Live in the Lab Schools

Andy Goveia & Ben Webb
  • 5.0 (3)
  • EDUCATION
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

A production of the University Laboratory Schools at Illinois State University. Co-hosts Andy Goveia and Ben Webb explain, explore, and share their expertise as teachers at one of the oldest, most vibrant Laboratory Schools in the nation.  Join us and our special guests to find out more about the innovation and leadership in education at our living laboratories. 

Episodes

  1. FEB 26

    Ep #10 - On Location at FETC: Balancing Play And Tech In School

    We the Metcalf Team’s FETC takeaways , focusing on tools that serve pedagogy, not hype. From Apps to Hardware, to walks in the woods - there’s a tech tool for anything and everything. But knowing which to use is the question. In this episode: • why a cross‑disciplinary team attended FETC • balancing early childhood play with responsible technology • concrete upgrades for multi‑display teaching • turning on built‑in accessibility for inclusion • student‑led showcases for authentic family engagement • art, STEAM, and keeping process at the center • teaching AI concepts without more screen time • choosing iPads when creation and capture matter • visual note‑taking to boost retention • building tool selection processes and pilot teams • cataloging current tools and revisiting evolved platforms • team learning as accountability and momentum Send a text

    33 min

  2. FEB 12

    Ep #9 - Inside ROE 17: Partnerships, Innovation, and Teacher Pipelines with Molly Allen

    We talk with ROE 17’s Molly Allen about how regional services support lab schools, alternative programs, and teacher pipelines while keeping student voice and literacy at the center. We map the real challenges of AI, phones, and shortages to practical steps that help schools move forward with hope. Send a text

    52 min

  3. JAN 29 · BONUS

    Ep #8 - Why Lab Schools Matter and How They Should Lead Systems Change with Dean Bryan Zugelder

    BONUS EPISODE We sit down with Dr. Brian Zugelder, Dean of the College of Education at Illinois State University, to unpack a nontraditional journey that now fuels a bold vision for the university’s lab schools. We dig into the educator continuum—recruitment, preparation, induction, leadership, and retention—and why keeping great people in the profession requires real pathways and support. From clinical practice to statewide partnerships, he explains how ISU can model promising practices and help shape policy rather than wait for mandates. Enjoy the episode? Subscribe, share it with a colleague, and leave a quick review to help more educators find the show. Send a text

    40 min

  4. JAN 29

    Ep #7 - Pioneers with Purpose: UHigh Admin on Leadership

    What happens when a high school runs inside a major university—and doesn’t even own many of its athletic facilities? We invited U‑High’s principal Andrea Markert, assistant principal Brian Rohman, and athletic and activities director Steve Evans to share how they lead a K–12 lab school that answers to ISU policies while serving students, families, teachers, and pre‑service educators. If you care about how schools innovate under real constraints, this conversation will give you a front-row seat to the tradeoffs, the wins, and the big vision. Subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a review with your answer to this question: if resources were no object, what would you build first for students? Send a text

    47 min

  5. JAN 15

    Ep #6 - Walking with Wildcats: The Admin Team at Thomas Metcalf School

    What happens when a small K–8 school serves kids, teachers, and a university all at once? We invited Metcalf’s principal, assistant principal, and dean to pull back the curtain on lab school life: the fast pivots, the extra hats, and the reason everyone still calls it home.  We talk about the power of a zone-defense leadership model where roles overlap on purpose and coverage never breaks. That structure fuels an open-door culture: tough conversations stay collaborative, visibility stays high, and support reaches the right person fast.  Enjoy the episode? Follow the show, share it with a colleague, and leave a quick review to help more educators find these stories. Send a text

    47 min

  6. JAN 1

    Ep #5 - Admissions Unfiltered

    Hard to believe we are already looking ahead to next school year.  For families considering the lab schools, we have administrators from both buildings on this week's podcast to talk about the process. Andy and Ben have Andrea Markert and Dr. Carmen Bergmann to hear about the admissions processes, applications, and what our schools look for in an incoming class.  For more information about us we also have Prospective Student Open Houses: -  UHigh: January 28, 2026 at 6pm. Find out more at https://uhigh.illinoisstate.edu/. -  Metcalf: Find out more at https://metcalf.illinoisstate.edu/. Send a text

    42 min

  7. 12/18/2025

    Ep #4 - TLC: Teacher's Lounge Chat (Our Festivus Episode)

    'Tis the Season! This week we get to vent a little and talk about some of the "Positive Frustrations" about being a teacher, being a teacher in this day and age, and finally just being a teacher.  We love our work; let the airing of the grievances commence! Send a text

    52 min

  8. 12/04/2025

    Ep #3 - Interns: A Five-Year Follow-Up with Ricky King

    This week on the show: you'll get to meet one of our former interns, Ricky King! He has gone on to do great things in his career, teaching locally in McLean County Unit District 5. Since Mr. Goveia also did the internship, it felt appropriate to check the pulse of our teacher preparation pillar of our mission.  We discuss how the internship/student teaching works at UHigh, how were Mr. King's final months (just a little bit) weird due to a thing called COVID-19, and what has he gone on to do since graduation as an ELS teacher. Send a text

    41 min

  9. 11/20/2025

    Ep #2 - The Director’s Chair

    Dr. Anthony Jones joins us on this episode to talk about his role as director of the lab schools.  Here we do a deeper dive into how we operate, how our mission plays out in practice, funding, and what rules we even have to follow. Are we a district? A public school? What even are we?! Send a text

    33 min

  10. 11/06/2025

    Ep #1 - A Living Lab: Welcome to our Podcast

    What's a lab school? We have one of those? And so many more questions about the P-12 University Lab Schools we hope to address in this series.  Hello there! We are Andy Goveia and Ben Webb, teachers at the Illinois State University Laboratory Schools. Join us as we share what it is like work at University High School and Thomas Metcalf School. We will explore innovation, pedagogy, best practice, and so much more.  Send a text

    45 min
  • 10 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

A production of the University Laboratory Schools at Illinois State University. Co-hosts Andy Goveia and Ben Webb explain, explore, and share their expertise as teachers at one of the oldest, most vibrant Laboratory Schools in the nation.  Join us and our special guests to find out more about the innovation and leadership in education at our living laboratories. 

Information

  • Creator
    Andy Goveia & Ben Webb
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 University Laboratory Schools of Illinois State University - LIVE in the Lab Schools
  • Show Website
    Live in the Lab Schools