unique perspective shaped by his diverse educational journey and extensive experience on Capitol Hill. In this episode, we dig into the intricacies of education policies from both the Republican and Democratic viewpoints, explore the cultural and financial challenges facing modern education, and discuss the significant role advocacy plays in shaping the future of our classrooms.

Our discussion delves into the varying educational platforms, highlighting how Democrats aim to improve mental health support, address funding disparities, and uphold tenure for experienced teachers. At the same time, Republicans focus on reducing educational spending, eliminating tenure, and promoting merit-based rewards. Oliver sheds light on the potential consequences of these divergent approaches on teachers and students, particularly those in challenging classroom environments. We also tackle the sensitive topics of representation and access for minority children, the burden on low-income families, and the controversial debates over charter schools and education savings accounts.

Topics Discussed in This Episode

• [00:00:00] Introduction
• [00:00:32] Introduction to Oliver Spurgeon III's background and his passion for addressing educational inequities
• [00:04:48] Overview of the key education policies that educators should focus on during the election year
• [00:12:19] Examination of the contrasting education platforms of the Republican and Democratic parties
• [00:08:46] Discussion on how differing political ideologies impact funding disparities, mental health supports, and teacher tenure
• [00:14:43] Analysis of representation and access issues for minority children and the challenges faced by low-income families
• [00:21:08] Insights into voter suppression and its implications for educational policy choices
• [00:24:30] Exploration of the high costs of early childhood education and the legislative efforts to alleviate this burden
• [00:27:22] Discussion on Project 2025 and its potential impact on early childhood education and AI's role in schools
• [00:31:12] Examination of the benefits and challenges of AI in education, including concerns about bias and teacher displacement
• [00:36:29] Emphasis on the importance of advocacy and practical advice for educators to engage with policymakers
• [00:37:56] What Oliver is hoping for next year

Resources

Marnetta Larrimer

Oliver Spurgeon III

Engaging children in science and engineering long before high school is important. It needs to start at much younger ages. But how can educators make that happen? And how can CLASS help?

Today, you’ll hear from Dr. Daryl Greenfield, a professor of Psychology and Pediatrics at the University of Miami, and Veronica Fernandez, Teachstone Senior Director of Social Impact. They’ll discuss their research into science and engineering at the preschool and elementary ages, how CLASS supports science learning, and how to make science more accessible to ECE teachers so they can better engage students.

This episode was previously shared as the director's cut. Today, enjoy the full, extended edition of this conversation!

Topics Discussed in This Episode

7:58 Gaps in the research about science education and what their report found

10:25 How research relates to CLASS

12:30 Understanding how we got here

15:12 Science needs to be an active process

16:20 What makes up science

19:17 The presence of Instructional Support

20:00 Making science accessible for ECE educators

24:00 Goal-directed learning

29:15 How infants observe the world

33:10 What researchers observed

34:20 Veronica’s experience of helping educators make teaching science easier

36:10 Engaging with children's questions about science and the world

38:00 Parallel process and educator curiosity

40:00 Making it clear that science is part of family routines

43:00 Why the research paper was published and how it relates to equity and justice

48:42 There is more than one way to do science

50:12 The importance of meeting both children and educators where they are with science

Resources

Marnetta Larrimer

Dr. Daryl Greenfield

Veronica Fernandez

Welcome to another insightful episode of "Impacting the Classroom," where we delve into effective class implementation strategies with Matt Owens, the Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives at Teachstone. In this episode, Matt shares his journey from being an 8th-grade writing teacher to playing a pivotal role at Teachstone. We'll explore the newly developed, user-friendly CLASS Implementation Guide, designed to streamline class planning and evaluation, and how it aims to align classroom interactions with broader educational goals.

Topics Discussed in This Episode

• [00:00:00] Introduction
• [00:01:20] Matt’s background and role at Teachstone
• [00:02:23] What an implementation guide is and what it’s for
• [00:03:44] What makes an implementation guide a good idea
• [00:05:14] What Matt and his people learned from feedback
• [00:08:01] Collecting stories from people using the implementation guide
• [00:09:17] The value of a guide that lists the different leaders and offers a one-stop shop pf resources
• [00:12:00] Common themes from implementation stories
• [00:13:38] The COLAB protocol
• [00:17:42] Why storytelling from a leader's perspective is important
• [00:20:41] Pieces of the puzzle leaders have been missing
• [00:22:29] Challenges when trying to implement CLASS
• [00:24:31] How turnover affects the process
• [00:26:02] The need for a strong onboarding program
• [00:28:11] Hopes for how the guide will change how leaders think about implementation
• [00:29:37] What Matt would like to leave everyone with

Resources

Marnetta Larrimer

Matt Owens

In this episode, we uncover the practical steps taken by the Fairfax County Public Schools team to introduce the CLASS tool in special education settings. Jess, Cindy, and Christy share their experiences addressing teacher hesitation and bias, providing effective training, and fostering empathy through coaching.

Through individual and group coaching methods, they highlight the importance of active listening, meaningful feedback, and peer collaboration. They share real-life examples to illustrate the positive impact of these strategies on teaching effectiveness and classroom interactions, emphasizing the significance of quality interactions and intentional instruction.

