Education Evolution Maureen O’Shaughnessy

The guiding principle of Education Evolution has been to light passion among educational leaders and to spark them into action. Over the last few years, I believe we’ve done just that. And while the work isn’t over yet, the time has come to put a pause on the podcast.
 
As an advocate for lifelong learning, this week on the podcast I’m sharing what that looks like for me right now. I’ve been working hard to decode what I’ve learned in acts one and two of life and how I can take those learnings and make act three the best it can be.
 
Listen in as I share the journey that’s happened during many years in education, what I’ve learned, and what’s important moving forward. The journey most definitely isn’t over, but it’s okay for it to change along the way.
 
Jump in the Conversation:  
[1:18] - Aligning learner experience with passion and purpose
[1:40] - Lifelong passion and purpose as important guiding lights in every phase
[3:30] - Processing & reflecting
[5:02] - How to encourage lifelong learning in the third act
[5:28] - Takeaways from a deep dive
[5:48] - There are a lot of resources out there for third acts
[10:16 - Exploration going in different directions
[11:17] - Fitness has a role in third act well-being
[12:20] - Importance of community in longevity
[14:07] - Reengaging in spiritual community
[15:09] - The next phase for me
 
Links & Resources  
Third Act Environmental Boomer Community
Third Act Magazine: Aging with Confidence (with free online digital materials)
Life’s Third Act TEDx Talk
Annual Life Review Process
Psychology Today Life Review article
Successful People article
The Third Act: Reinventing Your Next Chapter book
Wiser Than Me podcast with Julia Louis-Dreyfus 
Younger Next Year book
10% Happier podcast longevity series 
The Art of Anti-Aging
Dr. Joel Fuhrman’s Eat to Live podcast
Blue Zones
Microschool grant project for Getting Smart’s Learning Innovation Fund
Email Maureen
Maureen’s TEDx: Changing My Mind to Change Our Schools
The Education Evolution
Facebook: Follow Education Evolution
Twitter: Follow Education Evolution
LinkedIn: Follow Education Evolution
EdActive Collective
Maureen’s book: Creating Micro-Schools for Colorful Mismatched Kids
Micro-school feature on Good Morning America
The Micro-School Coalition
Facebook: The Micro-School Coalition
LEADPrep

Reading is simple, right? Not for everyone, and it’s especially challenging for those who don’t have access to all the tools and resources they need to be successful.
 
This week we hear from Marnie Ginsburg, founder of Reading Simplified, who has dedicated her career to improving reading proficiency in students. She discusses the critical need to disseminate research-backed strategies to teachers, bridging the gap between what we know and what happens in the classroom.
 
During our conversation, we explore the scientific foundations of reading, the role of phonemes, decoding, and phonological awareness. Marnie provides valuable insights into supporting children with dyslexia and shares tips for fostering a love of reading.
 
From extrinsic motivation to the magic of public libraries, this episode explores the multifaceted world of literacy and emphasizes the importance of equipping our children with the tools they need to unlock the joy of reading, even before they step into a classroom.
 
About Marnie Ginsburg:  
Marnie Ginsberg, Founder of Reading Simplified, is a reading difficulties detective who streamlines the science and art of reading instruction so teachers can rapidly learn effective techniques that help students accelerate to grade level and beyond. She also helps translate the latest understandings from science into practical, easy-to-implement activities.
 
In the late 1990s, Marnie uncovered that her 6th-grade language arts students, on average, were reading 2 years below grade level. And despite her master’s degree and enthusiasm, she had no idea how to remediate their word-reading difficulties.
 
After eventually finding solutions for her struggling readers, she led the development of the Targeted Reading Intervention at the University of North Carolina. Across 15+ years, multiple research articles have demonstrated that struggling K-2 readers grow significantly in reading with the Targeted Reading Intervention (TRI), which is on the federal What Works Clearinghouse and is endorsed by many organizations such as Evidence for ESSA and RAND
Corporation’s Promising Practices Network. Given the repeated, strong results of the TRI across multiple clinical trials, Dr. Ginsberg expanded the resources and adapted the professional learning approach to provide Reading Simplified for a broader audience beginning in 2013.
 
