EDUP Xcelerated Excellence

Jacob Easley II, PhD, PMP
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Education

A podcast for the advancement of educational excellence and equity for traditional and non-traditional educational experiences and contexts, across higher education and beyond. The podcast seeks to engage educators, scholars, entrepreneurs, advocates, and policy makers at all levels.

  1. 5d ago

    James Wilson—Youth Leadership and Developing Education as a Community Good through Policy

    Our Guest, James Wilson, is a public policy professional, education advocate, and graduate student at Georgia StateUniversity’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, where he is pursuing a Master of Public Administration. A recent cum laude graduate of Georgia State with a degree in Public Policy, a minor in Urban Education, and a certificate in Social Science and Data Analytics, James has focused much of his academic and professional work on improving educational opportunity, student success, and public systems. James has served as Student Government Association President at Georgia State University, representing one of the largest and most diverse student bodies in the country. His experience spans education policy, legislative affairs, student advocacy, data analysis, and community engagement, including work with the State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia, the University System of Georgia, the National Education Association, and the Southern Education Foundation. Rooted in a deep commitment to Georgia students and families, James brings both lived experience and policy experience to conversations about education. His work centers on how schools, colleges, governments, and communities can bettersupport students from cradle to career. Your Host: ⁠⁠Jacob Easley II, PhD, PMP⁠⁠     Resources: EDUP The Experience 21st Century Leaders National Partnership for Educational Access Intercultural Development Research Association   Greeting:  Tiffani Jaseph   #EDUPXE #EDUCATIONALEXCELLENCE #EDUCATIONALEQUITY #YouthLeaders#XEListeningTour

    James Wilson—Youth Leadership and Developing Education as a Community Good through Policy

  2. Aug 30

    Dr. Dani Molle—Leading School Districts for Equity with the Wallace Foundation

    Our guest, Dr. Daniella Molle, is a qualitative researcher who conducts inquiries related to equitable education for historically underserved students. She has a background in the teaching and learning of English as an additional language. For a decade, her work focused on expanding educators’ capacity to meet the needs of multilingual students through job-embedded professional learning. Since 2021, Daniella has been the research director of a large grant-funded project focused on equity-centered school leadership, CALL-ECL.     Sponsor NAESP.  National School Leaders Conference–Powered by NAESP is designed for Pre-K–12 principals andassistant principals, featuring high-impact learning tracks, networking, and the newly added "Camp Lead-A-Lot" retreat. Held July 13-15, 2026, Orlando, FL, learn more and register at naespconferenence.org.     Connections:   University of Wisconsin-Madison Resources: The Wallace Foundation Promising Practices for the Design and Implementation of Equity-Centered Leader Pathways   Greeting:  Dr. Larry J. Walker   #EDUPXE #EDUCATIONALEXCELLENCE #EDUCATIONALEQUITY #XEListeningTour

    Dr. Dani Molle—Leading School Districts for Equity with the Wallace Foundation

  3. Aug 28

    Dr. Mohammed Elmeski—Leadership through Convening: Building Educational Equity and Agency across the African Diasporas

    Our guest, ⁠Mohammed Elmeski, PhD⁠, is a university professor, senior education advisor, researcher, and international development professional with nearly three decades of experience spanning education policy, higher education, school improvement, and system reform. His career has bridged academia, government, research, and international development, with leadership and advisory roles in Morocco, the United States, Africa, the Middle East, and other international contexts. He has served as a university faculty member, senior researcher,program director, Chief of Party of a USAID-funded higher education partnership, and senior advisor to the Head of Government of Morocco. His research and professional interests include educational leadership, teacher development, social and emotional learning, lifelong learning, belonging, andthe implementation of large-scale education reform. Having worked across diverse educational and development contexts, his work is particularly concerned with how research, policy, and practice can come together to expand educational opportunity, strengthen belonging and equity, and help education systems respond to social change.     Connections:   ⁠University of Minnesota⁠ ⁠Mohammed V University⁠   Resources: ⁠African Voices Dialogue⁠⁠Educational Policy, Reforms, and Change in the Middle East and North Africa⁠ (Book)⁠Tibu Africa⁠⁠International Congress of School Effectiveness and Improvement (ICSEI)⁠  Greeting:  ⁠Dr. Larry J. Walker⁠   #EDUPXE #EDUCATIONALEXCELLENCE #EDUCATIONALEQUITY#XEListeningTour

    Dr. Mohammed Elmeski—Leadership through Convening: Building Educational Equity and Agency across the African Diasporas

  4. Aug 10

    Eric Scheninger—Leading Principals in Asking the Right Questions for Student Achievement through Aspire Change EDU

