Charter School Superstars

Latest Episodes:

Ep 87: Giving students autonomy through executive function coaching with Gavin and Britt of Kairos Academies Sep 02, 2020

Show notes

This week, Ryan sits with Gavin Schiffres and Britt Kelleher, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Kairos Academies. On this episode, our guests talk about the backstory of founding Kairos and their school’s 1-to-1 executive function coaching model for students. Our guests also talk about the effects that this model has in helping students manage the COVID pandemic.
You can find out more about our guests’ work by visiting www.kairosacademies.com
Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair)
Producer: Ross Ulysse

Ep 86: Education policy for K-12 education with Maria Ferguson of the Center on Education Policy Aug 19, 2020

Show notes

This week, Ryan interviews Maria Ferguson, the Executive Director for the Center on Education Policy, a national public education advocacy group based out of Washington, DC. On this episode, Maria talks about the work that the Center on Education Policy does and how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted K-12 education policy. Maria also provides advice for school leaders, particularly charter school boards, on how to navigate the policy challenges they will be facing this fall.
You can find out more about our guest’s work by visiting www.cep-dc.org
Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair)
Producer: Ross Ulysse

Ep 85: Providing distance learning opportunities with Antonio Roca of Academica Virtual Education Aug 06, 2020

Show notes

This week, Ryan sits with Antonio Roca, the Managing Director of Academica Virtual Education, an education service provider that provides an array of digital learning operational and support services for virtual and brick-and-mortar schools throughout the United States and worldwide. On this episode, Antonio talks about Academica Virtual Education and how it has expanded its footprint to meet the needs of schools transitioning to digital learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Antonio also talks about the technological shifts that K-12 will experience as a result of the pandemic and steps that parents can take to prepare their students for the fall.
You can find out more about his work by visiting www.academica.org and http://www.aveteaching.com/.
Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair)
Producer: Ross Ulysse

Ep 84: Project based learning in the virtual landscape with Bob Lenz and Laureen Adams of PBL Works Jul 22, 2020

Show notes

This week, Ryan sits down with Bob Lenz and Laureen Adams, the CEO and the Curriculum and Program Manager for PBL Works, an acclaimed provider of professional development and support services for K-12 project based learning. On this episode, Bob and Laureen talk about project based learning and what PBL Works does. Our guests give some terrific insight into how to transition PBL effectively into the virtual environment. They also talk about the power that PBL has to not only help students achieve learning gains, but also to strengthen families and communities.
Their new e-book “This Teachable Moment: Engaging Our Kids in the Joy of Learning” is available now for free! You can find out more about the book and our guests’ work by visiting www.pblworks.org.
Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair)
Producer: Ross Ulysse

Ep 83: Running an effective charter school in Key West with Thomas Rompella of Somerset Island Prep Jul 08, 2020

Show notes

This week, Ryan is joined by Thomas Rompella, principal at the Somerset Island Prep Charter School in Key West, Florida. Thomas talks to Ryan about the challenges and benefits of running a charter school in this unique city. Our guest provides his perspective on leadership and encouraging innovative ideas from his faculty and staff. Ryan and Thomas also talk about Island Prep’s recent “Jet Ski Graduation” that made national news!
You can find out more about our guest’s work by visiting www.islandprep.org.
Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair)
Producer: Ross Ulysse

Ep 82: Promoting education equity through education technology with Christopher King of We Are Marcus Jun 24, 2020

Show notes

This week, Ryan sits with Christopher King, an educator, consultant, and activist entrepreneur. Christopher is the founder of We Are Marcus, an education technology venture that builds online character development through digital learning. In this interview, Christopher talks about the We Are Marcus platform and his career in education as an instructor in an urban charter school. Christopher also talks about the impacts that education technology has on education equity and provides guidance for charter schools transitioning into the virtual space.
You can find out more about his work by visiting www.wearemarcus.com and king-talks.com
Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair)
Producer: Ross Ulysse

Ep 81: Building an effective Social and Emotional Learning intervention program with Tre Gammage Jun 17, 2020

Show notes

This week, Ryan sits with Tre Gammage, an author, educator, podcaster, speaker, city council member, and consultant who specializes in implementing school-wide Social and Emotional Learning programs. Tre talks about his experience providing SEL consulting with rural K-12 charter schools, and shares ways to implement a successful SEL program in a school to establish a “foundation” for Social and Emotional Learning. Tre also talks about what SEL reforms look like school wide and how an effective SEL program can change a school.
You can find out more about our guest’s work by checking out his book Every Decision Counts, and listening to his show The Dash Podcast by visiting www.tregammage.com.
Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair)
Producer: Ross Ulysse

Ep 80: Providing academic support and ongoing coaching remotely with Adam Geller of Edthena Jun 10, 2020

Show notes

This week, Ryan sits down with Adam Geller, the CEO of Edthena, a video-based teacher coaching platform. On this episode, Adam talks about the challenge that currently confronts schools to provide coaching and support for teachers during the pandemic. Adam also talks about the role that video can play to provide instructional support and also shares strategies to further schools’ professional coaching programs. You can find out more about his work by visiting www.edthena.com and www.PLtogether.org.
Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair)
Producer: Ross Ulysse

Ep 79: Addressing students’ mental health during COVID-19 with Elana Jones and Nic Gonzalez of Excel Academy Jun 03, 2020

Show notes

This week, Ryan sits with Elana Jones and Nic Gonzalez, counselors at the Excel Academy Charter School system in Massachusetts. On this episode, Elana and Nic discuss student mental health and the role of a school counselor during the pandemic. They also talk about the student services they provide remotely to support students during the COVID-19 pandemic including counseling resources, physical health support, and COVID testing information.
You can find out more about her work by www.excelacademy.org.
Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair)
Producer: Ross Ulysse

Ep 78: Acknowledging our first responders with Nurse Colleen McCormick of Blackstone Valley Prep Mayoral Academy May 27, 2020

Show notes

This week, Ryan interviews with Colleen McCormick, the Middle School Nurse at the Blackstone Valley Prep Mayoral Academy public charter school in Rhode Island. On this episode, Colleen (a former ICU and trauma nurse) shares her incredible story of returning to the hospital setting during the COVID-19 pandemic to care for patients in need. You can find out more about our guest’s work by visiting www.blackstonevalleyprep.org/blog.
Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair)
Producer: Ross Ulysse

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