Rethinking Learning Podcast

Barbara Bray
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Rethinking Learning Podcast

Join Barbara Bray in her conversations with inspirational educators, thought leaders, and change agents to define their WHY and reflect on how they learned from their experiences and challenges. Each conversation is complemented with a post on her site that includes images, videos, links, and more that illustrate the stories of their lives. Join Barbara and her special guests as they share their personal journeys that will inspire you, touch your heart, and might even touch your heart.

  1. NOV 9

    Episode #165: Developing Human-Centered Skills in an AI World with Dr. Michelle Ament

    Dr. Michelle Ament is an educational pioneer renowned for creating the Learning, Experienced (LXP) model as Chief Academic Officer at ProSolve. As co-founder of the Human Intelligence Movement, she leads educational systems to develop Human Intelligence, the essential human-centered skills needed to be career-ready in an AI world. Michelle’s unique blend of visionary thinking, strategic acumen, and strong leadership skills has empowered educators and administrators to embrace personalized learning experiences, resulting in universal academic achievement to create more equitable and inclusive schools. Your WHY  My WHY is to change the student experience to prioritize human-centered skills that machines cannot replicate. My family means the world to me. My husband, Brian, and I have been married 25 years and have three amazing children; William, Maggie, and Sam. It’s time to fundamentally rethink education. Traditional methods are becoming obsolete as AI can instantly access and process information. Educators must shift to being facilitators, nurturing uniquely human skills that enable adaptability, collaboration, and creative problem-solving in complex, dynamic environments. Chief Academic Officer, ProSolve https://prosolve.com Travis Allen and I pioneered the strategy and vision for our K-12 modern curriculum, revolutionizing the development of social-emotional wellness and career readiness through experiential learning. That’s when we developed the Learning, Experienced (LXP) model that will reimagine teaching, learning, and assessment while rekindling the art of teaching. We catalyzed partnerships with school districts, educators, and stakeholders, harnessing their insights to drive curriculum development that surpasses market needs. We orchestrated cross-functional teams of educators, content developers, and subject matter experts, fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation. We curated and created game-changing professional development programs, equipping educators and administrators with transformative strategies to integrate experiential learning. Human Intelligence Movement https://www.humanintelligencemovement.org/ The mission of the Human Intelligence movement is to equip each student with the necessary human-centered skills to thrive in an AI world and workforce. With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), our workplace is undergoing a profound transformation. AI is revolutionizing the workforce by gradually replacing routine cognitive and manual tasks traditionally performed by humans. As technology advances, AI can efficiently carry out these repetitive tasks, allowing human workers to focus on more complex and creative endeavors that require uniquely human skills. This paradigm shift highlights the need for individuals to develop and cultivate the essential abilities that set them apart from machines.  What are the unique human skills AI can’t replicate? Creative thinking Empathetic Relationship Building Emotional Intelligence Contextual Reasoning Complex problem-solving

  2. OCT 31

    Episode #164: Shaping the Future of Education with Dr. Kapono Ciotti

    Dr. Kapono Ciotti, a leader in social-constructivist education, directs the PEAK Distinction Model. He promotes student-driven impact education globally, influencing educators in 100+ schools to shape the future of education. Kapono champions Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice, with 15 years at the National Association of Independent Schools.  Your WHY  My strong belief in education being an act of social justice drives my work. School is Community Your Philosophy and Background I attribute my educational philosophy to my schooling experience in a progressive, social-constructivist school during his early years in Honolulu, Hawaii. I taught in Honolulu, Hawaii, and Dakar, Senegal, for over a decade before moving into school leadership. I have led schools in the United States and Egypt, where I put into practice the philosophy of “students making the world a better place,” shifting school culture to impact-based education practice.  I earned a Ph.D. in International Education in 2018 from Northcentral University, a Master’s degree in Social Change and Development from the University of Newcastle, Australia, and a Bachelor’s in Language and Cultural Studies from The Evergreen State College, Washington. I currently live between Hawaii, Cairo, Egypt, and Dakar, Senegal. All of us are indigenous. Your Journey as an Educator I have worked internationally in educational change organizations, leading the work of Deeper Learning and place and culture-based pedagogy, was the Executive Director for What School Could Be, and now am leading the PEAK Distinction Model through What School Could Be. In these roles, I have trained teachers in over 100 schools and school districts on four continents, impacting hundreds of thousands of students. In addition, I spent 15 years as National Faculty for the National Association of Independent Schools in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice, facilitating national and international learning experiences. As a curriculum writer, he has authored multiple curricula for federal and non-profit programs. His work has significantly contributed to the organizations What School Could Be, The Buck Institute, EdLeader21, The Pacific American Foundation, and many others. A little rain brings thousands of blooms and then they wither. What do we value in education? We need ongoing support. PEAK Distinction Model The PEAK model ensures students develop Purpose, focus on Essential skills and mindsets, experience Agency, and foster deep retained Knowledge because we believe the future of education lies in students developing three sets of PEAK Human Traits traits. https://www.reimaginelearning.ca/peak-distinction/ What does this mean for System Change? Through What School Could Be (WSCB), we present raw data with evidence of deeper learning to lead the reflection process. We then repeat the cycle to continue the growth. Reflect and Assess: Work through the change process by reflecting on and assessing strengths and challenges according to seven areas of focus in our diagnostic tool. Mobilize to Reimagine: Reimagine the future by reviewing the data to plan the f...

