Education Beat

EdSource
  • 4.9 (17)
  • NEWS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

A podcast that gets to the heart of schools in California and beyond, bringing you the personal stories behind the headlines, from preschool to college. Join the team at EdSource each week to hear the voices that are too often drowned out in the broader conversation: parents, teachers, and the students themselves.

  1. 7H AGO

    Sexual abuse claims threaten school district budgets, even when not accused

    California's Assembly Bill 218 made it possible for childhood abuse victims to sue public agencies up to their 40th birthday or five years after discovering the abuse. Advocates say the law has allowed victims to find justice and peace after life-damaging assaults. The law sparked a flurry of lawsuits, and school districts have had to pay billions of dollars in settlements, with no end in sight. Even districts that have not faced any abuse allegations involving employees are also paying for settlements, because they pool the costs with other districts. It's created a difficult dilemma. Guests: Tara Campanella, chief business officer, Bass Lake School District Thomas Peele, investigative reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: California school districts pay for abuse settlements despite no claims California lawmakers weigh reforms to child abuse law amid costly litigation Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

  2. FEB 5

    From housing to basketball, Fresno schools invest in the whole child

    Fresno Unified invested $30 million in services for children and families that go beyond traditional academics, from housing assistance and food pantries to digital music production and lunchtime sports programs. Teachers say the programs are getting students excited about being at school, and addressing some of the barriers that made it hard for them to get to school or to learn once there. Guests: Eugene Reinor, Principal, Fort Miller Middle School, Fresno Unified School District Hector Giovanni Romero, Music teacher, Lincoln Elementary School, Fresno Unified School District Lasherica Thornton, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Fresno Unified's $30 million investment to support students is paying off Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

  3. JAN 29

    How a California professor once coded secrets in music (rebroadcast)

    As a saxophonist in Boston’s Klezmer Conservatory Band in 1985, Merryl Goldberg traveled to the Soviet Union to meet up with another group of musicians, The Phantom Orchestra. The Phantom Orchestra would be sharing more than good tunes with Merryl.  They’d also pass along information, including the names of people who wanted to escape the Soviet Union, which Merryl and her friends would then smuggle back to the United States. To do this, Merryl made up a secret code, hidden in sheet music. Now Merryl’s spy days are long behind her. But she is still passionate about how music and other arts can enrich other fields, including cybersecurity. Guests: Merryl Goldberg, Professor, California State University San Marcos Karen D’Souza, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Merryl Goldberg, a music professor on a mission to spread arts education Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

  4. JAN 22

    From a juvenile facility to a college dorm room

    Fausto Lopez was arrested at 16 years old and ordered to spend seven years in a juvenile facility. But before he had even finished half of that time, he finished high school, got an associate degree and applied to attend a four-year college. How did this young man find the drive and support to propel him to such academic success? Do other incarcerated young people have the same opportunities? Guests: Fausto Lopez, Student, Cal State San Bernardino Betty Márquez Rosales, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: How a young man serving a sentence in juvenile facilities made it out one class at a time Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

  5. JAN 15

    This California Teacher of the Year embraces her dwarfism as a strength

    Heather Povinelli, a second grade teacher in Monrovia Unified, was named one of five California Teachers of the Year for 2026. But in college, she almost gave up on her dream of becoming a teacher because she worried that her dwarfism would stop her. We visited Heather in her Monrovia classroom, where we spoke about how she got back into teaching, how she creates an inclusive classroom, and what she learned conducting research about other teachers with dwarfism. Guest: Heather Povinelli, teacher, Bradoaks Elementary Science Academy in Monrovia Read more from EdSource: Her dwarfism once scared her away from teaching — now it’s her strength Education Beat is a weekly podcast. This week's episode was hosted by EdSource’s Emma Gallegos and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

  6. JAN 8

    The John Fensterwald forecast: What’s coming for California schools in 2026

    It’s time for a new calendar, new year’s resolutions and new predictions from John Fensterwald. John is a veteran reporter, with decades of experience reporting on education. At the turn of the year, we at EdSource turn to John to give us a sense of what we have to look forward to — or dread — in education. Guest: John Fensterwald, Editor-at-large, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Strikes, cuts, state superintendent race: Our 2026 California education predictions. What are yours? Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

  7. 12/29/2025

    How one student got her middle school to change its name (rebroadcast)

    This week we are honoring the life of Betty Reid Soskin, who was the nation’s oldest national park ranger and a civil rights icon. She passed away on December 21st at 104 years old. To honor her, we are rebroadcasting an episode from 2021, about how a California school district came to rename a school after her. Guests: Anaya Zenad, Student, West Contra Costa Unified Ali Tadayon, Reporter, EdSource Read more EdSource stories on this topic: East Bay middle school renamed to honor local 100-year-old park ranger and activist How a California middle school’s history project led to name change Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

  8. 12/18/2025

    How one bilingual educator’s childhood trauma fuels his fight for inclusion

    In the bilingual education world, José Medina is a superstar. A former teacher turned principal turned researcher, he spreads his message of respecting students' languages on social media and in schools across the country with a sassy, no-nonsense style, telenovela-level energy and strong research to back it up. Listen to him tell his own story and how his own experiences in childhood fuel his fight for inclusion. Guest: José Medina, Biliteracy and dual-language researcher Read more: Meet the researcher using sass and social media to transform bilingual education Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

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4.9
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

A podcast that gets to the heart of schools in California and beyond, bringing you the personal stories behind the headlines, from preschool to college. Join the team at EdSource each week to hear the voices that are too often drowned out in the broader conversation: parents, teachers, and the students themselves.

Information

  • Creator
    EdSource
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    217
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © @ 2025 EdSource
  • Show Website
    Education Beat

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