239 episodes

The Wired Educator Podcast: Becoming a Better Educator Now So You Can Make a Greater Impact and Enjoy a Higher Quality Lifestyle. The Host, Kelly Croy, is an Apple Distinguished Educator and Google Certified teacher. He has been teaching in the classroom for over 24 years. Kelly is a speaker, artist, author and educator.

The Wired Educator Podcast will deliver content to help educators make a greater impact, be more productive, increase their efficiency, and improve their lifestyles.

In this podcast I really want to emphasize my love and passion for learning and teaching. I truly want to make a difference in the lives of students and help inspire the next generation of educators. I share methods that I have learned from some of the most amazing educators around the globe on how to become a better educator, while expanding their classroom as a writer, speaker, and professional.

There will be many guests on the Wired Educator blog. Thank YOU for listening!

This podcast will share what teachers have discovered "works" in and outside the classroom.

Teachers will also learn how to create a website, build passive income, budget, create podcast, design and market products and digital content.

Wired Educator Kelly Croy

    • Education

The Wired Educator Podcast: Becoming a Better Educator Now So You Can Make a Greater Impact and Enjoy a Higher Quality Lifestyle. The Host, Kelly Croy, is an Apple Distinguished Educator and Google Certified teacher. He has been teaching in the classroom for over 24 years. Kelly is a speaker, artist, author and educator.

The Wired Educator Podcast will deliver content to help educators make a greater impact, be more productive, increase their efficiency, and improve their lifestyles.

In this podcast I really want to emphasize my love and passion for learning and teaching. I truly want to make a difference in the lives of students and help inspire the next generation of educators. I share methods that I have learned from some of the most amazing educators around the globe on how to become a better educator, while expanding their classroom as a writer, speaker, and professional.

There will be many guests on the Wired Educator blog. Thank YOU for listening!

This podcast will share what teachers have discovered "works" in and outside the classroom.

Teachers will also learn how to create a website, build passive income, budget, create podcast, design and market products and digital content.

    Publishing Students Through Creative Collaborations an Interview with Donnie SorahPublishing Students Through Creative Collaborations an Interview with Donnie Sorah

    Publishing Students Through Creative Collaborations an Interview with Donnie SorahPublishing Students Through Creative Collaborations an Interview with Donnie Sorah

    This is the Wired Educator podcast Episode 239, my interview with Donnie, Sorah titled “Publishing Students Through Creative Collaborations."
    Donnie is a  musician, educator, composer, and an associate professor of music at The University of Virginia’s College at Wise. He’s amazing and he’s going to share his story as well as inspire us all to publish students’ work in powerful and unique ways to enhance their voice, build connection and provide the best learning experience possible. This episode is perfect for teachers in any content are, teaching any age, educational leaders and YOU! 
    [convertkit form=1190516]
    Dr. Donald Sorah, Associate Professor of Music at The University of Virginia's College at Wise, boasts a diverse teaching portfolio encompassing applied high brass, conducting, music technology, composition, orchestration, and various other courses. As an Apple Distinguished Educator and recipient of the Outstanding Use of Technology in the Classroom Award (May 2022), Dr. Sorah actively supports students and colleagues as an Apple Learning Coach at UVA Wise, an Apple Distinguished School.
    Under his guidance, the college achieved initial accreditation by the National Association of Schools of Music in 2019. Beyond UVA Wise, Dr. Sorah has served as Associate Adjunct Instructor at Mountain Empire Community College since 1999 and previously taught at J.J. Kelly High School and L.F. Addington Middle School in Wise, Virginia.
    As the Associate Director of the Spirit of America National Honor Band, he conducted and performed as a trumpet soloist across Europe. He co-founded the Guayaquil Summer Music Academy in Ecuador, where he engaged in performances, lectures, and trumpet instruction. Recent teaching and research ventures have taken him to Chile and Spain.
    Sorah is a member of the Symphony of the Mountains and the Johnson City Symphony. In 2006, he founded the Winds of the Mountain Empire, a regional wind ensemble comprised mainly of music educators and is a champion for new works, presenting numerous premieres and commissions.
    As a prolific composer, Dr. Sorah has crafted works for various ensembles, including piano, organ, chamber groups, wind ensemble, and orchestra. His compositions have been performed by The University of Louisville Symphonic Band, University of Florida Symphonic Band, Nicholls State University Symphonic Band, and Madison Concert Band. Most recently, his orchestral work Rhapsody on In the Bleak Midwinter was featured at the 2023 Midwest Clinic in Chicago, Illinois.
    As an advocate for proving free high-quality educational resources for his students he has published four books on Apple Books including Composing with Found Sounds in GarageBand, Everyone Can Create Music With iPad Curriculum Guide, Book of Rhythms and Melodies Vol. 1, and Book of Rhythms and Melodies Vol. 2. Under his leadership, students in his music appreciation course published five introductory books covering eras of classical music.
    Dr. Sorah earned his Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Music Education from The Florida State University and holds master's and bachelor's degrees from Morehead State University (KY). He resides in Wise, Virginia, with his wife Kelly, son Brennan, and dog Roamer.
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    Mentioned in this Episode: 
    Donald W. Sorah, Ph.D. Musician • Educator • Composer, Associate Professor of Music, The University of Virginia’s College at Wise,  Distinguished Educator YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DonaldSorah Twitter/X: dsorah LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dsorah/ SoundCloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/KHjRp ADE Application Video - https://youtu.be/a_1dYkdXJJ8?si=MKOko9rtAxZBhWns Institute Reflections (presented to UVA Wise Administration) - https://youtu.be/p7etYKV_hqg?si=A90EG05O7vQqHTRz Year in Review Video - https://youtu.be/CjCbBa0XiIY?si=3peCrTY-4r1rZolA Donnie's Everyone Can Create Music With iPad course - https://youtu.be/QTrmauafu3k?si=dQndZtrVSozrFj

