Leading Forward

In our season finale, Sujie Shin, CCEE's Deputy Executive Director, reflects on the unprecedented year we've had in education and on the lessons learned by the CCEE through its efforts during the pandemic. Sujie also shares the thinking behind the CCEE's plan to identify, develop, and scale-out tools, best practices, and resources to help LEAs in California in the coming months based on feedback from stakeholders throughout the state.

We close our two-part series on systems change through the creation of compassionate systems with Dr. Michelle Perrenoud from LACOE. Dr. Perrenoud shares the importance of personal change and the revaluation of existing artifacts and mindsets to facilitate larger systems change. 

Listen to Dr. Senge speak about the critical point our classrooms, schools, and society have reached and the role we all must play as leaders in facilitating a systems change that takes the whole child and whole community into account.

Speaker and educational consultant in neuroscience Dr. Ken Wesson joins Leading Forward to share insights about the science of learning. In 25 minutes, Dr. Wesson explains the relationship between emotion, attention, and memory, and how educators can leverage current scientific understanding to help engage students. 

NY Times Bestselling Author, Neuropsychiatrist, Mindsight Educator, and Interpersonal Neurobiologist Dr. Dan Siegel joins the Leading Forward Podcast to talk about learning, mental health, and fostering student well-being through a focus on 7 components for healthy living he calls the "mind platter". 

Dr. Chris Hartley, Superintendent of Schools for the Humboldt County Office of Education, joins Leading Forward to share the benefits and challenges of leading in rural settings. Dr. Hartley talks about the importance of project-based learning, technology, curriculum integration, collaboration, communication, and more. 

Teachers and district board of trustees presidents Maimona Afzal Berta and Jorge Pacheco, Jr. join Leading Forward to talk about digital equity and the prestigious Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship they have been awarded by National Geographic.  

Dr. Carlos Tuner Cortez, President of the San Diego College for Continuing Education and Chancellor Designate of the San Diego Community College District, joins Leading Forward to share insights as to how to reimagine the transition from K12 to Higher Education. Dr. Cortez also elevates the importance of students opting-in to future opportunities, compassionate hand-offs between systems, and the use of data in decision-making that focuses on student outcomes. 

Dr. Fabiola Bagula, Senior Director of the Equity Department at the San Diego County Office of Education, shares practical tips and insights on how LEAs can create work environments based on trust, shift the equity conversation from fault to responsibility, and adopt an emancipatory leadership approach. 

Dr. Gary Waddell, the Associate Superintendent of Equity and Educational Progress and Public Affairs at the Santa Clara County Office of Education, shares a valuable resource for districts everywhere: the Ways 2 Equity Playbook, a tool to deepen a site team or district team's reflection on equity. 

Dr. Michelle Perrenoud from LACOE shares funding and design tips for summer learning. As the System of Support for Expanded Learning (SSEL) County Lead, Dr. Perrenoud provides insight on how LEAs can leverage AB86 to improve and augment expanded learning as well as examples of innovative programs that are successful in engaging students and parents. 

Solano County Office of Education Superintendent Lisette Estrella-Henderson shares insights and advice on how to work with County Health Departments on the way to resuming in-person instruction with compassion and courage. 

Teachers Jaclyn Vasko from Poway USD and Jeannette Monroy from Cajon Valley Union SD share their experience and lessons learned from in-person teaching during the pandemic. Listen to how they have organized classrooms, collaborated with peers, and perfected their approaches to help students and families thrive during the past months of in-person instruction.

Dr. Pedro Noguera, Dean of the USC Rossier School of Education, talks to Leading Forward about the equity challenges the COVID-19 pandemic brought forth and how to engage students moving forward. 

Superintendent Diann Kitamura shares lessons learned from how Santa Rosa City Schools has responded to various crises over the years (including the Tubbs, Glass, and Kincade fires), as well as the district's various efforts to create more equitable outcomes.  

Join a conversation with Tom Vander Ark, advocate for innovation in learning and CEO of Getting Smart, about how the world has changed and what kind of experiences we might create to help foster the knowledge, skills, and abilities that will be most important to students. Tom also shares insights gained from the more than 2,000 schools he has visited and tells us about his latest book, "Difference Making at the Heart of Learning". 

Superintendent David Miyashiro shares Cajon Valley Union School District's incredible journey through the early days of COVID-19 and how the district was able to increase family engagement even under the most challenging times. 

Ellen Dorr, Chief Technology Officer for the Renton School District, talks about lessons learned during the pandemic, the evolving role of technology in education, and the importance of focusing on learning outcomes before tools and platforms. 

Solvang School District Superintendent Dr. Steve Seaford talks about how to build structures to support student outcomes. Listen to his insights on the importance of the 4 Cs, presentations of learning, and building relationships with stakeholders to improve student results. 

Chula Vista Elementary School District Superintendent Dr. Francisco Escobedo shares the importance of communicating with the community often and openly. In this episode, he shares three types of meetings he has utilized at Chula Vista to increase stakeholder participation and engagement. 

Placer Union HSD Superintendent George Sziraki and Asst Sup Jeff Tooker talk about the district's journey toward equitable grading practices and competency-based grading during the pandemic. 

Dr. Beth Rabbitt, CEO of The Learning Accelerator, shares research and insights from the field about navigating the pandemic and effective strategies for teaching in varied modes. 

In this episode of Leading Foward, we talk to Tom Armelino, Executive Director of the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence, about the importance of focusing on student well-being during these difficult times. We also visit some examples of how LEAs are meeting this challenge, and talk about some of the resources available to help leadership teams plan and do their work moving forward. 

Lancaster Superintendent Dr. Michele Bowers shares 3 lessons on meeting your community where they are to ensure student well-being.