Many skeptics of the science of reading are concerned that structured approaches will bore kids and make it less likely they’ll enjoy reading. These concerns are unfounded for a number of reasons. First, structured approaches help reach students who don’t learn through implicit learning (which is a lot of kids). It’s hard to develop a…
Category: Education Reform
EP 180: The relationship of literacy and language skills and involvement with the justice system (with Dr. Shameka Stewart)
There is a disproportionate number of individuals with communication disorders and reading disabilities involved with the justice system for both children and adults. Past research suggests that more than 40% of incarcerated people have some type of nonpsychiatric disability (Berzofsky et al., 2015; Bixby et al., 2022; Thompson, 2022) Additionally, once youth are involved in…
EP 179: Increasing book equity and fostering a love of reading (with Susan Brady)
How can school leaders make informed decisions about reading curriculum when they know the home environments among their student body vary widely? I don’t envy people tasked with these kinds of decisions. My opinion is that schools should ensure students get their instructional needs met during the school day, because it’s difficult to control what…
EP 174: Creating a culture of collaboration on your school team (with Kurtis Hewson)
I’m a huge supporter of professionals taking ownership of their careers; regardless of the systemic issues at play. But having said that, I ALSO like to help educators get to a place where they can work towards addressing systems issues head on. That’s why I was so excited to talk with Kurtis Hewson about the…
EP 173: School leadership and middle management (with Chris Dodge and Dr. Chris Jones)
A while back, I heard someone refer to school administrators and other public sector leaders as “middle managers”, and it really hit home for me. As I’ve transitioned through different roles in my career, I’ve gotten into the trap of thinking that when I achieve the “next step”, I’ll finally have the influence I want. …
EP 168: What do administrators need from school therapists and teachers? (featuring Eric Makelky, Jalita Johnson, and Jethro Jones)
Almost every school leader that I know has said they didn’t realize what they were getting themselves into when they started their first administrative position. In this episode, I wanted to share clips from past “De Facto Leaders” guests to showcase some of the challenges faced by school administrators (or those hoping to move into…
EP 163: Experiential learning and cultivating a passion for the outdoors (with Greg Morrissey)
Preparing young people for adulthood is all about providing them with the right blend of experiences; both in and outside of school. Building literacy, numeracy, and content knowledge will give students a foundation for success; but we need to pair that with real-world experiences where they can apply that knowledge in real time. When we…
EP 162: The summer slide: Real phenomenon or invented by tutoring companies? (with David Schipper)
My heart sinks when I see how polarizing topics in education have become, as well as the tendency for people to have “all or nothing” thinking. I’ve seen an increasing amount of activities pitted against each other as if doing one means we can’t ALSO do the other: 👉Standardized testing vs. real-world observations/stakeholder interviews. 👉Year-round…
EP 156: Using AI to write IEP goals and manage service plans (with Sean Klamm)
No one working in special ed has ever said, “I chose this career so I could do paperwork all evening and weekend.” Yet many realize after getting into the field that administrative demands can take away from time spent with students or collaborating with colleagues. That’s why I was so excited to connect with Sean…
EP 144: Becoming a school founder and empowering students through project-based learning (with Tanya Sheckley)
Many people working in K-12 education have ambitions to start their own company where they have the ability to redesign the way student learning happens. The motivation often comes from wanting to create a scenario where they feel less constrained, more innovative, and more impactful. When I ventured into self-employment, I found that many of…