  3. SEP 5

    Episode #163: The Blueprint for EMPATHY to IMPACT with Aaron Moniz

    Aaron Moniz is the co-founder, director, and lead facilitator of Inspire Citizens which started in 2018. Aaron grew up in a small town in Canada and then moved to Abu Dhabi and experienced diversity and interculturalism first-hand. He focuses on social issues, human rights, anti-racism and anti-homophobia, environmentalism, animal rights, etc. through Punk. What is Your WHY NOW  My WHY is to make sure that as many students and families around the world get to engage with global issues, develop empathy for people and the planet, and use their learning to be able to take action, at any time.  My WHY is to inspire as many people as possible to believe that taking action to make a difference is always an option and that our collective agency can help shape the world.   I do this by dedicating myself to global citizenship education and by working with students, educators, school leaders, school stakeholders, and community partners around the globe to build systems based on sustainable development and global citizenship education.   EMPATHY to IMPACT: Understanding and enacting this process has the power to positively influence everything.  Share about Your Education and How You Became a Teacher I started in a very different place than I ended up. My academic and professional career began with a desire to do good and influence the world positively through politics. I quickly learned that Political Science was not the right field, but I fell in love with Psychology. I completed my Bachelor of Science in Psychology specializing in Buddhism and Psychology and Minors in Political Science and English Literature. I was enthralled by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, Buddhism and psychoanalysis, and all the wisdom around using the mind to heal the mind. I felt compelled to investigate how creating the right conditions might help people reach their full potential and make wise decisions so the world is a better place. This whole experience taught me that at 20 years old, I was not ready to go into clinical psychology. The best way for me to help minds reach their full potential while also being an advocate for inclusion was to go into psychology and education. So my journey began as an intern in a special education department of an international school in Casablanca, Morocco. Within the first week of my experience, a teacher had to leave, I was asked to step in and support an 8th-grade math class and that was it. I was hooked on the beauty of education, and the puzzle of helping students to reach their full potential.   After this, I decided to do 3 more concurrent degrees in education while teaching full-time. I was able to complete my B.Ed and M.Ed with The College of New Jersey. After being promoted to the head of learning support, EAL, Remedial Reading, and Talented and Gifted, I sought further professional certification in Special Education virtually at the University of Victoria during the year and summers.   Developing Inclusive Education and Experiential Learning While developing my skillset in inclusive education, I started getting more involved in experiential learning, service learning with Berber populations in the High Atlas Mountains, and partnering with local NGOs like Corps Africa to link community development projects to Talented and Gifted projects,

