The FutureCurrent Podcast with Dr. Stefan Bean, Orange County Superintendent of Schools

FutureCurrent

The FutureCurrent Podcast with Dr. Stefan Bean, Orange County Superintendent of Schools showcases the people and programs making a difference across Orange County. Through authentic stories, the series will highlight how educators, families, and community partners are creating opportunities and building brighter futures for all learners.

  1. 21 hr ago

    Ep. 20 | Designing Secondary Schools Around Students with Dr. Christine Olmstead

    What would middle and high school look like if every student were known by name, face, and story? In this episode of FutureCurrent, Dr. Stefan Bean talks with Dr. Christine Olmstead about secondary school redesign and how relationships, deeper learning, and personalized pathways can help students experience greater belonging, agency, and preparation for the future. From rethinking schedules and strengthening educator collaboration to elevating student and family voice, their conversation explores how school communities can create meaningful learning experiences while building the shared belief and capacity needed for lasting change. Watch on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Connect California Collaborative for Educational Excellence: https://ccee-ca.org About Our Guest Dr. Christine Olmstead is an educational leader and systems change strategist with more than two decades of experience advancing school and district improvement, organizational coherence, and equitable outcomes for students. She currently serves as Senior Advisor for Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) at the Orange County Department of Education, working in partnership with the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE) to strengthen California’s Statewide System of Support. Dr. Olmstead has extensive experience leading complex educational systems, aligning resources with strategic priorities, and building organizational capacity for sustainable improvement. Her leadership spans local, regional, and statewide initiatives, with particular expertise in MTSS, continuous improvement, instructional transformation, and systems-level change. Throughout her career, Dr. Olmstead has worked alongside educators, district leaders, county offices of education, and state partners to translate ambitious educational goals into coherent, actionable practices. She is recognized for her ability to connect policy, research, and implementation while helping organizations move beyond fragmented initiatives toward integrated systems that improve the experiences and outcomes of students, particularly those who have been historically underserved. Dr. Olmstead brings a practical, human-centered approach to organizational learning, leadership development, and systems transformation. Her work is grounded in the belief that lasting educational improvement requires both strong systems and the collective efficacy of the people working within them.

  2. 27 Oct

    Ep. 19 | Building Your Adaptability Quotient with Terry Walker

    Change rarely follows a straight line. The ability to adjust, learn, and keep moving may be one of the most valuable skills we can develop. Dr. Stefan Bean talks with Terry Walker, Senior Advisor for District Relations at the Orange County Department of Education and former superintendent of Irvine Unified School District, about adaptability quotient, or AQ. They explore how curiosity, collaboration, comfort with uncertainty, and intentional reflection can help individuals, families, and organizations navigate change. From a flat tire that disrupts your day to decisions that shape an entire organization, the conversation offers practical ways to anticipate challenges, learn from experience, and draw on the power of others. Watch on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Connect with Terry Walker: Email: twalker@ocde.us About Our Guest: Terry Walker is Senior Advisor for District Relations at the Orange County Department of Education (OCDE). He helmed the Irvine Unified School District as its superintendent from 2011 until his recent retirement in January 2025. He served as a teacher, director and assistant superintendent of human resources in Irvine before being appointed to the district’s top administrator role. Under his leadership, IUSD built on its reputation as one of California’s highest-performing school districts, serving more than 38,000 students with the support of 4,000 staff members. He has a master’s degree in Education Administration Leadership from Pepperdine University and a master’s degree in Educational Technology Leadership from the University of California, Irvine. He earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

  3. 13 Oct

    Ep. 18 | E-Bike Safety and Protecting Our Communities with Todd Spitzer

    E-bikes give young people freedom and independence. Helping every rider return home safely takes families, schools, public agencies, and communities working together. Dr. Stefan Bean talks with Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer about how education and public safety partnerships can protect young people before harm occurs. Their conversation explores e-bike safety, the difference between hate incidents and hate crimes, and GRIP, a gang prevention and intervention partnership. They also discuss the roles of prevention, education, and accountability, and why schools are central to creating safer communities. Watch on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Connect with Todd Spitzer: Orange County District Attorney’s Office: https://ocdistrictattorney.govCalifornia Office of Traffic Safety: https://www.ots.ca.gov About Our Guest: District Attorney Todd Spitzer works each day to maintain and enhance public safety in our communities. The commitment to public safety, protecting rights of victims, and ensuring a good quality of life for Orange County residents is always top-of-mind, while engaging daily with case reviews with executive staff and appearing in court. A champion for public safety, District Attorney Spitzer is recognized as an expert on security issues, whose reputation as an advocate for victims’ rights is respected nationally. DA Spitzer’s commitment to protecting victims of crime was landmarked after co-authoring Marsy’s Law, our country’s most comprehensive Victim’s Bill of Rights. Todd Spitzer was inspired to dedicate his career to public service as an Orange County Supervisor, former California State Assembly Member, and now as the Orange County District Attorney.

