JFYNetWorks Podcast JFYNetWorks

‘A New Chapter’ Brockton High School Principal Has Faith
Kevin McCaskill, ‘I know that we can achieve at high levels’
APRIL 2024 PODCAST -- This podcast features newly appointed Brockton High School principal Kevin McCaskill, who began his tenure in Brockton at the start of 2024. Described as “…a new chapter for our entire community” by Mayor Robert Sullivan, McCaskill discusses how Brockton High School was once a beacon of educational excellence in Massachusetts and will beam even brighter in the years ahead.
PODCAST HIGHLIGHTS
Case in point, in the morning I see the vast majority of our students getting off the buses every day. 39 buses. And we’re being very consistent with morning greetings And so they get that recognition that someone's [Timestamp 00:09:00]
I know that we can achieve at high levels. But it's going to take some time and again, it won't be something that happens overnight or by magic. But if we have some folks who are really interested in moving the needle forward-- which I know we have here at the high school, I know it will be done. [Timestamp 00:13:06]
You have to have faith in everything you can do, faith in the individuals that you’re working with and faith in the belief that all things are possible. [Timestamp 00:16:34]
MORE ABOUT JFYNetWorks
Today, JFYNetWorks addresses the college readiness disconnect by providing focused blended, hybrid, and remote learning programs in high school to help students build the academic skills they need to enter college or technical training to earn academic credit. The JFYNetWorks blended program model — infusing specialized online content into the regular curriculum — also facilitates scalability, as the low cost of the online platform can easily be expanded to entire schools.
To learn more visit JFYNet.org
Proven Results
Connected Learning Solutions
JFY Guides Student Achievement. Learn More Through Stories of Success.
[Song Credit: “Epic Inspirational and Cinematic Motivational Background Music” - by AShamaluevMusic is under a creative commons license Music promoted by BreakingCopyright: https://breakingcopyright.com]

JFY Deputy Director, ‘Education Equity, Still a Struggle’
FEBRUARY 2024 PODCAST -- This month’s podcast features JFY’s Deputy Director Paula Paris, who has been with JFY since 1995. She has contributed to the growth and diversification of the organization first as Director of Development and then as Deputy Director. Paula shares her personal history beginning as a bus safety monitor during the desegregation of the Boston Public Schools, and her informed insights on the continuing struggle to achieve equity in American education.
PODCAST HIGHLIGHTS
[Boston] Busing got so much national publicity. "...so, the buses took us to Day Boulevard. Yeah. And then they consolidated the buses and went the rest of the way with a police escort." [Timestamp 00:20:02]
Thinking about the learning loss question. "But it is about learning loss and how not being in school affected different populations differently. [Timestamp 00:36:08]
We’ve solved problems, but … "We've got a long way to go. And progress has been made for sure. But more progress needs to be made. Let's not lose sight of what we still need to do." [Timestamp 00:43:39]
MORE ABOUT JFYNetWorks
Today, JFYNetWorks addresses the college readiness disconnect by providing focused blended, hybrid, and remote learning programs in high school to help students build the academic skills they need to enter college or technical training to earn academic credit. The JFYNetWorks blended program model — infusing specialized online content into the regular curriculum — also facilitates scalability, as the low cost of the online platform can easily be expanded to entire schools.
To learn more visit JFYNet.org
Proven Results
Connected Learning Solutions
JFY Guides Student Achievement. Learn More Through Stories of Success.
Music Credit: Song: “Epic Inspirational and Cinematic Motivational Background Music” - by AShamaluevMusic is under a Creative Commons license Music promoted by Breaking. Copyright: https://breakingcopyright.com

Lew Finfer, Quiet Leader, Thundering Results
NOVEMBER 2023 PODCAST -- JFY’s podcast this month features Lew Finfer, a Boston community organizer since 1970. In an article published last year in the Boston Globe, Lew was described as “a quiet leader who spent the past four decades orchestrating some of Boston’s biggest campaigns for social and economic justice.”
PODCAST HIGHLIGHTS
'You have to do a lot of listening and outreach for any kind of issue you work on.' [Timestamp 00:13:57]
'Share something about yourself, about what you are.' [Timestamp 00:22:08]
'Starting back in 1973 and 74 when the whole shakeup of the Boston Public Schools started.' [Timestamp 00:30:04]
 
MORE ABOUT JFYNetWorks
Today, JFYNetWorks addresses the college readiness disconnect by providing focused blended, hybrid, and remote learning programs in high school to help students build the academic skills they need to enter college or technical training to earn academic credit. The JFYNetWorks blended program model — infusing specialized online content into the regular curriculum — also facilitates scalability, as the low cost of the online platform can easily be expanded to entire schools.
To learn more visit JFYNet.org
Proven Results
Connected Learning Solutions
JFY Guides Student Achievement. Learn More Through Stories of Success.

