Leading Voices Podcast

WestEd
  • 5.0 (11)
  • EDUCATION
Leading Voices Podcast

WestEd’s experts, along with leading scholars and practitioners in the fields of education and human development, discuss ways to help every learner to thrive in school, career, and life—from educator well-being and school climate to evidence-based approaches to research, evaluation, professional learning, and technical assistance. In each episode, host Danny Torres welcomes WestEd’s leading and emerging voices to discuss the most pressing and enduring issues in education and health and human development. Drawing from evidence, research, and extensive experience, guests offer innovative and actionable strategies for ensuring success for every learner.

  1. JUN 10

    Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Jams: An Innovative Approach to Problem-Solving

    Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an effective framework for creating flexible learning environments by designing learning experiences that give students choices in how they learn, what materials they use, and how they show their understanding. But can this framework be applied beyond the classroom as an engaging and innovative approach to solving enduring challenges within systems? WestEd’s UDL Lab and "UDL Jams” use the principles of the UDL framework to bring people together in real time to collaboratively solve complex problems. Inspired by the improvisational and collaborative nature of jazz, these sessions create a space where participants bring their unique expertise to co-create meaningful, actionable solutions. In this episode of the Leading Voices podcast, host Danny Torres talks with Dr. Zach Smith, Senior Project Director, and Dr. Jose Blackorby, Director of Research and Learner Variability, both from WestEd’s Special Education Policy and Practice team. They explain the origins of UDL, how their UDL Jam model works, and why this approach is gaining momentum among educators, system leaders, and innovators across sectors. Their conversation covers the following topics: How UDL framework inspired UDL Jams Sessions The four core questions guiding UDL application in learning and leadership Why jazz serves as a perfect metaphor for inclusive, improvisational collaboration Transcript Additional Resources WestEd’s Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Jams Inspires Creative Problem Solving (Blog Post) CAST Universal Design for Learning Framework (Website)

    21 min

  2. MAY 20

    Assessing Student Readiness for Accelerated Math in Middle School

    Placement into accelerated mathematics courses can open doors for students, paving the way toward advanced high school coursework, college readiness, and future career opportunities. But ensuring students are placed accurately requires a rigorous, evidence-based approach.  In this episode of the Leading Voices podcast, host Danny Torres talks with Scott Firkins, Director of Assessment Content at WestEd, and leaders from the Palo Alto Unified School District in California, Dr. Guillermo López, Associate Superintendent of Educational Services, and Janine Penney, Manager of Assessment. They discuss how the district collaborated with WestEd to transform its placement process for accelerated mathematics in middle school. The result is a fair and evidence-based mathematics validation process designed to accurately place students in the right course in the mathematics pathway.  Their conversation covers the following topics: Why Palo Alto Unified School District sought to redesign its validation assessment The role of high-quality assessment development and psychometric validation in the redesign  How ensuring transparency builds trust within the community  What early results are revealing about the new process and student readiness and success Transcript Additional Resources PAUSD Validation Test Research Brief (PDF) Palo Alto Unified School District Mathematics Program (Website) Designing High-Quality Assessment Solutions with WestEd (Website) Comprehensive Assessment Solutions (Website)

    30 min

  3. MAR 17

    Education Savings Accounts (ESAs): Research, Accountability, and Transparency

    Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) have expanded across the United States in recent years. These accounts provide state education funds, originally allocated for students to attend public school, to be redirected to families to use for educational services of their choice. These programs enable parents to use these funds for a wide range of educational services, such as private school tuition, tutoring, distance learning options, and more. In this episode of the Leading Voices podcast, host Danny Torres talks with William Berry, Research Associate with WestEd’s Charter and School Choice team, and Robin Chait Project Director with our School Choice team. They discuss how ESAs work, three primary accountability mechanisms, and the need for research on student outcomes. Their conversation covers the following topics: The growth or popularity of ESAs over time Variation and flexibility among state ESA programs Three types of accountability mechanisms Transcript Resources Mentioned in this Episode Education Savings Accounts and Accountability: A Landscape Analysis Across States (Report) Charters and School Choice (Website)