    • 1 hr 1 min
    Storytelling with Purpose an Interview with Michael Hernandez

    Storytelling with Purpose an Interview with Michael Hernandez

    This is the Wired Educator Podcast Episode 238 my interview with Michael Hernandez, Apple Distinguished Educator, and author of the new education bestseller Storytelling with Purpose: Digital Projects to Ignite Student Curiosity.
    Acclaimed documentary film director Ken Burns says this about Michael's book, “Teaching is the most important profession in any democracy. Michael Hernandez has written a wonderful book that anchors storytelling in the classroom and provides a highly readable and hugely helpful guide for teachers, who each day are taking students on an intellectual journey that is critical to the well-being of our country."
    Wow! Now, that’s a book endorsement! In this episode, Michael and I will talk about how storytelling is perfect for your classroom despite what grade you teach and what content you teach. Storytelling is for all classrooms! You’re going to love this episode!
    Michael Hernandez is an international speaker, author, curriculum designer, and award-winning educator who helps individuals and organizations discover and share authentic stories that matter. I’ve been featured in Forbes, Edutopia, PBS, NPR, and #SXSWEDU.
    As a trusted consultant and community manager, he helps tech startups, non-profits, and corporations develop their brand and engage their stakeholders. Clients include Apple, Adobe, Google, and National Geographic. His monthly newsletter, Change The Narrative, shares resources and inspiration around innovation, tech, education, and leadership.
    Michael is an Apple Distinguished Educator, Adobe Education Leader, PBS Digital Innovator, and Lindblad/National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellow.
    We talk about how his book helps with: 
    Uncheatable Assessments How to use storytelling projects for assessment How digital story projects support literacy, civics How non-fiction storytelling projects are like science and design thinking. How story projects leverage student passion and curiosity to increase engagement Award-winning educator and speaker Michael Hernandez brings together over 20 years of in-the-classroom experience to help solve some of our most existential challenges in education today: artificial intelligence, steep declines in student engagement, and the need for authentic learning experiences. The solution: digital storytelling as a framework for learning.
    Rather than viewing storytelling as a nice-to-have reward for students after their ‘real work’ has been completed, this book shows educators how to use story projects–from data visualizations to social media posts, to podcasts and video documentaries– as the scaffold upon which we can position our curricular skills and knowledge. The process helps students make interdisciplinary connections, activates higher level thinking and critical analysis skills, and provides multimodal learning opportunities for all students.
    This book is perfect for learning coaches, classroom teachers, and education leaders seeking practical ways to elevate teaching and learning in every grade level and subject area. The book focuses on student-centered, project-based learning experiences that use digital tools to:
    Create uncheatable, authentic assessments Leverage curiosity as the engine for learning Provide purpose for the skills and knowledge central to our curriculum Develop a mindset of collaboration, mental agility and resilience Cultivate digital literacy skills and ethical mindsets Bring purpose and joy back to learning With practical advice, case studies, and examples of how to plan, create, publish and assess student stories, this book offers a fresh approach to digital storytelling. And it includes guidance on how to provide students with the tools and structure they need to develop a mindset of curiosity, agency and purpose.
    More than a practical edtech guide, this book explores the why behind digital storytelling as much as the how. Educators will learn how to help students explore cultural and historical cont