Boston’s Historical Civic and Social Landscape: A Personal Account
SEPTEMBER 2023 PODCAST -- This month, JFYNetWorks will take the opportunity to expand on some of the history that Hubie Jones shared with our listeners when he was a guest for three JFYNet podcasts last year. [Podcast 1, Podcast 2, Podcast 3] Recently, PBS, in conjunction with local affiliate GBH, debuted the documentary “The Busing Battleground: THE DECADES-LONG ROAD TO SCHOOL DESEGREGATION” as part of the American Experience television series. The program featured reflections by many prominent Boston-area activists, including Hubie Jones, who has not only witnessed Boston history for 67 years, but has also shaped and defined the civic and social landscape.
MORE ABOUT JFYNetWorks
Today, JFYNetWorks addresses the college readiness disconnect by providing focused blended, hybrid, and remote learning programs in high school to help students build the academic skills they need to enter college or technical training earning academic credit. The JFYNetWorks blended program model — infusing specialized online content into the regular curriculum — also facilitates scalability, as the low cost of the online platform can easily be expanded to entire schools.
To learn more visit JFYNet.org
Proven Results
Connected Learning Solutions
JFY Guides Student Achievement. Learn More Through Stories of Success.

David P. Driscoll, former Education Commissioner, responds to: MCAS Chatter, ‘déjà vu’ all over again’
AUGUST 2023 PODCAST -- Our podcast this month features part two of our conversation with former Commissioner of Education David Driscoll. His 49-year career in public education leadership includes being appointed deputy commissioner in 1993, interim commissioner in 1998, and commissioner in 1999. Dr. Driscoll currently serves on a number of boards, including serving as chair of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute Board and the National Assessment Governing Board.
PODCAST HIGHLIGHTS:
What do we do about the fact that we're back again, asking the question of whether there should be, quantitative standards to get a high school diploma in Massachusetts? Do you feel like, it’s DeJa’Vu all over again? [00:03:17]
The Driscoll challenge: What would an educator do after looking at [student's] failing work? Would they grant that student a high school diploma? [00:09:12]
Every question is reviewed by teachers. No question goes on the test unless it's been approved by teachers. [00:31:07]
Well, we don't have any leadership, or political leadership at the federal government. We don't have enough of it to start to look at solutions. [00:44:06]'Look what you're [JFY] doing in East Boston High School. Why wouldn't every high school in Boston say, well, let's do that? And yet they don't.' - David P. Driscoll
[Song: 'Keys Of Moon - The Epic Hero' is under a creative commons license Music promoted by Breaking Copyright: https://breakingcopyright.com].
MORE ABOUT JFYNetWorks
Today, JFYNetWorks addresses the college readiness disconnect by providing focused blended, hybrid, and remote learning programs in high school to help students build the academic skills they need to enter college or technical training earning academic credit. The JFYNetWorks blended program model — infusing specialized online content into the regular curriculum — also facilitates scalability, as the low cost of the online platform can easily be expanded to entire schools.
To learn more visit JFYNet.org
Proven Results
Connected Learning Solutions
JFY Guides Student Achievement. Learn More Through Stories of Success.

David P. Driscoll, former Education Commissioner, responds to: ‘Is it time to reconsider the Education Reform Act?’
JULY 2023 PODCAST -- This month’s podcast features David P. Driscoll, who served as the 22nd commissioner of education in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts from 1998 to 2007. In his 49-year career in public education, Dr. Driscoll was a math teacher, an assistant superintendent, a superintendent, deputy commissioner, interim commissioner, and the state commissioner who inaugurated standards-based education in Massachusetts under the Education Reform law. Currently, he serves on a number of boards, including as chair of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute Board and the National Assessment Governing Board.
PODCAST HIGHLIGHTS:
Has the Education Reform Act of 1993 fulfilled its promise? [00:03:50]
The MCAS is a standards-based test, [but] teachers are still not consistently applying, sound pedagogical ways of getting the kids to the standards, part of which is to get kids engaged, get kids motivated, et cetera. [00:17:46]
Kids go through as part of a [grade] group, say the 8th grade, but we need to address their individual needs in addition to regular schooling and the school experience, we need an individual approach, almost like the medical profession. [00:29:26]
[Song: 'Keys Of Moon - The Epic Hero' is under a creative commons license Music promoted by Breaking Copyright: https://breakingcopyright.com].
MORE ABOUT JFYNetWorks
Today, JFYNetWorks addresses the college readiness disconnect by providing focused blended, hybrid, and remote learning programs in high school to help students build the academic skills they need to enter college or technical training earning academic credit. The JFYNetWorks blended program model — infusing specialized online content into the regular curriculum — also facilitates scalability, as the low cost of the online platform can easily be expanded to entire schools.
To learn more visit JFYNet.org
Proven Results
Connected Learning Solutions
JFY Guides Student Achievement. Learn More Through Stories of Success.