    48 min

  4. AUG 9

    Reflection #19: Power of Gratitude with the Barbaras

    This is the Barbaras’ show with Barbara Gruener and Barbara Bray (me) on my virtual porch. We were excited to talk about “Gratitude” which is close to our hearts. We wanted to discuss why it is important to have gratitude as a daily habit.   We shared our walk-up songs. My walk-up song is “Rise” by Andra Day. Barbara G’s walk-up song is “Up Up Up” by Rose Falcon. We were surprised that both of our songs had similar themes. You can hear excerpts of both songs in the reflection that goes with this post.  I get up every morning and write a gratitude note. I feel grateful as I walk with my coffee in my garden enjoying the birds, flowers, bees, and everything.  Barbara G. shared that everything today is a gift, yesterday is a gift, and tomorrow (if we’re lucky) will be a gift. She feels that Gratitude has so much POWER and shared a prescripted gratitude journal “A Gratitude with Attitude” with props, prompts, and much more. Two questions/prompts include: What was today’s victory?  Key people who I’m grateful for. I talked about my gratitude jar where I write something on a slip of paper I’m grateful for. Writing a gratitude note shows me how lucky I am to be here and to have this person or that person in my life. At the end of each week, I reach inside the jar full of notes and read one of the gratitudes out loud.  Barbara G. talked about how writing gratitude in a journal or on paper is like therapy or medicine. You can’t have negative thoughts if you say you are grateful every day. It’s that feeling of being lucky to be alive.  Liz Murray from Homeless to Harvard said, “Gratitude is imagining what you do have could just easily be what you don’t have.” Her message was so powerful. She gave a speech one year before school that started with “Imagining what you do have could just be easily gone.”  Oprah Winfrey had a similar quote. “Be thankful for what you have and you will end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never have enough.” It’s all about our beliefs. If you believe you can be the person you want to be, you can become that person. Some people say it is an “Attitude of Gratitude” but it is more than that. It is the ABUNDANCE mindset. This does have an attitude component but this mindset needs to be a lifestyle, a way of life.  When we’re older, we may focus on our health issues and how bad we’re feeling. I understand it’s difficult to think of anything else when we’re not feeling well. However, it can take over our minds and that’s all we think about. If we focus on how lucky we are to be here, we put more energy into that ABUNDANCE mindset. I have health issues but having this mindset has impacted me. I feel great and grateful every day. I was fortunate to coach Miriam Winokur as she wrote her memoir. Miriam is my friend, Ilene Winokur’s mom. She had an amazing life and lived 99 years. In fact, from age 86 to 92 she was a competitive ballroom dancer. Miriam taught me about LIFE and that we only have one life.  Why not be grateful and live life to the fullest every day? ~ Miriam Winokur Barbara G. did the research for a gratitude talk she was going to give. One of the suggestions was from Huston Kraft: “Specificity leads to Significance or Relevance.

    31 min

  5. JUN 21

    Episode #162: Empowering Educators and Championing Student-Centered Classrooms

    Dr. Kaylah Holland is passionate about empowering educators through professional development, one-on-one coaching, and innovative lesson design. She holds a Doctorate of Education in Instructional Design and Technology with extensive research in active learning environments. Driven by a passion for a student’s potential that cannot be confined, Kaylah works to restore justice and shares her accidental journey as an educator, author, and advocate for justice-involved youth. Kaylah shares the importance of books over bars, education over incarceration, and her book, Putting Out Fires.  Your WHY I foster active learning environments for ALL students to succeed in school and life while empowering educators to make a huge impact in classrooms around the world. Students need to receive a high-quality education. Education matters and can change someone’s life.  Background in Education I am a Google Certified Innovator, Trainer, and Coach, a college professor, and an ISTE Community Leader. I am a part-time adjunct professor for a couple of universities in the United States. She works to educate and empower teachers beginning their careers in their Master’s degree programs. I was presented the “20 to Watch” award by ISTE in 2022 and was recognized by EdTech K-12 Magazine as a top 30 influencer in 2023. I was selected as a featured voice at the ISTE Live 2024 conference.  Accidental Journey In 2016, I received my Doctorate of Education in Instructional Design and Technology with extensive research in active learning environments. This is what I worked hard for, but I had no job. That’s when I lived as an ex-pat full-time in Haiti. There was lots of problem-solving. I fell in love with the people, the place, and the culture. When the pandemic happened in 2020, I had to leave. Be a voice, not an echo. ~Albert Einstein   BreakFree Education As the Director of Instructional Technology and Blended Learning for BreakFree Education, I empower educators to foster innovative, sustainable, and active educational experiences inside juvenile justice facilities across the United States offering students held in confinement a path to success in school and life. As an ISTE Community Leader, I work to empower educators around the globe. I am directly involved in managing the For Coaches, By Coaches monthly meetups and am part of the Global Group. I amplify the voices of educators across the globe through the Featured Educator program. I was a pivotal part of the organizing team to create the Global Impact Virtual Conference hosted by ISTE Community Leaders in April 2024. The virtual conference included 13 live sessions and 50 pre-recorded sessions representing 25 countries.  Your Book, “Putting Out Fires” I published Putting Out Fires: A Framework for Solving Problems in Your Classroom and School in June 2024. This book will help educators solve problems using the author’s “Putting Out Fires Framework,