    18 min

  4. 08/12/2024

    Early Signs of Distress: Identifying and Implementing Systemic Improvements

    How can district and state leaders identify signs of school distress long before they are designated as in need of improvement by state accountability systems? In 2020, WestEd partnered with the National Charter School Resource Center (NCSRC) to develop and conduct a portfolio of  research (listed below) that identified signs of early distress in schools, or "indicators of distress," and described an approach to support school improvement efforts. When states and education decision-makers wanted to take the work further into implementation, what emerged is WestEd's Indicators of Distress, an evidence-based early detection system that can help charter and traditional schools meet and surpass accountability standards while fostering positive learning experiences for students. In this episode of the Leading Voices podcast, host Danny Torres talks with Aimee Evan, Senior Research Associate and School Improvement Specialist with the School Choice team at WestEd and co-author of the NCSRC reports, and two state education agency leaders, John Carwell Jr., Education Associate at the Delaware Department of Education, and David Frank, Chief of Staff and Assistant Commissioner, Education Policy, at the New York State Education Department. They discuss the Indicators of Distress approach and how the Delaware Department of Education and the New York State Education Department worked with WestEd to identify needed systemic improvements and implement processes and procedures that helped lead to sustained success. Their conversation covers the following topics: Implementing the Indicators of Distress approach in Delaware and New York Using data to inform decision-making Building a reliable model for school improvement Transcript Resources Mentioned in this Episode Indicators of Distress (Webpage) Indicators of Distress: A Proactive Approach to Identifying and Supporting Schools in Need of Improvement (Blog) Identifying Indicators of Distress in Charter Schools: Part 1 – The Role and Perspective of Charter School Authorizers (PDF) Identifying Indicators of Distress in Charter Schools, Part 2: The Roles and Perspectives of Charter School Leaders and Board Members (PDF) Identifying Indicators of Distress in Charter Schools: Tools to Support Authorizer Data Collection (PDF)

    42 min

  5. 07/22/2024

    Preventing Gun Violence in the United States

    Gun violence impacts families, first responders, and communities in profound and lasting ways. In 2023, more than 18,000 persons died by homicide in the United States. And on June 26th, 2024, the U.S. Surgeon General declared gun violence a public health crisis.  In this episode of the Leading Voices podcast, host Danny Torres talks with experts from WestEd’s Justice and Prevention Team and developers of the Violence Prevention Navigation Framework (VPNF): Lori Toscano, Shaun Ali, and Kerwin Henderson. Together, they help state and local leaders better understand the factors that contribute to or prevent violence within their communities—helping promote safe and equitable futures for all children, youth, and adults. Their conversation covers the following topics: Identifying the underlying factors that give rise to or mitigate gun violence Leveraging big and local data to prioritize, assess, and develop appropriate strategies to reduce and prevent gun violence Working with community and state leaders and to improve violence prevention efforts across systems Promoting equity and fostering growth Transcript Resources Mentioned in this Episode Justice and Prevention Research Center at WestEd (Website) Violence Prevention Navigation Framework (VPNF) (Website) A Comprehensive, Data-Driven Approach to Reducing Gun Violence (Blog) Q&A With the JPRC Violence Prevention Team: Lori Toscano, Shaun Ali, and Kerwin Henderson (Blog) The Social-Ecological Model: A Framework for Prevention (Website) Gun Violence Disproportionately and Overwhelmingly Hurts Communities of Color (Fact Sheet) U.S. Surgeon General Issues Advisory on the Public Health Crisis of Firearm Violence in the United States (Press Release) Homicides Are Plummeting in American Cities (News Article)