Jump in the Conversation:  
[1:36] - Where Marnie’s story of learning transformation began
[3:42] - It’s not because reading the words are too hard - 67% of American 4th graders are not proficient in reading
[4:43] - What we need to prepare readers is known by researchers, but we need to disseminate that information to teachers
[5:21] - Two major events that have impacted Marnie’s work
[6:46] - What “targeted reading intervention” means
[9:17] - What pieces of reading are science and what pieces are art
[13:13] - Tips for kids with dyslexia
[18:13] - Who Reading Simplified is for
[19:06] - How to make reading more fun for kids
[23:24] - Turbo Time
[26:20] - Marnie’s Magic Wand
[27:20] - Maureen’s Takeaways
 
Links & Resources  
Reading Simplified
Reading Meetings Interview
The Coddling of the American Mind
Email Maureen
Maureen’s TEDx: Changing My Mind to Change Our Schools
The Education Evolution
Facebook: Follow Education Evolution
Twitter: Follow Education Evolution
LinkedIn: Follow Education Evolution
EdActive Collective
Maureen’s book: Creating Micro-Schools for Colorful Mismatched Kids
Micro-school feature on Good Morning America
The Micro-School Coalition
Facebook: The Micro-School Coalition
LEADPrep

The further away administrators get from their roots as teachers, the more they forget what it’s like to be in the trenches. The result is often either a real or perceived lack of empathy for teachers.
 
Both teachers and administrators have vital roles in the school, and it’s important for both to have mutual respect for one another. To achieve this, administrators need to take a step back and really listen to teachers. How? By being more visible, asking questions, and seeking out teachers as the answers to the challenges in their buildings.
 
This week on the podcast, we’re welcoming back author and educator Miriam Plotinsky. She’s sharing about her latest book, Lead Like a Teacher, and talking about what school leaders can do to build more trust and a more collaborative school environment. Of course, there’s an element for teachers in there too, and how they can look at school, teacher, and student needs through a different lens.
  About Miriam Plotinsky:  
Miriam Plotinsky is an author and instructional specialist who addresses challenges in both teaching and leading across schools with a wide range of differentiated needs. A strong advocate for student-centered learning, she provides coaching and professional development for teachers and administrators. She has written Teach More, Hover Less: How to Stop Micromanaging Your Secondary Classroom and Lead Like a Teacher: How to Elevate Expertise in Your School (W.W. Norton, 2022 & 2023). Miriam is widely published in education publications such as Education Week, Edutopia, ASCD Express, Middleweb, The Teaching Channel, EdSurge, K-12 Talk and Education World and is a frequent guest on education podcasts internationally. She is also a National Board-Certified Teacher with additional certification in administration and supervision. She can be found on her website or on Twitter: @MirPloMCPS.
 
Miriam’s third book, Writing Their Future Selves, releases in November.
  Jump in the Conversation:  
[1:48] - Miriam's empathy framework
[3:27] - Miriam's unique background in education
[6:15] - There’s a complicated relationship between teachers and administrators
[8:19] - There’s a need for empathy on both sides
[9:12] - How Lead Like a Teacher addresses empathy
[13:15] - How to foster mutual understanding and respect between teachers and administrators
[15:45] - There’s a balance between toxic positivity and and miring yourself in the negativity that exists
[17:00] - Unpacking teacher observations and evaluations
[21:51] - Most school leaders feel attached to instruction but there’s so much happening that they can’t always participate
[23:41] - A teacher observation that goes wrong
[25:08] - Everything you see is data
[27:55] - Leadership positions are often lonely
[30:47] - Make what you do really transparent
[32:12] - Steps school leaders can do to start building trust and a collaborative environment
[33:56] - A sneak preview of Miriam’s third book
[36:55] - Turbo Time
[39:30] - What people need to know about closing the teacher-administrator empathy gap
[41:32] - Miriam’s Magic Wand
[42:31] - Maureen’s Takeaways
  Links & Resources  
Episode 132: The Heart of Learning is Intentional Teaching
Author of Teach More, Hover Less, Lead Like a Teacher & Writing Their Future Selves
Twitter: @MirPloMCPS
Visit Miriam’s website
Email Maureen
Maureen’s TEDx: Changing My Mind to Change Our Schools
The Education Evolution
Facebook: Follow Education Evolution
Twitter: Follow Education Evolution
LinkedIn: Follow Education Evolution
EdActive Collective
Maureen’s book: Creating Micro-Schools for Colorful Mismatched Kids
Micro-school feature on Good Morning America
The Micro-School Coalition
Facebook: The Micro-School Coalition
LEADPrep

We all want what’s best for our learners, but oftentimes biases get in the way of having productive conversations about what learning should look like in the classroom. Instead, we need to have evidence- and research-based conversations that support what truly works for our children.
 
