Leading Voices Podcast

WestEd
  • 5.0 (12)
  • EDUCATION

The podcast where WestEd experts break down pressing challenges in education and human development and provide insights you can apply to practice and policy.

  1. 11/10/2025

    Reaching Infants, Toddlers, and Families Who Need Us Most

    In 2023, 540,000 infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities received early intervention services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Part C, but significant gaps remain. Only half of the children referred to early intervention services ultimately enroll, and fewer than one in four children eligible for services under IDEA Part C actually access services. In this episode of the Leading Voices podcast, host Danny Torres speaks with Leslie Fox, Director of Early Childhood Mental Health, Development, and Disabilities at WestEd, about the Collective Impact Model for Child Find (CIM-C), a model demonstration project that strengthens referral pathways and improves access to early intervention services for young children and their families in underserved and rural communities. Fox discusses how healthcare and early childhood professionals and programs can align screening practices, improve cross-sector collaboration, and support families in advocating for their children’s developmental needs. This episode explores how collaborative strategies and professional learning can close identification gaps and strengthen early childhood systems. Their conversation covers three critical components of the CIM-C project:  The establishment of a cross-sector local Child Find team Ongoing engagement with families Cross-sector professional development, professional learning communities, and communities of practice for early childhood providers How We Can Help WestEd works with early childhood professionals and agencies to strengthen the supports for children with disabilities and their families. Through research and evaluation, technical assistance, and systems support, we help our partners implement effective early intervention strategies that strengthen care systems and support the learning and development of all young children. Learn more.

    37 min

  2. 10/23/2025

    5 Strategies for Overcoming the Opioid Epidemic in Schools and Communities

    Although opioid overdose deaths have recently declined, tens of thousands of families still lose loved ones to the epidemic each year. Overcoming the epidemic requires a comprehensive approach that spans education and prevention, treatment and recovery, justice reform, cross-sector collaboration, and supportive policies. How can communities integrate these areas effectively to save lives and support long-term recovery?  In this episode of the Leading Voices podcast, host Grace Westermann speaks with Jennifer Loeffler-Cobia, Director of Justice and Public Health Policy and Practice at WestEd’s Justice and Prevention Research Center. They discuss the root causes of youth opioid misuse; the barriers that prevent schools, healthcare, law enforcement, and community organizations from working together; and the role of data in building coalitions that are more effective.   Drawing on her expertise, Loeffler-Cobia outlines five evidence-based strategies for addressing the epidemic and explains why breaking down silos across sectors is critical to saving lives.  Their conversation covers the following topics:  Why schools are critical sites for spreading awareness and reaching youth through education and prevention programs  How comprehensive care addresses medical, mental health, housing, and employment needs in treatment and recovery services  How drug courts and diversion programs balance accountability with rehabilitation as alternatives to incarceration  Why breaking down silos across sectors and building coalitions that share resources and use data effectively is essential  How supportive policies, sustained funding, and evidence-based practices can drive lasting change through legislative reform  Resources From This Episode WestEd Justice and Prevention Research Center  Addressing the Opioid Overdose Epidemic

    36 min

  3. 08/11/2025

    Advancing Economic Mobility Through Postsecondary and Workforce Strategies

    Education and job training can lead to good jobs and living wages; but for many adult learners, that path to greater prosperity is anything but straightforward. Structural barriers, disconnected systems, and outdated models often make it difficult for individuals to gain the skills and credentials they need to advance their careers. How can we modernize education and workforce systems and create opportunities for all learners? In this episode of the Leading Voices podcast, host Danny Torres talks with Kathy Booth, Director of the Center for Economic Mobility at WestEd, and Randy Tillery, Director of Economic Mobility and Postsecondary and Workforce Systems at WestEd and Co-Director of the Center for Economic Mobility. They discuss the challenges many adult learners face—such as balancing work, caregiving, and school—and why short-term training alone often falls short. They emphasize the value of cross-sector partnerships between community colleges, employers, and workforce organizations in building systems that are more responsive to both learners’ needs and local labor markets.  Their conversation covers the following topics:  How valuable it is to build partnerships that connect education institutions, employers, and workforce systems  How labor market data can inform program design and improve outcomes  Why lifelong learning and skills-based hiring are essential in today’s economy  How systems can adapt to support learning across all stages of life  Read the Transcript Additional Resources WestEd Center for Economic Mobility (Website)  The Credential Value Index (Website)  What Gets in the Way of Education Reforms? (Blog)  About the Center The Center for Economic Mobility at WestEd brings together employers, educational institutions, and workforce systems to codesign solutions that meet the needs of both learners and employers. By strengthening linkages between systems, the Center aims to foster greater access to education, job training, and credentials so that learners can build stable and rewarding careers. Visit economic-mobility.WestEd.org to learn more.