    • 41 min
    Teach Like a Pirate, Again! My interview with Dave Burgess237: Teach Like a Pirate, Again! My interview with Dave Burgess

    Teach Like a Pirate, Again! My interview with Dave Burgess237: Teach Like a Pirate, Again! My interview with Dave Burgess

    This is the Wired Educator Podcast Episode 237, Teach Like a Pirate Revisited, my interview with Dave Burgess.
    I had the good fortune of interviewing Dave on episode 10, 227 episodes ago! Dave is the author of Teach Like a Pirate and the president and found of DBC with over 200 EDU speakers and authors. Amazing!  I worked for Dave for 4 years doing website design, maintenance, marketing, narration of a couple books, designing author pages and more. So cool to have Dave back and talk about how relevant and important his Teach Like a Pirate book still is, the impact he has had on education and more! Beautiful episode, with a beautiful human. Love Dave’s positive influence on all things EDU and how he keeps the narrative on EDU super positive and awesome. You’re going to love our interview.
    I am excited to share “The” Dave Burgess‘s journey with you! We are going to talk about deeply about how some of the core components of his book, Teach Like a Pirate, are not only still relevant in classrooms today, but how they are saving teacher’s careers from exhaustion, burnout and engagement. Dave is one of the most wonderful humans and educators I have had the pleasure to meet. He came into my life at such a great time and really helped me and my family! I’m excited to reconnect with him and share his important work with you today, Teach Like a Pirate!
    Thank you for all you do in education. I am so proud of you. Thank you for taking time out of your busy week, your busy day to listen to The Wired Educator Podcast. You’re awesome.
    Dave Burgess is the New York Times Best-Selling author of Teach Like a PIRATE, co-author of P is for PIRATE, and the president of Dave Burgess Consulting, Inc. which delivers powerful, inspirational, and innovative books, keynotes, and professional development.
    He specializes in teaching hard-to-reach, hard-to-motivate students with techniques that incorporate showmanship and creativity.  At a recent ceremony in Washington, D.C., he was awarded the BAMMY for Secondary School Teacher of the Year by the Academy of Education Arts and Sciences.
    Dave delivers the ultimate professional development experience for your teachers that is perfect for all circumstances from truly inspirational opening keynotes to full-day hands-on workshops.  It is a high-energy, interactive, and entertaining experience that will leave your staff unbelievably inspired, motivated, and with the practical skills to dramatically increase student engagement.
    His presentations are a unique blend of outrageously energetic performance art and magic, mixed with an inspirational message of how and why to become more passionate in the classroom. All techniques and methods are modeled and fully explained so as to leave no doubt about how to apply the methods in the real-world. Participants will leave with a tool-box full of dynamic presentational ideas that they can immediately use to improve their lessons.
    As a teacher in San Diego, California, he was a 2001 and 2012 Golden Apple winner in the Grossmont Union High School District and the 2007-2008 Teacher of the Year at West Hills High School. He was voted a faculty standout for 17 consecutive years in categories such as Most Entertaining, Most Energetic, and Most Dramatic.
    Mentioned in this Episode: 
    Dave's Book, Teach Like a Pirate! Grab your copy of Dave's book here. (This is the book I have gifted in EDU more than any other book.)
    Dave's website: www.daveburgess.com
    Dave's other website: www.daveburgessconsulting.com
    Dave's Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dave-burgess-show/id1550396352
    Follow Dave on Twitter: @burgessdave
    Unthink Before Bed: A Children's Book on Mindfulness & Anxiety: Grab a copy of my children's book, Unthink Before Bed: Click here to order!
    Grow Your Own Leaders: Free Course: Join our FREE leadership class, Grow Your Own Leaders. Closing Wednesday, January 31 at noon. Small number of participant. Closing VERY soon

