This episode is a special episode from UDL-Con, powered by CAST. CAST just released the Guidelines for (Universal Design for Learning) UDL 3.0, which you can find here. If you don't know what UDL is, it's a way to make learning accessible for everyone! You can check out more about the webinars here.

Enjoy this special episode.

In this episode of Transformative Principal, host Jethro Jones interviews Andratesha Fritzgerald live at the UDL-Con: International Conference. They discuss the concept of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and its significance in making learning accessible to all students. Fritzgerald discusses the Instructional Practice Interrogation protocol, explaining how it helps educators identify and address barriers in teaching strategies. The conversation also touches on the importance of community in UDL and how traditional practices can be interrogated and adapted for better learning outcomes.

00:00 Introduction to UDL and CAST UDL Con

01:08 Interview with Andratesha Fritzgerald

01:45 Instructional Practice Interrogation Protocol

02:44 Identifying and Addressing Harm in Education

04:42 Setting Up Community for UDL

08:16 Learning Objectives in Inquiry-Based Learning

07:18 Power of Community in Learning

14:58 Closing and Connecting with Andratesha

• Vital in an education setting to experience what life is like without a phone
• How you develop character through whether you’re using a phone or not.
• How to help teachers not be phone police.
• Support throughout the whole process
• Common complaints about schools
• Resetting expectations about structures
• School taking a constructive approach to support student growth and development
• How to do a rollout.
• Classroom vs. School phone free spaces.
• Tier 1 support worked better, but needs more communication.
• Accompanied by a strong and clear policy and then following through.
• More and more students are open to the idea of being phone free.
• Kids are aware that being connected all the time may not be beneficial.
• Yes, you can teach, but they need to actually do.
• Clarity and community buy-in.

Graham Dugoni is the founder and CEO of Yondr. Since starting the company in 2014,

he has been a leading voice in the emerging conversation about the effects of phones

on society and mental health. Graham coined the terms “phone-free spaces” and

“phone-free schools.” He is the product designer of the Yondr pouch and the Home

Tray. His mission-driven mindset keeps the company focused on meaningful ways to

help educators, artists, and organizations worldwide create distraction-free

environments where focus and creativity can flourish without technology. Graham is a

former professional soccer player and a graduate of Duke University.

Please add questions that we would ask here, and you can add anything that you would like to add as well.

• How did you come up with the idea?
• How did you convert this idea into a business?
• How many schools/students use Yondr, and in how many countries?
• Was there any particular moment which stood out to you early on, when it became very clear that phone-free spaces would become incredibly important in the future?
• Tell us about the different spaces that Yondr makes phone-free.
• Why do you think phone-free schools are important?
• What do you say to people who say that banning phones in schools does not teach young people how to become responsible digital citizens?
• Yondr is a program and not a product. Why is this an important distinction, and can you explain how this works?
• What do students say about Yondr?

• Giving UDL away for free
• Building products through grants
• People think UDL is static, but it isn’t.
• Identity is important.
• UDL is human centric, not student centric.
• How UDL invites students to take ownership of their learning experiences.
• Do you feel behind?
• “What if I could have gone through school feeling unencumbered?”
• Expert Learners vs. executive functioning
• Bounded autonomy.
• Assumptions about student learning.
• Joy Zabala - You can’t boil the ocean
• UDL Con is an Experience
• AI, Accessibility,
• UDL Guidelines 3.0
• UDL Con - where the guidelines will be released.
• CAST.org - check out the projects and resources.
• How to be a transformative principal? Ghostwalks - walk with nobody there in your school. What is being said by what is on the walls and in the classroom.

About Bryan Dean

Bryan Dean is CAST's Innovation Specialist. Bryan has been working with hard-to-reach students with emotional impairments, conduct disorder, behavioral difficulties, and low interest for more than 20 years. Bryan has experience designing professional learning around learner experience design, specially-designed instruction, Universal Design for Learning, new teacher induction, Design Thinking, deep learning, and strategies for students in emotional dysregulation. In addition to the designing of professional learning, he has designed virtual learning environments, worked on longitudinal system implementation and design, designed organizational culture and climate/culture change models, and developed a unique UDL coaching system based on appreciative and ontological coaching matrices.