    35 min

  4. 06/10/2025

    Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Jams: An Innovative Approach to Problem-Solving

    Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an effective framework for creating flexible learning environments by designing learning experiences that give students choices in how they learn, what materials they use, and how they show their understanding. But can this framework be applied beyond the classroom as an engaging and innovative approach to solving enduring challenges within systems? WestEd’s UDL Lab and "UDL Jams” use the principles of the UDL framework to bring people together in real time to collaboratively solve complex problems. Inspired by the improvisational and collaborative nature of jazz, these sessions create a space where participants bring their unique expertise to co-create meaningful, actionable solutions. In this episode of the Leading Voices podcast, host Danny Torres talks with Dr. Zach Smith, Senior Project Director, and Dr. Jose Blackorby, Director of Research and Learner Variability, both from WestEd’s Special Education Policy and Practice team. They explain the origins of UDL, how their UDL Jam model works, and why this approach is gaining momentum among educators, system leaders, and innovators across sectors. Their conversation covers the following topics: How UDL framework inspired UDL Jams Sessions The four core questions guiding UDL application in learning and leadership Why jazz serves as a perfect metaphor for inclusive, improvisational collaboration Transcript Additional Resources WestEd’s Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Jams Inspires Creative Problem Solving (Blog Post) CAST Universal Design for Learning Framework (Website)

    21 min

  5. 05/20/2025

    Assessing Student Readiness for Accelerated Math in Middle School

    Placement into accelerated mathematics courses can open doors for students, paving the way toward advanced high school coursework, college readiness, and future career opportunities. But ensuring students are placed accurately requires a rigorous, evidence-based approach.  In this episode of the Leading Voices podcast, host Danny Torres talks with Scott Firkins, Director of Assessment Content at WestEd, and leaders from the Palo Alto Unified School District in California, Dr. Guillermo López, Associate Superintendent of Educational Services, and Janine Penney, Manager of Assessment. They discuss how the district collaborated with WestEd to transform its placement process for accelerated mathematics in middle school. The result is a fair and evidence-based mathematics validation process designed to accurately place students in the right course in the mathematics pathway.  Their conversation covers the following topics: Why Palo Alto Unified School District sought to redesign its validation assessment The role of high-quality assessment development and psychometric validation in the redesign  How ensuring transparency builds trust within the community  What early results are revealing about the new process and student readiness and success Transcript Additional Resources PAUSD Validation Test Research Brief (PDF) Palo Alto Unified School District Mathematics Program (Website) Designing High-Quality Assessment Solutions with WestEd (Website) Comprehensive Assessment Solutions (Website)

    30 min

  6. 03/17/2025

    Education Savings Accounts (ESAs): Research, Accountability, and Transparency

    Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) have expanded across the United States in recent years. These accounts provide state education funds, originally allocated for students to attend public school, to be redirected to families to use for educational services of their choice. These programs enable parents to use these funds for a wide range of educational services, such as private school tuition, tutoring, distance learning options, and more. In this episode of the Leading Voices podcast, host Danny Torres talks with William Berry, Research Associate with WestEd’s Charter and School Choice team, and Robin Chait Project Director with our School Choice team. They discuss how ESAs work, three primary accountability mechanisms, and the need for research on student outcomes. Their conversation covers the following topics: The growth or popularity of ESAs over time Variation and flexibility among state ESA programs Three types of accountability mechanisms Transcript Resources Mentioned in this Episode Education Savings Accounts and Accountability: A Landscape Analysis Across States (Report) Charters and School Choice (Website)