  4. 29 Sept

    Ep. 17 | What Students Are Teaching Us About AI with Dr. Julie Evans

    Students are already using AI to explore their interests, strengthen their skills, and direct their own learning. What can their experiences teach us about the future of education? Dr. Stefan Bean talks with Dr. Julie Evans, CEO of Project Tomorrow and founder of the Speak Up Research Project, about what students are saying about AI and why active listening matters. They explore student agency, the enduring importance of relationships with educators, and the durable skills students will need for a future that is still taking shape. From an AI-powered Spanish practice session to a fifth grader teaching himself to play piano on an iPad, the conversation reveals the curiosity and optimism students bring to learning when they have room to explore. Watch on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Connect with Dr. Julie Evans: Project Tomorrow: https://www.tomorrow.orgEmail: jevans@tomorrow.org About Our Guest: Dr. Julie A. Evans is the CEO of Project Tomorrow (www.tomorrow.org) and is the founder of the heralded Speak Up Research Project which annually collects and reports on the authentic views of 400,000 K-12 students, parents and educators on key education issues each year. Dr. Evans leads research efforts on the impact of innovative learning models and interventions in both K-12 and higher education. Over the past 20 years, almost 6 million K-12 students, teachers and parents have participated in the Speak Up Project representing over 35,000 schools from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and around the world. Dr. Evans is the longest-serving woman executive in the education technology nonprofit sector.

  5. 15 Sept

    Ep. 16 | Where Education Meets Opportunity with Jeff Ball

    Orange County’s future workforce is already taking shape in classrooms, internships, apprenticeships and career programs across the region. Dr. Stefan Bean sits down with Jeff Ball, president and CEO of the Orange County Business Council, to explore how educators and employers can work together to connect students with meaningful career opportunities. Their conversation looks at career awareness, workforce access and the shared responsibility to prepare young people for a changing economy. Orange County’s economy is already larger than those of 26 states. What could its next chapter mean for the students preparing to lead it? Watch on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Connect with Jeff Ball: Orange County Business Council Leading Educational Attainment LinkedIn: Orange County Business CouncilFacebook: BizCouncilX: OC_Biz_CouncilInstagram: ocbiz_council About our guest: Jeffrey K. Ball (“Jeff”) is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Orange County Business Council where he represents the interests of local businesses and organizations together with academia and government to promote the economic growth of the nation’s sixth largest county, Orange County, California. Ball is the Founder of Friendly Hills Bank (now First Pacific Bank) where he previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer and is currently Vice Chair of the Board of Directors. His more than 40 years of experience in commercial and investment banking includes leadership positions with Bank of America, as well as past Chair of the California Bankers Association and past Chair of the Government Relations Council of the American Bankers Association. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Orange County Business Council, First Pacific Bancorp, Mobility21, Data Center, Inc., Catalina Island Conservancy, Orange County Fire Authority Foundation and Kinetic Academy which is a public charter school he founded in 2016. He is also a member by appointment of the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges and previously served two terms on the board of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco and the Legal Services Trust Fund Commission of the California State Bar. Prior to earning his MBA from Whittier College, Ball earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Puget Sound. A longtime advocate of financial literacy, he frequently guest lectures on the topics of financial and economic principles at high schools and universities across the nation.