    Our guest, Eric Scheninger, is founder and CEO of Aspire Change EDU. He works with schools worldwide, helping educators meet and exceed their potential to improve learner outcomes. Aspire Change EDU, a collaborative consultancy, provides personalized support to educational systems. Prior, Eric was a teacher and the award-winning Principal at New Milford High School. Under his leadership, his school became a globally recognized model for innovative practices. Eric oversaw the successful implementation of several sustainable change initiatives that radically transformed the learning culture at his school while increasing achievement. His work focuses on innovative and practical ways educators can transform teaching, learning, and leadership.  Through his work with thousands of schools, Eric has emerged as an innovative leader, best-selling author, and sought-after speaker.  His focus is on using research, evidence-based practices, and artificial intelligence (AI) to empower learners and educators.   Sponsor NAESP.  National School Leaders Conference–Powered by NAESP is designed for Pre-K–12 principals and assistant principals, featuring high-impact learning tracks, networking, and the newly added "Camp Lead-A-Lot" retreat. Held July 13-15, 2026, Orlando, FL, learn more and register at naespconferenence.org.     Connections:   East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania   Resources: Ericsheninger.com   Greeting:  Dr. Larry J. Walker   #EDUPXE #EDUCATIONALEXCELLENCE #EDUCATIONALEQUITY #XEListeningTour

    Eric Scheninger—Leading Principals in Asking the Right Questions for Student Achievement through Aspire Change EDU

  5. Aug 2

    Dr. Scott McLeod, J.D.—Research and Practice on Supporting Principals to Make Learning Interesting

    Our guest, Dr. Scott McLeod, J.D., is a Professor of Educational Leadership. He is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading experts on P-12 school leadership, deeper learning, technology, and innovation. He is on a mission to make students’ day-to-day learning less boring and more meaningful and relevant. Scott is the Founding Director of the UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education (CASTLE), the only university center in the U.S. dedicated to the technology needs of school administrators, and is the co-creator of both the wildly popular video series, Did You Know? (Shift Happens), and the 4 Shifts Protocol for lesson and unitredesign. Scott has worked with hundreds of schools, districts, universities, and other organizations and has received numerous awards, including the 2016 global Award for Outstanding Leadership from the International Society forTechnology in Education (ISTE). Scott blogs about leadership and innovation at Dangerously Irrelevant and is a frequent keynote speaker and workshop facilitator at state, national, and international conferences. Scott also hosts three occasional podcasts, LeaderTalk, Redesigning for Deeper Learning, andCASTLE Conversations.   Scott currently serves as a Distinguished Educator Fellow for PDK International, a Fellow for the NAESP Center for Innovative Leadership, and an ISTE+ASCD Community Leader. He also recently served as a Senior Fellow for Getting Smart. Scott has written or edited 4 books and 170 articles and other publications, and is one of the most visible education professors in the United States. In 2025, he received the 2025 Excellence in Teaching Award for the entire University of Colorado Denver campus.   Your Host: ⁠⁠Jacob Easley II, PhD, PMP⁠⁠     Sponsor NAESP.  National School Leaders Conference–Powered by NAESP is designed for Pre-K–12 principals and assistant principals, featuring high-impact learning tracks, networking, and the newly added "Camp Lead-A-Lot" retreat. Held July 13-15, 2026, Orlando, FL, learn more and register at naespconferenence.org.     Resources: University Council for Educational Administration LeaderTalk (Podcast) https://leadertalk.org/ Redesigning for Deeper Learning (Podcast) https://redesigningfordeeperlearning.org/CASTLE Conversations (Podcast) https://castleconversations.transistor.fm/Dr. Marvin Lynn—Leading Educator Preparation andJustice through Collaboration and Engagement (EDUP Xcelerated Excellence Episode) https://www.edupxe.com/dr-marvin-lynn-leading-educator-preparation-and-justice-through-collaboration-engagement/  Greeting:  Michelle Maslowski   #EDUPXE #EDUCATIONALEXCELLENCE #EDUCATIONALEQUITY #DeepLearning #XEListeningTour

    Dr. Scott McLeod, J.D.—Research and Practice on Supporting Principals to Make Learning Interesting

  6. Jul 27

    Dr. Jean-Philippe Marelli—Building community capacity for the ecological preservation of the stingless bee and it honey resource

    Our guest, Dr. Jean-Philippe Marelli, is a scientist and beekeeper. Along with Psychologist Carlos André Santana, he founded Arimubee, with a mission to demonstrate thatexceptional food can be produced while regenerating forests, protecting native bees, and creating positive impact on society.   Arimubee is a Brazilian regenerative food company producing premium stingless bee honey and bee-derived products from the Atlantic Forest of Bahia. Working within a protected environmental area, Arimubee combines traditional ecologicalknowledge, scientific research, and agroforestry practices to protect biodiversity and restore native ecosystems.   Focused on the endangered Uruçu-Amarela bee (Melipona mondury), the company manages over 100 colonies through sustainable meliponiculture, creating unique products whilesupporting pollinator conservation.       Your Host: ⁠⁠Jacob Easley II, PhD, PMP⁠⁠   Resources: https://www.arimubee.com   #EDUPXE #EDUCATIONALEXCELLENCE #EDUCATIONALEQUITY #STEM#XEListeningTour #Stinglessbee