    18 min

  7. 08/12/2024

    Early Signs of Distress: Identifying and Implementing Systemic Improvements

    How can district and state leaders identify signs of school distress long before they are designated as in need of improvement by state accountability systems? In 2020, WestEd partnered with the National Charter School Resource Center (NCSRC) to develop and conduct a portfolio of  research (listed below) that identified signs of early distress in schools, or "indicators of distress," and described an approach to support school improvement efforts. When states and education decision-makers wanted to take the work further into implementation, what emerged is WestEd's Indicators of Distress, an evidence-based early detection system that can help charter and traditional schools meet and surpass accountability standards while fostering positive learning experiences for students. In this episode of the Leading Voices podcast, host Danny Torres talks with Aimee Evan, Senior Research Associate and School Improvement Specialist with the School Choice team at WestEd and co-author of the NCSRC reports, and two state education agency leaders, John Carwell Jr., Education Associate at the Delaware Department of Education, and David Frank, Chief of Staff and Assistant Commissioner, Education Policy, at the New York State Education Department. They discuss the Indicators of Distress approach and how the Delaware Department of Education and the New York State Education Department worked with WestEd to identify needed systemic improvements and implement processes and procedures that helped lead to sustained success. Their conversation covers the following topics: Implementing the Indicators of Distress approach in Delaware and New York Using data to inform decision-making Building a reliable model for school improvement Transcript Resources Mentioned in this Episode Indicators of Distress (Webpage) Indicators of Distress: A Proactive Approach to Identifying and Supporting Schools in Need of Improvement (Blog) Identifying Indicators of Distress in Charter Schools: Part 1 – The Role and Perspective of Charter School Authorizers (PDF) Identifying Indicators of Distress in Charter Schools, Part 2: The Roles and Perspectives of Charter School Leaders and Board Members (PDF) Identifying Indicators of Distress in Charter Schools: Tools to Support Authorizer Data Collection (PDF)

    42 min

  8. 07/22/2024

    Preventing Gun Violence in the United States

    Gun violence impacts families, first responders, and communities in profound and lasting ways. In 2023, more than 18,000 persons died by homicide in the United States. And on June 26th, 2024, the U.S. Surgeon General declared gun violence a public health crisis.  In this episode of the Leading Voices podcast, host Danny Torres talks with experts from WestEd’s Justice and Prevention Team and developers of the Violence Prevention Navigation Framework (VPNF): Lori Toscano, Shaun Ali, and Kerwin Henderson. Together, they help state and local leaders better understand the factors that contribute to or prevent violence within their communities—helping promote safe and equitable futures for all children, youth, and adults. Their conversation covers the following topics: Identifying the underlying factors that give rise to or mitigate gun violence Leveraging big and local data to prioritize, assess, and develop appropriate strategies to reduce and prevent gun violence Working with community and state leaders and to improve violence prevention efforts across systems Promoting equity and fostering growth Transcript Resources Mentioned in this Episode Justice and Prevention Research Center at WestEd (Website) Violence Prevention Navigation Framework (VPNF) (Website) A Comprehensive, Data-Driven Approach to Reducing Gun Violence (Blog) Q&A With the JPRC Violence Prevention Team: Lori Toscano, Shaun Ali, and Kerwin Henderson (Blog) The Social-Ecological Model: A Framework for Prevention (Website) Gun Violence Disproportionately and Overwhelmingly Hurts Communities of Color (Fact Sheet) U.S. Surgeon General Issues Advisory on the Public Health Crisis of Firearm Violence in the United States (Press Release) Homicides Are Plummeting in American Cities (News Article)

    29 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

The podcast where WestEd experts break down pressing challenges in education and human development and provide insights you can apply to practice and policy.

Information

  • Creator
    WestEd
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2022-2026 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Leading Voices Podcast