    52 min

  6. MAY 23

    Episode #161: Being a Part of Better with Dr. Amy Mathews-Perez

    Dr. Amy Mathews-Perez is the Director of Special Programs in a public school in Texas. She coordinates multiple programs: Special Education, 504, Homeless, Foster Care, MTSS, and Dyslexia. Amy has a great sense of humor and loads of experience, strategies, tips, and stories to share especially about being a part of BETTER.  Your WHY  My WHY is relevant contributions and meaningful experiences that empower others to see and be the progress it takes to be a part of BETTER. I believe when (not if) we get past egos, attitudes, and comfortable perspectives, we can make choices and decisions that serve the biggest purpose: student progress. I refuse to give up on the power and value of effective communication; I refuse to give up on the impact and ability of educators and families as authentic collaborators who share the priority of a child. Background I started teaching Speech, Theatre, and Physical Education at a Junior high school (grades 6, 7 & 8) and went to graduate school at night and in the summers. I graduated with my Master’s in Speech Pathology and Audiology from Baylor University. I moved to South Texas where I worked at a county Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program (JJAEP) as the Education Coordinator before returning to my passion of serving public education, this time as an SLP in a local school district.  I then continued to work as an SLP, then Lead SLP, and then a Special Education Specialist (Supervisor). It was amazing to work and serve in the district that educated me from first grade to high school graduation. I served as Principal at a Professional Development magnet campus for fine arts for 5 years. It was a blast!!!!  The picture below is of 5th graders on the USS Lexington ship in Corpus Christi, TX during one of our overnight field trips when I was their Principal. Making Education Special for All (M.E.S.A)  M.E.S.A. means everyone is involved in either the processes of special education, 504, or any area of education. The emotions that bubble to the top when you think of something or someone special are what I want to transform public education into. Not all ooey-gooey goodness, but a sense of satisfaction, meaning, and purpose. I’ll focus on special education because that is the easiest example, but know that I believe this can be the case for all arenas of special education – for all stakeholders. https://dramyperez.com  My SPED example is this: “SPED” can evoke a sense of “extra” – extra work, time, energy, effort, paperwork, meetings, etc – all of which are true. HOWEVER –  I am willing to go out on a limb and say that we all like to be treated special….I’ll even go so far as to say that we all expect to be treated special to some degree.  Does anyone ever need a deadline extended?  Does anyone have reminders/alarms on their phone?  Does anyone ask a friend to remind you to do something or ask them to go somewhere with you or even for you?  Does anyone make notes in the margin of our books or use Post-it notes?  We tend to expect these things as adults, yet we can agonize about providing these things to students who have disabilities; just a point of reflection.

    51 min

  7. MAY 16

    Episode #160: Shaping the Future of Education Technology and Leadership with Jennifer Womble