This week on the podcast, I’m talking with Darleen Opfer of RAND, a nonprofit organization that’s committed to low income and minority students. Darleen started as a special education teacher but quickly saw a need for changes in schools and went on a mission to impact education policy for the better.
 
We talk about the loss of critical thinking skills as lawmakers remove topics from curriculum in some states, how demographics and culture impact both teaching and students success, and the impact of making decisions without sound and bipartisan research to back them up.
 
We can all be active in policy making, starting at our own schools level. Parent and teacher involvement is vital in ensuring that we focus on overall coherence in our schools.
 
Listen in!

 
About Darleen Opfer:  
Darleen began her career as a special education teacher in Florida and then Virginia. After earning her Ph.D. in education policy at the University of Virginia, she became a professor of education policy. She served in that role at Georgia State University, Ohio State University, and the University of Cambridge, U.K.. Throughout her career, her focus has been on using evidence to improve schools for low-income and minority students.
 
In 2011 she joined RAND as Director of RAND Education. In October 2018 she was promoted to Vice President and became Director of the RAND Education and Labor Research Division; she also holds RAND’s Distinguished Chair in Education Policy. Darleen has conducted policy research studies for several local, state and national governments on issues that affect teachers and schools, including recruitment and retention, professional development, and impact of policies on teacher practice. Recently, she’s been conducting research on teachers' use of curriculum and how coherent instructional systems impact low income and minority students' achievement.
 
In addition to her research, she frequently serves as an advisor to international agencies and countries on teaching and teacher education including in Croatia, India, Israel, Norway, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and the OECD.
 
Jump in the Conversation:  
[1:35] - Where Darleen’s journey of school transformation began
[2:53] - Why policy doesn’t always work
[3:18] - What RAND Corporation does
[4:30] - What’s happening in politics with some of the key education conversations
[5:58] - Dropping curricula, which means they’re dropping things that are necessary for critical thinking
[7:24] - How RAND gets research out there to impact policy and education change
[9:18] - Impact of 4-day schools - the research
[11:44] - Solutions for low income and minority students
[13:32] - Districts and schools that focus on coherence are more effective
[16:50] - Demographic shifts and class culture
[20:27] - The idea of transferring paraprofessionals to teachers using stackable credentials
[22:51] - TALIS (Teaching and Learning International Survey) Video Study
[27:15] - Resources for infusing nonpartisan views in the classroom
[30:00] - How parents and educators can influence educational policy
[35:51] - Turbo Time
[36:50] - What people need to know about creating equity and access for all our learners
[38:25] - Darleen’s Magic Wand
[39:42] - Maureen’s Takeaways
  Links & Resources  
RAND Corporation
Follow Darleen on Twitter
Follow RAND on Facebook
Connect with Darleen on LinkedIn
RAND Corporation: Coherent Instructional Systems
Gates Foundation: Coherent Instructional Systems
Episode 137: Creating Equity to Improve Education
Seattle’s “Underground Railroad” library access
137: 
Email Maureen
Maureen’s TEDx: Changi

Hopefully we all know the importance of nutrition early in life, but not enough schools offer nutrition education. And since children often do what their parents do, adults’ poor food choices get passed down generation after generation. 
 
This week on the podcast, I’m talking with Cynthia Jackson of Educare about this critical aspect of early childhood development. Cynthia shares the profound impact of a good diet during the early years on long-term health and well-being. We explore how organizations like Educare are addressing food insecurity among families and empowering children to make healthier food choices.
 
The conversation highlights innovative initiatives like WISE (We Inspire Smart Eating), which encourages children to enjoy more fruits and vegetables, both at home and at school. We also explore the role of family engagement, community gardens, and experiential learning in fostering healthier habits from an early age.
 
Tune in to discover how education and practical programs are transforming lives by providing access to nutritious food and empowering young learners to develop lifelong healthy eating habits.
 
About Cynthia Jackson:  
Cynthia D. Jackson leads the Educare Learning Network of high-quality birth-to-five schools and is Senior Vice President at Start Early.Previously, she served as national director of training and technical assistance for Healthy Families America at Prevent Child Abuse America. Cynthia holds a master’s degree in counseling and health education from the University of North Texas.
 