  6. 4 Aug

    Ep. 15 | The Myth of Probation with Jessica Johnson

    Some of the most meaningful work with young people is happening in places people rarely see. Jessica Johnson, Chief Deputy Probation Officer for the Orange County Probation Department, joins FutureCurrent to share what really happens inside the system, and what it looks like when the goal is possibility. From the surprising story behind a cribbage game to a 95% success rate that changed how a whole county thinks about diversion, this conversation invites us to rethink what probation can be, and what young people can become when someone bets on them. Watch on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Orange County Probation Department: https://ocprobation.ocgov.com/ Volunteers In Probation: https://ocprobation.ocgov.com/employment-volunteer/volunteer About Our Guest: Jessica Johnson has been employed with the Orange County Probation Department for 29 years and currently oversees the Juvenile Operations Bureau, which includes juvenile facilities, juvenile field supervision, and juvenile court. She has worked a variety of assignments throughout her career, including Juvenile Facilities, Juvenile Field Supervision, AB 109, Training, Juvenile Court, and Special Supervision. She is a strong collaborator and enjoys partnering with others within the community and justice partners to identify and improve processes and services for those within the justice system, particularly related to education, vocational training, housing, and other re-entry services.

  7. 21 Jul

    Ep. 14 | Driven by Need with Marvin Smith

    When leadership is shaped by need, the work becomes something bigger than a career.Marvin Smith joins FutureCurrent for a conversation about how prevention, access, and opportunity change what is possible for young people. Drawing on decades of work with at-risk teens across the country, Marvin explores what it takes to reach kids at the root cause, remove the barriers around them, and help them discover the gifts already inside them.The conversation moves through the philosophy behind brain-based learning, why prevention changes trajectories in ways intervention alone cannot, and Marvin's approach to succession leadership and what it looks like to step back so young people can step up. A former NFL linebacker, ordained minister, and community leader, Marvin brings decades of insight to the question of how communities can better support the youth in them.Watch on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.Connect with Marvin Smith:1xtremebrain@gmail.comAbout Our Guest:Marvin is a former NFL player who actively participates in the leadership of the NFL Former Player Association. He is an ordained minister, teacher, and community leader. His initiatives focus on community and social justice advocacy, education reform, and, most importantly, youth empowerment and mental health support. Marvin works with at-risk teens, providing programs that promote leadership, academic growth, and advancements in technology. He also offers counseling and crisis intervention services with teens across the country who are in urgent need of support.His passion for educational equity led him and his wife, Karla, to establish a model state-authorized public charter school in 2005 to support disenfranchised students. This innovative educational model is rooted in neuroscience - "Brain-Based Learning," which significantly impacted all the students compared to the traditional K-12 public educational system, and has yielded a core of socially, emotionally and intellectually productive citizens.

  8. 7 Jul

    Ep. 13 | Arts for All with Marleena Barber and Joshua Roy

    Perception is often the first barrier to inclusion in the arts. It can also be the first thing that changes. Marleena Barber, Executive Director of Orange County Arts and Disability, joins FutureCurrent to share how the arts open doors to expression, belonging, and possibility for people of all abilities. Drawing from her own experience as a person with a disability and years of advocacy work, Marleena discusses what accessibility looks like across physical spaces, communication, digital environments, and policy, and why the arts are uniquely suited to true inclusion. The episode also features Joshua Roy, an accomplished artist and founder of Able Artist, joined by his mom, Connie. Joshua shares his creative process, his love of drawing, and what art means to him. Watch on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Connect with Marleena Barber: Orange County Arts and Disability on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ocartsanddisability Orange County Arts and Disability on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/orangecountyartsanddisability Connect with Joshua Roy: Joshua Roy Art: https://joshuaroy.art About Our Guests: Marleena Barber Legally blind from a generic condition called albinism, Marleena Barber is an educator, vocalist, and disability advocate. She is an arts and disability consultant at the Orange County Department of Education, and is also the Executive Director of Orange County Arts and Disability, a nonprofit organization. Prior to her work with OCDE, she was the children’s choir director at Braille Institute for 12 years where she developed music and theater arts programs for K-12 blind and low vision students. She currently serves on the board for Arts Orange County and Californians for the Arts. Joshua Roy Artist Joshua Roy has been developing his talent since he was a young child. He started drawing sketches on graph paper and quickly showed an interest in coloring and painting. He loves putting detail into his landscapes and still life pieces. Joshua is happy to share his artwork collections in cards and prints, and is also available for commissions! With his mom, Connie, Joshua attends many local boutiques and craft sales in the Southern California area, selling an array of home decor, cards, and prints. Follow him on social media to see where he'll be next!​ By the way, Joshua was born with Down Syndrome!

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The FutureCurrent Podcast with Dr. Stefan Bean, Orange County Superintendent of Schools showcases the people and programs making a difference across Orange County. Through authentic stories, the series will highlight how educators, families, and community partners are creating opportunities and building brighter futures for all learners.

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