• ShouldStorm - Culture of perfectionism and criticism
• We as parents want to do what is best for our kids, but we are bombarded by everyone telling us what we should and should not do.
• Finding the “right” answer.
• Defining “expert”
• How the ShouldStorm impacts our kids
• We like to blame social media, but it really comes from what we talk about in our communities.
• What matters is not the college but the student.
• If you play someone else’s game, you will always lose, if you’re playing your own game, you can’t lose.
• Sigh, See, Start: transitions you from the anxiety of the ShouldStorm, to connection with your kids.
• The sigh is a built-in mechanism in our bodies, breathe out long and slow - sends a message to our body that we are OK.
• Vagus nerve turns on prefrontal cortex.
• See - moment of mindfulness - see your child. Noticing, not doing.
• Start - run an experiment about how to help the situation.
• Built on a faith that is scientifically grounded, you (and your kids) are more capable than you think (and than the world will tell you are).
• Emphasizing repair

Alison Escalante, M.D., is a pediatrician, speaker, and author of Sigh, See, Start: How to Be the Parent Your Child Needs in a World That Won’t Stop Pushing. In a perfectionistic parenting culture that tells you that you are never enough no matter how much you do for your kids, this unique approach empowers you with a simple parenting technique to gain confidence, remain grounded, and connect positively with your children.

In this informative interview, Jennifer Jennings, a school communication specialist, discusses the crucial role of effective communication in schools. She emphasizes the significance of building trust and engaging parents and the community through transparent and informative communication. Jennings provides practical strategies to help schools develop an overall communication plan, showcase their positive aspects, and avoid overwhelming their audience with excessive information. She also shares successful examples of schools that have implemented effective communication strategies, such as utilizing visual displays, digital signage, and a variety of communication channels.

• Why communication with the community is so important.
• How schools can communicate more effectively.
• Schools need to have an overall communication plan.
• Consistent message
• Consistent branding
• Showcase your school in the best light possible.
• Don’t bombard people.
• having visual displays has increased attendance at clubs, sport games, and events. Cannon Falls.
• Digital signage is a great way to expand on a school’s safety plan: see Necedah Schools in Wisconsin.
• New Prague in Minnesota
• AppleTV as a PBIS Motivator
• If it’s not easy, people aren’t going to do it.
• Start in a small, manageable way.
• Set up your system so you can delegate properly.
• Make it part of your weekly routine so it is used consistently and routinely.
• Involve people who are excited about it.
• How to be a transformative principal? Find one person who loves graphic design and get them involved in creating content.
• Connect with Jennifer Jennings

About Jennifer Jennings

Jennifer Jennings is a seasoned growth marketing manager with over a year of experience at Rise Vision, the leading digital signage software for K-12 schools. With a keen understanding of the education landscape, Jennifer is passionate about leveraging technology to enhance school communication, safety measures, and the overall school atmosphere.

Throughout her tenure at Rise Vision, Jennifer has worked closely with schools to understand their unique challenges and develop customized solutions. Her expertise lies in identifying communication gaps, creating positive school cultures, and implementing strategies to increase building security. Jennifer is known for her ability to translate complex technical concepts into accessible and actionable insights for school administrators and educators.

As a thought leader in the edtech industry, Jennifer is frequently sought out as a speaker at conferences and events. Her insights on the intersection of technology and education have been featured in various publications and media outlets. Jennifer's dedication to improving the learning environment for students and educators alike has made her a valuable asset to Rise Vision and the education community at large.

Welcome to Transformative Principal. Today, we are joined by Dr. Kenny Rodrequez, Superintendent of Grandview C-4 School District in Missouri. With over two decades of educational leadership experience, Dr. Rodrequez has been a pivotal figure in driving innovative strategies to enhance school culture and student success. His dedication to fostering an inclusive and dynamic learning environment makes him an ideal guest as we explore the transformative potential of AI in building district culture.

Why using specific AI Agents is valuable for our work.

• How to engage with staff differently
• 600 staff members
• Lebra is an engagement tool.
• Automatically creates a prompt for me
• Because it knows our vision and plans, it incorporates those things into what we do.
• Between the work anniversaries and birthdays, it’s communicating 10-15 people per day.
• Understanding what we are focused on in our district.
• Being able to build relationships and culture through small simple acts.
• There’s just not enough time in the day.
• How using Lebra is improving the culture.
• Feedback from staff receiving AI messages
• Leveraging technology to make you successful.
• How to be a transformative principal? Stop and take a breath. Improve one connection every day.