    • 43 min
    Legacy of Learning, an Interview with Meghan Lawson

    Legacy of Learning, an Interview with Meghan Lawson

    The Wired Educator Podcast kicks off 2024 with an interview with Meghan Lawson, author of the new EDU best seller, Legacy of Learning: Teaching for Lasting Impact.
    My colleague at Port Clinton City Schools, Joe Miller, an amazing high school English teacher and Ohio
    Teacher of the Year Finalist, joins me on this episode as cohost.
    We talk with Megan about her book, social, emotional learning, strategies for making a lasting impact, and creating awesome spaces to teach and learn. You’re going to love this episode.
    Meghan is a thought leader who studies and implements the conditions and systems needed for transformational change. She is the author of Legacy of Learning: Teaching for Lasting Impact. A lover of learning who believes in the goodness of people, Meghan works to cultivate spaces that honor the humanity of all people. She promotes storytelling, the exchange of ideas, and risk-taking. She is passionate about disrupting the status quo and creating kinder, forward-thinking communities of action. Meghan is also intensely curious about how to enhance the customer experience in schools. Meghan began her career in the English Language Arts classroom. So, inevitably, her mantra is “Words matter”. She has worked in all levels of K–12 education as a teacher, school administrator, district administrator, and educational consultant.
    Mentioned in this episode: 
    Meghan Lawson's website: https://meghanlawson.com/
    Order a copy of Meghan's book: Legacy of Learning: Teaching for Lasting Impact.
    Joe Miller, finalist for Ohio Teacher of the Year. Read about Joe's accomplishment here:https://hs.pccsd.net/apps/news/show_news.jsp?REC_ID=860338&id=0
    Check out last week's Wired Educator Episode 235: My Reflection and Review of My Personal and Professional Goals for 2023. This was my last episode where I hold myself accountable on how I did in 2023. Now, I will soon be publishing an episode on the goals I am setting for 2023. I hope you will check it out and set some goals of your own.
    I was on George Couros's Podcast: Watch it on YouTube. • Listen to it on Apple Podcasts. • Listen to it on Spotify. I made it on his highlights of 2023 episode too! Very cool. Thank you, George.
    Find Your Joy! Thinking of asking my youngest, Jillyan to assemble a BIG Lego set like this one or a big car or something like it in 2024. Anyone know anything about Lego kits like this? Give me your expert opinion. Having some stick shock to be honest. I am trying to find a project with her that we can get lost in and have some fun.
    Thank you for taking time out of your busy day and week to listen to the Wired Educator podcast to level up and make a difference in the lives of others.
    Always forward,
    Kelly
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    Do you like what you heard? Invite Kelly to speak at your school.
    Interested in booking Kelly for your Next Event?
    Yes! Let's Make it happen right HERE!
    Order Kelly’s books, Along Came a Leader and Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness for your personal library.
    Educator, Author, Keynote Speaker
    Twitter: @kellycroy
    Instagram: @kcroy
    Website: kellycroy.com and wirededucator.com
    Podcast: The Wired Educator Podcast
    and of course: Facebook.
    Sign-up for Kelly’s newsletter here.
     

    • 58 min
    My Reflection and Review of My Personal and Personal Goals for 2023 from Podcast Host Kelly Croy

    My Reflection and Review of My Personal and Personal Goals for 2023 from Podcast Host Kelly Croy

    Happy New Year!
    This episode is not an interview with an educational leader. This episode is me reflecting on my year, the impact I made, the setbacks and success I experienced, and the lessons I learned. 
    One year ago I sat down with my Moleskine Journal and set a bunch of goals for 2023. One of the goals was to keep myself accountable by posting a podcast of me breaking down each goal on how I did. I set over 50 goals for 2023. Find out how I did. Perhaps you will be motivated to set some goals for yourself. 
    It is always difficult to hit the publish button on a blog, podcast, or post, but I always look at it from the perspective of an educator... to help others. If someone can benefit from my success or setbacks that is yet another benefit. 
    I do not post this podcast to brag or make excuses. I made it keep myself accountable. The process was actually quite humbling. 
    One of the goals of Wired Educator is to help people "level up to make a difference." Perhaps this episode will do that for others. 
    I tried my best to make this episode fun.
    I'm a gig goal setter. I love it. I must admit though, I learned I set way too many goals. I made a ton of progress, but the finish line escaped me for many. 
    I also tried to share some of the tools and systems I use to set goals. I will post on www.kellycroy.com on that in the next few days. 
    I do believe I am going to make this an annual event. It was hard to admit that I didn't make the big three goals I set. That stung. Hopefully that will motivate me. 
    In this episode:
    I review my major accomplishments.  I review each goal one by one. I share lessons I learned.  Also, if you would I'm offering a Limited Coaching Opportunity: Want to start a podcast, speak on stage, publish a book, build a website, start a blog, become a better leader, complete the goal of your dreams? I have helped many educators publish books, start podcasts, and begin their service as keynote speakers and EDU consultants. I haven't offered this in a while, and I am only going to keep this link open for a short time. I ONLY work with three people a year. If you are serious about moving forward complete the following form. Click here to learn about a paid coaching opportunity with Kelly: https://forms.gle/S3PK5194CyEGqT3o6 Tools I use: On my iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch I use the following apps to help me stay organized, each of these are awesome and sync with one another: Day One Journal App Good Notes 5 Things (to-do list) Drafts Moleskine Journal: If it’s worth writing down, put it in your Moleskine. Don’t use napkins, sticky notes, or scraps of paper. Put it where you can find it. This is the exact notebook I use as my day to day journal.  I love absolutely everything about it.  This is where I record my ideas and anything of importance.  If you read my posts and hear me speak, you know how important a journal is to my lifestyle and productivity. I don’t go anywhere without my Moleskine.
    ------------------------------------------------------------
    Do you like what you heard? Invite Kelly to speak at your school.
    Interested in booking Kelly for your Next Event?
    Yes! Let's Make it happen right HERE!
    Order Kelly’s books, Along Came a Leader and Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness for your personal library.
    Educator, Author, Keynote Speaker
    Twitter: @kellycroy
    Instagram: @kcroy
    Website: kellycroy.com and wirededucator.com
    Podcast: The Wired Educator Podcast
    and of course: Facebook.
    Sign-up for Kelly’s newsletter here.
     