    29 min

  6. 05/22/2024

    Cultivating Belonging, Inclusive Spaces, and Reflective Practices

    Early childhood practitioners face various challenges in the field, including staffing shortages, lack of funding for programs and professional development, and insufficient cultural representation in the workforce. In this episode of the Leading Voices podcast, host Grace Westermann talks with Monica Mathur-Kalluri, Project Director within WestEd’s Early Childhood Intervention, Mental Health, and Inclusion team. As a Project Director, Monica engages with practitioners, parents, and state and community leaders to enhance the well-being of infants and toddlers and providers working with children ages 0–5. Together, they discuss the transformative power of reflective practice spaces for Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) practitioners and how these spaces help prevent burnout and create a more sustainable and supportive environment for those dedicated to early childhood care.  Listeners will also hear from early childhood practitioners from California and Virginia and what they had to say about their experience participating in the Revolutionary Reflective Practice retreat hosted in August 2023 for BIPOC practitioners. Their conversation covers the following topics: Reflective practices for BIPOC practitioners The essential elements for creating a sense of belonging and inclusion in professional learning settings The value of creating welcoming BIPOC-only spaces for practitioners Learnings from the Revolutionary Reflective Practice retreat held in August 2023 Transcript Resources Mentioned in this Episode Revolutionary Reflective Practice for BIPOC Healing and Liberation (Website) Real Self-Care: A Transformative Program for Redefining Wellness (Book)

    27 min

  7. 04/10/2024

    The Critical Role of Early Intervention

    In this episode of the Leading Voices podcast, host Danny Torres talks with Angela McGuire, Project Director within WestEd’s Early Childhood Intervention, Mental Health, and Inclusion team under Early Childhood Development and Learning. Angela leads the Comprehensive Early Intervention Technical Assistance Network (CEITAN), which has supported the professional growth of early childhood intervention professionals for more than 30 years. Together, they discuss the critical role of early intervention in improving outcomes for our youngest children with disabilities and how state agency leaders can best support early intervention professionals in their work. Their conversation covers the following topics: What state leaders need to know to best support early intervention professionals The Comprehensive Early Intervention Technical Assistance Network (CEITAN) work in California The relationships between parents or caregivers and professionals in early intervention work How early intervention professionals help prepare families as their children move into the K-12 system Workforce development and capacity building for early intervention professionals Transcript Additional Resources Transforming Early Intervention and Improving Outcomes for Children—Q&A with Angela McGuire (Blog Post) Cultural Humility Series (Webpage) Early Childhood Development, Learning, and Well-Being (Webpage) California Early Start (Webpage)

    23 min

  8. 02/16/2024

    Accelerating Literacy Learning with Reading Apprenticeship

    With national literacy scores in decline and with the loss of instruction time during the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for effective literacy professional learning for teachers and engaging students equitably is more important than ever. For over 25 years, Reading Apprenticeship at WestEd has improved teaching practice and helped thousands of students achieve high levels of academic literacy across multiple disciplines. In this episode, host Marley Arechiga talks with Linda Friedrich, Director of Literacy at WestEd, and Cynthia Greenleaf, Senior Research Scientist in Literacy at WestEd, about what more than 25 years of Reading Apprenticeship research shows about what works in developing academic literacy, what has changed since its inception in the 1990s, and what is changing in literacy education today as students rebound from the pandemic. Their conversation covers the following topics: the Reading Apprenticeship approach and its impact on teaching and learning national literacy scores and the need to accelerate literacy learning digital literacy and generative artificial intelligence the Reading Apprenticeship seminal publication, Reading for Understanding, now in its third edition Transcript Learn more about Reading Apprenticeship at WestEd. Additional Resources Average ACT Score For the High School Class of 2022 Declines to Lowest Level in More Than 30 Years (Website) NAEP Reading: National Student Group Scores and Score Gaps (Website) Reading Apprenticeship Evidence Base (Website) Reflections on the Evolution of the Literacy Education Field—A Q&A with Cynthia Greenleaf (Blog) Professional Development Opportunities Calendar (Website)

    29 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

WestEd’s experts, along with leading scholars and practitioners in the fields of education and human development, discuss ways to help every learner to thrive in school, career, and life—from educator well-being and school climate to evidence-based approaches to research, evaluation, professional learning, and technical assistance. In each episode, host Danny Torres welcomes WestEd’s leading and emerging voices to discuss the most pressing and enduring issues in education and health and human development. Drawing from evidence, research, and extensive experience, guests offer innovative and actionable strategies for ensuring success for every learner.

Information

  • Creator
    WestEd
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2022-2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Leading Voices Podcast

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