    Jennifer Womble has been nationally recognized in educational technology for over 30 years of leadership as an NBCT teacher, technology integration specialist, technology trainer, grant writer, and district and state professional development leader. Jennifer believes in the value of education and leadership in today’s technological world. Her vision for transforming education includes creating high-quality professional development for education in the technology space. Jennifer is the Conference Chair for the Future of Education Technology Conference and leads the FETC community year-round with informative webinars and FETC newsletters to continuously acknowledge and highlight emerging technologies and best practices for teaching and learning. Whether teaching, advocating for education, volunteering or leading, @JenWomble spreads her energetic spirit and inspires others to invest in our future—our children! Your WHY I believe that we have the power to shape the future through teaching the children of today. It is our responsibility to nurture and encourage children to be curious, innovative, creative, playful  and collaborative to build productive and inclusive environments. Public education is the economic engine that propels our nation forward on a mission toward fostering success and happiness for all citizens in the digital age. I am driven to ensure every child and teacher gets the resources needed to support effective teaching and learning infused with technology to be engaging and student-centered. I love to learn and build partnerships that impact students! As a continuous lifelong learner, I am always trying to learn more about pedagogy, brain science, technology, and the human capacity to embrace new skills and knowledge to improve life for all. Background (What it was like for you as a student) I was lucky to attend the Developmental Research School (FSU DRS), a K12 lab school at Florida State University, and learn to value the role of research in improving learning. Educators were an integral part of my life growing up as teachers, encouragers, coaches, and role models. My mother was a teacher, coach, and guidance counselor. My father was one of the first to build statewide computer networks and systems for the State of Florida and private enterprise. We lived in a passive solar home and spent summers exploring the national parks.  I dream that every student would have the type of education and upbringing that I encountered. I was encouraged to think outside the box, design with my hands and heart, and participate in meaningful extracurricular activities that build character and serve others. I earned a Bachelor of Science, in Criminology and a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Social Science (Economics and Political Science) from Florida State University and a Master of Science, in Criminology, from Florida State University with the intent of attending law school to practice environmental law. However, a stint as a substitute teacher, grew into a new career path and I spent 8 years in an inner-city school and 10 years in a suburban high school teaching gifted World History and AP Psychology. As a non-college of education graduate, I had to take every professional development course offered and fell in love with adult learning and andra...

    41 min

  8. APR 30

    Episode #159: Nurturing Social-Emotional Learning for a Brighter Future with Cara Zelas

    Cara Zelas is an early childhood educator, social and emotional learning expert, and curriculum creator. Cara founded Big World of Little Dude, an educational platform that focuses on teaching social and emotional skills to children aged 3-6 through a captivating book series and comprehensive “humanKIND Curriculum.” Through dog therapy and the focus on embracing kindness, Cara’s goal is for children to thrive and have a brighter future.  Your WHY My WHY is to empower children with the essential social and emotional skills they need to thrive in today’s world. Background With a Bachelor of Media and Bachelor of Education degrees from Macquarie University, along with an Early Childhood Montessori (AMS) teaching certification from West Side Montessori School, I bring a strong educational foundation to my work. After relocating from Sydney, Australia to New York City, I actively engaged with The Good Dog Foundation. Together with my dog, Little Dude, we underwent training to become a therapy team, visiting hospitals and schools across the city.  The Good Dog Foundation The Good Dog Foundation harnesses the dog-human bond to ease human suffering and support learning with Animal Assisted Intervention.  The oldest love affair on Earth has been going on for 30,000 years. It’s the bond between dogs and humans. Big World of Little Dude was born out of a transformative experience I had while volunteering with Little Dude, my therapy dog, through The Good Dog Foundation. During this time, I discovered the incredible power of kindness – that even small acts of kindness can have a profound impact on others. Inspired by this realization, I started bringing Little Dude into an early childhood classroom to teach children about the importance of kindness. This experience sparked a deep interest in social and emotional learning for young children, leading me on a journey of research and exploration. Big World of Little Dude At Big World of Little Dude, we are driven by the belief that nurturing the social and emotional well-being of children is paramount to building a brighter future. We have created this platform to make social-emotional learning accessible to every child and family, as a guiding light for parents and teachers alike. Together, let’s forge a path where every child thrives, learns, and flourishes, equipped with the indispensable skills of resilience, empathy, and limitless potential. Our mission is to spread kindness and provide support to those in need. This experience of fostering kindness within my community inspired me to teach this invaluable concept to young children. “humanKIND” Curriculum I created engaging and free activities suitable for the classroom, homeschooling, or even the kitchen table. These hands-on and enjoyable activities are designed for children aged three to six, offering a play-based approach to foster social and emotional growth. Start exploring these sample lessons today and embark on a journey of learning, connection, and fun with your little ones at home or in the classroom. https://worldoflittledude.com/free-activities/

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About

Join Barbara Bray in her conversations with inspirational educators, thought leaders, and change agents to define their WHY and reflect on how they learned from their experiences and challenges. Each conversation is complemented with a post on her site that includes images, videos, links, and more that illustrate the stories of their lives. Join Barbara and her special guests as they share their personal journeys that will inspire you, touch your heart, and might even touch your heart.

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