     

    • 40 min
    WEP 234: Teaching Love, Respect & Preservation of Students' Culture Using Technology, an Interview with Brian Casto

    WEP 234: Teaching Love, Respect & Preservation of Students' Culture Using Technology, an Interview with Brian Casto

    This is the Wired Educator Podcast Episode 234, an  interview with West Virginia Educator of the Year and Apple Distinguished Educator, Brian Casto.
    We focus on making class time and content engaging as well as the opportunities and challenges that arise in being recognized for our work in education. Brian Casto is an amazing educator whom I had the pleasure to meet. He is so humble and kind, but his inspiration and passion for all things education will inspire all of us. you are going to love this episode.
    Brian has impacted lives for more than fifteen years in education. His dedication to preserving West Virginia's history and culture has earned him accolades, including the Honorary Golden Horseshoe Award. Recently accepted into the Apple Distinguished Educator program, Brian's story is one of passion and impact. I love the animated videos he created to help his students learn about and have respect for their state. Amazing work.
    Brian Casto has been in the education field for fifteen years and holds a bachelor’s degree in social studies, grades 5-12, from Marshall University.  After teaching in both middle and high school for 14 years, he now serves as a New Teacher Specialist in his district.  Mr. Casto received an Honorary Golden Horseshoe Award June 25, 2021, for his two-minute animated videos that preserve the history and culture of West Virginia.  He created these videos for educators across the state in his spare time because there are only a few videos available for West Virginia Studies. He also works with the West Virginia Department of Tourism through his Where in West Virginia is Mr. Casto video series that explores the history, culture, and sites of the state. He is the 2022 West Virginia Teacher of the Year and presently serves on a council of teachers of the year with his state department of education. In 2023, he was accepted into the Apple Distinguished Educator program for his innovative use of technology in and out of the classroom.
    From Brian: 
    "I love thinking of creative ways students and teachers can utilize technology to engage in learning. I especially love using Clips, Keynote, and iMovie in the learning process. I've really enjoyed taking what I have learned from working with these programs on my own and incorporating them into the classroom. As with most things, I was a novice when I first began making animated videos and have worked hard in the past 3 years to learn graphic design, video editing, video producing, animation storyboarding, and script writing to tell the story of West Virginia. I believe it was my use of these videos in and out of class that resonated with Apple's Distinguished Educator Program. When I first started making them, there were very few good media resources available for West Virginia Studies. As an educator, I felt that it was my job to get students excited about topics in class. As I started making and sharing these with my students, covid happened. All of the sudden these engaging videos became a source of engagement for teachers to use across the state. The West Virginia Department of Education began using them in their virtual school program and countless teachers , parents who homeschool, and even students began reaching out to me to express how much they enjoy them. Since then I have worked with the Department of Tourism, Civil War Trails Inc., the Jewish American Military Historical Society, and many others on projects that highlight the importance of preserving history, culture, and sites around my home state." 
    West Virginia History in 2 Minutes or Less
    Where in West Virginia is Mr. Casto? 
    Mentioned in this podcast:
    • Grow Leaders Course with Pat Adkins and Kelly Croy. We are taking applications for this free course to anyone interested in becoming a school leader in school administration. Pat is an expert who wants to help the shortage of teachers going into administration. I will be assisting Pat, but he is leading this course. This

    • 50 min

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