Talking Tosa

Wauwatosa School District
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Talking Tosa is a podcast hosted by Wauwatosa School District Superintendent Dr. Demond Means.

  1. 06/16/2025

    Episode 17: Analysis of Learning Spaces

    “When we think about the instructional opportunities that we want for our children, we want them to be prepared for whatever faces them in their post-secondary world.” In this episode of Talking Tosa, Chief of Academics Dr. Nicole Marble breaks down the findings from the district’s Analysis of Learning Spaces, which revealed an “instructionally unhealthy, outdated, and obsolete” state of the secondary schools in the Wauwatosa School District, along with the next steps for addressing these issues. ✍️Read the Analysis of Learning Spaces Executive Summary at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1J-_xR6-O1bieP41NXWSmive0xw1h020DnROdd3Yeo6o/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.xdsqexi3t2wm  💻Learn more about the Secondary School Ad Hoc Committee, which was created to address the state of the four secondary schools, at wauwatosaschools.org/secondaryschooladhoc2025

    Episode 17: Analysis of Learning Spaces

  2. 06/05/2025

    Episode 16: Curriculum review cycle

    Learn more about the curriculum review cycle and its importance from Director of Curriculum Jessica Ebert and Chief Academic Officer Nicole Marble. “It’s really important that our educators and our community know that any high-functioning organization has regular reviews and opportunities for reflective change. We know it’s a non-negotiable. Education inherently is iterative; it relies on cycles of improvement and standing still or maintaining that status quo should never be our goal.” - Jessica Ebert Director of Curriculum, Wauwatosa School District

    Episode 16: Curriculum review cycle

  3. 05/27/2025

    Episode 15: Literacy and Act 20

    “To us, teaching reading and writing is one of the most powerful and urgent ways we can ensure that every student is able to pursue their dreams, their aspirations, and their goals.” Act 20 requires all Wisconsin public schools and private institutions to instruct 4K to third-grade students in science-aligned literacy, and all public schools to assess reading levels to achieve proficiency in reading before fourth grade. 🎙️Learn more about the supports in place in the Wauwatosa School District for both students and educators in this episode of Talking Tosa with guests Elementary Literacy Coordinator Brenda Jones and Director of Curriculum Jessica Ebert. -- “We connect, as humans, to what we already know, so it’s really important that our literacy instruction is grounded in these funds of knowledge.” Brenda Jones, Elementary Literacy Coordinator

    Episode 15: Literacy and Act 20

  4. 05/23/2025

    Episode 14: Summer School

    Wauwatosa School District serves 2,050 students during summer school. From enrichment courses to credit recovery, Tosa summer school consistently provides something for everyone. In this episode of Talking Tosa, Summer School Coordinator Stephen Oliver and Superintendent Dr. Demond Means discuss how engaging and beneficial summer school programs are for Wauwatosa students and families.

    Episode 14: Summer School

  5. 05/05/2025

    Episode 13: Strategic Planning

    As the Wauwatosa School District prepares for its next strategic plan, Director of Strategy and Continuous Improvement Jennifer Fotsch reflects on the district’s 2022-2025 strategic plan, breaks down the overall process for what it takes to create one for a school district, and emphasizes its importance. #TosaProud “A strategic plan–for any organization, educational or otherwise–it’s important because it sets the course of action.” “Now that we have the good infrastructure in place, we’re able to be probably even more strategic at a higher level, so our community can expect to see more focus on instruction and academic and career planning, in addition to things we might expect, like fiduciary responsibility and facilities.” “The strategic plan really sets the tone for our organization, so it’s really important for our students, families, and staff to have good working knowledge of the plan.”

    Episode 13: Strategic Planning

  6. 04/30/2025

    Episode 12: Post-secondary planning

    Wauwatosa School District’s school counselors help students grow in three main domains–academic, career, and social emotional intelligence. While also acknowledging that all students develop in these areas at different rates, counselors provide strategic and consistent touch points with students and families to help develop each student’s independence and a plan for success. In this episode, Wauwatosa West High School Counselor Nicholas Becker and Director of Student Success Emily O’Connor break down how school counselors and student services play a significant role in fulfilling the goals of the Wauwatosa School District’s Vision of a Graduate and help prepare all students to become good members of society. #TosaProud “We want to send complete human beings out into the world. They’re productive, they’re happy, they have good relationships, they also have a flexible career and a flexible mindset.” - Nicholas Becker, West High School Counselor “How do we kind of ease that transition into the world of work and independence so that we’re helping students find the opportunities that match their skills and interests.” - Emily O’Connor, Director of Student Success (former) “Whether students are at the top of their class and they’re doing everything that we want them to do, …or whether they’re struggling through, trying to pass, and just trying to graduate, the partnership is of the utmost importance.” - Nicholas Becker, West High School Counselor

    Episode 12: Post-secondary planning

  7. 04/24/2025

    Episode 11: Instruction

    Director of Instruction Leann Neese and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Nicole Marble talk with Superintendent Dr. Demond Means about how instructional framework supports student-centered, high-quality instruction and gives the Wauwatosa School District a common language across its system. #TosaProud 🎬🍿Fun fact: The conversation even touches on how teaching portrayals in movies compare to real-life instructional processes in Wauwatosa. #RobinWilliams #GoodWillHunting #DeadPoetsSociety #OhCaptainMyCaptain #ButPleaseDontStandOnDesks 🙃 “Excellent instruction doesn’t happen by chance. Strong student-centered instruction requires strong student-centered planning.” “It’s really a partnership between students, staff, and families. When there is a strong partnership between all of the stakeholders, then there is a collective commitment and a collective effort to put one’s best foot forward in the learning process.” “We want to prepare students for a future that we don’t even know exists yet.”

    Episode 11: Instruction

  8. 04/04/2025

    Episode 10: School Safety Part 2

    “Everyone in the community and the district is part of safety. It’s not one person. It’s not just students, it’s not just staff, it’s everyone.” In this episode, Superintendent Dr. Demond Means, Chief of Pupil and Family Supports Luke Pinion, and Director of School Safety Laura Geisler discuss how everyone in the community and the district is part of safety. They define what safe and unsafe means for a school, share data that provides evidence of safer schools, and emphasize the importance of building relationships–including with our School Resource Officers–and modeling appropriate behavior and conflict resolution at all levels of community. #TosaProud

    Episode 10: School Safety Part 2
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About

Talking Tosa is a podcast hosted by Wauwatosa School District Superintendent Dr. Demond Means.

Information

  • Creator
    Wauwatosa School District
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Wauwatosa School District
  • Show Website
    Talking Tosa