    Dr. Jean-Philippe Marelli—Building community capacity for the ecological preservation of the stingless bee and it honey resource

  7. Jul 23

    Reyan Warren, Yiwei Guo, and Lorena Valer—Council members on the impact and future of the AACTE Holmes Scholars Program, celebrating 35 years

    Our guest, Reyan Warren, is a doctoral student in the Social Justice in Education program at the University of San Diego and the current President of the AACTE Holmes Scholars Program. A proud graduate of Victor Valley College, she brings a unique perspective shaped by her journey from community college to doctoral study. Her research centers on resilience theory, with a specific focus on how Black girls and women navigate and resist deficit labels in educational spaces. She is pioneering the adaptation of Critical Race Theory to explore resilience and academic excellence among deficit-labeled Black students. As a high school educator and coach, Reyan blends scholarship with practice to foster equity and community empowerment. Her work uplifts the voices of marginalized students, drawing from her lived experiences of multiple communities and a deep commitment to justice. She is passionate about transforming education systems through culturally sustaining, inclusive, and anti-racist approaches.   Yiwei Guo is a Ph.D. student in Leadership Studies at the University of San Diego. Her research focuses on multilingual education, cultural identity, literacy, and leadership, with a particular emphasis on supporting immigrant and multilingual children between the ages of four and eight. Drawing from both professional and personal experiences, she is passionate about helping children maintain their home languages and cultural identities while thriving in mainstream educational settings.   Yiwei serves as the 2026–2027 Historian on the AACTE Holmes Scholars Program National Council, where she documents and amplifies the stories and achievements of Holmes Scholars across the United States. Her work also explores how multilingual storytelling, culturally sustaining practices, and educational leadership can foster belonging, strengthen communities, and advance educational equity.     Lorena Valer is a doctoral candidate in Educational Leadership at William Paterson University, second-grade teacher, and Holmes Scholar Council member committed to advancing educational equity and culturally responsive leadership. With experience in elementary education and teacher leadership, she is passionate about creating inclusive learning environments where both students and educators can thrive.   Her research focuses on the retention of Black and Latiné teachers in New Jersey public schools, examining how culturally responsive school leadership influences teacher experiences and long-term commitment to the profession. Through her scholarship, Lorena seeks to amplify the voices of educators and contribute practical insights that support a more diverse and sustainable teacher workforce.   As a Holmes Scholar, Lorena is dedicated to bridging research and practice through collaboration, advocacy, and professional service. She is committed to preparing future educational leaders who foster belonging, equity, and excellence in schools and communities.       Your Host: ⁠⁠Jacob Easley II, PhD, PMP⁠⁠   Resources: American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) AACTE Holmes Scholars National Association of Holmes Scholars Alumni (NAHSA)   Greeting:  Jacqueline Rodriguez   #EDUPXE #EDUCATIONALEXCELLENCE #EDUCATIONALEQUITY #STEM#XEListeningTour

    Reyan Warren, Yiwei Guo, and Lorena Valer—Council members on the impact and future of the AACTE Holmes Scholars Program, celebrating 35 years

  8. Jul 19

    Todd Nesloney—Prioritizing the learning and development of Texas’ school principals at National School Leaders’ Conference 2026

    Our guest, Todd Nesloney, is the Director of Culture and Strategic Leadership for the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association (TEPSA). He has also served as an award-winning principal of a PreK-5th Grade campus of over 775 students in a rural town inTexas. He has been recognized by the White House, John C Maxwell, the Center for Digital Education, National School Board Association, the BAMMYS, and more for his work in education and with children. Todd has written six books, including the runaway smash Kids Deserve It and his newest book Building Authenticity: A Blueprint for the Leader Inside You. He is passionate about doing whatever it takes for our students and teachers and helping others tell their story.     Your Host: ⁠⁠Jacob Easley II, PhD, PMP⁠⁠     Sponsor NAESP.  National School Leaders Conference–Powered by NAESP is designed for Pre-K–12 principals and assistant principals, featuring high-impact learning tracks, networking, and the newly added "Camp Lead-A-Lot" retreat. Held July 13-15, 2026, Orlando, FL, learn more and register at naespconferenence.org.     Resources: Kids Deserve It Building Authenticity: A Blueprint for the Leader Inside You Greeting:  Michelle Maslowski   #EDUPXE #EDUCATIONALEXCELLENCE #EDUCATIONALEQUITY#XEListeningTour

    Todd Nesloney—Prioritizing the learning and development of Texas’ school principals at National School Leaders’ Conference 2026
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About

A podcast for the advancement of educational excellence and equity for traditional and non-traditional educational experiences and contexts, across higher education and beyond. The podcast seeks to engage educators, scholars, entrepreneurs, advocates, and policy makers at all levels.

Information

  • Creator
    Jacob Easley II, PhD, PMP
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    106
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jacob Easley II, PhD, PMP
  • Show Website
    EDUP Xcelerated Excellence