Topics Discussed in This Episode

• [00:01:30] Introducing Christy, Jess, and Cindy
• [00:03:16] Challenges in rolling out CLASS
• [00:07:12] The framework for addressing bias
• [00:13:42] Strategies for addressing bias
• [00:16:25] Activities to foster a strong culture of improvement
• [00:22:30] What happens during observations
• [00:23:19] How the teachers felt through the roll-out period
• [00:26:52] Being sensitive as a coach as well as a teacher
• [00:28:19] How teaching experiences impact coaching
• [00:28:42] Cindy’s coaching experience
• [00:30:30] Where the teachers started and how they moved
• [00:33:15] The biggest lessons learned and what should be done differently
• [00:40:02] How CLASS is good for special education
• [00:45:45] Favorite teacher quotes

Resources

Marnetta Larrimer

Jess Schuhart

Cindy Sigsbee

Christie Johnson

Can the quality of early childhood education be significantly improved through targeted coaching and data-driven strategies? Join us as Lynn Cook, Coach Specialist, and Jenny Fleming, Program Quality Specialist, share their expertise and success stories from Nebraska's Step Up to Quality program. They reveal the planning and robust foundations that underpin the program, including the recruitment, training, and ongoing support for coaches and observers. Discover how they've secured buy-in from educators and stakeholders, ensuring the program's goals are well understood and embraced.

The Step Up to Quality program in Nebraska is no small feat, encompassing around 753 centers, including family childcare, Head Starts, and public school preschools. Learn about the thoughtfully designed processes and support systems that ensure a smooth and rewarding experience, from initial rating requests to final observations. Lynn and Jenny also share effective coaching measures and strategies to maintain observation fidelity, emphasizing the importance of continuous professional development.

Topics Discussed in This Episode

• [00:00:00] Introduction
• [00:00:27] Lynn’s role as a Coach Specialist
• [00:00:53] Jenny’s role as a Program Quality Specialist
• [00:02:24] How the CLASS implementation team was formed
• [00:06:16] Effective methods to create investment into the CLASS system and interactions with stakeholders
• [00:07:48] What buy-in looks like and what effective strategies help to build that
• [00:12:29] The system in place for data collection
• [00:16:49] Examples of decisions that were influenced by CLASS data
• [00:19:49] How many programs the state has
• [00:22:30] The standard process of communication with educators in the weeks leading to their CLASS observations
• [00:27:13] How to help educators adopt new practices
• [00:30:28] The steps coaches take to use data and support teachers
• [00:32:43] The measure of the effectiveness of coaching sessions
• [00:34:37] Supports in place for observers
• [00:37:44] Advice for listeners about CLASS implementation

Resources

Marnetta Larrimer

Lynne Cook

Jenny Fleming

On today’s episode of Impacting the Classroom, we have a fascinating conversation with Kris Meyers, the Director of Quality Measurement and Improvement at the Virginia Department of Education. Kris sheds light on the Virginia Quality Birth-to-Five System (VQB5) and the transformative role of the CLASS® tool in early childhood education. Listen in as we explore the substantial changes brought by Virginia's 2020 state law, which unified child care and early childhood systems under the Department of Education.

Kris walks us through the development and implementation of Virginia's comprehensive quality early childhood system. We discuss the importance of classroom observations by familiar observers, supplemented by external quality assurance checks, early childhood education's critical importance, and the impactful shift towards focusing on meaningful interactions. We also touch on the upcoming public quality ratings, designed to raise awareness among families about the importance of quality interactions in early development.

Topics Discussed in This Episode

• [00:00:00] Introduction
• [00:00:28] Kris’s role and work at VDOE
• [00:01:16] The beginning of Kris’s career as an elementary school teacher
• [00:02:28] Kris’s first impression of CLASS
• [00:04:08] Why CLASS is about more than just skills
• [00:05:23] Where CLASS fit in with the QRIS system
• [00:07:08] The values that guide Virginia’s quality early childhood system
• [00:09:39] How CLASS observations are implemented
• [00:12:38] The features of an external observation system
• [00:15:40] Who's responsible for collecting the data in Virginia and who coordinates classrooms
• [00:18:51] What decisions are influenced by CLASS data
• [00:20:45] Impacts Kris has seen since the implementation of CLASS
• [00:22:39] Whether classrooms are moving away from focusing on the easy things and focusing on the things that matter
• [00:24:13] Why families should be excited about public ratings and the implementation of CLASS
• [00:27:39] Helping families understand what can do at home to build on what children learn in school
• [00:29:03] What Kris would like to have known from the beginning of the CLASS implementation
• [00:32:38] What professional development opportunities and coaching cycles might look like
• [00:35:17] Surveying the educators to find out how the implementation and rollout are working for them
• [00:38:38] Kris’s plans for the summer

Resources

...

In this episode, we explore Teach for America's strategies for addressing the national teacher shortage with Grant Van Eaton and Robin Greatrex. Grant, a Senior Research Scientist, and Robin, a Senior Managing Director of Teacher Leadership, share their combined research and data insights in supporting and retaining educators.

The episode delves into Teach for America's unique recruitment model, financial incentives, advocacy for systemic changes in teacher housing, pay, and student loan debt, and the use of the CLASS tool in training teachers. We also discuss the organization's ambitious 2030 goal and efforts to improve equity in education.

Topics Discussed in This Episode

[00:01:30] Grant’s background and role at Teach for America

• [00:03:37] Robin’s background and role at Teach for America
• [00:05:32] How Teach for America is supporting the education workforce
• [00:09:46] How Teach for America invites people to join
• [00:12:28] How Teach for America handles financial compensation
• [00:14:17] Teach for America’s advocacy work in the education industry
• [00:16:22] The Teach for America coaching model
• [00:21:04] The partnership between Teach for America and CLASS
• [00:27:08] Retention through the onboarding and training program
• [00:30:31] Making progress with quality through CLASS
• [00:34:01] The impact on students to look for through the partnership
• [00:37:30] Broader student outcomes beyond academic
• [00:40:04] Teach for America’s 2030 goal and where they are on it
• [00:43:58] Whether the partnership with CLASS will help them achieve their goal sooner

Resources

Marnetta Larrimer

Grant Van Eaton

Robin Greatrex