Jump in the Conversation:  
[1:56] - Where Cynthia’s passion for education and nutrition began
[3:50] - When schools align with dietary guidelines for americans, health, well-being and academics all improve
[4:38] - Advancing quality early learning through partnerships and innovation so every child can thrive
[6:08] - Wise - We Inspire Smart Eating - fun with fruits and veggies - child led approach to nutrition
[9:10] - High quality programming and practice, alongside evaluation and research
[10:26] - 4 pillars: data utilization, high quality teaching and learning, embedded professional development, intensive family engagement
[11:48] - Exposing children to natural world through gardening programs
[13:54] - Turning nutrition into a science project
[16:10] - 28% of families report food insecurity
[18:31] - Other ways Educare is addressing nutrition and health needs
[19:49] - What parents can do to help change habits now
[22:50] - Turbo Time
[24:54] - What people need to know about the role of nutrition in the early years of life
[26:45] - Cynthia’s Magic Wand
[28:01] - Maureen’s takeaways
  Links & Resources  
Healthy Eating Research
Dietary Guidelines for Americans
Educare
Email Maureen
Maureen’s TEDx: Changing My Mind to Change Our Schools
The Education Evolution
Facebook: Follow Education Evolution
Twitter: Follow Education Evolution
LinkedIn: Follow Education Evolution
EdActive Collective
Maureen’s book: Creating Micro-Schools for Colorful Mismatched Kids
Micro-school feature on Good Morning America
The Micro-School Coalition
Facebook: The Micro-School Coalition
LEADPrep

We know that students’ basic needs need to be met in order for them to learn and grow. Safety is at the core of this, especially as they discuss ideas in the classroom. And with this safety comes community, connection, meaning, and purpose, some of the most important elements of a school setting, according to this week’s podcast guest.
 
Michael Strong is founder of The Socratic Experience, a virtual school for students in third through twelfth grades, and he’s designed schools for students from Alaska to Chicago and beyond. In our conversation, Michael and I talk about why student choice is so important, why psychological safety matters more than test scores, and when parents should search for other options for their children.
 
Michael reinforces the message that I’ve been sharing since the start of this podcast: there’s no such thing as one size fits all when it comes to education. And it just takes one teacher, parent, or school administrator to start the conversation to create change.
 
Tune in today!
 
About Michael Strong:  
Michael Strong is founder of The Socratic Experience, a virtual school for grades 3-12. He is one of the most experienced designers of innovative school programs in the United States. His projects include a public school program in which minority female students gained four years’ worth of critical thinking gains in four months (on the Watson-Glaser). He later went into Montessori secondary school program design at The Judson Montessori School (San Antonio), The Emerson School, and Hacienda School. He created The Winston Academy, where middle school students passed AP exams, making it the most academically advanced school in the country at the time.
 
Another of Michael’s projects, Moreno Valley High School, a Paideia charter high school, was ranked the 36th-best U.S. public high school by Newsweek. More recently he co-founded KoSchool in Austin, Texas, which combined his high-performance approach to AP coursework and SAT score gains with a focus on entrepreneurial and creative projects. KoSchool, in turn, became the original model for The Academy of Thought and Industry, the high school model for the largest Montessori network in the United States.
Students from Michael’s schools have been admitted to Harvard, Stanford, Georgetown, Smith, Bard, Bennington, McGill, UT-Austin, University of Colorado, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Parsons School of Design, Quest, St. John’s and many dozens of other post-secondary institutions.
 
He is the author of The Habit of Thought: From Socratic Seminars to Socratic Practice and lead author of Be the Solution: How Entrepreneurs and Conscious Capitalists Can Solve All the World’s Problems.
  Jump in the Conversation:  
[1:45] - Where Michael’s story of transformation began
[3:03] - What is Socratic dialogue and how it’s used in online schools
[4:50] - How co-schooling with Montessori works
[7:20] - Solving for inequity
[8:26] - SAT and AP are cognitively rich, but schools don’t always have a cognitively rich curriculum
[9:10] - Keys to adolescent well-being
[12:26] - Simple suggestions to build connection, community, meaning, and purpose
[13:50] - Creating metrics for community and purpose
[16:19] - Focus on things other than test scores
[17:24] - We need a broader conversation about mental health data
[19:56] - How parents can support an alternative program for their children
[22:23] - What’s next for the school
[24:10] - Turbo Time  
[25:30] - What people need to know about Socratic dialogue
[27:20] - Michael’s Magic Wand
[28:43] - Maureen’s Takeaways
  Links & Resources  
Fear is a Mind Killer: How to Build a Training Culture that Fosters Strength and Resilience by Kaja Sadowski
The Socratic Experience
LiberatED Podcast
Liberation of Education
Connect with Michael on LinkedIn
Subscribe to Michael’s YouTube channel
Follow Michael on Twitter and Facebook
Email Mauree