About Kenny Rodrequez

Dr. Kenny Rodrequez became Superintendent of the Grandview C-4 School District in July 2016.

Before serving as Superintendent, Dr. Rodrequez served for two years as the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction in the Grandview C-4 School District. His responsibilities included the direction and overall delivery of K-12 curriculum programs, the developing, implementing, and evaluation of educational services for the district, and providing leadership for all Elementary and Secondary schools.

Dr. Rodrequez has served in several capacities throughout his career. He was a music educator for 8 years in two different states, including being a band director, percussion instructor, and district music resource teacher.

Dr. Rodrequez moved into school administration more than 10 years ago and has held site level positions of assistant principal and principal before moving into district-level positions of director and assistant superintendent.

He was selected to create and implement the first Early College High School program in Tulsa through a partnership with Tulsa Community College. He directed the Tulsa Innovative School network, which served 1,200 plus students in grades K-12, and served as a lead examiner for the Oklahoma Quality Award Foundation, based upon the Baldrige process.

In both Oklahoma and Missouri, he has done extensive work on the implementation of new teacher evaluation systems in an effort to raise academic achievement and build collaborative relationships between teachers and administrators.

Dr. Rodrequez has a Bachelors degree from Oklahoma State University in Music Education, a Master of Science degree from Oklahoma State University in School Leadership, and completed his Doctorate degree from Baker University in School Administration.

He has been happily married for more than 25 years to his wife Tracie. They have two wonderful children, Izzy and Jackson.

This comprehensive discussion explores the intricate distinctions between leadership, leadership development, and leader development, emphasizing their intertwined nature and the importance of understanding the context in which they exist. The conversation delves into the dynamic roles of leaders and followers, underscoring the value of meeting individuals where they are in their professional journey, with respect to their unique backgrounds and experiences. Emphasizing continuous, incremental growth, it highlights the significance of self-awareness, reflection, and the necessity of adapting leadership strategies to suit diverse environments, from educational settings to global contexts. The dialogue further addresses the challenges of maintaining authenticity while navigating the expectations of different organizational cultures, and the potential obstacles faced by individuals from underrepresented groups in leadership positions. Central to the discussion is the potent role of self-reflection, facilitated by practices such as journaling, in personal and professional development, providing insights into identifying growth opportunities, leveraging personal strengths, and making impactful decisions in leadership roles.

• Leadership Development, leaders, followers
• Meeting people where they are at.
• See where the gaps are.
• Leverage the people around you.
• Who you are five years ago is not who you are today.
• VUCA: volatility, uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity.
• Knowing who you are.
• What level of assimilation are you comfortable with?
• The role is correct but the context isn’t.
• How to reflect: 1. Spouse 2. Journaling
• How to Take Smart Notes
• The Book: Maximize
• How to be a transformative principal? Start journaling

About Dr. Peter Rios

Dr. Peter Rios is the Founder of Peter Rios Consulting and the author of Untold Stories: The Latinx Leadership Experience in Higher Education and Maximize!: 12 Keys to Unlocking Your Greatest Potential. He has served diverse organizations including businesses, religious institutions/churches, government, higher education and non-profits in the areas of organizational diversity, equity and inclusion; leadership development and innovation.

His extensive experience and doctoral education in strategic leadership and intercultural studies has made him a sought-out keynote and conference speaker. Rios has been invited to speak and train leaders, nationally and internationally. In the United States Marines Corps he gained global leadership experience while stationed in Okinawa Japan and South Korea, and most recently has lived in Barbados and St. Maarten.

Peter currently serves as a lecturer of leadership studies at Penn State and has been an adjunct professor at Colorado State University-Global Campus and Indiana Wesleyan University, teaching undergraduate and graduate students in organizational leadership, religious and cultural studies, and business management. Rios has also been a vice president at two universities. Prior to academia, Peter was involved in pastoral ministry for over ten years and has over twenty years of leadership development experience.

Rios holds a PhD in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Graduate Schools, a Doctorate in Strategic Leadership (DSL) from Regent University School of Business and Leadership, completed doctoral work at the University of Southern California-Rossier School of Education, and an MA from Northeastern Seminary. He is married to Dr. Ruby Gonzalez-Rios, a cancer and infectious disease researcher.