Higher Ed Without Borders Dean Hoke & Dr. Senthil Nathan

We invite you to tune in for this month’s episode of our podcast, Distance Learning Roundtable where for 30 minutes, we gain insights from industry experts. Meet our guest: Dr. Robert A. Alsop, president of Waldorf University Topic: Waldorf University’s Master of Education in Social-Emotional Learning
About this episode: Waldorf has become a pioneer in online education for educators, offering four individual Master of Education programs for teachers and administrators who want to grow personally and professionally. The programs are fully online and have no set course times, so our students achieve their degrees on schedule.In recent years,
 Waldorf University partnered with world-renowned educator and founder of the Freedom Writers Foundation, Erin Gruwell, to develop a Masters in Education degree in Social Emotional Learning. The school provides all the original Freedom Writers students from Erin’s classroom with a full scholarship to the M. Ed program. It continues to support those educators who go through the Freedom Writers Foundation Institute with Waldorf University credit and a discount on tuition for those who wish to apply those credits towards their M. Ed in Social Emotional Learning.

Join Pat Cassella,  President of the USDLA, and Dean Hoke Managing Partner of Edu Alliance Group with guest ​Amrit Ahluwalia the Editor in Chief of The EvoLLLution. This episode's podcast Topic is Bucking Enrollment Trends to Grow in a Challenging Environment.  Distance Learning Roundtable is produced by Hope GIbbs founder of The Inkandescent® Radio Network.

Meet our guest: Jennifer Williams, Executive Director, Take Action Global and Transformational Leader in Education.
Today’s Topic: Get Ready for Change – Instructional Design Practices Through Meaningful Uses of Technology. Recognized as a transformational leader in education, Dr. Jennifer Williams has dedicated herself for nearly 25 years to the field of education through her roles as an education activist, professor, school administrator, literacy specialist, and classroom teacher. She speaks, writes, and consults on practices that develop global perspectives and social good through creative uses of technology. Her research interests include innovations in teaching and learning, equity and diversity in education, and social action. Jennifer is inspired daily by teachers and students who are catalysts for improving the world! Learn more at jenwilliamsedu.com.

Higher Ed Without Borders invites you to our monthly podcast series "Distance Learning Roundtable" where Dean Hoke of Edu Alliance and Pat Cassella of the United States Distance Learning Association speak with Kate Colbert and Joe Sallustio - authors the best selling book Commencement the Beginning of a New Era in Higher Education. Today's topic is The New Era of Education

Today’s Topic: How K-12 educators dealt with the pandemic and what the future of learning looks like for America’s superintendents
About our Guest: ​After an extensive, nationwide search, the Falls Church City School Board selected Dr. Peter Noonan as the ninth Superintendent of Falls Church City Public Schools in May 2017.
Dr. Noonan began his career as a special education teacher in New Mexico, where he was named Teacher of the Year in 1993. Most recently, Dr. Noonan served as Superintendent for Fairfax City Public Schools after serving for 11 years in the Fairfax County Public Schools division. At Fairfax County, he was assistant principal at Langley High School, principal at Lanier Middle School and Centreville High School, and assistant superintendent for Cluster VII schools. Finally, Dr. Noonan was the assistant superintendent for the Instructional Services Department, overseeing academic programs for the system’s 180,000 students.
Dr. Noonan has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of New Mexico. He also completed studies to obtain the education specialist designation in educational administration. He completed his doctorate in education from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech).
Dean and Pat ask Peter: 


Dean: Tell our viewers and listeners about the Falls Church Public City Schools. Can you give us a profile of the district and its student population?

Pat: In our conversations with school districts across the country, the COVID pandemic was not something public and private K-12 schools were prepared for, especially in providing education in a virtual world. Can you tell us about your district experience and how you took on this monumental challenge ranging from students to teachers to parents?

Dean: Did you have champions within your schools who could help others in this different type of teaching?

Pat: Tell our audience about your district’s current use of educational technology post-pandemic, and you told us before the show about a unique use of distance learning for some of your students.

Dean: Peter, you came from the teaching ranks before moving into administration and then being a superintendent. You started your career as a special ed teacher in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and were named Teacher of the Year in 1993. Teaching in Special Ed requires a much more individualistic approach for the students. How did being a special ed teacher help you be a Superintendent and a leader?

Pat: Peter, we would like to know your thoughts about the future of distance learning in the K-12 world both from an educational technology perspective and, more importantly, as a teaching tool

Joining us today is Dr. Janelle Vanasse, the President of Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage, Alaska. Alaska Pacific was established as Alaska Methodist University in 1957 and has a student enrollment of 350.