16 episodes

The mission of The Learning Accelerator is to connect teachers and leaders with the knowledge, tools, and networks they need to transform K-12 education. We make the 'potential' possible and practical for every teacher and every learner. In TLA Stories of Learning, TLA will share our insights, learnings, and conversations with real-world educators and education leaders as they make effective, equitable innovative learning a reality in their schools. Tune into our leadership series, "What Will We Take With Us?" to hear how education leaders rose to tackling the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, and how they're working to take what they've learned into a future that supports student-centered learning across the K-12 field.

TLA Stories of Learning The Learning Accelerator

    • Education
    • 5.0 • 1 Rating

The mission of The Learning Accelerator is to connect teachers and leaders with the knowledge, tools, and networks they need to transform K-12 education. We make the 'potential' possible and practical for every teacher and every learner. In TLA Stories of Learning, TLA will share our insights, learnings, and conversations with real-world educators and education leaders as they make effective, equitable innovative learning a reality in their schools. Tune into our leadership series, "What Will We Take With Us?" to hear how education leaders rose to tackling the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, and how they're working to take what they've learned into a future that supports student-centered learning across the K-12 field.

    Beyond Brick and Mortar: Map Academy on Healing and Holistic Student Supports

    Beyond Brick and Mortar: Map Academy on Healing and Holistic Student Supports

    In The Learning Accelerator's new podcast series, Beyond Brick and Mortar, hear from leaders of established virtual and hybrid learning programs from across the U.S. about what makes their programs a success – and what they had to learn along the way.

    In this episode, we chat with Rachel Babcock, Co-Director and Co-Founder of Map Academy, about their holistic and student-centered approach to education, designed to address the unique needs and life circumstances of students as an alternative high school. Their model weaves together collaborative and cooperative learning, student data, support structures, and crucial programs that help them develop their postsecondary and career readiness in order to attend to myriad aspects of their students’ learning experiences. 

    • 11 min
    Beyond Brick and Mortar: VLACS on a Mastery-Based Approach in Virtual Learning

    Beyond Brick and Mortar: VLACS on a Mastery-Based Approach in Virtual Learning

    In The Learning Accelerator's new podcast series, Beyond Brick and Mortar, hear from leaders of established virtual and hybrid learning programs from across the U.S. about what makes their programs a success – and what they had to learn along the way.

    In this episode, we chat with Dr. Steve Kossakoski, CEO at Virtual Learning Academy Charter School (VLACS), about their mastery-based approach, emphasis on meaningful discussion between students and instructors, and advisors who support students throughout their entire virtual learning journey with the school.

    • 10 min
    Beyond Brick and Mortar: The Forest School Online on Student-Centered Learning, Real-World Relevance, and Continuous Improvement in Virtual Learning

    Beyond Brick and Mortar: The Forest School Online on Student-Centered Learning, Real-World Relevance, and Continuous Improvement in Virtual Learning

    In The Learning Accelerator's new podcast series, Beyond Brick and Mortar, hear from leaders of established virtual and hybrid learning programs from across the U.S. about what makes their programs a success – and what they had to learn along the way.

    In this episode, we chat with Maxwell Smith, Head of The Forest School Online, about their flexible, student-centered approach to online learning. Employing targeted and relevant curricula, a focus on real-world learning, and a deliberate culture of feedback and stakeholder engagement, The Forest School Online works to provide a holistic learning experience for students across the globe.

    • 11 min
    Beyond Brick and Mortar: Laurel Springs School on Personalization, Flexibility, and Community-Building in Virtual Learning

    Beyond Brick and Mortar: Laurel Springs School on Personalization, Flexibility, and Community-Building in Virtual Learning

    In The Learning Accelerator's new podcast series, Beyond Brick and Mortar, hear from leaders of established virtual and hybrid learning programs from across the U.S. about what makes their programs a success – and what they had to learn along the way.

    In this first episode, we chat with Megan Palevich, former Head of School at Laurel Springs School about their fully virtual K-12 program that emphasizes personalization and one-to-one work between students and teachers, flexible schedules to accommodate learners whose schedules or needs don't align with traditional seat-time requirements, and a strong community among staff, students, and families.

    Correction & Note: In this episode, we refer to Megan Palevich as the Head of School at Laurel Springs School. This interview was conducted when Megan Palevich filled the role of Head of School, although as of early 2023, the current Head of School is Aileen Hawkins. 

    • 13 min
    11 - What Will We Take With Us?: Ector County ISD on Community Internet Access, Personalized PD, and Strong Home-School Connections

    11 - What Will We Take With Us?: Ector County ISD on Community Internet Access, Personalized PD, and Strong Home-School Connections

    On this final episode of What Will We Take With Us?, a series featuring our conversations with education leaders across the United States on how they grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic in K-12 education, we speak with Scott Muri, Superintendent of Ector County Independent School District in Texas, about how leaders worked to make the most of the pandemic to accelerate the implementation of goals that benefitted the entire school community, ranging from expanding connectivity and internet access, to focusing on personalized professional development, to forging stronger, more meaningful connections between schools and student families.

    • 27 min
    10 - What Will We Take With Us?: Distinctive Schools on Communities of Care and Thoughtful Instructional Strategies

    10 - What Will We Take With Us?: Distinctive Schools on Communities of Care and Thoughtful Instructional Strategies

    On this episode of What Will We Take With Us?, a series featuring our conversations with education leaders across the United States on how they grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic in K-12 education, we speak with two leaders at Distinctive Schools in Chicago: Mike McCarthy, Executive Director of Student Services, and Stephanie Cardella, Executive Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment. They share with us how Distinctive developed a community of care, nimble practices, and targeted instructional strategies to support students in balancing their learning and well-being through a year of uncertainty as schools closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    • 23 min

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